TIGO MOST COMPLIANT TAXPAYER IN TELCO SECTOR

Tanzania Revenue Authority Commissioner of Large Tax Payers, Michael Muhoja (left) hands over an award as the Most Tax Compliant Telecommunications Company in Tanzania to Tigo Chief Financial Officer, CPA. Innocent Rwetabura (centre). They are Flanked by the Tigo Acting Head of Tax management.

Tigo Tanzania emerged Most Compliant Taxpayer in the Telecommunications Sector in Tanzania for 2022/23 in this year’s Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day held on 24 November 2023 at Mlimani City and officiated by the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Dotto Mashaka Biteko. The award highlights the highest level of maturity in Tigo Tanzania compliance with taxes and its internal governance principles, integrity and strict adherence to the tax laws and practices in Tanzania.

While accepting the award, the Chief Financial Officer of the Tigo, CPA (T) Innocent Rwetabura noted that the achievement is attributed to collaboration among all key stakeholders that work in synchronization to achieve Tigo Tanzania’s set goals, he commended expertise of key employees involved in the tax processes and all employees for their constant adherence and observance of tax impact in all decisions made . He further commended the telco’s customers who are the sole reason Tigo Tanzania has emerged the overall winner in telecommunication sector category. CPA(T) Rwetabura also commended the Telco’s leadership and Board of Directors for ensuring the company is abiding to the laws and regulations of the country while delivering the telecommunication and mobile financial services to enrich the lives of Tanzanians.

It should be noted that the award and recognition comes a short while after Tigo Tanzania completed its merger with Zanzibar Telecom Plc (Zantel), one of its -kind horizontal business merger in the history of Tanzania, and Tigo Tanzania change of shareholding from Millicom International Cellular to the conglomerate led by the Pan African telecom operator based in Madagascar, Axian Telecom. Amid these major changes and disruptions to the business, the award bears witness that the Telco’s commitment to tax compliance remained unshaken, unchanged, and even more matured and advanced. It underpins the priority areas, and that key performance of the company heavily relies on making sure that compliance supersede all other activites.

The guest of honour, Deputy Prime Minister Biteko congratulated all the winners in this years Taxpayers’ Appreciation Day while at the same time highlighting the role of taxpayers in the economy as a decisive development role that need to be appreciated and rewarded accordingly. He sensitized that the role of tax administrator should lean towards educating and partnering with taxpayers rather that antagonizing and vilifying them.