RRA’ new taxes collection is an added value to the fiscal decentralization process-Bumbakare

Pierre Celestin Bumbakare, the RRA (Rwanda Revenue Authority) commissioner in charge of internal taxes collection told the journalists that the newly established taxes collection policy is meant to enhance the effectiveness of the process was and help taxpayers in the payment activities.

Recently the RRA authority has taken over the responsibility of collecting both taxes and revenue from the districts.

According to the Commissioner Bumbakare, this initiative aims at increasing the effectiveness of how districts collected taxes.

The choice of this option has been done by a joint committee of experts from RRA and its partners to ease the taxation process for the benefit of taxpayers.

For him, RRA is technologically and financially well equipped to collect taxes and revenues more than districts do.

However journalists expressed their concerns about this removal of fiscal responsibility from the districts considering this it as undemocratic act.

One of the said “It would be better if the RRA could enable districts officials in charge of taxes collection with all necessary tools and skills to carry out their activities instead of removing the responsibility.”

For Pierre Celestin Bumbakare responsibility of collecting taxes reserved for RRA has been agreed upon by mayors of the districts who were willing to involve the RRA in the process, he said.

One of the concerns displayed by the journalists was about the management of the money collected, wondering whether districts will receive the amount of money collected to be invested into their budget plans.

To this, Bumbakare revealed that this new system will not hinder districts from receiving their money to invest into their fiscal plans.

Some of the listeners were eager to know why these changes have happened and which will be the outcomes to taxpayers.

Other asked if this police concern all the taxes and incomes which were collected at the sector level.

Bumbakare Pierre Celestin said that the new system concerns all taxes that were collected at the grassroots levels.

At the international level, the participants discussed on the recent diplomatic crisis between Rwanda and South Africa.

This weekly show takes place every Sunday , 2pm up to 3pm.the aim of the show is to debate on national and international issues having been of a great success in media.

It is prepared by ARJ and Institut Panos Panos- Europe.

 UM– USEKE.RW