JPM wants Kagera Fund verified

DAILY NEWS Reporters

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has directed the Prime Minister’s Office and the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) to account for every penny of the Kagera earthquake humanitarian funds spent on rehabilitating public infrastructure. Dr Magufuli has also dissolved the quake disaster committee under the Kagera Regional Commissioner’s Office.

The president issued the directives yesterday following conflicting reports on the amount spent on rehabilitating Omumwani Secondary School, which was seriously affected by the September 10, 2016 earthquake in the region.

Dr Magufuli who is in the region for a two day work tour that ended yesterday was informed that the 110m/- was spent on refurbishing the Secondary school, he however said that he has reports that show the actual amount was 172m/-.

“I have directed the PMOs office... Minister Jenista Mhagama who is here and the Disaster Management Department headed by Brigadier General Msuya to verify and follow up on spending of every penny of the Kagera humanitarian funding to make sure it is spent accordingly,” he stressed.

He added: “We cannot have other people contributing humanitarian funds only to end up in greedy people’s pockets. I have been in the construction industry for a long time and so I know the cost of construction.

I want all the Kagera quake humanitarian funds...every penny to be accounted for.” The president has been following closely on the humanitarian funds contributed to rehabilitate public infrastructure in Kagera Region.

In September last year, he revoked the appointments of Kagera Regional Secretary (RAS), Mr Amantius Msole, and Bukoba Municipal Council Director (DED), Mr Steven Makonda, following allegations that they had set up a fake bank account to siphon off relief funds.

The fake account was similar to the one opened by the government to collect donations for supporting victims of Kagera quake and rehabilitation of infrastructure that was destroyed.

In the televised address yesterday from Bukoba Municipality in Kagera Region after inspecting the damaged infrastructures, Dr Magufuli said Omumwani Secondary School, previously owned by the parents’ wing of Chama cha Mapinduzi, WAZAZI, will now be under the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training.

He said all students attending the school will be placed under the government system of free education where they will not be paying fees. On the regional earthquake disaster committee, Dr Magufuli directed its dissolution, saying it was long overdue.

“This is the fifth month since it was formed and it is possible that they are still paying themselves allowances. I want this committee dissolved,” President Magufuli said.The new Rule 21A requires a witness in election petitions to swear affidavit before entering the witness box.

The CJ had realised pressing need to promote further efficiency in management and disposal of future election petitions and conscious of principles enunciated under Article 107A (2) of the Constitution.

Part of the new Rule reads, “The petitioner shall not less that forty eight hours before the time fixed by the court for trial of an election petition, deliver at the office of the Registrar an affidavit sworn by each witness whom the petitioner intends to call at the trial, setting out substance of his evidence.

The Rule also requires each affidavit shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope together with sufficient certified true copies for each of the judges, all other petitioners in the same petition and respondents and shall be opened by the court when the witness, who sworn the affidavit is called to give evidence.

According to the Rule, the affidavit shall be read by or on behalf of the witness and shall form part of the record of the trial and a deponent may be cross-examined by the respondent and re-examined by the petitioner.

It is stated further under the new rule that a witness for the petitioner or respondent who fails to deliver affidavit shall not be permitted to give evidence without leave of the court and the court shall not grant such leave unless sufficient reason is given for the failure.