Pomp, fun and splendour were the order during this year’s Inter-Revenue Games held in Mangochi where Malawi hosted four countries.

Held from Friday 30th March to Sunday 1st April under the theme, ‘Bringing Tax Into Play’ the games had teams from the Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi revenue authorities that competed in various sports disciplines including athletics, football, netball, volleyball, tug of war, pool, chess, darts, beach soccer, beach volleyball, basketball and table tennis.

Commissioners General from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) presented gifts to MRA’s Commissioner General Mr. Tom Gray Malata in appreciation of hosting successful games.

The Deputy Commissioner General Mrs. Roza Mbilizi, who was also the chairperson, praised the Malawi for hosting successful games and the teams for participating.

“The games offer tax administrations a platform to interact informally at all levels and ranks and share technical expertise on how best to improve revenue administration in the region,” said Mbilizi during the closing ceremony.
ZRA emerged the overall winners of the Inter Revenue Games after winning a total of 22 trophies over the Easter weekend in Mangochi.

The Chipolopolo Boys, who boasted that they would win all trophies at the opening ceremony on Good Friday, won 12 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 4 bronze medals bringing the tally to 22.

They won gold medals in pool, chess, netball and in six categories of men’s and women’s athletics. ZRA’s players also won medals under Player of the Tournament in chess, pool, and football.

“When we came here, we came with a mission and that was to get everything – that’s why we said: zonse tizatenga and we are very happy that we have managed to win all these trophies,” Moses Shuko, ZRA Commissioner for Domestic Tax, said.

BURS came second with 16 trophies, 6 gold medals, 8 silver medals and two bronze medals. They won gold medals in football, table tennis and four categories of athletics. 

ZIMRA was third with 15 trophies, 9 gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals. ZIMRA won gold in tug-of war and darts. 

The hosts, Malawi Revenue Authority won 13 trophies, 9 gold medals, 6 silver medals and four bronze medals. MRA won gold in basketball, beach volleyball and beach soccer.

MRA’s Arthur Mwambani was the top goal scorer in beach football and Hope Chisamanga was the highest scorer and player of the tournament for basketball. 

LRA was fifth with 6 trophies, four silver medals and two bronze medals. 

During the awards presentation ceremony, MRA officially handed over the responsibility of organizing the next Inter Revenue Games to Botswana Unified Revenue Services which will host the tournament in Gaborone, Botswana over the Easter holidays in 2019. 

The dinner and awards ceremony was spiced with music performances from Patience Namadingo and Mibawa Band.  
The 2018 Inter-Revenue Games brought together over 600 participants from the five tax administrations and the games were played at Sun ‘n’ Sand Hotel, Mangochi Stadium and St. John’s University of Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI).