Goodall defends duty on vehicles

Finance, Economic Planning and Development Minister Goodall Gondwe has defended current taxation imposed on imported vehicles saying the duty restriction is helping the country reduce air pollution as a result of a decrease in the number of old vehicles.

Responding to questions from Balaka North MP and UDF leader in the House, Lucius Banda, who wanted the minister to consider reducing import duty and excise on vehicles, Gondwe said old vehicles are hazards to the environment.

Banda argued that the majority of the citizenry fail to purchase vehicles because of extra import duty costs which he said were prohibitive.

But Gondwe responded: “The import duty and excise on vehicles are designed to minimise air pollution. In some countries, even those in Africa, they ban importation of such cars or pay extra taxes.”

However, Banda maintained that the duty is so prohibitive,  that it takes some people five years to pay by which time the vehicles have become ziphakasala (not road worthy).

Contributing on the same, Ntchisi North MP Boniface Kadzamira also quizzed government for a better explanation how it monitors importation of goods, into the country amid an influx of several imports.

The minister assured the House that his ministry will consult more on the issue and revert with responses.

In a related development, Gondwe assured MP for Mzimba South East Rabson Shaba and Kasungu South’s Vasco Mtunduwatha Chimbalu that government will consider their requests to have commercial banks introduce mobile banking services in four trading centres and open a bank at Santhe Trading Centre.

“However, it should be clear that the decision is with the banks. What we do as government is to influence them (banks) to go and assess the areas and make their decisions,” said Gondwe.