Better zero fuel than operators evading tax - Tanzania president issues orders

Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli, has launched a fresh operation to get taxes paid by major economic players in the country, fuel station operators.

The 57-year-old is reported to have directed all petrol stations across the country to install Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFD) within two weeks or risk losing their licences.

“It’s better we lack fuel rather than to have traders, who evade taxes. I am giving operators of fuel stations 14 days to install Electronic Fiscal Devices or otherwise they will lose their licenses,” Magufuli is quoted by the Citizen news portal to have said.

He issued the directive at an inauguration ceremony to construct a 154 kilometer road in the country’s north western region. The Kagoma-Biharamulo-Lusahunga will help ease human and trade in the area.

His order buttresses an earlier action by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) which closed down fuel stations that failed to comply with the issuance of EFD receipts.

The Citizen adds that last week, the minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, closed a filling station as part of the nationwide inspection and clampdown on non compliant business people.

Stations in the commercial capital of Dar Es Salam have moved to implement the directive to forestall any issues. But motorists who are also affected have asked government extend a deadline given operators so as to ease the strain on daily activities.

Magufuli, a former roads minister came to power in 2015. Nicknamed the ‘Bulldozer’ he has taken a series of unpopular decisions in the fight against corruption among others firing ministers and heads of utility companies.