All eyes on Ikulu as nation awaits JK’s action
President Kikwete will take action on issues that he has to handle directly and give directives on the implementation of others.
What you need to know:
- Last week, as the citizenry celebrated Mainland Tanzania’s 53 independence anniversary, the State House Directorate of Communications issued a statement to the effect that the President would this week speak on what his decision is on the controversial withdrawal of cash from the Tegeta account at the Bank of Tanzania.
Dar es Salaam. All eyes and ears this week are glued to State House at Magogoni Street in Dar es Salaam as Tanzanians wait President Jakaya Kikwete to give his stand on the Tegeta escrow account.
Last week, as the citizenry celebrated Mainland Tanzania’s 53 independence anniversary, the State House Directorate of Communications issued a statement to the effect that the President would this week speak on what his decision is on the controversial withdrawal of cash from the Tegeta account at the Bank of Tanzania. By then, President Kikwete had already received the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report, Parliament resolutions on the escrow scandal and other documents on the withdrawal of Sh306 billion from BoT and its subsequent sharing by two companies and huge cash hand-outs to influential public figures.
“The President is presently going through all documents; he will give his stand in a week’s time. He will take action on issues that he has to handle directly and give directives on the implementation of others,” said the statement issued by the directorate last week.
As people waited for a word from Ikulu, social media chatrooms went overdrive, with groups speculating all manner of changes in government. There was even a list of a purported new Cabinet line-up.
In November, Parliament called on President Kikwete to discipline four top officials in his administration that have been implicated in the Tegeta escrow account scandal.
These include Energy and Minerals minister Sospeter Muhongo and his permanent secretary Eliachim Maswi as well as Attorney General Frederick Werema.
They also demanded action on the minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Prof Anna Tibaijuka. The prof has since denied any wrongdoing in accepting Sh1.6 billion, part of the escrow money from a local businessman involved in the deal.
The list also includes other officials from the Judiciary and Parliament. The MPs also demanded that the President forms an inquiry team to investigate judges Aloycius Mujulizi and John Ruhangisa whose names appeared on the list of people who received money from Mr James Rugemalira, the owner of VIP Engineering.
The report also recommended a thorough investigation of Pan Africa Power (PAP) founder, Mr Harbinger Singh Sethi, whose questionable takeover of the Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) precipitated the scandal. Parliament proposed that the government takes over IPTL whose 20-year-plus contract with Tanesco has plagued the state utility with huge debts.
