Dar es Salaam. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has reported that in the 2023/24 period, the success rate of cases taken to court increased to 76 percent from 67.7 percent in the previous year.

Presenting the 2023/24 institutional performance report to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, PCCB Director General Crispin Francis Chalamila stated that during the period under review, the agency handled 978 cases, including 462 new cases filed in 2023/24 and 516 older cases in various courts across the country.

“Among these new cases, five were filed in the High Court’s Division of Corruption and Economic Crimes, while 457 were lodged in District and Resident Magistrates’ Courts. Out of the total 978 cases, rulings were made on 440 corruption cases, with the prosecution securing victories in 334 cases,” Chalamila said.

He further stated that other investigations involved allegations of embezzlement of government revenue amounting to TZS 46.46 billion, which was supposed to be collected by local government authorities through POS machines.

The theft of public funds via POS machines was first discovered in Mbeya after the Acting Regional Head of PCCB, Vangsada Mkalimoto, held a press conference on August 28, 2023, to explain how the scheme operated and revealed that government employees were implicated in the system.

Following this revelation, on March 13, 2024, President Samia ordered authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation into digital systems that were diverting local government authorities funds into private accounts instead of the government treasury.

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As a result of these investigations, Chalamila reported that PCCB opened 281 case files, leading to 73 convictions and the recovery of TZS 6.2 billion.

“There are 86 ongoing cases in court, 35 completed investigations awaiting legal action, and 19 cases that have been closed. One case resulted in administrative disciplinary actions, while investigations into 67 other cases are still ongoing,” he added.

Financial Recoveries and Tax Evasion Cases

Regarding financial investigations, during the 2023/24 period, PCCB recovered a total of TZS 30.19 billion through various investigative operations. This included TZS 6.6 billion in defaulted loans from the Tanzania Development Bank(TIB), which had been issued without proper procedures and criteria to Amboni Sisal Properties Ltd in Tanga. 

“These funds have since been returned to TIB,” he stated.

Additionally, the investigation also led to the recovery of TZS 6.8 billion in unpaid taxes from auctions, markets, and other revenue sources in Ilala City Council.

“These tax collectors failed to deposit the funds into the bank. The recovered funds have been transferred to the Ilala City Council’s General Fund account,” Chalamila noted.

Chalamila attributed the persistence of embezzlement in local government revenue collection to a lack of strict oversight in ensuring that collected funds are properly deposited into bank accounts.

“Some supervisors and accountants collude with revenue collectors to siphon funds, while others lack integrity. It is essential for local government leaders to strengthen oversight in government revenue collection,” he advised.

Furthermore, investigations into local government development projects led to the recovery of TZS 3.16 billion, of which TZS 1.12 billion was refunded to council accounts, and TZS 2.04 billion was safeguarded along with materials being returned to the respective projects.

The PCCB Director General emphasized that anti-corruption efforts have strengthened good governance, improved public service delivery, and ensured value for money in development projects.

He cited the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report released on February 11, 2025, by Transparency International, which ranked Tanzania as the second-least corrupt country among the ten member states of the East African Community.

Additional reporting by Jackline Kuwanda.