Wadau: Dowans imechimbia kaburi CCM

[Rutashubanyuma]

Dowans yaipiga chenga serikali
• Sasa kuibana serikali kila kona mpaka walipwe

na Happiness Katabazi

HATIMAYE kampuni ya kufua umeme ya Dowans Holdings SA na Dowans Tanzania Ltd zimewasilisha rasmi ombi la kuomba fidia ya sh bilioni 94 isajiliwe katika Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam.
Fidia hiyo ni ile iliyoamriwa kulipwa na TANESCO kwa kampuni hiyo baada ya shirika hilo la ugavi wa umeme nchini kutiwa hatiani na mahakama ya kimataifa ya usuluhishi migogoro ya kibiashara (ICC), kwa kile kilichoelezwa kuwa ilivunja mkataba baina yake na kampuni hiyo kinyume cha taratibu.
Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari ofisini kwake jana mchana jijini Dar es Salaam, Naibu Msajili Mwandamizi wa Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam, Salvatory Bongole, alisema ombi hilo la Dowans dhidi ya TANESCO, liliwasilishwa Januari 25 mwaka huu mahakamani hapo na wakili wa kujitegemea ambaye anaiwakilisha kampuni hiyo, Kennedy Fungamtama.
Bongele alisema ombi hilo limepewa namba 8/2011 na jaji wa kulisikiliza ameshapangwa ingawa tarehe ya kuanza kusikilizwa kwa ombi hilo bado haijapangwa.
“Kimsingi Dowans imeshawasilisha ombi la kuiomba Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam isajili tuzo ya fidia ya sh bilioni 94 waliyoishinda TANESCO katika Mahakama ya ICC…na kweli mahakama imelipokea ombi hilo na kulipatia namba na jaji wa kuanza kuisikiliza…na tuzo hiyo iliwasilishwa hapa Mahakama Kuu na mahakama ya ICC wiki iliyopita.
“Kwa hiyo naomba Watanzania wafahamu kuwa tuzo ya hukumu iliyotolewa na ICC kwa Dowans iliwasilishwa mahakamani hapo wiki iliyopita na iliwasilishwa na mahakama ya ICC yenyewe kwa kuwa huo ndiyo utaratibu wa sheria unavyotaka.
“Na kilichofanywa na Dowans Januari 25 mwaka huu, kupitia wakili wao Fungamtama ni kuwasilisha ombi la kuiomba Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam isajili tuzo yao hiyo …kwa hiyo ieleweke kwamba tuzo ya Dowans bado haijasajiliwa kwani taratibu za kisheria zina kwenda hatua kwa hatua, ”Alisema Bongole.
Hata hivyo, taarifa nyingine za uhakika zinasema kuwa Dowans pia imesajili ombi lao hilo katika mahakama moja nchini Uingereza na kwamba mahakama hiyo inatarajia kutoa notisi ya siku 21 kwa TANESCO kutoa utetezi wake kuhusu kuridhia au kukataa kulipa fidia hiyo.
Hatua hiyo imeelezwa kuwa ni mbinu ya tahadhari iliyochukuliwa na kampuni hiyo ili kujihakikishia kuwa inalipwa fidia yake hata kama maamuzi ya mahakama kuu ya hapa nchini yatabatilisha fidia yao waliyotunukiwa na ICC.
“Iwapo mahakama hiyo ya Uingereza itaridhia moja kwa moja kulipwa kwa fidia hiyo na TANESCO ikikataa, basi Dowans watawatumia mawakala wa kitaifa wanaofanya kazi ya kufilisi mali za wadaiwa, ili wakamate mali za serikali ya Tanzania zitakazolingana na thamani ya fidia hiyo ya sh bilioni 94,” alithibitisha zaidi mtoa taarifa wetu.
Tuzo hiyo ya Dowans iliamriwa na ICC Novemba 15 mwaka jana baada ya kampuni hiyo kuishinda TANESCO katika kesi yake ya kudai fidia ya kuvunjiwa mkataba iliyokuwa imefunguliwa rasmi Novemba 20 mwaka 2008 na kupewa namba 15947/VRO.
Tangu ICC itoe hukumu ambayo iliipa ushindi Dowans baadhi ya wananchi, wanasiasa wakiwemo na mawaziri walijitokeza hadharani kuitaka serikali isilipe fidia hiyo kwa madai kuwa kuilipa ni sawa na kuwazawadia mafisadi waliolidanganya taifa tangu ilipoletwa kwa kampuni dada ya Richmond ambayo baadaye ilikujagundulika kuwa ni ya kitapeli.
Hata hivyo, wanasiasa wachache wamekuwa wakiitaka serikali ilipe fidia hiyo kwani kutofanya hivyo ni kukiuka misingi ya utawala wa sheria na mikataba mbalimbali ya kimataifa kuhusu haki za raia na mataifa ambayo Tanzania imeridhia kuiheshimu na kuitekeleza.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Mahakama kuu yapokea maombi ya usajili wa Dowans Thursday, 27 January 2011 21:26

James Magai
MAHAKAMA Kuu, Kanda ya Dar es Salaama imesema kuwa imepokea na kuanza kufanyia kazi maombi maombi ya usajili wa malipo ya Sh94 bilioni kwa kampuni ya Dowans.

Naibu Msajili Mwandamizi wa mahakama hiyo, Salvatory Bongole, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jana kuwa kesi hiyo ya madai namba 8 ya mwaka ya mwaka 2011, imesajiliwa Mahakama Kuu, Kanda ya Dar es Salaam.

Alisema sambamba na maombi hayo kusajiliwa ikiwa ni hatua ya awali ya Dowans kuanza kudai malipo ya fedha hiyo, shauri hilo pia limeangiwa Jaji wa kulisikiliza. Ombi la kusajili tuzo hiyo, liliwasilishwa mahakamani hapo na wakili wa Dowans Januari 25, mwaka huu.

Dowans iliwasilisha ombi hilo kama hatua za awali za kudai malipo ya Sh94 bilioni kwa serikali, baada ya kushinda kesi dhidi yake na Shirika la Ugavi wa Umeme nchini (Tanesco) iliyokuwa ikisikilizwa na Mahakama ya Usuluhishi ya Biashara ya Kimataifa, (ICC). ICC iliamuru Tanesco iilipe Dowans kiasi hicho cha fidia, Novemba 15 mwaka jana baada ya kubaini kuwa ilivunja mkataba baina yake na kampuni hiyo kinyume cha sheria.

"Maombi haya yaliletwa na wakili Kennedy Fungamtama kwa niaba ya Dowans na mahakama imeyapokea na yamesajiliwa kama Miscellaneous Civil Application no.8 ya mwaka 2011 (maombi ya madai) na tayari yameshapangiwa jaji wa kulisikiliza shauri hilo," alisema Bongole.

Bongole aliomba jina la jaji huyo atakayesikiliza maombi hayo lihifadhiwe kwanza kwa kuwa licha ya kupangiwa kusikiliza bado, kuna taratibu za kisheria ambazo hazijakamilika.

Mwananchi ilipata taarifa za tuzo hilo kusajiliwa mahakamani hapo juzi, lakini wakili huyo wa Dowans alikataa kuzungumzia suala hilo ingawa Bongole alithibitisha. "Ni kweli maombi hayo yaliletwa hapa jana (juzi), lakini kwa sasa yako kwa wakubwa wangu kwa ajili ya kuangalia taribu za kisheria kama zimekamilika," alisema.

Kusajiliwa kwa tuzo hiyo kutakuwa ni mchakato wa kuanza kwa malipo hayo, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuipa nguvu ya kisheria Mahakama Kuu kuilazimisha serikali kulipa.

Juma lililopita Bongole aliliambia Mwananchi kuwa tayari tuzo hiyo iliwasilishwa mahakamani hapo na Katibu wa Sekretarieti ya ICC Victory Oraowski, lakini ali haijapokea rasmi kisheria.

Awali Bongole alisema mchakato wa usajili wa tuzo hiyo ulikuwa haujanza kwa kuwa utaratibu wa kisheria haujakamilika kulinganga na taratibu za usuluhishi na tuzo zinazotolewa bila amri ya mahakama.

"Sheria zinazotumika katika usajili wa tuzo hiyo ni Sheria ya Usuluhishi (Arbitration Act) Sura ya 15 ya Sheria za Tanzania na sheria ya Mwenendo wa Mashauri ya Madai (Civil Procedure Code- CPC), sura ya 33 jedwali la 2 kifungu cha 20.

Bongole alisema kwa mujibu wa kifungu hicho baada ya tuzo hiyo kuwasilishwa mahakamani, mshinda tuzo anapaswa kuwasilisha maombi ya maandishi akiambatanisha na hati ya kiapo ili tuzo yake iweze kusajiliwa. Wakati Dowans ikiwasilisha maombi hayo mahakamani hapo tayari mashirika 17 ya wanaharakati yameshawasilisha mahakamani kusudio la kuweka pingamizi la usajili wa tuzo hiyo ikiwa ni pamoja na malipo.

Januari 11 mwaka huu Kituo cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC), kwa kushirikiana na wanaharakati wa haki za kijinsia nchini kiliwasilisha Mahakama Kuu Kitengo cha Biashara taarifa ya kupinga Serikali isiilipe fidia hiyo.


Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa LHRC, Francis Kiwanga aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kuwa wameamua kuwaka pingamizi kutokana na mikataba ya awali ya kampuni ya Dowans kupatikana kwa rushwa na kukiuka maslahi ya umma.
Lakini Januari 19 LHRC iliwasilisha barua nyingine Mahakama Kuu ikielezea nia ya kupinga usajili wa tuzo hiyo ili isisajiliwe mahakamani hapo baada ya kupata taarifa kuwa imewasilishwa hapo, kwa madai kuwa tayari wamewasilisha nia hiyo Mahakama ya Biashara.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

"Sheria zinazotumika katika usajili wa tuzo hiyo ni Sheria ya Usuluhishi (Arbitration Act) Sura ya 15 ya Sheria za Tanzania na sheria ya Mwenendo wa Mashauri ya Madai (Civil Procedure Code- CPC), sura ya 33 jedwali la 2 kifungu cha 20.

Sheria hizi zinalinda haki za walaji pia.........haziegemei upande mmoja tu kama baadhi ya watu wanavyodhani................

 

[BAK]

DOWANS SAGA Fierce propaganda campaign unleashed




By ThisDay Reporter

27th January 2011




...AS SENIOR OFFICIAL WARNS: "IT'S MORALLY, ETHICALLY AND LEGALLY
WRONG FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY DOWANS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES."


A sophisticated propaganda campaign has been unleashed to dupe Tanzanians and senior government officials to approve a dubious payment of more than $65.8 million (approx. 100 billion shillings) plus interest to Dowans Holdings SA/Dowans Tanzania Limited for an illegal power generation contract, it has been revealed.

The perfectly planned propaganda, which is firmly underway, is aimed at deliberately confusing senior officials in President Jakaya Kikwete's government and members of the public with threats, intimidations and false arguments to ensure the government pays up.

"A psychological warfare is being waged in favour of payments to Dowans. The president is getting conflicting advice from all directions and maybe he doesn't even know who to believe. Perhaps this explains why he has been so quiet about the whole issue," a senior official close to the government told THISDAY.

She added: "It's morally, ethically and legally wrong for the government to pay Dowans under any circumstances for a contract that has been deemed illegal under the country's laws. There is no way to justify such a payment."

Sources familiar with the propaganda campaign orchestrated by beneficiaries of the planned Dowans payment said there is a well-funded plot to "brain-wash" Tanzanians to support the illegal deal.

"Influential people in society, including present-day and retired politicians, legal experts and even religious leaders have been compromised to support Dowans," she said.

"In the coming days, we will hear all sorts of people -- including opposition leaders -- coming out and supporting illegal payments to Dowans."

Top senior government officials and some journalists have also been recruited in the pro-Dowans campaign and are pushing hard for the state to make the dubious payments, it has been revealed.

In an unprecedented move, senior Cabinet ministers have been making conflicting public statements on whether or not Dowans should be paid, highlighting deep divisions within the highest levels of Kikwete's government on the matter.

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, William Ngeleja, has already announced that the government would pay Dowans $65.8 million on the basis of a controversial ruling by the International Court of Arbitration (ICC).

However, Ngeleja's decision has been widely opposed by members of the public and even some fellow cabinet ministers.

It is understood that there is deliberate communication being made through certain sections of the Tanzanian media aimed at influencing the attitude of the country toward Dowans.

"Some newspapers have been presenting information primarily to influence the audience to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented," said one official familiar with the pro-Dowans media blitz.

The Minister for East African Affairs, Samuel Sitta, and the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development, Dr Harisson Mwakyembe, who have publicly opposed the Dowans deal, are being targeted in a fierce media smear campaign.

"These pro-Dowans newspapers have been carrying out personal attacks on Sitta and Mwakyembe to try to divert the people's attention from the real issue at hand, which is the proposed payment of 100 billion shillings on the basis of an unlawful contract," said one official.

While a fierce propaganda campaign is being played out in public, efforts are underway quietly in government to ensure Dowans payment is made before the February 8 start of the next parliamentary session.

The Richmond/Dowans contract with the state-run Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) was terminated following recommendations of a parliamentary committee that probed the power generation deal signed in 2006.

The report, which was unanimously endorsed by he National Assembly, called for the termination of the contract because it contravened the Public Procurement Act of 2004.

Independent legal experts have explained that the government can avoid or even refuse outright to pay Dowans because of the the illegality of the contract under Tanzanian law.

The Arbitration Act gives the High Court of Tanzania powers to set aside the ICC ruling, but there has been a strong reluctance from certain government officials, including Ngeleja and Attorney General Frederick Werema, to use such legal recourse for unknown reasons.

This has prompted some civil society organisations in Tanzania to file a legal challenge at the High Court to try to block the planned dubious payment to Dowans.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Dowans yaipiga chenga serikali
• Sasa kuibana serikali kila kona mpaka walipwe

na Happiness Katabazi

HATIMAYE kampuni ya kufua umeme ya Dowans Holdings SA na Dowans Tanzania Ltd zimewasilisha rasmi ombi la kuomba fidia ya sh bilioni 94 isajiliwe katika Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam.
Fidia hiyo ni ile iliyoamriwa kulipwa na TANESCO kwa kampuni hiyo baada ya shirika hilo la ugavi wa umeme nchini kutiwa hatiani na mahakama ya kimataifa ya usuluhishi migogoro ya kibiashara (ICC), kwa kile kilichoelezwa kuwa ilivunja mkataba baina yake na kampuni hiyo kinyume cha taratibu.
Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari ofisini kwake jana mchana jijini Dar es Salaam, Naibu Msajili Mwandamizi wa Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam, Salvatory Bongole, alisema ombi hilo la Dowans dhidi ya TANESCO, liliwasilishwa Januari 25 mwaka huu mahakamani hapo na wakili wa kujitegemea ambaye anaiwakilisha kampuni hiyo, Kennedy Fungamtama.
Bongele alisema ombi hilo limepewa namba 8/2011 na jaji wa kulisikiliza ameshapangwa ingawa tarehe ya kuanza kusikilizwa kwa ombi hilo bado haijapangwa.
“Kimsingi Dowans imeshawasilisha ombi la kuiomba Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam isajili tuzo ya fidia ya sh bilioni 94 waliyoishinda TANESCO katika Mahakama ya ICC…na kweli mahakama imelipokea ombi hilo na kulipatia namba na jaji wa kuanza kuisikiliza…na tuzo hiyo iliwasilishwa hapa Mahakama Kuu na mahakama ya ICC wiki iliyopita.
“Kwa hiyo naomba Watanzania wafahamu kuwa tuzo ya hukumu iliyotolewa na ICC kwa Dowans iliwasilishwa mahakamani hapo wiki iliyopita na iliwasilishwa na mahakama ya ICC yenyewe kwa kuwa huo ndiyo utaratibu wa sheria unavyotaka.
“Na kilichofanywa na Dowans Januari 25 mwaka huu, kupitia wakili wao Fungamtama ni kuwasilisha ombi la kuiomba Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam isajili tuzo yao hiyo …kwa hiyo ieleweke kwamba tuzo ya Dowans bado haijasajiliwa kwani taratibu za kisheria zina kwenda hatua kwa hatua, ”Alisema Bongole.
Hata hivyo, taarifa nyingine za uhakika zinasema kuwa Dowans pia imesajili ombi lao hilo katika mahakama moja nchini Uingereza na kwamba mahakama hiyo inatarajia kutoa notisi ya siku 21 kwa TANESCO kutoa utetezi wake kuhusu kuridhia au kukataa kulipa fidia hiyo.
Hatua hiyo imeelezwa kuwa ni mbinu ya tahadhari iliyochukuliwa na kampuni hiyo ili kujihakikishia kuwa inalipwa fidia yake hata kama maamuzi ya mahakama kuu ya hapa nchini yatabatilisha fidia yao waliyotunukiwa na ICC.
“Iwapo mahakama hiyo ya Uingereza itaridhia moja kwa moja kulipwa kwa fidia hiyo na TANESCO ikikataa, basi Dowans watawatumia mawakala wa kitaifa wanaofanya kazi ya kufilisi mali za wadaiwa, ili wakamate mali za serikali ya Tanzania zitakazolingana na thamani ya fidia hiyo ya sh bilioni 94,” alithibitisha zaidi mtoa taarifa wetu.
Tuzo hiyo ya Dowans iliamriwa na ICC Novemba 15 mwaka jana baada ya kampuni hiyo kuishinda TANESCO katika kesi yake ya kudai fidia ya kuvunjiwa mkataba iliyokuwa imefunguliwa rasmi Novemba 20 mwaka 2008 na kupewa namba 15947/VRO.
Tangu ICC itoe hukumu ambayo iliipa ushindi Dowans baadhi ya wananchi, wanasiasa wakiwemo na mawaziri walijitokeza hadharani kuitaka serikali isilipe fidia hiyo kwa madai kuwa kuilipa ni sawa na kuwazawadia mafisadi waliolidanganya taifa tangu ilipoletwa kwa kampuni dada ya Richmond ambayo baadaye ilikujagundulika kuwa ni ya kitapeli.
Hata hivyo, wanasiasa wachache wamekuwa wakiitaka serikali ilipe fidia hiyo kwani kutofanya hivyo ni kukiuka misingi ya utawala wa sheria na mikataba mbalimbali ya kimataifa kuhusu haki za raia na mataifa ambayo Tanzania imeridhia kuiheshimu na kuitekeleza.