Kenya is hosting the second International Tax Justice Academy to discuss to discuss how African governments can effectively finance Africa's economic development through taxation.
Addressing over 100 delegates from Africa and around the world at the ongoing one-week workshop at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County on Monday, Alvin Mosioma, the Executive Director, Tax Justice Network Africa said Africans should no longer let others drive their development agenda.
Mosioma said the training of the participants that includes lecturers, students, members of parliament from various states across the region alongside government officials comes at a time when the world is discussing the Post-2015 development agenda and exploring new ways of financing.
"Africa is at the centre of these negotiations. Characteristic of such discussions declarations will be made but may never be fulfilled, including the infamous increment of Official Development Assistance to 0.7% of developed countries' GDP. Such failed pledges greatly affect developing countries particularly in Africa, as they are heavily dependent on these donor funds for development," said Mosioma.
He said Africans need to take ownership of the projects by financing themselves internally arguing there were loopholes that exist in revenue collection among African countries which if addressed would greatly improve domestic revenue that can be channeled to improve quality of lives in the countries.
He said these financial flaws that are "bleeding the continent dry" stating that Africa currently loses more than $50 billion yearly due to the vice.
"As Africans, we can no longer let others drive our development agenda, we need to take ownership which is only possible if we finance ourselves internally," said Mosioma.
Mosioma said Africa is estimated to had lost in excess of $1 trillion through financial flaws over the last 50 years.
He stressed that tax was the most reliable and suitable source of financing development particularly for developing countries as it establishes the social contract between the state and its citizens.
He said taxation is also vital in the establishment of the framework for good governance and accountability, which are the foundations of a functioning democracy.
The director said without dependence on tax revenue, nation states are caught in a cycle of perpetual dependency on external funding which undermines the ability of citizens to hold their governments accountable.
The annual international tax justice academy training programme was launched in 2014 as a Pan-African initiative to bridge an existing knowledge gap on tax justice in Africa and empower partners across Africa.