New BoT 40bn/-

rip-off revelations:

What exactly the auditors said

THISDAY REPORTER
Dar es Salaam

SENIOR officials at the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) are reported to have colluded in orchestrating a massive fraud involving foreign exchange funds to the tune of almost $30.8m (approx. 40bn/-), it has now been verified.

According to the findings of a BoT audit conducted by the international firm Deloitte & Touche last year, the rip-off is believed to have been facilitated through clear falsification of key documents.

As already reported by THISDAY, the uncovered fraud was with regard to payments made by the central bank to a certain, little-unknown Dar es Salaam-based company going by the name of Kagoda Agriculture Limited.

This company was paid by the BoT a total sum of $30,732,658.82 on the basis of 12 deeds of assignment it had purportedly signed with the government´s foreign creditors.

Deloitte & Touche, which up to last year was the central bank’s regular external auditor, are understood to have stumbled upon the irregularities in the BoT’s external payment arrears account number 99915091 01.

At the time of the audit for the year ending June 30, 2006, this particular account had a balance of 131.95bn/-.

Following are excerpts (quoted verbatim) from a four-page letter from Deloitte & Touche to the BoT governor Dr Daudi Ballali, dated September 4, 2006, highlighting a catalogue of perceived anomalies in the payments made to Kagoda Agriculture Limited:

There are 12 deeds of assignment all signed between September 10, 2005 and November 5, 2005. The above time period appears too short to have negotiated and signed assignments of debts with 12 different foreign creditors from across the globe.

All the deeds of assignment were signed in Dar es Salaam before the same B.M. Sanze, an advocate & notary public & commissioner of oaths. Five of these deeds were signed on October 19, 2005 and four were signed on October 18, 2005. This implies that all the foreign creditors travelled to sign these deeds on more or less the same day. A search of the immigration records might be necessary to determine whether or not this was so.

There are two deeds of assignment signed on October 18 (2005) relating to two German companies, viz, Lindeteves J Export BV and Hoechst for a total amount of 1,164,402.76 euros. However, this currency was incorrect and the BoT wrote to Kagoda Agriculture Limited informing them that the correct currency should be Deutsche Marks. The same letter also advised of the release of 8,196,673,600.53/- to Kagoda Agriculture Limited. The latter company (Kagoda) submitted new deeds of assignment dated November 3, 2005 two days after being notified.

We find it highly unusual and doubtful that a foreign creditor assigning such significant amounts of money would sign off for the wrong currency. In addition, it appears the bank (BoT) failed to institute an investigation when it picked up an anomaly with the currency. Instead, the same (BoT) later went on and released 8.2bn/- to the said (Kagoda) company. It is also striking that the foreign creditors’ directors allegedly were either still in the country or returned to Tanzania within two days to sign the revised guarantees. Again, a search of the immigration records might be necessary to verify this claimed chain of events.

All 12 deeds of assignment have the same terms and wording for all the different foreign creditors. This does not appear normal or realistic as different companies are likely to insist on different clauses.

None of the deeds of assignment are on company letterheads or have the contact details for the company representatives.

All agreements were signed only on the last page by the alleged representative of the 12 global creditors. This is not normal practice as legal documents are usually signed or initialled on each page for identification.

The 12 deeds are supposed to have the common seal of the foreign creditor company, as well as that of Kagoda Agriculture Limited. Our examination of the seals for the 12 foreign creditors from all over the world shows the seals to be identical to that of Kagoda Agriculture Limited except for the names of the companies. This appears highly unusual and suspicious.

Fiat Veicoli Industriali (Italian company), Valmet (USA company), Adriano Gardella S.P.A (Italian company). All the deeds of assignment for these three companies had the common seal missing despite the agreements indicating that they had been affixed.

The deeds of assignment for Valmet, a USA company was for $2,398,439.96 but the agreement was signed for by Patrick Kevin, whose position in the company was given as ’’accountant.’’ This appears highly implausible that such a large contract would be signed by the company’s accountant.

The deed of assignment for Daimler Benz AG was signed by a director by the name Christopher Williams. However, his signature was signed W Christopher.

A company search of the public records conducted by us (Deloitte & Touche) on the 12 companies mentioned above revealed that a number of them had ceased to exist in the format set out in the agreements before the dates mentioned in the agreements. For example, Hoechst AG became Aventis in 1999, Daimler Benz AG became Daimler Chrysler AG in 1998, Fiat Veicoli Industriali became Industrial Vehicle Corporation (IVECO) on January 1, 1975, Mirrlees Blackstone became MAN B&W Diesel Limited from 2002/03 and Valmet became Metso Paper from May 10, 2000. It is highly doubtful that these companies would sign deeds of assignment in 2005 in the names of the old companies.

The search did not reveal any companies under the names NS Boma and Lindeteves J. Export BV, although this might not necessarily be conclusive.

None of the names mentioned on the deeds of assignments could be linked to the companies found in the company search. Direct phone calls to Valmet (now Metso Paper) in the USA, Mirrlees Blackstone (now Man B&W Diesel Limited) in the UK and Daimler Benz AG (now Daimler Chrysler) in the USA revealed that they were not aware of any individuals who had the names stated in the agreements.

The letter to Ballali, signed by one Samuel Sithole in his stated capacity as lead audit and engagement director of Deloitte & Touche in South Africa, further notes that ’’the use of old names for companies, and the speed with which the transactions were approved, could also suggest collusion with senior employees within the bank (BoT).’’

Deloitte & Touche also expressed concern over how the Kagoda company, formed on September 29, 2005, was ’’able to be paid $30.8m within five to six weeks of its formation.’’

’’We are not aware of any background checks performed by the bank (BoT). It is also difficult to accept that the same company was able to negotiate and conclude contracts worth $30m with separate foreign creditors from Germany, Italy, Yugoslavia, England, France, USA and Japan in this brief period,’’ said the letter.

The auditors advised Ballali to order ’’an immediate and thorough investigation’’ of the matter and suspend the BoT employees involved in the transactions for the period of the investigation, to avoid the possibility of files being tampered with.

However, no central bank employee has ever been suspended over the issue, and it was not until a year later that another auditing firm, Massawe Ernst & Young, was hired to audit payments made from the same BoT external payment arrears account during 2005/06.

The findings of this much-anticipated ’special audit’, conducted as a result of much prodding from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and various donor countries, are yet to be made public.

Violence as Kenyans prepare to vote

All but one opinion poll since September have put Odinga, left, ahead of Kibaki [Reuters]

Mobs in Kenya's opposition heartland have killed at least three policemen just hours before the country goes to the polls. The officers were accused of taking part in a plan to rig Thursday's elections in favour of Mwai Kibaki, the president. Ten other officers were hurt in western Nyanza province, homeland of Raila Odinga, the challenger and opposition leader, the authorities said on Wednesday. He has held a narrow lead over Kibaki in opinion polls ahead of a vote expected to be the east African nation's closest ever.

Local broadcaster KTN and Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had accused the government of disguising police as party agents to carry out fraud at polling stations. When buses carrying officers arrived in different locations of Nyanza from Nairobi, crowds responded angrily and threw stones, accusing them of a plot to rig the polls, witnesses said. "They started attacking them. One died on the spot, another on the way to hospital," police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said of the fracas late on Tuesday in one location, Mbita.

The Kenyan Muslim vote

The other confirmed death was on Wednesday morning.

Tribalism at centre of Kenya elections

Presidential denial

A media source in Nyanza, who asked not to be named, said there were in fact four deaths, while an election official told Reuters, on condition of anonymity, nine were feared killed. With Thursday's presidential and parliamentary vote seen as a big test of Kenya's democratic credentials in a continent plagued by election controversies, Kibaki denied the rigging accusations and urged Kenyans to stay calm. "Let us all embrace peace and let fair play, honesty and democracy prevail," he said in a statement on Wednesday. And a government spokesman accused the media of fomenting the violence by peddling propaganda.

"The mobs killing people in Nyanza are doing so after ... alarmist and unsubstantiated rigging media claims," Alfred Mutua said. The spokesman said anti-police violence was spreading. "In Nyanza, policemen are being hunted and killed... We are shocked that people have set up road blocks and are removing people not from there from buses."

One Nyanza resident, who identified himself only as Peter, confirmed he had been among a crowd attacking officers. "Over 20 administration police officers in civilian clothes arrived late on Tuesday in Migori on two buses. We immediately suspected them and started beating them," he told Reuters. KTN has been running images of civilian buses taking police out of a Nairobi training college under cover of darkness.

It quoted sources saying the police were stripped of usual ID and given letters accrediting them as agents of Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) to access voting stations. Odinga said "they were issued each with 1,000 pre-marked ballot papers to be stuffed by them". "I've appealed to President Kibaki to prevail on his agents against election rigging acts that could plunge this country into bloodshed," he added. Kibaki said his government had deployed 65,000 security personnel across Kenya to ensure security and "we should desist from harassing or obstructing them".

Kenyans have never seen an election campaign as close as this one. In 2002, the country experienced a rarity in African politics: the broadly peaceful transition of power from one "big man" ruler, Daniel arap Moi, to another, Kibaki. Since coming to power in a coalition of big men the economy has had a strong 5 per cent annual growth on average and Kibaki has introduced free primary education.

Close race

Kenyans have never seen an election campaign as close as this one. In 2002, the country experienced a rarity in African politics: the broadly peaceful transition of power from one "big man" ruler, Daniel arap Moi, to another, Kibaki. Since coming to power in a coalition of big men the economy has had a strong 5 per cent annual growth on average and Kibaki has introduced free primary education.

He also has the support of his economically powerful Kikuyu tribe, Kenya's largest.

But while Kenya is east Africa's economic powerhouse, more than half the population live in poverty and Kibaki is accused of not effectively tackling issues such as corruption and poor infrastructure. Many say he has an image problem, declining all media interviews on the campaign trail. The big men allied to him when he swept to power broke away and their orange movement hit the president with a landslide defeat in a constitutional referendum three years ago.

And Odinga has emerged as the frontrunner after the orange movement splintered and the big men went their separate ways. Odinga has the ardent backing of his western Luo community, but has also garnered support from other ethnic groups who think the Kikuyus have had it too good under Kibaki.

All but one of the opinion polls since September have put Odinga, a 62-year-old businessman and former political prisoner, a few points ahead of Kibaki, 76. Kibaki has said he will step down, and retire to his highland farm, if he loses. But analysts believe those around him might not be so willing to relinquish power. Some 14 million of Kenya's 36 million people are eligible to vote from 6am (0300 GMT) to 6pm on Thursday.

Official results are expected from Friday.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies.

Chad court jails French aid staff

The French aid workers denied involvement in child-trafficking

A court in Chad has sentenced six French aid workers to eight years of hard labour for trying to take more than 100 children out of the country.

The six employees of French charity Zoe's Ark were arrested in October.

The charity said at the time it was evacuating refugee children orphaned by the conflict in Darfur so they could be cared for by families in Europe.

Most of the children were however found to be from Chad, which borders Darfur, and with parents who were still alive.

The case has sparked outrage in the former French colony.

The evidence of the defence was not even taken into account. It's absolute rubbish Christophe Letien, Zoe's Ark

The French government says it will now ask the Chadian government to return its aid workers to France.

Under a 30-year-old agreement between the two nations, offenders can be returned to their native country to serve their sentences.

Diplomatic sources in Chad say a transfer could happen soon, although the authorities there are not obliged to agree and France has no punishment of hard labour.

'Unacceptable'

The verdict was delivered on the fourth day of a trial that started on 21 December.

Most children were not Darfur war orphans, as Zoe's Ark had claimed

The court found the French nationals guilty of the "attempted kidnap of children, breaching their civil rights".

It also found the group guilty of "absconding without payment" of bills accrued in their attempt to fly the children out of eastern Chad town of Abeche.

According to AFP news agency, the head of Zoe's Ark, Eric Breteau, and the Sudanese national, Souleimane Ibrahim Adam, were found guilty of the further charge of using forged documents.

A spokesman for Zoe's Ark, Christophe Letien, told the BBC he was "stunned, sickened and confused by this judgement".

He said the fact the defendants were handed the same sentence for different responsibilities proved "that it was a totally unfair trial".

"The evidence of the defence was not even taken into account. It's absolute rubbish," he said.

A lawyer for one of the aid workers, Olivier Desandre-Navarre, said justice had not been done:

"We could have not pleaded, we could have done nothing. We have the feeling the result would have been the same. They didn't take anything into account. They've condemned everyone, to the same sentence, to the same sanctions. It's an unacceptable decision."

Hunger strike

A Chadian and a Sudanese national who were also on trial were each sentenced to four years in prison.

Two other Chadians accused in the child-trafficking case were acquitted.

The French nationals briefly went on hunger strike in December to protest at their treatment.

Earlier this month, Chadian authorities said they had dropped the case against another 12 people initially held with the French aid workers.

The 12 - including French journalists and Spanish flight crew - had already been allowed to leave Chad.

The United Nations children's charity, Unicef, has described the French charity's mission to fly children out of Chad as illegal under international law.

French officials also described Zoe's Ark's actions as "illegal and irresponsible".

Mr Breteau say he and his team genuinely believed they were rescuing orphans from Darfur and have accused their local contacts of duping them.

Some 200,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the conflict in Darfur between local rebel groups and militias backed by the government in Khartoum.

The government's Janjaweed militia is also blamed for forcing some 2m people from their homes, many of whom now live in Chad as refugees.

Source: BBC News.

Uchaguzi kesho,

Wakenya wanasubiri mshindi.

Allan Sambu, Nairobi

HATIMAYE safari ndefu ya kuwania nafasi mbalimbali za kisiasa nchini Kenya iliyoanza kwa kuzinduliwa rasmi kwa kampeni mapema Agosti, inakamilika kesho baada ya Wakenya zaidi ya milioni 14 kupiga kura ya kuchagua madiwani, wabunge na Rais.

Tayari Tume ya Uchaguzi ya Kenya (ECK) imetangaza kwamba kila kitu kipo tayari kwa ajili ya uchaguzi huo na kuwataka wapiga kura kuwasili katika vituo vya kupigia kura nchini kote kuanzia saa 12.00 asubuhi.

Kuanzia Alhamisi wiki iliyopita, Wakenya wameshuhudia kampeni nzito zikiendeshwa na wagombea urais watatu katika ngwe ya mwisho ya kusaka wapiga kura katika maeneo mbalimbali ambako walikuwa hawajafika kunadi sera zao katika kipindi chote cha karibu miezi minne ya kampeni.

Wagombea hao, Rais Mwai Kibaki wa Party of National Unity (PNU), Raila Odinga wa Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) na Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (ODM Kenya), ndio wamekuwa wakiendesha kampeni nzito, wakati mwingine hadi usiku katika harakati zao za dakika za mwisho za kuwashawishi watu wawapigie kura.

Bado hali ni tata na wachunguzi wa masuala ya siasa hapa wanasema bado ni vigumu kubashiri ni yupi hasa anaweza kuibuka mshindi wa kiti cha urais, hasa kati ya Rais Kibaki, anayeungwa mkono na watu wengi kutoka kabila lake la Wakikuyu na Raila Odinga anayeungwa mkono na watu wa kabila lake la Waluo pamoja na makabila mengine mengi, makubwa kwa madogo.

Kama ilivyo kawaida kwa siasa za Kenya kuchukua mkondo wa kikabila, Kalonzo Musyoka pia anaungwa mkono na watu kutoka katika kabila lake la Wakamba wanaoishi katika sehemu kubwa ya Mkoa wa Mashariki.

Kwa bahati mbaya, makabila mengine kama Wameru wanaotoka katika Mkoa wa Mashariki, wanajisikia kuwa karibu zaidi na Wakikuyu na hivyo wanamuunga mkono Rais Kibaki.

Lakini sehemu kubwa ya makabila mengine kama Waluhya kutoka Mkoa wa Magharibi, Wamasai na Wakalenjin (Mkoa wa Bonde la Ufa ), Waborana (Mkoa wa Kaskazini Mashariki) na Wamijikenda kutoka Mkoa wa Pwani, wanaonekana kumuunga mkono Raila Odinga kutokana na kuanza kampeni za chini chini kabla ya wenzake wote kuanzia mwaka 2005. Pia anaungwa mkono na wakazi wengi wa Jiji la Nairobi , ikilinganishwa na Rais Kibaki na Kalonzo. Hii ni kwa mijibu wa kura za maoni zilizotolewa mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita.

Raila amefanikiwa kuwanasa Waluhya, kabila la pili kwa ukubwa (idadi ya watu) nchini Kenya baada ya kumtangaza Musalia Mudavadi anayetoka katika kabila hilo , kuwa mgombea mwenza. Pia Raila amefanikiwa kuwanasa Wakalenjin wengi kutokana na hisia zao kuwa walinyanyaswa na kuonewa tangu serikali ya Rais Kibaki ilipoingia madarakani Januari 2003.

Lakini pamoja na kuungwa mkono na watu wa makabila mengine mengi, bado ushindani kati yake na Rais Kibaki ni mkubwa kutokana na idadi kubwa ya Wakikuyu ambao wamesambaa karibu katika kila kona ya Kenya na ambao kwa hakika lazima watampigia kura kiongozi kutoka kwao.

Rais Mwai Kibaki mwenye umri wa miaka 76 sasa, naye amekuwa halali usingizi na amekuwa akiendesha kampeni kwa nguvu kiasi cha kuwashangaza Wakenya wengi ambao hawajahi kumwona kiongozi wao akiwa na nguvu kiasi hiki.

Katika wiki ya mwisho, Kibaki amekuwa akihutubia mikutano ya hadhara kati ya minne mpaka sita kwa siku, huku akilazimika kwenda umbali wa mamia ya kilomita kila siku kuyafikia maeneo mbalimbali ya wapiga kura.

Wakati wa utawala wake, Wakenya walimzoea Rais Kibaki kama mtu mvivu asiyependa kujihangaisha kwa kuzungukia maeneo ya nchi (hata yenye matatizo), na badala yake akiacha kazi zote kwa mawaziri wake. Hata hivyo, baadhi waliihusisha hali hiyo na udhaifu wake kutokana na ajali aliyopata mwaka 2002 pamoja na umri wake mkubwa.

Lakini safari hii uvivu wote umemtoka na katika kipindi chote cha kampeni, alikuwa akichanja mbuga katika kila pembe ya nchi kutafuta nafasi nyingine ya kuongoza Kenya kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano.

Ikumbukwe pia kwamba kampeni za Rais Kibaki ndizo zinazoendeshwa kwa gharama kubwa kutokana na michango ya marafiki zake na hivi karibuni, Tume ya Haki za Binadamu ya Kenya ilitoa taarifa inayosema kampeni za kumrejesha Kibaki madarakani zimetumia zaidi ya Sh milioni 600 za Kenya na kwamba sehemu ya fedha hizo zimechotwa kutoka hazina ya serikali (Sh milioni 139).

Kwa bahati mbaya hakukuwa na muda wa kujadili ripoti hiyo kutokana na kupamba moto kwa kampeni kwani hata wapinzani wake hawakuwa na muda wa kujadili kwa undani ripoti hiyo, wote wakiwa wamejikita zaidi katika ngwe ya mwisho ya kampeni.

Pamoja na kutumia kiasi kikubwa cha fedha kwa ajili ya kampeni, Rais Kibaki pia wiki inayokwisha aligundua njia nyingine ya kuwashawishi wapiga kura wa Kenya ; kugawa wilaya mpya.

Katika mikutano yake ya kampeni, Rais Kibaki amekuwa akigawa wilaya mpya kwa Wakenya kwa wingi kiasi cha kuwashtua hata wapinzani wake ambao wanawatahadharisha wananchi kuwa macho na ugawaji huo ambao wanaulinganisha na rushwa.

Akiwa katika Mkoa wa Nyanza eneo la Kisii, Rais Kibaki aliigawa wilaya hiyo ambayo hadi sasa bado haijapewa jina, baada ya wagombea ubunge kupitia chama chake cha PNU kumweleza kuwa wananchi wa eneo hilo wamekuwa wakililia wilaya mpya tangu uhuru.

Katika Mkoa wa Bonde la Ufa , Kibaki pia ametangaza wilaya tatu mpya katika wiki ya mwisho ya kampeni. Hata hivyo, wapinzani wake wanasema ugawaji huo wa wilaya hautamsaidia kupata kura kwa kuwa mgawo anaoufanya huendani na fedha za kuanzishia miundombinu inayokwenda pamoja na uanzishwaji wa wilaya mpya.

Hata vyombo vya habari vya Kenya vimeshutumu hatua hiyo vikisema hailingani na mahitaji halisi ya wananchi wa Kenya na kwamba wilaya zinagawanywa kwa minajili ya kisiasa, hasa katika kipindi hiki cha kampeni. Katika kipindi chote cha kampeni, Rais Kibaki amegawa wilaya mpya zaidi ya 20.

Hata hivyo, katika kipindi cha miaka mitano iliyopita, wilaya zimeongezeka kutoka 50 zilizoachwa na utawala wa Rais Daniel arap Moi hadi kufikia 137 zilizopo leo wakati Wakenya wakijiandaa kupiga kura kuchagua serikali mpya kuingia madarakani hapo kesho.

Mashabiki wa Rais Kibaki wanaamini kuwa ugawaji huo wa wilaya utawasogeza viongozi wa serikali karibu zaidi na wananchi ili kuwatatulia matatizo yanayowakabili, na hivyo kuwashawishi wananchi waamue kumpigia kura.

Na wiki hii kwa mara ya kwanza tangu kuanza kwa kampeni, Rais Kibaki alihutubia mkutano pamoja na mtangulizi wake, Daniel arap Moi katika mji wa Baringo uliopo Mkoa wa Bonde la Ufa . Alikuwapo pia mgombea ubunge wa Baringo Kaskazini kwa tiketi ya Kanu, Gideon Moi, mtoto wa Mzee Moi.

Katika mkutano huo, Kibaki pia alitangaza kutoa wilaya mpya baada ya kupata maelezo kutoka kwa wagombea na rais mstaafu kuwa Wilaya ya Baringo ni kubwa mno inayotakiwa kugawanywa kwa kuwa inawawia vigumu viongozi waliopo kusimamia utawala. Moi kama kawaida yake, aliwataka wananchi wa Kenya kumchagua Rais Kibaki akisema wagombea wengine wameanzisha vyama vya kikabila.

Alidai pia kwamba rekodi ya maendeleo katika miaka mitano ya utawala wa Rais Kibaki, inatosha kuwafanya Wakenya wampigie kura ili akamilishe mipango mingi ambayo alipanga kuitekeleza lakini haijakamilika.

Katika kuhakikisha kuwa anamaliza nguvu za Raila katika Mkoa wa Bonde la Ufa , Moi amekuwa akitoa hadithi kadhaa za zamani zinazomhusisha na mambo mabaya, zikiwamo vurugu wakati wa sherehe ya kuapishwa kwa Rais Kibaki pamoja na kuhusika kwake katika njama za kutaka kuipindua serikali yake mapema mwaka 1982.

Hata hivyo, kama njia ya kukabiliana na hatua hii ya ugawaji wa wilaya mpya, katika mikutano yake ya kampeni, Raila Odinga amekuwa akiwaahidi wananchi kuwa iwapo atachaguliwa kuiongoza Kenya, atahakikisha kuwa majimbo yote yanageuzwa kuwa wilaya kama sehemu ya utekelezaji wa mpango wake wa kuanzisha serikali ya majimbo.

Amekuwa akiwahamaisha Wakenya kumkataa Rais Kibaki akisema ni mtu ambaye haaminiki, akionya kuwa ahadi zote anazozitoa, hawezi kuzitekeleza na kwamba amethibitisha hivyo katika kipindi cha miaka mitano iliyopita alipopewa nafasi ya kuongoza nchi.

Haijulikani kama ni bahati mbaya au ni kwa makusudi, lakini vigogo wote wa kampeni ndani ya PNU hawajahi kumgusa Kalonzo Musyoka katika kampeni ama za kashfa au za kubeza sera zake. Pengine ni kutokana na kuamini kuwa si tishio kwa mgombea wao.

Lakini Kalonzo amekuwa akiwakumbusha wapiga kura katika mikutano yake ya kampeni kila siku kwamba muujiza utatokea na katika uchaguzi wa mwaka huu, atapita katikati ya Kibaki na Raila bila kuonekana na kuibuka. Hizo ndiyo tambo za hapa na hakuna ajuaye nani ataibuka mshindi na kama ugawaji wa wilaya mpya unaweza kusaidia kumrejeshea ushindi rais Kibaki. Wakenya na dunia nzima inasubiri matokeo kwa hamu.

Kutoka Raia Mwema, wiki ya 52 ya mwisho, mwaka 2007.

Viungo "links" na htt://watanzaniaoslo.blogspot.com

Mahojiano na Rais Kikwete -

Miaka miwili ya uongozi wake.

Ijumaa Desemba 21, Rais Jakaya Kikwete alitimiza miaka miwili madarakani. Alikutana na waandishi wa habari siku mbili kabla ili kufanya tathmini ya kipindi hicho. Waandishi wetu walihudhuria katika mkutano huo uliofanyika Ikulu ya Dar es Salaam na haya ni baadhi ya yaliyojitokeza ambayo mengine tayari yameguswa katika vyombo kadhaa vya habari.

SWALI: Naomba kukupongeza. Halafu swali langu la msingi ni; Wakati unaingia madarakani na ulipokuwa ukizungukia wizara mbalimbali ulikuwa ukizungumiza sana hili suala la kuwawezesha wafanyabiashara wa kati na ulisema kwamba uchumi wa nchi hauwezi kukua iwapo hatutakuwa na kada ya kati ya wafanyabiashara. Sijui kama ndiyo sababu lakini naona ndiyo chanzo cha fedha maarufu kama Mabilioni ya Kikwete yalipotoka kwa ajili ya kuwawezesha wafanyabiashara hao na hatua kadhaa zikachukuliwa kama wamachinga kuwapeleka Kigogo-Sambusa. Napenda kupata tathmini yako, hivi ndivyo ulivyokuwa unapanga ifanyike?

Hatua tuliyoifikia sasa hivi na je, umeridhishwa na matumizi ya Mabilioni ya Kikwete jinsi yalivyotumika na kama ukiamua kutoa fedha nyingine unaweza kuzitoa katika utaratibu ule ule ambao uliutoa wakati uliyopita?

Naomba niunganishe pia na hili kwamba kuna makubaliano ya nje kwa mfano EPA, EBA na AGOA. Je, nini tathmini yako kuhusu wafanyabiashara wetu? Wamepeleka bidhaa? Wameweza kutimiza fursa yetu. Swali la mwisho. Ipo minong”ono kuwa Serikali yako ni kubwa, je, wewe unaiona hivyo?

KIKWETE: Kuwawezesha wafanyabiashara wa kati mabilioni nimeridhika. Na yanavyotumika na kama utatoa mengine, utatoa katika mfumo huu? Hayo mabilioni si ya wafanyabiashara wa kati. Haya mabilioni haya kwa kweli ni ya wale wa chini kabisa, wa chini. Ya kuwawezesha watu waweze kuwa na miradi midogomidogo.

Kwa maana hii mimi nilikuwa nazungumzia kuunda, daraja la kati linahitaji misaada ambayo zaidi ni ya sekta ya kibenki ili waweze kupata mikopo, waweze kutumia mikopo ile kwa ajili ya kukua.

Hizi nyingine hizi ni kiasi kidogo. Huwezi kusema mfanyabiashara wa kati anakwenda kukopa 300,000. Nia ni kuwasaidia wale wadogo kabisa ili waweze kupata mitaji midogo midogo, waweze kujenga misingi yao.

Tunaendelea kulifanyia kazi tuone tutafanyaje. Kwa hili ambalo ni la mabilioni, Je umeridhika? Kuna maeneo nimeridhika, kuna maeneo mengine, lazima tufanye marekebisho makubwa.

Kwanza, kilichojitokeza kwa mpango huu tulioanza nao wa kwanza kupitia hizi benki mbili za NMB na CRDB. CRDB wao kazi yao kubwa ni kwenye SACCOS, NMB wanakopesha watu mmoja mmoja na vikundi vikundi.

Si kila mahali benki hizi zipo. Kwa hiyo kuna wilaya nyingine zimekosa kwa sababu ya kutokupatikana kwa fedha na ndiyo tuna ile awamu ya pili ya bilioni 10 na nusu zilizobakia ambazo tunazipata. Sasa hizi Microfinance Institution (zinazotoa mikopo midogomidogo ya fedha) kama Pride na wengine sasa kwenye hii awamu ya pili tunazitumia hizi.

Hizi tunadhani ndizo zitakazoweza kufika kwenye maeneo mengi sababu hawa sasa wana mtandao mpana zaidi kuliko ule wa haya mabenki. Yapo mapungufu ambayo kwamba ni mafunzo tu kwa sababu ndiyo kwanza tumeanza na ambayo tunayatumia katika hizi tutakazozitoa katika hii ya 10.5 na tutakapotoa tutatoa katika mfumo huo huo.

Lakini nadhani yale mapungufu yote ambayo yamejitokeza sasa ni mambo ambayo tutayazingatia ili tuyaepuke, ili wengi zaidi waweze kupata katika utaratibu wake, lakini jambo la kutia faraja ni kwamba ulipaji unaridhisha sana, sababu kitu kikubwa cha kwanza ambacho mabenki yalikuwa yanahofu sana ni kwamba walikuwa hawaamini kwamba hawa wakopaji wadogo hawa wanalipa, lakini wenye benki wanashangaa, kumbe wakopaji wadogo ni walipaji wazuri.

Wakopaji wadogo tatizo lao kubwa lilikuwa ni dhamana ili waweze kupata hizo hela, watu wanakopa milioni moja, mbili na wanalipa vizuri. Kwa hiyo naweza kusema hivyo.

EPA, EBA, AGOA.EBA (Everythings But Arms), kwamba tumeambiwa kule Ulaya tunaweza kuuza chochote kasoro silaha, AGOA kuna bidhaa 5,000 tunaweza kuuza Marekani Duty Free (Bila kulazimika kulipa kodi). Tanzania hatuja-perform vizuri sana kwenye AGOA na hata Balozi wa Marekani aliyepita yule siku moja alikutana na wafanyabiashara akasema amewachoka wafanyabiasha wa Tanzania, wananung’unika tu. Wenzao wanauza, wao wananung’unika tu (kicheko).

Eeeh, sisi ukilinganisha na wenzetu wengine hatujafanya vizuri sana. Wengine wanauza sana. Sasa hivi ndiyo tumeanza kuongezeka hasa kwenye soko la nguo. Kwa hiyo, ni eneo ambalo lazima tufanye vizuri zaidi,

Kwa Everything But Arms (EBA), Ulaya ndiko soko letu kubwa, tunauza vizuri lakini bado kwenye mpango huu wa EBA tungeweza kuuza vingi zaidi ya hivi tunavyouza sasa.

Kitu kipya kimeongezeka pale ni minofu ya samaki, lakini ukiacha ile minofu ya samaki bado tunauza vitu vyetu vile vya tangu enzi na enzi, kwa hiyo bado ipo kazi kubwa kwa upande wetu kutumia nafasi hizi za biashara.

EPA ni Economic Partnership Agreement. Sasa hizi ndiyo tuko kwenye mchakato wake. Ni mapema mno kufanya tathmini yapi tumefanikiwa, vipi ama hatujafanikiwa vipi.

Na nadhani tunaelekea sasa mwishoni halafu tuone baada ya hapo itakuwaje. Lakini kwa maana ya hizi EPA, kwa nchi masikini kama zetu, bado tunaendelea na utaratibu huu wa zamani. Sasa hivi tulikuwa na mkataba ule wa kuuza kila kitu katika nchi zile za Ulaya, sasa EPA ni kwamba mnauziana, kwamba wale wanafungua masoko yao na nyie nmatakiwa mfungue masoko yenu. Kwa sasa inazihusisha zaidi nchi nyingine. Sisi hadi itakapofika kwenye kiwango.

SWALI: Kuna madai kwamba Serikali inafanya mambo mengi baada ya kushinikizwa na wapinzani, kwa mfano uundwaji wa kamati ya kufuatilia mikataba ya madini.

KIKWETE: Ninachoweza kusema ni kwamba kwanza kusikiliza wananchi. Kusikiliza ni wajibu. Tunasikiliza wananchi, vyama vya upinzani, tunasikiliza mtu ye yote yule.

Kwenye hili la madini nilichokuwa nafanya mimi, nilichotaka ni tuondoe zile kelele. Unajua watu walikuwa wanajenga dhana kwamba sisi katika Serikali hatujali maslahi ya nchi hii. Kwamba raslimali zinachukuliwa tu, zinapondwa tu, watu wananufaika tu na sisi tumekaa kimya.

Kwanza nilisema kwenye hotuba yangu ya Bunge tarehe 30 Desemba (2005) kwamba tutayatazama. Nililokuwa nalo kichwani ilikuwa kwanza nianze na maeneo haya na ilipofika mwezi Machi (mwaka jana) nilipotembelea Afrika Kusini ndiko nilipotoa tamko la kwanza pale kwamba mikataba ya madini tutaitazama.

Kwenye press conference (mkutano na waandishi) niliyokuwa nazungumza na Rais Thabo Mbeki sikuulizwa, nikasema. Nikajua kwamba pale pale Afrika Kusini ndipo penyewe-kwenye kitovu cha migodi. Na kwa kweli. Nimepokea simu sijapata kuona. Watu wakaanza kusema “sasa wamerudi kwenye yale yale ya zamani. Sisi tulijua tu nchi hii haina maana”!

Nikawaambia hapana. Sasa pale ndiyo tukawa tumeeleza. Lakini nimelisema lile ikiwa tayari nimekwisha kuanzisha ndani ya Serikali timu ambayo ilikuwa inaangalia maeneo yenye upungufu kwenye sheria ya madini na kwenye mikataba yetu ya madini ili tufanye marekebisho yatakayowezesha kwamba sisi Mungu bahati nzuri katupa rasilimali, lakini bahati mbaya hakutupa utajiri wa fedha za mitaji.

Hatukubahatika kuwa na ujuzi wa raslimali watu, hatukujaliwa kuwa na teknolojia. Sasa kuna wenzetu hawana madini lakini wana fedha, wana ujuzi, wana teknolojia. Sasa lazima tuingie kwenye mfumo ambao wao wanapata na sisi tunapata.

Lakini sasa kwenye hizi za madini kumekuwa na mambo mbalimbali na mimi nayafuatilia kwamba yana vitu ambavyo ni lazima tuvifanyie marekebisho ili na sisi ambao hatukujaliwa kuwa na fedha, teknolojia wala ujuzi wa kutosha na utaalamu bado tunaweza kunufaika kwa rasilimali ambazo mwenyezi Mungu ametujalia.

Lakini muundo ulivyokuwa ni kwamba wananufaika zaidi wale wenye teknolojia, wenye mitaji na wenye utalaamu. Kwa hiyo, tumekaa pale timu ya Masha (Laurence). Walikuwa wanakwenda kuangalia na wakati nilipokuwa nazungumza Afrika Kusini wakati huo kwamba nilikuwa nimeshafanya uamuzi kwamba sasa la kwanza tunaloanza nalo ni lile la kufanya marekebisho ya kile kipengele cha sheria-maana ya sheria.

Wala si sheria ya juzi, ni sheria ya mwaka 1973. Baadaye katikati iliondolewa, lakini ikarudi tena mwaka 1998.

Kwamba hiki kipingele kiondoshwe maana kipengele hiki kinamlinda mwekezaji asipate hasara kwa hiyo wewe mwekezaji ukipata hasara, kama mtaji wako hukuufidia unapewa capital allowance ya asilimia 5 unaendelea.

Kwa hiyo kwanza mtatakiwa depreciate kwa 100% ndio uanze kulipa kodi. Sasa (mwekezaji) akisema “jamani mambo yangu hayakwenda vizuri mnampa msamaha wa asilimia 50. Kwa hiyo kila mwaka anasema “mambo hayakwenda vizuri” mnamwongezea mnampa msamaha wa asilimia 50.

Kwa hiyo makampuni yale mengine yangekaa maisha yao yasingelipa kabisa. Ndiyo tukasema hili ndilo la kuanza nalo, kwa sababu kwenye sheria ya madini ambayo ndiyo sheria iliyopo, hiyo haina mazungumzo na mtu, eti kwamba waziri na mwekezaji wanakaa wanazungumza.

Sheria imetamka asilimia tatu mrahaba, asilimia 30 kodi ya kampuni, asilimia 25 katika huduma za kiufundi, asilimia 15 menejimenti na asilimia 10 gawiwo.

Ile imetamkwa ile. Ile haina mazungumzo. Mazungumzo yanakuwa kwamba; “sasa sikiliza bwana. Hii nataka kuwekeza bwana lakini pale yule amewahi bwana. Sasa vipi?”

Unasema, “ngoja sasa tutabadili hizi karatasi ili ionekane wewe umewahi”. Haya ndiyo yanaweza kuwa mazungumzo. Umemdhulumu mtu.

Lakini ule mgawo wa Serikali hauna mazungumzo na mtu kwa sababu ni vitu vilivyotamkwa kwenye sheria na ndiyo maana tukasema maadamu imetamkwa katika sheria yetu na sheria ikatamka tena kwamba kama ile kodi ya asilimia 30 inalipwa akishalipia gharama zake zote za uwekezaji weka asilimia 100. Huu ni utaratibu popote duniani na wala si utaratibu wetu sisi peke yetu. Hapana. Unaanza kulipa kodi ukishakuwa umepata capital allowance.

Lakini sasa walipoingiza ile asilimia 15 ni kwamba sasa ile yeye ni juu yake ni kwamba haiishi sasa. Yeye atasema; “ bado, bado”. Ni kwamba inatuzuia sisi kupata zile allowance. Sasa tukasema sisi hapa hii asilimia 30 tukipata tumepata ya kutosha.

Lakini kwa sababu ipo kwenye sheria yetu si kosa la yule mwekezaji hata kama ndiyo kulikuwa na na mazungumzo huko, maana wanasema sijui wakubwa gani walitushauri hata kama walishauri, tulishakubali, tumekubali wenyewe si kosa lake, tumempa wenyewe usiende ukasema; “sasa unajua kuanzia sasa kila mmoja ile asilimia 15 imefutwa, na wote waliopata huko nyuma hakuna”.

Kwa sheria, itaanza kwa wale toka siku ile umetangaza lakini huyu wa nyuma ambaye una mkataba naye haibadiliki hivyo, Vinginevyo uamue kutaifisha. Kwa hiyo tukasema hawa sasa jawabu letu sisi kama waungwana ni kuzungumza nao.

Ndiyo tukaanza ule mchakato. Tukaanza na Barrick, Resolute na Anglogold. Hawa ndio wakubwa, lakini yapo mengine ambayo tumekuwa tunaendelea nayo. Tumekuwa tukiendelea nayo sisi ndani kiserikali lakini kuna wenzetu huko nje wanadhani kwamba sisi ndani ya serikali huku ni mkusanyiko tu wa majitu yasiyokuwa na uchungu wa nchi hii. Nikasema basi.

Haya tunayofanya sisi hebu tuwashirikishe na wenzetu nao waone. Ndio msingi wenyewe, maana nilikuwa nadhani kwamba ni jambo zuri tu. Nilidhani uamuzi ule ni uamuzi wa busara kulingana na mazingira yetu.

Nadhani uamuzi huo ni uamuzi unaotusaidia. Nchi imetulia sasa, maneno hayapo. Nimesikia juzi juzi wakubwa walikuwa huko wanasema; “sasa tunataka na ile ya Masha nayo tupewe”!

Ile kamati ilikwisha kupewa na wanaifanyia kazi, lakini mimi nashukuru angalau (wapinzani) wanakiri kwamba kumbe kulikuwa na kazi iliyokuwa inaendelea na tuliyokuwa tunatekeleza.

Sisi tunatekeleza kwa mujibu wa yale tuliyokuwa tumeyaona. Tumeanza na lile la asilimia 15, kwa hiyo tunakwenda kwenye mambo mengine ambayo tutaendelea nayo.

Kamati hii itachangia, itaongeza mchango mkubwa zaidi kulikoni ile ya maofisa wa Serikali. Maofisa wa Serikali wale watakuwapo kama msaada kuona vile walivyokuwa wanafikiria. Nadhani baada ya hapo tutapata jambo jema.

Kwa hiyo sisi kama Serikali tupo tayari kusikiliza. Tutasikiliza mpinzani, tutasikiliza NGOs, tutamsikiliza hata mtu binafsi. Mimi nasikiliza sana. Hata kwenye simu zangu wakiniletea mimi nikisikia ni jambo la maana nalifanyia kazi, nalichukulia hatua. Nadhani ndiyo wajibu wetu.

SWALI: Sasa ni miezi mitatu Gavana wa Benki Kuu hayupo nchini na hakuna taarifa zozote za Serikali. Tumesikia kuwa amekimbia kutoka na ukaguzi unaoendelea Benki Kuu (Rais anacheka). Nilikuwa naomba ufafanuzi.

KIKWETE: Gavana anaumwa. Gavana anaumwa na amekuwa kwenye matibabu. Si kwamba amekimbia. Hapana, ni ugonjwa tu, anatibiwa.

SWALI: Watu wategemee nini ili ikifika mwaka 2010 kusiwe na kusutana? Na je, kuna ukweli gani kuhusu uvumi unaoenea mitaani na kuwaweka watu matumbo joto kwamba kuna mabadiliko ya Baraza la Mawaziri?

KIKWETE: Watu wategemee nini 2010? Mimi nasema kitu cha kutegemea ni kwamba kama nilivyosema nadhani narudia yale yale kwamba kuna kitu ambacho tumewaahidi Watanzania. Tumeahidi kwenye ilani yetu, tumeahidi huko. Kuna yale ya papo kwa hapo. Jitihada tunazohitaji sasa ni ikifika 2010 waseme tuliyoahidi yametimia, nisingependa tufike 2010 tusutwe; Tulisema hili, hakuna tulisema hili hakuna. Mimi nadhani kwamba tutatekeleza ahadi.

Uvumi wa Baraza la Mawaziri ni uvumi tu. Baraza la mawaziri nalibadilisha wakati wote ni uvumi tu. Ikiwapo haja tutabadili. Kama hakuna haja tutaendelea. Lakini kwa sasa tuchukulie kwamba ni uvumi au ni matakwa ya watu.

Kutoka Raia Mwema wiki hii ya mwisho wa mwaka 2007

Ballali aumiza vichwa.

HALI ya afya ya Gavana wa Benki Kuu ya Tanzania (BoT), Dk. Daudi Ballali (65), taarifa za kujiuzulu kwake na nani atakayemrithi ni mambo yanayomgusa Rais Jakaya Kikwete, akiwa mapumzikoni kaskazini mwa Tanzania.

Bado hakuna taarifa rasmi hasa za kujiuzulu kwa Ballali, pamoja na kuwapo habari zenye uzito kuthibitisha taarifa hizo lakini yote hayo yanamfanya Rais Kikwete, aguswe zaidi na yanayomhusu Ballali, huku akitafakari ni nani hasa anayeweza kuchukua nafasi yake.

Kikwete amekwisha kuziba nafasi zote nyeti zilizokuwa zikishikiliwa na watu aliowarithi kutoka kwa mtangulizi wake, Benjamin Mkapa, isipokua BoT ambako Ballali ambaye aliongezewa muda wa miaka miwili mwaka 2003, amekaa kwa zaidi ya miaka 10.

Kwa mujibu wa sheria, gavana hukaa kwa vipindi vya miaka mitano na katika siku za karibuni ndani ya awamu moja ya utawala. Ballali amefanya kazi katika awamu mbili, ya Mkapa na hii ya Kikwete.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari katika kuadhimisha miaka miwili ya utawala wake, Jumatano iliyopita, Rais Kikwete, alikiri kufahamu kuhusu kuugua kwa Ballali, lakini alikanusha uvumi kwamba Gavana Ballali amekimbia tuhuma za ufisadi zinazoelekezwa BoT.

Inaelezwa kwamba siku Kikwete alipokutana na waandishi wa habari Jumatano iliyopita, ndiyo siku ambayo barua inayoelezwa kuandikwa na Ballali ilipotumwa na kupokewa Ikulu lakini hakuna taarifa rasmi za kuthibitisha hilo ambazo zimetolewa hadi sasa.

Mkurugenzi wa Mawasiliano wa Ikulu, Salva Rweyemamu, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kwamba Rais Kikwete yuko likizo na kwamba “kama kuna barua kama hiyo hushughulikiwa kwa mujibu wa taratibu za utumishi serikalini” na Rais kuifanyia kazi atakapomaliza likizo.

Ballali yuko Marekani kwenye Jimbo la Massachusetts, jiji la Boston, ambako alifanyiwa upasuaji mkubwa. Yuko huko sasa kwa zaidi ya miezi mitatu, lakini afya yake bado haijatengemaa kiasi cha kuweza kurejea nchini kuendelea na kazi.

Aliondoka nchini kimya kimya na hakuna mtiririko mzuri wa taarifa za hali yake ya afya pamoja na baadhi ya watu kusema kwamba ni lazima taarifa hizo zitolewe kwa mujibu wa taratibu za ‘kiserikali.’

“Wakati Baba wa Taifa (Julius Nyerere) anakwenda London 1999, Serikali ilitangaza ya kuwa anakwenda kuangaliwa afya yake kama kawaida yake na hata hali ilipozidi kuwa mbaya, Serikali ilisema anaendelea vizuri na matibabu. Hiyo ndiyo lugha ya kiserikali,” anasema mmoja wa watu wanaofuatilia suala hili kwa karibu.

Hakuna ambaye ameweza kuzungumzia kwa ufasaha suala hilo la Ballali, na hasa juu ya habari kwamba amekwisha kujiuzulu. Nakala ya barua ambayo inaaminika kuwa ni yake kwenda kwa Rais, na ambayo Raia Mwema imefanikiwa kuiona na kuichapisha, Gavana Ballali anasema ya kuwa kutokana na "sababu za kiafya" hatoweza kuendelea na wadhifa huo na hivyo anaomba idhini ya kupumzika.

Zimekuwapo taarifa hata hivyo, kuwa baadhi ya maofisa na viongozi waandamizi wa serikalini wamekwenda kumjulia hali Gavana Ballali, akiwamo Rais Kikwete mwenyewe alipokuwa ziarani nchini Marekani hivi karibuni, Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bernard Membe na Mkurugenzi wa Usalama wa Taifa, Rashid Othman, ambao wote wanaelezwa kuguswa na kuumwa kwake.

Mmoja wa waandamizi hao anaelezwa kumtembelea Ballali Jumapili ya Desemba 2, 2007 ambako alielezwa kuonyesha mshangao wa dhahiri wa jinsi “muujiza wa Mwenyezi Mungu” ulivyomsaidia Ballali kupambana na maradhi yanayomsumbua.

Mbali ya kuguswa na “muujiza wa Mwenyezi Mungu” mazungumzo hayo yaligusia uwezekano wa Ballali kujiuzulu ili kutoa nafasi ya kuteuliwa kwa mrithi wake, lakini pia suala nyeti la kurejea ama kutorejea kwake lilikuwa sehemu ya mazungumzo hayo.

Hata hivyo, habari zinasema suala la kutorejea nchini kama afya yake itaruhusu haliipendezi kabisa familia ya Ballali kutokana na kuwa ni nyumbani kwao ambako mama yake mzazi na ndugu zake bado wanaishi.

Ballali ambaye anapewa heshima ya juu na jamii ya Kitanzania nchini Marekani na hata watu wa mataifa mengine waliopata kufanya naye kazi, ana nyumba yake binafsi eneo la Bethesda, Maryland Kaskazini Magharibi mwa Washington, D.C.

Ballali mbali ya kwenda Marekani kama mwanafunzi mwaka 1959 alifanya kazi kwa miaka mingi akianzia na Sauti ya Amerika (VOA) kabla ya kufanya kazi Benki ya Dunia (WB) kwa takriban miaka 25, kazi ambazo zilimuwezesha kujijengea makazi nchini humo huku akitajwa kuwa na hati ya ukaazi ambayo wafanyakazi wengi wa hadhi yake hupatiwa.

Kuugua kwake na hatimaye kutangazwa kuwa amejiuzulu, kumekuwa na maswali mengi bila majibu na wakati wote taarifa zake zimekuwa zikitolewa nusu nusu bila kuwa na undani wa kutosha na hadi sasa Wizara ya Fedha, ambayo ndio mwajiri wake haijawahi kutoa taarifa ya wazi kuhusiana na hali yake wala kuhusu kujiuzulu kwake.

Waziri wa Fedha, Zakia Meghji, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kwamba hajapokea barua ya kujiuzulu kwa Ballali, kwa maelezo kwamba taratibu zinamtaka kuwasilisha barua kwake na si kwa Rais kama ilivyoripotiwa. Hata hivyo, Meghji alikiri kufahamu kuugua kwake.

RAIA Mwema limeelezwa kwamba Gavana Ballali alilazimika kuwasiliana na wasaidizi wake walioko Dar es Salaam, ambao waliandika barua hiyo kwa maelekezo yake na baadaye ilipelekwa Ikulu kwa faksi kabla ya barua halisi kupelekwa kwa njia ya kawaida na kupokewa.

“Kwa sasa kinachoumiza watu vichwa si kujiuzulu ama kutojiuzulu kwa Ballali, bali ni nani atakayebeba jukumu la kuiongoza BoT ambayo imechafuliwa kwa tuhuma luluki za ufisadi na ukiukwaji mkubwa wa maadili,” kinaeleza chanzo cha habari serikalini.

Agosti mwaka huu Rais Kikwete alifanya uteuzi wa Manaibu Gavana watatu kama sheria mpya ilivyotaka. Walioteuliwa ni; Profesa Benno Ndullu, Lila Mkila na Juma Reli. Uteuzi wa Profesa Ndullu ndio uliogusa zaidi hisia za wengi kutokana na kutajwa kama mmoja wa wanaotajwa kuwa na uwezo wa kumrithi Ballali.

Profesa Ndullu anatajwa kuwa na historia ya utendaji mzuri tokea akiwa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam na anaelezwa kushiriki katika mchakato wa kuanzishwa kwa Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA), kipindi ambacho Kikwete alikuwa Waziri wa Fedha.

Anaelezwa kwamba aliondoka Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam mwaka 1989 kwenda Nairobi, Kenya kuwa kuwa Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa African Economic Research Consortium kabla ya kujiunga na Benki ya Dunia akifanya kazi Dar es Salaam na baadaye makao makuu, Washington D.C kabla ya uteuzi wa kuwa Naibu Gavana.

Profesa Ndullu anaelezwa kuwa karibu sana na washauri wa Rais wa mambo ya uchumi kutokana na kufanya nao kazi muda mrefu lakini pia kuna wanaosema kwamba alihusishwa katika kuteuliwa kwao.

Wengine wanaotajwa ni pamoja na Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii, Blandina Nyoni, ambaye aliwahi kuwa Mhasibu Mkuu wa Serikali; Dk. Natu Mwamba wa BoT; Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Fedha, Gray Mgonja, ambaye alitokea BoT; Naibu Katibu Mkuu, Mipango Joyce Mapunjo, ambaye alitokea Hazina na Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Benki ya CRDB, Dk. Charles Kimei.

BoT imekua ikisakamwa kutokana na tuhuma mbalimbali na hivi sasa inasubiriwa ripoti ya wakaguzi wa kimataifa kutoka Kampuni ya Ernst&Young iliyokabidhiwa kazi hiyo na Serikali kupitia ofisi ya Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti Mkuu wa Serikali (CAG).

Taarifa kuhusu ripoti hiyo zimetolewa zikiwa zinatatanisha baada ya Waziri Meghji kusema itatolewa wiki hii baada ya kupitiwa na CAG, huku CAG mwenyewe, Ludovick Utoh akisema kwamba ndio kwanza ameipokea Jumapili iliyopita na kwamba atamkabidhi Rais Januari, 2008.

Kutoka Raia Mwema wiki ya 52 ya mwisho mwaka 2007.

http://www.ssb.no/english/yearbook/emne00.html

Hit at heart of corruption,

Church in Dar urges Government

2007-12-25 10:11:21
By Rose Mwalongo

The Dar es Salaam archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church has advised the government to stop dealing with ``old ghosts of corruption`` and instead seek to strike at the very core of the vice.

The archdiocese´s Auxiliary Bishop, Method Kilaini, gave the advice in an inclusive interview with this paper in the city on Saturday ahead of today´s celebration of Christmas.

In his remarks, the bishop expressed deep concern over the recent wave of allegations of grand corruption levelled against a number of cabinet ministers and other senior public officials.

He said: "The ever-rising rate at which the charges have been made has shocked us all. We need to fight it as fiercely as we can or we will not make any forward movement".

We should stop planning to deal with the old ghosts of corruption, but rather take the war from where we are if we are to succeed in curbing this vice.

Bishop Kilaini also remarked on problems relating to the way the economic and other problems facing Tanzania have been addressed, making specific reference to some decisions that he said have cost the nation dearly.

The wrong decisions include those relating to commissioning of Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) and the controversial purchase of the radar systems.

Had we been more careful, the amount of money involved could have excellently catered for our needs in education and other social services and perhaps we wouldn´t be running around begging for funds for the purpose, he added.

The bishop called on government and other public servants to be close to the citizenry and join hands with them in fighting all forms of corruption, noting that it would be wrong for Tanzania to continue being a place with a few haves and a majority with nothing.

He underlined the need for the government to enter into only those contracts with the nation´s interests at heart and therefore guaranteeing improvements in the lives of the people.

Commenting on the state of the national economy, Bishop Kilaini said 2007 has been generally good and promising although the income poverty level is still unnervingly high among the bulk of the population.

On a more positive note, he said the government had made commendable efforts towards improving education which is the key to the nation´s future.

``Educating people is always an empowering and liberating move. Life without education is unacceptable because it carries the danger of making us increasingly dependent on foreigners, as we remain casual labourers,`` he observed.

The bishop said there was an urgent need for Tanzanians to get more aggressive and competitive ``as demanded by globalisation``, and urged the government to continue making Tanzanians ``the centre and focus of all its development policies and strategies``.

He elaborated: ``It is incumbent upon every one of us to work hard and ensure we are more aggressive in whatever we do.

However, that striving for development should not be at the expense of the love, harmony, unity and cooperation that have all along combined to make our nation tick.``

• SOURCE: Guardian

Photo and link by http://watanzaniaoslo.blogspot.com

Catholic cleric decries

homosexuality in Tanzania


2007-12-25 10:05:45

By Rose Mwalongo

Roman Catholic Bishop Method Kilaini has called upon the Tanzanian society to denounce homosexuality and to protect children from it at any cost.

Bishop Kilaini, who was speaking to The Guardian in an interview on Saturday in Dar es Salaam ahead of Christmas Day, said homosexuality is against human nature and embracing the vice was tantamount to condoning a sin.

"Homosexuality is a scandal. It is saddening to see some countries condon it."

We are glad most African religious leaders have denounced the behaviour and some have even refused to accept money from countries which embrace homosexuality.

It is bad to condon homosexuality, but it is even worse for religious leaders to do so,`` said the bishop.

The bishop was responding to a question on how he felt about gays and lesbians turning into clerics, as it has been the case recently.

He said Christmas should be used by all Christians and well-wishers to be new people, saying they must change as people and search their souls to find out how well they relate to neighbours, families and God.

``Let people search their souls and count not only how much money they have made this year, but how well they have related to others and God.

Lest we forget, money without peace is nothing. God has made himself a man to help human beings from their miseries,`` he said.

He praised Christians in Dar es Salaam for their efforts in seeking divine intervention to solve family matters saying it was now encouraging as most of the very busy people made a point to worship and seek advice from religious leaders.

``Dar es Salaam worshippers value the health of their soul,\" said the bishop.

Bishop Kilaini further called upon the government to maintain integrity and to motivate people to live with hope saying if people despair, they can`t go anywhere.

"Our president has vision but his ministers don`t understand his vision. It seems as if the only ones running around is the president and the Prime Minister alone".

Let ministers rally behind him for the well being of our nation,\" stressed the bishop.

Speaking on religious tolerance, the bishop showed satisfaction on what he said as an excellent relationship among denominations in the country.

He said there have been times when Christian leaders called their Muslim counterparts to discuss with them the importance of Kadhi court saying all went well.

Asked on his response on the soon to be tabled Aids Bill and what he felt about it, the bishop said Roman Catholic will not support the bill if in any way it encourages the use of condom to fight the pandemic.

"Telling someone to use condom is like saying that a solution to a sin is to hide while doing it. Condom is not only a taboo to us, but it amounts to killing".

"Encouraging its use is teaching people laxity. You should teach the people, that Aids is death and they will remember it even when they are drunk," charged Kilaini.

Kilaini further stressed that should the Bill be approved with the word condom in it, they would not accept it no matter what sanctions they have to face.

"We can`t sit still to see Tanzania run with immoral and promiscuous people. There is no compromise on condom use. Europe has few cases of Aids not because of condom use but because they nurtured a fidelity culture".

Rarely do you see huge advertisements of condoms like we see in our country,`` stressed Kilaini.

Each year Christmas is celebrated on December 25 to remember the birth of Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago.

• SOURCE: Guardian

Photo and link by http://watanzaniaoslo.blogspot.com

(Kinorwejiani)

Likizo ya rais na usalama wa taifa

Ndimara Tegambagwe

SITAKI Rais Jakaya Kikwete aende likizo wakati kuna "suala kubwa linaloshusu usalama wa nchi."

Mkurugenzi wa Mawasiliano Ikulu, Salva Rweyemamu aliviambia vyombo vya habari jijini Dar es Salaam, Ijumaa kuwa rais yuko likizo, lakini aweza kufanya kazi iwapo kuna suala kubwa linalohusu usalama wa nchi.

Ukweli ni kwamba rais asingekwenda likizo, kwani suala linalohusu usalama wa nchi lipo mezani kwake. Ni lile linalohusu usalama wa mipaka ya nchi na wananchi wake.

Ni suala la kuingia katika ghala la silaha za Jeshi la Wananchi (JWTZ), kuchukua helikopta ya jeshi na kuruka hadi Arusha, huku waliokuwemo, tena watu kutoka nchi za nje – Uingereza, Canada, Marekani na Australia, wakipiga picha.

Tutake tusitake, hili ni suala la usalama wa nchi. Linahusu usalama wa wananchi na mali zao. Linahusu maisha ya nchi na viumbe wake.

Katika safu hii wiki iliyopita, nililalamikia ukimya wa serikali kuhusu tukio hilo. Niliuliza maswali 42. Nilidhani wahusika wataelewa. Watakuwa wepesi wa kujibu. Wataona wanawajibika kutoa majibu. Wataonyesha uadilifu.

Leo hii, wiki tatu tangu kupatikana kwa taarifa za helikopta ya jeshi kutumiwa na watalii kupiga picha, hakuna taarifa yoyote ya serikali – kutoka kwa Mkuu wa Majeshi Jenerali Davis Mwamunyange, Waziri wa Ulinzi na Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa Juma Kapuya au Amiri Jeshi Mkuu, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

Katika hali hii, sharti watu wenye uchungu na nchi hii; wale wanaojali usalama wa nchi na watu wake, waendelee kuuliza. Hii ni kutokana na uzito wa suala lenyewe; ni kubwa na "linahusu usalama wa nchi."

Ingawa wanaoiuzia silaha Tanzania wanajua kuna aina gani, kiasi gani, kutoka wapi, kwa bei ipi, zinaweza kutumiwa vipi na zina uwezo gani; kuna mambo kadhaa hawajui. Kwa mfano, hawajui lini silaha hizo zinahitajika kufanyiwa kazi.

Lakini hatua ya watu kutoka nchi za nje, kukodi, au kupewa, au kuiba helikopta ya jeshi na kuitumia kwa kazi binafsi, inaonyesha kuwa, jeshi limeingiliwa. Kuna wanaojua taratibu za kila siku jeshini, matumizi ya zana; zipi zinahitajika sasa, zipi zikodishwe na zipi zikae "stendibai."

Hao ndio wanakwenda ama kuchukua, kukodi au kupewa helikopta za jeshi. Au kuna "Idara ya Masoko" jeshini inayotangaza na kufuatilia wateja wa kutumia hekikopta zake.

Aidha, hatua ya kupata helikopta ya jeshi kwa matumizi binafsi, inaonyesha ama ulinzi ndani ya jeshi umepungua au umelegezwa. Nani kapunguza au kalegeza ulinzi na kwa nini; ndilo swali kubwa hivi leo.

Nani amekataa kuweka suala hili mezani kwa Rais Kikwete, mpaka anakwenda likizo bila kulishughulikia? Au, nani amemshauri rais kuwa ni "jambo dogo" kwa hiyo alale na kusahau?

Au tafsiri ya "usalama wa nchi" ndiyo inagomba? Na hili linawezekana. Kuna wanaodhani usalama wa nchi ni wa rais kutopinduliwa, kutopingwa au kutosengenywa. Huo ni ufinyu na upofu.

Nani anaweza kumuaga rais, na kumtakia likizo njema, wakati katika jeshi lake kuna biashara inayoweza kuzaa mtafaruku mkubwa wa kuweza kumeza amani nchini au kurudisha nyuma maendeleo madogo ya kidemokrasi yaliyopatikana?

Labda rais awe anajua kuwa kinachoendelea "ni kidogo kisicho na athari mbaya na kubwa;" au anaridhika kuwa kinachofanyika ni sahihi; au hana taarifa kamili juu ya kinachotendeka.

Vyovyote itakavyokuwa, hapo ndipo rais anapaswa kujenga shaka juu ya chochote kinachotendeka; hasa chochote ambacho wananchi wametilia shaka; na hasa kile ambacho wachambuzi wameonyesha kinaweza kuleta madhara kiulinzi, kisiasa na kiuchumi.

Ukimya wa serikali unaleta tafsiri nyingi. Kwamba wanaokataa kutoa kauli, wanajua kinachoendelea, lakini wanashindwa kutoa majibu ambayo wanajua vema kwamba hayatazima kiu ya wananchi na wapenda nchi.

Kwamba wanaokataa kutoa kauli wanajua nani aliidhinisha matumizi ya helikopta nje ya utaratibu; wanajua kama ndio utaratibu na wanajua nani anachuma kutoka mradi huu ambao bila shaka unaingiza fedhi nyingi.

Na katika hili, tukizungumzia viongozi serikalini ambao wanapaswa kutoa kauli, tuna maana ya kwanza na moja kwa moja, Rais Kikwete, Waziri Mkuu Edward Lowassa, Waziri Kapuya, mteule wa rais, Jenerali Mwamunyange na Waziri wa Habari Mohamed, Seif Khatib.

Kama wasemaji wanaona suala hili la kuvunja na kuingia kwenye ngome ya jeshi na kuchukua, kuiba au kupewa helikopta ni dogo, kwa nini hawatoi majibu yanayolingana na "udogo" huo?

Kama wanaona ni suala kubwa, tena la ulinzi na usalama wa nchi, kwa nini wanakaa kimya na kumwacha rais aende likizo wakati kuna suala kubwa la kumzuia kwenda kulala?

Mkuu wa Mawasiliano Ikulu, Rweyemamu, anasema likitokea jambo kubwa la usalama wa nchi, rais anaweza kufanya kazi akiwa likizoni.

Rweyemamu, mpelekee rais suala hili. Mfafanulie kwamba, kama ngome ya jeshi imepenywa, na watu kutoka nje wakachukua helikopta ya jeshi kwa raha binafsi, basi yeye na wananchi wake wote, wako uchi!

Mwambie avae na avalishe nchi yake. Lakini muhimu zaidi, mwambie ajibu maswali ya wananchi yaliyowasilishwa kupitia safu hii – wiki iliyopita na leo – ili wajue nafasi yake katika hili na hatua anazochukua.

Mwandishi wa makala hii anapatikana kwa:

simu: 0713 614872
Baruapepe: ndimara@yahoo.com
Blogu: http://www.ndimara.blogspot.com

Kutoka Tanzania Daima

Ballali resignation reports:

No official response

Daudi Ballali

-Key government figures say they´re in the dark

THISDAY REPORTERS
Dar es Salaam

SPECULATION is rife about Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Governor Dr Daudi Ballali’s current position after news of his abrupt resignation filtered out in Dar es Salaam this week.

Ballali’s brief, two-paragraph letter, which government officials have so far neither publicly denied nor validated, was reportedly sent to President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday afternoon.

The Minister for Finance, Ms Zakia Meghji - who is technically the BoT governor’s immediate boss - told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that she knew nothing about Ballali´s stated resignation.

’’I don’t know anything about these reports. Under normal procedure, he (Ballali) was supposed to send me such a letter of resignation which I have clearly not received,’’ Ms Meghji said.

The finance minister said she only learnt about the reports of Ballali’s resignation from morning newspapers yesterday.

’’As far as I know, the governor is currently sick I cannot make any comment until I get an official resignation letter from him,’’ she stated.

She added: ’’Even though he (Ballali) has been sick for sometime now, I am not aware of any immediate plans by the government to replace him.’’

Ms Meghji also announced that the much-anticipated audit findings on the BoT’s external payment arrears account payments during 2005/06 would soon be released by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).

When contacted for comment, State House director of communications Salva Rweyemamu also said he had not received any official information about the reports of Ballali’s resignation.

Latest reports reaching THISDAY say close friends of Ballali have advised him to remain in the United States, where he has been hospitalised for the past three months at a Boston medical centre.

In his absence, the central bank has been under the leadership of its two recently-appointed deputy governors, Juma Reli and Prof. Benno Ndulu.

Meanwhile, reacting to the reports of Ballali’s resignation, prominent CHADEMA legislator Dr Wilbrod Slaa appeared to welcome the news but said he was hardly surprised.

Even so, Slaa - deputy leader of the official opposition in the National Assembly and also an outspoken critic of alleged massive funds misuse at the BoT - said the government should ensure Ballali returns to the country to answer multiple allegations of corruption against him.

’’He must come back home to answer all the charges against him,’’ declared Slaa.

The 64-year-old Ballali has been the central bank governor since 1998, and was serving his second term in the post before scheduled official retirement next year.

A long-time employee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ballali was stationed in Washington for some 20 years, being heavily involved in structural adjustment programmes for several African countries.

He first joined the BoT in 1967 as an economist, and quickly climbed the ladder to the post of senior economist (1972) and director of research (1973-76).

From 1976, he started working with the IMF in Washington DC, and later headed IMF missions in countries like Ghana and Zimbabwe.

Between 1997 and 1998, he was economic adviser to then president Benjamin Mkapa at State House, before being appointed to replace Dr Idris Rashidi as BoT governor.

But despite this impressive resume, Ballali has also been linked to allegations of widespread corruption during his almost decade-long stint in the central bank’s pilot seat.

Haya mambo haya jamani!!! Ashakum si matusi

MKE WA DAKTARI AMWAGA RAZI HADHARANI!

Maadili yanazidi kuporomoka kwenye jamii ya Kitanzania!!

Na Mwandishi wetu,Morogoro.

Mwanamke mmoja ambaye jina lake halikupatikana mara moja aliyetajwa kuwa ni mke wa daktari anayefanya kazi hospitali ya mkoa (jina lake linahifadhiwa), hivi karibuni alivua nguo hadharani ndani ya Ukumbi wa Mango Garden ulipo Nunge mkoani hapa.

Kwa mujibu wa mwandishi wetu aliyekuwemo ukumbini humo alisema mwanamke huyo alifanya tendo hilo la aibu Desemba 15, mwaka huu, wakati wa sherehe ya kumpongeza mtoto Jamila aliyetambuliwa na wazazi wake kama mtu aliyefikia utu uzima, maarufu kama kuvunja ungo......

Kinyume cha matarajio ya wazazi na waalikwa wa shughuli ya binti huyo iliyokusanya pia watoto wadogo, wake kwa waume, mke wa daktari alijikuta akigeuka kituko kwa kuvua nguo na kuziacha wazi sehemu zake nyeti, kisha kuonesha matendo ya aibu wakati akicheza wimbo wa Najiamini ulioimbwa na Kundi la Taarabu la Jahazi Morden.

Ilidaiwa kuwa kabla ya kufikia hatua hiyo, mwanamke huyo alikuwa ameshafanya vituko vingi vya kukera ambapo Muongozaji wa sherehe ‘MC’ aliwasihi wanaohusika wamtoe nje ya ukumbi ili kulinda heshima ya wanawake iliyokuwa ikivunjwa na ‘jimama’ huyo wa makamo.

“Kwanza alikuwa akicheza na chupa ya pombe na kuzunguka ukumbi mzima, kama mtu aliyepagawa na mapepo ndipo MC Nuru Choka aliposhauri atolewe nje lakini wahusika hawakufanya hivyo, kilichofuatia ni aibu,” alisema shuhuda wa tukio hilo.

Aliongeza kuwa licha ya kufanya tukio hilo, mwanamke huyo hakuonesha kujali ambapo alidiriki kuwaambia waliokuwa wakimkataza kuwa hakuna kitu cha kuficha katika dunia ya leo na hivyo kuomba aachwe amwage razi atakavyo.

“Ubaya uko wapi, anayeona aibu afunike macho yake, tusijiachie kwa nini?” alisikika akisema mama huyo aliyetajwa kuwa mmoja kati ya watu waliounda kamati ya kufanikisha sherehe hiyo.
Baadhi wa watu waliohudhuria shughuli hiyo, wakizungumza na mwandishi wetu walisema mwanamke huyo hakupaswa kusasambua mbele ya watu kwa madai kuwa hiyo haikuwa sherehe ya Kitchen Party ambayo wahusika huwa ni wanawake peke yao.


“Kimsingi kafanya jambo la aibu, ukizingatia mumewe ni mtu mwenye heshima sana, maana kama yeye hakuona tatizo alitakiwa amfikirie mumewe atajisikiaje akiambiwa vituko hivi?” alisema dada mmoja aliyejitambulisha kwa jina la Asia.

Gazeti hili linalaani kitendo cha mwanamke huyo kuvua nguo hadharani na kuwaomba wanawake wengine wenye tabia kama hiyo waache mara moja ili kulinda maadili mema miongoni mwa Watanzania.

Athuman Machupa, aitwa majaribio Norway

Na Clara Alphonce

KLABU ya Simba ipo katika mazingira ya kumkosa mshambuliaji wake Athuman Machupa aliyesajiliwa hivi karibuni kwa ajili ya kuichezea timu hiyo kwenye nichuano ya Ligi Kuu ya Vodacom na mashindano ya Klabu Bingwa Afrika, baada ya kupata nafasi ya kufanya majaribio katika klabu ya Molde FC ya Norway.

Wakala wa FIFA, Mehd Rhemtullah alisema jana kuwa Machupa ni miongoni mwa wachezaji watano waliopata nafasi hiyo ya kujaribu bahati yao ya kucheza soka la kulipwa nchini Norway.

Rhemtullah aliwataja wachezaji wengine kuwa ni; Suleiman Ndikumana wa Inter FC ya Burundi na mchezaji mmoja wa Uganda ambaye hakutamtaja jina lake.

Alisema kuwa, wachezaji hao waliweza kugundulika uwezo wao kutokana na ushiriki wao katika mashindano ya Chalenji, wakati Machupa na Majaliwa wao walionekana kufaa majaribio baada ya kutazamwa kupitia mikanda ya video.

Wachezaji wengine ni; Yonathan Ngwitou wa Red Sea ya Eritrea na Haruni Nzoyimana wa APR ya Rwanda, ambao wanatakwenda kufanya majaribio katika klabu ya Vålerenga ya Norway.

Alisema kuwa klabu hizo zote zinashiriki ligi kuu ya Norway na Vålerenga ni moja ya timu zilizoshiriki mashindano ya UEFA.

Kwa mujibu wa Rhemtullah, uteuzi wa wachezaji hao umefanywa kwa kushirikiana na Azzedine Saoud ambaye ni meneja wa masoko wa kampuni ya uwakala ya Gran Canaria Football Center inayotambuliwa na Shirikisho la soka la Dunia, FIFA.

Alisema kuwa, Saoud anatambulika na FIFA kutokana na kuandaa programu mbalimbali za mazoezi wakati wa majira ya joto na baridi katika kisiwa cha Grand Canary huko Ulaya.

Klabu kutoka nchi za Ujerumani, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden na Uholanzi zimekwishafanya programu na Saoud na ndiye atakuwa mfuatiliaji wa karibu maendeleo ya wachezaji hao wakiwa nje ya nchi.

Wachezaji hao kwa mujibu wa taarifa za wakala huyo wataondoka nchini Januari 20, 2008 na kuanza majaribio hayo mara moja na kisha kurejea mwezi Februari mwakani.

"Pia kuna nafasi kwa Eric Majaliwa na Henry Joseph wa Simba, hata hivyo, wachezaji hao bado sijafanya mazungumzo na viongozi wao ili kuona wanakwenda kufanya mazoezi timu gani," alisema Rhemtullah.

"Links" na http://watanzaniaoslo.blogspot.com