Posts Tagged ‘parliament’

Puzzle as UDA Millions Paid to Board Chairman

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

By The Citizen Team

 

Dodoma/Dar. Some Sh270 million meant for the purchase of State-owned commuter transport firm Usafiri Dar es Salaam (UDA) was deposited in a private bank account of Mr Iddi Simba, a one-time Cabinet minister and former UDA board chairman, according to official documents.

 

Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee yesterday declared illegal the reported sale of UDA and ordered the immediate suspension of all ongoing plans to privatise the struggling firm. The move announced in Dodoma deepened the controversy surrounding the privatisation, coming hot on the heels of revelations of suspect financial dealings worth tens of millions of shillings at the public transport company.

 
The chairman of the Public Organisations Accounts Committee (Poac), Mr Zitto Kabwe, told a press conference in Dodoma that they had asked Parliament to direct the State to suspend any transfer of UDA assets pending an in-depth investigation into the sale.

 
“As a matter of public interest, my committee has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly to communicate our view that the deal is null and void,” said Mr Kabwe, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament.

 

 

The Kigoma North MP spoke in the presence of his deputy, Mr Deo Filikunjombe (Ludewa-CCM), and Ubungo MP John Mnyika (Chadema). They said the controversial deal would feature prominently when MPs debate the Transport ministry’s 2011/12 budget estimates to be tabled in Parliament this morning.

 

The MPs spoke moments after the executive chairman of Simon Group Limited, Mr Robert Simon Kisena, strongly defended the firm’s purchase of UDA, and demanded that the government fully implements its part of the deal.

 

The same documents in The Citizen’s possession showing that Sh270 million was deposited in Mr Simba’s account were produced by Mr Filikunjombe, who said the investor had been “conned”.

 
The figure was also quoted in a lengthy document sent to Parliament by Consolidated Holdings Corporation (CHC) confirming the payments to Mr Iddi’s accounts in three separate transactions in unclear circumstances.

 

According to CHC, the body tasked with handling the privatisation of public entities, the UDA deal was controversial and pinned the blame on the board that stayed in office for nine years without the Treasury Registrar’s supervision as required by law.

 

 

According to the documents, Simon Group was directed by the suspended UDA general manager, Mr Victor Milanzi, to deposit the money in Mr Simba’s account because the transport firm’s accounts had overdrafts. The amount was commitment fees and was part of the Sh1.2 billion the investor was supposed to pay for a 52 per cent stake in UDA.

 
However, Mr Simba denied that the money was meant for UDA when The Citizen reached him for comment last week. “It’s very true that Mr Kisena deposited about Sh270 million into my personal account…that money has nothing to do with the sale of the UDA stake,” he said. Mr Simba added that Mr Kisena was the right person to explain why he deposited the money in his personal account.

 
“If you read carefully, the bank slips show that the payments were for transportation…that’s all,” he said without elaborating. A total of Sh20 million was deposited in an account of Pride Tanzania Limited, also associated with Mr Simba.The former MP and Cabinet minister said all issues related to the privatisation of UDA were being handled by CHC.

 
But when asked yesterday about Mr Simba’s claims, Mr Kisena maintained that his firm had paid the money as part of the purchase price, adding that the cash was paid to Mr Simba as directed by the UDA management.

 

 

“We have documents showing that we were asked to do that, and we have raised the matter with the other shareholders after learning that the money was not paid to UDA as expected,” said Mr Kisena.

 
He told The Citizen he had no business dealings with Mr Simba other than the UDA deal, adding that the firm owned by local investors wanted to invest billions of shillings to improve public transport in Dar es Salaam.

 

But Mr Kabwe said the committee would not allow the sale to proceed because it “reeks of corruption”. “This matter will land someone in jail…we promise that this will not end here,” he said.

 
The MPs said documents were forged to push the deal through. Mr Kabwe also said some individuals were hiding behind the deal and their real intention was to grab UDA assets, including land.Available documents show that Simon Group Limited deposited Sh270 million into an account (name of bank and account number withheld) belonging to Mr Simba on September 2, 2009.

 
The documents further indicate that Sh20 million was deposited in a bank account (name of bank and account number withheld) belonging to Pride Tanzania in December 2009. Mr Simba is chairman of Pride Tanzania, a micro finance institution involved in the provision of credit to small and micro entrepreneurs in Tanzania.Mr Simba acknowledged the depositing of the money, but said it was a private business transaction between Mr Kisena and himself and had nothing to do with UDA’s privatisation.

 

 

CHC said last month that there was a case in the High Court (Commercial Division) concerning the privatisation of the Sh12 billion worth of the public transport firm’s assets.

 

 

Reported by Tom Mosoba in Dodoma and Mkinga Mkinga in Dar

 

 

Source:The Citizen

New constitution process faulted

Friday, July 8th, 2011

The Citizen Reporter

 

Dar es Salaam. Activists have expressed scepticism over the manner in which the government is handling amendment of the Bill for Constitutional Review Act 2011 after the first draft tabled in Parliament in February was overwhelmingly rejected.

 

 

The Government was forced to withdraw the Bill in April  due to several shortcomings exposed by a cross section of the public. Following contentious debates over some provisions of the Bill, the government agreed to revisit the process to allow broader public participation before tabling the document afresh in Parliament.

 

 

The activists are, however, concerned that the redrafting process currently going on is shrouded in secrecy and the promise to involve open and broader public participation to forestall a possible second rebuttal is not being adhered to.

 

 

They are also demanding an immediate publishing of the new version of the Bill in the Government Gazette, so that Tanzanians could see it and make recommendations before it is taken back to Parliament, most probably in the next session.  Briefing reporters yesterday, chairman of the Constitution Public Platform (Jukwaa la Katiba) Mr Deus Kibamba said they were sceptical about the manner in which the government handled the process. “There seems to be neither transparency nor increased stake-holder involvement and participation in preparing it,” he said.

 

 

Mr Kibamba claimed that the government seemed to be unilaterally re-writing the Bill on behalf of Tanzanians. He added that Jukwaa la Katiba has not succeeded to get clarifications on the matter from the ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, and in particular the Attorney General (AG) as well as the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (CPD) despite several attempts.

 

 

“We have sought to assist where the government may be stuck to ensure that it (the Bill) comes out to Parliamentarians this time round in higher quality,” he stressed. The activists’ concern comes hardly a month before the Bill comes up for a second reading during the fourth meeting of the Parliament in August this year.

 

 

According to Mr Kibamba, the Bill is required to lay down a framework to be used in the entire process of the new constitution making. For her part, the director of Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa) Ms Analilea Nkya, said that the Bill was supposed to be rooted on the citizens and stakeholders’ opinions, but that had not adequately happened so far. She attributed this to “discreet preparation” on the part of the government which risks impeding the whole intention of creating a people-centred new constitution.

 

 

“In so-doing, it was thought, the gross shortcomings in the April Bill would go away,” said the activist. The introduction of the Bill followed President Jakaya Kikwete’s public announcement in his year-end address last December that the government had given a nod top the call for a new constitution and that procedures would be put in place for the process to take off.

 

 

The President went further in his speech before the House to pledge his intention to form a Constitutional Review Commission to start the process.  Many applauded the move, but doubted whether members of the Commission would be fully independent in representing public opinion objectively.

 

 

After its first reading, the Bill was discussed in public fora in Dodoma, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and there was a lot of criticism regarding some of its provisions, such as the Clause that bars any discussion on the status of the Union.

 

 

In Zanzibar, some of the ministers openly complained that they were not consulted when the Bill was being drafted.

 

 

Some officials in the Isles went to the extent of publicly rejecting the Bill and in a fit of anger tore up and burned copies of the document.  In Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, chaos ensued during constitutional debates.

 

 

Various experts also faulted the Bill for vesting too much power on the President who, under the proposed, would have controlled everything, from the formation of the Constitution Commission, writing up of terms of reference, reception of the Commission’s report, appointment of the constituency assembly and all modalities for referendum. Section 20(3) of the proposed Bill, categorically barred any member of the public to question the duties of the Presidential Constitution Commission or challenge it in court and categorised such acts as a criminal offence.

 

 

Part III(5) provided for establishing the Commission and thus states: “The President, upon consultation with the President of Zanzibar, with the advice by the Attorney General shall establish a commission to examine, analyse and recommend for enactment of the constitution or existing constitution that shall exalt, entrench and promote the rule of law and good governance.”

 

 

Section 9 (1) pointed out the specific functions of the Commission which included, to co-ordinate and collect public opinion, examine and analyse consistency and compatibility of the constitutional provisions relating to the sovereignty of the peoples’ political systems, democracy, rule of law and good governance.

 

 

Last week, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda revealed that a New Constitution would be unveiled in 2014.

 

 

“We hope that a New Constitution would be ready and launched on April 26, 2014 as we mark the 50th anniversary of our Union,” noted the PM.

 

Source:  The Citizen

TPA and Ticts in cash row after JK directive

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

By Florence Mugarula, The Citizen Reporter
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (Ticts) might be summoned before Parliament’s Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee for allegedly refusing to pay Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) following a presidential directive to decongest Dar es Salaam port.

 

The chairman of the Public Organisations Accounts Committee (Poac), Mr Zitto Kabwe, said yesterday that Ticts had deliberately ignored directives issued by President Jakaya Kikwete and the committee, adding that this called for “tough measures” against the firm.

 

In 2009, President Kikwete directed TPA to move containers piled up at the port to inland container depots (ICDs) to decongest it.  The authority spent $261,898.72 (Sh393 million) in implementing the directive, and billed Ticts, which was supposed to undertake the work.

 

The government had allowed ICDs to be used as an extension of the port to ease congestion, according to TPA.
But Ticts says it cannot settle the bill because there was no binding agreement between the two parties on the work done by TPA.
Ticts acknowledges the President’s directive, but maintains that it does not carry any legal weight to compel the firm to pay TPA. TPA Deputy Director General Idd Mkwata told Poac members yesterday that the authority had reminded Ticts several times to settle the bill, but the firm’s responses had been “very discouraging”. He said TPA asked for State House’s intervention, but to no avail.
“TPA has tried very hard to recover the cash in vain. We wrote to Ticts, but they did not pay up.  We then informed the President, and he directed the Transport ministry to handle the matter,” Mr Mkwata said.

The Deputy Director of Maritime Transportation in the ministry, Mr Saad Fungafunga, said his office received a State House directive on the matter, and directed Ticts to pay TPA, but the directive was ignored.

He said the ministry wrote thrice to Ticts, but the firm had maintained that there was legal basis for it to settle the bill. “In a way, Tics is ignoring the presidential directive…it is basing its position on legal grounds. We are trying our best to settle the matter,” Mr Fungafunga said.

But Ticts CEO Neville Bisset says there is no lawful basis for demanding payment in respect of expenses reportedly incurred by TPA in shifting containers from the port to ICDs.

 

“Irrespective of whether any direction was given, Ticts was never party to any agreement facilitated by His Excellency (President Jakaya Kikwete),” Mr Bisset says in a communication dated June 18, 2010.

“Further, while Ticts views the involvement of the President with the greatest respect, we are of the firm view that directions by His Excellency do not create a legal obligation to pay any particular amount.”
Mr Bisset says Ticts says it recognises the fact that the Ports Act of 2004 provides TPA with general oversight and management of the port.
“It is quite clear that under certain circumstances, TPA would have a duty to intervene where any aspect of the port operations were evidently dangerous or inappropriate to the extent that immediate intervention was called for.”

On an earlier directive issued by the Poac, Mr Bisset says it was of no binding force before the law.He says the committee’s mandate is confined to examining the accounts of government entities and preparing reports to be tabled before Parliament for the proper information of the legislature.

 

Source:The Citizen

 

Kagoda scandal queries resurface in Bunge

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

 

By Mkinga Mkinga
The Citizen Reporter

Dodoma.

 

Queries over the outcome of the investigation on the involvement of Kagoda Agricultural Company Limited, one of firms named in the Central Bank’s External Payment Areas (EPA) account looting scandal, has resurfaced in the Parliament.

 

This time it was the Ubungo MP (Chadema), Mr John Mnyika, who raised the issues during the question and answer session in the House, challenging the government to state the status of the investigation.The company is alleged to be the single biggest beneficiary of funds looted from the Bank of Tanzania’s (BoT) external payment arrears (EPA) account after receiving dubious payments of more than Sh40 billion.

 

In his supplementary question, Mr Mnyika queried why no action has been taken so far against the company.
“I would like to know the progress on the said investigation on the Kagoda Company, which we were earlier told that it is also involving some international investigation agencies,” the MP asked the minister responsible for Good Governance, Mr Mathias Chikawe.

 

In his response, Mr Chikawe said the investigation was still going on. “The investigation is yet to be completed and once completed the suspects would be arraigned if there would be sufficient evidence,” he told the Parliament.On the other hand, Mr Chikawe informed MPs that the government was planning to compile a report on the pending grand corruption cases and table it before the Parliament.

 

Responding to a question by Wawi MP (CUF), Mr Hamad Rashid Mohammed, Mr Chikawe said most of the cases have stalled at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). In his question, Mr Hamad referred to the statement by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) chief, Dr Edward Hosseah, during a seminar for MPs in Dar es Salaam that the anti-graft watchdog has completed many investigations but the files are still pending at the DPP’s office.Despite admitting the delays, the minister pledged to bring the report before the end of the ongoing Parliamentary session in Dodoma.

 

Meanwhile, the parliamentary committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs will conduct a public hearing tomorrow to collect views on the 2011 Constitutional Review Bill.According to the Parliament’s schedule of activities, MPs will only have two day to debate the crucial 2011 Constitution Review Bill, which has been scheduled for tabling on April 18.The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Anne Makinda, told MPs that the hearing would be conducted in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, urging stakeholders to attend and present their views.

 

“I urged all stakeholders to show up for the hearings at Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam and Pius Msekwa hall in Dodoma. We have opted for two different venues due to the importance of the issue,” Ms Makinda said.
According to the minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ms Celina Kombani, the government would conduct campaign, jointly with non-governmental organisations, to educate the public on the current constitution to enable them present informed views.

 

Ms Kombani was responding to a question by Special Seats MP (CCM), Ms Fakharia Shomar Khamis, who wanted to know plans by the government to educate the public on the new bill.

 

In what appears to be the legislator’s quest for the public involvement in the process, Civic United Front (CUF) MPs, Mr Habib Mnyaa (Mkanyageni) and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim Sanya (Mji Mkongwe) challenged the Speaker over the exclusion of the Parliament office in Zanzibar as a venue for the public hearing.

 

“Honourable Speaker even the Zanzibaris have the same need to participate in the planned public hearing, since the Constitution is a union matter. Why has the Zanzibar office not been involved?” queried Mr Sanya.
In her response, Ms Makinda said the Zanzibar office has been asked to mobilise people to come over to Dar es Salaam for the hearing.

Vijana CHADEMA watikisa Bunge

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

WABUNGE machachari vijana wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) jana waliwasha moto bungeni, huku wakiilazimisha serikali na Bunge kuchukua hatua za haraka kujinusuru.

 

Mbunge wa Singida Mashariki, Tundu Lissu, alimbana vilivyo Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, William Ngeleja, akidai waziri huyo amelidanganya Bunge, huku Mbunge wa Ubungo, John Mnyika, akiibana serikali juu ya ufisadi wa Kagoda.

 

Wakati Lissu alikuwa tayari kuthibitisha kauli yake pale pale, kama kanuni zinavyotaka, Spika wa Bunge, Anne Makinda, aliingilia kati kumnusuru Ngeleja, akataka mbunge huyo awasilishe hoja yake kwa maandishi kuthibitisha uongo wa waziri Ijumaa wiki hii badala ya jana.

 

Hata hivyo, Lissu alipinga uamuzi huo, akitaka kutetea kauli yake na kuthibitisha uongo wa waziri jana hiyo hiyo, bila mafanikio.

 

Lissu hakuridhika na majibu ya Ngeleja yaliyotokana na swali lake la nyongeza.

 

Katika swali hilo, Lissu alitaka kujua hadi sasa ni wananchi wangapi wameondolewa katika kata za Mang,onyi, Ikungi na Mhitiri ili kupisha kampuni ya uchimbaji madini ya Shanta Mining Co. Ltd iliyopewa leseni ya kutafiti dhahabu katika jimbo lake.

 

Vile vile, alitaka kujua kiasi cha pesa walicholipa; kwanini wamejenga uwanja wa ndege, na kwanini kampuni hiyo ilitwaa maeneo mengine kwa nguvu.

 

Waziri Ngeleja alijibu kwa kifupi, akisema kampuni hiyo haijachukua maeneo hayo kwa nguvu, na akaongeza kuwa hata mwaka 2008 alifanya ziara na kushuhudia hali hiyo.

 

Ndipo Tundu alisimama na kutaka kuuliza swali la nyongeza, lakini Makinda alikataa, Lissu akaomba mwongozo wa Spika.

 

Tundu aliposimama, alisema katika majibu yake Ngeleja ni mwongo; na akataka atoe ushahidi kuthibitisha uwongo wa waziri.

 

Hata hivyo, Spika Makinda alimtaka Tundu Lissu kuandika maelezo yake, ili Ngeleja ajibu, na kwamba atafikisha maelezo hayo kwenye vyombo vyake ili wayapitie na kutoa majibu bungeni.

 

Hali hiyo ilimlazimu Tundu kusimama tena na kupambana na Spika kwa kutumia kanuni za Bunge, akihoji iweje Mbunge anapotoa madai kama hayo atakiwe kuthibitisha papo hapo lakini yeye anaambiwa aandike.

 

Akijibu hoja hiyo, Makinda alisema kutokana na muda mchache uliopo, hawezi kuruhusu malumbano hayo Bungeni kwani yatamaliza muda wa maswali na majibu.

 

Alisema mazingira yaliyotokea kwa Tundu, yanafanana na tukio la Mbunge mwingine wa CHADEMA wa Arusha Mjini, Godbless Lema wa Arusha Mjini, ambaye katika mkutano wa Bunge uliopita, alitaka kujua hatua ambayo mbunge anaweza kumchukulia kiongozi mkuu kama Waziri Mkuu iwapo amelidanganya Bunge.

 

Ilikuwa mara baada ya Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda kutoa kauli ya serikali kuhusu maandamano na mkutano wa CHADEMA, ambayo polisi waliyasambaratisha na kuua watu watatu.

 

’’Jamani tusome vizuri kanuni. Hili ni kama tukio la Lema ambalo nitalitolea majibu kwenye mkutano huu. Sio lazima utoe maoni sasa hivi ndani ya Bunge.

 

“Ninamuagiza Tundu aniandike na Ngeleja atajibu, nitapeleka kwenye vyombo vyangu ambako wanaweza kuwakutanisha Lema na Ngeleja na Bunge kusomewa uamuzi Ijumaa. Huo ndio utaratibu,” alisema Makinda.

 

Hata hivyo hatua hiyo haikumridhisha Tundu Lissu ambaye akiwa nje ya Bunge alisema Spika ana nia ya kuwalinda mawaziri wanapobanwa bungeni.

 

Kwa upande wake, Mnyika aliibua upya suala la ufisadi wa Kampuni ya Kagoda, inayodaiwa kuchota mabilioni ya fedha katika Akaunti ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA), mali ya Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT), ambalo serikali imekuwa anaogopa kulijadili.

 

Mara kadhaa huko nyuma, viongozi waandamizi serikali wamesema kwamba ”kagoda hakamatiki” na kwamba ”hafahamiki,” huku taarifa zikionyesha kuwa ufisadi huo ulifanyika katika mazingira ya kisiasa yanayodaiwa kukinufaisha Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).

 

Baadhi ya watu wanaodaiwa kuchota pesa hizo ni watu wazito ndani ya CCM na mfumo wa utawala nchini.

 

Ufisadi huo uliibuliwa Bungeni na aliyekuwa Mbunge wa Karatu, Dk. Willibrord Slaa, katika Bunge liliopita. Dk Slaa ni Katibu Mkuu wa CHADEMA.

 

Jana Mnyika aligusia suala hilo wakati akiuliza swali la nyongeza, akitaka kujua kauli ya serikali lini itakamilisha uchunguzi kuhusu kampuni hiyo ya Kagoda na kuwachukulia hatua wahusika.

 

Akijibu swali hilo kwa kifupi sana, Waziri wa Nchi Ofisi Rais (Utawala Bora), Mathias Chikawe, alisema serikali bado inaendelea na uchunguzi wa tuhuma dhidi ya kampuni hiyo.

 

Hata hivyo, jibu hilo lilionekana kutowaridhisha wabunge wengi kwani zaidi ya wabunge kumi walisimama kutaka kuuliza maswali ya nyongeza.

 

Akiuliza swali lingine la nyongeza, Mbunge wa Wawi, Hamad Rashid (CUF), alihoji kuwa kwa kuwa Mkurugenzi wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa,(TAKUKURU) Dk. Edward Hosea, alisema tatizo la kesi ya ufisadi mkubwa kama wa Kagoda ni DPP, hivyo alihoji kama Serikali iko tayari kutoa taarifa Bungeni kuonyesha kesi zilizokwama kwa DPP.

 

Akijibu swali hilo, Waziri Chikawe alisema Serikali ipo tayari kutoa taarifa hiyo bungeni na itafanya hivyo katika mkutano huu wa tatu wa Bunge unaoendelea mjini hapa.

 

Kashfa ya Kagoda ambayo ilipata kulitikisa Bunge miaka mitano iliyopita, limekuwa likipigwa danadana na Serikali kwa sababu za kisiasa.

 

Kampuni ya Kagoda ilikwapua jumla ya dola za Kimarekani 30,732,658.82 (Sh. 40 bilioni) katika Akanuti ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA), ndani ya BoT. Fedha hizi na nyingine zipatazo Sh. 73 zilichotwa katika kipindi cha kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2005.

 

Taarifa zinaonyesha kuwa ni Yusuf Manji aliyedhamini Kagoda kufungua akaunti katika tawi la CRDB Benki la Holland jijini Dar es Salaam ambako mabilioni ya shilingi yalipitia.

 

Serikali imekuwa ikikana kufahamu wamiliki wa Kagoda na kwa zaidi ya miaka mitano sasa imekaa kimya juu ya wizi wa kampuni hiyo.

 

Aidha, serikali imekuwa ikijikanyaga kuhusu wizi huu. Aliyekuwa Waziri wa Fedha, Zakia Meghji, aliwaandikia maodita wa kampuni ya Deloitte & Touche ya Afrika Kusini akisema, fedha za Kagoda zilitumika kwa “kazi za usalama wa taifa.”

 

Katika barua yake ya Septemba 15, 2006, Meghji anasema, “Kama unavyofahamu vema, mamlaka ya serikali huwa na siri, vilevile haja ya kugharamia matumizi ya busara. “Kwa hiyo… malipo ya dola 30,732,658.82 za Marekani yaliyofanywa na BoT kwa Kagoda Agriculture Limited, yaliidhinishwa na serikali kugharamia matumizi yake nyeti na ilikuwa lazima kuchukua hatua hii ya kudumisha usiri huu.”

 

Hatua hii inaleta maswali mengi kuliko majibu; yakiwa ni pamoja na iwapo Manji na wakwapuaji wa Kagoda ndio hasa wanaitwa “Usalama wa Taaifa.”

 

Baadaye jana Mnyika alitoa tamko kwa vyombo vya habari likisema:

 

“Itakumbukwa kwamba Kagoda inatuhumiwa kuchota jumla ya dola za Marekani 30,732,658.82 (Sh. 40 bilioni) katika Akanuti ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) katika Benki Kuu (BoT) mwaka 2005.

 

“Serikali imekuwa ikijichanganya kuhusu ufisadi wa Kagoda; mathalani tarehe 15 Septemba 2006 Waziri wa Fedha wa wakati huo Zakhia Meghji aliandika barua kwa wakaguzi wa mahesabu wa kampuni ya Deloitte & Touche ya Afrika Kusini kuwa fedha za Kagoda zilitumika kwa kazi ya usalama wa taifa na kutaka usiri na busara katika ukaguzi wa mahesabu ya kampuni hiyo. Baadaye Waziri Meghji alifuta barua hiyo.

 

“Nyaraka mbalimbali zinaonyesha kwamba cheti cha usajili wa Kagoda kilichotolewa na ofisi ya Wakala wa Usajili wa Leseni za Biashara na Makampuni (BRELA) kinaonyesha Kagoda ilisajiliwa 29 Septemba 2005.

 

“Mpaka sasa siri za ufisadi wa Kampuni hiyo na wa kampuni zingine zilizohusika kwa wizi wa Kagoda zimebaki kwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete na wajumbe watatu wa timu uliyoiunda wakati huo ikiwemo idadi na majina ya watuhumiwa wanaodaiwa kurejesha sehemu ya fedha.

 

“Wakati serikali imekuwa ikieleza kwamba haiwajui wamiliki wa Kagoda; taarifa mbalimbali zimekuwa zikimtaja Rostam Aziz (Mb) na wengine.

 

“Baadhi ya vyombo vya habari vimewahi kuandika kwamba Wakili Bhyidinka Sanze wa Kampuni ya mawakili ya Malegesi (Malegesi Law Chambers) ya Dar es Salaam katika maelezo yake kwa Kamati ya Rais ya kushughulikia wizi kwenye akaunti ya Madeni ya Nje (EPA) alikiri kwamba alishuhudia mkataba wa Kagoda na mikataba mingine iliyohusu ufisadi huo.

 

“Wakili huyo alieleza kwamba mkataba huo ulishuhudiwa na Caspian Construction Limited (inayomilikiwa na Rostam Aziz) iliyopo Dar es salaam na kwamba alielezwa kuwa fedha hizo ni kwa ajili ya kuiwezesha CCM kugharamia uchaguzi na kwamba maelekezo hayo yalitolewa kwa aliyekuwa gavana wakati huo (marehemu Daudi Balali) na Rais wakati huo Benjamin Mkapa.

 

“Hata hivyo, pamoja na serikali kwa wakati wote kuendelea kusisitiza kutowajua wamiliki wa Kagoda; Taarifa za hivi karibuni zimemtaja mfanyabiashara Yusuph Manji kupitia kampuni ya familia yake ya Quality Finance Corporation Limited (QFCL) anadaiwa na serikali kurejesha fedha za Kagoda.

 

“Katika mazingira haya ya utata ndio maana natoa kauli ya kuitaka serikali kutoa tamko la kina kuhusu kashfa hii ya Kagoda.”

 

Swali la msingi liliulizwa na Mbunge wa Viti Maalum Pudenciana Kikwembe (CCM), kuhusu rushwa, akitaka kujua Serikali ina mpango gani kuhakikisha kwamba lengo la taifa katika kupambana na rushwa linafanikiwa.

 

Waziri Chikawe akijibu swali hili alisema kwa kuwa watoaji na wapokeaji wa Rushwa ni wananchi wenyewe, hivyo kila mmoja anapaswa kuwa askari.

 

“Vita hii ni yetu sote, ninawaomba viongozi wote wa serikali, siasa na dini na jamii kwa ujumla, kukemea rushwa kila wanapopata nafasi ya kufanya hivyo,” alisema Spika.

 

Wakati huo huo, moto juu ya mjadala wa Katiba mpya uliwaka jana Bungeni, huku baadhi ya wabunge wakitaka muswada wa serikali unaopelekwa Bungeni uahirishwe.

 

Aliyeibua hoja hiyo ni Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe (CHADEMA), akisema wananchi wanahitaji kupewa muda wa kujadili suala hili kabla halijatungiwa sheria.

 

Zitto alisema ni wabunge wapewe fursa ya kuwaelimisha wananchi wao.

 

Lakini Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria, Celina Kombani, alisisitiza kuwa muswada huo utawasilishwa kama ilivyopangwa.

 

Akijibu swali bungeni jana, Kombani alisema kinachofanyika sasa si kupitisha Katiba Mpya bali kuangalia jinsi ya kuunda tume itakayosimamia kutungwa kwa Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba Mpya.

 

Alisema sheria hiyo, pamoja na mambo mengine, ndiyo itakayoanzisha tume itakayoratibu zoezi la utungwaji wa Katiba Mpya.

 

Alisema muswada huo umekamilika na utawasilishwa katika mkutano huu wa Bunge kwa hatua zaidi.

 

Waziri Kombani ambaye alikuwa akijibu swali la Mbunge wa Viti Maalum (CUF) Fakharia Shomar Khamis, alisema muswada huo sanjari na kuainisha majukumu ya tume, utaanisha jukumu la utoaji elimu kwa wananchi kuhusu katiba inayotumika sasa.

 

“Watu wanapotosha kwamba Bunge limekuja kupitisha muswada wa Katiba Mpya. Nimeona kwenye kongamano na watu wengine wakijadili. Mkawaambie wananchi hatupitishi katiba mpya sasa,” alisema Kombani.

 

Kwa mujibu wa Kombani, katika utoaji elimu, Serikali itashirikiana na mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali.

 

Alisisitiza kuwa serikali imeona kuna umuhimu wa kutoa elimu juu ya katiba ya sasa ili wawe katika nafasi nzuri ya kuchangia mawazo ya kuanzishwa kwa Katiba Mpya.

 

Katika swali lake la msingi, mbunge huyo alihoji kama Serikali haioni umuhimu wa kutoa elimu juu ya Katiba ya sasa ili wananchi waweze kuchangia mawazo ya kuanzishwa kwa Katiba Mpya.

 

Hata hivyo, wadau wa katiba, wakiwamo wanasheria, wanasiasa na wasomi kadhaa nchini, wanadai kuwa sheria inayotarajiwa kutungwa kwa muswada huu haikidhi matakwa, na haiendani na mahitaji ya Katiba mpya inayotakiwa.

 

Hoja kuu ambayo imekuwa ikijengwa kwa muda mrefu na wanazuoni, ni kwamba uhalali wa Katiba unatokana na uhalali wa mchakato wa kuitengeneza, na kwamba kwa staili hii ya harakaharaka ya serikali kutunga sheria inayolalamikiwa, wananchi watashindwa kushiriki kutunga katiba yao.

 

Wadau wengi wanadai muswada huu hauna maslahi kwa taifa, bali unalenga kulinda maslahi ya kikundi kinachotawala, na kunyamazisha wakosoaji wake.