Mixed feelings over church taxation

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THERE are mixed feelings over the issue of churches being taxed and regulated by the government with some stakeholders feeling the move would jeopardise church activities.

THERE are mixed feelings over the issue of churches being taxed and regulated by the government with some stakeholders feeling the move would jeopardise church activities.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) is currently working on a legislative framework to tax churches as its revenue base continues dwindling. The proposal is set to be submitted to the Finance and Economic Development minister Patrick Chinamasa by November 2015.

However, the move has triggered more questions than answers with Habakkuk Trust, a non-profit organisation, last week calling a debate meeting where leaders deliberated on intended action and offered alternatives to the proposal.

The debate was held under the topic: “Should churches be regulated?”

Apostle Sikhumbuzo Shenje, James 1 Verse 27 Orphanage Trusts director, argued churches should not be taxed since that would cripple church activities towards helping the poor.

“I believe churches should not be taxed because they are not getting enough resources to look after the poor. Years back, churches used to get resources from donors, but that stopped due to economic situation in the country. So churches are trying to raise little resources to take care for the needy,” Shenje said.

Her sentiments were echoed by pastor John Stamboli of City Presbyterian Church who said in as much as churches should submit to authorities, they must not be overburdened by taxes. He queried why the government had not done that over the years.

However, Thulani Ncube, department of Development Studies chairperson at Lupane State University, said pastors driving top-of-the-range cars should declare their properties so that the government and people would not get suspicious about their activities.

Another speaker, Joseph Mayiza – a Christian businessman – said the government should only tax churches if they were involved in profit-making businesses. He said as long as a church remained true to ideals of Christianity, it made no sense to tax it.

However, participants gave thumbs-up to the proposal on the basis that many churches were now profiteering. They said churches operating in the true spirit of charity organisations which had little to do with the pursuit of wealth, should not be taxed. Others accused the government of being obsessed with money at the same time calling for transparency and accountability on how people’s taxes were being administered.

Habakkuk chief executive officer Dumisani Nkomo said deliberations with most church organisations would be presented to the Parliament for discussion.