Tanzania, Zambia taxmen agree to partner at Tunduma border post

TUNDUMA: THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) have agreed to partner in work at the Tanzania-Zambia border of Tunduma.

The partnership is geared towards enhancing working relationships at the border town, so as to increase efficiency in offering services to travellers from both countries.

Addressing a media conference, TRA Commissioner General, Mr Alphayo Kidata, and his Zambian counterpart, Dingani Banda, said the two tax watchdogs have agreed to strengthen ties at the border in efforts to intensify service delivery.

Mr Kidata said experts from Tanzania and Zambia were in full swing when it comes to offering services to businesspeople from the two countries.

“We have jointly agreed to intensify the working spirit at this border because it is important for the benefits of our two sister countries and we will strengthen efficiency and responsibilities in simplifying ferrying of cargo as well as sealing loopholes for smugglers,” noted Mr Kidata.

The ZRA boss commended Mr Kidata and his team that included top officials from TRA, as he promised that with his Zambian team, he was ready to work on all deliberations and agreements reached at, during their meeting.

Furthermore, both commissioners agreed on putting up joint strategies to improve services at the Kasesya border located in Kalambo District of Rukwa region, which seeks to reduce cargo traffic at the famous Tunduma border.

“We have agreed to strengthen services at the Kasesya border which for us is a strategic border and yesterday I was at that centre because this is yet another opportunity for our country.

According to a report from a TRA Senior Customs Officer, Mr Kassim Mhando, revenue collection at the Tunduma border for a period of 10 months (between July 2023 and April 2024) soared to about 122.3bn/-, surpassing a set target of collecting 120.5bn/- (equal to 101.5 per cent).

Mr Mhando also issued a report on how TRA was curbing smuggling at the Tunduma border through the Customs Department, insisting that the department was doing frequent patrols to avert smugglers.

He said that during this financial year, his institution had nabbed 160 tonnes of cosmetics that the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) said were not fit for use.

The two Commissioners agreed to meet again in early August this year for an assessment report on their meeting held in Tunduma.