Industry engages govt

TENDAIISHE  NYAMUKUNDA

Industry is engaging the Government  over the issue  of VAT registration  and tax clearance certificates  claiming that  this will have a detrimental effect on the operations of  local manufacturers, Business Times can report.

It comes after the government directed that those who are not tax compliant  will not be permitted to purchase from manufacturers.

However, business is so alluring that the government could find a means of tax collection.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries ( CIZ) president Kurai Macheza  confirmed that the issue of VAT registration  and Tax clearance  certificates is a matter they are taking to  government

“It is a matter we are taking to the authorities, obviously  it is not good order in our opinion, the timing  is not good  in the sense that it will take time for traders to have their tax clearance  certificates if they were not, so in one month notice it is not good enough,” said Matsheza said.

He added: “Actually we want a different way of thinking and part of it to say is there a way manufacturers  can have some level of consumptive tax that we levi if a consumer walks in our shops and does not have a tax clearance  certificate as manufacturers  we should be able to sell to the person and levi a certain tax that as manufacturers  will release directly to ZIMRA , to tax authority instead of saying do not buy.”

The Zimbabwe National Chambers of Commerce (ZNCC)  president Mike Kamungeremu  said:

“So we have got feedback that we have given which we are submitting  to the government and its a biggest concern from a business  perspective  that it is coming with additional  administrative burden on the side of manufacturers.”