PCCB, FIU sign data deal to combat graft

DODOMA: THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) have signed a five year Electronic Data Sharing Agreement (DSA), to strengthen the fight against corruption and money laundering in Tanzania.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday at PCCB headquarters in Dodoma, will integrate the electronic systems of both institutions to facilitate secure, realtime data exchange and improve investigative efficiency.

The DSA was officially signed by PCCB Director General Crispin Chalamila and FIU Commissioner Majaba Magana.

Speaking after the signing, Mr Chalamila stressed the importance of the partnership, noting that electronic data sharing will enhance the accuracy, speed and reliability of information access, eliminate duplication and reduce human error.

“This agreement marks the culmination of our long-standing efforts, which were officially launched in January 2025. For years, Tanzania has lacked a national electronic system for storing crime-related data, an issue that was highlighted during the Mutual Evaluation of our antimoney laundering framework,” he said.

Mr Chalamila explained that Tanzania was previously placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list due to strategic deficiencies in antimoney laundering measures, including inconsistencies in data shared by state institutions.

“We were placed on the FATF grey list for two years. Fortunately, we were removed after addressing one of the 21 critical gaps. This agreement helps us continue to close remaining gaps, particularly regarding data accuracy and timely access,” he said.

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The agreement will enable the integration of FIU’s National Anti-Money Laundering System (NASMS) with PCCB’s investigative system, allowing both institutions to share data electronically in real time.

“Today’s agreement is a major milestone. Moving from manual data entry to automated integration will save time, reduce duplication and minimise human errors.

It aligns with the e-Government Authority (eGA) requirements, which mandate that public institutions must have formal data-sharing agreements when exchanging electronic information,” Mr Chalamila stated.

He added that the new system will significantly improve data integrity and accelerate the pace of investigations.

“The accuracy of information will increase as inconsistencies are eliminated. The data will be reliable, precise and ready for use without additional verification,” he said.

On his part, FIU Commissioner Majaba Magana said the agreement reflects the growing collaboration between the two institutions in tackling corruption, money laundering and related financial crimes.

“Following the signing, ICT experts from both sides will begin working on system integration to ensure smooth and secure data sharing,” he said.