MALAWI: MRA Deploys Drones to Combat Smuggling at Borders

By Smile Hamilton Malawi

The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has deployed seven drones along the country’s borders to monitor operations from the air in a bid to curb smuggling.

MRA Taxpayer Education Manager, Wadza Otomani, told Zodiak today that the authority has been losing millions of kwacha through smuggling activities, prompting the introduction of the new technology to help intercept smugglers.

“Smuggling is a serious challenge, especially in Dedza, Mchinji and parts of Mzimba. We procured these drones with funding from the World Bank to help deal with the problem,” said Otomani.

According to Otomani, MRA has been assigned a revenue collection target of K6 trillion for this financial year, and the use of drones is one of the measures aimed at recovering revenue the authority has been losing through illegal trade act

ivities.