I'M CLEAN... AND READY TO GO TO PRISON IF FOUND OTHERWISE: PINDA

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, strongly denied allegations of his involvement in the sugar importation scam, saying he was ready to be jailed if indeed there is proof linking him to it. PHOTO/FILE

Dar es Salaam. In a move seen as the scaling up of the Kikwete succession campaign, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has declared that he is ready to be jailed if allegations that he was involved in the multi-billion shilling sugar importation scam are proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Pinda, who is one of the presidential aspirants within CCM, denies allegations that he received about Sh7.3 billion from two firms that import sugar to support his bid to succeed President Kikwete.
He was, in return, supposed to have granted permits to two local firms to import about 300,000 tonnes of sugar between 2013 and 2014. But Mr Pinda came out strongly this week challenging those who have credible evidence against him to come forward.
He was ready to go to prison, he said, if indeed there was proof of his direct involvement in the scam. The premier was speaking at a public rally in Mpanda on Thursday and questioned why the allegations were being raised in an election year.

The Citizen