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Speaker directs probe into UDA ownership controversy
By Sylivester Domasa
21st May 2014
Speaker Anne Makinda
A few days after the government and Simon Group - each claimed the ownership of Dar es Salaam Transport Company (UDA); the Parliament has now directed Parliamentary Committee on Ethics, Privilege and Powers to conduct a thorough investigation of the matter.
The committee has been directed to probe the acquisition and ownership of the so-called state run UDA.
Speaker Anne Makinda gave the directive when Ubungo MP John Mnyika (CHADEMA) tabled a private motion yesterday.
In his motion Mnyika said section 100 (1) of the constitution states: There will be freedom of thought, discussion and order in the National Assembly. That freedom shall not be broken down or questioned by any entity in the United Republic of Tanzania, in court or anywhere else outside Parliament.
He said the freedom is supported by the parliamentary standing orders and the rights and powers of the Parliamentary Act, Section 12.
The legislator noted that last week the government claimed that it owns 51 per cent of UDA shares while the private firm Simon Group owns 49 percent.
However he said there have been reports in the media that some Parliamentarians from Dar es Salaam were paid by a foreigner to challenge the ownership deal in the Parliament.
Mnyika said Simon Group boss, Robert Kisena, was quoted by newspapers (not The Guardian) claiming that the MPs were bribed and in addition were engaging in dirty politics to defend a foreign owner (name not mentioned).
Surprisingly, Mnyika said Simon Group boss openly claimed that he owns the company while the government had already clarified that UDA is a public entity.
Simon Group boss told The Guardian last week that his firm owned 76 per cent of the shares and the government only 24 percent.
This confuses the public on the appropriate owner of UDA, noted Mnyika.
He further noted that information provided in the House either by the government or members of parliament was immune and is not supposed to be questioned outside the debating chambers.
He went on to say that Simon Group boss interfered with the independence of Parliament in which the Government made its statement.
In addition, Mnyika says the group accused MPs who questioned the government in the parliament.
Honourable Speaker this matter concerns the privileges and immunities of Parliament and the independence of the Parliamentary discussions. I hereby ask for your guidance to allow legislators discuss and recommend actions to be taken against him, Mnyika asserted.
Mnyika believed that the national assemblys freedom of thought and discussion was questioned outside the parliament contrary to the immunity, rights and powers of the Assembly Act.
The motion was supported by all Dar es Salaam based opposition MPs and a section of MPs from the ruling party.
In response the National Assembly speaker said: We will not discuss the motion and instead I direct the committee on ethics privileges and powers to investigate the matter and bring before the house a report.
Mid this week, deputy Finance minister Adam Malima, asserted that the government hasn't sold any of its shares in the Dar es Salaam Transport Company (UDA) to the Simon Group Company.
Malima gave the governments stance when responding to a question raised by Kawe MP, Halima Mdee (Chadema) who sought governments explanation on its shares in UDA.
Mdee also wanted to know the real owner of the Dar es Salaam transport firm and the distribution of shares.
Malima clarified that the government through Treasury Registrar is the owner of the company.
He however said that in 2006 the government expressed intention to sell its shares in order to get a potential investor who would have the ability to improve UDA.
He said the Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) was tasked to spearhead the exercise, though the commission failed to find an investor who would meet the requirements.
The minister said in January 2010, the Board of UDA notified the government on the possibility of getting an investorSimon Group Limited, who would have bought the governments stake and 7,880,303 unclaimed shares.
After receiving the recommendations, the government directed the UDA board not to continue with the plan of selling shares to the Simon Group Limited because the procedures and regulations of obtaining the investor were violated, he said.
In an interview with The Guardian on Monday, Malima reiterated what he said in Parliament last week.
Didnt you hear what I said in Parliament about UDA? The statement stands, said Malima before handing up the phone.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
By Sylivester Domasa
21st May 2014
Speaker Anne Makinda
A few days after the government and Simon Group - each claimed the ownership of Dar es Salaam Transport Company (UDA); the Parliament has now directed Parliamentary Committee on Ethics, Privilege and Powers to conduct a thorough investigation of the matter.
The committee has been directed to probe the acquisition and ownership of the so-called state run UDA.
Speaker Anne Makinda gave the directive when Ubungo MP John Mnyika (CHADEMA) tabled a private motion yesterday.
In his motion Mnyika said section 100 (1) of the constitution states: There will be freedom of thought, discussion and order in the National Assembly. That freedom shall not be broken down or questioned by any entity in the United Republic of Tanzania, in court or anywhere else outside Parliament.
He said the freedom is supported by the parliamentary standing orders and the rights and powers of the Parliamentary Act, Section 12.
The legislator noted that last week the government claimed that it owns 51 per cent of UDA shares while the private firm Simon Group owns 49 percent.
However he said there have been reports in the media that some Parliamentarians from Dar es Salaam were paid by a foreigner to challenge the ownership deal in the Parliament.
Mnyika said Simon Group boss, Robert Kisena, was quoted by newspapers (not The Guardian) claiming that the MPs were bribed and in addition were engaging in dirty politics to defend a foreign owner (name not mentioned).
Surprisingly, Mnyika said Simon Group boss openly claimed that he owns the company while the government had already clarified that UDA is a public entity.
Simon Group boss told The Guardian last week that his firm owned 76 per cent of the shares and the government only 24 percent.
This confuses the public on the appropriate owner of UDA, noted Mnyika.
He further noted that information provided in the House either by the government or members of parliament was immune and is not supposed to be questioned outside the debating chambers.
He went on to say that Simon Group boss interfered with the independence of Parliament in which the Government made its statement.
In addition, Mnyika says the group accused MPs who questioned the government in the parliament.
Honourable Speaker this matter concerns the privileges and immunities of Parliament and the independence of the Parliamentary discussions. I hereby ask for your guidance to allow legislators discuss and recommend actions to be taken against him, Mnyika asserted.
Mnyika believed that the national assemblys freedom of thought and discussion was questioned outside the parliament contrary to the immunity, rights and powers of the Assembly Act.
The motion was supported by all Dar es Salaam based opposition MPs and a section of MPs from the ruling party.
In response the National Assembly speaker said: We will not discuss the motion and instead I direct the committee on ethics privileges and powers to investigate the matter and bring before the house a report.
Mid this week, deputy Finance minister Adam Malima, asserted that the government hasn't sold any of its shares in the Dar es Salaam Transport Company (UDA) to the Simon Group Company.
Malima gave the governments stance when responding to a question raised by Kawe MP, Halima Mdee (Chadema) who sought governments explanation on its shares in UDA.
Mdee also wanted to know the real owner of the Dar es Salaam transport firm and the distribution of shares.
Malima clarified that the government through Treasury Registrar is the owner of the company.
He however said that in 2006 the government expressed intention to sell its shares in order to get a potential investor who would have the ability to improve UDA.
He said the Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) was tasked to spearhead the exercise, though the commission failed to find an investor who would meet the requirements.
The minister said in January 2010, the Board of UDA notified the government on the possibility of getting an investorSimon Group Limited, who would have bought the governments stake and 7,880,303 unclaimed shares.
After receiving the recommendations, the government directed the UDA board not to continue with the plan of selling shares to the Simon Group Limited because the procedures and regulations of obtaining the investor were violated, he said.
In an interview with The Guardian on Monday, Malima reiterated what he said in Parliament last week.
Didnt you hear what I said in Parliament about UDA? The statement stands, said Malima before handing up the phone.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN