{
  "id": 11490580,
  "title": "Zanzibar Collects US$135 Million, Beating Q1 Target",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/zanzibar-collects-us-135-million-beating-q1-target",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-02T16:14:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/zanzibar-taxman-exceeds-first-quarter-revenue-target-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Zanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) collected TSh353.310 billion (approximately US$135 million) in tax and non-tax revenue during the first quarter of the 2026/27 fiscal year, surpassing its target of TSh351.106 billion by TSh2.204 billion (about US$0.8 million). The impressive performance was attributed to stronger trade, infrastructure investment, taxpayer education, and the expansion of electronic tax systems such as VFMS electronic receipts and ZIDRAS. ZRA's public-relations chief, Makame Khamis Moh’d, credited stronger economic activity and trade with mainland Tanzania, as well as infrastructure and social-service investment under Zanzibar's Eighth-phase government. The revenue surge matters politically as it strengthens Zanzibar's fiscal capacity, allowing the semi-autonomous government more room to fund projects like ports, tourism infrastructure, and social programs. The ZRA's efforts to formalise transactions are broadening the tax base and improving compliance. While the announcement didn't specify how much of the increase was due to the adoption of electronic systems, the results suggest that these measures are translating into tangible gains. Investors and businesses should watch whether this momentum continues into the upcoming quarter, as the next test will be the ability to sustain this growth, particularly during the typically busy tourism season.",
  "summary": "Zanzibar Revenue Authority collected TSh353.31 billion (about US$135 million) in the first quarter of 2026/27, beating its target and last year's level. The post Zanzibar Collects US$135 Million, Beating Q1 Target appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}