Anti-corruption crusader Augustine Mrema, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister, has been told by the Senior Resident Magistrate in Dar es Salaam, Ms Natalia Kimaro, to stop condemning before journalists people facing court charges. The Magistrate pointed out that an accused person is innocent until proved guilty by a court. The case in question has aroused immense interest in Tanzania as it involves six defendants charged with an alleged fraud of Shs 250 million of Open General Licence Funds.

– AND THEN TOLD TO CARRY ON HIS FIGHT

But Sweden’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Thomas Palme, is reported to have given Mr Mrema a ‘diplomatic push’ in his efforts to fight the theft of public funds. He hinted that Nordic countries might raise their levels of assistance if an end could be put to misappropriation of funds and the culture under which cuts were demanded when tender awards were being made to foreign companies – Express.