Werema: Contracts flawed

[BAK]

Werema: Contracts flawed

Monday, 01 October 2012 21:35

By Zephania Ubwani The Citizen Bureau Chief Arusha. The Attorney General, Mr Frederick Werema, yesterday admitted that some contracts the government had entered with some foreign mining firms were flawed. He said some of them were either outdated or lacked the new practices in investment agreements. However, he noted that the deficiencies were not because Tanzanian lawyers were not familiar with legislation on contracts. “We have now to train our people on the emerging trends on the costs and benefits of gas, oil and mining sectors,” he said when opening a workshop on Best Practices for Tendering, Negotiating and Drafting Petroleum Projects. Justice Werema said the growing public outcry that the country’s resources were plundered by foreign investors as a result of lopsided contracts should not be ignored. He said most of the criticism has been directed to the mining sector where critics have time and again complained that they benefited the foreigners more than Tanzanians through capital flight. “These complaints or opinions cannot be ignored or wished away. We have to address the growing concern,” he said. “The plundering is, according to critics, the result of very lopsided agreements that the government signed with investors. It is alleged that the investors’ rights are ‘grandfathered’ and safeguarded than public rights,” he noted. The AG challenged engineers, lawyers and economists to act and ensure that contracts entered between the country and foreign investors, notably in the extractive industries do not favour foreigners at the expense of the locals. However, when he addressed journalists on the sidelines of the workshop, the AG defended the government for the ‘bad contracts’, saying it was compelled to enact laws that were attractive to investors. (Talking with both sides of his mouth!!!) “During those years (the 1990s), we struggled hard to attract investors who were scared of Tanzania because of our past records. There was little understanding of the contract law then,” he said, adding that by then there were only six types of mining contracts. There was also the issue of incentives whereby foreign mining firms were given some incentives such as tax holidays, although this was later found to have been abused by some companies. Judge Werema cautioned that with the growing mining, gas and petroleum sector in Tanzania, lawyers, engineers and economists must come up with contracts that would protect the interests of the country and investors. He admitted, though, that there were tricky situations such as the costs of investment, compensations and the actual extractions, which, he insisted, called for a close monitoring. He stated that although some of the criticisms levelled against the extractive industries may have been overblown by politicians and activists, relevant authorities must act on them. “It is a challenge. You can’t stop listening to what people say whether the contracts entered benefited the country or not. We must also address the options,” he explained. The workshop has been organised by the AG’s Chambers with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Senior Lawyers’ Project. It is among a series of training workshops aimed at acquainting experts in the extractive industry with investment contracts.

 

[Mzee Mwanakijiji]

ooh boy!!! hivi kama tusingeingia mikataba hiyo wakati huo kungekuwa na madhara gani kwa Tanzania?

 

[StayReal]

BAK Yani mshauri mkuu wa gov when its comes to those contracts ndio anacomplain au sijaelewa vizuri, yeye si ndio anaishauri GOV kama mkataba safi au mbovu. This country will never cease to amaze me!

 

[Nguruvi3]

Werema anatafuta mahali pa kushika, joto la mabadiliko linamuingia taratibu.
Kwanini aongelee nje ya bunge wakati yeye ni mshiriki wa bunge.
Hivi mikataba ya Richmond ilifanyika 1990!

Hakuna cha maana alichosema!

 

[Father of All]

Huu ni upuuuzi na utapeeli. Kwani hao wanasheria walioingia mikataba kama hawakuwa na ujuzi kwanini walipewa chao na hata kuhongwa vyeo kama Mwanaidi Majaar balozi Washington? Huyu AG ni mpuuuuzi na muuongo kwa vile anatufanya kama hatuna akili. Huwezi kusema eti nchi yenye kuwa huru kwa miaka zaiddi ya 50 haina wataalamu wa mikataba. Mbona tunao akina Walioba, Kabudi, Mwakyembe, Shivji na wengine wengi lakini wengi wao wasio na ushikamano chamani hawatumiki? Shame on you mura Werema huna maana.

 

[Mwanamayu]

Sasa si achukue hatua! Na wahusika si awapeleke mahakamani?

 

[Mkwe21]

ooh boy!!! hivi kama tusingeingia mikataba hiyo wakati huo kungekuwa na madhara gani kwa Tanzania?

Kwani Hata tulivyoingia kumekuwa na Madhara Gani kwa Watanzania? Neno Changamoto linatosheleza Mkuu!!

 

[Mtoto Wa Mbale]

ooh boy!!! hivi kama tusingeingia mikataba hiyo wakati huo kungekuwa na madhara gani kwa Tanzania?

Wameandika kwa kimombo, watanzania hawapendi kujisomea hivyo ujumbe huu muhimu kwa watanzania katika kuwasaidia kuamua aina ya serikali wanayoitaka hautawafikia walio wengi.

Tunajitahidi kuufikisha ujumbe lakini tunahitaji picha za video zenye kauli hizi za hawa wanaopaswa kusimamia rasilimali zetu na ambao wameshindwa na sasa wanalalamika kama wasio serikalini.

 

[Mnama]

Rushwa rushwa rushwa........ mwanzo mwisho walioipitisha walijua ni mibovu kwakuwa walishawekewa hela uswiss aaah wakasaini fasta.

 

[Ndahani]

Kwahiyo Werema anataka kutoa mesage gani? halafu mbona wananichanganya...ni kweli hatuna uwezo wa kuandaa hizo contract?

 

[BAK]

Mkuu Mwanakijiji nimeshindwa kumuelewa jamaa kusema kweli. Kwanza anakubali makosa yalifanyika katika kusaini mikataba ya uchimbaji madini ambayo haina maslahi na nchi, halafu anageuka na kuanza kutetea!!! eti ilibidi wasaini mikataba ya kutupa ili kuwavutia "wawekezaji"...Kwani Tanzania ni nchi ya kwanza kuwakaribisha wageni duniani!? Mbona nchi nyingine zinasaini mikataba yenye maslahi kwa wananchi wake na bado wawekezaji wanaenda kuwekeza!?

ooh boy!!! hivi kama tusingeingia mikataba hiyo wakati huo kungekuwa na madhara gani kwa Tanzania?

 

[Eric Cartman]

Yani mshauli mkuu wa gov when its comes to those contracts ndio anacomplain au sijaelewa vizuri, yeye si ndio anaishauri GOV kama mkataba safi au mbovu. This country will never cease to amaze me!

Anachosema judge ni kwamba sio kwamba hakuna maloya ambao hawajui jinsi ya ku-negotiate mikataba mizuri isipokuwa they have to work within the boundaries of legal frame work whilst adhering to the policies introduced by the government.

Sasa basi kwakuwa kulikuwa na policies mbovu ambazo zimependelea wawekezaji sana, ndipo hapo hao wawekezaji walipotupiga mabao kwa kutumia udhaifu wa policies zilizowekwa na serikali.

Halafu kumbuka hawa watu (wawekezaji) hawapitii kwa wanasheria moja kwa moja ladhima wapate ridhaa za wizara kwanza hili waingie hiyo mikataba (kama ni hongo itakuwa ilipita hapa for the large part).

Sisemi kuwa na maloya nao hawakuchukua hongo pengine kupitisha hii mikataba wakijua sera za madini ni mbovu lakini na wao wakitumia udhaifu huohuo kumpendelea muwekezaji kwa muda mrefu. Hata hapo baadae sheria za madini zitakapo badiliki mwekezaji hawe na mkataba unao mpendelea, lakini chanzo ni sheria za uwekezaji ndio zilizoruhusha haya mambo for the large part. Halafu tamaa ikafuata kwa wahusika waliokosa uzalendo.

Sasa yeye unataka afanye nini tena hapo zaidi ya kukuelezea kilicho jiri.

 

[Tatu]

Lupango haita angalia makunyanzi. Viongozi wote mliofanya madudu lazima mrudishe mali zote mlizopata kwa rushwa na mvua zisizopungua 15.

Mmekuwa vituko katika jamii ya watanzania

 

[Takalani Sesame]

Sote tunajua mikataba mingi tuliyoingia ni mibovu na waliotuuza kama nchi walishakula chao ila watanzania ndio tunalia na kusaga meno.

Na too bad Werema kwa uwezo wake aliodhihirisha mpaka sasa hawezi kutusaidia lolote katika hili. Kifupi imekula kwetu kama tutaendelea na hii same level of thinking toka kwa kina Werema na kutegemea differrent results.

2015 utakuwa ni mwaka mwingine muhimu sana kwa watanzania.

 

[petrol]

Jaji werema is missing the point. Tatizo ni usiri unaokughubika hiyo mikataba. Hata kamati husika za bunge hatuziamini na hali Bunge ndilo linalowakilisha/kulinda maslahi ya wananchi. Tukibadilika hatutawatupia tena mpira watalaamu wa sheria au wanaosaini mikataba. Je, huo ubavu tunao?

 

[vutakamba]

Nashangaa Watanzania tangu tulipoikana Tanganyika kuanzia hapo ndipo tulipokosa akili ya kujitambua sisi wenyewe.
Matokeo yake watu wanapewa vyeo ali mradi tu liende kwa unafiki nafiki tu. Hivi ni kipi tulitegemea toka kwa AG?.
Bado anawaza ugonjwa unaomsumbua ambao ulimlazimu aende Apollo hospital India juzi juzi hapa.
Amechanganyikiwa, au ndiyo anawaomba samahani watanzania mapema kuwa alikuwa anatetea mambo ya kijinga yanayofanywa na magamba. Siku si nyingi watatubu tu.

 

[politiki]

President. Reagan alisema Trust but verify.wabunge wa Tanzania walikiuka kipengele cha pili cha verify siku ile bunge lilipozuiwa kuitazama mikataba ile kwa niaba ya wananchi ilibidi wasimame imara na kupiga kupiga kura ya no confidence kwani katiba ya Tanzania inawapa mamlaka wabunge kuwa walinzi wa rasilamli zetu kwa niaba ya wananchi(oversighting the government)

 

[Mpita Njia]

Halafu wanasema wanatetea maslahi ya taifa....?

 

[Edwin Mtei]

Wakati wa Awamu ya Mwalimu Nyerere mikataba kuhusu uwekezaji katika madini iliiga misimamo ya Botswana, ambapo tulisisitiza mwekezaji awe na 50% katika mradi na serikali iwe na 50%.

Mwalimu alisisitiza kuwa madini hayaozi na yaliwekwa katika ardhi yetu na Mwenyenzi Mungu kwa manufaa ya Watanzania. Kama wawekezaji wakubwa hawataki au hawatosheki na hiyo 50%, basi tuwaachie artisanal miners waendelee na miradi yao.

Mauzo ya hawa wadogo wadogo yanakuja nchini yote, bila kubakiza asilimia yoyote ng'ambo. Hatimaye Serikali yetu iwawezeshe hawa ili tufaidike kweli kweli na maliasili yetu.

Mtindo wa kumiliki siyo chini ya 50% ya miradi ya madini unafuatwa kwa makini sana huko Botswana, na inavyofahamika, nchi hiyo imepiga hatua kiuchumi sana. Hakuna sababu sisi tusiige mtindo huo. Madini, mafuta ya petroleum au gesi haviozi.

 

[StayReal]

Anachosema judge ni kwamba sio kwamba hakuna maloya ambao hawajui jinsi ya ku-negotiate mikataba mizuri isipokuwa they have to work within the boundaries of legal frame work whilst adhering to the policies introduced by the government.

Sasa basi kwakuwa kulikuwa na policies mbovu ambazo zimependelea wawekezaji sana, ndipo hapo hao wawekezaji walipotupiga mabao kwa kutumia udhaifu wa policies zilizowekwa na serikali.

Halafu kumbuka hawa watu (wawekezaji) hawapitii kwa wanasheria moja kwa moja ladhima wapate ridhaa za wizara kwanza hili waingie hiyo mikataba (kama ni hongo itakuwa ilipita hapa for the large part).

Sisemi kuwa na maloya nao hawakuchukua hongo pengine kupitisha hii mikataba wakijua sera za madini ni mbovu lakini na wao wakitumia udhaifu huohuo kumpendelea muwekezaji kwa muda mrefu. Hata hapo baadae sheria za madini zitakapo badiliki mwekezaji hawe na mkataba unao mpendelea, lakini chanzo ni sheria za uwekezaji ndio zilizoruhusha haya mambo for the large part. Halafu tamaa ikafuata kwa wahusika waliokosa uzalendo.

Sasa yeye unataka afanye nini tena hapo zaidi ya kukuelezea kilicho jiri.

Got you bro, still the back stop with him no matter what!