President Jakaya Kikwete. PHOTO| FILE
By Frank Kimboy,The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. As President Jakaya Kikwete addresses the nation today on a wide range of national issues, the public’s expectation will, however, be mostly keen on what he is going to say on the Tegeta escrow scandal.
Following the weekend’s confirmation that the President would today address the nation from Dar es Salaam, there were mixed views yesterday on what the public would want him to say with regard to the monumental Sh306-billion power sector scam.
While expectations were high that the Head of State would subscribe to the parliamentary recommendations on the scandal, there were also cautions on the implication in case that failed to happen.
Some of those who spoke to The Citizen yesterday were concerned that if the President were to ignore the recommendations made by the august House, there would be dire consequences not only on the government, but to the ruling CCM as well as wananchi’s welfare.
They also criticised the President for dragging his feet on the issue for so long, causing unnecessary anxiety to the citizenry. However, there were those who were pessimistic over the chances that there would be implementation of the Bunge recommendations.
Those who spoke to The Citizen, include: Kigoma South MP David Kafulila, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) Executive Director Dr Helen Kijo-Bisimba, Sikika Executive Director Mr Irenei Kiria, Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (Tucta) secretary Mr Nicholas Mgaya and Prof Gaudence Mpangala, a senior lecturer at Ruaha University College.
Mr Kafulila says he expects to hear three main issues from the President. First, he expects the Head of State to fire all those who were implicated in the Tegeta escrow account scandal.
Second, he expects Mr Kikwete to tell the nation that all those who were implicated in the scandal would be prosecuted. Last, Mr Kafulila says, he expects the President to order those who stole the money from the escrow account to return it.
“I don’t expect to hear anything short of that from the President when he finally addresses the nation on the escrow scandal,” said Mr Kafulila. His sentiments were echoed by Dr Kijo-Bisimba. She says she doesn’t expect to hear the President’s verdict only; she wants also to hear what measures he will take to ensure that such mega scandals won’t reoccur.
Furthermore, both Dr Kijo-Bisimba and Mr Kiria complained over the length of time the President has taken to speak.
“There were all these accusations that, somehow, the State House was involved in the controversial withdrawal of money from the escrow account; now I wonder why the President kept quiet for so long until some wananchi started to think something was amiss,” said Dr Kijo-Bisimba.
However, Prof Mpangala, Mr Kiria and Mr Mgaya are pessimistic: they don’t expect the President to make any major decision in his address.
According to Prof Mpangala, the recent sequence of events, which include a decision by some of those who were implicated in the scandal to come out to declare that they won’t resign and IPTL decision to file a case to bar the implementation of Bunge recommendations, are signs that no major decision will be forthcoming.
“I have a feeling that the President won’t implement the recommendations by the Parliament; first, because he took too long to come out to speak and second, due to some of the ministers, who were implicated in the scandal, declaring publicly that they won’t resign,” says Prof Mpangala.
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