It is difficult for Tanzania to achieve development goals without working with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, the government said on Thursday. For that reason, civil society organisations should abide by their constitutions in executing duties to minimise public complaints, Community Development, Gender and Children Deputy Minister Ummy Mwalimu affirmed.
She made the remarks when closing a three-day CSOs exhibition held at the Parliament grounds in Dodoma. “There are reports that some of you do not abide by your constitutions,” she asserted. However, she added that her ministry, which oversee CSOs, was yet to be empowered to monitor their operations. She urged CSOs to observe good governance, accountability and transparency in their operations to enable Tanzania to attain development goals. The Tanzania Council for Social Development Executive Director Theofrida Kapinga said the aim of the exhibitions is to strengthen relations between CSOs and Parliament.“Through these exhibitions we expect Members of Parliament will get another opportunity to learn more on the activities of CSOs and our participation in various development processes,” Kapinga said. About 460 CSOs are registered annually according to reports from the Registrar of NGOs, she said, pointing out that civil society organisations are being set up in villages and wards and that it is no longer true that they are concentrated in urban areas. Meanwhile, the MPs have called on the government to review tax exemptions in the country to be able to save billions of shillings being lost annually owing to the tax relief.Meanwhile, during a dialogue organised by the CSOs as part of the activities of the exhibitions, the lawmakers present on the occasion, urged government to review tax exemptions. Special Seats MP Felister Bura (CCM) said the government should review the tax exemptions because ‘it (government) has been losing’ lots of revenue. She noted that most councils in Tanzania lack competent personnel on tax issues, which leads to loss of revenue. Lulindi MP Jerome Bwanausi (CCM) said the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals has agreed to form an experts’ team to inspect all companies with tax relief on fuel. “I once worked with the council… it is true property tax is not collected efficiently,” Bwanausi said.
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