The Buzwagi Saga: Karamagi aenda kusaini Mkataba wa ULAJI London

TRUVADA said:

Halafu lowasa kwenye campain alikuwa anajisifu kuwa anataka kuwa tajira kama akina karamagi na Rostam na kuwa anauchykia umaskini na sisi tunapiga makofi

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Kichuguu said:

MASWALA MAKUU KATIKA HOJA YA KABWE YALIKUWA MAWILI:

• Kusainiwa kwa Mkataba mpya wa wa Madini wa mgodi (mradi) wa Buzwagi kati ya Serikali na Kampuni ya Barrick na sababu za mkataba huo kusainiwa nje ya nchi, London Uingereza na vilevile kwa nini mkataba huo umesainiwa wakati bado serikali inafanya durusu (review) ya mikataba kufuatana na maagizo ya Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Ndugu Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.
  
• Kuondolewa kwa kipengele katika Sheria ya Kodi ya mapato ya mwaka 1973 kuhusiana na asilimia 15% ya &[HASHTAG]#8216[/HASHTAG];capital allowance on unredeemed qualifying capital expenditure' bila ya kibali cha Bunge lako Tukufu.

Hapa nataka kupitia hoja inayohusu kusainiwa kwa Mkataba mpya wa wa Madini wa mgodi (mradi) wa Buzwagi. Halafu kesho nitamalizia kwa kuangalia hoja inayohusu kipengele cha sheria ya 15% capital allowance ....

Kwanza nitahadharishe kuwa ingawa maswali ya Mheshimiwa Zitto yalikuwa yamejipanda vizuri, majibu ya Mheshimiwa Karamagi yalikuwa yamechanganyika sana. Utakuta jibu lake la kwanza limehusu hoja ya mwisho ya Zitto na kuendelea hivyo hivyo akiruka zigzag kutoka hoja hadi nyingine. Nimejitahidi kutafuta majibu yake kama ninavyoonyesha hapa chini. Vile vile nitahadharishe kuwa baadhi ya maswali ya Zitto hayakuwa na lazima yoyote.

SWALI: Mheshimiwa Spika, Mapitio ya Mikataba ya Madini ni mchakato ambao mwisho wake ni kuletwa kwa sheria ya madini hapa Bungeni na kuifanyia marekebisho ili kuiboresha na kuondoa mapungufu. Hivyo, mpaka hapo sheria itakaporekebishwa ndipo tutasema tumemaliza zoezi la kupitia mikataba ya madini na hivyo kusaini mikataba mipya na makampuni yote ya madini yaliyopo nchini na yatakayokuja kuwekeza.

JIBU: Mheshimiwa Kabwe Zitto anazungumzia eti maagizo ya Rais yalikiukwa, kauli anayoitoa bila ya kutafakari maagizo hayo yalikuwa ya aina gani. Mheshimiwa Rais aliagiza mikataba yote ya madini kufanyiwa mapitio ili kubaini maeneo yanayoweza kurekebishwa kwa faida ya pande zote mbili &[HASHTAG]#8211[/HASHTAG]; faida ya Nchi na faida kwa Mwekezaji (win-win situation). Kamati iliundwa kwa ajili hiyo na baada ya kukamilisha kazi iliyopewa, iliwasilisha mapendekezo yake Serikalini tarehe 14 Septemba, 2006. Baadhi ya mapendekezo ya Kamati hiyo yalitumika katika majadiliano na makampuni ya madini yenye mikataba ya zamani. Mafanikio ya majadiliano hayo niliyataja kwenye hotuba yangu wakati nawasilisha bajeti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ya mwaka 2007/08 kuwa ni:
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Mheshimiwa Spika, nilisema kuwa mkataba mpya kuhusu Buzwagi hauna upungufu uliokuwemo kwenye mikataba ya zamani &[HASHTAG]#8211[/HASHTAG]; Ikiwa na maana kuwa kwa kutumia ushauri wa Kamati niliyoitaja hapo juu, mkataba wa Buzwagi umeboreshwa kwa maslahi ya Taifa ukilinganisha na mikataba ya zamani.

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Mheshimiwa Spika, Mheshimiwa Kabwe Zitto, anasisitiza kuwa zoezi la kudurusu mikataba bado linaendelea. Mtoa hoja labda anachanganya tena zoezi la kudurusu mikataba na zoezi linaloendelea na kudurusu Sheria ya Madini ya Mwaka 1998 na Sheria zinahusu mfumo wa kodi katika sekta ya madini kitu ambacho ni kipana zaidi na kinawahusu wadau wote yaani, wawekezaji wakubwa, wawekezaji wadogo na wote wanaojihusisha na utafiti katika sekta ya madini. Akielewa hili mtoa hoja atabaini kuwa maagizo ya Rais yalitekelezwa kikamilifu na matokeo yake yameishaanza kujitokeza kama faida nilizozieleza hapo juu


FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Hapa kuna facts kadhaa za za kujifunza:

• Kwanza jibu la waziri linapingana na tamako la rais alilolitoa katika mahojiano na VOA wiki chache zilizopita aloposema zoezi la kupitia mikataba ya madini bado linaendelea.
• Pili, mikataba ya madini inasimamiwa na, pamoja na mambo mengine, sheria ya madini. Waziri anataka kuchanganya watu kwa kudai kuwa mapitio ya mikataba hayana uhusiano na mapitio ya sheria ya madini. Ukweli ni kuwa mikataba inapitiwa ili kuboresha sheria ya madini kusudi mikataba ijayo iwe ya manufaa kwa nchi.
• Tatu, kama kweli serikali inapanga mambo ya kuwekwa kwenye mkataba kinyeji vile bila kuwa na sheria inayotawala mikataba hiyo, basi ndiyo maana kuna haya manung'uniko kuhusu mikataba ya madini. Mikataba yote ya madini inayosainiwa na serikali ya Tanzania lazima ifuate sheria za Tanzania. Ni bunge pekee linalotunga sheria hizo. Mikataba ya zamani ama haikufufuata sheria au sheria haikuwa wazi na huenda ndiyo maana ilikuwa na makosa mengi sana, na katika kuboresha mikataba hiyo zoezi la kupitia mikataba hiyo ni lazima lihitimishwe kwa kuweka sheria mpya ambayo itawaongoza wote wanoingia mikataba kwa niaba ya nchi hii badala ya kila mtu kujifanyia apendavyo. Kama kamati ilipitia na kutoa mapendekezo yake kwa rais, mapendekezo hayo hayajawa sheria ya madini kwa hiyo hayawezi kutumiwa kwenye mikataba ya nchi. Kwa hiyo Mbunge Kabwe yuko sahihi kuwa zoezi la kupitia marekebisho hayo halijafanyika kwa vile sheria ya madini haijajadiliwa bungeni na kufanyiwa marekebisho

SWALI: Buzwagi inashika nafasi ya pili kwa uwekezaji wa Barrick katika migodi hapa nchini. Wakati kampuni hii inawekeza dola za kimarekani 400 milioni katika Buzwagi, imewekeza dola za kimarekani 600 katika Bulyanhulu. Je ni kwa vipi Buzwagi iwe marginal mine wakati uwekezaji wake unashinda uwekezaji wa Migodi ya Tulawaka na North Mara?

Mheshimiwa Spika, hoja hii ya kuwa Buzwagi sio mgodi inashabihiana kabisa na hoja ya Kampuni ya Barrick kwamba Buzwagi ni Project. Taarifa ya kampuni hii ya Barrick Gold Corporation-Global operations - Africa - Buzwagi, inaonesha kuwa Buzwagi ni mradi. Taarifa hii nimeiambatanisha katika hoja hii.

Mheshimiwa Spika, taarifa ya Barrick, Annual Review 2006 inasema ifuatavyo katika ukurasa wa 23, ninaomba kunukuu. "A major milestone was reached in February 2007 when we signed a mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Tanzanian Government. In 2007, we expect to complete a detailed construction design and receive Environmental Impact Assessment Approval approval".


JIBU: Hadi sasa mradi wa Buzwagi haujafikia hadhi ya kuitwa mgodi. Kama ilivyo miradi yote, Buzwagi utapata hadhi ya kuitwa mgodi baada ya Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, kutoa leseni ya uchimbaji, ujenzi wa mgodi kukamilika na shughuli za uchimbaji kuanza. Kwa hiyo, nazidi kusisitiza kwamba Buzwagi ni mradi kama tulivyo hapa kwenye Bunge tukufu, tulipokuwa hapa tusingeliweza kuliita Bunge ama jengo ilikuwa inaitwa mradi mpaka ilipokamilika tukaingia ndiyo likaitwa jengo. (Makofi)

Mgodi wa Buzwagi kuwa ni Marginal mine uhai wake si wa muda mrefu na kwamba bila ya kutumia hela fursa iliyokuwepo hususan bei kubwa ya dhahabu uwekezaji wake usingekuwa wa faida. Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ilifanya uchambuzi wa taarifa ya uwekezaji katika Mgodi wa Buzwagi na kuonekana kuwa mgodi huo ni marginal project na ukianza kuendelezwa wakati huu ambapo bei ya dhahabu ni kubwa wastani wa zaidi ya dola za Marekani 600 kwa wakia, ndiyo utatoa marginal profit na kuwezesha mwekezaji kuendeleza mradi wa Buzwagi hadi kufikia hadhi ya kuwa mgodi. (Makofi)

Mheshimiwa Spika, Mheshimiwa Kabwe anasema kuwa mgodi wa Buzwagi hauwezi kuitwa marginal mine kwa kigezo utashika nafasi ya pili kwa migodi inayomilikiwa na kampuni ya Barrick kwa kulinganisha moja kwa moja gharama za uwekezaji kati ya Mgodi wa Bulyanhulu uliofanyika miaka ya tisini na mgodi wa Buzwagi unaotarajiwa kujengwa mwaka ujao 2008.

Mheshimiwa Spika, mtoa hoja inaelekea anazungumzia suala la utaalamu wa fedha ambalo inaonyesha wazi hana ujuzi nalo. Hata hivyo mtu hahitaji kuwa mtaalamu ili kuelewa kuwa kama mwekezaji alitumia thamani ya dola za Kimarekani milioni 600 kujenga mgodi wa Bulyanhulu miaka kumi iliyopita, akitaka kujenga mgodi kama huo kwa sasa thamani yake itakuwa kubwa maradufu. Labda kwa manufaa ya Bunge lako tukufu, naomba nito ufafanuzi wa ziada ili kuonyesha kuwa gharama za uwekezaji siyo kigezo pekee cha kupima ubora wa mgodi. (Makofi/Kicheko)

Mheshimiwa Spika, vigezo vingine vinavyotumika kujua ubora wa mgodi ni pamoja na mashapo yaliyopo na kiwango cha upatikanaji wa dhahabu kwa tani ya miamba (ore grade per tonne). Kiwango cha upatikanaji wa dhahabu katika mgodi wa Bulyanhulu ni wastani wa gramu 11 za dhahabu kwa tani ikilinganishwa na Buzwagi ambapo ni gramu 1.8 za dhahabu kwa tani. Mashapo yaliyopo Bulyanhulu ni kiasi cha wakia milioni 12 inayoweza kuchimbwa kwa miaka karibu 25 wakati Buzwagi ni wakia milioni 2.2 inayoweza kuchimbwa kwa miaka 10. Kutathiminiwa Mgodi wa Buzwagi kama Marginal mine ni suala la kitaalamu lenye takwimu za wazi ambalo halipingiki wala halipindishwi. (Makofi)

FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Waziri alikwepa swali aliloulizwa, badala yake akatumia kejeli ndogo ndogo kutaka kuonyesha kuwa Kabwe hajui time value of money na mining terminologies. Hata hivyo swali la msingi hapa lilikuwa kwamba iwapo mradi ni marginal kwa nini unapatiwa investment kubwa kiasi hicho? Mbunge alisema kuwa katika investments zote za barrick, capital ya mgodi huu ni ya pili kwa ukubwa baada ya Bulyankulu. Halafu Mbunge Kabwe alinukuu sehemu ya report ya Barrick inayoonyesha kuwa mradi huu ni mkubwa:

Significant Projects

At Buzwagi, the MDA for the project was approved during first quarter 2007 by the Tanzanian government. Approval of the EIA is expected to be received in second quarter 2007. We spent approximately $8 million mainly to advance engineering and procurement efforts for this project during first quarter 2007.​

Data zilizotolewa na waziri hazikuwa kamili kwa vile alilinganisha Buzwagi na Bulyankulu bila kugusia North Mara na Tulawaka. Taarifa kamili za miradi ya Barrick ni kama ifuatavyo:

Buzwagi:
Resources 45.168,000,000 tons; Grade 0.058 oz/ton; Gold 2,640,000
Cost per ounce: $270 - $280 (excluding amortization expense and inventory purchase accounting adjustments.)

North Mara:
Resources 31,791,000 tons; Grade 0.103 oz//ton; Deposit 3,276,000 oz
Cost per ounce: $475

Tulawaka JV:
Resources 926,000 tons, Grade 0.356 ounze per ton, deposit 330,000 ounces
Cost per ounce: $475

Bulyankulu:
Resources 30,456,000 tons, Grade 0.367 ounces/ton, deposit 11,185,000 ounces
Cost per ounce: $475

Halafu linanisha na mgodi wa Cowal ulioko Australia ambao data zake ni kama ifuatavyo:
Resources: 86,687,000 Tons, Grade 0.037 ounces/ton, deposit 3,187,000 ounces
Cost per ounce: $475

Kipindi kinachotakiwa kumaliza madini kinategemea ni kiasi gani cha madini kinachimbwa kwa mwaka. Kama madini yanapatikana kirahis kama Buzwagi (surface mining) madini yanaweza kuisha kwa muda mfupi wa kama miaka 10, lakini kama uchimbaji ni mgumu kama vile underground mining, madini yanaweza kuchukua muda mrefu kabla hayajaisha; kwa hiyo swala la kuisha kwa madini siyo la muhimu na wala Waziri asingelitumia hili kama kigezo cha ku-downgrade umuhimuwa wa mgodi wa Buzwagi.

Kwa jumla, jibu la waziri halikutosheleza. Mgodi huu wa Buzwagi ni mgodi kama ilivyo mingine ya Barrick, gharama zake za uzalishaji ni nzuri sana, na una akiba kubwa sana ya dhahabu zaidi ya Tulawaka na karibia sawa na North Mara na migodi mingine mingi duniani. Kwa hiyo jibu la waziri halikuonyesha uhalali kuwa mgodi ni marginal sana ambao unaweza kupuuziwa na Barrick kama tusiposaini mkataba sasa hivi.

SWALI: Iwapo Buzwagi sio mgodi bali ni mradi, ni kwa nini tumesaini Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) mpya? Kwa kuwa Pangea Minerals Tulawaka ndio inaonekana kumiliki mradi huu, Je serikali imefanya marekebisho tu ya MDA na kampuni ya Barrick?. Naomba Kamati Teule ichunguze ni nini kilichosainiwa, marekebisho ya mkataba wa Tulawaka au MDA mpya ya Buzwagi?

JIBU: Vile vile uamuzi wa kuingiza mradi wa Buzwagi kwenye miradi ya Barrick Gold Corporation ambayo ni kampuni mama, ulihitajika kufanyika kabla ya Machi, 2007, vinginevyo fursa ya uwekezaji katika mradi huu ingepotea.

Mheshimiwa Spika, Kwa kuwa maandalizi yote ya kusaini mkataba yalikamilika nikiwa ziara ndefu ya nchi za nje, niliona si busara kuhatarisha uwekezaji wa mradi huu jambo ambalo lingeathiri maslahi ya Taifa. (Makofi)

Mheshimiwa Spika, sasa nataka kutoa faida inayotarajiwa kutokana na Mgodi wa Buzwagi katika kipindi cha uhai wake ambayo kama usingesainiwa na Barrick wasiwekeze kwenye mradi huu ingepotea:-

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FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Kimsingi, waziri hakujibu swali alilolulizwa, ila kabla ya kuaangalia facts zaidi, ni vizuri tujikumbushe sheria ya madini ya mwaka 1998, kifungu cha 10 kinachosema hivi:

Development Agreement:
10-(1) The Minister may, on behalf of the United Republic, enter into a development agreement, not inconsistent agreement with this Act, with the holder of, or an applicant for, a Mineral Right for which he is the licensing authority relating to the grant of such a Mineral Right or Rights, the conduct of mining operations under a special mining license, or the financing of any mining operations under a special mining license.

(2) The agreement under subsection (1) may contain provisions binding on the United Republic relating to a special mining licence or mining operations to be conducted under a special mining licence -

• which guarantee the fiscal stability of a long term mining project, and for that purpose, but not otherwise, make special provision for the payment of royalties, taxes, fees and other fiscal imposts;
• relating to the circumstances or the manner in which the Minister or the Commissioner will exercise any discretion conferred on them by this Act or the Regulations;
• relating to environmental matters, including in respect of matters which are project specific and not covered by regulations of general application, provisions intended to define the scope, and, as may be appropriate in any particular case, limit the extent of the obligations or liabilities of the holder of a special mining licence;
• dealing with the settlement of disputes arising out of or relating to the development agreement, the administration of this Act, or the terms and conditions of a special mining licence, including provisions relating to the settlement of any such dispute by international arbitration. Where this Act or the

(3) Where this Act or the Regulations confer on the Minister or the Commissioner a discretion, the Minister or, as the case. may be, the Commissioner shall exercise that discretion subject to and in accordance with any relevant stipulation contained in a development agreement made under this section.,
(4) The Minister shall refer any proposal to enter into a development agreement to the Mining Advisory Committee.


Nionavyo ni kwamba:

• Hoja ya Mbunge Kabwe hapa haikuwekwa sawasawa na hivyo kuikoseha nguvu kwa vile sheria inamruhusu Waziri kusaini MDA na kampuni ya madini ambayo ama ina mineral right au ile ambayo inataka kuomba mineral right. Sehemu kubwa ya swali lake ilikuwa ni kujua kama MDA waliyoingia ilibadilisha makubaliano mengine yaliyokuwapo kati ya serikali na Barrick. Nadhani wasiwasi wake ulikuwa ni kuwa inawezekana kupitia mkataba huu serikali ikaingia mkataba mwingine mbaya zaidi ya ile ya nyuma lakini ambao unaweza kutumiwa na Barrick kwa manufaa zaidi ya ile ya zamani. Hata hivyo wasiwasi huu inawezekana kabisa haukuwa na ulazima wala msingi wowote kwa vile kila MDA inaweka bayana mradi unaokusudiwa.
• Tatizo lilipo hapa ni kuwa MDA inaingiwa ili kuihakikishia kampuni ya madini kuwa mambo kadhaa yanayohusu kodi, mrahaba na malipo kwa serikali hayatabadilishwa na serikali. Sasa kwa vile mambo haya ndiyo ambayo bado yanapitiwa, angeuliza umuhimu wa kuingia MDA ili kulinda vipengele ambavyo bado vianafanyiwa marekebisho kisheria.
• Pamoja na upungufu katika hoja ya Mbunge Kabwe, majibu ya Waziri Karamagi ndiyo hayakuwa yamefikiriwa kabisa. Jibu lake linaonyesha kwamba serikali ilisukumizwa kuwa lazima isaini mtakaba huo katika quarter ya kwanza, ambayo ingesiha Machi. Haiingii akilini kuwa mkataba ulitayarishwa Dar es Salaam, baada ya kumaliza kutayarishwa ukepelekwa London wakati waziri akiwa ziara ya nchi za nje ili autie saini katika Mwezi February. Inatia shaka sana kwa mtu kukubali kuwa kulikuwa na uharaka huo kwa vile waziri hakukaa nchi za nje kwa muda mrefu kiasi hicho, afterall ratiba yake ilikuwa inajulikana kuwa lini atarudi ofisini. Kama kweli alikuwa anajua kuwa ni mkataba wa muhimu kiasi hicho, angeufanya kitu cha kwanza baada ya kurudi ofisini. Ni mazingira haya ambamo mkataba umeandikiwa ndiyo yanayotia wasiwasi. Nadhani mbunge Kabwe angesisitiza mazingira ya mkataba na hivyo kulazimisha contents za mkataba zijulikane.

SWALI: Chini ya kifungu cha 47 cha Sheria ya Madini ya Mwaka 1998 (Na.5/98), pamoja na mambo mengine kinataka leseni yeyote isitolewe mpaka taarifa ya mazingira iwe imetolewa na kuruhusu mgodi kuendelea na kazi.

Mheshimiwa Spika, wakati Waziri wa Nishati na Madini ameweka saini Mkataba wa Buzwagi juma la mwisho la mwezi Februari 2007, Baraza la Mazingira nchini limetoa kibali (Environmental Impact Assessment- EIA approval) tarehe 11 mwezi Mei 2007. Ni kwa nini Waziri wa Nishati na Madini Mheshimiwa Nazir Karamagi alisaini MDA ya Buzwagi na Kampuni ya Barrick kabla Baraza la Mazingira la Taifa (NEMC) halijatoa ruhusa? (Makofi)
JIBU: Mheshimiwa Spika, Kabwe Zitto anachanganya tena vitu viwili tofauti yaani Mkataba wa Madini na Leseni ya Madini. Mkataba wa Madini kati ya Serikali na kampuni za madini unaingiwa chini ya kifungu cha 10 cha Sheria ya Madini ya mwaka 1998 na hicho kitu cha kwanza kinachoanzishwa mchakato wa uwekezaji. Hivyo, tathimini ya mazingira (environmental impact assessment study) inafanywa baada ya mwekezaji kuwa na mkataba. Mwekezaji anaweza kuomba leseni ya ya uchimbaji wa madini wakati wowote lakini hawezi kuipata mpaka awe na kibali cha Baraza la Mazingira la Taifa (NEMC). Kwa maneno mengine kwa mujibu wa sheria ya Madini ya mwaka 1998, maombi ya leseni ya uchimbaji wa madini (mining license) lazima yaambatane miongoni mwa mambo mengine na tathimini ya mazingira kuhusu mradi huo (environment impact Assessment Study). Mpaka sasa leseni ya uchimbaji kwa mradi wa Buzwagi bado haijatolewa. Kwa kupata kibali cha Bazara la Mazingira la Taifa (NEMC), mwekezaji atakuwa ametimiza sharti mojawapo la kupata leseni. (Makofi)

FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Hoja hii haikuwa na nguvu kabisa, waziri kajibu sawa sawa
SWALI: Sheria ya Madini, niliyoitaja hapo awali, imeunda Kamati ya Ushauri ya Madini (Mining advisory Committee). Kabla ya Waziri kusaini mkataba wowote ni lazima apate ushauri kutoka kamati hii. Kwa taratibu za Kiserikali, kama kamati ikimshauri Waziri na Waziri akakataa ushauri huo, inampasa Waziri atoe sababu ni kwa nini anakataa ushauri. Je, Waziri alifuata ushauri wa kamati ya Ushauri ya Madini kuhusiana na wakati mwafaka, narudia, kuhusiana na wakati muafaka wa kusaini Mkataba huu?

JIBU: Mheshimiwa Spika, kuhusu suala la Mkataba kusainiwa Uingereza, kama nilivyolielezea Bunge lako Tukufu wakati nahitimisha hoja ya Makadirio ya Matumizi ya Wizara yangu kwa mwaka wa fedha 2007/08, mkataba huo uliandaliwa Tanzania na wataalamu wetu na ukapitia taratibu zote zinazopaswa kufuatwa ikiwa ni pamoja na kuidhinishwa na Kamati ya Ushauri ya Madini (Mining Advisory Committee) na Ofisi ya Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali. (Makofi)


FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Hoja hii haikuwa na nguvu sana, hata hivyo jibu la waziri nalo haliwezi kuhakikishwa kama hatukuona documents zinazoonyesha kuwa committee hiyo ilitoa ushauri huo.


SWALI: Inawezekana kabisa MDA ya Buzwagi kusainiwa Uingereza sio tatizo. Kwa mfano, Mwaka 2006 Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ilisaini mikataba kadhaa. Ni mingapi kati ya Mikataba hii imesainiwa nje ya nchi? Nini madhara ya kisheria kwa Mkataba kusaniwa Uingereza? Je, Mkataba ambao umesaidiwa wa Buzwagi umeandikwa "signed in London" au "signed in Dar es Salaam", yaani umesainiwa London au umesainiwa Dar es salaam? Kamati Teule ya Bunge ndio chombo pekee kitakachoweza kutoa majibu ya maswali haya.

JIBU: Mheshimiwa Spika, Mheshimiwa Kabwe Zitto anauliza kwenye mkataba huo, Je, kipengele kimekuwa signed in London ama signed in Dar es salaam?

Mheshimiwa Spika, hali ya maendeleo tuliyoyafikia dunia ya kileo, si muhuimu tena kwenye mikataba kuweka kipengele cha kubainisha mkataba kuweka kipengele cha kubainisha mkataba umewekwa saini eneo gani. (Makofi)

Mheshimiwa Spika, Format ya mkataba wa Madini wa Buzwagi hauna kipengele anachokiuliza Mheshimiwa Kabwe Zitto. Hiki si kitu cha ajabu kwa mikataba ya siku hizi ambapo mkataba unaweza kusainiwa na pande zaidi ya mbili zikiwa nchi tofauti. Mkataba unaweza ukasainiwa upande mmoja na ukatumwa kusainiwa na upande mwingine nchi nyingine. (Makofi)

Mheshimiwa Spika, kitu muhimu katika mkataba ni kuonyesha kwenye mkataba ni sheria ya nchi gani itaongoza mkataba. Mkataba wa Mgodi wa Buzwagi unataja kuwa sheria ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ndiyo itaongoza mkataba huo. (Makofi)

Mheshimiwa Spika, Mheshimiwa Kabwe Zitto anahoji kama kabla ya kusaini Mkataba wa Buzwagi nilifuata Sheria inayonitaka kwanza kupata ushauri wa Kamati ya Ushauri ya Madini. Kama nilivyokwishasema mkataba ulipitia taratibu zote zinazohitajika ikiwa ni pamoja na kupata baraka za Kamati ya Ushauri ya Madini. Kivuli cha idhini ya Kamati hiyo nimekwisha wasilisha kwako kama kielelezo cha kuthibitisha kauli yangu. (Makofi)


FACTS NA MAONI YANGU: Hoja hii haikuwa na nguvu sana, nadhani lengo lake lilikuwa kuongeza nguvu ya kutaka mkataba utolewe hadharani. Hata hivyo waziri naye hakukujibu kikamilifu maswali ya Mbunge Zito kama yalivyoulizwa.

• Swali moja lilitaka kujua idadi ya mikataba ambayo ilisainiwa na serikali nchi za nje. Swali hili lilikuwa ni zuri kwa vile inaonyesha kuwa serikali inaweza kusaini mikataba kinyemela huku waziri aikiwa mafichoni nchi za nje. Waziri hakulijibu. Ingawa hawezi kujibu kuhusu mikataba yote ya serikali, angejibu mikataba inayohusu wizara yake, na Mbunge Zitto angeelekeza swali lake kwa Waziri badala nya kuuliza mikataba ya serikali yote.
  
• Swali jingine lilihusu madhara ya kusaini mkataba nchi za nje. Waziri amesema mktaba unaweza kusainiwa na pande mbili zikiwa mbali mbali. Hata hivyo hakujibu kabisa swali aliloulizwa kuhusu madhara ya kufanya hivyo ingawa hata mimi siyafahamau madhara hayo. Ninajua kuwa kila mktaba unaposainiwa huwa kuna shahidi, kwa hiyo jibu la waziri lilikuwa la juu juu sana kwa vile inapotokea kuwa mkataba usainiwe na pande mbili zikiwa mbali, lazima shahidi wa mkataba ule awe na mwakilishi kule upande wa pili wa mkataba. Kwa hiyo siyo jambo dogo kama Waziri anavyotaka lionekane.
  
• Swali jingine lilikuwa ni kujua kuwa kwenye mkataba ule wameonyesha umesainiwa wapi. Jibu la waziri kuwa hili halikuwa jambo la muhimu kwa hiyo mkataba ule linaonyesha kuwa hawako makini katika kutayarisha mikataba. Mikataba yote huonyesha imeasainiwa lini na wapi na saa ngapi. Kwetu sisi ambao tunatumia mihuri, ni lazima tugonge mhuri wa mamlaka inayohusika na ule wa mamlaka inayosimama kama shahidi ili kukamilisha mkataba. Kwa hiyo kama yeye aliandika mkataba ambao hauonyeshi umeasainiwa wapi na lini na saa ngapi, basi mkataba huo una walakini. Je waziri alikuwa ameenda Ziarani akiwa na mihuri ya mamlaka ya ofis yake?
  
  Hata mikataba inayosainiwa na pande mbili zililozo nchi mbili tofauti, ni lazima kila mtia sahihi aonyeshe ameweka sahihi hiyo lini, saa ngapi na akiwa wapi. Sababu ya kufanya hivyo ni kuepuka watia sahihi kugeukana. Kwa hiyo mtia sahihi akionyesha tarehe, muda na mahali alipo wakati mkataba unasainiwa, basi inamwia vigumu kidogo kuugeuka kwa vile alibi yake itamkamatisha kwenye huo mkataba.

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Mzee Mwanakijiji said:

admn.. tafadhali unganisha hii na ile ya hapo juu ya Halisi kuhusu Karamagi kwenda kusign mikataba nje...

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leonaldo said:

Tafadhali tafadhali CCM msianzishe vita ya mawe mnaishi kwenye nyumba ya vioo!!!!!

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Kichuguu said:

Ulitokea kwenye kilabu gani kabla ya kuquote post yangu hiyo ya mwaka 2007, yaani miaka kumi iliyopita?

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BAK said:

By Sunday Citizen Team

Minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi has officially admitted that he deleted from the proposed Buzwagi mining contract, a clause on the East African Customs Management just few minutes before signing the controversial contract in London in February this year.

Speaking to the Sunday Citizen earlier this week, Karamagi said he made the changes as the Clause wouldn’t be applicable, since the mining sector doesn’t fall within the East African Customs Management.

The minister said that each East African state has a special licence to choose a sector in which special incentives can be offered. For Tanzania, the mining industry falls within this special arrangement.

But hadn’t a team of experts from his own ministry included the Clause in the document?
“The Commissioner of Mining is the right person to explain this,” Karamagi responded.

The minister denied any wrongdoing in his action or the signing of the contract. However, his signing of the Buzwagi deal has caused heated debate inside and outside Parliament in recent months, with the Opposition parties and civil society calling for an independent Parliamentary commission of inquiry into the signing of the contract.

According to the Buzwagi contract, the deleted clause in Article 4.2 of the agreement obliged the investor to pay to the government taxes and other fiscal obligation under the East Africa Customs Union.

With its exclusion, the country will lose out significant revenue.

Disturbing to observers is the fact that the Buzwagi contract was signed at a time when the government was in the process of reviewing previous mining contracts in order to create what the Head of State termed a’ win- win’ situation.

However, when asked again to clarify why his experts didn’t think that the Clause was not applicable, thus including it in the contract, Karamagi was not able to provide any tangible reasons, instead he directed the Sunday Citizen to the Commissioner for Minerals again, insisting that it was the commissioner who is responsible for legal affairs.

Commissioner for Minerals Dr Peter Kafumu said the minister’s move to delete the Clause aimed at protecting Tanzania’s lucrative mining industry, which has key place in the national economy.

According to Dr Kafumu, the EA Customs Management Act allows each of the East African countries to have their own incentives in a particular sector and for Tanzania, the mining sector is the one that has been picked to enjoy the special incentives.

The Commissioner said it was true that the original contract drafted by a team of experts from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals in Dar es Salaam included the East African Customs Management Act of 2004, but insisted that the clause was not necessary.
According to Dr Kafumu the experts, who are versed with rules, added the Clause through an oversight.
Asked to explain how experts could have overlooked such a crucial clause, the commissioner insisted: “This clause was not included intentionally.”

Why then didn’t the minister inform the Parliament about his decisions to delete the clause?

Dr Kafumu said his boss was confident that no one would lay their hands on the contract, since it is a confidential document only accessible to the government and investors.
“It is illegal to posses any government document especially one bearing confidential stamp, but I am personally surprised to hear that some people have managed to access the contract!” he remarked.

Targeting whistle blowers

The commissioner said his ministry is working hard to establish the person behind the leakages of contracts at the ministry as a handful of contracts have reached the media as of recent, including the Buzwagi one.

He said his ministry is working hard to nab those behind the leakages, adding that once identified, they would not only lose their jobs, but will also face legal action.

He said other contracts that leaked to the media last year were the Richmond contract and Alex Stewart contract, which ‘caused confusion within the ministry.’

Tundu Lissu, a prominent lawyer and a critic of mining industry told the Sunday Citizen: “The government has been trying to misuse the National Security Act of 1971 to protect even things which are not top secrets.”

Lissu, who was the first person to admit he was in possession of the Buzwagi contract early this week during the talk show hosted by Jenerali Ulimwengu, clarified: “This contract can’t be a top secret document because it has nothing to do with national security or the country’s military.”

He added: “Being in possession of this document can’t be a criminal offence because it is a matter of public interest in that the general public has the right to know what its government is offering investors as stated by the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.”

According to Lissu, any law that contradicts the National Constitution, which is the cornerstone of all laws in this country, is nullified.

“The government should not issue threats to whistle blowers who have enabled the nation to access the controversial contracts… they should protect whistle blowers instead of threatening to sue them were they to be identified or revealed,” Lissu said.

A high-ranking source within the State House told the Sunday Citizen this week that he was shocked to read the contents of the Buzwagi contract in the local press this week.
“These are very serious allegations. When I read the newspapers my first instinct was that what the reports were untrue, but now you are telling me that the minister has admitted to deleting the Clause!” remarked the source.

He declined to be named, citing the sensitivity of his position in the government, but he admitted that following the leakage of the Buzwagi contract, there are now several questions Karamagi has to answer regarding the credibility of the contract.

He said the message to the public now is that Parliament declined to form a probe commission as demanded by the Opposition MPs because of the abnormalities in the contract.
The source further added that all the other major mining contracts were signed before the introduction of East African Customs Union, so the Clause deleted was not applicable to them.

But he said Buzwagi should have fallen within the East African Customs Management Act because it was signed after law came into force.

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figganigga said:

Sasa kaumbuka. CHADEMA walipiga sana kelele wakaonekana wasaliti

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figganigga said:

Sasa kaumbuka. CHADEMA walipiga sana kelele wakaonekana wasaliti

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