Why Makonda needs to come out open on name

For all means and purpose this has extended too much. It is not healthy to anyone much less to the administration, which although pretends to close eyes and ears, we know it sees and hears everything.

As much as the government keeps mum, hoping this will fade or die on its own, the more harm it is doing to the administration. The spotlight will remain focused on one person for one simple reason -- the government was waging war on those who cheated in their educational journey.

And this has been proven because the issue is getting more limelight and even other dirty is being dug out. There are more questions being asked and no one seems ready to come forward to give answers.

Some of the questions are on government commitment to furthering the rule of law and the equality to justice for all. The matter of reference here is the suggestion that some people are above the law.

So much noise is being made by the public wanting to be satisfied with the credential of Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Paul Makonda. The government has chosen to keep mum. Why? No one knows. But, known for being a man of action, we trust President John Magufuli will take the right action. May be the President is not well advised on this matter, hopefully it’s not by design or full intent. It is a known fact that Mr Makonda has been a good defender of President Magufuli’s leadership style.

But, is this the way the government should operate? I don’t think so. We expect high standard of public authority that would take seriously such issues at least by ordering a probe so as to do justice to all -- both the accused and the accusers.

My only hope is that the government is not afraid of opening the Pandora’s box -- a move that may expose cheating among highly placed leaders in the government, or rather reveal the ‘godfather’ system that decides who should enjoy the most the national cake.

This not the trend in modern politics and governance and no government has the right to do this to the voters as well as the populace. In some countries where the law allows this is a question that will throw a government into plebiscite and might bring it down or in other jurisdiction might interest Parliament to call for vote of confidence against the President or the Prime Minister and hence might be a reason for its collapse.

Meaning the government in power in Tanzania could have risked all this for the sake of one person and calling for fresh elections. But alas we are in Tanzania and more than anything party interests are more important.

Where Parliament passes a motion to question RC Makonda and when the dust has hardly settled down a serious issue about his name and academic credentials is coming to public notice--nothing happens. To some of it would have been wise had Makonda offered to stand aside to clean his name and help the President and his government. Or probably he did so but the powers advised otherwise.

This will not go away, it will raise its ugly head any other time but also it should be known to President Magufuli that this will not only send the wrong message to civil service and those studying now, but it will hinge upon his disadvantage that the moral authority would go away.

Now, even if his government will take action, it will remain with the people as a case that President Magufuli has dragged his feet and question not on his power to hire and fire but on his hesitance when his appointee has become a political liability though he still seems a trusted lieutenant.