Govt fires 232, suspends 186 over misuse of funds

Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Hawa Ghasia

To ensure accountability and prevention of mismanagement of public funds, the government has been forced to dismiss, suspend warn or otherwise punish a good number of its servants.
Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Hawa Ghasia, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that another 232 civil servants in local government authorities including one Council Director were dismissed in just two years.
At least 186 employees were suspended, another 113 warned and 34 demoted while 233 were dragged tocourt and at least 36 are still under investigation by the police and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), all in less than two years.
At higher management levels, at least one Council Director was dismissed, six suspended, 25 demoted, 12 warned, eight dragged to court while one was subjected to salary decrease.
As for heads of departments, Ghasia said 14 were expelled, 12 suspended, 16 warned, 9 demoted while 13 were taken to court and one is still being interrogated by the PCCB.
She also disclosed that 217 ordinary public servants were expelled, 168 suspended, 4 demoted, 85 warned, 212 appeared before the courts and 35 are being interrogated by the police and PCCB.
The minister reassured the public that the government will continue to improve its audit departments by providing necessary equipment to simplify work and that it will also offer training to the auditors.
The minister reported that an Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) is installed across the various district councils purposefully to ensure accountability and financial discipline.
Ghasia went on to explain that although there is misappropriation and mismanagement of funds in some places, other district councils and cities have actually recorded an increase in revenue collection over the last six months.
The councils include Temeke, Mbinga, Tandahimba, Sikonge, Urambo, and Misungwi. Regions recording the highest collections are Arusha, Mbeya and Mwanza.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN