Magufuli lauded for anti-graft drive

Arusha. The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) has commended President John Magufuli for his efforts to fight corruption, but called on his administration to implement audit reports recommendations.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 12th Annual Internal Audit Conference in Arusha at the end of last week, Mr Juma Kimori, the vice president of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Tanzania, commended the President for his administration’s anti-corruption drive.

The conference, which carried the theme: Protect, Influence and Change, brought together internal auditors, board and audit committee members, parliamentary oversight committee members, chief executive officers, from East Africa member states. “We are pleased with what President Magufuli is doing in the fight against corruption. However, we advise that he should implement all recommendations of audit reports,” said Mr Kimori.

Participants of the meeting also commended the efforts of other EAC member states in stemming the tide of graft. Mr Gilber Ouko, the director of Thomson Reuters (GRC) Incorporation for East Africa, said the Kenyan government had also started working on the Controller and Auditor General’s reports to ensure taxpayers’ money was properly spent.

“We have of late seen officials arraigned based on the reports,” he said. The risk management expert, however, said internal auditors in the region were in need of regular training for them to cope with the advent of new technologies such as crypto currency and artificial intelligence.

The Zanzibar Internal Auditor General, Mr Rashid Mohamed Kassim, said Zanzibar was currently assessing the performance of providing education free of charge in a bid to advice the government on the policy.

The TPB Bank chairman, Dr Edmund Mndolwa, concurred with him, saying audit committees should replace boards for them to thoroughly track the performance of private firms as well as of parastatals round the clock.