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| Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Sefue. |
Former Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo and his PS, Mr Eliakim Maswi, were cleared by the Ethics Secretariat and the Preliminary Probe Committee of Disciplinary Authority in the Tegeta Escrow account saga formed by the Chief Secretary (CS).
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Chief Secretary Ambassador Ombeni Sefue while issuing a report on 'Operation Tokomeza,' said that former ministers Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs), Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki (Natural Resources and Tourism), Dr Mathayo David Mathayo (Livestock Development) and Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and National Service) were not involved in one way or another in the operation.
"The stepping down of these ministers was purely on political grounds and there will not be other actions taken against them," Amb. Sefue said.
Giving the findings of the probe commission that was formed on May 1, 2014 following systematic abuse of human rights during 'Operation Tokomeza,' the CS said that it found incidents of breaking of the law, regulations, procedure and terms of reference.
He said that the commission found that breaking of the law affected people including causing deaths, bodily harm, among others and that of the 15 deaths that were probed, it was satisfied with nine deaths that were caused by torture.
"Prior to their deaths, these people were under arrest and there is evidence from medical reports, circumstantial evidence and eyewitness accounts that prove this.
The commission failed to substantiate the deaths of six people to have been directly connected to the operation," the report read in part.
Other findings include evidence of physical abuse where people complained to the commission that they were tortured to reveal where they were hiding weapons or trophies, to admit to being poachers and to name their accomplices.
Others are complaints of theft during the operation and that the commission investigated 23 cases and found that the operators didn't abide by the law, regulations and procedure of apprehending, questioning and searching houses of the people.
Amb. Sefue said that the Commission also investigated allegations of rapes during the one month long 'Operation Tokomeza' at Iputi village, Ulanga District in Morogoro Region, Mwantimba village in Bariadi District, Simiyu Region and Sikonge District.
He, however, said that all those who had complained of being raped never appeared before the commission to provide evidence and was therefore unable to substantiate the truth.
Amb. Sefue said that after receiving recommendations from the commission, the government intends to prosecute all those implicated in the killings and complete investigations of another eight, take legal and administrative action on the 15 guilty of torture, while the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) will deal with the corruption issues.
Other actions include returning confiscated weapons that are registered after verification and thorough inspection have been undertaken, the verification of villages that have been registered and are within gazetted areas as well as the reviewing of all laws that govern gazetted areas and increase penalties for bringing livestock into gazetted areas without regard to origin or nationality.
Highlighting more on Mr Maswi, Amb. Sefue said that the Preliminary Probe Committee of Disciplinary Authority found that he didn't commit or wasn't involved in anything indicating criminal action or violating public service ethics.
"Documented evidence that was presented to the probe committee was satisfactory to prove that Mr Maswi performed his duty at the best of his ability in communicating with other authorities and at different intervals in order to ensure and satisfy himself that the closure of the Tegeta Escrow account was done right," he cited.
The CS said that the probe committee also found that Mr Maswi wasn't among those alleged to have benefitted from closure of the Tegeta Escrow account and that his employment is now at the discretion of President Jakaya Kikwete.
Daily News
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