Members of Parliament have put pressure on the
government to resolve the ongoing conflict with traders over the use of
electronic fiscal devices (EFDs).
The MPs also want the traders’ national chairman, Johnson Minja, who has been remanded in custody to be released.
Minja’s arrest prompted the traders to shut down their shops in Dar
es Salaam’s Kariakoo international market, Songea in Ruvuma, Mbeya,
Iringa, Tanga, Arusha and Tabora regions.
However, this is not the first time traders had closed their shops.
They had many times went on a strike in a move to persuade the
government to stop the use of EFDs.
Speaking after the question and answer session, the Njombe North
legislator Deo Sanga (CCM) said they held talks with various government
leaders on the issue but nothing is done.
In November last year the Parliament endorsed the Miscellaneous Act which led to the increase of tax by 100 per cent.
“Last week the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda directed the Finance
Minister and other senior government officials to meet with
representatives of traders to discuss the issues and come up with
recommendations within one month,” he said.
Sanga said the one month ultimatum as per the Prime Minister’s
directive is too long since traders had closed the shops. Neither people
do not get their day to day services nor do government institutions
collect taxes.
For his part, the Arumeru East legislator Joshua Nasari (Chadema),
said the government has to take stern measures to bring peace in the
country.
“We have information that traders across Tanzania have closed their
shops paralysing the economy, the government should react immediately,”
he said.
Tabora Urban legislator Ismail Aden Rage (CCM) said it was not good
for the government to remain silent over the issue because people are
denied the services.
Citing, he said in Tabora Region shops have been closed hence
people from far away such as Nzega, Sikonge, and Kaliua failed to get
services.
Kawe legislator, Halima Mdee, (Chadema) urged the government to suspend Bunge session and discuss the issue more seriously.
“Deputy Speaker, Bunge regulation 47(i) allows us to discuss this
emergency issue for the development of our nation, why don’t we postpone
this meeting,” she asked.
For his part, Kisesa legislator, Luhaga Mpina (CCM) said in
September last year the government formed a reconciliation committee
with traders to discuss challenges facing them.
The committee involved officials from Tanzania Revenue Authority
(TRA), the Ministry of Finance and traders which were tasked to discuss
EFD machines and said taxes.
He said the committee failed to meet as anticipated, and the
chairman of traders association of Tanzania was re-arrested because he
did not honour his bail.
Mpina said he was not happy with the response in the Parliament by
the Deputy Minister for Finance, Adam Malima, regarding the fate of
traders.
“We beg the government to set free the chairman, so that we discuss
the issue in order to save our economy from collapse,” he said. The
Shadow Minister for Finance James Mbatia, asked the government to come
up with a statement on the issue while making sure that the traders’
chairman was released on bail.
“This issue had taken a long time, it seems there is no trust
between the government and Parliament, let us solve it so as to continue
with other important business,” he reiterated.
Responding to the MPs, Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai, directed the
Parliamentary Steering Committee to sit down and come up with
recommendations.
“After hearing from both sides, I now direct the Parliamentary
Steering Committee to sit down and discuss all issues and come forward
with recommendations today”, he said.
Speaking later before adjourning the morning session, Ndugai, said
the Steering Commitee had agreed to allow the measures taken by the
government in addressing the issue.
"Let us give them a chance to work on this issue more quickly and come up with the answers," Ndugai said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Saada Mkuya has said the government is
working on plans to take measures against the traders for allegedly
protesting against the use of electronic fiscal devices (EFDs).
“I call upon all the traders who have closed or thinking to do
what their colleagues have done to quickly open their shops as the
government would not hesitate to take strict measures against them,” she
said in Dar es Salaam on her visit to one of inland container depot.
She did not mention the measures to be taken or the day the government will start doing so.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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