Kafulila asks President Kikwete to intervene in IPTL sale saga
NCCR-Mageuzi Secretary-General Mosena Nyambabe addresses a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him is Kigoma South MP David Kafulila. PHOTO | VENANCE NESTORY
What you need to know:
- A number of MPs last month demanded a thorough investigation into the $122 million (Sh201 billion) scandal.
- They included Mr David Kafulia, who called for a parliamentary investigation into the acquisition of Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) by Kenyan tycoon Harbinder Singh Sethi.
Dar es Salaam. Kigoma South MP David Kafulila yesterday appealed to President Jakaya Kikwete to intervene in the controversy surrounding the payment of Sh201 billion to Pan African Power Solutions Ltd (PAP).
The NCCR-Mageuzi lawmaker said the scandal could damage Mr Kikwete’s legacy if he did not take it seriously.
“Honourable Kikwete is now heading towards the end of his two terms. I’m appealing to him to take this matter seriously otherwise it will tarnish his leadership’s image,” he said.
Mr Kafulila, who has been vocal both inside and outside Parliament over the sale of Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) and subsequent payment of tens of billions of shillings from an escrow account under the custodian of the Bank of Tanzania, vowed that he would not be silenced.
“I’m ready to go to jail. I’m not afraid of telling the truth just because some people are threatening to eliminate me,” he said.
Mr Kafulila spoke a few days after exchanging harsh words with Attorney General Fredrick Werema in Parliament, where Mr Werema branded the MP a “monkey”. Mr Kafulila responded by calling the AG a “thief”.
NCCR-Mageuzi Secretary-General Mosena Nyambabe said yesterday that the party supported Mr Kafulila’s crusade against grand corruption.
“He is playing his role as an MP and the party fully supports him,” he said.
Mr Nyambabe urged other lawmakers from the opposition to support Mr Kafulila.
He said security agencies should not take threats against Mr Kafulila lightly, and called on the government to guarantee his safety.
The official said it should not be lost on Tanzanians that there were people who had been brutally attacked after daring to question the underhand dealings of powerful individuals.
He accused Mr Werema, Energy and Minerals minister Sospeter Muhongo and Permanent Secretary Eliakim Maswi of misleading Parliament and the public on the escrow account.
In March, this year, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ordered thorough investigations and auditing of the accounts and controversial sale of IPTL.
PAC chairman Zitto Kabwe said the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) had been tasked with carrying out the investigations.
PAC also directed the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to commence in-depth investigations into the saga.
The investigations should involve ownership of IPTL and the legality of transfer of its ownership to PAP.
“We have now finally ordered that there should be a special audit from PAC in order to get the truth of the matter,” Mr Kabwe said, noting that thorough auditing and probe into the controversial deal should be completed by end of next month.
He, however, stressed that the decisions of the Court around the many IPTL cases should be honoured.
The IPTL takeover deal has dominated headlines in recent months with parties linked to the saga issuing conflicting statements.
Although the central bank says it transferred the escrow funds to IPTL, investigations have revealed that the money was paid to PAP.
