ZACA urges govt to improve revenue collection at RTSA
By Joan Chirwa
Wednesday March 19, 2008 [03:00]
GOVERNMENT should first improve revenue collection efficiency at the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) instead of implementing new road user fees, Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) chief executive Muyunda Ililonga has said. Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Communication, Works and Supply on Monday, Illilonga said RTSA was currently failing to collect revenue from motorists because of its low efficiency levels.
“The view held by many motorists is that RTSA is inefficient and is failing to collect existing government revenue as many motorists queue for many days to fulfill their tax obligations. The motorists are let down by the government agency that is failing to provide them service in good time and as a consequence, the money that is supposed to go to government is held back by the motorists,” Illilonga said. “So one of the ways that government can mobilise the revenue so desperately needed to develop and maintain our road infrastructure is by improving the collection efficiency by RTSA instead of increasing fees.”
Illilonga said the proposed increase to road user fees would also stimulate corrupt practices among government officials and citizens.
“Experience has shown that whenever the state imposes high taxes on the citizens, the temptation to avoid paying such taxes by conniving with the enforcement agencies becomes prevalent. This in real terms means loss of revenue to government and an increase in corruption cases,” Illilonga said. “As a consumer body, we also fear that an increase in the road user fees will translate into an increase in bus fares because business entities will simply pass on the fees onto the consumers.”
Illilonga said the proposed road user fees should not be implemented as the government is expected to raise additional revenue from increased mine taxes, the resources that could also be used for road construction and maintenance.
“The Zambian consumer is already heavily burdened with several other taxes and the proposed increase in licence fees will add injury to the already miserable consumer,” said Ililonga.
RTSA recently proposed a 400 per cent increase in road user fees, but it was later announced that the proposal was prematurely announced. The proposed fees have since been revised and are expected to come into law early next month.
Labels: PARLIAMENT, RTSA, ZACA
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Govt's reversal of new road user fees deceitful - Sata
By Patson Chilemba
Friday February 29, 2008 [16:00]
GOVERNMENT’S directive for the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to withdraw the administrative memorandum on the proposed increment of new road user charges is temporary and deceitful, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has charged. And minibus drivers today picketed Parliament to declare the user fees null and void in the interest of good governance and peace in society.
Commenting on Transport and Communications minister Dora Siliya’s directive to RTSA management to withdraw the administrative memorandum and wait for consultations with her ministry, which would issue the applicable statutory instruments, Sata said there was no need to make any consultations.
He said it was fruitless for government to consult because what the Zambian people have demanded was that there should be no alteration to the existing user charges.
“She has done a temporary good gesture with lots of hidden deceit in that thing,” he said.
Sata charged that government had an input in the new user charges because if it were not so, RTSA could not have gathered the courage to announce them.
He said former transport ministers Peter Daka and Sarah Sayifwanda should explain to Zambians their input in the “corrupt” user charges.
“The minister (Siliya) acted on impulse because she knew by Monday, there would have been no transport because Zambia could have been on a standstill. Probably, people could have used ministers’ vehicles or in far flang areas, the President’s jet,” Sata said.
He said government agencies such as RTSA, Energy Regulation Board (ERB), and Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should be scrapped off because they have proved inefficient.
Sata said in the case of RTSA, government should instead empower the Zambia Police service to carry out traffic related matters.
On Friday, Siliya said the public should ignore the fees which were supposed to be effected today and instead wait for an announcement from the ministry.
RTSA had resolved, among other things, that people wishing to have personalised registration numbers for their cars would pay K10 million per mark from the current K1 million.
And motorists yesterday said they would reject any alteration to the user charges. The drivers picketed parliamentarians as they made way into Parliament grounds.
In a letter addressed to Siliya, which was also distributed to all members of parliament, the Zambia Association of Motorists stated that as far as they were concerned, RTSA had no legal powers to prescribe or revise user fees because fees could only be revised by an Act of Parliament or a statutory instrument.
“Standing procedures require consultations with our body and other interested persons before new road user fees are introduced,” read the letter in part.
The motorits stated that it was in this vain that they were asking Parliament to declare the new fees null and void.
Some parliamentarians, especially those from the opposition, took the letter as they made their way into Parliament.
However, some ministers just drove in and did not get the letters.
The motorists’ peaceful protest was short-lived when police from Chilanga were brought in to monitor the situation.
The motorists who seemed intimidated at the arrival of the police quickly rushed into their buses and left.
Labels: ROADS, RTSA
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DEC arrests two RTSA employees
By Mwala Kalaluka
Wednesday August 22, 2007 [04:00]
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit has arrested two employees of the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) for money laundering offences involving over K200 million. And the Commission has arrested a Burundian refugee from Maheba Refugee Camp among 19 people that were arrested for trading in cannabis in various parts.
DEC public and press liaison officer Rosten Chulu disclosed in a press statement yesterday that Ian Mabvuto Mbazima, aged 29, a revenue collector at RTSA of Flat 28, Kuomboka Flats in Kabwe and Alex Mutambalika, aged 32, a clerical officer at the same institution residing at 2157 Chimanimani in Kabwe, were arrested for the above offence.
“The two accused persons jointly and whilst acting together in their capacities are alleged to have stolen K278, 384, 300 government revenue and used the same for their personal gain,” he stated.
And Chulu stated that Zakaria Minai, aged 58, a Burundian refugee residing at Zone G Road 98 Maheba Refugee Camp has been arrested for trafficking in 6.8 kilogrammes of cannabis.
“Also arrested in North Western Province is Mwelwa Mendela, an amateur footballer residing at F100 Wusakile, Kitwe for trafficking in 80 grammes of cannabis,” Chulu stated further. “In Northern Province Kennedy Musonda, aged 30, a businessman residing in Musenga Village has been arrested for trafficking in 76 kilogrammes of cannabis.”
Chulu also stated that Boyson Masanta, 45, of Mukolwe in Ndola rural was also nabbed for trafficking in 10.2 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Chibwe Lukwesa, 47, also of Mukolwe area was nabbed after he was found trafficking in 8.2 kilogrammes of the same banned substance. The other people arrested for trafficking in cannabis include Masautso Zulu, 39, of Old Buntungwa (6.5 kilogrammes), Bernard Chileshe, 37, of Kwacha Township, Kitwe (3.6 kilogrammes).
Others arrested in the same province are Collins Chama, aged 26, Obert Mwila, aged 27 and Chali Nshindo.
“In Lusaka the Commission has arrested and jointly charged Rose Mumba, 30, of Chibolya compound, Richard Phiri, 28, a taxi driver of John Laing and Vicensio Tembo, 26, of Misisi compound for trafficking in 108 kilograms of cannabis concealed in three different sacks,” Chulu stated.
“Others arrested in Lusaka Province include Obby Chimowa, 29, of Siavonga turn-off for trafficking in 150 kilogrammes and Bernard Phiri, 34, of Zumbo in Mozambique for trafficking in 427 kilogrammes of cannabis.”
In Eastern Province, the Commission arrested Bernadette Mbewe, 50, of Chingalilwe village for trafficking in 80.3 kilogrammes of cannabis and Gerald Tanga, 24, of Kapata Location for trafficking in 7.3 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Chulu stated further that the Commission nabbed and jointly charged Chilufya Chishimba, 19, a remandee and Sydney Mwape, 28, a convict at Nchelenge Prison for trafficking in 0.6 kilogrammes of cannabis.
“All suspects will appear in court soon,” stated Chulu.
Labels: CANNABIS, DEC, RTSA
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