Zitto na Demokrasia

Zitto na Demokrasia

Posts Tagged ‘IPTL

Gazeti la RAI- Zitto:Ripoti ya IPTL kuiangusha Serikali

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Written by zittokabwe

October 2, 2014 at 12:36 PM

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Corruption stinks, We must end it now

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Corruption stinks, We must end it now

 Also reported by The Citizen Newspaper

Zitto Kabwe talking at the CEOs Round Table Dinner.

We must end it now

Remarks by Zitto Kabwe, MP at the launch of nationwide survey on people’s perceptions of corruption in Tanzania by Sauti za Wananchi, TWAWEZA on the 5th August, 2014 Dar es Salaam.

In 1999 when I was a first year student at the university and a student activist, the student body invited Judge Joseph Warioba to speak about corruption. At the Council Chamber he narrated a story about a woman whose child was sick at Mbeya Referral hospital and died because she did not have tshs 500 bribe to give to a nurse in order for the nurse to admit a drip on the child. I always remember this story and results of this survey confirm it. This survey shows that 7 out of 10 individuals consider a patient giving money or other materials to a public health facility doctor for the help they gave to them as corruption. Our people are confronted with this reality in their daily lives. We must fight everyday corruption as much as grand corruption. It is the poorest that pays the highest price of corruption. As endemic as corruption in Tanzania is, we need new approach to combat it, Thomas Sankara once said “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness”.

Everyday corruption isn’t reported in our media outlets as much as mega scams, but it is real and so pervasive in our society. Daily life in Tanzania is governed by the ‘petty’ corruption of public officials in services such as health, education, agriculture and judicial system. It takes various forms including commission for illicit service, string-pulling, favours, nepotism, rent seeking and misappropriation.

The survey once again confirms the pervasive nature of corruption in Tanzania and the hopelessness the population has on cutting down corruption. It is argued that corruption in Africa generally and in Tanzania in particular is qualitatively different from corruption in other parts of the world in its pervasiveness, its legitimations and its significant impact on the nature of the state.[1] Formal definitions of corruption range from decay of society to single act of bribery. It involves the acquisition of money, assets or power in a way which escapes public view.[2]

The survey we are presented with today shows all signs of a rotten society with sustained bad habit of putting things under the carpets. 8 out of 10 people believe corruption has increased over the last decade and majority believe that we can not end corruption. What is shocking is the fact that 7 out of 10 people believe that even if we change the governing party corruption wont be fought. With the revelations of the audited report of the accounts of political parties coming soon, the people are stating the obvious. There is a moral decay. It stinks.

Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) duty is to hold public officials accountable. Through reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General, PAC and previously POAC has produced reports and reports about mismanagement of public funds. We were very successful in 2012 whereby through a threat to impeach the Prime minister, the President sacked 6 senior ministers and 2 deputies. 1 prosecution has been done (TBS) but the hunter became hunted. POAC was disbanded, annual reports by committees pushed to November sessions of parliament (so during election year in 2015 the PAC report won’t be submitted in April!) and Public Audit Act of 2008 amended to reduce the powers of oversight committees vis a vis auditor general reports. Obviously these are steps backward. It is comparable to the famous Tehelka scandal in India where journalists showed a secret video footage of senior politicians accepting bribes. Journalists became victims instead of the corrupt.[3] But these negative actions against anti corruption campaigners shall not deter us from fighting graft in Tanzania.

I am not shocked at all with the revelations that many Tanzanians know little about scams like IPTL (8 out of 10 Tanzanians had not heard of the scandal). I knew about withdrawal of Tegeta escrow money for the first time through The Citizen newspaper and immediately I acted upon and summoned central bank governor before PAC (https://zittokabwe.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/mapya-iptl-270million-zimetokaje-bot/). We issued statements on every single step we were taking including a directive to CAG and PCCB to carry a special audit. PAC directed special audit on Tegeta Escrow Account on the 20th March, 2014. Media houses with exception of Mwananchi, The Citizen and Mtanzania were not covering the scam at all regardless of number of statements we issued. May be they did not understand it. The day ndugu David Kafulila spoke about it in parliament, handful of papers reported and majority ignored the story but carried a clarification about it. (https://www.facebook.com/zittokabwe/posts/746280225392677). I posted on my Facebook wall ‘wahariri na miwani za mbao’. Now coverage about the scam has increased with the newest revelations from RaiaMwema weekly and daily TanzaniaDaima that the scam involve a tax fraud and a fraudulent transfer of ownership involving tax havens. Therefore, there is a significant need for media coverage in order for the public to hear about these scams. In addition, it is about how the scam is communicated for the people to understand.- therefore, I believe there is a need for adequate and rational media coverage of these scams so that people can be informed about them.

In Tanzania, we have metamorphosed into a situation whereby somebody is corrupt if he or she is your political enemy. And sometimes politics drive media coverage in order to confuse the public. Today IPTL scam is one of the most misunderstood because politicians, bureaucrats and some media have collaborated for it to be so. However when PAC submits its report to the house based on the findings from special audit, the country will be stunned to see how public officials participated in sanctioning a fraudulent transaction in the name of national interest. Will PCCB go ahead with prosecutions? Yes and No.

I have full trust in the ability and capacity of PCCB. But the system is set in such a way that the latter has no powers to bite. A number of cases are with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). As a nation we must decide now to grant PCCB the power to prosecute. I strongly advocate the establishment of Serious Fraud Office within PCCB that will have legislative powers to investigate and prosecute all major scams done by public officials. Granting PCCB powers to prosecute may be included in the draft constitution through establishment of the Public Integrity Office.

Civil Society Organisations may as well engage in addressing everyday corruption through surveys and providing an opportunity for the people to report incidences of corruption. What about ranking regions based on corruption persecution index? Or even district authorities?

PAC is going to introduce a bill in parliament to amend proceeds of crime act so that an individual with assets not commensurate with his or her income levels has a burden of proof on the legality of the assets. Councils’ officials, central government bureaucrats and politicians with wealth not in line with their incomes must be subjected to prove origin of their wealth in court. This will help the war against corruption.

I strongly propose that pressure to enact a freedom of information act be increased. This was promised by President Kikwete under OGP and the deadline set has already passed. Powered with information, the citizens can be mobilized to end public corruption.

We have to ACT now.

[1] From Everyday Corruption and the State by Blundo G, et al.

[2] Global Corruption by Cockcroft L.

[3] Curbing Corruption in Asian Countries: An Impossible Dream? By Quah J.S

Written by zittokabwe

August 6, 2014 at 12:29 PM

Mapya IPTL: $270Million zimetokaje BoT ?

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Mapya IPTL: $270m zimetokaje BoT ?

THE CITIZEN (Courtesy MillardAyo Blog)

THE CITIZEN
(Courtesy MillardAyo Blog)

THE CITIZEN (Courtesy MIllardAyo Blog)

THE CITIZEN
(Courtesy MIllardAyo Blog)

Nimesoma habari kuu ya gazeti la The Citizen la tarehe 3 Machi 2014 kuhusu mauzo ya kampuni ya IPTL kwa kampuni ya Pan Africa Power Limited (http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/-270m-deal–Story-of-IPTL–PAP-and-High-Court/-/1840392/2228606/-/1bddmgz/-/index.html).

THE CITIZEN 4th March 2014 How $270-million IPTL deal was planned and executed

Nimeshtushwa sana na matumizi ya fedha za akiba maalumu (escrow account)  iliyokuwa benki kuu (BoT). Nikiwa mwenyekiti wa kamati ya PAC nina haya ya kusema; Mwaka 2006 Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliagiza kwamba, ili kumaliza kabisa suala la mkataba wa kuuziana Umeme wa IPTL, mitambo ya kampuni hiyo ichukuliwe na Serikali. Mwaka 2006, 2007 na 2008 Kamati ya BUNGE ya Nishati na madini imekuwa ikitoa maagizo hayo hayo kuhusu suala la IPTL. Mwaka 2009, Aprili 30 Kamati ya Bunge ya POAC ilipeleka mapendekezo bungeni kwamba IPTL ichukuliwe na serikali na fedha zilizopo katika escrow account zitumike pia kubadili mtambo ule kutoka mafuta mazito kwenda kutumia Gesi Asilia. Pendekezo hilo lilipitishwa na Bunge na POAC ikatoa maelekezo maalumu kwa Gavana wa Benki Kuu kuwa fedha zilizopo escrow account zisitumike kwa namna yeyote ile bila mitambo ya IPTL kuwa ya umma na kubadilishwa ili itumie Gesi Asilia.

Chanzo cha escrow account?

Baada ya mkataba wa IPTL kuingiwa, iligundulika kuwa kuna udanganyifu mkubwa ulifanyika katika kiwango cha mtaji wa kampuni hiyo na hivyo kufanya malipo wanayolipa tanesco kwa IPTL kuwa makubwa mno. Wakati katika kukokotoa gharama za uwekezaji (capacity charges) mtaji uliowekezwa katika IPTL ulisemwa ni dola milioni 36, ukweli ni kwamba IPTL waliweka dola 50 tu. Hivyo capacity charge ya dola milioni 3 kwa mwezi haikupaswa kulipwa yote kwani kampuni iliendeshwa kwa mkopo kuliko mtaji wa wawekezaji ( debt financed and not equity financed). Hivyo, mahakama ya kimataifa ya ICSID ikaamua kuwa, fedha zote za capacity charges ziwekwe Benki Kuu mpaka gharama halisi ziamuliwe na mahakama ndio wahusika wagawane (tanesco na IPTL). Akiba hiyo, nimeambiwa, ilifika dola 250m kabla ya kuchukuliwa na kugawanywa kwa wanahisa na wanunuzi wa IPTL. Hivyo kabla ya mgawo huu ilipaswa pesa ambazo tanesco walikuwa wanalipa kama ziada ya capacity charges kwa IPTL zirejeshwe kwanza na zinazobakia ndio zilipwe kwa wadai (creditors) na wanahisa. Kwa hali ilivyo sasa mnunuzi wa IPTL kapewa mitambo na fedha za kuinunua, ikiwemo fedha za tanesco ambazo zilipaswa kurejeshwa (Richmond cha mtoto kwa kweli).

Maswali ya kujibiwa ni haya;

Je, ziada ya fedha za malipo ya capacity charges zimerudi tanesco?

Je, mwekezaji Mpya kapewa mkataba Mpya wa kuuza Umeme (PPA) kwa utaratibu gani wa zabuni?

Je, agizo la Rais na BUNGE kwamba Mitambo iwe ya umma limetupiliwa mbali kwa vigezo gani?

Wizara ya Nishati na Madini na Benki Kuu wametoa taarifa rasmi kwa umma kuhusu masuala haya? Wizara itoe taarifa, CAG akague

Kwa namna yeyote ile CAG anapaswa kukagua mchakato huu na kuweka majibu kwa umma kupitia kamati ya PAC. Hii ndio njia bora zaidi ya kuondoa wingu katika suala la IPTL ambalo toka limeanza miaka ya tisini limegubikwa na mazongezonge ya rushwa na uvundo wa kifisadi. Uwazi utatoa ukweli na kuwezesha uwajibikaji wa fedha za umma. Wakati mchakato wa ukaguzi unafanyika ni vema Wizara ya Nishati na madini itoe tamko rasmi.

Zingatia:

Kwa mujibu wa mkataba kati ya TANESCO na IPTL capacity charge inapaswa kukokotolewa kwa kuzingatia mtaji wa asilimia 30 na mkopo wa asilimia 22.31. Mtaji wa IPTL ulikuwa $50 tu, tofauti na $36 milioni zilizotajwa kwenye mkataba na kuamuliwa na mahakama. Badala ya TANESCO kulipa ‘capacity charge’ ya dola 50,000 kila siku Umeme uzalishwe au la, udanganyifu wa mtaji ulipelekea TANESCO kuwa inalipa dola 100,000 kila siku tangu mwaka 2002. Kuanzia mwaka 2007 fedha hizo zilianza kuwekwa kwenye akaunti maalum (escrow account) BoT.

Written by zittokabwe

March 4, 2014 at 3:51 PM

PRESS RELEASE: Shilingi Bilioni 86 zaibwa Wizara ya Nishati/TANESCO, Gridi ya Taifa hatarini

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Shilingi bilioni 86 zaibwa Wizara ya Nishati/TANESCO, Gridi ya Taifa hatarini

Gazeti la The East African la Novemba 24 – 30, 2012 limetoa taarifa kwamba jumla ya dola za kimarekani milioni 54 zimegundulika kuibwa na watumishi waandamizi wa Wizara ya Nishati na Madini na Shirika la TANESCO kupitia manunuzi ya Mafuta ya kuendesha mtambo wa Umeme wa IPTL. Gazeti hili limenukuu taarifa ya ukaguzi kutoka kwa Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Tanzania (Controller and Auditor General). Taarifa hiyo inasema kuna kikundi (racket) ambacho kazi yake kubwa ni kujifaidisha binafsi na mpango wa umeme wa dharura kupitia manunuzi ya Mafuta mazito ya IPTL.

Itakumbukwa kwamba toka mwaka 2011 kumekuwa na shinikizo lililotolewa na Kamati ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Mashirika ya Umma, Kamati ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini na Waziri Kivuli wa Nishati na Madini kwamba zabuni za ununuzi wa mafuta ya kuendesha mpango wa umeme wa dharura na mchakato mzima wa manunuzi ya mafuta haya ufanyiwe uchunguzi wa kina (forensic audit).

Katika mkutano wa 3 wa Bunge la Kumi (April 2011) niliuliza swali Bungeni kuhusu kashfa hii ya ununuzi wa mafuta ya kuendesha mtambo wa IPTL na baadaye tarehe 16 Aprili 2011 nilimwomba Spika airuhusu Kamati ya Nishati na Madini kufanya uchunguzi kuhusu kashfa hii. Kamati ya Nishati na Madini chini ya aliyekuwa Mwenyekiti ndugu January Makamba ililitaka Bunge kuazimia kufanyika kwa uchunguzi kuhusu suala hili kwenye Taarifa yake ya mwaka 2011 iliyowasilishwa Bungeni mwezi Aprili mwaka 2012. Waziri Kivuli wa Nishati na Madini ndugu John Mnyika katika Hotuba yake ya Bajeti ya Wizara hiyo mwaka 2011 alipendekeza kufanyika kwa uchunguzi kuhusu kashfa hii pia. Juhudi zote hizo hazikuzaa matunda.

Kipindi hicho kiwango kilichokuwa kinahojiwa kuibwa ni shilingi bilioni 15 tu. Taarifa ya The East African kama walivyonukuu kutoka kwenye taarifa ya CAG inaonyesha fedha zilizoibwa ni shilingi bilioni 86.

Zabuni za kununua mafuta ya kuendesha umeme wa dharura zimekuwa zikitolewa bila kufuata utaratibu wa zabuni kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya manunuzi. Hivi sasa kila mwezi Tanzania inatumia dola milioni 70 kununua mafuta ya kuendesha mitambo ya umeme. Fedha hizi zinatoka Hazina na sehemu ndogo kutoka TANESCO. Wakati fedha hizi bilioni 112 zinachomwa kila mwezi kununua mafuta mazito na dizeli ya kuendesha mitambo ya umeme, Taarifa za kitaalamu zinaonyesha kwamba Bwawa la Mtera hivi lina kina cha maji chini ya kiwango kinachotakiwa na uzalishaji wa umeme ni asilimia 20 tu ya uwezo (installed capacity). Iwapo TANESCO wataendelea kutumia zaidi maji yaliyopo Mtera, Mitambo itashindwa kazi na Gridi nzima itasimama maana Mtera ndio nguzo kuu ya Gridi ya Taifa. Hali hii ni hatari sana kwa uchumi na ulinzi na usalama wa Taifa. Kimsingi Gridi ya Taifa ipo hatarini kutokana na kiwango cha Maji kilichopo Mtera hivi sasa na kuendelea kupungua kwa kina hicho cha maji.

Wananchi wanapaswa kuelezwa kinaga ubaga nini kinaendelea katika sekta ndogo ya umeme hapa nchini;

1.      Taarifa ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Serikali kuhusu zabuni za manunuzi ya Mafuta ya kuendesha mitambo ya umeme wa dharura iwekwe wazi na ‘racket’ inayosemekana kuiba jumla ya shilingi bilioni 86 ionyeshwe na hatua za kisheria zichukuliwe mara moja na bila kuchelewa.

2.      Waziri wa Nishati na Maadini auleze umma hali yalisi ya sekta ya umeme nchini, uzalishaji wa umeme upoje, hali ya maji katika bwawa mkakati la Mtera na nini hatma ya mitambo ya IPTL, kesi zake na utekelezaji wa mapendekezo ya Bunge kuwa kesi za kampuni hii zimalizwe nje ya mahakama. Pia Taifa lielezwe Mpango wa Dharura wa umeme unakwisha lini maana muda uliotolewa na Bunge mwezi Agosti mwaka 2011 tayari umekamilika. Waziri aeleze hatua agni amechukua baada ya kukabidhiwa taarifa na CAG kuhusu maafisa waandamizi wa Wizara waliohusika na wizi wa shilingi bilioni 86 za kununua mafuta ya IPTL.

3.      Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi aueleze umma ni kiwango gani cha fedha Hazina imetoa kununua mafuta ya kuendesha mitambo ya umeme wa dharura kati ya Mwezi Novemba mwaka 2011 na Oktoba mwaka 2012 na kama taratibu zote za zabuni zilifuatwa na pale ambapo hazikufuatwa ni hatua gani PPRA wamechukua dhidi ya waliokiuka sheria ya manunuzi na kuleta hasara ya mabilioni ya fedha kwa Serikali.

 

Kabwe Zuberi Zitto, Mb

Naibu Kiongozi wa Upinzani Bungeni na Waziri Kivuli wa Fedha

Dar es Salaam. Novemba 25, 2012