Treasury Pushes for Recovery of Over K1 Billion in Unremitted Non-Tax Revenue
The Ministry of Finance and National Planning has announced urgent efforts to recover over K1 billion in unremitted non-tax revenue owed to various government sectors, as outlined in a mid-year report by the Office of the Accountant General.
Finance Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane expressed concern over the unpaid sum, which, as of June 2024, amounted to K1,078,158,586.39. These funds, owed for services in sectors such as energy, tourism, labour, water development, sanitation, and transport, are vital to the government’s ability to finance public services.
“The non-remittance of revenue by certain stakeholders is seriously impacting the resources available for public service delivery,” said Felix Nkulukusa, Secretary to the Treasury, as he presented the report to the Finance Minister.
The delay in remittances comes at a time when the government is striving to meet its 2024 macroeconomic objective of increasing domestic revenue to 22% of GDP. The Treasury is now backing Ministries and Agencies in pursuing all necessary measures to ensure full remittance of outstanding amounts by the end of October 2024.
The unpaid dues are broken down as follows:
- Energy Sector: K617.9 million from energy regulation board licence fees
- Tourism Sector: K8.04 million from casino and hotel registration fees
- Water Development & Sanitation: K5.68 million from WARMA fees
- Labour Sector: K382,798 for occupational safety and registration fees
- Transport & Logistics: K3.56 million for equipment and maintenance
- Lands & Natural Resources: K442.2 million in ground rent and consideration fees
To hasten the recovery, the government will publish a list of individuals and organizations responsible for the arrears. This effort is part of the 2024 resource mobilisation plan, which is crucial to funding emergency drought response efforts. The government has declared the drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon a national disaster, affecting many Zambians.
“These funds are needed not just for the government’s operational needs, but also for the emergency relief efforts initiated by President Hakainde Hichilema,” the statement added. The funds are crucial for initiatives like food distribution, cash transfers, and social programs aimed at alleviating the drought’s effects on vulnerable communities.
The Ministry remains confident that these aggressive measures will result in the timely recovery of the K1 billion owed, ensuring continued funding for the government’s social and economic programs.
