PM orders PCCB to probe duo for sluggish projects
KIGOMA: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed the Kigoma Region’s Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau’s (PCCB) Commander, Mr Steven Mafiga to carry out an immediate investigation against Uvinza District Executive Director (DED), Ms Zainab Mbunda allegedly for crippling development projects.
Mr Majaliwa issued the directives on Thurday, when he addressed public servants and citizens who attended the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Uvinza District Council administration block.
He also directed PCCB to investigate Uvinza District Council Treasurer, Mr Majjid Mabanga to find out reasons for hiccups facing development projects while funds had already been released by the government for its execution.
“I direct you, the PCCB regional commander to conduct an investigation immediately. Some people are not taking bold decision in supervising public funds that are meant for projects execution… the District Executive Director and the treasurer should step aside of their office to pave way for investigation,” Mr Majaliwa ordered.
The directive for an investigation came after noting mismanagement of funds allocated since the 2021/ 2022 fiscal year for construction of the district hospital and Rukoma and Sunuka health centres.
The Premier said that funds were also allocated for Mgambo and Kajeje dispensaries since 2021/2022 financial year but had not been spent for the intended goal.
He dismissed report read before him that the projects were in the final stages of completion as utterly false because he was aware that the funds provided were not used.
“Here, the DED is telling us that still there is money in the bank account while the treasurer says the opposite, even when the engineer asked for equipment the treasurer responded that there was no money, I have decided that you step aside due to poor supervision so that thorough investigation can be conducted,” he said.
Prior to the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone, Mr Majaliwa inspected the progress of the construction of the district hospital after which he learnt that many buildings were not completed, with some medical equipment poorly stored.
Earlier, briefing the Prime Minister on the construction of the district hospital, Medical Officer in Charge Dr David Patrick said the hospital received 1.5bn/- in 2019 for construction of seven buildings and later on received 300m/- for pedestrians’ trails.
He said the seven buildings included a radiology, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), laboratory, pharmacy and laundry building, reminding that implementation of all projects started on January 10, 2019.
Furthermore, he said in May 2021 the hospital was allocated 500m/- for construction of three wards and in March 2022 a total of 390m/- was disbursed for Emergency Medical Department (EMD) and workers’ house. Later, total of 523m/- was disbursed for medical equipment.
Deputy Minister of State in President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Dr Festo Dugange said the government allocated 1.9bn/- and then 170m/- in the past financial year before, in July this year, adding about 750m/- for construction of Uvinza District Council administration block that was supposed to be completed. He gave the ultimatum for the district authorities to ensure the project was completed by October 30th this year.
Briefing on the district hospital, Dr Dugange said the government started allocating for the project in the 2019/2020 fiscal year, saying that so far, a total of 3.4bn/- has been allocated.
“When we inspected the project in July 2021, we were informed that all the buildings could be completed by December 2021 but nothing has happened,” he said.
