via Zimbabweans overtaxed, Chinamasa – New Zimbabwe 04/02/2015
FINANCE Minister Patrick Chinamasa on Wednesday said Zimbabweans are overtaxed and shot down a proposal by some legislators for government to introduce a levy to mobilise resources in the fight against cancer.
As the world celebrated World Cancer Day on Wednesday, local legislators sought to push government to take drastic measures in the fight against the disease by mobilising additional resources to capacitate local health institutions.
The legislators argued that the levy would take the form of the Aids levy which government compulsorily introduced for all formal sector employees in the 90s to mobilise funds in the fight against the pandemic.
But Chinamasa told legislators during Parliament’s question and answer session that he would not support introduction of such a measure.
“The tax payer is already overburdened and I will be very reluctant to impose such measures,” Chinamasa told the legislators.
He said what was critical was for government to grow the economy, which would make mobilisation of resources easy to support all needy sectors of the economy, including health.
Zimbabwe’s anaemic economy is stifled by lack of new investment and cash shortages which are choking its productive sectors.
Rated as one of the top killer diseases, treatment of cancer is unaffordable for ordinary Zimbabweans as it is charged at a premium.
Meanwhile, Chinamasa said payment of bonuses for civil servants had overburdened the already financially stressed government, resulting in authorities failing to pay other critical services providers.
“We paid $172 million towards bonuses at a time when the private sector is failing to pay wages, let alone bonuses,” he said.
As a result government, he said, had failed to remit payments to the Premier Medical Aid Society among other service providers.
COMMENTS
Perhaps removing the aids levy would be a fantastic gift to us tax payers. Perhaps ZESA should also take away the 6% rural eltrification tax.
Yes. And a convoluted form-heavy expensive collection system. Abolish tax slash duty surcharge fuel – spread the net and make collection effective and cheap.
Maybe China should start in his own back door. You have a big problem China and you have covered your eyes for far to long.
1) reduce you civil servants and that includes the uniformed services.
2) tax your highly paid officials more
3) reduce unnecessary spending eg perks, drinks at Miekles etc
4) the list goes on but then again whats the point of writing this as you wont do a thing.
The Zimbabwean people maybe docile but they are not fools . You and friends will be going soon and thats going to be Chikurubi Hotel.
Once in a while the obvious becomes news. The fact that Zimbabweans are over taxed is not news. This is obvious. The fact that the minister who administers this taxation acknowledges the fact is the news. We await with heightened anticipation for the minister to announce alleviation of this tax burden.