What You Need to Know
The Tanzanian government, led by Agriculture Minister Daniel Chongolo, is taking decisive steps to combat fraud in cooperative societies. Proposed measures include establishing dedicated desks within law enforcement agencies to expedite fraud case handling and launching the ‘Linda Ushirika, Chagua Uadilifu’ campaign to enhance accountability and restore public trust in cooperatives.
Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Minister for Agriculture, Mr Daniel Chongolo, has proposed the establishment of dedicated desks within national law enforcement agencies, including the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), the Police Force and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), to speed up the handling of fraud cases involving cooperative societies.
Opening the Cooperative Stakeholders’ Meeting in Dodoma over the weekend, Mr Chongolo said the actions of a few dishonest leaders continue to undermine members’ trust and hinder progress in the cooperative sector.
He stressed that introducing specialised mechanisms at district and regional levels is essential.
“Why can’t we have a special cooperative police office, from a chief officer overseeing it to officers responsible for protecting cooperative members’ rights?” he asked.
The minister underscored the high financial stakes in the sector, noting that cooperatives handle more than 6tri/- annually, including 1.16tri/- managed by Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos) and about 4.2tri/- invested as cooperative business capital.
He stressed that the funds require strong safeguards to protect members’ interests. “When cooperative societies are managed with integrity, we achieve excellent results,” he said. Mr Chongolo cited the notorious Sikonge case, in which leaders allegedly disappeared with more than 1.2bn/- belonging to members, causing severe hardship to affected families. “I will personally engage all relevant authorities to ensure we end the era of untrustworthy cooperative leaders who misuse members’ funds as if it were normal practice,” he said.
The minister also launched the ‘Linda Ushirika, Chagua Uadilifu’ (Protect Cooperatives, Choose Integrity) campaign, aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring public confidence. The annual initiative will include regular evaluations to assess progress and determine further interventions.
Through the campaign, the Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) will intensify digital transformation and ensure thorough auditing of all cooperative societies, with strict action against those found violating regulations.
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Ayoub Mohamed Mahamoud, assured that the Police Force will enforce laws and procedures to safeguard cooperative properties.
Earlier, TCDC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Benson Ndiege, said the Commission has begun digital integration of cooperative systems, including linking digital weighing scales to central systems.
“This will allow real-time monitoring, from the point where produce is weighed at the village level all the way to the Registrar. It will also make it easier to trace and address challenges,” he said.
He noted that the Commission continues to work closely with key institutions such as PCCB, the Judiciary and the DPP to ensure swift action whenever cases arise.
However, Dr Ndiege acknowledged persistent challenges within cooperatives, including internal conflicts, poor financial discipline and delays in handling cases by law enforcement agencies.
He said the Commission will continue educating cooperative members to help them understand their rights and responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, Trade, Agriculture and Livestock, Ms Gati Zefania said cooperatives were once the backbone of farmers and livestock keepers, enabling access to reliable markets, essential inputs and affordable loans.
She said the decline of these services had weakened the cooperative movement, stressing the need to strengthen supervision and accountability to restore members’ trust.
Cooperatives have historically played a vital role in Tanzania’s agricultural sector, providing farmers with access to markets and financial resources. However, issues of fraud and mismanagement have plagued the sector, leading to a decline in trust among members. Recent high-profile cases of corruption have prompted the government to take action to safeguard cooperative members’ interests and restore the integrity of the cooperative movement. The introduction of specialized law enforcement measures aims to address these challenges and ensure better management of cooperative societies.
