CAMEROON: government imposes 33% mobile phone users.

Cameroonian in their numbers have been having frowning faces since the 15^th of October with the implementation of the 33% tax imposition on mobile phone took effect. They thing in their great number that this tax is not for the consumers to pay. “We the buyers are not supposed to be paying this taxes. They are supposed to be paid by the importers”. A buyer we met in the market said.

However, some people think that consumers could pay the tax, but not that high. “It is normal that consumers should pay taxes on phones but not this high. If it was about 5% it would have been understandable, but not 33%” another consumer said.

Consequently, mobile phone vendors have started complaining that the business has become very difficult since the promulgation of the law. “People no longer come to our shops to’ buy new phones, they preferred to go for secondhand phones”.  A phone dealer said. “I have not heard of any such tax in an African country, may be in Europe but not in Africa. We are not against the tax but the government should thing of reducing it.” He continued. I the eye of many observers, this tax could bring more problem that solutions in that sector of the economy.