Tanzania: Govt Must Act On Levy Harassement

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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

EDITORIAL
1 August 2008
Posted to the web 1 August 2008

Yesterday we reported about the death of one Cornel John in circumstances that are very sad and unfortunate to say the least. The deceased who hails from Bukoba rural district drowned in Lake Victoria as he was escaping from a team of village officials.

He died because he could not swim in the deep waters where he had rushed to take refuge. According to availed information, the man is believed to have been on the run to avoid a date with the ward executive and his youth militia who approached his home as he relaxed.

He sneaked on seeing them and plunged into the lake to a sure death. The visitors were searching for people who have not paid school development levy. It is very painful that the victim paid by his dear life due to lack of a few hundred shillings to fundraise to build a local secondary school. But most significantly the incident only served to expose the suffering that some village bureaucracies subject innocent members of the public.

We are not saying that communities should not pull resources together for common good. No. But it is not acceptable when this becomes an excuse for militias to instill terror on the public.

Amicable means should be found to collect any levy for communal projects. Kagera region and Mbeya have unfortunately been in the news over these notorious militias that comb villages arresting women and detaining children to force their families to contribute towards ward secondary schools.

The government should take the cue and immediately refrain any of its agencies or representatives from forcefully levying development funds that would amount to re-introducing the nuisance taxes that were scrapped a while ago.

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After all it has clearly been stated that the collection of funds for such schools or dispensaries is voluntary. No one should lose their lives again because of this absurd situation.

--
Jean-Louis Kayitenkore
Procurement Consultant
Gsm: +250-08470205
Home: +250-55104140
P.O. Box 3867
Kigali-Rwanda
East Africa
Blog: http://www.cepgl.blogspot.com
Skype ID : Kayisa66