Karonga traders protest against MRA conduct
Irate business persons in Malawi’s northern border district of Karonga staged a street protest on Wednesday against “the strange conduct” of Malawi Revenue Authority officials of collecting tax for imported goods from shop to shop since July.
The business people who sell clothes from Tanzania closed their shops and forced ever one to close their shops as they were going to give a petition to the district commissioner on the conduct , saying they feel they are being robbed of their hardly earned money on the new system revenue collection.
Chairperson of Karonga Market Goodwin Ng’ambi told Nyasa Times that MRA officials visited all shops at the market that sell Tanzanian mechandize known as Matayifa counting each and every item.
He said those who were failing to mention the amount of money they paid to custom officers at the border were forced to pay huge amount of money or close their shops.
“We have agreed that we give our grievances to the District Commissioner on the new conduct of MRA officials on how they are collecting their revenue,” said Ng’ambi.
He said some shops owners were even forced to pay K200 000.
“They were doing this while we already paid the revenue at the borders. We tried to give them lists of the materials we are selling but they did not listen to us. We are very much surprised because in July they came again to count every item and charged us.
“In August they also came but when we ask them if the constitution has changed they are not telling us the truth so now we are demanding justice on the issue,” worried Ng’ambi.
Ester Kawonga who has a shop in Matayifa concurred with Ng’ambi saying: “at our shop we have been charged K100 000 and we tried to talk to them that not every item in the shop is a new stock but they did not listen to us until they forced us to close the shop.”
She said the most surprising thing is that when closing the boarders they give revenue to MRA “and now they also want the money from us we really need an explanation from.”
Geoffrey Mkandawire who represented the district commissioner agreed having received the petition.
Karonga MRA officials the Public Relations Officer of the tax body will going to make a statement.
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Indeed the Malawi government urgently need to review its customs methods, Malawi is a poverty stricken state emanates from a significant low rate of employment and poor level of education, rather the government should show gratitude the effort by its citizens to skew the poverty line through enganging in various businesses activities and migrating to other countries with better economy.
utsogoleri wa anthu ophunzira umayenda chonchotu.
Amalawi tikadali ndi khalidwe la usamunda, ntchito nkumapondereza basi, a MRA siyani kutibera, ngati umphawi wanu umene mulinawowo ndeno mufuna muthese kuzera mwa anthu a business ifeyo ngati anthu a Ku Karonga sitilola, ndinu makape kwabasi, katundu woti walowa kale mu shop, inuyo kumafunanso ndalama zina pamene pa border analipidwa kale pamene akampanga check, ngati zili choncho, musekenso ma ofesi apa border, zikuwonetsa kuti anthu amene munawalemba ntchito paborderpo simuwakhulupilira ayi.
Za Ku Karonga tatopa nazo. Bwanji kodi?
thats taxgate nkana amalemera anthuwa kumalimbirana posting yaku border……..all that doesnt go to mg1 account…..day light robbery eyaaaaaa
Akufuna ndalama za zero aid budget kuti ALOMWE apeze poyambira.
Is that small business friendly govt? How many taxes are they going to pay? MRA should start doing that to the whole country. We have many borders and their towns, so MRA start going to the centre and south as well otherwise people will start saying it is dpp govt’s hatred of the north that is instigating these taxes!!!! Then Karonga will be very troublesome. I do understand the govt’s motive, income tax should be paid by everyone who is receiving an income. They should start with big businesses as well!! My worry is if these MRA guys are collecting… Read more »
Zikutero pa kg tumalana
Honestly speaking a Malawi timapereka misonkho yambiri. Imagine the hassle we encounter pa border and as if that’s not enough timasonkha mjira kumapatsa a MRA pa Kaporo, Chitimba Jenda and at times timawapezanso pa Kanengo. We are forced to do this chifukwa timakhala tinatopa komanso kupa further delays and unnecessarily penalties by MRA> The officers take advantage and charge mosayenerera. Munthu kutenga K200,000 kukaguka katundu pa border kulipiranso mwina around the same amount. Kodi business yanji munthu ungapange kuti ndalama imeneyi ituluke? Anthufe tikuvutika and boma silukuthandiza a Malawi kutukuka no wonder Chinese and Indians have taken all small businesses… Read more »
Is that how the new “budget of subsidies” going to be implemented? Koma kumeneko!!!