The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), recently took part in the Minex Southern Region Expo and Conference held in Zvishavane, where it emphasised that it was imperative for miners to comply with taxation and customs laws.
The event, organised by Minex is a platform for small-scale miners, aimed to unite numerous mining suppliers, producers, and manufacturers for collaboration and the exchange of innovations. The primary focus of ZIMRA's participation at the event was to educate and implore small-scale miners to comply with tax regulations by registering with ZIMRA through the newly introduced TaRMS system.
Mr Munyaradzi Hwengwere, the Chairman of Minex, highlighted that miners need to hid the call for compliance. “For small-scale miners to progress to medium and high scales, they must register for taxes and comply. The cost of non-compliance is too heavy. I urge all miners to do what is necessary," he said during the conference.
Adding weight at the conference, Mr Godfrey Ziwumburu, the Acting Station Manager for Masvingo, Chiredzi, and Zvishavane, stressed that compliance was imperative to boost the economy.
“Compliance enables miners to obtain Tax Clearances, which are necessary for conducting business and accessing opportunities in the market. This is crucial in building financial resources for a better Zimbabwe,” said Mr Ziwumburu.
Young Miners Federation (YMF) Chief Executive Officer, Mr Payne Kupfuwa who also took part during the event urged small-scale miners to formalise their operations and treat mining as a business, not just a way of survival.
Miners were educated on the benefits of tax and customs compliance during the event, such as the VAT deferment provision which is granted to miners on importation of some capital equipment for the exclusive use in mining. Mr Simon Ganyani, from ZIMRA's Zvishavane office, took the opportunity to explain tax and customs issues. He highlighted that the mining sector is heavily incentivised for a good reason, emphasizing the need for compliance.
Participants pointed out that the extractive sector, including mining, often operates informally on a large scale. They stressed the importance of organisations like ZIMRA and EMA being visible and actively educating miners, as the sector has the potential to make a significant contribution to the country's tax base.
ZIMRA has demonstrated unwavering commitment to tackling taxpayers’ challenges and promoting compliance by actively engaging in exhibitions that prioritize client education. The organisation has implemented a range of innovative measures to enhance compliance, such as the introduction of TaRMS and the Single Window initiative, FDMS among others.
The expo and conference were attended by various stakeholders, including the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), alongside other exhibitors.