The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Rose Athumani
2 May 2008
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda yesterday urged workers to support the Government's anti-corruption campaign, saying the looting of public funds impoverished the people.
The Premier said that besides being a contravention of justice, corruption denied the majority better living opportunities.
"As it does so, it gives the minority corrupt officials a prosperous living,"he said.
Mr Pinda was addressing the nation from Samora Stadium in Iringa, during the Labour Day celebrations.
He said if workers refused to be involved in suspect deals, corrupt big shots would be intimidated.
"Workers should refuse to get involved in corrupt dealings, which will in turn scare the corrupt bigwigs," he said, urging them to report cases of corruption to the authorities.
An earlier theme for this year's celebration that was later changed, received praise from President Jakaya Kikwete.
The theme read:
"Better life for every Tanzanian can be attained if we eliminate grand corruption."
According to Premier Pinda, President Kikwete had agreed whole-heartedly with the theme, adding that corruption inhibits development in a country.
"The President said corruption leads to few people enjoying the resources in a country and the larger group being forced to bribe their way to get even basic services," Premier Pinda said.
Despite praise from the President, the theme was, however, changed to "Economic growth should be manifested by equitable distribution of the national cake", which Mr Pinda said had a similar meaning with the first one.
"Both themes touch on the fight against corruption 100 per cent and which, if left unchecked, will only benefit few people," he added.
Commenting on salaries, Premier Pinda said problems evident in the country are largely dependant on the national economy.
He added:
"If the people do not work hard on production, our living conditions and salaries will continue being low."
In the light of the growing economic difficulties, Premier Pinda advised workers to spend cautiously and within the limits of their incomes.
He said that despite the small salaries workers are currently receiving, they should shun non-essential items such as luxuries as these would lure them into corruption.
"We should not spend more than what we earn, especially on extravagances," he said.
The premier also warned employers against blocking workers from joining or forming unions or holding meetings in their places of work, saying it was against the laws and rights of employees.
He said such unions would not only be beneficial to employees, but also to the employers, as they would help improve the working relations between the employer and employee.
Commenting on strikes, the premier called for discussions as a way to reach an amicable solution instead of boycotting work, whose impact was felt by the public.
Citing the recent TRL employees' strikes, Premier Pinda said passengers were the most affected, when they had nothing to do with the strike.
"Discussions are the best way to a problem, we should not use strikes as the only ways to get our rights," he said.
Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) secretary-general Nestory Ngulla warned against corruption, saying the Government should sit down and reflect on how graft claims were emerging now.
He said laws should be revisited to prevent leaders from engaging in corruption.
Mr Ngulla praised President Kikwete's move to stop government officials from holding public offices while managing their own businesses.
The President's decision should be enforce as a policy and a law to make it official enacted, the trade union boss said.
He said that in the past five years the economy had been growing steadily but the living conditions of workers had continued to deteriorate.
The union had carried out a feasibility study over the past three years after workers kept complaining about little pay.
He said the feasibility study established that workers' income continued to go down year after year, while the economy was growing.
"The living conditions of workers are still difficult, and are made even harder by the escalating commodity prices," he added.
On the ongoing study on private sector salaries, Mr Ngulla said both the employees and employers should accept the outcome on an amount to cater for today's living standards.
He also cautioned the Government against arriving at a decision and trying to involve stakeholders through seminars later.
Several dignitaries attended the national Labour Day celebrations, estimated to have cost Sh120 million.
They included the director of International Labour Organisation Eastern zone, ambassadors, Cabinet ministers, and MPs.
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