According to the Tanzania revenue Authority, (TRA) Turky’s assets will be seized should he fail the tax payment for the Marcedes Benz G wagon which he imported in January, 2022.
Speaking to Reporters TRA’s deputy commissioner Juma Bakary Hassan said the businessman on October 3,had requested to pay the taxes in installments, something that the taxman has rejected.
“We have instructed him to pay as required by the law and should he fail to do so we shall seize his property through his guarantor to ensure that government tax is paid,” said the deputy commissioner.
According to the authority’s official, apart from the car, Turky’s bag company also owes TRA some Sh170.5 million.
Tax exemption applications which he applied for have been rejected twice by the minister of state in the President’s Office, finance and planning despite being approved by the executive director of the Zanzibar Investment Promotions Authority (ZIPA) Sharif Ali Sharif.
TRA says that the car was released to the businessman before completing tax payments after he was guaranteed by a financial institution as they continued to process a tax exemption through the Zanzibar Bag Factory project.
The officials, however, say they did not allow the businessman to use the car, instead he was allowed to take it away from the port to avoid attracting further port charges.
Zanzibar’s finance and planning Minister Dr Saada Mkuya said the tax exemption was rejected because it was in violation of the investment laws of Zanzibar.
Tax exemption in Zanzibar is granted to an investor during the construction of the project and not after the project is completed.
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Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
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“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
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