Mkapa above the law?: Allegations

[BAK]

Investigation into BoT funds embezzlement: Mkapa in the frame

Former President Benjamin William Mkapa.
-Ex-president's name pops up again and again as AG-led probe continues to determine the faces behind the scandal

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

FORMER president Benjamin Mkapa's name has cropped up repeatedly in the ongoing official investigation into the embezzlement of more than 133bn/- from a key Bank of Tanzania account, THISDAY can reveal today.

As the high-level state probe explores the complex web of collusions and financial relationships amongst the key players in the scam, including senior government officials, it has emerged that the ex-president is being frequently mentioned in connection with the affair.

According to sources close to the investigation, it has been discovered that many of the fraudulent payments made from the BoT's external arrears (EPA) account were either authorised or directly ordered by State House during Mkapa's final year in office (2005).

The sources say some of the people questioned so far in the ongoing investigation have fingered the former president as allegedly having a prominent role in the matter.

''Mkapa's name keeps popping up again and again in relation with the EPA scandal in one capacity or another," said one informed source, adding: ''Indeed, it is becoming hard to imagine how payments amounting to billions of shillings could have been made from the central bank without his personal knowledge.''

The high-level investigation into companies and individuals involved in the scandal is being led by the Attorney General, Johnson Mwanyika, working in tandem with the Inspector General of Police, Saidi Mwema, and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) under its director, Edward Hosea.

They are working under instructions from President Jakaya Kikwete, who has also formally fired Dr Daudi Ballali and replaced him with Prof. Benno Ndulu as BoT governor, as a direct result of confirmation of the EPA funds embezzlement through a special audit ordered by the government itself.

The special audit conducted by Ernest & Young covered the period between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006.

The sources say that from the investigation results so far, it is beginning to appear that much of the money siphoned of the EPA account during this period was paid out on the pretext that it would be diverted to finance covert national security operations or make secret donations to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

''Several of the beneficiaries of the EPA funds have told investigators that a large slice of the money went to finance CCM election campaigns during 2005, and that the payments were authorized by Mkapa himself. All this of course needs to be verified,'' said another source.

The current CCM Secretary General, Yusuf Makamba, has been quoted by a local newspaper as stressing that the ruling party did not benefit in any way from the EPA funds, had ''absolutely nothing'' to do with the scandal, and was just being used as a scapegoat.

At the time the illegal EPA payments were made (2005), Philip Mangula served as CCM secretary general, while Mkapa - along with his position as head of state - was also the party's national chairman and Igunga Member of Parliament Rostam Aziz served as CCM national treasurer.

Finance Minister Zakia Meghji told THISDAY recently that the then BoT governor, Ballali, lied to her about illegal payments amounting to nearly $30.8m (approx. 40bn/-), made from the EPA account to one particular company going by the name of Kagoda Agriculture Limited company.

According to Ms Meghji, Ballali deliberately misled her into defending the fraudulent payments to Kagoda on the pretext that the funds disbursed in 2005/6 were meant for 'sensitive' issues of national security.

She said after giving her false advice on the matter, Ballali then personally drafted a letter which she signed - stating that the payments to Kagoda had purportedly been authorized by the government. The letter was sent to the then BoT external auditors, Delloite & Touche of South Africa, on September 15, 2006, after they had raised serious audit queries on the payments to Kagoda.

But Ms Meghji said she was obliged to retract that letter just four days later (September 19), after being told she had been duped by the BoT governor.

 

[BAK]

Hivi mlishawahi sikia Peninsula hotel musoma ni ya nyerere????

Watafungwa wengi!!!!

Je kuna ushahidi fedha alizojengea alizipata kiharamu kama jinsi kulivyo na ushahidi bwelele dhidi ya Mkapa kwamba alitumia madaraka kufanya ufisadi!? Ana kashfa zaidi ya nne sasa hivi halafu bado huoni kulikoni!? 😕

Kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya uwekezaji na ufisadi.

 

[BAK]

Kwani mkapa kuwa muwekezaji kuna tatizo gani??? Mbona mbowe ana mapesa na ni tajiri sana?? Diallo je?? Lowassa nae?? Kama ni mafisadi tuwazungumze kwa ujumla wao sio mojamoja. yaonekana kama watu wanamaliza hasira zao kwa huyu mzee mstaafu. Huwa siamini sana kama sheria inahakikisha haki inatendeka, lakini hata kwa kufuata sheria ni wapi kunamfunga rais kuwa mfanza biashara?? jambo la msingi hapa,ni kama alipindisha mchakato halali ktk kujianzishia hizo biashara na kupata kazi. lawama tu kuwa eti kaanzisha ANBEM au ana 85% kiwira mine si jambo la msingi sana. Kwani mlitaka makaburu wawekeze pale ndio mngejua mambo yanaenda kihalali?? Nyie watanzania msio na akili nani amewaroga???? Kuhusu sehemu ya mabilioni yaliyochotwa BoT kwenda CCM, Mkapa karejea tu yaliyowahi fanywa na nyerere na mwinyi!!! tofauti tu ni kuwa yeye karidhia uchotwaji wa mabilioni kukifadhili chama tawala kipindi cha mult-party system wakati wenzake walichota kipindi chama chashika hatamu!!! pengine tu sheria inamfunga, lakini hatuishi kwa sheria bali kwa imani. dhambi ni ileile!!!

Nawahi lindo jamani, c u neksti taim!!!!

Kiwira mine si jambo la msingi sana!? Are you kidding me!? 😕

Sasa wewe tangu lini ukawa msemaji wa Mkapa!? Mwenyewe yuko wapi ajibu tuhuma mbali mbali dhidi yake!? Uwazi na ukweli ulikufa lini!?

 

[Bongolander]

It is good to see that names are slowly popping up, but this Ben guy is no longer in office. It is better if we start with those who are in office now.
Hii inaonekana kama ni mchezo ule ule wa kumfukuza Balali aliyejiuzulu!!

 

[bokassa]

Kwani BUBU nawe umetumwa kusema?!

Kuhusu peninsula, wala si ya nyerere, ila nilitaka kuwaonyesha jinsi waswahili wanavyopenda kuchonga!!!!

 

[Masatu]

At the time the illegal EPA payments were made (2005), Philip Mangula served as CCM secretary general, while Mkapa - along with his position as head of state - was also the party’s national chairman and Igunga Member of Parliament Rostam Aziz served as CCM national treasurer.

Thats wrong! hawa investigative reporters gani wanashindwa kujua hili?

 

[BAK]

Kwani BUBU nawe umetumwa kusema?!

Kuhusu peninsula, wala si ya nyerere, ila nilitaka kuwaonyesha jinsi waswahili wanavyopenda kuchonga!!!!

Mimi kama Mtanzania nina haki ya kutetea maslahi ya nchi yangu. Je, wewe unayemtetea fisadi Mkapa kipi hasa unachojaribu kutetea!? au nawe ulinufaika kwa ufisadi wake kwa namna moja au nyingine? 😕

 

[TAIKUBWA]

kazi kweli kweli::huyu jama ata tula,be sakafu hakuna sheria ya jamhuri inamlinda::kesho bunge linaanza kama una mjomba kule mwambie aanzishe hoja ya kubadili katiba hiki kipengele kisimlinde
nje ya hapo pwwiiii pwooooo pwuuuu!!!!!11

 

[Rwabugiri]

Mimi kama Mtanzania nina haki ya kutetea maslahi ya nchi yangu. Je, wewe unayemtetea fisadi Mkapa kipi hasa unachojaribu kutetea!? au nawe ulinufaika kwa ufisadi wake kwa namna moja au nyingine? 😕

Bubu, si unajua mambo ya anonym za JF huenda hapa unaongea na Fisadi mwenyewe ANBEM kwi kwi...

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Mkapa doesn't owe Tanzanians a thing, yote aliyoyapata na kuyafanya akiwa madarakani yametokana na juhudi zake na jitihada zake. Ni kwa sababu hiyo haoni sababu ya kwanini watu kumuandama kana kwamba walimpa kitu au walimuazimia kitu. Anaamini kuwa Mwalimu alimchagua kwa sababu aliamini kuwa yeye ndiye mtu anayefaa na yeye Mkapa hakuopa kutaka kuwa Rais.

Hivyo, kumtaka azungumzie tuhuma hizo ni kumfanya ajihisi ana deni lolote kwa Watanzania. Hana. Ni Watanzania wanaodaiwa na Mkapa kutokana na yale "mema" aliyoifanyia nchi yetu. KUrudisha imani ya wafadhili, kupunguza mfumuko wa bei, na kusimamia sera za kiuchumi hadi kufikisha mahali ambapo Uchumi wetu unaweza kuhimili matatizo ya kiuchumi ya kimataifa. Ni Watanzania wanaomuia deni Bw. Mkapa kwani ni kutokana na hekima yake ndio maana nchi yetu imeweza kufikia malengo mengi makubwa ya kisiasa na kiuchumi.

Hivyo, hadi hivi sasa siyo yeye wala wasaidizi wake wanaoona sababu yeye kujiingiza katika malumbano hayo.

Sitashangaa hivyo ndivyo wanavyofikiri...

 

[Jasusi]

Bokassa,
Acha kupotosha watu. Peninsular ni hoteli ya rafiki yangu Mzee Mazara. Umewagusia akina Lowassa, Diallo na Mbowe. Kati ya hao ni Mbowe tu aliyetengeneza fedha kihalali. Sehemu amerithi kutoka familia yake na nyingine alitumia ubunifu wake kubadilisha Billicana kuwa modern club. Huwezi kuwaita Mkapa, Lowassa na Diallo wajasiriamali. Mkapa mwenyewe aliwahi kuniambia kuwa Diallo alichukua hela za NBC. Nikashangaa baadaye Mkapa huyo huyo akamkumbatia Diallo. Nyerere was clean and he died clean. Bring another spin.

 

[bokassa]

Bokassa,
Acha kupotosha watu. Peninsular ni hoteli ya rafiki yangu Mzee Mazara. Umewagusia akina Lowassa, Diallo na Mbowe. Kati ya hao ni Mbowe tu aliyetengeneza fedha kihalali. Sehemu amerithi kutoka familia yake na nyingine alitumia ubunifu wake kubadilisha Billicana kuwa modern club. Huwezi kuwaita Mkapa, Lowassa na Diallo wajasiriamali. Mkapa mwenyewe aliwahi kuniambia kuwa Diallo alichukua hela za NBC. Nikashangaa baadaye Mkapa huyo huyo akamkumbatia Diallo. Nyerere was clean and he died clean. Bring another spin.

1] Acha kuchonga, Soma post za nyuma!!!
2] Unapenda innji, unapenda chama??
3] Acha usanii!!!

 

[jmushi1]

Mkapa doesn't owe Tanzanians a thing, yote aliyoyapata na kuyafanya akiwa madarakani yametokana na juhudi zake na jitihada zake. Ni kwa sababu hiyo haoni sababu ya kwanini watu kumuandama kana kwamba walimpa kitu au walimuazimia kitu. Anaamini kuwa Mwalimu alimchagua kwa sababu aliamini kuwa yeye ndiye mtu anayefaa na yeye Mkapa hakuopa kutaka kuwa Rais.

Hivyo, kumtaka azungumzie tuhuma hizo ni kumfanya ajihisi ana deni lolote kwa Watanzania. Hana. Ni Watanzania wanaodaiwa na Mkapa kutokana na yale "mema" aliyoifanyia nchi yetu. KUrudisha imani ya wafadhili, kupunguza mfumuko wa bei, na kusimamia sera za kiuchumi hadi kufikisha mahali ambapo Uchumi wetu unaweza kuhimili matatizo ya kiuchumi ya kimataifa. Ni Watanzania wanaomuia deni Bw. Mkapa kwani ni kutokana na hekima yake ndio maana nchi yetu imeweza kufikia malengo mengi makubwa ya kisiasa na kiuchumi.

Hivyo, hadi hivi sasa siyo yeye wala wasaidizi wake wanaoona sababu yeye kujiingiza katika malumbano hayo.

Sitashangaa hivyo ndivyo wanavyofikiri...

WHAT?ARE YOU SERIOUS?OFCOURSE SIYO KUWA ANA DENI..NI MADENI!ANADAIWA NA TAIFA LETU!ALIFUTA KAULI YA UWAZI NA UKWELI BAADA YA KUGUNDUA MAANA HALISI YA UBINAFSISHAJI!AKAGUNDUA KUWA ZILE MALI ZOTE ZA SERIKALI AMBAZO ANAZISIMAMIA KWA NIABA YA WANANCHI ZINATAKIWA ZIBINAFSISHWE!SO AKAONA AWASILIANE NA WATU WAKE..THEN WAJIBINAFSISHIE YEYE NA WATU WAKE!HAKUKUWEPO NA UWAZI TENA AMBAPO KILA MTU/KAMPUNI WANAPEWA NAFASI YA BIDDING KUTOKANA NA TARATIBU ZILIZOWEKWA!NA WANAOQUALIFY HAWANA HAJA YA KUWA NA UHUSIANO NAYE AMA VIONGOZI WENGINE..HUO NDO UONGOZI SAFI! WE UNAFIKIRI NI WATANZANIA WOTE WAJINGA?FOOL ME ONCE,FOOL ME TWICE...

 

[William J. Malecela]

Kati ya hao ni Mbowe tu aliyetengeneza fedha kihalali. Sehemu amerithi kutoka familia yake na nyingine alitumia ubunifu wake kubadilisha Billicana kuwa modern club. Nyerere was clean and he died clean.

Just simple facts, Mkuu Jasusi, kwa kuongeza ilikuwa Mbowe RSVP DISCO & Hotel, akaibadili kuwa Billicana & Casinos, akanunua Hard Rock & Caffe, vyote akiwa m-Tanzania wa kwanza kuvimiliki bongo, unajua as usual Mnyonge Mnyongeni, lakini......!kwi! kwi!

 

[jmushi1]

Just simple facts, Mkuu Jasusi, kwa kuongeza ilikuwa Mbowe RSVP DISCO & Hotel, akaibadili kuwa Billicana & Casinos, akanunua Hard Rock & Caffe, vyote akiwa m-Tanzania wa kwanza kuvimiliki bongo, unajua as usual Mnyonge Mnyongeni, lakini......!kwi! kwi!

Ni kweli huwezi hata sikumoja kufananisha ujambazi wa Mkapa na historia ya upambanaji ya familia ya Mbowe!Mkapa kajichotea tu..!

 

[BAK]

Thank you Mzee Butiku, I wish we had more elders who used to be or are still in high offices who are not afraid to say the truth and nothing more just the truth.

Leadership ethics debate rekindled: Butiku: What Mkapa did was a shame

MZEE BUTIKU: `I`ve said it before, and I`ll say it again such leaders who clearly violate the sacred oath of public office, should be made answerable and face prosecution.`
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE Executive Director of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, Joseph Butiku, has once again waded into the debate on public leadership ethics in the country by re-asserting that former president Benjamin Mkapa shamed the nation by engaging in private business dealings while still at State House.

In an interview with THISDAY and its sister KULIKONI newspaper at his office in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Butiku was totally unapologetic in insisting that Mkapa's actions clearly violated the code of public leadership ethics, and were an open betrayal of the oath of office he took during his 10-year (1995-2005) presidency.

''I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I have no personal grudge against Mkapa. However, to be quite honest, what he did (in registering a private business company and actively engaging in private business while still president) was a disgrace to our country,'' said Butiku, a former close personal aide of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He added: ''I would not like to see another future leader doing the sort of shameful things he (Mkapa) did at Ikulu.''

Butiku was speaking in the light of current President Jakaya Kikwete's stated intention to introduce sweeping reforms to the existing leadership ethics legislation, that would prohibit public leaders from involving themselves in politics and at the same time engaging in private business activities.

Said the retired senior civil servant who also served as a regional commissioner during Mwalimu's government: '''What Mkapa did was dreadful, because it completely went against the oath of office he took. When a president takes an oath to defend and uphold the country's Constitution, he also takes an ethical oath to discharge his duties without fear, favour or selfish interests. This means that he shall not seek personal financial gain for himself, wife or family by using public office.''

He made clear his opinion that ''such leaders who clearly violate the sacred oath of public office, should be made answerable and face prosecution.''

On the question of presidential immunity, Butiku said retired presidents were immune from criminal prosecution for actions conducted while discharging their constitutional duties as heads of state.

Setting up a private company and engaging in business activities for the purpose of attaining personal financial gain were obviously not the constitutional duties of a president, he noted.

He joined the growing chorus of public applause for President Kikwete's decision to re-introduce public leadership ethics, saying Tanzania must now go back to the Arusha Declaration.

''I believe President Kikwete has seen fundamental problems in the way this country is being run. We need a solid code of public leadership ethics that draws a fine line between politics and private business,'' said Butiku.

He recalled the days of Mwalimu's government when public leaders in the country, especially at the national level, were required to uphold a strict code of conduct and ethics set out in the Arusha Declaration, which was issued by the then Mwalimu-led Tanganyika Africa National Union (TANU) party in 1967.

Among other things, public leaders and their spouses and children were prohibited from owning shares or being directors of any private business companies, from receiving more than one salary, and from owning commercial properties rented out for financial consideration.

Mkapa and the then first lady, Anna Mkapa, established a private company (ANBEM Limited) while still at State House in 1999, with themselves registered as sole directors, shareholders and entrepreneurs, and the company's listed physical address located within the official Ikulu walls in Dar es Salaam.

In 2002 while Mkapa was still president - ANBEM Ltd obtained hefty loans totalling over 750m/- from both the National Bank of Commerce Limited and CRDB Bank. And in December 2004, the then still president teamed up with his senior cabinet minister, Daniel Yona, to form another private company, Tanpower Resources Limited, which went on to be given ownership of the previously state-run Kiwira Coal Mine after a dubiously 'fast-tracked' privatisation process.

 

[Bin Maryam]

Butiku for president

 

[Mkandara]

Bin Marium,

Believing in God costs you nothing if you're wrong, and wins you everything if you're right.

Your signature carries a lot of who we are.....Only..if we knew!

 

[Kafara]

kama anayosema mzee butiku si njama makini za kuhamisha macho na masikio ya wananchi kutoka bot kwenda kwa mkapa, basi namtakia
mafanikio na mola ampe nguvu katika mpambano huu.

 

[Mkandara]

Kafara,
Sidhani kama ndio njama, inategemea wewe umesimama upande gani ktk mtazamo wako. BoT ni matunda ya Uongozi wa Mkapa na wale wote waliofaidika na wizi huo haukuanza wakati wa JK..
Tukitaka kuzuia jambo na hasa hilo Azimio la Zanzibar ambalo lilikuwa azimio la chama kimoja - CCM kuwa ndio mfumo mzima wa Taifa. Utawasikia wakisema sheria inasema hivi hali wao wanafahamu kabisa kuwa Azimio hilo ni matunda ya chama kimoja na wizi wote usingetokea kama hapakuwepo na Azimio la Zanzibar kuwapa nafasi viongozi wetu wajihusishe na biashara. Viongozi ambao hawakuwa na mtaji ila nafasi zao serikalini kuwa mtaji bora wa kuwekesha... That is the source ya wizi wa BoT.
Tazama barua inayodaiwa kwenda kwa Meghji, nani aliyeweka sahihi na imetoka ngazi zipi kupewa kipaumbele...
Je, huyo Balali alitumia nguvu gani ikiwa waziri ndio kwanza kaingia ofisini na kuamrishwa kuanguka sahihi na mwajiri wake ktk swala la Usalama ambalo waziri anatakiwa kuwa informed mapema kabla hata ya Gavana wa Benki. Shida yoyote hujitokeza kwanza kabla ya mahitaji ya fedha iweje waziri wa fedha, Ulinzi na Usalama wasiwe na habari za hatari hiyo hadimpale fedha zilipohitajika?... I mean guys tuwe na upeo nje ya kabati la CCM kwani huu mchezo haukuanza pindi tu JK alipoingia madarakani..
Nilimpiga vita Mkapa toka 2000 na watu hamkunielewa, nikawaambia mbinu za viongozi kujitajirisha kupitia Azimio la Zanzibar, hamkunielewa leo yanatokea bado tunatafuta ndama wa kumtoa mhanga hali dubu tasa linazidi kujenga makazi...