{THE Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba, has dissolved the National Ranching Company (NARCO) Board and suspended its general manager over embezzlement of 5.7bn/- allocated for construction of modern abattoir.}
Mr Nchemba was forced to institute such stern measures following a one day visit at the national ranch located in Ruvu to inspect construction of modern abattoir only to find out that the project had been abandoned since 2010.
The 5.7bn/- had been released out of the total cost of 10.7bn/- for the construction of the modern abattoir at the national ranch, but instead, what was found were incomplete buildings that had been abandoned.
The minister directed experts from his ministry to evaluate the buildings and provide him with a report within seven days and how much is needed to complete the project.
In its explanation, the NARCO Administration said the reasons that led to the failure to complete the project include differences that emerged between the contractor and the company’s board.
Following the detailed explanation from the national ranch company, Mr Nchemba decided to dissolve the company’s board of directors for failing to ensure the project is completed on time.
NARCO is responsible for the supervision of all government ranches in the country. He said apart from failing to have the project completed on time, the board of directors abandoned the project altogether and proposed construction of another modern abattoir within the same ranch.
In March last year, NARCO General Manager, Dr John Mbogoma, was quoted by local media saying the national ranching firm plans to construct a modern abattoir at Ruvu, which will have the capacity to slaughter about 800 cows per day.
Dr Mbogoma said the decision to construct the modern abattoir was due to increased market demand for high quality meat that has been prepared under high level of cleanliness that will suit even the export market.
The general manager hoped that the abattoir will enable NARCO to export meat as their products would be able to fulfil the demand for high quality meat by both the internal and international markets.
“We expect the construction to start in June this year (last year). That’s why we hereby invite interested contractors to take tender documents from NARCO headquarters. “We welcome both local and international contractors who have the required qualifications to bid for the construction,” Dr Mbogoma said.
Mr Nchemba said legal action will be taken against all those involved in the mismanagement of funds and the project itself. He called on public servants to be in the frontline and increase efficiency in management of development projects.
“President John Magufuli’s government will not stand by and watch a few greedy people squander public resources, when there are many qualified Tanzanians who can do a good job,” he explained.
Source:Daily News:[NARCO board ‘butchered’ over funds misuse->http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/45753-narco-board-butchered-over-funds-misuse]
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