Govt urged to issue report on BoT funds

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) national chairman Freeman Mbowe has called on the government to make the audit report on alleged misuse of Bank of Tanzania funds public.

He specifically wants President Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Finance minister Zakia Meghji to press for the publication of the report.

Mbowe made the call at an ordinary meeting of the party?s national executive committee held in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

The report was compiled by a foreign independent audit firm, Ernst & Young, and revolved around allegedly dubious transactions made by BoT through the bank?s External Payment Arrears (EPA) account.

The report, which is yet to be released, is understood to be in the hands of the Controller and Auditor General?s (CAG) office.

According to Mbowe, it has been very long since the Kenya-based audit firm commissioned to investigate alleged cases of massive misappropriation of funds in the central bank completed its work and submitted its report to the government.

He said the government had earlier promised to make the report public soon after it was submitted but did not do so.

``We know for sure that the long silence means that various faults or problems have been discovered and the CAG?s office might be conveniently doctoring the findings,`` he claimed.

The Chadema leader further alleged that it had been common for the government to conduct investigations whenever serious issues similar to the BoT scandal claims arise ``but no one is informed of the findings because they end up as secrets in the custody of the government``.

``President Jakaya Kikwete, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Minister for Finance Zakia Meghji should ensure that the report is made public so that every Tanzanian knows what has happened deep inside the bank`s EPA account,`` he said.

Supported by most delegates to the meeting, drawn from across the country, Mbowe said that the party would do the most it could to make the war on corruption and misappropriation of public funds and other property by dishonest public servants succeed.

He alleged that a total of 52bn/- had been stolen from the said EPA account in less than six months.

The government commissioned Ernst & Young some months ago to investigate corruption allegations over the account raised by Chadema secretary general and Karatu legislator Willibrod Slaa and several other members of the opposition camp.

The move followed incessant pressure from sections of the Tanzanian public and the donor community in effect seeking an official government response to the allegations.

The audit firm completed its work in 28 days.

The Chadema meeting is being held amid deepening instability inside the party, with insiders saying it is aimed at discussing the political and economic atmosphere in the country.
• SOURCE: GUARDIAN