APOLOGY STATEMENT FROM HON. PETER SIMON MSIGWA (MP) TO MR. ABDULRAHMAN KINANA
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
Today, I have called you here for just one purpose; to say sorry to Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana.
I am sure that you are aware of the Civil Case which was filed by Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana against me following the false utterances that I made in the Parliament, and in various other places in Tanzania, including in public places and in the media locally and internationally, where I claimed that the prominent public figure was involved in some illegal activities.
As a Shadow Minister and official opposition spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, I presented our alternative budget in the Parliament for the financial year 2013/2014. In my submission in Parliament I used that opportunity to further my earlier allegations against Mr. Kinana by associating him with illegal poaching and trading in government trophies.
I made those claims, acting in my personal capacity, as well as a senior leader of my political party. I am aware that the false allegations, fabricated lies and intentioned slander was published in both print and electronic media, including social media; in Tanzania and globally.
Following my utterances, Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana filed a case against me at the High Court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the now famous case number 108 of 2013. In this court case which was presided by Judge Zainab Muruke, I was found guilty of defamation and slander against Kinana and ordered to pay compensation and general damages.
Today, I have personally come to state in front of you – and through you, to the general public, and admit that all the allegations I made against Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana; inside and outside Parliament, were all lies and politically motivated. Unfortunately, I was misled by people who had ill motives and gave fabricated information; lacking neither evidence nor facts.
As human beings, we all makes mistakes, and when this happens, the most honourable thing to do is to admit such mistakes and sincerely apologize for them. It is also expected of those who are wronged to be magnanimous enough and be ready to forgive.
Following the High Court ruling against me, I approached Mr. Abdulrahman Kinana, to talk to him and to sincerely apologize to him. I am happy to inform you today that after a protracted discussion with him, Mr. Kinana responded to my admission and humble request for forgiveness with kind, gentle and magnanimous response. He accepted my apology and granted his forgiveness to me.
I have decided to come out in public and offer my apologies because I know my false utterances didn’t hurt Mr. Kinana alone, but also caused discomfort to his family, relatives, colleagues, friends and to Tanzanians in general.
We are all in agreement that Mr. Kinana is a patriot, a man of integrity and a gentleman with impeccable record and who doesn’t deserve the slander and humiliation such as I have caused him. I will continue to respect him for the rest of my life in response to his generosity to me, my family, friends and Tanzanians as a whole.
I am now confident that with my public apology, this matter between us is now resolved and rested.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I once again thank you for your attention.
Hon. Reverend Peter Simon Msigwa
Member of Parliament, Iringa Urban
May 19, 2020
Dar es Salaam.
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