Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General, Dingani Banda, has called for stronger international cooperation among tax administrations to address increasingly complex transactions, rising taxpayer expectations and other emerging challenges in revenue collection.
In a speech read on his behalf by Acting ZRA Commissioner General, Ernest Sigande, at a reception hosted by the British High Commission in Zambia, Rebecca Terzeon, for participants in the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) Senior Leadership Programme, the commissioner said partnerships were essential to strengthening tax administration.
“Addressing these challenges requires not only strong institutions, but also cooperation, trust and a willingness to learn from one another,” Mr Banda said.
The remarks were made as Zambia hosts the first phase of the 2026/2027 Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) Senior Leadership Programme, which has brought together 28 delegates representing 20 tax administrations across 20 countries.
The Commissioner General said the programme provided an opportunity for tax officials from different jurisdictions to exchange experiences and strengthen professional relationships to support improved tax administration.
Mr Banda also highlighted the longstanding cooperation between Zambia, the United Kingdom and CATA, noting that continued support and shared learning in tax administration and capacity development had strengthened institutions and enhanced their ability to deliver on their mandates.
He urged participants to use the programme to build relationships and share experiences that would continue to benefit their respective tax administrations beyond the training period.
The Commissioner General thanked the British High Commissioner for hosting the reception and reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration in strengthening tax administration across participating countries.
Speaking earlier, British High Commissioner, Rebecca Terzeon, stressed the importance of a fair and predictable tax system in ensuring businesses contribute to national resources and economic growth benefits communities across Zambia.
The High Commissioner said effective taxation and the equitable distribution of public resources were essential to ensuring that economic growth translated into job creation and support for vulnerable members of society.
“Companies to be paying taxes that are fair and predictable so that they are contributing to the resources of the country,” the High Commissioner said.
Ms Terzeon said effective economic management required not only businesses to meet their tax obligations but also the fair distribution of resources to ensure communities benefited from economic progress.
She said economic growth should create employment opportunities and improve support for vulnerable people.
Ms Terzeon encouraged participants to use the programme to build lasting professional relationships, saying the networks and friendships developed during leadership training could prove valuable long after the course ended.
The High Commissioner said such connections could enable participants to seek advice and support from one another when confronted with professional challenges or new opportunities.
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