FINALLY, the seemingly ‘untouchable’ Dar es Salaam City Council Director Wilson Kabwe has been suspended over inking fraudulent deals that have denied the government billions of shillings.
President John Magufuli announced the
suspension during the official launching of the multi-billion shilling
Kigamboni Bridge, following a sickening report divulged to him by the
Regional Commissioner, Mr Paul Makonda.
At the heart of the eye-opener, Mr
Makonda briefed the non-nonsense head of state that Kabwe, under his
capacity as city director, signed controversial contracts regarding to
revenues collection at Ubungo Bus Terminal (UBT) and the National
Parking System (NPS).
Kabwe has repeatedly been under fire;
accused of various malpractices and inefficiency since when he was
saving in the same capacity in two regions--Mbeya and Mwanza. Members of
Parliament had already raised a red flag against him, calling the
government to send him packing; but instead, he was transferred from
Mwanza to Dar es Salaam.
The fired director is said to have been
forced out of office in Mbeya and Mwanza cities by councillors and the
public for similar reasons but was untouched, the situation that mounted
numerous complaints against him.
President Magufuli, who had called the
Dar es Salaam RC on the podium twice to give more details, stressed that
his government will not tolerate public leaders who use the sweat of
poor Tanzanians to benefit themselves.
“Such leaders have no place in my
government. I am announcing that Kabwe is suspended and the
anti-corruption institution should investigate this immediately. If he
will be found clean, then I have no problem with him.
Otherwise legal action should be taken
against him,” President Magufuli said amid cheers. The president
directed that the Acting Director should stop with immediate effect
revenue collection contracts at UBT and NPS until investigations are
completed.
He said public leaders who want to work
with the government must prepare to work for the benefit of the majority
poor to protect the interests and address challenges they face. He
commended Mr Makonda, wishing him Gods’ blessing and stressing that
youthful leaders have been at the forefront in supporting his efforts
for a better Tanzania.
On the other hand, Dr Magufuli revealed
that so far, the number of ghost workers in Shinyanga Region has climbed
to 226. Last week, the president fired Shinyanga Regional Commissioner
Anne Kilango for filing falsified information that there were no phantom
workers in her region.
Speaking earlier in the event, Mr
Makonda said shortly after taking office, he formed a team of experts to
look into all the contracts under DCC, especially on revenue
collection, including UBT and NPS.
He said the team unearthed massive
cheating in the contracts, including the DCC director signing two
different contracts using different bylaws, on two different days.
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