Govt to harmonise taxes, laws in sectoral ministries

DODOMA: THE government is reviewing all taxes, laws and regulations imposed by the sectoral ministries and councils to harmonise and improve the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises and trade, the National Assembly was informed yesterday.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told the august House during the Prime Minister’s Questions session in Parliament yesterday that it is the government’s top priority to ensure traders conduct their businesses in a manner that boosts productivity and contributes to the country’s economic growth.

The PM was responding to a question by Iddi Kassim Idd (Msalala-CCM) on multiple taxes which affect entrepreneurs, prompting them to craft strategies to evade taxes, thus denying the government its rightful revenue.

Responding to the question posed by Iddi Kassim (Msalala-CCM), the Prime Minister addressed the impact of multiple taxes imposed on company owners, saying multiplicity of taxes forces traders to find ways to evade paying them, preventing the government from earning its rightful income.

Mr Idd gave an example in the mining sector where a small-scale miner is supposed to pay inspection fee to the ministry and councils, demanding explanation on what measures the government was instituting to rectify the situation.

According to the Prime Minister, a government team is already working on the matter, focusing on reviewing taxes, laws and regulations that affect traders.

The major objective, according to the PM, is to harmonise the taxes and legislations to have uniformity in councils and ministerial sectors to create favourable business environment for traders.

Meanwhile, the PM has expressed the government commitment to ensure it pays public servants’ arrears after it is done with verifications of the debts.

He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed heads of units, departments and councils to come up with a prompt payment schedule to settle the arrears after the verification process.

Mr Majaliwa gave the explanation in response to a question by Ms Kunti Majala on public servants’ debts of unpaid leave, arrears, transfer, studies among other promotion dues.

Moreover, he said, in three years of Dr Samia in office, the government has settled the public servants’ debts, urging district and municipal councils to come up with a payment strategy.

On his part, Hai MP Mr Saashisha Mafuwe questioned the finance ministry’s slow pace in disbursing funds meant for development project, a situation which causes delay in project completion.

He wanted to know when the funds would be disbursed. “Given the fact that the 2023/24 fiscal year budget is coming to an end… I would like to know when the Finance Ministry will release the remaining budget for development and strategic projects?” he inquired.

Responding, Premier Majaliwa said they held a consultative meeting with the Ministry of Finance early this week during which it assured them that it will disburse the money as budgeted.

The PM said the government would like to see all development and strategic projects are smoothly implemented, including provision of social services.

“The budget allocations for the ministries, institutions and all development and strategic projects will be issued before the end of this financial year,” Prime Minister Majaliwa issued an assurance.