ESTHER MSETEKA, Lusaka
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) says 90 percent of its monthly revenue of about K3.5 billion is collected through electronic-payment system.
ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda said in an interview that there is need for all tax-payers to utilise the e-payment system as it is the best option and saves time.
Mr Chanda said to further ensure tax-payers are not  inconvenienced when making payments the authority has started decentralising its operations country-wide.
“ZRA collects between K3billion and K3.5 billion every month and I can confirm to you that over 90 percent of that money is being collected through e-payment. We are hoping that in the near future, we will get to almost 100 percent because, that way, we will reduce on cash collections, risk to revenue collection, and ensure that whatever has been paid is received by the treasury in good time,” he said.
Mr Chanda also said the authority will ensure it improves service delivery at its customer centre to enable the public spend few hours in processing various documents.
“We need to improve the way we conduct our business at the centre. We cannot be keeping people here the whole day to just get advice, file returns, or make payments. Most of them are actually small and medium-sized enterprises.
“Government is trying to promote SMEs so that they can help in developing our economy. If we keep them here the whole day because our systems are down, or people are not available to register them promptly, then we are neglecting that effort,” he said.
Mr Chanda said having first-hand information on the operations of the centre will help the authority design appropriate interventions required to improve service delivery.