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{
    "id": 577856,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/577856/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 306,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kisoi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2350,
        "legal_name": "Michael Manthi Kisoi",
        "slug": "michael-manthi-kisoi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, for giving me this opportunity. I thank the Chairman for taking note of a few issues that have been of serious concern to this nation during the preparatory stages of this Bill. I concur with other Members that this Bill is quite timely. It is seeking to create harmonisation and regulation of the tax regimes both locally and within the East African Community (EAC). It is good because we have to be focused as a country on how we are dealing with issues relating to taxation. In any case, it is the only way we tend to evaluate the benefits in terms of revenue collection, vis a vis the outputs of what we sieve after we have already collected the revenue. I have a few concerns that I want to raise on this Bill which one of my colleagues may have also mentioned. One is on farm machinery. This country depends entirely on agriculture. Agriculture is one of the stable pillars that this country is looking at in terms of economic development. I do not think it was wise enough to think of taxing farm machinery when we need to create incentives on agricultural machinery, so that we can encourage farmers to purchase this equipment at a far much lower cost. We need to bring down the cost of production in agriculture. This will consequently encourage job creation. I also have concerns on the taxing of motorcycles. This country had serious problems concerning the youth. It is only through these motorcycles that in the last few years we have seen our youth get properly engaged in constructive issues. This is because each and every youth can earn some revenue through boda boda . However, when we start taxing the same motorcycles which are being used by our young people, we will deny them their daily bread. So, are we really creating incentives for the youth so that they get engaged in constructive activities that will better their lives? At the end of it, it will have serious effects in terms of what our youth will do at the end our cycle. I am also concerned about telephones. I recall very well sometimes back when this issue of mobile phones came into play. The cost for owning a mobile phone was quite exorbitant that it was a preserve for just a chosen few. Now these telephones and mobile phones have created an avenue where now these phones are a tool of business and life. So, we should look at how we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}