Traders involved in slaughtering industry in Aweil state have threatened to go out of business in protest of tax hikes, describing it unfair.
The objection to the new tax charge was a rare public protest against the policies of the new government of Governor Ronald Ruay Deng. Sources and residents claimed hundreds of businessmen, shop owners and traders have denounced what they say are unfair tax rises imposed in recent months.
Some said the rise in taxes have been about 600 per cent, though there are no official statistics. But officials at the local town council have defended the hikes and told Radiotamazuj on Tuesday that the “taxes are fair, based on the law and are applied to everyone equally.”
Economic growth in South Sudan has plunged to around zero per cent from double digits just in less than three years of positive outlook. Economists attribute the cause to the pullout of foreign investors and non-government organizations due to the ongoing civil war in the country.
Butchers or members of the slaughtering industry in the state have argued that new tax rate announced by the state government recently by taking 5% from each cow sold for slaughtering purpose as government fixed rate does not consider all other incurred expenses and profit
The slaughters have strongly rejected the order and declared closure of all meats houses until further notes, or hoping the state government to withdraw its decision. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the Aweil Town Mayor, Simon Tong Deng said the government increased meat sale taxes with an effort to raise government budget. The Mayor added that stocks at the Markets are sold with high prices and that why the authorities tried to increase taxes.