President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday sacked Minister for Land, Housing and Human Settlement Development Prof Anna Tibaijuka over the Tegeta escrow account scandal cash.
The President announced the decision when delivering his verdict on the scandal in a televised address to the nation via a gathering attended by Dar es Salaam elders.
Prof Tibaijuka’s sacking comes only a day after she publicly rejected widespread calls to resign on her own volition over ethical issues surrounding the manner in which she received a whopping Sh1.6 billion, part of the escrow monies.
Her sacking was clearly the only exciting component of President Kikwete’s two- hour address during which he gave a long background of the IPTL saga that has blotted his administration.
The Head of State’s take on the scandal largely left many questions unanswered in relation to the parliamentary recommendations that suggested stern steps against those it viewed as culpable. Many of the recommendations were left hanging.
President Kikwete also said he has formed a special team to probe Minister for Energy and Minerals over his role in the controversial withdraw of billions from the Tegeta escrow account at BoT.
The Parliament had recommended that two ministers, energy and minerals permanent secretary Mr Eliakim Maswi, Attorney General Judge Francis Werema should be sacked while the Tanesco board of directors should be dissolved over the IPTL scandal. Mr Werema has since resigned as AG.
Prof Tibaijuka received the Sh1.6 billion from VIP Engineering and Marketing owner James Rugemalira. Said the President:
“We have spoken to Prof Tibaijuka and she told us she received the money as a donation for her school; but we asked ourselves: if the money was for the school, why was it transferred to her personal account?”
He added: “No matter what the reason was, it went against public leadership ethics; so we asked her to step aside so we can appoint someone else to take her position,” added the President to a big cheer crowd.
Last week Prof Tibaijuka vowed she would not quit over the escrow scandal. She proclaimed her innocence, claiming that even the President would be disappointed if she resigned.
Speaking about Prof Muhongo, the President said he would make his decision after receiving a report from a team which he formed to investigate him.
-Credit:THE CITIZEN