Kariakoo is the busiest trading centre in Dar es Salaam, which attracts both local and foreign buyers and sellers, and the taxman wants to ensure everyone doing business in that area, regardless of the size of the business, must be registered and given the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
The new campaign will involve the registration of small traders so that they start using the Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) and the placement of posters inside the market with messages encouraging the issuance of receipts after selling every item.
TRA’s Kariakoo branch now seeks to collect Sh19.5 billion in taxes this month through the campaign, which also emphasizes issuing valid receipts.
“We have decided to come up with this strategy because there are traders who deliberately avoid paying taxes and instead use small traders (Machinga) to sell their products. If you look at it in reality, you will find that the sales by those Machingas are more than Sh4 million—the minimum amount of sales required to pay tax,” said the Kariakoo regional manager, Mr Alex Katundu.
Mr Katundu added that the government has decided that every person doing business in that area whose annual sales reach Sh4 million must start using EFD.
It is reported that more people from across East and Central Africa flock to Kariakoo to buy various items during the festive season.
Mr Katundu said the Kariakoo tax region has registered a total of 5,370 small traders in the current financial year in the Kariakoo area.
“We educate them on the importance of formalizing their business,” he said.
Speaking to The Citizen yesterday, a small trader, Ms Gaudensia Chuwa, who sells clothes, said she decided to formalize her business to enable her to get various opportunities, such as loans.
“Many small business operators refuse to register their businesses because they don’t want to pay taxes, but if the business grows, you won’t stay in the same group, so paying taxes is inevitable,” she said.
Another small trader, Mr Lazaro Mambo, said that during the Christmas season, customers demand receipts, so he decided to formalize it to avoid the inconveniences.
“Business here in Kariakoo has just started this week. People from different countries want to buy clothes and shoes,” he added.
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
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.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“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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