President Jakaya Kikwete -- accompanied by Works minister John Magufuli (left) and Mwanza leaders -- inspects an overpass worth Sh8 billion for pedestrians at Mabatini in the city yesterday, after inaugurating it. PHOTO | MICHAEL JAMSON
What you need to know:
Dr Magufuli had told wananchi during the inauguration of the Sh1 billion Mabatini bridge here that CCM was doing a great job and that all projects had been successful because of the ruling party.
Mwanza. Development projects are financed by taxpayers’ money and not by CCM’s, an MP told Works minister John Magufuli.
Dr Magufuli had told wananchi during the inauguration of the Sh1 billion Mabatini bridge here that CCM was doing a great job and that all projects had been successful because of the ruling party.
But when Nyamagana MP Ezekia Wenje (Chadema) got an opportunity to speak, at the presence of President Jakaya Kikwete, yesterday he said CCM was not bearing the cost of any project and that everything was made possible through taxpayers’ money.
“This bridge has been constructed by taxpayers’ money and not CCM. We understand that police officers, teachers, traders, farmers have great contribution to this project. The minister is not telling the truth,” said Mr Wenje.
He was applauded by people who shouted the Chadema slogan — ‘people’s power’.
However, the shouting of the slogan did not go down well with some CCM members, leading to the war of words. Police personnel surged.
Dr Magufuli had praised Mr Wenje as a good man who listened and cooperated with the government in implementing development projects.
“Mr Wenje is a good MP; he does not behave like his party leaders... we wish all Chadema leaders were like Mr Wenje,” said Dr Magufuli. President Kikwete told wananchi at Mabatini and Kisesa that they should read and make the right decision on the proposed constitution. He said the Constituent Assembly had finished its job and that it was the turn of wananchi to decide on the document.
“The proposed constitution has incorporated everything that has been demanded for decades...women have been considered for leadership posts,” he said.
On the implementation of various development projects, he said there must be a serious monitoring of public funds in municipal councils.
