Private business owners and managers have been challenged to behave ethically and adhere to voluntary tax payment to enable the government collect due revenues for economic growth.
Chairman of Tanzania Responsible Business Network James Edmunds speaks during the presentation of the network’s codes of conduct in Dar es Saam over the weekend.
Chairman of Tanzania Responsible Business Network (TRBN) James Edmunds, speaking in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, said the network that bring together private firms and individual businesses seek to assist the government towards enforcing ethical behaviour in the private sector.
“The economy is growing well and the private sector is playing a critical role… the observation of the rules and regulations for sustained growth and tax payment is inevitable,” Mr Edmunds said while unveiling TRBN’s codes of conduct.
He said his network will also fight corrupt practices among employees at work places, arguing that the vice seriously affects business performance and the entire economy due to distortion of market fundamentals.
Edmunds said through the network, companies and individuals will discuss problems facing them in the local economy. We want to boost performance by addressing problems like corruption and regulation that impact negatively on our work,” he stressed.
East African Speaker’s Bureau (EASB) Chairman Paul Mashauri said TRBN’s main objective is to address efficiency of private companies, so that the government can collect maximum revenues from the profits that corporate firms generate.
“We also focus on job creation in the local economy by ensuring that the existing environment is supportive to thriving private businesses, both local and foreign,” Mr Mashauri noted. Eleven companies formed the TRBN last week, with an objective of fighting corruption in the country’s private sector.
The companies that launched the network include Airtel, Twiga Cement, Bank M, Serengeti Breweries, Export Trading, KPMG, Deloitte, Coastal Travels, FINCA and Standard Chartered. However, over 40 other companies are expected to join the network by virtue of being Global Compact signatories. They include Mohammed Enterprises, Textile Mills, Barrick Gold and BP Tanzania.
Source Tanznaia Daily News
