Why Kariakoo traders have gone on strike
What you need to know:
- They said the strike is to pressure the government to intervene in the introduction of laws and charges that they claim are oppressive
Dar es Salaam. "We need freedom for our business," read banners and placards by Kariakoo traders as they went on strike on Monday, calling for the removal of levies that were imposed and collected by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
They also a caused the customs unit at the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) of bureaucracy.
Speaking to journalists at different times, the traders said the strike was part of the implementation of what they agreed to do: not open their shops from Monday, May 15, until the government intervenes in their matter.
They said the strike is to put pressure on government to intervene in the introduction of levies and charges that they claim oppress them including those that require them to register their stores.
The traders are calling for the end of arrest of traders by police officers.
On his part, one of the traders, Justin Massawe said; "We have said we are not opening shops,and we are ready to go back to the farm our concerns are heard."
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Kariakoo businesspeople community chairman, Mr Martin Mbwana said he is only their representative so what they decide is what he will follow.
"I am only a messenger. What you decide is what I follow," said the chairman during a meeting with the traders that followed after Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Mr Amos Makalla, left the market.
Earlier today, Mr Makalla arrived at the market and urged traders to cease striking and open their shops as the government was working on their matter.
He even urged the traders to go meet the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, in Dodoma, a request that was turned down by the traders.
The businessmen said that they pay taxes, so if the Prime Minister wants to meet them, he should go to Karaiakoo and not elsewhere.
The traders now say they want to meet President Samia Suluhu Hassan to express their grievances, insisting that their shops will remain closed until then.
Furthermore, they said their matter is not something new, as government officials, including the prime minister, finance and planning minister, regional commissioner, and district commissioner, are aware of, but nothing has been done so far.
"We don't need politics in our businesses, they have no place. If they want to go and sit in their committee, it is okay, but for us, we are closing the shops until we meet with President Samia Suluhu Hassan," said Honest Kalisti, one of the traders and a member of the Kariakoo businesspeople community.
In another development, in Parliament, Makete lawmaker, Festo Sanga said the government will lose the income as tax will not be collected today, but other traders who depend on the market for the purchase of their products will also suffer.
Due to that matter, he asked the parliament speaker to postpone other activities so that the house could discuss the Kariakoo traders strike as an urgent matter.
"Apart from tax losses, when Kariakoo is in trouble, other regions also suffer because the market is like our Dubai, as traders from inside and outside come to buy their products there, so I ask the speaker to allow time for the discussion on this matter and hear a statement from the government," he said.
Answering the request, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, asked for more time so that she could find out if the matter was urgent before she allots time for discussion.
However, industry and trade minister, Dr Asshatu Kijaji told the house that in a meantime, there was ongoing meeting between officials from her office, the finance ministry, Dar es Salaam RC, Mr Amos Makalla and Kariakoo market leadership to find a solution so that normality returns.
