The Zambia Development Agency – ZDA has initiated a country wide tour aimed at monitoring of various enterprises registered under the Agency to ensure compliance with incentives given as well as optimization of revenue collection.
ZDA offers a wide range of incentives in the form of allowances, exemptions & concessions for both local and foreign investors. The Agency has in this regard partnered with the Ministry of Finance – MOF and Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA in initiating a validation exercise countrywide meant to follow-up on all businesses registered with the agency to ensure compliance essentially for those enterprises receiving incentives from government.
ZDA Board Chairman Fisho Mwale says in a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the Agency undertakes aftercare services for clients which plays a key role in bringing to the attention of the agency and the government some key issues affecting businesses.
He added that Aftercare services include facilitation of various permits, licenses and land issues among others.
Mwale disclosed that a combined team of officers from ZDA and Ministry of Finance have commenced monitoring of enterprises and will be engaging selected companies in all the 10 provinces of Zambia with the view to ascertain the levels of investments, challenges affecting the investors in order to establish a support mechanism required to further push the industrialization and job creation agenda.
A report on their findings will be availed and that is what will prove if this trip is not Merely meant as an incentive for the staff involved. The issue of incentives has been subject to abuse and this move is timely if well executed.
“This on-going exercise will also involve a team from the Zambia Revenue Authority in an effort to promote the One-Stop Shop model. The team work with the Zambia Revenue authority follows the recently signed Service Level Agreement between the two institutions to enhance smooth collaboration in service delivery. Thus the Board envisages that this collaboration will be ongoing and will result in the creation of a ZRA desk at the ZDA to augment this collaboration, He added
The board has further commended the heads of the two institutions in objectively forging a strategic working relationship which will see the two institutions deliver on their mandates effectively.
