Tanzania's new special anti-corruption court opens in July

Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa announced on Friday that a special anti-corruption and economic sabotage court will start in July, this year.

Majaliwa told the National Assembly in the east African country's political capital of Dodoma that the establishment of the anti-graft court was aimed at supporting the new government in its anti-corruption crusade.

"The new court will operate as a new division of the High Court," said the Premier, adding that the war on corruption was an endless mission under the new government led by President John Magufuli who took power on November 5, 2015.

Reacting to the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, Valentino Mlowola, said: "We are very happy with the establishment of a special anti-corruption court."

He said the decision by the government to establish the court showed its political will in fighting corruption.

The Premier said statistics showed that there were 3,911 cases involving corruption allegations during the 2015/16 of which investigations on 324 cases had already been completed.

Harrison Mwakyembe, the Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice, said early this year that the court was established following findings by a taskforce formed by the government.

He said the taskforce comprised members from the police, the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service, the Attorney General's office and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Endit