Steve Dii
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 25, 2007
- 6,402
- 1,254
Muungano wa vyama vya upinzani kutoa 'orodha ya mafisadi' nyingine! Tafadhali soma yafuatayo:
SteveD.
Source link: Ipp Media.Second 'list of shame' out soon - Opposition
2007-10-17 09:57:30
By Felister Peter
A second list of political and other heavyweights believed to be behind cases of grand corruption and embezzlement of public funds in the country could be out any time soon.
Like the first such one released a few months ago, it will be compiled by a coalition of four opposition political parties and is expected to send shockwaves throughout the country possibly leading to litigation.
The coalition brings together Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi), and Civic United Front.
In remarks at a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday on behalf of the parties, Chadema Youth Director John Mnyika declared the coalition's intention to issue another "list of shame" if there is no satisfactory response to the previous one.
"If the government remains tight-lipped and refuses to form an independent team to probe the allegations, the list will be disclosed soon," he said.
"We are wondering why government officials mentioned in the first list have not made good their threats to seek legal redress and yet no action has been taken against them," he added.
The coalition representative explained that any honest leader who knew he or she was innocent and was being unfairly associated with defamatory allegations would have long sought justice from the courts.
"We have decided to make stories open to all Tanzanians so that they decide what to do and what actions to take against the government," said Mnyika.
The opposition parties" renewed threat comes in the wake of the government's refusal to heed calls by the coalition that it deal with the cabinet ministers, other senior government officials and legislators alleged to be championing grand corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
No direct official action is understood to have been taken so far been taken against the officials although most have dismissed the charges as the figments of the coalition's own imagination.
However, minister Karamagi has already sued a leading member of one of the parties forming the coalition and Mgonja has said he is contemplating similar action.
The allegations of massive corruption and misuse of public resources implicating highly placed public figures have locked a substantial chunk of opposition parties and the ruling CCM in a protracted war of words.
The media have repeatedly quoted President Jakaya Kikwete and government ministers as appealing for patience and understanding from the citizenry and anxious members of the foreign diplomatic corps, saying the relevant State organs were continuing with investigations into the alleged scandals.
The President late last week declared that he had full faith in, and would not interfere with the operations of, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau and other State organs charged with dealing with corrupt and other undesirable elements in society.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Bernard Membe recently cautioned foreign diplomats accredited to Tanzania to be patient and await the outcome of investigations and further action by the State organs.
However, the opposition parties have constantly dismissed PCCB investigations as a non-starter because they believe the bureau just cannot come up with independent, fair and balanced findings or recommendations that will ensure that justice is done.
After an apparent failure to impress the State organs concerned, the coalition has since resorted to rallies in different parts of the country at which they have been 'sensitising' the people on the impact of grand corruption and embezzlement or misuse of public funds and other resources.
TLP national chairman Augustino Mrema recently announced that opposition parties would conduct nationwide demonstrations to pressure President Kikwete to respond more appropriately to public allegations about corruption and other malpractices in the public service.
''We would like to see the President personally take concrete action against all alleged culprits instead of delegating the assignment to PCCB, which is itself a State organ and cannot investigate allegations involving corrupt government officials," he said.
SteveD.
