TGNP outlines its preferred budget

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Gender Network Programme (TGNP) is asking the government to come up with a budget that will focus on gender equality.

The government should also take action against people who were implicated in the Controller Audit General (CAG) report for the misuse of government funds.

“It is time to have a gender-focused budget, and it is essential to ensure taxpayer’s money is utilized accordingly so that it could uplift people’s lives,” TGNP executive director Ms Lilian Liundi said yesterday. She was speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting to present their views on what they expect in this year’s budget, scheduled to be tabled in June.

According to her, TGNP expects to see a budget that will create an enabling environment for girls to return to school after interrupting their studies for various reasons, including pregnancy.

“That is why we recommend a budget with a gender focus. We also call for accountability and transparency. It is important to know where the money goes, how it is utilized, its progress, and how it changes the lives of beneficiaries,” she said.

She said the CAG report shows that there are some areas with loopholes and that some groups and individuals have failed to manage taxpayers’ money properly. That, she said, was why the money has continued to be misused.”

“We ask the government to take action against people who were implicated in the misuse of taxpayers’ funds. We cannot let ordinary Tanzanians suffer and continue to be poor because of some people. Something must be done,” she said.

A representative from Africa Youth Transformation, Arafat Lesheve, urged people to question and ensure that what was stated in the CAG report does not happen again.

“Loans for youth are an area where many people benefit, so it is good to have good monitoring and accountability to reduce losses of money,” he said.