President Suluhu suspends Tanzania Ports Authority boss over fraud claims

Dar es Salaam,

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has suspended Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director-General Deusdedit Kakoko over allegations of massive embezzlement at the institution.

This came after the TPA was adversely mentioned in the report of the Controller and Auditor-General (CAG) for financial year 2019/20, which the Tanzanian President received at State House in Dodoma on Sunday.

While noting that she had seen massive embezzlement at TPA, President Suluhu ordered the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to urgently look into the claims.

She said some actions were earlier taken after Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa formed a committee to probe the claims of embezzlement at the TPA.

“But from the report that you submitted to me yesterday, at least Sh3.6 billion has been embezzled at TPA. When the Prime Minister conducted a probe, we only managed to fire junior staff. I now order the suspension of the TPA director-general to pave way for investigations into the embezzlement,” she said.

Others suspended

In December last year, Mr Majaliwa suspended two TPA officials - Finance Director Nuru Mhando and Financial Expenditures Manager Witness Mahela - to allow investigations into claims of embezzlement of public funds.

He said one of TPA’s unsatisfactory practices, that deprives the government of revenue, was the tax exemption of more than Sh2 billion granted to Mbeya Cement, despite a rejection of the approval by the Special Committee.

The meeting – held at the TPA offices – was also attended by Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Robert Boaz and PCCB Director-General John Mbungo.

Mr Majaliwa said it was unusual that TPA approved a payment of Sh8.2 billion to Kigoma Port as the limit was Sh7.4 billion.

Past sackings

Mr Kakoko was confirmed as TPA director-general in October 2018 after holding the position in acting capacity for a long time.

He replaced Awadhi Massawe, who was fired alongside the then permanent secretary in the Transport ministry, Shaaban Mwinjaka.

Former President John Magufuli fired the permanent secretary following the disappearance of over 2,700 shipping containers at the port.

On Sunday, President Suluhu said stern action will be taken against heads of other public entities adversely mentioned in the CAG’s report, including Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL).