Kikwete Warns Civil Servants

JK anampigia mbuzi gitaa? Je hili haliwahusu TBS?.. au nyimbo nyingi utendaji mdogo ?

Kikwete warns civil servants

2007-04-16 09:23:10
By Guardian Reporter

President Jakaya Kikwete has said that time has come for irresponsible and dishonest public officials to be held accountable.

A State House press statement issued in Dodoma says he sounded this yesterday when he opened a crucial meeting of top government officers in Dodoma, which was called to discuss the just-released Comptroller and Auditor General`s report.

The meeting, which President Kikwete chaired, was attended by ministers and their deputies as well as permanent secretaries.

It was called to discuss the CAG`s report for the financial year 2005/06, which was tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday last week.

The report generally points to misuse of public funds in the central and local governments, with a total of 1,299,696,563/- having been spent without proper documentation.

�We know there are laws to deal with irresponsible civil servants�time has come for those responsible to be held accountable,� said Kikwete.

The President said he expected that future financial reports would improve after having lengthy discussions with senior officers from both the local and central government.

�I don`t expect that future reports would be the same, taking into account these discussions, strategies that were developed to correct mistakes and targets that have been set,� he said.

�If one repeats the mistakes, we will tell them to find another job,� he added.

The crucial meeting was convened to discuss serious weaknesses detected by the Controller and Auditor General Report.

It was attended by Vice President Ali Mohammed Sheni, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Speaker of the National Assembly Samwel Sitta.

�There are shortfalls amongst accountants, auditors, government leaders. These bad reports are pointing a finger at us in the government,� said Kikwete as he opened the meeting.

The meeting agreed to rectify the spotted weaknesses, as the President tasked government bureaucrats to instill financial discipline.

�Tanzanians want to see development achieved with this money. This is a government; you cannot use the money anyhow. It must be accounted for,� said Kikwete.

He tasked ministers and heads of departments, regional and district council leaders to take serious action against misuse of public funds and related acts in their offices.

Presenting his paper, Controller and Auditor General, thanked the President for convening the meeting.

• SOURCE: Guardian