The Clerk of the National Assembly of Zambia, Mr. Roy Ngulube, has called for closer collaboration between the National Assembly and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to improve budget approval and oversight processes.
He said this during the official opening of the Tax Sensitization Workshop for Members of Parliament, organized by the Zambia Revenue Authority in partnership with the National Assembly of Zambia, on Saturday, 16th November, 2024, at Avani Victoria Falls Resort.
Mr. Ngulube emphasized the importance of equipping Members of Parliament (MPs) with the knowledge and tools to oversee public finances effectively. He noted that partnerships such as this are crucial to ensuring the proper management of public resources for the benefit of all Zambians.
Mr. Ngulube urged MPs to actively engage in discussions during the workshop and use the knowledge gained to enhance budget oversight and fiscal responsibility. He added that improving domestic resource mobilization through better tax collection systems and reducing fiscal deficits were key priorities.
"Through closer collaboration, we can build stronger systems that contribute to Zambia’s development and financial stability," he stated.
The Clerk also commended the Zambia Revenue Authority for organizing the workshop, highlighting its efforts to empower MPs with critical insights into Zambia’s tax systems, which he believed was an important step in ensuring MPs are well-prepared to oversee public finances effectively.
Speaking at the same event, the Commissioner General of the Zambia Revenue Authority, Mr. Dingani Banda, underscored ZRA’s critical role in mobilizing domestic resources to support Zambia’s development.
He noted that ZRA’s contribution to the national budget had increased significantly over the years, from 49.6% in 2021 to a projected 71.7% in 2025.
Mr Banda said "Every kwacha collected in taxes has the potential to transform lives and communities across our country,".
“Sharing from my personal experiences through my periodic visits to Z.R.A stations located in other areas of Zambia, I was able to see a school that had recently been constructed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) when pupils were previously learning under a deplorable environment”.
Mr. Banda also emphasized the importance of engaging MPs in tax sensitization efforts to reduce knowledge gaps and promote voluntary tax compliance. He encouraged active participation in the workshop to explore ways to strengthen collaboration between Parliament and ZRA for the benefit of all Zambians.
