Co-operative Audit and Supervision Act, 1982 (No. 15 of 1982)

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation. PART II THE CO-OPERATIVE AUDIT AND SUPERVISION CORPORATION

3. Establishment of the Corporation.

4. Functions of the Corporation.

5. Management of the Corporation. PART III AUDIT, INSPECTION AND INQUIRIES

6. Audit.

7. Special inspection.

8. Inspection by Registrar.

9. Inspection on behalf of a creditor.

10. Costs of inspection.

11. Jurisdiction of courts. PART IV FINANCIAL PROVISIONS 12 Funds and Resources of the Corporation.

13. Investment.

14. Power to borrow.

15. Annual and Supplementary Budget. 16, Accounts ad Audit.

17. Annual statements on accounts and report to be submitted to the Minister.

18. Annual statement and report to be laid before the National Assembly. I 1 2 No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 PART V MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS Section Title

19. Remuneration of members of the Board.

20. Delegation of powers.

21. Liabilities of members of the Board. - - Dissolution of Audit and Supervision Fund. 1) I?

23. Saving of Rules and Regulations.

24. Rules and regulation making powers. FIRST SCHEDULE COMPOSITION AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD

SECOND SCHEDULE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY AND TRANSITIONAL PROVI- SIONS No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 3 THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA No. 15 OF 1982 I ASSE K. ................ President 28TH JUNE 1982 An Act to establish Co-operative Audit and Supervision Cor- poration to provide for its functions and to provide for matters related to audit, supervision and inspection of books of accounts of co-operative societies I I ENACTED by the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. PART I PRELIMINARY 1. This Act may be cited as the Co-operative Audit and Super- Short title vision Act, 1982, and shall come into operation on such date as the and com- mencement Minister may by notice in the Gazette, appoint. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- ''apex organization'' means a registered co-operative society the area of whose operation extends thought Tanzania; Interpretation ''Board'' means the Board of Directors established under section 5 (1); ''committee'' means a body responsible for the management of the affairs of a registered society; ''Corporation'' means the Co-operative Audit and Supervision Corporation established under section 3; ''the Director'' means the Director of Co-operative Audit and Supervision Corporation appointed under section 5(3); 4 No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 ''Minister'' means the Minister for the time being responsible for matters pertaining to co-operative societies; Acts, 1982 No. 14 ,, officer'' has the same meaning ascribed to it by the Co-operative Societies Act, 1982; Acts, 1982 ''primary society'' has the meaning assigned to it by the Co- No. 14 operative Act, 1982; Acts, 1982 ''Registrar'' has the same meaning ascribed to it by the Co- No. 14 operative Societies Act, 1982; ''secondary society'' has the meaning assigned to it by the Co- Acts 1982 No. 14 operative Act, 1982. PART II THE CO-OPERATIVE AUDIT AND SUPERVISION CORPORATION Established 3.-(1) There is hereby established, a body corporate to be of the Corpo- ration known as the Co-operative Audit and Supervision Corporation. (2) The Corporation shall- (a) have perpetual succession and an official seal; (b) in its corporate name, be capable of suing or being sued-, (c) subject to the provisions of this Net, be capable of holding, purchasing and otherwise acquiring in any other way any movable or immovable or of disposing of any of its property. Functions of 4.-(1) Subject to this section, functions of the corporation the Corpora- shall be- tion (a) to provide audit and supervision services to co-operative societies; (b) to give advice on audit and accounting procedures and to formulate audit and accounting policy for adoption by the societies; (c) to do any other thing which may facilitate the proper exer- cise of the functions of the corporation. (2) The Corporation shall he responsible for and shall perform in accordance with the best professional standards and, except where it is otherwise provided in any other written law, within twelve months of the end of the financial year concerned, audit accounts of any co-operative society, or such other body as may be prescribed by the Minister or Registrar as the case may be. (3) The Corporation may provide its services, upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed, to a co-operative society or any other person, No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 5 (4) The Corporation shall, if required by any written direction of the Minister or Registrar, so to do, provide its services upon such terms and conditions as may be specified in such direction, to any person or body of persons whether corporate or unincorporated. (5) The Corporation may from time to time, appoint on such terms and conditions as it may think fit such officers as it may consider necessary for the performance of its functions and may enter into such arrangements with persons or firms for the supply of services or facilities to the Corporation as it may consider desirable. (6) The Corporation shall have power to do any other thing which is necessary or expedient for the proper carrying out of its functions under this Act. (7) Subject to special direction by the Minister in the exercise of its functions under this section, the corporation shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. 5.-(1) There shall be Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall, subject to this Act, be responsible for the performance Management of the Corpo- by the Corporation its functions and for the control and manage- ration ment of the Corporation. (2) The provisions of the First Schedule shall have effect in respect of the composition, constitution and proceeding of the Board. (3) The President shall appoint a public officer to be the Direc- tor. (4) The Director shall be responsible for the day to day administration of the Corporation. PART III AUDIT, INSPECTION AND INQUIRIES 6.-(1) The Director shall audit or cause to be audited by some Audit person authorized by him or by general or specified order in writing the accounts of every registered primary society, secondary society and the apex organization once a year. (2) The audit under subsection (1) shall include an examination of overdue debts if any, and valuation of the assets and liabilities of the society. (3) The Director or any other person appointed' to audit account of a society shall have power when necessary- 6 No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 (a) to summon at the time of his audit any officer, agent, servant or member of the society. who he has reason to believe can give material information in regard to any transactions or the management of its affairs; or (b) to require the production of any book or document relating to the affairs of; or any cash or securities, belonging to the society by the officer, agent, servant or member in posses- sion of book, document, cash or securities. (4) Any officer, agent, servant or member of registered society who- (a) willfully neglects or refuses to do any act or furnish any information; or (b) furnishes information known to be false; or (c) without any reasonable excuses disobeys any summons or order under subsection (3) shall, be committing an offence, and on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceed- ing one year or to both such fine and imprisonment. Special 7.-(1) The Registrar may of his own motion, or on the applica- inspection tion of majority of the members of the committee or not less than one-third of the members, direct the Director or any other emp- loyee of the Corporation by order in writing in this behalf to hold a special inspection into the activities and financial affairs of a registered society. (2) All officers and members of the society shall produce books and documents of the society and furnish such information in regard to the affairs of the society as the Director and any other authorized person may require. Inspection by 8.-(1) The Registrar may of his own motion direct the Direc- Registrar tor to carry out an inspection of any specified co-operative organ- ization in respect of any person employed by a specified co- operative organization or any person who, in the opinion of the Registrar, is reasonably believed of having had any dealing with any specified co-operative society. (2) In carrying an inspection under this section the Director shall have power- (a) to require any person, whether such person is an employee of the specified co-operative society or is reasonably believed to have had dealings with the specified co- operative society to produce to an officer of the Corporation any book of account or other document which, in the opin- ion of the officer of the Corporation, is relevant to the inquiry; No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 7 (b) to require any person, whether such person is an employee of the specified co-operative society or is reasonably believed to have had dealing with such specified co- operative society, to answer all such questions put to him by an officer of the Corporation, which in the opinion of such officer are relevant to the inquiry. (3) Any person who, upon being required, pursuant to provi- sion of subsection (2), by an officer of the Corporation to produce any book of account or other document or to answer any question put to him by the officer of the Corporation, fails or refuses to produce such book of account or other document or fails or refuses to answer any such question or gives an answer which he knows or has reason to believe to be untrue, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment. (4) For the purposes of this section ''inspection'' means an examination of, or in relation to, any transaction or series of transactions involving money, crops or any other valuable consid- eration; ''employee of specified co-operative society'' includes an officer or member of a specified co-operative society whether or not he is an employee of such co-operative society. (5) A person shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to have had dealings with a specified co-operative society if he has had dealings with the organization as a buyer, seller, contractor, sub-contractor, broker or supplier, or if he has acted for or on behalf of the society in any transaction whatsoever, whether or not he has received any remuneration for his services, and references in this section to any such person include references to any emp- loyee or agent of such person or, where such person is body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporated include references to any officer, member, employee or other person, whether or not an employee, who is or, was at the material time, concerned with the management of the affairs of such body of persons. (6) Where an inspection has been carried out under the provi- sions of this section, the Corporation shall, as soon as may be practicable after the completion of the inspection, submit its report on such inspection to the Registrar 9.-(1) Subject to subsection (2) the Director shall, in consulta- Inspection on tion with the registrar, on the application of a creditor of a regis_ behalf of a creditor tered society inspect or direct some person authorized by him by order in writing in this behalf to carry such inspection. (2) No inspection under this subsection shall be carried out or directed unless- 8 No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 (a) the creditor satisfied both the Registrar and the Director that the debt is a sum then due and he has demanded payment thereof and he has not received satisfaction within a reasonable time; and (b) the creditor deposits with the Corporation such sum as security for costs of the proposed inspection as the Director may require. Costs of or 10.-(1) Where an inspection is held under section 7 or 9 the inspection Registrar may by a certificate under his hand and seal, make an award apportioning the costs, or such part of the costs as he may think right, between the society, the members or creditor demanding an inquiry or inspection, and the officers of former officers of the society. Acts 1966. No. 49 (2) The registrar may lodge a certified copy of a certificate issued by him under subsection (1) in court of resident magistrate or in district court and upon being lodged such certicate shall be deemed to be a decree passed by such court for the payment by the person named in the certificate to the Registrar of the sum specified in the certificate and such sum may be recovered in any manner prescribed by the Civil Procedure Code, 1966 for the enforcement of decrees shall apply mutatis mutandis, to proceed- ings for the recovery of costs awarded under this section. Jurisdiction 11. Where any person is charged with an offence under this Act of courts and is convicted of such offence by a court presided over by a competent magistrate, such court shall, notwithstanding the provi- Cap. 20 sions of section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Code, have power to pass sentence of fine not exceeding thirty thousand shillings or of a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years or both such fine and imprisonment. PART V FINANCIAL PROVISIONS Funds and 12. The funds and resources of the Corporation shall consist resources of the Corpora- of- tion (a) such sums which may derive from the operations of the Corporation; (b) such funds or assets as may rest in or accrue to Corporation from other sources by way of grants, gifts, fees or in any other way; (c) any sum which the Corporation may, subject to the provi- sions of section 14 borrow for its purposes; (d) such sums as may be provided for the specified purpose by the Parliament, either by way of grant or loan. No. 15 CO-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 9 13. With the prior approval of the Minister the Corporation Investment may, from time to time, invest any part of the moneys available in Act,1967 any fund in investments authorized by the Trustees Investments No. 33 Act, 1967, for investment of any trust fund. 14. With prior approval of the Minister, the Corporation may, row Power to bor- from time to time, borrow moneys by way of loan or overdraft, and upon such security and terms and conditions relating to repayment of the principal and payment of interest, subject to any direction by the Minister, as the Corporation may consider fit. 15.-(1) Subject to subsection (2), ''financial year'' in this Act Annual and means any period not exceeding twelve consecutive months desig- supplemen- nated by the Corporation as the accounting period. tary budget (2) The first financial year of the Corporation shall commence on the date when this Act comes into operation and may be of the period longer or shorter than twelve months,. (3) Not less than two months before the beginning of any finan- cial year the Board shall at its first meeting especially convened, for that purpose, pass a detailed budget (in this Act called the '' annual budget'') of the amounts respectively- - (a) expected to be received; and (b) expected to be disbursed by the Corporation during the financial year. (4) If in any financial year the Corporation requires to make any disbursement not provided for in the annual budget, for the year, the Board shall at a meeting, pass a supplementary budget detailing the disbursement. (5) Forthwith upon the passing of the annnual budget or any supplementary budget the Corporation shall submit the budget to the Minister for his approval. (6) The Minister shall, upon the receipt of the annual budget or supplementary budget approve or disprove it or approve it subject to such amendment as he may consider fit. (7) Where the Minister has approved any annual budget or supplementary budget as approved by him, whether with of with ' out amendment, shall be binding on the corporation which, sub- ject to the provisions of subsection (~) shall confine its ... disburse- ment within the items and amounts contained in the applicable estimates as approved by the Minister. ... I (8) The Board may- (a) with the sanction in writing of the Minister make, disburse- ment notwithstanding that the disbursement is not provided for; 10 N o. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 (b) from the amount of expenditure provided for in any budget in respect of any item, transfer a sum not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings to any other item contained in the budget; (c) adjust expenditure limits to take account of circumstances not reasonably foreseeable at the time the budget was pre- pared, subject to submitting a supplementary budget to the Minister within two months of the alteration of expenditure limits becoming necessary. Accounts and 16.-(1) The Corporation shall cause to be kept and main- audit tained proper books of accounts and record with respect to- (a) the receipt and expenditure of money by, and other financial transaction of the Secretariat and the Corporation; (b) the assets and liabilities of the Corporation and shall cause to be made out for every financial year a balance sheet and a statement showing details of the income and expenditure of the Corporation and all its assets and liabilities. (2) Not later than six months after the close of financial year the accounts including the balance sheet of the Corporation in respect Acts, 1968 of that financial year shall be audited by the Tanzania Audit No. 1 Corporation. (3) Every audited balance sheet shall be placed before a meet- ing of the Board and, if adopted by the Board, shall be endorsed with the certificate that it has been adopted. (4) As soon as the accounts have been audited and adopted by the Board, and, in any case not later than six months after the audit, the Board shall submit to the Minister a copy of the audited statements made by the Tanzania Audit Corporation. Annual 17.-(l) The Board shall within six months after the close of the statements on accounts financial year, cause to be prepared and submitted to the Minister a and report report dealing generally with its activities and operations during to be sub- that year and accompanied by- mitted to the Minister (a) a copy of the audited accounts of the Corporation; (b) a copy of the Tanzania Audit Corporation report on the accounts, and (c) such other information as the Minister may direct. Annual statement 18. The Minister shall as soon as practicable, and in any case not and report to later than twelve months after the close of a financial year, lay be laid before before the National Assembly the following documents in relation the national to that financial year- Assembly (a) a copy of the audited statement of accounts of the Corpora- tion; (b) a copy of the Auditor's report; and (c) a copy of the report by the Board. No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 11 PART V MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 19. The members of the Board shall be entitled to such remun- Remunera- eration, fees or allowances for expenses as the Minister may upon tion of the recommendation of the Board, prescribe from time to time: members of the Board Provided that no remuneration, fees or allowances, except such allowances for expenses as may be expressly authorized by the Minister, shall be paid to any member of the Board who is a public officer. 20.-(l) Subject to the provisions of subsection (6), the Board Delegation of may, from time to time, by writing under its official seal, appoint powers committees of the Board and delegate, subject to such items, conditions and restrictions as it may specify, to any committee of the Board, to the Director or to any employee of the Corporation, all or any of the functions, powers, or duties conferred or imposed by or under this Act on the Board, and where any delegation is so made the delegated function, power or duty may be performed or exercised by the delegate subject to terms, conditions and restric- tions specified by the Board. (2) The delegation under subsection (1) may be made to the holder, of the office under the Corporation, specifying the office but without naming the holder, and in every case where a delega- tion is so made each successive holder of the office in question and any person who occupies or performs the duty of that office may, without any further authority, perform or exercise the delegated function, power or duty in accordance with the delegation made by the Board. (3) The Board may revoke a delegation made by it under this section. (4) No delegation made under this section shall prevent the Board from itself performing or exercising the function, power or duty delegated. (5) A delegation made under this section may be published in the Gazette, and upon its being so published shall be judicially noticed and shall be presumed to be in force unless the contrary is proved. (6) The Board shall not have power under this section to dele-. gate- (a) its power of delegation; or (b) the power to approve the annual budget or any supplemen- tary budget, the annual balance sheet or any statement of account. 12 No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 Liabilities of 21. Without prejudice to the provisions of section 284A of the members of Penal Code or of the Specified Officers (Recovery of Debts) Act, the Board Cap. 16 No 1970 or of the Parastatal Employees (Recovery of Debts) Act, 7 Acts, 1974 1974, no act or this done or omitted to be done, by any person who No 37 is a member of the Corporation employee or agent of the Board shall, if done or omitted bona fide in the execution or purported execution of his duties as the member of the Board or employee of the Corporation or its agent. Subject that person to any action, liability or demand of any kind. Rules and 22. Subject to provisions of section 23 and conditions of the Regulation Second Schedule, the Audit and Supervision Fund established making power under the Co-operative Societies Act, 1968, is hereby dissolved. saving of 23. Any rules or regulations made under Co-operative Societies Rules and Act, 1968, in respect of Audit and Supervision Fund and in force Regulations immediately prior to the date upon which this Act comes into Acts, 1968 No 27 operation shall remain in force as if they have been made by the Board under this Act until such time as they are amended or revoked by rules or regulations made by the Board under this Act. Rules and 24. The Board may, with the consent of the Minister, make Regulation rules and regulations for the purposes of the better carrying out the making objects and purposes of this Act. power FIRST SCHEDULE Section 5 1. The Board shall consist of- (a) the chairman who shall be appointed by the President; (b) one member representing the Controller and Auditor- General; and (c) other members to be nominated by the Minister after consultation with the Apex Organisation, from secondary societies or any other co-operative organisation. 2. The appointments to be made under sub-paragraph (1) shall be from amongst persons who have had experience of and have shown capacity in co-operative movements in the profession of accountancy, auditing or any of its branches. 3. The members shall elect one of their number to be the Vice-Chairman and any member elected as a Vice-Chairman shall, subject to his continuing to be a member, hold office for a term of one year from the date of his election, but shall be eligible for re-election. 4.-(1) A member of the Board shall hold office for such period as the appointing authority may specify in his appointment, or if no period is so specified, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his appointment, and shall be eligible for re- appointment. (2) In the case of a member who is a member by virtue of his holding some other office, he shall cease to be a member upon his ceasing to hold that office. (3) The appointing authority may at anytime revoke an appointment made by him under paragraph (1) and any of the member or appointed may at any time resign his-office by notice in writing to the appointing authority. No. 15 Co-operative Audit and Supervision 1982 13

FIRST SCHEDULE-(Contd.) Absent 5. If a member of the Board who is a member by the virtue of his holding some other member to be office is unable for any reason to attend any meeting of the Board, he may nominate in represented writing another person from his institution to attend the meeting in his place. meetings 6. If any vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board by reason of the death, Casual vac- resignation or permanent incapacity of any member thereof or otherwise, the appointing authority may appoint another person to fill that vacancy, and a person so appointed shall ancies hold office for the unexpired residue of theiperiod of office of the member in whose place he is appointed. 7. The Minister may, on the advice of the Board by Order published in the Gazette, from time to time vary the composition of the Board. Variation of composition 8.-(l) The Board shall ordinarily meet for the transaction of its business at the times of Board and places determined by it, but shall meet at least once every four months. Meeting (2) The Chairman or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, may at any time call a special of Board meeting of the Board, and shall call a special upon a written request by a majority of the members in the office. (3) The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman may invite any person who is not member to participate in the deliberations at any meeting of the Board, but any person so invited shall not be entitled to vote. (4) The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, shall preside at every meeting of the Board. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice-Chairman members present shall appoint one of their member to preside over the meeting. 9.-(1) The quorum at any meeting of the Board shall be one half of the total number of Quorum members of the Board and where there is an uneven number of members,, shall be the whole next number above half. (2) Subject to the provisions of sub-paraaraph (I) the Board may act, notwithstanding any vacancy in its number. 10.- (1) Questions proposed at the meeting of the Board shall be decided by a majority Decision of of the votes of the members present and voting and in event of an equality of votes, the person presiding shall have a second vote -in addition to his casting or deliberative vote. the Board (2) Notwithstanding sub-paraaraph (I), a decision may be made by the Board without meeting by circulation of the relevant papers among tile members, and the expression in writing of the views of the majority of members. 11.-(1) The Board shall cause to be recorded and kept minutes of all business con- ducted or transacted at its meetings, and the minutes of each meeting of the Board shall be meetings Minutes of read and confirmed or amended and confirmed, at the next meeting of the Board and signed meetings by the person presiding at the meeting. (2) Any minutes signed, or purporting to have been signed, by the person presiding at meeting of the Board, shall, in the absence of proof or error, be deemed to be correct record of tile meeting whose minutes they support. 12. No act or proceeding of the Board shall be invalid by reason only of any vacancy Vacancies, among its members or defect in tile appointment of any of them. etc, not to invalidate proceedings 13. All orders, directions, notices or other documents made or issued on behalf of the Orders, etc Board shall be signed by- to be signed (a) the Chairman of the Board; or by chairman (b) the Director or any other officer or officers the Corporation appointed in writing in or Director that behalf by the Director. 14. The seal of the Board shall not be fixed to any instrument except in tile presence of the Director of any of the following persons- (a) the Chairman; (b) Vice -Chairman; (c) any other officer of the Co-oporation. 15. Subject to the provisions, of the Schedule the Board may regulate its own proceed.- Board may ings, regulate its proceedings