2 more govt officials suspended

Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa.

What you need to know:

Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) Chief Executive Magdalena Chuwa and Tanzania Ports Authority Measurement Department Manager Bernadina Mwijarubi were yesterday suspended for giving directives to suspend the usage of oil flow meters for five years.

Dar es Salaam. Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) Chief Executive Magdalena Chuwa and Tanzania Ports Authority Measurement Department Manager Bernadina Mwijarubi were yesterday suspended for giving directives to suspend the usage of oil flow meters for five years.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, the two have been suspended to pave the way for a probe.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced the decision during his meeting with permanent secretaries yesterday.

He ordered the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Adelhelm Meru, to write suspension letters to them to pave the way for investigations into the loss of oil and revenues.

The two have been also forbidden from travelling to any place until the investigation is completed. According to the Premier, his office will write letters to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and police to order them to investigate the matter.

“We are consulting PCCB and police for the investigation. If the two were involved in any wrongdoing, legal measures will be taken against them. If not, they will be allowed to take over their duties,” said Mr Majaliwa.

On Thursday, Mr Majaliwa issued the directive after making yet another impromptu visit at the Tanzania Ports Authority’s WMA and realised that the oil flow meters had not been used for five years.

He ordered Ms Chuwa to provide a convincing explanation as to why she issued the directive to suspend the use of the meters and why she rescinded her decision abruptly on Wednesday, a day before the Premier’s visit.

According to Mr Majaliwa, the oil flow meters were purchased by the government at a price of $1.2 million (about Sh2.5 billion), insisting that failure to use them did not make sense as unscrupulous officials were tampering with the internal system, denying the government of revenue. Mr Majaliwa directed that the meters should start working immediately.