National Assembly Speaker Anne Makinda

National Assembly Speaker Anne Makinda yesterday dissolved the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Energy and Minerals after being accused of involvement in corrupt practices.

Members of the parliamentary standing committee have all this week been accused by other legislators of receiving bribes from oil marketing companies that wanted to be awarded the tender of supplying heavy funnel oil to Independent Power Tanzania Limited ( IPTL) plant for emergency power generation.

Makinda reached the decision of dissolving the committee in response to Namtumbo legislator Vita Kawawa’s request to the Speaker that called for disbanding the committee and take the matter to the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee for investigation.

According to Makinda, all other committees accused of misconduct will be investigated and if the charges are substantiated they would also be dissolved and their members quizzed by the parliamentary committee for ethics chaired by Brig. Gen. (retired) Hassan Ngwilizi.

Members forming the dissolved Parliamentary Standing Committee for Energy and Minerals are Seleman Zedi (chairperson), Diana Chilolo (vice Chairperson), John Mnyika (Ubungo -Chadema), Yusuf Khamis (Nungwi- CUF), Mariam Kisangi (Special Seats- CCM), Catherine Magige (Special Seats- CCM), Abia Nyakabari (Special Seats-CCM), Charles Mwijage (Muleba North- CCM), and Yusuf Nassir (Korogwe Urban- CCM).

Others are Christopher Ole-Sendeka (Simanjiro-CCM), Dr Festus Limbu (Magu Urban- CCM), Shaffin Sumar (Tabora North-CCM), Lucy Mayenga (Special Seats-CCM), Josephine Chagulla (Special Seats- CCM), Mwanamrisho Abama (Special Seats - Chadema), David Sillinde (), Suleiman Suleiman (Kishapu- CCM), Kisyeri Chambiri (Babati Urban-CCM), Munde Abudallah (Special Seats - CCM), Sara Ally (Special Seats-CCM), Vicky Kamata (Special Seats- CCM), Mbarouk Ali (Wete-CUF), and Pamela Pallangyo (secretary).

In the recent past, accusing fingers were also pointed at the Parliamentary Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) alleging its members to have been bribed in endorsing certain district financial reports.

It was also said Bahi legislator Omar Baduwel received one million Tshs on June 2, this year at Peacock Hotel as an inducement to approve Mkuranga district council’s 2011/12 financial report. The MP is charged with corruptly soliciting of TSh8 million and receiving a Sh1 million bribe, and his case is still running at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court. Announcing the decision, the Speaker said it was awful for some MPs to be used and forget their responsibility of monitoring and controlling the government.

“The argument has been supported by majority…. Using the parliamentary standing orders 113 (3) I now dissolve the Energy and Minerals Committee,” she said. However the Speaker disclosed that she had instructed the parliamentary committee for Privileges, Ethics and Powers to formulate a code of ethics that will guide lawmakers in their activities inside and outside the National Assembly.

Debating estimate for 2012/13 for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, MPs had earlier called upon immediate review of regulations binding permanent parliamentary committees to enable the House invalidate dishonest committees with immediate effect.

The move follows feelings that some MPs and parliamentary committees were colluding to sabotage the country.

According to parliamentary standing regulations, the reconstituted parliamentary committees shall remain in that state for two and half years.

MPs had sought to review regulations to enable invalidation of a committee displaying questionable behaviour.

Irritated Special Seats MP Subira Lugaru (CCM) blamed fellow MPs who have been involved in dirty play intended to oust Permanent Secretary Eliakim Maswi in his decision to award Puma Energy (T) Limited a multibillion tender to supply heavy funnel oil to Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) plant for emergency power generation. The lawmaker said it was irritating to hear some MPs supporting the moves to oust the PS and his minister Prof SospeterMuhongo for violating the public procurement act, 2004 by displaying patriotism.

“These are not good people. They have also failed to identify which section of the act was violated and costs the country had incurred after tendering Puma Energy,” she said, aghast.

Fuoni legislator Said Mussa Zuberi (CCM) when contributing said it had reached a point where “all those involved in sabotaging our economy be hanged or gunned openly.”

He said there was no reason to fear killing 15 to 200 people sabotaging the country to save millions of people.

“They don’t need special media coverage. We need to kill them silently to restore discipline,” he thundered.