Tanzania: Govt Reverses Major Tax Decisions

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In: Tanzania Foreign Investment News

The Tanzanian government announced on Monday the retraction of several tax decisions, following an extraordinary meeting with representatives of business communities and pressure from Kariakoo traders.

Major market traders at the country’s largest international market closed down their stores for hours on Monday in what was reported to be an indefinite strike on the country’s proposed financial bill of 2024/25, among other issues.

They immediately called it off following the government’s decision to seek a consensus with their representatives; the decision, however, did not hold water as dozens of stores went on shut mode.

The strike was planned for Kariakoo market, before escalating to Mbeya, Iringa, Ruvuma, Rukwa, Mwanza and Arusha Regions.

Speaking to reporters in Dodoma on June 24, Minister of Planning and Investment Prof. Kitila Mkumbo said the government has suspended indefinitely the inspection of EFD receipts and VAT returns which was commissioned by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) at the Kariakoo Regional office in Dar es Salaam.

“TRA will now prepare a better system to confirm receipts, however, until then this inspection will be on hold,” he said without specifying the final dates for the new system to take off.

He went on to details that the government will further revisit its legislation on tax calculations to ensure it does not create grievances among traders. He was referring to the calculations conducted by authorities on imported goods through ports of entry.

Also Read: Govt, Kariakoo traders seek amicable solutions

Minister Mkumbo emphasized that the Financial Bill has not yet been approved for the second reading, urging the public to continue submitting their opinions.

“We are committed to creating a fair and transparent tax system that supports both the government’s revenue goals and the business community’s needs,” he said. “It is important that everyone doing business at Kariakoo pays tax.”

Minister of Finance Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, Minister of Industry and Trade Dr. Ashatu Kijaji and Attorney General Judge Eliezer Feleshi attended the meeting in Dodoma.

On the other hand, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila assured traders that the government will protect all traders who will open their stores, warning individuals who had threatened to harm stores defying to strike.

Mr Chalamila said all complaints submitted by traders to the government will be addressed accordingly.

Source: allafrica.com

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Kariakoo ngoma mbichi

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In: Swahili News

Licha ya Serikali kutangaza kuwa itafanyia kazi malalamiko ya wafanyabiashara wa Kariakoo, ikiwemo kusitisha kamatakamata iliyokuwa ikifanywa na Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA), baadhi ya wafanyabiashara wamesema Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan ndiye anapaswa kutoa tangazo hilo..Continue Reading

Mobile money subscriptions rebound after scrapping of Airtel transfer code

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In: Tanzania Foreign Investment News

The number of subscribers on mobile money platforms has rebounded, a new report by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) shows, citing the removal of a code that forced customers on Airtel Money to withdraw cash within seven days of receipt or see the amounts reverted to senders.

The latest sector statistics report published by the regulator shows that subscribers onboarded into the mobile money ecosystem during the three months to March this year totalled 700,000, bringing the number to 38.7 million up from the 38 million recorded as of the close of December.

The surge bucks a trend of slumps that commenced in March last year when the number stood at 38.4 million, before dropping to 38 million by June, which was followed by a mild increase to 38.1 million as of September of the same year.

“During the reference period, mobile money subscriptions grew to 38.7 million translating to a penetration rate of 75 percent. Although there was growth in subscriptions, the penetration rate dropped due to a review of the denominator on population following the release of the 2024 Economic Survey,” reads CA’s latest report.

“The growth in mobile money subscribers is attributed to the removal of withdrawal codes for transactions sent from M-Pesa to Airtel Money, which means that funds can now be transferred directly into the Airtel Money account (wallet).”

According to the 2024 Economic Survey published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the number of mobile money subscribers in the country dropped by 600,000 during the full year to last December.

The country’s second-largest telco eliminated the restrictive code in early February this year, allowing Airtel Money customers to receive money directly into their e-wallets from any network.

“This development effected on February 6, 2024, comes in response to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and industry players’ collaborative efforts to ensure seamless mobile money interoperability as outlined in the CBK National Payments Strategy 2022-2025,” said Airtel at the time.

With the changes, users registered on rival platforms can send as little as Sh1 up to the highs of Sh250,000 per transaction daily to Airtel Money accounts.

The National Payments Strategy by the CBK requires all mobile money providers to ensure a seamless customer journey across their different channels to allow on-network and off-network direct transactions.

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Tanzania Commits to Restoring Forest Landscapes

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In: Tanzania Foreign Investment News

Tanzania is committed to planting 5.2 million trees by 2030, as part of initiatives to restoring forest landscapes for a healthy planet and wealthy economies.

The commitment was expressed by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ms Angellah Kairuki over the weekend during the 8th annual partnership meeting under the African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD).

“So far, 34 countries have agreed and have pledged to restore more than 129.5 million hectares. In this effort, Tanzania is committed to planting 5.2 million trees and has already planted 2.4 million trees, which is 46 per cent of our pledge,” she said.

Ms Kairuki said that President Samia Suluhu Hassan is among the world champions of natural conservation.

She has led the campaign of planting trees in the country, including spearheading efforts to switch to clean energy for cooking.

“President Samia has always been advocating for environmental conservation and tree planting, which is why she launched the ‘clean cooking energy’ campaign.

Through this campaign, we have seen her leading efforts to promote the restoration of our forests,” said Ms Kairuki.

Also read: Tanzania on right track on forest landscape restoration

Furthermore, Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Chief Executive Officer Professor Dos Santos Silayo said that Tanzania has taken steps to conserve forests and natural vegetation by designating village lands that were not previously protected and upgrading the status of lower-grade forest areas to natural forests.

He said the objective is to enhance their protection. “For completely degraded areas, we planted new trees for environmental conservation and others for commercial purposes.

This was done to reduce reliance on natural forest resources and obtain them through sustainable plantation methods,” Prof Silayo said.

He said that TFS is coordinating management by improving the supervision of resources, a practice that many other countries are also adopting.

Prof Silayo added, “We have changed our resource management system from a civilian management system to a military one to have a team of committed and dedicated individuals with the discipline and expertise to carry out this work more efficiently and achieve the government’s goals.

He added that various activities have been carried out to restore forests and prevent their loss including making changes and amendments to policies, laws and regulations that govern the management and use of forest resources and various ecologies.

Source: allafrica.com

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‘Msiwe kikwazo wakimbizi kurejea nchini mwao’

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In: Swahili News

Kibondo. Mashirika ya kuhudumia wakimbizi yaliyopo mkoani Kigoma yametakiwa kutokuwa kikwazo kwenye makubaliano yaliyowekwa na serikali za Tanzania, Burundi na Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa la Kuhudumia Wakimbizi Duniani (UNHCR), ya kuhamasisha wakimbizi kujiandikisha na kurejea nchini mwao kwa hiari.

Hayo yamebainishwa Juni 20, 2024 wilayani Kibindo na Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Wakimbizi nchini, Sudi Mwakibasi wakati wa maadhimisho ya siku ya mkimbizi duniani yaliyofanyika katika kambi ya wakimbizi ya Nduta.

Amesema Serikali ya Tanzania inasimamia makubaliano hayo na hivyo kila mmoja anapaswa kutekeleza badala ya kuwa kikwazo.

“Kinachofanyika ni kupambania maslahi binafsi na taasisi , wakati Serikali inapambania maslahi ya watu wake na ya Warundi. Sasa haiwezekani Serikali kuumiza wakimbizi kwa sababu ya ajira, naombeni tuwasaidia wakimbizi kurejea nyumbani ili watumie fursa ya kwenda kujenga nchi yao,” amesema Mwakibasi.

Amesema ni vema viongozi wa kambi zote mbili na vyombo vya ulinzi na salama kuhakikisha vijana wa kiume kutotoka ndani ya kambi bila kibali maalumu kwani ni kinyume cha sheria na taratibu zilizopo kwani Serikali haijui wanaenda wapi na kufanya nini.

Mwakilishi wa Shirika la UNHCR nchini Tanzania, Mahoua Parums amesema kama hali inaruhusu wakimbizi hao anapenda kuwahamasisha kuangalia suluhisho la kudumu la urejeaji kwa hiari nchini mwao.

“Ndio tuna masuluhisho mengine lakini nyumbani ni nyumbani, hivyo ni vema kama hali inaruhusu waweze kurejea nyumbani kwa hiari na kwenda kuijenga nchi yao, jambo ambalo ni zuri na linaleta faraja,” amesema Parums.

Akizungumza kwa niaba ya mkuu wa mkoa wa Kigoma, Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kibondo, Kanali Aggrey Magwaza amesema hadi sasa wakimbizi ambao wamesharejea nchini kwao kwa hiari ni 170,000 huku wakimbizi waliopo hadi sasa kwa kambi ya Nduta na Nyarugusu wakifikia 246,000.

Nao baadhi ya wakimbizi wa kambi ya Nduta, wamesema wanaendelea kujiandikisha ili waweze kurejea nchini kwao kwa hiari, na kwamba hakuna mwananchi anayeweza kuikimbia nchi yake bila sababu na kwenda kuwa mkimbizi kwenye nchi nyingine.

Mkimbizi Donatha Nibiza amesema Serikali ya Tanzania inatekeleza shughuli ya kuwarudisha nyumbani kwa hiari wakimbizi nchini kwao, lakini kila mkimbizi amekimbia kwa sababu zake maalumu, hivyo ni muhimu kuchukua hatua ya kuwasikiliza kwanza na kujua sababu zipi hasa zilizowafanya waweze kukimbia nchini kwao.

Iveti Nibaruza amesema yeye yupo tayari kurejea nchini kwake kwa hiari na kwamba muda wa promosheni uliotolewa na pande zote, anauunga mkono na atatumia kipindi hicho kwenda nchini kwake kuijenga nchi yake.Continue Reading

Tanzania Boosts Central Corridor Cargo With DRC Dry Port Land Acquisition

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In: Tanzania Foreign Investment News
Tanzania Boosts Central Corridor Cargo With DRC Dry Port Land Acquisition

Tanzania has secured 60 hectares of land in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to develop a dry port, aiming to enhance cargo movement along the central corridor and boost transshipments at Tanzanian ports.

The newly acquired land will facilitate the construction of a dry port, serving as a logistics hub for cargo arriving from Tanzania’s ports and destined for the DRC and landlocked neighbors like Burundi.

This development comes in response to a significant increase in cargo destined for the DRC, which reached 3.4 million tonnes last year.

The Port of Dar es Salaam, which is linked to the Central Corridor, has been intensifying its competition with Kenya’s Port of Mombasa, part of the Northern Corridor.

Dar es Salaam has been enhancing its efficiency and competitive edge to attract more cargo through the Central Corridor.

The formalisation of the land acquisition occurred during a meeting where Marc Ekila Likombo, the DRC’s Minister of Transport, handed over the documentation to Prof Godius Kahyarara, Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport.

This initiative forms part of Tanzania’s broader strategy to strengthen economic ties and improve logistical connections with neighbouring countries.

The development of dry ports is intended to streamline transit cargo management, reduce congestion at Dar es Salaam Port, and expedite the movement of goods to and from the DRC.

This project is a key component of the Tanzania Ports Authority’s master plan to enhance port infrastructure and operational efficiency.

The dry ports will accelerate clearance and shipping processes, benefiting traders and improving trade efficiency between the two nations.

While the Great Lakes countries have historically favored the Northern Corridor via the Port of Mombasa, there has been a shift with some landlocked neighbors now routing their cargo through the Central Corridor and Dar es Salaam.

The Central Corridor, spanning 1,300 km, begins at the Port of Dar es Salaam and serves Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Eastern DRC.

In contrast, the Northern Corridor, stretching 1,700 km, starts from the Port of Mombasa and serves Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Eastern DRC.

Source: allafrica.com

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