THE Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) Board of Directors has suspended three senior officials of the firm following a string of allegations and complaints ranging from financial mismanagement to pilferage and loss.

The 'Sunday News' has established that the TTCL Board during its last Friday seven-hour meeting, appointed Dr Kamugisha Kazaura as the firm's Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective from yesterday.

Dr Kazaura, who was the TTCL's Chief Technical Officer (CTO), replaces Mr Said Amir Said, who reached retirement and his employment contract expired. The Board has also suspended the firm's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr Mrisho Shaban, the firm's Chief Marketing and Sales Operations Officer (CM&SO), Mr Ernest Nangi and the company's Chief Internal Auditor (CIA), Godfrey Kilenga.

"The board has decided to suspend the CFO, the CM&SO and the CIA to pave the way for investigations. The outcome of the investigations will determine what steps to be taken," reads a statement signed by the Board Chairman, Dr Enos Bukuku, which has been exclusively availed to the 'Sunday News'.

The Board has, therefore, appointed Mr Alinanuswe Mwakitalima as Acting CFO, Mr Peter Ngota (Acting CM&SO) and Mr David Kalayi (Acting CIA). It has also appointed Mr Jotham Lujara Acting CTO and Adin Mgendi Acting Head of National Information and Communication Technical Broadband Backbone (NICTBB).

"The Board urges all TTCL employees to continue with their normal operations and exercise patience until the results of investigations are out. "Furthermore, the board urges the two factions in trade union to extend to each other an olive branch and build a bridge of understanding with the ultimate objective of resolving their differences amicably," the statement concluded.

Sources have it that more officials are under spotlight and that further actions should be expected soon. The crisis-ridden management has been at the centre of attention recently, prompting the Deputy Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Mr January Makamba and Dr Bukuku to convene meetings with TTCL staff.

Government sources say that despite huge resources, the company has failed to perform efficiently for more than 10 years now due to mismanagement. Suspension of the company's top brass comes a couple of weeks since the suspension and subsequent dismissal of five top officials of the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) including its Director General Ephraim Mgawe.