I WRITE to complain to Government on the proposed increase on presumptive tax paid by bus operators.
While presumptive tax on 60-seater, luxury coach buses is supposed to be K1,000 per bus a month, the proposed tax of K600 per bus a month for a 30-seater minibus is way too much.
This is because the business dynamics are different. The turnover on a 30-seater minibus is by far less than that of a 60-seater luxury coach. A survey can be conducted to prove this.
Take for instance an operator of a 30-seater minibus that is making on average K7,000 or less, as the case may be in other towns, per month. One will be subjected to presumptive tax at the rate of K600 (8.5 per cent on turnover). Don’t you think this is too much and in turn, deter many would-be operators to register as operators?
I also feel that this proposal is not in line with the PF campaign promise of “lower taxes and more money in people’s pockets”.
I therefore, call on our listening Government and president, through the Finance minister, to reconsider this proposal as it will affect incomes of many Zambians whose income solely depend on this kind of business.
DANIEL KAMPILIMBA

Hats off to Ndola’s Mystic Ventures

ABOUT a year ago, Mystic Ventures Restaurant opened its doors to the public in Ndola.
The flair of elegance with which the Restaurant opened continues to glow.
The service remains cosy and befitting of praise.
The serenity and tranquil of the environment continues to draw many Patrons of a mature age.
The Music played is of a mature kind and not riddled with all manner of adjectives as we hear these days. One does not find ‘epileptic dance tunes but very mature jazz and good old Music.
Food is equally timely served and very sumptuous.
The interior and exterior beauty is as ever very captivating.
I wish to pay special thanks to the Proprietors that be to continue on the right path.
VICTOR CHIMUKA
Ndola

Chifubu service station upgrade welcome but..

ALLOW me space in your reputable newspaper to commend Engen Oil Marketing Company for upgrading Chifubu service station to a modern one.
Although the upgrading and refurbishment of the Chifubu Engen filling station had taken too long to complete, the final product or output of the project is superb.
It is a state-of- the-art modern service station.
It is second to none.
Ndola has never seen a filling station of this standard.
Unlike these other service stations which have one or no air point at all, Chifubu Engen service station has three air points next to each fuel pump.
You can actually inflate a tyre while fuel is being pumped into a car tank.
However, the service station still needs to train its operators in customer relations and queue management to match the standards of the service station.
There is also need to work on stock outs. It’s quite embarrassing to see a state-of-the- art service station  experiencing stock outs perpetually.
Keep it up Engen and extend this gesture to other parts of Ndola and eventually the entire country.
You have led the way in Zambia, not in market share, but as far as standards are concerned.
KUMESA KAUTA
Ndola