Bureaucracy hindering Namra’s operations

The Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) has been advised to make its services more accessible in the regions.

The parliamentary standing committee on public accounts and economy says once services are decentralised to regional offices, bureaucracy would be eliminated.

This was said by National Unity Democratic Organisation member of parliament Peter Kazongominja in parliament yesterday.

According to Kazongominja, a report by the standing committee on public accounts and economy showed that there is unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders the operations of Namra and other agencies.

“To be successful, it must take it upon itself to sensitise the offices, ministries and agencies with representatives at the borders to decentralise the services of their respective border agencies,” said Kazongominja.

The committee also noted that the ineffectiveness of the Automated System for Customs Data (known as Asycuda) is causing revenue loss and trade delays.

“The committee was informed that the Department of Customs and Excise has been experiencing numerous challenges with the system,” said Kazongominja.

This could lead to incorrect trade data that could affect the country’s Southern African Customs Union revenue sharing, as well as national development plans, he said.

Additionally, Kazongominja said the committee was concerned about minimal taxation on exports from fishing and extractive industries.

“Namra will need to engage these industries regularly to solicit feedback and to enhance compliance to tax policies.”
Namra lodged an investigation of 14 fishing companies for alleged tax evasion last week.

According to Namra spokesperson Steven Ndorokaze, despite being one of the top sectors contributing to the Namibian economy over the years, the fishing industry has been among the lowest contributors to the treasury.

He said fees paid to directors and other members are often undeclared and therefore, untaxed.

Moreover the committee noted that there were damaged border fences, leading to smuggling.

“Rehabilitation of damaged border fences and border patrols supplemented by the use of the latest technology must be intensified to counter the smuggling of illicit goods, as well as non-declared goods that causes major revenue loss,” said Kazongominja.

The committee recommended that Namra constructs proper office space, residential accommodation and parking at the borders.

“The committee learnt that currently when it is raining, border officials suspend the inspection of trucks transporting animals or even inspection on those trucks that are exchanging cargo at the border,” said Kazongominja.

He added that officials stationed at the border need proper residential accommodation, as the current situation is detrimental to their morale.

“In the newly constructed prefabricated houses, as well as the already existing government accommodation, some Namra officials are sharing space, because the accommodation is not sufficient,” said Kazongominja.