The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has implored upon the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to increase its sensitization drive on the duty stamps to clear any misunderstandings with some of its stakeholders.
PAC Chairperson Mark Botomani described the problem of smuggling of goods as a very serious one which needs to be urgently addressed.
He made the remarks after a tour the Committee undertook with officials from the revenue collecting body to appreciate the problem of smuggling of goods across the country’s borders.
According to him, most of the issues arise during Committee meetings when they interface with MRA noting that what was lacking was a hands-on experience to exactly what happens on the ground in regards to the issue of smuggling.
“With what we’ve seen on this tour, and indeed the stories that we’ve heard from MRA and the people that we have interacted with, the problem is very serious, extremely bad that we really need to support Malawi Revenue Authority in overcoming this problem”
Commenting on resistance from certain quarters opposing the introduction of the duty stamps, he attributed it to misunderstandings on the concept arguing that it’s a very important issue and was upbeat it will lessen some cases of smuggling.
“What is needed I think on the part of MRA is to sensitise people especially those that are in opposition to the introduction of tax stamps, what we implore on MRA is to make sure that their drive of ensuring the people know exactly what it is and sensitizing them and even taking them on a tour to just make them know the extent of the problem.
“Otherwise my Committee is stamping its authority on MRA to ensure that it should go ahead and introduce this move because it will help to somehow curb the problem of what we’re seeing now”.
Botomani insisted that Malawi can’t avoid taxes because they help in the country’s development as the money that is realized from the collection of the taxes is used to help the country move forward citing road infrastructure and purchasing of drugs.
While acknowledging sentiments of people being overtaxed, he described the tax measures as a necessary evil for the country to move forward.
