Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Mr. Stephen Kagaigai, has advised all district commissioners in the region to use their offices to resolve citizens’ grievances on all working days instead of setting aside a special day for the same.
Mr Kagaigai gave the advice on Tuesday, during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed district commissioners who were stationed to work within the region.
“I have been through some places in the country and found in some areas where some officials have placed advertisements showing a special day to listen to citizens ‘grievances, I suggest that in our region let us use all the working days to set aside a special time to listen to citizens’ grievances”, he said.
“When you set a special day let’s say Wednesday, when there is someone whose challenge is a special case in need of emergency solution that will lead one to see as if the government doesn’t care about its people; I suggest that your offices should be meant for the people, give the people a chance to be heard”, he said.
He also urged the District Commissioners not to misuse the provision of the law which gives them powers to detain suspects for up to 48 hours.
“There are some of them who have misused the law not out of tyranny but simply because they misinterpreted the law giving them that chance; If you find you need advice on this before making a decision, seek advice from the relevant legal authorities, personally, I am ready to give advice concerning the same”, said Mr. Kagaigai.
Mr. Kagaigai directed the District Commissioners to ensure that they cooperate with officials of the District Councils in their areas of work so as to ensure that government revenue generated through these councils are collected as expected while at the same time making sure the government funds are utilized efficiently in accordance with established procedures.
“To ensure that these councils get more revenue, be creative, find new investors and show them areas which are potential for investment opportunities”, he said.
He added, “If they are satisfied with investing in these areas, apart from increasing revenues in your districts, the new investments will also create new job opportunities and therefore address the challenges of unemployment especially for the youth.
Speaking during the occasion, the Kilimanjaro region’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Mr. Patrick Boisafi, advised the District Commissioners to ensure that they adhere to the oath they took while fulfilling their responsibilities.
“In safe guarding the oath you took today, make sure you observe good ethics, become honest, while at the same time doing justice; In this way your job of serving the people will be easier”, he said.
Earlier, the Kilimanjaro Regional Administrative Secretary Dr. Seif Shekalaghe, explained the reasons for the swearing-in of only two out of the six District Commissioners present at the event.
“You saw only two DCs who were sworn, this is because the other four had already taken their oaths in the past when they were appointed in this position; what happened recently was relocation of their stations of work”, he explained.
During the occasion those who swore in before the Regional Commissioner included the new District Commissioner of Mwanga Mr. Abdalla Mwaipaya and the new Rombo District Commissioner Col. Hamis Maiga.
The names of the other District Commissioners who were present at the ceremony with the districts allocated to them in brackets include Mr. Thomas Upson (Siha), Mr. Said Mtanda (Moshi), Mr. Juma Irando (Hai) and Mr. Edward Mpogoro (Same).
