{{Burundi’s national assembly has passed a revised budget bill proposing new taxes on essential items despite resistance from a Tutsi-led faction in the government and Hutu opposition legislators, who say it will worsen living conditions.}}<\/p>\n
Under the proposal, wines, liquors, cosmetics, tobacco and mobile phones would pay a $0.25 “new stamp tax”, and washed coffee, sugar, flour and mineral water would also have new taxes imposed.<\/p>\n
There would also be a new fuel and airport departure tax.<\/p>\n
The government argues the measures would help reduce the deficit expected in revenues this year. Burundi’s budget for this fiscal year had predicted tax revenues of 633 billion francs ($411 million), but the government expects a shortfall of 44 billion francs.<\/p>\n
Finance Minister Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza has said the new taxes would raise funds for new roads and power supplies.<\/p>\n
Burundi has suffered a power shortage because of a sharp fall in water reserves in the country’s main hydroelectric plant because of a drought.<\/p>\n
The country is also trying to wean itself off international donors who provide 50 percent of the country’s budget resources.<\/p>\n
Only parliament members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party approved the bill late on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
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