Outrage over Zim’s tax on spectacles
ZIMBABWEANS, already burdened by worsening economic crises and exorbitant taxes, have bemoaned the imposition of a 15% tax on spectacle frames and lenses.
This tax is projected to push the price of spectacles up, at a time when spectacles have become necessary for a significant portion of the country’s 16 million population. The elderly will be the most affected.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a fierce critic of the ruling Zanu PF-led government, described the tax as “unfortunate”.
“Such policies will negatively impact accessibility to essential goods for people with eye problems,” he said.
Chin’ono said in addition to the price of spectacles projected to increase by 15%, there would be another extra 5% customs duty tax, which makes the frames and lenses 20% more expensive from today.
He said the development, which he called “Eye Tax”, would impact badly as most people who wear such spectacles were struggling because their pensions and savings had been eroded by inflation.
“The tragedy is that these taxes are taken to big luxury cars and flying in private jets when old people in rural areas are struggling to see because they can’t afford spectacles!” Chin’ono said.
A majority of Zimbabweans on X, formerly Twitter, also expressed anger.
Fadzo Benjamin said: “I do not know an economy that grew through taxation where unemployment is 95%.”
Mlungisi Dube, bemoaned, “This is terrible.”
Columnist Tendai Ruben Mbofana, said the tax was heartless and callous.
“The disgraceful regime doesn’t even appear to appreciate that those of us who wear prescription spectacles are actually living with an eye defect which (in most cases) was never our choice,” he said.
Chido Chemoyo weighed in, saying: “This government is shameless. It wants to squeeze every penny out of the citizens.”
Michelle Newton responded, “This is crazy I swear. Stealing from poor citizens ... Next, we are going to be taxed for going to the toilet.”
Zimbabwe’s government is heavily taxing citizens.
Two months ago, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube introduced a proposal for property tax on houses where individuals owning houses valued at US$250 000 or more would be required to pay 1% of the market value of their houses.