SOM E legislators most
of whom from the opposition camp have urged the government not to use force in
order to calm down the irate Mtwara residents who went on rampage mid this week
in protest against the government’s insistence to construct gas pipeline. Instead,
they have advised the government to use other means such as peaceful talks that
should be a better standing point in order to restore peace among some Mtwara
residents who have shown their disappointment over the construction of a gas
pipeline. The legislators echoed their
voices on Thursday this week after the National Assembly was forced to adjourn
prematurely its normal morning sessions following a crisis that had erupted in
Mtwara town in which people said to be protesting the government’s plan to construct
a 532 Km gas pipeline from the region to Dar es Salaam clashed with anti-riot
police. In an exclusive interview with The
Guardian here on Thursday morning at Parliament grounds, some legislators
have suggested that, force used by the police to settle the matter is not a
solution but rather is likely to ignite the situation which might spread all
over the country. They said that, the government had enough time to take
precautions over the matter amid early warning when the situation erupted for
the first time in last year and resumed in early January this year. The
timeframe was enough to educate the people, says Tundu Lissu a legislator for
Singida East (Chadema). He says that, the government should arrange peaceful
talks with the residents including their leaders in order to educate them thoroughly
about the issue instead of using unnecessary force being applied by the police
thinking that would help solve the matter. However, he said the use of force
might escalate and sow some seeds of discords among peace loving Tanzanians. “This is an issue which has developed anger
with some people who have a grudge with the government after having failed to
give them special attention as they deserve for long time, and is not
politically motivated”. He said adding that, in order to listen to their grievances
have to be calmed down through peaceful talks. He also noted that, the
government should work on their people’s views to see what they need to be done
for them bearing in mind the logical factors of the background history that,
the southern regions of Mtwara and Lindi are lagging behind in terms of
economic development since independence. The Minister for East Africa
Cooperation Samwel Sitta, in his comments has said that, Mtwara residents should
not worry about their fate which he said would be benefiting with the presence
of the gas once it starts operations. The government has assured them of the
establishment of a cement factory and a fertilizer both of which would create
employment opportunities to the people in the southern regions, whereby
preparations of the construction for the installation of a 300 MW electricity
power plant is underway in Mtwara town and this will be able to supply power through
in other regions of Ruvuma. He further noted that, all these developments
intended for them are not going at a go but have to be moved slowly by slowly
as they are long term planed, and in view of this, they shouldn’t worry about
them for any case. He has also urged the government through the ministry of
Energy and Minerals to concentrate on their idea of educating the people about
the whole project as all plans are within the government’s strategic plans for
the 2013/14 financial year. Freeman Mbowe, a leader of the opposition camp in
Parliament said that, the problem of Mtwara people is associated with the
government who are primarily to look for the lasting peaceful solution. He
however opposed the use of force as not being a sole means to end up the
escalating problem. He said the involvement of all human rights, religious
institutions and civil societies is necessary and an open up gear towards the attainment
of peace in the region, however, he added that, the use of force is not a
solution to end the problem and that the government should take appropriate
steps at this time when it’s at infancy stage. He has suggested the government
should use other means by incorporating political parties as this is a national
issue which needs to be incorporated with all political parties bearing in mind
the fact that, ‘[we are all Tanzanians irrespective of our parties’
affiliations’. However, he noted that, legislators must be shown the already
contracts entered by the government in gas project and be open to law makers
otherwise, he cautioned that, the government would continue being harassed as
it doesn’t want to be transparent. Aden Rage (CCM) Tabora urban noted that, the
on-going Mtwara crisis is being instigated by some few crook politicians whom
he described to have no mercy and are trying by all means possible to make
their mischief pass through. However, he noted that these are trying to
sabotage the economy in one way or another and has urged Tanzanians not to
entertain such indifferences. He added that, big corrupt political elements are
against the country’s development seeking an opportunity to feed up their
positions for the sake of their selfishness. However, he has urged the
government to bring closer the people of Mtwara into a mutual of understanding
to solve the matter for the welfare of the nation. John Cheyo, an MP for
Bariadi East (UDP) has blamed the government to have not taken drastic measures
to curb with the crisis, despite the Minister for Home Affairs Dr. Emmanuel
Nchimbi issued an early warning last week before the budget speech for the Ministry
of Energy was tabled in Parliament. He said that, all these are caused due to
negligence shown by the police force which they think that the use of force
would yield a lasting solution, but rather it would create grudge among the
people.He has also urged the people of Mtwara not to panic as the sale of gas
is not yet started and once is through, then they would also benefit a lot. He
also noted that, the transfer of the gas should not worry them as the
government is doing this for the biggest users are in Dar es Salaam including
industries which use higher electricity power capacity for industrial
production. James Mbatia, a nominated MP
for NCCR-Mageuzi said that, the nation needs to change its environment and the
capacity of thinking when it comes to the issue of disaster management into
solving any people’s crisis in the society. He noted that, the government and
other institutions in the country should sit around into solving a
table for conciliation to solve the issue of Mtwara residents and the
must use . For the Parliament to suspend its sessions administratively was
correct as it is an apex institution which has an overall control of the
government in power. Tabling his budget estimates for 2013/2014 in Dodoma which
sought 1.1trn/- “to revolutionize power provision in the country”, Energy and
Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo told the House that there was no way
the government could back down on implementing the Mtwara-to-Dar es Salaam gas
pipeline project, which is widely associated with popular discontent leading to
the mayhem.
“The project is under way and the government will not halt the project as it is
meant for the development of the Mtwara Region and the country at large. The architectural
designs as well as the compensation plan for 3,094 people required to give way
to the project have been done,” he said.
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