Tanzania: Kikwete Family Has No Stake in Power Producer - Counsel

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Dodoma — PAN Africa Power Solutions Limited (PAP), the owner of Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL), has strongly refuted claims circulating in the social media that the company is linked to the family of President Jakaya Kikwete.

A statement issued to the press on Thursday by PAP/IPTL Secretary and Counsel, Joseph Makandege, dismissed allegations that Miraji and Salama Kikwete held 50 per cent stake in PAP through Simba Trust.

Mr Makandege explained that PAP was owned by Harbinder Sethi Sigh and Simba Trust, each with 50 per cent shares in the Tegeta-based power generation firm.

"The allegations that the family of President Kikwete is part of an ongoing campaign to mislead the public by some politicians and other people with ill motives on IPTL," Mr Makandege stated.

"These misleading reports are aimed at tarnishing the good image of President Kikwete and his family and this is why we have issued a statement to refute such claims," he added.

He went on to add that the company was eagerly awaiting findings of a report by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) regarding the US$ 122 million dollars that were held in an escrow account in the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) on behalf of IPTL following a dispute by shareholders of the company.

The PAP/IPTL secretary and counsel urged the public to ignore misleading reports which have been circulated in social media networks.

The Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, is on Friday expected to present the CAG report to the Speaker of the National Assembly before the dossier is presented in the House by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on November 26, this year.

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