By John Njoroje, Nairobi
President John Magufuli’s high strides and performance has made Tanzania to scoop the first position in Africa against corruption in two different categories, the findings from 2019 Transparency International and Afro- Barometer report has revealed.
The survey conducted among 47,000 people between September 2017 and September 2018 in 35 African countries using face to face nationality representative interviews found that about 70 percent of Tanzanians were satisfied with measures taken by the government to tackle corruption in the country.Tanzania scooped highest trust that its 34 other peers.
The main question asked in the survey was: What did people think about the state of corruption in their country – how prevalent it is, whether it is rising or declining and whether their government is doing enough to control it.
The survey also indicated that 50% of Tanzanians find that while there are some barriers to such anti-corruption efforts in the country, many Tanzanians are ready and willing to take action against corruption misconducts.
In another development, the survey ranked the President’s/ Prime Ministers offices the most trusted in Africa, only 4%, lowest ever, believed the two would be involved in corruption.
Last year, The Transparency International ranked Tanzania the second country in East Africa after Rwanda in the war against corruption. This survey shows Tanzania has over taken Rwanda.
The 2018 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) put Tanzania at an average score of 36 points behind Rwanda which has scored 56 points. Other East African countries with their scores in brackets are as follows: Uganda (26), Burundi (17), and Congo (19)
Tanzania which is placed 99th out of 180 countries in the 2018 Transparency International corruption index has improved due to efforts made by President John Magufuli who has earned himself credibility and fame, both in and outside Tanzania, for his fight against corruption.
It should be noted Tanzania was ranked among the top 20 countries in Africa with the worst corruption and was also placed 117th out of 168 countries in Transparency International’s 2015 Corruption Index when President Magufuli was assuming power.
Since assuming power in 2015 President Magufuli has swept away the country's reputation for endemic corruption and poor public services.
For example, he fired six senior officials in the Tanzania Revenue Authority, including Commissioner General, Rashid Bade, because of rampant coreuption in the Authority.
He also suspended the Director General of the Tanzania Ports Authority, Ephraim Mgawe, over a scandal involving the non-payment of $40 million (35,1 million euros) in import taxes.
Magufuli also sacked Edward Hoseah, the long-serving Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), due to the slow pace of the fight against graft.
If this is not enough President Magufuli and his government have decided to establish the Independent Office of Taxpayers Ombudsman effectively from this financial year that will operate under the arm of the Ministry of Finance and Planning to resolve business communities complains against Tanzania’s Revenue Authority (TRA).
Specifically, the ombudsman office will receive complains from the public and taxpayers about TRA corrupt officials and punish them severely according to the law. Moreover, the office will also receive complains about the excessive use of force by TRA officials to taxpayers in revenues collection.
Moreover, the office will receive complaints about unjust and non- genuine tax estimates conducted by TRA officials from taxpayers against the revenue authority regulations and policies.
In its three years the administration has also installed the economoc crimes court that also tries graft cases, among its strategies to end the malady.
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