MPs list industrialisation drive challenges

Dodoma. A section of members of parliament (MPs) have warned that unfriendly business environment was threatening industrialisation drive.

The lawmakers were speaking yesterday during a debate of the National Development Plan for 2019/20 financial year, which was presented in the parliament last Tuesday by the Finance and Planning minister, Dr Philip Mpango.

The MPs cited tax burden and kidnaping incidents as some of the challenges that were impeding the industrialisation drive.

The Arusha Urban legislator (Chadema), MrGodblessLema, blamed the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and some government task forces, for treating investors like criminals.

MrLema also cited the recent kidnapping tycoon Mohammed Dewji, saying it was sending a negative signal to the rest of the world.

“If such incidents continue, they will send a negative message to potential investors across the world,” said MrLema.

Mtama MP (CCM) Nape Nnauye called on the government to widen its tax base in order to reduce the burden for a few available taxpayers.

The number of registered taxpayers stands at 2.75 million, according to the taxman, which has in several occasions been reported as saying it was conducting a countrywide exercise to formalise informal businesses, to widen the tax base.

“The government should be creative enough to establish new sources of revenue so that the available few taxpayers are not overcharged,” he opined.

The Muleba South MP (CCM), Prof Anna Tibaijuka, advised the government to find ways of protecting markets for locally produced products, if the country was to attain its dream of becoming an industrialised nation.