PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has issued a stern warning that the government will not pardon anyone who will abuse cooperative funds.
“The fifth phase government will take
harsh measures against those who will misuse cooperative funds and we
will continue to make follow ups on the matter until we get leaders with
integrity,” the Premier said in Dodoma yesterday, during the
International Co-operative Day (ICD).
He said cooperatives in the country were
facing a number of challenges, among them, theft and embezzlement of
resources committed by some unscrupulous cooperative leaders.
Premier Majaliwa (pictured) said another
challenge was that some cooperative leaders disrespect the guidelines
of the associations and make decisions for their personal interests.
He said that in response to these
challenges, the government will keep on fulfilling its obligation to put
a friendly environment to promote cooperatives, in order to provide an
opportunity to flourish and enable Tanzanians to own the economy of
their country.
ICD is an annual celebration of the
co-operative movement observed on the first Saturday of July since 1923
by the International Co-operative Alliance. On December 16, 1992, the
United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in resolution 47/90 “the
first Saturday of July 1995 to be IDC, marking the centenary of the
establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance.
Since 1995 the United Nations’
International Day of Co-operatives has been observed jointly alongside
International Co-operative Day. “It is not acceptable at all to see this
industry that portrays the life of Africans does not benefit us
accordingly. I am directing the Commission for Development of
Cooperatives to ensure that they are run scientifically and according to
the law,” he said.
He also issued a directive to the
Advisory Committee in regions and districts in the country, to include
cooperative development as one among important agenda obliged to be
discussed and come up with resolutions for implementation.
Also make sure they have statistics and
figures for cooperatives and its members. However, the Premier has
ordered all relevant authorities dealing with cooperatives to set
measurable goals on how to improve the cooperative sector.
In another development, the Prime
Minister has directed that all issues regarding agricultural
cooperatives must be taken care by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries.
In addition, the Prime Minister said the
Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the President’s Office
(Regional Administration and Local Government), should review and
identify knowledge and skills in all levels of cooperatives for them to
set up short-term courses to prepare appropriate staff required for the
industry.
He also instructed cooperatives
officials to ensure they manage well election for Agricultural Marketing
Co-operative Societies (AMCOS) and cancel all candidates who had been
leaders who were ousted due to embezzlement of funds to the corporation.
Earlier, Minister of Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba said his ministry will
continue to supervise and take stern measures against all leaders of
cooperatives who will be caught misusing funds.
Tanzania’s cooperatives have a long and
proud history which goes back to the early 1930s. In the first decade of
independence, the movement was particularly strong, with a complex
structure of primary co-ops, secondary co-op organisations and a
national cooperative bank.
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