Tanzania: Village Leader to face court marshal
Bukoba — THE Village Executive Officer (VEO)
for Buyaga Village in Buhangaza Ward, Muleba District has been suspended
and is under arrest for allegedly misappropriating more than 7m/-.
The money had been earmarked for construction of a dispensary in the village. The Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Fabian Massawe, named the VEO as Bonet Damian.
"The man is under arrest and has been suspended to allow thorough investigation to take place," he said. A contractor identified as Mawazo Maduhu of Maheri Construction Company, is also helping the police officers in the investigation, he said.
Mr Masawe said that construction of the dispensary was estimated to cost more than 30m/-. He also said that Muleba District Council had contributed 25m/- for the project while the wananchi had contributed materials worth 7.6m/-.
The money vanished disappeared in dubious circumstances, a situation that stalled the project. He further said that he had appointed a probe team comprising experts from the regional office to investigate the matter. He added that the two suspects would be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.
Mr Massawe told the 'Daily News' in an interview on Wednesday at his office that he had directed District Commissioners in Misenyi, Biharamulo, Bukoba, Ngara, Muleba, Karagwe and Kyerwa districts to ensure that each village built a dispensary.
The directive is in line with national policies and the requirements of the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto. He also directed them to ensure that people at the grassroots were involved in implementing the projects. "Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) and Village Executive Officers (VEOs) who misappropriate the funds should be prosecuted," he said.
Mr Massawe gave the directive on May 25, this year, in the wake of an outbreak of Malaria in 29 villages in Muleba District. Several children died from the disease while hundreds were admitted to Rubya, Ndolage and Kagondo hospitals.
He denied allegations that the 29 villages were not covered under the Indoor Spraying Programme. "The truth is that the villages were sprayed for five consecutive years between 2007 and last year."
He also denied allegations that the outbreak was caused by acute shortage of requisite medical drugs, a situation that afflicts several regions. "We have a supply of ALU drugs that will last 280 days. We also have supplies of Quinine that will last 30 days at Rubya Hospital where an outbreak of Malaria has been reported," he said.
He said that urgent steps were being taken to arrest the situation, including Malaria Rapid Diagnosis Testing (MRDT) and data collection.
"A team of medical experts from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, AMREF, Epidemiologists and Tibu Homa Project are in Muleba District to assess the scale of the problem and provide intervention," he said.
Muleba District Commissioner (DC) Lembris Kipuyo, said that a total of 29 villages were identified recently to have high number of Malaria cases in Muleba District. They include Kamishango, Kasharunga, Ikondo, Kihwera, Itongo, Kyanshenge, Ruteme, Kibanga, Kisana and Buyaga.
Others are Kabirizi, Muzinga, Mushabago, Kasindaga, Kabutaigi, Kihumulo, Buhuma, Biija, Kishoju, Mubunda, Kishanda, Rushwa, Bihanga, Kagasha, Buhangaza, Kabulala, Biirabo and Mulela.
The money had been earmarked for construction of a dispensary in the village. The Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Fabian Massawe, named the VEO as Bonet Damian.
"The man is under arrest and has been suspended to allow thorough investigation to take place," he said. A contractor identified as Mawazo Maduhu of Maheri Construction Company, is also helping the police officers in the investigation, he said.
Mr Masawe said that construction of the dispensary was estimated to cost more than 30m/-. He also said that Muleba District Council had contributed 25m/- for the project while the wananchi had contributed materials worth 7.6m/-.
The money vanished disappeared in dubious circumstances, a situation that stalled the project. He further said that he had appointed a probe team comprising experts from the regional office to investigate the matter. He added that the two suspects would be arraigned in court upon completion of investigations.
Mr Massawe told the 'Daily News' in an interview on Wednesday at his office that he had directed District Commissioners in Misenyi, Biharamulo, Bukoba, Ngara, Muleba, Karagwe and Kyerwa districts to ensure that each village built a dispensary.
The directive is in line with national policies and the requirements of the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Manifesto. He also directed them to ensure that people at the grassroots were involved in implementing the projects. "Ward Executive Officers (WEOs) and Village Executive Officers (VEOs) who misappropriate the funds should be prosecuted," he said.
Mr Massawe gave the directive on May 25, this year, in the wake of an outbreak of Malaria in 29 villages in Muleba District. Several children died from the disease while hundreds were admitted to Rubya, Ndolage and Kagondo hospitals.
He denied allegations that the 29 villages were not covered under the Indoor Spraying Programme. "The truth is that the villages were sprayed for five consecutive years between 2007 and last year."
He also denied allegations that the outbreak was caused by acute shortage of requisite medical drugs, a situation that afflicts several regions. "We have a supply of ALU drugs that will last 280 days. We also have supplies of Quinine that will last 30 days at Rubya Hospital where an outbreak of Malaria has been reported," he said.
He said that urgent steps were being taken to arrest the situation, including Malaria Rapid Diagnosis Testing (MRDT) and data collection.
"A team of medical experts from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, AMREF, Epidemiologists and Tibu Homa Project are in Muleba District to assess the scale of the problem and provide intervention," he said.
Muleba District Commissioner (DC) Lembris Kipuyo, said that a total of 29 villages were identified recently to have high number of Malaria cases in Muleba District. They include Kamishango, Kasharunga, Ikondo, Kihwera, Itongo, Kyanshenge, Ruteme, Kibanga, Kisana and Buyaga.
Others are Kabirizi, Muzinga, Mushabago, Kasindaga, Kabutaigi, Kihumulo, Buhuma, Biija, Kishoju, Mubunda, Kishanda, Rushwa, Bihanga, Kagasha, Buhangaza, Kabulala, Biirabo and Mulela.
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