I am open for probe, Zitto declares after Ngeleja jibe

Dar es Salaam. Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Zitto Kabwe has called on relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation on allegations levelled against him by Mr William Ngeleja, Sengerema MP (CCM) when he appeared before Public Leaders Ethics Tribunal on Tuesday.

In his defence, before the tribunal, Mr Ngeleja queried why he was summoned and questioned for receiving Sh40 million from Mr James Rugemalira while Mr Kabwe, who he claimed had received over Sh30 million from Pan African Power Solutions (PAP) was left untouched.

Mr Ngeleja also claimed before the ethics tribunal that it was a common practice for MPs to receive money and donations from businessmen and social security funds. He also accused Mr Kabwe of receiving over Sh119 million from Tanapa and some social security funds.

The Sengerema MP also said he was disappointed that although accusations against Mr Kabwe were first raised in Parliament, no action has been taken by the House or the Public Leaders Ethics Committee.

However, Mr Kabwe, who released a statement to the media yesterday, denied the accusation, calling for a thorough investigation to establish the truth of the allegations against him.

“I welcome any investigation if there are any doubt as to my ethical and rigorous handling of any public financing, or if there is any doubt as to my transparency and accountability,” read part of the statement.

“With immediate effect I subject myself to any ethical investigation...an investigation that is independent and objective,” he added.

Mr Kabwe, who is also the Kigoma North MP (Chadema), said as PAC chairman his responsibility is to investigate issues relating to mismanagement of public funds and corruption within public parastatals and that he had neither presented information nor accused anyone of anything that had not been properly investigated.

He added that he was surprised that people, who are claiming that he had any misconduct, are unable to prove their allegations.

He called on Tanzanian leaders to spend their time working to improve the lives of Tanzanians instead than spend so much time creating stories that have no basis or foundation.

He also expressed his support for the Ethics Tribunal which is building strong accountability institutions in the country. Mr Kabwe was a subject of scathing attack by some legislators shortly after he tabled PAC report on Controller and Auditor General special audit of Tegeta escrow account in November.

They accused him of soliciting and obtain money from PAP and social security funds, accusations which haven’t substantiated yet.

Mr Ngeleja appeared before the Public Leaders Ethics Tribunal, which is investigating public leaders who were paid huge sums of money by the businessman--one of the key links in the Sh306 billion Tegeta escrow account scandal.

Other prominent figures who have appeared before the tribunal chaired by Judge (rtd) Hamis Msumi are former minister for lands Prof Anna Tibaijuka, and former Infrastructure minister and former Attorney General Andrew Chenge, who each received Sh1.6 billion from Mr James Rugemalira, the owner of VIP Engineering and Marketing.

Mr Rugemalira was a minority shareholder with 30 per cent shares at IPTL, which was sold to Pan African Power Solution Limited (PAP).