How Tanzania can attain Sustainable Development Goals: CAG

Dar es Salaam. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be attained in Tanzania if the country builds strong institutions, which will ensure checks and balances in the implementation of the plans.

The remark was made by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), Prof Mussa Assad, on Monday in Dar es Salaam shortly after arriving from New York where he attended the 72nd meeting of the United Nations Board of Auditors’ (UNBoA).

He handed over UNBoA chairmanship position to his Chilean counterpart.

Prof Assad said creation of strong people was not the right way for Africa to meet its SDG aspirations.

According to the CAG, most of the SDGs were implementable, but the government should consider allocating enough funds and direct them to strengthen institutions so that they can perform better.

“For instance, the goal number 16 - which requires strong institutions - carries the power that could help the other goals to be implemented. If we help these strong institutions with proper budgets, then implementation of all goals would be possible,” he said. Prof Assad further said that Tanzania as a member of the UNBoA has seen many gains.

“Our employees have gained exposure, improved their competitiveness especially on how to handle electronic auditing systems,” he said, adding that the government had a chance to utilise them for the transformation of the country.

Clarifying on Tanzania’s membership at the board, Prof Assad said that they handed over the position, but still the country will remain as an observer for the next three years. “We will still remain as observers of the UNBoA for three years and we will be able to see if our proposals are being implemented,” he said.

He also said that Tanzania had been singled out for praise by the UNBoA after its tremendous performance during its six-year tenure in the board since July 1, 2012.

“The country’s praise came following its remarkable performance in the UNBoA,” he said.

According to him, Tanzania was the first East African country to be appointed as a member to the board and third in Africa after South Africa and Ghana.