Poor taxation methods, compliance worries Mutati
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MMD faction leader Felix Mutati has expressed worry at the low tax compliance levels in most African countries, a trend which he says has capacity to affect service delivery.
Mutati was guest speaker at Crowne Plaza Hotel during a 3 day international conference organised by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre in Nairobi, Kenya under the topic “Improving Domestic Resource Mobilisation and stemming illicit financial flows”.
Mutati, a former cabinet minister in two governments urged respective African governments to devise methods to make tax payment more persuasive that an imposition.
He explained that to achieve this, governments must ensure that citizens appreciate the benefits of tax payment and illustrated that during his reign as Finance Minister, one of his primary driving forces was to ensure that enough resources were mobilised in order that people’s development aspirations are met.
Mutation further bemoaned the high levels of borrowing which most countries have been associated with.
He said the Zambian government introduced tax agents as way of curbing administration costs involved with following up taxes.
Mutati also suggested more capacity building among tax collectors.
The Conference which opened on Tuesday and has drawn participants from different parts of the world is expected to close on Wednesday.
After evaluating the previous conference and strategizing the translations of its findings for Kenya and the countries of the East African Community, the Module will aim to educate, engage and mobilize local and national stakeholder and bind them together in Joint Advocacy at a date that will be announced by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre.