Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has suspended three district executive directors and demoted eight others in a bid to improve performance of local government authorities.

However two directors Harold Senyangwa (Kyela) and Rhoda Nsemwa (Bagamoyo) have been taken to court.

The Premier has also appointed 14 district and municipal directors to fill the vacancies and transferred 22 others to pave way for strengthening performance in councils.

Announcing the decisions to journalists here yesterday, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) Hawa Ghasia said that the decisions were made in 2011/2012.

She said in order to increase accountability in local governments the government took disciplinary action against directors who were discovered to have not been fulfill their duties whereby 11 of them were given warnings.

Ghasia mentioned three District Executive Directors who were suspended with their work stations in bracket as Xavier Tiweseleke (Misungwi,) Erica Mussica (Sengerema) and Theonas Nyamhanga (Kishapu).

Those who have been demoted are Consolata Kamuhabwa, (Korogwe),

Ephraim Kalimalwendo (Kilosa), Elly Jesse Mlaki (Babati), Eustach Temu (Muheza) and Jacob Kayange (Ngorongoro).

Others are Hamida Kikwega (Chato), Majuto Mbuguyu (Tanga)and Raphael Mbunda (Arusha Municipal Council).

She said eight directors were demoted after they failed to deliver and will be assigned other duties.

Those who have been given warnings and other disciplinary measures are Judetadeus Mboya (Newala), Lameck Masembejo (Masasi), Abdallah Njovu (Tandahimba), Jane Mutagurwa (Shinyanga), Silvia Siriwa (Sumbawanga) and Lewis Kalinjuna (Kigoma).

Others are Kelvin Makonda (Bukombe), Alfred Luanda (Ulanga), Fanuel Senge (Tabora) Beaatrice Msomisi (Bahi) and Maurice Sapanjo (Chunya)

The newly appointed directors with their work stations in brackets are Jenifer Omolo (Kibaha Town Council), Fidelica Myovela (Musoma),

Hadija Maulid Makuwani (Tabora), Ibrahim Matovu (Muheza), Iddi Mshili (Mtwara), Julius Madiga (Morogoro) and Kiyungi

Mohamed Kiyungi (Shinyanga).

Others are Lucas Mweri (Nanyumbu), Miriam Mbaga (Kigoma), Mwanamvua Mrindoko (Nachingwea), Pendo Mlembeja (Kwimba), Pudensiana Kisaka (Ulanga), Ruben Mfune (Ruangwa) and Tatu Seleman (Kibaha).

In May, this year, the government said it will sack all corrupt and tainted local government officials in a bid to fight massive graft which cost a third of the total budget allocated to city, municipal and district councils in the country.

Officials from local governments implicated by the recently released report by the Controller and Auditor General, Ludovick Utouh, would be sacked immediately before being taken to court, local press quoted Vice-President, Dr. Mohamed Bilal, as saying.

Local government officials have been stealing billions through ghost workers’ salaries, procurement of goods and services, fraud and project management.

Addressing 28th conference of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT), Bilal said the government had already ordered its administrative machineries to undertake appropriate action in the process of handling the issue and take to court suspected culprits.

He said the government was shocked by the CAG’s report which showed the general poor performance in financial management that led to the misappropriation of public funds in some of the district councils in the country.

However, he added that, together with the report, which he termed as shameful, the government would not tolerate such malpractices and would show its concern over the matter by taking appropriate action wherever possible and without failure.

“It is our responsibility to show diligence at our workplaces and abide by the work rules and ethical regulations as stipulated in civil service regulations,” he said, insisting that leaders should not let down their people who gave them the mandate and power to serve.