{"id":410,"date":"2022-06-15T13:31:49","date_gmt":"2022-06-15T13:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/?p=410"},"modified":"2022-06-15T13:31:50","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T13:31:50","slug":"citizens-dispute-cellphone-duty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/?p=410","title":{"rendered":"Citizens dispute Cellphone duty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>02 December 2021<br>Prosperity Sikhosana<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the presentation of the 2022 National Budget, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof. Mthuli Ncube proposed a Cellphone tax which has caused commotion amongst citizens in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ncube proposed a US$50 cellphone tax which is supposed to be paid before any cellphone gadget can be connected to any network in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The divergent views by the public emanet from the fact that some cell phone gadgets cost less than the proposed tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Mr Speaker Sir, in order to curb tax evasion, I propose to introduce a levy of US$50 which will be collected prior to registration of new cellular handsets by Mobile Network Providers.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Evidently, this has been disputed by many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How the US$50 cellphone levy is supposed to assist in tax evasion boggles the mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some cellphone gadgets that cost as low as US$25 depending on the type, thus, this raises question as to how one should pay an amount which is more than the purchase price of the gadget as tax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Agreeing with the public, legislators of Zimbabwe seem to have dismissed the bill labelling it a disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira was noted saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The Ministry of Finance must not determine everything, we should meet regularly to review the budget and re-strategise everything.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While independent Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa encouraged MPs not to pass the budget as it was not realistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In light of this, Zimbabweans agreed with the statement claiming the budget is not practical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, Gift Mugano an Economist, told members of Parliament that inflation would have tremendously skyrocketed by 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mugano expressed the fact that the Finance Minister is failing to read the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He notes that if the year budget is ZWL$579 billion, then yearly expenditure outplay would be more than 60% which could lead to a budget deficit running into more than a trillion next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/DUiXsj7mMmn3dWVgEhDJLt\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Mugano further noted that the inconsistencies in the allocation of money towards macroeconomic stability is a cause for concern as the budget must provide 50% of the total foreign currency, which is US$750 million from the anticipated US$1.5 billion towards the operation of the auction system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He further explained that some programs, for example Pfumvudza does not need any allocation from the budget stating that the budget focus should be on development, construction of industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He continued to say the provision of paying civil servants bonuses in US dollars was not corresponding with the local currency budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The budget, since its announcement has been receiving controversial views from the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One Mr. Ndlovu in a group discussion on WhatsApp stated that the budget is not considering the general public that cannot afford to even buy bread on a daily basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He questions how the poor citizens will afford to pay a cellphone tax of US$50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zim GBC News<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>02 December 2021Prosperity Sikhosana During the presentation of the 2022 National Budget, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof. Mthuli Ncube proposed a Cellphone tax which has caused commotion amongst&hellip; 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