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Leave justice to take its course, TUCTA tells govt
2008-05-03 09:34:26
By Futuna Seleman, Mkuranga
Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) in Coast Region has asked the government to leave justice to take its course against all current and retired public leaders implicated in graft allegations involving billions of shillings.
The apex body of trade unions said it was concerned about government silence and failure to enforce corruption laws against leaders linked with corrupt practices, which rob the nation of huge sums of money, thereby denying it economic growth and development.
TUCTA regional official Ramadhani Juma said at the climax of regional May Day celebrations that the alleged corrupt acts by current and retired public leaders lowered the country`s reputation before the eyes of the international community and development partners.
The public was concerned about the undesirable trend where some public leaders were alleged to be blatantly involved in corruption and embezzlement of public resources, he said.
Juma hailed government action, some of which has lead to the resignation of some cabinet ministers but insisted that, that was not enough, suggesting strongly that culprits should be taken to court.
The regional TUCTA official said workers were disappointed by government inaction and lack of firm stand and commitment to act against corrupt leaders, linked with allegations of amassing huge wealth at the expenses of working class and other ordinary people.
``These people are looting money while leaving workers to be paid meagre salaries. All this amounts to breach of labour and other laws enacted by Parliament,`` he said.
Lack of seriousness on the part of the government, he said, has fueled labour disputes and related misunderstandings at work places.
Coast Regional Commissioner Christine Ishengoma said during the ceremony that the government was commited to strengthening the national economy, tax-collection base, instilling financial discipline and fighting grand corruption in all public sectors.
She described selfish public leaders who accumulate ill-gotten wealth at the expense of majority poor Tanzanians, as serious stumbling blocks in the country`s development endavours.
``We should join hands and fight these corrupt acts and leaders. They derail government strategies to streamline developments and accelerate economic growth,`` noted the RC.
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