News From Parliament

Over 14bn/- recovered from DECI

Deputy Minister for Finance, Ms Janeth Mbene.

A SUM of 14.81bn/- out of 39.7bn/- was recovered from the beleaguered Development Entrepreneurship Community Initiative (DECI), the National Assembly heard here on Friday.

Deputy Minister for Finance, Ms Janeth Mbene told the House that the cash, which was illegally collected from members of the public, has been restrained in the accounts of five directors of the pyramid scheme, pending determination of the ongoing case at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam.

“The fate of DECI members’ cash will be determined after the ruling of the case number 109/2009, filed on June 6, 2009 at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam. The court will on July 17, 2012, announce whether the respondents have a case to answer or otherwise,” Ms Mbene said.

The deputy minister was responding to a question by Halima Mdee (Kawe - CHADEMA), who demanded to know whether the government had recovered any cash from the unlawful pyramid scheme, which she accused of defrauding poor Tanzanians. She also demanded to know what the government was planning to do with the recovered cash whether it would be refunded to conned members with interests.

Mdee also asked, in her supplementary question, if the government would issue an ultimatum to the court to decide on the case, which she said was taking longer than was necessary to be determined. The outspoken MP also wanted to know if there was any truth in claims that some top government officials also deposited public funds into the criminally operated pyramid scheme and what actions have been take against them.

Responding, Ms Mbene said the government would not set an ultimatum to the court to determine the case, because such an action would suppress the court of law independence. The deputy minister also said her ministry had not received any information implicating top government officials with DECI operations.

The respondents in the case, pastors of different churches in the city, are Jackson Mtares, Dominic Kigendi, Samuel Mtares, Timotheo Ole Loitingye and Arbogast Francis. They are charged with conducting and managing a pyramid scheme unlawfully. They are also charged with unlawfully collecting money from members of the public.