Writes Leo Odera Omolo
INFORMATION emerging out of the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam says that major cabinet reshuffle is looming after five ministers in the current Chama Cha Mapinduzi {CCM} led government were recently implicated in fraud and mismanagement of government resources.
President Jakaya Kikwete who is also the national chairman of the CCM is reported to have called for urgent and terse meeting of the central committee of the ruling CCM to discuss how to salvage the government tainted image and reputation.
Opposition MPs as well as legislators from the ruling party were reported to have spoken out harshly and angrily over the alleged conduct of the ministers at the just concluded April parliamentary session which has been meeting in the political capital of Dodoma in Central Tanzania.
A no confidence motion by opposition MP Zitto Kabwe against the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, who is the leader of government business in parliament, was disallowed over legal technicalities.
Newspapers have reported that Pinda has already briefed the President Kikwete on the allegations of corruption, fraud and mismanagement of national resources leveled by fellow legislators from the ruling CCM against the Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ezekiel Maige, Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja, Minister for Transport Omar Nundu and Minister for Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities George Mkuchika.
Nundu is aid to have sought to shift the blame to his deputy Dr Athuman Mfutakamba, sparking a furore in parliament.
Sources in the ruling party CCM legislators move to directly and openly implicate the ministers, the party’s top brass is concerned over losing ground to the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo m[CHADEMA}, its principal rival. The same source added that the ministers have been asked to write to the president offering to step down from their posts.
An MP from the ruling CCM representing Ludewa constituency in the Southern Highlands Deo Filikunjomba said sacking the ministers would not change the endemic culture of corruption in the county, adding “People are facing problems because of the rising inflation and the rampant corruption. These problems will not be solved by the ministers leaving their posts.”
The Opposition Chadema MP for Kigoma North Zitto Kabwe said that legislators had lost faith and confidence in President Kikwete government, while Hai MP and leader of the Official Opposition in the National Assembly Freeman Mbowe said Tanzanians were tired of the government not listening to them.
At the center of the debate were startling revelation contained in the 2009 / 2010 the Controller and Auditor general’s report, which alleges that the ministers have been involved in trading government properties.
.However, observers and analysis’ and a commentator Dr Azaveli Lwaitama was quoted by the a Nairobi publication the EASTAFRICAN, weekly as saying that he couldn’t see the president taking any action like firing or reshuffling his ministers.
“Taking such action would set a precedent, and the president is aware of that fact,”said Lwaitama. However, he added that individual ministers may be reprimanded with some unfortunate ones having their cases referred to the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau.
Ends