WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The Acting mayor Evariste Bizimana has urged taxpayers in the district to always make timely payment of their dues to contribute to the country’s development.

"Taxes are very vital in every country’s development. That is why timely clearance of taxes should be every citizen’s responsibility,” he said. 

He was recently opening a meeting of officials of Rwanda Revenue Authority and district taxpayers at Gisenyi cultural center. The meeting was meant to discuss how taxation procedures can be improved.

Pierre Bumbakali, RRA official in charge of internal revenue stressed the importance of cooperation between revenue officials and taxpayers in laying down proper taxation procedures.

He called for regular meetings and seminars between them to identify loopholes that lead to tax evasion. He challenged tax payers to take it as an obligation to make timely payment of taxes, to avoid inconveniences which he said would affect their business.

Bumbakali warned residents against the continuous smuggling of various commodities especially from the neighboring Congolese town of Goma. He noted that smuggling affects genuine traders who pass through the right channels, because smugglers sell at reduced prices.

"There are laws to punish such wrongdoers including imprisonment and fine. We have received reports of people including women who cross the border from neighboring Goma, at night carrying various goods. We are aware of this kind of illicit trade and we are ready to tackle it,” he said. Participants promised to tackle corruption head on, by exposing corrupt revenue officials and tax payers.

On February 16, the ant-smuggling unit of RRA arrested about four smugglers with various kinds of goods from Goma.

RRA officials say there is increasing smuggling of commodities such as televisions, radios, refrigerators, iron sheets, expensive wines and clothes through narrow entry points.

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