Saddiq, MP for Mvomero in Morogoro
Region, Lugola, the legislator for Mwibara in Mara Region and
Mwambalaswa, a lawmaker for Lupa Constituency in Mbeya Region, all on
CCM ticket, are alleged to have solicited 30m/- from a District
Executive Director (DED) to provide clear recommendations on accounts.
Before Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba, the trio pleaded “not
guilty” to the charge.
They were granted bail “on one simple
condition of securing one surety each’’. Each of the surety, according
to the magistrate, was required to sign a bond of 5m/-.
Mr Simba adjourned the case to April 14
when it will come up for another mention -- as investigations into the
matter, according to the prosecution, led by a prosecutor from the
Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Magela Ndimbo, have
not been completed.
The three MPs seemed to have taken their
arraignment with ease. They looked calm and composed as they entered
the dock. They were seen pumping up their hands, a sign of victory in a
war, after the case was adjourned.
Lugola was heard saying that such arraignment would not demoralise them from fighting grafts in the country.
“We will not go back despite these obstacles. Squeezing of boils will continue,” he shouted while in a happy mood at the dock.
The prosecution told the court that the
three legislators committed the offence on March 15, this year, at
Golden Tulip Hotel at Masaki in Kinondoni District within the City of
Dar es Salaam.
Being MPs and members of the Standing
Parliamentary Local Authority Accounting Committee (LAAC), the trio
allegedly solicited a sum of 30m/- from Mr Mbwana Soud Magotta, the
Gairo DED.
Such amount, according to the
prosecution, was an inducement so that they could give clear
recommendations on the account of the district council for 2015/2016
financial year, the matter was in relation to the affairs of their
principal.
The arraignment of the three comes few
days after Kigoma Urban MP, Mr Zitto Kabwe (ACTWazalendo) and Nzega MP,
Mr Hussein Bashe (CCM) said they would resign from the parliamentary
committee to pave way for investigation on reports that some MPs had
been involved in corruption.
It has also come after the Speaker of
theNational Assembly, Mr Job Ndugai, made changes in the structure of
the parliamentary standing committees by dropping six chairpersons and
vicechairpersons as well as reshuffling members from one committee to
another.
Affected committees include the
Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Tourism of which
its Chairperson, Ms Mary Mwanjelwa (Special Seats-CCM), has been dropped
and moved to the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and
Environment.
Special Seats MP Martha Mlata (CCM) has
as well been dropped as Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy
and Minerals and she has been shifted to the same committee as Ms
Mwanjelwa.
On the other hand, the three
vice-chairpersons who were shown the door include Mwibara MP Kangi
Lugola (CCM), who acted in that position in the Local Authorities
Accounts Committee (LAAC), and Mbinga Urban MP, Mr Sixtus Mapunda (CCM),
who was Ms Mwanjelwa’s deputy.
Sumve MP Richard Ndassa (CCM), who
headed the Public Investments Committee (PIC), has not been spared
either and will now serve as a member in the Parliamentary Committee on
Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
The Parliamentary Committee on Community
Services Development chaired by Kigoma North MP, Mr Peter Serukamba
(CCM), will have to conduct an election to replace its Vice-Chairperson,
Dr Raphael Chegeni (Busega- CCM), who has been dropped in the new
line-up.
According to the statement, the changes
have started with immediate effect. Members of the committees who have
been reshuffled include Bukene MP, Mr Selemani Zedi (CCM) from PIC to
Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs.
The MP for Lupa, Mr Victor Mwambalaswa
(CCM), has been moved from LAAC to the Parliamentary Committee for
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, in which Dr Chegeni and Mr Lugola
have been placed as well.
Urambo East MP Ms Margaret Sitta (CCM)
will now serve in the Parliamentary Administration and Local Governments
Committee from the Community Services Development Committee whereas
Morogoro Urban MP, Mr Abdulaziz Abood (CCM), has been moved to LAAC from
the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Trade and Environment.
On the other hand, Kishapu MP Suleiman
Nchambi (CCM) will now serve in the Parliamentary Committee for
Constitutional and Legal Affairs from the Industry, Trade and
Environment Committee.
The other MPs with their former
committees in brackets include Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Raza now in
Administration and Local Government (Industry, Trade and Environment)
and Kibaha MP Sylvestry Koka (CCM), Foreign Affairs, Security and
Defence (Industry, Trade and Environment).
Kilombero MP Peter Lijualikali (Chadema)
will now be in the Administration and Local Governments (Community
Services Development) and Muleba North MP, Prof Anne Tibaijuka (CCM)
will serve in the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure Development
(Subsidiary Legislations Committee).
Mkinga MP Dunstan Kitandula (CCM) has
been moved to Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security (Energy and Minerals
Committee) whereas Msalala MP Ezekiel Maige (CCM) is now on Energy and
Minerals from Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.