Income and Assets Disclosure among Public Officials in Tanzania: A Leadership Code of Ethics or a Leadership Cost of Ethics?
Chakupewa Joseph Mpambije

Abstract
Tanzania’s Leadership Code of Ethics (LCE) is steadily fading at times where Tanzanians still yearn for effective delivery on the part of public servants. This comes at the midst of fast growing pace of corruption as the country has been ranked among 14 most corrupt countries worldwide. While efforts to solve the LCE problem are underway, the crucial angle from which LCE can be dealt with has not been adhered to. This is abiding to Income and Assets disclosure among public leaders. This paper, attempts to shade light on the current debate on the need for public leaders to declare their income and assets in adherence to LCE. With critical analysis from secondary sources, the article argues that failure of public leaders to declare income and assets tarnishes possibilities of upholding to LCE. The article is of the view that the weaknesses of the institutions whose mandate is to safeguard LCE especially the Ethics Secretariat are the root of this problem. The Secretariat is hampered by weak law enforcement ability, lack of enough financial resources as well as, lack of autonomy, and unpredictable political will. Since ethics and public service are the “body and soul” for effective service delivery, rekindling LCE through assets and liability declaration cannot be underestimated.

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