Lawmaker Urges Parliament to Consider Public Views on Controversial Income Tax Bill
Obert Pepukai
30.05.2013
MASVINGO — Outreach meetings on Zimbabwe’s Income Tax Bill continued in
Masvingo on Thursday with the chairman of the parliamentary budget and
finance committee, Paddy Zhanda, saying the Bill is being rushed through
parliament without considering the people’s views.
The parliamentary portfolio committee on budget, finance and investment
promotion is on a countrywide outreach programme collecting people’s views
on the proposed law that has been criticised by some stakeholders.
Zhanda said the outreach was an exercise in futility as parliament has been
rubber-stamping laws as ministers continue to take the House of Assembly for
granted, unwilling to incorporate sensible contributions from the public
besides just noting the committee’s reports.
Zhanda said in a normal situation, views from the outreach should be
incorporated into the bill but says this has not happened in the past and
will not happen next week when the Bill will be read in parliament for the
second time Tuesday.
Zhanda told Studio 7 parliamentarians’ right to interrogate ministers and
proposed laws has long been taken away from them.
He adds the current system has to change, saying it is not healthy for the
nation to have a parliament that just rubberstamps what the executive wants.
He believes that this is not healthy for the nation.
Zhanda said his committee has the weekend to prepare its report on the
outreach exercise and seek a meeting with Finance Minister Tendai Biti on
Monday ahead of the Bill’s second reading, which does not leave space for
any changes to the proposed law as Mr. Biti is anxious to have the Bill
passed into law before the current session of parliament expires.
The Income Tax Bill will replace the country’s old taxation system, which
according to some experts, has outlived its usefulness and does not meet
international standards.
It was a mixed bag in Masvingo on Thursday where some supported the Bill
while others said it needs to be fine-tuned in a number of areas.
Association of Certified Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe tax manager
Marvelous Tapera welcomed the Bill but said Mr. Biti should review a number
of clauses in the Bill.
Tapera said mining companies and others that are being forced to donate
money for community share ownership trusts under the country’s
indigenization laws should be exempt from paying tax for a while.
The Income Tax Bill, which is a residence-based taxation model, has been
criticised by stakeholders in Mutare and other areas where the parliamentary
committee has been conducting the outreach exercise.
It remains to be seen whether the finance minister will next week
incorporate the changes that have been proposed by tax experts, members of
the public and other stakeholders.