He said the report will help the Ethics Commission to decide and advise President Jakaya Kikwete on what to do next, adding that its examination won’t take too long to be issued in public.
He said this in Dar es Salaam soon after President Kikwete had sworn in 13 High Court judges and a Court of Appeal judge in a ceremony held at the State House grounds.
“According to law, only the president can terminate a judge if he is found to have been involved in a corrupt practice or any serious crime since he is the one who appoints them,” he said.
Last year Justices Aloysius Mujuluzi and Prof Eudes Ruhangiza were accused of involvement in the Tegeta Escrow scam, and the National Assembly advised the appointing authority to take disciplinary actions against them.
It was alleged that Justice Mujuluzi received 40.4m/- while Prof John Luhangisa was given 400.25m/- from the controversial account formed to collect money accruing from a pending case between the state power utility, Tanesco and a power production firm, Independent Power Tanzania Limited.
The Judges who are being investigated are alleged to have received the monies from James Rugemalira, a private consultant and director of VIP Engineering and Marketing, who was also a director in IPTL.
Earlier speaking on the judge swearing in event, Chief Justice Mohamed Othman Chande said the addition of 14 judges makes the total to 100 in all the zones in the country, adding that this will assist in speeding up the presiding of cases.
On average per year, he said, a judge needs is required to hear 220 cases.
However due to the shortage of judges, in some of the zones, for example Mwanza, some were compelled to preside up to 600 cases per year.
“Some of the cases delay because you may find a judge has a number of cases than he can handle. But with the addition of the fourteen judges, I believe the cases will be handled quickly and fairly,” he said.
A new judge, Ignas Kitusi, said in order to increase efficiency in the courts “we must promote transparency when hearing cases and ensure there is close collaboration by the judges.”
“I have been working in the courts for a number of years. I know what Tanzanians want. So through this experience I will make sure fairness is observed and hearing of the cases is speeded up,” he said.
Last year the power production scandal that drew much attention in the country saw Energy and Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo stepping down as other three high ranking government officials also quit their positions over the scandal.
Specifically, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) and Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) jointly owned the account following a tussle over capacity charges between the two in local and international courts.
The other officials were former Attorney General Fredrick Werema who resigned together with Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka, who allegedly received 1.6bn/-, while Energy and Minerals permanent secretary Eliakim Maswi was suspended since December last year pending investigations on his role in the matter.
As part of implementing the National Assembly resolution on the Tegeta Escrow account scam, President Jakaya Kikwete had fired Prof Anna Tibaijuka.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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