KENYA

Policy measures to enhance state corporation’s revenue collection and expenditure rationalisation

The National Treasury, on 27th March 2024, issued a circular to all CEOs of State Corporations regarding the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts. It directs all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to utilise public resources prudently and responsibly. State Corporations are instructed to collect, account for, and report all revenues, reduce expenditures, rationalize recurrent expenditure budgets, and seek approval from the National Treasury for new projects. Commercial State Corporations are required to provide 80% of profit after tax for dividends, and regulatory authorities should remit 90% of surplus funds to the Consolidated Fund. Additionally, all monies generated over the approved budget should not be spent, and certain expenses like corporate club memberships and board expenses should be carefully controlled. The circular also mandates the use of digital platforms like E-Citizen for revenue collection and GIMIS for budget submission and reporting, requiring compliance from all State Corporations.

(GoK)

TANZANIA

Tanzania, Pakistan pledge to strengthen bilateral ties

Tanzania has reiterated its commitment to continue strengthening relations with Pakistan for the mutual benefit of the two countries. Zanzibar Minister for Education and Vocational Training Lela Muhammed Mussa made the remarks over the weekend when officiating the commemoration of the 84th anniversary of Pakistan National Day held in Dar es Salaam. “I would like to reaffirm that Tanzania is committed to strengthening our bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of our people under the strong leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi,” she said.

(Daily News)

UGANDA

MPs reject proposal to waive  Shs13b in taxes for 7 entities

A proposal to waive a range of taxes for seven businesses met with resistance in Parliament yesterday when it emerged the Finance Ministry may have smuggled unapproved companies onto the list. The House Committee of Finance ejected officials from the Uganda Revenue Authority and the junior minister of Finance, Mr Henry Musasizi from a meeting when they failed to give a satisfactory explanation for the waivers and the additional, unapproved beneficiaries.

The committee chair, Mr Amos Kankunda, reminded the minister that Parliament only agreed to exempt taxes for Makerere Business Institute (MBI), Nkumba University, and J2E Investment

Corporation Limited

(Monitor)

RWANDA

Rwandan MPs pass Bill curbing cutting of trees

Rwanda’s Lower House of Parliament has passed a Bill that proposes stricter regulations to protect forests in the country. The Bill forbids the harvesting, use and trade of immature trees. It additionally requires Rwandans to obtain permits from authorities before cutting any trees, including privately planted ones.

(BBC)

ETHIOPIA

Prime Minister Abiy holds talks with South Sudanese security chief

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed conferred with South Sudan’s Director-General of the Internal Security Bureau at the National Security Service (NSS), General Akol Koor Kuc. “This morning, I received General Akol Koor Kuc from South Sudan. Our discussions centred around shared goals for fostering stability and development in the Horn region,” the prime minister wrote on Facebook.

(ENA)

SUDAN

IGAD appoints South Sudanese diplomat as Special Envoy for Sudan.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) yesterday announced their appointment of Hon. Lawrence Korbandy, a South Sudanese diplomat and lawyer, as Special Envoy for Sudan. This follows Sudan’s suspension of its IGAD membership in response to the January summit in Entebbe, Uganda, which demanded direct talks between Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. January’s summit, which El Burhan did not attend, also included a comprehensive briefing from Hemedti about his vision to halt the war, underscoring the mounting tension between the Sudanese government and IGAD.

(Dabanga)

SOMALIA

Somalia’s old rivals reunite in debate on constitution

Former Somali Presidents Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo and Sharif Sheikh Ahmed are showing rare unity as the country debates how to write its new constitution. On Saturday, they converged in Garowe Town, the capital of Puntland, one of Somalia’s Federal Member States. The two former leaders held meetings with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni and other politicians, including legislators from the bicameral parliament in Mogadishu.

(Daily Nation)