CAG, PCCB REPORTS FINDING: ‘Trend shows progress’

DAR ES SALAAM: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has said the government will work on the recommendations outlined in the reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to enhance transparency and accountability in public institutions.

Speaking at the State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday after receiving the 2023/24 financial year reports from the two institutions, President Samia said the government would carefully assess the findings and ensure proper action is taken to improve governance.

“We will listen closely and follow parliamentary discussions on the CAG report and for the PCCB report, we will act on all recommendations to strengthen governance in our country,” she said.

The president commended the CAG’s office for conducting comprehensive audits, saying the findings reflect the impact of government initiatives to improve the efficiency of public institutions and ensure responsible use of resources.

“Despite the shortcomings mentioned, there has been an increase in efficiency in the management of government resources. This is encouraging because it shows that we have made progress in promoting transparency and accountability,” she said. President Samia also acknowledged that while some of the issues raised in the reports stem from long-standing problems, government efforts have led to improvements in financial management.

“The encouraging part is that, overall, there has been a noticeable increase in efficiency in managing government resources, despite the challenges highlighted. Many of the weaknesses pointed out have existed for years, but the trend shows progress,” she added.

The PCCB report also indicated progress in the bureau’s internal efficiency, with the bureau now operating more effectively compared to five or six years ago.

President Samia said previous reports contained more unanswered questions, whereas the latest report shows that PCCB is now working in line with legal procedures and has significantly reduced operational shortcomings.

Presenting the PCCB’s report, Director General Crispin Chalamila said the bureau had completed investigations into 728 corruption cases, with 17 involving amounts exceeding 1bn/-.

The report further highlighted improvements in public institutions’ integrity, with Tanzania moving up in the East African Community (EAC) rankings for anti-corruption efforts. The country now holds the second position among ten member states in the region in the fight against corruption, according to Transparency International.

President Samia commended the PCCB for its initiatives in raising awareness about corruption among students, saying early education on integrity is essential for future generations.

“These institutions should continue working with a high level of integrity and patriotism for the benefit of the nation,” she said.

CAG Charles Kichere, while presenting his office’s report, said that 1,485 audited reports were conducted in the 2023/24 financial year, resulting in 1,301 audit opinions. Of these, 1,295 (99.5 per cent) were unqualified, five (0.4 per cent) had concerns and one (0.1 per cent) was an adverse opinion.

The report revealed that 37 local government authorities collected 3.45bn/- but failed to deposit the funds into designated government accounts, raising concerns about the mismanagement of public funds.

Additionally, the audit found that employees from 269 public institutions are owed 311.91bn/- in unpaid salaries, retirees’ transport costs and statutory benefits for senior officials.

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The CAG also recommended a review of government subsidies to public institutions, as some entities continue to record financial losses despite receiving government funding.

Based on the reports, both the CAG and PCCB recommended measures to enhance governance and accountability. The PCCB suggested improving the withholding tax collection system by integrating payment platforms, strengthening monitoring and providing public education.