PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has tasked Mbeya regional commander of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Mr Emmanuel Kiabo, to arrest and probe former city mayor Athanas Kapunga and 11 other people over causing a 63.4bn/- loss to the government.
The 12 people allegedly inflated the
cost for construction of the Mbeya city market which is sub-standard.
“This government can’t tolerate people who have caused such a huge loss
to just one council. I direct that they should be arrested,” he stated.
He gave the order here yesterday, while
speaking to staff of the district council and Mbeya city administrators.
Besides Mr Kapunga, others on the wanted list are former directors at
the city council, Mr Mussa Zungiza, Ms Elizabeth Munuo, Mr Juma Idd and
Dr Samwel Lazaro.
Others are Mr James Jorojik (former
treasurer) and members of the tender board Mr Mussa Mapunda, Mr Samweli
Bubengwa, Mr Davis Mbembela, Ms Lydia Herbert and Mr Bernard Nsolo.
They allegedly inflated the cost of the
project for their own interests and disregarded the city’s interests.
Premier Majaliwa told the workers that from the very start, the project
was faced with many challenges, and even the loan for funding it was
borrowed without considering the business plan.
Failure to consider the business plan led to borrowing a larger amount of money than what was actually intended.
He explained further that contracts with
tenants flouted laws governing public procurement, adding that tenants
whose goods were destroyed when a fire razed the market in the past were
not given priority to get new spaces after its repairs.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister directed
the Regional Commissioner, Mr Amos Makalla to meet with the councillors
and strategise on setting rents for spaces in the market.
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