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Councils urged to practice transparencyBy Daniel Sabuni In a bid to maintain public confidence and frugality in the district and urban councils, District Executive Directors in the Arusha Region have been urged to practice candidness in showing income and expenditure reports since it is not their personal property. This call was made by Zonal Local Government Reform Team Co-ordinator, Mr. Theonest Rutahindurwa at the meeting called to evaluate the on-going implementation of Local Government Reforms, which was held recently at the Golden Rose Hotel in the Arusha Municipality. "District and Municipal Councils, money and buildings are public properties. Therefore, in order to keep the public abreast with the day-to-day operations of the councils, please, do not conceal your income and expenditure statements," warned Mr. Rutahindurwa. He said that there are district councils, which are appropriating funds without informing the members of the public. "You directors and head of departments, you have to bear in mind that the council is neither the property of chairpersons nor yours", said the Co-ordinator. He said the Councillors have been attending meetings without collaborating with the members of the public or informing them of the resolutions passed, such as they are doing, as if the proceedings were confidential. "Please emulate Arusha Municipal Council, which has lately resolved that when they are convening full council meetings, they publicly announce the impending meeting four days before. Let us clap hands to them," he said. Mr. Rutahindurwa also commended the district councils, which have advertised their income and expenditure statements in the newspapers. He said that this is the actual adherence to the President Benjamin Mkapa's principle of openness and transparency. He revealed those districts as being Arusha, Arumeru and Monduli. The Co-ordinator also urged the District Executive Director to invite the media and members of the public for dialogue in order to allow the public to be aware of the achievements and failures in their operations. "To make this point clear, let us start with the Arusha Municipal Council, Your Lordship Mayor, let us schedule this dialogue this month in your council and other councils will follow," the Co-ordinator pointed out.
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