KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE ZIMRA COMMISSIONER GENERAL, MR G. T. PASI, AT THE OCCASION OF ZIMRA S CHARITY BALL, NOVEMBER 25, 2011, RAINBOW TOWERS, HARARE,

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1 KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE ZIMRA COMMISSIONER GENERAL, MR G. T. PASI, AT THE OCCASION OF ZIMRA S CHARITY BALL, NOVEMBER 25, 2011, RAINBOW TOWERS, HARARE, ZIMBABWE 1

2 It takes a noble [person] to plant a seed for a tree that will some day give shade to people he may never meet. John Bunyan SALUTATIONS Director of Ceremonies, Mr Emmanuel Manyika; Vice Chairperson of the ZIMRA Board, Mrs N. Abu-Basutu; Members of the ZIMRA Board; Executive Management Team of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority; Management and Staff of ZIMRA; Music icon, Mr Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits; Amai Mtukudzi, thank you for supporting us; Mr Kenny Mubaiwa, our auctioneer tonight; Captains of Industry; Members of the Media Fraternity; Invited Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen; A very good evening to you all! 2

3 1. INTRODUCTION Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs Psalms 84: 5-6 That is the driving force behind real altruism and selflessness, which are important traits in giving and sharing. It is the realisation that there are some people out there who are not as privileged as we are to get at least one decent meal a day or a roof over their heads. A Chinese proverb says, You cannot prevent the bird of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent it from nesting in your hair I wish to encourage us all tonight to relate this to what we can do as we relate with the not so privileged members of our society. Let us make a difference. You and I have a role to play in their lives. 3

4 Ladies and Gentlemen, this year marks ZIMRA s 10 th anniversary and the attendance itself shows the support that this initiative by ZIMRA has received over the years. This has, indeed, proven that working together is always a prerequisite for the attainment of any set goals. Indeed, as one wise person once said; there are no losers in a winning team and no winners in a losing team. So tonight, I believe we are in the winning team and we are going to give with a cheerful heart just as the Lord loves. This momentous occasion, Ladies and Gentlemen, is being held under the theme, Going beyond the decade through caring and sharing. This theme augurs well with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority s 10 th anniversary which was celebrated in September this year. It also captures the organisation s history of caring and sharing. Above all, it captures what Zimbabweans are known for caring for and sharing with each other. Let us, therefore, be mindful of the fact that we are gathered here for a very worthy cause of giving back to the communities that we are part of. So when we come to the auction stage please do not 4

5 look to the value of item you may wish to bid for. Rather imagine the many smiles on the faces of the recipients of your donation. As I look back from the time we launched the ZIMRA Charity Ball eight years ago, I feel so much humbled by your continued support. As you all know, the general perception which dates back to Biblical times is that tax collectors reap where they did not sow and care not for those around them. But in today s world, the nature of Revenue Collectors mandate makes them the hill of the nation. Whatever we do as your Revenue Authority is mirrored and echoed by those in the valley. We will strive not to disappoint and I trust that caring and sharing should be the starting point. Thank you! Tinotenda! Siyabonga! You should be humbled by your benevolence because several institutions have benefitted from the charity initiatives we have carried out over the years. 5

6 We hope to continue to make a difference in our communities through sustainable social development initiatives. Such initiatives include, but are not limited to: construction of greenhouses, sending less fortunate children to school, drilling of boreholes at deserving institutions, introduction of income generating projects, affording the less fortunate decent meals and shelter, and most importantly, sharing with them whatever we can. Ladies and Gentlemen, giving is not such an easy thing. This is because as Master Taisen Deshimaru puts it: Man seeks what is good for himself, sometimes at the expense of others. Every one of us chooses, selects, discriminates. We love what is beautiful, rich and delicate. But the cosmic order includes everything. The sun shines for the whole world. We should therefore seek a deep understanding of all things, and practice universal compassion. It takes sacrifice to plough back into societies in which we all operate. 6

7 What is even more pacifying is the fact that by ploughing back into society, we are investing in the future of our country, and who knows, even our organisations? We cannot afford to abandon charitable institutions and let them groom our future leaders on their own without our support. Corporate Social Responsibility should, therefore, be at the heart of our business operations as we strive to do business ethically. 2. HISTORY OF ZIMRA CHARITY BALL Although ZIMRA collects revenue on behalf of the State, it cannot use the funds so collected for charity causes. But in our endeavour to support the disadvantaged in our community and in a true African gesture of giving back to society, we had to come up with initiatives to raise funds for the less fortunate. ZIMRA Chairman s Charity Fund was, therefore, started at the Authority s inception in 2001 with staff being made to pay fines for handling themselves in a manner not worthy of a ZIMRA official. Such misdemeanours include: 7

8 having one s mobile phone ringing during a meeting, not properly putting on a ZIMRA uniform or name badge, using a pen not befitting a ZIMRA official during a meeting, or even disrupting the flow of a meeting through various means. In 2004, the inaugural ZIMRA Charity Ball was held as a fundraising initiative. Since then, the Authority has been holding the Charity Ball religiously to raise funds for the less fortunate members of society. This has been our way of giving back to society. We realise that society has always given to ZIMRA through revenue collection and it should also benefit through the little that we are able to give. Some of the themes we have adopted over the years to reflect our desires include: An act of kindness can make a world of difference The purpose of giving is giving for a worthy cause To give is to live Taking care of one another 8

9 This year s theme: Going beyond the decade through caring and sharing Through partnership with you our strategic stakeholders, we believe that we have managed to make a world of difference. We have touched lives and we will continue to build dreams. The list of charities that have benefited over the years is too long to exhaust but I will single out the following: Ivordale Child Shelter Thembiso Children s Home Cheshire Maryward Sisters of Charity Makumbi Mission Mucheke Old People s Home Mazowe Old People s Home Mother of Peace in Mutoko We hope to continue to make a difference in our communities. Your support as the private and public sectors alike has been very instrumental in changing for the better the lives of the less fortunate members of our society. 9

10 Together we will subdue the me, me again, me always syndrome which thought lies at the deep root of poverty. 3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To the various organisations represented here, please do not tire, let us have more of these brilliant initiatives and let us support each other in achieving success for the betterment of our communities. Supporting the less fortunate should also include visiting them to spend quality time with them. The senior citizens at Mazowe Old People s Home, Mucheke Old People s Home, and all the institutions you may think of need you. As one philosopher once said, you have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. All of you today are care givers and charity sponsors. 10

11 We need to clear all the items here on auction tonight for the benefit of the less privileged. We need faith, determination, passion and persistence in order to succeed in the area of giving. It is the way of heaven to take from those who have excess and give to those who are in need. The way of man is the opposite: It takes from those who have little and gives to those who have too much! Lao-tzu. Tonight lets all pretend we are in heaven, ladies and gentlemen. Once again, the theme of going beyond the decade through caring and sharing captures everything in a simple manner, to motivate those of us not used to giving, to rise up and work together with ZIMRA for the good of all humanity. As one Leornard Nimoy said, The miracle is this the more we share, the more we have. We have extended our corporate social responsibility activities to include street clean-up campaigns, spending quality time 11

12 with children and senior citizens at institutions as well as visiting the sick. CONCLUSION Besides the serious business of giving, the ZIMRA Charity Ball also presents a wonderful opportunity for refreshing, interaction and networking. Networking is about building relationships, asking each other matters of interest, sharing important information, chatting and talking. I urge you therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, to interact, shake hands, make friends, exchange business cards and create alliances. And as you do that please remember that, strong bonds are not made with ropes and no one can untie them. The wise man is always ready to do good for mankind with no exception. The wise man is always ready to do good for things with no exceptions. This is what we call following the light! Lao-tzu Most importantly, take out what you have in your pocket or write down what you have left at home or at work and give. One writer once said, 12

13 There are three kinds of givers - the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb. To get anything out of the flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Ladies and Gentlemen; the question is; out of the three types of givers, which one best describes you? To our superstar and the Black Spirits, thank you for sharing with us tonight your God given talents. In fact, I should thank you before the vote of thanks is delivered for offering your services tonight for a worthy cause and at no cost to ZIMRA. Tonight is that night when we get to do all the good things we have always dreamt of doing! And remember, every man/woman is guilty of every good thing he/she didn t do! 13

14 Lastly, I wish you all the best tonight as well as a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. God Bless You! I thank you! 14