Opposition Party Urges Tanzanian Government Action Amid Electoral Bill Controversy and Financial Scandals

By Adonis Byemelwa

In a significant development on Saturday,13^th of 2024 Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, urged the government to withdraw three contentious electoral bills presented to Parliament on November 10, 2023. The party proposes introducing a bill that makes minimal reforms to the 1977 Constitution, aiming to ensure fair elections.

Chadema's Central Committee is not only focusing on electoral matters but is also calling for urgent measures to address the high cost of living in Tanzania,” said Freeman Mbowe.

The Chadema chairman said the party has issued a caution that if the government doesn't consider their proposals, the party plans to organize a peaceful demonstration starting on January 24 in Dar es Salaam. The objective is to pressure the government into considering the opinions and suggestions of various stakeholders on the bills.

Mbowe emphasized the need for a bill in Parliament to address the process of creating a new constitution, complete with a roadmap outlining each step until a new constitution is established based on a national framework.

Mbowe has cautioned that if the government doesn't consider their proposals, the party plans to organize a peaceful demonstration starting on January 24 in Dar es Salaam.

“The aim is to pressure the government to take into account the opinions and suggestions of various stakeholders on the bills,” he said.

The urgency of the matter prompted Chadema's Central Committee to convene an emergency meeting on January 8 to discuss the three bills, covering electoral, political party, and national electoral commission issues.

However, Chadema faced obstacles when its general secretary, John Mnyika, was not allowed to present the party's views before the Parliamentary Committee. Instead, he was asked to read an analysis of the articles one by one, indicating that the committee had already made a decision and did not want opinions beyond the relevant articles.

Mbowe stressed the necessity for the government to address constitutional shortcomings, asserting that the laws are drafted according to a constitution with numerous flaws affecting upcoming enactments.

He also called for a bill giving the National Electoral Commission authority over local government elections, rather than being managed by the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) based on minister-formulated rules.

Additionally, Mbowe suggested the removal of the Political Parties Law Amendment Bill as amended in 2019, and the Election Expenses Law, stating that they do not adequately address existing challenges. He highlighted that these bills have not considered the orders of the East African Court, where some articles were ordered for review due to violations of the East African Convention.

Concerning the high cost of living, Mbowe recommended that the government reduce taxes and fees on essential goods and services. He also proposed discontinuing the use of non-essential luxury items to redirect funds towards improving the lives of Tanzanians. Mbowe called on the government to combat corruption and submit a plan to reduce the high cost of living, including lowering prices on essential products or implementing subsidies on certain items.

In response to Chadema's calls, Chief Government Spokesman Mobhare Matinyi stated that the bills were sent to parliament in the usual manner, with stakeholders allowed to express their views for improvements where there were shortcomings. He added that citizens and stakeholders should provide their opinions and suggestions to strengthen and uphold democracy.

The economic landscape in Tanzania is further complicated by financial scandals, as revealed in the latest report from the Controller and Auditor-General (CAG) Charles Kichere for the 2021/2022 fiscal year. The report exposes serious misuse and embezzlement of funds in flagship government projects, dating back to the era of Samia's predecessor, John Magufuli, implicating her administration in financial irregularities.

Firebrand opposition leader Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party estimates the loss of public funds due to graft, mismanagement, and negligence at Tsh2 trillion ($862 million). Major projects such as the standard gauge railway, the Nyerere Hydropower Dam, and the Air Tanzania revival program are flagged for serious impropriety. Virtually all key public utilities are under scrutiny for irregular expenditure.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has responded to these revelations by taking decisive action. On April 9, she sacked John Nzulule, director-general of the Tanzania Government Flight Agency, responsible for handling Air Tanzania’s plane purchases under the John Magufuli-initiated revival strategy. The President also dissolved the Tanzania Railways Corporation board due to financial irregularities.

The CAG's report sheds light on financial mismanagement in various public entities, including the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation, Tanzania Electric Supply Company, Medical Stores Department, Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania National Parks Authority, Rural Energy Agency, and the National Health Insurance Fund.

Pension funds National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Public Service Social Security Fund are struggling with declining occupancy rates in their real estate investments, partly due to businesses moving to the administrative capital Dodoma.

A total of 45 public entities were cited for making losses for two consecutive years, with 14 of them being commercial firms that should be reporting profits. The national carrier, Air Tanzania, remains in the loss-making zone despite cutting losses minimally. Tanzania Railways Corporation posted a much higher deficit in 2022, and the National Development Corporation, though reducing losses, remains on the critical list.

The audit also uncovered weaknesses in revenue collection and recording in 180 local government authorities, with more than Tsh91 billion ($39.22 million) going unaccounted for. Government officials were found colluding with international private companies to perpetrate graft, as seen in the Boeing invoice matter.

Standard Chartered Bank faced criticism for setting conditions for a $1.46 billion loan to facilitate the SGR project, ultimately raising the cost by several million dollars. The bank's involvement in naming the only acceptable contractor for certain project phases without competitive bidding has raised concerns.

The President has instructed legal action against public officials implicated in financial accounting flaws. Public expectations are that this move marks the beginning of a bigger crackdown on government corruption under her administration. However, pressure continues for more significant efforts to curb graft within the government, with opposition parties Chadema and ACT Wazalendo using the CAG report’s findings to fuel public dissatisfaction towards Samia’s ruling CCM party.

ACT Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe described the report’s findings as a recurring story of poor governance under CCM, emphasizing that only 36 percent of the 6,947 recommendations contained in the 2020/2021 audit were implemented. Chadema secretary-general John Mnyika highlighted the public outcry triggered by the report’s revelations, citing a soaring cost of living due to factors such as the Ukraine war, drought, and the impact of COVID-19.

In a separate economic development, sugar prices have been performing well in 2023 and may extend this trend into 2024. Factors such as a more active holiday season disrupted supply chains in India due to droughts, and export restrictions have kept sugar prices stubbornly high.

Tanzania, experiencing an inflation rate of 3.2 percent, is not among the Top 10 African cities with the lowest purchasing power. The country faces challenges associated with low purchasing power, indicative of broader economic and social issues impacting the standard of living for hapless Tanzanians.