Three MPs in court over graft

FAUSTINE KAPAMA

• THE three MPs appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday charged with bribery walk towards the courtroom. They are from left; Suleiman Sadiq Murad (Mvomero), Victor Mwambalaswa (Lupa) and Kangi Lugola (Mwibara). (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)

• They are Ahmed Saddiq, Kangi Lugola and Victor Mwambalaswa

THREE Members of Parliament (MPs), Ahmed Saddiq (53), Kangi Lugola (54) and Victor Mwambalaswa (63), appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday charged with corrupt transaction.

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.