The government of Tanzania has confirmed it will review the guidelines that govern the country’s e-commerce.

The announcement comes almost two years after the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) found that Tanzania lacked specific e-commerce legislation and that its legal framework is inadequate to create “a conducive e-commerce business environment” and limits trust among consumers.

The organisation recommended several policies to help develop the East African country’s e-commerce market, including crafting e-commerce strategy, enhancing ICT infrastructure, creating a conducive legislative climate among others.

Most recently, Mathew Kundo, the Deputy Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology said he was aware of concerns raised by the private sector about bottlenecks impacting the industry.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised by stakeholders and the private sector concerning the challenges facing e-commerce in the country. The government will revisit the regulations that hamper the growth of e-commerce in the country,” said Kundo.

The acting chairperson of the Association of Courier Service Providers James Mwambona said multiplicity of taxes was also frustrating e-commerce customers.

Mwambona told the local Tanzania Daily News newspaper that “a product retailing at US$10 on e-commerce would be cost around US$50 upon arrival in Tanzania because of the hefty taxes that are imposed on the buying and selling of goods and services electronically. “