By Kei Emmanuel Duku and Lodu William Odiya
Central Equatoria State government has announced a major crackdown on illegal tax collectors. This decision came from a security committee meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.
The committee directed a swift operation to target those illegally collecting taxes in Juba and other parts of the state.
Speaking to the media after the security meeting, Leon Abe Brown, the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency, told reporters that the discussion was prompted by reports of multiple, unauthorized taxes being collected in markets.
The Minister added that the decisions was reached after the state government identified illegal taxes as the contributing factor in the rising cost of goods and the committee has since decided that only officially authorized tax collectors from recognized government revenue institutions are permitted to collect taxes.
“We found that some self-deployed groups are collecting taxes in markets, which is one of the causes of inflated prices,” Abe stated, emphasizing the need for relevant government institutions to properly vet those deployed to collect taxes.
In addition to the crackdown on illegal taxes, the committee also addressed the issue of land grabbing.
Officials involved in this illegal activity were warned that they will face legal consequences. Abe stressed that land must be acquired legally through the state institutions responsible for plot allocation. “Some dignitaries are involving themselves in land grabbing. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Abe however remarked that the state’s overall security situation remains calm with only a few isolated incidents and the government is committed to addressing security concerns across Central Equatoria.
The issue of illegal taxation and land grabbing has been a persistent problem in Central Equatoria State. Unauthorized individuals and groups often pose as government officials to collect taxes from vendors and citizens, leading to inflated prices for essential goods and services.
This informal taxation system has long been a source of public frustration and economic instability.
Similarly, land grabbing, often involving high-ranking officials and influential individuals, has led to disputes and displacement.
The Central Equatoria State government’s recent announcement signals a more aggressive stance to address these issues, which have long undermined public trust and economic stability in the region.