ZANZIBAR: THE performance of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), and Zanzibar Anticorruption and Economic Crimes Authority (ZAECA) in the past three years has impressed President Hussein Ali Mwinyi but called for more efforts to combat the vice.
“I would like to remind leaders and members of the public to strengthen collaboration to prevent corruption because the war belongs to each of us regardless of status and position,” Dr Mwinyi said.
The message is contained in his speech to stakeholders who gathered at Nyamanzi Hall to commemorate the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day, under the theme “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption”.
He said that despite applaudable achievement made by PCCB in the mainland and ZAECA in Zanzibar, more efforts need to be done to prevent and fight corruption and that all people and institutions: Civil Societies, Private Sector, Religious Leaders, Media and ordinary citizens, have a great role to play.
“So far, I am pleased with good work done by our institutions ZAECA and PCCB. For period between July 2022 and May 2024, ZAECA managed to save a total of 7.9bn/- from dubious deals related tax evasion, and other corruption practices in public offices,” said Dr Mwinyi adding that great efforts are being made here in Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania through ZAECA and PCCB.
The institutions have been doing a great job of educating the community in order to be able to control acts of corruption and economic crime and that involving people helps to build a society that does not tolerate corruption and economic crime.
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He explained that in the period from July 2022 to May 2024, ZAECA also monitored the funding of development projects from the initial stage to its completion where a total of 115 projects were inspected.
During that period, ZAECA submitted 86 files to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP to approve filing to court, while for the period of July 2022 to 2023 PCCB monitored public development projects worth 7tri/, looking at ‘value for Money.’
He said that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania will ensure that the various International Agreements to fight corruption are ratified and implemented to achieve goals.
He thanked the organizers of this celebration, also attended by senior leaders from Tanzania mainland led by Mr Ridhwani Kikwete- deputy minister, Ministry of State-President’s Office Public Service Management and Good Governance, and the PCCB deputy Director General Ms Neema Mwakalyelye.
He urged ZAECA to continue working closely with PCCB to win the war over corruption practices in the country and that African anti-corruption Day (July 11) started to be marked in Tanzania in 2018 with the aim of strengthening efforts to prevent and fight corruption.
He said that Tanzania has already started using the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Act, by providing legal protection to whistleblowers to in the fight against the crime in the country.
Dr Mwinyi said that in addition, the Whistleblower Protection Act helps to protect, motivate and compensate whistleblowers and witnesses in order to have more confidence and security of their lives.
Both the Zanzibar Minister of State- President’s office (Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service, and Good Governance) Mr Haroun Ali Suleiman, and Mr Ridhiwan promised to strengthen collaboration to prevent and fight corruption.
PCCB’s Ms Mwakalyelye and the ZAECA’s director general Mr. Ali Abdalla Ali thanked both top leaders in the country for making reforms that have helped to strengthen operation of their institutions as they promised to do more in addressing corruption and ensuring development projects are value for money.
The Regional Commissioner (RC) for Unguja Urban-West Region Mr. Idrissa Kitwana praised both President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dr Mwinyi for taking measures that are helping to control corruption in the country.
