JOHN CHAAMBWA
Lusaka
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) has donated 1,200 units of 20-litre cooking oil seized from smugglers to various hospitals and charitable institutions in Lusaka.
The cooking oil, which was declared fit for human consumption by the Lusaka City Council public health unit, was distributed to 12 institutions yesterday.
The donation was presented by ZRA acting director executive support Laban Simbeye, who represented Commissioner General Dingani Banda.
“This gesture sends a very strong message to those who involve themselves in smuggling activities, that smuggling doesn’t pay. They lose the goods, including the vessels used in the act,” Mr Banda said.
The donation was made under Section 204 (1)(A) of the Customs and Excise Act, Cap 322 of the Laws of Zambia, which allows for donation of forfeited goods for use not involving sale.
The institutions that benefited are University Teaching Hospitals, which received the largest allocation of 280 units, followed by levelone hospitals – Chilenje, Chipata, Matero, Chawama and Kanyama – each receiving 120 units.
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit received 200 units, while charitable homes like Hope of Happiness for Children with Disability, Cheshire Homes, Providence Home of Children with Disability and Mother Theresa each received 24 units.
