Mzee Mwanakijiji
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2006
- 33,474
- 39,987
SEVERAL top prisons officials have allegedly squandered 5bn/- allocated by the government for the implementation of four irrigation projects in support of the 'Kilimo Kwanza' initiative, sources said.
None of the intended projects has taken off so far, according to the sources.
The government reportedly disbursed funds for that purpose in August 2009. The sources say that 4bn/- was withdrawn from the Tanzania Prisons Services (TPS) account at NMB's Bank House branch in Dar es Salaam soon after the Treasury had okayed transfer of the funds, leaving a balance of only 1bn/-.
They said the funds were given to facilitate establishment of at least 200,000 hectares of irrigation schemes at Kitengule in Kagera, Idete in Morogoro, Mang'ula in Arusha and Mvumi in Dodoma for rice and maize production.
The money was also supposed to be used for procurement of farm inputs and implements, including about 20 tractors, according to the sources. Produce from the farms was aimed to boost the national food reserve and supplement the country's exports.
The sources said the projects were economically viable but the allocated funds were released without following proper procedures.
For example, the sources said, the funds were disbursed through Zonal Irrigation Officers instead of Regional Prisons Officers (RPOs). The projects also have incomplete proposals.
The sources from Regional Prisons Offices (RPOs) of Morogoro and Dodoma said it was not proper to allocate and disburse the funds through Zonal Irrigation Officers.
The proper way, they said, was to release the money through their offices (RPOs) which in turn would have made them availed to lower levels to facilitate implementation of relevant tasks.
When the 'Daily News' contacted one of the accused TPS officials, he declined to comment on the allegations of funds' misuse on grounds that he was not the spokesperson.
In an interview with the 'Daily News' recently, another top TPS officer confirmed that there was only 1bn/- in the account and that the rest was allocated to the mentioned projects.
He said 900m/- was allocated for Kitengule Irrigation Project and 2.8bn/- for Idete Irrigation project. He, however, said he did know how much was allocated for Mvumi and Mang'ula projects.
However, he said, implementation of the projects had not taken off as their proposals were incomplete and that the only work done was on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which he said was very important before starting any project.
The official also said that his office spent a certain amount of money for the purchase of eight tractors and some farm inputs.
However, he did not give details on the amount involved and the type of tractors procured. When asked why he disbursed the funds without following proper procedures he said he did so due to the urgency of the project. He declined to comment further.
This reporter visited Idete and Mvumi farms and established that nothing has taken place on the ground so far despite the disbursement of the funds.
Sources at Idete and Mvumi told the 'Daily News' that they were aware of allocation and disbursement of the funds but were surprised to see that no work has so far been done on the said projects.
"I know very well that Idete is one of the areas selected by TPS for implementation of irrigation farming projects with a view to improve agricultural production and productivity, but no single cent has been spent on the proposed project. And we don't know where the money is," wondered one of the sources.
He said he was told that the funds were channelled through the Zonal Irrigation Officer who was to supervise implementation of the project although it was not made clear how the funds would be allocated and disbursed to those who are supposed to implement the projects.
Likewise, he did not reveal which account was used during the disbursement of the funds.
However, he admitted that there has been no closer communication between him and Idete agricultural officers and that he was closely in touch with top TPS officials in Dar es Salaam. He also admitted that he is a project consultant.
The situation was the same at Mvumi... no irrigation project was being implemented, according to the sources and 'Daily News' survey.
When top TPS officials were asked to clarify the controversy, one of them admitted that the funds were channelled through the Zonal Irrigation office.
He also admitted that no project has been implemented so far though the funds had already been released.
"It is true that we have allocated the funds a couple of months ago through the irrigation office but we haven't embarked on actual implementation because the project proposals are incomplete. We are still waiting our consultants to finish the ongoing environmental impact assessment," he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Mbarak Abdulwakil, said he was aware of the funds but he has no authority to question its allocation and disbursement because TPS and the Tanzania Police have mandate over management of funds which they receive directly from treasury.
Daily News
None of the intended projects has taken off so far, according to the sources.
The government reportedly disbursed funds for that purpose in August 2009. The sources say that 4bn/- was withdrawn from the Tanzania Prisons Services (TPS) account at NMB's Bank House branch in Dar es Salaam soon after the Treasury had okayed transfer of the funds, leaving a balance of only 1bn/-.
They said the funds were given to facilitate establishment of at least 200,000 hectares of irrigation schemes at Kitengule in Kagera, Idete in Morogoro, Mang'ula in Arusha and Mvumi in Dodoma for rice and maize production.
The money was also supposed to be used for procurement of farm inputs and implements, including about 20 tractors, according to the sources. Produce from the farms was aimed to boost the national food reserve and supplement the country's exports.
The sources said the projects were economically viable but the allocated funds were released without following proper procedures.
For example, the sources said, the funds were disbursed through Zonal Irrigation Officers instead of Regional Prisons Officers (RPOs). The projects also have incomplete proposals.
The sources from Regional Prisons Offices (RPOs) of Morogoro and Dodoma said it was not proper to allocate and disburse the funds through Zonal Irrigation Officers.
The proper way, they said, was to release the money through their offices (RPOs) which in turn would have made them availed to lower levels to facilitate implementation of relevant tasks.
When the 'Daily News' contacted one of the accused TPS officials, he declined to comment on the allegations of funds' misuse on grounds that he was not the spokesperson.
In an interview with the 'Daily News' recently, another top TPS officer confirmed that there was only 1bn/- in the account and that the rest was allocated to the mentioned projects.
He said 900m/- was allocated for Kitengule Irrigation Project and 2.8bn/- for Idete Irrigation project. He, however, said he did know how much was allocated for Mvumi and Mang'ula projects.
However, he said, implementation of the projects had not taken off as their proposals were incomplete and that the only work done was on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which he said was very important before starting any project.
The official also said that his office spent a certain amount of money for the purchase of eight tractors and some farm inputs.
However, he did not give details on the amount involved and the type of tractors procured. When asked why he disbursed the funds without following proper procedures he said he did so due to the urgency of the project. He declined to comment further.
This reporter visited Idete and Mvumi farms and established that nothing has taken place on the ground so far despite the disbursement of the funds.
Sources at Idete and Mvumi told the 'Daily News' that they were aware of allocation and disbursement of the funds but were surprised to see that no work has so far been done on the said projects.
"I know very well that Idete is one of the areas selected by TPS for implementation of irrigation farming projects with a view to improve agricultural production and productivity, but no single cent has been spent on the proposed project. And we don't know where the money is," wondered one of the sources.
He said he was told that the funds were channelled through the Zonal Irrigation Officer who was to supervise implementation of the project although it was not made clear how the funds would be allocated and disbursed to those who are supposed to implement the projects.
Likewise, he did not reveal which account was used during the disbursement of the funds.
However, he admitted that there has been no closer communication between him and Idete agricultural officers and that he was closely in touch with top TPS officials in Dar es Salaam. He also admitted that he is a project consultant.
The situation was the same at Mvumi... no irrigation project was being implemented, according to the sources and 'Daily News' survey.
When top TPS officials were asked to clarify the controversy, one of them admitted that the funds were channelled through the Zonal Irrigation office.
He also admitted that no project has been implemented so far though the funds had already been released.
"It is true that we have allocated the funds a couple of months ago through the irrigation office but we haven't embarked on actual implementation because the project proposals are incomplete. We are still waiting our consultants to finish the ongoing environmental impact assessment," he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Mbarak Abdulwakil, said he was aware of the funds but he has no authority to question its allocation and disbursement because TPS and the Tanzania Police have mandate over management of funds which they receive directly from treasury.
Daily News
