MWE Correspondent
In a welcome turn of events for rural farmers in Tanzania, over 79 million Tanzanian shillings — roughly US $31,000 — have been recovered and returned to cashew growers in the Mtwara Region,
thanks to an aggressive anti-corruption drive led by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB).
The funds were withheld from farmers by various Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS) during the 2024/2025 season, raising serious concerns about financial transparency in Tanzania’s vital agricultural sector. The PCCB, known locally as TAKUKURU, stepped in following complaints and whistleblower reports from the farmers themselves.
Elisante Mashauri, the PCCB Regional Chief for Mtwara, announced on May 27, 2025, that the money was successfully returned to the farmers between January and March this year. He credited the success to increased civic education that empowered citizens to report corruption confidently.
“Education has made people more aware of their rights,” said Mashauri. “That awareness is what led to these recoveries. Seven formal investigation files have been opened and are being handled accordingly.”
In addition to the financial recovery, PCCB officers conducted inspections across 13 public development projects — including those in the education, health, and infrastructure sectors — totaling over 7 billion Tanzanian shillings. The inspections aimed to uncover possible misuse or diversion of public funds.
The bureau also received 82 reports from the public between January and March 2025 — 44 related to corruption and 38 to other administrative misconduct. These are now being addressed as part of a broader strategy to rebuild public trust in local institutions.
One particularly telling case came from Nakopi Village in Nanyumbu District, where farmers were owed more than 18.4 million shillings due to delayed payments by cooperative leaders. Through the community outreach program known as PCCB Rafiki, the farmers received their money after months of frustration and hardship.
Mtwara, located in southern Tanzania, is one of the country’s major producers of cashew nuts — a critical export crop that supports thousands of smallholder farmers. Corruption and mismanagement in the cashew sector have long affected rural incomes, making this successful intervention a hopeful sign for better days ahead.
