Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan has said that corruption practices and activities hinder development and discourage investment, and therefore sabotage efforts by the government to oversee the country’s social and economic development.
The Head of State issued the instructions yesterday in Chato District, which hosted the climax of this year’s Special Uhuru Torch Race – held under the theme: “ICT is the Foundation of the Sustainable Nation: Use it correctly and accountably.”
The President has also instructed the Prime Minister’s Office and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to take action against all those involved in the embezzlement of funds meant for 49 development projects worth 68.3bn/-.
The particular projects were not inaugurated during the Uhuru Torch Race as planned simply because they were not implemented in the first place.
The president said she found it difficult to understand why there were such serious anomalies in the projects in 38 villages in different parts of the country while there are government officials and other leaders in those areas.
“This is a bad sign showing that some officials do not care to closely and effectively follow up the implementation of government projects in areas under their jurisdiction,” she noted.
Samia further warned that funds recently dished out for the implementation of development projects should be spent strictly as planned and intended, instructing officials in the areas concerned to make close follow-ups on how that will be done.
The president meanwhile announced that the government was finalising work on the criteria that would make Chato District, currently forming part of Geita Region, graduate into a full-fledged region – which would see one of the dreams of her predecessor, the late Dr John Magufuli, come true.
She added that all development projects whose implementation Dr Magufuli had pledged would indeed be implemented as planned.
She cited them as including the completion of Chato Hospital, bus stand, VETA college, port, airport and a mosque.
She then turned to the upbringing of the country’s youth, warning against drug abuse and the cultivation of hashish.
Commenting on the implementation of the 1.3trn/–worth projects, with funding from the International Monetary Fund, President Samia called on regional and district commissioners and executive directors to ensure water-tight supervision so that the people benefit most.