Kikwete appoint Professor Asad as New COntroller and Auditor General

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has appointed Professor Mussa Juma Assad the new Controller and Auditor General (CAG) effective November 5. Professor Assad fills in the position left by Mr Ludovick Utouh who retired in September.The statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications stated that the new holder of one of the most powerful and influential posts in the land, with the responsibility to ensure financial discipline, will be sworn-in this morning.

Prior to his appointment, Prof Assad was an Associate Professor at the Accounting Department of the University of Dar es Salaam. The statement described Prof Assad as "an erudite and brilliant person with vast experience in accounting and financial control".He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in Accounting from Southampton University in England (2001) and Masters of Arts in Financial Accounting, Dublin City University in the Republic of Ireland (1991)."He also possesses a Professional Diploma in Accounting from Dublin University that he obtained in 1990 and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Dar es Salaam (1988)," reads part of the statement.

Besides his academic qualifications, Prof Assad has also served in various capacities in the accounting field as well as being the Chairman of National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) for seven years (2007- 2014).He was also appointed President of the Pan African Federation of Accountants effective 2012 in addition to serving as a member of various boards of directors in the country.Following the appointment, "President Kikwete remains optimistic that the newly- appointed CAG will use his vast knowledge in the accounting field to better serve the country and increase good governance," the statement further read.

The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mr Zitto Kabwe, received the appointment with confidence, believing that it will add to financial accountability in the country.Through his facebook and twitter accounts, the Kigoma North MP (Chadema) wrote: "My confidence in strengthening financial accountability in Tanzania has once again increased following the appointment of Prof Mussa Assad as the new CAG." He said that with the level of mismanagement and misuse of public funds including corruption, Tanzania needs such a tough, strict and no nonsense personality. "Although (Prof) Assad is media shy, I, as the chair of PAC, strongly believe that he will bring NAOT to the next level from where Mr Utouh left. I welcome Prof Assad's appointment and I promise continued support from PAC," he wrote.