In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a skirmish between the Congolese business federation and the authorities over the risk of new taxes which could have a negative impact on the cost of telecommunications services in the country. The authorities deny this, but civil society organizations already see it as a new attempt by the authorities to tax populations illegally.
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Pascal Mulegwa
This pass of arms follows the scandal linked to the mobile device registry tax (RAM). Hundreds of millions of dollars that had been collected in this framework have never been traced. The tax was abolished by the government under pressure.
For now, it’s a press release battle that is going on. The Professional Committee of the telephony of the FEC, explains in a press release that the government has introduced new taxes at the expense of telecoms. This tax will have repercussions on all services.
” Operators have no choice but to increase the prices of various services on which the government has decided to apply these new charges “, explains the employers. According to the latter, operators are thus obliged to withdraw “ certain generous offers granted to consumers “.
The ARTPC denies having introduced new taxes
For its part, the ARTPC under the presidency, denies having introduced new taxes for consumers. And affirms that precisely that all taxes must be the subject of a legal examination. She protests against employers who, according to her, are carrying out a disinformation campaign.
Civil society organizations are on the lookout for this new case. the National movement of aggrieved consumers ensures that he will remain vigilant so that such a tax is not put in place, neither by the government, nor by the telephone operators.