Dear Dr Mwakyembe, Gabriel Kipija, Andilile Ibrahim, Danny Mwasandube, Justine Rutta, Tinson Nzunda and other people of goodwill, We, the trustees of TMT-UK, are at a loss as to what is going on in Kyela. Andilile Ibrahim and Danny Mwasandube say that they want Kyela Polytechnic College (KPC) to succeed, but the Principal and the College staff continue to be harassed and frustrated at every turn.
Let us state at the outset that KPC has completed the necessary registration requirements of VETA, NACTE and MCT. However, the Principal and his staff continue to be undermined by the spreading of false rumours that the College does not have such registrations.
This has deterred the College from registering very many new students during the past eight weeks. The fees from these students would have brought the College closer to financial stability.
Rumours are also being spread that the objectives of the Principal and the Board of KPC have changed. They have not changed. They remain:
1.To provide a facility that will offer hands-on training to those students from The Mango Tree Orphan Support Programme Trust (TMT-Tz), who fail to progress into mainstream education past Standard VII, Form II or Form VI or even Form VI
2.To provide a vocational training facility, which will take TMT-Tz students, rather than TMT-Tz placing them elsewhere, thereby circulating the funds "internally".
3.KPC, when fully operational and making a surplus, would donate its surplus back to TMT-Tz as one of the means of assisting TMT-Tz to become self-sufficient.
At the insistence of the donors of the land, Andilile Ibrahim resigned as a director of KPC in February. This was after it was realised that Mr Ibrahim had been misappropriating some charitable funds at TMT-Tz ( this was confirmed by a forensic audit by our auditors, PKF, a copy of whose report is available on request).
Danny Mwasandube also resigned at that time, but they agreed to transfer the land to KPC at the request of the UK donors, who had funded its purchase in 2010.
These donors had given the money to buy the land to TMT-Tz because KPC had not been registered as a company limited by guarantee at the time. It was given on the understanding that TMT-Tz would transfer the land to KPC once it had been created.
This decision to donate the land to KPC taken in February was confirmed in an email message to the donors, dated 24th February. However, this decision was reversed in June.
On 17th July, many of the staff and village volunteers of TMT-Tz invaded and rioted at the College, attacking seven members of staff, who sustained injuries. The rioters caused physical damage to the building – see attached photos of the riot consequences - and the College and staff members had cash, a camera and mobile phones stolen by the rioters.
No one at TMT-Tz has been disciplined for instigating or partaking in this riot. Can anyone explain what was the purpose of this invasion? What was the intention of the invaders, had they been successful in taking over the College? Do the opinion-formers of Kyela condone this action ? If not, how can they help to ensure that those who took part in this riot are disciplined?
The legally registered trustees of TMT-Tz ( see attached letter dated 10th September from RITA) have now agreed to transfer the land and buildings at KPC to KPC Ltd, as per the donors' wishes. ( see the attached draft minutes of the trustees' meeting held on 1st October) This now should enable the trustees of TMT-UK to provide more financial support for orphan care in Tanzania. However, before that can happen, those who instigated and attacked the buildings and staff of KPC must be dismissed for such violent conduct.
During the past few months, we, the trustees of TMT-UK, have continued to campaign for more funds to equip KPC, as we are determined to make KPC the best equipped vocational training college in southern Tanzania.
To that end, we have now secured the following funding for equipping the College:
Item Tshs
Woodworking machinery. 50,050,000
Welding equipment 48,760,000
Electrical installation equipment 60,690,000
Bunk beds and mattresses 45,000,000
College infrastructure 36,700,000
Driving school 41,600,000
Working capital 81,000,000
---------------
Total for 2014-15 363,800,000
In addition, some of our donors have also committed to providing additional funding totalling Tshs 135,000,000 in 2015-16.
This investment is ready to be made, but none of this will happen until the transfer of the land is completed. This will be a very significant investment in plant and equipment, which will establish
KPC as one of the premier vocational training institutions in Tanzania.
If the opinion-formers of Kyela wish this investment to roceed, they MUST ensure that the recent decision of the legally
recognised trustees of TMT-Tz to donate the land and buildings at KPC proceeds now without further procrastination or delay.
The major UK donors for KPC are determined to support KPC until it breaks even. If the land is not transferred, who is going to support KPC? Do the local opinion-formers want KPC to return to being the abandoned building it was until 2010? ( If the College were to close, a long drawn out legal battle is likely to ensue, which will benefit no one, least of all the people of Kyela, for whom the College was built in the first place).
The trustees of TMT-UK have no long term ambitions in Kyela, but we do have obligations to the donors of KPC to ensure that their investment is fully realised by bringing the College into surplus in order to make it self-sustaining.
Andilile Ibrahim and Danny Mwasandube claim that they want KPC to succeed, but they do not wish the land to be transferred until the College is breaking even.
The College will NEVER break even so long as the plans of the Principal and the staff continue to be frustrated by those determined to bring it to its knees. The UK donors have said that they will support KPC, only if the land is transferred.
The trustees for TMT-UK are willing to continue to support the orphans of Kyela and the surrounding districts. We have shown our commitment to these young people by continuing to support those at tertiary colleges and universities and at secondary schools through KPC. ( Since the riot, we have not sent any further funding to TMT-Tz for obvious reasons)
We have also offered to provide additional funding to KPC equivalent to the fees for 200 TMT-Tz former beneficiaries over the next twelve months. Is this something that local opinion-formers welcome or would they prefer TMT-UK to stop providing such support?
The trustees of TMT-UK are reaching the stage when we are seriously wondering if our support in Kyela should continue. We have obligations to our donors, but we do not wish to impose our support when and where it is not wanted. No further cash will be made available to either TMT-Tz or for the above KPC investment until the land issue is resolved.
We are assured that the land transfer could be completed and registered with the Commissioner for Lands by 31st December provided that the valuation and registration of the transfer continues without opposition.
It is now up to the good people of Kyela to decide if they wish KPC to succeed or to die. If they wish KPC to succeed, each one must give his or her active support to ensure that the land transfer is completed smoothly.
If this transfer becomes frustrated, the trustees of TMT-UK will seek the ermission of our donors to divert the investment in plant and equipment elsewhere.
Yours sincerely,
William Fulton
David Dawson
Bob Dowson
Gail Fulton
Nic Merrett
Trustees of The Mango Tree Orphan Support Programme, UK.
Let us state at the outset that KPC has completed the necessary registration requirements of VETA, NACTE and MCT. However, the Principal and his staff continue to be undermined by the spreading of false rumours that the College does not have such registrations.
This has deterred the College from registering very many new students during the past eight weeks. The fees from these students would have brought the College closer to financial stability.
Rumours are also being spread that the objectives of the Principal and the Board of KPC have changed. They have not changed. They remain:
1.To provide a facility that will offer hands-on training to those students from The Mango Tree Orphan Support Programme Trust (TMT-Tz), who fail to progress into mainstream education past Standard VII, Form II or Form VI or even Form VI
2.To provide a vocational training facility, which will take TMT-Tz students, rather than TMT-Tz placing them elsewhere, thereby circulating the funds "internally".
3.KPC, when fully operational and making a surplus, would donate its surplus back to TMT-Tz as one of the means of assisting TMT-Tz to become self-sufficient.
At the insistence of the donors of the land, Andilile Ibrahim resigned as a director of KPC in February. This was after it was realised that Mr Ibrahim had been misappropriating some charitable funds at TMT-Tz ( this was confirmed by a forensic audit by our auditors, PKF, a copy of whose report is available on request).
Danny Mwasandube also resigned at that time, but they agreed to transfer the land to KPC at the request of the UK donors, who had funded its purchase in 2010.
These donors had given the money to buy the land to TMT-Tz because KPC had not been registered as a company limited by guarantee at the time. It was given on the understanding that TMT-Tz would transfer the land to KPC once it had been created.
This decision to donate the land to KPC taken in February was confirmed in an email message to the donors, dated 24th February. However, this decision was reversed in June.
On 17th July, many of the staff and village volunteers of TMT-Tz invaded and rioted at the College, attacking seven members of staff, who sustained injuries. The rioters caused physical damage to the building – see attached photos of the riot consequences - and the College and staff members had cash, a camera and mobile phones stolen by the rioters.
No one at TMT-Tz has been disciplined for instigating or partaking in this riot. Can anyone explain what was the purpose of this invasion? What was the intention of the invaders, had they been successful in taking over the College? Do the opinion-formers of Kyela condone this action ? If not, how can they help to ensure that those who took part in this riot are disciplined?
The legally registered trustees of TMT-Tz ( see attached letter dated 10th September from RITA) have now agreed to transfer the land and buildings at KPC to KPC Ltd, as per the donors' wishes. ( see the attached draft minutes of the trustees' meeting held on 1st October) This now should enable the trustees of TMT-UK to provide more financial support for orphan care in Tanzania. However, before that can happen, those who instigated and attacked the buildings and staff of KPC must be dismissed for such violent conduct.
During the past few months, we, the trustees of TMT-UK, have continued to campaign for more funds to equip KPC, as we are determined to make KPC the best equipped vocational training college in southern Tanzania.
To that end, we have now secured the following funding for equipping the College:
Item Tshs
Woodworking machinery. 50,050,000
Welding equipment 48,760,000
Electrical installation equipment 60,690,000
Bunk beds and mattresses 45,000,000
College infrastructure 36,700,000
Driving school 41,600,000
Working capital 81,000,000
---------------
Total for 2014-15 363,800,000
In addition, some of our donors have also committed to providing additional funding totalling Tshs 135,000,000 in 2015-16.
This investment is ready to be made, but none of this will happen until the transfer of the land is completed. This will be a very significant investment in plant and equipment, which will establish
KPC as one of the premier vocational training institutions in Tanzania.
If the opinion-formers of Kyela wish this investment to roceed, they MUST ensure that the recent decision of the legally
recognised trustees of TMT-Tz to donate the land and buildings at KPC proceeds now without further procrastination or delay.
The major UK donors for KPC are determined to support KPC until it breaks even. If the land is not transferred, who is going to support KPC? Do the local opinion-formers want KPC to return to being the abandoned building it was until 2010? ( If the College were to close, a long drawn out legal battle is likely to ensue, which will benefit no one, least of all the people of Kyela, for whom the College was built in the first place).
The trustees of TMT-UK have no long term ambitions in Kyela, but we do have obligations to the donors of KPC to ensure that their investment is fully realised by bringing the College into surplus in order to make it self-sustaining.
Andilile Ibrahim and Danny Mwasandube claim that they want KPC to succeed, but they do not wish the land to be transferred until the College is breaking even.
The College will NEVER break even so long as the plans of the Principal and the staff continue to be frustrated by those determined to bring it to its knees. The UK donors have said that they will support KPC, only if the land is transferred.
The trustees for TMT-UK are willing to continue to support the orphans of Kyela and the surrounding districts. We have shown our commitment to these young people by continuing to support those at tertiary colleges and universities and at secondary schools through KPC. ( Since the riot, we have not sent any further funding to TMT-Tz for obvious reasons)
We have also offered to provide additional funding to KPC equivalent to the fees for 200 TMT-Tz former beneficiaries over the next twelve months. Is this something that local opinion-formers welcome or would they prefer TMT-UK to stop providing such support?
The trustees of TMT-UK are reaching the stage when we are seriously wondering if our support in Kyela should continue. We have obligations to our donors, but we do not wish to impose our support when and where it is not wanted. No further cash will be made available to either TMT-Tz or for the above KPC investment until the land issue is resolved.
We are assured that the land transfer could be completed and registered with the Commissioner for Lands by 31st December provided that the valuation and registration of the transfer continues without opposition.
It is now up to the good people of Kyela to decide if they wish KPC to succeed or to die. If they wish KPC to succeed, each one must give his or her active support to ensure that the land transfer is completed smoothly.
If this transfer becomes frustrated, the trustees of TMT-UK will seek the ermission of our donors to divert the investment in plant and equipment elsewhere.
Yours sincerely,
William Fulton
David Dawson
Bob Dowson
Gail Fulton
Nic Merrett
Trustees of The Mango Tree Orphan Support Programme, UK.
