This way Africa can root out corruption

WHEN one mentions Tanzania, thoughts jump onto famous and big cities like Dar es Salaam, Arusha and even Mwanza.

But the unknown city of Mbeya on the border between Tanzania and Zambia has done something that has never been done anywhere in Africa.

Normally business people are taken as shrewd, money hungry, and above all, they’re linked with corruption in high places almost everywhere on earth.

What happened in Mbeya, however, negates this belief. There are still some upright and probable ones among us. Who could think that Tembo Cement Factory of Mbeya would boycott Kiwira coal mine products protesting corruption allegations behind the taking of Kiwira factory by the former ruler of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, his family and friends.

This seriously happened. Impeccable sources have it that after Tembo Cement found that the government in Tanzania is dragging its feet in dealing with Mkapa’s illegal taking and ownership of Kiwira, decided to boycott purchasing and consuming coal from Kiwira.

A local Kiswahili daily reported on May 5 that Mbeya-based Tembo Cement had suspended consuming coal produced by Kiwira coal mine owned by Tanpower Resources Ltd that is alleged to be owned by the former president, his family and a friend, Daniel Yona. The paper said over 4,000 tonnes of coal are still in the premises of the firm, thanks to this bold step.

"We believe the citizenry is supposed to benefit from privatization. But when we hear former rulers being mentioned to be behind buying the controversial Kiwira, we are afraid to be seen as supporting corruption against tax payers." One of the tops of the mine who preferred anonymity was quoted as saying.

This bold step cannot go without being commended. If this is serious and true, Tembo Cement has set a precedent by which to foil corrupt rulers. Africa has suffered immensely under rat-like regimes whose rulers steal from public and stash money abroad.

Try to imagine how much money has Africa lost since independence, thanks to corrupt rulers-cum-looters and their families and friends.

Try to imagine how much DRC’s tyrant Mobutu Seseseko, Nigeria tin-pot dictator, Sani Abacha, Equatorial Guinea’s Theodoro Obiang Nguema and others stole and stashed abroad

Given that dubious investments owned by the families of these thieves are known, suppose all business communities in Africa take such stern stand against doing business with these families.

Though Africa is said to languish behind in development, corruption is the cause number one of all miseries Africa is facing. Notwithstanding, there have been some improvements in disclosing hidden accounts abroad, Africa needs to ask the international community to categorize theft by the rulers as the crime against humanity. For?it is causing a lot of miseries to Africans.

Going back to Mkapa who was the darling of investors and donors, he’s stolen the show for accumulating mammoth wealth from the public. He and his family members and friends illegally bought Kiwira coal mine for mere 700m/- instead of its actual value of 4bn/- (and this is the value of 1980 when the project was constructed by Chinese.)

He stepped down after ruling Tanzania for two five-year terms. Tanzanians are still agitating that Mkapa be brought to books. Observers say this is the matter of time. Mkapa’s days are numbered and the winds are blowing against him due to what happened in Tanzania recently. Four senior cabinet ministers, including former prime minister, succumbed before people’s noises against corruption.

Should all consumers dealing with Kiwira coal mine take such a bold step, our fight against corruption can pay dividends quickly and sooner. This new approach indeed will help Africa to do away with corruption as African governments seem to shy away from taking measures against the villains.

Source: Thisday