OPPOSITION members of parliament are strongly against a move to use the University of Dodoma (UDOM) premises as temporary office space for government ministries and departments as the official shift to the designated new capital gathers pace.
Speaking in parliament here yesterday, several legislators from the opposition camp were particularly vocal in condemning the idea of using UDOM space for government business as an inappropriate move that will lead to moral decadence among students at the college.
Six ministries are expected to set up offices at UDOM as the government finalises plans to have permanent offices for all ministries in Dodoma by the end of February.
They include the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training; the President’s Office-Public Service Management; Ministry of Home Affairs; Ministry of Industry and Trade; Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, the Elderly, and Children; and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Just yesterday, the Minister of State in the President's Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance), Angela Kairuki, formally launched her new office at UDOM, saying it has been operational since Monday this week and served 17 people already.
But a hot debate ensued during yesterday’s parliamentary morning session when opposition MPs suggested that the move - which is part of the government relocation plan to Dodoma - simply shows how unprepared the state was in its whole strategy for moving base.
Special Seats MP Susan Lyimo (CHADEMA) started it off with a supplementary question requesting an explanation for the government’s decision to move into buildings meant for the university.
“This is likely to paralyse learning activities,” Lyimo said.
The deputy minister for Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training, Stella Manyanya, responded by saying the plan to accommodate government offices at UDOM was just a short-term initiative.
According to Manyanya: “Moving to Dodoma is an important and profitable move for the government, and other government departments and institutions like UDOM support it too.”
The deputy minister’s response caused uproar from the opposition bench, with some MPs seated there shouting that the relocation plan has failed.
This prompted the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled, Jenister Mhagama, to try to clarify on the matter.
According to Mhagama: “This is a national plan and we have decided to use the buildings at UDOM instead of leaving them idle while the government needs working space as it prepares permanent offices.”
The minister’s words, along with her reminder that it was all in implementation of the CCM party manifesto, drew applause from ruling party legislators in the House who apparently considered it to be a more concrete explanation.
But the opposition camp criticisms continued. Iringa Urban MP Peter Msigwa (CHADEMA) queried that if universities don’t allow primary and secondary school pupils to mix with their students, why should the working adult class be allowed to do so.
Said Msigwa: “Moving to Dodoma is too political and has no economic importance, but now it is also going to spoil UDOM students as the working adults can lure the students into immoral activities.”
Kawe MP Halima Mdee (CHADEMA) was also heard shouting that if indeed there is no problem with the plan to accommodate government offices at UDOM, the minister should send her daughter to study at that university.
Mdee’s remarks also caused cheers from her fellow opposition legislators.
Winding up proceedings at the last National Assembly session back in November last year, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the relocation plan to Dodoma, involving all government ministries and departments, would be implemented in five phases.
He said the first phase would involve the prime minister, ministers and permanent secretaries, and by February 2017, all ministries with one or two departments must have completed their transfer to Dodoma.
The premier explained further: “Between March and August is a grace period for various ministries to plan budget allocations in the 2017/18 financial year as costs for relocating staff to Dodoma.”
“September up to February 2018, the ministries will proceed with relocating their staff in all remaining departments. The fourth phase will be between March and August 2018, and the final phase will be from September to February 2020, involving the office of the president and the vice president.”
Majaliwa advised government ministries and departments to swiftly convert all paper work into electronic documentary form, saying: “Dodoma will be an electronic capital.”
A special team of consultants has been formed to work with the Dodoma-based Capital Development Authority (CDA) to review the designated capital’s master plan.
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