Opposition identifies 21 new taxable areas in govt budget

2008-06-17 10:50:27
By Lusekelo Philemon, Dodoma


The opposition camp in Parliament yesterday tabled its shadow budget identifying 21 areas which would provide the government with more revenues and reduce donor dependence to 30 per cent.

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hamad Rashid Mohamed (Wawi, CUF), said while tabling the shadow budget here that opposition identifies 21 viable taxable areas which if properly exploited could contribute immensely to the growth of the country\'s economy.

He said in his 30-minute budget speech that if the areas were streamlined in the 2008/09 fiscal budget, the government would be able to collect more than 2tn/-.

``This is a lot of money which if added to the current proposed budget would bring it to more than 8tn/-,`` said Mohamed.

The areas he identified for proper utilisation in government\'s development programmes include fishing, forestry, tourism and hunting.

Mohamed said if the 1997 mineral policy was reviewed, the sector would be able to increase more than 800bn/- in revenue.

In his official rejoinder to the government budget, Mohammed said tax exemptions on goods and oil used in most of Tanzania\'s mineral extracting companies make the government lose over 800bn/- per year.

He said MPs` allowances and those of public officials if taxed would in total make the government collect more than 8bn/- annually.

``Minor rehabilitation to Mtwara and Tanga ports will enable the government to improve tax collection,``he said, adding that the government should also sell the presidential jet to save more than 30bn/-.

``In total, more than 2.2tn could be collected from all these un-taxed areas. This would make the government improve other important sectors, hence improve people`s lives,`` said Mohamed.

He noted that tax on all educational materials and facilities need to be phased-out to enable people access education, an important tool towards poverty alleviation strategy.

He further proposed the need for the government to raise the minimum wage rates to 250,000/- per month as the current 100,000/-was peanut.

The opposition camp said that the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) twin-tower buildings cost twice its real price in addition to more than 600bn/- which were dubiously spent.

The Leader of the Opposition also requested the government to give thorough explanation on all allegations including that on Mwananchi Gold Mine in which BoT had a share.

``We want explanations on how much money BoT realised from the project,`` he said.

He said the public was very eager to hear on the EPA report among others.

SOURCE: Guardian