MP given last chance to prove claims in House

DAILY NEWS Reporters in Dodoma

THE National Assembly yesterday gave Simanjiro Member of Parliament (CHADEMA), Mr James Millya, a four-day ultimatum to prove his statement that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Labour, Employment, Youth and Disabled), Ms Jenista Mhagama, is related to a spouse of one of the top managers of Sky Associate Company which operates Tanzania mine in Mererani.

Mr Millya made the allegations last Friday when debating the Energy and Minerals ministry’s 2016/2017 budget. In his contribution, Mr Millya mentioned Ms Mhagama and the Minister of the State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr George Simbachawene, as among government officials who have a hand in the controversial ownership of the tanzanite mining company.
He also claimed that Ms Mhagama’s sister, Ms Asia Gonga, was married to Martin Mhagama. Mr Millya made the accusations in his arguments to show that government officials had a hand in a controversial change of the company ownership. Immediately after the statement, Ms Mhagama refuted the claims, noting that she has no any relations with the people whom the MP had named.
She asked for the Speaker’s guidance, saying Mr Millya had misled Parliament.When he was asked to retract his statement yesterday, Mr Millya refused to do so, stressing that he has sms evidence to prove his assertion.
The Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson, gave Mr Millya four days to prove his statement, failure of which he might be subjected to a penalty. According to Parliamentary Standing Orders, an MP might be suspended to up to three sessions if he fails to prove any statement which he makes in the House.
On Sunday, the management of Tanzanite One hit back that the Simanjiro MP James ole Millya (Chadema) has misled the National Assembly through unverified reports.
Mr Millya had told the House last Friday that Sky Group Associates that bought shares in Tanzanite One and owns a bloc at Merereni in Simanjiro District did not follow proper procedures in buying shares, accusing some ministers for their involvement. The MP also accused the company for laying-off 201 workers without following proper procedures, claiming that Tanzanite One oppressed its workers.
Speaking over the phone, the firm’s lawyer, Mr Kisaka Mzava, said his client has been saddened by the statement made in the House by Mr Millya before verifying the information. He said there wasn’t any minister or any other government leader who owns shares in the company as purported by the legislator and there was no any relative Ms Mhagama employed by the company.