BAK
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 11, 2007
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Serikali iko mifukoni mwa mapapa mafisadis.
The Government came under pressure yesterday to act on corruption and embezzlement claims at the centre of a bitter public row between two influential figures.
In separate interviews yesterday, political leaders and several other people queried why the Government had not acted on allegations of serious criminal offences being made by Igunga MP Rostam Aziz and prominent businessman Reginald Mengi.
Those who pushed for government intervention included opposition leaders Ibrahim Lipumba of CUF and Augustine Mrema of TLP and University of Dar es Salaam lecturer Prof Mwesiga Baregu.
The appeal was made as lawyers representing Mr Mengi addressed another press conference in Dar es Salaam to defend the media mogul against corruption and fraud claims made by Mr Aziz on Sunday.
They threatened to reveal what they said was "evidence" linking the politician and businessman to the controversial Dowans and Richmond power firms.
But Mr Aziz dismissed the threat as "a mere joke", adding that he would today hand over to the authorities evidence for allegations he had levelled against Mr Mengi.
Prof Lipumba said the Government should launch thorough investigations into the corruption allegations, adding that not acting on the claims would be counterproductive.
He said the Government should reveal how much money had been recovered and by whom by the taskforce established to recover funds loaned under the import support scheme that was administered through the National Bank of Commerce (NBC).
Mr Mrema, on his part, challenged those with evidence of impropriety to take it to the relevant authorities, and welcomed Mr Aziz�s promise to hand over what Mr Aziz said was a "dossier of Mengi�s corrupt practices".
Prof Baregu, who is a political scientist, said it was high time the Government instituted appropriate investigations into the saga.
"We have heard very serious allegations about corruption, theft and embezzlement of public funds being made in this wrangle. The Government cannot continue keeping quiet.
"Indifference will not help, and ordinary Tanzanians, who suffer most as a result of entrenched corruption, may be forced to take the law into their own hands sooner rather than later,"Prof Baregu said.
The don wondered why state agencies like the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the office of the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not acted in the wake of allegations made by Mr Aziz and Mr Mengi.
"Somebody has to act now, otherwise it will lead to public confusion and unrest because accusations being traded between the two camps have exposed serious underlying issues."
Asked if state organs would investigate the Aziz-Mengi saga, DCI Robert Manumba said that was possible if "tangible" evidence was produced. He, however, hastened to add that investigators were not obliged to reveal to journalists what they were working on.
"We don't carry out our duties by revealing them to the media. I cannot, therefore, tell you if we are investigating them or not," Mr Manumba said.
PCCB director general Edward Hosea said he could not comment on the telephone when reached for his views.
The vice-chairman (Tanzania Mainland) of the ruling CCM, Mr
Pius Msekwa, however, differed with those urging the Government to intervene.
Mr Msekwa, a former long-serving Speaker of Parliament and current chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy, said the only way out was for the aggrieved parties to go to court.
He, however, admitted that the mudslinging was getting out of hand, and called for an end to the dispute, warning that it could divide the nation if not handled carefully. He said those involved were out to win public sympathy.
"Whether or not these allegations are true can only be proven in court. It is not appropriate to demand that the Government jumps in just like that," Mr Msekwa said.
Many Dar es Salaam residents and businesspeople, including Mr Herman Odemba, Mr Johnson Julius, Mr Mdhamiru Ahmed and Mr Moses Joseph, were also in favour of an intervention to end the saga, but some blamed the media for giving the wrangle prominence at the expense of other important national issues.
"The State should act to end this circus as this will help to restore the public's trust in the Government and its leaders,"said Mr Odemba, who added that wealthy individuals must not be allowed to hold the country to ransom.
Information, Culture and Sports deputy minister Joel Bendera and Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) secretary Kajubi Mukajanga accused the media of fanning the dispute.
Mr Mukajanga took a swipe at editors, saying they were not upholding professional ethics.
"What editors are doing in this war of words between two media owners is shameful. They just cannot justify what they are doing," he said in a telephone interview.
Mr Mukajanga said editors were supposed to understand that society came first.
"I want to make this amply clear�it is not a secret anymore. Looking at the kind of stories we are seeing, it is evident that editors have been bought�they have price tags on their heads," he said.
He added: "But this will be their undoing. Nobody can blame media owners for what is happening as editors are supposed to advise them accordingly as professionals."
Speaking in Tanga, Mr Bendera said the Government was concerned about the escalation of personal attacks in the media, and advised journalists to desist from being used to further selfish interests.
He was speaking during the official opening of the Tanga office of the state-owned Tanzania Standard Newspapers.
Mr Bendera said the current war of words between wealthy individuals and media moguls had put the information sector and journalism profession on the spot.
The deputy minister added that the Government would uphold freedom of speech, but warned that it would not tolerate media organs that abused the privilege.
"Unlimited freedom of speech would lead us to chaos," he cautioned, adding that media organs that were formed specifically to target the privacy of others would be dealt with.
Additional reporting by Mkinga Mkinga in Dar and George Sembony in Tanga
2009-05-05 08:47:00
Mengi VS Rostam: Where is the Government?
Prof Mwesiga Baregu: Ant corruption bureau and DCI should tell truth
Media practitioners on the spotlight for 'fanning' the dispute
By Beatus Kagashe
THE CITIZEN
Mengi VS Rostam: Where is the Government?
Prof Mwesiga Baregu: Ant corruption bureau and DCI should tell truth
Media practitioners on the spotlight for 'fanning' the dispute
By Beatus Kagashe
THE CITIZEN
The Government came under pressure yesterday to act on corruption and embezzlement claims at the centre of a bitter public row between two influential figures.
In separate interviews yesterday, political leaders and several other people queried why the Government had not acted on allegations of serious criminal offences being made by Igunga MP Rostam Aziz and prominent businessman Reginald Mengi.
Those who pushed for government intervention included opposition leaders Ibrahim Lipumba of CUF and Augustine Mrema of TLP and University of Dar es Salaam lecturer Prof Mwesiga Baregu.
The appeal was made as lawyers representing Mr Mengi addressed another press conference in Dar es Salaam to defend the media mogul against corruption and fraud claims made by Mr Aziz on Sunday.
They threatened to reveal what they said was "evidence" linking the politician and businessman to the controversial Dowans and Richmond power firms.
But Mr Aziz dismissed the threat as "a mere joke", adding that he would today hand over to the authorities evidence for allegations he had levelled against Mr Mengi.
Prof Lipumba said the Government should launch thorough investigations into the corruption allegations, adding that not acting on the claims would be counterproductive.
He said the Government should reveal how much money had been recovered and by whom by the taskforce established to recover funds loaned under the import support scheme that was administered through the National Bank of Commerce (NBC).
Mr Mrema, on his part, challenged those with evidence of impropriety to take it to the relevant authorities, and welcomed Mr Aziz�s promise to hand over what Mr Aziz said was a "dossier of Mengi�s corrupt practices".
Prof Baregu, who is a political scientist, said it was high time the Government instituted appropriate investigations into the saga.
"We have heard very serious allegations about corruption, theft and embezzlement of public funds being made in this wrangle. The Government cannot continue keeping quiet.
"Indifference will not help, and ordinary Tanzanians, who suffer most as a result of entrenched corruption, may be forced to take the law into their own hands sooner rather than later,"Prof Baregu said.
The don wondered why state agencies like the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the office of the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had not acted in the wake of allegations made by Mr Aziz and Mr Mengi.
"Somebody has to act now, otherwise it will lead to public confusion and unrest because accusations being traded between the two camps have exposed serious underlying issues."
Asked if state organs would investigate the Aziz-Mengi saga, DCI Robert Manumba said that was possible if "tangible" evidence was produced. He, however, hastened to add that investigators were not obliged to reveal to journalists what they were working on.
"We don't carry out our duties by revealing them to the media. I cannot, therefore, tell you if we are investigating them or not," Mr Manumba said.
PCCB director general Edward Hosea said he could not comment on the telephone when reached for his views.
The vice-chairman (Tanzania Mainland) of the ruling CCM, Mr
Pius Msekwa, however, differed with those urging the Government to intervene.
Mr Msekwa, a former long-serving Speaker of Parliament and current chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy, said the only way out was for the aggrieved parties to go to court.
He, however, admitted that the mudslinging was getting out of hand, and called for an end to the dispute, warning that it could divide the nation if not handled carefully. He said those involved were out to win public sympathy.
"Whether or not these allegations are true can only be proven in court. It is not appropriate to demand that the Government jumps in just like that," Mr Msekwa said.
Many Dar es Salaam residents and businesspeople, including Mr Herman Odemba, Mr Johnson Julius, Mr Mdhamiru Ahmed and Mr Moses Joseph, were also in favour of an intervention to end the saga, but some blamed the media for giving the wrangle prominence at the expense of other important national issues.
"The State should act to end this circus as this will help to restore the public's trust in the Government and its leaders,"said Mr Odemba, who added that wealthy individuals must not be allowed to hold the country to ransom.
Information, Culture and Sports deputy minister Joel Bendera and Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) secretary Kajubi Mukajanga accused the media of fanning the dispute.
Mr Mukajanga took a swipe at editors, saying they were not upholding professional ethics.
"What editors are doing in this war of words between two media owners is shameful. They just cannot justify what they are doing," he said in a telephone interview.
Mr Mukajanga said editors were supposed to understand that society came first.
"I want to make this amply clear�it is not a secret anymore. Looking at the kind of stories we are seeing, it is evident that editors have been bought�they have price tags on their heads," he said.
He added: "But this will be their undoing. Nobody can blame media owners for what is happening as editors are supposed to advise them accordingly as professionals."
Speaking in Tanga, Mr Bendera said the Government was concerned about the escalation of personal attacks in the media, and advised journalists to desist from being used to further selfish interests.
He was speaking during the official opening of the Tanga office of the state-owned Tanzania Standard Newspapers.
Mr Bendera said the current war of words between wealthy individuals and media moguls had put the information sector and journalism profession on the spot.
The deputy minister added that the Government would uphold freedom of speech, but warned that it would not tolerate media organs that abused the privilege.
"Unlimited freedom of speech would lead us to chaos," he cautioned, adding that media organs that were formed specifically to target the privacy of others would be dealt with.
Additional reporting by Mkinga Mkinga in Dar and George Sembony in Tanga
