Accusations against mobile phone companies shocking

[Froida]

Its a fact which is known,mobilephone companies are abusing the wananchi with the back up of the CCM government, These allegations where once pronounced by a certain Mp ,no measures were taken , the CCm rulers are thieves and robbers

 

[SMU]

Nchi hii hatuna utamaduni wa kulipa kodi kwa hiari...na sasa hili linakwenda mpaka kwenye corporate entities! Wengi kati ya tunaolalama huku na kule ukituchunguza pia utakuta kuna kodi tunakwepa au tunasaidia ukwepaji wa kodi.

Mfano mdogo tu, sheria ya kodi inasema ni kosa la jinai kutodai risiti/stakabadhi kwa malipo ya manunuzi yoyote yanayozidi shilingi 5,000 (yes, elfu tano!)....wangapi kati yetu tunafa inavyo paswa? Achilia mbali manunuzi tunayafanya kariakoo - baada ya kupewa option ya bei kama ukitaka risiti na kama usipotaka! Hata wafanyakazi, wengi wana vipato vya ziada ambavyo sio mishahara lakini ni wachache sana wanaolipia kodi mapato hayo na wengine hata hawajui kama wanawajibika kama raia kulipa kodi kwa mapato yao yote. Sasa atitude hii ya ukwepaji wa kodi na hata kutokuheshimu sheria ndiyo hiyo inakwenda hata kwenye makampuni (maana nayo yanategemea watu). Watu hawaoni kama kulipa kodi ni wajibu wa kiraia.

Sasa hili la kushindwa au kukwepa kulipa kodi ni upande mmoja. Upande wa pili...hata hicho kidogo kinachokamuliwa kutoka kwa watu wachache kinatumikaje? Kinalisaidia taifa?

 

[TUJITEGEMEE]

Kufichama ni bora zaidi kuliko kuchachawa wakati unamkabili mwivi wako. Mh.Makamba fichama.

 

[Gagnija]

Na wamefanya kila wanaloweza ikiwemo kuwanunua wanasiasa tuliowaamini sana kuhakisha TTCL inabaki imedumaa. Utasikia leo Salim yupo kwenye bodi, kesho Msekwa ili mradi TTCL liendelee kuhujumiwa, kwani likiamka itakuwa mashaka makubwa kwa hawa wezi.

 

[Gagnija]

And the stakeholders in these companies are the Lowasas, the Rostams... What can you expect from these thugs!

 

[TWIZAMALLYA]

Let`s wait and see his next step in order to deal with this problem...in my opinion this is daylight robbery.

He will do nothing, remember he have a self interest in this sector.His sister is currently working under this industry.

 

[TWIZAMALLYA]

A company under his ministry and he writes a commentary in the newspaper, is that perform his duties. What is it that he wants to achieve?

Publicity stint?

For what reason?

He is supposed to Learn from other ministers like Mwakyembe

 

[mangikule]

Accusations against mobile phone companies shocking

By Editor

9th June 2012

The revelation last week by Communications, Science and Technology deputy minister January Makamba, in his article published by our sister newspaper, The Guardian on Sunday, as a commentary on an opinion published two weeks ago, is both shocking and appalling.

The minister, in his article, claimed to have authentic and reliable data from the regulator, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), to back his claims that mobile phone companies have been evading paying taxes for some years now—thanks to a lack of technology to detect their actual revenues.

According to the minister, in the year 2010 mobile phone companies in Tanzania earned $1 billion (Sh1.6trillion), but paid only $1.7 million (Sh2.7 billion) in taxes. But, during the same period, Kenya earned $78.3 million from mobile phone companies, Uganda made $31.3 million while Rwanda collected $14 million nearly ten times what the Tanzania government earned.

If this is the situation, then the public has the right to know why mobile phone service providers are shortchanging the government in paying tax while making trillions of shillings? One would rightly go further and demand to know what measures the government and the Tanzania Revenue Authority have taken to recover the unpaid taxes.

Cellphone service firms are supposed to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporation Tax for those which have made a profit, plus other taxes as stipulated by the country’s laws. It’s therefore appalling to note that Kenya collected fifty times what Tanzania did from mobile phone companies as taxes in 2010.

As the deputy minister put it, “Surely, you could argue that Kenya’s economy is bigger than ours, but Rwanda - a much smaller economy compared to ours and with only two mobile companies - collected more than what Tanzania earned.”

When you consider that the total number of mobile phone subscribers in Tanzania is far bigger than the population of Rwanda, which has about 11.5 million people, it is an insult to our intelligence to make us believe the country could collect more taxes from the mobile phone service subsector than we did.

It is estimated that Tanzania has about 15 million mobile phone subscribers, though some statistics show that the number could actually be closer to 20 million.

This, coupled with the fact that there are seven (not two) telecom companies operating in the country, namely Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Zantel, TTCL, Sasatel and Benson Informatics, it is pretty obvious that the government is getting a raw deal from the firms in terms of tax revenue.
The number of Rwanda’s total mobile users was 4.4 million by February, this year, barely a fifth of the number of users in Tanzania, but still garnered more taxes from its mobile phone operators than Tanzania.

Something must be seriously wrong somewhere – which calls for urgent and effective measures to curb this massive tax evasion in the mobile industry. It defies logic and morally rubs the wrong way for anybody who earns $1 billion to pay the government peanuts in taxes.

It might be a tax paradox to some people, but to us it’s just another one of those fishy deals which have been rocking this country for so many years. The public demands full explanation from TRA about why mobile companies have been taking the government for a ride when it comes to tax payment.

To be fair to all, including the mobile phone companies, we call upon the government to form a special committee to investigate these allegations so that, at the end of the day, fairness and justice is done.

The industry should be thoroughly investigated by an independent body, formed either by the government or the National Assembly, in order to establish the truth about the tax dues from these companies.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Celltel after 3 years changed to ZAIN, after 3 year ZAIN changed to Airtel. Mobitel went to Buzz and buzz went to Tigo.
What do we learn here???

 

[seseja]

He has acted by publishing the same in the newspaper. Actually he has failed us he was supposed to do more than that.

Intereted publication, we are waiting for real nationalism to be shown by Mr. Makamba

 

[Crucial Man]

A company under his ministry and he writes a commentary in the newspaper, is that perform his duties. What is it that he wants to achieve?

Publicity stint?

For what reason?

he is acting like toothless dog,the mobile companies falls under his docket,what is he waiting for?
I dont think writing articles in news papers will help solve this day time robber,mr duputy minister act now.

 

[Makupa]

cash cow maana yake nini

 

[+255]

Wizi mkubwa, hii nchi ni uwanja wa kujifunzia kuiba hadharani. Naamini waziri mhusika atalishughulikia hili swala.

Kulikuwa na ulazima gani ku quote post yote ile, mnasumbua watumiaji wa simu..

 

[denyol]

who owns these mobile phones companies? when you get answer you will know why they need not have to pay tax

 

[Questt]

But we are always in complains regarding government's transparency. This is part of, once the civilians have known what is on stake, it can be easy for him to get a mass support in the process of working out the situation. And, with this kind of transparency, it may not be easy for him to engage into corrupt acts because already we know what is on the move and we are able to question him in-case we don't see changes on the situation.

What if he doesnt get the so called Mass support...... Should he let the matter in Vain???? Nope....!!! A minister doesnt need that to fulfill his/her Duties...The problem is Most of our Leaders are too Political....BIG Mouthed and too Keyboard masters with less or No Actions.... In short what he did was Stupid.... he would be brave if he would come out with the article of his Actions as far as the matter is Concern!!!!

 

[KVM]

BAK, I am at a loss. Why the hell should he publish the revelation in the newspaper?

Has he forgotten that he is the deputy Minister?

Or maybe he doesnt know the scope of his duties.

The minister is appealing to the general public and possibly members of parliament. Surely he would have weighed the many options that he could use to expose this scandal. He cannot say it to his boss and other people above him because this has been happening for a long time and no one seems to care because some of them are owners of these companies.

Lets wait and see what will happen in the parliament.

 

[Lukolo]

Nilishangaa kati ya walipa kodi wakubwa 15 mwaka jana ni Airtel tu walikuwemo!

Hawa hapa ndio walipa kodi wakubwa Tanzania

1. Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 165.4);
2. National Microfinance Bank (Shilingi Bilioni 108.6);
3. Tanzania Cigarette Company (Shilingi Bilioni 92.1);
4. National Bank of Commerce (Shilingi Bilioni 89.9);
5. CRDB Bank Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 79.2);
6. Tanzania Ports Authority (Shilingi Bilioni 76.8);
7. Tanzania Portland Cement (Shilingi Bilioni 73.4);
8. Airtel (T) Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 63.6);
9. Tanga Cement Company Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 43.6);
10. Standard Chartered Bank Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 40.0);
11. Citibank (T) Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 35.7);
12. Resolute (T) Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 32.1);
13. Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (Shilingi Bilioni 25.9);
14. Tanzania Distillers Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 13.4); na
15. Group Five International (PTY) Ltd. (Shilingi Bilioni 9.5).

Ni mgodi mmoja tu wa dhahabu, na ni kampuni moja tu ya simu za mikononi imo katika list hii. Very interesting.

Inashangaza kuwa vigogo wa biashara nchini kama MeTL, Bakhresa/Azam, IPP, VodaCom, Coca cola, Pepsi(SABCO), Serengeti Breweries, Barrick Gold, AngloGold Ashanti.

Tulitegemea pia tuone kampuni za mafuta kama oilcom, bp, nk.

Source: Hotuba ya Waziri Mkuu 26.08.2011

Tanzania ni nchi ya wahuni, inayoendeshwa kihuni, so its not amazing kuona madudu kama haya. Wewe unafikiri akina wasira wanalalamika bure? Infact wanapiga kelele kutetea huu ulaji wa bwerere ambao hawautolei jasho. I hate these wassiras and the likes.

 

[kajima]

NN,

I agree with you! Blowing this mess in this way was supposed to be from Opposition, blowing to the public, and let the government investigate or taking action. I expected more from him, like proposing stern action to the president to make sure TRA is going extra miles in Tax collection!

To me with this, its more like seeking attention from the public!! Shiiit...

Unajua ni rahisi sana kumkosoa Makamba kwa hatua yake, lakini alichokifanya ni sahihi kumbukeni hizi ni pesa, waliokimbia kulipa kodi wangewezamfanyia lolote kama angefuata hatua stahiki. Wazungu wana msemo wa whistle blowing na ndicho alichokifanya, mimi namsifu.

 

[Kibada]

Nafikiri Makamba Jr hajafanya lolote hapo la maana...Kwasababu yeye ni mtendaji alitakiwa kuchukua hatua na sio kushtaki wizi huo kwa uma wa watanzania. Au hana mahali pa kushtaki? Kama mtendaji anatakiwa kuchukua hatua... au anataka kutuambia kwamba ameongea na vyombo husika (waziri Prof Mbarawa, TRA) wakamtosa sasa ndio ameamua kuandika gazetini?

 

[KVM]

What if he doesnt get the so called Mass support...... Should he let the matter in Vain???? Nope....!!! A minister doesnt need that to fulfill his/her Duties...The problem is Most of our Leaders are too Political....BIG Mouthed and too Keyboard masters with less or No Actions.... In short what he did was Stupid.... he would be brave if he would come out with the article of his Actions as far as the matter is Concern!!!!

He would look even more stupid if he pronounces the actions he is going to take and then he is stopped in the tracks by his bosses. Let the Tanzanians hear again and again about this theft. the more he/we shout about it the better. Somebody somewhere will be bothered, not him, but his bosses. They will either sack the deputy minister, explain to us what is happening, or make these thieves pay what is due to Tanzanians.

 

[UNO]

Accusations against mobile phone companies shocking

By Editor

9th June 2012

The revelation last week by Communications, Science and Technology deputy minister January Makamba, in his article published by our sister newspaper, The Guardian on Sunday, as a commentary on an opinion published two weeks ago, is both shocking and appalling.

The minister, in his article, claimed to have authentic and reliable data from the regulator, Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), to back his claims that mobile phone companies have been evading paying taxes for some years now—thanks to a lack of technology to detect their actual revenues.

According to the minister, in the year 2010 mobile phone companies in Tanzania earned $1 billion (Sh1.6trillion), but paid only $1.7 million (Sh2.7 billion) in taxes. But, during the same period, Kenya earned $78.3 million from mobile phone companies, Uganda made $31.3 million while Rwanda collected $14 million nearly ten times what the Tanzania government earned.

If this is the situation, then the public has the right to know why mobile phone service providers are shortchanging the government in paying tax while making trillions of shillings? One would rightly go further and demand to know what measures the government and the Tanzania Revenue Authority have taken to recover the unpaid taxes.

Cellphone service firms are supposed to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporation Tax for those which have made a profit, plus other taxes as stipulated by the country’s laws. It’s therefore appalling to note that Kenya collected fifty times what Tanzania did from mobile phone companies as taxes in 2010.

As the deputy minister put it, “Surely, you could argue that Kenya’s economy is bigger than ours, but Rwanda - a much smaller economy compared to ours and with only two mobile companies - collected more than what Tanzania earned.”

When you consider that the total number of mobile phone subscribers in Tanzania is far bigger than the population of Rwanda, which has about 11.5 million people, it is an insult to our intelligence to make us believe the country could collect more taxes from the mobile phone service subsector than we did.

It is estimated that Tanzania has about 15 million mobile phone subscribers, though some statistics show that the number could actually be closer to 20 million.

This, coupled with the fact that there are seven (not two) telecom companies operating in the country, namely Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Zantel, TTCL, Sasatel and Benson Informatics, it is pretty obvious that the government is getting a raw deal from the firms in terms of tax revenue.
The number of Rwanda’s total mobile users was 4.4 million by February, this year, barely a fifth of the number of users in Tanzania, but still garnered more taxes from its mobile phone operators than Tanzania.

Something must be seriously wrong somewhere – which calls for urgent and effective measures to curb this massive tax evasion in the mobile industry. It defies logic and morally rubs the wrong way for anybody who earns $1 billion to pay the government peanuts in taxes.

It might be a tax paradox to some people, but to us it’s just another one of those fishy deals which have been rocking this country for so many years. The public demands full explanation from TRA about why mobile companies have been taking the government for a ride when it comes to tax payment.

To be fair to all, including the mobile phone companies, we call upon the government to form a special committee to investigate these allegations so that, at the end of the day, fairness and justice is done.

The industry should be thoroughly investigated by an independent body, formed either by the government or the National Assembly, in order to establish the truth about the tax dues from these companies.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

And what do you expect if the big shots are the shareholders. But what I believe this will come to an end, and justice will take its own course.