Calls for prosecution as AG Werema quits

Attorney General Frederick Werema, whose resignation was announced yesterday.  PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

• Mr Werema becomes the first casualty of the scandal involving the controversial withdrawal of Sh306 billion from the central bank to facilitate an equally questionable acquisition of IPTL

Dar es Salaam. Attorney General Frederick Werema resigned yesterday over the Tegeta escrow scandal, prompting immediate calls for him to be charged in court.

Mr Werema becomes the first casualty of the scandal involving the controversial withdrawal of Sh306 billion from the central bank to facilitate an equally questionable acquisition of Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) by Pan Africa Power Solution (PAP).  

The erstwhile AG wrote to President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday to say he was stepping down due to his role in the matter.

Mr Werema was blamed for facilitating the withdrawal of the billions of shillings from BoT and its subsequent sharing of the same among top public officials, politicians and numerous influential individuals.
A statement sent to newsrooms last evening by the State House Director of Public Communication, Mr Salva Rweyemamu, said the President have accepted Mr Werema’s decision to quit. The AG who was known for his hard hitting statements in Parliament vacated office yesterday.

“In his resignation letter, Mr Werema said he was stepping down because his advice on the Tegeta escrow was misunderstood and that it had created a turbulence,” said Mr Rweyemamu.

“The President has thanked Mr Justice Werema for his public service that was honest and diligent,” said Mr Rweyemamu in the short statement. There was no indication in the statement if President Kikwete would  take action on the other public officials implicated in the multi-billion scam.

The AG’s move comes nearly a month after the issuance of Parliament resolutions that proposed his sacking and that of the permanent secretary for Energy, Mr Eliachim Maswi, following the loss of the funds, some of which was public cash.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that tabled the damning escrow report accused Mr Werema of giving the government wrong advice which led to the withdrawal of the money and subjected Tanesco and the government into huge losses.

According to PAC, Mr Justice Werema failed to dully discharge his responsibilities of conducting due diligence on PAP, which presented forged documents claiming it had purchased seven shared of Machmar of Malaysia, a co-owner of IPTL with VIP Engineering of Tanzania.

The AG advised the ministry of Energy and Minerals, as well as Bank of Tanzania, to release the escrow money to PAP despite a negative report by his own emissaries to Malaysia who found the PAP deal as suspect. Yesterday, PAC chairman Zitto Kabwe told The Citizen that he was shocked to hear Judge Werema say his advice was misunderstood.

“He was supposed to be sacked much earlier and taken to court for abuse of public office. If President will not do so, I believe the next president will drag him to court to face charges of abuse of office,” said Mr Kabwe. Kigoma South MP Mr David Kafulila who had a nasty fallout with the AG in Parliament over the escrow debate, said Mr Werema should not only be charged in court but should also be made to pay back the lost public funds.

Mr Kafulila asked President Kikwete to sack the remaining culprits as proposed by Parliament.

“They must be kicked out and charged immediately. If that won’t happen, than we will have set a wrong precedent that public leaders can steal public money, resign and remain untouched as if nothing happened,” said Mr Kafulila.

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/Calls-for-prosecution-as-AG-Werema-quits/-/1840392/2559330/-/item/1/-/u2689hz/-/index.html

• mishipayasimba • 4 hours ago

  Werema is Ill-suited to be anywhere near the government offices since he is a justice caregiver who had bend the law that he was supposed to uphold. His scandals are not the result of being highly quailed judge with reputable legal knowledge but Ignorant of financial discipline that control moneys set aside for specific purpose. It make me wonder,why this man is still walking free while ESCROW scandal has caused a serious damage in our annual budget? Cops, would you please round him up along with other two professors? So what's the hold up?
  
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  Alex Kakala • 5 hours ago

  You don't arrest those implicated in ESCROW scandal and put them in police custody immediately they continue to cause chaos!
  Means they are underestimating the public intelligence and patience which is wearing out!
  Do the mean that Dr. Mengi also distributed billions of shillings to World Bank, USA and EU?
  Read what they are claiming!
  Dr Mengi denies involvement in Tegeta escrow account scandal
  BY THE GUARDIAN REPORTER
  17th December 2014
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  IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi
  IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi has taken exception to suggestions that he channelled billions of shillings to Simanjiro Member of Parliament Christopher ole Sendeka (CCM), with which to bribe other ruling party legislators into condemning the theft of public funds from the controversially handled Tegeta escrow account at the Bank of Tanzania.
  In a press statement released yesterday, Dr Mengi attributed “the false reports” to Energy and Minerals Deputy Minister Stephen Masele, Energy and Minerals ministry Permanent Secretary Eliakim Maswi and Minister of State in the President’s Office (Civil Society Relations and Coordination) Stephen Masato Wasira.
  “They claim that I dished out billions of shillings to MP Christopher Ole Sendeka to bribe his fellow CCM legislators into not condemning the siphoning of public funds from the Tegeta Escrow Account. This is blatant lie,” the statement reads in part.
  Dr Mengi said he had sought clarification on the allegations from ole Sendeka, who he described as a friend, “but the MP dismissed them as false and malicious”.
  He said ole Sendeka had explained (to Dr Mengi) that while in Dodoma with deputy minister Masele, he (the MP) received a phone call from his son, called Reginald like Dr Mengi.
  “Ole Sendeka said he excused himself from the table to attend to the call and Masele sent a waiter to eavesdrop on the conversation, so Masele thought the MP was speaking to Reginald Mengi,” the statement says, and notes that the incident made ole Sendeka conclude that the deputy minister was a “strange character”.
  “Given Ole Sendeka’s explanation, it is obvious that the conversation Masele overheard was not between Ole Sendeka and myself,” said Dr Mengi in the statement, adding: “Even with the false allegations, there is no evidence whatsoever that MPs were bribed by me through ole Sendeka. The spreading of these rumours is an indication of ulterior motives against me.”
  The statement also reveals that on December 12 this year, permanent secretary Maswi claimed to have recorded the alleged conversation between Dr Mengi and ole Sendeka.
  “These are pure lies. If it is true that he recorded the conversation as he alleges, then let him make it public,” Dr Mengi said, adding: “Contrary to this, it will be wise for Masele and Maswi to retract their false statements. In the end, only the truth will set them free.” He appealed to members of the public to dismiss the rumours.
  Reached for comment, Maswi distanced himself from the rumours, while minister Wasira also denied any knowledge of the matter. Deputy minister Masele was not reachable.
  SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
  
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  Alex Kakala • 6 hours ago

  Why in Tanzania public servant are so darling? They commit offence and refuse to take responsibility because they are used to
  " let them make noise- public -when they are tired will shut up"
  I see this is their mentality similar to kindergarten pupils. The understand nothing of taking responsibility for their role or failure to act appropriately as top leaders in the government!
  After almost one month after the parliament has issued the directives, no one resigned.
  Yet no single lawyer in the country including those civil society lawyers has lodged a police report for those implicated to be arrested and charged in the court of law! Very strange indeed!
  
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  mujwahuki • 7 hours ago

  ...one boulder out of the way!! Now it is appropriate time for state organs to do their work!
  Will this resignation save one officer in Ikulu who wrote to BoT advising (pressurizing) them to release funds on AG's advice??!
  
• lila • 7 hours ago

  You r stupid all those who r culprit they shud b first bankrupt then taken to court n then jailed them for 50 years then only the democracy will prevail in this country n all those who wants to steal in future peoples money will first think that shud they steal or not.????????
  
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  MKOMBOZI • 8 hours ago

  MR.WAIREMA DOING THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE JUST LEFT WITHOUT PUNISHMENT.YOU YOURSELF YOU ARE THE MAN STANDING FOR JUSTICE.THIS TIME THE JUSTICE MUST BE UPON YOU.