Tanzania's anti-corruption bureau recovers over Sh30 billion in major investigations

Dar es Salaam. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has successfully recovered Sh30.19 billion through its rigorous investigations and anti-corruption operations.

This achievement was highlighted in the performance report for the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) for the 2023/24 fiscal year, which was presented on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

According to the report, one of the major cases involved the recovery of Sh6.6 billion related to loans that were not repaid by Amboni Sisal Properties Limited.

The loan was disbursed by the TIB Development Bank without following the necessary financial criteria.

“This breach led to significant financial losses, and the Bureau took swift action to ensure the recovery of these funds,” he said.

Further investigations revealed that a total of Sh6.8 billion in taxes collected in markets and auction sites in Dar es Salaam City was never deposited into the bank as required.

Instead, the funds were redirected into the City’s main account.

"These funds were meant to be in the bank but were diverted for improper purposes," said the PCCB Director-General, Mr Crispin Chalamila.

The Bureau also followed up on development projects within the municipalities across the country, recovering Sh3.16 billion.

Of this amount, Sh1.12 billion was returned directly to the Municipalities’ accounts, while Sh2.04 billion was recovered in the form of equipment that had been misallocated or diverted from the intended projects.

The PCCB also uncovered tax evasion worth Sh2.4 billion, where several traders had failed to pay taxes.

“This included Sh281.44 million in withholding taxes that were not paid by various business operators in Kigoma,” he said.

Additionally, Sh2.15 billion was recovered from cases of withholding tax evasion.

Throughout the fiscal year, the Bureau successfully completed investigations into 728 cases, leading to legal action in multiple cases.

Among these were 17 high-profile corruption cases involving amounts exceeding Sh1 billion.

One such investigation focused on the leasing contract for the Ngorongoro Tourism Centre, valued at Sh7.96 billion.

"The suspects were found guilty of leasing the property to a client at a rate lower than the operational plan specified, without obtaining approval from the board of directors," said Mr Chalamila.

In the financial sector, the Bureau uncovered Sh6.55 billion worth of corruption, money laundering and fraudulent transaction activities within commercial banks.

"These illegal activities directly harm the integrity of our financial institutions, and we are determined to prosecute those involved," he remarked.

 “The Bureau also investigated mobile banking transactions, revealing money laundering schemes involving prepaid cards and other unauthorized services,” he said.

The PCCB further investigated the construction of the Kijichi-Toangoma Bridge and the Mwanamtoti Road in Kigamboni, which led to the discovery of Sh2.89 billion in financial mismanagement and corruption.

"It’s vital that funds allocated for public infrastructure are used properly. We will continue to hold those responsible accountable," he affirmed.

In the case of NatGroup Limited, a company that manipulated a Sh2.3 billion credit bond to fraudulently obtain fuel on credit from United Petroleum Limited, the Bureau’s investigation led to further legal action.

Additionally, Sh2.01 billion was recovered in a case involving the illegal procurement of electrical supplies at Tanesco’s Mwanza warehouse.

The Bureau also investigated financial misconduct resulting in the mismanagement of Sh4.46 billion in government revenue collected through Point of Sale (PoS) machines.

“This investigation resulted in the filing of 281 cases, with 73 cases brought before the courts. The judicial outcomes have been promising, with 334 cases out of 440 resulting in convictions, representing a 76 percent conviction rate, a notable increase from last year’s rate of 67.7 percent,” he said.

Among the challenges faced by the Bureau in addressing financial misconduct, Mr Chalamila cited the lack of strict oversight in some local councils, which has led to recurring issues of financial mismanagement.

"There has been inadequate monitoring to ensure that the revenue collected is deposited into bank accounts, and some officials have colluded with tax collectors to embezzle funds. Strengthening oversight at the local level is crucial to curbing this problem," he said.

In land management, the Bureau completed 21 investigations related to corruption in land ownership, and 21 cases were subsequently filed in court. Ten of these cases were specifically related to Dodoma City.

The total number of cases handled by the PCCB during this period amounted to 978, including 462 new cases and 516 carried over from previous years.

Of the new cases, five were submitted to the High Court’s Division of Economic Crimes, while 457 were filed in district and magistrate courts.

“The Bureau’s dedication to fighting corruption has yielded impressive results, with a substantial number of successful prosecutions and recovered funds,” he said.