MPs hail Mengi on corruption `sharks`

An array of Members of Parliament have hailed IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi for naming five of what he called the key grand corruption ``sharks`` in Tanzania.

The legislators said in separate interviews here yesterday that Mengi had made a bold move which would pave the way for a more vigorous war on corruption in the country.

Shoka Khamis Juma (Micheweni - CUF), who is also shadow minister for Good Governance (President`s Office), called on all well-meaning Tanzanians to stand behind the IPP Executive Chairman ``at all costs because he has done what the official organs responsible for forestalling and combating corruption and other vices have failed to do``.

``We wholeheartedly support Mr Mengi because we believe that he has named those sharks in the full knowledge there are still more sharks and even whales in the ocean that must be exposed as well,`` said the MP, citing a popular Kiswahili saying.

``There is a sophisticated syndicate of corrupt sharks that has been systematically siphoning the resources of this country. We must fight corruption. Mr Mengi has gone a courageous step ahead of us, and we rally behind him,`` he added, speaking from the Parliamentary grounds.

The legislator, who is here for a scheduled two-week meeting of the National Assembly, stated that the war on corrupt would be far off target unless “the big sharks and the whales” were also exposed, arrested and brought to justice.

``That would be the best way of acknowledging Mr Mengi`s exemplary contribution to the war effort and congratulating him on a patriotic duty fulfilled with dignity,`` he said, pledging unwavering support for the IPP Executive Chairman.

The opposition leader, who made his remarks soon after the routine morning `Q & A` session in the presence of several opposition party members, said he was convinced that the `sharks` named by Mr Mengi at a news conference in Dar es Salaam on Thursday were not acting in isolation.

He pointed out that he was ``both baffled and shocked by the dead silence maintained by the authorities concerned on various issues of national interest``.

According to the MP, the evils perpetrated or fuelled by corrupt elements in society ``have so tarnished our country``s image that protecting the few individuals behind them will surely ruin our entire nation``.

Elaborating, Juma said China was making tremendous progress economically and otherwise because corruption was not being given breathing space.

``The list of the scandalous transactions and procurements involving the corrupt individuals is known. Time has come for patriotic wananchi to expose all prime suspects, including those still in on the run,`` he added.

He called on the authorities concerned to act on the matter without hesitation ``to save the lives of millions of innocent poor families impoverished by the corrupt elements in our communities``.

Dr Willibroad Slaa (Karatu & Chadema), a fiery anti-corruption crusader, also expressed unreserved support for Mengi``for having made bold and historic strides in the war on grand corruption``.

He said the list of corrupt `sharks` issued by the IPP Executive Chairman was that of notorious corrupt elements he knew very well and that, with Mengi`s memorable intervention, he too had gained new strength with which to sustain the momentum.

``Mengi has done the right thing. He has shown the way. Corrupt elements are not ashamed of their disgraceful deeds to the nation and what he has done is the ideal treatment they deserve,`` he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Raphael Chegeni (Busega - CCM) said Mengi`s remarks at the Dar es Salaam news conference was so relevant and substantive that the government ought to take them seriously and work on them.

``I am not sure whether his remarks will not be ignored… But this is an extremely serious matter and it should be dealt with appropriately for the good of our country and its people,`` he said.

However, some MPs interviewed said they had noted that Mengi had declared that the number of grand corruption suspects did not exceed ten but he had named only half of them.

They said it would be even better for the country if the names of the rest were also made public.

At Thursday`s news conference, Mengi named five people he described as ``notoriously corrupt sharks`` and urged the public to invest more courage in efforts to rid Tanzania of corruption, which he said was eating the country`s resources and stealing the people`s precious time.

He said the country was currently facing a big problem of grand corruption and was troubled by the fact that the people involved in acts of corruption did not want to be touched.

Mengi stated that the ``notoriously corrupt people`` were involved in almost all scandals that have happened in the country, including Richmond, Bank of Tanzania`s external payment arrears account (EPA), Dowans, military helicopters and vehicles, the Presidential jet, radar, National Social Security Fund, Public Service Pension Fund, and National Lottery.

Efforts to contact the five `sharks` named for comment failed yesterday, as they we were permanently not reachable by phone.