BAE: The arrogance of hypocracy

[Ragamuffin]

THE wrangling between Britain and Tanzania on the modality of remitting 46 million US dollars (over 60bn/-), swindled from the government by the British BAE Systems, is costing Tanzanians doubly, unnecessarily.

The plan announced by Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Membe to send a team of senior officials to London, ostensibly to negotiate the release of the fine money to the government entails avoidable expenditure.

Britain can save Tanzanian taxpayers that wastage by acting rationally and returning the money where it belongs. Indeed, the suggestion to channel the cash to charity organisations is insulting to the Tanzania government, to say the least.

It is a suggestion that the government is irresponsible and wasteful, such that it cannot be trusted with money, the implication being that the charity organisations are more trustworthy.

That is truly unkind to a popularly-elected government of a sovereign state. It was the same British arrogance that was used to colonise Africa and later to delay granting our countries independence.

The pretext was that Africans were not capable of doing anything on their own, let alone self rule. But it is a matter of record that such excuse was deliberately used to plunder our resources and turn our countries into permanent markets for European manufactures.

It may well be that the charity organisations to which London wishes to hand the Tanzanian taxpayers’ money are British, which would be a perfect ploy to ensure the money returns to Britain.

And why doesn’t the British standard for remittance of BAE Systems fines apply to the US? While Tanzania is being lectured to accept its money back through NGOs, the government in Washington will be paid directly! We think Mr Membe has made it abundantly clear that Britain has no right to impose conditions for the return of the money stolen from the Tanzania government.

The two countries enjoy cordial relations built on mutual respect and there is absolutely no reason for London to rock the boat.

24th April 2010

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The Tanzanian government is chirping loudly over the BAE scandal and the fact that the 46 million US dollar fine to be remitted back to Tanzania will be given to charitable organisations and not the Tanzanian government.

So incensed is the Tanzanian government, that Bernard Membe, Minister of Foreign Affairs is reportedly sending a team of senior officials to London to negotiate the release of the money directly to central government.

If indeed Mr. Membe’s plea is successful, this will mean that corrupt Tanzanian Ministers will be rewarded twice for their corruption taking corruption in Tanzania to an ingenious and uniquly high level, even for Africa!

The Tanzanian government’s newspaper the Daily News, reported yesterday that Britain should return the money to central government suggesting any other course would be akin to conduct used by the British to colonise Tanzania and plunder it’s resources. It further suggested that the charities to which the money would be paid over would be British and ‘a perfect ploy to ensure the money returns to Britain’.

The Daily News accuses Briton of arrogance and states ‘’ We think Mr Membe has made it abundantly clear that Britain has no right to impose conditions for the return of the money stolen from the Tanzania government ….the two countries enjoy cordial relations built on mutual respect and there is absolutely no reason for London to rock the boat’.

Bizarrely, the Tanzanian government appear to be suggesting that the returning funds were stolen from the Tanzanian government. Let us be clear what these funds represent. The funds represent a bribe paid to the Tanzanian government, nothing more or nothing less. Those who accepted the bribe within the Tanzanian government have not been named or dealt with in accordance with Tanzanian law and there appears to be no investigation proceeding in this respect.

Until such time as the Tanzanian government are prepared to be self effacing about the situation and publicly expose the Tanzanian Ministers involved in the corruption in this case then it may be more prudent of Mr. Member to simply be grateful that the money is being returned in any form!

It is debatable whose arrogance is involved here. In any event, let us please be spared the colonial clap trap.

 

[nzehe]

There is no need to send the team to the UK since they will spend twice the amount contested as per diem allowances.the british judges foresawthe problemthat is why the monies realized from the fines will be channeled direct to the needy!

 

[Kiranga]

Nimependa hiyo juxtaposition ya hizo articles mbili, muandishi wetu hajisumbui hata kufanya spin ana invoke colonialism.Kidogo tu tutaingia kwenye Mugabeism.

Ukweli ni kwamba Waingereza wako justified kutoiamini serikali ya Tanzani, sababu zimeelezwa hapo juu na nyingine zipo

Ukweli mwingine ni kwamba Uongozi pande zote mbili umeangusha watu. Watanzania watakuwa shortchanged either way.Hela zikipelekwa serikalini CCM watagawana na zingine kufanya hela za kampeni, zikipitia NGO's wajanja watazitafuna, choose your poison.

Huyo muandishi wa Daily News ajifunze kuandika kwa aibu, maana hapo juu ameandika kama malaya wa wakubwa tu.

 

[Kinyambiss]

Well they shouldnt judge because Blair pushed the issue ile mbaya in cabinet..so wote wanafiki tuu.

 

[Ndahani]

Sisi ndio wanafaki ikiwa kama hata baada ya kupata ushahidi wa rushwa ya ununuzi huo wa rada wahusika bado wanaendelea kupigiwa makofi wakiitwa waheshimiwa, bila kuchukuliwa hatua yoyote. Ndio hapo najiuliza sana hivi tumeamua kuhalalisha wizi na ufisadi kiasi kama hiki?

 

[Zhule]

The writer pokes his/her nose as if Tanzanias Government has done something since they were given that sovereignity. Actualy they have done nothing. See, they are calling back Germany government to take care of the central railway they built. They are doing the same for Chinese government for the Tazara. And what happed to the tanzanian once world leading sisal estates! By the way what about the kickbacks to offshore account? Are they not the tax payers money? what have you done to secure them. Shame on you!

 

[Sn2139]

This saga poses a paradox position on the government of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT). Both ways the URT reflects a shameful image. Tanzania did not bother to carry out a thorough investigation on the way the radar was purchased and left the whole burden to the UK-SFO. You know what, the SFO could have decided to clear all the suspects and make no compensation to anyone. On such a scenario I don’t know if the URT could have grounds to complain and reasons to negotiate with the British government.

On the other hand the UK decided the remittance of about 46 million USD to Tanzania without any appeal or instruction from the URT. Tanzania doesn’t even know the formula used to determine the remittable amount! Why? Why complain now?

Tanzania did not do her homework; it has just submitted someone’s report and now is emerging higher than to claim for the credits from the work it did not sweat for …! Our government is, at any rate, humiliating herself really. The government appears to be saying that: money for corruption is ours … bring it back quickly “na usipoleta patachimbika”! On the other hand it says “the corrupt guys Chenge, Vithlan etc are mere suspects until proved otherwise by the court”. Hilo ni bonge la aibu!!! The UK knows the position of Tanzania on this saga and will dillydally with the decision so as to increase the degree of damage of shame on us! Shame on us?

 

[Ragamuffin]

And your point is?

 

[Ragamuffin]

There is undoubtedly shame all around.

What I don't see, is the Tanzanian government dealing with thost accepted the bribes and offering to pay the money they received over to charity!

 

[MpendaTz]

I am stupefied by the Government decision to send a team to demand that the money be returned directly to its accounts. Which money first of all? The British had a decision in hand not to even provide that cash because we did not support so much the investigations. We left SFO to do all the work, we even released Vighlani to go free and now we are crying stupidly. We call for Tanzanian MPs to question the minister and the Government as a whole on the rationale of sending a team to Britain. Which budget is the team going to use? the Vijisenti one? Couldn't these cheap demands be made locally through the British Ambassador? I think its high time the government of Tanzania stops fooling its Wananchi. The British are smart and they know how corrupt is the Government, they are going to receive the team and provide them with an extended schedule of meetings such that the period of stay and the bills are almost equal to the amount the government is demanding. Then finally decide OK, now we are releasing the funds. WE LIKE TO PUT OURSELVES IN THIS KIND OF STUPID SITUATIONS, I HATE IT! ULAANIWE UAMUZI HUU! UNATUFANYA NCHI NZIMA KUONEKANA MAJUHAAAA!!!!!!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

I like this:

If indeed Mr. Membe's plea is successful, this will mean that corrupt Tanzanian Ministers will be rewarded twice for their corruption taking corruption in Tanzania to an ingenious and uniquly high level, even for Africa!

 

[mmakonde]

Nimependa hiyo juxtaposition ya hizo articles mbili, muandishi wetu hajisumbui hata kufanya spin ana invoke colonialism.Kidogo tu tutaingia kwenye Mugabeism.

Ukweli ni kwamba Waingereza wako justified kutoiamini serikali ya Tanzani, sababu zimeelezwa hapo juu na nyingine zipo

Ukweli mwingine ni kwamba Uongozi pande zote mbili umeangusha watu. Watanzania watakuwa shortchanged either way.Hela zikipelekwa serikalini CCM watagawana na zingine kufanya hela za kampeni, zikipitia NGO's wajanja watazitafuna, choose your poison.

Huyo muandishi wa Daily News ajifunze kuandika kwa aibu, maana hapo juu ameandika kama malaya wa wakubwa tu.

Kumbuka magazeti ya Uhuru ,Mzalendo na Daily News ni propaganda ya serikali toka zamani.Kama akina Vijisenti ,Dr Rashid wako huru,je Mzungu unafikiri ni mjinga kama majority ya viongozi wetu?Ukisoma magazeti huru ,hata liberal/conservative papers UK,tangu enzi ya Mkapa walishashtukia serikali ya Mkapa.Hakuna hata paper moja lilosupport ununuaji wa Radar.Hata ununuaji wa President jet walilaani kwa nchi poor kama Tanzania.

Leo akina Membe eti kujifanya wana morality kuhusu suala la pesa za BAE it is beggars belief.

 

[Kiby]

Tutafungamana na hii serikali inayotufanya tuonekana majuha katika medani za kimataifa hata lini? Safari ya viongozi wetu huko london haitofautiani na filamu ya Usonfye in London. Ndio namaanisha hivyo!! Mwakumbuka kina karamagi kwenda kusaini mkataba wa madini mgahawani huko london. Tena cha kustajabisha na mkulu wa serikali bungeni wakati huo alikuwa windowshoping katika mgahawa huo huo. Ndugu wananchi, mwaka uliokubadilika kuiondoa hii brutal rigime ni huu. Hakikikisha kwamba kitambulisho chako cha kupiga kura kipo mahali salama hadi october.