JANUARY MAKAMBA, ZITTO KABWE WALALAMIKIA KODI YA LINE ZA SIMU

The Tanzania government has imposed a TZS 1,000 monthly charge on Sim cards. According to the Mobile Operators Association of Tanzania (MOAT) the monthly charge which took effect on 01 July penalises users who rely on the service to better their lives. Tanzania has a mobile penetration of about 48 percent.

This translates to approximately 22 million mobile phone users, of which 8 million use less than TZS 1,000 on mobile communication per month. The Association said even though it understands the government's need to access funding for various development initiatives that target the poor, the proposed monthly charge will affect the poor and the industry as a whole.
With industry growth for the next decade expected to come from rural areas, MOAT is concerned that the imposition of the monthly charge will deter mobile communication services among the country's poorest residents. MOAT called on the government to re-consider the TZS 1,000 monthly charge per Sim and facilitate further growth of the telecommunications sector in Tanzania. Source: Tanzania imposes TZS 1,000 monthly charge on Sim cards - Telecompaper
Maoni ya Mhe. Zitto Kabwe:

By Zitto: Kodi ya Tshs 1,000 kwa mwezi kwa KILA KADI YA SIMU uliyonayo imeanza rasmi. Bunge la wananchi na wawakilishi wa wananchi, limepitisha kodi hii!

Hailipwi na kampuni ya simu, inalipwa na wewe mwenye simu. Kampuni ya simu inakusanya kwa niaba ya serikali.

Ingawa sikuwepo wakati kodi hii inapitishwa na Bunge siwezi kukwepa wajibu wa kuaibika kuwa sehemu ya Bunge hili. Ni aibu Kwa kuwa pendekezo la kodi hii liliondolewa na Waziri wa Fedha kwenye hotuba yake ya makadirio ya mapato ya Serikali. Pendekezo lilirudishwa namna gani kupitia muswada wa fedha, finance bill, Haieleweki... Ni skandali!

Najisikia vibaya sana kuwa mbunge kwenye Bunge lenye maamuzi ya namna hii. Nasikia aibu zaidi kwamba hatukupiga kelele za kutosha kuzuia jambo hili.  

Na kwaupande wake January Makamba, ambaye pia ni naibu waziri wa wizara ya mawasiliano, alijibu maoni ya watu mbalimbali katika twitter kwa kusema yeye wizara yake iliikataa kodi hiyo ambayo ilipitishwa na wabunge chini ya wizara ya fedha kwa niaba ya serikali.