MPs for DED, DAS training

 

MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday proposed training for the newly appointed District Executive Directors (DEDs) and District Administrative Secretaries (DASs) on managerial issues to enable them to execute their duties efficiently.

They argued that many of the appointees were not from the public service system and were on the verge of failing the government should they not be enlightened on various administrative issues.

 

Debating the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Local Authorities and Accounts Committee (LAAC) reports for the 2014 and 2015, the MPs said competence was inevitable for the officials who manage billions of shillings for development projects at the local governments.

The legislators also pressed the government to ensure well-timed release of development funds and formation of special Bunge team to work on the controversial Usafiri Dar es Salaam (UDA) deal.

Mr Martin Msuha (Mbinga Rural - CCM), said that almost 60 per cent of the DEDs who appeared before the oversight committee for grilling displayed high level of incompetence.

He expressed worries over the possibility of increased flaws in the next local government authorities' financial audits due to the officials' incompetence. The legislator further faulted the appointment of the ruling CCM cadres into such sensitive positions without taking into consideration their academic qualifications and experience in public service.

Mr Hamidu Bobali (Mchinga - CUF), said it was high time the appointees by the president or ministers underwent special training on public service ethics and managerial skills. The lawmaker said he personally had no problems with the president's decision to pick the party cadres as long as they possessed the required skills.

Ms Rose Kamili (Special Seats-CHADEMA), echoed Mr Bobali's sentiment, noting that in a short period of time the officials have served, a number of flaws have already been discovered.

"I doubt if we are going to have good management of funds and proper execution of development projects ... we have to devise a special mechanism to train them or else brace for the worst," she noted.

Mr David Silinde (Momba-CHADEMA), charged that the picking of DEDs from outside the public service greatly demoralised the local government workers who had been expecting to clinch such posts through promotion after serving for many years.

Ms Lolesia Bukwimba (Busanda-CCM), decried delay in releasing development funds, resulting into non-starting or poor project implementation. She also advised the government to see the possibility of changing reporting structures for internal auditors within the councils.

The MPs noted that under the current arrangement where internal auditors were reporting to DEDs, they were unlikely to produce clear and doubtless financial audit reports.

Awe MP on CHADEMA ticket Halima Mdee pushed for formation of special Bunge team to get into the skin of the controversial UDA deal which has all signs of duplicity. “I wonder why this UDA issue remains unfinished agenda. More has been said about it.

The deal itself was bad, we need a special Bunge team to probe this issue, we need to finish it once and for all,” she said. The two oversight committees - PAC and LAAC - tabled their comments on the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) reports covering 2014 and 2015 on Wednesday.

The reports, among other things, revealed serious public funds mismanagement, delays in execution of development projects and the incompetence of some local government authorities’ officials.