Ngeleja: My record in govt speaks for itself

Sengerema MP William Ngeleja receives a cash donation from a supporter, Ms Monica Ntuzu, after the lawmaker announced his intention to vie for the Union presidency through CCM in Mwanza yesterdday.  Looking on are Mr Ngeleja’s wife, Blandina, Mwanza Elders chairman Charles Masakulangwa (second left) and Magu MP Festus Limbu.  PHOTO | AIDAN MHANDO 

Announcing his bid for the CCM ticket for the presidency, the former minister for energy and minerals also declared he was free of any scandal despite having been dropped from the government.

He said he was seeking the highest office in the land to form a government that would fight poverty, ignorance, corruption, disease and moral decline.

“I acknowledge that a great percentage of Tanzanians are poor.  I’m therefore seeking this position so that I can fight poverty, ignorance, disease, corruption, embezzlement, laziness as well as the prevailing moral decadence,” said Mr Ngeleja. 

Mr Ngeleja announced his intention at a packed Bank of Tanzania (BoT) hall in Mwanza to join a growing field of aspirants eying to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete through CCM.

He said a majority Tanzanians were eager to get a president who would walk the talk.

 “I have a comprehensive strategy to clean up the Police Force, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Judiciary, PCCB and other agencies that are being accused of corruption. I will make sure we get a lasting solution to our most pressing problems,” he said.

Mr Ngeleja was in the company of his wife, Blandina, and Magu MP Festus Limbu. His supporterss filled the hall.

 The former minister said considering the things he accomplished when he was deputy minister for energy and minerals between January 2007 and May 2012, and later a full minister, he had no doubt that he was “presidential material”.

“We initiated the Mtwara gas project in 2009 whose completion will help our nation save over Sh1.6 trillion currently being spent on fuel to generate electricity,” he said.

“The completion of Mtwara gas project will mark the end of power blackouts in our country.”

Mr Ngeleja also said he was  involved in the establishment of the Rural Energy Agency (Rea) whose budget he raised from Sh27 billion to Sh137 billion by 2011.