Taxman, MISA partner to reinforce media relations

BOKANG MOSHOESHOE

MASERU – Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa – Lesotho (MISA Lesotho) hosted a dynamic Press Club session on RSL Social Club in Maseru this week.

The ground breaking move aims to enhance communication, transparency, and accountability in the media space. This event marked a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the national revenue service and the media fraternity.

It served not only as a platform to disseminate critical information, but also as a strategic effort to ensure public participation in tax reforms and service improvement. Unlike conventional press briefings, the particular Press Club session adopted a more relaxed and interactive format, allowing for robust discussions, questions, and input from journalists and communication specialists alike.

The Press Club initiative is part of RSL’s broader effort to implement the 2024–2027 Corporate Lesokoana Strategy and Media Relations Strategy. Both strategies underscore the importance of open dialogue, real-time feedback, and media empowerment in supporting RSL’s goals of improving service delivery and enhancing voluntary compliance.

RSL’s Digital Services department officer Nthabeleng Makharilele gave insights into how the institution collects data to better understand client experiences and revealed that the RSL has adopted a five-tier customer satisfaction rating system: Extremely Satisfied, Satisfied, Okay, Dissatisfied, and Extremely Dissatisfied.

This system allows RSL to collect and analyse feedback on a continuous basis, she further explained.

“We use this rating mechanism to examine our clients’ opinions about our services. By acting on the feedback we receive, we are able to identify service gaps and take immediate steps to improve. Ultimately, this helps us serve Basotho better and compensate them through enhanced efficiency,” Makharilele further clarified.

RSL strives to be more client-centric and responsive in its approach, aligning service improvements with the expectations and experiences of taxpayers, she said.

A key highlight of the event was the official announcement of the Agent for Foreign Firms (AFF) initiative, launched on July 1.

Relebohile ’Molaoa, RSL’s Client Education and Marketing Officer said the AFF framework will introduce a more structured and regulated approach for dealing with foreign companies operating in Lesotho.

“For many years, Lesotho’s open market system has been exploited by informal and unregulated foreign companies. This has resulted in massive tax leakages, as some of these entities evade taxes through loopholes and circumvention of local laws,” ’Molaoa said.

He explained that under the AFF model, Lesotho citizens and small businesses will be privileged to act as agents on behalf of foreign exporters.

This will not only enhance transparency but also boost the local economy by ensuring that taxes are duly paid and monitored.

Furthermore, ’Molaoa urged small businesses to consider adopting the private shopper model, particularly for border transactions.

This model allows shoppers to declare and weigh goods properly, ensuring that they pay accurate taxes at the border.

This move, he noted, is a practical solution to reduce tax evasion while also protecting the interests of legitimate small traders.

“By involving Basotho directly in international trade processes, we are empowering local businesses to take up roles in cross-border trade and fostering economic inclusion,” he added.

The event also served as a reminder of the powerful role that media plays in nation-building and economic development.

MISA Lesotho, as a longstanding partner of transparency and good governance, reiterated its commitment to facilitating open government and accountable public institutions through informed journalism.

As RSL continues its journey to modernize tax administration and promote a culture of compliance, the Press Club was poised to become a vital platform for dialogue, accountability, and collective action.