Gambo accuses Arusha City Council of misusing Sh4 billion

Dar es Salaam. Arusha Urban legislator Mrisho Gambo yesterday accused Arusha City Council of embezzlement and mismanagement of Sh3.89 billion in public funds.

The legislator made the accusations in Parliament when debating the President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG)’s budget.

While debating the Sh9.144 trillion budget, Mr Gambo said about Sh2 billion was used for the procurement of commodities that lacked evidence and supporting explanation, noting that another Sh132 million was used without supporting documents.

“The expenditure of Sh62 million that was allocated for travelling allowances and imprest has signs of embezzlement,” he told the august House.

Mr Gambo, who is a former Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), said the procurement of items and services worth Sh12.8 million was done through a note submitted by an individual who denied involvement when questioned.

Furthermore, he said the city council made a Sh36.58 million payment to contractors without providing any service.

“There was a payment of Sh699.95 million made using fake EFD (Electronic Fiscal Device) receipts,” he added. He unveiled irregularities in the construction of a six-story administration block, saying the contractor was given the job without following the tendering process.

According to him, the city council violated the procurement process and the provision of a Sh199.7 million worth of contract.

“Moreover, the city council has procured Sh132 million worth of equipment that has not been confirmed to have arrived at the project site. About 6.48 tonnes of iron rods worth Sh17 million were added due to the negligence of council experts,” he said. “Sh21 million in charges have been increased by technicians due to the negligence of our experts, and that project has commenced without contracting the project’s consultant,” he added.

While debating the PO-RALG budget, Special Seats lawmaker Zainab Katimba said there was a need to deploy well-connected Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems in the councils to control misuse of public funds.

“I commend the government for introducing the 10 percent Loan Management System, which is used by councils in the disbursement of funds to women, youth, and people with disabilities. It has been useful despite existing challenges,” she said.

“Since the president has directed the funds to be disbursed by financial institutions, my opinion is that no single cent from the fund should be used for payment of management fees or commissions to service providers in order to ensure the sustainability of the fund,” she added.

Furthermore, she proposed the provision of capacity-building training, technical assistance, and mentorship to beneficiaries in order to assure their sustainability and the realisation of multiplier effects.

For her part, the Segerea Constituency legislator, Ms Bonnah Kamoli, urged the PO-RALG to address the challenge of teachers’ unpaid leave, noting that there were over 150 teachers pursuing their leave benefits in her constituency since 2015.

“I commend Tarura (the Rural and Urban Roads Agency) for the good job. However, Turura’s budget should be increased to enable them to execute most of their projects,” she said.