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`Knowledge on public expenditure tracking key to good governance`
2008-04-28 09:27:48
By Mashaka Mgeta
Citizens at the grassroots level should be well informed on public revenue and expenditure, to enable them uphold values and principles of good governance, the Finish ambassador to Tanzania has said.
The remarks were made by the programme officer with Embassy of Finland in a brief meeting with Kibaha Disctrict Commissioner Gilbert Gololo, before the official inauguration of Public Expenditure Tracking Surveys (PETS) project in Kibaha last week. Ruhara was speaking on behalf of Ambassdor Juhan Toivonen.
PETS project in Coast Region was organised by a civil society organisation, Development Concern (DeCo).
Toivonen said PETS is not only on tracking money allocated for different public expenditures, but also involves monitoring other resources provided for social development.
He said an informed society has the power to sensitise people to contribute, support and own social development programmes and activities as well.
``If people are well informed on public resources and funds allocated for their development, it`s very easy for them to give their inputs, and also question when things go wrong,`` he said.
Kibaha DC who is also Acting Regional Commissioner, Gilbert Gololo, said the project would enable the public to make their leaders more accountable.
He said there were some leaders including those at village level who never presented financial reports to the public during quarterly meetings as required by law.
``Those leaders took an advantage of peoples` ignorance, to misuse both public funds and other resources, but through this project, I`m sure of seeing changes,`` he said.
Gololo said people in Kibaha District, complained over their village leader`s failure to submit public financial reports, and for those who submitted, provided reports which were unacceptable because they lacked correct information and supporting documents.
He said people through the PETS project, Kibaha District communities would acquire skills to monitor funds allocated by central government for their development, and be confident to question when weaknesses arose.
For his part, DeCo Board Chairman, Brigedia General (rtd), Aristrachus Karubi, explained that the first phase of the project would cover four wards in Kibaha District.
About 12 wards, were covered in Kisarawe District during its first phase.
Karubi said beneficiaries would acquire different skills in monitoring public funds and resources allocated for health and education sectors.
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