Makinda accused of plot to save escrow scandal suspects

Speaker Anne Makinda 

By Florence Mugarula The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

“The best thing here is for wananchi to read the proposed constitution and see if Parliament has been given more powers to deal with problems in the country,” he said. “If not, they should vote against the document.”

Dar es Salaam. Speaker Anne Makinda came under fire yesterday for allegedly creating an
environment that would allow public officials implicated in the escrow account case to get away with it. Political analysts, academicians and legal experts argued that, given her take on the functions and responsibilities of the three pillars of state, public officials implicated in the scam would be protected from the consequences of their actions.

A prominent Dar es Salaam advocate, Mr Silvanus Sylivand, told The Citizen on Sunday that Speaker Makinda was expected to fall back on precedents set in dealing with earlier scandals--which indicate that Parliament has the power to pressure ministers and the premier to step down.

“It’s obvious that Parliament can advise the government to take action against the accused leaders, but it’s not necessary that the President consider the advice of MPs,” Mr Sylivand said. The best thing is for Parliament to follow precedents.”

According to Mr Sylivand, something is “clearly being hidden to drive an agenda and save the government from shame”.

He added: “Some of the accused were being asked to frame statements to be submitted to the head of state so that he can take appropriate action against the same leaders being accused,” he said. “In the real sense, this can’t be perfect.”

University of Dodoma lecturer Paul Loisulie said Parliament must act like an institution. “What has been transpiring in the House is likely to divide MPs and wananchi too,” he said. “It seems some CCM MPs are doing everything they can to protect the accused leaders at the expense of poor wananchi.”

The accused leaders should go quietly instead of engaging in endless debate, according to Mr Loisulie. Many Tanzanians are aware of what is going on in Dodoma, he added, and the government and CCM must understand that it is too late to hide or save anyone from the fall-out.

The Civic United Front’s Julius Mtatiro suggested that CCM wanted to save its top leaders so that wananchi would not understand exactly what happened--and the chain of events started when Speaker Makinda allowed some of the leaders in question to propose measures to be taken against them.

Mr Mtatiro added: “Bringing the leaders accused into this business was conflict of interest. How could they propose heavy punishment against them? It’s obvious they will either make it difficult to resolve the matter or they will plan the best way to get away.”

According to Prof Kitila Mkumbo of the University of Dar es Salaam, MPs have the power to take to task only three people--the President, Prime Minister and Speaker--and what was going on in Parliament was a signal to wananchi to think hard before they endorse the proposed constitution.

“The best thing here is for wananchi to read the proposed constitution and see if Parliament has been given more powers to deal with problems in the country,” he said. “If not, they should vote against the document.”

By the same token, the leaders who stand accused should also analyse the situation and make the right decisions. “It is quite clear that MPs no longer trust Prof Muhongo and the government’s decision to continue protecting him will end up causing more problems,” he added. “This situation can lead to vote of no-confidence against the President.”