The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has been holding anti-smuggling rallies in the border districts of Ntcheu and Dedza to sensitize residents on how to use Tip-offs Anonymous Service to report cases of smuggling which are rampant in the two areas.

The anti-smuggling rallies follow reports that many smugglers had been using unchartered routes to smuggle vehicles and sometimes used local residents to shelter them or drive their vehicles into Malawi, leading to tax revenue losses.

The rallies were held along some border areas including Tsangano, Doviko, Masasa, Golomoti, Njonja, Biriwiri, Bembeke, Thete, Lobi and Mayani among others which smugglers use as conduits for smuggling.

The anti-smuggling rallies incorporated drama performances by Bwalo Drama Group and two comedians used their comics to sensitize residents on uses of taxes, dangers of smuggling and how they can use Tipoffs Anonymous Service to report cases of smuggling.

The rallies took a participatory approach as residents had the opportunity to ask questions, respond to questions and act as MRA officials by explaining in detail what Tipoffs Anonymous Service involved.  

During the public rallies, Customs and Excise Officer Susan Kumwenda appealed to residents to use MRA border posts and report cases of smuggling to Police and nearest MRA offices.

“You must always pass through the border and clear your goods. Sometimes you may not pay anything if you import goods for personal use. By using unchartered routes, you end up paying for something you may not have paid for at the border,” she said. 

Kumwenda said much as MRA and the Police work together, their mandates are different as one is responsible for revenue collection and the other is responsible for providing security.

MRA introduced Deloitte Tip-Offs Anonymous Service and Informant Scheme to enable members of the general public to report suspected cases of tax fraud, evasion, bribery, smuggling and dishonesty.

The rewards range from a minimum of 10 percent of the taxes recovered to a maximum of K500, 000. To use the service, members of the general public are required to dial a toll free number 847 for Airtel, Access and TNM subscribers or 80000847 for MTL subscribers.

Informants can also send their tips to the Centre through email address: reportswqm@tip-offs.com or fax to 0182 229. They can also send their tips through the following postal address for free (no stamp required): The Call Centre, P.O Box 1726, Blantyre.

Informants should provide the date, time, location, the people involved or the amount of revenue involved to ensure that thorough follow-ups are made. No personal details are required but a four or five digit code number of any choice like 2145 or 52212, for proper identification.

Code numbers of successful tips are published on monthly basis in high circulation newspapers and the reward is given confidentially without the receiver and giver seeing one another.

During the 2016/17 financial year, rewards amounting K45 million were disbursed to various patriotic citizens who reported suspected cases of smuggling, tax fraud and evasion. One successful informant received accumulated rewards amounting to K2.8 million.

By Wadza Otomani