Parliament seeks lasting solution to Mtwara crisis
Some Mtwara residents buying foodstuffs at Mtwara main market as it opened yesterday after being closed for three days following violent demonstrations to protest government’s plan to construct a pipeline to transport gas from the region to Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | ABDALLAH BAKARI
What you need to know:
- Several government leaders, including Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, are already in Mtwara in search of a lasting solution to the violent protests that started in January and seem to get worse with time.
Dodoma. Parliament has put together a special team to get to the bottom of Wednesday’s violent demonstrations in Mtwara. Speaker Anne Makinda named Mr Charles Mwijage (Muleba North - CCM) the chairman of the 13-member committee that will look into residents’ objections to the government’s plan to build a $1.22billion (about Sh1.102trillion) gas pipeline to Dar es Salaam.
Several government leaders, including Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda, are already in Mtwara in search of a lasting solution to the violent protests that started in January and seem to get worse with time.
At least three people died and houses were set on fire in the latest demonstration that started on Wednesday, shortly after Energy and Minerals Minister Sospeter Muhongo announced in parliament that the pipeline would be built as planned.
“The team will also investigate the effectiveness of the steps that have been taken by the government in arresting the situation,” Ms Makinda said shortly after parliament endorsed the 2013/14 budget estimates for the Energy ministry. “It will recommend the best way to deal with the situation.”
Gangs of youths hurled stones and burnt down and vandalised houses belonging to Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and its leaders. Two people reportedly died in the skirmishes and a TV journalist was attacked.
Yesterday, the crisis took centre stage in parliament as some legislators demanded that the government treats the Mtwara riots as a wake-up call. They wanted the ministry to produce data in support of the increasingly contentious project.
“The message we get from the Mtwara riots is that Tanzanians now want the royalty that the country gets from natural resources to be shared between the Central Government and the community where the resource (minerals, natural gas) is obtained,” said Mr Ezekiel Maige (Msalala - CCM).This was proposed in the Bomani Commission, he added. The commission recommended that local communities take 40 per cent of the earnings.
His Kahama counterpart, Mr James Lembeli, shared the same sentiments. Mr Hamad Ali Hamad (Magogoni - CUF) said the events in Mtwara stem from reports from residents of other regions that are well-endowed with gas and minerals.
“We still have time to speak with the people of Mtwara and Lindi,” he said.
But Prof Muhongo defended the government’s decision, saying the natural gas pipeline is the key to a prosperous Tanzania.
It is estimated that the 524km gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam will reduce the cost of producing thermal electricity from the current $0.34 cents to $0.12 cents per megawatt hour.The project is expected to generate 990 mw when it is completed in 2014. By 2015, the plant will be generating 2,785mw and that will put an end to Tanzania’s power blues.
The contract to build the pipeline was signed in September 2011. Prof Muhongo told Parliament yesterday that between September 2011 and May 22, 2013, the country had spent $596.49 million (Sh954.384 billion) on fuel to power the generators.
Yesterday, Mr Muhongo defended the cost of constructing the pipeline, saying it was lower than charges in America, Europe and Asia.
Those claiming that the government had been duped did not have the correct information, he added.
A kilometre of the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam Gas Pipeline reportedly costs $1.31 million (about Sh2.096 billion) while a similar venture reportedly costs $1.61 million (about Sh2.576 billion) in Texas in the United States of America.
“In Germany, constructing one kilometre of a similar project consumed $2.95 million (about Sh4.72 billion) while one kilometre of a similar pipeline from Iran to Pakistan is being built at a cost that ranges between $1.35 million and $1.91 million (about Sh2.16 billion and Sh3.056 billion),” he said.
Ms Makinda appointed Said Arfi (Mpanda Urban - Chadema) the deputy chairman for the committee. Committee members include Dalaly Kafumu (Igunga - CCM), Said Nkumba (Sikonge - CCM), Cynthia Ngoye (Special Seats - CCM), Hamad Rashid (Wawi - CUF) and Ramo Makani (Tunduru North - CCM).
Others are Mohammad Chomboh (Magomeni – CCM), Cecilia Pareso (Chadema – Special Seats), Rukia Ahmed (Special Seats - CUF), Mariam Kisangi (Special Seats - CCM), Agripina Buyogera (Special Seats – NCCR- Maguezi) and Selemani Jafo (Kisarawe - CCM).
Calm has returned to Mtwara after the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) was called in to end the violence. Mtwara central market stayed closed for three days after running battles between police and rioters made it difficult to trade. TPDF soldiers are now guarding the market.
(Additional story by Abdallah Bakari and Elias Msuya)
