Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Be open in handling funds


The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority has raised queries about the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (Rita) and the Government Employees Providence Fund (GEPF). Their concerns have to do with transparency in these public organisations’ construction projects in Dar es Salaam.
Both Rita and GEPF are funded by taxpayers and members. When an organisation is handed the responsibility of managing public funds, transparency becomes the key word. Where there is transparency, people have more faith in what they are being asked for. They contribute more meaningfully, both materially and in other ways, towards strengthening the organisation.
Transparency stems from integrity. The revelation of dubious spending of public funds undermines the credibility of those entrusted with handling those organisations. While we commend PPRA for raising the red flag, the authorities must move fast and take legal action against those concerned. We expect to see them in court--and soon. Tanzania can make progress only when transparency is given top priority. It must be criteria number one for both small and major projects. These dishonest officials should get this clear: Should Tanzania fall because of corruption and other malpractices, we will all collapse along with it. We have an obligation to push for honest deals wherever and whenever we can.

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