Positive Effects of Seventh Session of 10th Bunge by Guest contributor

This is a guest post by one of our blog readers who wanted to remain anonymous that I thought I should share with everyone.

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Less than a month after an arguably historical and fired up Bunge session, Zitto Kabwe’s #VoteofNoConfidence motion – that popularly trended as #Sahihi70 on Twitter Social media and  as #OperesheniUwajibikaji – is producing tangible and positive results.

The aim of the motion was to hold to task those Ministers whose ministries and related departments and institutions were implicated in misdeeds and mismanagement of public funds through the CAG report. This was to be done through a Vote of No Confidence in the Prime Minister, which would result in the cabinet being dissolved. The momentum started by #OperesheniUwajibikaji led to a growing and escalating realisation amongst leaders and citizens alike that accountability is the only solution to pervasive corruption in Tanzania and that every public official should be made accountable for his/her actions or inactions. This resulted in a cabinet reshuffle which saw most of the implicated ministers being sacked.

More recently, despite reduced General Budget Support (GBS) funding this coming year, the GBS donor group has committed to releasing more than half of the funds during the first quarter of the new financial year. One of the consistent complain from Government of Tanzania is the delay of Budgeted money from Development Partners.  The late release of funds has always being causing problems in implementing Development projects especially in the Local Authorities.

The statement released by the EU delegation indicates satisfaction for the events over the past few weeks which has demonstrated the strength of Tanzanian oversight institutions in analysing government performance and demanding action when necessary. This is a landmark achievement for #OperesheniUwajibikaji as it indicates the positive future implications of having a government system and structure that is both transparent and accountable and that enforces the needed checks and balances.

Nonetheless, while welcoming donors’ commitment to release the funds as indicated, it must be known that donor support to Tanzania is considerably less than the value of total Tax Exemptions that are currently in place in Tanzania (While Budget Support from Donors is around 840 Billion Tshs, Tax Exemptions for the year ending June 2011 were valued at 1.13 Trillion Tshs). Therefore, by enhancing accountability Tanzania will be able to avoid unnecessary spending and increase domestic revenue hence reduce donor dependency. This should optimally lead to more sustainable and citizen-led development. To ensure this however, oversight committees need more support to enhance accountability and transparency.

The statement released by the EU reads that:

“Over the coming year continued and strong attention will be paid to the way public finances are spent by closely monitoring how the findings in the latest Controller and Auditor General’s annual report are being acted upon, including at local government level,”.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the tide of accountability in Tanzania has taken a turn for the better;  following events from 7th Bunge session, never again will CAG and Parliamentary Oversight Committee reports be taken for granted.

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

Picha: Mhe. Nimrod Mkono akiweka sahihi na Kuwasilisha Hoja kwa Spika Anne Makinda

Mjumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu ya CCM na Mbunge wa Musoma Vijijini, Nimrod Mkono akiweka saini kwenye fomu ya wabunge wasiokuwa na imani na Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda

Nikienda kuwasilisha Hoja kwa Ofisi ya Spika Anne Makinda