Abdulla calls for fair, transparent tax reforms
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’s Second VicePresident of Zanzibar, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, has called on the country’s tax authorities to implement fair, transparent, and simplified tax systems to enhance compliance and attract investment.
Speaking at the opening of the Tax and Investment Forum held at Hotel Verde, Mr Abdulla stressed the importance for the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and the Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) to exercise practical tax structures aligned with the realities of business and investment environments.
“Such reforms would encourage voluntary tax compliance,” he said, adding that capacity-building through training and skills development for tax officials is crucial to improving efficiency and service delivery.
He stressed that taxation remains the primary source of government revenue, funding essential public services such as roads, healthcare, education, and security.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive business environment, Abdulla said: “We aim to create a favourable investment climate through sound policies, investor-friendly laws, and a supportive regulatory framework.”
He further noted that the government was working to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks in the tax system and is actively addressing areas of friction between public institutions and the private sector to improve service delivery.
Calling on businesses and investors to comply with existing tax laws, Abdulla warned that non-compliance can lead to unnecessary complications that hinder operations.
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He also urged Zanzibaris to maintain peace and stability, particularly as the country approaches General Election later this year.
The government, he assured, remains committed to safeguarding national unity and peace.
Speaking at the same event, Zanzibar’s Minister of State, President’s Office (Finance and Planning), Dr Saada Mkuya Salum, pointed the forum’s role in uniting stakeholders to address tax and investment policy challenges.
She said the government is continuously updating tax policies and legal frameworks to foster a robust and supportive infrastructure for both taxpayers and investors, aiming to increase domestic revenue and stimulate economic growth.
Dr Salum affirmed that recommendations from the forum would be reviewed and possibly integrated into the 2025/2026 national budget.
Organised by her office, the forum is part of broader efforts to drive economic transformation, with tax policy playing a pivotal role in that transition.
Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Chairman, Mr Ali Amour, acknowledged the role of taxation in nationbuilding and proposed a streamlined process to ease compliance.
