News Alert: Zitto katika gazeti la Denmark

Tanzania: Yes, to block grants - if… Zitto Kabwe, one of the leading opposition’s politicians in Tanzania says yes to a more free development support from Denmark. But on the condition that parliamentarian and independent, local organizations (NGOs) get a share of the money. By LARS FROM International correspondent lars.from@jp.dk With 727 millions in assistance from Denmark Tanzania was last year the country that received the majority of the development assistance from Denmark. The country’s maybe next Minister of Finance, Zitto Kabwe, from the opposition party Chadema (Party for Democracy and Development) welcomes Denmark's new Minister for Development Christian Friis Bach’s much higher degree of allowing developing countries to decide what the total 16 billion DKK, which Denmark annually gives in foreign aid, should be used for. "It's a good idea to give developing countries control of donor money. But it must be combined with strengthening both parliament and independent, local organizations" states Zitto Kabwe, designated as "shadow finance minister," and who will have the important post as Minister of Finance, if the opposition wins the next election. Weak Parliaments "Today, the parliaments in most African countries are very weak. Therefore it is essential that, along with a conversion to general budget support also to reinforce the local parliaments and organizations so they can keep governments accountable in regard of how money is used. Otherwise, a portion of the money will be wasted." Zitto Kabwe suggests that using a fifth of support from the rich countries to strengthen parliaments and local NGOs, while countries’ own governments will be responsible themselves for distributing the remaining 80 per cent. "We must be sure that Danish tax payers’ money are not wasted. In this way one can guarantee that there will be greater transparency and control of money - while we get a greater accountability - because if the government is allowed to distribute money it will thus feel a much greater sense of ownership for the entire development," says the Tanzanian politician. The money disappears According to Zitto Kabwe about 30 percent of public donor funds disappear in Tanzania today in a way no one can explain. And in a country, which annually receives 8 -10 billions in foreign aid from different countries, it is really a lot of money. "By giving ourselves the responsibility the waste will be much smaller, and we will get more out of money," he assesses. Zitto Kabwe also believes in the idea of ​​a greater level to support local citizens’ rights which Christian Friis Bach also announced – it corresponds well with leaving much more of the responsibility for foreign aid to developing countries themselves. "It's a good idea to give more help for local people and independent organizations. In this way, the poor people have far better opportunities to be heard. But the message must be communicated clearly from Denmark, otherwise you risk that project fails. " In contrast to the Danish Minister for Development the only 35-year-old Zitto Kabwe does not believe that it necessarily will lead to more demonstrations and provide more turmoil to strengthen local residents and organizations. Criticism from the Danish Liberal Party Christian Friis Bach's announcements have created a fierce debate. In parliament, the Danish Liberal Party called the Minister for Development in consultation informs the representative Jakob Ellemann Jensen (V): "On the one hand, the Minister expresses a wish that he will increasingly provide block grants to developing countries and then leave it up to countries themselves to decide what money is for. On the other hand, he says that he will be a "minister for rights" and promote civil rights. But then it may not be such a good idea to give money to governments’’, says James Ellemann- Jensen. "In the Danish Liberal Party we would also like to give developing countries greater participation, so we avoid paternalism. But I have difficulty seeing how the announcement from Christian Friis Bach works. Article from Danish daily Jyllandsposten - October 12, 2011