The government has announced that the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau is now spearheading investigations on alleged grand corruption at the Bank of Tanzania and the controversial Buzwagi mining contract.
The signing of the Buzwagi Mine contract by Energy and Minerals Minister Nazir Karamagi in London provoked heated debate in Parliament, which culminated in the suspension of Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe, and ignited a public furore.
Opposition leaders have gone around the country to drum up support for their stance over the issue, and now government ministers have been posted upcountry to counter the claims.
Speaking with authority during a meeting with news media editors in Dar es Salaam yesterday, a confident Foreign Minister Bernard Membe decried the mounting pressure which the government was getting from foreign envoys over its handling of grand corruption allegations, which were further fuelled by Chadema legislator Wilbroad Slaa when he issued a `list of shame` at a public rally in Dar es Salaam.
Asked to give the terms of reference for the PCCB investigations, the minister simply said: `Corruption.`
Membe said that members of diplomatic missions should not go against the Vienna Convention by voicing their concerns in public.
The appeal to that end was made in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernad Membe.
He advised them to channel their concerns through accepted diplomatic circles as per Article 34 of the Vienna Convention.
He said the Convention required diplomats to raise their concerns through Government channels as representatives of their countries in Tanzania, and not through press conferences.
However, Membe fell short of naming any diplomat, but said it was not acceptable for members of diplomatic corps to convene press conferences, where they would threaten or condemn an independent country.
Membe called on people to give room to legal procedures to take their course typified by down to earth investigations, which could be followed by court action.
He said the international community has already commended Tanzania which is among four countries that have been ranked as models of good performance.
`Already the USA has given a 700mUSD as a gesture of support to Tanzania in its struggle against corruption` said Minister Membe.
Turning to local politics, the minister said some diplomatic missions were issuing undeclared funds to opposition parties. `Is this not corruption? What is the intention of dishing out the money?
Is it not the piper who calls the tune? Why only ask how the money donated to the government has been spent, but refrain from stating how much has been given to the opposition parties?`
Membe also said that government ministers were currently going around the country to fill up `holes` of allegations made by opposition leaders.
`This is politics,` he said, `this is the game we enjoy.`
Asked to comment on Membe?s remarks, the Chairman of the Tanzania Labor Party (TLP), Augustine Mrema, said the foreign minister`s statement that opposition political parties were getting foreign financial support was not substantiated and had no grain of truth.
Mrema said there were no hidden funds given by diplomats as alleged by Bernard Membe.
`Membe`s statements are just to cover up the on going corruption scandals levelled against top government officials. They have nothing to tell the public. That`s why they are pointing fingers at us,` Mrema told The Guardian.
He said what government was doing at the moment was paying back the money used in the 2005 general elections, whereby most of the leaders won their posts through corrupt practices.
`We are confident about what we are alleging. We have all evidence. Let them go to court,` Mrema said.
SOURCE: Guardian
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