Tanga. A milk processing
company here, Tanga Fresh, yesterday secured the title deed over the
land it occupies after it was blocked for non-payment of tax amounting
to Sh1.2 billion.
The key document was issued by the assistant commissioner for Lands in the Northern Zone.
Tanga
Fresh was formerly owned by International Food Processors under the
trade name of Azania Dairy before it was sold to Tanga Fresh.
However,
during the transaction, Azania Dairy allegedly dodged paying Capital
Gain Tax (CGT) which was later shifted to Tanga Fresh.
It
was Tanga regional commissioner Martin Shigella who handed over the
certificate to Tanga Fresh management during a colourful event at the
firm’s premises.
During his recent tour of Tanga Region, President John Magufuli ordered that the firm should be handed the document.
Mr
Shigella observed that the President’s directive would enable the firm
to expand its business as it would now be able to use the document to
acquire loans from financial institutions.
The
President’s gesture meant that if Tanga Fresh acquires more funds
through loans, then it would not only increase production but also
employ more people, and thus enhancing livelihoods.
The
firm says on its website that it is the leading dairy food company
situated in Tanga Region with capacity of processing 50,000 litres a day
and that the company has been involved in the dairy business in the
country since 1996.