CIS 180bn scam: Tanzania Government to act

[BAK]

Tens of billions swindled in new EPA-style scandal​

The situation is tragic. I have with me here a report that shows the money might not be wholly recovered, Mr Zitto Kabwe, chairman of PAC.

By Elisha Magolanga

In Summary
In the unprecedented scam, billions of shillings were dished out to help the economy; some firms collected the money and disappeared

23 Bn Sum in Japanese yen provided by Japan to be loaned to companies for importation of various products

Dar es Salaam. Hopes of collecting money released through the Commodity Import (CIS) Support programme have been dashed following details that emerged yesterday, showing that some of the companies which accessed the Sh379 billion through the aid plan were fake entities, while others have gone bankrupt.

It is one of the embezzlement scandals of the decade which introduced public funds to grand corruption schemes that had not been experienced before: billions of shillings were dished out to help the economy; some firms collected the money and disappeared.

Some development partners teamed up with the government to facilitate the importation of key commodities in the country about ten years ago to ease, among other things, food shortages.

The government of Japan provided a grant of 23 billion yen to be loaned to companies for importation of various products. It was agreed that once the money is recovered, it would be used to develop small firms and local entrepreneurs.

But according to reports from the Treasury, only some Sh142 billion has been recovered but the fate of the rest of the money is unknown because some of the companies, it has emerged, were fake.

Officials from the Treasury yesterday appeared before the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to give the progress so far made in recovering the debt cash and painted the gloomy picture. PAC was told that about Sh237 billion is yet to be collected by Msolopa Investment Limited, the debt collector appointed by the government.

About 900 companies lined up for the funds. It could not be immediately established yesterday how many of those were fake and how many have gone under.

The situation is tragic. I have with me here a report that shows the money might not be wholly recovered, Mr Zitto Kabwe, chairman of PAC, said yesterday.

Mr Kabwe, who is also the deputy leader of Official Opposition in Parliament and MP for Kigoma North (Chadema), expressed concern that the Control and Auditor General (CAG) has never audited the Commodity Import Support project.

To get to the bottom of the problem, the PAC resolved to consult the Parliament leadership to see the possibility of forming a special team to investigate the CIS project.

We have decided to consult the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Thomas Kashilila, to look into the possibility and modalities of forming a parliamentary task force to probe the whole thingthe team would draw members from the Police Force, Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, Treasury, and PAC, Mr Kabwe told reporters yesterday.

The acting commissioner of External Finance in the ministry of Finance, Mr Samuel Maro, said the import support debt has lasted more than 10 years due to the confusion brought about by the fact that some of the government institutions that accessed some of the funds were privatised and others were wound up.

He noted that his office has already requested the liquidation certificates from Business Registrations & Licensing Agency (Brela), for verifying the veracity of the companies that went bankrupt in order to cancel the debt.

CIS was a form of aid used by foreign donors starting from the early 1980s to help foreign currency-strapped African countries import key commodities for public consumption. Many African countries benefited from this programme from various bilateral donors, but in Tanzania the project was mismanaged with billions of money unaccounted for to date.

Entities that accessed the money included government ministries, parastatals and several government agencies as well as private firms.

THE CITIZEN: Posted Monday, August 19 , 2013 at 21:22

 

[Mr Rocky]

BAK kwani hii si EPA type nyingine tuu
Nchi hii ni majangaa kuanzia kila kona

 

[Chimbuvu]

Poleni,,undeni tume tena ya uchunguzi kisha baada ya miaka 5 muangalie gharama za tume zote zilizoanzishwa,na kazi kama zilikuwa productive.

 

[Abdulhalim]

Kaka Invisible mbona unalike posts za 2009? hebu tujuze kulikoni hapa?

 

[Offline User]

Tunafukua makaburi Hadi tutakapofikia la MV Dar na Nyumba za Serikali

 

[misasa]

Why the names should be published in 2 months times and not tomorrow? What are they waiting for? In my opinion this is another usanii by JK and his government.

Si ndio tumemmiss?

 

[misasa]

Wana JF,

Naamini kuna mchezo mchafu hapa unachezwa.

CIS ina sura kubwa mbili:

Sura ya kwanza ni ya madeni. Kuna utaratibu kwa mujibu wa sheria zetu kufuatilia na ku "recover" madeni . Ni kwa nini Serikali yenye vyombo vyote bado inacheza na haitaki kuchukua hatua kufanya recovery ya kisheria ya Madeni hayo? Ni nani yuko juu ya sheria katika nchi? Hivyo nadhani tukubali kuwa hapa kuna mchezo. Tangu Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani imeombwa ni muda mrefu na habari hii imeandikwa mara kadhaa.

Kama ni kweli basi Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani inafanya nini na imechukua hatua gani? Ni kwanini basi tusidai wahusika katika Wizara hii nao pia wasijiuzulu kwa kushindwa kuwajibika. Inatakiwa Pressure kubwa toka kwa Watanzania. 180 Billion is a lot of money katika nchi ambayo inategemea wahisani kwa sehemu kubwa ya Recurrent Budget yake.

Sura ya pili ni ya Ufisadi Mkubwa katika uchukuaji wa Fedha hizi. I am on record since October November 2007 na kwa mara ya kwanza iliripotiwa katika Gazeti la "East African" kuwa kati ya makampuni 980 makampuni mengi ni Feki. Nilitoa mfano wa Kampuni ya kigogo moja ambayo peke yake ilichokua fedha kupitia makampuni feki 35. Hapa ni swala la kugushi, uwizi na ufisadi si swala la Madeni kama Serikali na Wakala wao wanavyotaka kuonyesha. Inaonekana kwa dhahiri kabisa watu wengi hawajaelewa kinachozungumziwa hapa. Ni kwa maana hii CAG anazungumzi AUdit kamili kama ilivyokuwa kwa EPA kubaini Ufisadi mkubwa ulioko katika Akaunti hii ya CIS.

Ni imani yangu tutaunganisha nguvu yetu, kwa wale ambao hawajafahamu ukweli kudai ukweli halisi ujulikane. Nashukuru kuwa ukaguzi wa CAG nao umeanza kuonyesha mwanga na kuwa watetezi wengi zaidi wa Rasilimali za Taifa watapiga kelele kutaka kujua ukweli. Ni lini kazi hii ya Ukaguzi kamili utafanyika ili ukweli ubainike kama ilivyokuwa kwa EPA.

Wana JF, Hii ndiyo hoja ya msingi siyo Madeni.

Mheshimiwa ndugu dokta balozi haya malizia.

 

[misasa]

Sasa nimeuona udhaifu wa serikali hii. Kama isingekuwa dhaifu kiasi kikubwa, kwa kesi zinazoendelez mahakamani, namimi hadi jambo hili lianze kuwekwa wazi, wahusika wangekwisha kimbia kulipa madeni. Kukaa kwao kimya ni imani wanafahamu udhaifu au usanii ulioko serikalini.

Hawa ni wahalifu. Wahalifu wanatishia wafuatiliaji wa madeni! Kwa upande mwingine nashindwa kukubali kwamba huu ndo utaratibu. Kwamba serikali inashindwa kudai inamtumia mtu mwingine!

Ilikuwa Serikali dhaifu enhee?

 

[misasa]

SERIKALI imedaiwa kuwalinda wamiliki wa makampuni yaliyokwapua pesa kutoka kwenye mfuko wa uwezeshaji Commodity Import Support (CIS), zaidi ya sh bilioni 200, imefahamika.

Habari ambazo Tanzania Daima imezipata, zinasema zaidi ya makampuni 70 ambayo baadhi yanamilikiwa na wabunge na wakurugenzi wa mashirika ya umma, wamekingiwa kifua na serikali wasifikishwe mahakamani baada ya kugoma kulipa madeni yao.

Vyanzo vya habari kutoka Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi pamoja na ofisi ya wakala aliyepewa jukumu la kukusanya madeni hayo, Kampuni ya Msolopa Investment Ltd, vimedai kuwa Jeshi la Polisi, limeombwa kushiriki kuwakamata wadaiwa hao.

“Hapa katika Wizara ya Fedha, baada ya kuona wadaiwa wanapiga chenga kulipa, tulimwandikia Mkuu wa Jeshi la Polisi (IGP), Said Mwema, tukimtaka atoe askari wake washirikiane na wakala wa kukusanya madeni hayo ili wadaiwa sugu watiwe mbaroni, lakini ameshindwa kutoa askari,” alisema ofisa mmoja Mwandamizi Wizara ya Fedha.
Imedaiwa kuwa baada ya barua hiyo ambayo iliandikwa na Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Fedha kushindwa kufanyiwa kazi, Kampuni ya Msolopa nayo iliandika barua kwa jeshi hilo ili litoe askari wake, lakini IGP Mwema alisema jeshi lake linakamata watu wenye makosa ya jinai tu na si wa madai.

Msemaji wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Ingiahed Mduma, alipoulizwa kuhusiana na wizara yake kuomba msaada Jeshi la Polisi, alisema mpango huo unaweza kuwa ni maandalizi tu ya kuwakamata baada ya kipindi cha miezi sita walichowapa wadaiwa hao kurejesha fedha zao, kutimia juzi.

“Kama kuna barua hiyo kwenda Jeshi la Polisi, inaweza kuwa ni maandalizi tu ya kuwakamata, lakini wewe hutakiwi kujua, kwasababu haya ni mambo ya ndani, tulikuwa tumewapa miezi sita ambayo imemalizika juzi na kama unataka habari zaidi, njoo ofisini,” alisema Mduma.

Tanzania Daima ilipowasiliana na Ibrahim Msolopa kuhusiana na madai hayo, alikiri kuomba msaada wa polisi lakini ameshindwa kupewa baada ya serikali na jeshi kushindwa kutoa ushirikiano.

“Ni kweli tuliomba msaada kwa IGP Mwema ili atusaidie kuwafikisha wadaiwa hao mahakamani kutokana na wengine kuonyesha uhuni, lakini alisema hadi serikali imwambie,” alisema.

Alisema kazi ya kukusanya madeni hayo, imekuwa ngumu na hali hiyo imechangiwa na serikali kuwalinda baadhi ya watuhumiwa ambao wamekuwa wakionyesha kukaidi kulipa madeni yao.

Kwa mujibu wa Msolopa, kampuni yake imefanikiwa kukamata nyumba tano za wadaiwa walioziweka dhamana wakati wa kukopa, lakini hata nyumba hizo zikiuzwa, haziwezi kulipa deni husika kwani yameongezeka.

Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Dk. Wilbroad Slaa, aliwahi kusema kuwa wakala huyo hatafanikiwa kukusanya madeni hayo hadi pale suala hilo litakapofanywa kuwa la jinai.

Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima hivi karibuni, Dk. Slaa alisema suala hilo litafanikiwa pale ambapo serikali itaamua kuwatafuta wahusika walioandikisha makampuni hayo ambayo mengi ni hewa.

Dk. Slaa ambaye ndiye aliyekuwa akilia na serikali juu ya ufisadi huo kupitia mfuko wa CIS, alisema hatua ambazo serikali imezichukua haziwezi kubaini ufisadi huo kwani zaidi ya sh bilioni 800 zimefujwa na makampuni hewa.

Kati ya makampuni 916 yanayodaiwa kukopa fedha hizo serikalini kwa lengo la kuagiza bidhaa nje ya nchi mara baada ya kutokea matatizo ya kifedha nchini, ndani ya kipindi cha miezi saba sasa, Msolopa Investments imeweza kuyafikia makampuni 450 tu, huku mengine yakiwa taabani na hayafanyi kazi na hayana uwezo wa kurejesha madeni hayo.

Mfuko wa CIS ulianzishwa miaka ya 1978 na 1980 baada ya nchi kukabiliwa na uhaba mkubwa wa fedha za kigeni. Uhaba huo ulisababisha wafanyabiashara waliokuwa wakiagiza bidhaa kutoka nje kushindwa kulipia bidhaa hizo.

Katika kulinda heshima ya nchi, serikali iliomba mkopo kutoka kwa wafadhili wa nje ili zipatikane fedha za kigeni kulipia mrundikano wa madeni.

Baada ya kupata msaada serikali ilianzisha mfuko uitwao ‘Commodity Import Support’ (CIS), ambapo wafanya biashara waliokuwa wanadaiwa bidhaa walizoagiza kutoka nje walikopeshwa na kulipia deni kwa fedha za kigeni.

Ili kusimamia vizuri fedha hizo za CIS na kwa kuwa wafanyabiashara wengi walikuwa wateja wa National Bank of Commerce (NBC), Benki Kuu (BoT) iliagiza NBC ifungue akaunti iitwayo ‘External Payment Arrears’ (EPA) kwa ajili ya kukusanya marejesho yaliyokuwa yakifanywa na waliokopa kwenye mfuko wa CIS.

Marejesho hayo yalikuwa yakitumwa Benki Kuu kila mwezi ili kwenda kufidia kwenye mfuko waliokopa. NBC ilisimamia akaunti hiyo ya EPA kwa muda, lakini baadaye ilifungwa na kuhamishiwa BoT.

Source: Tanzania Daima

Kwasasa limekuwa GAZETI la kutetea UFISADI na MAFISADI.

Ufukuwaji wa Makaburi alijamuacha mtu salama.

 

[misasa]

Kachero!

Hongera huko mbali sana na ukweli. Pia nimpongeze Babu kwa kuendelea kupasha kiporo moto.

Ukweli ulio wazi ni kwamba Yusuf Manji alikwapua hizo pesa asilimia kubwa na aliwashirikisha wabunge na viongozi wengi wa serikali na CCM kwa hiyo imekuwa ni sirikali. Yeye anayo kinga aliyopewa na Mkapa kupitia kwa WAJINA wake mkuu katibu mkuu wa CCM yUSUf Makamba.

Kwa vile ilikuwa ni dili ya awamu ya pili na Kikwete alishaapa kuwalinda kwani naye ni mfaidika wameamua kula jiwe kwani mtandao uko intact na kutenda lolote ni fedheha kwa chama

Alikuja kutetewa na ZITTO,LEMA NA CDM yote kwa ujumla.

 

[BAK]

Kwa lipi Mkuu!? Labda udhalimu na dhuluma na mauaji mengi kama yalivyo sasa pia kutokuwa na tabia ya kufoka foka, kuwatisha Watanzania, na kupandikiza mbegu za chuki miongoni jamii kama ilivyo hadi Watanzania kuishi kwa hofu na taharuki kubwa kwa mara ya kwanza tangu Tanganyika ipate uhuru miaka 57 iliyopita.

Si ndio tumemmiss?