MPs bless Rombo suspensions

[nngu007]

By In2EastAfrica

Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai


Members of Parliament have defended decisions made by the Local Authority Accounts Committee (LAAC), of issuing orders of arrest and suspension from duty to some public officials.

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Job Ndugai said such orders were given in public interest and meant to maintain good practices in public offices.

Mr Ndugai who is also Kongwa legislator (CCM) noted that LAAC was one of three watchdog/oversight committees of Parliament and was therefore mandated to protect public resources.

The committee has ordered suspension from duty and immediate arrest of seven officials of Rombo District Council for misappropriation of public funds while ordering deduction of 15 per cent of salaries of other officials in Moshi Rural district for negligence.

"This is a very powerful and sensitive committee, that's why all its proceedings are recorded in the Hansard.

And these orders are just minor steps. Appropriate measures will be taken by the relevant authorities. We cannot wait until Parliament is in session while public resources are looted, we must take impromptu action," noted Mr Ndugai.

LAAC in other countries is so powerful that it can order immediate arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, he warned.

"In Uganda for example, the LAAC is accompanied by police officers whenever inspecting local government offices. It can order immediate arrest of any culprit.

Here in Tanzania, we're still lenient, we issue minor orders… actually they (committee) issue orders to government officials to take actions against such irresponsible officials", explained Mr Ndugai.

The LAAC's Chairman, Mr Augustine Mrema, threatened to take further measures if the orders issued by his committee would not be enforced.

"I am on my way to Dar es Salaam, when I get there I want to get a feedback from wherever my committee issued orders. We will not give up until all this rubbish is cleared from public offices," he said.

Mr Mrema who is also MP for Vunjo (TLP) wondered as to why some people have started questioning the committee's powers to issue orders.

"Why don't they question the misconduct of the civil servants who are embezzling public funds? Any government official questioning our action is courting disaster. I can even seek audience with President Jakaya Kikwete or write and request him to take stern measures against such officials," he said.

Mr Mrema said that his committee was being guided by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2008/2009 and some specific audit reports which named corrupt officials. These were supposed to be ejected from their offices immediately.

"While in Rombo District, we found out that some of the servants who were supposed to be fired some two years ago according to CAG report, were still in office, therefore we could not wait any longer," he said.

The once Minister for Home of Affairs said days of local government officials involved in theft and embezzlement of public monies were numbered. Mr Mrema used to issue similar orders when he was the minister for Home Affairs.

The committee had recently expressed grave concern over rampant misappropriation of public funds, and has called on relevant authorities to take legal and disciplinary measures against the perpetrators to save the nation from plunging into further financial losses.

Summing up their tour in Same, Mwanga, Rombo and Moshi District Councils all in Kilimanjaro Region, Mr Mrema said unless loopholes were timely plugged in financial management in the local government, development targets would not be realized.

When reached for comments on measures taken by the government in support of the committee's orders, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), Mr Aggrey Mwanri, said he would comment later as he has been out of the office for quite sometime.
By ABDULWAKIL SAIBOKO, Tanzania Daily News

 

[FJM]

By In2EastAfrica

Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai


Members of Parliament have defended decisions made by the Local Authority Accounts Committee (LAAC), of issuing orders of arrest and suspension from duty to some public officials.

The committee has ordered suspension from duty and immediate arrest of seven officials of Rombo District Council for misappropriation of public funds while ordering deduction of 15 per cent of salaries of other officials in Moshi Rural district for negligence.

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Naomba niseme sitetei wizi au ubadhirifu wa mali za umma.

Sasa, kazi ya Parliment ni kusimamia utendaji wa serikali na wana mipaka ya kazi zao. Sidhani kama a Parliamentry committee ina nguvu kisheria kusimamisa utumishi wa mwajiriwa yeyote. Wanachotakiwa kufanya ni kupeleka mapendekezo ya hatua za kinadhimu juu ya watuhumiwa ili serikali ichukuwe hatua. Hii ya Rombo ni usanii wa CCM wa kutaka kumpamba mwali wao Lyatonga Mrema ili aonekane naye yumo.

Cha ajabu Ndungai, Deputy Speaker wa Bunge anatetea huu usanii. Kama kweli Kamati ya Bunge ina nguvu kama anavyotaka kutuaminisha Ndungai, kwa nini Kamati ya Mwakyembe haikufukuza wale wote waliokutwa na 'mawaa' wakati wa uchunguzi wa Richmond badala yake wakapeleka mapendekezo bungeni?

Tuna shida sana bungeni sasa hivi maana Speaker, deputy wake na hata katibu wa bunge sio wanasheria na tayari wamedhihira waziwazi kutoelewa hata basic principles za good governance and separation of powers. Wamepata hivyo vyeo kwa utashi wa kisiasa lakini kama taifa wanatupeleka siko.

 

[Gsana]

Naungana na mwenye hoja hapo juu kuwa kweli ubadhirifu hauvumiliki. Pia nahoji uwezo na nguvu ya kisheria ya watu wasiokuwa wahasibu/auditors yaani kamati ya bunge,mrema et all ku kagua mahesabu na kujua nani ni nani,maana nguvu za kamati ya bunge zimeanishwa kisheria sasa aya mambo ya kuibuka na kuwakata 15%mishahara na hata arrest orders zinapaswa kufuata utaratibu,ikumbukwe kulikuwapo na kamati nyingine kama za akina mwakyembe zilizoibua uwizi mkubwa lakini wakaishia kufuata sheria kwa kupeleka mapendekezo kadhaa ya kuwawajibisha watuhumiwa ,kitu kilichoshindikana kutokana na kuwa ulaji wa wenye usukani/wakubwa. Je kamati ya mrema ina special powers?je ameufanya uwanja wa kutembea kifua mbele kuwasulubu hao walioharibu fedha yetu?au mrema kapewa watu wa size yake ndo awasulubu? Je kamati iyo iliyopewa meno na bunge kisha break ya kwanza wakarudi kwao dsm,nasema dsm maana karibia wote wanaishi dar,kwa nini hawakuanzia dar hapo hapo,ila audit plan yao iko kuanzia Arusha kisha rombo?? Anajua kuwa hela nyingi huishia ktk miradi hewa dsm? Naitakia kazi njema LAAC,lakini isimuonee mfanyakazi hata mmoja kwa sababu za chuki za kisiasa na kijamii.

 

[Saint Ivuga]

why only in rombo?

 

[FJM]

why only in rombo?

ccm-mufilisi on all fronts. Kutoka Dodoma eneo la bunge mpaka Rombo Mrema anaweza kusema amepita serikali za mitaa ngapi? Na mahesabu ya hizo serikali zote yako sawa? Hivi hakuna sheria ya kuwashitaki wapuuzi kama Mrema kwa kuhadaa wananchi.

Ningekuwa mimi ni miongoni mwa hawa 'victims' wa Rombo ningepinga hukumu ya Mrema maana kisheria hana hayo mamlaka.