Background

The United Republic of Tanzania ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2005. The Convention provides strategic guidance to international and national anti-corruption approaches that could be adopted by member countries. Article 5(1) of the UNCAC stipulates that 'Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, develop and implement or maintain effective, coordinated anti-corruption policies that promote the participation of society and reflect the principles of the rule of law, proper management of public affairs and public property, integrity, transparency and accountability.'

Until recently, Zanzibar did not have a specific anti-corruption body and the Tanzania mainland graft body; The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) did not have mandate to cover Zanzibar. In 2011 the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGOZ) developed and adopted a good governance policy and shortly thereafter an Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act was passed by the Zanzibar House of Representatives. The Act establishes the Zanzibar Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Authority (ZAECA) operationalized in 2012 with a three-pronged mandate of Prevention, Education and Investigations for both public and private sector.