By CHATULA KANGALI –
PETROLEUM transporters have bemoaned the high cost of duty in the importation of fuel tanker trailers into the country.
Petroleum Transporters Association of Zambia (PTAZ) General Secretary Benson Tembo said transporters were spending more on importing tanker trailers by paying a maximum duty of K100,000 to import one tanker trailer into the country.
Mr Tembo said in an interview that with the awarding of the 50 percent contract to local transporters, duty for tanker trailers should be exempted to allow locals acquire trailers.
“The 50 percent volume that has been given to Zambians is very huge and we need more tankers. Importing a tanker trailer into Zambia is very expensive compared to horse whose Value Added Tax (VATT) is exempted, for a horse we only pay about K3,000,” he said.
Mr Tembo urged Government to consider putting a duty weaver for a period of six months to allow transporters import more tankers.
He said the duty weaver on the importation of fuel tankers should be restricted to locals to allow them compete favourably.
Mr Tembo said the association had recorded an increase in number of indigenous Zambians in the fuel transportation sector which was a lucrative business.
He said the membership of the association had grown to 46 from 30 of which 30 percent were indigenous Zambians.
