Hon. Membe meets Development Partners in Dar es salaam

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) during official talks with the Finish Ambassador to Tanzania, Hon. Sinikka Antila who led the discussions with development partners on  different issues of cooperation. 

H.E. Antila emphasizing a point during the discussions between Development Partners with Hon. Membe

Above and bellow: A cross section of Ambassadors during the official talks between Hon. Membe and Development Partners

Another section of Ambassadors and Representatives during the discussion

Discussion continues.

Other officers.

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 PRESS RELEASE

The Government of Tanzania has assured Development Partners that it will not hesitate to take actions against those in government who would be found guilty by the Ethics Secretariat in the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) and the Tegeta Escrow Account scandal.

This was said by Hon. Bernard Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation during the discussions with Development Partners led by Finish Ambassador to Tanzania who visited his office today to discuss issues of cooperation.

“As you had all witnessed, the debate in the parliament was centered around three issues; due diligence of Pan Africa Power (PAP); Capacity charges and whether the funds were public; and lastly ethics of Civil Servants and Political Leaders who received funds from the account” said Membe.

He explained that it is through the third ethical issue that the Government's Ethics Secretariat has now began the investigation on who in public service has crossed the ethical line in the scandal and be dealt with in accordance to the secretariat’s standard procedures.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, H.E. Sinikka Antila, Finish Ambassador to Tanzania commended the Minister’s efforts in providing them with timely information regarding actions that are being considered by the government on the IPTL issue. She said the Diplomatic Community was impressed with the way the discussions were conducted in the parliament and the report that was put forth for Government’s consideration.

“It is not just the General Budget Support funds that you our Development Partners are withholding that is at stake, the credibility of our government is also at stake, my President will not hesitate to take swift action to all that will be found guilty” the Minister said.

The delegation that was invited by Minister Membe forms a part of Development Partners who withheld their contribution worth over 80% to the government budget pending the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reports on IPTL scandal.

The delegation comprised representatives from the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, Norway, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan, Denmark and Germany.

Issued by: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dar es Salaam. 

08^th December, 2014