CROSS BORDER SMUGGLING WORRIES INDUSTRY COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT

By Esther Manduwa 

The Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism has exposed rampant cross border smuggling of assorted goods. 

Some of the goods include sugar, beverages, cooking oil and clothes.

In its report, the committee notes that smugglers have taken advantage of unchartered routes to evade tax. 

Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and TourismChairperson Simplex Chithyola has strongly condemned the malpractice and stressed "revenue collection is being dealt a huge blow." 

Chithyola also made emphasis that influx of foreign goods undermines local industries and traders. 

Among others, the committee recommends authorities should intensify border patrols and that government should consider cutting tax for some local products.