Former Tanesco officials wanted by police, 275m/- case looming

Tanesco Hq

Several former officials from the Tanzania Electricity Company Limited (Tanesco) yesterday appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ Court charged with abuse of position and occasioning the loss of up to 275m/-.

The prosecution led by State Attorney from Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Isidori Kyando, claimed that on diverse dates between January and December, 2011 at the Tanesco offices in Ubungo, Kinondoni district, four of the accused (Semhihu, Mahambo, Kasanga and Makia the rest are listed at the bottom)- while discharging their duties, intentionally abused their positions by facilitating and effecting an authorised payments to one Martin Simba.

Kyando further alleged that the accused did this without due delivery of conductors to the financial destinations in violation of section 35 of public procurement act number 21 of 2004 thereby causing undue advantage of the contract contrary to section 31 of the PCCB act number 11 of 2007.

On the second count, it was alleged that on the same period and place all the accused jointly together by their willful acts caused a pecuniary loss of 275, 040,000/- to the government.

Kyando informed the court that investigation of the case is complete and asked the court to issue an arrest warrant for the remaining four accused.
Magistrate Riwa granted the request and adjourned the case to April 30 when it will come for mention while waiting the other accused to appear before the court.

The only one of the accused to appear before the court was a lawyer one Godson Makia who denied the allegations.

The court ordered Makia to deposit 27.5m/- in cash or to submit a title deed of an immovable property equivalent to the same amount as conditions for bail for which he was also required to secure two reliable sureties to each sign a bond of 27.5 million.

The Makia failed to meet the bail conditions and was remanded.
The other accused are former Tanesco Deputy Managing Director Robert Semhihu, Procurement Officer Harun Mahambo, Director of finance Lusekelo Kasanga and Martin Simba who is the supplier of M/S Young Dong Electronic Company Ltd.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN