Top tanesco officials charged with corruption

Dar es Salaam. Four former top officials with the Tanzania Electric Company Limited (Tanesco) have been charged at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court with two counts of abuse of position and occasioning a loss of Sh275 million to the government.

Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) filed the charges yesterday against former deputy managing director Robert Semhihu, procurement officer Harun Mahambo, director of finance Lusekela Kasanga and a lawyer Godson Makia.

Charged along with the four is Mr Martin Simba who is supplier of M/S Young Dong Electronic Company Ltd.

However, only one accused, Mr Makia (lawyer) was present at the court yesterday where he denied the charges read out by PCCB prosecutor Isidory Kyando. The accused was returned to remand prison for failing to meet bail conditions.

Makia appeared before resident magistrate Hellen Riwa who also ordered an arrest of the other accused so that they would be sent to the court to answer charges against them.

According to prosecution, on diverse dates between January and December, 2011 at Tanesco office situated at Ubungo within Kinondoni Municipality, the four accused (Semhihu,Mahambo,Kasanga and Makia) being employed by Tanesco, in the discharge of their functions, intentionally abused their positions by facilitating and effecting payment to the supplier (Simba).

The accused allegedly helped the supplier to violate section 35 of Public Procurement Act No. 21, 2004, thereby enabling the said Simba to obtain or have undue advantage in the contract.

According to prosecution, the accused committed the offence contrary to section 31 of the PCCB Act No. 11, 2007.

On the second count, the five accused jointly allegedly during the same period and place by their wilful acts caused a pecuniary loss of Sh275,040,000 to the government.

After reading the charges, Mr Kyando informed the court that investigation of the case was complete.

Mr Kyando also asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for the remaining four accused so that they would be sent to court to answer charges against them.

Magistrate Riwa agreed with the request and adjourned the case to April 30, this year when it would come for mention while waiting an arrest of the other accused.

For Mr Makia, the magistrate ordered him to deposit cash Sh27.5 million or a title deed of an immovable property equivalent to the sum.

He was also required to secure two reliable sureties who would sign a bond of Sh27.5 million each.

However, the accused failed to meet the bail terms and was returned to prison.

Tanesco top officials were suspended in 2012 along with former managing director William Mhando to pave the way for investigation into corruption and embezzlement allegations.