PRESIDENT John Magufuli sought to reinvigorate Tanzania's war on drugs yesterday by appointing Rogers William Siyanga to the position of Commissioner General of the government's newly-formed anti-narcotics agency -- the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA).
A terse statement issued by State House yesterday said the new drug czar, Siyanga, will be assisted in his duties by former head of the Tanzania Police Force's Anti-Narcotics Unit Mihayo Msikela, who becomes DCEA's commissioner of operations.
Fredrick Kibuta was appointed as the Authority’s commissioner of intelligence.
It could not be immediately established if the Anti-Narcotics Unit would be disbanded as a result of DCEA’s establishment.
The statement from the president's office said Magufuli has also picked Dr Anna Peter Makakala, former head of the Tanzania Regional Immigration Training Academy in Moshi, as Commissioner General of the Tanzania Immigration Services.
The Immigration department is seen as a key player in the fight against drug trafficking, according to law enforcement experts.
The appointed officials are expected to be sworn in by President Magufuli at State House tomorrow.
Establishment of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority is part of implementation of the Drug Control and Enforcement Act of 2015.
The law was assented to by former president Jakaya Kikwete in May 2015 and its regulations were approved by Magufuli's government in April last year.
Among other things, the DCEA has powers to "take measures to combat drug trafficking, including arrest, search, seize and investigation on drug-related matters."
This means that the DCEA will operate in a similar manner as the anti-graft watchdog, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), which has powers to investigate and arrest suspects in cases involving bribery and abuse of public office.
According to the Drug Control and Enforcement (General) Regulations of 2016, the DCEA has been given powers to seize and sell assets and businesses that have substantiated links with the illicit narcotics trade.
"The Authority (DCEA) may appoint a trustee to sell the confiscated or forfeited properties ... For selling any property a trustee shall be paid 6 per cent of the net amount realised," says part of the regulations.
The Drug Control and Enforcement Act of 2015 also requires convicted drug addicts to sign a bond for the purpose of undergoing mandatory medical treatment for detoxification or de-addiction.
"The addict who undergoes medical treatment under this part shall not leave the country for the entire period of his treatment except with prior written permission of the Authority," say the regulations.
President Magufuli has pledged "zero-tolerance" in the fight against drug trafficking since taking office in November 2015.
Last week, the president told the country's security forces to crack down on the drugs trade and target drug barons, saying no one should be spared - even if they are top politicians or their relatives.
"In this war against narcotics, no one is too prominent to be arrested even if they are politicians, security officers, cabinet ministers or the child of a prominent person," Magufuli told heads of the defence and security forces.
In his speech at Ikulu, he said that "even if my wife, Janeth, is involved she should be arrested.”
Tanzanians have long complained that top officials or those with government connections have often been spared prosecution for corruption and other crimes.
Magufuli has sought to show that even those in high office will be held accountable for criminal activity or poor performance. He has sacked several top officials in the tax authority and other institutions since taking office.
He also praised the police chief for suspending 12 mostly junior officers last week on suspicion of drug trafficking.
But he said the campaign must target the financiers and dealers, citing the case of one unnamed drug kingpin in Lindi region whose case was taking too long to go through the courts.
"I know some leaders tried to defend him. But we must now start to jail these big drug dealers instead of just dealing with the little people," the president said.
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda has launched his own crackdown against narcotics in the nation's commercial capital by publicly naming several prominent suspects and ordering them to report to the central police station for questioning.
Those named by Makonda and subsequently questioned by the police include well-known business tycoons, politicians, clerics and local celebrities.
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