Accounting officers in Tanzania told to use funds prudently

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Mr John Cheyo, has reminded Accounting Officers (AO) to ensure that funds set aside for development projects were utilized accordingly.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson, Mr John Cheyo

Mr Cheyo told the “Sunday News” in a telephone interview, that the government would not tolerate irresponsible officials who will be proved to have misappropriated funds for development projects.

He sounded the warning following a recent tour in Kagera Region where PAC rejected the region’s accounts, citing massive financial irregularities.

The committee was unhappy with the region’s accounts, which were made against government accounting procedures.

According to Mr Cheyo, funds for development were not registered in the deposit account as required by the Finance Act. There were shoddy and dubious transactions. Among the shoddy projects was Kabanga Bay project, which was earmarked to be constructed at a total cost of 5.6bn/-.

The project would link Rubafu Fish Landing site, in Bugabo Ward, Bukoba Rural district to neighbouring Uganda. Mr Cheyo said it was revealed by the committee that the contractor would pocket a total of 4.6 bn/- while experts would get 460m/-. He elaborated further that the government had already injected a total of 1.7bn/- into the project.

However, for unknown reasons, the project was suspended without giving explanation. PAC also raised queries on the proposed construction of the Regional Commissioner’s office earmarked to cost a total of 10.8bn/-.

Construction was expected to have started in August, 2010 but to-date it was progressing at a snail’s pace. According to Mr Cheyo, the Kagera Accounting Officer was summoned to appear before the PAC during its session, which was held on June 1, this year, in Dar es Salaam.

By MEDDY MULISA, Tanzania Daily News