Mkuu ndio maana nilisema kwenye post yangu ya awali kabisa kuna sentensi zinajicontradict zenyewe. On one hand inasena: "This move, according to the ABG's Public Relations Manager Teweli Teweli, was a result of a proposal submitted to the company by Kigoma North MP."
On the other hand inasema: "Kigoma North government submitted a proposal and Barrick funded it because Kigoma North's education system is lagging behind national standards. Kabwe had complained about the same issue in Parliament for years, with no effect." Reads part of the research seen by The Guardian on Sunday.
So which is which? The only person to give the correct answer is Hon Zitto. Hata hivyo kama alivyosema Mwanakijiji huwa kuna manispaa ya Kigoma North? Kigoma Mjini, Kigoma Vijijini, Kibondo na Kasulu ndio manispaa za kigoma. Hii "Kigoma North government" ndio ipi?
Kwanza, I take this discussion very positively with the exception of few people who try to make this matter political.
This is ethical matter and I consider this as an act of public scrutiny of members of the public to the public office holder. Now, few responses:
Kigoma district council (Halmashauri ya Wilaya Kigoma) iliomba msaada huo katika juhudi zetu za kujenga shule zaidi za sekondari. Wao ndio waliandika proposal na walisambaza kwenye kampuni nyingi. TANAPA kwa mfano walijenga bweni la wanafunzi katika shule ya sekondari Bugamba kipindi hicho hicho.
Mimi kama Mbunge wa Jimbo nilifuatilia maombi haya kwa karibu kabisa mpaka walipopata na kutumia fedha hizo kununua mabati (na saruji).
Je ni kazi ya Mbunge kuombaomba misaada? Kinadharia sio kazi ya Mbunge hii. Kiukweli tumekuwa tukifanya kazi za executive. Miradi mingi jimboni kwangu inatokana na juhudi binafsi za kutafuta misaada. Kazi hii ingefanywa na executive. Huu ni mjadala mpana na unahitaji kuwepo ili kuweza kusaidia. Mbunge akisema kuwa akae na kusubiri Serikali ilete miradi, miradi haitatokea kabisa kabisa. Kutokana na desire hii ya miradi kwenye majimbo wabunge tunajikuta katika mitihani kama hii ya Barrick kutoa misaada.
Hapa nakubaliana na mwanakijiji kwamba tunahitaji kuwepo na sheria ya lobbying. Nimelisema jambo hili Bungeni kwa muda mrefu sasa. Barrick katika hali ya kawaida walikubali maombi ya msaada Kigoma kuonyesha kuwa wao sio wabaya hivyo kama Zitto anavyowafikiria na hivyo CSR yao ionekane Kigoma. Kimsingi bajeti yao ya CSR ni kubwa sana na nimeona miradi mingi katika maeneo ya uchimbaji. Lakini hii haiiondoi kuwa wanapaswa kulipa kodi na ni jambo nimekuwa nikilisema kila wakati ninapopata nafasi.
Mkandara na wengine wanahoji sahihi kabisa. Ninaomba tu kuwa mijadala ya namna hii iendelee itatufanya wanasiasa tuwe makini na kujua public inatuweka kwenye mizani. Kwa kweli sioni kosa kusaidia watu wangu. Lakini kuna jambo kubwa la kujifunza katika maoni ya wengi hapa.
Mwaka 2008 na kisha mwaka 2011 niliwasilisha muswada binafsi Bungeni kuhusu sheria ya maadili ya viongozi. Moja ya jambo ninalopendekeza ni hili la kutangaza misaada tunayopata kwa ajili ya majimbo yetu (transparency).
Napenda kuwahakikishia kuwa nimejifunza katika mjadala huu na siku za usoni nitakuwa makini zaidi katika suala kama hili.
JF ya mijadala ya aina hii (ukiachana na wachangiaji wachache wenye kuleta masuala ya uwongo na uzushi) ndio JF tuliyoiunda. This public scrutiny shall extended to actions and inactions of many of us holding public offices. It shall go to NGOs receving donations from various corporations as well.
Kama kuna maswali zaidi nipo tayari kuyajibu.