By CHARITY MOONGA and ISAAC MUKANDO –

THE Road Transport Safety Agency (RTSA) has impounded 650 unregistered pirate taxis on the Copperbelt.

Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) corporate communications manager Mumbuna Kufekisa confirmed the development in a statement in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Kufekisa said RTSA and ZRA had embarked on a programme to register all impounded unregistered pirate taxis for them to start paying tax to the ZRA.

The pirate taxis were impounded in accordance with Statutory Instrument number 33 under the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications.

Mr Kufekisa said that ZRA had since written to RSTA concerning the registration of the pirate taxis for tax purposes.

“ZRA will want to have collaboration with RSTA in order to ensure the pirate taxi operators captured through this exercise are registered for them to begin paying tax to ZRA,” Mr Kufekisa said.

In other provinces where the exercise of impounding pirate taxi operators was being undertaken by RTSA, the ZRA provincial managers would be the contact persons for the exercise while the focal person at head office would be Joy Muleya.

Meanwhile, about 100 impounded pirate taxis have remained unclaimed in various towns on the Copperbelt.

Acting Copperbelt Police Chief Joyce Kasosa said in an interview yesterday that 53 vehicles had not been claimed in Kitwe, 15 in Chililabombwe, 21 in Luanshya, five in Mufulira and three in Chingola.

Ms Kasosa said more vehicles remained unclaimed in various police stations.

She said the impounding of pirate taxis was on-going with Kitwe recording the highest number of vehicles impounded.

She said those who had their vehicles impounded for operating without the colour code ribbon and Public Service Vehicle licence were made to pay admission of guilt fees of up to K540.

Ms Kasosa said pirate taxi drivers claiming to have been assaulted by the police should report the matter to the relevant authorities.