Mbowe leads camp to walk out of the debating chamber British High Commissioner asked to review her position in Tanzania
Opposition legislators walk out from the debating
hall after statements made by Leader of the official opposition,
Freeman Mbowe and Kigoma South MP David Kafulila, in the parliament in
Dodoma yesterday.
Addressing a press conference immediately after they stormed out, official opposition leader in parliament, Freeman Mbowe said they realized that there was a plot by the government and House leadership to defend the ministry from the corruption accusations it faces.
He said they learned from intelligence sources that during the caucus of the ruling party held on Thursday, they agreed to rally behind the minister against the scandal he faces.
Mr Mbowe said they decided to walk out to let the rest of the world know what is happening in the ministry and in Parliament.
The storm out took place at around 4.30 pm when the House resumed to continue debating the Ministry of Energy and Minerals 2014/2015 budget estimates.
CCM legislators booed the opposition as they walked out of the House with the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (Policy, Coordination and National Assembly), Mr William Lukuvi loudly declaring that the opposition knew they would be beaten on the floor.
It was just after a few MPs contributed to the debate when Mbowe was given opportunity to contribute. In less than five minutes he said his colleagues would not sit in the House with those who intend to protect the minister.
He declared that it has become a tradition that the government and office of the Speaker always protect the ministry against corruption accusations.
Earlier in the day the Shadow Minister for Energy and Minerals, John Mnyika in his speech demanded that the government respond on the many corruption cases. He mentioned several reports that have not been tabled in Parliament.
“The government knows corruption cases in the ministry and had prepared to pour cold water on the opposition speech. We realized this plot and we cannot approve a budget that is full of discrepancies,” said Mbowe.
Earlier in the day when opposition MPs tried to go into details about the recent IPTL scandal and the Escrow account at the Bank of Tanzania, the Speaker intervened, demanding evidence to be tabled there and then.
Mbowe said the Office of the Speaker has sat on the parliamentary report on the Mtwara and Lindi gas demonstrations fracas last year, a report that was submitted in August last year.
He added that reports on the Jairo and Richmond scams have never been worked on to their conclusion simply through the protection of the government.
Mbowe said as MPs forming the parliamentary alliance known as UKAWA, they were not ready to side with CCM in approving estimates of the ministry.
He said they would come back to the House today and proceed with business concerning other ministries.
The opposition camp walk out came after Kigoma South MP David Kafulila and Mnyika pushed for the formation of a parliamentary select committee to investigate the matter.
Opposition MPs, from the time MPs were debating estimates of the Prime Minister’s Office disagreed with the proposal and later on the order of the Speaker that called for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and office of Controller and Auditor General (CAG) to probe the matter.
Mnyika in his speech said that the anti-corruption watchdog had always been used to quell corruption and related scandals leveled at the government.
“The opposition bench wants to know the truth about the Escrow account but will not support the move to have PCCB probe the matter,” he said amid applause from opposition legislators.
The shadow minister explained that the PCCB was used to clear some people of accusations in the Richmond saga, and that CAG on the other hand was used to clear the former Permanent Secretary, David Jairo, of wrongdoing.
According to the Ubungo MP, history shows that even governors who seem to have information of such scam disappear as it happened in the case of the former BoT governor, Daudi Balali.
“The opposition warns the House to be careful of such actions not to repeat themselves,” he cautioned. He said he had enough evidence and was ready to table it in the House.
Kigoma South MP David Kafulila (NCCR-Mageuzi) who urged that the House was for the people thus it should investigate the scam.
He asserted that the money was given to the same person who was behind the infamous Goldenberg scandal in Kenya that caused the downfall of KANU.
“I have evidence on this matter and I can produce it even before the House. Parliament must form a committee to investigate the escrow account closure,” he declared.
At this point the Speaker, Anne Makinda rose and demanded that the evidence be tabled but Kafulila insisted that he would do that later.
As the Speaker persisted in the demand for evidence, sending Parliament officials to pick the document from the Kasulu South MP, who did not comply. The secretariat official later proceeded to Mnyika who handed some papers to her.
Kafulila went further accusing the House for failure to stand firm for the radar money to be refunded to Tanzania until the British government decided the same.
“Bring back our money!” he said, wondering if the Tanzanian parliament is still waiting for the British government to act for them.
The Simanjiro MP, Christopher ole Sendeka (CCM) also joined the opposition in the same tune saying “the House must act now to avoid the nation being ashamed in the matter.”
He expressed disappointment that some people are saying the money that was in the Escrow account was neither government money nor public funds.
But contributing on the same matter Mwibara MP Kangi Lugola rubbished those asking the House to form a committee saying they are not sincere.
“Why do they want a parliamentary committee to do the work of CAG and PCCB? They do not have investigative skills. In fact in this House it is only me and Deo Filikunjombe who are qualified police investigators who can do such job,” he said amid applause from the CCM camp.
He also repeated that there was government money in the account and not public funds too.
The government recently directed the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to probe the controversy.
The announcement was made in the National Assembly by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda amidst pressure from legislators for two consecutive days.
Irritated MPs debating the 2014/15 Prime Minister’s Office estimates in the National Assembly moved a step further and demanded thorough investigation into the controversial IPTL deal.
The legislators urged the House Speaker to form a select committee to probe the scam.
“This issue is a bit complex, but as government we’re working on it tirelessly to see every bit of it being scrutinized and justified,” the premier said. “The matter has to be investigated. This time CAG would work on it but at the same time PCCB has to play a part,” he stated.
Premier Pinda said there was no need to raise tensions as the escrow account was not for the public but rather was between IPTL and the Tanzania Electric Supply Company –Tanesco.
The premier’s statement raised more questions among legislators who wanted government clarification and accountability.
Ubungo MP John Mnyika (Chadema) said the Escrow Account which was opened between Tanesco and IPTL had a public interest element since the capacity charge that Tanesco paid was huge and that with that account Tanesco would have benefited.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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