SINGIDA Regional Commissioner, Halima Dendego has ordered the seizure of assets from individuals implicated in the misappropriation of 36m/- in taxes collected by Iramba District Council.

The funds were allegedly collected by contractors but never deposited into the bank account.

The directive followed a report by Singida Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Dr Fatuma Mganga, during  the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) meeting held here yesterday.

Dr Mganga revealed that eight individuals, including one government employee, are believed to owe over   37 million/-. Seven contractors, who were hired to collect taxes, owe 32.5m/-, while an employee, named Dunstan Simpasa, owes 5.03m/-.

 Simpasa has reportedly agreed with NMB Bank to have   100,000/- deducted from his salary every month to repay the debt.

The contractors were arrested by the police but later released on bail, and no specific timeline for repayment has been set. However, the Regional Commissioner has now given a deadline of March 30, 2025, for full repayment of the outstanding amounts. 

If the debts are not settled by this date, Dendego has instructed that the debtors’ assets be seized.

“These individuals have taken government funds, and it’s unacceptable for them to return the money at their own pace. The employee who is paying 100,000/- per month will take five years to repay the money, while we are delayed  implemention of development  projects for the people,” Dendego said.

She expressed her frustration at the misappropriation of government funds and vowed to take a hard stance against such actions in the region.