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wrong reasons: people just do not like paying their taxes.
The quintessential taxman, Mr Gershem Pasi is the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner General and an ex-officio member of the Revenue Board.
He stands rigid by the taxman’s motto: “If you want to be friends with the taxman, make sure your taxes are up-to-date”.
Mr Pasi has often referred to this during his long reign as the Zimra Commissioner General.
He was instrumental in the formation of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, which was established after the amalgamation of the then Department of Taxes and the Department of Customs and Excise in 2001
Mr Pasi subsequently became the new Authority’s inaugural Commissioner General in May of the same year.
Under his visionary leadership and tutelage, Zimra has become a formidable organisation premised on zero-tolerance to corruption. This is underpinned by the authority’s core values, which are integrity, transparency and fairness.
He is attributed with transforming Zimra into a learning organisation, which is technology-driven and premised on a service culture.
Through his guidance, the authority has been exceeding revenue targets religiously and collected a stunning US$2,2 billion last year against its principal, the Ministry of Finance’s target of US$1,9 billion, which translates to 33 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The taxman’s job is very taxing (don’t mind the pun), so how does he seem to do it?
“I owe it to my upbringing. My parents taught me that basa hariuraye (hard work does not kill) and that has always been my slogan,” said Mr Pasi.
Looking at his career development, which spans the larger part of post-independence Zimbabwe, it appears the taxman’s role was destined for him.
After joining the then Department of Taxes in November 1982 as a Tax Assessor, Mr Pasi rose through the ranks, holding the following positions between 1982 and 1991: Senior Assessor; Inspector of Taxes; Senior Inspector; and Assistant Commissioner (Investigations).
Soon after completing his postgraduate studies, Mr Pasi was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Taxes by the end of 1995.
In May 1996, he was appointed to act as Commissioner of Taxes, a position that was confirmed before end of the same year.
Mr Pasi holds a Master of Science degree in Fiscal Studies from Bath University (United Kingdom); a Higher National Diploma in Business Studies from Wolverhampton Polytechnic in the United Kingdom; and several qualifications in business management, taxation and system design.
He is a fellow of the Zimbabwe Institute of Management and the Institute of Certified Tax Accountants Zimbabwe as well as a Member of the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe.
The Zimra boss was recently crowned the IODZ Director of the Year for 2010.
He has also received the following awards: the United States based Madison Manager of the Year Award for Africa, 2010 and the Zimbabwe Institute of Management first runner up of the Manager of the Year Awards 2009, an award in which he was substantive winner in 2004 and 2006.
Other awards include the Institute of Certified Tax Accountants Zimbabwe, Taxation Lifetime Achiever’s Award, second runner up. He was the first runner-up in the 2009 Zimbabwe Institute of Management Manager of the Year Award having scooped the award.
He is married and has three children and a granddaughter.
Besides ensuring the implementation of effective and efficient revenue collection strategies at the authority, Mr Pasi is a farmer who has ventured into mixed farming, focusing primarily on tobacco, seed maize, cattle rearing and piggery.
A Christian and a responsible corporate citizen, the Commissioner-General has a soft spot for the disadvantaged members of society.
Mr Pasi’s role as head of the revenue authority on the one hand and a humanitarian on the other appear to constitute a paradox. He has, however, managed to create a near-perfect balance between the two.
In addition to spearheading Zimra’s corporate social responsibility activities, which have so far benefited several institutions and deserving individuals, Mr Pasi and his family religiously assist the underprivileged in society.
He is a life member of the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society and is a past chairman of Deseret International whose main programmes include Eyes for Zimbabwe and spearheading HIV/Aids training in schools.
Mr Pasi is also a founder and trustee of the Zimbabwe Aids Care Foundation, and the current Chairman of the Advisory Board for Emerald Hill Children’s Home.