Mbatia faults MPs as bank denies role

Moshi. Nominated MP and NCCR-Mageuzi chairman James Mbatia has criticised parliamentarians from the ruling CCM who have been opposing his fight against people involved in the escrow account scandal.

The MP told Vunjo residents in Kilimanjaro Region during a campaign ahead of the local government elections that the President didn’t appoint him to shield evil people and wrongdoers.

Besides the attack on his opponents, Mbatia also queried the Sh45million budget set for purchasing essential drugs while the budget for President Kikwete’s foreign trips is Sh50 billion.

[Text]Mbatia, who serves as the chairman of NCCR-Mageuzi party, also announced his party’s coalition with Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) which will enable the two political parties to pick a strong candidate from one of the two in both local governments and general elections.

He said the coalition is aimed to enhance the solidarity that involves members of the union for people’s constituency (Ukawa).

Speaking at public meetings held at Himo Njia Panda and Kilema villages in Kilimanjaro Region, Mbatia said his presidential appointment doesn’t mean he was there to serve and defend the government in power.

“ While in the parliamentary session in Dodoma, I and 10 other members of Ukawa, and John Momose Cheyo from UDP, stood firm to defend the national interests against people involved in the Escrow scandal, a spirit that annoyed some members of the ruling CCM,” he said.

Some of his opponents, according to Mbatia, lanced attacks on his stand saying he was humiliating the government.

“They told me I was appointed by President Jakaya Kikwete hence it was unfair to attack his government.

I told them I won’t cooperate with him when it comes to banditry,” recalled Mr Mbatia. Mbatia thanked God that there were patriots among MPs from CCM who supported his efforts to ensure the Parliament serves as an organ that monitors the government.

Two ministers Professor Sospeter Muhongo, Professor Anna Tibaijuka and the Attorney General, Judge Frederick Werema faced disciplinary measures from the Parliament over the Escrow account scandal

Commenting on the budget set for presidential foreign trips, Mbatia queried why the hooping Sh50 billion budget should be set for a single person(The President) while only Sh45 million is set to purchase drugs and medicines for over 40 million Tanzanians.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church has distributed a document to its churches that denies its Mkombozi Bank’s involvement in Escrow account.

The document signed by Moshi Diocese bishop, Isaac Amani was read here during the Sunday Mass to refute allegations that the bank was fully involved in the Escrow account’s money.

Bishop Amani who explained in details how the money was deposited and drawn, strongly denied that the bank was not and would not be involved in dirty money.

An escrow account is a financial instrument held by a third party on behalf of other two parties in a transaction.

The funds are held by this kind of account until it receives the appropriate written or oral instructions or until obligations have been fulfilled.