Government has dismisses allegations against Mengi

BY DICKSON NG`HILY

31st May 2013

Dr Reginald Mengi

The Home Affairs’ ministry has cleared IPP Executive Chairman of allegations that he had a hand in the harassment of freelance journalist Erick Kabendera and his elderly parents.

The allegations followed an inquiry by Immigration officials into the status of the three people’s citizenship.

Investigations ordered by Home Affairs minister Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, Dr Mengi was not in any way involved in the said harassment, a press statement issued by the ministry in Dar es Salaam yesterday said.

The statement said it has been confirmed that Erick Kabendera and his parents, Nelasco John Kabendera and Verdiana Kokumanyika Protus Mujwahuzi, are bona fide Tanzanian citizens.

It added however that despite that nationality verification, it was discovered that there are major discrepancies in the journalist’s legal documents and in particular his passport, which might suggest that is forged.
“There are some major forgeries identified in Kabendera’s passport No: AB 156460, issued on June 2, 2006. It is these forgeries that led to the Immigration department’s investigation into the applicant’s nationality,” reads the report, in part.

It is consequently recommended that the ‘errors’ identified in Kabendera’s passport be officially rectified and that all aggrieved parties be notified through the media on both the findings and conclusion of the probe.

The financing of the government probe, which were also being questioned, has meanwhile been found to have no link to Dr Mengi “but the investigations were in fact funded through legitimate government channels in accordance to the Public Fund Act of 2002 as amended in 2004”, according to the statement.

The probe has faulted Immigration officers Lesile Mbota and Alisante Kaaya for not being keen in the execution of their duties and for having occasioned the complaints from Kabendera, his parents and the media.

On February 22, Kabendera called on the government to guarantee him and his family safety “following the arrest, detention and interrogation of my parents in Kagera Region”.

Kabendera, who once worked as a journalist with this paper before resigning, last year testified for the defence in a case Dr Mengi had filed in a London high court against a British citizen. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN