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Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) delegation completes a successful
tour of Zambia
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USAID/Zambia and the MCA Threshold Program hosted a delegation from the Millennium Challenge Corporation from March 25-27. Rodney Bent, Deputy CEO, and Maureen Harrington, Vice President for Policy and International Relations were in Zambia to tour a number of project sites and attend the official launch of the Zambia Revenue Authority new VAT registration process and code of ethics on Tuesday, March 27th.
The delegation toured the Ministry of Agriculture Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS) operation at Lusaka International Airport on Sunday upon arrival. PQPS is benefiting from MCA Program support in upgrading its ICT infrastructure and providing resource material for officers to be better able to identify pests on shipments, and streamline the process for communicating between the airport and its headquarters.
The delegation visited the Chirundu border post between Zambia and Zimbabwe on Monday, March 26th to assess progress toward an integrated border process. They were guests of the Anti-Corruption Commission at a presentation that evening on the project’s broad efforts to support the fight against corruption.
On March 27, the delegation joined Vice President Rupiah Banda, Minister of Finance Ng’andu Magande, and Acting Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Wisdom Nhekairo at the opening of the newly refurbished ZRA Customer Service Center. The refurbishment of the customer service center, as well as the re-engineering of the VAT registration process, have helped to shorten the time it takes for business to register for VAT from 21 days down to 3 days. Technical assistance and commodities from the MCA Program allowed ZRA to provide this improved service, and we have seen the program deliver on its 2 year goal to reduce the time it takes to register a business from 35 days to 10 in less than 9 months.
As part of the renewed commitment to transparency and
public service, ZRA introduced a new Code of Ethics at the same event,
setting guidelines for professional and ethical conduct of ZRA staff.
The ZRA’s Integrity Committee, in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption
Commission and the Zambia Threshold Program, launched the new Code yesterday
with the Vice President leading ZRA officers in a public affirmation to
the Code of Ethics. The ZRA will soon display a “citizen’s
charter,” outlining the level of service Zambians can expect from
the agency.
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