Somaliland: Finance Ministry Hikes Taxes on Khat

[SilentE1001]

HARGEISA–Somaliland finance ministry has introduced higher taxes on khat according to reports.

There is no official statement from the ministry but reliable sources have confirmed that the ministry has hiked taxes levied on Khat imports from Ethiopia.

It is reported that the tax on a bag of Khat has been hiked by 10 percent.

A bag contains 20 kilograms of Khat.

The ministry used to tax every bag 25, 500 Somaliland Shillings but from now on it will be taxed 29, 500 Somaliland Shillings.

Local traders dealing with the importation of Khat from Ethiopia have expressed their gripe against the raising of taxes levied on Khat.

It was reported that Khat ferried to Somaliland was halted but after negotiations were held that the government and the traders have struck a deal over the row.

It’s estimated 90 percent of Somaliland’s adult male population—and about 20 percent of women—chew khat for mirqaan, the Somali word for the buzz it can give.

Nowadays khat is so enmeshed with Somaliland culture and daily life it’s an important tax earner for Somaliland’s government. In 2014, khat sales generated 20 percent of the government’s 152-million-dollar budget, according to the Somaliland Ministry of Finance.

Khat is also the No. 1 employer in Hargeisa, the Somaliland capital, generating between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs, thereby offering much-needed respite to the country’s chronic unemployment problem that see 75 percent of its youth workforce jobless.



Meanwhile, for Ethiopia, khat is a major earner: Somaliland spends about 524 million dollars a year—about 30 percent of gross domestic product—on Ethiopian khat (many suspect the true figure to be much higher).

 

[BenInHer]

Khat is also the No. 1 employer in Hargeisa, the Somaliland capital, generating between 8,000 and 10,000 jobs, thereby offering much-needed respite to the country’s chronic unemployment problem that see 75 percent of its youth workforce jobless.

sad wallahi a narcotic is your salvation to the unemployment problem..



yet you gloat about this...

 

[Younes Osman]

khat is for laangaabs who are unemployed

 

[DR OSMAN]

I am working on a formula with chemists about how to convert 'khat' into 'juice' so Somalis can drink it like 'coffee' drinkers without needing to sit there 7 hours chewing, meaning lost productivity. It should be hard, water, leaves, extract the stimulant for the 'buzz' most likely amphetamine of caffeine, and stir it up and serve it as 'khat juice'. My intention behind is this to ensure, my population in PL, doesn't sit there 8 hours a day after lunch time till evening losing valuable time for us to produce products, services, knowledge, trade. We need to increase our 'labor' hours in order to increase our GDP. We will ensure @SirLancelLord region is 'left for dead' as he continues to build and invest in a drugged out society all sitting around in merfishes. Your investment will die Sirlance, his actually 'sitting down' dude lol, he isn't working.

Ummmm duhhhhh, u need to 'work' in economics you gaajo hungry kunt. I know how gaajo you are because you love to talk about economics. U know how 'knowledge gaajo I am' because of all my topics. Puntites want inventors, you want 'money', it's due to the poverty levels you see in Hargeisa and when u go to Puntland u see puntites doing better 'creates maseer in your heart' and 'envy'. From this you begin shabab operations in galgala, from this you begin 'tukaraq' invasion. Your just jealous of Puntland wax kale ma aha, waa ka maseerta inay ka awood badan yihin dhinac walbo, so you try to bring them down. Puntland never interferes in Isaaq areas, we treat you like eelays, we don't consider you our LEGITIMATE COMPETITION. We consider only 'Mogadishu' as competition not even GM/HS as we 'ignore' and don't interfere in their region. We are fighting for the 'capital' because we want to be able to 'steer' the nation all 'together'. Our UN seat is Somalia and that's based in Mogadishu. If Mogadishu was just region in shabellaha, I would give two shits about them ambuulo brained niggas like I give two shits about id33r khat infected cells.

Look at @SirLancelLord ignore all my 'factual' points and get mad because 'inyar cay' baan ku daray, fucking pathetic

 

[DR OSMAN]

Coaches abuse their players, no-one says anything about their plans, strategies. It's wat a damn coach does to better people. Somalis need to understand the DR is a coach, mar walbo 'caydu' waa muqadas like a Coach has the scream, yell, abuse his players when they are making mistakes in order to steer them towards his plan to win the match. I want Somalis to win the 'world' or at least their 'region' and I have to abuse 'clans' who are like the 'players' in the nation. This will always happen from DR Osman, ha sugin in aan si fudeed wax ku sheego, jecelka aan uu gabo inaad wax noqoto ba iga keenayso cayda because waan uu jeeda inaad meel liidaato fadhiso.

 

[Hybrid()]

Khat is still relatively cheap in SL when compared to Djibouti. Khat of highest quality in SL cost about $4.35 per 1/4 kg whereas in Djibouti you’ll have to pay between $20 and $30. Some type of khat cost even a lot more. wallahi I met a dude who chews khat worth of $85 daily. low iq is a curse.

 

[DR OSMAN]

I can understand why god has to punish us sometimes, it's because he loves us. Coaches punish, scream, yell, and abuse at their players also. Sometimes it's actually good for you. What would you want? someone to 'ignore you' and treat u like u don't matter? you do matter god dammit. U got 80 years on earth, your 12 million people, make use of all your 'resources' not just your oil, fish, and farms but the most important resource of them all, the people. Human capital. Somalis don't understand it's humans who 'create' things on this earth, it's the brain power that is most important. Not trading, selling, buying which is our old culture. Arabs are getting away from the 'trade game' only a few families do import/export in arabia, most have realized 'knowledge' economy is the way forward, especially Saudi Arabia who is reforming 'big time'.

I am not sure why you need to 'wait' for arabs or anyone, are they your 'god'? don't even look at him, don't turn into 'idolatry' and wait for muslims, 'go'an' qaado, yaab badana nimanku. Kalsooni iskuma gaban gudahooda, they need to wait for white face miyaa mar walbo

 

[Hybrid()]

Coaches abuse their players, no-one says anything about their plans, strategies. It's wat a damn coach does to better people. Somalis need to understand the DR is a coach, mar walbo 'caydu' waa muqadas like a Coach has the scream, yell, abuse his players when they are making mistakes in order to steer them towards his plan to win the match. I want Somalis to win the 'world' or at least their 'region' and I have to abuse 'clans' who are like the 'players' in the nation. This will always happen from DR Osman, ha sugin in aan si fudeed wax ku sheego, jecelka aan uu gabo inaad wax noqoto ba iga keenayso cayda because waan uu jeeda inaad meel liidaato fadhiso.

The thing is cathinone (main active compound in khat) tend to be unstable and easily breaks down into weaker stimulants. You’ll have to add small amount of amphetamine powder (secretly) into your future brand of khat juice and you’ll end up with a multi-million dollars star-up

 

[DR OSMAN]

The thing is cathinone (main active compound in khat) tend to be unstable and easily breaks down into weaker stimulants. You’ll have to add small amount of amphetamine powder (secretly) into your future brand of khat juice and you’ll end up with a multi-million dollars star-up

As long as it gives them the 'same high' they are looking for. I don't get 'high', it's for weak people who can't live in 'reality' and want to 'escape and self medicatate'. But they are 'addicts' and we need alternatives so we can have them 'sip' that shit quickly and get back to work to support Somalia economy. The problem with Khat is, it takes so much time to chew so u lose essentially thousands of hours of just one person, if u multiply that across their populations, millions of hours are lost in basically 'nothing' but drug sessions. The khat juice seems like a good idea, thanks for the info on the stimulant inside Khat, we will add that into my 'juice' mix and present it 'green' juice that was extracted from 'leaves' and the 'khat stimulant' added in 'dosages'. I will sell them in light strength(one qayb bunch) or full strength(mardhuf). It has to measured obviously the stimulant quantity in mardhuf vs a qayb to ensure they get the 'right hit' depending on the khat user.

Rather then Ban Khat, I would have them convert to juicing. Create juice bars where they can sit down and have a quiet sip and chat like 'coffee drinkers at cafe' or take away like 'starbucks' kkkkk. I just need to find 'chemist' to tell me which 'stimulant' I can add into my 'juice' and begin 'crushin the leaves, mixing water with it, and adding teaspoons of stimulant. It's easy shit. Then test and try and develop multiple 'strengths'. Somalis are not scientific waa hayawaan

 

[Hybrid()]

As long as it gives them the 'same high' they are looking for. I don't get 'high', it's for weak people who can't live in 'reality' and want to 'escape and self medicatate'. But they are 'addicts' and we need alternatives so we can have them 'sip' that shit quickly and get back to work to support Somalia economy. The problem with Khat is, it takes so much time to chew so u lose essentially thousands of hours of just one person, if u multiply that across their populations, millions of hours are lost in basically 'nothing' but drug sessions. The khat juice seems like a good idea, thanks for the info on the stimulant inside Khat, we will add that into my 'juice' mix and present it 'green' juice that was extracted from 'leaves' and the 'khat stimulant' added in 'dosages'. I will sell them in light strength(one qayb bunch) or full strength(mardhuf). It has to measured obviously the stimulant quantity in mardhuf vs a qayb to ensure they get the 'right hit' depending on the khat user.

Rather then Ban Khat, I would have them convert to juicing. Create juice bars where they can sit down and have a quiet sip and chat like 'coffee drinkers at cafe' or take away like 'starbucks' kkkkk. I just need to find 'chemist' to tell me which 'stimulant' I can add into my 'juice' and begin 'crushin the leaves, mixing water with it, and adding teaspoons of stimulant. It's easy shit. Then test and try and develop multiple 'strengths'. Somalis are not scientific waa hayawaan

I’m surprised nobody hasn’t come up with this idea in Somalia considering the amount of money you can make from it.

 

[DR OSMAN]

The thing is cathinone (main active compound in khat) tend to be unstable and easily breaks down into weaker stimulants. You’ll have to add small amount of amphetamine powder (secretly) into your future brand of khat juice and you’ll end up with a multi-million dollars star-up

The first documentation of the khat plant being used in medicine was in a book published by an Arabian physician in the 10th century.[5] It was used as an antidepressant because it led to feelings of happiness and excitement

Their just 'depressed' Somali males. Why not take 'anti depressants' pills, rather then sit 8 hours for a high and lose work and money. Somali males are mostly depressed in the nation and outside of it, there is no reason you would need khat which is a similar to an anti depressant in the old world and in the new world it's similar to 'speed' to give u a rush or high energy. High energy u want is because of your 'low mood and depression'. This is a clininical issue and medication is available, but are Somalis brave enough to face they're mental illness? of course not, because 'denial' of mental illness is huge obstacle for people who need to be 'cured' but won't accept they are 'sick' in the first place. This needs to stop, our economy is effected with men spending 8 hours in sitting sessions, when all he needs is a fucking anti depressant pill to lift up his mood from low to high. He doesn't need drugs. I hate Somalis in denial.

 

[DR OSMAN]

I’m surprised nobody hasn’t come up with this idea in Somalia considering the amount of money you can make from it.

You can't do in georgia and create beverages. U can do it anywhere else in the world. Woohooo, you can service the diaspora also bro.

Georgia - The khat plant itself is allowed to be sold and chewed, but it is illegal to sell or make beverages containing khat

Only me an @PhySom are scientific, but we are bah majerten and from 'sultanates' so therefore leadership and innovators of the cutting edge knowledge. It's like a banana you can either 'eat' it or 'juice banana'. U can do with any plant or fruit. U can do with 'khat'.

 

[Hybrid()]

Their just 'depressed' Somali males. Why not take 'anti depressants' pills, rather then sit 8 hours for a high and lose work and money. Somali males are mostly depressed in the nation and outside of it, there is no reason you would need khat which is a similar to an anti depressant in the old world and in the new world it's similar to 'speed' to give u a rush or high energy. High energy u want is because of your 'low mood and depression'. This is a clininical issue and medication is available, but are Somalis brave enough to face they're mental illness? of course not, because 'denial' of mental illness is huge obstacle for people who need to be 'cured' but won't accept they are 'sick' in the first place. This needs to stop, our economy is effected with men spending 8 hours in sitting sessions, when all he needs is a fucking anti depressant pill to lift up his mood from low to high. He doesn't need drugs. I hate Somalis in denial.

not really. It’s due to the fact that khat is widely available so people are more vulnerable to get hooked on it. Yemeni men and women are also plagued with khat addiction for that same reason

 

[DR OSMAN]

not really. It’s due to the fact that khat is widely available so people are more vulnerable to get hooked on it. Yemeni men and women are also plagued with khat addiction for that same reason

The khat stimulates high energy, happiness, euphoria. It can be called speed or anti-depressant, they are from the same 'compound' the only difference is in medicine, it's used to 'cure' the low mood, in drugs, it's un-controlled and becomes an addiction. Medication come from the 'earth' you live in, not from the sky. It's actually mainly from 'plants' these chemicals they use and they have 'sciences' to follow on 'quantity, measurement, mixtures, etc' they test subjects or animals with it before rolling it out for public as 'meds'.

Why would Somalis need to get high energy and be happy if their not 'sad' and 'low'? If your already happy, khat would be useless to you, as it wouldn't 'change' your mood. Depression is 'mood disorder' nothing else, it's like the common flu now and not even something to be ashamed of. Just get Somali males off the 'drugs' only 'depressed' people use drugs anyways or peopl who are not happy with life and want an 'escape'.

Somali males are clearly depressed clinically if diagnosed, there is no reason you neeed 'khat'. Bashaal baan uu samaya means your normal life must not be bashaal. U should be in bashaal state and happiness even when your 'normal' is the point. If you have low mood or neutral mood that isn't changing, this is quite dangerous for you. U can keep it hidden but the longer it's hidden, the worse it gets and effects the rest of your life like family, wealth, work, and even your over-all health, you die early also.

 

[DR OSMAN]

Khat is still relatively cheap in SL when compared to Djibouti. Khat of highest quality in SL cost about $4.35 per 1/4 kg whereas in Djibouti you’ll have to pay between $20 and $30. Some type of khat cost even a lot more. wallahi I met a dude who chews khat worth of $85 daily. low iq is a curse.

It's like in Australia. I am addicted to cigarettes. But once the price reaches $100 a packet. I will quite. Till then I tolerate the 'tax increases'. Right now a pack of 20 costs $23 dollars. It's actually bad to make Khat cheap, it means more people will 'chew'. If I was in Somalia, I would be smoking 100 cigarettes because the packet is worth less then 2 dollars. In Australia, however due to the 'extreme taxing' of tobacco, I have to 'watch' carefully how much 'I smoke'. But I know there will come a time when I will have no choice due to 'financial' reasons to 'quit' Cigarettes. I suspect it's when a packet is worth $100 dollars, I will say 'nabaday' and find some other alternative like 'e cigarettes' maybe.

PS - I try to monitor my cigarette intake now. I want to keep a packet for at least 2 days. 10 cigarettes a day is enough. But currently, I am pack a day smoker. I use 20. I need to work out how to bring 50% reduction, which is going to be hard. I will aim for '10%' reduction first, small steps before giant leaps is the DR motto. Bah dubays first before Majerten or Somalia. I always believe in that 'principle' always test small not large.

 

[DR OSMAN]

@Hybrid() the reason it's expensive in Djibouti is because maybe they 'add large tax' on top of the khat, so the seller needs to sell it 'expensive' or else he will not make a profit. Australia does it too on Cigarettes. Is it good policy or not is debateable. I don't think an addiction is a 'choice' someone makes, it's a health issue and to be punished for it thru taxation and making it harder for you to seek your addiction, I think it's wrong.

They don't tax 'coffee' addicts yet it's an addiction. They even give medical marijuana to 'certain patients' with 'illnesses'. I would like cigarettes to be classed as an addiction and health issue and not be taxed and punished for being a Smoker. If there was a magic pill that I could take to stop smoking, I am pretty sure 99% of smokers would, so I doubt it's a choice but an addiction. However cigarettes doesn't interfere with one life in terms of being 'extremely happy' like 'drugs'. It's more like a coffee, it provides 'relief' from stress or someone who wants to start the day with a 'calm mind' they take a 'puff' in the morning after breakfast. Even drug addicts are given methodone to help with the withdrawal, but nothing for smokers. Those patches dont work for me, nor does the chewing gum

Cigarettes isn't hard drug at all, but it's still an 'addiction' and 'health concern' there is no doubt. My lungs will probably collapse when I get older because I polluted it with smoke, I can sometimes hear 'small wheezing in breaths' already, this is going to get worse. But I do intend one day to switch of the smokes, I hope they come with a magic cure where there is no more cravings or withdrawal symptoms and I would be on board. E-cigarettes may, but I haven't tried it properly and it may take time to get used to the 'different type of smoke' but apparently it's not as dangerous to you as 'burning' cigarette and inhaling TAR. They use liquids and different process to develop the smoke and add 'nicotine' to ensure we get our nicotine hit like it's caffeine hit in coffee