12 Jun 2019

 

Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) has been cautioned against meddling in political battles and risk losing credibility.

The call came from some of the South East District councillors when the revenue office  addressed a full council session on June 11.

The councillors accused the authority of seemingly targeting some political figures while leaving others, as well as inviting the media to their raids.

However, BURS general manager, Bugalo Mudongo told the councillors that the authority was not fighting political battles, but only implementing the law.

He described BURS as a law enforcement agency, adding that they worked hand in hand with other law enforcement agencies.

Mr Mudongo said the authority pledges secrecy of their clients, hence they would not invite the media during their raids.

He assured the council that they were partial in their dealings and said all those who were aggrieved by BURS were at liberty to approach the organ to lodge a complaint or seek remedy from the courts of law.

Regarding entry of goods into the country, he said there were procedures to be followed and goods must be declared at ports of entry.

Mr Mudongo also told the council that the BURS office at the Ramotswa Border Post was too small, hence the organ could not open an office there for residents to file their returns.

He said they would rather look into the possibility of having an office away from the border post to serve the community.

Another BURS official, Ms Lorato Selemogwe cautioned against tax evasion, saying it was a serious offence that attracted serious penalties.

Therefore she appealed to the community to register for tax and religiously file their tax returns.

She stated that BURS had a mandate to perform tax assessments and collections of funds for the benefit of the country, while the community had the responsibility to file tax returns and keep all the records, adding that all goods coming into the country must be declared.

Ms Selemogwe also told the council meeting that they had the right to object and appeal an assessment to the assessment board and they could go as far as the high court.

Councillors were also concerned that some community members who were renting out their houses to individuals were invading tax.

They further requested BURS to take tax education to schools to sensitise children at an early age. ENDS