Dar es Salaam. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has unveiled a strategy to fight corruption in business.
The plan includes conducting research to establish factors that fuel corrupt practices in public offices, PCCB director general Diwani Athuman said yesterday at a forum in Dar es Salaam organised by the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade).
“Members of the business community are sometimes forced to engage in corruption because of flawed laws, policies and systems in some public institutions. We will start with those challenges and come up with possible solutions,” he said.
Mr Diwani added that research would enable the agency to come up with ways that would help the government to create a conducive and corruption-free environment for businesses.
PCCB also plans to propose guidelines meant to enable players in the public and private sectors to avoid corruption in their day-to-day undertakings.
“We also plan to create awareness in the business community through seminars and other forums,” Mr Diwani said.
He added that PCCB would also collect views from private sector operators to understand their concerns.
The measures are part of the implementation of PCCB’s five-year strategic plan that runs from 2017 through 2022.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service and Good Governance), Dr George Mkuchika, said fighting corruption in business and investment activities was an important step towards industrialisation.
“We understand that corruption is a big hurdle to investment and business. If not addressed as a matter of urgency, no investor or businessperson will come to us,” he said.
He added that although Tanzania is recognised the world over for its relentless fight against corruption, a lot still needs to be done, especially in the private sector.
Earlier, TanTrade director general Edwin Rutageruka said fighting corruption in business and investment was much easier in an environment that fosters business.
“I commend the government for removing more than 54 charges and taxes in the 2019/20 Budget, but the job is not over yet,” he said.
Mr Rutageruka also asked the relevant public institutions not to make life tough for businesspeople in the name of fighting corruption.
“Harsh treatment of traders is not a proper way of fighting corruption, but creating a friendly environment is. We need to change our attitudes.”
