MAMA MARIA NYERERE'S TAKE ON ESCROW SCANDAL

Mama Maria Nyerere addresses a news conference at her home in Msasani, Dar es Salaam, yesterday.  PHOTO | RAFAEL LUBAVA 

By Mkinga Mkinga,The Citizen Reporter

Dar es Salaam. Mwalimu Nyerere’s widow, Mama Maria Nyerere, yesterday urged Parliament to exhaustively debate the Tegeta escrow account  scandal.

The 84 year-old former first lady told journalists at her home in Msasani, Dar es Salaam, that those responsible for the scam should be made to face the full force of the law.

She said the only way to get to the bottom of the matter was for MPs to discuss it without fear or favour.

“This escrow controversy is complicated….I have been asking myself what the consequences will be if the matter is not discussed comprehensively in Parliament. It will definitely create problems,” Mama Maria Nyerere said.

She added that impunity would reach unprecedented levels if the matter would be swept under the carpet instead of being discussed openly and honestly and appropriate action taken against those responsible.

Mama Maria Nyerere said it was disconcerting that people were dying for lack of medicine in hospitals while a few greedy individuals were stealing billions of shillings from public coffers.

Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will today table its report on the scandal in the august House in Dodoma to pave the way for MPs to debate it.

PAC will present its findings after going through the voluminous probe report on the scam compiled by the Controller and Auditor General.

Mama Maria Nyerere also urged Tanzanians to maintain unity and safeguard peace despite holding diverse views on the proposed constitution.

“What we are seeing is unsettling.  I think we should reach a consensus on the constitution and move on as one nation,” she said.

CREDIT SOURCE: THE CITIZEN