Corruption Bill for tabling in Bunge

DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE government will table in Parliament a Bill to establish the Corruption and Economic Saboteur Court, in April for discussion and turning it into law

The Attorney General, George Masaju, said the Bill will be discussed and made into law to allow the court to start trying corruption and economic saboteur cases.

AG Masaju made the revelations in a special interview to mark 100 days of the 5th government since taking office aired by Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC1) at the end of last week.

Masaju said the process to establish the Court to prosecute corruption and economic saboteur cases are in the final stages and in the April parliament, the government will table it.

“The corruption and Economic Saboteur Court will soon be in place. It will be a division of the High Court,” Masaju said. He said the Bill is ready and is awaiting presentation in the April parliament, stressing that it is his hope that members of parliament will support it because it will be in the interest of Tanzanians.

Early this year, the Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, said his ministry started preparation for the Bill to establish the corruption and economic saboteur Court.

“During the 2015 election presidential campaigns, President John Magufuli promised that if he wins, he would establish a special court to prosecute government and non government officials implicated in graft.

He won and we are all out to ensure this is fulfilled as promised,” he explained. Dr Mwakyembe called for patience from the public as the government works towards establishing the special division of the High Court to prosecute corrupt people in the country, noting “good things do not need to be rushed”.

Touching on the president’s speech when inaugurating the 11th Parliament last year, Dr Mwakyembe said President Magufuli declared a serious battle against corruption in the country, promising to establish the special court.

He said Dr Magufuli told Parliament that he was serious when he promised the public the special court to prosecute the corrupt and embezzlers of public resources, adding that what Tanzanians hate most is corruption and that they are not ready to tolerate a government that embraces bribery.