Anger against Escrow swindlers

Ministers and members of Parliament yesterday united to turn the tide against individuals implicated in the escrow saga, raising voices that called for their resignation, including taking legal measures against them.

It was Minister of State in the President’s Office (Without Portfolio) Prof Mark Mwandosya who hit hard, brushing off all other MPs who disowned the report prepared by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe.

“Fellow members of Parliament, PAC is our committee. What is even interesting is that the committee consists of 19 CCM legislators and five from the opposition, meaning that the report prepared by PAC was prepared by CCM,” Prof Mwandosya said, congratulating the parliamentary watchdog for its good work.

Prof Mwandosya was criticizing fellow MPs who were trying to disown the report in their attempt to exonerate from any wrong doing those implicated in the saga.

On Thursday members of Parliament appeared to defend Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, Attorney General Frederick Werema and Minister for Energy and Minerals Prof Sospeter Muhongo, Energy and Mineral Permanent Secretary Eliachim Maswi and PAP owner Harbinder Singh Sethi.

However, the tide turned against them yesterday with most CCM MPs, ministers and   opposition MPs seeking that those implicated should resign, creating a state of uncertainty with regard to the fate of the government.

Contributing to the debate, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Civil Society Relations and Coordination) Stephen Wasira said it was now the responsibility of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to name individuals who collected monies from the bank in plastic bags and boxes.

“If PCCB does not perform this duty then it is obvious that we have no country,’” Wassira stated, adding that CCM-led government does not condone corruption. He added: “We don’t appoint corrupt individuals to leadership position and therefore   those who did this act should be named and legal action be instituted against them”.

Kigoma Urban MP (CCM) Peter Serukamba said for IPTL problems to end the government must nationalize the plant. However, this proposal was rejected by Energy and Minerals Minister Prof Muhongo on grounds that the implementation of the decision would invite legal wrangles at international courts.

Serukamba called for the Bank of Tanzania to write Stanbic Bank demanding it to return the monies withdrawn from the account after it violated money transfer procedures as directed by BoT.

Bariadi East MP (UDP) John Cheyo said all individuals involved in the saga to be held accountable, especially those who facilitated the withdrawal of the billions. CCM Special Seats MP Esther Bulaya questioned the rationale of dishing out Sh1.6 billion to Prof Anna Tibaijka on grounds of helping  finance education for the poor at her schools while school fees at her schools is more than Sh1.5 million.

Immediately after the questions and answers session yesterday the debate attracted mixed and contradicting reactions. Members from both sides of the floor exchanged bitter words mainly with CCM MPs defending slated Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda.

They argued that the PM was not directly incriminated in the scandal and as such, calls for to ouster him are unwarranted.

That view was bitterly objected to by the opposition camp who maintained that all those mentioned in the PAC report should take political responsibility, including the PM. 

Tumbe MP Salim Abdallah Khalfan (CUF) said the PAC findings must be respected and insisted that the withdrawal of money from the escrow account was characteristic of fraud.

However on her part, Nkenge legislator Assumpta Mshama said some clauses in the PAC report are very general and called for specifications and in a controversial twist declared that opposition leader Freeman Mbowe also received money from the escrow account.

That suggestion sparked vehement bickering and Parliament chairman Azan Zungu asked the Nkenge legislator must substantiate her claim and gave her three days to provide proof.

However, Mshama retracted and withdrew her statement.

Simanjiro MP Christopher ole Sendeka said CCM as a party should not embrace anyone who goes against leadership ethics.

He said this is not a CCM scandal or government scandal but rather an issue of a few individuals who should be taken to task.

He said the sale of shares from the Malaysian company Mechmar to Piperlink and subsequently to PAP was done scandalously citing that several documents have no names. PAC chairman Zitto Kabwe criticized Attorney General Frederick Werema for advising the government not to subject the transaction to taxes.

He said that those who were implicated in the PAC report including ministers, the AG and Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Eliakim Maswi should be put to task.

Nominated MP James Mbatia (NCCR) said the PAC report is not a matter of political parties but of Parliament and its resolutions should thus be taken as a collective report.

Citing that no leader is indispensable, he demanded that the Minister of Energy and Minerals Prof Muhongo be held accountable so that the country can remain one on this matter.

West Mbozi MP David Silinde (CHADEMA) said leaders who have a number of times been implicated in corruption scandals should be made to leave.