JK’s election promises haunt Works minister

Dodoma. President Jakaya Kikwete’s 2010 election pledges took centre stage during yesterday’s debate on the Works Ministry budget for 2013/14, with MPs unanimously demanding that the government lets them know when they could expect the pledges to be fulfilled to the letter.

MPs across the divide demanded that Works minister John Magufuli tells them precisely when President Jakaya Kikwete’s pledge on new roads would kick off. “I will not endorse this budget until the Minister tells me when the electorate will see the president’s 2010 election pledge on road construction realised,” said Mr Ally Keissy (Nkasi North-CCM).

Contrary to the presidential pledge, he said, the Sumbawanga–Kanazi–Kibaoni Road has been constructed at a “miserable” 24 per cent. Mr Keissy added: “Last year, only Sh27 billion was budgeted for the project and the Chinese contractors seem to be tired…they are now selling the aggregates.”

Prof David Mwakyusa (Rungwe West) and Mr Mahmoud Mgimwa (Mufindi North) backed these sentiments. Said Prof Mwakusya: “Mr Deputy Speaker, the original Rungwe District was divided into three districts – Rungwe, Ileje and Kyela – almost 40 years ago. There are close blood and business ties among the people of the three districts but, unfortunately, there are no roads to link them. President Kikwete promised a tarmac road for Rungwe but nothing has been done so far.”

His Mufindi North colleague added: “Construction of the 151-kilometre road in my constituency is contained in the ruling party’s 2010 Election Manifesto but nothing has been done so far. President Kikwete himself promised us two kilometres of tarmac road but only 1.6 kilometres have been constructed…what is stopping the government from completing the remaining 0.4kilometres as the President promised?”

The tone of the debate suggested that the MPs may have been banking on the President’s pledges to make a comeback to the august House in 2015. “If nothing is done, Mr Deputy Speaker, the next parliamentary aspirant for my constituency from the ruling party will find the going tough,” said Moshi Rural’s Dr Cyril Chami. “The electorate will tell him that your predecessor promised a lot on roads but nothing was done.”

There were similar sentiments from the minority side, with Mr John Mnyika (Ubungo-Chadema) dismissing efforts to decongest Dar es Salaam city.

Though the amount budgeted for the purpose would appear to be rising, he said, it still remains far less than what is provided for in the first Five Year Development Plan (FYDP). President Kikwete launched the plan in June 2011 and the National Assembly endorsed it the same month. But Mr Mnyika said the plan stipulates that decongestion of Dar es Salaam should be undertaken in just two years (2011-2013).

Going by the plan, said Mr Mnyika, the government was to commit Sh68.6 billion to decongest Dar es Salaam in 2011/2012 and another Sh31.5 billion in 2012/2013. “Unfortunately, we spent only Sh10.5 billion on the projects last year,” he said. “This year, we are talking of Sh28 billion...at this pace, it will take us not less than four years to realise a decongested Dar es Salaam.”

Dr Magufuli’s record spoke for itself though as, just as it was on Monday, a number of MPs from both the majority and minority camps repeatedly praised his ability to handle such a complex ministry.

In an interesting turn of events, there was drama outside the debating chamber when some CCM diehards decided to tackle Mr Keissy on his decision to give the budget the cold shoulder. While leaving the debating chamber, the Nkasi North MP ran into trouble with four CCM legislators, who confronted him over his decision not to endorse the budget.

They included Prof Juma Kapuya (Urambo East), Omar Nundu (Tanga Urban), Menrad Ligola (Mufindi South) and Rita Kabati (Special Seats). Prof Kapuya, a former Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth Development, demanded that Mr Keisy tell them why he would not endorse the budget.

Prof Kapuya said: “Keissy! Why do you say you will not endorse the budget? You have misled Parliament. It is not true that there are no good roads in Rukwa.”

Mr Keissy hit back, before hurrying away: “I’m the representative of the people of Nkasi…I’m in Parliament not to sing the praises of the executive arm of government…I’m here to fight for the rights of voters.”