ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) Commissioner-General Gershem Pasi has castigated the move by government to introduce a National Ports Authority, describing it as a waste of taxpayers’ money given the state of the economy.
BY TARISAI MANDIZHA
Addressing journalists in Harare last Friday, Pasi said: “To put in place a National Ports Authority is not a solution and it is an unnecessary cost because when you create a National Ports Authority you are creating a cost and also the question is how it is going to be funded.”
Pasi added: “There are two options, Zimra will have to pay rentals to the authority to sustain it, but where will the grant come from as currently there is no money. Already, we have staff and we can’t pay, but why should we recruit more. Looking at all the boarders in Zimbabwe the National Ports Authority will be for Beit Bridge only, what else will you need a National Ports Authority for?”
A National Ports Authority is a quasi-government public authority formed by a legislative body to administer ports and other transportation infrastructure.
Most port authorities across the world are financially self-sustaining.
Zimbabwe has 15 ports of entry which were being run by Zimra, although there have been reports of rampant smuggling of goods.
