GENERAL BUDGET SUPPORT AND CHALLENGES IN COMBATING CORRUPTION IN TANZANIA

2008

Dr. Edward G. Hoseah – DIRECTOR GENERALTHE PREVENTION AND COMBATING OF CORRUPTION BUREAU - TANZANIA

10/30/2008

Why General Budget Support (GBS)? GBS is a General Budget Support process to finance

government’s expenditures for the next fiscal year. A balance must be achieved to come up with realistic approaches in the

context of country specific.

This process is an inclusive and involves multiple government institutions, non-state actors and DPs.

Decision making process of government is through consultative process to ensure all key players are involved.

The major focus of GoT budget is poverty alleviation (MKUKUTA) in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

MKUKUTA has three important clusters: Cluster 1 deals with macro-economic stability; Cluster 2 puts in place Institutional reforms; Cluster 3 propagates for good governance and accountability.

Why Good Governance and Accountability?

NACSAP II Context It is a home grown strategy, a preventive tool against

corruption, maladministration, and waste. It restores integrity system in society.

Launched in December 2006 after consultative process among and within all stakeholders to bring together all stakeholders to address corruption holistically by using multi-prong approaches.

Corruption fuels poverty, dent democracy, displaces the rule of law, corrupts moral values, increases costs of doing business, undermines government’s legitimacy, and discourages investments.

NACSAP compliments other Institutional Reforms i.e. PFMRP, LGRP, LSRP, PSRP for improved public service delivery, and economic prosperity to the people of Tanzania.

Fighting corruption is one element of Good Governance.

The agreed target for 2008: PCCB to investigate and complete 10 grand corruption cases sent to the DPP.

Results in 2008: 14 grand corruption cases relating to EPA have been taken to court and made public. 7 cases completed by PCCB and submitted to DPP. 2 cases have been returned to PCCB out of which 1 has consent to prosecute and the other case closed.

3 cases still under investigation because they involve external jurisdiction which require cooperation from other countries under the ‘Mutual Legal Assistance’ scheme.

The DPP still working on the 4 cases before consent is granted.

Through EPA, the government has recovered approximately Tshs. 70 Billions within a period of 8 months (Feb – Oct, 2008).

If you make a comparative study to our neighbour Zambia, in CHILUBA’s case, they are yet to repatriate the recovered USD 40 Millions of assets through the UK’s court order. The process has taken them over six years including hiring expatriate lawyers (at expensive prices). [ZAMBIA TASK FORCE: 2008].

Chapter V of the UNCAC, 2003 provides for asset recovery

as the best approach in recovery of stolen assets and the fight against organized crimes, especially corruption where stolen assets are returned to the lawful owner - - the people.

Government Procurement and Ethics.Government Procurement All procurement undertaken by the government by

observing PPA. This is provided by law (PPA, 2004). There is substantive progress in this area where all

MDAs are bound by law to observe the spirit behind PPA, 2004 namely; competitive bidding, avoid nepotism/cronyism and avoid waste.

Assets declaration The public leadership code of Ethics Act 1995 is being

reviewed to separate politics and business. Ethics Secretariat and others are working on the new amendment to the Act which will be tabled to parliament.

Political funding, Whistleblowers and Natural Resources

Political party funding

Sensitization workshop conducted in October 2008 and all stakeholders have agreed that political parties’ funding must be regulated in particular during election.

A broader consultation process is on going and AG is coordinating the process.

Whistleblowers Act A proposed bill is ready and submitted to AG. The AG is still consulting other stakeholders before it is

tabled to Parliament.

Natural Resources

PCCB being aware of natural resources plunder, has started working on logging industry which denies the country a lot of unaccounted revenue.

Hunting blocks, fishing industry and mining sectors are areas that have attracted a lot of complaints and some allegations from the public on resources’ leakages.

To ensure that these resources are utilized for the good of the citizens of Tanzania, PCCB has positioned itself to carry out operations in these critical areas. The Norwegian Government has pledged to assist the GoT to finance the operations.

TI Corruption Perception Index:

How does Tanzania compare in EA region

Country Rank Regional Country Rank

Country/ Territory

CPI Score 2008

102 1 Tanzania 3.0

102 2 Rwanda 3.0

115 3 Zambia 2.8

126 4 Uganda 2.6

147 5 Kenya 2.1

In measuring corruption the following indicators are deployed:

Objective indicators which captures the actual happenings. Perception indicators focus on opinion polls (Bad news is

good news especially media focus).

Pro-poor indicators rely on sensitivity such as gender and children issues.

Experience indicators are based on actual experiences.

Whereas proxy indicators aggregates many voices to come up with the desired data.

PCCB efforts up to September 2008: In 1995 PCB had 8 cases in Court compared to

the present (September 2008) where PCCB have 801 cases in Courts of law.

In 1995 PCB had only 1 conviction compared to the present (September 2008) where PCCB have 137 convictions.► 1995 – 1 Conviction. ► 2002 – 12 Convictions. ► 1996 – 2 Convictions. ► 2003 – 9 Convictions.► 1997 – 1 Conviction. ► 2004 – 6 Convictions.► 1998 – 2 Convictions. ► 2005 – 6 Convictions.► 1999 – 9 Convictions. ► 2006 – 18 Convictions.► 2000 – 6 Convictions. ► 2007 – 35 Convictions.► 2001 – 0 Conviction. ► 2008 (September) – 30 Convictions.

Administrative action taken against public servants proven to be inclined to take bribes and other corrupt behavior – 847 civil servants dismissed.

Money recovered by PCCB’s operations from 1995 to March 2008 is to the tune of Tshs. 68.8 Billion.

Conclusion

Support the GoT to restore integrity systems that will improve the quality of socio-economic delivery system which in turn will reduce poverty level in the country.

NACSAP II is registering a lot of success particularly involvement of all stakeholders in prevention of corruption (civil society, private sector, media and MDAs).

Financial support to continue the success story is imperative.

Probity, self reliance and financial discipline is the answer to GBS.