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Public wants ministers out of business
2008-02-04 09:05:15
By Patrick Kisembo
A cross-section of public opinion has indicated that the wananchi support President Jakaya Kikwete`s proposal for ministers and legislators to choose between working for the people and going for businesses.
The support comes from across the country’s political divide.
A cross section of people interviewed yesterday said the move had come at the right time.
Registrar of Political Parties John Tendwa said it was not enough for public leaders to declare their wealth, as the move had to go hand in hand with the implementation of good governance.
He said the current Public Leadership Ethics Code did not state whether government leaders or politicians should choose between being politicians or entrepreneurs.
``The Zanzibar Declaration encouraged leaders to acquire wealth and establish their businesses, although some were already rich,` he said.
Tendwa, however, said the actual implementation of the President`s endeavour was difficult due to the fact that most MPs had bought their way into Parliament.
Tendwa said it was impossible to achieve fair play when company owners and poor people competed in politics.
``We know that the majority of MPs are business people. We, members of the public, would like to know whether these MPs speak for the sake of the people or for their business interests,`` the registrar said.
Tendwa further queried: ``There are ministers in there,
but how much do they contribute to the cabinet versus public interests?``
``All in all, those who think that they fall in the category of entrepreneurs should decide either to quit politics and join business or leave business and continue with politics,`` said Tendwa.
A Dar es Salaam University Don, Prof Mwesiga Baregu, was of the view that the President`s advice could not be ruled out.
``This kind of law (leadership code Act) exists in many countries. We do not need rich people to rule while serving their interests. We have many people out there capable of ruling although they are poor,`` he said.
He said it was now a good opportunity for Tanzanians to gauge individuals who sought leadership through the use of money.
``We should fight to avoid the kind of people who buy their way into power. We need those who can serve the public wholeheartedly. We should now start a new culture in search of a pure political leadership that abides with ethical codes of public service,`` said Prof Baregu.
He said the President`s move had come as a result of the influence of the Zanzibar Declaration.
``However, I am pessimistic if the President will stick to his guns because he is surrounded by the same people,`` he said.
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Development Dr Milton Mahanga supported President Kikwete. He said: ``The proposed action will remove public fears that politicians are there just to cater for their personal interests.``
``The system will reduce the speed of businessmen rushing for political office. There are middlemen in politics, even in CCM, whereby some entrepreneurs want to put front men as politicians so that they work for them,`` he said.
``The majority of politicians are not prepared to leave their trade undertakings and stick to politics. Given a choice, they would definitely prefer to run their own companies,`` he said.
He said there was too much corruption in elections, adding that the problem had been confounded by the presence of businesspeople in the political arena.
Ali Abdallah, a Dar es Salaam resident, commended the President for the move, saying it had come at the right time when the wananchi were witnessing greedy public leaders siphoning the country`s resources.
``I commend the President for his bold stance. I propose that ministers and legislators be made to choose either of the two before the coming elections. The President should not wait. The law should be reviewed right now to include that provision,`` he said.
The Chairman of the Tanzania Labour Party, Augustine Mrema, advised the government to fire all ministers who served their personal rather than public interests.
``Some of Kikwete`s ministers are corrupt. He should start with the ones who are tainting the image of his government,`` he said.
In his end-month address to the nation on February 31, President Jakaya Kikwete advised ministers and lawmakers who were directly engaged in business to choose between public service and business ventures.
He said evidence had shown that there were politicians –ministers and MPs—who were directly involved in business.
``This has resulted into people losing their faith and doubting the integrity of their leaders,`` he said.
He said he would advise for the amending of the laws governing leadership ethics to help restore the leaders` image.
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