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- Feb 11, 2007
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CCM members in mega scandals to face music
By Tom Mosoba, Dodoma
THE CITIZEN
CCM has resolved that all its members implicated in corruption scandals be held responsible for their misdeeds.
They should face the music according to the laws and CCM will take disciplinary action according to its constitutions.
CCM national publicity secretary John Chiligati said the decision was arrived at a meeting of the party's National Executive Committee and its members of Parliament yesterday in Dodoma.
He briefed journalists after the daylong meeting chaired by the party chairman, Mr Jakaya Kikwete.
The meeting reviewed the Government performance for the first half of its five-year term of governing the country.
He said that the meeting discussed the Richmond and External Payment Arrears (EPA) scandals that have blotted the Government image and shook the party to some extent.
They [scandals] were turbulent and have rocked our ship but they did not stop us from sailing, he said. Members welcomed the steps taken by Government to address the two issues and have recommended that appropriate legal steps be taken against anyone implicated in them.
He said Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda would table in the National Assembly a report on steps taken by the Government on recommendations of a probe team on the Richmond scam.
He said the meeting also heard progress of the EPA investigations.
He believes that President Kikwete will take action against the culprits.
Mr Chiligati said the meeting gave opportunity to members to raise pertinent issues of their party's interest. They also discussed the witchcraft claim in the House.
He said the suspected MP and those who witnessed the incident spoke before the members about the matter.
According to initial reports, the said member who used to seat in the front bench was being shown where to sit and some three MPs who were in the House then testified as well and said they had not seen anything relating to witchcraft, said Mr Chiligati.
He denied that the party was divided. The party is big and strong nothing will make it Fall apart, he said.
He noted that individuals might go but the party of four million would remain strong.
He said the party organ told the Government to concentrate on delivering on party promises to win in the 2010 general elections.
He said all members had been asked to be keen on agriculture the only area which the Government had performed below its expectations.
There have been political undercurrents within CCM, following investigations the Government ordered into the EPA and Ruchmond scandals.
The Parliamentary Select Committee which investigated the Richmond scandal, led to the resignation of Mr Edward Lowassa as the prime minister, appeared to have polarised the ruling party.
The then minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Nazir Karamagi, and his predecessor Dr Ibrahim Msabaha also resigned.
Some party cadres have called for expulsions from the party of all officials who have been implicated in the scandals to protect the good image of the ruling party.
Former Infrastructure Development minister Andrew Chenge, who resigned over allegations of ownership of a $1 million in a suspicious overseas account being linked to bribery during the purchase of the $40 million radar is one of the officials targeted in the expulsion call.
The UK's Serious Fraud Office is investigating the ex-minister over the bribery allegations, which he has denied.
By Tom Mosoba, Dodoma
THE CITIZEN
CCM has resolved that all its members implicated in corruption scandals be held responsible for their misdeeds.
They should face the music according to the laws and CCM will take disciplinary action according to its constitutions.
CCM national publicity secretary John Chiligati said the decision was arrived at a meeting of the party's National Executive Committee and its members of Parliament yesterday in Dodoma.
He briefed journalists after the daylong meeting chaired by the party chairman, Mr Jakaya Kikwete.
The meeting reviewed the Government performance for the first half of its five-year term of governing the country.
He said that the meeting discussed the Richmond and External Payment Arrears (EPA) scandals that have blotted the Government image and shook the party to some extent.
They [scandals] were turbulent and have rocked our ship but they did not stop us from sailing, he said. Members welcomed the steps taken by Government to address the two issues and have recommended that appropriate legal steps be taken against anyone implicated in them.
He said Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda would table in the National Assembly a report on steps taken by the Government on recommendations of a probe team on the Richmond scam.
He said the meeting also heard progress of the EPA investigations.
He believes that President Kikwete will take action against the culprits.
Mr Chiligati said the meeting gave opportunity to members to raise pertinent issues of their party's interest. They also discussed the witchcraft claim in the House.
He said the suspected MP and those who witnessed the incident spoke before the members about the matter.
According to initial reports, the said member who used to seat in the front bench was being shown where to sit and some three MPs who were in the House then testified as well and said they had not seen anything relating to witchcraft, said Mr Chiligati.
He denied that the party was divided. The party is big and strong nothing will make it Fall apart, he said.
He noted that individuals might go but the party of four million would remain strong.
He said the party organ told the Government to concentrate on delivering on party promises to win in the 2010 general elections.
He said all members had been asked to be keen on agriculture the only area which the Government had performed below its expectations.
There have been political undercurrents within CCM, following investigations the Government ordered into the EPA and Ruchmond scandals.
The Parliamentary Select Committee which investigated the Richmond scandal, led to the resignation of Mr Edward Lowassa as the prime minister, appeared to have polarised the ruling party.
The then minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Nazir Karamagi, and his predecessor Dr Ibrahim Msabaha also resigned.
Some party cadres have called for expulsions from the party of all officials who have been implicated in the scandals to protect the good image of the ruling party.
Former Infrastructure Development minister Andrew Chenge, who resigned over allegations of ownership of a $1 million in a suspicious overseas account being linked to bribery during the purchase of the $40 million radar is one of the officials targeted in the expulsion call.
The UK's Serious Fraud Office is investigating the ex-minister over the bribery allegations, which he has denied.