TJNA Calls for Stronger Political Leadership to Advance Tax Transparency in Africa

Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA) has called on African governments to back tax transparency commitments with implementation, political support, domestic legislation, and adequate funding for the relevant units within the revenue administrations to tackle illicit financial flows and mobilise domestic revenue.

TJNA Policy Associate Zandile Ndebele made the call during the African Tax Administration Forum’s (ATAF) Exchange of Information Continental Conference and Workshop, held from 14–16 October 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Speaking in a session on leadership in exchange of information (EOI), Ndebele emphasised that sharing tax information across borders helps authorities uncover offshore assets, address tax evasion and recover unpaid taxes. Its value extends beyond meeting international obligations to securing resources for public services.

“Exchange of Information Technical units need political support, clear legal mandates and sufficient resources to make information exchange effective,” Ndebele said.

Connecting evidence with political action

Ndebele highlighted two TJNA initiatives supporting these efforts: the Anti-IFFs Policy Tracker and the African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT).

Developed jointly with ATAF and the African Union Commission, the Policy Tracker is a self-assessment tool that helps countries identify gaps in their policy, legal and regulatory framework, institutions, information and data systems and inter-agency cooperation. It provides evidence to guide reforms and assess progress in tackling illicit financial flows, including EOI which falls under the cluster on policy, legal and regulatory framework. Through APNIFFT, TJNA supports parliamentarians to scrutinise tax policies, strengthen oversight and champion tax reforms on curbing illicit financial flows (IFFs) and supporting initiatives for domestic resource mobilisation in their countries. 

Together, the two initiatives connect evidence with the political action needed to advance tax transparency in Africa.

Turning commitments into results

Discussions reinforced the need for political support, skilled personnel, secure information and data systems and cooperation among government institutions. Significantly, for the full benefits of EOI to be realized, revenue authorities must be able to effectively analyse the data they received and use it in tax audits and enforcement.This, in turn, requires governments to invest in building the technical and institutional capacity of their authorities. 

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Acting Commissioner General, Mr. Misheck Govha stated that in August 2026, Zimbabwe deposited its instrument of ratification for the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters (MAAC) and it will enter into force on 1 January 2027. He added that "it requires an understanding that tax transparency is a shared national responsibility, supported by leadership and cooperation across institutions."

However, for TJNA, political commitment to tax transparency measures must go beyond signing agreements. It must be reflected in institutional budget support, investment in information and data systems and use of the data that enable countries to tackle tax abuse and safeguard resources for economic development and structural transformation.

The meeting brought together tax leaders and experts, including Zimbabwe’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Hon. David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa who stated that their responsibility as Ministers was to "ensure that the law enables cooperation, institutions can use the information effectively, and implementation produces demonstrable results." 

For more information, contact Zandile Ndebele at zndebele@taxjusticeafrica.net