The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Frank Kimboy
5 November 2009
Reports about the suspension of interrogations of MPs over double payment of allowances by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), have led to call for resignation of the institution's board of directors.
It was exclusively reported by this newspaper yesterday that the anti-corruption agency had suspended its controversial investigation on MPs' receipt of double allowances for a similar tasks.
The surprise decision came at the height of exchange of bitter war of words between the agency's director general, Dr Edward Hoseah and MPs, including Speaker Samuel Sitta.
Sources privy to the closed-door discussions on Tuesday between Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, National Assembly Speaker Samuel Sitta and Dr Hoseah, told The Citizen that the meeting decided to suspend the investigations indefinitely.
Those reached by this newspaper for comment yesterday, expressed their disillusionment on the decision by PCCB, while others questioned the institution's mandate as the country's anti-corruption body.
National Convention for Construction and ReformReform (NCCR) - Mageuzi chairperson, Mr James Mbatia, said the decision shows how much the PCCB Act and the body itself are toothless when dealing with corruption cases involving big shots.
He questioned guts by MPs to refuse summons by PCCB for interrogation, while the Act compels anyone summoned by the institution to appear before it.
Mr Mbatia added that the decision by the PCCB director general to suspend the probe on MPs, is an affirmation that the issue was politically motivated and was intended to silence MPs who are vocal on grand corruption in the country.
"The move has proved right those who questioned the authenticity of the motive behind the interrogation. It was a futile political move by those involved in major corruption scandals to silence vocal MPs," Mr Mbatia said.
A university of Dar es Salaam seasoned academician, Prof Mwesige Baregu, said the decision by PCCB to stand firm on its cause to investigate MPs and then just a day after choose to withdraw, has reduced the institution's integrity before the eyes of Tanzanians.
Prof Baregu urged the PCCB director general, Dr Edward Hoseah, to reconsider his position and if necessary to step down from his seat in a spirit of good governance.
The professor also suggested the total overhaul of PCCB as well as the review the Anti-Corruption Act because most citizens have lost faith on the institution.
"The whole of the PCCB board must quit to demonstrate good governance because they have failed to fulfill their responsibilities," prof Baregu said.
However, speaking to this newspaper over the telephone, CCM secretary general Yusuph Makamba, and opposition leader in the National Assembly, Mr Hamad Rashid, refused to comment, citing two separate reasons.
"PCCB is an independent organ which has the mandate to make decisions which cannot be interfered by any one. I can only comment on issue that involve CCM which is my employer,"Mr Makamba said.
Mr Hamad Rashid said he was not in a position to comment because Parliamentarians have decided to leave the PCCB and double allowances issues in the hands of the National Assembly.
On his part, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) executive director, Mr Francis Kiwanga, said the decision by PCCB to suspend the investigations, proves that the institution lacks clear focus.
He said PCCB should have focused more on probe grand corruption scandals such as Richmond, Kagoda, and the corruption on mining contracts, rather than double allowance payments.
"If we really want to tackle the issue of double allowance payments, we must establish an independent inquiry commission which will look at all public institutions and recommend on how to tackle the situation," Mr Kiwanga said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Parliament Select Committee which probed the contract between Tanesco and Richmond Company of US, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, has warned people who debate the report prepared by his team, saying doing so would do more harm to former Prime Minister, Mr Edward Lowassa, who resigned after the report was tabled in the Parliament.
Chama Cha Mapinduzi elders committee meeting looking into the source of rifts between MPs and the Government, the minister of State in the Presidents Office, Ms Sophia Simba, also took issue with Mrs Anne Kilango Malecela, saying her crusade against grand corruption is based on jealousness.
Reports from the meeting held on Wednesday from 5pm to 10pm at Pius Msekwa Hall obtained by The Citizen, said MPs in the divided two camps, continued to attack one another, with only few of them taking a middle position.
Dr Mwakyembe said those ridiculing the report prepared by the committee he chaired, including Dr Makongoro Mahanga, who described it as a fake, have not thoroughly read the report and digested it accordingly.
Dr Mwakyembe, also reacted to remarks by the former Energy and Minerals minister, Mr Nazir Karamagi, that proposals that he should resign, was unjustified as most of what he did at the time, was based on suggestions made by Tanesco's Board of Directors.
Dr Mwakyembe said this was not true as there were many areas where Mr Karamagi was involved.
"I would like to ask my colleagues to stop debating the report because it is not a fake as they claimed. Furthermore, doing so would lead to more problems... people could even be imprisoned evidence exists to prove what we wrote in the report," said Dr Mwakyembe.
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