02 Apr 2023

Unwillingness to pay tax means government would inadequately meet the needs of the citizenry and consequently result in poor service delivery.

It is against this background that Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) general manager - communications, Ms Mable Bolele has made a carrion call to pay tax.

Speaking at Ghanzi stakeholders engagement event hosted by BURS recently, Ms Bolele said paying tax was a commitment to shoulder the burden as revenue collected through tax collection was used to fund government programmes and developments and enhance satisfactory service delivery.

As COVID-19 has paralysed most sectors, she said tax remained one of the avenues that could stimulate and grow the economy.

She said efforts to intensify tax collection were under way, citing that BURS was working on establishing a mobile office in the form of mobile track to reach rural areas, besides their normal outreach programmes.

Education on tax to tackle tax evasion due to lack of information and what may be consequences of tax invasion, she said was underway.

She was hopeful that media training workshops on reporting tax, which started in 2019 would come handy.

Earlier, BURS general manager - north, Mr Patrick Mavuma said BURS quest to engage with all stakeholder for mutual benefit remained key as stakeholder opinion and insight were of utmost importance and was hopeful that Tsaya Kgato campaign would bear fruit.

Mr Mavuma said they did not only focus on tax collection, but they also address the issue of service delivery as they believed that their clients should be satisfied.

Kgosi Annah Rankho of Ghanzi, in her welcome remarks, said tax was historical, biblical and had been there from time immemorial, as such encouraged tax payers to fulfill their responsibilities of paying tax.

Participants heaped Ghanzi BURS office with praises, saying its customer service was top notch.

They also called on the intensification of public education on tax and it’s types.

In his vote of thanks, Ghanzi District agriculture coordinator, Ms Velleminah Pelokgale said education on tax, particularly for farmers, was necessary as they were key stakeholders in the economy. Ends