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Tax Evasion Scandal Rocks Parliament: Senior Officials and TRA Staff Under Scrutiny

Dodoma - The Tanzanian parliament has been rocked by a major tax evasion scandal involving senior government officials and personnel of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

It is alleged that the government lost a staggering Tsh128 billion (US$128 million) due to dumping, exemptions, and tax evasion in the petroleum industry.

Shocking Revelation

Deputy Minister for Finance, Dr. Festus Limbu, informed parliament that the government had uncovered a tax evasion scam involving a gold mining firm and a company operating a petrol station in Dar es Salaam. The scheme is believed to have cost the government Tsh6 billion (US$6 million) monthly prior to July 2003.

Investigation Underway

Furthermore, it has been reported that the TRA is investigating another suspected tax evasion scam amounting to Tsh8 billion (US$8 million) through the importation of merchandise from the United Kingdom, Dubai, and the Far East.

Questions Raised about Corruption

The scandal has raised serious questions about corruption within the government and the TRA. Opposition MPs are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter and have demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

Other Illicit Activities Exposed

In addition to tax evasion, parliament has also been informed of other illicit activities, including:

Smuggling of minerals, arms, and dangerous materials.
Loss of over Tsh300 billion (US$300 million) due to the smuggling of tanzanite from the country between 1995 and 2002.
Illegal trade in gold and gemstones, with millions of dollars lost annually.
Implication of Tanzanian officials in smuggling diamonds and other precious minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Money Laundering and Other Crimes

Parliament has also heard about money laundering schemes involving:

Stolen motor vehicles.
Poaching.
Human trafficking.
Criminal syndicates using Tanzania as a route for illegal arms trafficking to warring factions in Burundi, the DRC, and Rwanda.
Impounding of four containers of uranium and arrest of five persons in connection with its possession.

Call for Action

Opposition MPs are calling on the government to take immediate action to address these illicit activities and restore public trust in the authorities. They are demanding that those responsible be brought to justice and that measures be put in place to prevent such scandals from happening in the future.

Government Response

The government has promised to investigate the matter further and to take appropriate action against those found guilty. However, many are questioning whether the government has the will and capability to tackle these deep-seated corruption issues.