THE office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given corruption investigators a formal go-ahead to file criminal charges against former finance minister Basil Mramba, it has been revealed.
Well-placed sources say the official consent to prosecute the veteran Rombo MP was issued to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) some two months ago.
When contacted by THISDAY for comment earlier this week, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Eliezer Feleshi, confirmed that his office had already processed the application for permission to formally charge and prosecute Mramba, and forwarded the file to PCCB for action.
''I have already returned the file to PCCB?they are the competent authority to comment on this matter right now,'' said the DPP when asked to explain if he had given consent for prosecution.
He declined further comment on the subject.
However, government sources confirmed that the DPP's office had indeed given the formal consent paving the way for PCCB to prosecute the former minister on the basis of the evidence gathered in the course of its investigations.
Under the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act of 2007, the PCCB can proceed with prosecution of suspects upon getting a written consent from the DPP's office.
The law requires the DPP to process an application for consent to prosecute from the PCCB within a maximum of 30 days.
The legislation also empowers the PCCB ''subject to the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions [to] prosecute offences under this Act and other offences involving corruption''.
Efforts to get a comment from PCCB director general Dr Edward Hoseah on the anti-corruption watchdog body's next move proved futile yesterday.
Sources say the Mramba investigation has centred on his five-year tenure as finance minister in the third phase government of ex-president Benjamin Mkapa.
The 68-year-old senior politician held the key portfolio through the second and final term of the Mkapa administration, now hounded by allegations of controversial government contracts and dubious official payments worth hundreds billions of shillings, from the Treasury and the Bank of Tanzania.
It is understood that the investigations have already reached an advanced stage, with the PCCB now expected to make its next move.
Before being appointed finance minister, Mramba served as minister for industries and trade under Mkapa from 1995 to 2000.
From 2006, he served as minister for infrastructure development in the fourth phase government of President Jakaya Kikwete, later being reappointed minister in charge of industry, trade and marketing, before eventually being dropped after the dissolution and re-composition of the cabinet last February.
Some allegations that dogged the third phase government when Mramba was finance minister included the dubious contract with Alex Stewart (Assayers) Government Business Corporation; the external payment arrears (EPA) account scandal; and the 70bn/- military radar deal.
The Treasury was also at the heart of various other dubious deals including the BoT Twin Towers project, the purchase of the presidential jet, and controversial guarantees given by the central bank in favour of certain private companies.
Mramba in person has also been linked to the controversial 15-year extension of the Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) contract, known to have been personally ordered by Mkapa in late 2005.