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Local authorities should take their responsibilities seriously
2008-07-18 10:13:56
By Editor
It is now almost a concluding feature for the Accountant and Auditor General\'s annual reports to point fingers at all manners of financial abuses committed by officials entrusted to administer local authorities.
Understandably, local authorities are manned by both elected and non-elected officials, all of whom are charged with particular administrative and fiscal mandates, as neatly defined by rules and procedures.
The re-introduction of local governments in Tanzania some twenty four years ago was well intended, based on the advantages already established about the effectiveness of devolving powers in ensuring development happens at grassroots level.
Before 2005, it had then become obvious that most local authorities were smart enough in introducing multiple taxes in their areas of jurisdiction, to the point of becoming a nuisance to local and foreign investors.
Yet, the spending side of the collected revenues has all along been unacceptable, something which prompted the central government to abolish nuisance taxes and instead introduce a system of subventions.
As it goes, about 30 percent of the entire government budget is annually allocated to local authorities to finance a range of public projects in health, education, water supply and sanitation, infrastructure and HIV/Aids.
When the CAG report laments about massive misuse of public funds by local authorities, the other way of defining the deplorable behaviour is outright denial of development to target communities.
We have heard so many times about choruses from top leadership echelons threatening to dissolve councils which would prove beyond doubt that they cannot deliver, including abuse of finances meant for development projects in their areas of jurisdiction.
As far as recent memory can reflect, it was only the Dar es Salaam City Council which was so dissolved in June 1996, thereby establishing the City Commission whose wonderful performance was immediately adopted as yardstick for gauging the efficiency of other councils.
While cleaning up the rot in local governments has truly proved to be a daunting governance issue for the establishment, another and even more intolerable administrative misconduct in local councils is making the rounds.
This time, even for the tax base which was reserved for them subsequent to abolition of the nuisance taxes, still some councils are lamenting about existence of eligible taxpayers in their areas of jurisdiction who are openly reluctant to pay their rightful dues to councils` coffers.
On Wednesday, Korogwe District authorities complained to President Kikwete about the presence of tax evading investors in the district.
Although responsible district officials do have undeniable right to complain to their boss about such happenings in their district, but strictly given another look, the utterances were absolutely unwarranted.
The question of tax liability for registered enterprises should not at any time become debatable. It is a legal obligation which has to be abided by all corporate persons and rightfully enforceable in the country`s judiciary system.
As a kind reminder to all authorities, it amounts to incompetence to ask for Presidential intervention in enforcing tax compliance in their areas.
The judiciary is also supposed to protect the rights of the executive as when it is proved beyond any doubt that one agent has unjustifiably violated them.
Tax liabilities are rights due to the state. Defaulters should be made to face music in the law courts, as directed by the President.
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