The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has intercepted nine trucks smuggled through Victoria Falls border post in Livingstone, Zambia for suspected conspiracy to defraud the State tax revenue.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda , said the goods were declared as generator sets which do not attract any duty when in fact the goods were assorted wooden furniture which attracts up to 40 percent duty.
According to Sikalinda the Zambian Government would have lost over K2.5 million in taxes had this scheme not been detected by alert customs officers.
He added that the authority has also suspended the license for the clearing agent and recommended for complete revocation of the license.
Meanwhile, Sikalinda says the SI that goes into effect on 1 March 2021 restricting cargo beyond 16 tons to use the road at the Victoria Falls border post will not result in major job loss in Zambia.
According to Sikalinda, there will be no job losses or any negative impact with this measure as all clearance of goods will now be done online; with clearing agents able to clear goods at any Zambian Border from anywhere in the world.
The measure, according to ZRA is meant to reduce smuggling cases and also reduce the human animal conflict in Livingstone which is the Zambian tourist capital.
