Dua
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 14, 2006
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Angry MPs reject Karamagis Energy, Petroleum Bill
MP's should stand up to be counted forthwith.
MEMBERS of Parliament refused unanimously Friday to listen to Energy and Minerals Minister Nazir Karamagi and his team of resource persons at a seminar convened to discuss The Electricity Act, 2007 and the Petroleum Supply Act, 2007.
The MPs demanded almost angrily to see the report of the probe team on the controversial Richmond contract before they discuss the bills which they said would not help this countrys economy anyway. Mr George Simbachawene (Kibakwe CCM) was so irritated that he wrote a note to the seminar Charman, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (Kyela CCM), saying: I wish to die soon so that I do not witness the plight of future Tanzanians who would not have electricity.
He also wrote that future generations in this country would watch helplessly as so-called investors exploit their minerals. These Tanzanians would the houseboys and girls in the homes of these rich foreign masters. Energy Minister Karamagi walked out of the meeting head-down without being given chance by the incensed MPs to respond to their sentiments. Some legislators, who wished to remain anonymous, hinted that the current Bunge session would be stormy.
During emotional exchanges with the seminar chairperson, Ms Anne Malecela (Same East CCM) charged that some people in government thought MPs were stupid. This parliament is made up of upright men and women. There are no fools in here, she said, adding that she suspected some high-placed people in government had impoverished Tanesco.
We want to know exactly the reasons that brought on Tanescos critical financial problems. The company is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), she said. Addressing Minister Karamagi, the Same East legislator banged her desk charging: We will not discuss your Bills even if we sit in here until tomorrow. Not even for four days.
Dr Raphael Chegeni (Busega CCM) demanded that privatization should be stopped.He said, We have come to a point where privatization has thrown us into utter confusion and deeper poverty. He told fellow legislators to refuse to be used as rubberstamps. We should do what is expected of us by Tanzanians. Short of this we all should resign.
Mr Said Amour Arfi (Mpanda Kati Chadema) charged that the reasons that threw Tanesco into the ICU were political. He said some of the power supplies are located in uneconomic zones. He also demanded to know why Artumas used Tanesco power lines.
Mr Benson Mpesya (Mbeya Urban CCM); Mr Abdulkarim Shah (Mafia CCM); Mr Herbert Mntangi (Muheza CCM); Mr Job Ndugai (Kongwa CCM) and Mr Juma Killimbah (Iramba East CCM) demanded separately that the seminar be closed. Mr Michael Laizer (Longido CCM) did not see why MPs who hail from districts that do not have power were in the seminar. Why should we discuss these Bills? Our districts do not have electricity. And what happened to rural electrification schemes?
Mr Laizer told the chairman to close the seminar because the legislators were not in the mood to discuss anything substantial. Mr Hamad Rashid Mohamed (Wawi CUF), criticized the Bills saying not enough effort had gone into their formulation. The Electricity Act, 2007 seeks to provide for the facilitation and regulation of generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, supply and use of electric energy for cross border trade in electricity and planning of rural electrification.
The Petroleum Supply Act, 2007 envisages making provisions for importation, exportation, transportation, transformation, storage and wholesale and retail distribution of petroleum and its products in a liberalized market.
MP's should stand up to be counted forthwith.