Kick out corrupt finance officers, Kikwete orders
 
2006-02-01 08:05:33
By Gerald Kitabu

	President Jakaya Kikwete addresses senior Treasury officials during his visit to the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Corrupt officials of the Ministry of Finance should be sacked immediately.

Retaining such officials is a burden to the treasury and the taxpayers, President Jakaya Kikwete said yesterday when he issued the directive during his tour of the ministry’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

’The Ministry of Finance is the guardian of government revenue. You are like the human heart; when it stops pumping, it signals the end of life. It is therefore wise to sack corrupt officers immediately to save the soul of the government,’ the President said.

The President made the remarks when he toured the ministry to spell out his agenda to senior staff as well as listen to their views in respect of management of government revenue.

He also directed that a thorough scrutiny be conducted at the ministry to weed out officials who embezzle public funds.

’There is no need of waiting for evidence from Parliament or urban councils. The auditors’ findings are enough to justify action against such inept and corrupt officials,’ he said

’I direct you to control government expenditure because it is nonsensical for our expenditure to exceed revenue collection capacity,’ he charged.

He said that the efficiency of the government’s performance depends on the Ministry of Finance.

The President also urged the ministry and its departments to surpass the current revenue collection, which currently stands at 150bn/- per month.

He also warned district councils against misusing funds.

’A lot of money goes to district councils, but it is embezzled. I think it is time you made follow-ups to ensure that the funds are used as directed by the ministry,’ Kikwete said.

He directed the ministry to revive the ethics committee to deal with corrupt officers.

He also directed that the ministry hasten the settlement of retirement benefits for 13,038 ex-East African Community staff, who have been waiting for the money since its collapse in 1977.

The President also underscored the need to help more Tanzanians rise to business upper class, citing the IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi.

He said such move would boost the country’s economy and give her the capacity to produce more and penetrate the export markets.

The President showered praise on Mengi, saying his aptitude in business matters has earned him recognition within and outside the country.

He said a minister from the US (he did not name), would be visiting Tanzania in a few days to come.

The President said the US minister made a research of the kind of upper class business people whom he could meet while in Tanzania, adding that everywhere he went, he was given Mengi’s name.

’Our economy would grow very fast, if we had many people like Mengi,’ the President said.

The President said the country was now faced with a host of businessmen who operate on commission basis, who enter into agreements to sell products from outside the country in return for commission.

’This kind of business will not take us anywhere. We want people who can sell our products outside the country,’ he said.

Minister for Finance Zakia Meghji told the President that her ministry would make efforts to implement the government’s economic policies, including limiting budget deficits, prudent use of donor money and expanding the revenue base.

Commenting on the challenges facing the ministry, the minister said that her ministry had put in place comprehensive strategies to increase revenue collection from 13 per cent to 20 per cent by 2010.

She said other measures include controlling government expenditure and resolving perennial problem of delayed civil servants’ salaries and giving out loans to the informal sector.

• SOURCE: Guardian