AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE East African Business fraternity suffered yet another blow after another of its moguls, Mr Salum Shamte, who was the Chairman of Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), passed on on Monday while receiving treatment at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) in Dar es Salaam.
The late Shamte also served as the Vice-Chairman of East African Business Council (EABC) and the Chairman of Business Council of the Southern African Development Community.
According to MOI spokesperson, Mr Patrick Mvungi, the late private sector leader was taken to the facility on Monday, March 23, this year from Maweni Prisons hospital in Tanga region.
His wife Mrs Mariam Shamte said her husband was suffering from spinal complications and he had undergone surgery several times, and that while at MOI, his health deteriorated and he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Thursday, last week.
TPSF expressed great shock over the demise of its former leader, saying he was among the key figures, who made crucial contributions to the foundation’s growth.
The TPSF’s acting Chairperson Angelina Ngalula paid growing tributes to the late Shamte, noting that he would be remembered for his great leadership and commitment that spurred the improvement of the country’s private sector.
“Mr Shamte served the foundation for many years and he used his expertise in agriculture to suggest some positive changes in the sector… he was also among the team that pioneered ‘Kilimo Kwanza’ policy, it’s a big loss for us,” she told the ‘Daily News’.
For their part, EABC described Shamte’s sudden death as a big blow to the private sector in Tanzania as well as the entire East African region.
In his condolences, EABC Executive Director Dr Peter Mathuki described the late Shamte as an adorable, kind, philanthropic, intelligent, mentor and business leader, and that it is their duty to follow in his footsteps and vision for the growth and prosperity of the East African people.
“As our Vice-Chairman, he strongly put forth the private sector voice in the EAC regional integration agenda. His passing is a great loss to the East African business community, the people of East Africa and those who strongly believed in a borderless East Africa,” read part of his condolences to the family and staff of Katani limited.
Mr Shamte, a former Managing Director of Katani Limited in Tanga, was arrested on October 17, last year by law enforcers. He was arraigned into the Tanga Resident Magistrate Court charged with economic sabotage and money laundering offences. Investigation into the case is still ongoing.
He was arrested alongside the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Juma Shamte and Limited Board member, Fatuma Diwani.
Tanga Regional Commissioner (RC) Martine Shigella had directed the police to arrest the trio in the wake of a conflict between Sisal farmers of Korogwe based five sisal plantations and Katani Limited.
The RC’s decision was prompted by the findings contained in an audit report presented by a senior auditor from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, which exposed gross embezzlement.
Mr Shigella also directed the Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to investigate the case.
Shamte and co. were facing three charges of economic sabotage, money laundering of 1.14bn/- and causing a loss of 1.14bn/-to Agriculture Marketing Cooperative Society (Amcos).
The late Shamte was also mentioned in a report by a special team formed to investigate assets of the Tanzania Sisal Authority (TSA) that was privatised to Katani Limited Company.
On its report, the committee, formed by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, hinted that the company, among other things, criminally sold out some of the assets including houses and farms.
Also, the company allegedly lied on the amount of money that was obtained in the sales which caused massive loss to the company.
Apart from Mr Shamte, other names of those implicated in the wrongdoing are Ally Mnyani, Francis Mkuba, Andrew Boimanda, the late Yusuph Mahumba and Frank Maro who worked for the TSA in the 1990s.
