Ikulu's role in IPTL scandal

RUCCI · 2014-12-17T10:47:22+00:00

Last week the State House released a statement saying President Jakaya Kikwete would deal with the Tegeta Escrow Account issue this week. The statement came out as concerns mount on the State House's silence on the matter. Last month the Parliament approved resolutions that wanted President Kikwete to rescind the appointments of cabinet ministers and senior government officials implicated in the scandal. In the wake of the Parliamentary resolutions Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue said President Kikwete will only take action after launching fresh investigations on the issue. The statement was challenged by activists and political analysts who wanted the President to act categorically against those who are implicated because the CAG has already conducted a thorough investigation. The following day, the State House released a statement saying that the President will give his stand on the Tegeta escrow account scam next week (this week). It was explained that the Head of State had already received the CAG report, Parliament resolutions and other documents on the controversial cash withdraw. The same week, the minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe assured donors that he would not spare any official who will be found guilty in the scandal. Mr Membe was speaking before the management team of development partners led by Finnish Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Sinikka Antila. He said whoever is implicated in the issue will not be spared. Politicians, activists and political analysts who spoke to Political Platform argue that there is dilly-dallying in dealing with the matter. They said Ikulu's response on the matter raises alarm that some of its officials could be either directly or indirectly part of the business. The opposition Chief Whip and Chadema lawyer, Mr Tundu Lissu said in his debate in Parliament that a State House official, Mr Prosper Mbena wrote a letter to reinforce the decision to withdraw the Sh306 billion escrow funds from the Bank of Tanzania. Mr Mbena who works as a secretary to the President reportedly wrote the letter last year directing the ministry of Finance to release the funds as advised by the Attorney General. Kigoma South MP, Mr David Kafulila (NCCR-Mageuzi) told Political Platform that there were many signs that show that Ikulu could be entangled in the scandal either by omission or commission. He said most of the letters, which advised for the release of the money, were copied to the Chief Secretary. He added that the transaction of Sh306 billion was very huge and that the matter was supposed to be discussed in the cabinet but nothing was discussed and instead the cash was withdrawn. " It is obvious that the Chief Secretary was aware of the matter as almost all letters were copied to him, and still no one stopped the withdrawal of the cash," he said. According to Mr Kafulila, another factor that increases worries on the involvement of Ikulu in the scandal is the hiding of names of officials who received money through Stanbic bank account. "We know the names of those who received money from Mkombozi bank account, but so far the government is silent on names of those who received money through Stanbic account. It is most likely that the list include big names in the government," said Mr Kafulila. He added that the accused ministers and other officials were reluctant to step down because they know officials much more senior than them are implicated. It is like they are daring the President or the Prime Minister to move on them, he noted. The Shadow minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr John Mnyika said that Ikulu has a hand in the scandal because it received letters on the matter through the Chief Secretary. "My debate in Parliament was based on this ground, that Ikulu was also a part of this business and I wanted Mr Sefue to face disciplinary actions, as well, for being weak in stopping this scam," he said. Also the State House is silent on the officials who received cash through Stanbic bank account. "We have been told that there are officials who received money through Stanbic bank account, but so far no one is ready to mention their names- are these ghosts, this is another weakness shown by Ikulu," said Mr Mnyika adding "Moreover, IPTL was registered in the country in the 1990s, President Kikwete has been in leadership since then. Thus calling for investigation on the matter is another problem. Ikulu cannot investigate itself, the best thing the Head of State could do is to sack the accused officials." "It's obvious that Prof Muhongo and Mr Maswi's presence in office could destroy evidences against them, thus it will be difficult for Ikulu to get tangible evidence under such circumstances," said Mr Mnyika. Mr Mnyika who is also Ubungo MP (Chadema) added that the State House was supposed to release the PCCB report on the scam before calling for another investigation on the same matter. The PCCB report was set to be handed to the President on December 10, 2014. He said: "Ikulu's hesitation to take measures raise alarm on who is who in this scandal,". The executive director for Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Dr Hellen Kijo-Bisimba said the assurance by Membe to development partners should have begun by the government suspending all those who are implicated and then the investigation proceeds. "How can you investigate a person while still in office. She or he can tamper with evidence," she said. Source:The citizen

Thread starter RUCCI
Start date Dec 17, 2014

RUCCI

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Ikulu's role in IPTL scandal

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