Tanzanian Housing Minister Sacked Over Scandal
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has sacked his housing minister in connection with a corruption scandal that has rocked the government an...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2014/12/tanzanian-housing-minister-sacked-over.html
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has sacked his housing minister in connection with a corruption scandal that has rocked the government and prompted donors to cut aid to the East African country, Daily News reported Tuesday.
Anna Tibaijuka is the second high-ranking official to lose her post over the scandal, following the resignation of former attorney general Frederick Werema last week.
A parliamentary investigation found last month that about 120 million dollars in public money had been taken from an escrow account, transferred to an energy firm and passed on to cabinet members.
Werema was accused of authorising the transfer but denied any wrongdoing.
In the latest case, Tibaijuka - a former executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme - admitted to accepting a sum of 1 million dollars, but said it was a donation to a school.
On announcing her dismissal late on Monday, Kikwete said he was troubled by the fact that the money had gone directly to the minister's personal bank account.
The parliamentary committee also asked Kikwete to dismiss Energy Minister Sospeter Muhongo and his permanent secretary. The president said he would wait until the investigations were complete before making a decision.
According to multiple media reports, the scandal has prompted foreign donors to slash more than $400m in aid to Tanzania.
Source: News 24
Anna Tibaijuka is the second high-ranking official to lose her post over the scandal, following the resignation of former attorney general Frederick Werema last week.
A parliamentary investigation found last month that about 120 million dollars in public money had been taken from an escrow account, transferred to an energy firm and passed on to cabinet members.
Werema was accused of authorising the transfer but denied any wrongdoing.
In the latest case, Tibaijuka - a former executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme - admitted to accepting a sum of 1 million dollars, but said it was a donation to a school.
On announcing her dismissal late on Monday, Kikwete said he was troubled by the fact that the money had gone directly to the minister's personal bank account.
The parliamentary committee also asked Kikwete to dismiss Energy Minister Sospeter Muhongo and his permanent secretary. The president said he would wait until the investigations were complete before making a decision.
According to multiple media reports, the scandal has prompted foreign donors to slash more than $400m in aid to Tanzania.
Source: News 24
