Brela’s plea for firms on integrity

Dar es Salaam. The government wants to see private companies and institutions signing integrity pledges forms with zeal and dedication.

The chief executive officer for the Business Registration and Licensing Agency (Brela), Mr Frank Kanyusi, said yesterday that the signing of the forms ought to have started in August, last year, when the implementation of the government directive was launched by President Jakaya Kikwete.

After the launch, Mr Kanyusi (on behalf of the government) and Mr Ali Mfuruki (on behalf of the private sector) signed an agreement regarding implementation of the move that seeks to comprehensively combat corruption and cultivate an ethical culture for the private sector and the public at large.

Without revealing the number of companies that have signed so far, he said the government would like to see firms sign enthusiastically the integrity pledge forms to promote decent business practice in Tanzania.

To make the exercise trouble-free, he explained, forms in Kiswahili and English can be downloaded from Ethics Secretariat’s website www.ethicssecretariat.go.tz

Heads of private firms will sign the forms and present them to BRELA in order to be signed by the BRELA CEO on behalf of the government.

Mr Kanyusi also called on all companies to submit annual returns and audited accounts to the registrar of companies are required by law.

He also called on owners of industries to abide by the National Industries (Licensing and Registration) Act, Chapter 46, explaining that government has learnt that some industries had no licences and were doing illegal business.

He hinted that a check would do see whether or not all industries were complying with the law.