Tanzania: Despite govt orders, nationwide protests staged over EFDs
11 February 2014
Kariakoo market, the busiest in the commercial port city of Dar es Salaam is again at a shut down, only this time traders from cross the country have joined in a nationwide stand off to dispute government ordered use of Electronic Fiscal Devises (EFDs). For Kariakoo, this will be the second time for them to protest against the use of EFDs after doing so on November 18, 2013. Speaking to The Guardian a trader who preferred anonymity said apart from their complaints over the prices of the machines, the systems has a lot of other faults.
On Sunday a mass text was distributed among traders urging to close shop because ‘the EFD’s are not friendly to the development of traders instead they aims to kill traders’ capitals.’ However, Kariakoo Business Community (JWK) advisor Johnson Minja said the Community’s leadership is against the protest as they were waiting to meet with President Kikwete for further discussions over the matter. He said that JWK is making efforts to influence the traders to stop the protest until the President meets with them but so they have not succeeded.
“We tried to ask them not to close their shops but they have done their own bidding,” he said “…the business community has nothing to do with it…but we are still trying to influence the traders to open shop until we meet the President,” he added.
He went on to explain that there is confusion among the traders from two contradicting statements by government officials. First a statement by Finance Minister Saada Mkuya saying all traders are to use the gadgets as of this month, while Minister of Industry and Trade Dr Abdallah Kigoda said that there should be a Commission or task force to go over traders grievances before they are forced to use them.
As in Dar es Salaam, traders elsewhere in the country too are on a shut down. Reports from Songea said that traders have also closed their shops demanding the government first respond to their complaints over the EFDs. In Iringa, businesses were suspended with traders complaining over high taxes and similar ‘faulty equipment’ complaints over the EFDs. Iringa Regional Commissioner Dr Christine Ishengoma urged the traders to stop the protest and continue with business while officials look to resolve their grievances.
Contacted, Deputy Minister for Finance Mwigulu Nchemba maintained government’s stand that the traders are supposed to comply with the law and use the gadgets. He said no one has the right to protest a law enacted by the Parliament noting that, if the traders have complaints, they should present them to the government but not to breach the law.
“There is no one, not the formed commission not the Minister, who can go against the law and stop the use of the machines,” he said “…if the traders think that they have something to say they should air their complaints but not protest the law,” he said. “The Ministry has no other statement, responsible authorities are to go on in collection of Taxes and we will also go on providing education and awareness to the traders and citizens over the operation of the EFD’s,” he summed up.
Source: IPP media