Kubwajinga
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- Jan 23, 2008
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By Correspondent Gadiosa Lamtey
16-05-2008
Reports that the Mining Review Committee is yet to get a chance to present its findings to President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete are incorrect, a lecturer with the University of Dar es Salaam has said.
It has been reported that the all inclusive committee formed to review mining contracts and recommend corrective measures is yet to submit its report to President Jakaya Kikwete, although the assignment was completed almost two months ago.
State House Communication Director Salva Rweyemamu told The Guardian yesterday the President had not yet received the report from the committee. Also, Committee Chairman Judge Mark Bomani said the report had been completed and was ready for submitting.
``The report is ready. We are only waiting for the President to give us a date when to submit it,`` Bomani said.
However, a Dar es Salaam-based political analyst Dr Laurean Ndumbaru said the appointed committee had not yet completed its task of preparing the final report before submitting it to the President.
``What they are supposed is to tell the truth that they have not yet finalized the report,`` said Dr. Ndumbaro, senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam.
He said the Committee could submit its report to Chief Secretary Philemon Luhanjo who would take it to the President.
He urged the committee to speed up the process by submitting the findings to the responsible authority on time as the public seemed to be tired of unfulfilled promises.
Asked to comment on allegations that his team was dillydallying because it was still finalizing its report, Judge Bomani said that the claims were untrue. ``We have completed our work. We are only waiting for the President to tell us when we can present him the findings.
We cannot present the recommendations to the Chief Secretary, because he is not the one who gave us the assignment. If you want, you can call the Chief Secretary if he is indeed the one who assigned us the task,`` Judge Bomani said and hung up.
The commission, which was formed by President Kikwete at the end of last year, was given until February this year to complete work and submit its recommendations.
It was tasked with reviewing commercial mining contracts and making recommendations that would enable the country to reach a win-win understanding with investors in the mining sector.
The committee was composed of opposition and ruling party legislators, mining experts and other government officials. It was also tasked to review laws governing the industry as well as analyse the taxation system in the mining industry.
Currently, mining companies pay three (3) per cent royalty, an amount seen as peanuts comparing to what they are reaping.
Commenting on the delay, Kahama MP-CCM, James Lembeli said the government decided to form the Mining Contracts Review Committee following the unfolding of the scandal on the Buzwagi mining contract.
``It was because of the on-going allegations on Buzwagi Mine, which is located in my constituency, that the committee was formed. I therefore wonder what has caused a delay in the presentation of the review team`s findings. The people are eager to know the recommendations,`` he said.
Lembeli said further delays could raise suspicion that the team`s report could be tampered with in the meantime. ``Let the document be presented to the President so that people`s faith in their government is preserved,`` the MP said.
Geita legislator-CCM, Ernest Mabina said MPs were eagerly waiting for the mining review team`s report so that they would discuss it. He said any delay in submitting the findings did not do justice to the wananchi.
`However, I understand that the terms of reference given to the committee covered a lot of areas, yet the time span for presenting the report had elapsed, there is a need to make the presidential probe team`s findings public,`` he said.
The MP called upon members of the public to remain patient until the time when the report would be presented.
On his part, Karatu Chadema MP Dr Wilbrod Slaa said lack of seriousness on national resources by the government was the main reason for its delay in making the report public.
Dr Slaa said the committee was supposed to submit its report in February this year although it is now May and nothing had been submitted yet. ``The government is not serious with its natural resources,`` Dr. Slaa said.
The opposition MP said the report should be made public for every Tanzanian to weigh whether they were getting a fair share from the mining industry or not.
The committee was made up of Judge Bomani, Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe, (Chadema), Kyela MP Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (CCM), Ezekiel Maige (Msalala, CCM), John Cheyo (Bariadi East, UDP) and Peter Machunde of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange.
Others were David Tarimo, a tax consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Maria Kejo, director of civil and international law in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Salome Makange, chief legal officer at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mugisha Kamugisha, commissioner for policy in the Ministry of Finance and Edward Kihundwa, assistant director for human settlements in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.
SOURCE: Guardian
16-05-2008
Reports that the Mining Review Committee is yet to get a chance to present its findings to President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete are incorrect, a lecturer with the University of Dar es Salaam has said.
It has been reported that the all inclusive committee formed to review mining contracts and recommend corrective measures is yet to submit its report to President Jakaya Kikwete, although the assignment was completed almost two months ago.
State House Communication Director Salva Rweyemamu told The Guardian yesterday the President had not yet received the report from the committee. Also, Committee Chairman Judge Mark Bomani said the report had been completed and was ready for submitting.
``The report is ready. We are only waiting for the President to give us a date when to submit it,`` Bomani said.
However, a Dar es Salaam-based political analyst Dr Laurean Ndumbaru said the appointed committee had not yet completed its task of preparing the final report before submitting it to the President.
``What they are supposed is to tell the truth that they have not yet finalized the report,`` said Dr. Ndumbaro, senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam.
He said the Committee could submit its report to Chief Secretary Philemon Luhanjo who would take it to the President.
He urged the committee to speed up the process by submitting the findings to the responsible authority on time as the public seemed to be tired of unfulfilled promises.
Asked to comment on allegations that his team was dillydallying because it was still finalizing its report, Judge Bomani said that the claims were untrue. ``We have completed our work. We are only waiting for the President to tell us when we can present him the findings.
We cannot present the recommendations to the Chief Secretary, because he is not the one who gave us the assignment. If you want, you can call the Chief Secretary if he is indeed the one who assigned us the task,`` Judge Bomani said and hung up.
The commission, which was formed by President Kikwete at the end of last year, was given until February this year to complete work and submit its recommendations.
It was tasked with reviewing commercial mining contracts and making recommendations that would enable the country to reach a win-win understanding with investors in the mining sector.
The committee was composed of opposition and ruling party legislators, mining experts and other government officials. It was also tasked to review laws governing the industry as well as analyse the taxation system in the mining industry.
Currently, mining companies pay three (3) per cent royalty, an amount seen as peanuts comparing to what they are reaping.
Commenting on the delay, Kahama MP-CCM, James Lembeli said the government decided to form the Mining Contracts Review Committee following the unfolding of the scandal on the Buzwagi mining contract.
``It was because of the on-going allegations on Buzwagi Mine, which is located in my constituency, that the committee was formed. I therefore wonder what has caused a delay in the presentation of the review team`s findings. The people are eager to know the recommendations,`` he said.
Lembeli said further delays could raise suspicion that the team`s report could be tampered with in the meantime. ``Let the document be presented to the President so that people`s faith in their government is preserved,`` the MP said.
Geita legislator-CCM, Ernest Mabina said MPs were eagerly waiting for the mining review team`s report so that they would discuss it. He said any delay in submitting the findings did not do justice to the wananchi.
`However, I understand that the terms of reference given to the committee covered a lot of areas, yet the time span for presenting the report had elapsed, there is a need to make the presidential probe team`s findings public,`` he said.
The MP called upon members of the public to remain patient until the time when the report would be presented.
On his part, Karatu Chadema MP Dr Wilbrod Slaa said lack of seriousness on national resources by the government was the main reason for its delay in making the report public.
Dr Slaa said the committee was supposed to submit its report in February this year although it is now May and nothing had been submitted yet. ``The government is not serious with its natural resources,`` Dr. Slaa said.
The opposition MP said the report should be made public for every Tanzanian to weigh whether they were getting a fair share from the mining industry or not.
The committee was made up of Judge Bomani, Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe, (Chadema), Kyela MP Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (CCM), Ezekiel Maige (Msalala, CCM), John Cheyo (Bariadi East, UDP) and Peter Machunde of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange.
Others were David Tarimo, a tax consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Maria Kejo, director of civil and international law in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Salome Makange, chief legal officer at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Mugisha Kamugisha, commissioner for policy in the Ministry of Finance and Edward Kihundwa, assistant director for human settlements in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements.
SOURCE: Guardian
