We are losing the battle against corruption--TI

Director-general of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Dr Edward Hose

Dar es Salaam/ Dodoma.Tanzania has dropped nine places in Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index – from 102 last year to 111 this year. The country scored 33 out of 100 in the organisation’s 2013 index released yesterday, two per cent down from last year.

The index ranks 177 countries by perceived levels of public sector corruption and draws on 13 surveys covering expert assessments and views of businesspeople.

Botswana maintained its global position at number 30, making it the least corrupt in Africa. Rwanda climbed from 50 last year to 49 this year. At 111, Tanzania is the second least corrupt country after Rwanda. It is followed by Kenya at 136, Uganda 140 and Burundi 157.

Transparency International declared: “From children denied an education, to elections decided by money not votes, public sector corruption comes in many forms. Bribes and back-room deals don’t just steal resources from the most vulnerable. They undermine justice and economic development and destroy public trust in leaders.”

According to the organisation, the 2013 index paints an alarming picture since more than two-thirds of the countries, including Tanzania, score less than 50 per cent.

All parliamentarians The Citizen spoke with conceded that the government has not been serious enough in combating graft.

Ubungo MP (Chadema) John Mnyika said the report comes at a time Parliament is set to discuss the Controller and Auditor-General’s (CAG) report, which has been significant in pinpointing loopholes for embezzlement in government expenditure. “This transparency report will help build our arguments on public corruption and embezzlement of funds paid by our taxpayers,” he said.

But he criticised the group for not identifying why Tanzania and other countries dropped in the list and what the least corrupt countries had done to overcome the problem.

“As far as Tanzania is concerned, I think the culture of government big shots protecting corrupt people is the one that is bringing this country to its knees,” he added. “A number of public officials have been named in lists of shames but nothing tangible has been done.”

Mr Moses Machali of Kasulu Urban (NCCR-Mageuzi), argued that the goverment is weak and unable to address corruption. He added: “Our leaders are not serious about the problem. There are many top officials who are accused of corruption but the government is not taking action. We should consider being ranked 111 a big favour. The real situation on the ground is bad.”

For the government to address corruption, the MP said, there must be people who can take action against those who break the law.

Muleba North’s Charles Mwijage (CCM) had this to say: “We need to understand that we have a problem. We must admit this problem. The number we are ranked does not matter. We can even be number 200. What is important here is that we have a problem and we must keep fighting it.”