Story by Aifheli Mudau
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has intensified its tax compliance drive in Beitbridge, bringing together businesses and key stakeholders in an effort to curb tax evasion, combat transit fraud and strengthen revenue mobilisation for national development.
The engagement forms part of ZIMRA’s broader strategy to improve the ease of doing business by promoting voluntary tax compliance through education and collaboration rather than punitive enforcement.
Business representatives welcomed the initiative, saying direct engagement with tax officials helps them understand evolving tax regulations and their obligations.
“This engagement helped us a lot as businesses because laws change from time to time. If ZIMRA continues to engage us, we will be able to get answers to some of the questions we have about taxes,” said one participant.
Another stakeholder said face-to-face interaction with ZIMRA officials removes uncertainty and discourages reliance on intermediaries.
“These engagements provide solutions because they give us clarity on the taxes we pay. We have to understand the whole process to avoid middlemen,” the participant said.
A business owner said the session had improved understanding of tax obligations and the benefits of compliance.
“Today I learnt a lot about our duties as businesses in paying tax and how it helps us claim VAT. In most instances, we were running away from ZIMRA because of a lack of knowledge, but now we understand the importance of paying our dues,” the business owner said.
The meeting brought together businesses from various sectors, with ZIMRA urging importers and exporters to work closely with the authority to ensure compliance throughout the tax process.
Acting ZIMRA Regional Manager Mr Walter Machenjeza said stakeholder engagement remains key to improving compliance and supporting national development.
“We hold these engagements to explain the correct procedures for paying taxes. This helps businesses understand every stage they must follow when importing or exporting goods, reducing the risk of tax evasion. Their taxes are vital for national development, and we encourage businesses to continue working with us,” he said.
The engagement comes as Government intensifies efforts to promote voluntary tax compliance through nationwide tax education, reinforcing the role of revenue collection in financing Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
