Sparks expected to fly during Parliament budget sitting
MPs are all set for the Budget session that opens tomorrow and fireworks are expected in the august House, given the state of the economy and other issues that dominating headlines over the last few months.
Most of the parliamentary committees are now compiling reports after receiving budget frameworks for both the main government budget and those of ministries.
Ranging from low performance of the current budget’s development expenditure, state of the economy and other issues that emerged outside Parliament, the mood is ripe for heated discussions.
Low development budget
The Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, presented last week the budget outlook indicating he would increase it by 7.4 per cent to Sh31.7 trillion in the next financial year.
However, he said, up to February, the government had released only 34 per cent of the current financial year’s development expenditure due to delays in loans and grants from development partners.
MPs would want justifications for increasing the next financial year’s budget while the government failed to execute the smaller one. They are sure to deman that they are assured of cash availability if they are to believe that the 2017/18 estimates are realistic.
Low performance of the development budget raises concern over the much-touted industrialisation dream. Some MPs also feel the development budget is unduly putting emphasis on buying aircraft for ATCL and upgrading the railway system while ignoring basic needs like water and agricultural development.
Mining dispute
The government recently banned exportation of mineral sands for processing and President John Magufuli has already formed a committee of experts to investigate the matter including identifying the rate of minerals available in the sands to ensure that Tanzania benefits from its natural resources.
Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai also promised to form a team on the same issue but has done nothing so far. It is expected that he will form the team but it has been made clear whether the terms of reference are different from those of the team formed by the Head of State.
Some MPs see the ban was abrupt and breaching contracts signed between the government and the mining firms; a situation that creates fear that the country may be taken to international courts and pay fines unnecessarily.
CAG reports
Recently, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Prof Mussa Assad submitted the 2015/16 audit report to President Magufuli and the same will be submitted to the Parliament.
The report will reveal the financial position in the public institutions and MPs will question the government about misuse and control of public expenditures.
New constitution making
Parliamentary committee on Justice and Constitutional Affairs asked the government last week to speed up the process towards the stalled process to a new constitution.
MPs want to know when the referendum will be conducted as the Proposed Constitution was ready since 2015.
Some said it was in the 2015 Election Manifesto but wonder why the government was being slow to implement it.
That comes even as the Head of State has been previously quoted as saying that it was not his priority list for now.
State of the economy
Dr Mpango said that the economy grew by 7 per cent in 2016 and that the government was targeting to reduce poverty from the rate of 28.2 per cent in 2012 to 16.7 per cent come 2020.
However, the MPs may raise concern over the state of the economy particularly on food situation, money supply that affect flow of credit to key economic activities as well as the increasing national debt.
War on drugs
The MPs will also want to know the state of the war on drugs which of late was the top story in the country.
It was a big issue especially when a government leader released in the media names of suspected dealers, users and others who could help investigations into the drugs mentrade and abuse. The names included some big figures like MPs, artistes and business personalities.
The MPs also may want to hear a report after the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics, and Powers Committee grilled Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda for a remark that was said to be denigrating the powers of the Parliament.
Election of Eala members
The Parliament will also elect members of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) were recently approved by their political parties.
Last week, aspirants of the posts especially those from the ruling party CCM and CUF were seen hanging around the committee meetings for introduction and lobbying. They were allowed to say a word or two before the committee sessions started in the morning or after beak times.