Communication personnel have the responsibility to liaise between tax administrations and taxpayers to communicate and improve the tax payment process. As link between tax administrations, the media and the citizens, the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) on August 30, 2021, engaged tax administrations communication personnel among ATAF member states to share experiences and strategies in order to improve tax communication whilst projecting the Forum’s image.

The ATAF Executive Secretary, Mr Logan Wort, emphasized the important role played by communications units within the administrations and encouraged them to formulate strategies that simplify tax information while making it increasingly convenient for taxpayers to comply with national tax laws.

“Your job as communications persons is to make citizens want to pay taxes and make them understand the need to pay taxes by educating them on how and why they should do so”, he said.

The half-day workshops shared communication experiences from different countries and mapped how ATAF can use these publicity opportunities to deliver important tax information whilst improving its image and the image of the local administrations.

With modernity and consequently the new normal, communication is fast fusing or even migrating from traditional media such as television and radio to instant and more effective social media platforms.

The African Tax Administration Forum offers technical assistance and capacity development to tax administrations, ZIMRA included with the objective of increasing domestic resource mobilization and improve development in Africa whilst supporting the continent’s voice in the international tax environment. 

United States of America senator George Vest, lawyer and politician once said that the one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.

If the above is any message to embrace, it proves true to the immense work that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) K9 is handling, unselfish, never treacherous and an imperative function in curbing smuggling at ports of entry.  

The ZIMRA sniffer colleague, Carlos being handled by K9 Officer Pesani Mungazi was signalled to search for the possible presence of illicit goods in a Proliner bus on August 26, 2021 at Beitbridge Border Post. He was commanded to sniff the luggage and made some indications around the trailer. Mungazi was together with Simbarashe Chiwiro, Edmore Muronzereyi and Tapiwa Machisa and was assured that there were some illicit products inside the bus-towed trailer.

”We undertook to search an incoming Proliner bus bearing registration number HT51RV GP pulling a trailer with registration number DZ33RR GP and it was coming from South Africa.  Carlos made some indications at five different points around the trailer which prompted the team to conduct a full physical examination of the contents of the goods packed inside the bus trailer. The search yielded the recovery of contraband of 25 boxes of BronCleer Syrup totaling (1250X 100MLS bottles). The assessed value of the detected contraband amounted to US7500.00, said Felix Marizani Supervisor for the K9 unit.

He added that the discovered goods were seized as the continued fight against smuggling of prohibited goods intensified. The criminal syndicates continue to rise as the boxes containing the contraband were labelled and had names and phone numbers of the intended recipients, an indication that it was a well-planned group of transportation and delivery.

In a similar search, in September 2021 K9 Officer Happy Chadambuka, while on his patrol at Forbes main entrance recovered three (3) bales of second hand clothes with a street value of close to USD$6000 and 36 bags of dagga with a street value of

USD$ 28 822.67 through the assistance of a canine dog.

Mr Happy Chadambuka with Carlos

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Research and Development Section led by the Director Strategy, Research and Innovation, Mr Joey Shumbamhini embarked on a research to find out on the impact of South African riots for Zimbabwe and the Authority as a revenue collector.

The Section as the eye of the organisation, is responsible for providing powerful knowledge and insights that lead to the improvement of existing processes or services within the Authority. Members from the section dug up information on how the July 2021, riots in South Africa were going to are affect Zimbabwe in an effort to give the Authority a heads up for possible action.

According to the research the riots will have serious effects on the Zimbabwean economy and in particular, diaspora remittances, trade and revenue collections. Diaspora remittances have previously overtaken foreign aid and are very crucial to the economy. Most Zimbabweans living in South Africa, often send money back home. With the riots, some Zimbabweans in South Africa were left unemployed which will be difficult for them to send money back home resulting in low diaspora remittances. There is also likely to be reduced consumption on the local market affecting revenue heads such as Value Added Tax and Excise Duties.

Trade has also been equally affected since South Africa has over the years been Zimbabwe’s major trading partner for both imports and exports. Customs revenues are likely to experience a knock since the riots decreased imports from South Africa coming into Zimbabwe.

It was noted that at Beitbridge Border Post on a normal day ZIMRA was clearing about 500 and 450 incoming and outgoing commercial trucks respectively. However, since the eruption of the riots, the daily averages had gone down to 375 and 415 for incoming and outgoing commercial traffic respectively. South Africa has also been the route for transiting goods destined for other countries from Zimbabwe and hence the closure of roads, infrastructure disturbances and lootings at the Durban Port were not conducive importation of goods. All these have an impact on revenue collection, financials as well as the lives of the people in Zimbabwe.

Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on 7 May 2021, commissioned 20 Land cruiser vehicles for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) at a ceremony held in Harare. The vehicles are expected to go a long way in aiding ZIMRA's operations that include curbing smuggling at ports of entry that sometimes have rugged terrains.

“I believe the vehicles that I am commissioning, will assist the Authority in operations as the economy transitions towards sustained economic growth and towards achievement of vision 2030 goals,” said professor Ncube.

Professor Ncube also lauded ZIMRA’s policies in minimising revenue leakages that include ensuring that registered Value Added Tax (VAT) operators are fully fiscalised with fiscalisation gadgets and correctly interfaced with the ZIMRA server, strict enforcement of the electronic cargo tracking system with the view to combat transit fraud, automation of ZIMRA operations in an effort to reduce personal interactions with taxpayers. The minister hinted that the system will continue to reduce opportunities for ransacking behaviour as well as enhancing efficiency in tax administration.

Speaking at the same ceremony, ZIMRA Acting Commissioner General, Mr Rameck Masaire expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Finance for the gesture of increasing fleet and stressed that such support will allow the Authority to generate the much needed revenue.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) mothers hit high spot as they celebrated Mother’s day in a unique, pioneering style on Friday, 7 May 2021 at Miekles hotel under the theme “As we are”.

For the first time in the history of ZIMRA, over 500 ZIMRA mothers and mothers in the making gathered both physically and virtually to celebrate their special day. It was an exciting and beautiful event with many give aways to single mothers, widows and soon to retire mothers in the Authority.

ZIMRA mothers were encouraged to work hard,  be prayerful and to set an example for their children. “A mother’s influence can go beyond generations”, said Mrs Nellie Mupanduki, Head Technical Services – Taxpayer Services and Debt Management, Domestic Taxes giving her opening remarks. In her speech she quoted Proverbs 31:26 which says  that a great wife and mom “opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

ZIMRA believes in women empowerment shown by a number of women holding top posts in the Authority. Mrs Anna Sithole,  Acting Head Audits, Mutare said, “An empowered woman is a powerful woman.  Empowerment is more than participation in decision-making; it also include the processes that lead people to perceive themselves as able and entitled to make decisions. ZIMRA women are empowered therefore they are powerful.”

Speaking at the same occasion Mrs Regina Chinamasa, Commissioner Revenue Assurance highlighted  that women face challenges in balancing work and family. “Working women face various challenges regarding work‐family balance due to societal, cultural, family  and gender norms. Cooperative and supportive husbands and in‐laws are what working women who face these challenges need. If husbands remain supportive and encouraging life will be easy for working women,” said Ms Chinamasa.

Mother’s Day is a day that internationally celebrates  motherhood and is observed  differently  throughout the world, a day worth celebrating and acknowledging for the roles that women play in the world.

ZIMRA believes that mothers deserve to be lauded, applauded, encouraged and recognised. It was a delight to  honour the courageous women for enduring sleepless nights, folding endless loads of laundry, wiping away tears on tiny cheeks and cheering little ones on to victory after victory.

In a move designed to cater for the welfare of its employees, The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority(ZIMRA) launched the Vaccination Awareness Campaign programme which is being rolled out by government as the country anticipates a third wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The event took place on 14 April 2021 at Rainbow Towers hotel in Harare, under strict COVID-19 regulations.

While officially launching the programme, the ZIMRA Vice Board Chairperson, Mrs Josephine Matambo applauded ZIMRA officers for their dedication and resilience which resulted in the Authority surpassing all revenue targets despite the challenging situation. She commended staff members working at the border posts which are hotspots for the virus.

“The board will continue looking into the welfare of employees and making sure that they are well remunerated. There has been a lot of fear surrounding vaccination and this launch will help in demystifying the lies being spread around”. “It’s time to adjust to the new normal and move on” said Mrs Matambo.

In his remarks at the same occasion, the Acting Commissioner General commended the work being done by ZIMRA officers as part of frontline workers. However, he lamented that the uptake of the Vaccine by ZIMRA employees was very low with statistics showing that only 248 employees had been vaccinated within the Authority. He further indicated that notwithstanding his religious orientation, he had been vaccinated and took time to encourage others to do so in the fight against COVID-19.

He added, “Medical experts who have been fighting the pandemic from the front have been called to demystify vaccines and vaccination, help enhance our understanding of the science and merits of vaccination and the need for a change in attitude towards vaccination”.

In attendance of the launch was Dr Soman Mudariki, a professional medical doctor from City of Harare Emergency Services who was instrumental in the Authority’s Covid Awareness Programme. Speaking during the event Dr. Mudariki underscored the importance of vaccination.  

“It is very important for ZIMRA officers to seriously consider vaccination since they face the virus in an environment that is not controlled and thus are at more risk than medical practitioners who are in a more controlled environment. We cannot close our borders, otherwise where will we get the money to fund our hospitals or our own researches, ” said Dr Mudariki.

Dr Mudariki is among Zimbabwe's frontline medical workers who are risking their lives to care for others and educate people on the virus and vaccination.

Workers representatives who were in attendance took time to ask questions and know more about vaccines so that they can help others in understanding the need to join the fight against Covid-19. The event ended with many in attendance being ferried to Wilkins hospital for their first jabs of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Vaccination Awareness exercise is expected to be rolled out to all ZIMRA regions so that employees get all the information they need before getting vaccinated. Members of the medical fraternity, ZIMRA managers and other workers were also in attendance at the occasion.

Acting Commissioner General, Mr Rameck Masaire, on his visit to Marondera, Rusape, Mutare and Forbes Border Post on 22 April 2021, urged staff members to embrace integrity, a thrust being promoted by the Loss Control Division.

The Acting CG called upon ZIMRA Officials to align their conduct with professionalism and to uphold ethical standards and do the right thing regardless of their circumstances.

“We need to identify Loss Control with the positive elements and sanity it brings to the entire organisation. The Division was never setup with the intention of arresting officers or initiating dismissal of officers. The Division was setup primarily to minimise loss of ZIMRA property and that includes the human resources,” said Mr Rameck Masaire.

Loss Control Director, Mr Tapiwa Manyika, also raised concerns on the number of officers that the Authority is losing due to integrity breaches. He highlighted that it is not ideal that the Authority continues to lose officers on account of corruption given the amount of resources that would have been invested in training the officers.

“The continued dismissal of officers due to corruption is an indication that there is a loop hole in the system and my division will devise strategies to ensure that we protect our staff. I urge you to be your brother’s keeper and remind colleagues to desist from falling into the corruption temptation,” said Mr Tapiwa Manyika.

Present at the visits were Executive Management members undertaking an exercise to familiarise themselves with the Marondera, Rusape, Forbes and Mutare offices as well as reassuring staff members of the importance of the four Ps strategy.

Dear Valued Clients; We sincerely apologise for the challenges you have been experiencing with our E-services system that relate to congestion following the expiry of the previously extended tax clearance submission deadline, the system is still operational and it is being attended to by our IT team. In addition to addressing the technical challenges, we are taking steps to clear the client service backlog for ITF263 or tax clearance certificates, outstanding tax returns, and outstanding tax compliance cases amongst other services. The corrective steps that are being taken to return service to normalcy will be communicated shortly and will help improve the overall client service. Thank you for your patience.