President Jakaya Kikwete has directed the Inspector General of Police to conduct thorough investigation and take disciplinary actions against people alleged to have been involved in the embezzlement of cooperative funds in Tabora.
The President gave the order in Tabora over the weekend during the launch of the Campaign for Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening.
He said he was disappointed over allegations of embezzlement of funds which had led the tobacco growers going without payments for a long time.
“I have been informed about the problem of non-payment of tobacco farmers by their cooperatives …there are theft and embezzlement allegations… I have ordered Inspector General of Police (IGP) to dispatch his team to investigate the matter so that the culprits are arrested and taken to court,” he stressed.
President Kikwete said that the IGP has promised to dispatch his team to Tabora today and called upon the farmers to cooperate with them so as to end such evil acts done by cooperatives officials.
He warned that the decision of holding accountable the suspects of the embezzlement of cooperatives funds should not be regarded as politics and all who will be implicated should be brought to book.
On the status of cervical cancer in the country President Kikwete said that according to statistics Tanzania is one of the leading countries in cervical cancer cases in East Africa.
He said it is estimated that 56 out of 100,000 women in the country have been affected by the cancer.
He said more than 35,000 people are affected by the cancer annually and more than 27,000 of them die.
Kikwete said the government has been taking measures to fight the disease including launching of the programme on cervical cancer and child health in 2008.
He said the government through the programme has a strategic plan for Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer (2011-2016).
He added that through the programme the government has managed to establish 130 centres for cervical screening in 17 regions.
“Through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare the government has continued to collaborate with various stakeholders including MEWATA, Marie Stopes, WAMA to implement “Pink Ribbon, Red Ribbon” programme,” he said.
President Kikwete said that the government has provided Cryotherapy machines in Mwanza, Mara, and Iringa, Njombe and Mbeya and plans were under way to provide the machines in other regions.
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