MUNICIPAL councils are still underperforming in relation to property tax and billboard fee collection as it is currently at 38 percent, the government has stated.

 Mohammed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President’s Office (PO-RALG), said n a statement read on his behalf by deputy minister Dr Festo Dugange,  that the councils need to assess why they have not reached the set targets and to ensure that by June this year they achieve 90 percent.

 The minister demanded that reports be submitted detailing how each council has collected revenue from property tax, billboard fees and land taxes, to measure efficiency in meeting government objectiges.

 He similarly directed district authorities to ensure proper enrollment in pre-primary and first-grade classes, alongside other levels, due to perceived dissatisfaction with enrollment levels in some regions, while addressing pupil dropout rates.

 Council directors need to oversee the 10percent loan funds administered properly and address any complaints by adhering to the the relevant regulations and guidelines for loan issuance and repayment, he stated.

 He cautioned regional authorities to be watchful on the use of fake revenue collection receipts, denying the government income, affirming that such activitieso were noticed extensively in Meatu and Mbeya districts. Swift actiono is needed in all district councils countrywide to reverse the trend, he emphasised.

 Officiating at the closure of the 39th annual general meeting of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT), the deputy minister said that council officials should conduct an assessment to ensure that no revenue is lost or misappropriated by those entrusted with collecting fees and levies.

 “In Meatu, there is a group that forged receipts using a flash drive with a program that generates receipts on a regular computer. This is then connected to a POS Roll printer, which prints receipts according to the needs of the person producing them,” he said, elaborating that the trend is likely to be found in other councils too.

 Some revenue collection agents issue forged receipts as they operate with two machines—one with genuine and another with fake receipts, he stated, noting that some of the suspects were and interrogated. 

“I emphasize that all those involved in misusing public funds in various councils should be dealt with swiftly using public service laws, regulations and procedures, including being taken to court,” he appealed.

 Some coincil revenue agents use a small number of genuine receipts while the main part are fake, in which case district authorities need to investigate and take action against those involved, he added.