Remove of VAT on sanitary pads- MCMZ

SIMON MUNTEMBA writes GOVERNMENT should consider removing value added tax (VAT) on sanitary pads to make them affordable for vulnerable women and girls, the Musokotwane Compassion Mission Zambia (MCMZ) has said. MCMZ, is a local non-governmental organisation (NGOs) that the fight against child marriage.  MCMZ executive director, Sibbuku Musokotwane said rural girls miss over 120 subject periods per academic term due to lack of sanitary towels during their menstruation periods, adding that this has contributed to high illiteracy levels, school dropouts and child marriage among girls. Mr Musokotwane has therefore called on the Government and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to remove VAT on sanitary pads to make them affordable for vulnerable women and girls. In a statement availed to The Sun, Mr Musokotwane said this on Thursday when he flagged off the 300 pads distribution exercise at MCMZ Centre of Excellency on ending child marriage. Mr. Musokotwane said the MCMZ 300 pads campaign aimed at providing sanitary pads to 300 rural girls in examination classes at Chipande, Masopo, and Siamaambo Primary Schools in Choma District of Southern Province from June 1 to December 31, 2020. He said the distribution of pads to various schools would help girls in examination classes not to miss classes and reduce child marriage prevalence. Mr Musokotwane further called on government to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary pads in order for the business community to lower the prices of the commodity and make it accessible to the poor and vulnerable women and girls. He thanked the Guild of Spar Zambia, and the Spar Choma Managing for donating over one thousand five hundred (1500) sanitary pads towards the exercise. Meanwhile, Spar Choma has donated 1500 pads to girls in Grade 7 and 9 in rural areas in Southern Province. Spar Choma managing director, Rebecca Beckett who handed the donations said Spar Choma was committed through working with MCMZ to making sure that the 300 girls in Grade 7 and 9 from rural areas were able to attend all classes and complete their schooling up to December, 2020. The Sun