Killagane Commends President Magufuli’s Pragmatic Efforts in Fostering Industrialization Drive in th

Chairman of WAJIBU’s Board of Directors Mr. Yona Killagane, applauds the efforts of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. John Pombe Magufuli of ensuring that, industrialization is the backbone of our economic development by setting it as the main agenda of his government.

Speaking during the launching of WAJIBU’s 3rd Accountability Reports for the year 2017/18 on 28th June, 2019 at Morena Hotel in Dodoma, Mr. Killagane who was the Chief Guest of the event said that, to ensure the industrialization drive attains its goal, Hon. President Magufuli has consolidated its implementation by strengthening ethics and good governance in the operations of the public sector.

“As we all know, the main objective of the industrialization agenda is to foster an environment that supports small entrepreneurs to own industries which will significantly enhance government revenues leading to improved government’s capacity to provide better social services to the citizens” said Mr. Killagane.

Participants in a group photo during the launching of the accountability reports on 28th June, 2019 at Morena Hotel Dodoma

He added that, the Oversight Institution’s reports in particular the CAG’s reports have been a reliable source used by both government and citizens to understand whether public resources are effectively and efficiently collected and used to benefit all citizens.

In this regard therefore, it is necessary for the citizens to understand the CAG’s reports in order to hold those charged with management of public resources accountable.

The launched Accountability Reports are developed annually by WAJIBU in collaboration with GIZ – GFG programme and they are literally simplified and user friendly versions of the CAG’s reports which are issued every year.

For the year 2017/18, contrary with the previous years, WAJIBU developed three simplified accountability reports unlike the four reports produced in previous years. The three reports are; i) Accountability Report on Central Government and Public Authorities ii) Accountability Report on Local Government Authorities and Development Projects and iii) Accountability Report on Performance Audit and Red Flags of Corruptive and Fraudulent issues raised in the CAG’s Annual Audit reports 2017/18.

The message contained in the accountability reports will reach a wider audience of ordinary citizens through local CSOs dealing with accountability issues in the country. These reports are also disseminated to all the 185 Local Government Authorities through WAJIBU’s participation in the ALAT Annual General Meeting which is attended by all Mayors/Chairmen and Executive Directors of all the LGA’s in the country.

Mr. Killagane argued all LGAs in the country to emulate the example of Dodoma City Council which requested WAJIBU to train its Finance and Administration and Audit Committees. From the training, it was wisely resolved by the members of the two oversight committees that the discussion on issues raised in the CAG’s Report should be made a permanent Agenda in all Council meetings.

Prof. Mussa Assad talking to participants during the launching of accountability report on 28th June, 2019 at Morena Hotel Dodoma

On his side, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Prof. Mussa Assad who was present in the event, commended WAJIBU for its efforts in supporting his office in enhancing the implementation of his recommendations.

In explaining the concept of accountability, Prof. Assad said that, it is the situation whereby duty bearers entrusted with the collection and use of public resources are required to account themselves to the owners of these resources who are the citizens through their oversight institutions.

In order for this objective to be realized, the country needs strong, robust and independent oversight institutions. “These institutions have the duty of making things visible which otherwise would not be easily made visible by the duty bearers. Therefore it is very important to have both state oversight and watchdog institutions” said Prof Assad.

Earlier in the opening of the event, the Executive Director of WAJIBU Mr. Ludovick Utouh said that in the preparation of the accountability reports, WAJIBU picks the high public interest issues reported in the CAGs reports that touch on the day to day of the lives of the ordinary citizens.

“WAJIBU in analyzing these high public interest issues gives their effects to the ordinary citizens and concludes by proposing what should be done as a way of remedying the situation” said Mr. Utouh.

Mr. Utouh said that, the Public Audit Act No. 11 of 2008, has given the CAG the legal mandate to give out his recommendations as a way of improving public financial management in the country.

For these recommendations to have meaningful impact to the society and economy of the country, they should be fully implemented by duty bearers charged with this responsibility. Therefore, it is high time for the government to put much emphasis on the implementation of the recommendations issued by the CAG and other oversight Institutions as means of ensuring enhancement of accountability in the collection and use of public resources in the country.