|
MPs urge govt to divest from TRL to beef up its share capital
2008-07-05 09:58:46
By Hannah Mwandoloma, Dodoma
The government has been asked to sell its shares in the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) to the public with a view to improving the performance of the company.
Debating budget estimates for the Ministry of Infrastructure Development on Thursday, Teddy Kasella-Bantu (Bukene, CCM) said the central line was very important for the national economy.
However, she warned that the line was in very bad shape, urging the government to allow citizens to own shares in the company.
``I have been there and I know, and it is even worse to us women. Only those with trousers and are strong can travel on the central line nowadays, but the sick and old, especially women, are often left behind,`` she claimed.
Kasella-Bantu said if citizens become shareholders in TRL the company would get enough capital to improve its services.
Another legislator, Joyce Masunga (Special Seats, CCM) said expectations of the people, especially those using the central line, were to see the new TRL management, which took charge of the institution after privatization, improving services, but things have turned the other way round.
``I believe we can do better than this. Why doesn`t the government allow our own people to run this company? It`s pathetic, the people do not deserve this kind of service,`` Masunga said.
Opposition spokesperson for the Infrastructure portfolio, Zitto Kabwe (Kigoma-North, Chadema) said while presenting the parliamentary Infrastructure Development committee inputs on Wednesday that in Nguruka people told him they had to sign death documents before boarding the train because travelling on TRL trains ``is a matter of life and death.``
``If you get to witness the commotion you will not even imagine that people can get out of the train alive, but it is true that people suffocate in the train due to congestion. These are Tanzanians, so the government has to act responsibly as this line is very important,`` said Kabwe.
Hassan Kigwalilo (Liwale, CCM) told the House that when roads have been rehabilitated in the southern part of the country, the government should also consider restoring the Nachingwea-Mtwara railway line and the one from Masasi to Mgaga.
|
