MEMBERS of Parliament on Friday criticized Kenya's move to start building an International Airport at Taveta, only seven kilometres inside Kenya near the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
They argued that the move smacked of economic sabotage to Tanzania and against East African Community Protocols that discourage investments that compete as this.
The move, by Kenya, a partner in the East Africa Community, was noted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs as likely to pose a challenge to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and the country's economy in the northern circuit.
Former Prime Minister, Mr Edward Lowassa (Monduli- CCM), who is the head of the committee, said they had declared and opposed the neighbouring country's move and asked the minister for East African Community, Mr Sammuel Sitta, to immediately implement the resolution.
"We reject the move by Kenya and this is not going to stop here as the minister will implement the resolution, Tanzania has KIA and they plan to build at Taveta just near another international airport? That is sabotage," he said.
Kenyan officials say that the new airport to be located a short distance from Holili, the border post between the two countries on the Moshi-Voi-Mombasa highway, is aimed at tapping the tourism potential in both Kenya and Tanzania.
Also to be built in the area is an inland port to handle cargo traffic from Mombasa to the hinterland and landlocked countries in the region and northern regions, especially Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara.
The Committee was also shocked following revelations that the Ministry of East Africa Community was operating in the worst financial squeeze among all other ministries.
Members raised concern over the case of the ministry's budget operating on a 1.3bn/- debt annually, as it gets 11bn/- and remains with only 3bn/- after its annual contribution of 8bn/- to the EAC.
Mr Sitta said that the ministry was operating without a research unit that would enable them to inform Tanzanians about the implications of the steps the Community was taking and where they can take advantage of opportunities across the region.
He said halting the flow of finances to the ministry has constrained many crucial activities that would be important to Tanzanians.
The Maswa MP, Mr John Shibuda, asked if the central government would take corrective measures to facilitate the ministry such that it works more diligently for the benefit of Tanzanians.
"There is a need for intense research by this ministry, otherwise our move into the community will be like a shot in the dark, for each step that we make," he said.
The MP for Manyoni East, Captain John Chiligati, said that since the EAC is meant to be people-centred, it was only prudent to significantly scale up the budget.
si tulliwaambia wanasiasa wetu hapo nyma kuwa Wakenya wanajali masilahi yao tu,na ingekuwa wamejitosheleza kwa kila kitu wasingedai hata hii jumuia,sisi kama mbwa aliyemuona chatu tumejiingiza wazima wazima,Kenya kama nchi na wananchi wao hawaipendi Tanzania na watanzania kwa ujumla,kila siku wanatupinga ili kuimarisha maslahi yao,kwanza walianza na kuweka vikwazo pale tulipotaka kuuza pembe za ndovu,mara tena wanapiga kampeni tusijenge barabara ya lami kupitia Serengeti ilihali wao wamejenga barabara ya lami kule Narok na inapita mbugani,sasa tena wanataka kujenga uwamja wa kimataifa hapo mpakani sasa najiuliza huo ndio ushirikiano gani?lililobaki ni kuwatosa hao manyang'auMEMBERS of Parliament on Friday criticized Kenya's move to start building an International Airport at Taveta, only seven kilometres inside Kenya near the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA).
They argued that the move smacked of economic sabotage to Tanzania and against East African Community Protocols that discourage investments that compete as this.
The move, by Kenya, a partner in the East Africa Community, was noted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs as likely to pose a challenge to the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and the country's economy in the northern circuit.
Former Prime Minister, Mr Edward Lowassa (Monduli- CCM), who is the head of the committee, said they had declared and opposed the neighbouring country's move and asked the minister for East African Community, Mr Sammuel Sitta, to immediately implement the resolution.
"We reject the move by Kenya and this is not going to stop here as the minister will implement the resolution, Tanzania has KIA and they plan to build at Taveta just near another international airport? That is sabotage," he said.
Kenyan officials say that the new airport to be located a short distance from Holili, the border post between the two countries on the Moshi-Voi-Mombasa highway, is aimed at tapping the tourism potential in both Kenya and Tanzania.
Also to be built in the area is an inland port to handle cargo traffic from Mombasa to the hinterland and landlocked countries in the region and northern regions, especially Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Manyara.
The Committee was also shocked following revelations that the Ministry of East Africa Community was operating in the worst financial squeeze among all other ministries.
Members raised concern over the case of the ministry's budget operating on a 1.3bn/- debt annually, as it gets 11bn/- and remains with only 3bn/- after its annual contribution of 8bn/- to the EAC.
Mr Sitta said that the ministry was operating without a research unit that would enable them to inform Tanzanians about the implications of the steps the Community was taking and where they can take advantage of opportunities across the region.
He said halting the flow of finances to the ministry has constrained many crucial activities that would be important to Tanzanians.
The Maswa MP, Mr John Shibuda, asked if the central government would take corrective measures to facilitate the ministry such that it works more diligently for the benefit of Tanzanians.
"There is a need for intense research by this ministry, otherwise our move into the community will be like a shot in the dark, for each step that we make," he said.
The MP for Manyoni East, Captain John Chiligati, said that since the EAC is meant to be people-centred, it was only prudent to significantly scale up the budget.
Na kwa nini sisi Tusiuendeleze huu uwanja na kuutangaza ili ujulikane kimataifa,Hawa Kenya wameshaona udhaifu wetu na wenyewe ndo wanaanzia hapo.Kuna habari kuwa Watalii wengi wajao Tanzani hutumia uwanja wa Jomo Kenyata na kuukwepa huu wa KIA na JKNA
The Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence, Security and Foreign Affairs opposes the proposed Taveta airport, arguing that it will pose stiff competition to the Tanzania's second largest airport, KIA.
Hao ndio Kenya Bwana! Tena wazungu wote wanaokuja Mt. Kilimnjaro watatumia huo uwanja maana wenzetu kwa huduma wako juu si viwanja wala bandari Tz hamna kitu. Ukishuka JK Nyerere unasikia joto utadhani umeingia kwenye tanuru, tofauti na Jomo Kenyata. Nadhnani tunahitaji ushindani ili tuboreshe huduma.
Kama KIA umetushinda kuufanyia marekebisho,basi JKNA ufanyiwe marekebisho makubwa na tuirudishe na kuifanyia marekebisho makubwa railway line ya kutoka Dar-Tanga-Arusha ili basi watalii watumie JKNA na kuchukua train ya kutoka Dar mpaka Arusha.
"We want to see the Taveta/Holili border region fully integrated for investments and business, " he said, adding that his country would upgrade the Mombasa-Taveta railway line to attract more traffic, especially to northern Tanzania.
Unajua Kenya tayari walikuwa na plan [mikakati] zao siku nyingi na sasa wanaanza kuzitekeleza moja baada ya nyingine.Kenya wanajua wakijenga uwanja wa ndege Taveta watapata watalii wengi na kazi ya kuuza safari itakuwa si ngumu sana.Uwanja wa Taveta utakuwa karibu sana na mlima Kilimanjaro kuliko uwanja wa ndege wa [KIA] Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Sasa hivi Kenya wanapigania shughuli za utangazaji wa vivutio vya utalii Afrika mashariki ziwe chini ya EAC.kwa maneno rahisi mtalii akitua Kenya na baadae akipenda kuja Tanzania kusiwe na vikwazo.Tukirudi nyuma Kenya walikuwa wakijitangaza mlima Kilimanjaro uko kwao sasa wanajenga uwanja wa ndege kilometa chache sana kutoka kwenye mlima huo maarufu na mrefu kuliko yote Afrika.Tanzania kwa upande wake iko kimya haulizi kulikono Kenya ijenge wanja wa ndege mpakani na Tanzania,walengwa ni kinanani haswa ?.Tanzania imefanya juhudi kubwa siku za karibuni kutangaza vivutio vyake lakini sasa nahofia tutarudi kule kule kwasababu ya hili dude EAC ambalo halina faida yoyote kwa Tanzania na wananchi wake kwa ujumla.
Ipo haja kwa wananchi wa Tanzania kupinga kwa nguvu zao zote muungano wa EAC kwasababu kila kipengele utakachokitazama utakuta sisi tupata hasara kuliko faida.
Yaelekea Watanzania wengi bado hawajajua kwamba huu ni wakati wa ushindani. Kama sisi wenyewe hatuwezi kushindana kwa nini kuilaumu Kenya? Wengi wa wanaoilaumu Kenya kwa kuchukua hatua ya kujenga uwanja wa ndege, hawajawahi kusafiri kutokea au kuingilia KIA waone udhalili, ujinga na outright incompetence ya wafanyakazi pale. Umesikia wapi mtu kama hana yellow fever certificate anachajiwa dola 50? Hizo dola 50 ndiyo zitamfanya asiambukize kama anayo hiyo yellow fever? Binafsi nimechoka kupitia KIA, ghali, mizigo hucheleweshwa na wafanyakazi wawatolea jicho wageni kila siku wakijitahidi kuvumbua njia za kula rushwa. Acha Wakenya watupumzishe na upumbavu huu.
I hate kenya and always i'll...
Waacheni wajenge maana wanadhani sisi tutabaki hivi milele, watapata hasara baadae. yana mwisho haya.Hivi wakati chichi tunachema mlikuwa wapi? Hata mwalimu walipoua EAC alifunga mpaka hawa jamaa ngoja tuwaondoe CCM kwanza ndio watafahamu nini kilichowapata makaburu Rhodesia na SA
Waacheni wajenge maana wanadhani sisi tutabaki hivi milele, watapata hasara baadae. yana mwisho haya.
CCM wakiondoka madarakani mambo yatabadilika sana. Tutajiimarisha kiuchumi na tutafanya mambo yetu kwa ufanisi. Huo ndo utakuwa mwisho wao.