JK'S STAND ON ESCROW OUT TODAY

Prof Muhongo 

Dar es Salaam. President Jakaya Kikwete is today expected to give his verdict on the Sh306 billion Tegeta escrow account scandal in an eagerly awaited speech to the nation, The Citizen has learnt.

State House yesterday confirmed that President Kikwete would indeed address the nation today. “We are still making arrangements and the Head of State will be speaking to Tanzanians today if things go as planned,’’ said Ms Premy Kibanga, the Deputy Director of Presidential Communications.

However, Ms Kibanga declined to give details on what the President would say in an event that will be broadcast live on national television. The President will either give a televised speech or choose to speak through a meeting with Dar es Salaam elders as is now the tradition whenever the presidency wants to comment on a sensitive national issue. Today is also the last working day of the week in which the president promised to issue his reaction.   Anxiety remains rife across the nation as the public waits with bated breath to hear what President Kikwete will say on the controversy that has pre-occupied people’s minds and grabbed newspaper headlines all year round.

The public’s anticipation was heightened on Wednesday when he cut short Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Pinda arrived at around 2pm yesterday and reportedly went into immediate consultations with his boss at State House. 

The President will deliver his speech knowing the burden on his shoulders as far as tackling resolutions contained in the Parliament’s report on the escrow scandal is concerned.   His address will come exactly three days since the Attorney General Frederick Werema resigned  to take responsibility for a letter he wrote, which is said to have precipitated the fraudulent withdrawal of the Tegeta escrow monies from the Bank of Tanzania and its subsequent sharing among top government officials, politicians and other influential public figures.  

The sacking and prosecution of the former AG, as well as Energy and Minerals Permanent Secretary Eliachim Maswi and members of the board of Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) for their role in the scandal are some of the recommendations in the parliamentary report.

Parliament also advised President Kikwete to sack Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development minister Anna Tibaijuka and her Energy and Minerals counterpart, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, who were adversely mentioned in the report.

Prof Muhongo was accused of acting as a middleman for Tanzanian-born Kenyan businessman Harbinder Sigh Sethi, whose company, Pan Africa Power Solution (PAP), forged documents to purport to have bought Independent Power Tanzania limited (IPTL), paving the way for it to access the escrow funds.   

Prof Tibaijuka was accused of violating the public leaders’ code of ethics by accepting payment of Sh1.6 billion from former IPTL minority shareholder James Rugemalira from his share of the escrow funds. She has denied any wrongdoing .

Debate has raged whether the president will sack the officials as advised, with opposition parties’ leaders warning that his inaction will not mirror well on his legacy and the interest of the country that has suffered donor apathy due to mega corruption.

 The official opposition party Chadema on Wednesday said President Kikwete’s actions must not be seen as defending allies and also absolve State House from suspicions after one of his  senior aides Mr Prosper Mbena was named by the PAC report as having written an official letter to support the funds withdrawal.   

The party’s deputy secretary general for Mainland, Mr John Mnyika, said they were alarmed that Mr Kikwete praised Mr Werema when accepting his resignation in a manner to suggest he was innocent and had been diligent. They perceived the move as seeking to pass the former AG as the “sacrificial lamb.”

CREDIT SOURCE: THE CITIZEN