LHRC kufungua shauri High Court kupinga TUZO ya DOWANS...............

[Rutashubanyuma]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

Wanaharakati waapa kuzuia Serikali kuilipa Dowans Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:54

Geofrey Nyang'o
KITUO cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC), kwa kushirikiana na wanaharakati wa haki za kijinsia nchini wamewasilisha pingamizi Mahakama Kuu kupinga Serikali isiilipe kampuni ya Dowans Sh 97 bilioni zilizotokana na hukumu ya Mahakama ya Usuluhishi ya Biashara ya Kimataifa (ICC).
Mahakama hiyo ilikuwa imesikiliza malalamiko ya Dowans dhidi ya Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco) na kuamua iilipe fidia hiyo baada ya kubaini kuwa ilivunja mkataba kinyume cha taratibu.

Kwa kawaida kabla ya malipo hayo kufanyika, hukumu hiyo ya ICC inapaswa kusajiliwa na Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania, lakini wanaharakati hao wamekusudia kuweka pingamizi kuzuia mchakato huo usifanyike hivyo Dowans isilipwe.

LHRC jana walitoa tamko hilo wakisisitiza kuwa wanaungwa mkono na vyama mbalimbali visivyo vya kiserikali yakiwemo mashirika yanayotetea haki za binadamu, usawa wa jinsia na ukombozi wa wanawake (FemAct).

Akisoma tamko kuhusu uamuzi huo, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa LHRC, Francis Kiwanga alisema wameamua kuwake pingamizi kutokana na mikataba ya awali ya kampuni ya Dowans kupatikana kwa rushwa na kukiuka maslahi ya umma.

"Kituo kinafungua shauri Mahakama Kuu kupinga uhalali wa tuzo iliyotolewa kwa Dowans isisajiliwe na kuwa tuzo ya kimataifa kwasababu mikataba ya awali ilipatikana kwa rushwa na kukiuka maslahi ya umma," alisema Kiwanga.

Kiwanga alimtataja Wakili wa Kujitegemea na Mhadhiri wa Chuo Kikuu cha Bagamoyo, Dk Sengondo Mvungi kuwa ndiye wakili aliyeteuliwa kulisimia shauri hilo.

Katika mkutano huo na waandishi wa habari, Kiwanga alisema katika suala la Dowans kuna maswali mengi ya kujiuliza.

"Ikiwa Bunge la Jamuhuri ya Muungano kupitia Kamati Teule ya Bunge iliyoundwa Novemba 13 mwaka 2007 ilishathibitisha kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa, inawezekanaje kuwa na mkataba wa kurithisha Dowans?" alihoji Kiwanga.

Kiwanga alisema Wizara ya Nishati na Madini inatia shaka kuhusu mwenendo wa suala zima la Dowans na kuitaka Tanesco kukataa kulipa deni hilo.

"Uhalali wa kisheria wa miliki ya Dowans kwa mali za Richmond haupo. Ni kwanini Serikali haikutaifisha mali za Richmond tangu awali? Pili ikiwa Dowans haikurithi kwa halali mali ya Richmond, inawezekanaje Dowans kuwa na madai halali dhidi ya Serikali ya Tanzania?" alihoji Kiwanga.

Kiwanga alielezea shaka kwa Serikali kuwa na uharaka wa kulilipa deni hilo bila hata ya kuchukua hatua zozote za kisheria.

Alihoji, "Nini hasa maslahi ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini hasa ikizingatiwa ndio iliyoishinikiza Tanesco kukubali kuhusishwa na kuhamishwa kwa mkataba wa Richmond kwenda Dowans?"

Alisema suala la usiri wa mikataba ya Serikali na uwekezaji hasa katika sekta ya nishati na madini linaibua maswali mengi na kuhoji dhana nzima ya uwajibikaji na uhifadhi wa rasilimali ya umma.

Alisema kutokana na hali hiyo, LHRC imependekeza mambo makuu sita likiwamo la kuitaka Serikali, watawala na maofisa wa umma na wote wanaohusika na suala hilo kuheshimu uamuzi ya Bunge wa kwamba Richmond ni kampuni hewa.

Alisema katika mazingira hayo kuilipa Dowans fedha hizo ni ukiukwaji wa utawala wa sheria na misingi ya demokrasia na ni kinyume na maslahi ya Taifa.

Aliitaka Wizara ya Nishati na Madini kuacha mara moja kuwabebesha mzigo Watanzania wa kulipa kiwango hicho kikubwa cha fedha wakati huo ni uzembe, ubadhilifu na ufisadi unaotokana na watendaji wa Serikali.

"Serikali na watawala pamoja na maofisa wa umma wote wanaohusika na suala hilo wazingatie maelekezo ya Katiba ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Ibara ya 9(c), (d), (h) na (i) ambavyo vinasisitiza mali ya umma iwanufaishe wananchi wote," alisema Kiwanga.

Kiwanga alisema kituo kinapinga malipo hiyo kwakuwa hata Serikali iliweka siri katika kuendesha kesi hiyo jambo linalotia shaka hata utetezi wake kama ulizingatia masilahi ya umma.

Naye Dk Mvungi ambaye ndiye wakili aliyeteuliwa kusimamia shauri hilo, alisema kitendo cha Serikali kukubali kulipa deni la Dowans ni ufisadi mwingine na kuwataka Watanzania kuamka kupinga hilo.

Naye Mkurugenzi wa Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Tanzania (Tamwa), Ananilea Nkya alisema suala la Dowans ni ufisadi na usanii wanaofanyiwa Watanzania na kutaka waamke ili kupinga suala hilo kwa nguvu.

Aliomba vyombo vya habari kulichukulia suala hilo kwa uzito unaostahili kwa kuwa jamii ikishirikiana katika kuweka nguvu kuzuia fedha za umma kwenda kwa wachache kifisadi.

Naye Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania (TGNP), Usu Mallya alisema kitendo cha watu kuwaingiza Watanzania kwenye mikataba feki bila ya kuchukuliwa hatua, kinatia shaka hata katika mkataba huo.

"Waliotushauri kujitoa kwenye mikataba hiyo mibovu leo ndio wanatushinikiza kulipa deni hilo. Hii inatia mashaka, ni vema kundi la watu waliotuingiza kwenye hasara hiyo toka mwanzo, tukawafahamu na wachukuliwe hatua za kisheria," alisema Mallya.


LHRC files case against paying Dowans 97bn/-




By Lazaro Felix



12th January 2011

Legal and Human Rights Centre board member Dr Edmund Sengondo Mvungi talks to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Others are LHRC Director Francis Kiwanga and TAMWA Executive Director Ananilea Nkya.


Tanesco and Dowans` issue took a new twist yesterday after the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) filed a case at the High Court to block the government's decision to pay the power firm 97bn/-.
According to the LHRC Executive Director Francis Kiwanga, the High Court (Commercial Division) was expected to set up the date and appoint a judge for the hearing of the case tomorrow.
"In our application, we asked the High Court to speed up hearing of the case. We hope it will do so…we are now waiting for instructions on Thursday," he noted.
"We are challenging the hefty compensation…it is a huge amount of money, which is unfair to pay to Dowans," Kiwanga told a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The LHRC has contracted a prominent constitutional lawyer and university lecturer, Dr Sengondo Mvungi to represent them in court.
The latest move by lawyers and activists from the LHRC comes a few days after the government through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals agreed to pay Dowans the money as compensation for breach of the contract by Tanesco.
The government's stance to compensate Dowans has attracted a fierce condemnation from legislators and civil society organisations. A few days ago, the Minister for Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja said: "The ministry has agreed to pay Dowans as per the ruling of the International Chamber of Commercial (ICC)."
The ICC ordered the state-run power firm, Tanesco, to pay Dowans 97bn/- for breach of contract - a ruling which is now being disputed by the LHRC as unfair and unjustifiable.
Kiwanga criticised elements of secrecy in the Tanesco-Dowans case, saying members of the public were not informed about the filing and hearing of the case at the ICC.
"The members of the public heard about the case after the ruling by the ICC. Why they made it secret?" queried Kiwanga.
He explained that there were civil societies currently working for the welfare of Tanzanians and promised the centre to maintain the spirit by challenging the ICC ruling the High Court. "LHRC and other organisations played an active in role in saving millions of Tanzanian taxpayers' money in the case between the City Water and government case some years ago."
He faulted the government's decision to pay Dowans before considering other legal options to save taxpayers' money.
Kiwanga pointed out that Tanesco should not pay even a single cent to Dowans, blaming the government for ignoring the Parliamentary report on the capacity and competence of Richmond/Dowans.
"Ignoring the Parliamentary report on the Richmond Company is itself against the rule of law, pillars of democracy and public interest," said Kiwanga.
Meanwhile, Dr Sengondo Mvungi asked the government to respect the Parliamentary decision on the Richmond/Dowans issue.
"The Parliament through its committee, which probed the issue, said the Richmond contract was null and void and thus unenforceable. This should be respected by the government," said Dr Mvungi
He explained that the Tanzania High Court (Commercial Division) would have to say if it supported the ICC to exploit Tanzanians or defended them since the government's decision in the case was to pay the billions of money, while citizens were starving from poor services.
Tanzania Media Women's Association (Tamwa) executive director Ananilea Nkya said:
"We should work collectively to make sure Tanesco does not pay the compensation to Dowans," said Nkya.
She said it was a pity to see that the government was not ready even to appeal against the ICC ruling, a situation she explained as the government's failure to be accountable to the people, who elected its leaders.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

 

[M-mbabe]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

Good.
Hakuna kulala.

 

[NewDawnTz]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

Hey, give me a break. Let me take a deep breath!

Safi sana, this is what at least we expect to hear from legal societies like LHRC.

Hatuwezi kuwa mabwege nchi nzima kutekeleza tu utumbo wa Ngeleja Kikwete & Co

 

[Wakuletwa]

Mi nashangaa eti wanatudai lakini hawajulikani sasa huko mahakamani waliendaje? Na hao mawakili wao waliwapataje? Jamani hata kama wajinga ndio waliwao sio kihivyo jamani!

 

[Albert Msando]

Maswali ya kujiuliza ni;

1. Richmond iliingia mkataba gani na Tanesco?

2. Je mkataba kati Tanesco na Richmond ulipokuwa assigned kwa Dowans Tanesco iliridhia?

3. Kwa nini Tanesco iliingia kwenye mkataba na kampuni ambayo haipo Brela?

4. Ni hatua gani za kisheria zimechukuliwa dhidi ya wote waliohusika kusajili kampuni ya Richmond?

5: Je Richmond ilikuwa imesajiliwa kama mlipa kodi? TIN No yake ngapi? Iliwahi kulipa kodi yoyote? PAYE, Income Tax etc?

6. Kama Tanesco walishindwa kuwa makini wakati wa kuingia mkataba wa awali na Richmond, kama serikali haikushauriwa vizuri kuhusu uhalali wa 'mtu' walieingia nae mkataba. Kama taarifa za kiinteligensia hazikuonyesha kwamba Richmond si kampuni halali, tunawezaje sasa hivi kuhoji haya yote? Kama mjadala ulifungwa rasmi bungeni na walioufunga wapo tunawezaje kulalama kwamba tunaonewa?

Kama hakuna aliyeenda mahakamani kuishtaki Richmond au maofisa wake kwa udanganyifu (forgery, fraud, misrepresentation etc etc) je tunawezaje kulalamikia uamuzi uliotolewa?

Naamini bado hatujachelewa, wanaharakati na sisi wengine turudi Brela watupe vielelezo vya nani alisajili Richmond. TRA watupe taarifa ya jalada lao la kodi. Immigration watupe taarifa za uraia wa maofisa wao wakigeni!! Tujue ni wapi walikuwa wanaishi! Tujue ofisi zao zilipo! Tuijue benki yao waliyokuwa wanatumia! Haya yote yanashindikana vipi?

Tukifunua kichaka cha Richmond tutachoma moto kichaka cha Dowans. Tuanzie hapo! Maandamano yaliyopangwa (sijui waandaaji ni kina nani) yashinikize kupatikana majibu ya maswali hayo na mengine mengi tuliyonayo!

 

[Monstgala]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

At least some people are thinking and acting accordingly. Ng'ombe wengine wote wamelala.

 

[Kabembe]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

Good start...and we supposed to be resourceful by donating money to run the case which involves all Tanzanians

 

[mams]

Yes, hawakuingia hapa nchini kihalali, hawakusajiriwa kihalali. Watashindaji kesi kihalali!

 

[Mtaka Haki]

Yes, hawakuingia hapa nchini kihalali, hawakusajiriwa kihalali. Watashindaji kesi kihalali!

Licha ya kutokusajiliwa kihalali. Bunge lilipotamka kuwa Richmond ni Feki basi kampuni ambayo haipo haiwezi kurithisha mkataba kwa kampuni yeyote.

 

[Zak Malang]

Leo jioni kwenye taarifa ya habari ya saa moja usiku channel Ten wanaharakari wamehoji ushirikishwaji wa Bunge na wananchi katika kesi iliyoendeshwa kimyakimya kwa msuluhishi huko Ulaya na wakaahidi kufungua kesi Mahakama Kuu kupinga TUZO aliyopatiwa DOWANS dhidi ya Tanesco na kudai inanuka ufisadi wa hali ya juu...............

Vile vile wanaharakati hao wametaka picha za wakurugenzi wanaodaiwa kuwa ni wa DOWANS zibandikwe kwenye vyombo vya habari kwa sababu malipo hayo kamwe hayataenda kwa wadai hewa hao.................

Pia wanaharakati hao wamedai kuwa Richmond ni kampuni hewa sasa ingeliwezaje kurithisha mali zake kwenye kampuni nyingine na kusaini mkataba hewa wakati Richmond yenyewe Bunge lilikwisha kusema ni Kampuni hewa na wamiliki wake wala hawatambuliwi na Brella au hata kuwa kampuni hiyo haikujiandikisha huko?

Nimesikia pia FemAct (ya akina Ananilea Nkya) nao wanafungua kesi ya namna hiyo. Au wako pamoja na LHRC?

 

[Gad ONEYA]

All that aims good for the nation is hailed!

 

[MwanaCBE]

naona linuru lakini kwa mbaaaaali.

 

[nzom]

nashukuru kwani mpaka sasa naona nyota njema inaonekana kwani zaidi ya mashirika 17 yanapinga kwa dowans kulipwa pesa za wavuja jasho ungana na watanzania kupinga hilo

 

[PMNBuko]

Wanatumia njia ipi kupinga? Matamko au Maandamano? Mimi kama ni maandamano naenda mbele maana nataka kama ni afande wanikute mapema kabisa maana nimechoka kuishi kwenye nchi ya kifisadi. Naogopa wanangu wakianza kuuliza maswali: Baba kwanini nulikubali nchi yetu ikanyonywa na wewe upo? Hukujua kuwa tutahitaji kunufaika na nchi yetu?

Basi niandamane nipigwe chuma ili kukwepa majibu ya unajua mwanangu.... mmhh.. eehh.... ssiem wali....

Sitaki kusema uongo!!

 

[Fareed]

Mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali nchini Tanzania (civil society organisations) ikiwemo Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), TAMWA, TGNP na wengineo wamepinga uamuzi wa watu wachache serikalini -- Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, Frederick Werema, na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja, kukubali kuwalipa DOWANS malipo haramu ya 97 billion shillings.

Wakizungumza na waandishi wa habari leo jijini Dar es Salaam, wawakilishi wa asasi hizo, Francis Kiwanga wa LHRC, Ms. Ananilea Nkya wa TAMWA, Usu Malya wa TGNP na Dk. Sengondo Mvungu wamesema kuwa watafungua shauri Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania kupinga kutekelezwa kwa hukumu ya mahakama ya biashara ya ICC ya Paris.

Wamesema kuwa Bunge ilishaamua kuwa mkataba kati ya Richmond/Dowans na TANESCO ni batili au "null and void" kwa mujibu wa sheria ya manunuzi ya umma (Public Procurement Act of 2004), hivyo Mahakama Kuu haiwezi kubariki mkataba huo.

(Source: Channel Ten news bulletin leo usiku)

Kwa faida ya wengi, tujikumbushe na habari hii iliyowahi kuchapishwa na THISDAY inayobainisha jinsi Mahakama Kuu ya Tanzania inavyoweza kutupilia mbali hukumu ya ICC inayoitaka TANESCO iwalipe DOWANS:

DOWANS SCANDAL...

High Court to set aside ICC ruling

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE High Court of Tanzania will likely reject a ruling of the Paris-based International Court of Arbitration (ICC) that awarded highly controversial payments in favour of Dowans Holdings SA (Costa Rica)/Dowans Tanzania Limited, it has been revealed.

According to top legal experts in government, the High Court is well-placed to reject the ICC ruling because of gross irregularities in the proceedings of the case and the illegallity of the actual ruling itself.

Section 15 of the Arbitration Act gives the High Court of Tanzania outright powers to dismiss the ICC ruling.

"Where an arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or an arbitration or award has been improperly procured, the court may set aside the award," says the legislation.

Before Dowans can claim any payment of funds, the complete ruling of the ICC has to be registered at the High Court of Tanzania to become enforceable by law.

But legal experts say enforcement of the ICC ruling would be unconstitutional because it would directly contravene the country's Public Procurement Act of 2004.

"One of the major flaws of the ICC ruling is that it unlawfully attempts give legality to the Richmond/Dowans contract, which was deemed illegal under Tanzania's Public Procurement Act," a respected government lawyer told THISDAY.

The 2006 tender process was hijacked from TANESCO by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and high-level government officials.

Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa appointed a government negotiation team that finally awarded the contract to Richmond against TANESCO's expert advice.

"Section 31 of the Public Procurement Act explicitly states that no public body shall award any contract unless the award has been approved by the appropriate tender board," he said.

"Under the country's law, the Richmond/Dowans contract is the product of an illegal tendering system because it was not awarded by TANESCO's own tender board."

This was the basis for TANESCO's ultimate decision to terminate the contract assigned to Dowans Tanzania Limited by Richmond.

The dubious ICC ruling, which has not been fully made public by the International Chamber of Commerce itself, Dowans nor the government, orders the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to pay Dowans tens of millions of dollars.

Contrary to a popularly quoted figure of 185.5 billion/-, it is understood that ICC has ordered TANESCO to pay Dowans around $64.2 million (97 billion/-), which is still a collosal amount of money.

"The High Court has power to either bless the ICC ruling or set it aside. In this case, since the ruling goes against the law of the land, the High Court will have little choice but to reject it," said another official close to the judiciary.

Well-placed government officials told THISDAY there was intese lobbying to ensure the government makes the payment ordered by ICC to the proprietors of Dowans as quickly as possible.

"Payment vouchers have been prepared at Treasury and all the relevant paperwork is ready to make swift payment to Dowans after the final go ahead is given," an official in the Ministry of Finance told THISDAY.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Attorney General Frederick Werema have separately issued controversial statements suggesting that the government was ready to make the illegal payment to Dowans.

However, legal experts say the government appears to be strangely rushing to make the payment while there is legal recourse for TANESCO to avoid the crippling payment.

The cash-strapped TANESCO has raised power tariffs by 18.5 percent effectively from January 1, but says it is still operating at a huge loss primarily due to monthly capacity charges being paid to Songas Limited and Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL).

TANESCO's average monthly revenue collection amounts to around 40 billion/-.

Each month, the state-run power utility pays 6.1 billion/- to Songas and another 3.5 billion to IPTL in capacity charges alone, amounting to a staggering 9.6 billion/-.

"TANESCO spends another 5.5 billion/- each month to service a syndicated loan and doles out another 5 billion/- per month for various contractual commitments," said an official close to the energy sector.

"If TANESCO is forced to pay Dowans on the basis of the ICC ruling, just as it was forced to sign the Richmond/Dowans contract, this company will collapse."

TANESCO secured a syndicated loan of 300 billion/- in 2007 from various local commercial banks.

The highly-indebted public utility also recently obtained a loan of $468 million (approx. 700 billion/-) from the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund to strengthen the power transmission grid.

<THISDAY, Jan 3-9 issue>

 

[Michelle]

Tuko pamoja nao na tutashukuru sana hilo likifanikiwa.

 

[Sailor Boy]

HIZO NI ELA ZA CCEM HAMA DOWANS WALA NN:love::car:

 

[PMNBuko]

AZAKI nazikubali sana. Big up! Tukimaliza hilo, twende kwa lile la Arusha. Tuseme wazi waliohusika wafanywe nini kwa mjibu wa Sheria. Hilo likiisha Katiba. Tutoe mapendekezo yetu ya namna Katiba inapaswa kufanana. Mwisho, tumalizie na uchaguzi mkuu kurudiwa ili katiba mpya itekelezwe na Chama Makini CDM. Au mnasemaje?

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

Sasa maana na nguvu halisi ya ASASI ZA KIRAIA nchini kwetu yaelekea kutugusa kama wananchi tofauti na huko nyuma.

Pia tungependa kuona mashitaka ya mauaji ya kinyama jijini Arusha yakifikishwa mahakamani, ASASI hizi zikifuatilia MIKATABA YOTE nchini mwetu tangu inapoundwa, kutiliwa sahihi na utekelezaji wake kama kweli unaendana na mipango ilivyokua inasema tangu awali.

Vile vile tunaomba sana kuwepo na ASASI ZA KIRAIA za kusimamia BAJETI ZA SERIKALI zinapopangwa na kuhakikisha kwamba bajeti hizo zinazalishwa na wananchi wenyewe ndipo waweze kuzisimamia vizuri.

Uzoefu unaonyesha ya kwamba miradi ikiibuliwa, kupangwa na wananchi ushiriki wao unakua mzuri zaidi na mafanikio kupatikana makubwa. Na basi uzoefu huu tukauingize pia kwenye bajeti za serikali ili tuweze kuwa sehemu muhimu ya mchakato mzima.

ASASI ZA KIRAIA, tunawategemeeni sana kusaidia kufikia aina ya Tanzania tunayoitamani siku zote. Waandishi wa habari ivalieni njuga wazo hili ili tuondoe nafasi za serikali kubuni bajeti za kuwadanganyia wafadhili na sisi kuonyeshwa kituko cha dunia nyingine kabisa.

 

[VoiceOfReason]

Mi naona sasa kutokuwalipa tu haitoshi...... inabidi tujue hao Jamaa ni kina nani ili tuwafanye wawe mfano ili wengine wasirudie huu upuuzi