Chadema MP to face ethics committee

Dodoma. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Tulia Ackson yesterday ordered a Special Seats lawmaker, Ms Catherine Ruge (Chadema),to present evidence of her claim that the Stiegler’s Gorge power project would cost a whopping Sh21 trillion.
According to Dr Ackson, Ms Ruge will have to submit the evidence of her claim to the  Privileges, Ethics and Power Parliamentary Committee by Wednesday.
 “In his research findings, George Hartiman established that the project would cost some Sh21 trillion as opposed to Sh10 trillion reported by the government,” noted Ms Ruge during a debate on the Natural Resources and Tourism ministry budget proposal for the 2019/20 financial year.
However, the Finance and Planning deputy minister, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, made a swift clarification, saying the actual cost stood at Sh6 trillion. 
The minister’s response prompted Dr Ackson  to order the Chadema lawmaker to submit her evidence of the figure to the aforementioned committee for checking its authenticity.
After the directive, Tarime Urban MP Esther Matiko (Chadema) leapt to the defence of her colleague, saying she did not suspect that Ms Ruge was lying. 
“She has made a reference to a research and the law allows us to do so,” noted Ms Matiko.
In a quick rejoinder, the deputy speaker said: “That is why I have directed her to submit the research to the committee so that we can find out the truth of her claim.”
Meanwhile, Ms Ruge stressed the project was a white elephant. “The project is too expensive. Even the banks requested by the government for their help in financing it, are unable to do so,” she said, adding, “Even if the government decides to use locally-sourced money, it can’t make it.”
She also said the government did not conduct a long-term environmental assessment of the project, saying the project was of no benefit to the country.
“The project will only destroy the environment and put the lives of 500,000 people at risk around Kilombero Valley and Rufiji River,” noted Ms Ruge.