The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has stepped up efforts to strengthen its partnership with the business community as part of a broader strategy to curb smuggling and improve the country’s business environment.

TRA Commissioner General, Yusuph Juma Mwenda, said the Authority is committed to working closely with the Tanzania Business Community (JWT) to promote compliance, enhance transparency, and support legitimate trade.

He made the remarks on April 20, 2026, during a consultative meeting held at TRA offices in Dar es Salaam, which brought together JWT leaders and traders dealing in edible oil.

Mwenda emphasized that sustained engagement with traders is essential in building a fair and predictable business environment, noting that compliance with tax laws plays a critical role in driving national economic growth.

He also addressed concerns over the movement of edible oil from Zanzibar to Mainland Tanzania, acknowledging it as an ongoing challenge. He assured stakeholders that the government, through TRA, is actively working on measures to close loopholes that facilitate tax evasion and distort market competition.

Speaking on behalf of the business community, JWT Chairman Khamisi Livembe welcomed the continued dialogue, affirming traders’ willingness to collaborate with TRA in tackling smuggling. He noted that illegal trade undermines fair competition and affects compliant businesses.

JWT Vice Chairman Omar Hussein Mussa echoed the call for compliance, urging traders to operate within the law and contribute taxes accordingly, stressing that doing so is vital for the country’s development and long-term prosperity.