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Tanzania's anti-graft watchdog launches hotline for reporting corruption

Xinhua, May 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Tanzania's anti-corruption watchdog, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), on Tuesday launched a new hotline for reporting corruption incidents.

The hotline 113 dubbed in Kiswahili Longa Nasi loosely translated into "Talk to Us" will enable members of the public to report corruption related incidents directly to the PCCB using all the country's mobile phone networks.

The hotline was launched by the east African nation's Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan who said the government was losing billions of shillings through bribe solicited by unscrupulous officials in municipal authorities across the country.

"Corrupt officials in municipalities solicit bribes during collection of property tax, advertisement levies and business licensing processes," she said.

Samia urged the public to effectively collaborate with the PCCB through better use of the hotline to expose corruption deals in their respective areas.

Valentino Mlowola, PCCB Director General, said from January to March this year, the anti-corruption watchdog has saved TSh10.3 billion (about 5.2 million U.S. dollars) which was likely to fall in the hands of fraudulent individuals from 21 fraud attempts made.

He said 230 projects were inspected by the PCCB to ensure taxpayer's money was properly spent to benefit the general public.

"During that period, we managed to receive information on 2,239 corruption complaints of which 133 cases have been filed in courts. We have also given education on corruption matters to 1,184 people," he said.

Mlowola said the PCCB also played a major role in uncovering crooked sugar businessmen who hoarded the commodity in various parts of the country, a move that skyrocketed prices of the commodity.

Angellah Kairuki, the Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration, Local Government, Civil Service and Good Governance, said the government's resolve to establish special courts for prosecuting corruption cases will become operational in July this year. Endit