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TRA declares war on graft among its staff
2008-03-15 09:26:32
By Victor Kwayu, PST, Moshi
The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) in Kilimanjaro Region has declared an all-out war against graft among its officials in a bid to seal leakage of government revenue.
Speaking to PST in Moshi on Thursday, TRA Regional Manager Patricia Minga challenged the media to expose corrupt elements within its rank and file in the region.
``We now understand that the media is the best ally in the struggle against corruption that undermines efficiency in the collection of revenue. We appreciate the contribution by the media and request its full engagement in the fight to help clean up TRA in the region,`` said Minga.
With regard to alleged operations of numerous unofficial cross-border alleyways popularly known as `panya` routes, the TRA regional boss invited journalists to survey the border check-points and other secretive routes where shoddy deals that deny the government its revenue are carried out.
``Help us expose all non law abiding officials. Using your pens you can help TRA make a big difference for the benefit of the nation. I assure you that all those implicated in corrupt deals will be taken to task.
Stringent measures have started paying off as the region has hit a record high in the collection of revenue in the past three months,`` she explained.
Minga was reacting to media reports that some TRA officials in the region lived lifestyles beyond their official means because they took bribes with impunity.
Some TRA officials in the region were recently reported to have employed tricks to deceive the authorities, such as clandestinely using two sets of receipt books - one genuine and the other forged.
The dirty tricks by TRA officials in the region were exposed recently when the TRA head office deployed a contingent of officials to undertake a special operation to nab all vehicles cleared in suspicious circumstances.
It was discovered that some of the owners were issued with forged documents that lacked reference in the official register.
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