CCM: Bei mafuta ya taa ishushwe

KAMATI Kuu (CC) ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) imeiagiza Serikali kutafuta njia ya kushusha bei ya mafuta ya taa na kuhakikisha mafuta yote yanayoingia nchini yana ubora unaotakiwa. Pia Kamati hiyo imeitaka Serikali kutafuta suluhu ya uchakachuaji wa mafuta, kwani uwezo wa kufanya hivyo inao.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari , Katibu wa Itikadi na Uenezi wa CCM, Nape Nnauye, alisema Kamati Kuu ya Chama hicho iliyokutana juzi pamoja na kujadili mambo mbalimbali ya chama, haijaridhishwa na kiwango cha bei ya mafuta ya taa. Alisema nishati hiyo ndiyo inayotumiwa na wananchi wengi wa kipato cha chini nchini, na kwamba kupandishwa bei kwa kisingizio cha kupunguza uchakachuaji, si sahihi.

Aliongeza kwamba, kutokana na kupanda kwa gharama za mafuta hayo Serikali inapaswa kukaa na kutafuta njia zitakazoshusha bei hiyo na kuvitaka vyombo husika kuhakikisha ubora wa mafuta yanayoingia nchini.

“Tunaitaka Serikali itafute njia ya kushusha bei ya matufa ya taa na pia kutafuta suluhisho la uchakachuaji na si kupandisha bei,“ alisema Nape.

Aidha, alisema suala la umeme ni nyeti na kwa hali ilivyo sasa si nzuri na kuishauri Serikali kuja na njia za kunusuru hali hiyo.

“Athari ya kukosekana kwa umeme nchini ni kubwa, hivyo Serikali kupitia Wizara ya Nishati na Madini, itumie muda iliopewa kurekebisha bajeti yao vizuri na kuja na mpango wa dharura wa kunusuru hili na pia kuja na majibu ya suluhu ya tatizo hili,” alisema Nape

Aliongeza kwamba madhara yanayoipata nchi na mtu mmoja mmoja ni makubwa na inasikitisha kwa hali ilivyo na kwamba lazima Serikali ije na suluhu ya jambo hilo.

Aidha, Nape alisema Kamati Kuu pia ilijadili masuala yanayogusa wananchi likiwamo la migogoro ya ardhi, madini bei ya pamba na kuagiza Serikali iyashughulikie kabla migogoro hiyo haijawa mikubwa.

Hivi sasa mafuta ya taa yanauzwa bei kubwa kuliko dizeli na petroli ambapo katika baadhi ya vituo bei elekezi ni Sh 1,940 na kikomo ni Sh 2,086 kwa Dar es Salaam wakati kigoma elekezi ni Sh 2,117 na kikomo ni Sh 2,334 kwa lita.

Kwa hali hiyo hiyo, bei elekezi ya dizeli kwa Dar es Salaam ni Sh 1,939 na kikomo ni Sh 2084 huku kwa Kigoma elekezi ni Sh 2170 na kikomo ni Sh 2,333.

Hatua ya kupandishwa kwa bei hiyo ya mafuta ilifikiwa bungeni katika Bajeti ya Mwaka huu wa Fedha, kwa lengo la kuhakikisha kwamba kodi ya mafuta ya taa haizidiani sana na ya dizeli na hivyo kuondokana na uchakachuaji.

Hata hivyo wachambuzi wa masuala ya uchumi wanadai kwamba wachakachuaji wanafahamika na hivyo ni wajibu wa Serikali kuwabana kuliko kumwumiza Mtanzania masikini anayeishi kwa kutegemea mafuta ya taa.

Lakini pia wanasema tatizo linalosababisha yote haya ni kwamba mafuta yote yanaagizwa kutoka nje ya nchi ambako bei inatoka huko huko lakini pia kodi ya mafuta nchini ni kubwa. Wanatoa mfano kwamba lita moja ya mafuta ya taa huitozwa kodi ya Sh 400.30, ya petrioli ni Sh 534 na dizeli ni Sh 415.

Wachambuzi hao wanasema pia kwamba hata thamani ya sarafu kulinganisha na dola ya Marekani ni tatizo, “angalia Machi kiwango kilikuwa dola moja kwa Sh 1,400 leo ni Sh 1,600,” alisema mchambuzi ambaye hakuta kutajwa jina.

Asilimia 14 tu ya Watanzania ndio wanaotumia umeme huku asilimia iliyosalia ambayo wengi ni wananchi masikini waishio vijijini, wanatumia mafuta ya taa kumulikia na hata kupikia, hivyo bei ya nishati hiyo inapopanda inawaumiza.

Wakati huo huo, habari zilizopatikana jana jioni Dodoma, zilisema leo Serikali inatarajiwa kutangaza bei mpya ya mafuta nchini, baada ya Mamlaka ya Udhibiti wa Maji na Nishati (Ewura) kukokotoa kwa kuzingatia maoni ya wadau mbalimbali

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.

CCM WAFUTA POSHO ZA VIKAO

HOJA ya kutaka kufutwa kwa posho za vikao za wabunge na watumishi wengine wa umma imechukua sura mpya baada ya jana Mbunge wa Bumbuli (CCM), Januari Makamba kuliambia Bunge mjini hapa kuwa suala la kufutwa kwa posho ni la kitaifa na ni sehemu ya Mpango wa Maendeleo wa miaka mitano uliowasilishwa na serikali.

Kauli hiyo ya Makamba ambaye pia ni Katibu wa Mambo ya Nje wa Sekretarieti ya CCM imekuja huku kukiwa na malumbano makali baina ya Spika wa Bunge, Anne Makinda na Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini (Chadema), Zitto Kabwe kuhusu suala hilo la posho za vikao vya wabunge.

Juzi, Spika Makinda alisema Zitto ambaye ni Naibu Kiongozi wa Upinzani Bungeni, anaweza kufukuzwa ubunge kwa kutosaini karatasi za mahudhurio, hatua ambayo Zitto alisema ataichukua ili asilipwe posho za vikao.

Spika alisema Zitto anaweza kukumbwa na adhabu hiyo iwapo hatasaini karatasi za mahudhurio ambazo ndizo zinathibitsha uwepo wa mbunge katika mikutano na vikao vya bunge na kwamba kanuni zinamwadhibu mbunge kwa kumfukuza asipohudhuria mikutano mitatu. Hata hivyo, Zitto amepuuza kauli hiyo ya Spika kwa kusema kwamba kama ni kwa ajili ya kukataa posho, yuko tayari kufukuzwa bungeni.

"Nitafanya hivyo tuone, Kanuni inasema mikutano mitatu mfululizo na siyo vikao vitatu mfululizo. Nitatumia uzoefu wangu wa siasa za wanafunzi kukwepa mtego wake. Lakini kama anadhani ni sawa kunifukuza ubunge kwa kukataa posho, nipo tayari," alisema.

Kauli ya jana ya Makamba pia inaonekana kutofautina na mawazo ya wabunge wengi wa CCM akiwamo Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi, Mustafa Mkulo ambaye amesema wanashabikia suala hilo wanajitafutia umaarufu.

Akichangia huo wa maendeleo wa miaka mitano jana, Makamba alionekana kupigia chapuo suala la kufutwa au kuangaliwa upya kwa posho za vikao huku akisema kwamba ni la kitaifa na ni sehemu ya mpango huo.

Makamba alisema kuwa suala la nidhamu na usimamizi wa matumizi ya fedha za umma ni muhimu na kwamba mpango huo umeliona katika ukurasa wa 17 wa kitabu kilichochapishwa kwa Kiingereza na kutoa mapendekezo ya kufutwa kwa posho za vikao na zile za usafiri.

"Mpango unabainisha kwamba kuna umuhimu wa kufutwa kwa posho za vikao na usafiri hivyo iwapo wabunge mtalisikia likiwasilishwa hapa kwa mbwembwe kesho (leo), basi msije mkashangaa kwani ni sehemu ya mpango huu," alisema Makamba.

Kujadiliwa bungeni leo

Mjadala kuhusu malipo ya posho ambao umekuwa ukiendelea kwa wiki moja sasa hasa zaidi nje ya Bunge, leo unatarajiwa kuingizwa rasmi bungeni wakati Bajeti ya Serikali iliyowasilishwa na Mkulo Jumatano iliyopita itakapoanza kujadiliwa.

Suala hilo ni dhahiri litajitokeza katika bajeti mbadala itakayowasilishwa na kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni na Waziri Kivuli wa Fedha, Zitto Kabwe ambaye amekuwa katika mvutano usio rasmi na Spika kutokana na kukataa kulipwa posho za kikao.

Mwenyekiti wa Chadema ambaye pia ni Kiongozi wa Upinzani Bungeni, Freeman Mbowe alisema jana kuwa kambi yake inatarajiwa kutoa ushauri mgumu ambao haujazoeleka kwa watendaji wa serikali na kwamba suala la kufutwa kwa posho ni sehemu ya mapendekezo hayo.

Alisema kufutwa kwa posho hizo kunaweza kuokoa zaidi ya Sh900 bilioni ambazo zinaweza kuelekezwa katika maeneo mengine ya huduma kwa wananchi.

Uhalisia posho za wabunge

Mmoja wa wabunge wa CCM ambaye hakutaka kutaandikwa jina lake alisema anasikia kuhukumiwa katika nafsi yake kutokana na kupokea posho za vikao ambazo kimsingi ni sawa na "kuwaibia wananchi".

"Ujue bwana sisi ndani ya CCM mambo hayaendi kama kwa wenzetu (Chadema), wale wanaweza kukaa leo na kuamua, sisi ni tofauti lazima kuwepo na mchakato lakini ukweli ni kwamba hoja yao ni nzuri," alisema mbunge huyo.

Uchunguzi uliofanywa umebaini kuwa malipo ya wabunge yamegawanyika katika sehemu nne ambazo ni pamoja na mshahara ambao ni Sh2,300,000 kwa mwezi, posho ya ubunge kila mwezi ambayo ni Sh5 milioni, posho ya kujikimu (per-diem) Sh80,000 wawapo nje ya majimbo yao kikazi na posho ya vikao (sitting allowance) ambayo huwa ni Sh70,000 kwa kila mbunge.

Kwa maana hiyo, kwa kawaida mbunge hulipwa Sh7.3 milioni kila mwezi kabla ya kukatwa kodi na wawapo Dodoma na Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya vikao vya kamati na bunge au mikoani kwa ajili ya kukagua shughuli zilizopo chini ya kamati zao. Hulipwa kiasi cha Sh150,000 kila mmoja kwa siku ambazo ni Sh70,000 kwa ajili ya vikao na Sh80,000 kwa ajili ya kujikimu.

Kwa maana hiyo bunge linatarajiwa kutumia kiasi cha Sh1.788 bilioni kwa ajili ya kugharamia vikao 73 vya Bunge la Bajeti iwapo wabunge wote 350 waliopo watahudhuria vikao hivyo.

Kwa hesabu hizo, kila mbunge katika mkutano wa Bunge la Bajeti anatarajiwa kuondoka na kikita cha Sh5.1 milioni mbali na Sh 5.58 milioni ambazo ni malipo kwa ajili ya kujikimu, fedha ambazo ni mbali na mshahara wake kwa mwezi na posho ya ubunge.

CCM yakataa posho

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), kimeanza machakato wa kufuta posho hizo ikiwa ni hatua ya kupunguza matumizi yasiyo ya lazima. Habari kutoka ndani ya CCM, Dodoma na Dar es Salaam zinasema kuwa mkakati wa kufutwa kwa posho ulianzishwa takriban mwezi mmoja uliopita na sekretarieti mpya inayoongozwa na Katibu Mkuu, Wilson Mukama.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa hizo, baadhi ya wajumbe wa sekretarieti walihoji uhalali wa posho wanazolipwa hata pale vikao vinapofanyika katika sehemu ambako ni makazi yao na kwamba hoja hizo ndizo zilizozaa wazo la kufutwa kwa posho katika vikao.

"Hoja ilikuwa kwamba kama chama hakina fedha na tunataka kupunguza matumizi yasiyo ya lazima, basi posho za vikao zifutwe kwa sababu hakuna ulazima wa posho hizo hasa kwa wajumbe wa sekretarieti ambao kazi zao ni za kila siku," kilieleza chanzo chetu na kuongeza:

"Hivi sasa mpango huo uko kwenye mchakato wa kuwekewa mwongozo na nadhani baada ya kupitia katika vikao vyetu utaanza kutekelezwa. Lakini kimsingi ni kama utekelezaji wake umeshaanza kwa sababu baadhi ya wajunbe wamekataa kabisa kusaini posho hizo."

Habari zaidi zinadai kuwa waraka wa mapendekezo ya kupunguza matumizi ndani ya CCM unakwenda mbali zaidi hadi katika matumizi ya magari na kwamba pale usafiri unapohitaji wa kuelekea kwenye mkutano mmoja, basi viongozi watumie magari machache kwa maana ya usafiri wa pamoja badala ya utaratibu wa sasa ambao unamruhusu kila kiongozi kutumia usafiri wake.

Katibu wa Itikadi na Uenezi wa CCM, Nape Nnauye alipoulizwa kuhusu sekretarieti kufuta posho katika vikao vyake, hakukanusha wala kuthibitisha, badala yake akadai kuwa hayo ni mambo ya ndani ya chama ambayo hayana faida yoyote kwa umma.

"Hivi ninyi waandishi wa habari, haya mambo mnayapata kwa nani! Haya ni mambo ya ndani ya chama sidhani kama yana tija yoyote kwa umma, maana haiwezi kusaidia chochote," alisema Nape kwa kwa simu.

Alipoelezwa kwamba suala hilo lina uhusiano na sakata linaloendelea bungeni, Nape alisema: "Bunge ni bunge na chama ni chama. Kila taasisi inajitegemea na ina uamuzi wake, lakini pia sisi kama chama tulishatoa kauli mara nyingi kwamba suala la posho kwa wabunge na watumishi wengine wa serikali linazungumzika, ni la kisera na wanaohusika wapo waulizeni hao."

Mwishoni mwa wiki iliyopita Nape akizungumzia malumbano miongoni mwa wabunge kuhusu suala la posho alisema suala hilo linajadilika na kwamba si vyema kulipinga kwa sababu tu linatokea kambi ya upinzani.

Kwa upande wake, Makamba alipoulizwa kuhusu kufutwa kwa posho katika vikao vya Sekretarieti ya CCM naye kama ilivyokuwa kwa Nape, hakukanusha wala kuthibitisha.

"Wewe si unamfahamu msemaji wa chama ni nani? Mwulizeni Nape tena nadhani anakuja Dodoma. Akija mwulizeni, mimi siwezi kulizungumzia.... lakini ninyi waandishi haya mambo ya ndani ya chama huwa mnayapata wapi? Anyway, mwulizeni mwenezi atawaambia," alisema Makamba.

Chanzo: Mwananchi 15/6/2011