The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General, Dr Edward Hosea, has underscored the need for the introduction of special courts of law to try graft cases in the country.

Dr Edward Hosea said in Dar es Salaam that the courts would help address the problem and speed up the dispensation of justice. He noted that it was high time the necessary legislation and regulations were put in place to facilitate the establishment of these special courts.

"PCCB should also be given the mandate to handle cases instead of filing charges to the Director of Public Prosecution to expedite case hearing," said the PCCB chief after opening a workshop on combating corruption for anti corruption clubs from the city based secondary schools.

Dr Hosea pointed out that there is a good number of countries which have introduced the special courts on corruption and that the courts have greatly facilitated the campaign against corruption. He also noted that petty bribes offered by politicians to members of the public a major challenge in the anti-corruption campaign due to circumstances that surround the incidents.

He said that the petty bribes, which are popularly known as 'takrima' or "hospitality offers" are handed out in various forms, a situation that poses a stiff challenge when investigating the cases. However, he was optimistic that the Election Expenses Act would help to curb the problem because the regulation controls the expenditures made by the politicians during election campaigns.

The PCCB Director General called upon the anti-corruption clubs to help primary schools to cultivate early awareness on the felony and that his agency would provide them with full support.