Kizungumkuti Dowans
Kizungumkuti Dowans
- Thread starter ngoshwe
- Start date
Edwin Mtei
Senior Member
- Dec 13, 2008
- 181
- 342
Nimekuwa kimya siku nyingi nikisoma tu michango ya wanaJF juu ya suala hili la Dowans na matatizo ya TANESCO. Naomba kwa leo nitoe background kidogo jinsi ninavyolielewa.
Pesa za EPA zilizosombwa toka BoT na Rostam Aziz mwaka 2005, zikapelekwa CRDB branches za Dar es Salaam ni jambo ambalo hakuna ubishi. Ni sehemu ya historia ya Benki Kuu ya Tanzania.
Kuna hata ripoti kwamba Gavana Ballali ndiye alishauri fedha hizo zitumike baada ya bosi wake Benjamin Mkapa kumwuliza ushauri juu ya namna ya kupata fedha za kampeni za CCM "kumsaidia huyu malaika"! Inasemekana kwamba TShs 40 bilioni, zikitokea EPA, zilipasishwa na Rostam Aziz kwa CCM, wakati huo akiwa ni Treasurer wa Chama cha Mapinduzi. Zilimsaidia "malaika" kweli!! Akashinda kwa kishindo!
Pamoja na kuunda kampuni ya Kagoda Agriculture Limited, R.A. alitumia fedha nyingine za EPA kuagiza turbines (mitambo ya umeme), kampuni feki ya Richmond Development,PLC. ikiingia katika mkataba na TANESCO kuzalisha umeme wa dharura. WanaJF mnafahamu kuwa kulikuwa na shinikizo toka kwa wakubwa ili mkataba huu utiwe saini haraka haraka.
Mkataba ulikuwa unalazimisha TANESCO walipe "capacity charges" hata wakati mitambo haitumiki kuzalisha umeme. Mitambo haitumiki wakati Tanesco wanazalisha umeme wa kutosheleza kwa kutumia mitambo yake ya kawaida kama maporomoko na mabwawa ya Mtera, Kihansi, Hale. Myumba ya Mungu na mitambo yao ya dizeli ya Ubungo n.k.
Itakumbukwa kwamba janja janja hizi zilifichuka wakati Kamati ya Mwakyembe ilipoundwa Bungeni mwaka wa 2007/2008. Ikabainika kuwa sio tu Richmond ilikuwa kampuni feki, bali hata uwezo wake uliotangazwa na kuzingatiwa katika kufikiwa bei, haukuwa sahihi. Ndipo pia ilipobainika kwamba kulikuwa na undue pressure toka kwa mawaziri ili mkataba usainiwe. Matokeo yake ni kwamba Waziri Mkuu na mawaziri wengine wawili walilazimika kujiuzulu.
Baada ya kashfa ya Richmond, kampuni ya Dowans (Tanzania) Ltd ikajitokeza ikanunua na kuridhi mitambo na mashughuli ya Richmond. Ilisemekana hisa za Dowans (Tanzania) Ltd hapo mwanzo zilikuwa za Mwana Mfalme wa Kiarabu. Lakini huyu Prince amekanusha kuwa hahusiki. Mwenye hisa mwingine, Dowans (Costa Rica) ni feki pia, kwa vile Serikali ya Costa Rica imethibitisha kuwa hakuna kampuni yenye jina hilo ktk orodha ya kampuni zake.
Nimesoma hii hukumu ya ICC, na kesi ilivyoendeshwa huko Paris; na Rostam Aziz anatajwa kwamba ni mmoja wa wanaohusika katika umilikaji wa Dowans (Tanzania) Limited.
Kutokana na maelezo niliyotoa, hasa kuhusiana na kuwa Richmond na Dowans ni kampuni feki, zinazohusiana na ukwapuaji wa fedha za umma toka Benki Kuu 2005 na ufisadi wa hali ya juu hapa nchini, hakuna uhalali wowote wa kulipa fedha za Serikali ama za TANESCO kwa Dowans.
Napendekeza kwamba, licha ya masharti ya Ibara Na. 24(2) ya Katiba yetu inayokataza kutaifisha mali ya mtu binafsi bila fidia, Serikali ya Tanzania ina uhalali wa kutwaa mali zote za hii kampuni bila fidia.
Kama ni kweli kwamba Richmond na Dowans chanzo chao ni fedha za EPA zilizokwapuliwa toka Benki Kuu ya Tanzania, hata hawa wakubwa wanastahili kufunguliwa kesi za jinai.
Sometimes I wish Mwalimu Nyerere was alive.
Pesa za EPA zilizosombwa toka BoT na Rostam Aziz mwaka 2005, zikapelekwa CRDB branches za Dar es Salaam ni jambo ambalo hakuna ubishi. Ni sehemu ya historia ya Benki Kuu ya Tanzania.
Kuna hata ripoti kwamba Gavana Ballali ndiye alishauri fedha hizo zitumike baada ya bosi wake Benjamin Mkapa kumwuliza ushauri juu ya namna ya kupata fedha za kampeni za CCM "kumsaidia huyu malaika"! Inasemekana kwamba TShs 40 bilioni, zikitokea EPA, zilipasishwa na Rostam Aziz kwa CCM, wakati huo akiwa ni Treasurer wa Chama cha Mapinduzi. Zilimsaidia "malaika" kweli!! Akashinda kwa kishindo!
Pamoja na kuunda kampuni ya Kagoda Agriculture Limited, R.A. alitumia fedha nyingine za EPA kuagiza turbines (mitambo ya umeme), kampuni feki ya Richmond Development,PLC. ikiingia katika mkataba na TANESCO kuzalisha umeme wa dharura. WanaJF mnafahamu kuwa kulikuwa na shinikizo toka kwa wakubwa ili mkataba huu utiwe saini haraka haraka.
Mkataba ulikuwa unalazimisha TANESCO walipe "capacity charges" hata wakati mitambo haitumiki kuzalisha umeme. Mitambo haitumiki wakati Tanesco wanazalisha umeme wa kutosheleza kwa kutumia mitambo yake ya kawaida kama maporomoko na mabwawa ya Mtera, Kihansi, Hale. Myumba ya Mungu na mitambo yao ya dizeli ya Ubungo n.k.
Itakumbukwa kwamba janja janja hizi zilifichuka wakati Kamati ya Mwakyembe ilipoundwa Bungeni mwaka wa 2007/2008. Ikabainika kuwa sio tu Richmond ilikuwa kampuni feki, bali hata uwezo wake uliotangazwa na kuzingatiwa katika kufikiwa bei, haukuwa sahihi. Ndipo pia ilipobainika kwamba kulikuwa na undue pressure toka kwa mawaziri ili mkataba usainiwe. Matokeo yake ni kwamba Waziri Mkuu na mawaziri wengine wawili walilazimika kujiuzulu.
Baada ya kashfa ya Richmond, kampuni ya Dowans (Tanzania) Ltd ikajitokeza ikanunua na kuridhi mitambo na mashughuli ya Richmond. Ilisemekana hisa za Dowans (Tanzania) Ltd hapo mwanzo zilikuwa za Mwana Mfalme wa Kiarabu. Lakini huyu Prince amekanusha kuwa hahusiki. Mwenye hisa mwingine, Dowans (Costa Rica) ni feki pia, kwa vile Serikali ya Costa Rica imethibitisha kuwa hakuna kampuni yenye jina hilo ktk orodha ya kampuni zake.
Nimesoma hii hukumu ya ICC, na kesi ilivyoendeshwa huko Paris; na Rostam Aziz anatajwa kwamba ni mmoja wa wanaohusika katika umilikaji wa Dowans (Tanzania) Limited.
Kutokana na maelezo niliyotoa, hasa kuhusiana na kuwa Richmond na Dowans ni kampuni feki, zinazohusiana na ukwapuaji wa fedha za umma toka Benki Kuu 2005 na ufisadi wa hali ya juu hapa nchini, hakuna uhalali wowote wa kulipa fedha za Serikali ama za TANESCO kwa Dowans.
Napendekeza kwamba, licha ya masharti ya Ibara Na. 24(2) ya Katiba yetu inayokataza kutaifisha mali ya mtu binafsi bila fidia, Serikali ya Tanzania ina uhalali wa kutwaa mali zote za hii kampuni bila fidia.
Kama ni kweli kwamba Richmond na Dowans chanzo chao ni fedha za EPA zilizokwapuliwa toka Benki Kuu ya Tanzania, hata hawa wakubwa wanastahili kufunguliwa kesi za jinai.
Sometimes I wish Mwalimu Nyerere was alive.
Mimibaba
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 1, 2009
- 4,557
- 1,294
Muweke kwenye ignore listb yako
Kamakabuzi
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 3, 2007
- 2,903
- 1,360
Tanesco ilikubali uhaulishwaji wa mkataba under duress (kwa kulazimishwa na serikali). Nini matokeo ya mkataba ulioingiwa kwa kulazimishwa?
Candid Scope
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 8, 2010
- 11,897
- 6,925
MMiliki wa Dowans anang'ang'ania pesa hizo ili akimbie nchi, maana anaona maji kuzidi kina
Juaangavu
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 3, 2009
- 935
- 132
Jamani, hakuna anayeweza saidia tukapata copy ya hiyo hukumu hapa jamvini, nasi tukapata fursa ya kulisha ubongo wetu na kile kilichoko ndani ya hiyo hukumu! Duh! Tanzania yangu mashule hayana madawati, walim wamekopwa, hospital hazina dawa, huduma za jamii mbofu mbofu lakini kuna mijizi inaiba ki-ulaini namna hiii? Hapana tena hapana!
Albert Msando
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 2, 2010
- 1,019
- 171
Wasalaam,
Leo wanaJF tuvisaidie vyama vyetu vya upinzani kujua wajibu wao wakati wa matatizo kama huu.
Je ni makosa kwa vyama hivyo kuchukulia matatizo yetu kama mtaji wao wa kisiasa kuingia ikulu au kuchukua madaraka?
Naamini wapo baadhi ya viongozi kama sio wote wa vyama vya upinzani wanafurahi matatizo yanayotokana na udhaifu mkubwa wa chama tawala hivyo basi badala ya kusaidia utatuzi wa matatizo hayo wao wanasubiria muda wao ufike! Je wanaamini kwamba wakiingia madarakani ndio watatatua matatizo ya wananchi? Je ni kwa kiasi gani wananchi waendelee kusubiri ukombozi wao?!
Je vyama vya upinzani vina nafasi gani ya kusema na kutetea wananchi katika haya yafuatayo,
1. Malipo ya Dowans
2. Deni la taifa
3. Migomo ya wanafunzi
4. Kufeli kwa wanafunzi wa kidato cha nne
5. Ukosefu wa ajira
6. Na mengine mengi!
Nini wafanye? Au wasubiri zamu yao wakiwa madarakani? Nini mawazo yako ewe Mfikiri Mkuu 'Great Thinker'?
Leo wanaJF tuvisaidie vyama vyetu vya upinzani kujua wajibu wao wakati wa matatizo kama huu.
Je ni makosa kwa vyama hivyo kuchukulia matatizo yetu kama mtaji wao wa kisiasa kuingia ikulu au kuchukua madaraka?
Naamini wapo baadhi ya viongozi kama sio wote wa vyama vya upinzani wanafurahi matatizo yanayotokana na udhaifu mkubwa wa chama tawala hivyo basi badala ya kusaidia utatuzi wa matatizo hayo wao wanasubiria muda wao ufike! Je wanaamini kwamba wakiingia madarakani ndio watatatua matatizo ya wananchi? Je ni kwa kiasi gani wananchi waendelee kusubiri ukombozi wao?!
Je vyama vya upinzani vina nafasi gani ya kusema na kutetea wananchi katika haya yafuatayo,
1. Malipo ya Dowans
2. Deni la taifa
3. Migomo ya wanafunzi
4. Kufeli kwa wanafunzi wa kidato cha nne
5. Ukosefu wa ajira
6. Na mengine mengi!
Nini wafanye? Au wasubiri zamu yao wakiwa madarakani? Nini mawazo yako ewe Mfikiri Mkuu 'Great Thinker'?
Mimi nadhani hata wakili anayetetea uchafu kama huu apigwe akitokea huko mahakamani kutetea ujinga kama huu! Tanzania tuko makondoo sana ndiyo maana watu wanaichezea hii nchi. Hivi huyo wakili yeye ni raia wa nchi gani?? Anakwenda kumtetea nani kwa faida ya nani? Hivi akirudi nyumbani kwake anawaambia watoto wake ametoka kuwaandalia nini kwa ajili ya maisha yao ya baadaye? Kwanini asirudishwe huko kwao kuendelea kufunga mizigo ya mtama?
Mpasuajipu
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 22, 2010
- 836
- 50
Huyo wakili ni nani Mtanzania au taifa gani?
Accounti ya DOWANS iko wapi na nani watakao saini kuchomoa pesa?
Kwani DOWANS ni mtu? si kuna watu nyuma yake ni kina nani hao watajwe?
Accounti ya DOWANS iko wapi na nani watakao saini kuchomoa pesa?
Kwani DOWANS ni mtu? si kuna watu nyuma yake ni kina nani hao watajwe?
Mohammed Hamad
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 17, 2011
- 3,988
- 1,308
Null and voidable on the eyes of law
Mutakyamirwa
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 24, 2011
- 4,942
- 1,358
Kama wakili akijulikana na atakuwepo mahakamani, huyo ni 'source' nzuri ya kujua wamiliki dowans ni hakina nani?
PMNBuko
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 27, 2010
- 967
- 154
Anafahamika kuwa ni Wakili wa siku nyingi wa Rostam Aziz. Rejea ile kesi Rostam alipofungua kesi dhidi ya Gazeti la Mwanahalisi mwaka 2008 kuhusu tuhuma za Richmond. Huyo Bwana ndiye aliyemtetea RZ. Kwa hiyo, lazima watanzania tuandamane hadi mahakama kuu kupinga malipo hayo. Ni akina RZ, ER, NK,NM etc wanatuumiza hawa! Washindwe!!
Gurudumu
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 5, 2008
- 2,349
- 264
Msando, Kama kweli wanasubiri zamu yao nadhani watasubiri hadi watakapokufa, labda wakubali tu kuolewa na chama tawala. Nadharia mpya tunayojifunza kutoka nchi za afrika mashariki ni kwamba demokrasia ya upigaji kura afrika haiwezi kuleta mabadiliko. Tusingependa kugeuka Somalia bali ni vema kujifunza kutoka Tunisia au Misri
Mtu wa Mungu
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 9, 2010
- 444
- 19
Source: MwanaHALISI Jumatano Januari 26, 2011 imeripoti kwamba:-
1: CC ya CCM-serikali ilipe Dowans;
2: Taarifa kutoka serikalini na CCM, ndani ya kikao cha CC ya CCM-hakukuwa na ajenda yo yote iliyojadili suala hilo, badala yake suala hilo lilitamkwa ndani ya kikao na Rais Kikwete, "hayo mambo ambayo Chiligati ameyatangaza si yetu; ni yake; Kamati Kuu haikujadili suala la malipo ya Dowans" ameeleza mjumbe mmoja wa CC kwa sharti la kutotajwa gazetini;
3: UV-CCM-Dowans asilipwe; suala lirudi bungeni;
4: Kamati ya Wabunge wa CCM-Mwakyembe akamwaga nyongo "...mnahangaika nini? Aliyetufikisha hapa ni mtu mmoja; anaitwa Rostam Aziz. Serikali ifanye kila linalowezekana kuhakikisha fedha hizi hazilipwi.";
Hapo nyuma niliwahi kusoma mahali fulani kwamba Rostam Aziz ana makampuni 17 hapa nchini, ambayo yote yameandikishwa kwa majina ya watu wengine!!!!!!!!!! Je siyo kweli kwamb CCM na serikali yake pia ni miongoni mwa makampuni ya Rostam Aziz hapa nchini?????????? Yule Mgiriki Nyerere alimweka ndani na kisha kumtimua nchini kwa kudai tu kwamba ameweka serikali ya Nyerere mfukoni!!!; Rostam Aziz ni mjumbe wa CC ya CCM, mbunge wa CCM-yaani ameweka mfukoni chama tawala na serikali yake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kila Mtanzania anajua kuwa chimbuko la matatizo ya Richmond, Dowans, Merermeta, EPA, nk ni Rostam Aziz, lakini bado anapeta, tena bila hofu!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kweli nchi imekwisha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1: CC ya CCM-serikali ilipe Dowans;
2: Taarifa kutoka serikalini na CCM, ndani ya kikao cha CC ya CCM-hakukuwa na ajenda yo yote iliyojadili suala hilo, badala yake suala hilo lilitamkwa ndani ya kikao na Rais Kikwete, "hayo mambo ambayo Chiligati ameyatangaza si yetu; ni yake; Kamati Kuu haikujadili suala la malipo ya Dowans" ameeleza mjumbe mmoja wa CC kwa sharti la kutotajwa gazetini;
3: UV-CCM-Dowans asilipwe; suala lirudi bungeni;
4: Kamati ya Wabunge wa CCM-Mwakyembe akamwaga nyongo "...mnahangaika nini? Aliyetufikisha hapa ni mtu mmoja; anaitwa Rostam Aziz. Serikali ifanye kila linalowezekana kuhakikisha fedha hizi hazilipwi.";
Hapo nyuma niliwahi kusoma mahali fulani kwamba Rostam Aziz ana makampuni 17 hapa nchini, ambayo yote yameandikishwa kwa majina ya watu wengine!!!!!!!!!! Je siyo kweli kwamb CCM na serikali yake pia ni miongoni mwa makampuni ya Rostam Aziz hapa nchini?????????? Yule Mgiriki Nyerere alimweka ndani na kisha kumtimua nchini kwa kudai tu kwamba ameweka serikali ya Nyerere mfukoni!!!; Rostam Aziz ni mjumbe wa CC ya CCM, mbunge wa CCM-yaani ameweka mfukoni chama tawala na serikali yake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kila Mtanzania anajua kuwa chimbuko la matatizo ya Richmond, Dowans, Merermeta, EPA, nk ni Rostam Aziz, lakini bado anapeta, tena bila hofu!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kweli nchi imekwisha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sungi
Senior Member
- Apr 29, 2009
- 149
- 47
7th January 11
DOWANS SCANDAL...High Court to set aside ICC ruling
ThisDay Reporter
THE High Court of Tanzania will likely reject a ruling of the Paris-based International Court of Arbitration (ICC) that awarded highly controversial payments in favour of Dowans Holdings SA (Costa Rica)/Dowans Tanzania Limited, it has been revealed.
According to top legal experts in government, the High Court is well-placed to reject the ICC ruling because of gross irregularities in the proceedings of the case and the illegality of the actual ruling itself.
Section 15 of the Arbitration Act gives the High Court of Tanzania outright powers to dismiss the ICC ruling.
"Where an arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or an arbitration or award has been improperly procured, the court may set aside the award," says the legislation in part.
Before Dowans can claim any payment of funds, the complete ruling of the ICC has to be registered at the High Court of Tanzania to become enforceable by law.
But legal experts say enforcement of the ICC ruling would be unconstitutional because it would directly contravene the country's Public Procurement Act of 2004.
"One of the major flaws of the ICC ruling is that it unlawfully attempts to give legality to the Richmond/Dowans contract, which was deemed illegal under Tanzania's Public Procurement Act," a respected government lawyer told THISDAY.
The 2006 tender process was hijacked from TANESCO by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and high-level government officials.
Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa appointed a government negotiation team that finally awarded the contract to Richmond against TANESCO's expert advice.
"Section 31 of the Public Procurement Act explicitly states that no public body shall award any contract unless the award has been approved by the appropriate tender board," he said.
"Under the country's law, the Richmond/Dowans contract is the product of an illegal tendering system because it was not awarded by TANESCO's own tender board."
This was the basis for TANESCO's ultimate decision to terminate the contract assigned to Dowans Tanzania Limited by Richmond.
The dubious ICC ruling, which has not been fully made public by the International Chamber of Commerce itself, Dowans nor the government, orders the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to pay Dowans tens of millions of dollars.
Contrary to a popularly quoted figure of 185.5 billion/-, it is understood that ICC has ordered TANESCO to pay Dowans around $64.2 million (97 billion/-), which is still a colossal amount of money.
"The High Court has power to either bless the ICC ruling or set it aside. In this case, since the ruling goes against the law of the land, the High Court will have little choice but to reject it," said another official close to the judiciary.
Well-placed government officials told THISDAY there was intense lobbying to ensure the government makes the payment ordered by ICC to the proprietors of Dowans as quickly as possible.
"Payment vouchers have been prepared at Treasury and all the relevant paperwork is ready to make swift payment to Dowans after the final go ahead is given," an official in the Ministry of Finance told THISDAY.
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Attorney General Frederick Werema have separately issued controversial statements suggesting that the government was ready to make the illegal payment to Dowans.
However, legal experts say the government appears to be strangely rushing to make the payment while there is legal recourse for TANESCO to avoid the crippling payment.
The cash-strapped TANESCO has raised power tariffs by 18.5 percent effectively from January 1, but says it is still operating at a huge loss primarily due to monthly capacity charges being paid to Songas Limited and Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL).
TANESCO's average monthly revenue collection amounts to around 40 billion/-.
Each month, the state-run power utility pays 6.1 billion/- to Songas and another 3.5 billion to IPTL in capacity charges alone, amounting to a staggering 9.6 billion/-.
"TANESCO spends another 5.5 billion/- each month to service a syndicated loan and doles out another 5 billion/- per month for various contractual commitments," said an official close to the energy sector.
"If TANESCO is forced to pay Dowans on the basis of the ICC ruling, just as it was forced to sign the Richmond/Dowans contract, this company will collapse."
TANESCO secured a syndicated loan of 300 billion/- in 2007 from various local commercial banks.
The highly-indebted public utility also recently obtained a loan of $468 million (approx. 700 billion/-) from the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund to strengthen the power transmission grid.
Source: This Day
DOWANS SCANDAL...High Court to set aside ICC ruling
ThisDay Reporter
THE High Court of Tanzania will likely reject a ruling of the Paris-based International Court of Arbitration (ICC) that awarded highly controversial payments in favour of Dowans Holdings SA (Costa Rica)/Dowans Tanzania Limited, it has been revealed.
According to top legal experts in government, the High Court is well-placed to reject the ICC ruling because of gross irregularities in the proceedings of the case and the illegality of the actual ruling itself.
Section 15 of the Arbitration Act gives the High Court of Tanzania outright powers to dismiss the ICC ruling.
"Where an arbitrator or umpire has misconducted himself or an arbitration or award has been improperly procured, the court may set aside the award," says the legislation in part.
Before Dowans can claim any payment of funds, the complete ruling of the ICC has to be registered at the High Court of Tanzania to become enforceable by law.
But legal experts say enforcement of the ICC ruling would be unconstitutional because it would directly contravene the country's Public Procurement Act of 2004.
"One of the major flaws of the ICC ruling is that it unlawfully attempts to give legality to the Richmond/Dowans contract, which was deemed illegal under Tanzania's Public Procurement Act," a respected government lawyer told THISDAY.
The 2006 tender process was hijacked from TANESCO by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and high-level government officials.
Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa appointed a government negotiation team that finally awarded the contract to Richmond against TANESCO's expert advice.
"Section 31 of the Public Procurement Act explicitly states that no public body shall award any contract unless the award has been approved by the appropriate tender board," he said.
"Under the country's law, the Richmond/Dowans contract is the product of an illegal tendering system because it was not awarded by TANESCO's own tender board."
This was the basis for TANESCO's ultimate decision to terminate the contract assigned to Dowans Tanzania Limited by Richmond.
The dubious ICC ruling, which has not been fully made public by the International Chamber of Commerce itself, Dowans nor the government, orders the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) to pay Dowans tens of millions of dollars.
Contrary to a popularly quoted figure of 185.5 billion/-, it is understood that ICC has ordered TANESCO to pay Dowans around $64.2 million (97 billion/-), which is still a colossal amount of money.
"The High Court has power to either bless the ICC ruling or set it aside. In this case, since the ruling goes against the law of the land, the High Court will have little choice but to reject it," said another official close to the judiciary.
Well-placed government officials told THISDAY there was intense lobbying to ensure the government makes the payment ordered by ICC to the proprietors of Dowans as quickly as possible.
"Payment vouchers have been prepared at Treasury and all the relevant paperwork is ready to make swift payment to Dowans after the final go ahead is given," an official in the Ministry of Finance told THISDAY.
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and Attorney General Frederick Werema have separately issued controversial statements suggesting that the government was ready to make the illegal payment to Dowans.
However, legal experts say the government appears to be strangely rushing to make the payment while there is legal recourse for TANESCO to avoid the crippling payment.
The cash-strapped TANESCO has raised power tariffs by 18.5 percent effectively from January 1, but says it is still operating at a huge loss primarily due to monthly capacity charges being paid to Songas Limited and Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL).
TANESCO's average monthly revenue collection amounts to around 40 billion/-.
Each month, the state-run power utility pays 6.1 billion/- to Songas and another 3.5 billion to IPTL in capacity charges alone, amounting to a staggering 9.6 billion/-.
"TANESCO spends another 5.5 billion/- each month to service a syndicated loan and doles out another 5 billion/- per month for various contractual commitments," said an official close to the energy sector.
"If TANESCO is forced to pay Dowans on the basis of the ICC ruling, just as it was forced to sign the Richmond/Dowans contract, this company will collapse."
TANESCO secured a syndicated loan of 300 billion/- in 2007 from various local commercial banks.
The highly-indebted public utility also recently obtained a loan of $468 million (approx. 700 billion/-) from the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund to strengthen the power transmission grid.
Source: This Day
