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Ukawa’s Co- Chairperson, James Mbatia
By Sylivester Domasa
True to fears shared by the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Ndugai has announced that report findings on the controversial Independent Power Tanzania Ltd cannot be discussed by parliament because the matter is still with the High Court.
However, legislators argue that, the country’s statute maintains that the judicial has no powers to interfere legislative proceedings.
Ndugai’s announcement comes in the wake of mounting allegations of a government conspiracy to thwart the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into the scandal that has so far seeing several national budget contributors withhold their funding.
PAC, which has received a probe report on the ITPL saga from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) was to submit its recommendations to the National Assembly Speaker next week for House deliberation on November 27.
Speaking to journalist here yesterday, Ukawa’s Co- Chairperson James Mbatia shared his concerns that there are ongoing covert operations to subvert parliament from reviewing the documents.
Accompanied by Ukawa’s Legal Adviser Tundu Lissu, Mkanyageni MP Habib Mnyaa (CUF) and several other members of the coalition in the Parliament, Mbatia said the CAG report has indicated that the Tegeta Escrow Account had tax payers’ monies.
“It's clear that several government officials have been implicated in the report, however that shouldn't be a reason for the government to stop the debate,” he said.
“The parliament’s role is to oversee the government and advice where possible…but, there are reports that the Chief Justice wrote a letter to parliament seeking to prevent the debate,” he said.
“They want to postpone the debate on grounds that the matter is still with the court but the country statute maintains that the judiciary has no power to interfere with legislative proceedings,” he clarified.
He said the coalition wants enough time to debate the matter and that all those implicated should be booked for legal proceedings and other political disciplinary actions.
“We only want justice,” Mbatia reassured stakeholders.
“We want parliamentarians to be given ample time to go through the reports as quickly as possible so that they can discuss the content with authenticity,” he explained noting that a single day is not sufficient to debate the matter and so the remaining ‘bunge’ five days (next week) should be spared to debate the matter.
“All other activities should be cancelled and given another time but we have to discuss the scandal at least for five days,” emphasized the legislator.
Tundu Lissu seconded the stand arguing that the report must be discussed in parliament and all necessary legal and political actions be taken against all individuals implicated.
“They shouldn't try to stop this debate,” he said.
True to fears shared by the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Ndugai has announced that report findings on the controversial Independent Power Tanzania Ltd cannot be discussed by parliament because the matter is still with the High Court.
However, legislators argue that, the country’s statute maintains that the judicial has no powers to interfere legislative proceedings.
Ndugai’s announcement comes in the wake of mounting allegations of a government conspiracy to thwart the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) investigation into the scandal that has so far seeing several national budget contributors withhold their funding.
PAC, which has received a probe report on the ITPL saga from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) was to submit its recommendations to the National Assembly Speaker next week for House deliberation on November 27.
Speaking to journalist here yesterday, Ukawa’s Co- Chairperson James Mbatia shared his concerns that there are ongoing covert operations to subvert parliament from reviewing the documents.
Accompanied by Ukawa’s Legal Adviser Tundu Lissu, Mkanyageni MP Habib Mnyaa (CUF) and several other members of the coalition in the Parliament, Mbatia said the CAG report has indicated that the Tegeta Escrow Account had tax payers’ monies.
“It's clear that several government officials have been implicated in the report, however that shouldn't be a reason for the government to stop the debate,” he said.
“The parliament’s role is to oversee the government and advice where possible…but, there are reports that the Chief Justice wrote a letter to parliament seeking to prevent the debate,” he said.
“They want to postpone the debate on grounds that the matter is still with the court but the country statute maintains that the judiciary has no power to interfere with legislative proceedings,” he clarified.
He said the coalition wants enough time to debate the matter and that all those implicated should be booked for legal proceedings and other political disciplinary actions.
“We only want justice,” Mbatia reassured stakeholders.
“We want parliamentarians to be given ample time to go through the reports as quickly as possible so that they can discuss the content with authenticity,” he explained noting that a single day is not sufficient to debate the matter and so the remaining ‘bunge’ five days (next week) should be spared to debate the matter.
“All other activities should be cancelled and given another time but we have to discuss the scandal at least for five days,” emphasized the legislator.
Tundu Lissu seconded the stand arguing that the report must be discussed in parliament and all necessary legal and political actions be taken against all individuals implicated.
“They shouldn't try to stop this debate,” he said.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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