Changa la macho!!

[BAK]

Jamaa wameshacheza na documents na sasa wanazungumza hadharani. Walikuwa wapi miezi yote hii kutwambia hili hadi leo? Fisadi Mkapa alishindwa kulizungumza hili mwenyewe pale tu lilipoanikwa hadharami miezi yote hii? Ni kipi kilichomfanya ashindwe kutwambia hili miezi yote hii? Ndio matatizo ya kutozifuatilia tuhuma nzito labda walifanya hivyo makusudi ili wampe jamaa muda wa kufanya vitu vyake ili kupoteza ushahidi!!! Duh!!


Kiwira yamsafisha Mkapa
Mwandishi Wetu
Daily News; Sunday,June 01, 2008 @19:01

Uongozi wa Kampuni ya Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd (KCP) inayomiliki mgodi wa Kiwira, umekanusha madai kuwa Rais mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa na mkewe Anna ni miongoni mwa wamiliki wa mgodi huo.

Badala yake, mgodi huo umesema Kampuni ya ANBEN inayomilikiwa na Mkapa na mkewe, ambayo awali ilikuwa sehemu ya Kampuni ya Tanpower, ilijitoa baada ya baadhi ya wanahisa wenzake kuwa na mpango wa kununua mgodi huo.

Mtendaji Mkuu wa KCP, Francis Tabaro, alisema ingawa katika hati za umiliki (Articles of Association) inaonyesha kuwa Mkapa ni sehemu ya Tanpower, lakini baadaye alijitoa.

"Ni kweli ANBEN ilikuwa sehemu ya Tanpower lakini baada ya wazo la kununua Kiwira kuingizwa na wadau wenzake, yeye aligoma akaona aitoe kampuni yake katika Tanpower," alisema Tabaro.

Tabaro pia alikanusha madai kuwa Anna Mkapa aliwahi kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Kiwira na akaeleza kuwa madai hayo hayana ukweli wowote, kwani kampuni hiyo haihusiani na kiongozi huyo.

Tabaro aliwataja wakurugenzi wa KCP kuwa ni Joseph Mbuna ambaye ni Mwenyekiti, Mafuru M. Mafuru, Wilfred Malkia na Evans Mapundi wakati serikali yenye hisa 15 katika mgodi huo inawakilishwa na Omari Chambo ambaye kwa sasa ni Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Maendeleo ya Miundombinu na Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa wa Mbeya, Asumpta Ndimbo.

Tabaro alisema upotoshaji unaofanywa na vyombo vya habari kuwa Rais mstaafu Mkapa ni sehemu ya wamiliki wa mgodi huo, hazina ukweli, bali zinalenga kuharibu jina la kampuni ambayo imechukua hatua ya kuendesha mgodi huo.

"Mkapa, mkewe au familia yake si sehemu ya wamiliki wa mgodi huu," alisisitiza huku akionyesha kukerwa na namna alivyodai kuna upotoshaji wa makusudi unaofanywa na vyombo vya habari.

Alisema lengo la kuripoti habari hizo ni kutaka serikali iwe na mtazamo hasi juu ya mgodi huo, hali ambayo inaweza kuzorotesha uzalishaji wa makaa ya mawe. Tabaro pia alisema kitendo cha baadhi ya maofisa wa serikali kutoa maelezo kuwa mgodi huo unachunguzwa kuhusiana na madai kuwa ulichukuliwa isivyo halali na Kampuni ya KCP, kunaweza kukaifanya kampuni hiyo kushindwa kupata fedha za kuendesha mradi huo.

Alisema kampuni yao ina mpango wa kupata fedha kutoka taasisi za benki hivyo mtazamo hasi kutoka kwa maofisa wa serikali utaathiri namna ya upatikanaji wa fedha hizo na wakati mwingine taasisi hizo zinaweza kutoa mkopo kwa masharti magumu kutokana na wasiwasi wa kisiasa.

"Cha kushangaza ni kwamba serikali iko kimya kuhusiana na madai hayo, hali ambayo haionyeshi kutatua tatizo hilo," alisema Tabaro. Akieleza tuhuma za kununua mgodi huo kwa Sh milioni 700 wakati mgodi umejengwa kwa Sh bilioni nne, Tabaro alisema wakati kampuni inanunua mgodi huo ulikuwa chakavu na mashine zake zilikuwa hazifai kuendeleza uzalishaji.

Alisema ndiyo maana KCP imeamua kutumia Sh bilioni 48 kwa ajili ya kuweka mitambo ili angalau mgodi huo uweze kuwa na uwezo wa kuzalisha tani 300,000 kwa mwaka. Wakati KCP inatoa utetezi huo, hivi karibuni Mbunge wa Vunjo, Aloyce Kimaro (CCM), alidai bungeni kuwa mgodi huo ambao ulijengwa na serikali kwa Sh bilioni nne umeuzwa kwa Mkapa na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Daniel Yona.

Hata hivyo, Tabaro alisema Waziri huyo wa zamani Yona pia si mmoja wa wamiliki wa mgodi huo kama ambavyo inaripotiwa katika vyombo vya habari. Wiki iliyopita, Rais Mstaafu Mkapa akiwa nyumbani kwake Kijiji cha Lupaso wilayani Masasi Mkoa wa Mtwara, alisema tuhuma zote za ufisadi zinazoelekezwa kwake ni za uongo na zinaenezwa na watu ambao walitegemea kupata upendeleo wakati wa utawala wake, lakini hawakupata.

Mkapa ambaye enzi za utawala wake alijulikana kwa falsafa yake ya Uwazi na Ukweli, pia alisema yeye si tajiri, bali anaishi kwa pensheni ya serikali kama mstaafu kama walivyo viongozi wengine.

 

[KadaMpinzani]

ahhhh ! kiko wapi ! sasa kwa nini useme changa la macho mzee ? au wewe unajua kitu gani zaidi kuhusu hili saga ambalo watu kama sie wa kawaida hatujui ?

itabidi ukubali facts na kuachana na ndoto za alinacha za kutaka kuona mzee mkapa akishutumiwa kwa shutuma hewa ! the choice is clear, either to discuss failed accusations or move on to something else. wimbi lisije likageuza tu upande !

 

[Sam]

Unajifanya hujui wakati nilisha andika humu nadni kwamba Mkapa hayumo.

 

[KadaMpinzani]

nafikiri ukipita muda baadae kabisa ndio lada akili yake inaweza kurejea na kukubali ooh kumbe mzee mkapa hayupo and it will be too late then, yaani kama kifo cha ballali watakuwa wanajipiga michanga ya macho wenyewe huku wakipoteza muda on failed accusations.

 

[KadaMpinzani]

Jamaa wameshacheza na documents na sasa wanazungumza hadharani. Walikuwa wapi miezi yote hii kutwambia hili hadi leo? Fisadi Mkapa alishindwa kulizungumza hili mwenyewe pale tu lilipoanikwa hadharami miezi yote hii? Ni kipi kilichomfanya ashindwe kutwambia hili miezi yote hii? Ndio matatizo ya kutozifuatilia tuhuma nzito labda walifanya hivyo makusudi ili wampe jamaa muda wa kufanya vitu vyake ili kupoteza ushahidi!!! Duh!!


Kiwira yamsafisha Mkapa
Mwandishi Wetu
Daily News; Sunday,June 01, 2008 @19:01

Uongozi wa Kampuni ya Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd (KCP) inayomiliki mgodi wa Kiwira, umekanusha madai kuwa Rais mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa na mkewe Anna ni miongoni mwa wamiliki wa mgodi huo.

Badala yake, mgodi huo umesema Kampuni ya ANBEN inayomilikiwa na Mkapa na mkewe, ambayo awali ilikuwa sehemu ya Kampuni ya Tanpower, ilijitoa baada ya baadhi ya wanahisa wenzake kuwa na mpango wa kununua mgodi huo.

Mtendaji Mkuu wa KCP, Francis Tabaro, alisema ingawa katika hati za umiliki (Articles of Association) inaonyesha kuwa Mkapa ni sehemu ya Tanpower, lakini baadaye alijitoa.

“Ni kweli ANBEN ilikuwa sehemu ya Tanpower lakini baada ya wazo la kununua Kiwira kuingizwa na wadau wenzake, yeye aligoma akaona aitoe kampuni yake katika Tanpower,” alisema Tabaro.

Tabaro pia alikanusha madai kuwa Anna Mkapa aliwahi kuwa Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Kiwira na akaeleza kuwa madai hayo hayana ukweli wowote, kwani kampuni hiyo haihusiani na kiongozi huyo.

Tabaro aliwataja wakurugenzi wa KCP kuwa ni Joseph Mbuna ambaye ni Mwenyekiti, Mafuru M. Mafuru, Wilfred Malkia na Evans Mapundi wakati serikali yenye hisa 15 katika mgodi huo inawakilishwa na Omari Chambo ambaye kwa sasa ni Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Maendeleo ya Miundombinu na Katibu Tawala wa Mkoa wa Mbeya, Asumpta Ndimbo.

Tabaro alisema upotoshaji unaofanywa na vyombo vya habari kuwa Rais mstaafu Mkapa ni sehemu ya wamiliki wa mgodi huo, hazina ukweli, bali zinalenga kuharibu jina la kampuni ambayo imechukua hatua ya kuendesha mgodi huo.

“Mkapa, mkewe au familia yake si sehemu ya wamiliki wa mgodi huu,” alisisitiza huku akionyesha kukerwa na namna alivyodai kuna upotoshaji wa makusudi unaofanywa na vyombo vya habari.

Alisema lengo la kuripoti habari hizo ni kutaka serikali iwe na mtazamo hasi juu ya mgodi huo, hali ambayo inaweza kuzorotesha uzalishaji wa makaa ya mawe. Tabaro pia alisema kitendo cha baadhi ya maofisa wa serikali kutoa maelezo kuwa mgodi huo unachunguzwa kuhusiana na madai kuwa ulichukuliwa isivyo halali na Kampuni ya KCP, kunaweza kukaifanya kampuni hiyo kushindwa kupata fedha za kuendesha mradi huo.

Alisema kampuni yao ina mpango wa kupata fedha kutoka taasisi za benki hivyo mtazamo hasi kutoka kwa maofisa wa serikali utaathiri namna ya upatikanaji wa fedha hizo na wakati mwingine taasisi hizo zinaweza kutoa mkopo kwa masharti magumu kutokana na wasiwasi wa kisiasa.

“Cha kushangaza ni kwamba serikali iko kimya kuhusiana na madai hayo, hali ambayo haionyeshi kutatua tatizo hilo,” alisema Tabaro. Akieleza tuhuma za kununua mgodi huo kwa Sh milioni 700 wakati mgodi umejengwa kwa Sh bilioni nne, Tabaro alisema wakati kampuni inanunua mgodi huo ulikuwa chakavu na mashine zake zilikuwa hazifai kuendeleza uzalishaji.

Alisema ndiyo maana KCP imeamua kutumia Sh bilioni 48 kwa ajili ya kuweka mitambo ili angalau mgodi huo uweze kuwa na uwezo wa kuzalisha tani 300,000 kwa mwaka. Wakati KCP inatoa utetezi huo, hivi karibuni Mbunge wa Vunjo, Aloyce Kimaro (CCM), alidai bungeni kuwa mgodi huo ambao ulijengwa na serikali kwa Sh bilioni nne umeuzwa kwa Mkapa na aliyekuwa Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Daniel Yona.

Hata hivyo, Tabaro alisema Waziri huyo wa zamani Yona pia si mmoja wa wamiliki wa mgodi huo kama ambavyo inaripotiwa katika vyombo vya habari. Wiki iliyopita, Rais Mstaafu Mkapa akiwa nyumbani kwake Kijiji cha Lupaso wilayani Masasi Mkoa wa Mtwara, alisema tuhuma zote za ufisadi zinazoelekezwa kwake ni za uongo na zinaenezwa na watu ambao walitegemea kupata upendeleo wakati wa utawala wake, lakini hawakupata.

Mkapa ambaye enzi za utawala wake alijulikana kwa falsafa yake ya Uwazi na Ukweli, pia alisema yeye si tajiri, bali anaishi kwa pensheni ya serikali kama mstaafu kama walivyo viongozi wengine.

this is not new, mara ngapi watu walisema humu mzee mkapa hahusiki na hamtaki kusikia ?? sasa unasema changa la macho, changa hilo itakuwa umejimwagia mwenyewe mzee !

 

[BAK]

Mtu utuhumiwe kwa tuhuma nzito na wewe unadai ni Mr Clean na awamu yako uliita ya uwazi na ukweli ukae kimya miezi zaidi ya sita tangu tuhuma zianze kuanikwa hadharani na hao wanaodai wamiliki wa KCM nao wakae kimya miezi yote hiyo sasa wanaona mambo yanazidi kuwa mazito dhidi ya fisadi Mkapa mara tu wanaibuka kuongea. Mwenye akili timamu anajua nini kilichotokea hapa, na wale vipofu wataendelea kuamini kwamba hakukuwa na lolote.

Kamati ya Bomani imekuwa huko KCM na hatimaye kutoa recommedation kwamba ifanyike probe yenye undani zaidi wa kujimilikisha KCM, hatukumsikia huyu Tabaro akizungumza lolote juu ya recommendation hiyo, ghafla bin vu kaibuka from nowhere!!!!

 

[KadaMpinzani]

Mtu utuhumiwe kwa tuhuma nzito na wewe unadai ni Mr Clean na awamu yako uliita ya uwazi na ukweli ukae kimya miezi zaidi ya sita tangu tuhuma zianze kuanikwa hadharani na hao wanaodai wamiliki wa KCM nao wakae kimya miezi yote hiyo sasa wanaona mambo yanazidi kuwa mazito dhidi ya fisadi Mkapa mara tu wanaibuka kuongea. Mwenye akili timamu anajua nini kilichotokea hapa, na wale vipofu wataendelea kuamini kwamba hakukuwa na lolote.

Kamati ya Bomani imekuwa huko KCM na hatimaye kutoa recommedation kwamba ifanyike probe yenye undani zaidi wa kujimilikisha KCM, hatukumsikia huyu Tabaro akizungumza lolote juu ya recommendation hiyo, ghafla bin vu kaibuka from nowhere!!!!

nani anayemshitaki mzee mkapa kutokana na hizo tuhuma?? na hiyo kesi inaendeleaje ?

 

[BAK]

Bomani mining sector review team recommends: Formal probe into Kiwira

-Also advises against privatization of government mining firm

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE report of the presidential mining sector review committee has called for a swift, formal investigation into the privatization of the formerly state-owned Kiwira coal mine, which was sold under dubious circumstances in 2005 to a private company formed by ex-president Benjamin Mkapa and his cabinet minister Daniel Yona.

The committee's long-awaited report, presented to President Jakaya Kikwete at State House on Saturday, has also recommended an urgent probe into reports that some assets of the Kiwira mine were being sold off as scrap metal by the Mkapa-Yona company, Tanpower Resources Limited.

According to THISDAY findings, the report proposes a full review of the mine's privatization contract, to establish whether or not the investor company is fulfilling its contractual obligation, and an official investigation into reports that ex-workers of the coal mine were given a raw deal in the payment of their terminal benefits.

The committee, chaired by retired Judge Mark Bomani, also recommends an assessment of reports that the coal mining operations are polluting the nearby Kiwira River in Mbeya Region, and verification of claims by Tanpower Resources that it has invested 13bn/- in developing the coal mine since buying a majority 70 per cent stake some three years ago.

According to a source familiar with the committee's workings: "Members of the committee who visited the Kiwira mine were unconvinced that the investors had really spent the stated 13bn/- to develop the mine."

It is understood that Tanpower Resources bought the 70 per cent majority stake in the Kiwira coal mine for just 700m/-, while the mine itself was built in the 1980s at a cost of over 4bn/-.

The coal-fired power project at the mine signed a 20-year, $271.8m (approx. 340bn/-) deal with the state-run Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) in 2006 for the generation of 200 megawatts of electricity, but has so far been failing to meet production deadlines.

Investigations by THISDAY have long established that way back in December 2004, Mkapa and Yona while still serving as president and minister for energy and minerals, respectively jointly founded Tanpower Resources Limited, with various close relatives including wives, children and in-laws in tandem.

At the time of its registration, the first listed directors of Tanpower Resources were the then first lady Mrs Anna Mkapa; Yona himself; Nicholas Mkapa (the then president and first lady�s son); Joseph Mbuna (Nicholas Mkapa's father-in-law); and one Evans Mapundi.

Among other things, the company was licensed to deal with coal mining in order to generate electricity for consumption and sale; to generate power generators, transmitters and general distributors; and to provide power and general projects management, project appraisers and consultants.

It has further been established that Mkapa and Yona - through their positions in government - were also directly involved in the privatization of the then state-owned Kiwira coal mine. And in mid-2005 - just a few months after its incorporation - Tanpower Resources entered into a joint venture with the government to acquire 70 per cent of the Kiwira coal mine shares. The private company later reportedly increased its shareholding in the coal mine to 85 per cent, leaving the government with just 15 per cent.

Apart from commenting on the controversial privatization of the Kiwira mine, the larger part of the report dwells on the country's gold mining sector.

It advises the government to shelve plans for the privatization of the State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) and the sale of its remaining shares in the Williamson Diamond Mine in Shinyanga Region, as part of a major policy u-turn on state involvement in large-scale mining activities in the country.

Before its sale to Tanpower Resources, the Kiwira coal mine was owned 100 per cent by STAMICO.

The final report of the mining sector review committee has also called for a radical shift in policy towards direct government participation in large-scale mining operations.

It is suggested that the government and Tanzanian citizens should play a more prominent role in the country's mining sector and reduce the dominance of foreign companies in the sector.

"The committee has recommended that the government should remove STAMICO from the list of parastatals earmarked for privatization," said a well-placed source, adding: "Instead, the report recommends that the parastatal be strengthened and turned into a government executive agency responsible for resource development, through exploration, development of mines and engagement in other businesses in the mining sector on behalf of the government."

STAMICO, an ailing parastatal under the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, is currently responsible for mineral exploration and production activities.

Apart from Judge Bomani, other members of the committee included Pricewaterhouse Coopers tax administration expert David Tarimo, former industries and trade minister Iddi Simba, Kigoma North Member of Parliament Zitto Kabwe (CHADEMA), and Bariadi East legislator John Cheyo (UDP).

Also in the team were CCM legislators Dr Harrison Mwakyembe (Kyela) and Ezekiel Maige (Msalala), as well as Ms Maria Kejo from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Edward Kihundwa from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement, Mugisha Kamugisha from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ms Salome Makange from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, and Peter Machunde from the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE).

 

[Mutu]

Wewe ulikuwa unafanyia kazi majungu lazima uone mchanga wa macho,tulikuwa tukiuliza haya mambo yanakuwaje au tukitaka kupewa connection fulani ya ushahidi unaambiwa unatetea ufisadi.
Jamaa alishaona hili na akasema siasa yeye basi na uwenyekiti akaachia ili Tz ione kasi mpya na nguvu mpya.Kutaka kumaanisha hilo ni pamoja na kukaa mbali na media,sasa ww ulitaka awe anajibu kila tuhuma zinazowekwa kwenye katuni au magazeti .
Nadhani majibu mazuri ni baada ya kujua risasi zinatoka wapi na adui yako yukoje so you do need to rush all you need to do is to take your take and study the war.The best thing in communication is to listean than flying the your mouth.
If they did cook something they did a great job!

 

[BAK]

"Binadamu wazima na fahamu zao, huishi kama wanyama wa mwituni, ambao uhai wa kila mmoja wao hutegemea ujanja wake wa porini, ukali wa meno yake na urefu wa makucha yake. Upebari ni unyama" - Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

Ukipenda, chongo utaita kengeza. Naam na ufisadi ni unyama.

Hii kama kweli ni masikitiko makubwa sana!

The Alex Stewarts Auditor Saga
Don Balali hired this firm to audit the gold exports from Tanzania
by mining companies. This company was based in Washington and before
Tanzania, has never audited a single mining company. Coincidentally, most
of the Alex Stewarts expatriate staff were the same individuals that were
working for Time Mining, a company that operated and managed Meremeta Gold
Company and then left with USD 100 million of Tanzanias funds.

The shareholders and beneficiaries of Time Mining are Anna Muganda and other
close associates of Don Balali. This type of audit agreement was the first
in the history of Africa, with a company that has never done this type of
auditing, and was paid a commission of 1.9 % from the total gold royalty
the Government of Tanzania collected of 3.9%. This amounted to USD 1.5
Million per month, USD 18 Million per year and USD 72 million over the
period of three years this company has had a contract with BOT. Sources
within the company noted that the operating cost per month including the
audit work done by 3 expatriates and 3 local staff in total does not exceed
USD 50,000.

Therefore, Don Balali was paying the auditing company closely
associated with his wife 30 times its operating cost per month. Even with a
profit margin of 100%, this company should never have been paid more than
USD 100,000 per month by BOT. Taking the USD 100,000 per month figure as an
acceptable rate which may have been charged by any larger auditing firm,
the loss to Tanzania would be USD 17 million per year and USD 68 million
over the 4 year period. Information recently obtained note that the
Governor intends to extend the contract for a period of 3 years and again
this June 2007.

The Alex Stewarts CEO and Don Andy have been have been
doing the rounds, visiting several Ministers to extend this contract with
BOT. Alex Stewarts now boasts of doing gold auditing in several countries
in Africa

 

[Nemesis]

"Ni kweli ANBEN ilikuwa sehemu ya Tanpower lakini baada ya wazo la kununua Kiwira kuingizwa na wadau wenzake, yeye aligoma akaona aitoe kampuni yake katika Tanpower," alisema Tabaro. "

KUMBE NI KWELI MKAPA ALINUNUA KIWIRA!!! AMEJITOA LINI? SI WASEME YOTE? ALINUNUA VIPI? KWA ZABUNI AU ALIJICHUKULIA? ALINUNUA KWA SH. NGAPI? ALILIPA NGAPI? KWANINI AMEJITOA? eti kwasababu KCM ilitaka kuuzwa na baadhi ya wenye HISA! MBONA HAIJAUZWA LICHA YA MKAPA KUJITOA? ALIPO JITOA HISA ZAKE ALIMUUZIA NANI?

ACHENI KUTUCHEZEA, MWISHO WA KUIBA UMEFIKA.

 

[BAK]

Wewe ulikuwa unafanyia kazi majungu lazima uone mchanga wa macho,tulikuwa tukiuliza haya mambo yanakuwaje au tukitaka kupewa connection fulani ya ushahidi unaambiwa unatetea ufisadi.
Jamaa alishaona hili na akasema siasa yeye basi na uwenyekiti akaachia ili Tz ione kasi mpya na nguvu mpya.Kutaka kumaanisha hilo ni pamoja na kukaa mbali na media,sasa ww ulitaka awe anajibu kila tuhuma zinazowekwa kwenye katuni au magazeti .
Nadhani majibu mazuri ni baada ya kujua risasi zinatoka wapi na adui yako yukoje so you do need to rush all you need to do is to take your take and study the war.The best thing in communication is to listean than flying the your mouth.
If they did cook something they did a great job!

Hakuna majungu hapa son!!! Simchukui Mkapa kama binadamu bali nauchukia ufisadi mkubwa alioufanya dhidi ya Watanzania. Haingii akilini kuziita tuhuma mbali mbali zilizotolewa na mpaka PCCB kuzifanyia kazi baadhi ya tuhuma hizo na kumhoji mshiriki katika ufisadi wa fisadi Mkapa, kuwa ni majungu.

Kiwira 'affair' under investigation: Daniel Yona already questioned by PCCB

-Mkapa - not yet

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

FORMER senior cabinet minister Daniel Yona is amongst several people who have already been questioned by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in connection with the controversial privatisation of the Kiwira Coal Mine in Mbeya Region, it has been confirmed.

Well-placed sources have told THISDAY that Yona, who was minister in charge of energy and minerals when the then state-run coal mine was acquired by a private company established by none other than he and then president Benjamin Mkapa along with close family members, was questioned by PCCB investigators in Dar es Salaam sometime last month (January).

The confirmation comes on the back of a disclosure made in parliament yesterday by the Minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance), Phillip Marmo, to the effect that the Kiwira privatisation deal is now under official investigation for corruption.

It is the first time the government has made such an unequivocal statement with regard to the Kiwira 'affair', as it has come to be known, involving as it does a former head of state � let alone a former senior cabinet minister.

Contacted later after Marmo's statement in the House, our sources said: ''Yes, it is quite true that Yona has been questioned by investigators over his involvement.''

The sources made it clear that the ex-minister, now retired from politics, was not the only one who had been questioned so far in the course of the PCCB investigation, saying other ''shareholders and managers'' of the coal mine had also been asked to give statements.

They, however, did confirm that ex-president Mkapa himself was yet to be officially questioned by investigators over his role in the affair.

It is understood that Mkapa and Yona jointly registered a private company called Tanpower Resources Company Limited in December 2004 while still serving as president and minister for energy and minerals, respectively and were also both directly involved in the privatisation process involving the then state-owned Kiwira coal mine.

This privatisation process culminated in mid-2005, when Tanpower Resources (then only a few months old) entered into a joint venture with the government to acquire 70 per cent of the Kiwira coal mine shares. The private company later increased its shareholding in the coal mine to 85 per cent, leaving the government with just 15 per cent.

At the time of its registration, the first listed directors of Tanpower Resources were the then first lady Mrs Anna Mkapa; Yona himself; Nicholas Mkapa (the then president and first lady's son); Joseph Mbuna (Nicholas Mkapa's father-in-law); and one Evans Mapundi.

Among other things, the company was licensed to ''deal with coal mining in order to generate electricity for consumption and sale; to generate power generators, transmitters and general distributors; and to provide power and general projects management, project appraisers and consultants.''

After the Tanpower Resources' takeover, Nicholas Mkapa - the president's son - was appointed to the board of directors of the renamed Kiwira Coal and Power Limited Company, while his father-in-law (Mbuna) became board chairman.

Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd has since entered into a whopping $271.8m (approx. 326bn/-) agreement of intent with the still state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to supply 200 megawatts of coal-fired electricity to the national grid.

And under equally dubious circumstances, the privatised Kiwira Coal and Power Ltd has also been given control of the Kabulo coal prospect, a nearby but separate area from Kiwira, also formerly owned by the government, and with proven reserves of up to 14 million tonnes of coal.

Minister Marmo's statement in parliament yesterday was in response to a question from Dr Raphael Chegeni (Busega-CCM), who asked to be told what exactly the government was doing to tackle high-level corruption.

According to the MP, government investigators appeared more preoccupied with petty corruption, leaving perpetrators of grand corruption to slip through their fingers.

Declaring that the government was keen to fight corruption in high office as well, the minister cited the Kiwira affair probe as one of the ongoing investigations in this regard.

When allegations of corruption and abuse of office against Mkapa in particular first surfaced mid-last year, the PCCB director general Dr Edward Hosea, was quoted as saying the anti-graft watchdog would not investigate the ex-president.

In this light, it remains unclear if the current PCCB investigation into the Kiwira 'affair' will at any point zero in on Mkapa, or make a point of avoiding him altogether despite his heavy involvement.