Tendwa decries cheats in poll expenses returns

[BAK]

Tendwa decries cheats in poll expenses returns

By Dominic Nkolimwa

14th January 2011

Registrar John Tendwa


With only three weeks left before the Registrar of Political Parties closes his books on election expenses returns, he has rejected some of the declarations for containing grossly exaggerated figures.
Registrar John Tendwa, said while the number of candidates submitting the forms was impressive, he has had to return some after noting that most of the candidates have exaggerated their expenses.
"Those who have so far submitted the forms to my office have hugely exaggerated the figures …they pretend to have spent a lot of money in the election, a thing I believe is not true," said Tendwa in an exclusive interview with The Guardian this week.

He explained: "I think this is due to ignorance on the part of candidates…they think that if they exaggerate the figures, my office will refund the extra expenses."

Tendwa said a quick scan by his office of the submitted forms showed amounts as high 100m/- where the actual expenditure averaged 50m/-.
"If a candidate spent less money, but put a higher figure in the declaration forms, my office will not approve such a form," he said.

He said apparently some of the candidates mistakenly hoped that they could make a profit from the extra expenses through refund by his office.
The Registrar said most of the candidates "failed to differentiate the words returns and refunds as indicated in the law.

"Many candidates thought that they will be refunded the money spent in the General Election…that's why they decided to exaggerate the figures," Tendwa said.

The Election Expenses Act of 2010, Section 17 (3) states: "The board of trustees of a political party shall, within ninety days after the polling day, render, in respect of every candidate sponsored by such party, to the Registrar true returns in the prescribed form showing expenditure incurred in terms of Subsection (1) and the amount apportioned to each candidate."

The law orders all candidates to make sure that they submit their expenses reports during the General Election to their political parties within sixty days after the election.

Section 18 (1) states: "Any candidate who receives funds as election expenses shall, within sixty days from the polling day, prepare and submit a verified report to the political party which sponsored that candidate in the election."

The Registrar's office is required by the law to submit the forms to the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
All candidates who contested for presidential, parliamentary and council positions are required to submit their declaration forms to the Registrar by the end of this month.

Tendwa said his office was still sorting out who among the presidential candidates had submitted their declaration forms.
Recently, the Registrar said legal action would be taken against parties and individuals failing to submit duly filled declaration forms on their 2010 election expenses by the end of January.

He said there would be no compromise where a party or candidate failed to submit the forms as per the law. The law is clear on political parties and candidates who fail to fulfill this requirement, he said.

Tendwa clarifying said all candidates who contested in the polls, be it at ward, constituency or presidential level; whether they won or lost, are required by the law to submit their returns.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

 

[BAK]

CAG ampa Tendwa miezi sita ruzuku vyama vya siasa
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 08:32

Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) Ludovick Utouh

Ramadhan Semtawa na James Magai
Mwananchi

MKAGUZI na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) Ludovick Utouh, ametoa miezi sita kwa Ofisi ya Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa Tanzania kutoa taarifa za hesabu za matumizi ya ruzuku kwa vyama vya siasa vinginevyo ataichukulia hatua za kisheria.

Onyo hilo la Utouh, limekuja siku chache baada ya ripoti ya ofisi yake inayoishia Juni 30, 2010 kuvianika vyama sita, ambavyo vimetumia Sh17.14 bilioni bila kuwasilisha mahesabu kwa wakati.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi, Dar es Salaam, jana Utouh alisema: "Sitashughulika na vyama, nitashughulika na Ofisi ya Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa. Huwa sishughuliki na ‘individual' (mtu mmoja mmoja)."

Vyama vyenye wawakilishi bungeni na vinavyopata ruzuku ni CCM, CUF, Chadema, NCCR-Mageuzi, TLP na UDP.

Katika hesabu za kawaida kuhusu fedha hizo, chama tawala, CCM kitakuwa kimepata mgawo wa Sh12 bilioni kwa kuwa kinapata asilimia 70.

CUF kinachopata asilimia 20 ya ruzuku kitakuwa kimepata mgawo wa Sh3.43 bilioni, Chadema chenye asilimia nane Sh1.37 bilioni na vyama vitatu vinavyoshikilia asilimia mbili Sh343 milioni.

Utouh alisema kwa mujibu wa utaratibu, baada ya kuanza mchakato wa ukaguzi, wahusika wanapewa siku 180 kwa ajili ya kukamilisha taratibu husika.

"Kwa hiyo baada ya miezi sita, kama hakutakuwa na utekelezaji, kitakachofuata ni taratibu tu za kisheria. Ofisi ya Msajili itapaswa kujieleza kwenye Kamati ya Bunge," alisema.

Alisema kitakachofanyika ni sawa na kinachofanyika sasa kwenye Baraza la Sekretarieti ya Maadili ambako watu waliokaidi taratibu wamekuwa wakiona cha moto.

Utouh alisema hatakuwa na simile kwa chama chochote cha siasa ambacho kitakuwa kimeshindwa kufuata taratibu kwani Sheria ya Matumizi ya Fedha inawabana.

"Sitaogopa chama chochote cha siasa, kitakachofuata ni sheria tu. Lakini ni mapema mno pia kuanza kusema ninapendekeza hatua zipi zichukuliwe kwani muda bado wanao. Naomba tu tuwe wavumulivu," alisisitiza Utouh.

Mbatia: Ripoti iko kwa Msajili
Akizungumzia ripoti hiyo jana, Mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi, James Mbatia alionyesha kuchukizwa kutokana na kile alichokiita kutokuwepo ushirikiano miongoni mwa ofisi za Serikali.

Mbatia alisema chama chake kilikwishawasilisha taarifa zake tangu Januari 4, mwaka huu: "Inakera sana, kuonyesha sisi ni mafisadi tunakula kodi za wananchi."

Kwa mujibu wa mwenyekiti huyo, NCCR-Mageuzi kimekuwa kikiwasilisha taarifa zake za mwaka hata kabla ya kupata ruzuku... "Kama kuna watu wanaokula ruzuku na kufanya ufisadi wasituhusishe na sisi."

Mwenyekiti huyo alisema waliwasilisha taarifa hiyo kwa barua yenye kumbukumbu namba NCCR-M/MM/MS/10/25 iliyosainiwa na Beatus Mpitabakana kwa niaba ya Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho.

Mbatia alisema NCCR pia iliwasilisha fomu namba PP17/ ya Desemba 30, mwaka jana na kuongeza kwamba, katika mwaka huo, fedha zao, ruzuku na michango ya wanachama jumla ilikuwa Sh956 milioni.

Mbatia alisema NCCR-Mageuzi hakijawahi kuacha kuwasilisha taarifa katika ofisi hiyo ya Msajili kama Sheria ya Vyama vya Siasa ya mwaka 1992 inavyoelekeza na kusisitiza: "Aliyemchafu awe mchafu yeye siyo kuchafua na wengine."

Mrema naye amtwisha Tendwa mzigo
Kwa upande wake, Mwenyekiti wa TLP Agustino Mrema, kama ilivyo kwa Mbatia alielezea kukerwa kwake na taarifa hizo za chama chake kushindwa kufuata taratibu za utawala bora na kusema Ofisi ya Msajili ilikalia taarifa yake.

Mrema ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali za Mitaa, alisema walipata barua ya Msajili wa Vyama Septemba Mosi, 2010 ikiwataka kuwasilisha taarifa za mahesabu yao.

Aliongeza kwamba katika barua hiyo, Msajili alikitaka chama hicho kuwasilisha taarifa zake kuanzia mwaka 2006/07, 07/08 na hadi za mwaka jana kitu ambacho walikifanya.

Hata hivyo, alisema walikataa mwongozo wa kuwataka watoe ada kulipa mkaguzi kutoka nje kwani tayari walikuwa na mkataba na kampuni mbili za ukaguzi.

Alisema kutokana na hali hiyo, mnamo Septemba 3, mwaka jana TLP kiliwasilisha barua hiyo ya ufafanuzi kwa Msajili iliyokuwa na taarifa hizo yenye kumbukumbu namba TLP/HQ/F/02 iliyosainiwa na Naibu Katibu Mkuu, Hamad Tao.

"Kwa hiyo sisi tulijua tumeshamaliza kazi. Hatukujua kama hiyo haikuwa sahihi. Sisi hatuna ufisadi ndugu yangu, wapo waliokula tunawajua."

"Tulishakaguliwa na watu binafsi, tuko tayari kwa kila kitu. Kitu ambacho hatukujua ni kama tunampelekea yeye CAG au Msajili. Sisi hatuna ufisadi."

"Sasa hivi (jana mchana) kuna kijana nimemwagiza akachukue ile taarifa yetu kwa Msajili tukae nayo wenyewe tujue kama tunampelekea CAG au la. Maana taarifa ipo siku zote."

Msimamo wa Tendwa
Alipoulizwa kuhusu madai hayo jana, Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa Tanzania, John Tendwa aligoma kuzungumza na licha ya kufuatwa ofisini kwake kama alivyomtaka mwandishi wa gazeti dada la The Citizen, juzi. Tendwa alimtaka mwandishi huyo afike ofisini kwake kwani jambo hilo ni nyeti na asingeweza kulizungumza kwenye simu.

Msajili akiwa nje ofisini kwake, alisisisitiza kuwa hatalizungumzia suala hilo kwa sasa mpaka baada ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka.

"Kwanza si mmeshaandika kwamba nimekataa kuzungumza, mimi nimeyasoma magazeti yenu yote, lakini mimi sikusema hivyo mimi nilichosema ni kwamba aje ofisini nimpe ufafanuzi," alisema Tendwa mara tu baada ya mwandishi wa Mwananchi kujitambulisha, kabla hata ya kumwuliza swali lolote.

"Kwanza ile ripoti ya CAG siyo confidential (siri), ila tu ni kwamba hatukui-publish (chapisha) kwenye gazeti la Serikali, hivyo siwezi kukataa kuizungumzia. Kwani mara ngapi nimekuwa nikiitisha Press Conference (mkutano wa waandishi) hapa? Basi kama unataka sasa nitafute baada ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka," alisema.

 

[Pdidy]

Wednesday, 20 April 2011 08:32 0diggsdigg

Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) Ludovick Utouh

Ramadhan Semtawa na James Magai
MKAGUZI na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) Ludovick Utouh, ametoa miezi sita kwa Ofisi ya Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa Tanzania kutoa taarifa za hesabu za matumizi ya ruzuku kwa vyama vya siasa vinginevyo ataichukulia hatua za kisheria.

Onyo hilo la Utouh, limekuja siku chache baada ya ripoti ya ofisi yake inayoishia Juni 30, 2010 kuvianika vyama sita, ambavyo vimetumia Sh17.14 bilioni bila kuwasilisha mahesabu kwa wakati.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi, Dar es Salaam, jana Utouh alisema: "Sitashughulika na vyama, nitashughulika na Ofisi ya Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa. Huwa sishughuliki na ‘individual’ (mtu mmoja mmoja)."

Vyama vyenye wawakilishi bungeni na vinavyopata ruzuku ni CCM, CUF, Chadema, NCCR-Mageuzi, TLP na UDP.

Katika hesabu za kawaida kuhusu fedha hizo, chama tawala, CCM kitakuwa kimepata mgawo wa Sh12 bilioni kwa kuwa kinapata asilimia 70.

CUF kinachopata asilimia 20 ya ruzuku kitakuwa kimepata mgawo wa Sh3.43 bilioni, Chadema chenye asilimia nane Sh1.37 bilioni na vyama vitatu vinavyoshikilia asilimia mbili Sh343 milioni.

Utouh alisema kwa mujibu wa utaratibu, baada ya kuanza mchakato wa ukaguzi, wahusika wanapewa siku 180 kwa ajili ya kukamilisha taratibu husika.

"Kwa hiyo baada ya miezi sita, kama hakutakuwa na utekelezaji, kitakachofuata ni taratibu tu za kisheria. Ofisi ya Msajili itapaswa kujieleza kwenye Kamati ya Bunge," alisema.

Alisema kitakachofanyika ni sawa na kinachofanyika sasa kwenye Baraza la Sekretarieti ya Maadili ambako watu waliokaidi taratibu wamekuwa wakiona cha moto.

Utouh alisema hatakuwa na simile kwa chama chochote cha siasa ambacho kitakuwa kimeshindwa kufuata taratibu kwani Sheria ya Matumizi ya Fedha inawabana.

"Sitaogopa chama chochote cha siasa, kitakachofuata ni sheria tu. Lakini ni mapema mno pia kuanza kusema ninapendekeza hatua zipi zichukuliwe kwani muda bado wanao. Naomba tu tuwe wavumulivu," alisisitiza Utouh.

Mbatia: Ripoti iko kwa Msajili
Akizungumzia ripoti hiyo jana, Mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi, James Mbatia alionyesha kuchukizwa kutokana na kile alichokiita kutokuwepo ushirikiano miongoni mwa ofisi za Serikali.

Mbatia alisema chama chake kilikwishawasilisha taarifa zake tangu Januari 4, mwaka huu: “Inakera sana, kuonyesha sisi ni mafisadi tunakula kodi za wananchi."

Kwa mujibu wa mwenyekiti huyo, NCCR-Mageuzi kimekuwa kikiwasilisha taarifa zake za mwaka hata kabla ya kupata ruzuku... "Kama kuna watu wanaokula ruzuku na kufanya ufisadi wasituhusishe na sisi."

Mwenyekiti huyo alisema waliwasilisha taarifa hiyo kwa barua yenye kumbukumbu namba NCCR-M/MM/MS/10/25 iliyosainiwa na Beatus Mpitabakana kwa niaba ya Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho.

Mbatia alisema NCCR pia iliwasilisha fomu namba PP17/ ya Desemba 30, mwaka jana na kuongeza kwamba, katika mwaka huo, fedha zao, ruzuku na michango ya wanachama jumla ilikuwa Sh956 milioni.

Mbatia alisema NCCR-Mageuzi hakijawahi kuacha kuwasilisha taarifa katika ofisi hiyo ya Msajili kama Sheria ya Vyama vya Siasa ya mwaka 1992 inavyoelekeza na kusisitiza: "Aliyemchafu awe mchafu yeye siyo kuchafua na wengine."

Mrema naye amtwisha Tendwa mzigo
Kwa upande wake, Mwenyekiti wa TLP Agustino Mrema, kama ilivyo kwa Mbatia alielezea kukerwa kwake na taarifa hizo za chama chake kushindwa kufuata taratibu za utawala bora na kusema Ofisi ya Msajili ilikalia taarifa yake.

Mrema ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali za Mitaa, alisema walipata barua ya Msajili wa Vyama Septemba Mosi, 2010 ikiwataka kuwasilisha taarifa za mahesabu yao.

Aliongeza kwamba katika barua hiyo, Msajili alikitaka chama hicho kuwasilisha taarifa zake kuanzia mwaka 2006/07, 07/08 na hadi za mwaka jana kitu ambacho walikifanya.

Hata hivyo, alisema walikataa mwongozo wa kuwataka watoe ada kulipa mkaguzi kutoka nje kwani tayari walikuwa na mkataba na kampuni mbili za ukaguzi.

Alisema kutokana na hali hiyo, mnamo Septemba 3, mwaka jana TLP kiliwasilisha barua hiyo ya ufafanuzi kwa Msajili iliyokuwa na taarifa hizo yenye kumbukumbu namba TLP/HQ/F/02 iliyosainiwa na Naibu Katibu Mkuu, Hamad Tao.

"Kwa hiyo sisi tulijua tumeshamaliza kazi. Hatukujua kama hiyo haikuwa sahihi. Sisi hatuna ufisadi ndugu yangu, wapo waliokula tunawajua."

"Tulishakaguliwa na watu binafsi, tuko tayari kwa kila kitu. Kitu ambacho hatukujua ni kama tunampelekea yeye CAG au Msajili. Sisi hatuna ufisadi."

"Sasa hivi (jana mchana) kuna kijana nimemwagiza akachukue ile taarifa yetu kwa Msajili tukae nayo wenyewe tujue kama tunampelekea CAG au la. Maana taarifa ipo siku zote."

Msimamo wa Tendwa
Alipoulizwa kuhusu madai hayo jana, Msajili wa Vyama vya Siasa Tanzania, John Tendwa aligoma kuzungumza na licha ya kufuatwa ofisini kwake kama alivyomtaka mwandishi wa gazeti dada la The Citizen, juzi. Tendwa alimtaka mwandishi huyo afike ofisini kwake kwani jambo hilo ni nyeti na asingeweza kulizungumza kwenye simu.

Msajili akiwa nje ofisini kwake, alisisisitiza kuwa hatalizungumzia suala hilo kwa sasa mpaka baada ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka.

“Kwanza si mmeshaandika kwamba nimekataa kuzungumza, mimi nimeyasoma magazeti yenu yote, lakini mimi sikusema hivyo mimi nilichosema ni kwamba aje ofisini nimpe ufafanuzi,” alisema Tendwa mara tu baada ya mwandishi wa Mwananchi kujitambulisha, kabla hata ya kumwuliza swali lolote.

“Kwanza ile ripoti ya CAG siyo confidential (siri), ila tu ni kwamba hatukui-publish (chapisha) kwenye gazeti la Serikali, hivyo siwezi kukataa kuizungumzia. Kwani mara ngapi nimekuwa nikiitisha Press Conference (mkutano wa waandishi) hapa? Basi kama unataka sasa nitafute baada ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka,” alisema.

 

[nngu007]

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 19:25 newsroom


* Zitto, Mbowe bado wasigana
* Shibuda naye awekwa kiporo

NA MWANDISHI WETU

VUGUVUGU la Uchaguzi wa Baraza la Vijana la Chadema (Bavicha) na ruzuku kutoka serikali, vimeibua mvutano mkubwa baina ya baadhi ya viongozi wa chama hicho. Pia, tofauti ya mtazamo na uendeshaji wa chama baina ya Naibu Katibu Mkuu (Bara), Zitto Kabwe na Mwenyekiti wa Taifa, Freeman Mbowe, zimeongeza mpasuko na makundi ndani ya chama hicho.

Habari za kuamini ndani ya Chadema zimedai Mbowe amekuwa katika jitihada za kuhakikisha anakuwa na mtandao mkubwa unaomuunga mkono ndani ya Kamati Kuu. Hatua hiyo inalenga kumwezesha kuamua mambo mbalimbali bila kuwashirikisha viongozi wengine, hasa wale ambao hawapo katika mtandao wake.
Imeelezwa kuwa mvutano wa sasa baina ya Mbowe na Zitto, unatokana na matumizi ya fedha za ruzuku kutoka serikalini pamoja na nani awe Mwenyekiti wa Bavicha. “Mbowe anataka kuamua mambo mazito bila kuwahusisha wenzake na hilo amekuwa akilifanya kwa kuungwa mkono na watu wa ngome yake. Zitto hataki namna chama kinavyoendeshwa, hivyo kuibuka msuguano mkubwa,” kilisema chanzo chetu.Pia, hali imekuwa mbaya zaidi baada ya kile kilichodaiwa mamilioni ya shilingi yametumika kununua magari chakavu na uamuzi huo ulifikiwa na watu wachache.

Chanzo hicho kimeeleza kuwa hata maamuzi ya kuwaengua katika nafasi za uongozi wanachama wake, unatokana na maamuzi binafsi.

Hivi karibuni uongozi wa Chadema ulitengua nafasi ya John Shibuda kuwa Makamu Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho mkoani Shinyanga.

Hata hivyo, chanzo hicho kimeeleza kuwa kuenguliwa kwa Shibuda kumetokana na msimamo wake wa kutokubali kuyumbishwa.

“Shibuda hatakiwi pale kwa madai ni pandikizi, lakini ukweli ni kwamba, Mbowe anamuhofia kwa misimamo yake na kutokuwa mtu wa kuyumbishwa,” kiliongeza.
Mvutano mwingine unaokiweka chama hicho njiapanda, unatokana na uchaguzi wa Mwenyekiti wa Bavicha, ambapo inadaiwa tayari kuna mwanachama kutoka kambi ya Mbowe ameandaliwa kuchukua wadhifa huo.

Uchaguzi huo unatarajiwa kufanyika Mei 28, mwaka huu, ambapo mgombea mmoja aliyeshindwa katika uchaguzi uliokuwa na utata, ameandaliwa mazingira ya kushinda.
Kuandaliwa mazingira kwa mgombea huyo kunatoa nafasi kwa Mbowe kuongeza mtandao wake ndani ya Kamati Kuu ya Chadema, jambo ambalo baadhi ya viongozi wengine hawalitaki litokee.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mjini Dar es Salaam, jana, Mbowe alisema maamuzi ya kutengua nafasi ya Shibuda, yamefanywa kihalali na vikao husika vya chama.

“Wajumbe tuliona ilikuwa ni haraka kutoa nafasi hiyo, hivyo tunasitisha kwa muda nafasi hiyo hadi hapo maamuzi mengine yatakapoamuliwa,’’ alisema Mbowe
Kwa upande wake Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, Dk. Willbrod Slaa, akizungumzia madai ya manunuzi ya vifaa mbalimbali vya chama, alisema yalipitishwa kihalali na Baraza Kuu la Chadema.

Dk. Slaa alisema kuwa Baraza Kuu liliketi mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita na kufikia maamuzi hayo na kukanusha kuwa ni maamuzi ya watu wachache.

 

[nngu007]

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 23:18

The Citizen Reporters

Dar es Salaam. The Registrar of Political Parties yesterday directed parties to submit reports on subsidy extended in 2009/10 and their expenditure in the run-up to last year’s General Election by June 30.Mr John Tendwa told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that his office had received communication from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) asking him to submit political parties’ financial statements within six months from the date the CAG released his latest report last month.

He said the CAG had no power to directly audit political parties’ accounts because they were not state entities, but could scrutinise them after receiving documents from the Registrar’s office.“It should be noted that the CAG has no mandate to directly query political parties about the subsidy they get from the government…he gets all the documents from my office,” Mr Tendwa said.

He said reports of alleged embezzlement of funds by parties and his office that appeared in some newspapers were misleading because his office had not yet submitted official documents to the CAG’s office.
The Election Expenses Act of 2010 also required political parties and candidates in last year’s General Election to detail their expenditure before the polls, Mr Tendwa added.

Commenting on his office’s failure to submit relevant records to the CAG before the release of the 2009/10 audit report, Mr Tendwa said he had been impeded by the lack of guidelines meant to facilitate enforcement of the new law.
He said the CAG was supposed to audit political parties at a time when election campaigns had already begun, prompting many parties to ask for more time to prepare their reports.

“I could not submit the documents to the CAG because there were no rules to guide the process, and this delayed the exercise. However, this does not mean that money meant for political parties has been misused by either the parties themselves or my office.”

Mr Tendwa said both his and the CAG’s offices had agreed on the process, and parties were required to submit their statements to his office by June 30, adding that only NCCR-Mageuzi had done so by yesterday.Parties that participated in last year’s elections, but which had not yet handed in their reports were CCM, Chadema, CUF, United Democratic Party (UDP), African Progressive Party of Tanzania-Maendeleo (APPT-Maendeleo) and United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP).

Meanwhile, Chadema yesterday revealed the amount and sources of money it spent in the run-up to the elections, and challenged other parties to follow suit.Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe told a news conference that the party spent Sh1,326,417,674 from July to October. The sum included Sh338,871,171 subsidy from the Registrar of Political Parties’ office.

Mr Mbowe said donations from well-wishers in Tanzania were Sh235,925,000, while contributions through members’ fees amounted to Sh31,967,500. Well-wishers also donated Sh719,697,500 in material and tools.Mr Mbowe said the money was spent on the nomination of the party’s presidential, parliamentary and civic candidates and the nationwide campaign of its presidential contender.

“That is what we spent in the last General Election, and we expect other parties to clearly tell the public how much money they spent and where it came from,” he said.Prominent businessman Mustafa Sabodo donated about Sh200 million to the party, saying he was a CCM member who wanted to see a vibrant opposition in the country.

Mr Mbowe said Moshi Urban MP Philemon Ndesamburo also played a key role in the party’s presidential campaign by providing a fleet of vehicles and helicopters. The choppers alone cost the party ShSh292,594,500.
He added that Chadema MPs and councillors had been directed to submit their reports as required the Election Expenses Act.

Mr Mbowe spoke a few days before the CAG’s office starts scrutinising the expenses reports of all candidates who took part in the elections. The exercise is expected to cover at least 10,000 people who vied for presidential, parliamentary and civic seats.

The Election Expenses Act requires all political parties and presidential, parliamentary and councillorship contenders to submit their expenditure reports to the Registrar’s office before May 31 for auditing by the CAG’s office.
Reported by Florence Mugarula and Polycarp Machira