During the 13th edition of the Inter-Parliamentary Games in Kigali, the East African Community (EAC) agreed on the need to earmark significant portions of betting tax revenues for bolstering sports development in the African communities.
The EAC parliaments unanimously called on the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to prioritise making policies that cause betting taxes to be channelled into sports development in the local communities.
Mchezo Managing Director Ntoudi Mouyelo proposed to the EAC parliamentarians and other stakeholders on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Games in Kigali.
He argued that a favourable tax environment would attract more sports infrastructure and program investment, leading to significant socioeconomic benefits for East Africa.
His proposal was met with support from other stakeholders, who agreed that sports development should be prioritised as a driver of growth and prosperity. Mouyelo quoted his initiative as a great way to accumulate funding to support sports initiatives in the local sports communities.
Also, as the EAC parliaments discussed how to promote sports development best, they considered the idea of tax waivers for sports associations. They looked into alleviating the financial burden on governments. It proposed a policy encouraging greater private-sector investment while freeing public funds for other priorities.
The parliaments agreed that such a policy would create a more enabling environment to boost sports development and economic growth while creating a more sustainable model for the future.