By DELPHINE ZULU –

ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) officials and police officers yesterday stormed Post Newspapers Limited offices on Bwinjimfumu Road demanding payment of more than K16 million in tax arrears.
The newspaper company was served with two warrants of distress demanding payment of the money (over K16 million) in taxes and tax arrears.
The first notice the Post Newspapers Limited was served with is a warrant of distress of K6,954,911.75 in taxes, and K9,969,483.29 in Pay As You Earn and tax arrears in a second warrant of distress with a demand for these payments in full with immediate effect.
The combined team of officers invaded the Post Newspapers Limited offices before 08:00 hours and served the newspaper with a warrant of distress resulting from late penalties and interests accrued from the previous tax slapped on the company.
ZRA spokesperson Mumbuna Kufekisa confirmed the development in an interview and explained that the Post Newspapers Limited had been given 10 days to reconcile its tax accounts with those of ZRA.
Mr Kufekisa said the newspaper was aware about the matter as his office, under the legal department, had been engaging the company on late payments of penalties and interest accrued from the previous amount demanded.
He advised the Post Newspapers Limited to visit his organisation if they felt the need to dispute the amount given other than claiming that the action was aimed at ‘fixing’ it.
“Take note that we are not fixing The Post newspaper as they claim, we collect tax on behalf of Government. A lot of institutions have been pursued, not necessarily The Post alone as they put it,” Mr Kufekisa said (From front page)
Meanwhile, Post Newspapers general manager – Finance – Rowena Zulu said in a statement that at 08:00 hours yesterday, ZRA officers invaded Post Newspapers Limited offices along Bwinjimfumu Road in the company of a number of armed police officers.
Ms Zulu said the officers served a warrant of distress on the newspaper for an amount of K6,954,911.75, demanding that this be paid immediately.
“They claim this amount comprises late payment penalties and interest. These amounts have never been brought to our attention before and the demand to which the claim relates was settled a long time ago,” Ms Zulu said.
She said although The Post paid the K26 million, ZRA had demanded that there had been disagreements over the way the penalties and interest ZRA had made for the newspaper to pay were calculated.
Ms Zulu said there were numerous communications from The Post to this effect asking for reconciliation.
“They have never discussed this figure with us; all they bring to us today is a warrant of distress in the amount of K6,954,911.75,” Ms Zulu said.
She also confirmed that the demand was accompanied by another demand notice of K9,969,483.29, which  comprises of K1,202,387.32 VAT and K8,767,095.97 Pay As You Earn, inclusive of penalties and interest. “We do not owe ZRA any such amounts on VAT,” Ms Zulu said.