THE Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has saved 10.3bn/- in a period of three months, between January and March, this year, that would have ended up in corrupt people’s pockets.
Speaking during the launch of ‘Longa
Nasi’ campaign which literally means ‘speak with us’, yesterday, the
Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the government was keen in
bringing corruption under control so the general public can enjoy the
nation’s development.
The campaign aims at making it easier
for the public to reach PCCB. The VP said corruption was a barrier to
development of any nation and diverts resources away from efforts to
eradicate poverty and sustainable development in the country.
Although corruption is a global
phenomenon found in all countries, evidence shows it harms poor people
more than others, stifles economic growth and diverts desperately needed
funds from education, healthcare and other public services. Speaking
during the event, PCCB Director General Valentino Mlowola said in the
same period of January and March the bureau received 2,239 reports of
corruption and opened 133 files in court.
Mr Mlowola said PCCB assessed 230
projects and collaborated with the Police Force to unearth unscrupulous
business traders hording sugar to create artificial sugar crisis in the
country and managed to supervise distribution of the sweetener between
April and May, this month.
The launch of ‘Longa Nasi’ the PCCB
director said is meant to enrol the participation of the general public
in the fight to curb corruption in the country by providing them with a
platform to receive educative information on corruption as well as for
the public to provide information or tip-offs on corruption to the
anti-graft institution.
The campaign is seen as a way to create
public awareness and awaken public morals in the fight against
corruption through an easier way to receive and give information to PCCB
through short mobile text messages.
“Alongside the Longa Nasi campaign, we
are also launching a new service that will help the public reach PCCB in
a much easier way through an emergency number 113 free of charge,” he
explained.
Giving a detailed use of the emergency
number by the public, Mlowola said the public can call 113 and speak
with a PCCB officer or using *113# to provide reports on corruption
through mobile subscribers; TTCL, Airtel, Tigo, Vodacom, Zantel and
Halotel.
“PCCB will act on information provided
promptly and those who provided the information will get responses,” he
explained, adding that his office has established a PCCB call centre
that will operate 24 hours to ensure all information is acted upon
immediately.
He said the ‘Longa Nasi’ campaign which
also means ‘talk to us’ will be carried out in various ways including
through the 113 emergency number and short test messages as well as
using promotional roadshow vehicles.
“There will also be special programmes
on television and radio stations, publications of feature articles in
newspapers and social media, dramas and documentaries through PCCB
inflatable screen,” he explained.
The campaign will focus on educating the
public on effects of corruption in the society and the nation in
general, different corruption offences in accordance with Corruption Act
of 2007, ways to control corruption, the leaders and public’s
responsibility in the fight against corruption.
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