Tanzania, Feb. 1 -- Dar es Salaam. With the latest report from the telecommunications regulator showing that there has been a slowdown in the adoption of internet devices, particularly smartphones, traders are now proposing that the government should lift the 18 percent VAT on the products.

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) says in its report for the third quarter of 2023 that the number of internet users reached 35.8 million in Tanzania in 2023.

However, the smartphone penetration rate increased by a slight margin, reaching 32.13 percent in December 2023.

Traders, who spoke to The Citizen, say the government needs to reduce taxes and remove the 18 percent VAT on smartphones to make the devices accessible to a maj...