President John Magufuru attacks Judiciary over anti- graft war
President John Magufuli yesterday launched a scathing attack
on the Judiciary over its
President John Magufuli
Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli
yesterday launched a scathing attack on
the Judiciary over its performance.
The Head of State said he was not
interfering with the independence of the
Judiciary, adding that he was speaking
out against laziness, bureaucracy and
corruption, which denied ordinary
Tanzanians their basic rights.
President Magufuli was speaking in Dar
es Salaam at an official function to mark
Law Day.
He said he would not remain silent and
look on as corrupt people purged from
his government used the courts as a
backdoor to freedom.
“I have decided that this country will
move ahead, and it will move ahead. The
measures I’m taking are aimed at saving
this country. I’m not a mad man or a
dictator...there are bizarre things going
on in the government which I cannot
tolerate…I must take action.” Dr
Magufuli said amid hushed silence.
The President had abandoned his
prepared speech and spoke off the cuff,
saying he wanted to speak out his mind
and call a spade a spade.
He accused the Judiciary of not being
supportive in the war against
corruption, adding that many people
facing serious corruption charges walked
free because of poor investigations and
mishandling of cases.
“I’m worried that even the people I’m
firing because of corruption will easily
secure freedom despite watertight
evidence against them,” he told judges,
magistrates, advocates and other guests,
who included Kenya’s Chief Justice, Dr
Willy Mutunga.
President Magufuli said corruption was
impeding development, adding that the
only way out was to deal with corrupt
individuals firmly and in accordance
with the law.
Dr Magufuli directed Chief Justice
Mohammed Chande Othman to take
stern action against underperforming
judges and magistrates, saying it was
time everybody performed competently
and effectively.
He also directed Mr Justice Othman to
forward to him the names of judges and
magistrates with exemplary records so
that they could be rewarded for their
service.
The Head of State said he respected the
Judiciary, but added that it was his duty
to point out hurdles that were hampering
the fight against corruption in the
country.
He said Tanzania has remained poor
with the vast majority of its people living
in grinding poverty because of a few
corrupt individuals.
The President, who was addressing the
Judiciary for the first time since he was
sworn in, also voiced his concern about
delayed cases.
He said delays had turned the courts into
an escape route for corrupt individuals
who rush to court to block any action
against them.
President Magufuli said he was not
happy with the way the courts were
handling over 400 tax evasion cases that
were currently pending. “The cases
involve evaded tax to the tune of Sh1
trillion...this is what the country has
lost,” the President said.
He said cases were being deliberately
delayed and that some people involved
in serious corruption scandals were
walking free.
“There is a case involving people who
were caught red-handed with
government trophies in 2010, but
investigations are still going on. I
wonder what they are trying to find
out,” he said.
Dr Magufuli vowed not to relent in his
crusade against corruption.
“I have volunteered to selflessly serve
this country, and I will ensure that I use
my time in this world to serve poor
Tanzanians so that even if I die today,
they can rest assured that I served them
with all my heart.”
The President added that the government
would increase funding for the Judiciary
to enable it to operate smoothly, and
promised that the Treasury would
release Sh5 billion in the next five days.
He said he hoped that the funds would
help the Judiciary to clear the backlog of
corruption cases.
President Magufuli also said judiciary
officials who wanted to undertake
further studies should seek loans from
the Higher Education Students’ Loans
Board (HESLB), adding that such studies
should not be paid for by the Judiciary
as is currently the norm.
On the directive that hundreds of billions
of shillings in public funds deposited in
commercial banks be transferred to the
Bank of Tanzania, the President said the
move was aimed at preventing public
officials from manipulating the money
in collusion with banks.
“Right now commercial banks are
holding up to Sh1.2 trillion in public
funds, which must be accounted for,” he
said.
In his remarks earlier, Mr Justice
Othman said the Judiciary was
grappling with many challenges.
“We have had to close primary courts in
a number of areas because there is no
money to run them,” he said.
Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) president
Charles Rwechungura said the law that
established the association was outdated
and does not empower TLS to discipline
its members whenever they go against
their work ethics.
He added that delayed cases were giving
the Judiciary a bad name.
“Ordinary Tanzanians have been
complaining about delayed cases for a
long time,” Mr Rwechungura said.
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