Ikulu yamuonya Reginald Mengi
*Yamtaka aheshimu vyombo vya dola
*Yasema athibitishe tuhuma alizotoa
*Yakanusha taasisi zake kumuandama
*Jeshi la Polisi latamka kumchunguza
Na Waandishi Wetu
SIKU moja baada ya mfanyabiashara maarufu hapa nchini, Reginald Mengi, kutoa madai mazito ya kuandamwa na baadhi ya viongozi wa serikali na taasisi za dola, Ofisi ya Rais Ikulu, imetoa tamko la kumuonya, ikimtaka aviheshimu vyombo vya dola.
Imesema Mengi anapaswa kutoa ushirikiano kwa vyombo vya dola ili viweze kufanyia kazi tuhuma za ufisadi alizozitoa katika vyombo vya habari dhidi ya wafanyabiashara watano kati ya kumi aliodai kuwa ni mapapa wa ufisadi hapa nchini.
Aidha, Ikulu imekanusha madai ya Mengi kuandamwa na baadhi ya viongozi wa kiserikali pamoja na taasisi zake, na kueleza kuwa, anapaswa kutoa ushahidi na vielelezo vya tuhuma alizozitoa dhidi ya wenzake, ili ziweze kufanyiwa kazi.
Msimamo huo wa Ikulu dhidi ya kauli za Mengi, ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti Mtendaji wa Makampuni ya IPP, ulitolewa jana na Mwandishi wa Habari wa Rais Msaidizi, Premi Kibanga, katika mahojiano maalumu na Tanzania Daima Jumatano kupitia simu yake ya kiganjani.
“Mengi anavyosema ameandamwa sasa, ameandamwa vipi? Alitoa sijui tuseme ndiyo kashfa au tuhuma za ufisadi, kwa hiyo ulikuwa ni wajibu wa vyombo vinavyohusika kumwita ili atoe ushahidi na vielelezo vyake ili viweze kufanyiwa kazi.
“Hakuitwa yeye tu, ameitwa pia Rostam Aziz, katika idara zote hizo. Hawa wote walitoleana kashfa za ufisadi na wote waliitwa ili watoe ushahidi wao. Sasa kwanini Mengi anasema ameandamwa?” alihoji Kibanga.
Akizungumzia kauli ya Mengi kuwa anamtegemea Rais Kikwete kumnusuru, Kibanga alisema kama anadai hivyo basi anao wajibu wa kumsaidia katika vita ya ufisadi.
Alisema anapaswa kutumia nafasi hiyo si tu kwa kuwataja mafisadi, bali pia kwa kutoa ushirikiano kwa vyombo vyote vya dola vilivyo chini ya Rais Kikwete, ili viweze kuufanyia kazi ushahidi wake na kuchukua hatua zinazostahili dhidi ya wahusika, ikiwa watathibitika kufanya ufisadi.
‘‘Vyombo vya dola havimwandami mtu. Na anaposema rais atamlinda, ni vema akaelewa kuwa Rais Kikwete ni rais wa wananchi wote. Rais Kikwete halindi mtu mmoja mmoja, analinda Watanzania wote.
‘‘Kama yeye ni rafiki wa Kikwete, basi autumie urafiki huo vizuri kama anavyofanya katika vita ya ufisadi. Lakini sasa asiishie tu katika kuwataja mafisadi, maana sasa kila mtu tu akitaja fulani fisadi kutakuwa na utulivu kweli? Yeye aviheshimu vyombo vya dola na amsaidie rafiki yake (Kikwete), kwa kuvipa ushirikiano vyombo hivyo,” alisisitiza Kibanga.
Naye Mkurugenzi wa Makosa ya Jinai nchini (DCI), Robert Manumba, alipohojiwa na gazeti hili kupitia simu yake ya kiganjani kuhusu madai ya Mengi kuandamwa na taasisi za dola, likiwamo Jeshi la Polisi, alisema anachojua ni kwamba, polisi wanamchunguza Mengi, lakini hawamuandami.
Manumba alikataa kuzungumzia suala hilo kwa undani, kwa maelezo kuwa msemaji wa jeshi hilo kuhusu suala hilo ni mkuu wa jeshi hilo, Inspekta Jenerali Said Mwema.
Gazeti hili lilipomtafuta Mwema kupitia simu yake ya kiganjani, ilipokelewa na msadizi wake ambaye alikataa kutaja jina lake na kueleza kuwa yupo katika kikao.
Hata hivyo, alipoulizwa kama anaweza kuzungumza lolote kuhusu madai yaliyoelekezwa kwa jeshi hilo na Mengi, alisema si madai ya kweli, kwa sababu jeshi hilo halina kawaida ya kufanya kazi zake kwa kumwandama mtu.
‘‘Hakuna chombo cha dola kinachomwandama mtu. Jeshi la Polisi linafanya kazi zake kwa mujibu wa sheria, kanuni na maadili yanayoliongoza, lakini kama unataka kupata taarifa zaidi kuhusu kinachofanyika kwa sasa, wasiliana na Kamishina wa Utawala na Rasilimali Watu, CP Clodwig Mtweve.
Kamishina huyo alipotafutwa, hakuweza kupatikana na simu yake ya kiganjani ilikuwa haipatikani.
Jumapili iliyopita, wakati Mengi akizungumza katika ibada iliyofanyika kwenye Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri la Kisereny wilayani Hai, mkoani Kilimanjaro, alisema baada ya kutaja majina ya mafisadi papa, alianza kuandamwa na baadhi ya mawaziri, vyombo vya dola na taasisi za serikali.
Huku akishangiliwa na umati wa waumini wa kanisa hilo lililopo katika eneo la kijiji alichozaliwa, Mengi alimtaja waziri wa kwanza kumwandama kuwa ni Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Rais (Utawala Bora), Sophia Simba.Mbele ya Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Hai, Dk. Norman Sigalla na Mbunge wa Hai, Fuya Kimbita (CCM).
Mengi alimtaja waziri mwingine aliyemwandama baada ya kutaja mafisadi papa kuwa ni Waziri wa Habari, Utamaduni na Michezo, George Mkuchika, aliyesema alimwita mbaguzi wa rangi.
Alisema mbali ya mawaziri hao kutoa kauli hizo, pia wahariri wa magazeti yake anayoyamiliki, walihojiwa na Msajili wa Magazeti wa Idara ya Habari.
Huku waumini wa kanisa hilo wakiwa kimya, Mengi alisema yeye mwenyewe pia aliitwa na kuhojiwa na Mamlaka ya Mawasiliano Tanzania (TCRA), ikidai alivunja sheria ya utangazaji kwa kutaja majina ya watu kuwa ni mafisadi papa, na kwamba hatua hiyo iliashiria ubaguzi wa rangi.
Mengi ambaye alikuwa mgeni mwalikwa kwenye hafla hiyo, alivitaja vyombo vingine vya dola vilivyomwandama kuwa ni pamoja na Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru), ikimtaka apeleke vielelezo.
Pia alisema aliitwa na maofisa wa Jeshi la Polisi, linaloongozwa na IGP, Said Mwema, chini ya Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani, inayoongozwa na Laurence Masha, wakimtaka apeleke vielelezo vya tuhuma zake.
“Nimeitwa na Kamati Ndogo ya Ulinzi na Usalama wa Taifa ili kuhojiwa juu ya tamko langu kuhusu ufisadi. Yote haya yamefanyika pamoja na kwamba kuna kesi mahakamani juu ya jambo hili.
“Tukumbuke kwamba Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda, alikwishatoa tamko bungeni kuwa wote waliotajwa, kama wanaona hawakutendewa haki, waende mahakamani. Sasa ni nani ana tamko la mwisho katika hili? Ni mawaziri, taasisi za serikali, vyombo vya dola ama Waziri Mkuu?
“Kama raia wa Tanzania, vyombo vya dola ni moja ya mategemeo yangu ya kunilinda mimi na mali zangu, kama raia wengine, lakini pamoja na kusakamwa na vyombo hivyo, nasema siogopi. Ulinzi wangu unatoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu, pili utatoka kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete, ambaye naamini hatakubali kuona sitendewi haki, na tatu ulinzi wangu utatoka kwa Watanzania wanaochukia ufisadi, hasa masikini na wanyonge.
“Hawa hawana fedha nyingi, ama madaraka, lakini wana nguvu ya sala na umoja bila kujali dini zao,” alisema Mengi na kushangiliwa na waamini wa kanisa hilo.
Alisisitiza kuwa, hatarudi nyuma katika msimamo wake wa kupiga vita ufisadi, kwani anaamini rushwa ikiachwa bila kukemewa, wananchi watagawanyika katika makundi mawili; la watu wenye kipato na madaraka na la watu masikini.
“Watanzania wenzangu wanaochukia umaskini, wanaochukia ufisadi, ndugu zangu waumini, nawaomba mniombee na tuimbe wimbo namba 59 katika kitabu cha ‘Mwimbieni Bwana’, usemao ‘Kazi ni yako Bwana’,” alisema.
Hatua ya Mengi kutoboa siri ya kusakamwa kwake mara baada ya kutaja majina ya aliowaita mafisadi papa, ilitokana na mahubiri ya Mhashamu Askofu wa Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Dayosisi ya Kaskazini, Dk. Martin Shayo, aliyeunga mkono harakati zake katika vita dhidi ya ufisadi.
Askofu huyo alimtaka Mengi asikatishwe tamaa na wajanja wachache, ambao wamekusudia kurejesha nyuma juhudi za kujiletea maendeleo.
“Taifa letu limegubikwa na mafisadi wachache, wapo Watanzania wenzetu kama Mengi, wamekuwa mstari wa mbele kupinga vitendo vya kifisadi, lakini wanakwamishwa na baadhi ya viongozi walioko madarakani, tukemee kwa pamoja.
“Mwaka huu na mwaka ujao, ni vipindi vya uchaguzi mbalimbali, kuna watu wamejaa choyo, wivu, chuki na ubinafsi miongoni mwetu, hakika watu hao ni wabaya kwa maendeleo ya taifa, msiwachague,” alisema.
Alisema, Mengi hataki urais wala hana nia ya kuwania kiti hicho, wala uongozi wa aina yoyote, lakini amejitoa kusaidia wanyonge, na rafiki zake ni masikini, walemavu, wajane, wanaoishi na virusi vya VVU pamoja na wenye matatizo mengine ya kijamii..
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The media has been full of cries of grand corruption by IPP Media owner Reginald Mengi naming five men Mengi accuses as being the most corruptin Tanzania.
ReplyDeleteSome would say, that publishing such allegations without evidence amounts to criminal libel within the penal code of Tanzania.
Reginald Mengi has underscored the need for journalists to abide by professional ethics and respect for truth and privacy. Addressing a news conference in his office in Dar es Salaam on 10th April 2009 Mengi accused newspapers '.........sponsored by corrupt suspects, of relentlessly publishing stories full of mischief and falsehoods...' about him and his family. Given these statements one would expect that Mengi would be particularly mindful of the conduct of IPP Media.
In May 2004, Benjamin Mengi, Reginald Mengi’s brother, assigned the lease to Silverdale & Mbono Farms to British investor Stewart Middleton. In May 2005, Mengi demanded the lease back.
For a background of the 'Silverdale Case'; -
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2008-02-27b.272.0
An objective examination of IPP Media’s ‘investigative’ and ‘accountable’ journalism in respect of the 'Silverdale Case' reveals a worrying story in relation to IPP Media's conduct which shows little or no regard for good journalistic practice
.
On 22nd November 2005, the Guardian and Nipashe newspapers accused Mr. Middleton of issuing a dud cheque to Benjamin Mengi for $7,000 and for forging the lease to Silverdale & Mbono Farms.
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/nipashe/2005/11/22/54489.html
There is no offence of issuing a ‘bogus’ cheque in Tanzania. IPP Media did not report that fact or that the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew all the charges.
On 19th January 2006, the Guardian and Nipashe Newspapers stated that Benjamin Mengi had taken possession of Silverdale & Mbono Farms when he had not.
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2006/01/19/58115.html
The publications did not state that Mr. Mengi’s application to have the investor evicted from the farms was dismissed by the High Court Moshi in 2006. Hon. Kileo. (Land Case 1. 2006).
On 24th May 2006, the Guardian accused Mr. Middleton of preventing a court entourage onto Silverdale Farm.
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2006/05/24/67061.html.
The publication did not state the fact that Mr. Middleton was not present on the farm when the entourage led by Mengi attended
On 20th July 2006, Mr. Middleton was again arrested on allegations brought against him by Mrs. Millie Mengi accused of breaching a civil court order. He was refused bail and imprisoned.
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/nipashe/2006/07/20/70739.html
The Daily News reported on July 26th, 2006, that the High Court in Moshi ordered the immediate release of Mr. Middleton ruling that there was no evidence to support his arrest. IPP Media publications did not report these facts.
On 11th April 2007, the Guardian and Nipashe newspapers reported that Mr. Middleton and his wife had been ordered to pay 90m/-for Libel based on comments accredited to them in the Daily News on June 2006.
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/nipashe/2007/04/11/88175.htm
One would think, that IPP Media would know, that in cases of Libel, only the writer, printer and publisher can be sued and that the judgment was outside of the courts powers. IPP Media did not print this. The publication stated Mr. Middleton had accused Benjamin Mengi of bribery and corruption. In fact, the person accredited with these remarks was Dr. Juma Ngasongwa former minister for Empowerment, Investment & Planning. IPP Media did not state this.
In November 2005, Mengi gave his personal assurance to former British High Commissioner to Tanzania Andrew Pocock that IPP Media would not engage in defamatory practices against the British investors in the 'Silverdale Case'.
The moral of the story is, if you live in a glasshouse, don't throw stones.