Zitto: Why I won’t name names

Moshi. Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe said yesterday that he could not name the culprits in the Swiss billions scandal before it was ascertained whether or not they acquired the money legally.

He spoke a few days after Attorney General Frederick Werema told Parliament that the government was considering taking the Chadema MP to court for misleading the House committee that was appointed to investigate the matter.

“As of now, I am not ready to reveal the names because I might provoke the public to jump conclusion without following the due process of our legal system,’’ he said, and accused the attorney general of misleading Parliament.

“I want to insist that I met that committee four times and I even gave them the name of an international investigator who could help them to get the truth. I’m surprised to hear that I did not cooperate,’’ said Mr Kabwe.

He added that the international investigator was capable of establishing the exact amount of money hidden abroad and its legality.

The legislator said he first would have to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the money was acquired illegally before handing over any names.

He accused the AG of failing to act after he handed over to his office details of tens of billions of shillings from the controversial Meremeta gold project that were deposited in a bank account in Tanzania.

“I know people will not be surprised; names have been handed over in various scandals, but no action has been taken. I know that even if I were to hand over some names today, no action will be taken.”

He said stashing tax payers’ money outside the country was a big issue, adding that it was a “national disaster”.

Giving an example, Mr Kabwe said in 2010 and 2011 alone about Sh2.1 trillion and Sh1.3 trillion, respectively, were hidden offshore.

According to Mr Kabwe, Sh7.3 trillion was stashed away outside the country in ten years.

“I am just setting the ball rolling, and Tanzanians should understand that in this war I don’t have enough powers unless I am backed by all MPs, the government and members of the public,’’ he said. He further attacked the AG saying that his record indicated that in his tenure, legislators have been rejecting to pass various bills and other bills have been repeatedly brought back in Parliament for debate and adoption.