President Magufuli
has expressed misgivings over a deal between the Police Force and a
foreign investor on the development of land in which the Oysterbay
Police Station is located.
He
said the deal with the Uganda-based Mara Capital Group Limited was a
vivid example of mismanagement of resources by the law enforcement
organ.
Dr
Magufuli said instead the more rational option would have been for
the Police Force to use the property to acquire a bank loan for
developing the land itself. “Everyone knows that Oysterbay is a prime
area. You have just signed a contract with an investor to build you
houses there. I’m not sure if those buildings would really deserve to be
there. Why didn’t you use the title deed to acquire a loan from a bank
so as to construct your own structures?” he queried.
According
to a statement issued by the acting director of Presidential
Communications, Mr Gerson Msigwa, the Head of State was speaking
yesterday during the launching of a two-day consultative meeting that
brought together regional police commanders, State attorneys and
regional crime officers from across the country. In 2012, police leased
to Mara Capital Group for Sh426.6 billion ($270 million) to develop
the area, under a 50-year lease.
Highlights
of the project include shopping malls, a modern hospital, a conference
hall, hotel, office, residential houses and parking lots.
Police
through the ministry of Home Affairs, attributed the decision to the
ever increasing demand for residential houses for its officers.
The
ministry was quoted as arguing that the Force was in need of about
34,710 housing units for its officers countrywide. Upon the completion
of the project, it is envisaged that the government would get money to
build more housing units for law enforcers.
In
his speech to law enforcers and state attorneys, meanwhile, Dr
Magufuli said he was deeply upset by the trend of the government losing
many cases in court.
He instructed the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to curb the anomaly.
“I
instruct state attorneys and police officers handling criminal
investigations to give priority to national interests in the course of
discharging their duties,” said Dr Magufuli.
The President criticised the tendency by some law enforcement officials to use cases as a basis for personal gain.
“I
know that some state attorneys and police officers crime officers
manipulate State cases as ‘deals’, by colluding with advocates of
those being sued or those who sue the government,” said President
Magufuli. He also expressed concerns over delays in investigating and
delivering judgements for some cases.
The President said the delays translated into denial of justice to thousands of Tanzanians.
President
Magufuli promised to allocate enough funds to the various organs in
the justice dispensing machinery to discharge their duties effectively.
He
warned, however, that, the money must be spent well, hinting that he
was aware funds were being embezzled within the Police Force.
The
President’s remarks were in response to sentiments by some police
officers, focused mainly on challenges they faced. One of them was a
shortage of funds for financing various activities, including
investigations.
He
also directed the Police Force to do everything in its powers to avoid
being involved in scandals so as to win and sustain the people’s
trust.
“I
want to be very clear here, otherwise, I won’t be happy after this
meeting, I want all of you to understand the direction I want this
country to take,” he stressed.
He
said some Police officers were involved in illicit drug businesses and
criminal related incidents including giving arms to criminals.
However,
the Head of State instructed the Police Force and the DPP office to
submit their strategic plans so that he would assist in strenghthening
them. President Magufuli arrived in Dodoma on Thursday evening. Among
other engagements, he will grace May Day celebrations at Jamhuri
stadium tomorrow.
Source:TheCitizen
