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Englishnews What destruction!
Pinda comes to Mengi`s defence on 700 left homeless
Over 1,160 children lost, 212 hurt...
UDSM activists ask govt to locate barracks
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corruption `sharks` comment far from civilians
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Radio Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda has defended IPP Executive Chairman More news....
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Without mentioning directly Mengi`s name, the prime minister said, ``It is -----------------------------------------------
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The prime minister was responding to a question by leader of the -----------------------------------------------
opposition in parliament Hamad Rashid Mohamed who inquired about Recent features
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He named five out of ten suspected corruption `sharks` whose names
2005 Jan featured high on a list yet to be fully disclosed.
01 submit ``He (Mengi) has exercised freedom of speech enshrined in the
constitution. It is for those implicated to react. If they want to go to court
it’s upon them to decide. It is better for Tanzanians to be careful when
commenting on issues pending in court,`` Pinda said.

He said he should not be expected to stand up in parliament and

pronounce a verdict on the issue because there were responsible
institutions, such as the Tanzania Communications and Regulatory
Authority, that could determine whether media regulations had been
breached.

Pinda was answering a question during the PM\'s question time, which
is usually held on Thursday morning covering a wide range of issues.

Among other issues raised was the presence in the country of a

businessman, Chavda, who, in 1994, was ordered to leave the country
after he was discovered to have swindled the government of millions of
shillings through an abortive sisal investment scheme.

Zitto Kabwe (Kigoma North, Chadema) asked the prime minister

whether he was aware that Chavda was still living in the country despite
the deportation order.

``Personally I have no contact with Chavda and it becomes difficult for me

to know whether he is in the country or not. If you provided me with some
hints I could find out how he returned to the country against the order of
the government,`` the PM said.

William Shelukindo (Lushoto, CCM) requested the government, through

the ministry of Health and Social Welfare, to visit Kihitu village in his
constituency where two pupils were killed and 40 others wounded by
lightning that struck for the third time in mid March, this year.

Shelukindo wanted experts to find out reasons behind the recurring

 lightning and have the health status of the victims examined closely.

The prime minister expressed sympathy for the loss of the pupils and for
those injured and pledged a close follow-up on the unusual incident.

The PM made the House burst into laughter when he quipped:

``Lightning in Lushoto? Had it been Rukwa I could understand that,``
evoking jokingly a mythical belief that Rukwa, the region he comes from,
was leading in sorcery.

Regarding the fate of 520 employees at Kiwira coal mine who had gone
for ten months without salaries, according to a question posed by
Harrison Mwakyembe (Kyela, CCM), the prime minister said it was
hurting to learn about the affliction of the employees.

``It is necessary for the government, in collaboration with other

stakeholders, to find an appropriate solution to the problem. Sound
investment would be appreciated and, if possible, Kiwira could be
assisted to secure a bank loan to offset the current financial burden
exceeding 800m/- and pay it back after coming on stream`,`` Pinda said.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN

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