Stakeholders push for greater domestic support for social justice work
DAR ES SALAAM: CIVIL Society Organisations (CSOs) have renewed calls for improved access to charitable status and stronger domestic resource mobilisation to enhance their capacity to implement social justice initiatives across Tanzania.
The appeal was made during a high-level forum held recently in Dar es Salaam, convened by the Africa Philanthropy Network (APN).
The forum brought together representatives from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), legal professionals, CSO leaders and development partners to explore strategies for unlocking the full potential of philanthropy in the country.
APN Executive Director, Dr Stigmata Tenga, stressed the need to recognise the critical role of charitable organisations in national development and to create legal and policy frameworks that enable their growth.
“We’ve discussed the importance of creating enabling conditions for CSOs to grow their income and reinvest in communities. This includes working closely with the TRA to ensure more organisations are granted charitable status,” said Dr Tenga.
One of the key proposals emerging from the forum was the creation of a dedicated unit within the TRA to handle matters related to charitable status applications and compliance, aiming to streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic delays.
A report presented by Advocate Mackphason Mshana of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) outlined current legal limitations that prevent many impactful organisations from qualifying for charitable status.
“Currently, only organisations working in sectors such as poverty relief, education, public health, water or road infrastructure and environmental protection are recognised as charitable. Yet, many CSOs engaged in policy advocacy, youth empowerment and humanitarian support are excluded, despite their significant contributions,” he noted.
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Advocate Mshana called for a broader legal definition of charitable activities to enable more organisations to access tax exemptions, allowing greater reinvestment in community development.
“Taxing CSOs on every income limits their ability to serve the public. If granted charitable status, they could expand their reach and deliver more services where they are needed most,” he said.
He also encouraged the TRA to enhance awareness and outreach efforts among CSOs on legal compliance and the benefits of attaining charitable status. In response, TRA Principal Tax Education and Communications Officer, Mr Zakea Kowero, acknowledged the concerns and affirmed the authority’s willingness to work with CSOs to improve understanding and compliance with tax laws.
“One common challenge is the delay in filing tax returns, which attracts a statutory penalty of 300,000/- per month. We encourage CSOs to engage proactively to avoid such penalties,” he said.
Mr Kowero assured stakeholders that the TRA would consider the recommendations and explore potential legal reforms where feasible.
“We expect those with charitable status to use the tax exemptions responsibly directly benefitting communities through access to clean water, healthcare, education and other essential services,” he added.
Ms Esther Msuya of the Msichana Initiative called on the TRA to expedite the charitable status approval process, proposing a maximum processing period of 30 days.
Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Community Foundation Network (TCFN), Mr Mwadhini Myanza, stressed the need for ongoing education and capacity building for CSOs regarding tax compliance and eligibility for charitable status.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between civil society, government institutions and regulatory authorities to build a more supportive environment for domestic philanthropy and sustainable development.
