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List of shame: No suit yet
2007-10-05 09:27:04
By Guardian Reporter
Until yesterday, none of the people who had threatened to sue Chadema legislator Dr Wilbroad Slaa for naming them in the list of shame had lodged a court case, The Guardian can reveal.
On Tuesday September 26, 2007, Minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi went public and announced that he would file a case against the Chadema legislator and other opposition leaders for allegedly tainting his reputation.
A day later, Treasury chief Gray Mgonja also announced that he would sue the Karatu legislator and the weekly Kiswahili tabloid Mwanahalisi, and its publishers, Printech, for acting as vehicle for conveying defamatory stories.
The Permanent Secretary, whom Slaa had named alongside nine other government officials as most corrupt, said he would demand that the legislator substantiate the allegations in court.
Shortly thereafter, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Patrick Rutabanzibwa, who had also been named by Dr Slaa at a public rally, demanded an immediate apology, short of which he would institute a legal process against the MP.
So far, there is no indication whether Dr Slaa has succumbed to Rutabanzibwa`s conditions.
Announcing his intention to sue Dr Slaa, Energy and Minerals Minister Nazir Karamagi said: `On September 15, 2007 at Mwembeyanga grounds in Temeke District, Dr Slaa, who is the Karatu MP, in collaboration with his fellow politicians, declared publicly that I am corrupt and I misuse public funds.`
He added: `I have decided to go to court to fight those who are trying to taint my name.
Yesterday, a perusal of records at the High Court, Kinondoni and Kisutu Resident Magistrate`s courts in Dar es Salaam traced no evidence of instituted legal proceedings against the Chadema legislator.
In another development, The Guardian was informed yesterday that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Gray Mgonja, is finalizing the initial steps of filing a suit against Dr. Wilbrod Slaa.
An official from the information unit at the Treasury, who opted for anonymity, said: `The PS (Mgonja) is currently at the initial stages of filing the suit.
You know, such an issue calls for long procedures. However, I understand that consultations have started between the PS and his lawyer.`
Pressed for details, she said: `It is not possible for me to say exactly at which stage the two have reached so far. Generally, the filing of the suit is now in preliminary stage,` she told The Guardian.
Dwelling on the same issue and other related occurrences, Bishop Peter Mwamasika of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania; Dodoma Diocese has urged the government not to ignore the complaints registered against the Buzwagi mining contract.
Dr Mwamasika was contributing to a discussion on role of church leaders on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
`The government should not shrug off queries made by Zitto Kabwe and Dr Wilbrod Slaa on the Buzwagi contract,` he said.
He said the whole issue did not need people going to court.
`This is not a proper way of addressing the issue. The right approach is to accept what is being said and look for solutions.`
He said the government must allow the people to speak their minds on issues of national interest.
`It is very important for those owning the land to have a say and know how much they are going to be benefit from its resources,`he said.
Currently, Dr Slaa is said to be on a US visit.
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