Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has criticised the government for raising duties on fuel by over 100%.
Biti argued that the timing was wrong as the country is under lockdown and the economy is in the middle of a recession. He said:
Through SI 87 of 2020, the regime’s Min of Finance has raised duties on fuel by over 100%, making Zim fuel most expensive in the region.
The move comes at a time when the price of crude is coming down. It is irrational for regime to raise taxes in a recession & during a lockdown.
It is extremely insensitive to raise taxes when families are facing unprecedented challenges, unemployment, poverty, shortages, inflation, corruption, #COVID19. The move will spike inflation at a time when Zim has the second-highest level of world inflation at 570 %.
Duties are normally raised in the budget therefore continued governance by decrees is authoritarian and unprecedented. Other than greed and patronage, there is no logical basis for tax raise.
Vested interests by #SakundaRepublic and the handful of fuel barons in cabinet can’t punish Zimbabwe.
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