JK: Unfounded charges threaten unity

Picha toka www.jakayakikwete.com

MAURA MWINGIRA in Arusha

Daily News (Tanzania); Thursday, October 11, 2007 @00:03

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has warned the opposition against turning themselves into investigators, prosecutors and judges saying if left unchecked, the tendency could harm the peace and tranquillity that the country enjoys.

Speaking on Tuesday night at a fund raising function for the construction of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania Arusha Diocese hotel here, the president said the behaviour was contrary to principles of natural justice and rule of law. “Every corruption report or allegations facing an individual would be investigated thoroughly according to the laid down procedures and by the proper organs and not otherwise,” President Kikwete said.

He was apparently reacting to the opposition’s claims of high level corruption in government especially at the Bank of Tanzania and circumstances surrounding the signing of the Buzwagi gold mining contract in London last February.

Mr Kikwete said the opposition was not treating fairly people mentioned in the so-called ‘list of shame.’ He said whosoever would be proved by state organs to be corrupt, would be taken to court regardless of their positions. He reiterated the government’s high commitment to fight corruption. “If we have managed to wage this war within the ruling CCM, there is no reason why we should fail elsewhere,” said Mr Kikwete.

Meanwhile, 363.6m/- was realised during the church’s fund raising function held at Kibo palace. Mr Kikwete contributed 2m/-.

He thanked the ELCT’s Arusha Diocese Bishop Thomas Laiser for recognising government efforts to combat graft in the country. Bishop Laiser on the other hand said the church supported government efforts and would do everything in its power to ensure success of the campaign.