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Chenge: Allegations are serious
2008-04-17 10:48:13
By Angel Navuri and Lusekelo Philemon
Embattled Minister for Infrastructure Development Andrew Chenge returned from China yesterday. He refused to comment on allegations that he had deposited 1.2bn/- in a foreign offshore bank, only saying: ``The allegations are too serious. I need time to respond.``
Speaking soon after landing at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport upon arriving from China, where he had accompanied President Jakaya Kikwete on his official visit, Chenge said he had been shocked by the claims and could not rush to comment on such a sensitive issue.
``It would be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire,`` he said.
``These allegations are too heavy for me. They have been perpetuated just to damage my public image. I need time to reply,`` said minister Chenge, who served as attorney general in the third phase government.
When asked whether the alleged huge amount of money was indeed his, Chenge neither agreed nor refused.
He said the allegations were in line with the purchase of military radar from the UK`s leading arms manufacturer, BAE Systems.
``Let`s leave other matters aside. The main issue here is the radar. I am alleged to have been involved in the purchase of the radar by BEA System,`` Chenge told reporters.
He said he could not comment further as the matter was currently under investigation by state organs.
``Since I am under investigation, I`m not allowed to intervene until proved guilty,`` he said, urging members of the public to be patient until the relevant organs had completed their task.
He said he would avail all cooperation to the investigating team.
Chenge said: ``Only then will I be able to prove otherwise. And I will be able also to answer all the questions directed at me.``
He, however, said that people should know that every one had the right to express his opinion.
``My dear journalists, what I`m saying is that, even the weak person has the right to defend himself. So give me time.
I know my position on this matter,`` said Chenge.
The Minister of State in the President`s Office (Good Governance) Sofia Simba told the Guardian yesterday that she was not sure whether Chenge had declared that huge amount of money or not when he was appointed to the ministerial post.
She said minister Chenge had all the details concerning the issue.
``I have no exact answer right now on how Chenge got the alleged money.
People should not judge him unless proved guilty. Let him be given a chance to explain,`` she said.
The law on public leadership code of ethics requires ministers and members of parliament to declare their wealth. Minister Simba admitted that not every leader had declared his wealth.
Early this week Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda was quoted by the media as saying that he was shocked by allegations leveled against Andrew Chenge.
He, however, said responsible organs would work on the issue and the truth would be made public.
The allegations were first reported by The Guardian newspaper of UK, which revealed that British investigators involved in a three-year inquiry over the controversial radar deal had located more than USD one million in an account owned by Chenge in Jersey, UK.
The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is expected to decide whether or not to bring fresh corruption charges against BAE Systems within six weeks over the Tanzanian radar deal.
The minister, when interviewed by this newspaper, denied that the money in his offshore accounts came from the UK arms manufacturer.
However, Chenge did not dispute the existence of money in his offshore accounts.
This has therefore prompted the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to contact authorities in the UK, Switzerland and Jersey, to establish if the money is linked to multi-million pound secret commission payments made by BAE.
A lengthy SFO investigation in the UK subsequently discovered that around $12m (approx. 15bn/-) of the deal’s contract price had been diverted via Switzerland.
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