Former minister supports arrest of top TPDC officials

Dar es Salaam. The push to publicly unveil oil and gas contracts between Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) and largely foreign investors received backing from a former cabinet minister and ex-MP for Ilemela in Mwanza, Mr Antony Diallo.

In a posting on social media, Mr Diallo said in a transparent government, the Parliamentary committee - especially on oversight - has powers or access to any document it requires tabled before the committee.

According to the former minister, the problem being experienced now lies with the type of government officials whom he said “were brought up in an administration of the past which was based on secrecy.” “Laws in many countries have been changed to accommodate such parliamentary requirements, including subpoena of government officers obstructing such an order. For example, in Zambia, this was instituted over 10 years ago and still stands. Government mentality has to change to accommodate transparent governance,” said Mr Diallo.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mr Zitto Kabwe, yesterday said his team was satisfied with the move they took in ordering the arrest of top Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation officials.

Mr Kabwe told The Citizen that even though it was surprising that TPDC officials were later released without any charges on orders of the minister for Energy, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, the PAC had wanted to send a stern message.

The Kigoma North MP said the committee believes the matter was not over as they have written to the House Speaker Ms Anne Makinda over the PAC demands and which they expect action from the House, and eventually in court.

Mr Kabwe reiterated yesterday that TPDC must produce in Parliament the oil and gas contracts it had entered with investors for scrutiny. “Parliament must play its role and this we will do for national interest,” he said.

On Monday, Police freed TPDC board chairman Michael Mwanda and the acting director general Mr James Andilile over the government agency’s failure to submit 26 oil and gas production-sharing agreements (PSAs) with investors to the PAC.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone commander Suleiman Kova said police set the duo free because the law was not followed before they were arrested.

But yesterday Mr Kabwe said the parliamentary team would still pursue the case to its conclusion.

“PAC wrote to speaker as per the law to enforce the directive to have the DPP prepare charges against the TPDC officials for contempt of Parliament....therefore the case will go to court. PAC is confident that we have done our work and a strong message sent,” Mr Kabwe told The Citizen yesterday.

He said noted though that the arrested officials had right to bail. “But I was surprised that it was top officials of the ministry of energy amdn minerals who went to bail them out.”

TPDC officials had been given until 10am Monday to submit the much-sought contracts in the natural gas and oil sector, before the PAC.The demand for the documents has not been successful since 2012.

Under the Parliamentary Immunities Powers and Privileges Act, CAP 296 R.E 2002, any person who fails or declines to submit documents requested by the PAC, among other possible penalties, risks going to prison.

TPDC however has been insisting that there is a clause on the contracts it signed with investors that grants confidentiality, at the other hand lawmakers and activists have been pushing for disclosure.

When it comes to accessing contracts signed between the government and investors in the extractive industry, it has always been a daunting task, because the State has been insisting on secrecy, while legislators and activists gun for transparency in the multibillion dollar sector.