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{
    "id": 377285,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/377285/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 509,
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    "content": "poor to pay any form of taxes. What will take them out of that state is improved services and support for the productive sectors. Taxation is, therefore, essential. One can argue that the rich should pay more and that, indeed, they must pay more. Maybe one day in this House we will get a policy paper that will discuss the relative weights in tax burden between our various members in society, that is, the well-to-do, the very poor and the very rich. That is a very essential debate. In respect of this Bill, there are very many important components that will make the system efficient and increase tax collection. Perhaps, one day, we will be discussing less reliance on VAT. I hope one day we will be discussing two per cent and not 16 per cent. This will be an indication that systems are so efficient and tax would be coming from different corners. Contribution from inherently regressive tax like VAT would be greatly diminished. We need to look at what good this Bill is going to do to the system. There are provisions, as has been indicated, on zero-rating and exemptions. Let us remember that the conditions that lead to price levels are not just in taxes. There may be sticky points in supply especially in the supply chain so that when goods are too, few then prices rise. We would be looking more broadly at issues such as productivity in order to increase basic commodity supply including food supply so that prices do not rise significantly. It is not normally because of VAT or lack of it. I support this Bill in the hope that it will be followed by an explicit statement on how additional resources are going to address the needs of the poor and how they are going to overcome the bottlenecks in supply. I support this Bill because I believe it is going to support the people of Nambale in tarmacking the roads, improving our hospitals and other facilities that we so dearly love, but lack completely. This is a Bill that we have to live with. Yes, we must pay tax, just who pays what tax? This discussion is not about the VAT right; it is about VAT as tax. I hope Members will focus on VAT right. I support this Bill because I know it will make a difference in the poor communities in my constituency. This is because it will help fund the essential services that are so dearly missing. I urge everybody in the House to support this Bill so that we improve our revenue base and supply the services our communities need. I thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}