By Paskal Mbunga, Tanga January 14, 2014.
The
Tanga Regional Manager of an institution which lends funds to small
scale entrepreneurs, BRAC has said his institution will not compromise
with any staff found indulging in corrupt practices.
The
Manager, Prodip Laskar was speaking to reporters today when elaborating
on rumours that some of the staff in the branch offices are asking for
‘kick backs’ from clients before they are endorsed for payment of the
loans.
Laskar
said the allegations on named list of staff which had reached his
office will be worked on immediately without delay and promised to
cooperate with any source from outside who is willing to expose the
corrupt staff.
There
are wide spread allegations that registered members in the institution
when they ask for loans, they are asked for a ten per cent commission.
BRAC
members in Amboni, a village in the outskirts of the city had told
reporters that they are asked for a ten per cent commission from the
community organizer who is literally known as Mwalimu wa darasa.
Mwalimu
Vero as she is popularly known in Amboni, is the community organizer
(CO) who teaches the BRAC members on how to keep their financial
dealings in good shape and manage their small scale businesses.
According
to reliable sources, the BRAC members are each entitled to pay one
shilling per week for the salary of the community organizer when she
comes to teach them.
It
is these community organizers who are the ones who scrutinize
applications of clients who want to take loans from the institution. At
this stage when one’s application is ripe for the loan, it is alleged
that the CO (Mwalimu wa Darasa) approaches the applicants and proposes
for a ten per cent commission to expedite the loan processing, alleging
that the amount will be shared between the CO and the branch Manager.
A
loan applicant told reporters how the scam is operated. She explained
that when you ask for example, a loan of 600,000/=, you are then asked
for a ten percent which is roundabout 50,000/= which is to be delivered
to the CO immediately after you have received the loan.
The Regional BRAC Manager disclosed that he has fired three staff for asking bribes from clients.