ZRA surpasses 2025/2026 first quarter revenue target

ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) has surpassed its first-quarter revenue target for the 2025/26 financial year, collecting 274.3bn/- against the projected 274bn/-, equivalent to 100.08 per cent performance.

According to ZRA, the achievement reflects a significant improvement compared to the same period last year when 200.9bn/- was collected. The increase of 73.4bn/- represents a robust 36.5 per cent growth in revenue. Monthly collections also rose from an average of 80bn/- to 90bn/-.

The authority attributed the strong performance to several factors, including steady growth in trade between Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, supported by favourable national policies championed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Additional contributors include major infrastructure investments and economic reforms led by Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi, along with improved taxpayer education through tax clinics, media programmes, and outreach campaigns.

Other contributing factors include the expanded use of digital tax systems such as electronic fiscal receipts (VFMS) and the ZIDRAS revenue collection platform, coupled with close taxpayer monitoring and professional training for ZRA staff to strengthen accountability and service delivery.

Looking ahead to the second quarter (October–December 2025), ZRA said it plans to intensify taxpayer education, broaden digital system integration with businesses, strengthen tax clubs in schools, increase inspections at ports and enhance monitoring of government projects.

In a statement signed by ZRA Head of Public Relations Division, Mr Makame Mohamed Khamis, the authority expressed appreciation to taxpayers for their voluntary compliance, the government for policy guidance and public institutions for continued cooperation.

“By paying taxes, we are building the future of Zanzibar,” the authority stressed.