Open Letter to His Exclence JMK-Is it a Carrot and Stick Land Deal?

[Shadow]

Your Excellence JMK
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Your Excellence Mr. President

Shalom, As-Salāmu `Alaykum

Re:Saudis Request For 500,000 Hectares: A Carrot and Stick Deal?
It is my humble gratitude to write you this open letter as I believe it is an effective way of reaching you.

I would also want to say ‘pole ya safari'.

Mr. President, the reason I am writing this open letter to you is to raise my concern regarding the potential leasing of our land for farming. On the face of it, it sounds to be a good deal for Tanzanian economy. But, my worry is basically on the amount and location of the land in question plus the "credibility" of the potential investors.

I am not attacking the personality of the potential investor but questioning the motives behind this matter as you may note that recently, we have seen Middle East ‘shakers and movers' visiting East Africa region looking for ‘potential investment opportunities'.

To derive my point home, are these Saudis, really interested in farming or they are using ‘back door' to gain access to our ‘potential oil reserves'? Why seek your audience after being told by TIC to wait? Naturally, Saudis are oil oriented investors and luxurious staff; therefore there is rebuttable presumption that ‘they are not serious investors in farming". Are we going to audit them before give such vast land for their investment? Moreover it is a 99 years? Past corruption acts during the signing such contacts have also raised my red flag too.

Mr. President, those potential investors were supposed to contact tic directly, why did they choose a "lobbying approach". It has been reported that TIC told them to wait for feasibility study of the project.

Mr. President, [the Citizen] Qatar plans to lease 40,000 hectares along Kenya's coast to grow fruit and vegetables for its own citizens in return for building a 2.4 billion (Sh3 trillion) port close to the Indian Ocean tourist island of Lamu. The plan has, however, met with stiff opposition from activists. This is a sign that wananchi also are tired with some of these deals as a reasonable person will not rush to commit himself/herself.

Mr. President, as it has been dubbed that this is a new ‘scramble' for East Africa. We should do our homework before rushing and lease our land. I am calling for a cautious approach as I am sure they (Saudis) had upper hand on you and you should note that always they bring a ‘carrot and stick".

I kindly remain to hear from you.

My country first,

God bless Tanzania.

Shadow. April 20, 2009

 

[Mafuchila]

"Mr. President, those potential investors were supposed to contact tic directly, why did they choose a "lobbying approach". It has been reported that TIC told them to wait for feasibility study of the project."

Shadow, uchaguzi unawadia, na dili la EPA limeshashtukiwa, na kamati za Bunge zipo macho, ndio maana wanachacharika kwa kutafuta hela za mwarabu bila kujali madhara ya baadaye.

 

[Gelange Vidunda]

Umemtumia tayari au umetutumia JF tu ikosoe?

 

[Kidatu]

Jamani ukubwa huo wa hekari 500,000 mbona ni sawa na mkoa wote wa Iringa?. Watapewa sehemeu gani ya ardhi katika nchi?. Wasije wakapewa mbuga za wanyama na pia wasije wakasababisha wananchi wahamishwe kuwapisha wawekezaji hawa.

 

[Buswelu]

Jamani ukubwa huo wa hekari 500,000 mbona ni sawa na mkoa wote wa Iringa?. Watapewa sehemeu gani ya ardhi katika nchi?. Wasije wakapewa mbuga za wanyama na pia wasije wakasababisha wananchi wahamishwe kuwapisha wawekezaji hawa.

Huyu anataka kuleta mambo ya malecela miaka ile....mpaka mzee akataka kusilimishwa kama sio kusilimu kabisa....amebaki na CCM damu damu....

Yaani maana halisi ya kuwekeza jamaa akiambiwa hatafakari mara mbili..yeye ni kucheka na kutabasamu.....baadae tutakuja sikia ohh
mradi ulishidwa kuleta matunda...

 

[Semilong]

Your Excellence JMK
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Your Excellence Mr. President

Mr. President, [the Citizen] Qatar plans to lease 40,000 hectares along Kenya's coast to grow fruit and vegetables for its own citizens in return for building a 2.4 billion (Sh3 trillion) port close to the Indian Ocean tourist island of Lamu. The plan has, however, met with stiff opposition from activists. This is a sign that wananchi also are tired with some of these deals as a reasonable person will not rush to commit himself/herself.


I kindly remain to hear from you.

My country first,

God bless Tanzania.

Shadow. April 20, 2009

the maths behind the deal.....

kenya 40,000 hectares = wamepewa port yengye thamani tsh 3 trillion = $2 billion

je TZ itakuwaje
500, 000 / 40,000 = 12 and 20,000 hectares free

$2 billion x 12 = $24 billion or tsh 3 trillion x 12= 36 trillion
the govt will be selling us short if the get anything less than $24 billion or tsh 36 trillion

current budget tsh 7 trillion
4 yrs budget= 4 x 7 trillion = 28 trillion
36 trillion - 28 trillion = 8 trillion
kutokana na uchumi kukua 8 trillion itakuwa itajazilia mapungufu ya budget

TZ hectares 500, 000 = $24 billion = tsh 36 trillion

maswali ambayo yanahitaji majibu??
1.would TZ govt get $24 billion from saudis?
2.do you trust this govt to sign such a deal?
3.Je hela zitakazopatikana zitaisaidi hii nchi au zitaishia mifukoni mwa viongozi?
4. kwa nini hawa jamaa walienda serikalini moja kwa moja kwa mkulu bila kupitia TIC, hata mkurugenzi wa TIC hakuwepo na walikuwepo watu kama waziri wa mambo ya ndani(masha)?
5. long term deal in bussiness is 20 -25 yrs, sheria za ardhi bongo za miaka 33, 66, au 99. je miaka 33 haitoshi kurudisha hela yao?
6. je miaka 66 haitoshi kurudisha hela yao?
7. je miaka 99 ni kidogo au mingi?
8. kuna mtu yeyote anaejua nchi ime sign deal ya ardhi kwa ukubwa wa kuanzia hecta 100, 000 kwa zaidi ya miaka 33 au dili ambayo inakaribiana na hii tunaomba utufahamishe...
9.je tz ina hecta ngapi zenye rutuba ambazo sio jangwa?
10. je tukiwapa hecta 500, 000 zenye rutuba watanzania watabakiwa na hecta ngapi zenye rutuba?
11. je baada ya miaka 33 TZ kutakuwa na watu wangapi? je baada ya miaka 66 tutakuwa wangapi? sidhani kama tunaweza kutabiri tutakuwa wangapi baada ya miaka 99 kwa hiyo siulizi hili...

 

[Son of Alaska]

'POTENTIAL OIL RESERVES' would someone enlighten me on this,since me was born mpaka leo nakaribia kufa(offcourse by tanzania's life expectancy standards)nayasikia haya mafuta-kweli yapo au ni case ya wishfull thinking

 

[Askofu]

The Syndrome is called "Out of Country Signed Deals", it once affected Karamagi and I guess it got your excellency too. We should seek the cure before it is too late

 

[Ngekewa]

Huyu anataka kuleta mambo ya malecela miaka ile....mpaka mzee akataka kusilimishwa kama sio kusilimu kabisa....amebaki na CCM damu damu....

Yaani maana halisi ya kuwekeza jamaa akiambiwa hatafakari mara mbili..yeye ni kucheka na kutabasamu.....baadae tutakuja sikia ohh
mradi ulishidwa kuleta matunda...

?????????????????????????????

 

[Shadow]

Jamani ukubwa huo wa hekari 500,000 mbona ni sawa na mkoa wote wa Iringa?. Watapewa sehemeu gani ya ardhi katika nchi?. Wasije wakapewa mbuga za wanyama na pia wasije wakasababisha wananchi wahamishwe kuwapisha wawekezaji hawa.

MKuu Kidatu, heshima yako,

That is right. hatutakiwi tushangalie hii deal kwa sababu naona imekakaa kiajabu ajabu vile. wandugu, tuweke maslahi ya nchi mbele!

 

[Shadow]

The Syndrome is called "Out of Country Signed Deals", it once affected Karamagi and I guess it got your excellency too. We should seek the cure before it is too late

Dear Aksofu, We still have a long way to go. Subiri huje uone hiyo leasing agreement itakavyokuwa na vipengele vya ajabu ....vya IPTL nafuu.

 

[Shadow]

Umemtumia tayari au umetutumia JF tu ikosoe?

Gelange, nimetumia JF na najua kupitia wadau wake atakuwa ameipata.Pili, naruhusu ukosoaji mkuu.

 

[Ngekewa]

the maths behind the deal.....

kenya 40,000 hectares = wamepewa port yengye thamani tsh 3 trillion = $2 billion

je TZ itakuwaje
500, 000 / 40,000 = 12 and 20,000 hectares free

$2 billion x 12 = $24 billion or tsh 3 trillion x 12= 36 trillion
the govt will be selling us short if the get anything less than $24 billion or tsh 36 trillion

current budget tsh 7 trillion
4 yrs budget= 4 x 7 trillion = 28 trillion
36 trillion - 28 trillion = 8 trillion
kutokana na uchumi kukua 8 trillion itakuwa itajazilia mapungufu ya budget

TZ hectares 500, 000 = $24 billion = tsh 36 trillion

maswali ambayo yanahitaji majibu??
1.would TZ govt get $24 billion from saudis?
2.do you trust this govt to sign such a deal?
3.Je hela zitakazopatikana zitaisaidi hii nchi au zitaishia mifukoni mwa viongozi?
4. kwa nini hawa jamaa walienda serikalini moja kwa moja kwa mkulu bila kupitia TIC, hata mkurugenzi wa TIC hakuwepo na walikuwepo watu kama waziri wa mambo ya ndani(masha)?
5. long term deal in bussiness is 20 -25 yrs, sheria za ardhi bongo za miaka 33, 66, au 99. je miaka 33 haitoshi kurudisha hela yao?
6. je miaka 66 haitoshi kurudisha hela yao?
7. je miaka 99 ni kidogo au mingi?
8. kuna mtu yeyote anaejua nchi ime sign deal ya ardhi kwa ukubwa wa kuanzia hecta 100, 000 kwa zaidi ya miaka 33 au dili ambayo inakaribiana na hii tunaomba utufahamishe...

Mkuu huu unafaa ukawa mtiririko mzuri wa wa kusaidia kuona iwapo jambo hili litakuwa la manufaa kwetu au la.
Hizi post za kiubaguzi na kidini hazitusaidii katika kuangalia kipi cha faida kwetu. Nadhani na tuanzie na kutathmini Pros ana cos ya mkataba huu.

Kwa upande wangu naamini kabisa kua Wasaudi wana haja kweli ya mpunga na ngano kwani mtikishiko wa kupanda bei ya mafuta na kupunguwa uzalishaji wa mpunga kule far East kuliwapa wakati mgumu kwani ngano na mchele vilipanda kwa hali ya juu mbali ya subsidies za Serikali. Wanahisi uzalishaji ambao wao wataumiliki utawapa usalama kwa chakula chao.
Kuhusu kuwa na interest na mafuta kama ilivyodaiwa na baadhi yetu hilo halipo kwa Wasaudi kwani ni hivi karibuni tu waligunduwa visima nvengine vipya na Mfalme ameagiza visichimwe na badala yake viwekwe kwa vizazi vijavyo.
Ama hili la direct contact kati ya Mfalme na Kikwete ndio utaratibu wao wa kufanya shughuli nchini Saudi Arabia. Kujaribu kufuata proper channels hutofanikiwa kitu chochote na lolote analoliamuwa Mfalme linakuwa ni la priority ya mwanzo kabisa. Tanzania tulikuwa tukijaribu kufanya mawasiliano ya kiserikali na Saudi Arabia kwa muda mrefu kwa kupitia channel za kawaida tulishindwa hadi pale tulipochukuwa njia wanayoiafiki wao.
Kuhusu fedha wanazo na wao si watu wanaopenda kufanya kazi, hivyo ajira ya mradi huu itakuwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kwetu wa Tanzania.
Hata hivyo bado tuna wajibu wa kuangalia kuwa mradi huo hauleti madhara makubwa kwetu na badala yake faida ziwe za kiwango kikubwa kwetu.

 

[Shadow]

Mkuu huu unafaa ukawa mtiririko mzuri wa wa kusaidia kuona iwapo jambo hili litakuwa la manufaa kwetu au la.
Hizi post za kiubaguzi na kidini hazitusaidii katika kuangalia kipi cha faida kwetu. Nadhani na tuanzie na kutathmini Pros ana cos ya mkataba huu.

Kwa upande wangu naamini kabisa kua Wasaudi wana haja kweli ya mpunga na ngano kwani mtikishiko wa kupanda bei ya mafuta na kupunguwa uzalishaji wa mpunga kule far East kuliwapa wakati mgumu kwani ngano na mchele vilipanda kwa hali ya juu mbali ya subsidies za Serikali. Wanahisi uzalishaji ambao wao wataumiliki utawapa usalama kwa chakula chao.
Kuhusu kuwa na interest na mafuta kama ilivyodaiwa na baadhi yetu hilo halipo kwa Wasaudi kwani ni hivi karibuni tu waligunduwa visima nvengine vipya na Mfalme ameagiza visichimwe na badala yake viwekwe kwa vizazi vijavyo.
Ama hili la direct contact kati ya Mfalme na Kikwete ndio utaratibu wao wa kufanya shughuli nchini Saudi Arabia. Kujaribu kufuata proper channels hutofanikiwa kitu chochote na lolote analoliamuwa Mfalme linakuwa ni la priority ya mwanzo kabisa. Tanzania tulikuwa tukijaribu kufanya mawasiliano ya kiserikali na Saudi Arabia kwa muda mrefu kwa kupitia channel za kawaida tulishindwa hadi pale tulipochukuwa njia wanayoiafiki wao.
Kuhusu fedha wanazo na wao si watu wanaopenda kufanya kazi, hivyo ajira ya mradi huu itakuwa kwa kiasi kikubwa kwetu wa Tanzania.
Hata hivyo bado tuna wajibu wa kuangalia kuwa mradi huo hauleti madhara makubwa kwetu na badala yake faida ziwe za kiwango kikubwa kwetu.

Mkuu Ngekewa heshima mbele mzee,

Nakubaliana na wewe kuhusu uchambuzi wa kina wa hii miradi ufanyike lakini naomba kutofautiana na wewe kuhusiana na hili suala la 'udini'. Nafikiri ukichambua kwa kina suala hili tumejaribu ku cast doubt kwenye suala zima na kujaribu kuangalia upande a pili wa shilingi ( side effect etc).

Shadow.

 

[Ogah]

Vipi Ka-inzi ....this time around hakajanusa nusa what happened in Saudi?

 

[Bulesi]

Huyu Muungwana kwa wakati huu yuko kwenye ELECTIONEERING mode kwahiyo maamuzi yake yote ni ya kupata fedha za uchaguzi; sasa ni juu yetu wananchi wenye mwamko kuwa macho na kupiga mayowe mara tunapoona harufu ya uvundo kama hii dili ya SAUDIA!! Hizo ekari anazotaka kuwapa hao waarabu ziko wapi? Ingefaa kama angeanzia kuwapa kijijini kwao Msoga tuone kama shangazi zake watakubali kuhamishwa!

 

[Kikojozi]

Cha msingi hapa ni kuangalia kama katiba inamruhusu Rais (au executive arm of government) kusign deals of such magnitude bila kujadiliwa na bunge.

Kama rais au waziri ana mamlaka ya kuingia mikataba kama hii, basi kwa mtazamo wangu katiba ina dosari kubwa sana.

Napendekeza katiba ibadilishwe ili bunge liweze kuchambua mikataba ya namna hii kabla haijasainiwa ili wadau wengi iwezekanavyo watoe mchango.

 

[Who Cares?]

ahahaahahaaha...duuuu..ebwanaeeeeeee....SASAAAA mbona mie navyojua kuwa tanzania tunazo land leases za miaka 33, 66 na 99...swali la msingi kwangu sio mtu kupewa land ekari laki 5...ni kwanini isiwe miaka 33?...maana hiyo miaka 99 ndio kidogo mwingereza agombane na mchina hapo hongkong....isije wakaigeuza barj-el-tanz-arabia...na walivyo na midege ya kivita sijui tutawatoaje...pia nadhani aliyeandikiwa barua naye simuaminii saaana kuhusu uimara wake kumkatalia sheikh mfalme wa saudia...jamani tunaendekeza njaaa tuuu....dogo yeye kuchekacheka tuuuu na akimaliza inakuwa sooo kwetu....PIA sheria inampa mkulu umiliki wa nchi yetu yote...ardhi ni mali ya serikali na yeye ni mkuu wa serikali...na haisemi kama anayo haki ya kumpa au kutompa mtu mwingine awaye na ampendaye.....lakini aliapa atailinda nchi....(nahisi ni mipaka ya nchi)..au kama vipi mwezi huu arudie kiapo tujue atalinda nchi au wananchi au mipaka tuu......WATAALAMU WA SHERIA NAOMBA MUTULETEE KIAPO CHAKE HAPA TUONE MAPUNGUFU....ni maoni tuu wadau

 

[Kikojozi]

Hiyo ardhi ndo itakayolipia kapelo, khanga, vitenge, t-shirts, pilau, maandazi, handset za bei poa na burudani ya kwaya/bendi 2010.

Kaazi kweli kweli.....

 

[Bishanga]

"Mr. President, those potential investors were supposed to contact tic directly, why did they choose a "lobbying approach". It has been reported that TIC told them to wait for feasibility study of the project."

Shadow, uchaguzi unawadia, na dili la EPA limeshashtukiwa, na kamati za Bunge zipo macho, ndio maana wanachacharika kwa kutafuta hela za mwarabu bila kujali madhara ya baadaye.

Ndugu yangu hii nadhani ni oversimplification! Tuliangalie jambo hili kwa mapana zaidi huku tukizingatia kuwa huko tuendako dunia itakuwa na upungufu mkubwa wa vitu viwili muhimu chakula na maji,looks like wenzetu wanaona mbali maana si wasaudi tu hata wakorea wanatafuta ardhi afrika kwa ari mpya na kasi mpya.Hili ni suala nyeti na pana na la kufuatilia kwa makini.