Opinion / Columnist
Minister Biti should assure tax fairness for all
21 Apr 2012 at 15:25hrs | Views
The idea that millionaires and billionaires in Zanu-PF, and government and their cronies like Chiyangwa and others should pay the same tax rates as middle-class individuals and low income earners in Zimbabwe is wrong and grossly unfair.
Nationwide, incomes of the richest few have nearly quadrupled while salaries of the middle class and the low income earners have shrunk to zero point. At the same time, the average tax rate paid by the richest of the rich is almost zero while the majority struggle with up to forty percent tax burden; this is evil.
The richest in Zimbabwe, earn well over $1 million annually or just a little less than $20,000 per week in a country whose economy is in tatters and where poverty reigns supreme. This is why this proposal would create a fairer system that treats income earned by the wealthy just like income earned by the middle class and low income earners.
It's time to have tax codes that reflect Zimbabwe's values of hard work and fairness, so we can build an economy that works for all Zimbabweans alike. This could also be Minister Biti's chance to raise revenue to bolster the nation's coffers that for a long time have been bankrupt.
It is now time to work for the common good of all Zimbabweans and the success of the nation rather than maintain and promote the greedy and selfish interests of one percent of Zimbabwe's population who end of the day, will go about the whole country ranting and boasting of ill-gotten wealth to people they are robbing in broad day light.
Nationwide, incomes of the richest few have nearly quadrupled while salaries of the middle class and the low income earners have shrunk to zero point. At the same time, the average tax rate paid by the richest of the rich is almost zero while the majority struggle with up to forty percent tax burden; this is evil.
The richest in Zimbabwe, earn well over $1 million annually or just a little less than $20,000 per week in a country whose economy is in tatters and where poverty reigns supreme. This is why this proposal would create a fairer system that treats income earned by the wealthy just like income earned by the middle class and low income earners.
It's time to have tax codes that reflect Zimbabwe's values of hard work and fairness, so we can build an economy that works for all Zimbabweans alike. This could also be Minister Biti's chance to raise revenue to bolster the nation's coffers that for a long time have been bankrupt.
It is now time to work for the common good of all Zimbabweans and the success of the nation rather than maintain and promote the greedy and selfish interests of one percent of Zimbabwe's population who end of the day, will go about the whole country ranting and boasting of ill-gotten wealth to people they are robbing in broad day light.
Source - Blessed Kungwengwe
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