PCCB saves 39.3m/- in projects inspection

THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Kagera Region has saved 39.3m/- that could have been lost through wrong payments made to a contractor undertaking construction of a parking lot project in Bukoba Municipal’s Ibura location.

The money was saved through the inspection of 31 projects worth 8.946bn/- conducted   between April and June this year.

Kagera Regional PCCB Chief Ms Pilly Mwakasege told reporters yesterday at her office that the money  was  refunded to  the government coffers.

She explained that PCCB was also tasked to make follow-up on seven other projects worth about 705.4m/- upon completion and recommended how the implementation of the projects could be improved.

Ms Mwakasege revealed that during the said period, about 115 cases were recorded of which 20 cases were related to corruption. Investigation on 12 cases had already been completed. The cases were at different levels while eight cases were still under investigation.

Elaborating, she said of the 115 cases recorded,  24 cases were for  councils, Treasury (3), education (12), health (10), Judiciary (3), Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) (5), water (7), community development (7),  WEOs and VEOs (4) while 18 cases were for individuals.

She explained that 10 cases were filed in court, bringing the total of cases pending in court to 39. Ten other cases had already been determined where the republic emerged winner.

Ms Mwakasege further explained that officers under the institution were also conducting investigation on various projects to ensure value for money.

She cited the ongoing project involving the construction of a two-in one teachers’ house in Muleba district’s Ruhendo secondary school at a cost of 70m/-. The project was lacking proper supervision of engineers from the council and officials had been advised to rectify the mistake, she said.

As for a project involving construction of classrooms at Rumanyika Primary School in Karagwe District to cost a total of 156.3m/-, it was revealed that the school committee received construction materials that lacked EFD receipts, contrary to financial regulations, she said.

Also, about 40m/- was paid to a contractor undertaking a project for construction of two classrooms at Bukoba DC’s Karamagi secondary school, but the contractor was yet to deliver building materials. These also contravened financial regulations, she said.