MRA operations impress Parliamentary committee

Members of Parliament in the Budget and Finance Committee of the August House have commended Malawi Revenue Authority for its dedication along the country’s borders.

The committee’s chairperson Honourable Rhyno Chiphiko said this on Tuesday at Songwe when members visited the border station to appreciate the Authority’s tax collection and trade facilitation operations.

During the visits, the MP's were among many areas briefed on MRA’s initiatives to curb smuggling through community engagement and awareness activities. The committee was also given insights about patrols and roadblocks which MRA mounts to check smuggling within border areas.

Honourable Chiphiko said various interface meetings with MRA and station visits have given the committee a clear view on how the Authority runs its operations to ensure that tax revenues are rightly collected.

The committee members were accompanied by Commissioner Customs and Excise Fatch Valeta who led the MRA’s team with Head of Corporate Affairs Steven Kapoloma.

The members also visited Dedza border station.

In his remarks, the Commissioner thanked the MP's for sparing their precious time to visit the two borders and see for themselves key developments that MRA is undertaking.

The Parliamentary committee commended progress registered on the cargo scanners project at the two stations. They called for speedy completion of the project since the scanners bring more value in terms of revenue collection and trade facilitation.

MRA was also encouraged to consider purchasing land around border stations to expand premises and create more space to park trucks and vehicles.

BY HENRY MCHAZIME