Ilemela Member of Parliament Highness Kiwia (L) contributes to Prime Minister’s Office budget speech, In his contribution, Kiwia claimed that Hewa was involved in attacking him earlier this year in Mwanza, during which he was seriously wounded. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai has given the Ilemela legislator Highness Kiwia (Chadema) seven days to present to him evidence that members of the ruling party CCM were involved in his attack and that there are people still hunting for him.

The legislator and his Ukerewe counterpart Salvatory Machemli and six other people were attacked and seriously injured at Ibanda village in Ilemela district Mwanza region in April this year.

Debating the 2012/13 Prime Minister’s Office budget estimates here yesterday, the lawmaker claimed that he had evidence that some members of CCM were involved in the attack.

“The car of Special Seats Member of Parliament Maria Hewa was there during the fracas. This is one of the evidence that I can bring to you, said the MP when asked by the Deputy Speaker.

For his part Ndugai said for the security of the MP, the Speaker’s chair would like to get all allegations leveled against members of the ruling party and the people who are still hunting him.

“We will not rest while the life of a leader is threatened. Bring the evidences within seven days from now, so that we work on them, he stressed.

Kiwia urged the government to take measures to minimise land conflicts in his constituency.

He said there is a serious conflict between the residents and the army which has taken their land by force without compensation.

“The government should intervene and make sure that all land conflicts in the country are solved,” he said.

Moshi Kakoso legislator Mpanda rural (CCM) asked the government to improve roads and the railways in Katavi region.

He said the Mpanda- Tabora roads have to be constructed to tarmac level to ease transportation of goods and services, hence improve the economy of Western Tanzania.

Kakoso said last year the government pledged to improve three ports namely Kapiri, Kalema and Kabwe along Lake Tanganyika but nothing has been done todate.

He urged the government to bring back MV Mwongozo ship to solve the transport problem within the lake.

Nzega Member of Parliament, Dr Hamis Kigwangala, asked the government to stop investments in new mining projects, calling for a review of all contracts.

According to him, total income for all mining companies last year was over 3.3trn/- but the tax and royalty paid to the government was only 100bn/-.

Devota Likokola Special Seats MP (CCM), said Ruvuma residents have not benefited from farming activities. She said the region has harvested enough maize, but farmers do not have reliable markets hence remain poor.

"We want a maize market like Kibaigwa to enable our farmers to sell their crops at profit," she said, adding that the region produces enough tobacco, but still does not have a processing plant.

She also urged the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to compensate Mwengemshindo and Ruiko residents for the land taken for investment purposes.

Dr Mary Mwanjelwa Special Seats legislator said she will not support the budget estimates unless she gets clear explanation from the government on various things in Mbeya region

She said the government has to issue statement on Kiwira coal Mine which is believed to have been sold to Australian investor without proper procedure.

"The government has to explain what happened to Mbeya Soap factory, Farm Implement factory (ZZK) and Tanganyika Packers which are lying idle," she added.

Dr Mwanjelwa blamed mobile phone companies for failure to pay required taxes to the government, hence deny economic development.