President Suluhu Suspends Tanzania Ports Authority boss Over Fraud Claims

March 29, 2021

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The newly swon in Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has suspended Deusdedit Kakoko, Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director-General, over allegations of massive embezzlement of funds at the institution.

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

While noting she had seen massive embezzlement at TPA, she ordered the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to urgently look into the claims and submit a report to her immediately.

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.

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

On Sunday, the President 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) maintaining that everyone will be held responsible for their actions.