Zimra to scale up IT platforms

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THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says it will continue scaling up its technological systems this year to improve revenue inflows, increase compliance levels and reduce leakages.
This comes as Finance minister Mthuli Ncube has challenged the tax authority to refine its Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems to work towards surpassing revenue collection set targets through plugging leakages from tax evasion, tax avoidance, smuggling, and under-declaration of imports.

Of concern has been the sluggish pace by Zimra to harness revenue that remains concealed in operators that have not yet fully embraced the fiscalisation programme.
According to the treasury, the majority of operators have not fully fiscalised their operations including, in particular, ensuring that fiscalised devices are linked to the Zimra server.

In a speech to commemorate International Customs Day, which is celebrated every year on January 26, Zimra vice-chair Josephine Matambo said this year’s theme ‘Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem’, speaks to the innovation that the tax collector has adopted to create digital solutions to enhance revenue collections.

“It is worth noting that Zimra is one of the country’s most accessorised state enterprises with highly developed computer systems, gadgetry, and technological infrastructure at its disposal.

“This speaks volumes of the organisation’s desire over the years to achieve efficient systems for the effective discharge of its mandate.
“… one of our strategic focus for the period 2021 to 2025 is to embrace digital transformation as part of a broad measure to improve the ease of doing business,” she said.

Turning to corruption, Matambo said Zimra will continue to work tirelessly in the fight against the cancerous vice haunting both the public and private sectors.
“The Zimra board has come out strongly in support of the zero-tolerance approach to corruption and measures are in place to deal with integrity lapses both internally and externally.

“Indeed, with the advent of technological advancement, data integrity becomes a key feature in the digital processes run by Zimra, especially as these reduce human intervention and its inherent risks resulting from the high level of discretion characterised by a manual environment,” she added.

To help the fight against corruption, Matambo said Zimra has created synergies with other law enforcement agencies with facilities that enable responsible citizens to report any issues that come to their notice involving tax evasion, corruption and collusion.

For the full year ended December 31, 2020, Zimra collected annual net revenue of $181,96 billion against a target of $171,9 billion (5,85 percent above target). This included a total amount of US$790,7 million in foreign currency collections.

Last year, Zimra continued with its drive of broadening the tax base through new registrations. Active taxpayer education and engagement programmes resulted in 21 643 new registrants who contributed $558,234 million (19,48 percent).

Since 2001, Ncube said Zimra has helped the country stand on its feet by providing over 90 percent of the country’s budgetary resources annually.
Zimra has facilitated exports worth US$58,2 billion and imports worth US$86 billion since the year 2003.
Cumulatively, Zimra contributed a total of US$39,8 billion to the state from 2001 to 2020.
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