Tanzanian Association Oslo

Jakaya Kikwete:

I won`t reveal

corrupt suspects

The Chairman of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday said that all government leaders and others suspected to have abused office or taken part in corrupt practices would face justice.

He called on people who wanted him to name the suspects to bear with him as state organs were still investigating and that once the investigations were over, names of the suspects would be made public by the relevant organs. 

Opening the general meeting for CCM women wing (UWT) here, President Kikwete said he would not reveal the suspects because the whole move was not intended to humiliate people but rather to let justice take its course. 

``I know some people would like to see me reveal people they suspect are corrupt. This is not the right procedure. Let the state machineries do their work. 

The idea is not to humiliate people. The names will be made public once the investigations are completed`` he said. 

Two former ministers Daniel Yona and Basil Mramba and retired permanent secretary in the treasury Gray Mgonja have already been arraigned for allegedly abusing office and occasioning loss of 11.7bn/- to the government. 

Twenty one people have also been taken to court allegedly for stealing from the Bank of Tanzania`s External Payment Arrears (EPA) account. 

Dwelling on the CCM\'s women wing elections which started yesterday night, Kikwete said it was high time the ruling party brought some changes by having an educated leadership cadre. 

He said due to the many challenges facing the world, it would be impossible for illiterate leaders to cope with global issues. 

``It is upon UWT to make sure that its leaders are well-schooled. If we cannot invest in education in this era of science and technology, then for sure we will be left out,`` he said. 

He called on UWT members to elect good leaders who would act as catalysts for development. 

Kikwete lashed out at some CCM members who he said were behaving contrary to party ethics. 

``There are some CCM members whose actions are contrary to what the party believes in and stands for,`` he said. 

On school pregnancies, Kikwete called on the women`s wing to help the government in fighting the vice. 

He said the government would continue to build hostels in public secondary schools so as to make sure that all students lived in hostels. 

Earlier on, the UWT outgoing chairman Anna Abdallah alleged that some candidates were bribing voters. 

Sophia Simba, who is the Minister in the President`s office (Good Governance), Janeth Kahama Special Seats MP and Joyce Masunga also Special Seats MP are contesting for the UWT`s top post.

• SOURCE: GUARDIAN