Kamati YA MADINI yataka mfumo mpya sekta ya madini

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Kamati YA MADINI yataka mfumo mpya sekta ya madini
Mwandishi Wetu
Daily News; Sunday,May 25, 2008 @00:02

Rais Jakaya Kikwete amesema serikali itaifanyia kazi haraka ripoti ya kamati ya madini na amemuagiza Waziri wa Nishati na Madini William Ngeleja ampe maoni yake katika kipindi cha wiki mbili kuanzia jana, ili utekelezaji wa mapendekezo ya Kamati hiyo uanze mara moja.

Kamati hiyo aliyoiunda Novemba 12 mwaka 2007, jana ilimkabidhi ripoti hiyo yenye mapendekezo kadhaa likiwamo la kuanzisha mfumo mpya wa usimamizi na uendelezaji wa sekta ya madini kwa wawekezaji wapya.

“Kwa hiyo tunaishauri Serikali kuwashawishi wawekezaji waliopo kuhamia katika mfumo mpya. Utaratibu huu ndio ambao umetumika kwa wenzetu wa Zambia mapema mwaka huu,” Mwenyekiti wa Kamati hiyo, Mark Bomani alimweleza Rais Kikwete.

Jaji Bomani alimkabidhi Rais Kikwete taarifa kamili yenye kurasa 170, viambatanisho vya taarifa hiyo kurasa 80, na muhtasari wa mapendekezo wenye kurasa 40. Kamati hiyo ilikuwa na jukumu la kuangalia upya mfumo wa usimamizi wa sekta ya madini, na ili kukamilisha kazi hiyo ilikutana na wadau mbalimbali wakiwamo wananchi wanaoishi kwenye maeneo yenye uchimbaji wa madini wakiwamo wa

Maganzo, Lusu, Kakola, Mwendakulima (Buzwagi), Geita, Rwamgasa, Nyakabale, Nyamongo, Buhemba, Mirerani, na Kiwira (Liganga). Ilikutana pia na wataalamu, asasi mbalimbali, viongozi wa kiserikali na kisiasa wa ngazi mbalimbali, wamiliki wa migodi, ilikutana na wananchi wa Dar es Salaam, Mwanza na Arusha.

Kwa mujibu wa Bomani, kamati hiyo pia ilitembelea Zambia, Botswana, Afrika Kusini, Ghana, Canada, Australia, Japan na Thailand. Awali Kamati hiyo ilipewa miezi mitatu kumaliza kazi yake, iliongezewa muda baada ya kuthibitika kuwa kazi ya Kamati hiyo ilikuwa inahitaji muda zaidi.

“Mimi nashukuru kuwa kazi hii tumeimaliza,“ alisema Rais Kikwete na kubainisha kuwa tangu wakati alipokuwa akiiunda kamati hiyo alifahamu kuwa alikuwa amewapa jukumu zito. Serikali imewahi kuunda kamati kama hiyo, ikiwamo ya Jenerali Robert Mboma mwaka 2001, Brigedia Jenerali Mang’enya mwaka 2003, Dk Jonas Kipokola mwaka 2004 na ile iliyoongozwa na Lawrence Masha mwaka 2006.

Rais Kikwete alisema, tangu alipoingia madarakani amekuwa akitafuta namna ya kufanya madini yainufaishe Tanzania hivyo serikali itaifanyia kazi haraka ripoti hiyo ili madini yawanufaishe wawekezaji na wenye rasilimali hiyo akimaanisha Watanzania.

Ili kuthibitisha dhamira hiyo, Rais aliuliza kama Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja amepewa nakala za ripoti hiyo akaelezwa kuwa atapewa, akawaambia wampe yeye amkabidhi pale pale lakini asipewe muhtasari kwa kuwa unaweza kusababisha asisome ripoti nzima.

"Waziri usimpe summary, executive summary usimpe Waziri, atafanya uvivu, inatakiwa umpe ripoti na viambatanisho,” alisema Rais Kikwete, Bomani akamkabidhi nakala ya ripoti na viambatanisho, naye akamkabidhi Ngeleja.

Baadhi ya wajumbe 11 wa kamati hiyo walihudhuria hafla hiyo Ikulu Dar es Salaam wakiwamo, Naibu Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Ezekiel Maige ambaye aliteuliwa kuwa mjumbe wa kamati kabla ya kupewa wadhifa huo, na Mbunge wa zamani wa Ilala ambaye sasa ni mfanyabiashara, Iddi Simba.

Wajumbe wengine waliohudhuria ni Mbunge wa Bariadi Mashariki (UDP), John Cheyo, Mbunge wa Kyela( CCM) Dk Harrison Mwakyembe, Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini (Chadema), Zitto Kabwe, na Mwenyekiti wa Soko la hisa la Dar es Salaam, Peter Machunde.

Wateuliwa wengine katika kamati hiyo walioshuhudia Rais Kikwete akikabidhiwa ripoti hiyo ni Wakili Mwandamizi wa Serikali katika Wizara ya Nishati na Madini, Salome Makange, Kamishna wa Sera katika Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Mugisha Kamugisha na Mkurugenzi Msaidizi, Udhibiti na Usimamizi wa uendeshaji Miji, Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, Edward Kihunrwa

Mkurugenzi wa Madai na Sheria za Kimataifa katika Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria, Maria Kejo na Mshauri wa kodi katika Kampuni ya PriceWaterhouseCoopers, David Tarimo hawakuhudhuria hafla hiyo kwa kuwa walikuwa na udhuru.

“Ni matumaini yetu kwamba taarifa hii na mapendekezo yaliyomo, ikiwezekana hata uamuzi wa Serikali juu ya mapendekezo hayo vitawekwa wazi ili kuondoa hisia kwamba taarifa za kamati mbalimbali huwa hazifanyiwi kazi,” alisema mwenyekiti wa kamati.

Bomani alisema, wananchi wana matarajio makubwa na wanaamini kuwa kukamilika kwa kazi ya kamati hiyo ni mwanzo wa utatuzi wa matatizo yao ya siku nyingi katika sekta hiyo. Kwa mujibu wa ripoti ya umasikini na Maendeleo ya Watu ya mwaka 2007 iliyozinduliwa Ijumaa wiki hii jijini Dar es Salaam, sekta ya madini inachangia asilimia 3.7 katika pato la taifa (GDP
 
Kamati YA MADINI yataka mfumo mpya sekta ya madini
Daily News; Sunday,May 25, 2008 @00:02

"Waziri usimpe summary, executive summary usimpe Waziri, atafanya uvivu, inatakiwa umpe ripoti na viambatanisho," alisema Rais Kikwete

Sijui kama anadhani ni utani, lakini nchi za watu walio amka Rais hawezi kusema kwamba ana Mawaziri wavivu. Kwa nini umewapa Uongozi sasa? Hii inaweza kuonyesha si mengi anayotegemea - na sisi tusitegemee- kutoka kwa hawa Mawaziri.

Isipokuwa kama pointi yake ni kwamba kiasili, ukimpa mtu yeyote muhtasari basi hasomi ripoti nzima. Na hapo bado ingemaanisha na yeye asipokee Executive Summary, maana nae ni binadamu. Isipokuwa kama anaamini yeye hana asili ya kushikwa na uvivu ambayo mtu mwingine yeyote anayo, ikiwemo mawaziri. Hapo napo bado tatizo, ni kama dharau.

Kikwete akiongea inabidi ujiulize alitaka kusema nini pale? Kwa Bongo hivi ni vitu vidogo mno, ni nitpicking kokosoa kosoa sentensi moja kati ya hotuba ya sentensi mia. Lakini kuna wakati sentensi moja inaweza ikakufanya uonekane unachemsha, na wakati mwingine kuabisha nchi.

Kikwete aliwahi kumwambia Bush kwenye Press Conference ''...tunafurahi Urais wako umefikia kikomo, na US itapata Rais mwingine!" Unajiuliza, alitaka kusema nini pale? Kama hamwambii usoni 'bora uende,' amefurahi nini?
 
JK to receive mining sector review report today with: Expected adjustments to mining royalty fees

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

THE report of the mining sector review committee expected to be presented to President Jakaya Kikwete today will likely recommend sweeping reforms including an increase in royalty fees and retention within the country of most of the earnings from the key sector.

Well-placed sources say the committee chaired by retired Judge Mark Bomani has uncovered that the nation receives just a tiny portion of earnings from the foreign sale of minerals, whose profits are kept in offshore bank accounts controlled by the mining companies.

It is understood that the report could recommend that mining companies return to Tanzania at least 70 percent of the earnings from the foreign sale of minerals, so that the funds can be used to give a much-needed boost to the national economy.

Under the current arrangement, the lion's share of the sales income remains in the hands of the foreign-owned mining companies, thus failing to achieve the trickle-down effect.

''It has been discovered that as profits from mining activities in the country are repatriated abroad, taking advantage of existing legal and tax loopholes, the average wananchi remain excluded from the mining boom taking place within their own national territory,'' said a source familiar with the work of the Bomani team.

Among other things, the report is also expected to recommend that the government should only enter into mineral development agreements (MDAs) with companies investing not less than $200 million (approx. 240bn/-).

On the question of royalties, the mining sector review team is expected to propose a significant increase in rates, it has been suggested.

''The committee is of the opinion that the existing royalty fees are too low, and deny the government sufficient revenue from the mining sector,'' said another source.

Tanzania currently charges a five per cent royalty for diamonds and uncut gemstones, zero per cent for cut and polished diamonds and gemstones, and three per cent for all other minerals including gold.

Said the source: ''The committee is likely to propose an increase of the royalty fee for uranium in particular, from the current three percent to around 10 percent,'' he added.

The lack of ring fencing has affected calculations of taxable income for mining companies. Because of this, sources say the committee could well recommend the introduction of ring fencing for mines.

Another key recommendation is expected to be on the introduction of tighter controls in the auditing of mineral production and exports, to reduce perceived cheating by major mining companies.

On the thorny question of mining taxes, the committee is expected to recommend major reforms in value added tax (VAT) relief, stamp duty, capital deductions, and other levies.

At least one member of the presidential-appointed mining sector review committee is reported to have declined to sign his name on the letter of transmittal to be presented to President Kikwete with the report, apparently because of ''serious'' disagreements with some key recommendations contained in the final report.

The non-conforming committee member is reportedly arguing that the proposals are likely to drive away investors from Tanzania, thus depriving the country of its competitive advantage.

However, when contacted by THISDAY for comment, Judge Bomani dismissed the reports of a member of his team being at loggerheads with the rest over any of the recommendations, particularly those covering taxation issues.

Other members of the committee include 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 Land, 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).

The Minister for Finance, Mustafa Mkulo, has already hinted that the government is likely to make a major announcement in its 2008/09 budget proposals next month on various revisions to the country's tax structure for mining companies.
 
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