Amunyela says businesses also want tax relief like farm owners

Businessman Desmond Amunyela says local businesses also want to be exempted from paying certain taxes, like farm owners.

Some prominent local figures were recently exempted from paying land tax by agriculture, water and land reform minister Calle Schlettwein.

“I have no issues about those individuals earning exemptions. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Amunyela told The Namibian on Thursday.

He was reacting to the publication of the names of over 500 agricultural land owners in the Government Gazette, who are exempt from paying land tax.

“Now that they looked at concerns of farm owners, we (the business community) also want to be looked at,” Amunyela said.

“We cannot have Namra on one hand being trigger happy with the business community and taking our money, while other people are being exempted,” he said.

According to Amunyela, the business community now deserves to be looked at.

The businessman is still fuming over the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) snatching N$6,5 million from his company, Paragon Fishing.

He has disputed the assessment and termed it flawed.

“Namra needs to be called to order,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries of the land tax is his business partner Lazarus Jacobs.

Those exempted from paying land taxes include opposition leader McHenry Venaani, deputy chief justice Petrus Damaseb and the Roman Catholic Church.

The list, which was gazetted last Tuesday, consists of 11 churches, five late estates and 566 individuals, including politicians, judges and chief executives, among others.