"Corruption in Tanzania has no bounds. Every country I visit they talk about corruption in Tanzania. Tanzania is stinking with corruption,"
"This would not only lead to collapse of the now-sensitive 30-year-old union between the twin-islands of Zanzibar and Pemba and Tanzania mainland, but would also plunge the country into chaos," (talking about condoning religious differences and tribalism)
9 comments:
Was it a prenomition?
Not a premonition, unfortunately. He was calling it as he saw it, back in 1995. Things have just got worse...
Bank of Tanzania allegations: Govt absolves Mzindakaya
2007-06-30 09:11:00
By Lusekelo Philemon, Dodoma
The government has said Kwela legislator Chrisant Mzindakaya obtained a 9.7bn/- loan through its export credit guarantee scheme, dismissing as baseless suggestions that fraud was involved.
Allegations associating Bank of Tanzania Governor Daudi Ballali, Mzindakaya and a number of businesspersons with suspicious transactions were first wired through the Internet by elements yet to be identified.
The Minister of Finance, Zakia Meghji told the National Assembly here yesterday that the government got information on the delicate issue via the Internet and began to work on the matter immediately.
She said it was discovered that the Central Bank provided collateral for the Sumbawanga Agricultural and Animal Food Industries (SAAFI), whose Executive Chairman is the long-serving legislator.
Everything was done in line with the rules and regulations governing the export guarantee scheme, the minister stated.
The minister called on those who circulated the information via the Internet `to come out and furnish the government with full information on the matter in the national interest`.
Under the export credit guarantee scheme, the government extends collateral to local firms to promote the export of manufactured goods.
SAAFI secured a 75 per cent guarantee from the Central Bank, enabling Standard Chartered Bank to supply the Sumbawanga firm with the disputed cash cover.
The minister explained that several other local companies have equally benefited from the export guarantee scheme, adding that applicants are given loans after a thorough evaluation of the economic viability of their project proposals.
`But most people have been failing to meet the conditions for accessing the loans, which is why the government has been chipping in by guaranteeing them so as to boost exports in the country,` she noted.
She said, SAAFI was given a guarantee by the government through the Bank of Tanzania so that it could get the loan somewhere between February 4, 2005 and February 4, 2006.
In further elaboration on the issue, which has sparked off heated debate inside and outside Parliament for the last few days, Meghji stated: `Let me take this opportunity to encourage all those who would like to start projects of the same magnitude by letting them know that the (government�s) doors are open for them to use this facility.
The government will give them guarantees but only after a thorough valuation on the viability of their project proposals.`
Meanwhile, the minister told the House that the Controller Auditor General (CAG) has already advertised international tenders for firms interested in conducting investigations into the alleged misappropriation of USD30.8m (40bn/-) in the National Bank of Commerce External Payment Arrears Account, which is administered by Central Bank.
She said the auditing exercise is expected to be completed by the end of this year and would be made public.
* SOURCE: Guardian
Spika kudhibiti taarifa za intaneti Bungeni
2007-06-30 08:45:10
Na John Ngunge, Dodoma
Spika wa Bunge,Bw. Samuel Sitta amesema kuanzia sasa, atakuwa makini kuruhusu taarifa za intaneti kujadiliwa bungeni kwa kuwa zinawavuruga Wabunge.
Aliyasema hayo muda mfupi baada ya Bw. Zitto Kabwe (CHADEMA-Kigoma Kaskazini) kuzungumzia tuhuma za ubadhirifu wa fedha Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT).
`Kuanzia sasa, nitakuwa makini sana kwa siku za usoni kuhusu taarifa za intaneti maana zinatuvuruga,` alisema.
Katika mchango wake bungeni jana, Bw. Zitto alisema tuhuma zinazoelekezwa BoT zinachafua sura ya nchi na kwamba serikali imekuwa ikichelewa sana kutoa taarifa na kuzitafutia ufumbuzi.
`BoT kuna tatizo na inawezekana pia hakuna tatizo, taarifa hizi za ubadhirifu katika benki hiyo zilikuwa kwenye intaneti kuanzia mwaka jana lakini hakuna mawasiliano ya haraka yaliyokwishatolewa na kupatiwa ufumbuzi kuhusu suala hilo hadi linafikishwa bungeni,` alisema.
Hatua hiyo ilimfanya Kiongozi wa Shughuli Bungeni (Chief Whip), Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu Dk. Batilda Burian, kusimama na kutoa taarifa ambapo alipinga madai ya Bw. Zitto na kusema serikali imekuwa ikitoa taarifa mara kwa mara.
Mapema mwezi uliopita, Dk. Wilbroad Slaa aliwasilisha bungeni taarifa alizozipata kwenye intaneti zikimhusu
Gavana wa BoT, Bw. Daud Balali dhidi ya ubadhirifu wa fedha katika benki hiyo. Katika madai hayo alihusishwa pia mbunge wa Kwela CCM, Dk. Chrisant Mzindakaya.
Na katika hatua nyingine, serikali imemsafisha mke wa Gavana wa Benki Kuu Tanzania (BoT), Bi. Anna Muganda, dhidi ya tuhuma zilizoelekezwa kwake na kambi ya upinzani bungeni kwamba ni mmoja wa Wakurugenzi wa Time Mining ambayo serikali imeingia nayo mkataba kuendesha mgodi wa dhahabu wa Buhemba, mkoani Mara.
Aidha imesema kampuni ya Meremeta iliyokuwa ikimilikiwa kwa pamoja kati ya serikali kwa asilimia 50 na Trinnex (PTY)� kwa asilimia 50 haijauzwa kwa bei ya kutupwa au kuruka kwa� kampuni ya RandGold ambayo mke huyo wa Gavana alidaiwa kumiliki hisa.
Utetezi huo ulitolewa bungeni jana na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Bw. Nazir Karamagi, kama kauli za mawaziri kwa mujibu wa Kanuni ya 39 kufuatia tuhuma
zilizotolewa na msemaji wa kambi ya upinzani, Dk. Willibroad Slaa wiki iliyopita.
Akitoa tuhuma hizo, Dk. Slaa alimhusisha mke wa Gavana, kuwa ni mmoja wa wakurugenzi wa kampuni ya Time Mining na pia ana hisa katika kampuni ya RandGold ambayo imenunua kampuni ya Meremeta.
Pamoja na tuhuma dhidi ya Bi. Anna, Dk. Slaa alitoa tuhuma pia kuhusu ubadhirifu wa fedha BoT na akataka bunge liunde tume huru ya uchunguzi dhidi ya ubaridhirifu huo.
`Serikali inapenda kukanusha kauli hizi kwamba kampuni ya Meremeta imeuzwa kwa RandGold. Kampuni ya Meremeta haijauzwa kwa mtu yeyote au kwa kampuni yo yote, iwe kwa bei ya kutupwa au kwa bei ya kuruka,` alisema Waziri Karamagi.
Alisema kampuni ya Meremeta imesitisha shughuli zake kwa mujibu wa sheria na kutokana na hatua hiyo mali na madeni yake yamehamishiwa kwenye kampuni ya TanGold ambayo inamilikiwa na serikali kwa asilimia 100 na kwamba mali hizo zinajumuisha pia mgodi wa dhahabu wa Buhemba.
Akifafanua kuhusu kampuni ya Time Mining, Bw. Karamagi alisema si kweli kwamba mke huyo wa Gavana ni mmoja wa wakurugenzi katika kampuni hiyo.
Alisema kwa mujibu wa mkataba kati ya serikali na Time Mining, kampuni hiyo inawajibika kuwasilisha serikalini orodha ya wakurugenzi wake na kwamba mke huyo sio miongoni mwa wakurugenzi.
Kauli za mawaziri kuhusu tuhuma dhidi ya mke wa Gavana zimekuja siku moja tu baada ya Waziri wa Fedha, Zakia Meghji kutoa kauli ya mawaziri kuhusu tuhuma za ubadhirifu wa fedha BoT.
Katika kauli iliyotolewa juzi, Bi. Meghji alisema Serikali imeshatangaza zabuni ili kupata kampuni mmoja ya nje itakayofanya ukaguzi wa fedha za nje katika benki hiyo.
Aidha katika kauli aliyoisoma Bw. Karamagi, alisema tuhuma alizozitoa Dk. Slaa hazina ukweli wo wote na kama hali hiyo ikifumbiwa macho ipo hatari ya kuligeuza Bunge kuwa uwanja wa kuwakashifu watu wasio na hatia wala fursa ya kujitetea mbele ya Bunge.
Baada ya kutolewa kwa kauli hiyo baada ya kipindi cha maswali na majibu, Spika aliruhusu kuendelea na hatua nyingine ya wabunge kujadili hotuba ya bajeti ya Waziri Mkuu na Ofisi ya Bunge ya mwaka wa fedha 2007/2008.
Hatua hiyo ilimfanya mbunge wa Dimani CCM, Bw. Hafidh Ali Tahir kuomba mwongozo wa spika juu ya hatua inayotakiwa kuchukuliwa baada ya kauli hiyo.
Akitoa mwongozo, Spika Sitta alisema, `hoja hii imeisha, hatuwezi kumzuia mbunge kusema, ipo hatari kwamba tukichukua hatua itawafanya wengine washindwe kusema na hatutajua ukweli au uwongo wa jambo husika,` alisema.
* SOURCE: Nipashe
Serikali yamtikisa Dk. Slaa bungeni
na Mwandishi Wetu, Dodoma
SERIKALI imeendeleza kile kinachoonekana kuwa ajenda mahususi ya kuwasafisha vigogo kadhaa, ambao wametajwa kuhusika katika tuhuma za ubadhirifu wa mamilioni ya fedha katika Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT).
Baada ya Waziri Zakia Meghji kufanya hivyo juzi akiwasafisha Mbunge wa Kwela, Chrisant Mzindakaya na Gavana wa BoT, Daudi Balali, serikali jana ilimgeukia mtuhumiwa mwingine katika sakata hilo.
Aliyetekeleza jukumu hilo jana, alikuwa ni Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Nazir Karamagi, ambaye alitoa tamko la serikali dhidi ya tuhuma nzito zilizotolewa na Mbunge wa Karatu, Willibrod Slaa (Chadema) mwanzoni mwa wiki hii.
Katika tamko lake hilo, Karamagi aliyezungumza baada ya kuisha kwa kipindi cha maswali na majibu jana asubuhi, alisema, Anna Muganda ambaye ni mke wa Gavana wa BoT, si miongoni mwa wakurugenzi wa Kampuni ya Time Mining iliyoingia mkataba na serikali, wa kuendesha mradi wa dhahabu wa Buhemba, kama ilivyodaiwa na Slaa.
Aidha, Karamagi alisema pia kuwa, kampuni ya Meremeta haijawahi kuendeshwa na Kampuni ya Time Mining kama ilivyodaiwa na Dk. Slaa.
Aidha, alikanusha taarifa kuwa Meremeta ilikuwa imeuzwa kwa RandGold na kusema kuwa, ilichofanya ilikuwa ni kusitisha shughuli zake kwa mujibu wa sheria.
Alisema kuwa, mali na madeni ya Meremeta, ukiwemo mgodi wa Buhemba, vimehamishiwa kwa Kampuni ya TANGOLD ambayo inamilikiwa na serikali kwa asilimia 100.
Alisema wakurugenzi wa Time Mining ni Peet Visage, ambaye pia ni Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu, Wouter Roos, Thabang Khomo, Simisani Kupe, Louis Vander Walt na Renier Van Jaarsveld.
Alisema pia kuwa, hata kama madai kuwa mke wa Gavana Balali anamiliki hisa katika Kampuni ya RandGold yangekuwa yana kweli, yasingeinyima serikali usingizi kwa sababu Meremeta haijauzwa kwa kampuni hiyo.
Karamagi alimalizia kauli yake kwa kulitahadharisha Bunge kuwa, hali ya kutoa tuhuma dhidi ya watu wasiokuwa na uwezo wa kujitetea bungeni ikifumbiwa macho, ipo hatari ya kuligeuza Bunge kuwa uwanja wa kuwakashifu watu wasio na hatia wala fursa ya kujitetea.
Karamagi alitumia muda wake kukanusha tuhuma zilizowasilishwa na Dk. Slaa ambaye katika maoni ya kambi ya upinzani kuhusu hotuba ya bajeti ya ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, alisema kuwa, Muganda anadaiwa kuwa ni miongoni mwa wakurugenzi wa Kampuni ya Time Mining na pia anamiliki hisa katika Kampuni ya RandGold.
Kampuni zote hizo zinahusishwa na utendaji wa Meremeta, iliyoundwa mwaka 1997 na serikali kwa ajili ya kununua dhahabu.
Dk. slaa aliliambia Bunge mwanzoni mwa wiki kuwa, Meremeta iliuzwa na serikali kwa bei ya kutupwa, baada ya BoT kulipa dhamana iliyowekwa kabla ya kuuzwa kwa RandGold ya Afrika Kusini ambako Muganda ana hisa.
“Serikali imesikitishwa sana na taarifa hiyo potofu ya Dk. Slaa, ambayo haina ukweli wowote na yenye lengo la kupotosha umma kuhusu kampuni ya Meremeta,” alisema Karamagi.
Baadaye, Karamagi alieleza jinsi Meremeta ilivyoanzishwa akisema ilikuwa na lengo la kununua dhahabu isiyosafishwa kutoka kwa wachimbaji wadogo kutoka katika Kanda ya Ziwa, lengo likiwa ni kununua kilo 300 za dhahabu kwa mwezi.
Katika kampuni hiyo alisema kuwa, serikali ilikuwa ikimiliki asilimia 50 ya hisa na asilimia 50 nyingine zilikuwa zinamilikiwa na Kampuni ya Tinnex (pty).
Hata hivyo, Meremeta ilishindwa kununua kiasi hicho cha dhahabu na iliweza kununua kilo 40 tu kwa mwezi jambo lililosababisha kampuni hiyo kupata hasara.
“Aidha, ushindani wa kibiashara kati ya Meremeta na wanunuzi binafsi wa dhahabu ulichangia Kampuni ya Meremeta kushindwa kufikia lengo hilo lililotarajiwa,” alisema Karamagi.
Hata hivyo, pamoja na kupata hasara hiyo, mwaka 2000 Meremeta iliingia katika uchimbaji mkubwa wa dhahabu kwa kuanzisha mgodi wa Buhemba.
Baada ya kuchukua uamuzi huo, Karamagi alisema kuwa, Meremeta ilianza kukabiliwa a matatizo ya kifedha na ya kiutendaji yaliyosababisha kuchelewa kukamilika kwa mgodi wa Buhemba na hivyo kuilazimu serikali kuingilia kati.
Kutokana na matatizo hayo, serikali liamua kuunda kikosi cha kazi mwaka 2003 ili kuchambua matatizo ya Meremeta na kati ya mapendekezo ambayo kikosi hicho kiliyatia na kukubaliwa na serikali ni kusitisha shughuli za Meremeta kununua dhahabu kutoka kwa wachimbaji wadogo na kuanzishwa kwa kampuni mpya itakayomilikiwa kwa asilimia 100 na serikali.
Katika hatua nyingine, Spika, Samwel Sitta, alikataa Bunge kuchukua hatua yoyote dhidi ya Dk. Slaa kama ilivyopendekezwa na Mbunge wa Dimani, Hafidh Ali (CCM).
Baada ya Karamagi kumaliza kuwasilisha kauli yake, Ali alisimama akitaka mwongozo wa Spika na akanukuu Kanuni ya Bunge ya 50 (1) inayopiga marufuku mbunge kusema uongo bungeni.
“Siwezi kuchukua hatua yoyote kwa sababu hili limesemwa tu. Kuna uwezekano mwingine akalisema pia, lakini kwa sasa mimi naona nilimalizie hapo,” alisema Sitta.
Hata hivyo, akizungumza baadaye, Dk. Slaa alisema anaisubiri kauli hiyo ya serikali kwa hamu kubwa kwani yapo mambo mengine mengi ambayo yameibuliwa kupitia taarifa hiyo ambayo yana utata.
“Hawajatupatia tarifa yao… tunaisubiri kwa hamu, ili tuifanyie kazi. Kuna mambo ambayo wameyaongelea ambayo yanapingana na kauli zilizowahi kutolewa huko nyuma kuhusiana na Meremeta,” alisema Dk. Slaa alipotakiwa na gazeti hili kutoa maoni yake baada ya kauli hiyo.
Akizungumza bungeni jana Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Kabwe Zitto (Chadema), aliilaumu serikali kwa kuacha kuzifanyia kazi tuhuma hizo kwa muda mrefu hata zikafikia hatua ya kuzungumzwa bungeni.
Alisema kuwa, taarifa hizo zilianza kupatikana katika tovuti kuanzia Julai mwaka jana, lakini inashangaza kuwa kwa muda wote huo serikali ilikuwa kimya.
“Kuna uwezekano kuwa baada ya kutolewa kwa taarifa hizo, serikali iliamua kufanya kazi kimya kimya au gavana aliachiwa aji-hang (ajinyonge) mwenyewe,” alisema Kabwe.
Lakini Spika alitahadharisha dhidi ya tuhuma zinazotolewa kupitia tovuti na kusema kuwa siku za usoni, Bunge linapaswa kuwa makini sana na taarifa za namna hiyo.
“Inabidi tuwe makini na haya masuala ya intanenti kuletwa humu ili kuzuia kuharibu taswira ya nchi kupitia anonumous sources (vyanzo visivyojulikana),” alionya Sitta.
Origin of email spilling BoT scandal details :Police, Intelligence in joint investigation
-Two suspects already questioned in Dar
-Independent IT specialists offer technical opinions
-Contents of document now dominating Bunge debate
THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam
POLICE and state intelligence officials have been joined up in a comprehensive operation to trace the origin of an anonymous email document offering details of various big-name links in the latest alleged misappropriation of millions of US dollars from the Bank of Tanzania.
According to THISDAY’s impeccable sources, scores of detectives from the police criminal investigations department (CID) are now working hand in hand with state security operatives in an interesting cyber chase stretching all the way from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma - and probably further a field.
The widely circulating email document, which is in PDF format, is causing quite a stir in various groups of society, and has already prompted heated debate within the august Parliament over the past couple of weeks.
It is understood that state security operatives have been fanned across Dodoma where the marathon budget session of the National Assembly is currently in session, apparently as part of a strategy to obtain leads.
Meanwhile, in Dar es Salaam, our sources say CID detectives have already questioned a couple of prominent local businessmen suspected to have something to do with the troublesome email, which amongst other things, accuses BoT governor Dr Daudi Ballali of personally facilitating the alleged disappearance of an estimated $200m (approx. 250bn/-) in forex from the central bank’s external commercial debt account.
’’At least two prominent businessmen in Dar es Salaam have been questioned so far this week over the issue of the email,’’ said a well-informed source within police headquarters.
The acting director of criminal investigations (DCI), Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Sydney Mkumbi, declined to comment on the cyber investigations and referred all our queries to the DCI himself, Commissioner of Police Robert Manumba, who however, was also not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, sought out by THISDAY in the wake of this new information, a number of top computer and IT specialists ventured to explain that when an email message is packaged and sent out, a lot of ’’wrapping paper’’ goes with it, which can be used to trace where the message actually originated from.
According to one IT expert: ’’This is the identifying information that is bundled with the message, giving the internet protocol (IP) address, date-time stamps, and the ’hops’ or interim stops that the message may have made en route to the recipient.’’
She continued: ’’It is simply a matter of methodically looking back through this chain of IPs, until the origin IP is located. An IP is a machine readable series of numbers; however, these numerical addresses are mapped to a domain name, which associates them with the persons or entities to whom they are registered.’’
However, the expert also pointed out that if an email message is forwarded many times, the original IP address may be ultimately lost in cyberspace, in which case tracing the origin of the message may become like ’’looking for a needle in a haystack.’’
It remains unclear if the reported official cyber investigation is aimed at verifying the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations contained in the controversial email document, or just to pinpoint the authors or whistleblowers, in order to �discipline� them.
According to one senior government official contacted by THISDAY: ’’The allegations in the email of massive theft within the BoT, which you must remember is a very sensitive institution, are proving a big embarrassment to the government, especially in the eyes of the international community.’’
The Minister for Finance, Ms Zakia Meghji, said in parliament earlier this week that the government would investigate the allegations, but also made a call to the so far unknown authors of the email document to come forward and offer supporting evidence.
And speaking yesterday in parliament, the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Nazir Karamagi, sought to rubbish separate allegations contained in the same email document suggesting that governor Ballali was also personally involved in other dubious gold mine deals.
An opposition member of parliament was the first person to bring up the existence of the email document in the august House, when contributing last week to the government’s 2007/08 budget proposals.
The debate over the credibility or otherwise of the document continued to rage in parliament yesterday, prompting Speaker Samuel Sitta to declare half-humorously, half-seriously that he would be ’’keen’’ to avoid allowing the contents of future anonymous email messages to be read in the august House.
Apart from parliamentarians and especially those from the opposition camp, the government is also under pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to expedite a planned audit of the BoT forex accounts.
'Suala la BoT halihitaji kuundiwa
kamati- serikali
NA ESTHER MVUNGI, DODOMA
SERIKALI imesema suala la ubadhirifu wa fedha dhidi ya Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT) halihitaji kuundiwa kamati teule ya Bunge.
Waziri Mkuu Edward Lowassa, alisema hayo alipokuwa akijibu hoja za wabunge jana, kuhitimisha mjadala wa hotuba yake kuhusu mapitio na mwelekeo wa kazi za serikali na makadirio ya matumizi ya fedha ya Ofisi ya
Waziri Mkuu na Ofisi ya Bunge kwa mwaka 2007/08.
"Serikali imechukizwa...imechukua hatua mara moja... BoT tunawaamini, tumemwagiza Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) kwa kushirikiana na mkaguzi wa nje wachunguze suala hili kama kweli fedha zimepotea.
"Nawasihi wapinzani, halihitaji kamati teule ya Bunge... tumeshauriana na wafadhili wa miradi na IMF (Shirika la Kimataifa la Fedha) CAG kwa kushirikiana na mkaguzi wa nje wafanye uchunguzi," alisema Waziri Mkuu.
Alisema Bunge litaarifiwa kuhusu uchunguzi huo.
Lowassa alisema BoT ni roho ya nchi, inakubalika Afrika na imechangia maendeleo ya ukuaji wa uchumi wa nchi.
Wabunge Dk. Wilbrod Slaa (Karatu-Chadema), Hamad Rashid Mohamed (Wawi-CUF), Susan Lyimo (Viti Maalum-Chadema) na Christopher ole Sendeka (Simanjiro-CCM).
Zitto Kabwe (Kigoma Kaskazini -Chadema), Chacha Wangwe (Tarime- Chadema) na Lucy Owenya (Viti Maalum-Chadema), kwa nyakati tofauti walitoa tuhuma hizo walipokuwa wakichangia hotuba ya Waziri Mkuu.
Waziri Mkuu Lowassa alisema serikali imemwagiza CAG kusimamia uchunguzi wa tuhuma hizo.
Alisema Bunge lilipitisha sheria iliyolenga kuimarisha BoT, na kwamba hivi sasa serikali inakamilisha mchakato wa kuteua manaibu gavana wawili kama
ilivyoainishwa katika Sheria ya Benki Kuu ya mwaka 2006.
Alhamisi wiki iliyopita, Waziri wa Fedha, Zakia Meghji aliwasilisha kauli ya serikali bungeni kuhusu jinsi serikali itakavyoshughulikia hoja mbalimbali
zilizotolewa na wabunge, kuhusu tuhuma za ubadhirifu na ufujaji wa fedha za madeni ya biashara ya nje. Waziri Mkuu alisema serikali ina matumaini kuwa CAG kama alivyofanya kazi nzuri ya ukaguzi wa hesabu za serikali, atafanya kazi hiyo ya uchunguzi kwa kufuata kanuni za ukaguzi kwa kiwango cha kimataifa.
Waziri Mkuu Lowassa ameliomba Bunge kuidhinisha makadirio ya matumizi ya fedha kwa mwaka 2007/08 ya sh. 1,465,530,957,000 ya Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu na sh. 42,718,423,000 kwa ajili ya Mfuko wa Bunge.
Lowassa: Tuhuma BoT zinashitusha
na Peter Nyanje, Dodoma
WAZIRI Mkuu, Edward Lowassa, amesema serikali imeshtushwa na kusikitishwa na kuwapo kwa tuhuma za ubadhirifu wa mabilioni ya fedha katika Benki Kuu (BoT).
Lowassa aliyasema hayo jana bungeni mjini Dodoma wakati alipokuwa akihitimisha mjadala wa hotuba ya bajeti ya ofisi yake kwa mwaka 2007/08.
Alilieleza Bunge kuwa, kutokana na hali hiyo ndiyo maana serikali iliamua kuchukua mara moja hatua za kulishughulikia suala hilo ambalo limekuwa moja ya ajenda kubwa tangu kuanza kwa Bunge la Bajeti katikati ya mwezi uliopita.
Lowassa alisema uamuzi wa kumuagiza Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) ashirikiane na wakaguzi wa mahesabu wa kimataifa, kuchunguza tuhuma hizo ni matokeo ya msimamo huo wa serikali.
“Tumewataka wachunguze kubaini kama tuhuma hizo ni kweli, nani anahusika na wapendekeze hatua za kuchukua,” alisema Lowassa huku akishangiliwa na wabunge wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
Aidha, alisema kuwa, serikali imekubaliana na washirika wa maendeleo kuhusiana na hatua zinazochukuliwa na kuwa baada ya kukamilika kwa uchunguzi huo, ripoti yake italetwa bungeni.
Lowassa alitumia fursa hiyo kuwasihi wabunge wa upinzani, akiwataja kwa majina, Hamad Rashid Mohamed na Dk. Willibrod Slaa, kuachana na hoja ya kutaka kuundwa kwa kamati teule ya Bunge itakayochunguza tuhuma hizo.
“Nawasihi sana wenzangu wa upinzani, jambo hili halihitaji kamati teule ya Bunge kwa sababu kuna taratibu tunazifuata… tuliache, tutalishughulikia na kutoa taarifa bungeni,” alisema Lowassa.
Lowassa aliwataka wabunge kuelewa uzito wa suala hilo akisisitiza kuwa BoT ni roho ya nchi, kama ilivyopata kusisitizwa na Slaa.
“BoT si chombo hivi hivi… hizi tuhuma, sijui, sina uhakika na yanayozungumzwa, lakini BoT ni moja ya Benki Kuu zinazokubalika Afrika. Ina mchango mkubwa sana katika uchumi wa nchi…inachangia sana uchumi… mle ndani kuna vijana wa Kitanzania wanaofanya kazi vizuri, si vema tukawajumuisha wote na kuwashushia tuhuma,” alisema.
Slaa ambaye ndiye Msemaji wa Kambi ya Upinzani katika Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu, aliyeibua hoja hiyo bungeni, aliliambia gazeti hili nje ya Bunge jana kuwa, alikuwa ameridhishwa na hatua ya serikali kuonyesha kuguswa na tuhuma hizo nzito.
“Wapinzani tumefarijika na kauli hii ambayo ni tofauti na ile iliyowahi kutolewa na mawaziri wengine huko nyuma. Ile concern (kujali) iliyoonyeshwa na serikali inatia moyo,” Dk. Slaa aliliambia gazeti hili mara baada ya Lowassa kumaliza kuhitimisha hoja yake majira ya saa 7:15 mchana.
Hata hivyo, katika maoni yake, Dk. Slaa alisema kuwa pamoja na hatua hiyo ya serikali, bado kuna haja ya kufanya mambo mengine zaidi ili kambi ya upinzani iwe na uhakika kuwa hatua zinazochukuliwa zitazaa matunda yanayotarajiwa.
Kwa mujibu wa Dk. Slaa, kikubwa kinachotakiwa ni kuhakikisha kuwa, ripoti ya uchunguzi huo inawasilishwa bungeni, ili wananchi wapate kufahamu kilichotokea kupitia kwa wabunge wao.
Alisema kuwa pamoja na hayo, ni vema serikali ikaweka wazi wigo wa upelelezi utakaofanywa kwani kumekuwa na tuhuma za aina nyingi, zote zikiikabili BoT na baadhi ya watendaji wake.
“Hatuna uhakika iwapo uchunguzi huu wa serikali utahusisha akaunti ya madeni ya nje peke yake au la.
Tunavyofahamu kuna madai mengi sana na kiwango cha ubadhirifu ni kikubwa… tutataka kupata uhakika wa hilo,” alisema.
Hata hivyo wakati Bunge lilipokaa kama Kamati ya Matumizi, Hamad Rashid alisimama na akaeleza kutoridhishwa na uamuzi wa serikali kupinga kuanzishwa kwa kamati teule ya Bunge.
Imetolewa mara ya mwisho: 03.07.2007 0136 EAT
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Kashfa ulaji mabilioni BoT Serikali yagoma kuunda Kamati kuchunguza
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*Yasogeza mzigo kwa Mkaguzi wa Hesabu za Serikali
*Lowassa aahidi Bungeni kuarifiwa baada ya uchunguzi
Na John Daniel, Dodoma
PAMOJA na Waziri Mkuu, Bw. Edward Lowassa kukiri Bungeni jana kwamba Serikali imesikitishwa na taarifa za ubadhilifu wa mabilioni ya pesa katika Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT),imekataa kuunda Kamati Teule ya Bunge kuchunguza jambo hilo.
Mapendekezo ya kuundwa Kamati hiyo yalitolewa Bungeni hivi karibuni na wabunge wa Kambi ya Upinzani baada kuwasilisha madai ya tuhuma za ulaji wa mabilioni ya fedha katika chombo hicho muhimu kwa uchumi na maendeleo ya nchi.
Akihitimisha mjadala wa Ofisi yake jana, Bw. Lowassa alisema suala hilo linahitaji umakini wa hali ya juu kwa kuwa Shirika la Fedha la Kimataifa (IMF) na wafadhili wengine tayari wanalifuatilia kwa karibu hasa kwa kuzingatia kuwa BoT ni chombo makini kilichotekeleza majukumu yake vizuri kuishauri Serikali katika masuala mbalimbali ya kiuchumi na kwamba ndani yake kuna Watanzania waaminifu.
"Serikali imesikitishwa na suala hili na imechukua hatua mara moja, hata hivyo suala hili halihitaji Kamati Teule ya Bunge, Serikali imemwagiza Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) kusimamia uchunguzi wa tuhuma za ubadhilifu ndani ya BOT.
"Linashughulikiwa na vyombo hivyo, tunashirikiana na wafadhili wetu, baada ya hapo tutachukua hatua na Bunge hili litaarifiwa. BoT ni roho ya nchi ndani yake kuna Watanzania waaminifu, "alisema Bw. Lowassa.
Alisema Serikali inaamini kwa namna Ofisi ya Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali ilivyofanikiwa kukagua hesabu za Serikali, inaamini kwamba itafanya kazi hiyo kwa kufuata kanuni za ukaguzi kwa kiwango cha kimataifa.
Aliongeza kuwa wakati hayo yakiendelea, hivi sasa Serikali ipo katika hatua za mwisho kukamilisha mchakato wa kuteu manaibu gavana wawili kama ilivyoanishwa katika Sheria ya BoT ya mwaka 2006.
Tuhuma za ulaji wa mambilioni ya fedha ziliwasilishwa Bungeni na kambi ya Upinzani iliyotaka Serikali kutoa kauli kuhusu suala hilo na kuundwa Kamati Teule ya Bunge kulichunguza kutokana na unyeti wa suala hilo na kugusa maslahi ya Taifa.
Katika hotuba hiyo,Bw. Lowassa pia alisema Serikali inaangalia uwezekano wa kuwalipa madiwani asilimia 25 ya posho ya mwezi kwa kipindi walichotumikia na stahili zingine yakiwemo matibabu, huduma za mazishi na unafuu wa kodi pale wanaponunua vyombo vya usafiri, mfano pikipiki na kwamba maelezo yatatolewa kwa halmashauri taratibu zitakapokamilika.
Kuhusu matumizi ya fedha mabovu ya fedha katika halmashauri, Bw. Lowassa alisema wakurugenzi 23 walishushwa vyeo mmoja alifungwa na watatu waliachiwa huru na wawili kesi zao zinaendelea.
Mbali na hao watumishi wengine 24 walifukuzwa kazi, 45 waliachiwa huru wawili walifungwa na 79 wameshtakiwa kwa jinai na nidhamu na kesi zao, zinaendelea.
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