A
parliamentary watchdog committee has given the police force a new
three-day ultimatum to submit a controversial contract worth around 37
billion/- signed with the Dar es Salaam-based Lugumi Enterprises private
company for the supply of fingerprint scanners.
PAC Chairman, Hillary Aesh
This
is the latest development in an apparent tug-of-war between the
parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the police force whose
top officials appear reluctant to release the contract.
The PAC is querying alleged improprieties in the contract to supply biometric fingerprint readers to district police stations across the country.
"We have written to the Tanzania Police Force through the Clerk of the National Assembly and we have asked them to submit the contract within three days starting today until Friday," PAC chairman Hillary Aeshi told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday after a meeting of the committee.
But when later approached for comment by The Guardian, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ernest Mangu said the police force is not answerable to parliament.
According to IGP Mangu, the proper procedure for parliament to follow would be to request the Ministry of Home Affairs for access to such documents and not demand them directly from the police.
"I am surprised why you are asking me about the contract issue ... the (home affairs) minister is the one who has the authority to ask me to submit the document to him, and he in turn may present it to members of parliament. I cannot myself submit it to members of parliament," the police boss explained.
Parliamentary sources said the fingerprint scanners contract issue is expected to be brought up with some prominence in the National Assembly session scheduled to start next week.
According to the PAC, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its government audit report for the 2013/2014 fiscal year that there were serious shortcomings in the implementation of the contract between the police and the private firm.
The scanners were reportedly supposed to be installed in over 100 district police stations, but the PAC said the contract was implemented by just 10 per cent despite already being paid for by about 99 per cent.
The fingerprint technology was expected to significantly improve police efficiency in carrying out criminal investigations and positively identifying suspects.
The PAC is querying alleged improprieties in the contract to supply biometric fingerprint readers to district police stations across the country.
"We have written to the Tanzania Police Force through the Clerk of the National Assembly and we have asked them to submit the contract within three days starting today until Friday," PAC chairman Hillary Aeshi told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday after a meeting of the committee.
But when later approached for comment by The Guardian, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ernest Mangu said the police force is not answerable to parliament.
According to IGP Mangu, the proper procedure for parliament to follow would be to request the Ministry of Home Affairs for access to such documents and not demand them directly from the police.
"I am surprised why you are asking me about the contract issue ... the (home affairs) minister is the one who has the authority to ask me to submit the document to him, and he in turn may present it to members of parliament. I cannot myself submit it to members of parliament," the police boss explained.
Parliamentary sources said the fingerprint scanners contract issue is expected to be brought up with some prominence in the National Assembly session scheduled to start next week.
According to the PAC, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its government audit report for the 2013/2014 fiscal year that there were serious shortcomings in the implementation of the contract between the police and the private firm.
The scanners were reportedly supposed to be installed in over 100 district police stations, but the PAC said the contract was implemented by just 10 per cent despite already being paid for by about 99 per cent.
The fingerprint technology was expected to significantly improve police efficiency in carrying out criminal investigations and positively identifying suspects.
Post a Comment