Ex-MSD workers in court over 482m/- loss
Two former senior officials with the Medical Stores Department (MSD), Cosmas Mwaifwani and Fredrick Nicolaus, appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday, charged with one count of abuse of their positions in over 482m/- payments deal.
Before Principal Resident Magistrate Respicius Mwijage, the two officials, who were acting Director General and acting Procurement Manager respectively, denied the charges.
They were granted bail on condition of each securing one surety. Every surety signed a bond of 20m/-.
The court had also ordered each accused to surrender in court a title deed of immovable property certified at a value of not less than 200m/-. Both accused persons managed to meet the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to March 21, for preliminary hearing as investigations into the case are ready. A prosecutor from the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Leonard Swai, told the court that the accused persons committed the offence between March 1 and 19, 2013 at the MSD Headquarters in Temeke District.
Being employees of MSD as acting Director General and acting Procurement Manager, in discharge of their duties they intentionally abused their positions by preparing and signing an amendment dated March 19, 2013, thereby causing H.H. Hillal & Company Limited to obtain undue advantage of 482,266,000/-. In February, last year, four senior MSD officials were suspended over embezzlement charges involving billions of shillings.
They include Mwaifani, Director of Finance and Planning, Joseph Tesha, the Director of Supplies, Misanga Muja and the Director of Procurement, Herry Mchunga. Such suspension was announced in the city by the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, when receiving equipment for the Maternity Ward of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).
Ms Mwalimu directed the MSD Board to immediately serve the suspects with letters to that effect. The equipment issued by the MSD includes 120 beds, 120 mattresses, 10 hydro-beds, 10 children’s beds and 110 bed sheets.
The minister is quoted as saying that her decision came after an investigation and audit report that revealed fraud involving a colossal amount, caused through misuse of public funds and breach of procurement procedures as required by the law.
“I direct the board’s chairperson to serve a suspension notice to the four top officials of the MSD. They should be kept aside pending an investigation on the matter,” she said, calling on other workers in her ministry and allied sectors to act professionally.
The minister said the government was committed and focused to ensure that all citizens enjoy health services that are being offered in public hospitals and health centres.
She noted that there was no need for Tanzanians to go abroad in search of medical treatment, as all crucial services offered at the MNH are of high quality and standard.
“The public should note that we are committed to ensuring that they are served on time and with better equipment. You can see the efforts being made by the government,” the minister is further quoted as saying.