Opposition camp links CCM MPs to corruption

DAILY NEWS Reporters in Dodoma

CCM Members of Parliament have been linked to a 2.6bn/- graft scandal, with the Opposition Camp urging President John Magufuli to form an independent judiciary commission of inquiry to probe the matter.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Freeman Mbowe, blew the trumpet yesterday morning, charging that every ruling party MP was bribed 10m/- to facilitate endorsement of the Media Services Bill, 2016.

Mbowe, who doubles as Chadema National Chairman, asked the president to sack Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, allegedly for hatching the plan.

Yesterday morning, during direct questions to the Prime Minister, Mr Mbowe charged that last Tuesday the premier held a meeting with CCM Secretary General Abdulrahman Kinana and MPs belonging to the party to discuss the development plan proposal and the Media Services Bill.

According to Mr Mbowe, who is also Hai legislator, it was agreed at that meeting that all MPs be given 10m/- each to entice them to pass the Media Bill and Government plan.

He claimed that the move was contrary to the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act of 1995 and Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Act of 2007.

“Honourable Prime Minister, tell the House if this claim is true or false,” Mr Mbowe pleaded. The Deputy Speaker came to the defence of the premier, saying the question wasn’t a policy issues as questions to the prime minister are supposed to be on policy.

Mbowe later called a news conference where he explained how the MPs were allegedly bribed to defend the government, saying it was “a record breaking scandal as all 260 lawmakers were bribed.”

He claimed to have documented evidence which “we’re ready to provide to justify our claims.” Opposition Chief Whip, Tundu Lissu, claimed that the scandal was a big test for Dr Magufuli anti-graft campaign.

“The party is going to lodge a request demanding the Head of State to sack the Prime Minister for being behind the scandal... we are ready to collaborate and produce evidence,” Mr Lissu said.

Earlier in the debating chamber, Mr Juma Nkamia (Chemba-CCM) demanded Mr Mbowe to prove before the House that the government bribed CCM MPs.

He said that personally he was not aware of the allegations, which he termed were a deliberate move aimed to tarnish the CCM’s image. “This issue is serious. The chair should direct Mr Mbowe to justify his claims...I neither received nor heard about the money. It is a statement that needs to be taken seriously,” he charged.

Mr Nkamia sought the chair’s guidance on the matter. “Madam Deputy Speaker, I ask the chair to intervene and probably order the MP to prove the claims lest the House Standing Orders apply,” Mr Nkamia noted. Earlier, Mr David Silinde (Momba-Chadema) also pressed the chair to consider forming an independent team to probe the matter and advise the House on necessary legal and disciplinary actions to be taken against MPs implicated in the scandal.

“The issue, which has been raised by the Leader of the Opposition is very serious. It has tarnished the image of the House. We request an independent team to investigate this,” he asserted. Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson, said as far as the issue is linked to corruption it was wise to be channeled to the anti- corruption body to handle it.

“This is the very reason that caused me to reject the question since morning. I’m not going to give any guidance but instead I encourage Mr Mbowe to approach the anti-corruption body where the issue will be handled properly,” she said.

Dr Ackson advised MPs to have documented evidence before making any allegations, failure of which they might find themselves in trouble should they fail to justify.