Reports doing rounds on social media allege that the United republic of Tanzania will not benefit much from the recently launched oil pipeline project that was done jointly between Tanzania and Uganda, after the duo isolated Kenya which was initially scheduled to partner with Uganda on the project.
The multi-million project that will be among the biggest pipeline projects in the world was recently given a boost after new Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan signed on the project during her one day state visit of Uganda recently.
According to the report, and if the report is to go by, Tanzania will get a 5% stake in the project, Uganda will hold a 15% stake while giant french company Total will go home with the lion’s share of 72%.
And now, Tanzanian social media users are laying the blame on late president John Pombe Magufuli accusing him of securing a raw deal for his country contrary to his public display of optimism over the deal.
Here are few comments from Tanzanians loosely translated for you, our esteemed reader:
Kembo: He (Magufuli) lied to us that Tanzania will be the main beneficiary with a 70% stake on the project. Some of us believed it. He went to a point of inviting Ugandan president Museveni to Tanzania.
Bepari: it is possible that the late president received a kickback on the project, that is why he accepted the deal so easily. There is more than what catches the eye on this project.
Moric: He (Magufuli) had a personal interest in this project.
