CUF presidential candidate sends warning shot to embezzlers of public resources

DAR ES SALAAM: THE presidential candidate from the Civic United Front (CUF), Gombo Samandito Gombo, has pledged that if elected, his government will adopt a tough stance against those who steal public property.

Speaking to the Daily News Digital, Gombo stated that to curb the theft of public resources, his administration would not rely on lengthy investigations. Instead, the same methods used to steal will be used to recover the stolen assets.

He emphasized that the persistence of public resource theft is largely due to protracted investigative processes and the lenient punishments given to culprits, which embolden them to continue such criminal acts.

“In a country like Tanzania, there are thieves and the law requires investigations before taking action. Because of these laws, it’s very hard to dismiss a thief in Tanzania. Remember, when someone steals public property, the punishment is usually one of three things: a warning letter, a salary reduction, or dismissal from work. But no one talks about how the lost money is recovered. CUF’s position is clear: the money must be returned from wherever it went. No need for lengthy investigations,” Gombo asserted.

He further stated, “The government money is traceable; it’s known who received it and who took it. The thieves in the government are known, but the law does not provide a mechanism for recovering that money.”

Additionally, he said that within the first 100 days in office, he would work with all stakeholders to consult on reforms to laws that will hold public resource thieves accountable.

“We need to agree. Do we fire the thief or give him a holiday in Dubai? Let’s buy him a house there and tell him, ‘We understand you, sir. If you steal, we’ll buy you a car and send you away.’ But if the people say, ‘This thief should be flogged,’ then we’ll flog him because what he stole belongs to the people, not Gombo,” the candidate said.

Gombo concluded by criticizing many current leaders for forgetting that they are representatives of the people, often failing to involve them in decision-making, something his administration will not tolerate.