SIMBA mtoto
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 13, 2011
- 204
- 100
United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed sympathy for the Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Prof Anna Tibaijuka for being associated with the theft of billions of shillings from the Tegeta Escrow account.
Speaking on Wednesday night outside Parliament buildings, Prof Tibaijuka who is former UN-HABITAT Executive Director said she has received many sympathy messages from different people, including Ban Ki-Moon, noting that the charges raised were meant to tarnish her name politically.
Early yesterday after Tibaijuka took note of the message by Ban Ki-Moon, Finance deputy minister Mwigulu Nchemba thundered that all those who received money raised from the Escrow account pay income tax based on the amount of money cashed into their accounts.
This comes after members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) listed the Lands Minister as having received money from James Rugemalira, the former 30 per cent shareholder in the now defunct IPTL.
Mwigulu who is also CCM Deputy Secretary General insisted that whoever violates the directive he was giving as deputy minister, would face legal procedures by TRA after December 2014.
Prof Tibaijuka was being associated in the theft of Sh306bn from the Escrow Account, as Mkombozi Bank records shows she received from businessman Rugemalira Sh1.65bn which she said has no connection with the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) scandal.
Investigation carried out by the Controller and Auditor General indicated that the amount received by Prof Tibaijuka was part of the money that Rugemalira was paid by the owner of the Pan African Power Solutions (PAP), sourced from the Escrow account.
Reports affirm that the money originated from the sale of IPTL to a new owner, Pan African Power Solutions Ltd (PAP) which was then paid out the money meant for paying capacity and energy charges by TANESCO for IPTL, thus the Sh201billion ($122 million) placed in an Escrow account.
The minister distanced herself from the reports saying the funds came with an assurance that it had no connection with the controversial account.
"How would I know that the money given by my brother Rugemalira to support development of the school I manage was from the IPTL controversial money? Here, what I can see is that they are trying to tarnish my reputation and I don't think if there is a case here," explained Prof Tibaijuka.
She said that CAG report doesn't involve her in the controversial money in the Escrow account, but it arose with the PAC when dealing with the CAG report and that of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB).
She said the PAC report had involved her in this scandal, for what was explained they were investigating those who were given the money from the Escrow account.
The PAC report said it was not right for the money to be channeled to PAP, and that's why it is deemed to have been stolen with complicity from various government officials.
Tibaijuka says she is being involved in the controversial money due to political jealousy as she is among members of the National Executive Committee of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (NEC-CCM).
She refused to elaborate on the possibility of these scandals being fueled by individuals concerned with politics relating to the next general election.
She said that in terms of ethics of leadership she is on the forefront to adhere the rules and regulation ethically that why she worked in international agencies like UN-Habitat overseeing various projects worth billions and she was not involved in any kind of scandals, and that is why Ban Ki-Moon was sympathizing with her.
Among the reason why she was chosen for the second time to guide UN-Habitat was her integrity, saying that she was overseeing millions of dollars implementing many projects, and those who knew her were surprised upon hearing the news.
He said due to this incident, she wants to let Tanzanians know that the money donated to support her school was meant to help female students from Tandahimba, Lindi and Rufiji who are studying there depending on various donations from Good Samaritans.
Escrow account:
This account was opened due to misunderstanding between Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Tanesco and IPTL leading to open charges at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
After Tanesco paid the money to IPTL, the amount was served in Escrow account since 2007, until the conflict between the two sides was ended.
However, ICSID issued guidelines which were observed by the two sides, to negotiate with the aim of reaching a decision. But before that happened PAP bought 70 percent of share from IPTL and started to demand the money from the Escrow account.
PAP using diverse approaches, including legal procedures was finally paid all the money that was in the Escrow account and then bought 30 percent of the remaining shares owned by Rugemalira for a total of US $ 75 million.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Speaking on Wednesday night outside Parliament buildings, Prof Tibaijuka who is former UN-HABITAT Executive Director said she has received many sympathy messages from different people, including Ban Ki-Moon, noting that the charges raised were meant to tarnish her name politically.
Early yesterday after Tibaijuka took note of the message by Ban Ki-Moon, Finance deputy minister Mwigulu Nchemba thundered that all those who received money raised from the Escrow account pay income tax based on the amount of money cashed into their accounts.
This comes after members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) listed the Lands Minister as having received money from James Rugemalira, the former 30 per cent shareholder in the now defunct IPTL.
Mwigulu who is also CCM Deputy Secretary General insisted that whoever violates the directive he was giving as deputy minister, would face legal procedures by TRA after December 2014.
Prof Tibaijuka was being associated in the theft of Sh306bn from the Escrow Account, as Mkombozi Bank records shows she received from businessman Rugemalira Sh1.65bn which she said has no connection with the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) scandal.
Investigation carried out by the Controller and Auditor General indicated that the amount received by Prof Tibaijuka was part of the money that Rugemalira was paid by the owner of the Pan African Power Solutions (PAP), sourced from the Escrow account.
Reports affirm that the money originated from the sale of IPTL to a new owner, Pan African Power Solutions Ltd (PAP) which was then paid out the money meant for paying capacity and energy charges by TANESCO for IPTL, thus the Sh201billion ($122 million) placed in an Escrow account.
The minister distanced herself from the reports saying the funds came with an assurance that it had no connection with the controversial account.
"How would I know that the money given by my brother Rugemalira to support development of the school I manage was from the IPTL controversial money? Here, what I can see is that they are trying to tarnish my reputation and I don't think if there is a case here," explained Prof Tibaijuka.
She said that CAG report doesn't involve her in the controversial money in the Escrow account, but it arose with the PAC when dealing with the CAG report and that of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB).
She said the PAC report had involved her in this scandal, for what was explained they were investigating those who were given the money from the Escrow account.
The PAC report said it was not right for the money to be channeled to PAP, and that's why it is deemed to have been stolen with complicity from various government officials.
Tibaijuka says she is being involved in the controversial money due to political jealousy as she is among members of the National Executive Committee of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (NEC-CCM).
She refused to elaborate on the possibility of these scandals being fueled by individuals concerned with politics relating to the next general election.
She said that in terms of ethics of leadership she is on the forefront to adhere the rules and regulation ethically that why she worked in international agencies like UN-Habitat overseeing various projects worth billions and she was not involved in any kind of scandals, and that is why Ban Ki-Moon was sympathizing with her.
Among the reason why she was chosen for the second time to guide UN-Habitat was her integrity, saying that she was overseeing millions of dollars implementing many projects, and those who knew her were surprised upon hearing the news.
He said due to this incident, she wants to let Tanzanians know that the money donated to support her school was meant to help female students from Tandahimba, Lindi and Rufiji who are studying there depending on various donations from Good Samaritans.
Escrow account:
This account was opened due to misunderstanding between Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Tanesco and IPTL leading to open charges at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
After Tanesco paid the money to IPTL, the amount was served in Escrow account since 2007, until the conflict between the two sides was ended.
However, ICSID issued guidelines which were observed by the two sides, to negotiate with the aim of reaching a decision. But before that happened PAP bought 70 percent of share from IPTL and started to demand the money from the Escrow account.
PAP using diverse approaches, including legal procedures was finally paid all the money that was in the Escrow account and then bought 30 percent of the remaining shares owned by Rugemalira for a total of US $ 75 million.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
