Articles for December 2022
Time to make cigarette taxes more effective in Mozambique
Taxes on cigarettes and tobacco in Mozambique are the among the lowest in the southern African region. This not only deprives the fiscus of potential revenue but also makes cigarettes more affordable. Affordability of cigarettes is a key measure of the effectiveness of tobacco taxes. If taxes - and retail prices - were significantly raised it would have beneficial effects not only in terms of revenue but also for health.
Budget pressures erode capacity of the criminal justice system
The criminal justice system faces severe challenges: as organised crime has risen, the capacity of the system has diminished. A close look at Budget expenditure shows that, in the past decade, the number of police officials has declined, as has police spending per citizen. This, while employee compensation has risen in the same period. Similar trends are evident in the courts. In correctional services, although the number of officials has remained stable, capital budgets are severely constrained. This shrinking resource base may well exacerbate the threat that crime and disorder pose to the economy and society.