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2007 Assessment

Tanzania: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Tanzania: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Budget Processes
Indicators		Score
37	Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?	17
38	Can citizens access the national budgetary process?	50
39	In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?	100
40	Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?	38

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?

37a: In law, the legislature can amend the budget.

Score:

YES

Comments: The legislature has limited powers to amend the budget and generally can only approve it.

References: Donald Mmari et. al. Understanding Patterns of Accountability in Tanzania Component 3: Analysis of values, incentives and power relations in the budget process Oxford Policy Management, Oxford, England Christian Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway Research on Poverty Alleviation, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania June 2005 [ LINK ]

United Republic of Tanzania "Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Review 2005: Review of Fiscal Developments, Public Expenditure, Management and Financial Accountability Issues 2003/04- 2004/05 Joint Evaluation Report" May 2005

37b: In practice, significant public expenditures require legislative approval.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: All significant government expenditures (defined as any project costing more than 1% of the total national budget), must be approved by the legislature. This includes defense and secret programs, which may be debated in closed hearings. 50 Score Criteria: Most significant government expenditures (as defined) are approved by the legislature, but some exceptions to this rule exist. This may include defense programs, an executive\'s personal budget, or other expenses. 0 Score Criteria: The legislature does not have the power to approve or disapprove large portions of the government budget, or the legislature does not exercise this power in a meaningful way.$

Comments: "Minibudgets"require significant approval, but no approval has been sought since 2004.

References: United Republic of Tanzania "Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Review 2005: Review of Fiscal Developments, Public Expenditure, Management and Financial Accountability Issues 2003/04- 2004/05 Joint Evaluation Report" May 2005

37c: In practice, the legislature has sufficient capacity to monitor the budget process and provide input or changes.

Score:

100

Comments: Parliament and the standing committee are inadequately resourced and staffed to perform effective oversight.

References: Donald Mmari et. al. "Understanding Patterns of Accountability in Tanzania" Component 3: Analysis of values, incentives and power relations in the budget process Oxford Policy Management, Oxford, England Christian Michelsen Institute, Bergen, Norway Research on Poverty Alleviation, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania June 2005 [ LINK ]

Can citizens access the national budgetary process?

38a: In practice, the national budgetary process is conducted in a transparent manner in the debating stage (i.e. before final approval).

Score:

100

Comments: There is little impact of formal discussions in parliament. The most important avenue for members of parliament to influence the budget is through informal channels.

38b: In practice, citizens provide input at budget hearings.

Score:

100

Comments: Civil society organizations participate in the Public Expenditure Review process, but this participation is highly 'managed' and has limited impact on the actual budget.

38c: In practice, citizens can access itemized budget allocations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: The budget books are available on the Parliament Web site: [ LINK ].

In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

39: In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

Score:

YES

Comments: Sector committees oversee the use of public funds by sector ministries. The Public and Economic Affairs Committee oversees macro economic issues. The Public Accounts Committee and the Local Authorities Accounts Committee scrutinize the reports of the auditor general.

References: A list of committees is provided on Parliament Web site: [ LINK ].

Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?

40a: In practice, department heads regularly submit reports to this committee.

Score:

100

Comments: In practice, accounting officers submit reports to ther Ministry of Finance, which forward reports to committees. The reports of the auditor general go via the Ministry of Finance.

Njelu Kasaka Then Member of Parliament and Chalrman of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee May 5, 2005 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

40b: In practice, the committee acts in a non-partisan manner with members of opposition parties serving on the committee in an equitable fashion.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties in a roughly equitable distribution. All members of the committee -- including opposition party members -- are able to fully participate in the activities of the committee and influence the committee\'s work to roughly the same extent as any other member of the committee. 50 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties although the ruling party has a disproportionate share of committee seats. The chairperson of the committee may be overly influential and curb other members\' ability to shape the committee's activities. 0 Score Criteria: The committee is dominated by legislators of the ruling party and/or the committee chairperson. Opposition legislators serving on the committee have in practice no way to influence the work of the committee.$

Comments: The Public Accounts Committee is chaired by the opposition, but the committee still has very limited influence, and the chair frequently makes public comments defending the status quo.

Njelu Kasaka Then Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee May 5, 2005 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

40c: In practice, this committee is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: This committee operates independently of the political process, without incentive or pressure to render favorable judgments on politically sensitive issues. Investigations are rarely praised or criticized by political figures. 50 Score Criteria: This committee is usually independent but is sometimes influenced by negative or positive political incentives. This may include public praise or criticism by the government. 0 Score Criteria: This committee is commonly influenced by personal or political forces or incentives. This may include conflicting family relationships, professional partnerships, or other personal loyalties that ultimately influence the committee\'s behavior and decision-making. Negative incentives may include threats, harassment or other abuses of power by the government.$

Comments: The vulnerability to political interference is compounded by weak capacities and resources.

Njelu Kasaka Then Member of Parliament and Chalrman of the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee May 5, 2005 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Finding also backed by interviews with a wide range of other members of Parliament.

40d: In practice, when necessary, this committee initiates independent investigations into financial irregularities.

Score:

100

Comments: Investigations have been conducted on controversial issues, but there has been little or no follow up, and the reports are confidential.

Interviews with members of oversight committees 2003-2007 Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, Tanzania