TRA office to be constructed in Kizimkazi

ZANZIBAR: RESIDENTS of Kizimkazi in Zanzibar are set to benefit from improved access to tax services following plans by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to construct a 3.6bn/- office in the area. The project is also expected to provide a better working environment for TRA employees.

The project, being constructed by China-based CRJE Company, is part of a wider government initiative to strengthen tax administration, facilitate business activities and improve revenue collection.

Speaking during the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the office, Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar said the project will strengthen service delivery and revenue collection while providing a better working environment for TRA employees.

He said improved revenue collection will enable the government to finance development projects, including roads, energy, water, healthcare and education.

The Kizimkazi project is part of a programme to construct 49 TRA offices across the country at a total cost of more than 32bn/-.

The programme is intended to improve the tax-paying environment and make tax services more accessible to citizens and businesses.

The Minister directed TRA to work closely with the Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) in using the office infrastructure and other facilities to be constructed in Zanzibar to ensure taxpayers receive comprehensive services.

The Minister urged businesses and citizens to fulfil their tax obligations by paying taxes on time, fully and voluntarily, stressing that tax compliance is essential to financing development projects.

He said the government plans to finance more than 74 per cent of its 2026/2027 budget through domestic revenue, which will support development projects in roads, energy, water, healthcare and education.

ALSO READ: TRA targets to surpass its 42tri/- revenue target for  2026/27 after its 3.245tri/- July haul

TRA Commissioner, General Yusuph Mwenda said the authority had started the 2026/2027 financial year strongly, collecting more revenue than its monthly target.

He said TRA collected more than 3.2tri/- in July 2026 against a target of 2.9tri/-, equivalent to 109 per cent of the target and representing 21 per cent growth.

Mr Mwenda attributed the performance to close cooperation between the government, Parliament and taxpayers, expressing confidence that TRA will achieve and surpass its revenue collection target of more than Sh42tri/- for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Meanwhile, South District Commissioner, Othman Ali Maulid called on TRA and ZRA to continue improving revenue collection while providing quality services and addressing challenges faced by citizens and businesses.

Speaking on behalf of hotel and tourism businesses in Zanzibar, Henry Kaunda commended TRA and ZRA for working with the business community to address various challenges, saying the cooperation has contributed to voluntary tax compliance. He called for continued taxpayer education to further improve compliance.