MWANZA: Fish dealers outraged by new by-laws

Written by MOSES MATTHEW in Mwanza

TANZANIA Fishers Union has threatened to boycott the newly introduced levy on fishery related products in Mwanza Region.

A move was declared during a meeting that was organized by the Mwanza Fishers Primary Cooperative Society in Mwanza City. It was attended by fishery stakeholders in the region.

A chairperson, Tanzania Fishers Union (TAFU), Mr Thomas Chamoto said that the regional authority had since last year introduced the by-laws that required, among other things, fish traders to pay 50,000/- for any cargo that enters into the fishery industry (processors).

“We are against proliferations of levies on fishery products here in Mwanza Region. And funny enough the new by-laws was introduced without any participation from the fish stakeholders,” says the chairperson. Mr Chamoto also says that the TAFU and other key players are contemplating to seek legal recourse to protest execution of the by-laws in the region.

“We pay lots of levy from Sumatra, TRA and other levies put in place by the local authorities, thinking that is too much for us and we don’t understand how can we do business in such a harsh environment,” claimed one fisherman.

In this regard the fishers are requesting the government to review Fish products Levies in order to make it useful to both parties Lake Zone officer-in-charge of fish quantity control and standard Stephen Lukanga called on fishermen to be patient and follow administrative procedures in solving the matter.

Source: Daily News (23/11/2012): http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/11892-fish-dealers-outraged-by-new-by-laws