Bunge committee grills CAG for 156 minutes

Controller and Auditor General Mussa Assad arrives at Parliament grounds yesterday. PHOTO | HABEL CHIDAWALI

What you need to know:

Prof Mussa Assad arrived at Bunge premises in a government vehicle. He was not accompanied by any assistant. At the entrance, he had to undergo the normal security checks that saw him taking off his shoes

Dodoma. The Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee grilled Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Mussa Assad for 156 minutes yesterday, but fell short of telling Tanzanians what actually transpired during the questioning.

Prof Assad entered Parliament grounds at 10:49 am yesterday, carrying a bag that appeared to be full of working documents, in response to a summons by the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Job Ndugai, so he could respond to allegations of disrespecting the Legislature.

The bone of contention between the two public office bearers started several days ago when speaking during an interview with the United Nations’ Kiswahili Service, Prof Assad said his institution prepares audit reports, which are to be worked on by Parliament.

“If we produce reports, yet no action is taken, to me, that’s the weakness of Parliament….I believe it is a challenge that will be worked on…. Parliament fails to exercise its responsibilities effectively,” he said.

But in response, Mr Ndugai said on January 7, 2019 that Prof Assad, formerly associate professor in accounting at the University of Dar es Salaam, should stand before the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee on January 21.

Arrived unaccompanied

Prof Assad arrived at Bunge premises in a government vehicle. He was not accompanied by any aide.

At the entrance, he had to undergo the normal security checks that saw him taking off his belt, shoes, jacket, spectacles and wristwatch.

After signing the visitors’ book as requested, Prof Assad officially appeared before the committee, which was chaired by Mr Emmanuel Mwakasaka (CCM – Tabora Urban) at 11:03 am.

The committee grilled him until 12:45 when they took a break. He was seen outside before the members ushered him inside again at 13:15.

The grilling went on until 13:57 when the CAG took another break and some members were seen going in and out of the grilling room.

They ushered him inside the room again at 14:35 and he remained there until 14:47 when a plainclothes security officer escorted him outside the Parliament grounds while barring journalists from asking him questions.

What committee chair said

Mr Mwakasaka told journalists that Prof Assad had given his committee all the cooperation that it deserved but he could not divulge more on which questions were asked and how the CAG responded.

“He has helped us in everything we needed including responding to every question asked by members. We thank him for that.”

He said the questioning was a preliminary step in unfolding the issue, noting that a report would be submitted to Mr Ndugai for decision in accordance with recommendations of the committee.

However, he neither provided details of what actually transpired during the questioning nor shed light as to when the committee will finalise preparing the report that will be handed over to Mr Ndugai.