Directors in the dock on graft charges

Two Tanzanian energy magnates have become the first big industrialists to be charged over a multimillion-dollar corruption scandal that led to the sacking of several top officials three years ago. A 2014 audit created an uproar after revealing a fraudulent payment of $120m in state funds to an independent power-producing company. A report on the Daily Nation site notes that it saw several foreign donors halt aid to Tanzania. James Rugemalira and Harbinder Singh Seth, who have been charged with economic crimes, were co-owners of the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) power company, which had a contract to supply electricity to the state-owned energy provider Tanesco. Opposition lawmaker Zitto Kabwe, who led the initial audit, said the arrest of Rugemalira and Seth was the 'single most bold step by President John Magufuli against corruption'.