Sakata la Richmond lalipuka tena bungeni

[BAK]

Sakata la Richmond lalipuka tena bungeni

Mwandishi Wetu Februari 11, 2009
Raia Mwema~Muungwana ni Vitendo​

LILE sakata la mradi wa umeme wa dharura uliokabidhiwa kampuni ya Richmond Development LLC limeibuka tena kwa kasi bungeni huku baadhi ya wabunge wakionyesha kutoridhishwa jinsi Serikali inavyolishughulikia, imefahamika.

Baadhi ya wabunge waliozungumza na Raia Mwema wiki hii wanasema wanasubiri kwa hamu taarifa ya utekelezaji wa maazimio ya Bunge kuhusu kashfa ya kampuni ya kufua umeme wa dharura ya Richmond, itakayowasilishwa na Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda.

Miongoni mwa hatua ambazo zimeelezwa kutowaridhisha wabunge ni uamuzi wa kumfikisha mahakamani mtu mmoja pekee, Mkurugenzi wa Richmond Development Tanzania, Naeem Gire.

Wabunge hao wamekejeli uamuzi huo wa kumfikisha mahakamani, Mkurugenzi wa Richmond Development Tanzania, Naeem Gire, ilihali ikitambulika kuwa kampuni iliyoingia mkataba na TANESCO si hiyo bali ni Kampuni ya Richmond Development LLC ya Huston, Marekani.

Lakini mbali na ukweli huo kwamba mkataba uliokuwapo ni kati ya TANESCO na Richmond Development LLC ya Huston, Marekani (na si Richmond-Tanzania), wabunge hao wamesema inashangaza kumshitaki Naeem Gire, ambaye hana hisa katika kampuni hiyo ya Marekani.

Wamesisitiza kuwa aliyepaswa kushitakiwa ni yule aliyeingia mkataba na TANESCO, yaani Richmond ya Marekani na si Richmond ya Tanzania , ambayo haipo.

Wamesema utata mwingine upo katika aina ya mashitaka yanayomkabili Gire ambayo ni kusema uongo kuwa anayo ridhaa ya kisheria ya kuendesha shughuli za Richmond ya Huston nchini Tanzania.

Wabunge hao wamefafanua kuwa wanachotarajia kitakachotokea katika mwenendo wa kesi hiyo ni Richmond ya Huston kuwasilisha barua itakayothibitisha kuwa Gire aliruhusiwa kuendesha shughuli za Richmond ya Huston, nchini Tanzania na huo ndiyo unaotarajiwa kuwa mwisho wa kesi hiyo.

Wameidokeza Raia Mwema kuwa kama Serikali ilikuwa na dhamira ya dhati ya kuchukua hatua za kimahakama dhidi ya wahusika, basi aliyestahili kukamatwa ni mkurugenzi wa Richmond ya Huston-Texas, Marekani ambayo ndiyo iliingia mkataba na TANESCO, mkataba ambao ilishindwa kuutekeleza kikamilifu na kwa wakati.

Lakini mbali na wabunge hao kutoridhishwa na taarifa ya Serikali, imebainika pia kwamba bodi ya wakurugenzi wa Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT), imetumbukia katika utata kuhusu kashfa ya Kampuni ya Richmond Development LLC, kutokana na hatua yake ya kutoa taarifa inayopingana na ripoti ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG).

Katika ripoti yake, BoT iliwahi kutoa taarifa kwa Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda, kuwa mrithi wa mkataba wa Richmond, kampuni ya Dowans Holdings S.A ililipwa kihalali malipo ya ziada ya $4,865,000 za Marekani (zaidi ya Sh bilioni 4.9), ikiwa ni gharama ya usafirishaji wa mitambo ya kufua umeme.

Lakini wakati taarifa hiyo ya BoT ikisema hivyo, ripoti ya CAG ya ukaguzi wa hesabu za Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (TANESCO) kwa mwaka unaoshia Desemba 2007, inabainisha kuwa fedha hizo hazikustaili kulipwa Dowans na kusisitiza kuwa zinapaswa kurejeshwa.

Ripoti ya CAG inabainisha kuwa mara baada ya Dowans kulipwa fedha hizo ilipaswa kuzirejesha serikalini lakini haikufanya hivyo hadi mkataba iliorithi kutoka Richmond ilipovunjwa na TANESCO, Agosti mosi, mwaka 2008.

Mbali na Dowans, ripoti ya CAG inabainisha pia kwamba Richmond iliondoka na kitita kingine cha Serikali cha takriban Sh bilioni 23, fedha ambazo zilitolewa kwa kampuni hiyo ili pamoja na mambo mengine kufanikisha ufunguaji wa hati ya muamana (letter of credit).

Fedha hizo zilitolewa kwa Richmond kutoka serikalini ili baadaye zirejeshwe kwa awamu. Fedha za jumla zilizotolewa katika makubaliano hayo ni takriban Sh bilioni 30, lakini Richmond ilifanikiwa kurejesha Sh bilioni saba pekee.

Wabunge wengi walionekana kutoridhishwa na utekelezaji maazimio kadhaa, hususan azimio namba 10. Matakwa ya Azimio hilo yalitaka Gavana wa Benki Kuu pamoja na Bodi ya Wakurugenzi wachunguze kwa makini uhalali wa malipo ya ziada ($4,865,000) yaliyofanywa kwa Dowans Holdings A.S, iliyorithi majukumu ya Richmond Development Company na kuwachukulia hatua waliohusika na uzembe huo.

Kwa kuzingatia azimio hilo , Waziri Mkuu Pinda, Agosti mwaka jana aliwasilisha taarifa yake ikielezea kuwa malipo hayo yalikuwa halali, taarifa inayopingana na ile ya CAG.

Pinda aliwaeleza wabunge (Agosti, 2008) kuwa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi na Benki Kuu ya Tanzania walichunguza na kuona kuwa malipo ya Sh bilioni 4.9 ($4,865,000) yaliyolipwa kwa Kampuni ya Dowans Holdings S.A. iliyorithi majukumu ya Richmond Development Company LLC ni halali.

Akabainisha kuwa malipo hayo yalilipwa Februari 2, mwaka 2007 ikiwa ni gharama za ndege za usafirishaji wa mitambo ya kukodi ya umeme wa dharura, baada ya kupokea Invoice Namba EFD786675. Lakini wakati taarifa hiyo ikisema malipo ni halali, CAG anasema fedha hizo zinapaswa kurejeshwa serikalini.

 

[BAK]

Wednesday Feb 11, 2009

More heads to roll over Richmond saga

JAPHET SANGA in Dodoma, 11th February 2009 @ 11:08​

Former Energy and Minerals Ministers, Dr Ibrahim Msabaha and Mr Nazir Karamagi are likely to appear in court over the controversial contract between Richmond Development Company LLC and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (Tanesco).

Giving a government report on the implementation of parliamentary resolutions on the emergency power contract signed in June, 2006, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda told the House today that state organs have concluded investigations on the matter.

However, the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals reacted strongly over non-prosecution of the principal shareholder of Richmond, Mr Mohammed Gire who actually signed the contract between Richmond and Tanesco.

According to the parliamentary resolution number 18, the House had wanted owners of the Richmond Development Company LLC and Richmond Development Company (T) Ltd be arraigned for defrauding the government. The Managing Director of the latter, Mr Naem Gire, has already been arraigned.

The premier said since the two ministers took responsibility on the controversial contract by resigning last February, the government let security organs thoroughly investigate the issue of which they have completed. "The information we have is that security organs have finalized investigations on this matter," Mr Pinda told the 14th session of the House that wound up business here today.

According to the prime minister, the fate of members of the government negotiating team and other high-ranking officials in the public service being probed by security organs at the moment, would be determined upon completion of investigations. However, the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals said in its views read by a member, Mr Abdul Marombwa (Kibiti-CCM), that members of the government negotiating team on the contract should be made accountable as soon as possible.

The committee said since investigations on the team and other high-ranking officials in the public service was still on, the officials should be either sent on special leave, suspended or transferred elsewhere to pave way for thorough investigations. Richmond was contracted against proper public procurement procedures to generate emergency electricity in 2006, when Tanzania was reeling under acute shortage of power, after hydro-power dams dried up due to drought.

According to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), the contract was awarded to Richmond against Tanesco's advice on June 23, 2006. The company was controversially picked ahead of several other international firms, that applied for the tender to generate 100MW of thermal generated electricity in the country.

Eyebrows were raised as soon as the government sealed the deal with Richmond, eventually prompting formation of the parliamentary select committee chaired by Kyela legislator, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (CCM). It was the Richmond saga that led to the resignation of the then Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, on February 7, 2008.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has given all regional commissioners and district commissioners up to March 30, this year to make sure all pupils who passed last year national Std Seven examinations get chances in public secondary schools. Adjourning the 14th session of the House, the premier said that all leaders who would fail to implement the directive, should consider themselves as having failed to acquire one of the leadership qualities.

"Education to our children is not debatable. Every RC and DC should cultivate a culture of executing their obligations without waiting for reminders from top leadership or being pushed," he stressed. The Prime Minister also hinted that the system of disbursing loans to students of higher learning institutions would be reviewed, which means testing methods would be improved and village, ward and division leaders be involved. Mr Pinda expressed his grave concerns over increased road accidents, calling on state organs to effectively enforce traffic laws and regulations to address the situation.

 

[BAK]

Dowans yatesa Bunge

Mwandishi Wetu Februari 25, 2009
Raia Mwema~Muungwana ni Vitendo

Kisa ni kununua au kutonunua mitambo yake

Tanesco: Mgao miezi minne ijayo​

KUNA mvutano wa kimyakimya baina ya Kamati mbili za Kudumu za Bunge kuhusiana na ununuzi wa mitambo ya kufua umeme ya Dowans kama ilivyopendekezwa na Shirika la Umeme (Tanesco) ambalo linadai kwamba kama hatua hazitachukuliwa mapema, nchi itaingia katika mgao wa umeme miezi minne kuanzia sasa, Raia Mwema imefahamishwa.

Sambamba na hatari hiyo ya mgao na Kamati za Bunge kujichanganya, kuna maoni miongoni mwa umma kwamba Bunge limekuwa likiingilia sana masuala ya utendaji wa Serikali kiasi kwamba sasa inaonekana kama Bunge "linapaa na kuvuka mpaka wake huku Serikali ikirudisha nyuma majeshi yake katika masuala ya utendaji".

Kamati zinazolumbana ni za mashirika ya umma inayoongozwa na Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Kabwe Zitto na ya Nishati na Madini iliyo chini ya Mbunge wa Bumbuli, William Shellukindo.

Katika taarifa yake kuhusu hali ya umeme katika Gridi ya Taifa, TANESCO inapendekeza kuwa mtambo wa Dowans ununuliwe pamoja na vifaa vyote vya kuunganisha kwenye Gridi ya Taifa kwa Dola za Marekani milioni 60 (zaidi ya Sh bilioni 60).

Sababu za TANESCO kusisitiza ununuzi huo kunatajwa kuzingatia vigezo mbalimbali ambavyo ni pamoja na unafuu, ikielezwa kuwa kama utanunuliwa mtambo mpya gharama zake zitakuwa juu mno.

Kwa mujibu wa maelezo hayo, Kama Serikali itanunua mtambo mpya gharama ya mtambo pamoja na watalaamu wake inatajwa kuweza kufikia Dola za Marekani milioni 87 hadi 90 (zaidi ya Sh bilioni 87). Pia inaelezwa kuwa kutokana na TANESCO kuidai Dowans wastani wa Dola za Marekani milioni nane (zaidi ya Sh bilioni 8), deni hilo litakatwa katika fedha itakazolipwa Dowans wakati wa mchakato wa ununuzi.

Lakini jambo jingine kubwa zaidi katika mchakato huo wa ununuzi wa mitambo ya Dowans ni kwamba TANESCO imeanza kuiona Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma ni kikwazo ikiweka bayana kuwa suala la kununua mitambo iliyotumika katika sheria hiyo iangaliwe upya kwa makini na kwa manufaa ya sekta ya umeme nchini.

Baadhi ya watalaamu wa TANESCO wanasema licha ya mitambo hiyo kuwahi kutumika ukaguzi uliofanywa na kampuni ya kigeni ya TransCanada Turbines Uk Ltd, unabainisha kuwa mashine (mitambo) zote nne za Dowans ziko kwenye hali nzuri.

"Kwa ujumla hali ya mashine hizo ni nzuri kwa uzalishaji zaidi, mpaka sasa (Mei/2008) mashine LM6000PD haijafanyiwa uchunguzi kwa vile imefungwa karibuni ikiwa imeanza uzalishaji rasmi Oktoba 2007 ikiwa mpya kabisa.

"Kampuni ya Dowans walitoa orodha ya vipuri mbalimbali na kuonekana kuwa baadhi ya mashine ziliko kwenye tela, zilikuwa na vipuri zaidi kuliko mashine za LM6000PD. Mshauri wa kitalaamu alivikagua vipuri hivyo na kuridhika navyo," inaeleza sehemu ya maelezo ya TANESCO katika kutetea ununuzi wa mitambo ya Dowans.

Lakini wakati TANESCO ikiwa na msimamo huo, Kamati ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini inaamini kuwa ni kinyume cha Sheria ya Ununuzi wa Umma kununua mitambo hiyo ambayo kwa mujibu wa kamati ni chakavu.

Msimamo wa Kamati hiyo ya Shellukindo unatofautiana na wa Kamati ya Zitto ambayo inaunga mkono ununuzi wa mitambo hiyo kiasi cha kufikia hatua ya Zitto mwenyewe wiki iliyopita kumwandikia barua Spika wa Bunge, Samuel Sitta, akimuomba kuzikutanisha kamati hizo.

Zitto anataka Kamati hizo zikutanishwe ili kuwasilikiza watalaamu husika na kisha kujadili suala hilo na hatimaye kufikia uamuzi. Katika kikao hicho Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja anapendekezwa kuwapo, pamoja na uongozi wa TANESCO na Mamlaka ya Ununuzi wa Umma (PPRA). Kikao hicho kimependekezwa kufanyika Fabruari 28, mwaka huu, jijini Dar es Salaam.

Taarifa zinasema hoja ya Kamati ya Zitto ya kutaka kikao cha pande husika katika suala hilo inatokana na sababu nyingi ikiwamo kwamba inawezekana Kamati ya Shellukimdo haikupata wasaa muafaka wa kusikiliza hoja za Tanesco kuhusu haja ya ununuzi wa mitambo hiyo ya Dowans.

"Kuna uwezekano mkubwa wa kuingia katika mgao wa umeme wenye madhara makubwa kama Serikali na Bunge vikiendelea kushikilia msimamo wa kutonunua mitambo ya Dowans au mingine kutoka nje haraka," anasema mmoja wa wanasiasa waliozungumzia suala hili katika mahojiano mbalimbali na Raia Mwema wiki hii akiongeza:

"Kamati (ya Zitto) inasema kama hatua za kununua mitambo hiyo hazitafanyika kuna uwezekano wa kampuni binafsi kujitokeza kuinunua na kisha kuwauzia Tanesco ambayo italazimika kuwa inalipa capacity charge ambayo ni ghali".

Raia Mwema iliwasiliana na Spika Sitta kufahamu uamuzi wake kuhusu wito wa kamati hizo kukutana lakini akasema hakuwa amepata taarifa hiyo kwa kuwa yupo jimboni kwake, Urambo Mashariki.

"Bado sijapata hiyo barua nadhani kwa vile nipo huku jimboni. Lakini ninachosisitiza hapa ni kwamba si kazi ya Bunge kuingilia utendaji wa Serikali, lakini pili kama kuna tatizo hasa Serikali inazo njia bora zaidi za kushughulikia dharura," alisema Sitta ambaye katika mahojiano hayo ya simu Jumatatu alionekana kutotaka kuonekana Bunge likichukua nafasi ya Serikali katika kadhia hiyo.

Hata hivyo, habari zaidi zinabainisha kuwa Serikali imekuwa ikitaka kupata baraka za Bunge kutokana na ukweli kwamba chimbuko la Kampuni ya Dowans ni Kampuni tata ya Richmond ambayo Kamati Teule ya Bunge iliyoongozwa na Dk. Harrison Mwakyembe, ilibainisha kuwa ni kampuni hewa.

Lakini jambo jingine ni kwamba, Bunge lilitoa maazimio yake takriban 23 ambayo Serikali bado haijayatekeleza yote yakiwamo ya kusitisha uliokuwa mkataba kati ya Dowans na TANESCO wa kununua umeme kutoka katika mitambo hiyo ambayo sasa inatakiwa inunuliwe.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa za Kitengo cha Upelelezi wa Kichumi (EIU), hali ya upatikanaji wa nishati ya umeme tangu kuibuka kwa mgawo mkubwa wa umeme mwaka 2006, imekuwa si ya kuridhisha na wawekezaji wengi wa uzalishaji kwa kutumia umeme wamekuwa wakiwekeza zaidi katika nishati ya majenereta.

Baadhi ya wanasiasa wa zamani na wa sasa, waliozungumza na Raia Mwema wiki hii, wanaiona mivutano mingi kati ya Bunge na Serikali wanayoieleza kuwa ni sawa na Bunge kunyakua madaraka ya kiutendaji ya Serikali.
"Ni vizuri kuwa na Bunge imara. Lakini Bunge imara lazima lihakikishe kwamba halikwamishi utendaji serikalini. Mimi sijapata kuona Bunge linahamia katika eneo la utendaji wa kiserikali, kwa mfano, kwenda kukagua mitambo kama ya Dowans.

"Ninachokiona mimi ni Bunge lililovuka mipaka yake na Serikali iliyojiondoa katika masuala ya utendaji kwa hofu gani sijui. Leo tuna Dowans lakini juzi hapa tulikuwa na Vitalu. Hivi Bunge linataka liingie mpaka katika kugawa vitalu ili hao watendaji serikalini wafanye nini," alihoji mwanasiasa huyo akizungumza kwa masharti ya kutotajwa jina.

Mwingine alisema tukio la kuhitilifiana katika kauli la wiki chache zilizopita kati ya Jaji Mkuu, Augustino Ramadhani na Spika wa Bunge Sitta ni kielelezo cha Bunge kujaribu kuingilia utendaji wa mhimili mwingine, hata kama bila kujua.