This week saw a change in the governance of Tanzanian when president Jakaya Kikwete named a new prime minister after the occupant of the position resigned following corruption claims against him, Mr Edward Lowassa quit on Thursday 2006 after being named in a corruption scandal. He unduly influenced the decision to award the power contract to an energy-generating company, causing the nation heavy losses.
The energy deal worth $179 million (KSh12.5 billion) involved Richmond Development Company that was to generate emergency power in 2006, Mr Kikwete named Mr Mizengo Kayanza Pinda to replace Mr Lowassa thereby becoming Tanzania's 10th prime minister.
Mr Lowassa is the first Prime Minister to be implicated directly by the Special Parliamentary Committee, just two years in office, since Tanzania achieved its independence about four decades ago. Other big shots who were also implicated in the multibillion shillings scandal include Cabinet Ministers Dr Ibrahim Msabaha, Nazir Karamagi and Igunga MP Rostam Aziz.
The MPs,both in the ruling party and opposition, put aside their political and ideological differences to criticise the way government leaders were running public offices, Mr Lowassa said there was no watertight evidence to prove the allegations and added that, “I have realised that the cause of all these allegations is my position as prime minister. I have, therefore, tendered my resignation to the president this morning."
But even before dust settles on the energy scandal, another former Prime Minister, Joseph Warioba, has said investigations into the TSh133 billion (KSh8.8bn) Central Bank scandal are likely to unearth insights to grand corruption more shocking than the Richmond energy firm saga, "The Richmond report has opened up the doors. It is very possible that the investigations into the BoT scandal will come up with even more shocking revelations," Mr Warioba said.
President Jakaya Kikwete has already acted by firing the Central Bank governor, Mr Daudi Ballali, However, Mr Warioba added that resignation should not be perceived as an act of disgrace but rather, a democratic move that depicts a sensed of accountability.
But that may not augur well with those who perceive that resignations take away power from them. In Kenya, very few high profile indivviduals would be willing to resign to clean their reputation.In 1994, Dr Richard Leakey, renowned paleontologist and director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, resigned after weeks of a growing political storm in which he was accused of corruption, racism and mismanagement."I have no wish to give my life at this time, and the stress and pain of being vilified by senior politicians and others is more than I think is good for my health," Mr. Leakey said at a news conference. "I have offered my resignation."
He rejected the allegations and called for a public inquiry with clear terms of reference.Former Finance Minister David Mwiraria resigned in early 2006 after being linked to a corruption scandal. He was accused of warning off investigations into Anglo Leasing, a multimillion dollar corruption scam that involved contracts for a company that existed in name only. Mr Mwiraria refuted the allegations saying he was stepping aside to clear his name, after he was mentioned in a report by the government's former anti-corruption chief John Githongo.
The 31 page report also mentioned then Vice-President Moody Awori, Education Minister George Saitoti, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi and Transport Minister Chris Murungaru.
They all publicly denied the claims. Mr Murungi and Mr Saitoti later resigned in 2006 as Mr Murungaru was sacked. Mwiraria was reinstated as the Minister of environment, Murungi as Minister of Energy and Saitoti as Education Minister three months after he resigned.
Mr Githongo also alleged that the president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, knew about the scam but did nothing to stop it. He agreed to testify before parliament's public accounts committee and also co-operate with Kenya's anti-corruption commissionGithongo resigned in 2005 amid reports that his life had been threatened because of his corruption work.
And late last year, a secret report named retired president Moi and his web of shell companies, secret trusts and frontmen that used to funnel hundreds of millions of pounds into nearly 30 countries including Britain.The 110-page report by the international risk consultancy Kroll, alleges that relatives and associates of Mr Moi siphoned off more than £1bn of government money. But they would not hear of it.
It details how Mr Moi's sons - Philip and Gideon - were reported to be worth £384m and £550m respectively; his associates colluded with Italian drug barons and printed counterfeit money; his clique owned a bank in Belgium; and £4m was used to buy a home in Surrey and £2m to buy a flat in Knightsbridge; and that the threat of losing their wealth prompted threats of violence between Mr Moi's family and his political aides;
Mr Moi and his associates, if true, would put the Mois on a par with Africa's other great kleptocrats, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and Nigeria's Sani Abacha.The report, commissioned by President Mwai Kibaki shortly after he came to power on an anti-corruption platform in 2003, was submitted in 2004 but never acted upon. Kroll said it could not confirm or deny the authenticity of the report nor could they talk about the scope, content or results of any work they had done for the government, which remained confidential.
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