A dissertation submitted to Mzumbe University Dar es Salaam Campus
College in partial/ fulfillment of the requirement for Masters of Accounting and
Finance (A & F) of Mzumbe University.
This research dissertation is on the benefits of value for money auditing in public
service projects. The research was conducted as a case study at National Audit Office
of Tanzania (NAOT) headquarters in Dar - es - salaam for the period of 2012/13 in
fulfillment of the requirements for award of the degree of Masters of Science in
Accounting and Finance (MSc A & F) of Mzumbe University.
The main objective of this study was to find out the cause and effects, and suggests
the possible measure for detecting and preventing of the frauds, misuse of resources
activities that led to negative or zero impact to the societies concerned and thus they
proved failure or great loss as a result increases the burden to the government and
undermine development of the country. In order to carry out this study the researcher
put much emphasis on various key aspects including understanding of both, internal
and external auditing systems as well as technical audit unit department of ministry
of finance at the time, so as to cross check if value for money audit principles was
applicable in public service projects where by performance audit department is
responsible for supervising all national projects for development of the people and
country at large.
The researcher collected primary and secondary data through observation,
participation, interview, documentary sources and inspection. Qualitative research
technique adopted so as to elaborate the uses of quantitative.
It was observed that proper use of public funds especially tax payer’s money,
viability of important projects like road and water projects as well as accountability
of all responsible officers to the project concerned.
It was further observed that VFM auditing is not a popular approach for auditing
among public official. It is suggested that few number of government’s auditor have
experience in VFM audit, no universal criteria have been established for evaluating 3
E’s (economy, efficiency and effectiveness) and auditee’s biasness on VFM audit
that is to unveil their misuse as the results to be sued/dismissal from their jobs.