IN his frequent speech es the Fifth Phase Government President John Pombe Magufuli (JPM) has been reminding fellow Tanzanians that no one would come from outside to develop this country.
In this scenario, the President’s school of thought is simple and straight that even a country one may be tempted to allocate funds to help a local project, that money is their tax payers’ sweat and would hence come with string s attached.
Th at again reinforces his idea that there is no free lunch in this planet, and if one does not want to work, one should be ready to die, which translates to his slogan of hapa ni kazi tu.
Shedding light on that, the public should be aware that no foreign aid would be enough to support domestic developments, and this means that all as nationals; We must carry our own cross and support the government in its initiatives, especially by seeing into it that each and everyone pays taxes.
Once in Arumeru, the President reminded the citizens that even animals require water to drink, not a political party to thrive on.
Implying that dig g ing water, guarding its source and such stuff, must come back to the same citizens to ‘ shoulder.’
That in a way shows why the President has been tough against those who embezzle community projects’ funds for their own selfish ends.
Once taxes are paid on time, the government would be at a position to discharge its numerous responsibilities for the same citizens, and these duties should be considered as essential obligations.
On the other side of the coin, citizens should know that paying tax es is considered a civic duty that the law of the eland also reinforces.
Just to quote Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.: “ Taxes are the price we pay for civilisation.” More specifically, taxes are th e price we pay for Tanzania we love.
A well-functioning revenue system is a necessary condition for strong, sustained and inclusive economic development.
For that matter, Tanzanians should know that tax es collected on goods or services would be spent in the same public sector for their own social benefit to run Health Centres and pay teachers who are teach ing our children.
Taxes also, in turn, come back to them to pay for the military expenses guarding the country, and police maintaining law and order as well as their property against saboteurs.
As citizens are being enlightened on the importance of paying tax es, one ought to also know that ignorance about tax payment, can lead one to a variety of problems.
For that matter, every citizen should enquire to know how much one has to pay as tax.
Once paid, the State would be able to provide maintain a streamlined government and run both visible and invisible services to its citizens including pension funds, welfare, and homeland security.
Citizen should not groan for the burden of the tax, instead should think about the utilities that they receive from the taxes.
