JWTZ na helikopta za Mtumba

[BAK]

New revelations on military helicopters deal: Deliberately overpriced by close to $20m

-Govt duped into buying same model earlier rejected by former army chief
Name of Merlin International crops up yet again

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

IT has now been revealed that the Ministry of Defence and National Service paid a vastly inflated price for the same helicopters it had earlier officially rejected as being unfit for military use.

According to latest THISDAY findings, the ministry paid more than $9m (approx. 11bn/-) for each of the four Agusta Bell choppers, which was almost double the actual unit price of around $4.7m (approx. 6bn/-), going by prevailing market prices.

This means that defence ministry officials squandered a total of $18.25m (about 22bn/-) in overpaying for the helicopters under dubious circumstances.

Government sources familiar with the deal have now informed THISDAY that the Agusta Bell helicopter model 412 EP bought by the ministry a couple of years ago are soft-skin, civilian aircraft and not standard military choppers.

’’The helicopter model and specifications bought for the army is similar to the one currently being used by the police force,’’ a government aviation expert said.

The Minister for Defence and National Service, Prof. Juma Kapuya, was not immediately available for comment yesterday to respond to the latest findings with regard to the controversial defence contracts.

It is understood that the then Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Robert Mboma, had earlier rejected the Agusta Bell helicopters on grounds that they were designed for commercial flights and not military operations.

General Mboma, a former commanding officer of the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces (TPDF) Air Wing, is said to have preferred the French-made Cougar AS 532 helicopters, which are described as being more appropriate for military use.

According to our sources, it was on General Mboma’s recommendation that TPDF in 1998 entered into an agreement with a Dar es Salaam-based firm for the supply of the Cougar helicopters, manufactured by the Eurocopter company in France.

’’However, unexpected delays cropped up and the tender was finally wrestled away from the local company that had initially won the contract,’’ said one of our sources.

At this point, it has now been disclosed that another city-based firm - Merlin International Limited - somehow manoeuvred its way into the contract for the supply of the helicopters to TPDF.

But in a surprise move, after succeeding in elbowing out the company that had won the tender in the first place, Merlin is understood to have later supplied to the government the same Agusta Bell civilian choppers that had previously been rejected by the army.

Merlin International Limited is the same company linked to the supply of the controversial $41m (approx. 52bn/-) military radar system, the sale of a $40m (50.7bn/-) Gulfstream presidential jet to the government, and the supply of over 600 IVECO military trucks for over 90bn/-.

The company’s majority shareholder, businessman Shailesh Vithlani, is reported to have worked closely with a network of influential local partners, including high-ranking government officials both current and retired, to secure the lucrative defence contracts.

The then Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) and Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) have been separately investigating the radar deal in the wake of revelations that $12m (approx. 15bn/-) worth of illegal kickbacks were paid to several top officials to approve the controversial deal.

The money, said to have been secretly paid by the UK arms manufacturer company BAE Systems into a Swiss bank account, has allegedly been linked to Vithlani and other members of his local network.

 

[August]

Waki ulizwa utasikia Serekali ipo na Vyombo vyake vipo vitaifanyia kazi, na hasara tunazipata kila siku na wenzetu wanaongeza mitaji yao, then kesho na kesho kutwa tunaambia kila mtu ajilipie shule mwenyewe, sijui kuna hisa zinauzwa kanunueni, wakati mitaji ndio hivyo wamechukuwa wao si mmhhhh?

 

[S. S. Phares]

Waheshimiwa,

Niligusia huko nyuma kuwa JWTZ haigusiki...wala hakuna mtu wa kuwauliza chochote...haya yanayojulikana hadharani ni matone ya mvua tu..!!

 

[August]

Ndio hivyo tena, Wanashikisha Wakuu wa .... mchuzi kidogo ili asiwapigie kelele wakiwa wanazizoa

 

[Jasusi]

Let me see: $ 12million from the radar. $20 million from the helicopter. And God knows how much tulikamuliwa from ndege ya rais. Kwa mtaji huu huyu Sailesh Vithlani ni mwekezaji mzuri sana.

 

[August]

"Let me see: $ 12million from the radar. $20 million from the helicopter. And God knows how much tulikamuliwa from ndege ya rais. Kwa mtaji huu huyu Sailesh Vithlani ni mwekezaji mzuri sana."

Ndio maana nawaambie nyinyi ni wavivu , hampendi kujituma, wala kufikiria

 

[Steve Dii]

"Let me see: $ 12million from the radar. $20 million from the helicopter. And God knows how much tulikamuliwa from ndege ya rais. Kwa mtaji huu huyu Sailesh Vithlani ni mwekezaji mzuri sana."

Ndio maana nawaambie nyinyi ni wavivu , hampendi kujituma, wala kufikiria

Sijui kama unatania hapa ndugu yangu, lakini ni kuwa, hawa watu tungelikuwa tunawaona wa maana sana kama hizo commissions zao wangelikuwa wanazitumia kujengea mahospitali,mabarabara na vyuo hapo hapo nchini. Ndiyo wanaruhusiwa kufanya wapendalo na pesa zao, lakini mambo ya ku-transfer pesa zote in dollars kwenda nchi za nje kila wanapozipata ina tia shaka sana kwa uchumi wa taifa. Ndiyo maana shilingi yetu inazidi kudidimia.... Sijui kama kuna masharti makali kuhusu wire transfers za mamilioni ya pesa nchini kwa watu kama hao ambao wana mbinu nyingi tu za kuweza kufanya hivyo...

SteveD.

 

[August]

ndio maana nchi zingine zinafikia hatua ya kumwaga damu ili kila moja aanze kwenye level moja

 

[Halisi]

Jamani naona kuna tatizo kubwa la mtandao. Kwanza nimesaini kwa jina la HALISI, ikaja jina la KINYAU sasa inakujja MAMTANA, kuna nini????

 

[Halisi]

Lakini naona katika kuchangia imekuja HALISI..

Habari za uhakika ni kwamba hawa jamaa wamefungua kesi MAHAKAMA KUU kuhusiana na hilo suala la HELIKOPTA ZA JESHI

 

[Halisi]

HAPO JUU MPAKA SASA INASOMEKA

"Welcome, MAMTUNA.
You last visited: Yesterday at 12:39 AM
Private Messages: Unread 0, Total 0."

kuna tatizo gani katika mtandao

 

[Halisi]

Haya na mchango wangu sasa umepotea,, au kunani? Naona kuna NAMNA SI BURE

 

[Jasusi]

Labda kuna mtu kishakwapua identity yako. Haya mambo hutokea sana huku ughaibuni.

 

[Madela Wa- Madilu]

Aaah1 AaaH1 AaaaH!

Unajua nini Rushwa na Ubadhirifu vitawamaliza Kwisha CCM.

Hebu fikiria kuna tenda ngapi za mambo muhimu ndani ya jeshi zimenunua vitu hewa au bandia??

CCM mmekwisha.

CCM wanategemea kwamba wana jeshi kumbe ni jeshi la wenye vitambi zana hawana.

Huko kwenye Ghala la silaha wanasema wana risasi kumbe ni fake, Risasi ndani zina Mchanga badala ya Baruti.

Ujanja huo ukisha kula nawa mikono!

Kama vile tetesaikrini zenye unga wa muhogo kutoka Asia.

Safi sana safi sana vijana wa JWTZ CCM wana kula na nyie kuleni kwani nyie hamna meno??

Mabomu ambayo ndani ni kokoto au ni chuma chenye shepu ya bomu. Hi ni baaaabu kubwa!!

Ghala limejaa Bunduki zilizo jamu kwa hitilafu ya kiwandani.Du hii ni hatari kweli

Baruti ambayo ni chafu hailipuki.Uwiii!

Pengine wengine wanauza Risasi na mabomu kwa majirani wanaopigana na kujaza mawe kwenye maboksi kucmpasate uzito. Mamaaa!!

Spea fake za ndege na vifaru.

Safi sana vijana wa JWTZ ongezeni bidii katika kulihujumu jeshi
ili siku ikifika iwe rahisi.

Rushwa na ubadhirifu ni mtamu sana kama wewe ndiye unaye faidi lakni madhara yake yanampata kila mmoja ikiwa ni pamoja na wewe mbadhirifu.

Kidumu Chama Cha mapinduzi.

 

[Keykey]

Serikali Yafikishwa mahakamani na Madalali wa Helicopta za Jeshi!

Yale yale! wezi wanapodhulumiana!!!

Defence ministry sued
-More specific details emerge as saga of the overpriced military helicopters lands in High Court corridors

File photos of the COUGAR AS 532 multi-purpose military helicopter model that was overlooked by officials of the Ministry of Defence and National Service in favour of the Agusta Bell civilian model, despite the strong rejection of a former TPDF chief. The ministry and by extent the government - is now being sued for breach of contract over the sordid deal. Flanking the choppers are (left) Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika and (right) the Minister, Prof. Juma Kapuya.


THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE Ministry of Defence and National Service is now being officially sued for almost 17bn/- for a breach of contract in connection with the supply of military helicopters to the Tanzania Peoples' Defence Forces (TPDF).

Proprietors of the Dar es Salaam-based Khaisa Enterprises Limited company yesterday formally submitted their civil suit against the defence ministry, seeking compensation amounting to 10 million euros (approx. 16.8bn/-) for ''unlawfully dishonouring'' an agreement between the two parties over the supply of the choppers.

In the civil case number 74 of 2007 filed at the High Court in Dar es Salaam, the attorney general has also been named as respondent alongside the defence ministry, by virtue of his position as the government's chief legal advisor.

According to a copy of the plaint obtained from the High Court yesterday, Khaisa Enterprises claims that the defence ministry went against a valid contract in which the company was to supply six units of COUGAR AS 532 helicopters at a total cost of 125 million euros (approx. 210bn/-).

The 16.8bn/- being claimed as compensation is said to be equivalent to an 8 per cent commission that the company stood to earn, if the deal had indeed gone through.

Apart from the compensation package, Khaisa Enterprises is also seeking a refund for payment of $100,000 (approx. 130m/-), being commission to the would-be financiers of the project, costs of the suit, plus any other relief that the High Court may decide.

In the suit, the city-based company claims to have spent a lot of money in covering travel costs and other expenses for a delegation of senior TPDF officers to inspect the helicopters in France, in anticipation of clinching the deal.

Attached to the plaint filed yesterday was a photocopy of the passports of the TPDF officers who were flown to France in 1998, to view the aircraft at the Eurocopters plant in Paris. This team was led by Brigadier General Reginald Chonjo, the then TPDF in-charge of planning and development.

Other members of the delegation were Brig. Gen. Philemon Kirigiti (TPDF chief of logistics and engineering; Lieutenant Colonel Mbaga (an aviation and radar expert); Captain Ben Ntanga (an army pilot and helicopters expert); and Major Mbaraka Issa Komba (army aircraft technician).

A second delegation of senior army men, led by Major General Makitosi who was then the TPDF Air Wing commanding officer, is said to have also been flown to Paris by Khaisa Enterprises in 2001, and subsequently recommended the COUGAR choppers for purchase by the defence ministry.

It is further asserted that government officials were also given fully-paid trips to the United States, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, all as part of the process of picking the right helicopters for the Tanzanian military.

Khaisa Enterprises also claims that after a thorough investigation and the physical visits to the Paris-based factory by the TPDF delegation, it was agreed that a draft contract for the supply of the multi-role COUGAR choppers be prepared along with the supply of 1,200 rockets.

According to the plaint, the then Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Robert Mboma, had personally contacted the aircraft manufacturers, Eurocopter in France, asking for ''adjustment of specifications, quantity to be supplied, facilities to be fitted in the helicopters, plus arrangements for a financing package.''

The draft contract and a copy of Gen. Mboma's letter to the defence manufacturers, dated June 12, 1998, are also attached with the plaint.

It is stated that Khaisa Enterprises had already secured financing of up to $142m (approx. 179bn/-) from a US-based firm called Financial Services Company in order to facilitate the transaction.

The financier is said to have contacted the defence ministry and the then Minister for Finance, Basil Mramba, seeking reassurances from the Tanzanian government so as to proceed with the financing of the deal.

But according to the plaint filed by Khaisa Enterprises, as negotiations were proceeding ''smoothly'' with the government over the choppers supply deal and after incurring huge consultancy costs, it then emerged that a different company had manoeuvred its way into the lucrative deal.

The plaintiffs assert that at this point it was established that ''another company completely alien in the process has penetrated, and in fact has (ingratiated) itself to the defendants (defence ministry and AG), with a view to supply the helicopters without prior notice...''

They further assert that after wrestling Khaisa Enterprises out of the deal, officials not specifically named in the plaint then went ahead and bought four helicopters of a make ''which had already been rejected by the defendants (defence ministry), on the basis that the same were of inferior quality and were civilian helicopters, while defendants required helicopters for military use.''

According to the plaint, the defence ministry's decision to abruptly buy different choppers from a different agent was a breach of contract and caused severe losses to Khaisa Enterprises.

Furthermore, the document filed at the High Court states that it has been discovered that the defence ministry ''purchased helicopters at a higher cost of $9.263m each, contrary to the ones proposed by the plaintiff (Khaisa Enterprises Ltd) which were relatively cheaper at $4.7m each, thus making the nation suffer a loss of $4.563m for each helicopter purchased.''

The suit against the government was filed by M&N Law Associates (Advocates), on behalf of Khaisa Enterprises Ltd.

Investigations by THISDAY have previously established that the defence ministry bought four Agusta Bell helicopters model 412 EP - soft-skin, civilian helicopters that are not suitable for military operations, but are mostly used for commercial flights.

It has also been confirmed that another city-based company, Merlin International Limited which is owned by businessmen Shailesh Vithlani and Tanil Somaiya, was the agent used to supply the Agusta Bell helicopters at vastly inflated prices.

Merlin International is the same company linked to the supply of the controversial $41m (approx. 52bn/-) military radar system, the sale of a $40m (50.7bn/-) Gulfstream presidential jet to the government, the supply of over 600 IVECO military trucks for over 90bn/-, and other suspect military deals.

SOURCE: Thisday, http://www.thisday.co.tz/

 

[Dua]

Deal la uvunguni waende kushitaki watakiona cha mtema kuni. Wabunge waanze nao kulishughulikia hili tumechoka na mission towan kila siku. JK bado hajafukuza hata mwizi moja tangu aingie madarakani. Je wote ni wasafi na sio wezi - No!

 

[Mwakilishi]

Hiyo kampuni iliyopewa hiyo tenda mwanzoni kabla ya Merlin mbona haijatajwa, vipi tena, why the annonymity? Sizitaki mbichi hizi nini?

 

[Halisi]

Kunani ktk hii THREAD? MAMTUNA niandikie PM maana hapa juu inakuja kwa jina lako

 

[S. S. Phares]

Wanabodi

Hawa Khaisa kwenda mahakamani ni dili lingine pia...hapa serikali itashindwa then mahakama itaamuru Khaisa watalipwa hiyo fidia wanayoitaka. Serikali itasema inafuata amri ya mahakama; watu wanaendelea kula bila kutafuna kwa kwenda mbele.

Chama Chashika Hatamu.

 

[KadaMpinzani]

Serikali Kuu mahakamani




na Happiness Katabazi



KAMPUNI ya Khaisa Enterprises Ltd imefungua kesi ya kudai fidia sh bilioni 16.8 dhidi ya serikali kwa madai ya kuvunja mkataba wa kununua helikopta sita za Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ).
Kesi hiyo ambayo inaweza kuibua aina nyingine ya kashfa dhidi ya serikali, imefunguliwa jana katika Mahakama Kuu Tanzania, Kanda ya Dar es Salaam.

Wadaiwa katika kesi hiyo namba 74 ya mwaka 2007, ni Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa na Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali.

Kwa mujibu wa hati ya madai, fidia hiyo ni sawa na asilimia nane ya kamisheni ya mauzo ya helikopta waliyokubaliana kati ya kampuni ya Khaisa na JWTZ.

Mlalamikaji katika kesi hiyo, anataka alipwe fidia kutokana na kuvunjika kwa makubaliano ya awali ya kutoa huduma ya ushauri wa kitaalamu baina yake na Kampuni ya Eurocopter ya Ufaransa na Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ).

Pia fidia ya kiasi hicho cha fedha kinatokana na gharama za usafiri alizofanya mlalamikaji nchini Ufaransa, Marekani, Afrika Kusini na Falme za Kiarabu kwa lengo la kuangalia helikopta zilizofaa kununuliwa na serikali kwa ajili ya JWTZ.

Kwa mujibu wa hati hiyo, mwaka 1997, JWTZ ilitangaza kununua helikopta na vifaa vyake toka Paris, Ufaransa katika kiwanda cha Eurocopter ambacho ni kiwanda kikubwa duniani kinachotengeneza ndege za aina ya helikopta.

Barua ya maombi ya kumtaka mlalamikaji atafute helikopta hizo, iliandikwa na Mwanasheria Mkuu Novemba 14 mwaka 1997.

Kutokana na barua hiyo ya maombi, mlalamikaji alienda kuulizia na kuitaka Kampuni ya Eurocopter kuuza helikopta hizo kupitia wakala huyo, kwa ajili ya JWTZ.

"Pande zote mbili katika makubaliano zilikuwa ni wadai kwa nafasi zao, kwa niaba ya Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano na Eurocopter. Kwa hiyo katika "Memorandum of Understanding' (hati ya makubaliano) walikubaliana kimsingi kwamba mlalamikaji ambaye ni kampuni ya Khaisa atapokea kamisheni ya asilimia nane ya jumla ya manunuzi ya bei kama ada ya ushauri katika mwisho wa mkataba wao," ilieleza hati hiyo.

Kwa mujibu wa hati hiyo, mlalamikaji akiwa katika hatua za mwisho kukamilisha kazi yake, timu ya wataalamu toka ofisi ya Katibu wa Wizara ya Ulinzi, ilikwenda Ufaransa kufanya uchunguzi na kuziona helikopta hizo kabla hazijanunuliwa.

Anadai baada ya uchunguzi kufanywa, wataalamu hao walikubali kuingia mkataba wa manunuzi ya helikopta aina ya COUGAR AS 523 multi-role kwa ajili ya shughuli za kiraia na kijeshi na roketi 1200.

Mlalamikaji ambaye anatetewa na Kampuni ya uwakili ya M&N Law Associate (Advocate), anadai baada ya kuandikwa kwa barua hiyo ya maombi kwa aliyekuwa Mkuu wa JWTZ, Robert Mboma, alisema wanataka Ufaransa itengeneze Cougar AS 532 aina ya helikopta, ambayo itatumika kwa matumizi ya kijeshi na si ya kiraia.

Awali mwaka 1998, JWTZ, iliingia makubaliano na Dar es Salaam-based firm kwa ajili ya kuwapatia helikopta zinazotengenezwa na Kiwanda cha Eurocopter nchini Ufaransa.

Alidai Eurocopter walikuwa wameishaanza kukubali kuuza COUGAR helikopta sita kwa jumla ya sh bilioni 210.

Mlalamikaji anadai kuwa, wakati kazi ya utekelezaji ikianza, alipokea taarifa toka kwa mdaiwa wa kwanza ambaye ni JWTZ, kwamba kampuni nyingine ipo kwenye harakati za kufanya kazi kama yake.

Hata hivyo, alisema barua hiyo haikutaja jina la kampuni hiyo mpya iliyokuwa ikifanya kazi ya kutafuta helikopta.

Hati hiyo ya madai inasema kuwa, kampuni hiyo mpya ilikwenda nje ya nchi na kununua helikopta nne ambazo awali zilikataliwa na wadaiwa kwa madai kwamba hazifai kwa matumzi ya jeshi.

Aidha, anadai kubaini kwamba, helikopta hizo zimenunuliwa kwa gharama kubwa ya dola milioni 9.263 kwa kila moja, tofauti na bei ambayo mlalamikaji alikuwa amekubaliana na JWTZ kwamba kila helikopta ingenunuliwa kwa dola milioni 4.7 na tofauti hiyo ya gharama hiyo ya manunuzi inailetea taifa hasara ya dola za Marekani milioni 4.563.

Hata hivyo, kesi hiyo bado haijapangiwa jaji wala tarehe ya kuanza kusikilizwa.

Taarifa za ununuzi wa helikopta hizo, ziliripotiwa na baadhi ya vyombo vya habari Mei, mwaka huu ambapo zilidai serikali ilikuwa imeingia mkataba wa ununuzi wa helikopta sita kwa bei kubwa ambazo hazifai kwa matumizi ya jeshi.

Inaelezwa pia kuwa, kampuni iliyoingiza helikopta hizo nchini ni ile iliyonunua ndege mpya ya rais iliyozua mjadala na pia ndiyo iliyoingiza nchini rada ambayo hadi sasa inachunguzwa na Serikali ya Uingereza kwa madai kuwa ilinunuliwa kwa bei kubwa kuliko bei halisi.

source:http://www.freemedia.co.tz/daima/2007/7/6/habari1.php

Hii hata kwa nini hatuwezi kuafford