EDSON M. CHILALA
Lusaka
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Zambia Revenue Authority, achieving record revenue collections exceeding ZMW 1.971 billion. Skilled in strategic focus and impactful communication, I excel in fostering partnerships and optimizing processes, leveraging ASYCUDA World expertise to enhance compliance and drive results in customs operations.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Collector
Zambia Revenue Authority
11.2020 - Current
- Responsible for managing activities and resources in order to ensure that the correct revenue is timely collected, and that the Import and Export provisions under the Customs and Excise Act, CAP 322 of the laws of Zambia are adhered to through the supervision of work processes under respective stations.
- Key Duties: Implementing effective management controls to ensure that debt is properly managed. Draw annual station output plans, and devise enforcement strategies for effective operation. Identify performance, training, and development needs, and suggest solutions.
- Notable Achievements: Exceeded station revenue targets for both Chingola and Kazungula OSBP.
- Strengthened the procedures for processing New Residents' exemptions to curtail the abuse at the OSBP.
- Devised measures to deal with the accumulating scanner images at the OSBP.
- Provided oversight for the debt classification and management for the OSBP, leading to the implementation of the monthly garnish submissions.
- Provided insight into the challenges with the IBDF abuse, initial process mapping, and structuring of the digitized passenger clearance and the passenger terminal workflow sequencing for achieving efficiencies with the passenger clearance process (self-drive clients and cross-border traders) at the OSBP.
- Successfully acted as Assistant Commissioner - South for various periods, including March, May, and June 2024.
- Provided exceptional customer service when the OSBP successfully hosted the VVIPs in March 2024 during the presidential visit by His Excellencies from Botswana and Zambia.
Acting Assistant Commissioner - South
Zambia Revenue Authority
07.2024 - 01.2025
- Providing leadership and management to all the ports/borders in the region so as to ensure optimization of revenue, enhancement of compliance with the Customs & Excise Act, and Trade Facilitation.
- Key Duties : Coordinating and monitoring operations of all the stations in the region. Ensure resources are provided to all stations to facilitate smooth operations and achievement of set targets. Facilitation of legitimate trade by developing and maintaining procedures that are dynamic and responsive to effective clearance of goods at the borders in line with One Stop Border Post (OSBP) standard operations. Ensuring that all debt is effectively managed and pursued. Effectively collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including other regulatory agencies at the borders in the region. Implementing audit recommendations. Re-engineering processes for efficient service delivery and optimized revenue collections.
- Notable Achievements: Record gross collections of over a billion kwachas under Kazungula for the period July to December 2024.
- Record net collections of over a billion kwachas under Kazungula for the period September to December 2024.
- Exceeded regional revenue targets for the period July to December 2024 by ZMW 1.971 billion (36%), which accounted for 72% of the total surplus for the year.
- Exceeded revenue targets for the Enforcement Centre by ZMW 3.111 million (57%).
- Provided exceptional customer service when we successfully hosted the VVIPs - AfDB Executive Directors, SADC - Parliamentary Forum, AfDB Southern Africa Senior Management.
- Contributed to the drafting of the IBDF annex for the Customs Compliance Strategy.
Customs Collector
Zambia Revenue Authority
02.2019 - 10.2020
- Quality assurance of the Centralised Processing Centre (CPC) operations - examining and control activities to ensure that correct declarations are made through the implementation of customs procedures and regulations as per Customs and Excise Act.
- Key Duties: Monitor and manage staff performance and identify develop & training needs. Process and analyse data for station management decision-making. Interprets adapt, implement international trade harmonization policies. Compiling commodity/importer risk profiles and directing local market intelligence.
Examining Officer
Zambia Revenue Authority
03.2013 - 02.2019
- Conducting of examining and control activities to ensure that correct declarations are made through the implementation of customs procedures and regulations as per Customs and Excise Act.
- Key Duties : Information analysis and verification of import and export documentation. Controlling of imports/exports of restricted goods in accordance with the Act. Confirming values and HS Codes conformity to the customs nomenclature. Revenue mobilization/debt management and preparing revenue projections. Compiling commodity/importer risk profiles and directing local market intelligence. Compliance management.
SME - Relationship Officer
BancABC Zambia (now Access Bank Zambia)
Lusaka
04.2012 - 02.2013
- Responsible for developing and maintaining SME customer relationships and a quality SME loan portfolio through borrower due diligence, credit proposal preparation and a disciplined portfolio monitoring effort.
- Key Duties: Providing an in-depth, high-quality credit analysis to senior management. Regularly monitor client compliance with policies established by BancABC for sound portfolio management. Monitor the related loan accounts for arrears and work with the borrowers towards 0% portfolio at risk. Debt recovery for delinquent accounts.
Junior Consultant
Woord en Daad
Chongwe
03.2012 - 04.2012
- Agribusiness & Enterprise Development
Trainee Consultant
Woord en Daad
Gorinchem
02.2011 - 06.2011
- Agribusiness & Enterprise Development
Education
MBA - Strategy & Intellectual Property Rights
Aoyama Gakuin University
Tokyo, Japan03-2023
Master of Science - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management
University of Zambia
Lusaka04-2022
BBA - International Business For Emerging Markets
Hogeschool Utrecht University of Applied Science
Utrecht, Netherlands08-2011
BBA - Business Administration
Copperbelt University
Kitwe, Zambia08-2010
Certificate -
Matero Boys Secondary School
12.2005
School Certificate -
Chipata Basic School
12.2000
Skills
- Conceptual thinking
- Strategic focus
- Results orientation
- Innovation fostering
- Accountability culture
- Impactful communication
- Partnership leveraging
- Team synergy building
- Communication proficiency
- Computer proficiency
- Microsoft Office suite
- ASYCUDA World expertise
- Internet proficiency
In House Trainings
- Zambia Revenue Authority, OSBP Operations, 05/01/23
- Zambia Revenue Authority, Supervisory Development, 05/01/14
- Zambia Revenue Authority, Customs Basic Course, 05/01/13
Volunteer Experience
Expert SRH volunteer, Restless Development International (Zambia), implementing the SHE programme in a rural community, networking with grassroots stakeholders, managing funds and awareness-raising events, retained as trainer of trainers, named to the Zambia Board of Trustees as board member.
Hobbies and Interests
- Reading
- Blogging
- Music
- Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Public Speaking
Personal Development
- TRAPCA, Trade and Gender, 05/01/22
- TRAPCA, MSc Prerequisite - Int'l Trade Policy & Law, 05/01/21
Positions Of Responsibility
- President, Economics Association of Zambia: CBU Students Chapter, 2010
- Secretary General, CBU Anti-AIDS Society, 2010
- Executive Advisor, CBU Debate Society, 2009
- President, CBU Debate Society, 2008
- Secretary General, CBU Debate Society, 2007
Languages
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Accomplishments
Top Student in the Customs Basic Course Training.
Affiliations
Volunteer, Restless Development Zambia, Kabwe (2006).
Timeline
Acting Assistant Commissioner - South
Zambia Revenue Authority
07.2024 - 01.2025
Senior Collector
Zambia Revenue Authority
11.2020 - Current
Customs Collector
Zambia Revenue Authority
02.2019 - 10.2020
Examining Officer
Zambia Revenue Authority
03.2013 - 02.2019
SME - Relationship Officer
BancABC Zambia (now Access Bank Zambia)
04.2012 - 02.2013
Junior Consultant
Woord en Daad
03.2012 - 04.2012
Trainee Consultant
Woord en Daad
02.2011 - 06.2011
MBA - Strategy & Intellectual Property Rights
Aoyama Gakuin University
Master of Science - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management
University of Zambia
BBA - International Business For Emerging Markets
Hogeschool Utrecht University of Applied Science
BBA - Business Administration
Copperbelt University
Certificate -
Matero Boys Secondary School
School Certificate -
Chipata Basic School