Zodiak, Times Group owe Malawi Revenue Authority billions in tax

Malawi private media houses, Zodiak Broadcasting Services (ZBS) and the Times Group are reported to be owing Ms tax collector, the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) billions of the much needed Kwacha, Nyasa Times understands.

For over two years, Malawi has not been receiving budget support from her international partners and the country has been relying its public service provision from revenue collection.

Zodiak owns a radio and television station and the Times Group is the country’s oldest media house with business interests stretching from newspaper, radio, television and courier services among others.

According to documents seen by Nyasa Times, Zodiak owes MRA MK1.2 billion whilst Times Group owe the revenue collector MK463 million.

The outstanding dues are reported to have accumulated for at least the last 3 years and range from VAT, PAYE and Surtax.

In the documents, the MRA accuses the two media giants of not respecting the country’s tax regulations that they so much talk about in their news bulletins and programmes.

The documents warn the two media giants to settle their debt with the tax collector or face stern action from the MRA.

According to the documents, Zodiak is accused of not remitting to MRA monies for VAT, Surtax and PAYE.

MRA said it was shocked to see that even on PAYE, Zodiak was not remitting what it had collected from salaries of its employees which the revenue collector says it’s illegal. The same is on VAT and Surtax.

Similar accusations have been levelled against the Times Group.

When contacted for comment, MRA spokesperson Steve Kapoloma said he was not in a position to comment on the matter.

“We don’t discuss information  of our clients in the media,” he said on Tuesday.

ZBS is owned by youthful entrepreneur, Gospel Kazako  and the Times Group has its roots from Malawi first President the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda and his family.

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