TANZANIANS IN DALLAS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18th 2019
TANZANIAN COMMUNITY IN DALLAS PUSHED THE EXECUTIVE TEAM OUT Executive Team accused of misuse of funds and community resources
Dallas, TX: The Tanzanian community in Dallas has forced its executive team to resign in early December 2018. The move ensued after a combustible community meeting on December 15, 2018, where Mr. Ben Kazora, Ms. Viola Mbise, Ms. Maria Mosomi were in attendance and could not provide the accounting for the funds used and generated by the Tanzania Day festivals in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Whilst demanding further explanation, the community asked for another meeting and detailed and comprehensive report from Mr. Kazora who explained that those details are with the Treasurer who was not in attendance. The follow up meeting took place on January 12th, 2019, where it was confirmed that the Tanzania Day event was moved from the Tanzania community to a newly formed organization, a Texas nonprofit called “Tanzania Day” registered on June 28,2018 with Mr. Kazora and Ms. Mbise as founders and directors. This revelation disappointed most community members, who felt that Ms. Mbise and Mr. Kazora misused their position at Tanzanians in Dallas organization, abused their fiduciary responsibilities and moved the Tanzania Day festival for self-serving reasons.
In addition to the transfer of the Tanzania Day event to another organization, the community found out that Mr. Kazora and Ms. Mbise misused the community funds, by transferring them from the community account and used them to fund the Tanzania Day event in 2017 and 2018. The outgoing community Board of Trustees confirmed the allegations and stated that those funds were obtained as a loan contrary to standard community procedures and have not been repaid.
Lastly, the outgoing leadership was accused of using community members names and fiduciary position to obtain in kind and financial sponsorship from public and private companies in the US and Tanzania, including and not limited to the United Republic of Tanzania government, Kenya Commercial Bank, and the Tanzania Tourist Board.
“Haiwezekani tuwaachie watu watumie majina yetu kwa manufaa yao” was a common grievance from the community meeting attendees. Since there was no satisfactory explanation to address the accusations the community resolved to:
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