Posts Tagged ‘January Makamba’
To the Ministers-Nothing to Celebrate, go to work
Mawaziri, hakuna sherehe, nendeni mkawajibike!
Rais Jakaya Kikwete akitangaza Baraza jipya la Mawaziri, Ikulu jana.
Juhudi za kurejesha misingi ya uwajibikaji katika utumishi wa umma zimeanza kuzaa matunda Baada ya Rais kutekeleza shinikizo la Bunge la kuwafukuza kazi baadhi ya Mawaziri ambao Wizara zao zimetuhumiwa kwa ubadhirifu wa fedha za umma, rushwa na utendaji mbovu. Mawaziri 6 wamefukuzwa kazi baada ya kugoma kujiuzulu wao wenyewe, manaibu Waziri 2 wamefukuzwa pia.
Ndugu George Mkuchika alitakiwa kujiuzulu, akajiuzulu lakini Rais amemrudisha kwenye Baraza kama Waziri wa Utawala Bora. Yeye nampongeza kwani hakuwa na makuu ya kuanza kujitetea kama wengine. Atakuwa ametoa funzo kwa wenzake.
Kwa kawaida wateule hufanya sherehe kwa kuteuliwa kwao. Nitawashangaa watakaofanya sherehe safari hii kwani hakuna cha kufurahia. Nitawashangaa Watakaokwenda kuapa na Maua kwa furaha kwani furaha itakuwa ya muda mfupi tu. Mkutano wa Bunge wa Bajeti ni mwezi ujao tu na Wateule wote watakuwa kikaangoni. Too short honeymoon.
Hakuna cha kusherehekea kwa sababu nchi in changamoto nyingi sana. Changamoto ya kuzalisha umeme wa kutosha na kuusambaza kwa wananchi wengi, changamoto ya kukuza uchumi wa vijijini na kukuza uzalishaji viwandani ili kutengeneza ajira kwa vijana, changamoto ya kuongeza mapato ya Utalii kutoka katika hifadhi zetu na kuvutia watalii zaidi katika nchi yetu.
Nimewapigia simu wateule wengi na kuwaambia, siwapi pongezi Bali nawatakia kazi njema. Nawatakia uwajibikaji mwema. Uwajibikaji ndio msingi wa kupambana na rushwa, uvivu na uzembe.
Kwa Waziri wa Fedha, ambaye mimi ni Waziri Kivuli wake (Kama Kiongozi wa Upinzani Bungeni hataniwajibisha pia), namwambia uteuzi wake ni changamoto kubwa sana katika maisha yake.
Hivi sasa eneo lenye Bajeti kubwa kuliko zote nchini ni huduma kwa Deni la Taifa (services to national debt). Lazima kuangalia upya Deni la Taifa. Hivi sasa Deni la Taifa ukijumlisha na Dhamana za Serikali (government guarantees) limefikia tshs 22trn mpaka Desemba 2011. Nimewahi kutaka ukaguzi Maalumu katika ‘account’ ya Deni la Taifa. Linarejea wigo huu. Tunalipa takribani 1.9trn tshs kwa mwaka kuhudumia Deni la Taifa. Zaidi ya Bajeti ya miumbombinu, Afya, Maji, Umeme nk.
Mfumuko wa Bei, misamaha ya kodi na kodi zinazozuia watanzania kujiajiri ni changamoto kubwa sana Wizara ya Fedha lazima ihangaike nayo.
Usimamizi wa Mashirika ya Umma kupitia Ofisi ya Msajili wa Hazina na hasa usimamizi wa Hisa za Serikali katika kampuni binafsi ni masuala yanayohitaji masuluhisho sasa na sio baadaye.
Kwa Mwalimu wangu Dkt. Mwakyembe, utakumbukwa kwa Jambo moja tu. RELI. ‘make our Railway system work‘. Hutakuwa na ‘legacy’ nyingine isipokuwa Reli maaana Bandari bila Reli ni sawa na Bure.
Tunatumia zaidi ya tshs 300bn kwa mwaka kukarabati barabara wakati tunahitaji tshs 200bn kukarabati Reli iweze kusafirisha mzigo kwenda Bandarini na kutoka Bandarini.
Ndio maana nasema hakuna Jambo la kusherehekea maana wajibu mliopewa na Rais ni mtihani mkubwa kwenu katika kulitumikia Taifa letu. Msipowajibika, mtakumbwa na fagio la chuma!
Mkisha kula kiapo, kimbieni kazini. Nothing to celebrate. Hit the ground running.
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ZZK
Dar-es-Salaam
Jumamosi, Mei 5 2012
“Market Economy that cares for the poor is possible” @shurufu @jmakamba @semkae #mining
This is an interesting piece that I thought I should share its been written by Omar Mohammed on his blog the WAYWARD PRESS
I renamed it “Market economy that cares for the poor is possible” as it echoes some of my thoughts on the mining industry.
ZZK
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NEWS ANALYSIS: The President, Mining and The Rise of Populism
In late February, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania gave a speech to mining sector stakeholders that caused a mighty uproar in the press. Speaking at Dar es Salaam’s Kilimanjaro Hyatt Hotel to launch the Presidential Award on the Extractive Industry Corporate Social Responsibility and Empowerment (CSRE) programme, the president was quoted as saying, ‘it’s disappointing to see some mining investors want to benefit alone… leaving the government and surrounding communities with nothing,’ he said.
According to published reports, President Kikwete told industry attendees that the lack of apparent benefits to local communities is a problem that ‘triggers endless conflicts…between investors and residents living around the mining areas.’
‘If companies pay taxes that are due to the state… they will have good relations with the government,’ he added. In a tone that was described by onenewspaper as ‘serious,’ he called for the creation of better linkages between the industry and other economic activities in the country. He said he was baffled by reports that mining companies choose to import goods from abroad that can be easily found in the country. “People… ask, “what do we get in return? Our gold is taken, companies have tax holidays and exemptions, [yet] they don’t even buy our goods or support us economically,”’ he said.
The speech and its perceived critical tone, especially, was unexpected. Reading the coverage, one would have been forgiven for mistaking the president’s comments for the kind of rhetoric usually associated with activists campaigning against perceived misdeeds by the mining sector. Mr. Kikwete was not only co-opting their message but in many ways he sounded like he was channelling their anger.
Meanwhile, the way the story unfolded in the media showed how narratives about the sector evolve and enter our public discourse. It began with the president giving what the media interpreted as a critical speech about the industry, which was then echoed by an incendiary press who amplified it to their readers who will, with complaints to public officials, in turn reinforce the anti-mining sector arguments. The storyline seemed to subscribe to the now familiar trope of “foreign investors unbridled in their plundering of our resources while local communities benefit little from what is rightfully theirs.” That’s the narrative that dominated Tanzania’s newspapers and airwaves.
However, in the media coverage that followed, conspicuous in their absence were voices from the mining sector explaining or offering an alternative perspective. But a couple of weeks after the President’s speech, the industry body, the Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy, granted me an e-mail interview, presenting a different narrative to the one carried in the press earlier in the month.
Mining and its contributions to the economy
The chamber strongly disputed what they termed as an ‘outdated characterisation’ of the industry, arguing that mining is ‘driving socio-economic development both in Tanzania and across the African continent.’ While they disagreed with the media’s spin, saying that reading the speech in its entirety would show how supportive of the sector President Kikwete is, they were also quick to emphasize what they believe are significant contributions mining brings to Tanzania’s economy.
On the issue of taxes, for instance, TCME points out that their members paid over US$150 million (Tsh 250 billion) in taxes in 2010 alone. Furthermore, they argue, ‘total taxation from the life cycle of the five main producing companies in Tanzania are estimated to reach almost US$3.5 billion in total.’
As to the question of whether there exists linkages between the sector and the country’s overall economy, TCME calls attention to the activities of one of its biggest member, African Barrick Gold (ABG). The chamber says ABG currently employs 9,200 people whose wages amount to US$148 million, a chunk of which, they argue, drives spending in the local economy.
In 2009, for example, the chamber argues, ‘through employment, taxes, royalties, and local procurement, roughly 70% of African Barrick Gold’s revenue was retained in the Tanzanian economy.’ They also point to ABG’s community development spending, which, they say, through its ‘Maendeleo Fund’ ‘provides US$10 million annually…to support communities [surrounding] the mining areas.’ In addition to this, TCME claims that ABG, ‘spent more than a half a billion dollars purchasing goods and services in 2010 of which 59% were made in Tanzania.’ All this, they say, demonstrates just how ingrained in the economy modern mining firms are.
If these figures are indeed true, why is it then that the mining sector is a target of so much suspicion and vitriol?
‘Mining firms need to do better’
Some industry observers complain that the absence of easily available information about the sector has created a perception, justifiable or not, that mining companies are too secretive, which then feeds the idea that they have something to hide.
‘Secrecy surrounding financials and taxes in the mining sector exacerbate the views expressed by the President,’ says Zitto Kabwe MP (Chadema – Kigoma North), the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and the Shadow Minister of Finance.
His colleague, January Makamba MP (CCM – Bumbuli), the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy on Minerals, shares this view and says that at the moment, ‘the asymmetry of information favour[s] these companies.’ Both parliamentarians agree that when it comes down to it, Tanzanians simply want to see their country get a fair share from their natural resources.
‘These figures are indeed impressive,’ says Mr. Makamba, commenting on the TCME numbers, before adding, ‘but only if we do not consider what could be possible.’ For example, he points out that in 2010, the mining sector contributed 2.8 percent to Tanzania’s GDP and employed about 14,000 people. However, Mohammed Enterprises, a local family owned company that deals with manufacturing and distribution of goods and services, among other things, and a relatively small business compared to the majority of mining companies operating in the country, reportedly contributes 3 percent to GDP and employs about 24,000 people. Therefore, in Mr. Makamba’s view, ‘the extractive industries [need to be] a little bit more integrated into the broader economy.’
When looking at the sector’s tax contribution, Mr. Kabwe argues that this too could be improved. ‘Taking the proportion of the taxes companies are paying to total export of minerals, you will realize that the government receives peanut[s], around 13% only,’ he says. Furthermore, Mr. Kabwe argues that most of the taxes mining companies pay do not originate from the companies but come out of employees’ pay cheques. ‘It is true that mining companies pay various taxes. However, most of these…are originating not from companies, but, for example, [from] employees’ [Pay As You Earn] taxes and companies are simply collecting agents,’ he says.
Semkae Kilonzo, a policy co-coordinator for Policy Forum, an umbrella civil society organisation with a networked membership of over 100 NGOs in Tanzania, says that doubts about mining companies’ contribution to the economy stem from a perceived lack of transparency. On the TCME figures, Mr. Kilonzo argues that, ‘these are aggregated figures, and by their very nature, [are] open to contestation as they are not easily verifiable,’ adding, ‘it is difficult to tell whether a country is getting a fair deal or not.’
Just like Mr. Kabwe, Mr. Kilonzo insists that the way to remove doubts about the sector is to make all payments and contracts public. ‘Secrecy creates public discontent and mistrust of mining companies of which populist leaders are compelled to react to.’ Consequently, without an open and honest dialogue, ‘that discontent is bound to continue,’ argues Mr. Kilonzo.
Politics versus Economics
But the chamber says it wants to hear from those critical of the sector and is interested in listening to what they have to say. ‘We want to be able to engage in a dialogue that will help us to better understand the concerns and needs of our stakeholders,’ they say.
At the moment, though, that conversation is struggling to take place. It seems like the politics of mining, and the extractive industries in general, are drowning out any sensible and dispassionate look at the economics of the industry.
One political analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity so he could comment candidly on the issue, says one should not ignore the recent flurry over oil and gas explorations in the country in looking at the broader debate over the extractive industries. ‘The anti-mining sentiment is in anticipation of the negotiations and contracts that will be issued once the liquid natural gas exploitation begins,’ he says, before adding, ‘people don’t want to get screwed over again, like they believe they were with the mining sector.’
So, it appears that, once again an economic debate finds itself taking a backseat to political tactics. ‘Perhaps the President is hedging, anticipating a long but losing battle with the various parties that will be involved regarding oil and gas,’ says the analyst.
For his part, Mr. Makamba suggests that while politicians are justified in responding to the general public’s sentiments that Tanzania should get more from these investments, they need to be careful they don’t veer too far into populism, which in the end could stifle ways in which the government and the sector can work together for mutual benefit. ‘I think that the characterisation that mining investors “want to benefit alone” may be a bit harsh,’ he says.
Mr. Makamba urges people to put things in perspective. ‘It is common to hear people and politicians complain that we have abundant natural resources but we are still poor, that we have “sold” our country away, and so forth. But the fact is that we have explored only about 15 percent of our potential mineral resources. You can’t have minerals under the surface and claim to be rich.’
At the same time, it is unclear whether mining companies appreciate the political dynamics at play in the country. Tanzania, after all, is a former socialist country and that spirit and its accompanying suspicion of private enterprise still retains a powerful hold on the country’s politics.
TCME are at pains to explain how the industry and the government need to work together to make sure the benefits of mining are clearly understood by all. But observers, argue that the sector needs to be more proactive and open in articulating what its contributions to the economy are.
‘As a social democrat I share some of the views expressed by “wananchi” but leaders must inform people that [a] market economy that cares for the poor is possible,’ Zitto Kabwe says. He argues that transparency in payment of royalties and taxes would go a long way towards ameliorating the negative perceptions the public holds over the industry. ‘Once people see real benefits of [the] mining sector, they will definitely change their minds.’
(Photo: President Jakaya Kikwete speaking at the launch of the Presidential Award on the Extractive Industry Corporate Social Responsibility and Empowerment (CSRE) on 29th February 2012. via Habari)
Courtesy: THE WAYWARD PRESS http://the-waywardpress.tumblr.com/post/21143927563
Taarifa ya Kamati Teule ya Bunge kuhusu Gesi(Ripoti ya Pan African Energy)
Na Zitto Kabwe
Mkutano wa Tano wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania pamoja na mambo mengine ulijadili Taarifa ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini kuhusu Sekta ndogo ya Gesi nchini. Taarifa hii ilitokana na kazi iliyofanywa na Kamati ndogo iliyoundwa na Kamati ya Nishati na Madini chini ya uongozi wa Mbunge wa Bumbuli ndugu Januari Makamba. Miongoni mwa Hadidu rejea za Kamati ndogo zilikuwa ni kubainisha kama Mikataba, taratibu na Kanuni zinazotawala shughuli za gesi zinazingatia maslahi ya Taifa na hazitiliwi shaka na wadauna Kubainisha kama maamuzi yanayoendesha shughuli za gesi kama vile gharama za ujenzi, uendeshaji na mambo mengine yanayoweza kuathiri gharama na usalama wa shughuli yanafikiwa kwa ufanisi na yanazingatia maslahi ya Taifa.
Taarifa ya Kamati iliwasilishwa Bungeni na kupitishwa na Bunge ili Serikali iweze kutekeleza maazimio zaidi ya ishirini na Sita yaliyopendekezwa. Miongoni mwa Maazimio hayo ni Azimio namba mbili ambalo linasema ‘Kamati imejiridhisha bila shaka kwamba kwa kipindi cha 2004 hadi 2009 Kampuni ya Pan African Energy Tanzania Ltd (PAT) imejirudishia isivyo halali gharama zinazofikia jumla ya dola za kimarekani milioni 28.1 sawa na fedha za kitanzania bilioni 46.3. Kutokana na kujirudishia fedha hizo isivyo halali kumefanya Serikali kukosa gawio lake linalofikia dola za kimarekani milioni 20.1. Aidha, mpaka wakati Kamati inaandaa ripoti hii, Kampuni ya Pan African Energy Tanzania Ltd (PAT) imeshindwa kuwasilisha uthibitisho wa uhalali wa kujirudishia gharama nyingine zinazofikia jumla ya dola za kimarekani milioni 36. Hali hii inaonyesha mashaka makubwa katika uendeshaji wa sekta hii muhimu ya gesi’.
Azimio hili ni moja ya Azimio linalopaswa kuangaliwa kwa makini sana tunapojadili namna Tanzania inavyosimamia na kufaidika na Sekta ya Mafuta na Gesi. Taifa linafaidika kwa kiwango gani na Wawekezaji wanafaidika kwa kiwango gani ndio msingi wa Mikataba ya Mafuta na Gesi nchini. Hapajawa na mijadala mikali katika eneo hili kama ilivyo kwenye sekta ya Madini na hivyo kuachia kila kukicha Shirika la Maendeleo ya Mafuta Nchini (TPDC) likisaini Mikataba ya Kutafuta na kuchimba Mafuta na Gesi (Production Sharing Agreements – PSAs) bila Watanzania kujua haswa ni jambo gani linasainiwa. Hivi sasa kuna Mikataba hii 23 hapa nchini.
Duniani kote kuna familia mbili za mikataba ya Mafuta na Gesi. Familia ya kwanza inaitwa ‘concessionery’ ambapo Kampuni ya Mafuta ya Binafsi inapewa haki zote za mchakato mzima wa kutafuta, kuchimba, kusafirisha na kuuza Mafuta au Gesi. Umiliki wa Mafuta (rights) unakuwa ni wa Kampuni Binafsi na sio Serikali. Katika mfumo huu Kampuni hulipa mrahaba Serikalini na kodi zinazopaswa. Nchi kama Marekani, Uingereza na Canada hutumia mfumo huu.
Familia ya pili ni Mikataba ya Uzalishaji au kwa Kiingereza Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs). Katika mfumo huu Haki (right) inabakia kuwa mali ya Taifa husika na Kampuni ya Mafuta huwa ni kama mkandarasi tu wa kutafuta na kuchimba mafuta. Akipata mafuta, anaondoa gharama za kuzalisha na faida inagawiwa kati ya Kampuni hiyo na nchi husika kupitia Shirika la Mafuta. Huu ndio mfumo unaotumika hapa Tanzania na ulianzia huko Indonesia na Venezuela miaka ya sitini. Kutokanana mfumo huu ndio tunapata masuala haya ambayo Kamati ya Nishati na Madini imegundua kama nitakavyofafanua kwa ufupi hapa chini.
Mkataba wowote wa Mafuta na Gesi ni lazima uzingatie Uzalishaji na Mapato kwa ujumla, mrahaba kwa nchi, urejeshaji wa gharama za uzalishaji na kodi mbalimbali na namna faida inavyogawanywa. Kampuni ya Pan Africa Energy kujirejeshea gharama isizostahili za zaidi ya shilingi 46 bilioni ni sehemu ya mianya iliyopo katika mikataba yetu. Jumla ya shilingi 110 bilioni zimeonekana kuwa na mashaka makubwa katika mahesabu ya Kampuni hii.
Taarifa inaonyesha kwamba Kampuni hii imeweka pia Gharama zao za uzalishaji kwa miradi ya nje ya Tanzania. Kwa kuwa Kampuni ya Pan Africa Energy Tanzania Limited ni Kampuni Tanzu ya Pan Africa Energy iliyosajiliwa ‘offshore’ Mauritius ambayo nayo ni Kampuni tanzu ya Orca ambayo pia imesajiliwa visiwa vya Jersey, Tanzania isingekwepa kubambikiwa gharama ambazo si zake ili kupunguza mapato ya Serikali ya Tanzania. Imewahi kuelezwa huko nyuma kwamba hizi njia za kukwepa kodi zimeshamiri sana kutokana na Makampuni makubwa yanayofanya biashara hapa nchini kufanya ‘tax planning’ na hivyo kuhamisha mapato yao kwenda nchi zisizo na kodi kubwa kama Mauritius, Isle of Man, Jersey au hata City of London.
Mwaka 2009 mwezi Aprili katika Taarifa yake ya mwaka, Kamati ya Hesabu za Mashirika ya Umma ililiambia Bunge kwamba Mkataba kati ya TPDC na Pan Africa Energy ni moja ya mikataba mibovu kuliko yote nchini. Hii ilitokana na ukweli kwamba kwa mujibu wa PSA kati ya TPDC na Pan Africa Tanzania, mrahaba wa mafuta wa asilimia 12 unalipwa na TPDC na pia Kodi ya Mapato inakokotolewa kutoka katika mrahaba huo. Kwa maana hiyo Kampuni hii hailipi Mrahaba na pia hailipi kodi ya Makampuni (corporate tax) kwa mujibu wa Mkataba. Suala hili Kamati ya Nishati na Madini haikuliangalia (labda kwa kuwa ni la kimahesabu). Kamati ya POAC ilitaka mikataba yote ya Mafuta iangaliwe upya ili kuondoa mazonge haya yanayokosesha Taifa mapato makubwa sana.
Uwezo wa TPDC kukagua mahesabu ya Kampuni za utafutaji mafuta ni mdogo au haupo kabisa. Kama TPDC wangekuwa na uwezo huu leo Kamati ya Nishati na Madini isingekuta madudu haya katika kampuni. Pia kama Kamati ya Nishati na Madini ingeangalia mikataba ya kampuni zote za kutafuta mafuta wangekuta madudu mengi zaidi. Kuna kampuni moja yenye kisima pale Mkuranga, wamesema gharama za kuchimba visima vile ni dola za Kimarekani 240 milioni ilhali gharama halisi ni dola za kimarekani 60 milioni tu. Hivyo Gesi ikianza kuchimbwa itabidi warejeshe gharama zao kwanza. Tanzania haitapata lolote mpaka Gesi ile itakwisha.
Kuna haja ya kufanya marekebisho makubwa sana katika uendeshaji na usimamizi wa sekta ya Gesi Tanzania. Shirika la TPDC lirekebishwe kwa kuanzisha Mamlaka ya Mafuta na Gesi yenye uwezo na nguvu ya kusimamia uwekezaji katika sekta hii. Vilevile kuwepo na Shirika la Mafuta na Gesi (PetroTan –National Oil and Gas Company) ambalo litashiriki katika uwekezaji kikamilifu na kampuni binafsi. Tusiposimamia vema sekta hii Taifa letu litaingia kwenye matatizo makubwa sana huko siku za usoni.
Maneno ya Mwana Uchumi Gwiji Joseph Stiglitz ni ya kuzingatia sana. Anasema, Mara zote nchi zinazoendelea zijue, wanapojadiliana na Kampuni kubwa za Mafuta, Kampuni hizi hufikiria jambo moja tu. Jambo hilo ni kuongeza mapato yao kwa kupunguza mapato ya mataifa husika. Tanzania ni lazima ihakikishe kwamba inapangua mbinu zote za Makampuni makubwa kwa kujenga uwezo wa Wananchi wake kupitia Shirika la Mafuta na Gesi kuweza kuwa na mikataba yenye kujali faida kwa nchi. Hili la Pan Africa Energy litufumbue macho.
FULL REPORT YA HUJUMA SEKTA YA GESI
Video: ‘Energy and the Tanzania We Want’. Debate on Star TV, October 16: Part 1-3
Videos via PUSH Observer from the discussion, which included January Makamba, Zitto Kabwe and Eliakim Maswi in the debate on ‘Energy and the Tanzania We Want’. The discussion involved the problem of energy, the challenges faced, possible solutions and a way forward:
Do also read Mwananchi’s article from October 23: ‘Zitto, January wamkalia kooni Ngeleja’.
Zitto is MP for KIGOMA URBAN and PARTY LEADER of ACT WAZALENDO Party (@ACTWazalendo)
Zitto na Demokrasia 