By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority commissioner general Ms Regina Chinamasa says tax compliance open many opportunities for doing business with public and private sector.
Addressing tourism players at a meeting in Bulawayo Friday, Ms Chinamasa said tax compliance by the tourism and hospitality sector was key.
“The need to complement the tourism sector with equally world class services such as roads, security and health services within the tourism sites and across the country is a must.
“Such services are driven by government through largely the taxes and levies we all pay,” she said.
Statistics have shown that tourism sector contributes an average of about 7 percent towards GDP of Zimbabwe.
“The sector has vast potential to be among the anchor sectors of the country,” Ms Chinamasa said.
“We want the tourists to have a memorable drive to the different sites across the country, enjoying the scenic sights along the way.
“We want the tourists to enjoy a unique service in Zimbabwe and Africa that is second to none,” she said.
“Through DRM, we can and we should build our national infrastructure and other ancillary services inch by inch.
Ms Chinamasa said government had a clear vision of where Zimbabwe should be by 2030.
“The journey towards vision 2030 is already underway and timely payment of taxes enables government to modernize, innovate, build or introduce facilities and services befitting citizens of an upper middle income state.
“We as ZIMRA are looking forward to be part of the generation that will fully enjoy the benefits of Vision 2030 and we are there effectively and efficiently collecting revenue that is due to the state,” she said,
According to World Bank, tax revenue collection as a share of GDP is between 15 to 20 percent in developing countries but over 30 percent in upper income countries.
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