Minister of Education, Douglas Syakalima, has commended the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for promoting taxation knowledge among young learners, highlighting the important role it plays in national development.
Mr Syakalima says such initiatives of promoting taxation education will build a foundation for a culture of voluntary tax compliance among future generations.
He was speaking in a speech read for him by the Ministry’s Director for Secondary School Education, Yvone Chulu, during the Zambia Revenue Authority SMART Voices Secondary School Season Two debate in Lusaka.
Mr Syakalima said the initiative which has brought together 72 learners from government, private, and grant-aided schools in a constructive contest of ideas, will build a foundation for tax compliance as well as cultivate leadership qualities for young learners.
“Engagement of this nature nurtures intellectual curiosity, fosters teamwork, and cultivates respect for diverse perspectives,” he said.
And ZRA Commissioner General, Dingani Banda, said while the country has made notable progress in tax collection, voluntary tax remains a challenge, emphasising that the debate will ensure that tomorrow’s generation understands that paying tax is not a burden but a duty, which is key to national development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Acting ZRA Director for Executive Support, Laban Simbeye, Mr Banda noted that the ZRA SMART voices debate is a milestone for taxpayer education for young people in the country.
The Season two debate features 72 pupils drawn from 12 schools from Chilanga, Chongwe, Kafue, and Lusaka Districts.
He noted that the debate competition is one of the many ways through which ZRA is enhancing patriotism and inculcating tax education in people at a young age.
“The debates are investments in shaping responsible, informed young citizens who will carry Zambia forward through tax compliance,” he said.
Mount Makulu Secondary School and Mukamambo Secondary School took to the finals, with Mount Makulu emerging victorious by taking up the first place, with debating learners each getting a laptop plus the school getting K60,000, while Mukamambo came out second, with each learner getting a tablet plus the school getting K40,000.
.
