MRA engages stakeholders on smuggling

On Tuesday, 6^th August 2019, the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) conducted a half-day consultative meeting with stakeholders including manufacturers at MRA’s Msonkho House in Blantyre. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss a common approach to dealing with smuggling.

Opening the meeting, the Commissioner General of MRA, Mr. Tom Gray Malata, said he had called the meeting to brainstorm strategies to eradicate smuggling.

He informed the stakeholders that the Authority was working tirelessly to deal with the problem through different interventions. He said the Authority is undertaking massive sensitization on the dangers of smuggling with local community including involvement of chiefs. He also informed the meeting that the Authority is aggressively deploying Flexible and Anti-Smuggling Teams (FAST) that patrol day and night.

‘’Since our borders are porous and that MRA cannot tackle the problem alone, this is why we bank on you, as partners in development, to come up with concrete ideas to curtail smuggling,’’ pleaded Malata adding:

“As of now, the Authority has gazetted four borders in smuggling prone areas of Njonja in Dedza, Likangala in Phalombe, Mbirima in Chitipa and Mbowela in Mulanje in order to effectively deal with the challenge.

Speaking on behalf of fellow participants and in response to MRA call, Mr. Herve Milhade, Managing Director for Castel Malawi Limited, thanked MRA for organizing the meeting saying it provided a platform for the manufacturers to share their views on how to end smuggling in the country.

The meeting was attended by 14 executives from Chibuku Products Limited, Bakhresa, Mapeta DWS, Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited, Castel Malawi Limited and MRA senior officials.