Ex-spy chief backs Chadema protests

Dar es Salaam. Former Intelligence chief Hassy Kitine yesterday came out in support of the opposition Chadema’s stance on various issues.He told journalists in Dar es Salaam that demonstrations organised by Chadema across the country in protest at the spiralling cost of living and the party’s demand for the scrapping of sitting allowances were pertinent issues which the country’s leadership should take seriously. Dr Kitine is the first prominent CCM cadre to have publicly supported Chadema’s cause, which has in recent months been roundly criticised by the ruling party and some opposition parties. He said it was a fact that the high cost of living was a heavy burden on Tanzanians, adding that something should urgently be done to address the situation. Dr Kitine, a former Cabinet minister and MP, said whatever Chadema was doing to draw attention to such issues deserved support, and added that the opposition party should not be demonised for practising its democratic rights. He made the remarks when journalists sought his comments on various national issues at the end of a meeting organised by Faidika, a microfinance institution in which he is a director. Dr Kitine said he had also been closely following the debate on whether or not MPs and other holders of public office deserved sitting allowances.“What Chadema is doing is healthy for our democracy because everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the views should be constructive…they should not be aimed at destroying the country.” Dr Kitine warned that the widening gulf between the rich and poor was “very dangerous”, saying it posed a serious threat to peace and stability in Tanzania.He said the country could not expect to remain peaceful forever when a few individuals controlled 99 per cent of the economy. Dr Kitine said he was only trying to speak the “truth”, although he was aware that his comments would not go down well in some quarters.“I, like other Tanzanians, am giving my views on various national issues, but I know that some people are not happy with my comments. But even if I don’t say what I am saying, other people will say it.” On the Chadema demonstrations, Dr Kitine said what the opposition party was doing was a challenge to the government and other political parties. “What we need to look at is what they (Chadema) are advocating in their demonstrations. If you talk of life having become unbearably tough, that’s reality because many people are feeling the pinch...I support the demonstrations although I’m a CCM member,” he said. Comparing the reign of retired President Benjamin Mkapa and President Jakaya Kikwete’s Fourth Phase government, Dr Kitine said he had not noticed any major difference between the two phases.He said, however, that things had gone from bad to worse after principles enshrined in the Arusha Declaration were abandoned, adding that people were now freely buying their way into elective office. “In the past, when I was appointed Director of Intelligence by Mwalimu Nyerere and later a minister before I became an MP, the sole motive for seeking leadership was to serve the people,” he said. Dr Kitine said the political landscape had changed dramatically since the Arusha Declaration was shunted aside. It was very difficult in the past for people who had amassed wealthy and failed to explain its source to be allowed to seek elective office, he said. In a swift response, CCM Publicity Secretary Nape Nnauye told The Citizen that there was nothing wrong with convincing people to fight for their rights, adding that the issue was how this was done. “Even CCM has been doing a lot to raise people’s awareness and sensitise them on their rights. Take for instance the decision to construct a secondary school in every ward across the country…this aims at increasing people’s awareness by giving them education,” he said when he toured Mwananchi Communications Limited head office in Dar es Salaam. “The difference is that while we (CCM) are empowering the people by educating them, Chadema stops people from engaging in economic activities by holding demonstrations daily and deceiving them that this is a shortcut to State House,” he said.

Kiapo cha Mkapa chazua mjadala

Rais mstaafu Benjamin Willianm Mkapa  HATI ya kiapo ya Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya Tatu, Benjamin Mkapa, jana ilizua malumbano makali ya kisheria mahakamani na kusababisha washtakiwa, aliyekuwa Balozi wa Tanzania huko Italia, Profesa Costa Mahalu na mwenzake Grace Martin kushindwa kuanza kutoa utetezi wao katika kesi ya uhujumu uchumi inayowakabili. Profesa Mahalu  na Grace aliyekuwa Ofisa Utawala wa ubalozi, walitarajiwa kuanza kujitetea jana katika Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu, Dar es Salaam baada ya mahakama hiyo kuwaona kuwa wana kesi ya kujibu tuhuma zinazowakabili. Watuhumiwa hao walikwama kuanza kujitetea baada ya Hakimu Mkazi Mkuu, Elvin Mugeta anayesikiliza kesi hiyo kukataa maombi ya mawakili wanaowatetea kutaka hati hiyo ya Mkapa iingizwe kwenye kumbukumbu za ushahidi za mahakama.Kukataliwa kwa ombi hilo lililowasilishwa mahakamani hapo na Wakili wa washtakiwa hao, Mabere Marando kulionekana kutaka kuzua mvutano, lakini Hakimu Mugeta alisema ameipokea hati hiyo ya kiapo cha Mkapa iliyowasilishwa mahakamani hapo, lakini wakati wa kuizungumzia bado haujafika. Hakimu Mugeta alifafanua kuwa hati hiyo itazungumziwa baada ya washtakiwa kueleza namna watakavyojitetea, kama ni kwa mdomo au kwa viapo, ikiwa ni pamoja na kueleza idadi na kutaja mashahidi wao pamoja na vielelezo watakavyoviwasilisha. Kabla ya uamuzi huo wa mahakama, Wakili wa Serikali, Ponsiano Lukosi aliushutumu upande wa utetezi katika kesi hiyo baada ya kiapo cha Mkapa kuanza kuripotiwa kwenye vyombo vya habari kabla ya kufika mahamani. Wakili Lukosi alitoa mfano wa Gazeti la Mwanahalisi toleo la 239 la Aprili 27, mwaka huu kwa kuchapisha kiapo hicho, kukichambua kipengele kwa kipengele na kukitolea uamuzi kuwa upande wa mashtaka sharti ukunje jamvi kwa kuwa hauna kesi kutokana na kiapo hicho cha Mkapa. Pia alizungumzia habari iliyoandikwa na gazeti la Mwananchi katika toleo la jana iliyomkariri Marando akithibitisha kuwa barua waliyomwandikia Rais Jakaya Kikwete kupitia kwa Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Philemon Luhanjo akiomba akubali kuwatetea washtakiwa hao, bado haijajibiwa. Pia Marando alifafanua kuwa kutokana na umuhimu wa Rais Kikwete katika kesi hiyo, iwapo wateja wake watamaliza kujitetea pamoja na mashahidi wengine wataiomba mahakama imkumbushe. Aliongeza kwamba kama hataridhia wataiomba mahakama iahirishe kesi hiyo hadi mwaka 2016 atakapomaliza kipindi chake cha urais ili mahakama imlazimishe kufika mahakamani kutoa ushahidi huo. Akijibu shutuma hizo, Wakili Marando alisema ndiye aliyeandaa waraka huo, lakini naye akautupia lawama upande wa mashtaka kuwa ndiyo unaopaswa kueleza zilifikaje kwenye vyombo vya habari. “Mimi ndiye niliyeiandaa document (hati) hii kwa mkono wangu na nilikuwa nimeifungia mahali ambapo mtu yeyote hafiki. Kutokana na 'sensivity' (unyeti) wake niliikabidhi Serikali waraka huo kabla ya Aprili 27 (siku ambayo ilianza kuripotiwa kwenye vyombo vya habari),” “Lakini wiki moja baadaye, nilishtuka kuiona kwenye gazeti, kwani hata mteja wangu hakuwa na nyaraka hiyo. Hivyo mimi ndiye niliyestahili kuwalaumu. Hata barua niliyomwandikia Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi nayo nilishtukia iko kwenye magazeti,” alidai Marando. Kuhusu habari iliyoandikwa na gazeti la Mwananchi alisema: “Mwananchi walinipigia simu wakiuliza utaratibu wa kisheria wa kumwita Rais, nami nikawaeleza kwa mujibu wa Kifungu cha 9 (1) cha Sheria ya Mambo ya Rais aliye madarakani na hicho ndicho walichokiripoti.“Mimi naona halijaharibika jambo na tusikubali kuziba midomo magazeti pasipo lazima,” alisema Marando. Wakili mwingine wa utetezi, Cuthbert Tenga aliiomba mahakama iwapatie mwenendo mzima wa kesi hiyo ili waweze kuandaa utetezi akidai kuwa hati walizo nazo hazikidhi kwa kuwa zina makosa.Kutokana na ombi hilo, mahakama ilikubali na kuahidi kuwapatia mwenendo huo keshokutwa na kwamba kesi hiyo itatajwa Juni 24, mwaka huu na ushahidi wa utetezi kuanza kusikilizwa Julai 8 na 11. Profesa Mahalu na mwenzake wanadaiwa kuhujumu uchumi kwa kuisababishia Serikali hasara ya Euro 2,065,827.60, kupitia mchakato wa ununuzi wa jengo la ubalozi huo, wakati wa utumishi wao.Wanadaiwa kula njama na kutenda makosa hayo katika tarehe tofauti na katika maeneo tofauti huko nchini Italia, likiwamo la kumpotosha mwajiri wao katika hati ya matumizi. Wanadaiwa kuwa Septemba 23, 2002 jijini Rome, washtakiwa wakiwa waajiriwa wa Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, walisaini vocha yenye namba D2/9/23/9/02 ikionyesha kuwa bei ya ununuzi wa jengo la ubalozi ni Euro 3,098,741.58, maelezo ambayo yalikuwa ni ya uongo na yenye nia ya kumdanganya mwajiri wao.

Marando: Tunamtaka Rais Kikwete mahakamani

Kwa mujibu wa gazeti la Mwananchi, WAKILI Mabere Marando anayemtetea Profesa Costa Mahalu aliyekuwa na Balozi wa Tanzania nchini Italia, amesema ataiomba mahakama imlazimishe Rais Jakaya Kikwete kufika mahakamani kumtetea mteja mteja wake iwapo hatakubali kwenda kutoa ushahidi baada ya kuombwa kufanya hivyo kwa barua.Marando ametoa kauli hiyo wakati Profesa Mahalu na mwenzake Grace Martin wakianza kujitetea leo. Mbali na utetezi wao binafsi, wanatarajia pia kuwa na mashahidi kadhaa wa kuwatetea akiwamo Rais Mstaafu wa Awamu ya Tatu, Benjamin Mkapa pamoja na Rais Kikwete.Tayari Rais Mkapa amewasilisha mahakamani hapo hati yake ya kiapo akimtetea Profesa Mahalu na mwenzake kuhusiana na tuhuma zinazowakabili huku akibainisha kuwa yuko tayari kufika mahakamani iwapo italazimu. Lakini hadi jana, Rais Kikwete alikuwa hajajibu barua aliyoandikiwa na Wakili Marando kwa niaba ya wateja wake wakimwomba akubali wa kufika mahakamani kuwatetea au kuwasilisha kiapo chake ambacho kitatumika kama ushahidi wa utetezi dhidi yao. Marando alisema jana kuwa Rais Kikwete alikuwa hajajibu barua hiyo, lakini akasema ikiwa Profesa Mahalu atamaliza kujitetea pamoja na mashahidi wengine kabla Rais Kikwete hajakubali, wataiomba mahakama imkumbushe. “Kama atakaidi hata baada ya mahakama kumwandikia, basi tutaomba kesi hiyo iahirishwe hadi mwaka 2016 (wakati atakapokuwa amemaliza muda wake wa urais) ili imlazimishe kuja kutoa ushahidi huo,” alisema Marando. Mei 3, mwaka huu Wakili Marando alimwandikia barua Rais Kikwete yenye kumbukumbu namba MM/PCRM/2011/1 kupitia kwa Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Philemon Luhanjo, akibainisha kuwa ni miongoni mwa mashahidi muhimu ambao wateja wao wamewaagiza wamwite. Barua hiyo inabainisha kuwa umuhimu wa Rais Kikwete katika ushahidi huo wa utetezi unatokana na ukweli kwamba nyumba hiyo ya Ubalozi wa Italia ilinunuliwa wakati akiwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na kwamba alikuwa na taarifa zote kuhusu mchakato wa ununuzi wake. Mchakato huo, kwa mujibu wa barua hiyo ni pamoja na nguvu ya kisheria aliyopewa mteja wao ambayo ilisainiwa na Rais Kikwete wakati huo akiwa Waziri Septemba 24, 2004 pamoja na hotuba yake aliyoitoa Bungeni Agosti 3, 2004 akithibitisha kuwa ununuzi wa jengo hilo haukuwa na mushkeli wowote. Pia barua hiyo inaweka wazi kuwa kuna barua nyingi tu ambazo Profesa Mahalu alimwandikia Kikwete akiwa waziri, pamoja na katibu mkuu wa wizara hiyo, ambazo anapaswa kuzitambua mahakamani wakati wa utetezi. “Kwa hiyo tunaomba kwa unyenyekevu kabisa, uweke barua yetu hii mbele ya Mh. Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano Tanzania; aisome na akueleze utujibu kama hana pingamizi kuja kueleza ukweli mahakamani. Kama muda wake hauruhusu, kulingana na ratiba zake za kitaifa, tunaomba aturuhusu tumwandalie kiapo (affidavit) kitakachoeleza yaliyotekea ili tukiwasilishe mahakamani badala ya kumwita yeye mahakamani”, inasisitiza barua hiyo na kuongeza kuwa hakuna kifungu cha Katiba kinachozuia Rais kuitwa kutoa ushahidi mahakamani. Katika kiapo chake alichokiwasilisha mahakamani, Mkapa anamtetea Mahalu na akidai kuwa amefanya naye kazi kwa muda mrefu na anamjua kuwa ni mtu mwaminifu, mtiifu na mchakapakazi. Mkapa alieleza katika hati yake hiyo kuwa mchakato wa ununuzi wa jengo hilo ulifanyika wakati wa uongozi wake na kwamba alikuwa akijua kila kilichokuwa kikiendelea kuhusiana na ununuzi huo na kwamba ulifanyika kwa mujibu wa sheria. Alifafanua kuwa mpango wa ununuzi wa jengo hilo ulikuwa ni utekelezaji wa sera ya serikali wa kuwa na majengo yake ya kudumu katika kila ubalozi kwa kununua au kujenga ikiwa ni njia ya kupunguza gharama za upangaji. Aliongeza kuwa serikali yake ilimpa Profesa Mahalu mamlaka yote kupitia nguvu ya kisheria ya kusimamia na kutekeleza mchakato wa ununuzi wa jengo. Mkapa alisisitiza kuwa kupitia utaratibu wa serikali, alikuwa akijua kuwa taarifa ya uthamini wa jengo hilo iliyofanywa na Wizara ya Ujenzi ilikuwa ni Dola za Marekani 3.0 milioni wakati Wizara ya Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi, ilikadiriwa Euro 5.5 milioni: “Kupitia utaratibu wa serikali nilifahamu kuwa jengo hilo lilinunuliwa kwa gharama ya Dola za Marekani 3.0milioni sawa na Euro 3,098,741.40,” alisema Mkapa. Pia Mkapa alisisitiza kuwa alikuwa na bado anatambua taarifa ya serikali bungeni ya Agosti 3, 2004 iliyoeleza na kuthibitisha kuwa taratibu zote za ununuzi wa jengo hilo zilifuatwa kwa mujibu wa maelekezo ya serikali na kwamba dalali alilipwa kikamilifu. “Kwa kipindi chote ambacho nimefanya kazi na Balozi Mahalu katika nafasi mbalimbali za utumishi wa serikali ameonyesha tabia thabiti na za dhati, uaminifu, utiifu, uchapakazi na ubora," alisema Mkapa. Alisema kuwa sifa hizo zilimfanya atunukiwe na Rais wa Italia, Tuzo ya Heshima ya Juu wakati wa kuadhimisha Siku ya Taifa hilo, muda mrefu baada ya kuwa ameondoka nchini humo. Profesa Mahalu na mwenzake, Martin aliyekuwa Ofisa Utawala wa ubalozi huo wanakabiliwa na mashtaka hayo katika Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu, Dar es Salaam wakidaiwa kuhujumu uchumi kwa kuisababishia Serikali hasara ya Euro 2,065,827.60. Wanadaiwa kusababisha hasara hiyo kupitia mchakato wa ununuzi wa jengo la ubalozi huo, wakati wa utumishi wao. Kutokana na mashtaka hayo, leo wanadiplomasia hao wanaanza kujitetea baada ya mahakama hiyo kuwaona kuwa wana kesi ya kujibu.Mahalu na Martin wanadaiwa kula njama na kutenda makosa hayo katika tarehe tofauti na katika maeneo tofauti huko Italia, likiwamo la kumpotosha mwajiri wao katika hati ya matumizi. Miongoni mwa mashtaka hayo ni kwamba Septemba 23, 2002 huko Rome, washtakiwa wakiwa waajiriwa wa Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, walisaini vocha yenye namba D2/9/23/9/02 ikionyesha kuwa bei ya ununuzi wa jengo la ubalozi ni Euro 3,098,741.58, maelezo ambayo yalikuwa ni ya uongo na yenye nia ya kumdanganya mwajiri wao.