Kashfa ya Wabunge wala rushwa: Iundiwe Tume

[BAK]

Kashfa ya kuhonga wabunge iundiwe tume

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 20:48

Mwananchi TANGU kuibuliwa bungeni mjini Dodoma juzi kwa kashfa inayohusu Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ya kuwahonga wabunge ili wapitishe bajeti ya wizara hiyo, maswali mengi yameulizwa ingawa majibu yake imekuwa vigumu kuyapata. Hali hiyo tete imejitokeza kutokana na madhara yatokanayo na tukio hilo kuwa makubwa zaidi kuliko ilivyodhaniwa hapo awali. Hali hiyo tete inatokana na ukweli kwamba tumefanya makosa kama taifa kuangalia kashfa hiyo kwa kutumia miwani ya mbao, kwa maana ya kutokujua tunaingia katika mtego wa kuficha tatizo hilo kwa kuelekeza lawama na laana zetu kwa Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja na Katibu Mkuu wake, David Jairo aliyechangisha mamilioni ya fedha kwa lengo la kutoa rushwa kwa wabunge. Kumbe katika kuwasaka papa na nyangumi wanaohusika na kashfa hiyo na nyingine nyingi za aina hiyo, tulipaswa kutupa nyavu zetu mbali zaidi baharini siyo tu kwa lengo la kuwanasa wahalifu wote bali pia kuongeza wigo wa kubaini ukubwa wa tatizo. Kinachoonekana hapa ni kuwa kashfa hiyo ni kubwa zaidi kuliko inavyoonekana mbele ya wananchi. Haiingii akilini kwamba katibu mkuu wa wizara anaweza kupata ujasiri wa kutoa waraka kwa mashirika yote yaliyo chini ya wizara yake akiyaagiza kuchanga Sh50 milioni kila moja ili kutoa rushwa kwa watu mbalimbali, wakiwamo wabunge kwa lengo la kuwezesha kupitishwa kinamna kwa bajeti ya wizara hiyo bungeni. Ni vigumu pia kufikiria jinsi mtu aliyeteuliwa kusimamia matumizi ya fedha za Serikali katika wizara husika kusaliti dhima aliyopewa kwa kuhamasisha wizi na ukwapuaji wa fedha za walipakodi na kuamuru zipitishwe katika akaunti ya mawakala wa utafiti wa masuala ya uchimbaji madini iliyopo katika Benki ya NMB, Tawi la Dodoma. Je, kuna uhusiano gani kati ya mawakala hao na viongozi wa wizara hiyo ya Nishati na Madini? Waraka uliotumwa kwa mashirika zaidi ya 20 yaliyo chini ya wizara hiyo unawakumbusha wakuu wa mashirika hayo kwamba ni utamaduni wa wizara hiyo kufanya zoezi hilo kila mwaka wakati wa kuwasilisha hotuba ya Bajeti Dodoma. Hiyo inadhihirisha pasipo shaka kwamba ukwapuaji huo wa kutisha wa fedha za wananchi umekuwa ukifanyika kila mwaka. Tuliposema hapo awali kwamba kumbe tatizo ni kubwa zaidi kuliko tulivyofikiria tulikuwa na maana kwamba, ukwapuaji huo haupo katika Wizara ya Nishati na Madini pekee, bali katika wizara zote mara linapokutana Bunge la Bajeti. Kikao cha Bunge cha Bajeti kumbe ni wakati wa mavuno kwa viongozi wa wizara na mashirika yaliyo chini ya wizara hizo. Habari zinasema kila wizara hutenga wastani wa Sh900 milioni kwa lengo la “kufanikisha upitishwaji “ wa bajeti za wizara hizo, hivyo fedha hizo hutumika kuhonga pande zote husika na watumishi wa wizara hizo hutumia fedha inayobaki kujinufaisha. Jambo la kushangaza ni kuwa, inakuwaje fedha zote hizo zinatumika kifisadi kila mwaka wakati hazikutengewa bajeti yoyote? Inakuwaje Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) anapokagua hesabu za wizara hizo na kukuta madudu yanayotokana na ukwapuaji huo wa kutisha? Je, inakuwaje kamati za Bunge zinazosimamia hesabu za Serikali na Mashirika ya Umma hazigundui ufisadi huo zinapopitia ripoti hizo za CAG kila mwaka? Lazima tujiulize pia wapi zilipo bodi za wakurugenzi zinazosimamia mashirika ya umma yaliyo chini ya wizara mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, kwa kuwa mashirika hayo yanawajibika kwa bodi hizo, inakuwaje katibu mkuu wa wizara fulani ayaagize mashirika hayo kuchanga fedha za kufanya kazi chafu ya kutoa rushwa? Ina maana bodi hizo hazihusiki na kupitisha ripoti za wakaguzi wa mahesabu ya mashirika yao? Sisi tunasema kuwa jambo hili lina siri kubwa. Tunataka tume huru iundwe ili itoe jawabu kwa kashfa hii ya aina yake katika nchi yetu.

 

[yutong]

Tume ya nini wakati PCCB ipo? inamaana PCCB wao kazi yao ni nini? Mbona tunapenda kuingilia kazi za PCCB?

 

[King’asti]

kwenye tume na kaka hosea atakuwemo. hii ni kuongeza ulaji zaidi. hukumuelewa waziri mkuu akisema posho zisiondolewe manake wabunge wanatatulia matatizo ya wananchi wao? hata hao members wa tume wana matatizo ya wananchi wao. ndo muundo wa sirikali!

Tume ya nini wakati PCCB ipo? inamaana PCCB wao kazi yao ni nini? Mbona tunapenda kuingilia kazi za PCCB?

 

[King’asti]

hivyo vikao vya board ukisikia gharama yake utakoma mwenyewe! na sidhani kama bajeti yake inakuwa wazi kivile. nakumbuka ilishawahi kutokea kashfa ya matumizi ya fedha BOT kwa kulipa mamilioni wajumbe wa board! na order ikitoka kwa katibu mkuu inakuwa kama imetoka kwa kamungu flani. nadhani katibu mkuu anatetemekewa kuliko waziri!

Lazima tujiulize pia wapi zilipo bodi za wakurugenzi zinazosimamia mashirika ya umma yaliyo chini ya wizara mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, kwa kuwa mashirika hayo yanawajibika kwa bodi hizo, inakuwaje katibu mkuu wa wizara fulani ayaagize mashirika hayo kuchanga fedha za kufanya kazi chafu ya kutoa rushwa? Ina maana bodi hizo hazihusiki na kupitisha ripoti za wakaguzi wa mahesabu ya mashirika yao?

 

[Chapakazi]

Kuna mtu alinidokeza hili maana yeye alifanya kazi wizarani! Nchi hii ni muozo kweli! Lakini mwozo umeletwa na ccm. Ivi kwa nini watu wanashindwa kuona hili? ccm ndio shetani wetu jamani, bila kumtoa itakuwa ni maneno tu...

 

[BAK]

Kuna mtu alinidokeza hili maana yeye alifanya kazi wizarani! Nchi hii ni muozo kweli! Lakini mwozo umeletwa na ccm. Ivi kwa nini watu wanashindwa kuona hili? ccm ndio shetani wetu jamani, bila kumtoa itakuwa ni maneno tu...

Ni muozo wa hali ya juu maana inadaiwa kila Wizara ilikuwa inatenga kiasi cha shilingi milioni 900 kwa ajili ya kuwahonga Wabunge ili wapitishe makadirio ya Wizara zao. Sasa ukiweka idadi ya Wizara zilizoko pamoja na huu utoaji rushwa kwa Wabunge si ajabu ulianza miaka mingi tu. Inasikitisha sana kusema kweli kuona wawakilisha wa Watanzania ndio wanakuwa mstari wa mbele katika kupitisha na kufumbia macho uozo mbali mbali ndani ya Serikali ya sasa na hata za nyuma.

 

[BAK]

Tume ya nini wakati PCCB ipo? inamaana PCCB wao kazi yao ni nini? Mbona tunapenda kuingilia kazi za PCCB?

Haina kazi ile mkuu ni taasisi ya usanii ile kazi yake kubwa ni kulinda mafisadi ndio maana ufisadi hautaisha nchini kwetu. Hivi unakumbuka kesi yoyote kubwa inayoendelea au iliyokwisha malizika kuhusiana na ufisadi wowote mkubwa nchini? Ile EPA imeminywa kimya kimya na kuwafunga wale ambao hawakuwa na wadhifa wowote Serikalini lakini wale mapapa wa ufisai bado wanapeta kwa raha zao.

 

[Chapakazi]

Ni muozo wa hali ya juu maana inadaiwa kila Wizara ilikuwa inatenga kiasi cha shilingi milioni 900 kwa ajili ya kuwahonga Wabunge ili wapitishe makadirio ya Wizara zao. Sasa ukiweka idadi ya Wizara zilizoko pamoja na huu utoaji rushwa kwa Wabunge si ajabu ulianza miaka mingi tu. Inasikitisha sana kusema kweli kuona wawakilisha wa Watanzania ndio wanakuwa mstari wa mbele katika kupitisha na kufumbia macho uozo mbali mbali ndani ya Serikali ya sasa na hata za nyuma.

Ndio hapo! Nashangaa wamekuja kuropoka leo! Hili linaleta maswali kibao hasa kwa vyama vya upinzani. Ina maana Chadema walikuwa hawajui hili? Mbona wamelimezea mpaka leo? wanasema vita vya panzi furaha ya kunguru. Wacha watufunulie maovu yao yote...

 

[kisu]

Chukua Chako Mapema!!!

 

[Mtazamaji]

Nashangaa watu mmekomalia tume na PCCB.

Mpaka sasa Polisi walitwakiwa kuwa wameshamwita na kupata maelezo yake ya awali. Polisi ilitaiwa kuwa imeshacheki na kwahiwakurugenzi wa hio taasisis zilizotua hizo fedha kwenye hiyo account.

Yaaani ina maana Polisi yetu na IGP mwena wako so low kiasi issue za million 50 hawawezi kudeal nazo.

Ina maana vijana wa IGP mwema kazi yao ni kudeal na kesi za kuku.?

 

[Chapakazi]

Nashangaa watu mmekomalia tume na PCCB.

Mpaka sasa Polisi walitwakiwa kuwa wameshamwita na kupata maelezo yake ya awali. Polisi ilitaiwa kuwa imeshacheki na kwahiwakurugenzi wa hio taasisis zilizotua hizo fedha kwenye hiyo account.

Yaaani ina maana Polisi yetu na IGP mwena wako so low kiasi issue za million 50 hawawezi kudeal nazo.

Ina maana vijana wa IGP mwema kazi yao ni kudeal na kesi za kuku.?

Kitengo gani cha polisi kinahusika hapo? Kesi ipo chini ya sheria ipi ya polisi?

 

[Chapakazi]

Tume itaundwa na nani? Maana wabunge ni calprits, serikali nayo pia ni calprits. Watu binafsi watachaguliwa na nani? Hii ishu ipo win-win upande wa serikali tu! Kitu wananchi wanaweza kufanya ni kudai wabunge wao wawaeleze ama sivyo wawavue madaraka...

 

[ureni]

Kashfa ya kuhonga wabunge iundiwe tume

Tuesday, 19 July 2011 20:48

Mwananchi TANGU kuibuliwa bungeni mjini Dodoma juzi kwa kashfa inayohusu Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ya kuwahonga wabunge ili wapitishe bajeti ya wizara hiyo, maswali mengi yameulizwa ingawa majibu yake imekuwa vigumu kuyapata. Hali hiyo tete imejitokeza kutokana na madhara yatokanayo na tukio hilo kuwa makubwa zaidi kuliko ilivyodhaniwa hapo awali. Hali hiyo tete inatokana na ukweli kwamba tumefanya makosa kama taifa kuangalia kashfa hiyo kwa kutumia miwani ya mbao, kwa maana ya kutokujua tunaingia katika mtego wa kuficha tatizo hilo kwa kuelekeza lawama na laana zetu kwa Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja na Katibu Mkuu wake, David Jairo aliyechangisha mamilioni ya fedha kwa lengo la kutoa rushwa kwa wabunge. Kumbe katika kuwasaka papa na nyangumi wanaohusika na kashfa hiyo na nyingine nyingi za aina hiyo, tulipaswa kutupa nyavu zetu mbali zaidi baharini siyo tu kwa lengo la kuwanasa wahalifu wote bali pia kuongeza wigo wa kubaini ukubwa wa tatizo. Kinachoonekana hapa ni kuwa kashfa hiyo ni kubwa zaidi kuliko inavyoonekana mbele ya wananchi. Haiingii akilini kwamba katibu mkuu wa wizara anaweza kupata ujasiri wa kutoa waraka kwa mashirika yote yaliyo chini ya wizara yake akiyaagiza kuchanga Sh50 milioni kila moja ili kutoa rushwa kwa watu mbalimbali, wakiwamo wabunge kwa lengo la kuwezesha kupitishwa kinamna kwa bajeti ya wizara hiyo bungeni. Ni vigumu pia kufikiria jinsi mtu aliyeteuliwa kusimamia matumizi ya fedha za Serikali katika wizara husika kusaliti dhima aliyopewa kwa kuhamasisha wizi na ukwapuaji wa fedha za walipakodi na kuamuru zipitishwe katika akaunti ya mawakala wa utafiti wa masuala ya uchimbaji madini iliyopo katika Benki ya NMB, Tawi la Dodoma. Je, kuna uhusiano gani kati ya mawakala hao na viongozi wa wizara hiyo ya Nishati na Madini? Waraka uliotumwa kwa mashirika zaidi ya 20 yaliyo chini ya wizara hiyo unawakumbusha wakuu wa mashirika hayo kwamba ni utamaduni wa wizara hiyo kufanya zoezi hilo kila mwaka wakati wa kuwasilisha hotuba ya Bajeti Dodoma. Hiyo inadhihirisha pasipo shaka kwamba ukwapuaji huo wa kutisha wa fedha za wananchi umekuwa ukifanyika kila mwaka. Tuliposema hapo awali kwamba kumbe tatizo ni kubwa zaidi kuliko tulivyofikiria tulikuwa na maana kwamba, ukwapuaji huo haupo katika Wizara ya Nishati na Madini pekee, bali katika wizara zote mara linapokutana Bunge la Bajeti. Kikao cha Bunge cha Bajeti kumbe ni wakati wa mavuno kwa viongozi wa wizara na mashirika yaliyo chini ya wizara hizo. Habari zinasema kila wizara hutenga wastani wa Sh900 milioni kwa lengo la "kufanikisha upitishwaji " wa bajeti za wizara hizo, hivyo fedha hizo hutumika kuhonga pande zote husika na watumishi wa wizara hizo hutumia fedha inayobaki kujinufaisha. Jambo la kushangaza ni kuwa, inakuwaje fedha zote hizo zinatumika kifisadi kila mwaka wakati hazikutengewa bajeti yoyote? Inakuwaje Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) anapokagua hesabu za wizara hizo na kukuta madudu yanayotokana na ukwapuaji huo wa kutisha? Je, inakuwaje kamati za Bunge zinazosimamia hesabu za Serikali na Mashirika ya Umma hazigundui ufisadi huo zinapopitia ripoti hizo za CAG kila mwaka? Lazima tujiulize pia wapi zilipo bodi za wakurugenzi zinazosimamia mashirika ya umma yaliyo chini ya wizara mbalimbali. Kwa mfano, kwa kuwa mashirika hayo yanawajibika kwa bodi hizo, inakuwaje katibu mkuu wa wizara fulani ayaagize mashirika hayo kuchanga fedha za kufanya kazi chafu ya kutoa rushwa? Ina maana bodi hizo hazihusiki na kupitisha ripoti za wakaguzi wa mahesabu ya mashirika yao? Sisi tunasema kuwa jambo hili lina siri kubwa. Tunataka tume huru iundwe ili itoe jawabu kwa kashfa hii ya aina yake katika nchi yetu.

Hapo kwenye maandishi ya blue ipo kazi,manaake hongo yenyewe ni bilioni moja,tume ikiundwa mpaka ikamilishe ripoti italamba milioni 800 sasa hapo tutakua tunauza ngombe kwa kesi ya kuku.Kazi kweli.

 

[BAK]

[h=2]Power crisis a dark spot in government performance[/h]

By Florian Kaijage

24th July 2011

Minister of Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja

As Tanzanians struggle with the worsening power rationing with the hope of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the main question that beg an urgent answer is where will the billions for emergence power rescue plan come from?

According to a quick survey conducted by The Guardian on Sunday, about $400 million(Sh640 billion) are needed to curb the current power crisis by investing in the procurement and production of thermo electricity for the next six months.

When the budget estimates for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals were withdrawn from the Parliament by the government last Monday due to rare joint pressure from both ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi and the opposition camp, there was somehow a sense of relieve among Tanzanians.

That senses atmosphere was not in any way an outcome of overnight availability of reliable power but really for the government, another but tricky chance of rectifying technical and decision errors it has committed in recent years, resulting in the highest risk for East Africa’s second economy in the past five years.

It was evident that the government, as any Tanzanian would sniff, was highly vigilant in the last days prior to the tabling of the energy budget speech and tried to play its cards as technically as it could to salvage its status at the expense of its nationals.

For instance, on Thursday, July 14, one day before the D-Day, all CCM legislators met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda so that the leader of government business in the House could ‘brief’ the MPs on the coming serious business on Friday.

The meeting which is commonly termed as Party Caucus was held from 20.00hrs and lasted for several hours.
But on the very day (Friday), a very strong signal on how tough the work ahead would be was sent to Minister William Ngeleja who immediately after he presented his speech was told by Ali Keissy Mohamed, MP for Nkasi North constituency that he had lied before Parliament for stating that preparations for power transmission in certain villages in Nkasi were underway at 62 percentage while on contrary, there was not even a single pole in the mentioned villages.

The subsequent debate later in the day proved to be fierce as legislators openly pointed fingers at the energy ministry, blamed it if for lacking a serious plan for tackling the worsening power crisis.
After the weekend break, more serious business resumed on Monday when 13 MPs debated on the speech, 10 of whom opposed the motion, and even three legislators who seconded it did so with strong reservations and pending matters to be explained about.

In the view of that and with a clear picture emerging, Premier Pinda convened a second party caucus meeting during the breather, which lasted for about two hours.
It was during this meeting were, MPs showed their true colours and told the PM that by no means would they be bent by government’s intent to defuse tensions.
From there Pinda and the entire government drew the conclusion that the platform was too big and challenging for Minister Ngeleja to handle it and in an adverse move Pinda rose to the stage to deliver what Ngeleja was deemed not able to do.

The Premier, self-styled as a peasant’s son, told the House: “We did not want minister Ngeleja to come here and say MP so and so said this and Mbowe said this in responding to matters raised by legislators…… he would not have a statement to quench MPs’ thirst because you have been so open that what you need is power and not anything short of that.”
He proceeded: “Now give us time and trust us so as we can deal with this matter and see the situation we will be in by 31st August on this issue of power rationing.”

And more apparent on Thursday this week, Pinda stressed on his point when responding to the instant question from the leader of official opposition Freemen Mbowe when he said: “The government has not failed to find a lasting solution on this matter. Please be patient so that you can prove us wrong when time comes.”
I have selected those three relevant quotations purposely in an attempt to have my argument clearly captured.
Let me raise a few questions here; why did the government try by all means to have the budget approved by the Parliament including convening two party caucus meetings so as to have a common position?

Did that act give any indication over much desired government intent to have the power crises brought to an end at least temporarily as over emphasized by PM Pinda?
What is a clear difference between what Pinda told the House in pleasing the MPs and the public, what minister Ngeleja couldn’t manage to?
Was it just Ngeleja’s face and words irritating because of the repeatedly empty statements which bear nothing in terms of solution a key cause to this development?
Who would be responding to the unanswered MPs’ queries when the budget speech is re-tabled on Saturday, August 13: Ngeleja or Pinda?

As the case may be, Pinda has learnt a lesson that this time around MPs decided to put aside their party fanaticism and talk on behalf of the ‘people’ a bigger nation’s section.
And the government must remain watchful because any failure to deliver as the PM promised may lead to more wrangles, which by that time the fingers could be pointed at the entire government.

The clear fact here is that Premier Pinda’s decision of stepping up in Ngeleja’s role to ‘rescue’ the trembling government depicts that now the matter was no longer only energy ministry’s responsibility but the entire Cabinet.

As a Tanzanian who would like to see the country enjoying a reliable power supply, I wish President Kikwete, Pinda and all ministers brain storming earnestly so as to come up with a solution to be announced by Ngeleja or Pinda on August 13.
Jairo’s wrong step
David Kitundu Jairo is now suspended from office as a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals or rather, to use direct words of Civil Service Head, Philemon Luhanjo – He (Jairo) has been relieved of his duties administratively and ordered to go on paid leave pending investigation over strong accusation facing him.

He is accused of ordering in writing all departments and agencies under his ministry to contribute Sh50 million each for the purpose of facilitating the budget speech to be approved by the House.
The directive was later to be interpreted as a move intended to ‘soften’ the legislators as the memo said the primary work at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on energy an minerals was completed successfully.

While the nation awaits the outcome of the investigation, to be carried out by Controller and Auditor General, Ludovick Utoh, one question remains unanswered; how possible minister Ngeleja was unaware of the said letter, availed to the House and to the media by Kilindi MP, Beatrice Shelukindo.
Ngeleja is said to have told the party caucus on Monday afternoon that he was totally unaware of the letter and its contents.
Assume Ngeleja is telling the truth and the letter was really written from the same office which Ngeleja heads, then we have a bigger and compounded problem at the energy ministry than what is being reported or discussed.

If this is the case, then how many matters are executed by the ministry chief executive (PS) without the minister’s knowledge and vice versa? then what kind of a working relationship in these areas when the officials are able to exchange documents from their mobile phones without being compelled to convene time consuming meetings?

The Ministry of Energy is reported to have 21 departments and agencies under it, thus bringing the total amount of money ordered to Sh1.05 billion, how the money was utilisedand who were beneficiaries, the CAG report would definitely tell us in a foreseeable future.

But remember, apart from the ordinary and development budget, the Ministry of energy is the one dealing with the funds issued by Treasury to buy Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) used by Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) at a tune of Sh17 billion shillings every month and a monthly capacity charge of up to Sh12 billion.

It is also worth pointing out here that, PS Jairo has been in the office for a period less than 2 years since his appointment in October 2009. Prior to that, he was a private Secretary to President Kikwete.
Did this previous post at the country’s highest office influence his daily duties and somehow affect his supposed obedience to the minister? Jairo can have the answer.

Once again while we wait for CAG findings, this incident has absolutely unmasked how fragile the execution of duties within our government is, time to wake up otherwise we might observe more strange incidents especially from a ministry with a huge responsibility to oversee all matters related to energy and minerals.



SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

 

[gambagumu]

hii kashfa ya rushwa bungeni imeangaliwa sana kwa upande mmoja, yaani upande wa mtoaji lakini sheria yetu ya rushwa iko wazi kwamba mtoaji na mpokeaji wote wamevunja sheria.kwa sababu jambo hili limeligusa bunge moja kwa moja nashauri spika aunde kamati ya wabunge ili kulifanyia uchunguzi na ikibainika kuna wabunge walipokea hizo pesa basi wawajibishwe na bunge au walazimishwe kujiuzulu na vyama vyao. nawasilisha

 

[Chapakazi]

hii kashfa ya rushwa bungeni imeangaliwa sana kwa upande mmoja, yaani upande wa mtoaji lakini sheria yetu ya rushwa iko wazi kwamba mtoaji na mpokeaji wote wamevunja sheria.kwa sababu jambo hili limeligusa bunge moja kwa moja nashauri spika aunde kamati ya wabunge ili kulifanyia uchunguzi na ikibainika kuna wabunge walipokea hizo pesa basi wawajibishwe na bunge au walazimishwe kujiuzulu na vyama vyao. nawasilisha

Yani unataka mwizi awe hakimu katika kesi yake?

 

[Chapakazi]

[h=2]Power crisis a dark spot in government performance[/h]

By Florian Kaijage

24th July 2011

Minister of Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja

As Tanzanians struggle with the worsening power rationing with the hope of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, the main question that beg an urgent answer is where will the billions for emergence power rescue plan come from?

According to a quick survey conducted by The Guardian on Sunday, about $400 million(Sh640 billion) are needed to curb the current power crisis by investing in the procurement and production of thermo electricity for the next six months.

When the budget estimates for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals were withdrawn from the Parliament by the government last Monday due to rare joint pressure from both ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi and the opposition camp, there was somehow a sense of relieve among Tanzanians.

That senses atmosphere was not in any way an outcome of overnight availability of reliable power but really for the government, another but tricky chance of rectifying technical and decision errors it has committed in recent years, resulting in the highest risk for East Africa's second economy in the past five years.

It was evident that the government, as any Tanzanian would sniff, was highly vigilant in the last days prior to the tabling of the energy budget speech and tried to play its cards as technically as it could to salvage its status at the expense of its nationals.

For instance, on Thursday, July 14, one day before the D-Day, all CCM legislators met under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda so that the leader of government business in the House could ‘brief' the MPs on the coming serious business on Friday.

The meeting which is commonly termed as Party Caucus was held from 20.00hrs and lasted for several hours.
But on the very day (Friday), a very strong signal on how tough the work ahead would be was sent to Minister William Ngeleja who immediately after he presented his speech was told by Ali Keissy Mohamed, MP for Nkasi North constituency that he had lied before Parliament for stating that preparations for power transmission in certain villages in Nkasi were underway at 62 percentage while on contrary, there was not even a single pole in the mentioned villages.

The subsequent debate later in the day proved to be fierce as legislators openly pointed fingers at the energy ministry, blamed it if for lacking a serious plan for tackling the worsening power crisis.
After the weekend break, more serious business resumed on Monday when 13 MPs debated on the speech, 10 of whom opposed the motion, and even three legislators who seconded it did so with strong reservations and pending matters to be explained about.

In the view of that and with a clear picture emerging, Premier Pinda convened a second party caucus meeting during the breather, which lasted for about two hours.
It was during this meeting were, MPs showed their true colours and told the PM that by no means would they be bent by government's intent to defuse tensions.
From there Pinda and the entire government drew the conclusion that the platform was too big and challenging for Minister Ngeleja to handle it and in an adverse move Pinda rose to the stage to deliver what Ngeleja was deemed not able to do.

The Premier, self-styled as a peasant's son, told the House: "We did not want minister Ngeleja to come here and say MP so and so said this and Mbowe said this in responding to matters raised by legislators…… he would not have a statement to quench MPs' thirst because you have been so open that what you need is power and not anything short of that."
He proceeded: "Now give us time and trust us so as we can deal with this matter and see the situation we will be in by 31st August on this issue of power rationing."

And more apparent on Thursday this week, Pinda stressed on his point when responding to the instant question from the leader of official opposition Freemen Mbowe when he said: "The government has not failed to find a lasting solution on this matter. Please be patient so that you can prove us wrong when time comes."
I have selected those three relevant quotations purposely in an attempt to have my argument clearly captured.
Let me raise a few questions here; why did the government try by all means to have the budget approved by the Parliament including convening two party caucus meetings so as to have a common position?

Did that act give any indication over much desired government intent to have the power crises brought to an end at least temporarily as over emphasized by PM Pinda?
What is a clear difference between what Pinda told the House in pleasing the MPs and the public, what minister Ngeleja couldn't manage to?
Was it just Ngeleja's face and words irritating because of the repeatedly empty statements which bear nothing in terms of solution a key cause to this development?
Who would be responding to the unanswered MPs' queries when the budget speech is re-tabled on Saturday, August 13: Ngeleja or Pinda?

As the case may be, Pinda has learnt a lesson that this time around MPs decided to put aside their party fanaticism and talk on behalf of the ‘people' a bigger nation's section.
And the government must remain watchful because any failure to deliver as the PM promised may lead to more wrangles, which by that time the fingers could be pointed at the entire government.

The clear fact here is that Premier Pinda's decision of stepping up in Ngeleja's role to ‘rescue' the trembling government depicts that now the matter was no longer only energy ministry's responsibility but the entire Cabinet.

As a Tanzanian who would like to see the country enjoying a reliable power supply, I wish President Kikwete, Pinda and all ministers brain storming earnestly so as to come up with a solution to be announced by Ngeleja or Pinda on August 13.
Jairo's wrong step
David Kitundu Jairo is now suspended from office as a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals or rather, to use direct words of Civil Service Head, Philemon Luhanjo – He (Jairo) has been relieved of his duties administratively and ordered to go on paid leave pending investigation over strong accusation facing him.

He is accused of ordering in writing all departments and agencies under his ministry to contribute Sh50 million each for the purpose of facilitating the budget speech to be approved by the House.
The directive was later to be interpreted as a move intended to ‘soften' the legislators as the memo said the primary work at the Parliamentary Standing Committee on energy an minerals was completed successfully.

While the nation awaits the outcome of the investigation, to be carried out by Controller and Auditor General, Ludovick Utoh, one question remains unanswered; how possible minister Ngeleja was unaware of the said letter, availed to the House and to the media by Kilindi MP, Beatrice Shelukindo.
Ngeleja is said to have told the party caucus on Monday afternoon that he was totally unaware of the letter and its contents.
Assume Ngeleja is telling the truth and the letter was really written from the same office which Ngeleja heads, then we have a bigger and compounded problem at the energy ministry than what is being reported or discussed.

If this is the case, then how many matters are executed by the ministry chief executive (PS) without the minister's knowledge and vice versa? then what kind of a working relationship in these areas when the officials are able to exchange documents from their mobile phones without being compelled to convene time consuming meetings?

The Ministry of Energy is reported to have 21 departments and agencies under it, thus bringing the total amount of money ordered to Sh1.05 billion, how the money was utilisedand who were beneficiaries, the CAG report would definitely tell us in a foreseeable future.

But remember, apart from the ordinary and development budget, the Ministry of energy is the one dealing with the funds issued by Treasury to buy Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) used by Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) at a tune of Sh17 billion shillings every month and a monthly capacity charge of up to Sh12 billion.

It is also worth pointing out here that, PS Jairo has been in the office for a period less than 2 years since his appointment in October 2009. Prior to that, he was a private Secretary to President Kikwete.
Did this previous post at the country's highest office influence his daily duties and somehow affect his supposed obedience to the minister? Jairo can have the answer.

Once again while we wait for CAG findings, this incident has absolutely unmasked how fragile the execution of duties within our government is, time to wake up otherwise we might observe more strange incidents especially from a ministry with a huge responsibility to oversee all matters related to energy and minerals.



SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

Ivi CAG tunamwamini? Yeye si sehemu ya serikali? We need an independent investigation into this matter! Mbona hilo ni gumu sana kuona??!!
Pili, hao IPTL wanalipwa Bil 17 kila mwezi watengeneze umeme alafu watupe bure? Mbona hilo deal kila siku linazungumziwa lakini bado tunapigwa bao? Mbona kama tunazunguka mbuyu kila wakati...