RC: Split contracts to create jobs

TANGA: TANGA Regional Commissioner Ambassador Dr Batilda Burian has directed the Tanga City Council to split environmental sanitation contracts into smaller lots and award them to community groups instead of a single contractor.

She said the move will create more jobs under the National Economic Empowerment through Skills and Tendering (NEST) programme.

She said it will also, enable more youths and other residents to benefit from public procurement opportunities while advancing the government’s economic empowerment agenda.

Dr Burian issued the directive during a special council meeting convened to discuss findings and recommendations contained in the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

She commended the council for exceeding its NEST registration target by enrolling 202 groups against a target of 150 and awarding contracts worth 200m/- to registered groups.

“This is exactly what is expected under the NEST programme registering groups and ensuring they benefit from public procurement opportunities,” she said.

However, the Regional Commissioner noted that more than 200 registered groups were yet to benefit from available opportunities.

She urged the council to strengthen training and awareness programmes while allocating sanitation and other service contracts to the groups to achieve the programme’s objective of promoting selfemployment and economic empowerment, particularly among youths.

Dr Burian also directed the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to work with the City Director to review all groups that received loans through the council’s 10 per cent revenue allocation fund for women, youths and people with disabilities.

She said about 125m/- remained outstanding under the revolving fund.

“We want a comprehensive assessment to determine which groups are still operational and capable of repaying their loans. Those that are active must be compelled to settle their debts, while those that have ceased to exist due to unavoidable circumstances such as the death of members should be identified and appropriate action be taken,” she said.

The Regional Commissioner further instructed all council departments to submit accurate procurement plans to minimise off-system spending after the CAG report revealed expenditure of 203m/- outside the procurement system.

Meanwhile, Tanga Region Chief External Auditor Hamu Mwakasola said the council’s 2024/25 audit report contained 81 recommendations requiring follow-up, including 45 from the latest audit and 36 carried forward from previous years.

He said 39 recommendations, equivalent to 48 per cent, had been fully implemented, while 42 recommendations, or 52 per cent, remained outstanding.

On the Health Basket Fund (HBF), Mwakasola said four of seven recommendations, representing 57 per cent, had been implemented, leaving three pending.

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Similarly, the Women, Youths and Persons with Disabilities Development Fund (WYDF) audit contained eight recommendations, with five, or 63 per cent, implemented and three still unresolved.

Regarding parliamentary oversight, he said the Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) had issued 13 directives to the council, of which four, equivalent to 31 per cent, had been fully implemented while nine, or 69 per cent, remained under implementation.

Mwakasola said the unresolved audit issues mainly involved matters that either lacked sufficient supporting evidence despite responses from the council or were still being addressed.

“The council has provided initial responses to all outstanding matters, but they will continue to be monitored during subsequent audits until they are fully resolved,” he said.

The audit report was formally handed over to the City Director for implementation of its recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, improving financial management and enhancing service delivery.