No revenue loss after system collapse—MRA

Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) says network glitches that have disrupted operation of its customs management system has not affected revenue collection.

MRA spokesperson Wilma Chalulu said in a written response last evening that the public tax collector noted on Sunday that the Automated System for Customs Data (Asycuda) world system had some technical faults that put it offline.

She said the situation rendered MRA unable to clear some goods or process travellers using the platform, but allayed fears that the country will lose potential tax revenue.

Chalulu said: “To alleviate the challenge, the authority has been facilitating manual clearance of essential goods only, such as fuel, fertiliser, medical supplies and perishables.

“We would like to assure all Malawians that there was no revenue loss due to the system failure but only the delays in clearance of goods and travellers which is highly regretted. Once the system is up, the general goods that have been waiting will be processed accordingly and revenues will be collected.”

But in an interview yesterday, one of the affected businesspersons Rehema Gondwe, who imports cosmetics, said the alternative clearance system was slow and the delays will make her incur losses.

She claimed that her containers were supposed to be cleared by Saturday which has compelled some of her customers to cancel orders.

Gondwe said: “We are failing to pay our bills and interests are accumulating. Even if they clear my containers today, it will still be a challenge to sell my goods since some of the customers have already cancelled orders.”

In a separate interview, Archway Freight Clearing Agency operations manager Goodwin Mwale said MRA’s system failure has also affected the entire import industry.

Checks at some of the country’s borders, notably Dedza, Mwanza and Chiponde in Mangochi revealed that there were long queues of trucks waiting for MRA clearance.