The Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda
The Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda told the House yesterday that after claims by Energy and Minerals Deputy Minister Stephen Masele, he directed the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe to take up the matter through diplomatic channels.
He said Mr. Membe met the British High Commissioner and they amicably got to the bottom of the issue. “There is no need to continue discussing this matter as it has been solved,” the premier said in his short clarification to MPs.
Mr Pinda was responding to Susan Lyimo (Special Seats-CHADEMA) who wanted a government statement on the matter, citing media reports that the government would issue an official apology.
“It is high time the government issued an official statement here because the inflammatory remarks by the deputy minister were made here,” she said, asking Deputy Speaker Job Ndugai to issue a clarification.
Ndugai responded that the chair would issue a clarification after consultations but immediately thereafter the premier took the floor and in quite a casual way issued the statement.
Media reports had stated that the Prime Minister was to formally issue a statement in Parliament formally rejecting claims by the deputy minister that UK High Commissioner Dianna Melrose had acted contrary to UK-Tanzania existing accords.
Inn his remarks, Mr Masele claimed that the envoy had tried to influence development partners to cut aid to Tanzania, which amounted to abusing her diplomatic immunity.
The move supposedly came after a decision by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the Treasury and the Bank of Tanzania to release $122 million (Sh201 billion) from an escrow account to Pan African Power Solutions Tanzania Ltd (PAP).
Mr Masele claimed Ms Melrose held meetings with civil society organisations and other donor countries in an attempt to sabotage the state after the falling-out between IPTL and Standard Chartered Bank of Hong Kong.
The deputy minister vowed that she would be taken to task for behaviour aimed at undermining the sovereignty of the country and its government. He went further to suggest she “reexamine her position to see if she is still fit to represent her country in Tanzania.”
In May, Ms Melrose was quoted in the press confirming that UK was closely monitoring the saga involving the controversial sale of IPTL to PAP and the manner in which the escrow billions were withdrawn to facilitate the deal.
She said the IPTL issue was of “great concern” to the UK authorities. This was in reference to the fact that Standard Chartered Bank was party to a case in the International centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as to payments to the Hong Kong bank for IPTL debts it took over from Mechmar Corporation of Malaysia, the IPTL mother company.
The UK envoy noted that she had communicated with the relevant ministers involved in the escrow account and the BoT, comments that Mr Masele said bordered on sedition. Soon after, Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue distanced the government from the deputy minister’s remarks.
On Wednesday, Mr Membe said the envoy’s remarks had not merited such accusations and at no time had she been considered an unwanted diplomat.
“I want to assure all of you that what happened in the House was unfortunate and regrettable,” Mr Membe added. “It will not be repeated.”
He commended the envoy’s efforts to cement the historic ties and partnership between the two countries. Ms Melrose said the UK and Tanzania had over the years enjoyed cordial relations that kept improving by the day.
Addressing a Queen’s birthday party at her residence in Dar es Salaam, the envoy said the party on Wednesday night was not just a birthday event but was also a moment to cherish the Queen’s leadership as head of the Commonwealth in consolidating ties between member countries.
“I am standing here proudly acknowledging a wonderful historical partnership between Britain and Tanzania,” said Ms Melrose.
Two months ago President Jakaya Kikwete visited Britain where his hosts affirmed UK commitment to continued partnership in trade and investment, as well as defence and security all the way to governance and human rights.
The UK and Tanzania have a shared objective of making sure that Tanzania meets the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the envoy underlined, reiterating as well the vision of attaining middle income economy status by 2025.
The two countries exchanged views and experiences regarding government systems, especially in the light of Scotland’s quest to secede and lively debates in Tanzania as constitutional ties within the union remain a point of dispute.
The government’s rejection and contemptuous dismissal of Mr Masele’s remarks is expected to stabilise relations between Tanzania and the UK.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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