Arusha — Sakila-based Church of International Evangelism in Arumeru district has commended the Tanzanian government on its decision to reinstate tax exemptions on imports of service items by religious institutions.

In the ongoing parliament budget session, the Minister for Finance and Planning, Mustafa Mkullo announced the abolition of the exemptions.

But the government rescinded the move after a huge public outcry. The Church's Bishop Eliud Issangya told this paper recently that the government had made a wise move on realizing the religious institutions contribution in public service in the country.

The bishop also condemned unscrupulous individuals who abused the exemptions by importing private items for their own selfish ends.

He called on the few clerics who involved themselves in the evil exercise to stop immediately and asked the government to auction items imported falsely in the name of a religious institution once impounded.

The bishop also called on those civil servants who colluded with the cheats to stop their evil deeds and said all people of God should always remain servants of integrity.