Activist Stella Agara: Panama Papers style tax-dodging costs lives in Africa

https://soundcloud.com/james-crisp-8/activist-panama-papers-style-tax-dodging-costs-lives-in-africa

Tax evasion by multinational companies such as that exposed in the Panama Papers scandal costs African countries up to 60% of the revenue they lose, which has massive implications for government budgets, and ultimately costs lives, activist Stella Agara has said

“You’ve got some people buying yachts, while others can’t even afford a meal,” the tax justice campaigner said, before criticising EU moves to increase tax transparency as too weak to bring real change.

Stella is from Kenya, but she works in Malawi. She started her tax justice work as a young person in Kenya when she volunteered for the Cancel Debts for Children campaign. She is now an influential leader at the African Youth Trust. She has worked for the past two years putting youth at the centre of Action Aid Malawi's tax justice program. She spoke to EurActiv news editor James Crisp.