Written by EDITOR

Election times are drawing close for many East African Community (EAC) countries. Holding elections in itself is a necessary element of democracy, progress, economic prosperity and peace.

 
That all five EAC member countries are committed to the democratic principle, is highly commendable as it will reduce political friction -- the scourge of peace and progress.

 
However, there are few disturbing practices that are inherently regressive. The major one being unregulated sourcing of funds by political parties and seekers of political positions such as Member of Parliament and ward chairmen in some of the countries, especially at election time.

 
In many of our countries the citizenry witnesses huge expenditures by ruling parties in particular that spend hugely on producing T-shirts, caps, campaign publications, but don’t have any known economic activities to draw the money from. Huge transport costs for the hoards of party officials driving huge 4-wheel vehicles and the allowances for the officials, are other disturbing expenditures. So goes for the opposition parties, they too often don’t have known sources of income for their election campaigns.

 
To the businessmen and unethical scribes, election time is the period for reaping heavily as they service the political parties and political contenders.

 
Political analysts allege that most political parties ‘divert’ money from the Government coffers intended for development projects, and others take money from ‘dirty’ hands such as drug barons, tax evaders and people seeking favours for huge tenders in Government.

 
Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete for one is on record to discourage such unregulated sourcing of party funds warning that such money comes with strings attached, many of the conditions could be devastating in financial and political terms.

 
As a result the Tanzania Government has instructed the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), the Controller and Auditor General and the Registrar of Political Parties to stand firm on financial accountability during elections. The country’s National Assembly has gone further to outlaw ‘takrima’ - Swahili for ‘traditional hospitality’. The practice was virtual corruption - giving away presents, cash, t-shirts, khanga materials to women and foods to the electorate in order to get their votes.

 
The incumbent MPs have been at an advantage because their five-year term gratuity that used to be Tsh 20 million (US$14,815) has been raised to Tshs 46 million ($34,000). The MPs have endorsed the ‘anti-takrima’ law, but who has the capacity to monitor what can go on in the nearly 300 constituencies.

Similar scenarios abound in the entire East African countries although to different degrees. What the citizenry really need is adherence to strict and transparent sourcing of party funds lest Government powers be wrestled away from ‘the people’ to private corrupt interests and even terrorist groups.