EDITORIAL: When legislators come to the defence of former president

[BAK]

EDITORIAL: When legislators come to the defence of former president

EDITOR
THIS DAY
DAR ES SALAAM

VETERAN Member of Parliament Chrisant Mzindakaya yesterday strongly came out in defence of former President Benjamin Mkapa, who is accused of alleged private business dealings at State House, actions which critics say amounted to abuse of office.

The Kwela Member of Parliament on a CCM ticket, debating the 2008/09 budget estimates of the Prime Minister’s Office, told the House that it was not proper for the media to report against the former leader whose government ’’recorded tremendous achievements.’’

Mzindakaya went on to demand an explanation from President Jakaya Kikwete’s government on why it was remaining mum in the face of frequent media reports against Mkapa.

Several MPs and other politicians have lately come out in defence of the former leader arguing that he did a lot of good things for the country. But none of these has made any attempt to clear the former president by dissociating him from the misdeeds which are being reported in the media.

Mkapa’s critics and even the media have all along been positive about the third phase government’s tremendous achievements in various sectors. We, too, have no quarrel with that.

We expected people like Mzindakaya to tell us that the former president did not, for example, use his office to ensure a company formed by himself along with his senior minister, Daniel Yona, ended up buying the state-run Kiwira coal mine for a song.

How could one state that the media were ’slandering’ the former president without supporting their arguments with facts to the contrary?

Anyone who wants to come to the defence of Mkapa and other politicians over graft allegations must answer basic questions which are being asked about them?

We challenge the Kwela MP and all others who have been lined up to Mkapa to come up and state if they believe that the former president’s business dealings at State House and dubious involvement in the privatization of the Kiwira coal mine were beyond suspicion.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

now that is what is known as a "dare"..

 

[jmushi1]

Bubu hii si sawa na ile ya MZINDAKAYA AMTETEA MKAPA?
Ama macho yangu?
The only difference here ni kuwa mbunge anayetajwa ni mmoja na huku wakitumia wingi na kusema legislaters instead of legislator.
Hii ina maana wengine wapo lakini wanaskilizia reaction kwanza.

 

[Nsunza]

Nadhani anahaki ya kumtetea kama anaona sawa(Freedom of speech). Siku sheria ikichukua mkondo wake kwa wote walio badhilisha mali ya uma labda naye atapata mtazamo mpya. Asisahau tu ni maslahi ya nani anayo takiwa kuwakilisha bungeni. Kama hao viongozi wanaona wanaonewa au kusingiziwa, wana haki ya kuchukua hatua za kisheria(kushitaki) wanao wasingizia. Dare!!!!

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

Nsunza.. tatizo ni kuwa hajamtetea, anataka wengine wamtete! Ni yeye Mzindakaya ambaye miaka michache iliyopita alimtetea Ballali Bungeni kwa umahiri mkubwa, sijasahau bado.

 

[pingiring'ombe]

Nsunza.. tatizo ni kuwa hajamtetea, anataka wengine wamtete! Ni yeye Mzindakaya ambaye miaka michache iliyopita alimtetea Ballali Bungeni kwa umahiri mkubwa, sijasahau bado.

Ataachaje kuwatetea wakati walimpa ulaji akaanzisha kiwanda?? "Aisifiae mvua imemnyea.."

 

[NGULI]

Serikali ikitoa kauli kwa raisi mstaafu ni ndoto labda wabadili katiba iundwe tume kama ilivyokawaida yetu, then akikutwa na makosa sheria ichukuwe nafasi yake....ila na Raisi/serikali iliofanya hivyo na yeneyewe itegemee kushtakiwa sasa je? existing gvnt are they clean?? watasubutu ku-dare? wakati wao ukifika/wakijiuzulu itakuwaje??