JF Summary
Senior Member
- Jul 3, 2015
- 163
- 108
Ridhiwani Kikwete: "I am ready to be questioned over the Lake Oil stations' ownership. Those with evidence should submit it."
Minister of State in the President's Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance), Ridhiwani Kikwete, has stated that he is ready to be questioned by the Public Leaders' Ethics Secretariat following allegations regarding his ownership of Lake Oil fuel stations.Speaking to Ministry employees the day before yesterday, November 26, 2025, Ridhiwani said public leaders' information must be transparent so that, when misunderstandings arise, there can be an open investigation in the public interest. He noted that complaints about leaders' ethics have been numerous, citing the October 29 protests, when Lake Oil stations, allegedly owned by a person named Ally Edha Awadh, were set on fire under the claim that they belonged to Ridhiwani. He advised the commission to summon and question him without fear, and suggested that they conduct a preliminary investigation, then hold a press conference to release an official statement and gather additional evidence from citizens.
Citizens' Opinions:
Many have said these are just words to show he intends to be investigated, but the truth is, he would not allow it to happen. They argued that if he had even a grain of integrity, he would have apologized to President Samia and stated that he could not be sworn in as the Minister responsible for Ethics and Good Governance while being a suspect.
Citizens say he should have stepped aside to allow the Ethics Commission's investigation to proceed, even if it meant bringing in outside investigators to eliminate conflicts of interest. Remaining as Minister while his subordinates are required to investigate him raises many questions, suggesting that what will happen is merely a procedural formality intended to clear his name through the commission.
Additionally, others have discussed the confusion regarding the statistics of the affected fuel stations. Ridhiwani was quoted as saying the owner of Lake Oil told him over 90 of his stations were burned, while a statement released by the company's Director of Operations mentioned 38 stations. Meanwhile, the Tanzania Petrol Station Owners Association (TAPSOA), through its Deputy Secretary General, spoke to the press on November 7, stating that 41 stations (38 of which are Lake Oil) were affected by fire nationwide!
Citizens feel the Government may be cooking the numbers to shift blame onto them, avoid accountability, and paint the protests in a bad light to justify a future ban.
Government: Tanzania will not starve due to lack of EU funds
After the European Parliament passed a resolution to suspend the provision of approximately TZS 400 billion expected to fund development projects in Tanzania in 2026, the Government of Tanzania, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, stated that it is following up on the matter through its Ambassador, who attended the debate in Belgium. He said the Government would issue an official statement after receiving a full report, while emphasizing that Tanzanians will not die or face any major problems, noting that the country has its own budget and other sources of revenue.He stated that Tanzania is not obliged to implement the European Parliament's directives because the European Commission manages the relationship, and he urged Tanzanians to ignore reports suggesting that the European Parliament's resolution is a mandatory condition. The Ministry later issued a position statement that was not different from what the Minister said, insisting that Tanzania is not obliged to implement the orders of that Parliament, as each side has limits to its authority.
Furthermore, the Government met with the Diplomatic Community representing nations and institutions to assure them of Tanzania's cooperation with the organizations they represent. Through that meeting, the Government also provided explanations regarding the election exercise, the 'violence' that occurred, and the subsequent steps taken, including the formation of a Commission of Inquiry by President Samia to determine the source of the violence and obtain recommendations to strengthen systems so that such events do not recur.
Citizens' Opinions:
Many have criticized this statement, calling it arrogant and mocking, suggesting that Tanzania has no plan to take responsibility for what happened during the election. This, they argue, is why the Government is not bothering to mend relations with other countries while seeking support from others that have not shown shock at the events.
Others were surprised by the leaders running the Ministry and those advising the President for failing to treat the European Parliament's resolution as a warning bell that could badly affect Tanzania if other countries follow suit. They say this is just the beginning; more resolutions from other countries and institutions could follow as the country's image continues to deteriorate, creating missed international opportunities for citizens and increasing poverty and hardship.
Case of CHADEMA Leaders defying Court order dismissed
The High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, has dismissed the application by Said Issa Mohamed, the former CHADEMA Vice Chairman (Zanzibar), and two others against senior CHADEMA leaders, including the Vice Chairman (Mainland), John Heche. They claimed there was a violation of the High Court's June 10, 2025, order in civil case number 8960/2025, which banned the party from engaging in political and operational activities.Judge Awamu Mbagwa, delivering the ruling, said the Court agreed with the defense's objection that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the application because it was filed out of time under the law. He explained that the applicants claimed Heche gave a speech on June 17, but the contempt-of-court application was filed on October 3—106 days later—contrary to the law requiring such applications to be filed within 60 days.
Citizens' Opinions:
Many have seen this as a way for the Court to appease citizens by showing that justice is being served, thereby reducing the public's morale to participate in further protests, saying they will not be deceived. Additionally, others viewed the case as a tactic to continue wasting CHADEMA's time, preventing them from attending to fundamental matters or from finding opportunities to persuade citizens to demand their rights.
