Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Monday, December 5, 2022.
Court rules Magufuli’s dismissal of Assad as CAG ‘unconstitutional’
The High Court on Monday ruled that the removal from office of Prof Mussa Assad as the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) was “unconstitutional.”
Prof Assad was unceremoniously removed from office as the CAG on November 3, 2019, following the appointment of Mr Charles Kichere, the current CAG, by the late president John Magufuli.
Assad’s fall from grace came against the backdrop of his findings that there was a mismatch between the collected revenue of Sh25.3 trillion and the Sh23.8 trillion released by the treasury for government expenditure, leading people to question the whereabouts of the remaining Sh1.5 trillion.
Prof Assad highlighted this in March 2018, when presenting his annual audit report for the 2016/2017 financial year.
Following much discussion around the “missing” Sh1.5 trillion, President Magufuli, during a State House function attended by Prof Assad, asked him if he had found any money that has been stolen to which Assad responded no.
But in November 2019, President Magufuli appointed Mr Kichere as the new CAG, in what many interpreted as an unconstitutional attempt to get rid of Prof Assad.
One of these people was the current leader of the opposition party ACT-Wazalendo Mr Zitto Kabwe who went as far as filing a lawsuit in January 2020 at the High Court challenging the manner in which Mr Kichere’s appointment was made.
In his submission, Mr Kabwe argued that Prof Assad’s removal from office under the pretext of the expiration of his tenure is unconstitutional as he had not reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 years as required by Section 6(2)(a) of the Public Audit Act in line with Article 144(1) of the constitution.
Full story here.
Black Rock advances power talks in Tanzania
Australian mining company Black Rock Mining has inked a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to secure grid power for the Mahenge graphite project, in Tanzania.
Per reports by mining website mining.com, Black Rock announced on Monday that the MoU with Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) to collaborate on the construction of a 229 kV transmission line to the Mahenge project, as well as local towns.
Black Rock CEO John de Vries told shareholders that grid power will provide Mahenge with a significant multiplier effect through low-cost sustainable power which should lock in the project’s position in the lowest quartile of the cost curve, low carbon which will differentiate Mahenge’s product in key consumer markets, and the provision of reliable power for the Ulanga and Mahenge areas, driving the win-win relationship developed under the government Framework Agreement and ratified by the Special Mining Licence.
“This MoU follows recent stakeholder discussions and presentations in Tanzania as part of a whole government workshop forum which focused on collaboration to achieve key outcomes for the Mahenge graphite mine operation,” said De Vries.
“Critically, as we navigate the debt and equity finance process, investors should look at this outcome and gain confidence that Black Rock and Faru are focused on our long-term plan to deliver a world-class, sustainable and responsible graphite project at Mahenge,” he added.
Samia cancels independence day celebration
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday cancelled celebrations to mark Tanzania’s 61 Independence Day on December 9, directing the funds earmarked for the event to be used to construct school dormitories for kids with special needs.
Minister of State Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs) Mr George Simbachawene said in a statement on Monday that the 960 million budget should be used to construct dormitories for eight primary schools in Tanzania.
This is not the first time the Head of State cancels Independence Day celebrations. The first time was in 2015 when the late President John Magufuli directed the funds budgeted for the 54th anniversary to be used to improve sanitation.
“The 61st anniversary will be celebrated through debates and conferences held in all the districts in the country,” Mr Simbachawene said.
“The debates and conferences will be preceded by various schedules for regional and district leaders to carry out social activities in different areas including cleaning hospitals, schools, elderly homes and groups with special needs. Therefore, this year’s celebrations will not have parades and other National activities,” he added.
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One Response
Good but not enough
We would like to see President issuing order to cut back on numerous state expenditures like buying of luxury cars with long motorcades, occupying two houses and offices in Dodoma and Dar es Salaam and useless traveling in first class etc etc