LUSAKA, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Thursday defended the high number of taxes imposed on citizens within a short period of time, saying the imposed taxes have been properly selected to balance economic growth.
Stakeholders have expressed concern over the current tax burden placed on citizens, with the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), saying the high taxes had a significant bearing on efforts to reduce poverty.
Analysts have further said citizens were not in a position to absorb all the various taxes within a short time.
But Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya said it was not government intention to over-burden citizens with taxes but had an obligation to collect the taxes to run the economy.
She told reporters during a press briefing that all the taxes applied by the government were necessary to allow the government to operate and enhance performance of various sectors.
"It is not government intention to put so many taxes and where there are real issues, the government is ready to sit down and talk. The government needs also to operate and without that revenue, it is impossible," she said.
According to her, the growth of the economy was crucial to improve lives of citizens, adding that everything the government does, including introducing various taxes, was meant for the benefit of citizens.
The Zambian minister further said the perceived standoff with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a financial bailout package was being created by people who wanted to put a wedge between the government and the international lender.
She said as far as the government was concerned talks with the IMF on a possible 1.3 billion U.S. dollars financial package were still on-going and that there was no standoff.
