ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) conducted 181 lifestyle audits on its internal staff for 9 months ending September 30 2019 identifying $73,549,969.4 revenue for recovery.
At least 42 staff members were suspended for corruption in the period under review while a total 389 cases were investigated for wrong doing.
Zimra’s third quarter internal corruption fight statistics were revealed in the authority’s revenue performance report for the quarter ended September 30 2019 presented by Zimra Vice Board Chairman Josephine Matambo.
The authority says the audits come as the authority is intensifying efforts to plug revenue leakages through closing of smuggling loopholes.
Zimra has also stepped up efforts in fighting and prevention of corruption by staff members and the clients.
“Zimra’s fight against corruption and smuggling is being intensified through collaborative partnerships with other government law enforcement agencies such as Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Army and the National Prosecuting Authority,” reads the report.
“In October 2019, the authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) whose objective is to provide a framework for the two organisations to jointly work together in the fight against corruption.”
“Over and above fighting corruption, Zimra is now intensifying corruption prevention measures. The authority has started scoring successes in property seizures under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act particularly houses and motor vehicles.”
Zimra further added that seizing all proceeds of corruption and prosecuting the offenders will reinforce zero tolerance to corruption.
Meanwhile, the authority said domestic revenue mobilisation for the third quarter of 2019 exceeded the set target on both gross and net positions.
”Gross collections for the Third Quarter (Q3) of 2019 were $6.59 billion against the targeted $6.00 billion, thereby surpassing the third revised set target by 26.55%,” the report reads.
“After deducting refunds of $167.44 million for the Quarter, net collections of $6.42 billion surpassed the target of $6.00 billion by 8.79%. Compared to the same period in 2018, Gross Collections grew by 413.66% from $1.28 billion collected during the Third Quarter of 2018. On the other hand, net collections recorded a growth of 349.17% from $1.19 billion that was collected in the same period in 2018.”
”The positive variance is attributed to both inflation and the Authority’s voluntary compliance and enforcement strategies. Major contributors to revenue were Individual Tax, Company Tax, VAT on Imports, Excise Duty, Dividends, Fees, Interests and Remittances (DFIR), Withholding Tax on Contracts and Tobacco Levy.”
