ABSTRACT
Corruption is one of the major development challenges facing Tanzania today. Every year, billions of money is reported to be lost to corruption. This chapter aims to examine the significance of the National Audit Office and its routine audits on curbing corruption in the local government authorities (LGAs) in Tanzania. Using data from the audit reports from 2007 to 2014, the author argues that annual audits of LGAs’ public financial resources management have been an important tool in improving financial accountability. However, challenges remain, as reflected in the persistence of corrupt practices. For audit reports to have a significant impact on LGAs’ management of public funds and governance, citizens should take an active and informed role in the debate about findings and holding their leaders accountable.
