Over 325m/- recovered as PCCB scrutinizes Ilala’s 37.3bn/- projects
DAR ES SALAAM: The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has recovered a total of 325.9m/- in Dar es Salaam City Council after scrutinizing projects worth 37.3bn/-, the watchdog’s latest report reveals.
Presenting the quarterly report for the period ending December 2024 in Dar es Salaam yesterday, PCCB’s Ilala Regional Deputy Bureau Chief, Moza Kasubi, said that out of the recovered amount, over 273.4m/- was reclaimed from solid waste contractors and other revenue collectors who had long withheld government funds collected through POS machines.
According to the deputy bureau chief, an additional 52.5m/- was returned by four individuals in two cases after being convicted in court for embezzling funds from an unnamed public institution’s Savings and Credit Co-Operative Society (SACCOS).
“We urge contractors still holding public funds to remit them immediately to the appropriate authorities, as retaining them is a criminal offense,” she said.
According to PCCB in Ilala, during the period from September to December 2024, the anti-corruption watchdog inspected construction projects for classrooms and toilets at Kinyerezi, Kitonga, and Msongola primary schools, valued at approximately 336.4m/-.
Other projects include infrastructure development for advanced secondary schools at Jangwani, Tambaza, and Mvuti, as well as the construction of teachers’ houses at Gunatrwa and Kitunda secondary schools, valued at 852.6m/-.
She added that PCCB also inspected the installation project of artificial turf at the Benjamin Mkapa Secondary School sports ground, worth 989.8m/-, emphasizing, “Projects belong to the public, and everyone has the responsibility to monitor them to ensure value for money.”
The deputy bureau chief told reporters in the city that PCCB in Ilala also conducted system analyses to identify corruption loopholes and recommend improvements.
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Some of the systems scrutinized by the anti-corruption watchdog included the Kariakoo Street Vendors Management System, where PCCB uncovered non-compliance with the KAWASSO constitution.
Regarding these shortcomings, PCCB recommended updating member records, ensuring income and expenditure transparency, and adopting electronic revenue collection systems.
She said that after reviewing the Kariakoo International Market Registration System, it was revealed that revenue losses occurred due to poor trader record management and weaknesses in stall allocation.
Apart from tracking public projects during the period ending December 2024, PCCB in Ilala also conducted the TAKUKURU Rafiki programme in 22 wards, aimed at identifying challenges that wananchi were experiencing, particularly in the water, roads, and land sectors.
“We held stakeholder meetings to resolve issues and provided feedback on challenges identified from July to September 2024 in five wards, namely Kivule, Majohe, Vingunguti, Kipawa, and Buyuni. We encourage public participation in this program to help address community challenges,” she concluded.
