Mtelengu
New Member
- Jul 14, 2021
- 4
- 6
INTRODUCTION
On budget transparency campaign to call for more participatory planning within the Tanzania national budget the responsible authority believes that majority of people understand the budgeting process and social justice in participating and hence they will participate. That is not always the case as observed because traditionally, the budget has only been open to the public once it has been approved.
Participation and inclusion of youth in public affairs and specifically the budget process is important in ensuring that their needs are understood and addressed. There is continuing public trust, peace and stability are safeguarded.
According to national bureau of statistic, 2021 census, youth 15-35 aged represents 34.7% of the Tanzania population. Currently estimated at 60 million. Youth engagement in public affairs including budgeting implementation, monitoring and evaluation is crucial is ensuring that decisions including resource allocation are inclusive. This is important for development as well as to sustain long term public financial accountability, transparency, trust, peace and stability.
Participation of marginalized groups including youth and women in the public planning and budgeting process should be considered as crucial approach in developing countries.
Mobilizing young people and other groups to involve in public affairs is grounded in capacity building activities and online awareness raising campaign on social justice issues including national budget process which have the following below importance,
√ Steady state of economic growth
√ Price stability
√ Economic stability
√ Equitable national distribution
√ Proper allocation of resources
√ Balanced development
√ Infrastructural development
CHALLENGES
Challenges of promoting public financial accountability in Tanzania by increasing youth participation in the national budget process at local level may grouped according to principles of good governance as follows below;
Participation here there challenges like,
• Limited freedom of speech in the country
• Youth preferred communication channels like social media, blogs, are given less weight.
On Accountability
• Political parties interfere in the accountability of the budgeting process.
• Self-accountability of the responsible officers for budgeting process is questionable.
• Unreliable and opaque accountability process, especially towards the end of the case.
• The punishment for the officers at fault is not adequate or punitive enough.
On Inclusiveness
• In rural areas, elders' voices are given more attention compared to those of youth (cultural practices).
• Government directive to LGAs to allocate 10% of (LGAs) budget for women and youth is not honored as intended.
• No clear dialogue structure for Youth representation in national affairs like budgeting process.
On Trust
• mistrust ( one citizen said, the total budget keeps increasing year after year without any increase in the value for money)
• Existing representatives in the budgeting process like MPs and the controller and accountant General (CAG) do not command trust in society.
On Transparency
• The marginalized groups are not benefiting as communicated in the budget at the grassroots levels and none explains the discrepancy.
• No one bother to explain the reasons for variance between the approved budget and actual funds allocated.
• The system and process of obtaining government audited reports is not clear to the society.
On Accessibility
• Accessing the allocated budget for youth needs through the LGAs and National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) is still a challenge.
• The audited CAG reports are not easily accessible and retrievable for follow up of the auditing queries.
• There is very limited awareness, interest, participation and inclusivity of youth in the budgeting process.
• Low satisfication with the laws, regulations and guidelines designed to re-enforce accountability in the budget cycle.
SUGGESTIONS
What should be done.
√ The LGAs should design and implement a community centred approach to engage youth in budgeting process.
√ Engaging youth through Youth friendly communication channels such as social media, blogs etc.
√ The budgeting process should be given the same weight as the electoral process.
√ Responsible government officers should actively advertise meetings and call for in put in the platforms where they can reach youth, considering those residing in rural and urban areas.
√ Developing youth campaign programs and engaging them from the Developing, implementation, to the exit stage for maximum effectiveness.
√ The laws to guide accountability process/ punishment given for poor handling of budget implementation or misuse of public funds should be reviewed and be stern enough to serve as deterrent.
CONCLUSION
However, regardless of their gender, education status, age and where they reside a majority of youth have limited understanding of interest in the budget process. And the few few who are aware of the process claim that it is theoretical and does not reflect what happens on the ground, hence low level of participation
Therefore we need to elect leaders who are critical enough to motivate the public to participate in National affairs and understanding that their own role in development is as catalyst.
On budget transparency campaign to call for more participatory planning within the Tanzania national budget the responsible authority believes that majority of people understand the budgeting process and social justice in participating and hence they will participate. That is not always the case as observed because traditionally, the budget has only been open to the public once it has been approved.
Participation and inclusion of youth in public affairs and specifically the budget process is important in ensuring that their needs are understood and addressed. There is continuing public trust, peace and stability are safeguarded.
According to national bureau of statistic, 2021 census, youth 15-35 aged represents 34.7% of the Tanzania population. Currently estimated at 60 million. Youth engagement in public affairs including budgeting implementation, monitoring and evaluation is crucial is ensuring that decisions including resource allocation are inclusive. This is important for development as well as to sustain long term public financial accountability, transparency, trust, peace and stability.
Participation of marginalized groups including youth and women in the public planning and budgeting process should be considered as crucial approach in developing countries.
Mobilizing young people and other groups to involve in public affairs is grounded in capacity building activities and online awareness raising campaign on social justice issues including national budget process which have the following below importance,
√ Steady state of economic growth
√ Price stability
√ Economic stability
√ Equitable national distribution
√ Proper allocation of resources
√ Balanced development
√ Infrastructural development
CHALLENGES
Challenges of promoting public financial accountability in Tanzania by increasing youth participation in the national budget process at local level may grouped according to principles of good governance as follows below;
Participation here there challenges like,
• Limited freedom of speech in the country
• Youth preferred communication channels like social media, blogs, are given less weight.
On Accountability
• Political parties interfere in the accountability of the budgeting process.
• Self-accountability of the responsible officers for budgeting process is questionable.
• Unreliable and opaque accountability process, especially towards the end of the case.
• The punishment for the officers at fault is not adequate or punitive enough.
On Inclusiveness
• In rural areas, elders' voices are given more attention compared to those of youth (cultural practices).
• Government directive to LGAs to allocate 10% of (LGAs) budget for women and youth is not honored as intended.
• No clear dialogue structure for Youth representation in national affairs like budgeting process.
On Trust
• mistrust ( one citizen said, the total budget keeps increasing year after year without any increase in the value for money)
• Existing representatives in the budgeting process like MPs and the controller and accountant General (CAG) do not command trust in society.
On Transparency
• The marginalized groups are not benefiting as communicated in the budget at the grassroots levels and none explains the discrepancy.
• No one bother to explain the reasons for variance between the approved budget and actual funds allocated.
• The system and process of obtaining government audited reports is not clear to the society.
On Accessibility
• Accessing the allocated budget for youth needs through the LGAs and National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) is still a challenge.
• The audited CAG reports are not easily accessible and retrievable for follow up of the auditing queries.
• There is very limited awareness, interest, participation and inclusivity of youth in the budgeting process.
• Low satisfication with the laws, regulations and guidelines designed to re-enforce accountability in the budget cycle.
SUGGESTIONS
What should be done.
√ The LGAs should design and implement a community centred approach to engage youth in budgeting process.
√ Engaging youth through Youth friendly communication channels such as social media, blogs etc.
√ The budgeting process should be given the same weight as the electoral process.
√ Responsible government officers should actively advertise meetings and call for in put in the platforms where they can reach youth, considering those residing in rural and urban areas.
√ Developing youth campaign programs and engaging them from the Developing, implementation, to the exit stage for maximum effectiveness.
√ The laws to guide accountability process/ punishment given for poor handling of budget implementation or misuse of public funds should be reviewed and be stern enough to serve as deterrent.
CONCLUSION
However, regardless of their gender, education status, age and where they reside a majority of youth have limited understanding of interest in the budget process. And the few few who are aware of the process claim that it is theoretical and does not reflect what happens on the ground, hence low level of participation
Therefore we need to elect leaders who are critical enough to motivate the public to participate in National affairs and understanding that their own role in development is as catalyst.
