Party Funding Under Review in Tanzania

East Africa  |  12.01.09   By Randy Odaga

Political parties in Tanzania are being questioned by the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG), Ludovick Utouh, over their reluctance to issue their financial books for auditing.

An amendment to the Political Parties Act of 1992 gives powers to the Controller and Auditor General to enforce transparency and accountability by auditing the accounts of all 17 registered political parties and any others that registered since July this year.

The parties will have to divulge all sources of funding, whether foreign or local, including businessmen, who have so far funded both the ruling and opposition political parties clandestinely.

The audit will also help to revolutionize the manner in which political parties have sourced for funds, especially during elections and hopefully stop party officials from diverting funds to their personal accounts.

“To date not a single party has tendered (its) books for auditing as required by the law.  The CAG is mandated to audit the accounts of all the 17 registered political parties, though none has submitted its books of accounts for audit,” said Utouh.

He added: “Under the law, party leaders found to have embezzled funds from whatever sources will be treated as criminals and be taken to court. They will as well help the public gauge the level of financial discipline in political parties.”

Utouh said the move was being undertaken to enhance transparency and good governance as well as ensuring that there was proper management of public funds in political parties.

Analysts cite funding of political activities—particularly election campaigns, which have in recent times been attracting massive donations from powerful business tycoons—as a major weakness that results in the perpetuation of corrupt alliances between politicians and businessmen

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