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EAC retirees start getting dues today
2005-09-20 08:30:27
By Lusekelo Philemon
The government will today start paying East African Community (EAC) retirees their terminal benefits, Finance minister Basil Mramba said yesterday.
Speaking during President Benjamin Mkapa’s visit to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Mramba said the government had set aside 117bn/- for the exercise, not 50bn/- as stated in Parliament earlier this year.
A total of 29,500 former EAC workers were eligible for the payments, the minister said.
’’This figure was arrived at after a thorough identification and verification exercise carried out by TRA staff,’’ he added.
Mramba commended President Mkapa for honouring his promise of paying the former EAC workers before leaving office.
’’I’m confident the exercise will end before October 28,’’ Mramba said, adding that court procedures contributed to the delay of the payment which was initially scheduled to begin yesterday.
The minister also praised TRA workers for their efficiency in collecting government revenue which now stands at about 150bn/- per month.
Addressing a May Day rally in Songea earlier this year, President Mkapa said his government would pay the EAC retirees their dues before its tenure ended after next month’s general election.
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