THE Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki, has taken a swipe at Bukoba Municipal authorities for lack of transparency, a situation which, he says, has undermined development.

Addressing a public rally at Uhuru Stadium in Bukoba at the weekend, Minister Kagasheki demanded to know the status of the proposed multi-billion modern market complex estimated to cost 12bn/-. The minister, who is also Member of Parliament (CCM) for Bukoba Urban, charged that he had, to date, not seen the contract signed by the Bukoba Municipal Council.

"I have been told that the existing market structure would be demolished on January 15, next year. However, the Geological Technical Survey has not been conducted to know exactly the water level and other necessary information. I have also been saddened by the lack of transparency among Bukoba Municipal officials.

I am the elected parliamentarian for Bukoba Urban but I have not seen the contract for the project. This is not good governance," he charged amid a big applause. He also said that the project involving 5,000 plots of land at Kyabitembe was shrouded in secrecy.

He said that Bukoba Municipal officials had applied for a loan amounting 2.2bn/-, but there was no contract. "Who will re-pay the loan?" he queried. Minister Kagasheki also warned a few leaders who were misleading people basing their arguments on religious bigotry. "This trend is very dangerous and should be stopped immediately," he said.