Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has during her first 100 days in office demonstrated decisiveness when it comes to matters of national interest, always acting swiftly and accordingly.
President Samia has not shied away from taking strong and disciplinary measures against public officials who are accused of abusing their positions.
While receiving the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) reports for the financial year 2019/2020 at the end of March, President Samia unexpectedly suspended the Tanzania Port Authority (TPA) Director General Engineer Deusdedit Kakoko to pave way for investigation after he was implicated in the CAG report for abusing office.
President Samia said the CAG report has recorded massive embezzlement conducted at TPA ordering the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to urgently probe the matter.
She, equally, ordered a special audit on all monies that were released for development projects between January and March, this year.
“We want to see an audit of all funds released for the implementation of the development projects from January to March, this year,” she instructed the CAG Mr Kichere and the governor of the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Prof Florens Luoga.
At one point, President Hassan said, the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa had formed a committee to probe what had been happening at the port and some action was taken.
“But from the report that you submitted to me yesterday, at least 3.6bn/- had been embezzled at TPA…..When the Prime Minister conducted a probe, we only managed to fire junior staff.
I now order the suspension of the TPA Director General to pave the way for investigations into the embezzlement,” she said. In December last year, Mr Majaliwa suspended two officials of TPA to pave the way for investigations over accusations of embezzlement of public funds.
The suspended officials were Finance director, Ms Nuru Mhando and the Financial Expenditures manager, Ms Witness Mahela. A few weeks later she replaced Eng Kakoko with Mr Erick Hamis, who was instructed to embark on major transformation at the Tanzania port.
The Head of State issued a six month time to the new boss of TPA to improve performance and control embezzlement in the authority.
As she continued to align her government, in May, this year the President suspended the Hai District Commissioner in Kilimanjaro region, Lengai Ole Sabaya pending investigations over numerous claims against the district’s top leader.
A statement released to the media by the then Director of Presidential Communications, Gerson Msigwa did not divulge more details but rather said the president’s decision was immediately effective.
“The president has suspended (Ole Sabaya) with immediate effect,” the statement read in parts. Early June, this year when President Samia carried out an impromptu visit at the Kariakoo Market after receiving concerns from traders who operate there.
She suspended the management of the Kariakoo Market Corporation (KMC) after discovering massive irregularities in the operation of the country’s largest shopping centre.
Besides, the Head of State ordered security organs to conduct a probe on the state of affairs at the market, which serves the country and neighbouring nations, for further action.
“I have received some concerns and decided to visit the market to personally witness the problems facing traders, taking into account that Kariakoo accumulates a large chunk of all businesses undertaken in the country,” she said.
“After going around and speaking to some of you, I got a clear picture of how things are being carried out here, and unfortunately I am not pleased,” she added.
She had made known the clear intentions of the government in supporting petty traders since the late President Dr John Magufuli’s era. On several occasions, the government reiterated its commitment to ensure that petty traders conduct their business in a friendly environment.
Despite the efforts done countrywide to recognise the operations of petty traders through the issuance of identification cards, in a surprising encounter the militia in Morogoro region were spotted dealing with these people in an inhumane way.
President Samia was not pleased with how the matter was handled and decided to take charge by revoking the appointment of the Morogoro District Commissioner, Bakari Msulwa and the District Executive Director Sheila Lukuba.
She arrived at the decision recently during her meeting with youths in Mwanza region, noting that she was upset by attacks against petty traders, with their properties being destroyed by local authorities.
“The other day I saw the Morogoro militia beating up petty traders and destroying their belongings. I was very saddened. I’m revoking the appointment of the DC and the DED,” she said.
“Since there were other means that could be used to communicate with petty traders for safe relocation, I instructed the Minister of State in the President Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG) to act on this,” she added.
Since assuming office, President Samia has been very clear against corruption, embezzlement and misuse of public offices, stressing that everything is under watch.
She told those taking the sixth phase government for granted that they should brace themselves for sterner legal and disciplinary measures, insisting that her government would never tolerate malpractices in the public offices.
“We cannot in any way be taken back to the old dark days,” warned President Samia, sending a strong message to corrupt public office bearers and their accomplices.
President Samia said that those who think that the fight against corrupt practices ended with the sudden demise of former President John Magufuli were deceiving themselves because the sixth phase government would sustain the anti-corruption crusade resolutely.
She said the government would maintain the vision and philosophy of the fifth phase government, on curbing corruption, improving revenue collection and sealing loopholes for revenue leakages.
She insisted that the government will continue taking strong measures against individuals who will be found guilty of misusing public funds, abuse of offices and corrupt practices that betray the country’s development endeavor.
