PCCB exposes frauds in ferry ticketing system

THE PREVENTION and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has uncovered shortcomings in revenue collection at Kigongo Busisi ferry in Misungwi District, including frauds in ticket sales.

Mwanza Regional PCCB Head, Mr James Ruge said some dishonest staff of the Kigongo-Busisi ferries, which operate in Misungwi and Sengerema Districts, have been issuing a single ticket but selling it twice to two different persons.

Again, PCCB has established that government-owned vehicles are not scanned at the ferry stations, hence skipping ferrying service charges.

“The ticketing agents have been violating government’s procedures that guide them, including those that require them to carry out digital scanning for the vehicles,” he said.

According to the PCCB investigation conducted between October and December, last year, there were dishonest individuals who were interfering with the revenue collection system.

They were usually tempering with the system to get tickets for free and sell them to customers, especially motorists for their personal gains.

Following the shortcomings, PCCB in collaboration with other stakeholders organized a workshop for ferry operators to remind them on the rules and ethics in relation to revenue collections and public service, said Mr Ruge.

“We should all adhere to public service conducts. The Bureau is also conducting public awareness to encourage members of the public to inform us when they smell a rat,” he said.

The response from the public was big since the Bureau recorded 137 cases during that period, of which 80 cases were related to corruption and 57 ended up being dropped out.

“About 54 out of 80 cases have already been taken to court,” affirmed Mr Ruge, asking members of the community to continue reporting corruption incidents so as to safeguard development projects and revenue collection.