(sent by THOMAS M.)

Regional governments on opposition killing spree

Published on September 23, 2007, 12:00 am

By Ernest Mpinganjira

A shared trait in East African Community states is the absence of serious opposition to keep the Executive in check.

Opposition politicians are either "bought" as is the case in Kenya and Uganda or suppressed as exemplified by Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

In the absence of alternative government, ruling parties have excelled in exhibiting extreme "majority dictatorship" such as last week’s development in Tanzania, where an opposition MP, Mr Zitto Kabwe, was accused of abusing freedom of expression and expanded democratic space by "mudslinging the government."

Kabwe, who was suspended from the House after exposing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi excesses, has been joined by opposition colleagues in holding countrywide rallies to mobilise public support to fight what they termed as "pervasive and systemic corruption" in the ruling party.

So far, they have been in 11 of the country’s 23 provinces, where they are meeting resistance from the government.

CCM has acquired the negative tag chaka la rushwa (den of thieves) in reference to its failure to rein in corrupt leaders.

The party’s rank and file expressed their disenchantment during branch elections in which vigogo (bigwigs) were shown the door due to alleged sleaze.

But Ideology and Political Affairs minister Mr Kingunge Ngumbale-Mwiru scoffed at allegations that there is entrenched corruption in the party and by extension government. On Wednesday, he asked the opposition to provide evidence.

This was to counter Kabwe and Leader of Official Opposition in the House, Dr Wilbroad Slaa, who are emerging as the fiercest critics of CCM’s partiality to grand corruption.

Massive graft

Slaa shocked the country in June when he alleged that BoT had abetted the theft or loss of TSh1.3 trillion ($1 billion) through fraud. As expected, CCM did not try to verify the authenticity of the evidence or direct the moribund Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB) to investigate before dismissing it.

The opposition MPs implicated BoT Governor Mr Daudi Bilali in massive financial looting, including flawed mining contracts and power generation deals.

Slaa wanted Bilali investigated over the disappearance of millions of dollars from the Central Bank’s External Debt Service Account and the inflated construction costs of its Twin Towers, estimated to have climbed to $340 million.

Ngumable-Mwiru says when the opposition punches holes in ambiguous government policies they cease to be patriotic. "They want to cause civil unrest," he said.

"They are harping on corruption to besmirch the government and ascend to power. If there is evidence, let them hand it over to us and we’ll take action."

But when Slaa attempted to table evidence of graft at BoT and the mining sector, CCM MPs and Speaker Mr Samuel Sitta used their majority to prevent him from going ahead.

There is now talk about Kabwe, who represents Kigoma North constituency in the west, not being a "genuine" Tanzanian. CCM zealots say he is a Kenyan, Malawian, Rwandese or Zambian because of his tenacity and determination to keep the government on its toes.

Since Tanzania recovered from a debilitating power-shedding regime that ended early this year, the MPs have been tearing into President Jakaya Kikwete’s government over the financial improprieties involving Bank of Tanzania.

Last month, Kabwe through a private member’s Motion, sought debate on the rot at Central Bank and the mining industry, which are perceived by the public as the seat of sleaze.

The attempt to censure the government ended dramatically when the youthful MP was suspended for "lying" to the House. It is instructive that the CCM-dominated House did not listen to what Slaa or Kabwe had to say before branding them liars and heretics.

The 334-member House in which opposition representation is only 38 did not give them room to table evidence.

Mudhihir moved a motion to suspend Kabwe, saying the MP should be penalised for "humiliating Energy and Minerals minister Mr Nazir Karamagi.

Mudhihir wanted Kabwe suspended for cheating the House when he accused Karamagi on July 17 of lying concerning mining contracts, which the minister had signed in London.

Karamagi and a Canadian firm signed the controversial Buzwagi Mine deal in February.

The deal was hammered out at a time when the government was reviewing mining contracts, policies and laws that would benefit Tanzanians. The House committee envisaged by Kabwe would have probed how the mining contracts were being reviewed.

The two MPs had cast aspersions on the speedy manner in which the exercise was being executed with public input. They queried how a Canadian firm, Barrick Gold, which has foothold at State House, acquired the Buzwagi mining project.

When the matter came to light in June, Karamagi attempted to play down the concern, saying it was "a fringe mine compared with Bulyanhulu, North Mara Gold Mines and Pangea Minerals Ltd.

The standoff between Kabwe and CCM leadership has elicited scathing response from the usually reticent Tanzanian public.

Kikwete a laughing stock

A former journalist with state-run Daily News, Chemi Che-Mponda, commented on her blog: "Listen to me JK (Jakaya Kikwete). Do you remember when you said you want to move with Ari (earnest), Nguvu (vigour) na Kasi (speed) in short Anguka? You did so without realising that you are a novice and your mentors were more sophisticated and skilled than you. You’ve become a laughing stock."

Tanzania needs a few Kabwes and Slaas to break loose from CCM-induced poverty, all in the name of uzalendo (patriotism). Although inferior numerically, the opposition has succeeded in proving how "abuse by the majority" is detrimental to a nation’s economic and social progress.

empinganira at yahoo dot com