The Parliamentary Committee for Constitution, Legal and Administration has pushed for the establishment of a Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) desk at the Finance Ministry to facilitate closer tracking of funds released for implementation of development projects at the councils.
Mr William Ngeleja
The move comes following the massive increase of embezzlement of public funds that are normally located to various projects in the councils.
The committee chairman, Mr William Ngeleja, said that by establishing the desk at the ministry, good utilization of funds would be enhanced unlike the case now whereby most of the project implementation does not reflect value for money.
“In order to contain this habit, we find it wise for PCCB to have a special desk at the Finance Ministry.
Once the commissioner for budget releases funds for implementation of these projects it would be easier for bureau officials to make followups,”
Mr Ngeleja noted. He pointed out that if the funds continue being sent to the councils without proper surveillance the country would continue losing billions of shillings.
The committee visited the PCCB headquarters in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday and among other duties, according to Mr Ngeleja, the members wanted to look into the best mechanism that would help curb fraud in councils.
Mr Ngeleja explained that PCCB showed commitment in establishing their desk at the ministry should the relevant authorities be willing to accept the idea.
He said that his committee would liaise with the government for immediate implementation of the plan in the belief that at this time, when corruption is so rampant at council level, this would be seen as the best solution.
“Prevention is better than cure. We better direct much effort in sealing corruption loopholes starting from where money is released instead of focusing only at where projects are implemented,” he said.
By CHRISTOPHER MAJALIWA, Tanzania Daily News
