Which is which in such confusion?

I received the list the sender called list of ‘Belly of Tembo’ (BoT). It’s tepid and reliable. It consists of the names of the children of bigwigs in Tanzania employed by Bank of Tanzania (BoT).

This damning list surfaced concurrently with the list of shame involving top officials of the current and former regime and EPA and Richmond scams in which billions of schillings were stolen by a group of thieves with connection to the high and mighty.

The first time I received the same, I ignored it. But as the day went by, it kept on surfacing. I thus decided to ask: which is which? Should it be lampooned and ignored and taken as fabrications or real? How will the Wananchi who obviously have read the same reach worthy and judicious verdict without the alleged people being heard? Are they ready to come forth and tell what the truth is?

Looking how truthful the parent list of shame and allegations surrounding Richmond and EPA were after being rebuffed and denied by CCM, and its government, I found it reasonable to jolt something down. This, methinks. Will force those alleged to come clean and shed light on the same shall they be innocent.

By and large, for the good of our country and those alleged, I am writing this article to tax them to come forth and make their case. Nonetheless their names may seem bigger and nobler; nothing is bigger or nobler than the nation.

Shredding this is detrimental for the mentioned people. It may turn those we regarded as mavericks into Machiavelli.

What happened recently that eight employees of BoT among big names of our aficionados extruding to milk our sick she cow like, forced me to re-think my stance about this mini list of shame? The above eighty are allegedly to have obtained and presented forged certificates. This is a crime per se. Due to the constitutional presumption that the accused person remains innocent till when proved otherwise, and the matter that is before the court is not subject to discussion, I can neither delve nor discuss this. For it is sub-judice.

Though being employed by any firm in the country is the right of every Tanzanian, when it comes to this list, something seems to be terribly wrong. Why such a big number of bigwigs’ children? Were they employed based on merit or the immense powers and influence their parents command in the country?

To take a leaf from Israel, the PM Ehud Olmert, resigned recently after his son and him were implicated in making money using their position in public offices.


Also the former governor of Central Bank of Kenya Dr.Andrew K Mullei resigned when it came to light he appointed his, son Silla Mullei a consultant for a fee of Kshs. 2.62 million shillings ($35,930). This is a peanut compared to the money those allegedly wrongly employed children of bigwigs make away with.


We can cite another ideal example from Tanzania. When the late father of the nation, Mwl. Julius Nyerere was accused by the late Oscar Kambona that he had stolen and stashed money in off-shore banks, Nyerere did not keep mum because his name was bigger and noble. Instead, he told Kambona to substantiate and prove his allegations. What transpired is history. Nyerere being the biggest name in the country was asked by the media to put his house in order. He did. On the same line we urge all those mentioned in this list to come forth and do the right thing-to mount their defenses.


Given that the mentioned people are known, why don’t we tax them to come clean so that we can hear the other side and make a good verdict as a society? As innocent citizen as per the presumption of innocence, let these children of bigwigs mount their defenses. It is easy to discuss their matter. They are not charged before the court of law. And this should not be taken as indicting them. But instead, it is my quest to know the truth-which of course the whole citizenry longs for.



But again, the general public is the highest and mightiest court of the people.

The list that I have is topped by Pamella Lowassa the daughter of former Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa that was booted out by a parliamentary select committee after it found he did wrong in ushering disgraceful company of Richmond.

The second is Filbert Frederick Sumaye also the son of former Prime Minister Fredrick Sumaye who was accused by Christopher Mtikila that he illegally amassed property obtained by unexplained means.

The third also is the daughter of former PM Rashid Kawawa. This is Zalia Kawawa.

Fourth comes, Harriet Lumbanga, the daughter of former chief secretary.

Former president Mzee Ally Mwinyi is not spared. His daughter Salama is mentioned.

Number six on the list is Rachael Muganda, the daughter of the widow of former governor of BoT, Daudi Ballali whose controversial death has never been unraveled. The general public would like to know what transpired though those responsible are blotting this. It should be marked that Muganda was alleged to be behind meremeta scam that sank billions of shillings in con business.

There are still more movers and shakers. Former Police Inspector General (PIG) Omar Mahita weighs in. His daughter Sylvia comes seventh in this list as she is followed by Justina James, that’s related to former longtime minister Joseph Mungai. She’s facing charges of forgery and presentation of fake certificate.

What I just can’t understand is: If Mr. Minister would conceal his young one knowing she’s committing crime, how vulnerable was the security of our country under his watch?
What is obvious in this list is, it is as if there is competition of employing the children of top guns. Mind you. We’re talking of these creatures employed by BoT. What of other unknown in money making sectors such as TRA, Harbours, Immigration, and what not?


Going back to the list of young Turks, the son of CCM senior and longtime cadre John Nchimbi who answers to the name of Kenneth follows in the list.

Blassia Blassius Mkapa the daughter of former President Mkapa’s brother is not left behind in this game of money making. This is the same Mkapa whose controversial policies in privatization saw our country cascading to penury.

We’ve seen the daughter of former chief secretary. Thither is another. This is the daughter of the current chief secretary Philemon Luhanjo, Violet along with another of the big. This is Liku Irene Katte Kamba, the daughter of the current deputy speaker of the house and a long time civil servant. In this marathon of being employed Thomas Mongella, the son of former powerful minister and currently an MP Getrude Mongella is not left abaft. This list of the big sharp shooters can not end without mentioning Jabir Abdallah Kigoda the son of former Mkapa’s powerful minister with upper hand in commence and privatization that ended up being another heck to the Tanzanians.

Point of reminder, this article aims at enabling the alleged persons tell their story so that the Wananchi can know the truth and reach a judicious verdict. Failure to do this, there will be wrong assumption that the same were wrongly employed by BoT. So this should not be taken offensively. Silence is always golden. But this is relative. There are some matters in which silence is a suicide.

Somebody out there help me. Wherever there is a rumour truth comes thereafter.


Source: Thisday October 15, 2008.