Government speaks out on TRL woes

[BAK]

Government speaks out on TRL woes

THIS DAY

ADDING to the woes and worries of employees of Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL), the government has admitted that the company faces a serious predicament.

Government intends to make a formal statement on its stand regarding the situation of TRL during the ongoing parliamentary session, Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Hezekiah Chibulunje told THISDAY yesterday.

According to Chibulunje, the government was quite perplexed as to what was really happening after extending a 4bn/- bailout to the company.

Analysts see it as a classic case of privatization gone awry because the foreign investors, currently running the erstwhile giant public utility, have failed to pay the October 2008 wages to their workers.

The failure comes on the heels of criticism by the railway workers that RITES, an Indian firm that is operating TRL on lease from the government since last year has not made appreciable investment in the venture.

Under its long-term contract with the government, RITES undertook to manage the TRL network and a workforce of some 3,500.

The government privatized the network hoping to attract substantial capital investment in order to improve public transport and haulage of cargo.

Industry sources indicated that the TRL management was not prepared to pay the minimum wage of 200,000/- that was recently agreed with the workers' trade union until the government chipped in.

It is understood that the foreign investors were willing to foot just 60 per cent of the wage bill if the government would pay the balance.

This means TRL wants the government to top up 80,000/- for every 120,000/- minimum wage it is supposed to pay the railway staff.

''This company (TRL) is putting the government in a dilemma by failing to pay the full amount of minimum wage. Instead, it is continually seeking support from the government to top up the remaining 80,000/-,'' Chibulunje explained.

Though not publicly stated yet, sources indicated that government opinion was that the foreign investor falls short on seriousness and commitment to invest in the railway network.

TRL started paying the new minimum wage this year after a protracted dispute that led its workers to down tools until the government released 4bn/- to prop up the management in meeting its wage commitments.

''The government is borrowing money from various sources to financially support a foreign management team. Why shouldn't the so-called investors meet their own costs for running the railway?'' queried one senior government official.

Since RITES is a major shareholder (with a 51 per cent stake in TRL) and the remaining shares held by the Tanzanian government, it has the responsibility of raising the necessary working capital on its own.

On the salary delays, TRL Managing Director Narsimhaswami Jayaram, told THISDAY that the company's management was waiting for additional funding from the government to foot the wage bill for October 2008.

''It is no more our issue ... the (Tanzanian) government is supposed to top up the remaining amount for salaries,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Tanzania Railway Workers Union (TRAWU) Secretary-General, Sylvester Rwegasira, confirmed that TRL workers were yet to be paid last month's wages because the management was unable to pay the new minimum wage.

''The TRL management explicitly told us that they can pay a minimum wage of only 120,000/- and the remaining amount should be paid by the government.

''We have asked our members to remain calm while their salaries are being processed by both TRL and the government,'' Rwegasira added.

RITES of India entered into a 25-year contract with the Tanzanian government to lease the 2,700 kilometres railway network from 1 October 2007.

The World Bank had released $33m for the rehabilitation of 90 locomotives, 1,280 freight wagons and 100 passenger coaches and upgrading the rail track. It also funded the privatization process.

Since the Indian firm took over the TRL management, passengers have been complaining about the poor service it renders.

 

[BAK]

Sijui hii serikali inagonja nini kuuvunja mkataba huu.

 

[Masanja]

Government speaks out on TRL woes

THIS DAY

ADDING to the woes and worries of employees of Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL), the government has admitted that the company faces a serious predicament.

Government intends to make a formal statement on its stand regarding the situation of TRL during the ongoing parliamentary session, Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Hezekiah Chibulunje told THISDAY yesterday.

According to Chibulunje, the government was quite perplexed as to what was really happening after extending a 4bn/- bailout to the company.

Analysts see it as a classic case of privatization gone awry because the foreign investors, currently running the erstwhile giant public utility, have failed to pay the October 2008 wages to their workers.

The failure comes on the heels of criticism by the railway workers that RITES, an Indian firm that is operating TRL on lease from the government since last year has not made appreciable investment in the venture.

Under its long-term contract with the government, RITES undertook to manage the TRL network and a workforce of some 3,500.

The government privatized the network hoping to attract substantial capital investment in order to improve public transport and haulage of cargo.

Industry sources indicated that the TRL management was not prepared to pay the minimum wage of 200,000/- that was recently agreed with the workers' trade union until the government chipped in.

It is understood that the foreign investors were willing to foot just 60 per cent of the wage bill if the government would pay the balance.

This means TRL wants the government to top up 80,000/- for every 120,000/- minimum wage it is supposed to pay the railway staff.

''This company (TRL) is putting the government in a dilemma by failing to pay the full amount of minimum wage. Instead, it is continually seeking support from the government to top up the remaining 80,000/-,'' Chibulunje explained.

Though not publicly stated yet, sources indicated that government opinion was that the foreign investor falls short on seriousness and commitment to invest in the railway network.

TRL started paying the new minimum wage this year after a protracted dispute that led its workers to down tools until the government released 4bn/- to prop up the management in meeting its wage commitments.

''The government is borrowing money from various sources to financially support a foreign management team. Why shouldn't the so-called investors meet their own costs for running the railway?'' queried one senior government official.

Since RITES is a major shareholder (with a 51 per cent stake in TRL) and the remaining shares held by the Tanzanian government, it has the responsibility of raising the necessary working capital on its own.

On the salary delays, TRL Managing Director Narsimhaswami Jayaram, told THISDAY that the company's management was waiting for additional funding from the government to foot the wage bill for October 2008.

''It is no more our issue ... the (Tanzanian) government is supposed to top up the remaining amount for salaries,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Tanzania Railway Workers Union (TRAWU) Secretary-General, Sylvester Rwegasira, confirmed that TRL workers were yet to be paid last month's wages because the management was unable to pay the new minimum wage.

''The TRL management explicitly told us that they can pay a minimum wage of only 120,000/- and the remaining amount should be paid by the government.

''We have asked our members to remain calm while their salaries are being processed by both TRL and the government,'' Rwegasira added.

RITES of India entered into a 25-year contract with the Tanzanian government to lease the 2,700 kilometres railway network from 1 October 2007.

The World Bank had released $33m for the rehabilitation of 90 locomotives, 1,280 freight wagons and 100 passenger coaches and upgrading the rail track. It also funded the privatization process.

Since the Indian firm took over the TRL management, passengers have been complaining about the poor service it renders.

Typical privatization conondrum in banana Republic!

yaani kweli unamleta "investor" na bado unampa hela ya kuendesha biashara? jamani huu uwekezaji ni wa dunia ya wapi?

Honestly our government should be more serious. This is too much incompetency! Too much!

YAANI KADRI SIKU ZINAVYOENDA JAKAYA ANAZIDI KUDHIHIRISHA ALIVYO INCOMPETENT. ....

Kibaya zaidi tukizidi kuhoja hapa sisi wananchi....tutaambiwa na apologetics wake kwamba tunamsakama kwa sababu ni MUISLAMU. I tell you nchi yetu inakoenda sijui!

Maana siku hizi dini ndo imekuwa mlango wa kutokea kwa vilaza wote kwenye hii serikali yetu!

Sijui tutajifunza lini!

 

[BAK]

Tahariri: Mkataba TRL uvunjwe

Tanzania Daima~Sauti ya Watu

TULITEGEMEA kuwa baada ya kubinafsishwa kwa Shirika la Reli nchini, mambo yangebadilika. Ni katika huduma hata ustawi wa wafanyakazi wake, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuwalipa vema kulingana na sheria za kazi.

Lakini kadiri muda unavyosonga mbele, mambo yanakuwa sivyo ndivyo. Hali inayotufanya tuhoji endapo mwekezaji huyo alikuwa na sifa ama ndiyo amekuja kujifunza kuwekeza nchini katika sekta hiyo nyeti?

Sababu zinazotusukuma kusema hayo ni kutokana na hali mbaya kifedha ya Kampuni ya Reli nchini (TRL), kushindwa hadi hivi sasa kuwalipa wafanyakazi wake mishahara mipya kama walivyokubaliana na serikali.

Mapema mwaka huu, muda mfupi baada ya kubinafsishwa kwa lililokuwa Shirika la Reli (TRC), uongozi wa TRL ulishindwa kuwalipa wafanyakazi stahili yao ya malipo, jambo lililowafanya wafanyakazi kutishia kugoma.

Serikali kwa kukwepa lawama kama si kufunika aibu hiyo ya mwaka, iliamua kuingia mfukoni na kutoa fedha za walipa kodi zaidi ya sh bilioni tatu. Huu ukiwa ni mkataba wa miezi mitano wakati TRL ikijipanga vema ili nayo iweze kwenda sawia na viwango vipya vya mishahara.

Cha ajabu, miezi hiyo ilikwisha huku hali ikionekana kama mwanzo, kwani mwekezaji hakuwa na uwezo wa kuwalipa wafanyakazi hao ambao walitaka walipwe kiasi cha sh 200,000 kama kiwango cha chini cha mshahara.

Hatimaye Septemba ilifika na kama ilivyokuwa kwenye makubaliano kati ya pande zote tatu, serikali, menejimenti ya TRL na wafanyakazi kwamba wangelipwa mishahara ya viwango vipya, hali haikuwa hivyo.

Mara ya pili serikali ikajitosa tena kunusuru hali hiyo. Kwa mujibu wa Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Miundombinu, Omari Chambo, aliwaambia wanahabari kuwa serikali ilichukua hatua hiyo aliyoiita ya dharura kuiwezesha TRL kulipa nyongeza ya mishahara kutoka sh 160,000 hadi Sh 200,000.

Ni jambo la kusikitisha kwamba hadi sasa kampuni hiyo bado iko taabani katika kuwalipa madai yao wafanyakazi wake, kama ilivyokubaliana kati yake na serikali. Ni kutokana na taarifa kwamba hadi hivi sasa haijawalipa wafanyakazi wake kwa mwezi uliopita. Na kwamba TRL inasubiri taarifa kutoka wizarani kuhusu malipo ya nyongeza ya wafanyakazi. Kwa kifupi haiko tayari kufanya hivyo.
Kutokana na hali ya kuendelea kubembelezwa, sisi Tanzania Daima tunapata shaka endapo mwekezaji huyo aliingia kwa sifa ya mwekezaji ama alipitia njia za panya kufanya hivyo.

Tunaamini ya kwamba kabla ya mwekezaji hajakubaliwa kuwekeza nchini, lazima achunguzwe uwezo wake wa kifedha na kiutendaji. Lakini kwa TRL, vyote hivi viwili havikufanyika, na kama ndivyo, kuna udanganyifu. Si katika huduma zitolewazo, wala uwezo wa kujiendesha kampuni hiyo.

Kwa hali hiyo basi, tunataka wawajibishwe wote waliohusika kuileta kampuni hiyo nchini. Kwani haiwekezani kumleta mwekezaji aje kuzifanya rasilimali zetu kama kichwa cha mwendawazimu.

Tunasema hivyo kwa kuwa hakuna hata dalili kwamba menejimenti hiyo inafanya juhudi za kuwalipa wafanyakazi hao, na kwa hali ilivyo sasa na kauli kadhaa zilizotumikazo kuzima migomo ya wafanyakazi hao kwa ahadi kwamba mambo yangekuwa shwari, ni wazi kwamba serikali inatakiwa kuamka usingizini, kwani inaweza kujikuta ikiendelea kufanywa shamba la bibi.

Kwa mwendo huu, tunaona ni vema angechukuliwa mzalendo na kuunda menejimenti yake na kupewa fedha za kuliendesha lililokuwa shirika la Reli, kwani hatuoni cha ajabu kilichofanywa na mwekezaji huyo.

Moja ya habari kubwa za gazeti hili leo, zinasema uongozi wa TRL umeshindwa kuwalipa wafanyakazi wake mishahara ya mwezi uliopita. Tunaisihi serikali kuacha kutoa fedha tena za kuliokoa shirika hilo, na badala yake ivunje mkataba naye ili tuanze upya.

Mkataba huo uvunjwe, kwani si aina ya uwekezaji wenye kuleta tija kwa Watanzania. Kwa hali hii, tunaitaka serikali kuchukua hatua stahiki, kwani kwa kuendelea kulisaidia kwa kulilipia fedha ambazo hazijulikani zinatoka kwenye mfuko gani, kunaweza kutafsiriwa kwamba kuna mkono wa vigogo katika uwekezaji huo.

 

[PatPending]

Someone once remarked, the only things we learn from history is that we never learn from history. Time and time again the elected elite commit the nation to unfavourable agreement that a few moments later, everyone else including themselves wake up and start condemning. Much of these agreements are shrouded in deep secrecy as if its is still the cold war days and its the US vs. USSR. What baffles me is the audacity of some in the hierarchy to defend their decisions at the time of signing only for the same camp to jump ship the moment the public catches wind of what's really going on. This is getting tiresome now, sheer incompetence, unprofessionalism, bewildering guile and tactlessness in undertaking political commitments.

Breaking out of this contract? It's going to be a long row to hoe

 

[Ogah]

Masanja,

.......hayo ndio matokeo ya vilaza kusaini mikataba ya ajabu ajabu.....halafu wanaendelea kutaka mikataba iwe siri........trust me mikataba mibovu itaendelea kuwaumbua tu