Bunge to Discuss IPTL Saga for Two Days

Dodoma — TIME for legislators to discuss the Controller and Auditor General's (CAG) report on the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) Tegeta escrow account matter has been increased from one to two days.

Sources from among various Parliamentary Committees who spoke on condition of anonymity said on Saturday that the decision to add one more day was reached to give ample time to Members of Parliament to discuss the report.

The sources are part of the Parliamentary Steering Committee which met here yesterday and made decisions that will likely shape the direction of the debate starting this week.

"They said that time to discuss the CAG's report has been increased from one to two days," said one source. "Initially it was set to be discussed only on November 26, but they have now added one more day so that MPs can discuss the report in depth," he said.

The IPTL saga revolves around a questionable withdrawal from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) of a whopping 306bn/- in taxpayers' money that was shared among a few individuals.

The money was withdrawn to facilitate the sale of the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) to Pan Africa Power Solutions (PAP) in an alleged fraudulent transaction.

On Thursday, Kigoma North MP, Mr Zitto Kabwe who chairs Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said his team was ready to table the report for discussion and action by the National Assembly after Wednesday's interrogation of the CAG, PCCB and TRA chiefs.

The National Assembly insisted that the IPTL's escrow account report by the CAG will be discussed on November 26 when the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presents its statement in the House.

During Wednesday's session, the House Chairman, Mr Mussa Zungu Azzan, said the matter would come up for discussion as scheduled in the timetable prepared by the Steering Committee.

Mr Azzan made the ruling in reaction to a request by Mkanyageni MP, Mr Mohamed Habib Mnyaa, who had wanted the government to commit itself on the matter.

"As it was ruled here this matter will come up for discussion on November 26 as scheduled," he said. On Tuesday, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Job Ndugai ruled that the report by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) on the IPTL escrow account would not be discussed in the House.

Instead, Mr Ndugai stressed that the House would only discuss the CAG report which will be presented by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Source:allAfrica