Oysterbay police land deal upsets President Magufuli

 

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