Mwibara MP, Kangi Lugola

Former Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo yesterday was challenged to withdraw his statement or provide evidence to back his claims that the Parliamentary Parastatal Organisation Account Committee (POAC) was bribed to extend the tenure of the Consolidated Holdings Corporation.

Mwibara Member of Parliament Kangi Lugola wanted Mkulo to withdraw his statement in Parliament here, saying that such allegations have been ruining the image of the House.

Lugola asked for Speaker’s clarification after the question and answer session as provided under Section (67) (7) of the Parliamentary Standing Orders demanding Mkulo to withdraw the allegations against the POAC.

He said that during the seventh Parliament meeting, he asked the former minister to withdraw his statement, but he was not present thus demanding him to withdraw it in the ongoing parliamentary sessions.

Lugola said that the Parliament as an important organ was linked to a number of corruption allegations which he said some of them were false.

He said the former Finance Minister leveled serious allegations that POAC was bribed by the CHC management so that the latter could lobby for its tenure extension.

“I want Mkulo to withdraw his statement or to provide evidence so as to do justice to the committee because he mentioned even the amount of bribe he claimed to have been given, which is 60m/-,” stressed Lugola.

Lugola, who is a POAC member, said that there has been a tendency of some people to accuse the Parliament and its organs on issues of corruption, saying that the situation was ruining the image of Parliament.

He said the allegations caused POAC Chairman Zitto Kabwe to announce he was ready to resign his post as Chairman of the organ, if discovered he or any Committee member received a bribe.

In response, Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai told the Parliament that he would work on the concern and report in due time.

Reached for comment outside the parliamentary debating chambers, Mkulo said he had nothing to comment.

However, he said it was the POAC which accused the cabinet of receiving bribe over the same matter, saying he wondered who actually was supposed to withdraw a statement, him or the POAC.

He said the fact that the issue had been presented, as personal he would deal with it personally.

Special Seat MP Stella Manyanya (CCM) said that the allegations should be worked on in the House and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau must help to provide proof.

Last year, during the parliamentary budget session, Mkulo accused POAC Chairman Zitto Kabwe of receiving bribe from the CHC management to extend the firm's tenure of service.

Mkulo was responding to the allegation raised by Special Seats MP Anastazia Wambura, who had wanted the minister to clarify on the rumor that there were members of parliament, who had been bribed to lobby for the extension of the CHC tenure.

Zitto strongly opposed to the allegations and requested an investigation by the CAG to be conducted to determine whether himself or any member of the committee was bribed as rumoured.