Lowassa: Richmond was a clean deal; I’m fit as a fiddle

Dodoma. It was a scandal that rocked the nation, causing a political storm in February 2008—when finally Prime Minister Edward Lowassa resigned—along with two other Cabinet ministers Ibrahim Msabaha and Nazir Karamagi.

 To the Dr Harrison Mwakyembe-led select committee, Mr Lowassa’s exit was a huge victory in the war on graft, but to Mr Lowassa, the whole affair was political revenge and a carefully planned move to settle scores within the ruling party arising from the 2005 elections.

After maintaining a studious silence on the matter for seven years, yesterday the former PM spoke and offered his version of the episode, though very briefly—saying he didn’t resign because of his perceived corrupt role in the Richmond saga.

This he did at a packed press conference in Dodoma as he gets set to kick off his presidential bid in Arusha next Saturday. The address came just a day after CCM announced the date for aspiring candidates to collect nomination forms, following the lifting of a ban on six of the ruling party members, including him, who were accused of engaging in early campaigns.

Asked whether he believes Richmond was a clean deal or not, Mr Lowassa said it took a former US Secretary of State and the current US President, Mr Barack Obama, to come to Tanzania to confirm that the power generating plant was okay. According to him, it was unfortunate that at the end of the day the government lost a whopping $120 million (Sh240 billion), which was paid to Dowans following a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in November 2011 over the Richmond saga.

 “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama to come here to praise the very power plant that were installed by Richmond…today it’s generating power in this country,” said Mr Lowassa.

According to him, the ICC ruling, which granted Dowans $120 million award, is a confirmation that the contract was clean and was terminated unlawfully.

But, asked why he resigned if the deal was clean then, Mr Lowassa responded that he didn’t resign because of the Richmond contract, but due to the fact that there were people who wanted the premiership.

 “The problem was premiership…they wanted the premiership. Richmond wasn’t an issue at all,” Mr Lowassa said, echoing what he said shortly before resigning in February 2008.

A move by Tanesco to buy the Dowans plants was blocked but today, the very same power plants have become Tanzania’s saviour after a US-based firm belonging to one Mr Paul Hink purchased them.

 Former US Secretary of State was the first to inaugurate the plants in Dar es Salaam—describing the project as the demonstration of America’s commitment to end the energy crisis in Africa.

Her endorsement was finally concluded in August 2013, when President Obama, accompanied by President Kikwete, officially launched the once rejected plant at Tanesco headquarters in Dar es Salaam.

Like Ms Clinton, Mr Obama too, praised the initiative, which he said was part of the US ambitious plan to power Africa.

Fit or unfit?

The former PM also declared that he was physically fit to be president, dismissing rumours that his health greatly deteriorated over the past few years.

 He said he was ready to undergo medical tests to prove that he was fit.  “Let all presidential aspirants undergo a medical test and I will prove my critics wrong…Being healthy is a grace from God, but in recent months my health has become an issue.

  “I would like to assure Tanzanians that I am fit as a fiddle, I’m even healthier than those who are questioning my health status,” Mr Lowassa said yesterday.

“Recently when I did the charity walk with hundreds of people in Dar es Salaam to support the campaign to stop the albino killings, they (no names) claimed I was rushed to Germany because my health conditions worsened…Those were sheer rumours.”

He said he was also confident of clinching the CCM ticket for the race to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete.

He also confirmed he would officially announce what he called, “The journey of hope,” in reference to the bid for the presidency, on May 30, at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.

His wealth

Asked about the source of his wealth, which critics associate with dirty dealings, Mr Lowassa said: “Let me state clearly that I hate poverty and if there’s anyone out there who wants leadership by glorifying poverty, then he or she is totally wrong.

 “I am vying for the presidency because I want to eradicate poverty…being wealthy shouldn’t be a problem at all, so long as you can justify how you earned it.”

 He added: “I have over 1,000 head of cattle…to the Maasai community, having cattle is symbol of power and pride. I have a few houses, but whoever wants to know more about my wealth in detail should visit the Leadership Ethics Commission headquarters.”

 He added: “I have been mobilising my friends to contribute to various projects…I’ve done so for Christians, Muslims and others, but in the end I’m being blamed simply for helping people to fund development projects.”

Mr Lowassa who didn’t want to dwell into further details to avoid pre-empting his maiden speech next Saturday, told the editors: “There are many wedding fundraisers, where millions are raised, but no one raises any query…However, when I mobilise resources for development, it becomes a problem.”

Education first or Kilimo Kwanza?

Asked about his priorities should he win the presidency, Mr Lowassa said education would be the top priority, faulting the much-touted ‘Kilimo Kwanza’ initiated by the current leadership.

“All countries, including the so-called Asian tigers, developed rapidly because they invested heavily in education…my mission is to invest in education, because it’s the surest means of facilitating people’s development.

“We’ve built schools, but these schools need skilled teachers and modern learning materials…we need to pay our teachers well,” Mr Lowassa told editors.