MRA commits to curb illegal exportation of farm produce

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has made a commitment to fight illicit export transactions of fam produce which are undermining economic interests of the country.

The sentiments were made by Julio Mpinga, Exports Manager, during meetings MRA is conducting across the country to sensitize stakeholders especially exporters of farm produce on the requirement for traders to export agricultural products to other countries through Customs controlled warehouses.

Mpinga reiterated that following the amendment to the Customs & Excise, MRA was keen to ensure that no unscrupulous trader finds space to unlawfully export farm produce without following the procedures.

He added that some local and foreign traders were buying agricultural produce direct from farmers and export them using other people’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) thereby hiding the exporter’s identity.

“This malpractice makes it difficult to track them down and the country loses a lot of foreign exchange,’’ lamented Mpinga, adding that exporters who violate the law will be punished in accordance with the law.

The new law requires that farm produce like soya beans, maize pigeon peas, groundnuts, sunflower, sorghum, cow peas and rice go through Customs controlled warehouses where the goods are inspected before proceeding to exit at the border.

Speaking at one of the meetings, Akash Deep, a participant who attended one of the meetings in Blantyre, said he welcomed the new law, describing it as a measure that will protect existing exporters who follow the law in their transactions.

‘’This law is good as it will smoke out traders who hide their sales and it is my belief that the Government will generate and account for more forex, he added.

MRA is currently sensitizing existing and potential exporters of farm produce on the need to export products through Customs controlled warehouses in line with the law.

The exercise has taken MRA to places like Blantyre, Mwanza, Liwonde, Chiponde, Dedza, Lilongwe and Mchinji, among other places.

BY THOKOZANI CHIWAYA