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Opposition leaders pay call at ethics secretariat
2008-04-22 10:44:11
By Lydia Shekighenda, Dodoma and Angel Navuri
Leaders of opposition parties yesterday went to the office of the Public Leaders` Ethics Secretariat in Dar es Salaam, demanding to peruse files of people they claim are in their list of shame.
Led by the Chairman of the Civic United Front Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba and Tanzania Labour Party leader Augustine Mrema, they demanded to peruse files of former president Benjamin Mkapa, former minister for Infrastructure Development Andrew Chenge and former minister for Industry and Trade and Marketing Basil Mramba.
Others are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Patrick Rutabanzibwa, Igunga MP Rostam Aziz, and MP for Musoma Rural Nimrod Mkono.
The opposition also wanted to peruse files of former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, former Central Bank governor Daudi Ballali, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Aggrey Mgonja and former minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi.
They were however, not allowed to immediately access the files. An officer advised them to present a formal request.
They immediately handed over a letter to the officer, but were urged to give time to the commissioner to work on their request.
Speaking to journalists, Prof. Lipumba said the aim of perusing the files was to tally their findings with records of the secretariat.
``We have made our own investigations concerning the wealth of these people.
We want to see if what we know is what they have declared at the secretariat,`` Prof. Lipumba said.
TLP chairman Augustino Mrema said that ministers who had been named in the list of shame were stepping down one by one.
He said once the opposition would be allowed by the commissioner to peruse the files, another investigation would follow to find out how they get the wealth.
``We are sure they did not declare all they have.
We have a detailed report showing all they own,” he said.
The law governing public leaders` code of ethics requires that every public leader declare wealth within thirty days after taking office and at the end of each year or end of his term of office.
The opposition leaders` move was prompted by revelations that former Minister for Infrastructure Development Andrew Chenge had deposited 1.2bn/- in a foreign bank.
Ever since the allegations were made early last week, the secretariat had been reluctant to state whether Chenge had declared the amount as part of his wealth.
Chenge who had been making newspaper headlines, resigned on Sunday from the ministerial post, with some Members of Parliament supporting his decision to step down.
Mkoani legislator Ali Khamis Seif (CUF) said Chenge was facing serious corruption allegations and that most MPs expected such a decision.
John Cheyo (Bariadi -East, UDP) said Chenge`s resignation had relieved President Jakaya Kikwete of corruption allegations and public criticism facing his government.
``The President should take legal action against the minister. He should explain to the satisfaction of all how he got that huge sum of money,`` he said.
Dr Ali Tarab Ali (Konde, CUF) said Chenge made the right to decision to resign because even members of parliament had doubted his cleanliness.
He said that Chenge was not supposed to return to the cabinet when the President dissolved the cabinet and appointed new ministers. ``He was in the list of shame,`` he added.
The legislator for Mwanakwerekwe, Haji Juma Serewaji (CCM), said resigning alone was not enough.
``The government should investigate the allegations and make public the disciplinary and legal actions taken against him,`` he said.
Serewaji said people were making a close follow up on corruption issues and that the government should not hide anything once the investigations were over.
Political veteran Anna Abdallah (Special Seats, CCM) said Chenge should have made the decision immediately once the claims had been made public.
She said by resigning could provide chance for him to be investigated and the truth be known.
``This is politics because it is being exercised even in other countries.
If he could do that earlier, then he could have been in a better position. Investigations should reveal whether the allegations are true or not,`` she said.
Fatma Maghimbi (Chakechake, CUF) said President Kikwete knew the dishonest and honest leaders, thus resignation alone was not enough. She suggested that Chenge be taken to court.
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