TANZANIA: TRADERS CLOSE SHOP OVER TANZANIA REVENUE AUTHORITY ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Wananchi walk along Congo Street in Dar es Salaam on Monday, where shops were closed during a strike by traders aimed at forcing the government to reduce restrictions on the use of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs).

Dar es Salaam. Traders in Dar es Salaam’s business centre, Kariakoo, closed their shops on Monday, protesting the use of electronic fiscal devices (EFDs).

Business came to a standstill with people who wanted to buy various items in the city remaining in dilemma. Others chose to go back to their homes as they failed to purchase the goods they wanted.

The Citizen survey in the heart of the country’s business district found out that many traders remained outside their shops with all those interviewed insisting that they would not open their shops until the government rescinded its decision to push for the use of EFDs.

The chairman of Dar es Salaam traders, Mr Mathias Makoi, told The Citizen that the traders were tired of harassment by police officers and commissioners from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) who patrolled the city to ensure that all traders used EFD machines.

“Our colleagues are being arrested and detained because of these machines which help few business tycoons to mint their cash while majority of us go out with nothing,’’ he said.

Another businessman, Mr Fadhili Anefs who sells mobile phones at Kariakoo said that he was not able to pay the percent required by TRA because there was no good business in the city that helped him make enough profit.

This is not the first time traders are closing their shops. They have severally been going on a strike in a bid to persuade the government to stop the use of electronic machines. Recently, traders in Mwanza closed their shops protesting against the use of EFDs.

The use of EFDs was greeted with anger from traders countrywide since its establishment who claim that it is exploiting them financially.

Efforts to contact the Finance and Economic Affairs minister for comment proved futile.

The Citizen