RUSIZI — The commissioner for Quality Assurance in Rwanda Revenue Authority has urged Rusizi District local leaders to always encourage area residents to pay taxes on time.

Addressing district and sector leaders last week, Peter Ruyumbu also cautioned residents against smuggling, which he said hampers development.

"I appeal to every local leader in attendance to go back in your respective sectors and seriously sensitise business operators to always pay taxes on time and to avoid tax evasion- that’s when our nation shall strongly develop economically,” Ruyumbu said.

Supt. Emmanuel Kalinda, the head of surveillance Division in the Revenue Protection Division (RPD), urged the sector leaders to strengthen mechanisms to tackle smuggling in their respective sectors.

Smuggling, he said, hinders any form of development and ruins the economy of the country.

The two officials later visited Mururu Sector that borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, where smuggling is said to be high.

According to Kalinda, Rusizi District is ranked among the districts where smuggling is high.

Ends