adminFinance and Economic Development, Dr Vasant Kumar Bunwaree, made the call during the first General Assembly of the African Tax Administration Forum that was held in Balaclava, Mauritius, late last month. He described tax evasion as a crime against humanity as it takes essential resources from those in need.
“Revenue authorities should confront problems of tax evasion and avoidance and foster a culture of compliance in order to sustain African economies,” he said.
In a strategic document that was distributed at the assembly, ATAF Council chairperson Mr Oupa Magashula, who is also the Commissioner-General of the South African Revenue Service, called for “a tax administration system capable of collecting revenue due to the State”.
He added that the system should also deal with tax evasion and avoidance and building a culture of compliance.
“We have seen from the recent international financial crisis that Africa cannot continue to depend on external financial flows to sustain its economies,” said Mr Magashula.
Delegates shared notes on measures to enforce tax compliance, prevalent socio-cultural attitudes towards tax fraud and evasion, tax havens, as well as international co-operation to combat tax fraud, avoidance and evasion.
The General Assembly discussed past activities of the forum, the way forward for ATAF and agreed on a number of strategies and resolutions that will help the forum to achieve its goals. One of the resolutions was for forum membership to remain open to all African states.
Representatives from 21 African countries attended the meeting as well as development partners such as the World Customs Organisation, the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators and the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner- General Mr Gershom Pasi and the Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Mr Tichawona Chiradza represented Zimbabwe.
The forum is driven by the realisation that better tax administration will enhance economic growth, increase accountability of the State to its citizens and more effectively mobilise domestic resources.
ATAF – whose vision is to “promote efficient and effective tax administration to improve the living standards of the people in Africa” – was launched in Kampala, Uganda, in 2009.
The Forum has been hailed for building strong and capable revenue authorities within the continent. Membership currently stands at 34 African states. These include Benin, Botswana, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius and Morocco.
Other member states are Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter