PM stress e-tax
DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has once again directed accounting officers in all councils across the country to use electronic systems in revenue collections instead of embracing cash collection.
He said by doing so it would help increase revenue in their areas and avoid the temptation of misusing public funds collected for the implementation of various development projects.
Mr Majaliwa issued the directives yesterday during a meeting with staff from the Temeke District Council in Dar es Salaam.
“The issue of revenue must be prioritised so we can achieve positive results in our councils.”
Premier Majaliwa also called on council directors to use internal revenue for development projects instead of relying solely on funds from the central government.
“Stop depending solely on central government revenue. We want to see internal revenue being used to implement development projects.”
Mr Majaliwa began a working tour of Temeke District, Dar es Salaam yesterday. During the tour he will inspect the implementation of development projects, engage with the public and speak with public servants.
Furthermore, he called on public servants to work diligently, honestly and with integrity to achieve the government’s goals for Tanzanians.
He further said that public servants are the people’s servants and should serve them properly in their areas and solve their issues.
“We are public servants and we are the people’s servants. We have signed contracts to serve them and we must honour that. Let’s go out and work. We must visit them where they are. Each one of us has the responsibility to serve the people in their areas,” the PM said.
Mr Majaliwa urged public servants to assess the progress of various projects in their areas by reviewing the completed stages and remaining parts so that by June 2025, the projects can be achieved more than 95 per cent completion.
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Audit reports for the fiscal year 2022/2023 unveiled that local authorities struggled to collect revenues totalling 61.15bn/- from major sources, with 6.19bn/- of the collected amount remaining unbanked.
“This adversely affected their capacity to execute development projects and deliver quality services to the community.” Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Charles Kichere said while presenting the report in March this year.
Furthermore, he said, 184 local government authorities failed to allocate 20.23bn/- of internal revenue for designated development projects and operational activities, including funding for village, ward, agriculture, fisheries, livestock and infrastructure initiatives through Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA).
He recommended that these authorities adhere fully to government directives by appropriately allocating internal revenues and ensuring their utilisation as intended.
During the tour yesterday, the Premier also inaugurated a dormitory and a dining hall at Kibasila Secondary School where the construction cost amounted to 1.13bn/-.
Mr Majaliwa urged all those who will use the building to protect its infrastructure so that it can serve future generations.
Mr Majaliwa said that the government is committed to continuing to allocate funds to improve education infrastructure across the countr
The Director of Temeke Municipality, Jomari Mrisho, said that the completion of the building will assist 228 female students, particularly those in Form Five and Six, to receive quality education in a nearby environment, thus helping to improve their academic performance.
