Uhuru Initiative for Policy Education - UIPE

Our Founder & Executive Director met Madam Linda Whetstone during Atlas's Leadership for Liberty Training Programe in 2012 in New York. He was on the verge on initiating this organizationa they discussed about programs that UIPE will be running especially those which focused on university students outreach. She was impressed and offered a grant to publish liberty themed books and duplicate the Ideas for A Free Society CDs through her organization Network for A Free society. Since then Linda continued to support our organization through modest grants, personal mentorship and latest as a member of our Advisory Board. Today morning when we learned about her passing away we knew that we have lost one of the important pillars to the Free Market movement. You will forever be in our thoughts and hearts Madam Linda Whestone. Rest in eternal peace.

Message from our Executive Director on the COVID-19 crisis.

UIPE stepping up to the COVID-19 pandemic

Get your free copy of the Swahili translated treatise 'Foundations for A Free Society' by Eamon Buttler by clicking on the link below.

iea.org.uk

The Case of Free Trade: Improves standards of living, promotes infrastructural development, increases competitiveness and much more.

The Case For Free Trade Daniel Hannan MEP, Rory Stewart MP, James Wharton, Ben Bruce MP making the case for Free Trade at our Great Lakes Trade Summit, in Kampala, Uganda.

So the Africa Tax & Investment Network was launched comprising of six free market think tanks: Chevauchee (Namibia), CFME (Malawi), EAPC (Kenya), UIPE (Tanzania), CACLiTA (Cameroon) & (Mozambique).

Day Four of the Africa Tax Dialogue: Africa Tax & Investment Network Launch Meeting.

1. Introduction to the International Tax & Investment Center - A brief overview of ITIC work particularly in Africa.

2. Introduction to Africa Tax & Investment Network - Mission, Vision & Goals.

3. NGO/Non-Profits Member Introduction - Names, missions & purposes.

4. Multi National Corporations Panel - Tax & investment climate in Africa, challenges, plus Q & A.

Day Three of the Africa Tax Dialogue: E-Commerce Taxation Workshop, UIPE presentation on Tanzania experience with a special focus on non-residents e-commerce suppliers.

In Tanzania VAT Act of 2014 requires suppliers of e-commerce services to register for VAT consistent with OECD's objectives of creating a fiscal for e-commerce to flourish and ensuring e-commerce does not undermine government ability to raise revenues.

However, there are concerns that local suppliers of same products are on disadvantage as their prices include VAT at a standard rate whilst foreign suppliers pricing excludes any VAT.

Other concerns are on the process side that is implementation whether foreign exchange controls can require banks to permit remittance unless evidence of VAT registration of the non-resident supplier. Another concern is whether obligation can be put on International Service Providers to monitor and block access pending evidence of VAT registration. Also how will one distinguish B2B transactions already captured via VAT on imported services regulations that should be outside the scope of the new rules. Last major concern is on the online consumer base in Tanzania which is very small partly due to low use of credit cards hence revenue potentials on the short term are not significant.

If decision is made to tax such foreign e-commerce transactions then then it will be important to ensure that focus is limited to main players i.e. Paypal, Amazon, Kindle, Alibaba etc. and sufficient thought is given to practical administrative aspects.

Day Two of the Africa Tax Dialogue with a theme 'Striking the Tax Balance: Domestic Revenue Mobilization & Investment Climate' todays topics for discussion include the following.

1. Regional Economic Outlook - Region's medium term prospects for economic growth remain favourable but sharp decline in commodity prices, tighter financing conditions & severe drought in Southern & Eastern Africa imply that many countries need to reset their policies.

2. The Davis Committee - Findings of the Davis Committee formed in 2013 to inquire into the role of South African tax system in the promotion of inclusive growth, employment creation, development & fiscal sustainability also international tax trends, principles & practices serve as lodestars.

3. Taxing Corporations - International developments in corporate taxation. As globalization advances, it becomes increasingly diffulty to tax corporations on a source basis.

Day One of the Africa Tax Dialogue : Workshop on Combatting the Illicit Trade of Excisable Products covered the following interesting topics:

1. An overview on illegal trade in excise products in Sub-Saharan Africa - Mainly alcohol and to***co.

2. Illegal trade in alcohol products - Measurements methodology from Euromonitor International also findings & issues from SAB Miller.

3. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) approach to tackling illegal trade in excise products.

4. A national approach to tackling illegal trade in excise products - The Zambian experience.

5. Illegal trade in spirits - Industry perspective from Diagio firm from Mozambique.

6. Illegal trade in to***co products - Industry perspective from Japan To***co International.

7. Improving international collaboration in fighting illegal trade.

8. Benefits & implications of using technology in tackling illegal trade in to***co and alcohol products.

For more info on the above topics please write to me via [email protected]