Issue of Property tax collections is still unabated

Property tax collection in the country accounts for 20 percent of local revenues and contributes to 0.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if compared in some developing countries whereby their collections accounts for 80 percent which stands at an average of about 3 percent of their GDP. This is lower by 60 percent at a global level despite efforts which were introduced by the government including recent reforms made of the property tax regime, the study report has said. The study titled, “Central-local government relations in property tax collection in Tanzania” which has highlighted the country’s property tax administration scheme between 2008 and 2016 shows that, property tax collections has been dwindling due to improper administrative structure. The study was presented today by the REPOA’s Director of Commissioned Works Dr. Lucas Katera at a breakfast talk which is organized by the policy forum at British Council hall in Dar es Salaam city. 

 

Dr. Lucas Katera

Dr. Katera said in his report which has a detailed summary of the recent reforms of the property tax regime since 2008 that, the property tax collection system in the country has been decentralized and centralized up to 2016 when the government transferred to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Dr. Katera outlined in his findings that, there has been poor revenue performances under decentralized system mainly due to corruption and political interference by local councilors at district and municipal levels. Poor performances had also continued when the government decided to transfer its collection bases and handed it to the TRA, the study has revealed that it was due primarily to inadequate preparation for centralized collection which has resulted into a major drop during 2016/17 financial year.  Dr. Kassera noted that, politicians reacted in desperation on realizing that, and convinced their people in constituencies not to engage in paying it directly to TRA. Another reason he outlined was due to poor coordination with real estate stakeholders an aspect that caused under rating of the property charges for various structures owned by the people in towns and even at district and municipal levels.

Selasini furious with government on reports

Joseph Selasini 

The government has been asked to take a keen interest and listen to various crisis raised by legislators and councilors and shouldn’t regard them as inciting. The legislator for Rombo constituency Joseph Selasini (Chadema) said today in parliament during question and answers session and wanted to know when the government will desist from ignoring such important issues. Responding to the question, the deputy minister of State in President’s Office for local government and regional administration George Kakunda said that, all issues related with social crisis in local communities are well attended by the government. The deputy minister countered by saying that, if such matters are related with violence, then the police firce have tactics of dealing with such criminal offenses and more often can get hold of the informers to get more information for investigations. He said the law which protects an informer is there and will continue serving the public and asked the police force in the country to honour it.

No extra treatment of diabetic mellitus by local herbs

A special seat legislator Suzan Lyimo (Chadema) has decided to reveal in public her long illness saying that, she is suffering from diabetic mellitus. She had raised a supplementary question with a view to know from the government side if there are medical experts with extra treatment on the disease. She told parliamentarians that, she had been hearing that there are medical experts who advertise themselves that are able to cure the diseases and wanted to hear what the government is saying about their claims. Responding to the question, the Deputy Minister of Health, Community development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr. Faustine Ndugulile said that up to now, there is no local cure of the disease up to now which has been proved to be active. The deputy minister has called upon all registered medical experts if they think have correct cure should follow the right channels as laid down rules and regulations instead of advertising themselves. He said through the right channels is together with their herbal medicines to be researched well and later be given registration by the authorities concerned so as to please the government. 

Dr. Faustine Ndugulile

On Kidney victims, the deputy minister said that, about 240 patients have been operated at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The deputy minister was responding to the supplementary question which was raised by a special seat legislator Farhia Shomari (CCM) who wanted to know how many patients who suffers kidney complications have been attended by the MNH. The minister noted that, in 2011 when the kidney treatments were introduced, there were 10 patients and now their number has shot up to 240 patients. He said at the moment, the kidney clinic at MNH receives an average of 60 patients per day and those attended for purification of kidneys are 80 per day. He said up to now about 10 patients have been given other kidneys at the hospital and according to him, the government is planning to give kidneys to at least five patients at the hospital every month. However, he noted that his ministry will continue working in close collaboration with other stakeholders to educate people so that they may know to protect themselves from being attacked by the kidney disease.

Govt embarks on rampage killings of troublesome baboons

The government has confirmed today in parliament that, it had killed about 100 baboons that had been seen to be causing unnecessary inconveniences which ended up in massive losses to the people in Bukoba rural district. The deputy minister for Tourism and Natural Resources said when responding to the question raised by a special seat Alfredina Kahigi (CUF). The legislator wanted to know steps taken by the government of preventing wild animals such as baboons who have been reportedly to have been invading people’s settlements causing harassment and loss of people’s properties in Bukoba rural. 

Responding to the question, the deputy minister said that the government was aware of such incidences in over 80 districts in the country and mentioned other troublesome wild animals such as elephants and monkeys. Elaborating more, trhe deputy minister said that elephants have the habit of invading farms whereas crocodiles and monkeys cause grievous bodly harm to people whom they come across in areas such as Kemondo, Bujogo, Kizi, Katoma, Katangaraza and Kishonmgo. He said the ministry has been carrying out regular patrol in search of these animals in collaboration with game soldiers and through this operation, about 103 monkeys had been killed in different seven areas although he admitted the fact that his ministry has short of game warders but have tried to strengthened security to curb their influence.

Mysterious disappearence of people at in Mikumi national park

A Member of Parliament Joseph Haule (Chadema) has claimed that about 40 people have got lost in a mysterious condition and claimed that have been killed by game reserve soldiers at Mikumi National Park and in view of this, has forced the government to speak out the truth about the matter. Haule raised his voice in parliament today during question and answer session and said that, the government has been making wrong clarification full of uncertainty. “If it is a matter of human rights, then people from Iwembe, Kitete and Kielezo villages suffers the most with pangs of solitude after having lost their relatives as this is their denial of rights”, he said. The legislator wanted the deputy minister to listen these people otherwise it will make its work become so tough as there has been unusual acts of abduction and as up to now about 40 people have disappeared. Responding to this question, the deputy minister noted that, his ministry has yet received such shocking news of the people who have lost in a mysterious condition. Clarifying more, the deputy minister has instructed the legislator typo list down names of those alleged to have got lost so that, his ministry should start tracing of their whereabouts. However, he dismissed claims that there were conflict among the local people with the government over the demarcations with the national parks and noted that, the conflict which was there before had been solved by the Regional Commissioner of Morogoro region and the village authorities