Nassari warned against ‘talking’ about evidence submitted to PCCB

Dar es Salaam. The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has warned Arumeru East Member of Parliament Joshua Nassari against revealing information on ongoing investigations against public officials who are accused of bribing Chadema councilors in Arusha to decamp.

PCCB director general Valentino Mlowola told a press conference on Tuesday, October 17, that it will take stern measures against the outspoken lawmaker if he continues interfering with the PCCB activities.

"Yesterday, like the previous two times he visited the PCCB Headquarters, immediately after holding a meeting with our officials, Mr Nassari addressed the media contrary to our directives. He was quoted pressuring the institution to arraign corruption suspects against whom he submitted evidence,” he said.

"I warn Mr Nassari and anyone against pressuring the institution. They must stop immediately. PCCB executes its duties in accordance with the law, procedures and regulations,” he warned.

Furthermore, he said what has been submitted by the opposition lawmaker so far was not evidence of corruption per se but information that needs further analysis before further action can be taken.

This was the third time Mr Nassari knocked on the PCCB doors to submit what he termed as evidence to prove that CCM cadres in Arusha Region bribed Chadema councilors into defecting into the ruling party.

The anti-bribery chief said after Mr Nassari had met with PCCB officials on October 2, he later addressed the press outside the institution’s headquarters, contrary to what they had agreed, and that the same repeated yesterday as well.

"What he is doing is interfering in our work and turning the matter into a political drama. We don’t want that, let’s remain professional,” insisted Mr Mlowola.

According to Mr Mlowola, Section 37 of the PCCB Act, the institution is ordered to protect information providers as whistleblowers, wondering reasons for the MP to expose himself.