DECI Tanzania: Ilivyoanza, ilipo na hatma yake

[BAK]

How BoT, tax body officials helped DECI

By Mkinga Mkinga

THE CITIZEN​

Some Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials helped the Development Entrepreneurship for Community Initiative (DECI) to set up its operations in Tanzania, investigations have established.

The Citizen was informed yesterday that BoT and TRA workers provided expert advice that enabled Deci operations to take off in 2007.

Investigations have further established that it was through advice from BoT and TRA employees that DECI directors managed expand the institution's operations without its being registered.

Speaking exclusively to The Citizen, a member of the team that conducted investigations into DECI's operations said it had been established that the institution was able to set up a pyramid scheme with the tacit support of BoT and TRA officials.

"We have established close relations between some senior BoT and TRA employees on the one hand and DECI officials on the other," said the source, who did not want to be named because is not authorised reveal the team's findings to the media.

He said the team's report was being finalised and would be handed over to relevant authorities in the next few days.

Contacted for comment yesterday, TRA Commissioner General Harry Kitillya said he would only act against dishonest TRA workers once the probe team presented him with their names.

"I don't have names of the alleged dishonest workers who are said to be helping Deci to do what they are doing. Let me get the report and I will then be in a position to know what action will be taken," he said.

Mr Kitillya added that any TRA employee found to have acted inappropriately would be dealt with in accordance with laid-down disciplinary guidelines.

The member of the investigation team said TRA workers had been assisting DECI operators on tax matters.

"DECI was paying taxes as an institution that issues loans without taking deposits, but it has come to light the that the institution is indeed taking deposits from its customers," he said.

TRA officials frequently visited DECI offices, and this prompted the police to start providing security at DECI branches in the belief that the institution was duly registered with the relevant authorities.

"It is clear that TRA officials were aware of DECI operations because they were receiving taxes from them, but had decided to remain quiet," the source said.

It was also established during the investigations that some BoT officials provided advice to DECI officials on how to go about their activities without raising eyebrows.

"It was some BoT officials who at a later stage advised DECI to register their institution with the central bank," said the source, noting that the application was turned down because DECI officials did not clearly state what the institution's operations were.

The source added that the names of the BoT and TRA officials who helped DECI in its activities would be handed over to relevant agencies for further action.

Efforts to reach BoT governor Benno Ndulu for comment failed yesterday after his mobile phone went unanswered.

Revelations that some TRA workers are involved in DECI operations came a few weeks after President Jakaya Kikwete said some TRA employees were helping crooked traders to evade tax. The Head of State made the remarks during a surprise visit to the Dar es Salaam port.

There have been mixed views on DECI operations with the institution's officials saying the institution was established to help poor people who could not secure bank loans. Many Deci members have also come out in force to support the institution and its operations.

Yesterday, controversial opposition politician Christopher Mtikila warned the Government against 'intimidating' DECI operators and members.

"They are threatening DECI managers so that they flee the country with members' contributions," Rev Mtikila told a public rally at Jangwani grounds in Dar es Salaam.

The Business Registration and Licensing Agency (Brela) has revealed to The Citizen the names of those behind the institution.

The company's owners are jointly listed as Jackson Mtaresi, Dominick Kiggendi, Samwel Mtaresi and Timotheo ole Loiting'ye. The fifth shareholder is registered as DECI (Africa) Limited.

Mr Jackson Mtaresi told The Citizen that he was the company's board chairman and had 12,800 shares. He is followed by DECI (Africa) Limited with 8,000 shares and Mr Kiggendi, Mr Samwel Mtaresi and Mr ole Loiting'ye, who have 6,400 shares each. Mr ole Loiting'ye is also the firm's executive director.

The records, however, do not show the nominal value of each share.

DECI was incorporated as a private limited company on July 25, 2007. It has since collected (and claims to have disbursed) billions of shillings among its members.

 

[Kisendi]

Hello, Om my side i day DECI will kill all Tz Bank and those company dealing with loan issue. Is Kikwete aware with this?? Ministry of Finance!!
I am saying this because 2 million have joined DECI Kupanda na Kuvuna. People are drawing money from Bank and else where??
How do you comment on this issue??
Let them continue we can see Banks are closed, running bankrupt etc etc

This is my view

Tanzania bila DECI haiwezekani

 

[The Farmer]

inabidi mods waunganishe hii mada, nimeshai post hapa Jamvini.

 

[FairPlayer]

Hawa waandishi ni waandishi UCHWARA! Kama mpo humu mjue kuwa huu ni ujinga.

Mlitakiwa kuja na majina ya wamiliki wa DECI (AFRICA) LTD.

Hilo ndo tunalitaka.

 

[Sophist]

Hawa waandishi ni waandishi UCHWARA! Kama mpo humu mjue kuwa huu ni ujinga.

Mlitakiwa kuja na majina ya wamiliki wa DECI (AFRICA) LTD.

Hilo ndo tunalitaka.

Point echoed!

 

[The Farmer]

Hawa waandishi ni waandishi UCHWARA! Kama mpo humu mjue kuwa huu ni ujinga.

Mlitakiwa kuja na majina ya wamiliki wa DECI (AFRICA) LTD.

Hilo ndo tunalitaka.

Swala la kupata majina yao linashughulikiwa, ila kwa tetesi inasemekana ni raia wa Kenya.

 

[BAK]

2009-04-11 07:59:00

Deci owners revealed
By The Citizen Reporters ​

Details about the controversial Development Entrepreneurship for Community Initiative (Deci) company emerged yesterday.

The Business Registration and Licensing Agency (Brela) has revealed the names of those behind the revolving funds scheme.

According to records obtained by The Citizen from Brela, four Tanzanian nationals are among the five registered shareholders who have 40,000 shares in the company.

The four Tanzanians double as directors of Deci which is being investigated for operating an illegal pyramid scheme in which thousands of desperate investors have deposited their money.

The company owners are Mr Jackson Mtaresi, Dominick Kiggendi, Samwel Mtaresi and Timotheo ole Loiting?ye. The fifth shareholder is registered as Deci (Africa) Limited.

Mr Jackson Mtaresi told The Citizen that he was the company's board chairman and had 12,800 shares. He is followed by Deci (Africa) Limited with 8,000 shares and then Mr Kiggendi, Mr Samwel Mtaresi and Mr ole Loiting'ye who have 6,400 shares each.

The records do not show the nominal value for each share. But they reveal that Deci was incorporated as a private limited company on July 25, 2007.

It has since collected (and claims to have disbursed) billions of shillings among its members. Apart from being a shareholder, Mr ole Loiting'ye is also the firm's executive director and seemingly, its spokesperson as well.

He is often seen at the company's main offices at Mabibo in Dar es Salaam. It was not immediately clear if the two Mtaresis are brothers, or if Deci (Africa) Ltd has any ties with the Deci in Kenya, which collapsed with billions of shillings of investors' money.

The records have raised more questions than answers on the role of the Jesus Christ Deliverance Church, which is widely believed to be the brainchild of the scheme.

Mr Loiting'ye told The Citizen recently that the church began the scheme to help its members fight poverty.

He defended the church's role in the company, saying it had a responsibility to avail avenues to its members to start and expand income generating activities.

According to the records, the company, which now has 700,000 members, was registered to operate virtually any form of private business.

Company officials claim to have paid back Sh35 billion to some of the members who deposited their money at an interest rate of 300 per cent for a period of between three and 12 months.

Police are still investigating the company following revelations by the Bank of Tanzania , and Capital Markets and Securities Agency that it was operating an illegal scheme.

The central bank warned the public that the company was not licensed to run the revolving funds scheme and urged investors to stop risky dealings with it.

But on Wednesday, leaders of the Pentecostal Church of Tanzania (PCT) led thousands of people in Dar es Salaam to protest against the Government?s declaration that the scheme was illegal.

PCT bishops Bartholomeu Sheggah and David Mwasota urged the Government to stop its investigations against Deci and instead facilitate its registration to continue offering the illegal scheme.

They also wrote an open letter to President Jakaya Kikwete asking him to intervene and claiming that the scheme was benefitting 3.5 million people in the country.

However, on Thursday, the State House ruled out any direct intervention by President Jakaya Kikwete in the raging controversy.

Assistant press secretary to the President, Ms Premy Kibanga, said there would be no public statement from the President on the saga.

"The President will not make a decision that is contrary to the law just to please some people,? she said, adding that the Government would act appropriately once investigations were complete.

The two bishops were not answering their phones yesterday when The Citizen called to get their response to the State House's position.

But more questions have been raised on the increasing emotional defence the clergymen have mounted to attempt to shield the company from public criticism and scrutiny.

The bishops have lashed out at critics of the scheme accusing them of embarking on "futile witch-hunt campaigns out of mere jealous."

Local bankers condemned the scheme as unsustainable and open to abuse by the owners.

And it emerged recently the company was operating without a company bank account. The huge sums of money the company had been collecting from members were deposited in personal accounts of the owners.

Early this week, the company moved to stop its panicking members from making any withdrawals, saying it was not part of their agreement.

In Kenya, when the same revolving fund scheme collapsed last December, it had KSh600 million (over Sh10 billion) in members? deposits.

The Kenyan government is still investigating the scheme, which was also run by religious leaders who were said to have confessed to luring members of their church into the scheme.

The collapse of the Kenyan firm ended in tragedy when angry investors threw one of its officials out from the window of a high-rise building, killing him in the process.

Another woman is said to have also collapsed and died after learning that she would not be able to recover her money from the company. Deci officials in Tanzania have not yet commented on their suspected links to the Kenyan company.

 

[FairPlayer]

Swala la kupata majina yao linashughulikiwa, ila kwa tetesi inasemekana ni raia wa Kenya.

LOL, sio ngumu kuwapata labda niwape hint tu. Mwenye share nyingi ni mwanamama wa Kinyaksusa.

Sasa kama mimi nina hint SIRIKALI na uwezo woote na pesa zetu walalahoi tunazowapa kila mwezi wanashndwaje kuwajua?

Wizi mtupu!!! na kinachofanyika kwa sasa ni kuwpa muda wakimbie nchini, pesa zimeshaenda.

 

[The Farmer]

Wadau wa DECI ni hawa hapa;

The company owners are Mr Jackson Mtaresi, Dominick Kiggendi, Samwel Mtaresi and Timotheo ole Loiting?ye. The fifth shareholder is registered as Deci (Africa) Limited.

Mr Jackson Mtaresi told The Citizen that he was the company's board chairman and had 12,800 shares. He is followed by Deci (Africa) Limited with 8,000 shares and then Mr Kiggendi, Mr Samwel Mtaresi and Mr ole Loiting'ye who have 6,400 shares each.

 

[eddy]

TRA siwanakitengo cha investigation, au hakiwezi chunguza watumishi wake wenyewe hadi kitillya asubiri riport au nayeye mgao ulifika kwake!

 

[Single D]

TRA siwanakitengo cha investigation, au hakiwezi chunguza watumishi wake wenyewe hadi kitillya asubiri riport au nayeye mgao ulifika kwake!

MKUU
Hivi vitengo vya uchunguzi vya mashirika(TRA,TANESCO etc) nadhani huwa ni mali ya mtu wala siyo serikali,maana kesi zao sijui huwa zinaishia wapi wakamatapo wahalifu?sijui wanaviendaje?
TRA mwaka huu wamekamata vijana hapo bandari wenye dili la kutengeneza docs feki za kutolea mankotena na kukwepa kodi lakini utasiki ziiiiiiiiiiii,ngoja akamatwe kapuku kila siku kesi itaandikwa gaztini.

TANESCO pia walikamata vijana pale ILALA wana mashine za kutolea BILL fake za kusambaza kwa wateja lakini ziii. This is nothing more than fiction rather investigating heart of matter.
Tutasikia mengi

 

[Balingilaki]

DECI wamekuwa ni matapeli kam wengine wengi tu, mmesikia habari za Blue nao wamekula pesa za walimu wakasepa, watanzania tumekuwa wavivu tusiotaka kuchuma vya HALALI katika nyanja nyingi kama elimu, hospitali, na ufisadi wote kisa umaskini?!!!
NOoo tuamkeni watanzania.

mmmhhh walimu tu ndo walikuwa wateja wa blue,mbona mi si mwalimu na nilikuwemo

 

[Balingilaki]

Deci haijafungiwa. Kilichotokea ni kuwa Benki Kuu na CMSA wametoa tangazo kuwatahadharisha wananchi kuwa Deci haipewa kibali na BoT kufanya shughuli za upatu wala CMSA haijatoa leseni kwa ajili ya Deci kuendesha shughuli inazizifanya. Wanmewaonya wananchi kuwa mtu atakayeshiuriki katika shughuli za Deci atakuwa anavunja sheria. mwisho wamesema kuwa hivi sasa wanachunguza shughuli zinazofanywa na deci kabla hatua hazijachukuliwa.
Tangazo hili lilitoka katika magazeti jana na leo

what does the announcement imply.

 

[Congo]

Kama kumbukumbu zangu ni sahihi mchezo kama huu wa DECI uliwahi kufanyika hapa Tanzania (hasa bongo) miaka kama mitano sita hivi iliyopita. sina kumbukumbu ya jina lake sasa hivi. Tena aliyeufanya alikuwa jamaa mmoja wa Uganda. Wakati huo target ilikuwa mpaka viongozi, akienda kujiadikisha basi siku ya kuvuna anatangazwa mpaka magazetini.
Baadaye kidogo ukaanzishwa mwingine kwa utaratibu huohuo. Huu ulianzishwa nasikia na kina mama wake za vigogo.

Sasa hivi wakati DECI imepamba moto kuna kiofisi kingine kimefunguliwa pale majumba Sita, Ukonga, njia panda ya kwenda Segerea, karibu kabisa na baa inaitwa Juntion Bar. Inaitwa Malingumu Investment. Watu wanajazana asubuhi kupanda na kuvuna. Kwa utaratibu wa Pyramid scheme kama hizo watu wa mwanzo ndio hufaidi ili kuwavutia wengine wajiunge. Lakini hata wale wa wale mwanzo huzoa akiba zao na kuziweka humo ili waendelee kuvuna. Lakini Iko siku watalia tu. Ndio utaratibu wa mchezo huo.

Kwa hiyo suala la lini watalia huwa ni suala la muda. Yaweza ikawa mwezi, mwaka hata miaka kulingana na wingi wa watu wanavojiunga. Iko siku hao viongozi watapotea tu na kuwaacha waliowekeza wakilia na kusaga meno na makanisa yao hayo.

Kama ilivyokuwa mwanzo sasa hivi watasingizia kuwa kilichosababisha mchezo huo kuvunjika ni BOT na CMSA. Maofisa wa BOT na TRA kama walienda hapo ni kwenda kuvuta tu waliona kuna hela za (rushwa).

 

[Manitoba]

what does the announcement imply.

Lina-imply Benki kuu imechanganyikiwa kuhusu swala hili.

Au? 🙄

Certainly it does not imply BOT wamewafungia DECI.

Wana nguvu ya kufanya hivyo, lakini naona wamechanganyikiwa. Walitakiwa wazitumie hizo nguvu mapema, na sasa its a little too late, ingawa wanategemewa wafanye kitu. Ni moja ya zile nyakati za "you are damned if you do, damned if you dont".

 

[Sambah]

Deci ni mduara wenye mwanzo usio na mwisho.
Kivipi?

Swali likiwa gumu
Shangaa inawezekanaje mduara ukawa na mwanzo ukakosa mwisho? Huwezi ukapanda mti ukategemea kuvuna bila ya kuuhudumia . You people investing deci are you crazy?
Hivi hamuoni kuwa mmekuwa myopic?

Jamani kuku hula usawa wa kamba yake ikubali hali yako pigana usitegemee dezo dezo haya ndo matokeo ya dezo dezo yaani kwasadala. Mtakuwa mmenisowa wadau?

 

[Keykey]

Wale wanopanda pesa zao pamoja na wameliki wa mchezo huu wa UPATU wa DECI ni wezi wakitegemea mjanja amwahi mewnzake. Inasikitisha kuona nchi wenye tamaa ya kupata faida bila kufanya kazi ni wengi kiasi hiki.

Sijui watakoliwa watamlaumu serikali?

 

[Iga]

Mimi siamini hivyo. Na sitaki kuamini hivyo. Na msinifanye kuamini hivyo. Eti DECI ni mradi wa CCM? Mradi uliobuniwa makusudi baada ya jitihada za CCM kushindwa kuiba na kutapeli nchi mabilioni kupitia EPA, Richmond, Mradi wa vitambulisho vya kitaifa na janja nyingi nyingine za nyani kama hizo.

Mpango ni kuwa DECI kufikia mwisho wa mwaka huu itakuwaa na wanachama zaidi ya laki tano hivi. Na hao laki tano ndio watakuwa chambo kikuu cha kuingiza wengine milioni moja na nusu. Baada ya dau kukua na wanachma wapya sasa wategaji chambo watavuna wao mabilioni. Tuchukulie hesabu za haraka haraka kama kila mmoja atakuwa katoa elfu hamsini tu ingawa kuna wengi watakuwa wametoa laki hadi mamilioni kwa watu hao milioni moja na nusu unapata kitu kama mtu kuvuna bilioni 75
(75,000,000,000/=).

Hata wakigawana nusu kwa nusu kwa mtaji huu CCM penda usipende inachukua nchi 2010.

 

[Tikerra]

Maswali yako yote ni halali na mazito.There is no question whatsoever in my mind ndugu yangu kwamba DECI ni shirika la matapeli ambao wana uvuvio wa shetani!Viongozi wale wa dini unao wasikia au kuwaona wakitetea DECI wasikutie pressure.Ni wale ambao Bwana Yesu mwenyewe aliwaongelea na kusema: "Siku ya mwisho watakuja kwangu an kusema Bwana, Bwana hatukuponya wagonjwa na kutoa pepo?

Lakini nitawajibu na kuwaambia siwajui ninyi,ondokeni kwangu ninyi mtendao maovu". Kumbuka pia kwamba shetani alipo mpandisha Yesu katika mnara wa hekalu alimwambia hayo yote(huku akimuonyesha utajiri wote uliopo duniani, pamoja na pesa, nitakupa kama ukiniangukia na kunisujudia).Yesu hata hivyo alikataa.Pesa zinazotolewa na DECI zina mkono wa shetani kama zilivyo pesa nyingi siku hivi na kuingia huko ni kushirikiana na shetani moja kwa moja.Tunatakiwa kuzikataa.Mwenye busara na hekima anatakiwa aziepushe nazo.Huo ndio msimamo wangu.

Kwa wanachama wa DECI hasa wale waliokwisha kuvuna baada ya kupanda ni ngumu kuwaeleza kwamba DECI inaweza kuwapa kilio. Kwani kila mmoja wa wanachama wa DECI anategemea kuvuna tu na hategemei kuna siku atakosa au pesa yake kupotea. Huu ni upatu lolote laweza kutokea. Wangi wanafikiri kutolewa kwa tamko kwamba DECI haina baraka za Banki kuu ni kwamba kuna mabenki na mashirika yanayotoa mikopo yameathirika kutokana na kukosa wateja kwani wengi wamekimbilia DECI. Na kweli wapo wengi waliofaidi kutokana na DECI, ambao ni ngumu kuwaeleza waachane na DECI.

Tatizo langu ni hili; DECI wanapata wapi hizo fedha watu wanazovuna? DECI inafanya biashara gani ambayo inawapa mapesa wanayowajaza watu? Hilo inabidi liangaliwe kwa umakini sana.

Naomba mchango wenu wanajamii forum.

 

[Mahesabu]

Maswali yako yote ni halali na mazito.There is no question whatsoever in my mind ndugu yangu kwamba DECI ni shirika la matapeli ambao wana uvuvio wa shetani!Viongozi wale wa dini unao wasikia au kuwaona wakitetea DECI wasikutie pressure.Ni wale ambao Bwana Yesu mwenyewe aliwaongelea na kusema: "Siku ya mwisho watakuja kwangu an kusema Bwana, Bwana hatukuponya wagonjwa na kutoa pepo?Lakini nitawajibu na kuwaambia siwajui ninyi,ondokeni kwangu ninyi mtendao maovu". Kumbuka pia kwamba shetani alipo mpandisha Yesu katika mnara wa hekalu alimwambia hayo yote(huku akimuonyesha utajiri wote uliopo duniani, pamoja na pesa, nitakupa kama ukiniangukia na kunisujudia).Yesu hata hivyo alikataa.Pesa zinazotolewa na DECI zina mkono wa shetani kama zilivyo pesa nyingi siku hivi na kuingia huko ni kushirikiana na shetani moja kwa moja.Tunatakiwa kuzikataa.Mwenye busara na hekima anatakiwa aziepushe nazo.Huo ndio msimamo wangu.

Watu walioguswa maungoni utawajua tu...! haya na wewe tuambie taasisi yako ilivyoathirika na uwepo wa DECI....! manake tumeona wenye ma-interest yao kuingiliwa wanavyolia, na wewe je?