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Richmond: We`ll not be fooled-PM
2008-03-20 09:09:33
By Angel Navuri
The government has said it will not be fooled by self-defence tactics from those implicated in the findings of the parliamentary select committee on the Richmond power generation saga.
It will instead act on advice that would be given by an advisory team appointed by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda.
``We will just not be fooled by people who say `I am clean, I was not involved in the saga’ but rather we will act on the team`s advice,` said Prime Minister Pinda.
Pinda, who was speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam during a seminar for members of parliament, said the experts``
advisory team was tasked to go through the recommendations and give consultative advice.
The seminar, organized by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, is intended to give the legislators an opportunity to debate the Electricity and Petroleum Supply bills, to be tabled in the coming Bunge session.
In its report, the parliamentary select committee recommended that some government officials who were involved in the controversial power generation contract be taken to task.
Among them were Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika, whom the committee said had failed to advise the government on the controversial contract, and Director of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau Edward Hoseah, whom the team accused of clearing Richmond of bribery without justification.
Both have denied any wrong doing and said they would not resign.
The revelations made the then prime minister Edward Lowassa, minister for energy and minerals Nazir Karamagi and minister for East African Cooperation resign last month.
Pinda formed an advisory team to go through the team’s proposals then advise the government on how to go about the matter.
The team has completed the assignment and handed over its report to the Chief Secretary.
``I recommend the good job done by the team. I expect to receive the report on March 26 this year,`` he said, adding:
``I promise to hand over the report to the President so that he gives his recommendations. Parliament will be informed on steps that have been taken once all the procedures are completed.``
Minister of Energy and Minerals William Ngeleja said the aim of debating the draft bills was to collect views from legislators with a view of making the necessary amendments.
He said the two bills were set to be debated in the coming Bunge session and that stakeholders’ views had been accommodated in the two proposed statutes.
The minister said the stakeholders had approved the having of a new law on electricity and petroleum supply.
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