IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi (4th-R) looks on as Vicoba national chairperson Devota Likokola (L), a Member of Parliament, hands over a 100m/- cheque to Sinza Ward Teachers Union chairperson Foibe Ileta at a ceremony held at the IPP Headquarters.

The IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi has called on teachers to educate their students about corruption to enable them fight the social evil.

Mengi made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday when handing over a cheque worth 100m/- to Sinza Ward Teachers’ Association (UWAKASI-Village Community Bank (VICOBA) to boost its capital.

He said when children are well informed about the evils of corruption they will be in a position to question and fight against corruption being committed by their parents.

“If children are not told about the effects of corruption they will regard it as a normal thing…If we do not start educating children, there will come a time when corruption will be accepted and a corrupt person regarded as better than the one who fights against the evil,” Mengi said.

“If corruption is accepted in the society it will be difficult to fight it,” Mengi said.

He further said that currently the country was going through a difficult period due to graft which has divided the nation.

Mengi said some people are publicly defending corruption though it is against God’s teachings.

”Those who defend corruption have financial muscle and a few of them have political power while those who oppose it are poor, though their unity is stronger than political and financial power.

He cited unity as an important tool for success in the war against corruption.

He encouraged the teachers to be strong and confident in running the projects they plan to establish to enable them fight poverty.

“If a person is able to meet the basic needs in life, he or she will have peace of mind and work diligently,” Mengi said.

The Executive Director of VICOBA Development Agency in Tanzania, Devota Likokola called upon the teachers to adopt a culture of saving to enable them accumulate capital for establishing various projects.

She commended Mengi for his support to the community.

Likokola promised to support the teachers’ association and make it a role model.

She said VICOBA as model microfinance institution has proved a success in many developed nations.

Sinza Ward Education Coordinator who is also UWAKASI Chairperson Foibe Ileta said the promise which Mengi gave in February this year to support a teachers’ Saccos had motivated many of them to join it.

“We did as you advised us, that we should save 5,000/- each per month for a period of four months to form a Saccos and you would support us with 100m/-,” she said.

Ileta said that they have so far collected 3.2m/- for the Saccos.

She hailed Mengi for his support, saying that it would help to change the lives of many teachers.

Kinondoni Municipal Education Officer Hassan Kalinga said Mengi’s assistance was a challenge to teachers to establish projects which would help to liberate them financially.