New TRA employees cautioned against grand corruption

HILDA MHAGAMA

GOVERNMENT institutions have been advised to often conduct guiding seminars on ethics and professionalism for their employees in order to reduce malpractices and corruption in the country.

The remarks were made in Dar es Salaam by the Chairperson of Dar es Salaam Inter religious peace committee, Chief Sheikh, Alhaji Mussa Salim, before presenting a paper on ethics to new Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), employees.

Sheikh Salim said that if one does not have the fear of God it will not be easy to flee from corruption, thus seminars were very important to remind employees of their duty.

“Other institutions have a lesson to learn from TRA as we have witnessed and heard various corruption issues in our country which means many have forgotten the value of their work,” he said.

The chairman further said many people get involved in corrupt activities simply because of lack of love, patriotism and for selfish reasons. Vice chairperson of the committee, Rev George Fupe said ethics was very crucial as the country has witnessed various malpractices simply because some people do not value others.

“In the Bible we have been directed to subject to governing authorities including paying taxes and other things directed by them,” he said. Rev Fupe said if someone does not pay taxes it implies that they are against God’s will, adding that Jesus told the Pharisees to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.

The committee presented a paper on ethics to 150 new TRA employees who are currently undergoing in-house training at the Institute of Tax Administration. The papers are based on how holy books are against corruption practices.

TRA Director of Internal Affairs, Ms Stella Cosmas said the training aimed at creating employees who will abide by the authorities and values which are accountability, integrity and professionalism.

“We provide ethics training in each of the courses taught at the institute of tax administration to help them abide by our core values,” she said Ms Cosmas said TRA recently recruited 150 graduates who are undergoing a one year competence based training course to equip them with necessary skills needed to excel in various roles within the tax management arena.

The move is part of TRA initiative aimed at preparing competent generation of tax administrator’s and leaders in the country.