The Zambian government says it is intensifying efforts to recover over K1 billion in unremitted non-tax revenue, with the end of October as the targeted dateline.

Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who made the announcement, said the office of the Auditor General has resolved to ensure transparency and accelerate collection, with plans to publish the details of all organizations and individuals who are yet to remit these funds.

Musokotwane noted that a report submitted by the office of the Accountant General to the Secretary to the Treasury showed that as of June 2024, a total of K1,078,158,586.39 in non-tax revenue remained outstanding.

He noted that the funds owed by various stakeholders to government ministries and agencies are crucial for financing key public services.

“To accelerate the remittance of outstanding revenue by respective stakeholders, the government will publish details of all organizations and individuals who are owing. We anticipate positive results from the exercise,” Musokotwane said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.

He emphasized that failure by some organizations and individuals to remit non-tax revenue was inconsistent with the government’s macroeconomic goals for 2024, which aimed to boost domestic revenue collection to at least 22 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Undoubtedly, to achieve this target, the assigned ministries and agencies have the full backing of the Treasury in pursuing all relevant channels to ensure that the targeted non-tax revenues for various goods and services they render on behalf of the government are remitted by the end of October 2024,” Musokotwane said.

He added that the unremitted revenue relates to services provided in sectors including energy, tourism, labour, water development and sanitation, transport and logistics, and home affairs and internal security.

The minister reiterated that government remained committed to ensuring that all outstanding non-tax revenue was collected within the stipulated time frame to strengthen public finances and support key national priorities.

With the absence of President Bola Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, from the country, the Nigerian Presidency insists there is no vacuum in governance.

Tinubu had travelled to the United Kingdom on October 3 in what the Presidency had said was a two-week working vacation without transmitting powers to his vice.

On Wednesday, October 16, it was also announced that Shettima had jetted out to Sweden, which made many Nigerians question why both the President and the Vice President should be absent from the country at the same time.

But in a statement by Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency sought to clarify the position, stating that there was no need to panic as governance was still running smoothly despite the absence of the duo.

“It is important to note that the President and Vice President are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away. There is no leadership vacuum in the country,” Onanuga said.

“President Tinubu left the country on Oct. 3 and is on a two-week working vacation. During this time, he has been busy answering phones and issuing directives on matters of state.

“He will soon return to the country before the vacation officially expires.”

He also explained that the vice president departed the country Wednesday for Sweden on an official visit, and all state organs were functioning as usual.

“The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministers, and Service Chiefs are all in their respective positions, ensuring the smooth operation of the government.

“We had a similar situation in 2022 when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were found to be simultaneously out of the country.

“President Buhari attended UNGA 77, while Osinbajo participated in the burial of Queen Elizabeth ll,” he noted.