Four Tanzanian ruling party MPs charged in bribery cases
Friday April 01 2016
CCM MPs (from left) Kangi Lugola (Mwibara), Saddiq Murad (Mvomero) and Victor Mwambalaswa (Lupa) at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court where they were charged with asking for a Tsh30 million ($14,000) bribe. PHOTO | SAID KHAMIS
Tanzania’s anti-graft body, Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), seems to have stepped up it role in the fighting against corruption following the sacking of its chief executive nearly four months ago over inefficiency and failure to prosecute high-level cases.
The anti-graft body has arraigned in court four Members of Parliament in the last two days alleging the lawmakers demanded bribes to write favourable reports for government institutions.
Local council
On Thursday, PCCB arrested three MPs who are members of the Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC). The three were charged at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam with soliciting a sum of Tsh30 million ($14,000) from Mbwana Magote, the executive director of Gairo District Council in Morogoro region so that the MPs can write a good recommendation after inspecting the council’s books.
PCCB prosecutor Maghela Ndombo said Suleiman Sadiq, the MP for Mvomero constituency, Kangi Lugola (Mwibara) and Victor Mwambalaswa (Lupa) asked for the bribe on March 15, 2016 contrary to clause 15(2) of PCCB Act.
The lawmakers pleaded not guilty before Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba and were released on a bail of Tsh5 million ($2,300) each.
The case will be heard on April 14, 2016.
Tanesco
On Friday, another MP, Richard Ndassa, was arraigned at the same court for allegedly soliciting a bribe from the national power utility, Tanzania Electricity Supply Company Limited (Tanesco) chief executive Felichesmi Mramba.
Mr Ndassa, a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Investment, was charged with asking for Tsh30 million ($14,000) which he would use to convince his colleagues in the committee to write a favourable recommendation on Tanesco’s audited accounts for financial year 2015/16.
Presenting the charges before Resident Magistrate Emillius Mchauru, State Attorney Dennis Lekayo said the lawmaker committed the offence on March 13, 2016 in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Lekayo said Mr Ndassa further attempted to pressure the Tanesco chief to connect Mr Matanga Mbushi and Lameck Mahewa to the national grid as part of the favours. Mr Mbushi is a relative of the respondent.
Mr Ndassa pleaded not guilty and was released in a Tsh10 million bail.
The case will be heard on April 18, 2016.