WHO SAID NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW IN TANZANIA?

By Damas Kanyabwoya, Dodoma The National Assembly Speaker, Mr Samuel Sitta, has poured could water on an attempt by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to qualify 'lunch allowance' for MPs as corruption, terming it 'hospitality allowance' that is offered in accordance with African tradition. The PCCB is investigating some MPs accused of receiving lunch allowances on top of their usual per diems while attending committee meetings outside their base. Mr Sitta said there was nothing wrong for MPs to receive lunch allowances when attending seminars because even parliamentary rules and regulations permitted it. Some MPs, especially from the energy and minerals committee, have reportedly been subjected under harsh interrogations from the PCCB on double payments, against the Parliament's wish that all allegations facing them be probed by the relevant House committee. Mr Sitta said in Parliament in Dodoma yesterday that he was surprised that the simple issue of lunch allowancesattracted so much attention from, especially, from the mass media. He wondered why the same journalists accepted lunch allowances whenever they participated in seminars involving MPs, if they knew it was illegal. "Sauti Huru newspaper recently wrote that I, the Speaker of the House, defend dishonest MPs who have been accused of receiving double payments in allowances. But the papers fails to understand that the other allowance is just a lunch allowance given as hospitality to MPs in accordance with African cultures and values, he said. Mr Sitta weighed into the matter after the morning question-and-answer session when he announced that MPs were invited to attend a seminar on Children's Bill organised by the ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children. He said that lunch allowances would be provided during the seminar and encouraged the MPs to take it without any fear. "The protocol (allowances) will be observed, and this is not a sin because even parliamentary regulations recognize and permit such allowances," Mr Sitta said. Mr Sitta was also not happy over the way the government has been handling the issue, noting that instead of concentrating on MPs' allowances, it needs to focus on sensitive issues such as Kilimo Kwanza and improving education. The issue of double payments of allowances has been the subject of hard fought political battles between the Parliament and the Executive branch of Government. MPs usually receive official daily allowances when they are on duty whether attending parliamentary sessions or committee meetings on top of their monthly salaries and other fringe benefits. But it has also been the custom of the same MPs for a long time, to accept lunch allowances given by their hosts whenever they visit various government organs and parastatals or attend seminars or workshops organized various institutions. Reports indicate that the Speaker has objected to PCCB's interrogations of MPs arguing that if there are any allegations of corruption among MPs they should be dealt with through Parliamentary channels. Legislators also accuse the Government of political witch-hunting because it was only a handful of MPs, members of the Energy and Minerals committee subjected to interrogations, while the rest were left out. Speaking to reporters in Dodoma on Tuesday this week Kyela MP Dr Harrison Mwakyembe said he refused to be interrogated because, according to him, there was nothing wrong with accepting lunch or even lodging allowances given by various government agencies to MPs. The PCCB is the champion of providing such allowances to MPs whenever it conducts seminars for MPs. They recently provided lodging for me in Dar es Salaam during one of their seminars despite the fact that I am the resident of the city. They should start investigating themselves first, he said. But it is reported that the Government insists that the MPs alleged to have received double payments should be interrogated SOURCE: The Citizen

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KAMATI YA BUNGE YAKATA 15% YA MISHAHARA YA MAFISADI MONDULI

NAOMBA USOME HABARI IFUATAYO KISHA TUSHIRIKIANE KUFANYA TAFAKURI KATIKA MASWALI YANAYOJITOKEZA (katika maneno yenye rangi nyekundu).

Na Salim Said

KAMATI ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Serikali za Mitaa imekikataa kwa mara ya pili kitabu cha hesabu za mapato na matumizi ya Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Monduli, mkoani Arusha baada ya kubaini mapungufu, ikiwa ni pamoja na udanganyifu.

Kamati hiyo pia imewapa adhabu ya kukatwa asilimia 15 ya mishahara ya watendaji sita wa halmashauri hiyo kwa kosa la kuidanganya kamati hiyo ilipowatembelea Januari mwaka huu.

Kamati hiyo ilianza kupitia taarifa za mapato na matumizi ya serikali za mitaa kuanzia Jumatatu wiki hii na imeshapitia hesabu za halmashauri za mkoa wa Dodoma na jana ilipitia halmashauri za mkoa wa Arusha.

Awali kabla ya kukataliwa kwa kitabu hicho, mkurugenzi wa halmashauri hiyo, Cyprian Oyier alionekana kushindwa kutoa maelezo ya kutosha kwa wabunge kuhusu makosa waliyofanya na mapungufu yaliyojitokeza katika kitabu chao.

Oyier alikiri mbele ya wajumbe wa kamati hiyo na wageni waalikwa kuwa waliidanganya kamati ilipoenda kuwatembelea wilayani kwao kwa kuwaeleza kuwa halmashauri ilijenga nyumba ya walimu kwa Sh30 milioni, jambo ambalo halikuwa la kweli.

Nyumba hiyo iliyogharimu zaidi ya Sh 30 milioni ilibainika kuwa imejengwa na Shirika la Hifadhi ya Taifa (Tanapa) na wao kukabidhiwa funguo tu baada ya wajumbe kufanya ziara shuleni hapo.

Baada ya kukitaa kitabu hicho, wakuu wa halmashauri hiyo na waandishi, walitakiwa kutoka nje kwa muda, ili kuwapa nafasi wabunge kupanga adhabu. Baada ya dakika 20, kaimu mwenyekiti wa kamati hiyo, Samuel Chitalilo alisema kuidanganya kamati ni kosa la jinai, lakini kamati imewaonea huruma.

Alisema wangeweza kuwataka kurudi tena mbele ya kamati, lakini wanawasamehe kwa kuwakata asilimia 15 mishahara yao ya mwezi wa tano mwaka huu. “Tunawarudisha mkaandae tena kitabu chenu... hiki tunakikataa kwa mara ya pili. Angalieni wenzenu wa Same walivyoandaa vizuri ili mkija tena tusije kukikataa tena,” alisema Chitalilo na kuongeza:

“Mmeidanganya kamati na mmekiri kosa, hili ni kosa la jinai, lakini kamati imewaonea huruma kwa kuwapa adhabu ya kujifunza na ili iwe fundisho kwa wengine”.

“Mkurugenzi wa halmashauri, mhandisi, ofisa mipango, mkaguzi wa ndani, mweka hazina na ofisa elimu aliyekuwapo wakati huo tutawakata asilimia 15 ya mishahara yenu ya Mei.”

Naye mbunge wa Kinondoni na mjumbe wa kamati hiyo, Idd Azzan alisema halmashauri hiyo ilitoa taarifa za uongo kwa kamati na kwamba walipokwenda kuitembelea shule hiyo walipewa taarifa tofauti kutoka kwa mkuu wa shule hiyo.

Alifafanua kwamba wanatoa adhabu hiyo ili iwe fundisho kwa halmashauri zinazotoa taarifa za uongo. “Adhabu hii tunataka iwe fundisho kwa wengine, kwa kuwa fedha za serikali hazitumiki ipasavyo katika ngazi za halmashauri, zinatumika kwa safari na posho za viongozi jambo ambalo ni kinyume na malengo ya fedha hizo,” alisema Azzan.

Mkurugenzi wa halmashauri hiyo alikataa kuzungumza na Mwananchi baada ya kupewa adhabu hiyo, huku mwenyekiti wa halmashauri hiyo, David Pelo akisema kuwa hiyo ni bahati mbaya na hakuna aliyekusudia kutoa taarifa za uongo.

“Tutajitahidi kufuata maelekezo yenu, tunawashukuru kwa kutoturudisha tena katika kamati kwa kuwa fedha za halmashauri zingetumika pia kwa usafiri,” alisema Pelo.

“Haya ni ya kawaida na yanaweza kutokea kwa halmashauri yoyote, pia tutarudia kuandika kitabu kama tulivyoelekezwa na tutaenda kwa wenzetu wa Same kwa kuwa wao wamefanya vizuri.”

Kamati mbalimbali za bunge zinaendelea na vikao vyake kwenye ofisi ndogo za Bunge jijini Dar es Salaam kuanzia Jumatatu wiki hii.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

TAFAKURI:

KITABU CHA MAHESABU KILIPOKUTWA NA MAKOSA MARA YA KWANZA,WAHESHIMIWA WABUNGE WAKAAMUA KUKITAA ILI KIFANYIWE MAREKEBISHO.KILIPOLETWA MARA YA PILI,WAHUSIKA WAKAAMUA LIWALO NA LIWE,WAKAKIRI KUWA WALIDANGANYA.HIVI TUJIULIZE,WAHESHIMIWA WABUNGE WALIPOTAKA MAREKEBISHO HAWAKUWA WANAKARIBISHA USANII KUTOKA KWA WATENDAJI HAO WA HALMASHAURI?HAIHITAJI ELIMU YOYOTE KUTAMBUA KWAMBA MAHESABU YA TAASISI YA UMMA YANAPOKUWA NA KASORO INAASHIRIA UFISADI WA NAMNA FLANI,HIVYO KUWATAKA WAHUSIKA WAREKEBISHE NI MITHILI YA KUWAPA MUDA WA KUFUNIKA UFISADI HUO.

JAPO NAAFIKIANA NA MANTIKI YA KUWAADHIBU WATENDAJI WASIOTEKELEZA MAJUKUMU YAO IPASAVYO,NAPATWA NA WASIWASI NA NAMNA KAMATI HIYO YA BUNGE ILIVYOJIPA MAJUKUMU YA MAHAKAMA NA KUAMUA KUKATA ASILIMIA 15 YA MISHAHARA YA WATENDAJI HUSIKA.HUU NI UKIUKWAJI WA UTAWALA WA SHERIA KWA VILE KAMA ILIBAINIKA KUWAPO KWA UBADHIRIFU WA FEDHA ZA UMAA,MAHALA MWAFAKA PA KUSHUGULIKIA SUALA HILO NI POLISI NA MAHAKAMA.

NA JINGINE LA KUJIULIZA NI NAMNA MAKATO HAYO YATAVYOWEZA KUFIDIA FEDHA ZILIZOIBIWA NA USIMAMIZI WA KUHAKIKISHA KUWA MAKATO HAYO HAYAISHII MFUKONI MWA MAFISADI WENGINE.

MHESHIMIWA CHITALILO (rejea HAPA na HAPA) ANATAMKA BAYANA KWAMBA WATENDAJI HAO WAMETENDA KOSA LA JINAI,LAKINI CHA KUSHANGAZA ANADAI ETI KAMATI IMEWASAMEHE NA BADALA YAKE KUWAAMURU WAKWATWE ASILIMIA HIZO 15 ZA MISHAHARA YAO.HIVI INGEKUWA NI FEDHA ZAKE BINAFSI NDIO ZIMEIBIWA ANGEWEZA KUTOA MAAMUZI YA KUSTAAJABISHA NAMNA HIYO?

HIVI KWA UTARATIBU HUU WA KULEA UZEMBE,UBADHIRIFU,UJAMBAZI NA UFISADI KUNA UWEZEKANO WOWOTE WA KUFIKIA MAISHA BORA KWA KILA MTANZANIA?

TUTAFAKARI!

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"JINO KWA JINO",KUFUTA LESENI ZA SANGOMA KUTAKOMESHA MAUAJI YA MAALBINO?

Hatimaye katika kukabiliana na wimbi la mauaji ya albino,Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda ameagiza leseni za waganga wa jadi wote zifutwe.Majuzi,Pinda alikaririwa akiagiza wananchi kuchukua sheria mkononi kwa kuwaua "wauaji wa maalbino".Hatua zote mbili zinaweza kutofanikiwa kwa vile inaelekea kana kwamba zimechukuliwa pasipo kufanyiwa utafiti wa kina.

Kuruhusu wananchi wafanye "jino kwa jino" dhidi ya wanaoua maalbino kunaweza kulipeleka Taifa mahala pabaya.Taasisi pekee yenye mamlaka ya kuhukumu ni mahakama zetu,na hizo ndio zinazoweza kuhakiki makosa halasi tofauti na majungu,chuki,visasi,nk na haki inatarajiwa kuwa imetendeka pindi hukumu itapokuwa ya kifo au mshtakiwa kuachiwa huru kulingana na ushahidi uliowasilishwa mahakamani.Hilo haliwezekani katika "mahakama za jino kwa jino mitaani".Si ajabu watu waliokosana kwa sababu zao binafsi wakishia kupigana mapanga kwa kisingizio cha "kudhibiti mauaji ya maalbino".Ikumbukwe kuwa ni rahisi kuruhusu uvunjifu wa sheria lakini ni zaidi ya vigumu kurejesha heshima na utiifu kwa sheria.

Tuje kwa hili la kufuta leseni za waganga wa jadi.Je amri hii inamaanisha ni marufuku kwa mtu yeyote kujihusisha na uganga wa jadi au...?Sijaelewa vizuri hapo lakini nahisi inamaanisha hivyo kwani katika hali ya kawaida,kufanya shughuli inayohitaji leseni pasipo kuwa na leseni husika ni uvunjifu wa sheria.Swali la kwanza,hivi ni waganga wa jadi wangapi wenye leseni (tukiachana na hao Maprofesa wanaojitangaza kwenye magazeti kuwa wanatibu ukimwi,wanawezesha kufaulu pasipo kusoma,na miujiza mingine)?Nauliza hivyo kwani haitaleta mnaana yoyote kumfutia mtu leseni ambayo hajawahi kuwa nayo hata siku moja.Swali la pili,je utekelezaji wa amri hiyo utasimamiwa vipi?Polisi watazungukia mganga mmoja hadi mwingine nchi nzima kuhakikisha kuwa hafanyi uganga?

Swali la tatu,je tumefikia hatua ya kufanya maamuzi kwa kigezo cha "samaki mmoja akioza basi wote wameoza"?Nauliza hivyo kwani tafsiri ya moja kwa moja ya kuwafutia leseni masangoma ni kwamba wao ndio wahusika muhimu katika suala la mauaji ya maalbino.Hii "overgeneralization" inatoka wapi?Mbona wale wazembe wa Muhimbili walipompasua kichwa mgonjwa wa goti na wa goti akapasuliwa kichwa walioadhibiwa ni madaktari husika tu na sio kada nzima ya madaktari hapo Muhimbili au nchi nzima?Au mbona ilipobainika kwamba kuna uhuni umefanyika pale BoT kwenye ishu ya EPA,aliyefukuzwa kazi ni Ballali pekee na wengine wameendelea kuwa madarakani hadi leo?Au mbona aliyekuwa balozi wetu huko Italy alipokumbwa na tuhuma za ubadhirifu wa fedha za umma haikupelekea kutimua mabalozi wote?Sasa iweje "uhuni" wa baadhi ya waganga wa jadi upelekee hukumu kwa wote wanaohusika kwenye taaluma hiyo (na yayumkinika kusema kuwa wengi wao-hususan vijijini-ni waadilifu katika kazi yao)?

Naomba nisisitize kwamba hapa simaanishi two wrongs make a right.Hapana,najaribu kuangalia approaches za nyuma katika kukabiliana na matatizo mbalimbali na namna zinavyokinzanna na hii ya ku-revoke leseni za waganga wa jadi.

Kwa wanaofahamu umuhimu wa tiba asili katika jamii husasan katika kipindi hiki cha uchangiaji wa gharama kwenye public health facilities,ni dhahiri hatua ya kuwafutia leseni waganga wote wa jadi itaathiri Watanzania wengi wanaotegemea huduma hizo (aidha kutokana na imani,nature ya maradhi yao au uwezo duni katika kumudu gharama za huduma za afya hospitalini).

Japo ni muhimu sana kutafuta ufumbuzi wa haraka kukomesha mauaji dhidi ya maalbino,ni muhimu zaidi kutumia common sense and viable approaches kuliko hatua ambazo pamoja na nia zake nzuri zinaweza kutuletea matatizo zaidi.Tukirihusu sheria zivunjwe kwa kuruhusu kuua wanaoua maalbino (badala ya kuwafikisha kwenye vyombo vya dola) basi tusishangae pindi baadhi ya wananchi watakapoamua kuchukua sheria mkononi dhidi ya mafisadi,kwa mfano,badala ya kusubiri kesi zilizoko mahakamani,ripoti za tume,nk

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PINDA ATAKA JINO KWA JINO DHIDI YA WANAOUWA ALBINO

KATIKA hali ya isiyo ya kawaida, Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda jana aliwaambia wananchi kuwa wanaoua watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi (albino) pamoja vikongwe ni hawana budi kuuawa kwa kuwa wakisubiri mahakama kuwahukumu, watakuwa wanakosea.

Waziri Pinda, ambaye ameanza ziara katika mikoa ya Kanda ya Ziwa yenye lengo la kuhamasisha vita dhidi ya mauaji ya vikongwe na albino, aliutaka Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM kuongoza vita hiyo, akisema lina jeshi zuri. Mauaji ya albino yamekuwa ni tatizo kubwa nchini na hasa katika mikoa ya Kanda ya Ziwa.

Pamoja na serikali kutangaza hatua kadhaa za kupambana na wauaji hao, bado matukio ya kuuawa kwa watu hao wenye ulemavu wa ngozi yamekuwa yakiendelea kuripotiwa, lakini Waziri Pinda ameenda mbali zaidi katika kukabiliana na tatizo hilo alipotaka wauaji hao wauawe badala ya kufikishwa mbele ya vyombo vya sheria.


Kauli ya Pinda, ambayo inaweka maswali katika suala la utawala bora, imekuja wakati ambao wananchi wamekuwa wakijichukulia sheria mkononi na kuua vikongwe kutokana na imani za uchawi. Akihutubia wakati wa kufungua mkutano wa 16 wa Shirikisho la Vyama vya Kuweka na Kukopa (SCCULT) kwenye ukumbi wa Chuo cha Utumishi Umma mkoani hapa, Waziri Pinda alisema iwapo wananchi wataendelea kuwahurumia wauaji hao ambao wanatafuta viungo vya albino wakitegemea mahakama itatenda haki huku nao wakiongeza kasi ya mauaji kwa Watanzania, watakuwa wanakosea.


Hivyo alisema kwamba kuanzia sasa mtu yeyote atakayemuona mtu amemkata shingo au mkono mweziwe basi naye auawe papo hapo hii itakuwa ndiyo dawa kwani vingozi wote tumechoka na mauji hayo.


"Mkimuona mtu akamkata mwingine shingo naye muueni kwani sasa viongozi wote tumechoka... no more, I can't tolerate anymore (imetosha, siwezi kuvumilia tena)," alisema Pinda huku akiwaacha watu midomo wazi.


Aliviomba vyama vya siasa kushirikiana na wananchi kuhakikisha suala hili la mauji linakwisha kwani wauji "tunaishi nao na ni rahisi kulimaliza iwapo tutakuwa kitu kimoja katika kuondoa kashifa hii ambayo imekuwa mbaya kwa nchi yetu".


Aliuagiza Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM kuhakikisha mauaji hayo yanatokomezwa kabisa, akisema kuwa ni jeshi zuri ambalo likiamua kutokomeza kabisa mauaji ya vikongwe na ndugu zetu maalbino inawezekana.


"Umoja wa vijana mna jeshi zuri ambalo naamini mkiamua mnaweza kutokomeza mauaji ya wazee wetu pmoja na ndugu zetu maalbno na kazi hiyo nawaagiza muanze leo msisubri auawe mwingine tena," alisema waziri mkuu.


Baada ya kumalizika kwa mkutano huo, baadhi ya watu wanaoonekana kuwa ni wa "serikali" waliwafuata baadhi ya waandishi wa habari, akisihi suala hilo lisiripotiwe magazetini kwa madai kuwa kauli hiyo ya Waziri Pinda inaweza kusababisha matatizo.


Rais Jakaya Kikwete, ambaye pia amekuwa mstari wa mbele kupiga vita mauaji hayo, alitofautiana na Waziri Pinda katika moja ya hotuba zake aliposema kuwa adhabu ya kuua haitofautishi muuaji wa albino na muuaji mwingine na kwamba watakaopatikana na hatia ya kuua albino, atakabiliana na adhabu ya kifo kama ilivyo kwa muuaji mwingine.


Waziri Pinda alionekana kukerwa na mauaji ya albino wakati alipopata taarifa kwamba kuna mama mwingine aliuawa usiku wa kuamkia juzi.


"Nimeambiwa kuwa juzi wilayani Sengerema kuna mama mmoja ambaye ni mlemavu wa ngozi amekatwa mkono na wauaji wakaondoka na mkono huo na tayari mama huyo amekufa," alisema Pinda na kusisitiza kushughulikia wauaji hao. Akitoa takwimu za mauaji ya vikongwe na malbino alisema mwaka 2003 waliuwawa vikongwe 517, mwaka 2004 waliuawa vikongwe 444, mwaka 2005 (494), 2006 (vikongwe 386), mwaka 2007 (vikongwe 526) na albino sita na mwaka 2008 (vikongwe 526 na albino 28). Alisema tayari mwaka huu wameuawa albino watatu hivyo kufanya albino na vikongwe waliouawa kufikia kuwa jumla 2,900.


Waziri mkuu ameanza ziara ya siku nne kutembelea mikoa ya Shinyanga, Tabora na Mwanza ili kuhamasisha wananchi watokomeze vitendo vya mauaji ya vikongwe na watu weye ulemavu wa ngozi.

CHANZO: Mwananchi

WHILE NOT CONDONING THE EVIL DEEDS BY THOSE WHO KILL THE ALBINOS ,I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THIS "AN-EYE-FOR-AN-EYE STYLE OF RULE OF LAW" COULD BE EFFECTIVE IN ELIMINATING THIS PROBLEM!I'M EVEN MORE SCARED OF A POSSIBILITY THAT UVCCM MIGHT TURN THIS THING INTO A POLITICAL CRUSADE...CLAIMING CHADEMA ARE BEHIND THE ALBINO KILLINGS,FOR INSTANCE...WE ALL KNOW HOW DIRTY OUR POLITICS GETS WHEN THE YOUTH WINGS OF OUR PARTIES ARE MOBILIZED TO EXHAUST WHATEVER MEANS THEY HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME SENSITIVE ISSUES IN OUR SOCIETY...

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