Magufuli fires two over Kagera quake scam

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has revoked the appointment of Kagera Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Mr Amantius Msole and Bukoba Municipal Council Director, Mr Steven Makonda, over fraud.

The two were fired today after it was found out that they had opened a bank account using a similar name with an official account used to collect donations for supporting the victims of Kagera earthquake as a way to earn money fraudulently.

Meanwhile, the Prime Ministerl, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, has suspended Kagera Regional Chief Accountant, Simbaufoo Swai, over his involvement in the plot. The region’s authorities opened the account going by the name of ‘Kamati Maafa Kagera’ following the tremor, which hit the region, killing 19 people and damaging properties, including houses, rendering thousands of residents homeless.

The revocation and suspension have come a few days after both the president and the prime minister had warned government leaders, officials and others who would abuse the donations or use the disaster to con people.

In his statement, Mr Majaliwa said apart from revoking their appointments, the president directed security organs to take action against all those involved in the plot. He noted this when issuing a statement after receiving a cheque of 545m/- as donation from the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi.

The cheque was handed over to President Magufuli at the State House in Dar es Salaam by the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Sandeep Arya. Dr Magufuli then gave the cheque to Premier Majaliwa.

However, Mr Majaliwa called on individuals and various institutions to continue donating for the affected people using the official account announced by the government.

Reading Mr Modi’s letter to President Magufuli, Ambassador Arya said the government and people of India received the news of the Kagera tremor with sadness. “We are praying for peace and calm for the affected families.

We are assuring them of our support during this difficult time,” he added. President Magufuli thanked Mr Modi and the Government of India for donation and condolences. The funds donated are expected to bring back to normal the social and economic structures in the region.

Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC), Major General (Retired) Mustafa Kijuu, said recently that more than 5bn/- is needed to repair over 5,000 houses, which were badly damaged by the earthquake in Bukoba Municipality and its environs.