The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has donated various gifts to two orphanages in Dar es Salaam as part of its annual thanksgiving to taxpayers, which takes place in the twelfth month every year.

TRA Commissioner General Mr. Yusuph Juma Mwenda, while handing over the gifts, said they have a tradition of giving back to needy communities a portion of the revenue collected as a way of expressing gratitude and demonstrating the importance of voluntary tax payment.

“For us, the 12th month is the month of Thanksgiving, and we have come to visit the children as part of our thanksgiving. Instead of just thanking them with words, we have decided to come and present these gifts. Thank you very much,” said Mwenda.

He added that providing these gifts is a call for taxpayers to continue paying taxes voluntarily and contributing to the country’s development.

The government’s support to these centers comes from the taxes collected by TRA, so everyone should act as an ambassador to encourage voluntary tax compliance to reach more people in need.

Hilda Mtalemwa and Winifrida Malumbo, the managers of these centers, at different times thanked TRA for providing these Christmas gifts, which have touched the lives of the children under their care.

They said they will be ambassadors in promoting voluntary tax payment, in collaboration with the children they raise, who are the taxpayers of tomorrow.

Elia Gondwe is among the parents of children served by the Uyakonia center, who said that voluntary tax payment has enabled TRA to help children with special needs and called on citizens to be honest in paying taxes.

The centers that received the aid are Hisani Orphanage Centre and Uyakonia Centre, which is managed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Eastern and Coastal Diocese, in collaboration with the government.