Kumba traders at war with taxman

Traders and business folks in Kumba Main Market have embarked on a strike action against the over-hyped taxes issued by the Divisional Service of Taxation in Meme.

The problem of taxes for the past few years has been a nightmare to taxpayers since the new Meme taxation boss was appointed.

The traders complained adding that, because the assessment of the quantity of goods in their shops is not correctly done, there is an uncordial relationship between the traders and the divisional delegate of taxation for Meme, Nitopop Guiluame Tsafack

Unable to bear the situation which poses a threat to their businesses, they traders took to the streets to protest this tax payment they deem unfair. This strike comes after a series of complaints and petitions in writing through their union’s president to the tax office. But since they haven't heard any positive response, they were forced to go on strike on Tuesday, March 17 to alert the authorities about what they are facing.

This strike action saw close to one thousand angry traders march from the Kumba main market to the Senior Divisional Officer’s, SDO, office, holding placards with sensitive messages.

Some of the messages read, “Taxation Boss bring us our normal tax”, “traders are suffering because of too much taxes”, “the new taxation Boss is so corrupt”, “Kumba is not a farm for wicked tax collectors”, “know that the French Revolution was caused by too much tax”, “The Chief of Taxation must go because we are not comfortable with the tax system”, “Tax Boss must go, no negotiation with the devil”, among a host of others.

On reaching the SDO’s office that rainy morning, the traders were made to understand that the SDO was not at his desk and so were received by the 1st and 2nd Assistant Senior Divisional Officers respectively.

They held a meeting with the Kumba Traders’ Welfare executives and representatives led by their president Tchamanjo James Chango, during the grievances of the traders were tabled.

Speaking to The SUN on condition of anonymity, some traders said “the tax boss places you in a category according to the number and personal assets like the amount of cars, houses etc, that you have”.

Another trader testified that he used to pay FCFA 150,000 as tax for a year but now his tax is FCFA 800, 000 a huge increase for the same store and same quantity of goods.

Another female trader lamented that after discharged from the hospital following an operation, she pleaded with the Meme boss for a lower tax category considering the fact that she has not been at her shop for sometime, but was dismayed when he told her that his office is not Dr. Ebongo’s.

The taxation boss on his part had little to say as per the allegations against him since he was equally taken by surprise, but he told the SDOs that traders reduce their goods when the taxation service comes for check up and also they sometimes hide their suppliers.

As a temporary measure to handle the crisis, the 1st ASDO, Epolewane Verline told the traders that their cries have been heard and advised them to go and open their shops while waiting for the SDO’s return.

According to the press, though the traders returned to their stalls, reports hold that traders of the liquor sector held a crisis meeting to map out strategies on how to storm the taxation office to also protest the hike in taxes.