Earlier in the morning, the Deputy Minister, Hezekiah Chibulunje, had presented a report of the two firms and another one on the sale of government houses which had been deliberated in the House in previous sessions. The report said the government had received a report from a team it had picked to probe TICTS activities, and that the report was now being discussed at cabinet level.
On TRL, the report said a committee that was formed to review the contract with a view to addressing several areas deemed problematic, had already submitted its report to the ministry — and that the same would be taken to higher levels for decision.
On sale of government houses, the report said houses that were illegally taken had been returned; two cases on ownership of houses were still pending in courts and that the government had allocated in this budget some 1.5bn/- for refunding parties whose houses were returned to the government.
The MPs who demanded termination of contracts with TICTS and RITES of India which owns 51 per cent of TRL included Ms Tatu Ntimizi (Igalula CCM), Lucas Selelii (Nzega CCM), Said Arfi (Mpanda Central Chadema), James Lembeli (Kahama CCM), Fred Mpendazoe (Kishapu CCM), and Magdalena Sakaya ( Women CUF). While Ms Ntimizi said she was fed up with the poor performance of TRL and accused it of holding back development efforts of regions served by the railway lines, Mr Selelii and Mr Mpendazoe termed the rail investors as economic saboteurs who should be prosecuted in court.
The MPs also objected to a budgeted 562m/- being pumped into TRL, arguing: For how long will the government continue carrying the investors? Ms Ntimizi and Mr Arfi further questioned the whereabouts of some 10bn/- said to have been stolen from TRL accounts which they said were kept by the Indian investors in an Indian bank — Bank of Baroda.
The reports on the two firms were presented in the House yesterday, and the Speaker, Mr Samuel Sitta, said it will be discussed on July 30. Meanwhile, Kishapu legislator Fred Mpendazoe (CCM) has said that action should be taken against the former president, Mr Benjamin William Mkapa, following several accusations levelled against him and his administration.
Mr Mpendazoe said there was no point for the government to speak on his behalf when he was around and could clear himself in court. Let Mr Mkapa clear himself before Tanzanians in court what you are telling us here Mr Prime Minister you should go and say it in Court, he said.
Immediately after, Kigoma Urban legislator Peter Serukamba (CCM) sought the Speakers guidance on the need for parties with accusation against the former president to present them in the House and a committee to scrutinize them be formed with a view to putting to rest issues related to Mr Mkapas administration.
For five years we have been discussing Mr Mkapa it is high time people with issues against him present proof here so that we can finish with this, he said. However, the Speaker said he had no mandate to prevent MPs from speaking on past administrations.
Daily News
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