Showing posts with label LOCAL NEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LOCAL NEWS. Show all posts

Photos: Diamond Platnumz pre Rehearsal for the Glo-CAf Awards

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Diamond Platnumz will be performing at the Glo-CAF Awards which is held in Nigeria. The CAF Awards is an awards evening held to honour the best African association football players. It is conferred by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Speaking to Vanguard on the gala night, Diamond from Tanzania said that he's most excited to perform at Glo-CAF Awards for the first time, adding that "Africa should expect to see the best performance of all time at Glo CAF Awards, if am not mistaken; because I have put all my life in Music. Besides, our singing and dance steps that we will bring on stage will be the talk of the whole continent."


While conducting his Pre Rehearsal, Diamond posted some of the photos on his social media accounts and added some caption to it..

"Today, i had to Make sure that i correct all the Moves for the Glo-CAf Awards performance...) #A_Private_rehearsal"

Other artists whowill be performing at the Glo-CAF Awards include Nigerian highlife singer, Flavourand legendary masked musician, Lagbaja and celebrated jazz icon, Hugh Masekela from South Africa, Congo DR’s multiple award-winning singer and guitarist, Fally Ipupa, Soweto Gospel Choir,Cirque D’Afrique and sensational singing group, Uhuru from South Africa while Tanzania’s multiple award winning singer, Diamond will also perform at the awards night...

The awards ceremony will held tomorrow on Thursday, 8th of January , 2015 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos
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Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Huessein Idd, an Information technology graduate selling electronics online with Kaymu

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Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, January 5th 2015 - He goes by the name of Hussein Idd, an Information technology graduate at Learn IT. His passion for IT did not end at university level; it went all the way to opening a business in the year 2010: Jay's Infonet Solutions, where he sells electronics and accessories such as laptops, cell-phones, hard drives, flash disks, etc.

Today, Hussein sells his electronics and other accessories through Kaymu, a company he feels that can help other people like himself.

“I decided to do business online first with the influence of Kaymu, after brainstorming with my closest friends I felt there was a need to also serve people who weren't able to shop physically - either they are too busy or they simply enjoy buying online with the items being delivered to their home without the trouble to come all the way to the shop, so the only way to do this was to sell online.”

Hussein explains how selling online can save time and money, and how it can help buyers and sellers in a very positive way, and offer safe and convenient payment solutions.

“Kaymu helped me move to a different level in terms of business growth, and it’s given me the chance to do that without a lot of effort or investment,” Hussein continues. “You should just put thought into what you want to sell on Kaymu - especially fast moving products that people use on a daily basis, that’s really important but I’m convinced that if you have the right product, selling on Kaymu can work wonders for your business.”


He describes his first meeting with Kaymu where a company representative came to his office and explained how the platform worked." I was actually surprised when they first started talking about Kaymu because I never thought any company in Tanzania could offer this kind of platform." He continues, "I did not hesitate joining because I fully understood what kind of impact it could bring to my business."

With internet access becoming more affordable and faster, e-commerce in Tanzania has grown dramatically over the past two years.

"It has been very positive since I established myself and it proved to be successful as my sales increased and I became well known in this platform . It's an interesting adventure I'm taking and really looking forward to bringing in variety of other electronics and services in the near future."

He describes e-commerce as Tanzania's future of which he is proud to be part of. He says " I'm happy to be one of the few in the country who will proudly lead the line towards bridging the digital divide in Tanzania", as the economy continues to grow technology grows as well, the dependence rate on traditional retail will eventually drop immensely.
He concludes by explaining how he forecasts his business will eventually be in the next 5 years. He feels that with the help of using the Kaymu platform his business will dramatically grow, "I see my business going to new heights, this industry is on the rise and I want my shop to be one of the best that's ever been in this marketplace.”
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Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Obituary: Aisha Madinda has Pased away

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Former dancer and singer of Twanga Pepeta Band, Aisha Madinda has passed away earlier Today in Dar es Salaam. Information has been confirmed by the owner of Twanga Pepeta Band, Asha Baraka.

Asha Baraka, who is the Director of Twanga Pepeta Band said that she was informed by a doctor that they have see Aisha's body at the hospital, she decided to send some people including Luiza Mbutu  to observe if its true the mentioned dead body is Aisha's and it was true they found her already passed away.

“ Mimi nipo njiani natoka Kigoma kuja Dar es Salaam, ni habari ya kusikitisha sana maana Aisha amefariki katika mazingira ya kutatanisha sana, jana alikuwa mzima na anachati na watu kwenye simu leo napigiwa simu mwili wake umekutwa umehifadhiwa kwenye hospitali ya Mwananyamala, hata sielewi nini kimetokea”. Said Asha Baraka

May her Soul rest in eternal peace, Ameen
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

TPDC minimum salary set for Sh5.4m

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Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) is proposing new salaries and allowances that would make even its middle-level employees the envy of some of the highest remunerated Tanzanian chief executive officers.

Documents seen by The Citizen show that TPDC wants its lowest paid office attendants and drivers to earn Sh5.4 million and the topmost CEO Sh36 million every month.

Middle level cadres and managers will be paid between Sh12.6 million to Sh28 million, if the proposals filed with the Energy and Water Regulatory Authority (Ewura) are approved.

Besides than the ceiling breaking salaries, the public agency has budgeted billions of shillings in staff bonuses, sitting, training, responsibility and utility, mileage, insurance allowances and many more perks for the employees who would become the highest paid public workers in the country.

 TPDC filed the proposals in September under a business plan for the processing and transportation of liquefied gas from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam. The agency has defended the perks on grounds that they were applicable in the lucrative gas and oil sector.

But the proposals have been strongly objected to by the Ewura Consumer Consultative Council that has termed the payments “outrageous and unrealistic.”

The council has filed its objection with Ewura too as required under law to allow for public consultations. It has argued that the plan by TPDC would lead to a tariff dispute as the unchecked expenses are likely to result in a higher and expensive tariff out of reach for a majority Tanzanians and local businesses.




The expenditure plan would raise suspicions as the open public forums to discuss the tariff proposal by TPDC were not publicized as others before it and the addendums containing the huge perks were not circulated to stakeholders.

 Yesterday, The Citizen learnt that the TPDC plan was raising quite some concern in both public and private sector circles. It was being viewed as an example of public gluttony that could sabotage benefits that may accrue to the larger public from the gas resource.

Efforts to contact the management to shed more light were fruitless by the time of filing this report.   

Speaking to The Citizen, Ewura communications manager, Mr Titus Kaguo, said the hearing session for the application was conducted earlier this month, and that the regulator was still working on the financial implication of the proposals before making a decision.

In the TPDC letter signed by its marketing director Ms Joyce Kisamo, TPDC requests the regulator to approve a tariff of  $4.178/mmBtu (Sh714/mmBtu). In the letter dated September 1, TPDC indicates that the planned commencement of the project for natural gas transportation and processing is January 1, 2015.

In its application, TPDC proposes hefty allowances to board members and employees on special duties at a minimum annual budget of Sh150 million and a maximum of Sh3 billion.

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Attorney General, Frederick Werema resigned

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  Attorney General, Frederick Werema resigned

Attorney General, Judge Frederick Werema resigned from his position as the Attorney General as of yesterday, Tuesday, December 16, 2014 and  the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has accepted his resignation request.

His resignation is a result of a scandal following the Escrow Tegeta



In his letter to the Hon. President Kikwete, Judge Werema has said that he has asked to resign because of his advice with regard to Tegeta Escrow Account which was misunderstood and resulted in spoiling the weather within the Government.

Hon. President Kikwete thanked Judge Werema who led to his service with honesty and integrity
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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Nikki Mbishi: Fans should support other artists as well, not only Diamond Platnumz.!

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Nikki Mbishi
Nikki Mbishi

Nikki Mbishi:Fans should support other artists as well, not only Diamond Platnumz.!

Rapper Nikki Mbishi urges the fans to support other bongo flavor artists as well, not only Diamond Platnumz.!

Speaking with EFM Radio yesterday on Genge session, Nikki Mbishi said "All Artists needs support so that we can have many music starts with big names in Tanzania"

He added that.. " Do you think up to today we only have one super start (Refering to Diamond) and the  other artists we have  are not starts.. even my self included?
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Traffic Police Commander Mpinga launches World First Aid day in Dar

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Red Cross Tanzania in collaboration with the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT) yesterday launched the World First Aid Day.


The event is marked on September 13 every year but was pushed back this year to December to iron out the Word Red Cross Federation’s new cooperation pact with the Federation of International Automobiles, (FIA).

Held yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the event was graced by the National Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga and involved among other activities, the Tanzania Red Cross Society with AAT officials and Tanzania Traffic Police HQ, Education Unit demonstrating first aid skills at the main bus station in Dar es Salaam.

Represented by the national dissemination officer Stella Marealle, Red Cross Tanzania announced its cooperation with AAT to save lives of casualties particularly those resulting from the ever increasing motor crashes.

Marealle explained that the World First Aid Day is marked on September 13 every year but was pushed back to December as a result of the Word Red Cross Federation’s new cooperation pact with the Federation of International Automobiles, (FIA).

Marealle said on May 8th 2014 the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cross Crescent (IFRC) signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce road injuries and fatalities.

In supporting this initiative and in light of commemorating the World First Aid Day,  AAT  in collaboration with FIA and Tanzania Red Cross Society have committed to improve First Aid awareness among the public and motorists.

The new partnership has designed special flyers (Community-Based Fist Aid) to create awareness in Kiswahili to be distributed in high traffic flow areas, schools, bus stations, transport  companies, taxi stands, Boda Boda Associations and to boys and girl scout groups.

Tanzania Traffic Police HQ will assist to distribute the flyers at the Kibaha weight bridge to long haulage trucks and buses enroute to Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi and Congo.

Notably, more than 4,000 trucks pass the weight bridge on a daily basis.

Similalry,  FIA / FIA Institute have organised a ‘go-carting seminar’ for 50 club officials from the AAT affiliated clubs in Tanga Region that will be held this week in the region where Red Cross  will demonstrate first aid skills and flyers will be distributed at taxi and bus stands among other key places.

It is envisioned that the new agreement between AAT and Red Cross Tanzania will accelerate safety enhancement measures and reduce motor accidents fatality across the nation.

 The two bodies (Red Cross and AAT) have started working together through distribution of paper leaflets that carry messages on how best to react during motor accidents. 

 Besides the launch, FIA joins Red Cross and the rest of the world in commemorating to mark the world day Remembrance of Traffic victims.

The third Sunday of November each year is dedicated to remember many millions killed and injured on the worlds roads. This year, it is being dedicated to raising awareness on the critical role speeding plays in escalating road accidents.

Meanwhile, the AAT has also used the occasion to acknowledge journalists who have been working to publicise awareness of road safety measures in the country for the year.

The journalists who were recognised were Samuel Kamndaya  and Miguel Suleiman of Mwananchi Communications Ltd,  Mohamed Ugasa of the Guardian Ltd, Figinia Swai of ITV and Mbonile Burton of the Tanzania Standard Newspapers.
 
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Large buses to ply Dar’s Bus Rapid Transit system from early 2015

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Special buses to operate on Dar es Salaam’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes along the Morogoro road are scheduled to start operating come March next year as the first phase ahead of planned official commencement in mid 2016.


Speaking yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the annual conference for commuter buses operators and the Dar es salaam Regional Commissioner, Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (DART) Chief Executive, Asteria Mlambo said they are now installing traffic lights along the route being the final stage.

She said the BRT project which covers a distance of 15.8km on Morogoro Road, from Kimara to Kivukoni will ease traffic movement in the city.

 “One bus will be carrying between 140 and 150 passengers, this means one bus will replace at least five commuter vans,” Mlambo said.

She added the project will also offer both formal and informal employment to drivers and other attendants including mechanics.

On his part, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck  Sadick promised that the government will ensure that local companies, specifically commuter bus operators, are given tenders to operate the project and called upon commuter bus operators to form a joint firm to win the project tender.

 “Now that the first phase of the DART project is in the final stages, it will be better if local investors operate it so as to increase the national income as well as improving the lives of Tanzanians,” he said.

The Dar es Salaam Commuter Buses Owners Association (DARCOBOA) Chairman, Sabri Mabruk, commended DART for the ongoing Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (DART) project.

He said if given the chance to operate the project, they will benefit from the business citing that the system is now computerized and hence no funds will be embezzled.

The chairman commended Usafiri Dar es Salaam’s (UDA) decision to compensate all commuter buses operating along Morogoro road.

He said DARCOBOA has agreed to join UDA to operate the project as local players and went on to urge commuter bus owners to make use of the compensation they received to buy shares in the BRT.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

LULU: I am a God-fearing, ambitious Life ... That's Lulu

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LULU: I am a God-fearing, ambitious Life ... That's Lulu
 
"I am a devout lover of development, is someone who I am focused, is someone who I have great expectations, mtuambae want to come off-That's Lulu"
Actor of film, Elizabeth Michael "Lulu" He said this today at the studio before Dogo Aslay sunk song artist from Miyamoto Band.
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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Govt: We’re probing

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Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Minister Christopher Chiza talks to journalists on the sugar pileup contentions in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
The government will launch a special probe to clear contradictory reports regarding sugar supply in the country, Minister for Food Security and Cooperatives Chrispher Chiza told journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

However, the minister said there is real possibility of bad elements creating artificial ‘sugar floods’ and sugar scarcity.

The minister queried: “Why does the problem of ‘sugar floods’ only occur at Mtibwa, Kilombero and Kagera factories, and not TPC?”

The minister said that sometimes problems arise because of conflicts between sugar cane farmers and sugar producers, and not the market.

“Some local producers own sugar industries outside the country and they could well be the ones importing the commodity. What’s worse is that they too complain about the prevailing situation,” he said.

“How is it possible to have sugar in excess in some regions while in others like Mbeya there is serious scarcity?

“Why aren’t producers distributing sugar to areas of scarcity? This is why we want to investigate into the issue and get truth,” he continued.

Chiza dismissed claims that the government had issued sugar importation licenses, a factor alleged to be behind the shortage of the commodity, elaborating that the government never issued any such licenses since 2013/14.

The minister stressed that the government would not issue any licenses for the year 2014/15 because there is enough sugar in the country
He said sugar importation arrangement is a collaborative one, involving several government organs as well as the East African Community (EAC), whose findings are evaluated by the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) to determine the amount of sugar needed in the county.

The minister admitted the existence of sugar smuggling which can be controlled by collaborative efforts, and not just that of the ministry.

Chiza reveled that the government would adopt the tactics it uses in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in controlling smuggling of sugar.

Meanwhile, he challenged other key players in the sector regarding the abundant supply of industrial sugar in local super markets being sold for human consumption.

 He urged the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) and Tanzania Bureau of standard (TBS) to do their job effectively and educate the public about its chemical composition of industrial sugar as well as its impact on health. “The sugar imported for industrial use and later sold for human consumption has big effect on the sugar market in the country.

 “The government is also planning to introduce bulk importation of sugar, but a challenge emerged when local sugar producers and importers failed to agree who would be the importer,” minister explained. He added that the government has told importers and local sugar producers to sort out the matter and decide who will be the importers to eliminate the existing problems.

However, he said the government would review the sugar importing arrangement and amendment some of the criteria in issuing the import license permits.

“We will not allow traders to create artificial sugar shortage and then make then import and sell it at high price,” he added.

Also, Chiza said the government would review the tax remission for importing industrial sugar, thereby discouraging importers to sell it for human consumption.

The minister said the country has a capacity of producing 300,000 tonnes of sugar annually but the demand is 590,000 tonnes.
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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Health surveillance inefficien in Africa, says medical expert

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Jacqueline Uriyo, the Acting Regional Medical Officer
 
The public health disease surveillance in Africa, largely, relies on paper-based systems which are inefficient in capturing disease events that occur in distant rural areas where the majority of Africans live.
 
Jacqueline Uriyo, the Acting Regional Medical Officer, made the remarks here when speaking at the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance’s first EpiHack in Africa, organized in partnership with the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet) of the East Africa Community.
 
In the EpiHack,  Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance,  (SACIDS) is connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance (CORDS) an international NGO based in Lyon France, Innovative Support to Emergencies Diseases and Disasters (InSTEDD) of Stanford, California and the Skoll Global Threats fund of San Francisco, California.
 
EpiHack connects leading computer technologists/programmers and public and animal health experts to join intensive day events to create, adapt and fine-tune digital tools for national and regional disease surveillance.
 
 EpiHack brings the crucial cross-sector, borderless issue of disease detection to Southern and East African Regions.
Uriyo said: “Such systems, usually fail to facilitate the health systems to effectively identify, prevent and respond to both endemic and periodic impact of infectious diseases.”
 
“This is evidenced by the long-time taken between occurrence of index cases and response to epidemic diseases. For instance, the past Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks were responded to after four to five months since occurrence of an index case.”
 
She said the situation should be reversed through adoption and deployment of digital solutions. “We therefore commend different efforts and initiatives taken by the national, regional and international institutions in seeking for improving early disease detection and response by digital solutions.” 
 
Uriyo commended the efforts by the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) and the East African Integrated Disease Surveillance Network (EAIDSNet) in collaboration with the Connecting Organizations for Regional Disease Surveillance Network (CORDS) and the Innovative Support to Emergencies Diseases and Disasters (InSTEDD) for spearheading the agenda.
 
“I also recognize the Skoll Global Threats Fund for constant support of Epihack events I am told the Epihack Tanzania is the fourth in a series (and first in Africa) after previous three events being held in South East Asia in Cambodia, Thailand and Laos,” he said.
 
SACIDS official Yunus Karsan said the five-day meeting is set produce important digital tools and deliberations geared towards promoting early detection and response to the deadly diseases as well as neglected tropical conditions prevalent on our African continent.
 
SACIDS is a one health consortium of Southern African academic and research institutions involved with infectious diseases of humans and animals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Tanzania.
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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Ministry reiterates national youth council plans

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James Kajugusi, acting director of the Youth Development Department in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports
The government is planning to set up a National Youth Council (NYC) as a link in outreach activities for various groups of youths and their occupations around the country.
 
Such a council would help the government to overcome various matters pertaining to the mobilization of youths in plans aimed at the development of youths in the country, a senior government official has affirmed.
 
James Kajugusi, the acting director of the Youth Development Department in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports made this observation in Dar es Salaam on the sidelines of an international volunteer day whose national level activities were held in the city.
 
He told The Guardian in an exclusive interview that the government is currently finalizing strategies to set up a national organ which would stand for the welfare of youths regardless of their political affiliations.
 
The position was expressed following demands by the Tanzania Youth Forum (TYF), an organ which for a long time has been urging the government to form a non-partisan body which would look after various challenges affecting youths, including unemployment.
 
TYF through its chairman Fahami Matsawily sent a request to the government almost a year ago to follow examples of Kenya and Uganda which have already established such organs.
 
The annual occasion jointly organized by UN Volunteers in collaboration with the Information ministry in the country was also attended by about four youth volunteering organizations.
 
The latter exhibited products and services to the general public, and are among 34 civil organizations which volunteer activities in the country. They include Restless Development, Volunteers Services Overseas (VSO), Raleigh Tanzania and FourLlife Company.
 
Kajugusi affirmed that forming a youth council follows ratification of the UN Youths Charter 2006, which together with other things requires governments to involve youths in effective economic resources.
 
The ministry is in the pipeline to propose a bill and send to Parliament which would protect the various guidelines helping to lead the processes once it is made to work out.
 
Among the main tasks to be spearheaded by the NYC after its formation is to reduce the rising unemployment rate currently faced by most youths.
 
Together with other things, the council would also ensure youths’ participation in every aspect of national economic development bearing in mind the fact that youths’ contribution to GDP is of   high percentage rates.
 
Youths provide about 75 percent of the total workforce in every aspect of production in areas such as agriculture, fishing, education, industries, mining, livestock keeping, construction and others, the director stated.
 
The National Volunteer Day occasion was under the theme, “the importance of volunteerism for national development” in which youths were urged to enhance the spirit of volunteering in various development activities.
 
In her nationwide message, the Minister for Information, Youth and Culture Dr. Fennela Mukangara said that the government believes that the rate of volunteering among the youths is a factor that enhanced national development goals.
 
Dr. Mukangara reminded youths that volunteering is one of learning resources and that to transfer that experience and knowledge is one way to solve existing economic problems in the fight against disease, ignorance and poverty.
 
Cooperation among youths which could bring positive change of their life and the nation at large is to be encouraged, she said, noting that statistics show that up to mid 2014, youth population in the world was estimated to be about 3 billion and over, greater segment of the total population. 
 
With the number of youths in the world at large, their participation is essential to reach development targets, the minister added.
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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Ethnic Sandawe now want govt to protect their culture

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Sandawe ethnic group in central Tanzania Mainland have asked authorities to put in place measures that protect their environment, identity and culture citing economic activities by other communities that threaten their very survival.
 
The Sandawe who inhabit Chemba and Kondoa districts, in Dodoma Region, are predominantly a hunter-gatherer tribe who earn their living from the surrounding environment.
 
They said unlike in the past, their unique life and culture are at risk of disappearing owing to unabated invasion of their areas and degradation of the environment by ‘immigrants.’
 
The tribesmen were speaking this week during a community inception workshop on the state of land based investment and resource conflicts organized and conducted by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) at Kwamtoro Ward in the district.
 
The workshop is part of a programme titled Ardhi Yetu, funded by CARE International and coordinated by CARE Tanzania, and implemented by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF).
Deodutus Mungee from Ovada Ward said many ‘immigrants’ are clearing huge chunks of their traditional land for agriculture and settlements.
 
For example, he said, Bubu River supplying water to Sandawe communities down stream is seriously degraded as a result of farming activities.  If the trend is allowed to continue it could lead to the drying up of the river.
 
“This river is very important to us. It supplies water to Kisande, Handa and Lahode villages, but these people are clearing the catchment areas causing erosion and drought,” he lamented.
 
Another Ovada villager Elid Joachim said Sandawe communities have always been friends of the environment but today it can no longer support healthy life. “We used to live with animals very friendly, we had beekeeping projects for food but today trees have been depleted and the government is taking no measures, ” he complained.
 
Besides, he said their culture such as food and their tonal language with clicks, unrelated to any other of the 120 languages spoken in the country, have been altered in recent years due to the influx of ‘immigrants.’
 
Earlier, commenting on the challenges they face, the Secretary of Kwamtoro Peoples Development Association (UMAKWA) Frank Saki said transport and communication were the main challenges.
 
Programmes Coordinator for Land based investments for Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF) Godfrey Massay said the indigenous community had the right to clean and healthy environment.
 
“This clean and healthy environment must be safeguarded by the government. Environment and land rights are basic, which must be recognized and protected constitutionally,” he said.
 
The Sandawe tribe also known as ‘Bushmen’ believe in tradition and protected culture, but today, increased population coupled with climate change have forced people from other parts of the country to ‘invade’ their  neighbourhoods to start farms and set up settlements.
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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Vurugu kubwa za Wakulima na Wafugaji Zaibuka Dumila,Morogoro......Barabara yafungwa kwa masaa kadhaa,Polisi waingilia kati

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Jeshi la Polisi limelazimika kutumia mabomu ya machozi kuwatawanya wananchi wa Dumila na Mbigiri wilayani Kilosa mkoani Morogoro baada ya kufunga barabara ya Morogoro Dodoma kwa kutumia mawe na kuchoma matairi barabarani katika eneo la Dumila na kusababisha abiria wanaotumia barabara ya Morogoro Dodoma kukosa mawasiliano kwa zaidi ya masaa sita.
 
Mpekuzi imeshuhudia wananchi hao wakifunga barabara kwa mawe na matairi huku wengine wakionekana na mapanga ambapo wamesema wanalalamikia viongozi wa serikali kuanzia ngazi ya kijiji hadi wilaya kufumbia macho mgogoro wa ardhi na kushindwa kuwachukulia hatua wafugaji wanaowazuia wakulima wasilime katika eneo la Mbigiri.
 
Vurugu hizo zilidumu kwa muda mrefu na juhudi za kudhibiti wakulima hao zimechukua muda baada ya askari wachache wa kituo cha Dumila kuonekana kuzidiwa nguvu ambapo baadhi ya wakulima wengine wameonekana wakivamia na kuvunja nyumba za wageni zinazomilikiwa na wafugaji na kupora magodoro na vitu mbalimbali ambapo baadaye vikosi vya jeshi la polisi viliongezwa na kufanikiwa kudhibiti baadhi ya watuhumiwa na kufungua barabara.
 

Kamanda wa Polisi mkoa wa Morogoro Lenard Paul amesema chanzo cha vurugu hizo ni wazee zaidi ya kumi walizuiwa kulima katika mashamba yao Mbigiri ambapo walipelekeka malalamiko yao kwa afisa tarafa ambapo wakiwa ofisini kundi la vijana walifika na kufunga ofisi,ndani  kukiwa na wazee hao pamoja na afisa tarafa hadi walipofika na kuokolewa na jeshi la polisi na katika tukio hilo watu 20 wanashikiliwa na jeshi la polisi.
 
Afisa tarafa na wazee waliofungiwa ndani wakizungumzia tukio hilo wamesema kuna mgogoro wa siku nyingi kati ya wakulima na wafugaji na upo katika ngazi za juu huku wakieleza kusikitishwa na hatua za kufunga barabara na kuomba serikali kuingilia kati kutatua mgogoro wa ardhi uliopo.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Rais Kikwete Kutoa Maamuzi ya Escrow Wiki Ijayo

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Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Mheshimiwa Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete amepokea Ripoti, nyaraka na ushauri wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kuhusu Akaunti ya Tegeta Escrow na atavifanyia maamuzi katika wiki moja ijayo.
 
Rais Kikwete ambaye alianza kazi rasmi jana, Jumatatu, Desemba 8, 2014 baada ya mapumziko ya kufuatia upasuaji aliofanyiwa mwezi uliopita, amepokea Ripoti ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG), Ripoti ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Hesabu za Umma (PAC) na Maazimio ya Bunge kuhusu Akaunti ya Tegeta Escrow.
 
Kufuatia kupokea nyaraka hizo, Rais Kikwete ameelekeza kuwa Ripoti ya CAG iwekwe hadharani kwa ajili ya umma kuweza kuisoma na kujua nini hasa kimesemwa na kupendekezwa na Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi Mkuu wa Hesabu za Serikali.

 Rais Kikwete ameelekeza kuwa Ripoti hiyo itangazwe kwenye magazeti yanayosomwa na watu wengi na kwenye mitandao ya kijamii, ili Ripoti hiyo iweze kupatikana kwa Watanzania wengi.
 
Rais Kikwete ameanza kupitia na kusoma nyaraka hizo na katika wiki moja ijayo atazitolea maamuzi kwa maana ya kwamba yale mambo yanayomhusu yeye moja kwa moja atayatolea maamuzi yeye, yale yanayohusu Serikali atayatolea maagizo na maelekezo ya namna ya kuyashughulikia.
 
Wakati huo huo, Rais Kikwete jana, Jumatatu, Desemba 8, 2014, alianza kazi rasmi baada ya afya yake kuimarika kufuatia upasuaji aliofanyiwa mwezi uliopita.
 
Mhe. Rais alianza kazi rasmi kwa kumwapisha Mkuu mpya wa Mkoa wa Arusha, Mheshimiwa Daudi Felix Ntibenda katika shughuli fupi iliyofanyika Ikulu, Dar Es Salaam.
 
Kwa kuanzia Mhe. Rais atakuwa anafanya kazi za ofisini na kwa muda mchache. Muda na kasi ya kufanya kazi ya Mhe. Rais vitaongezeka kwa kadri afya yake inavyozidi kuimarika.
 
Na kwa sababu sasa ameanza kazi, Mhe. Rais ataanza kushughulikia mambo yale ambayo yamekuwa yanasubiri maamuzi yake.
 
Rais Kikwete alifanyiwa upasuaji wa tezi dume katika Hospitali ya Johns Hopkins ya Baltimore, Maryland, Marekani Novemba 8, mwaka huu na alirejea nyumbani Novemba 29, mwaka huu.
 
Tokea awasili nyumbani, Mhe. Rais amekuwa anafanya mazoezi asubuhi na jioni kuimarisha afya yake kama alivyoshauriwa na madaktari.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

53 years of Independence: Need to build on successes

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Editorial cartoon
 
Anyone believing that Tanzania has not made any meaningful economic strides since Tanganyika’s Independence in 1961 is neither fair nor honest. Similarly, anyone giving the country a 100 per cent pass mark on that score is not being realistic.

Tanzania started off very well. Grinding poverty, which persists in parts of the country to this day, was high on the development agenda soon after independence in 1961. The first independent government under Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere identified it as one of the three main challenges of development alongside ignorance and disease.

The country was later to become a United Republic bringing together the mainland (Tanganyika) and the Isles (Zanzibar) in April 1964.

To start with, Tanzania adopted a mixed economy in which foreigners and Tanzanian nationals took part in the development strategy.

But this did not mean very much as country’s economy was still in the hands of the foreigners, which precipitated to promulgation of the Arusha Declaration of 1967 under which the country adopted the policy of socialism and self-reliance.

The country opted for nationalisation as a way of putting the major means of production and distribution in the hands of the majority Tanzanians. However, this was interrupted by economic crises starting in the late 1970s and the early 1980s.

We have witnessed a peaceful succession of power from Founding President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere right to current (Fourth-Phase) President Jakaya Kikwete, with CCM having dominated the political landscape since 1961 when the multi-party system was abolished.

The country reverted to the multi-party political system in 1992. Since then, the number of parties participating in politics has grown from 11 to 19 and its members are considerably vocal on issues such as transparency, accountability and governance generally.

Another big achievement is when the country embarked on the rewriting of the country’s Constitution of 1977. That was in 2012. The idea is that a new Constitution will be in place before the October 2015 General Election, but the road towards that goal is thorny and bumpy indeed.

We now also have the Big Results Now initiative, which took off last year and seeks to facilitate the achievement of Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025 by focusing government efforts on accelerating the attainment of results in priority areas including education.

One of the most significant achievements in the economy has to do with the massive natural gas reserves recently discovered.

Meanwhile, the government says the country is expected to realise only three out of seven Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 deadline.
These are those related to combating HIV/AIDS and reducing infant and under-five mortality, while lagging behind in primary school education, maternal health, poverty eradication, and environmental sustainability.

With all these achievements, we are asking why Tanzania officially remains one of the world’s poorest countries. In 2012, its average per capita income stood at $570, which placed it in the 176th position out of 191 countries. 

One thing is for sure: fighting corruption and strengthening transparency and accountability across all sectors and at all levels is of paramount importance.
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Tuesday, December 09, 2014

A-Z KUHUSU MTOTO ALIYENYONGWA NA BABA WA KAMBO MKOANI MOROGORO!

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Abdulrahman Hamis Clemensi enzi za uhai wake.JESHI la Polisi Mkoa wa Morogoro linamshikilia Zamili Shabani kwa madai ya kumnyonga hadi kumuua mtoto wake wa kambo, (mwaka mmoja na nusu) huku mauaji hayo yakihusishwa na wivu wa mapenzi. 
Tukio hilo la ajabu lililowaacha vinywa wazi wakazi wa eneo hilo lilijiri saa 6 mchana wa Desemba 2, mwaka huu kwenye nyumba waliopanga wanandoa hao, Zamili na mkewe, Rehema Mustafa (21) iliyopo Kijiji cha Mbogo, Tarafa ya Turiani Wilaya ya Mvomero mkoani hapa. 
ALIVYOSEMA SHUHUDA
Kabla ya kuzungumza na mama wa marehemu, Uwazi lilipata mawili-matatu kutoka kwa shuhuda mmoja wa tukio hilo. ”Mimi moja kwa moja namlaumu mama wa mtoto, Bi. Rehema. Awali alikuwa kwenye ndoa na mumewe Hamis, wakabahatika kumzaa Abdulrahman. 
“Mwanzoni mwa mwaka huu alifika Zamili akitokea Zanzibar. Kwa taarifa tulizonazo Zamili alikuwa na ishu kubwa kule ndiyo maana akaamua kuja huku. “Unajua vijijini, mtu akitokea mjini wanawake wanamshobokea. Dada yetu Rehema akadanganywa na Zamili akatoka kwenye ndoa yake na kuolewa naye mwezi wa saba mwaka huu.
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Tuesday, December 09, 2014

Aga Khan hospital cancer campaign yields huge results

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Just three months after the Aga Khan Hospital launched the breast cancer campaign in September this year dubbed “Don’t wait for October” it has been revealed that more than 1,000 patients have so far been reached with free screening services in Dar es Salaam.

A breast surgeon at the hospital Dr Athar Ali told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that more women from the country’s regions are expected to be reached to enable them access to breast cancer services.

Dr Ali said they expect to rollout such a campaign in Dodoma, Iringa and Morogoro regions by next year.

“Our campaign aims at encouraging more people to attend monthly cancer screening in order to detect the problems early. This will help patients to find an appropriate treatment and enable them live a normal life” he said.

He urged women to conduct regular cancer screening tests instead of waiting for the month of October, known to be a breast cancer awareness month.

It is said that early detection can go a long way in curbing the spread of the disease and its effects on breasts in the country where around 80 percent of such cases are reported at an advanced stages.

According to him, citizens need to live healthily by ensuring that they follow good diet wherever possible urging employers to emulate the Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) for encouraging its staff to undergo breast cancer screening at the Hospital.

DTB employee, Namboto Yusi said women should be encouraged to go for such screening because they were offered at no costs.

She said “Cancer screening tests are very expensive in different hospitals around the world, the free services being offered by the hospital is a rare opportunity that needs to be appreciated by making sure that more women show up for screening.”

Another employee with DTB who also benefitted from the screening tests said there is need for more education and awareness campaign to equip women with the knowledge on the importance of breast cancer testing.

According to her, breast cancer cases are still very high in the country, a second leading in mortality among women.

The Tanzania Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) record indicates that at least 44,000 Tanzanians are diagnosed with cancer every year while only 8,800 can be fully cured.

Despite such records, Tanzania is among few countries in the world to have free cancer treatment.

The government in collaboration with some professional institutions and some private health facilities are busy conducting more campaigns and step up efforts to scale down the disease.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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Sunday, December 07, 2014

CRDB Bank signs 3-year workers’ collective bargaining agreement

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CRDB Bank managing director Dr Charles Kimei (3rd-R) and Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO) deputy secretary general Chikunzi John (3rd-L) hold documents shortly after signing a collective bargaining agreement in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With them (from-R) are CRDB Bank human resources director Dora Ngaliga (R), corporate affairs director John Rugambo (2nd-R), and officials Matiya Samwel (L) and Adam Msubila.

CRDB Bank yesterday signed a three year collective bargaining agreement with the Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Workers (TUICO) to improve their workers’ incentives packages.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the signing ceremony, CRDB Executive Director Dr Charles Kimei said that the agreement will help motivate workers thus increase their efficiency in production.

“It is our hope that through this agreement our employees will recognise how much their employer cares for them and values their contribution to the company,” he said.

The agreement includes among other things, a  better  system of employment  and confirmation of  workers,  handling of labour disputes ,  maternity benefits , sick leave,  payment of transfer allowance , long service awards , best workers awards  and insurance  for  the employees and their families.

Dr Kimei said that his bank is aware that business success will not be attained if the workers who are the main producers do not have better working conditions.

He said recognising that fact, the Bank is working to secure a collective bargaining agreement as per section 67  of the Labour Relations Act  number 6  of 2004  together with  regulation number 50 (2)(b) of 2007.

Tuico Assistant Secretary General John Shukunzi said the collective bargaining agreement is crucial in ensuring the welfare of workers is improved and secured.

He said that the Labour Relation Act has stipulated important rights and immunity for workers but   nonetheless it has left out several major issues including leave allowance, medical services, funerals and insurance of employees and their families  all of which are not mentioned in the law but which can now be included in the collective bargaining agreement.

He called upon other employers to emulate the move by CRDB bank and improve the welfare of their employees.

 
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Stakeholders want special office to handle public debt

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TCDD Executive Director Hebron Mwakagenda
 
Establishment of a Central Public Debt Management Office is the key to better management of government borrowings and the national debt stakeholders have said this while the government maintains it is already setting up a department in the Ministry of Finance for the purpose.

Challenging the government to establish the debt management organ, Tanzania Coalition on Debt and Development (TCDD) cautioned that failure to manage the national debt, the country will suffer dire socio-economic impacts.

Addressing journalist yesterday in Dar es Salaam, TCDD Executive Director Hebron Mwakagenda, said the central public debt management office can help reduce the skyrocketing debt citing that the country’s public debt stock stood at 29.3trn/- as of March, 2014 , having increased by 4.68trn/- since the same period last year.

He explained that while there are two committees charged with monitoring the national debt, the National Debt Management Committee (NDMC) and the Technical National Debt Management Committee (TNDMC) the two organs are also tasked with other duties and management of the national debt is an additional task.

He said the two organs are stretched beyond capacity and as such, ‘there have been cases of unauthorised persons contracting loans without consent of the Finance Minister.

“Lack of a unified public debt management office and a central database, has resulted in the government failing to recover 281m/- from M/s Ginaac Industries Ltd and 44m/- from Mansoons Ltd both of which no longer exist,” Mwakagenda alleged.

He cited the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2012 saying the government had issued guarantees to public and private enterprises above the set borrowing ceiling amounts and according to him, in 2010 alone, over 711.8bn/- was borrowed and is now the government’s burden.

“Had there been a central debt office, such anomalies would be effectively detected and addressed,” he emphasised.

He said the coalition recommends the training of more staff to manage the proposed unified public debt office and strengthen the national loans, guarantees and grants Act, 1974.

“As it currently stands, the legislation does not state the caliber of public officers to whom the finance minister can delegate loan negotiation and contracting powers and it neither prescribes any sanctions on unauthorised officer(s) who impersonate the minister and fraudulently contract loans on his behalf,” the TCDD Executive Director said.

“The Act is also equally silent on what action should be taken on fraudulent companies or individuals,” he added.

He also said the coalition calls upon the government to make public debt contracting transparent and conduct auditing.

“The national debt and its management are serious issues of national security,” he cautioned.

In its finding, the coalition established that there has been lack of political will to establish a debt management office, he said and attributed it to indiscipline and non-compliance with accounting and procurement standards.

“Violation of professional legal accounting and procurements, standards and regulations … loan contracting by anonymous cum unauthorised public officers, exceeding guarantee ceilings, charging expenditures to wrong accounts and misreporting debt accounts, all these are challenges that the Central Public Debt Management Office would handle,” he concluded.

However, in a related development, Finance Minister Saada Mkuya yesterday said that, her ministry is already in the final stages of setting up a department to deal with the national debt.

According to Mkuya, the finance ministry had earlier this year received directives from the State House on how to best manage the matter and is now working on outsourcing qualified staffs.

“This will mean all debt which were either under the central bank (BoT) or the treasury, will now be coordinated under a unified department in the ministry,” she said. 
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Wednesday, December 03, 2014
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