Road Traffic queried on revenue figures

The Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament has summoned the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) to explain the sudden jump in non-tax revenue and circumstances that might have led to under-collection in the previous years.

Government derives some of its non-tax revenue from fees for road traffic services and fines which were last adjusted on October 1 2014.

Committee chairperson Rhino Chiphiko said in an interview on Monday they have asked officials from DRTSS to provide comprehensive figures of revenue collection going back a few financial years to understand the situation.

He said as Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament, their oversight role mandates them to investigate ways in which government is collecting money on behalf of Malawians.

“We want to understand why revenue has gone up so high. What was not happening before? We want the officials to bring the figures and show us so we understand better,” Chiphiko said.

DRTSS director Jacque Manong’a told The Nation three weeks ago that he was amazed at the increasing figures.

In July 2015, the department collected K325 million compared to K120 million recorded in July 2014.

Manong’a attributed rising revenues to the newly introduced Malawi Traffic Information System (Maltis) which is said to have sealed loopholes in revenue collection and record management.

With the introduction of Maltis, the department’s clients are required to have an identity card which is costing K5 000 each, thereby increasing revenue streams for government.

The committee has also summoned other revenue collection bodies such as Immigration Department and Malawi Revenue Authority as part of the week-long meeting.