The inhabitants of Unity County’s Leer County have voiced concerns about a new tax imposed on sorghum traders in local markets.
A cross-section of the local population who spoke to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday urged the government to exempt sorghum from taxation, warning that the levy would drive up food prices and worsen the prevailing economic hardships.
“It is not right to impose taxation on the sorghum traders who bring food from the state capital, Bentiu, to Leer County,” said Gatkuoth Kuong Gai, a resident of Leer Town. “It has never happened even in the state capital to impose taxation on sorghum.”
Meanwhile, Katmai Guor, a local trader, confirmed that authorities are charging SSP 20,000 tax per sack of sorghum.
“The government has three offices where the sorghum traders pay tax differently,” he explained. “Those three offices include the finance office, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office, and the taxation office.”
Another resident, Gattiek Goh, expressed concern over the new sorghum tax, saying it will lead to the suffering of the citizens.
“In this case, the government violates the right of the citizens, as other citizens who are not traders transport their own food from the state capital,” Goh stated.
Currently, one tin of sorghum is sold at SSP 40,000 in the Leer market. Residents warn that the new tax will further increase prices and add to the economic burden.
This publication reached out to local officials for comment on the new levy but was snubbed.