ZRA Commissioner General Calls for African Participation in International Taxation Talks
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General, Dingani Banda, has called on African nations to actively engage in global discussions on the international taxation framework to ensure the continent’s unique interests are adequately represented.
Speaking at the New International Tax Framework Seminar organized by the World Bank Group in Washington D.C., Mr. Banda emphasized the need for an international taxation system that strikes a balance between Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) and attracting foreign investment.
He noted that Africa, despite its wealth in the extractive, financial, and construction sectors, only attracts approximately 4% of global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows.
The seminar, held from January 30-31, 2025, at the World Bank Headquarters, was themed “Opportunities for Promoting a Positive Business Environment for Sustainable Growth.”
Mr. Banda highlighted Zambia’s progress in strengthening the social contract between the government and its citizens since 2021, shifting reliance from borrowing to DRM. As a result, ZRA’s contribution to the national budget has risen from 49% in 2021 to 71.7% in 2025.
“This strengthened social contract has facilitated the re-introduction of free education, leading to the re-enrollment of two million children in schools. Additionally, the Constituency Development Fund has surged from K1.6 million per constituency in 2021 to K36.1 million in 2025, with increased allocations to social safety nets, including healthcare and cash-for-work programs,” Mr. Banda stated.
He further outlined the government’s commitment to stabilizing tax policies while sealing revenue leakages, aiming to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio above 21.0% by 2027 from the current ten-year average of 17.1%.
On the sidelines of the seminar, Mr. Banda held discussions with the World Bank Global Director for Economic Policy, Manuela Francisco, on the Bank’s continued support for Zambia’s tax administration initiatives. Ms. Francisco reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to enhancing Zambia’s domestic resource mobilization efforts.
The Commissioner General also met with the Charge d’Affaires at the Zambian Embassy in the United States, Ms. Regina C. Boma, to explore collaboration on taxpayer education programs for Zambians in the diaspora.
