By STEVEN ZANDE –
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has shut down the Post Newspapers for non payment of tax worth about K53 million.
The ZRA officers who were in the company of police officers locked the Post Newspapers printing plant in the light industrial area and later the administration offices yesterday around 19:00 hours.
Police officers were manning the premises by Press time last evening.
This was after hours of a closed door meeting between ZRA officials and the Post Newspapers management.
The newspaper staff had even forced opened the plant around 17:00 hours after ZRA officials closed it down but it was reclosed afterwards.
Post Newspapers managing editor Joan Chirwa-Ngoma told journalists that the newspaper had contested the figure which she said was incorrect.
“We have tried to reason with ZRA officials but it seems like they were determined to close down the Post but now their will has been done,” Ms Chirwa-Ngoma said.
She said the Supreme Court had granted the Post Newspapers an injunction to proceed with operations but ZRA refused to accept the injunction.
The Supreme Court last week ruled in favour of ZRA in the case where the High Court granted the Post Newspapers a stay which prevented ZRA from closing down the newspaper.
In a judgment passed on June 13, this year, the Supreme Court reversed the ruling of November 10, last year by the High Court which prevented ZRA from levying distress against the Post Newspapers.