Thousands of petty traders across the islands have a reason to smile after, President Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, had on September launched the issuance of special identification cards (ID) program.

The program is intended to make it easy for tax collection authorities and the government to identify and provide them with a wide range of opportunities for self-development.

The IDs which are issued by all local government authorities are an important opportunity for entrepreneurs who will now have to pay between Sh30,000 to Sh100,000 annually.

The newly introduced system is geared towards increasing the government revenue which was not collected from petty businessmen because there was no proper system to recognize them.

The system was initiated following many challenges that petty traders have been facing because of the poor management that had been existing.

“Today is a day of joy. We have implemented the promise we made during the last year's general election campaign and especially to petty traders,” the President said while unveiling the program at the Sheikh Idris Abdulwakil Hall.

The IDs will be carried by businessmen wherever they will be doing their activities.

Besides the promises he made during the election campaigns, the program  implements the requirements of various laws related to entrepreneurs including Act No. 7 of 2014 which was intended to create conducive environment to support marginalized groups.

“The government is committed to create a conducive and sustainable environment for the petty traders to carry out their activities smoothly,” he said.

“Regional commissioners will distribute the IDs to the district commissioners who will then issue them to the targeted businessmen who will pay between Sh20,000 to 100,000, depending on the nature of business,” he said.

The Unguja North Regional Commissioner, Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud, said the IDs distribution exercise has proved successful in his region.

"We are all witnessing the benefits of using the IDs. They have enabled our small entrepreneurs to conduct their businesses with much ease since they are not required to pay other levies,” he said.

He urged District Commissioners and all other responsible persons to ensure that the IDs were distributed to the intended businessmen without any complications.

“It is your responsibility to make sure that this exercise is carried out efficiently to bring the intended positive results,” he insisted.

He commended the president for the IDs initiative which he said will improve the lives of small entrepreneurs and contribute to the economy of the nation.

The Minister of State, President's Office, Regional Administration, Local Government and SMZ Special Departments, Masoud Ali Mohamed said the initiative is expected to reach all the entrepreneurs.

 "We intend to reach out to all entrepreneurs to ensure they have access to this service and do business in a friendly environment,” he said.

Amina Said, one of the first entrepreneurs to receive an ID, praised the initiative, saying it would reduce the burden of taxes that entrepreneurs were paying annually.

“I’m very grateful to the President, he is committed to support the petty traders and reduce the business difficulties they are facing,” she said.

Source: Zanzibar Mail