Ikulu trashes reports on Kikwete salary

President Jakaya Kikwete.

THE State House has refuted reports published in a local daily that President Jakaya Kikwete is among five highly- paid African heads of state.

A statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Dar es Salaam described the reports as ‘unfounded and pure trash.’

It referred to a story that appeared on Page 26 of Monday’s edition of ‘Mwananchi’ on five African presidents in the continent who fetch hefty salaries.

The newspaper, referring to an analytical network on ‘African Review’ as its source, claimed that President Kikwete is ranked 5th out of 38th African leaders who are highly paid.

According to the report, Mr Kikwete is being paid 192,000 US dollars per annum, equivalent to 16,000 US dollars per month. “This news is not true.

It is a pack of lies and sheer malice. They are unfounded claims, a trash and dangerous trash at that,” stated the statement.The directorate further stated that the salary of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania per month and per year does not match neither it is anywhere close to the amount indicated by the newspaper.

“Since independence, in 1961, the President of Tanganyika and thereafter, since 1964, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, has been among the lowlysalaried leaders in the world,” the statement pointed out.

The statement said that the monthly salary of the president was very low to an extent that it is below, by far, salaries paid to some chief executive officers of some public institutions in the country.

It furthermore wondered as to why the newspaper decided to use foreign sources in getting such information while the newspaper is locally published and could therefore establish correct information through official channels. By publishing such trash, the statement added, the newspaper deliberately aimed at instilling hatred among the people on their government and head of state.

The statement hoped that in accordance with journalism ethics, the newspaper would make deliberate efforts to clear the air by finding the truth and tell Tanzanians the truth on the matter.

The magazine’s report put Cameroon President Paul Biya getting $601,000 followed by King Mohammed VI – Morocco $480,000; Jacob Zuma – South Africa $272,000, Jakaya Kikwete – Tanzania $192,000 and Abdel Aziz Bouteflika – Algeria $168,000.

Others are Teodoro Nguema - Equatorial Guinea $150,000 (Estimate), Uhuru Kenyatta – Kenya $132,000, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud – Somalia $120,000, Ikililou Dhoinine – Comoros $115,000, Denis Sassou Nguesso – Congo Republic $110,000.

It mentiond the data’s sources as Africa Review correspondents, Jeune Afrique, My Wage, Mail & Guardian South Africa, Africa Ranking, Africa Cradle, Middle East Monitor, World Bank Group.

/Daily News.