Ushuru kwenye ‘tomato sauce’ wapingwa

Ushuru kwenye ‘tomato sauce’ wapingwa

Dar es Salaam. Hatua ya Serikali kupendekeza kutoza ushuru wa bidhaa kwa kiwango cha Sh300 kwa kilo ya tomato sauce na tomato ketchup, chilli sauce na chilli ketchup zinazotoka nje ya nchi, imeelezwa na wadau wa uchumi kuwa inatokana na kukosekana ubunifu wa vyanzo vya mapato.

Akiwasilisha bajeti ya Serikali kwa mwaka 2024/25 bungeni Juni 13, 2024, Waziri wa Fedha, Dk Mwigulu Nchemba alisema lengo la hatua hiyo ni kuongeza mapato ya Serikali na kupata fedha za fidia ya athari hasi zinazotokana na matumizi ya sukari na chumvi iliyopo katika bidhaa hizo, hatua ambayo alisema inatarajia kuongeza mapato ya Serikali kwa Sh634 milioni.

Baadhi ya wachumi na wataalamu wa lishe waliozungumza na Mwananchi Juni 15, 2024 wamesema kama Serikali imekusudia kudhibiti matumizi ya bidhaa hizo haipaswi kuzungumzia suala la makusanyo.

Wamehoji ni kwa namna gani mtu aliyeathiriwa na bidhaa hizo anapatiwa fidia.

Dk Godfrey Malisa, mchambuzi wa masuala ya siasa na uchumi, amesema ushuru unaopendekezwa ni kutokana na bajeti kuwa tegemezi kwa kiasi kikubwa, akisisitiza Tanzania ina vyanzo vingi vya mapato lakini hakuna ubunifu wa kupata vipya badala yake vitu vidogo ambavyo tayari vina kodi vinaenda kuongezewa mzigo.

“Zipo nyingi zina athari na hazijaguswa, ukisema unaweka kodi hizi kwa sababu hiyo, ukiingia sokoni zipo bidhaa zina athari kubwa kuliko hizo na hazijaguswa, ukiongeza hizo hela ndiyo suluhu ya kupunguza athari?”amehoji Dk Malisa.

Amesema wananchi wa kawaida hivi sasa wamekatishwa tamaa kulipa kodi kwa hiari kutokana na matumizi yake kutoendana na mahitaji yao.

Profesa Haji Semboja, mwanataaluma ya uchumi amesema nchi yoyote, kutokana na sera zake, inaweza kuweka mbinu ya kutekeleza sera kutokana na sababu za kimaisha, mazingira, kisiasa na kiuchumi.

“Kuongeza ushuru kwenye bidhaa maana yake hutaki mtu huyo atumie kitu hicho kutokana na sababu za kiafya, mfano sigara na vilevi na hii inaweza kutekelezwa kupitia sera za nchi au nje ya nchi, tatizo ni kwamba ukisema unatekeleza hilo kupata fedha si sahihi, ulipaswa tuishie kuzuia athari,” amesema.

Amesema uwekaji wa ushuru kwenye bidhaa hizo iwe ni kwa sababu za kiafya pekee na si kuongeza mapato.

Mtaalamu wa lishe, Emmanuel Maganga amesema kuweka ushuru kwa bidhaa zinazotoka nje kwa lengo la kufidia athari kiafya, haina maana.

“Kwa hiyo fidia mtu aliyeathirika anasaidiwaje? Sioni kama ina mantiki kwa sababu tayari umeruhusu na watu wanaathirika na unapokea fidia hiyo, ina maana gani?” amehoji.

Hata hivyo, mtaalamu wa lishe kutoka Shirika la Chakula la Kilimo la Umoja wa Mataifa (FAO), Stella Kimambo amesema kiafya matumizi ya vyakula vilivyosindikwa viwandani si salama kwa afya.

Amesema hatua ya kuwekwa ushuru ni moja ya mikakati ya kuwasaidia wananchi kuondokana na matumizi ya bidhaa hizo ambazo zimekuwa na mchango mkubwa wa maradhi yasiyo ya kuambukiza kama kisukari, maradhi ya moyo na kiharusi.

“Hata nchi zingine zinapoona chakula kina madhara, zinaweza kuongeza ushuru.  Tuna nyanya nyingi na zinapotea kutokana na kutokuwa na viwanda, hatua hizi za kutoza ushuru bidhaa za nje ni sehemu ya kuimarisha soko la ndani,” amesema.

Akizungumzia madhara ya chumvi, mtaalamu wa lishe, Fatma Mwasora amesema japo bidhaa hiyo ina umuhimu mwilini, matumizi yake yanapaswa kuwa madogo.

“Watu wenye matatizo ya maradhi ya kudumu wanapaswa kupata ushauri kwa daktari,” amesema.

Miongoni mwa hatari za matumizi ya chumvi na sukari ni kuchangia shinikizo la juu la damu, kisukari, moyo, kiharusi na saratani, magonjwa ambayo kwa mujibu wa Wizara ya Afya, bajeti ya kuhudumia magonjwa yasiyoambukiza iliongezeka mara tatu mwaka 2021/22 hadi kufikia Sh99.08 bilioni ukilinganisha na Sh35.65 bilioni mwaka 2016/17.

Takwimu zinaonyesha shinikizo la juu la damu lipo kati ya asilimia 20 hadi 30 ikiwa na maana kuwa katika kila wananchi 10, wawili hadi watatu wana tatizo hilo.

Uhalisia ulivyo

Kwa mujibu wa tovuti ya Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO) kiwango cha chumvi ambacho ni salama kinachopendekezwa kutumika kwa siku ni miligramu 1,500 takribani nusu kijiko cha chai na isizidi miligramu 2,000.

Bidhaa ya tomato Ketchup kwa mujibu wa Taasisi ya Moyo ya British Heart Foundation ya nchini Uingereza, kuna gramu 0.3 za chumvi na gramu 4.1 ya sukari kwenye kijiko kikubwa cha chakula cha bidhaa hiyo.

Source: mwananchi.co.tz

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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Tanzania Foreign Investment News
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.

While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher

Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).

“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.

Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.

Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.

The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.

“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.

She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.

“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.

Cross-border transmission

The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.

The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.

Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.

“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”

The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.

The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.

Transparency urged

Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.

“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.

WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.

“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.

The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

Source: allafrica.com

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