Tanzania Govt urged to enact laws to promote good governance

By Hawa Mathias, The Citizen Correspondent.

Mbeya. 

A call has been made for the government to enact laws that would compel local leaders to publicly declare financial reports. Speaking to The Citizen in a random interview, some residents of Mbeya City urged the Parliament to formulate laws that will punish local leaders who are lax in providing people with income and expenditure reports on various development projects.

 They said the tendency by local leaders to not present financial reports has resulted in residents’ reluctance to contribute towards development projects. “The malpractice affects people’s will to contribute for development programmes because they do not get any feedback on the use of their money,” they said.

“We would like the government to form laws, which will provide punishments to local government leaders who deliberately refuse to present financial reports. We want to know how our contributions are being spent and this is our right,” said Mr Anangisye Mwakyoma, a resident of Mbeya City. He said reluctance by local leaders to explain how their money has been spent, discourages people to participate in development projects.

For his part, Mr Japhet Kaboneka, a resident of Mbeya City, said efforts by the government to bring development to the people has been derailed by dishonest leaders who use public funds for personal gains. 

“The government has a good intention to build health centres and secondary schools in every ward, and the public has the responsibility to contribute towards their own development,” said Mr Kaoneka. Another Mbeya resident, Ms Agatha Mwakatobe, said there was a need for the government to provide public education on the importance of contributions and participation in various development activities.

Meanwhile, villagers in Kichiwa, Njombe District, have contributed Sh24 million for the construction of two residential houses for civil servants.

Villagers in Kichiwa village, Njombe district have been praised for managing to contribute Sh24m for the construction of two houses for civil servants in the area. The village chairman, Mr Festo Kihumbu, told reporters yesterday that villagers used their own resources to construct two houses. 

Source: The Citizen (06/12/2012): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/27611-govt-urged-to-enact-laws-to-promote-good-governance