Private sector now joins fight against graft
TPSF-Corruption
The private sector in Tanzania has joined forces with President John Magufuli's government in its ongoing war against corruption and tax evasion, admitting that some local businessmen were routinely bribing public officials to be awarded underhand deals.
"In the past, government initiatives to combat corruption targeted only politicians and senior civil servants, leaving out businesspersons and other citizens while they are the givers of corruption," the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) said in a statement.
It added: "The private sector recognizes that there are some big and even small businesspersons who would like to see weaknesses in the government's efforts to curb corruption, policies, laws, rules, regulations and decisions that continue to favour the minority while disregarding the broad interest of the citizens and ordinary consumers who are denied their basic rights."
Tanzania is ranked 117th out of 168 on Transparency International’s latest corruption index, suggesting that it is one of the worst-hit nations in the world in terms of the vice.
Businesses, both internal and external, have long complained that corruption is one of the main reasons for the high cost of doing business in Tanzania.
In its statement, TPSF applauded President Magufuli's efforts so far to weed out elements of high-level graft and plug tax evasion loopholes, urging his administration to continue in the same vein with serious intent.
"The private sector and the public have begun to see the sincere intention and genuine willingness of (this) government ... to combat and eradicate corruption that was rampant in our country," the foundation said.
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