Chinamasa shelves VAT on meat, cereals

FINANCE minister Patrick Chinamasa yesterday shelved implementation of Statutory Instrument 20 (SI20), which imposed 15% VAT on rice, meat, potatoes, margarine, cereals and mahewu, telling MPs in a ministerial statement that he first had to consult before introducing the levy.

SI20 became effective on February 1, raising prices of all meat products, and in the process causing a public outcry among consumers and livestock producers.

“Following our debate and stakeholders’ representation, where concerns have been raised regarding SI20, I am proposing to shelve implementation of SI20, which levies VAT on the listed products,” Chinamasa said.

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