I’ll table IPTL report, says Pinda
What you need to know:
Mr Pinda told the Parliament that he was however saddened by donor’s decision to suspend $558 million aid over the matter, reiterating that the decision was affecting majority poor Tanzanians.
Dodoma. Prime Minister Mr Mizengo Pinda said yesterday he expected to present to Parliament the Controller and Auditor General (CAG)’s report on the Tegeta escrow account scandal immediately he received it.
Mr Pinda told the Parliament that he was however saddened by donor’s decision to suspend $558 million aid over the matter, reiterating that the decision was affecting majority poor Tanzanians.
He said, the government needs 13 billion to offer loans to students of various higher learning institutions.
Mr Pinda said, the government was doing all it could to ensure that the students were given loans.
But Mr Zitto Kabwe argued that the referendum for the new Constitution should be suspended so that the money allocated for that exercise is given to the students.
Donors insist that they will not release a cent until the CAG’s report on Independent Tanzania Limited (IPTL) saga is unveiled so as they satisfy themselves that there were no underhand dealings.
Responding to direct MPs’ questions to the Prime Minister, Mr Pinda admitted that as of yesterday, he was yet to receive the CAG’s report but was quick to point out that he would hand it over to the office of the Speaker as soon as possible.
The Premier’s statement came amid pressure from a section of MPs led by Kigoma South legislator Mr David Kafulila that both the CAG’s report and that of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) reports be made public.
In May this year, the Parliament ordered that investigations into the controversy surrounding the IPTL sale in which SH207 billion was withdrawn from central bank and paid to facilitate the sale of IPTL to a Kenyan businessman through Pan African Power (PAP).
Already, PCCB director general Dr Edward Hoseah has confirmed that he handed over his report to the Pinda last week, although a minister of state in the PM’s office Mr William Lukuvi on Tuesday denied the information.
Parliament has set November 27 and 28 to debate the two investigation reports on the $122 million controversy during its ongoing sitting.
Mr Pinda told the august House that appropriate legal actions would be taken against those who will be implicated in the two reports. “Let us wait and see what the CAG report has to say. But he did not state if he had seen the PCCB report.
