Kikwete misquoted, says CCM`s Mwanri

CCM ideology and publicity secretary Aggrey Mwanri has said President Jakaya Kikwete has not brushed aside allegations on grand corruption made by opposition leaders.

Mwanri said the President`s statement made in Arusha to the effect that some politicians had assumed the roles of security officers, public prosecutors and magistrates all in one, did not mean that he had downplayed the charges.

`President Kikwete is very much committed to the fight against corruption within CCM, the government and the whole society,` Mwanri said.

`Quite unfortunately,` he said, `the President`s remarks given in Arusha were misunderstood. Some people thought he had ruled out any action, that nothing was going to be done. That is untrue,` Mwanri said.

He said serious investigations by responsible organs were being carried out because the government was highly committed to the rule of law.

He said good governance meant waiting for the outcome of investigations.

Mwanri said during the recent NEC meeting, President Kikwete had assured party members that he would not tolerate anyone found to be corrupt.

He said the President demonstrated zero tolerance on corruption, winning praise and support of NEC members, a fact that was not challenged in any media organ.

The CCM official also announced that positions of newly elected CCM leaders from ward to regional level were still hanging in balance, pending the outcome of a probe on election fraud currently undertaken by the CCM ethics committee and relevant state organs.

According to Mwanri, any elected leader found to have bribed voters would be unseated even if available evidence did not warrant the taking of legal action.

`We are still gathering information from various sources. Once we find out that somebody used bribery to secure election victory, we will immediately strike that person out. The evidence we want is not like that required by the courts. Even circumstantial evidence will enable us to take action,` he said.

He said during the forthcoming national CCM elections, the fight against corruption would be undertaken in the strictest way possible.

`We only need CCM members to inform us if there is an aspirant who is bribing his way to victory. We will disqualify that person straight away,` he said.