PRETORIA — The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) has launched the fourth volume of the
African Multidisciplinary Tax Journal (AMTJ). The event, held virtually on July 3, was a collaborative effort between ATAF and Juta Company Ltd.
The AMTJ is a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal that provides high-level, evidence-based, multidisciplinary research on African tax systems. Its primary aim is to improve domestic resource mobilisation across the continent. In his opening remarks on behalf of the ATAF Executive Secretary, Mr Logan Wort, Mr Emeka Nwankwo highlighted the journal’s aspiration to collate and promote innovative homegrown solutions to strengthen African tax systems. Quoting Nelson Mandela, Mr Nwankwo emphasised, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” He further noted, “Similarly, it is our responsibility as Africans to own our taxation problems and lead in shaping the solutions.”
Mr. Edmund Beerwinkel, Chief Content and Product Officer at Juta, expressed gratitude for the continued partnership with ATAF, following the extension of their agreement for another three years. He conveyed Juta’s commitment to supporting the advancement of tax policy and administration in Africa.
The launch event featured insightful panel discussions on how the AMTJ can influence and shape African tax policy and administration by fostering strong dialogue among academia, policymakers, and practitioners. Ms. Chenai C. Mukumba, Executive Director of the Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), underscored the importance of evidence-based solutions in shaping African tax policy and administration. She highlighted that Volume 4 of the AMTJ will focus on tax justice and equity.
Professor Irma Mosquera Valderrama praised ATAF’s collaborative efforts with Juta, noting the journal’s unique combination of policy and academic research. She acknowledged the journal’s role in presenting research papers from the African Tax Research Network conference held in Tanzania in 2023.
Offering a sneak peek into the significant contributions in Volume 4, Mr. Frank Kalizinje, ATAF Programme Consultant for AMTJ & ATRN, outlined the reasons for publishing in the journal:
• It features a mix of experts in academia, policy-making, and practice.
• ATAF and Juta are pursuing accreditation from the multidisciplinary abstract and citation database SCOPUS.
• Contributors benefit from comprehensive feedback.
• Papers undergo a rigorous double-peer review process.
• The journal is freely accessed by all tax administrations in Africa, ensuring the right audience for published work.
Furthermore, Ms Jeanette Makgolo, Commissioner General of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service, emphasised the journal’s role in catalysing further collaboration, innovation, and action for revenue mobilisation. She announced that the 9th ATRN conference will be hosted in Gaborone, Botswana.
The launch of the fourth volume of the AMTJ marks a significant milestone in the journey towards strengthening tax policy and administration in Africa. Through multidisciplinary research and collaborative efforts, ATAF continues to shape a brighter future for African tax systems.
