Tanzania and Uganda sign rail pact with Chinese firm

[Geza Ulole]

Geza Ulole,

..sasa ina maana Wakenya wakiamua kuharibu kwao na sisi tuwafuate kuharibu vya kwetu??

..I dont think the ecosystem of Lamu, is in any way comparable in value to that of Serengeti.

..There r alternative route to the road and railway that will not disturb the Serengeti ecosystem. We should explore those alternatives.

Hapana sina maana hiyo ila mimi kama mwanamazingira ninaamini the Serengeti of 15,000 sq km can absorb the pressure from a road disecting only 50 km within! Pili the Serengeti the way it is now is not a pristine nature (ukizingatia influx ya watu wanaoenda kutalii)! Tatu there is no a pristine nature in this World as long as there is a man contact with whatever nature! Kama sivyo then tunnel is the best solution (technology zipo za kujenga tunnel!)! Nne why are Kenyan activitists plus others via Nationmedia are withholding us to those conservation higher standards while they go silent on similar issues on their own backyard? Isn't that double standards via political motives and not conservation? Hii project ingekuwa ulaya nina uhakika 100% ingepitishwa lakini kwa vile inafanyika huku tunawaona hawa wazungu+majirani wanafiki wakitia pingamizi as if hawaoni economic benefits zake kwa societies living around the park! katika sustainable development vitu kama hivi vinaangaliwa via EIA na kuona uwezekano wa ku-implement project at the lowest damage! maana the project is necessary! Sasa haya majinga yanalazimisha southern route ambayo by any means will render the project uncompetitive to the Mombasa-Kampala route! That's a conspirancy my friend we need to wake up and tell them to back off with their hidden agenda! Kama the west inathamini sana the Serengeti kwanini the EU isitoe funds za kujenga tunnel on that 50 km across the Serengeti (be it US$ 500mio. even a US$ 1 bio.) ? nathani utaona hypocricy hapa suala ni kwamba Kenya hawataki competition na yet wanahimiza common market sasa sijui ni ipi hiyo? au ndo ile ya kununua bidhaa zao tu!

 

[JokaKuu]

Geza Ulole,

..I really dont care much about what Kenyans are doing.

..well, sasa hivi tunataka kujenga 50 km two way highway itakayokatiza Serengeti.

..sasa kwasababu kila kitu tunataka kushindana na Kenya, in 10 yrs itabidi tuongeze iwe 4 lanes highway which will erode the Serengeti ecosystem even further.

..ndiyo maana mimi napendekeza tuepuka kabisa kupitisha hiyo barabara ndani ya mbuga ya Serengeti.

..Kitu kingine tunachopaswa kukiangalia ni wananchi wanaoishi karibu na hiyo highway ya Arusha--Musoma. There is a wrong notion that the highway is supposed to link Musoma with Arusha with nothing in btn.

..Lets look at a bigger picture kwamba tunaweza kujenga an International Airport in Musoma, hivyo mji wa Musoma ukakua kama ilivyotokea kwa Arusha. Katika mazingira hayo wananchi watakwenda ktk mji ule ulio karibu nao, either Arusha au Musoma.

..tayari kuna proposal ya kupata funds toka EU au WB [sina uhakika wapi] kujenga barabara kufuatia the Southern route. Package hiyo pia inajumuisha ujenzi wa rural feeder roads zitakazoungana na Musoma to Arusha highway.

..kuna njia nyingine zaidi kutufanya tuwe competitive vs Mombasa--Kampala highway. Tunaweza kujenga barabara yenye lanes nyingi zaidi, au tukajenga barabara inayowezesha magari makubwa na mazito zaidi etc etc, au hata tu-design barabara ambayo ni rahisi kuendesha ukizingatia safety, etc etc. Siyo lazima tushindane kwenye distance peke yake.

..halafu kwanini tunahangaika na Uganda tu, wakati kuna Eastern Congo, Rwanda,Burundi,Malawi,na Zambia?

NB:

..siyo kweli kwamba nchi za magharibi hazijali mazingira linapokuja suala la development projects.

..Wamarekani sasa hivi wanagonganisha vichwa kutokana na proposal ya kujenga oil pipeline kati ya Canada na USA.

..tuwe makini sana na mahela ya Wachina. wenyewe huwa hawajali masuala ya haki za binadamu, mazingira, etc. tuangalie walichofanya Southern Sudan, DRC,na Zambia.

 

[Geza Ulole]

Geza Ulole,

..I really dont care much about what Kenyans are doing.

..well, sasa hivi tunataka kujenga 50 km two way highway itakayokatiza Serengeti.

..sasa kwasababu kila kitu tunataka kushindana na Kenya, in 10 yrs itabidi tuongeze iwe 4 lanes highway which will erode the Serengeti ecosystem even further.

..ndiyo maana mimi napendekeza tuepuka kabisa kupitisha hiyo barabara ndani ya mbuga ya Serengeti.

..Kitu kingine tunachopaswa kukiangalia ni wananchi wanaoishi karibu na hiyo highway ya Arusha--Musoma. There is a wrong notion that the highway is supposed to link Musoma with Arusha with nothing in btn.

..Lets look at a bigger picture kwamba tunaweza kujenga an International Airport in Musoma, hivyo mji wa Musoma ukakua kama ilivyotokea kwa Arusha. Katika mazingira hayo wananchi watakwenda ktk mji ule ulio karibu nao, either Arusha au Musoma.

..tayari kuna proposal ya kupata funds toka EU au WB [sina uhakika wapi] kujenga barabara kufuatia the Southern route. Package hiyo pia inajumuisha ujenzi wa rural feeder roads zitakazoungana na Musoma to Arusha highway.

..kuna njia nyingine zaidi kutufanya tuwe competitive vs Mombasa--Kampala highway. Tunaweza kujenga barabara yenye lanes nyingi zaidi, au tukajenga barabara inayowezesha magari makubwa na mazito zaidi etc etc, au hata tu-design barabara ambayo ni rahisi kuendesha ukizingatia safety, etc etc. Siyo lazima tushindane kwenye distance peke yake.

..halafu kwanini tunahangaika na Uganda tu, wakati kuna Eastern Congo, Rwanda,Burundi,Malawi,na Zambia?

NB:

..siyo kweli kwamba nchi za magharibi hazijali mazingira linapokuja suala la development projects.

..Wamarekani sasa hivi wanagonganisha vichwa kutokana na proposal ya kujenga oil pipeline kati ya Canada na USA.

..tuwe makini sana na mahela ya Wachina. wenyewe huwa hawajali masuala ya haki za binadamu, mazingira, etc. tuangalie walichofanya Southern Sudan, DRC,na Zambia.

Unajua si kila anayejifanya mwana mazingira anayajua mazingira! Kumeibuka vilaza ambao kila mmoja wao anadai analinda mazingira! Ngoja nikuambie kitu kimoja mbali ya EIA kuna kitu kinaitwa SEA (Strategic Environment Assessment) au Strategic Environment Impact Assessment! Na ukijiuliza kwa nini SEA ilikuja baada ya EIA jibu ni katika kuangalia umuhimu wa kuwa na Economic activities for sustainable development ambazo EIA ilizi-disregard kwa kutoa kipaumbele tu kwa mazingira bila ya kuanglia economic welfare na kusababisha development continuity kukosekana kuna projects umuhimu wake to social welfare ni unmatchable na unazidi hata uwepo wa hayo mazingira yanayopiganiwa yaani kwa maana nyingine kuna projects haziwezi kuepukika na as a compromise katika kuwezesha Sustainability Appraisal for the such projects to kick off! Idea ya strategies to enable economic and environment welfares to kick hand in hand ikaja! Ndo maana kuna neno "strategic" katika SEA wakati mwingine wanaita strategic Environment Impact assessment (SEIA)! Pia kuna kitu kingine kinaitwa Equality Impact sustainability (EqIA) specifically kuwalinda vulnerable group for this case watu wanaoishi within the Serengeti na hawana social facilities pia wale wanaoishi towns kama Mugumu wanaokuwa deprived of social amenities kwa vile kuna majitu yako naive kupenda mazingira bila kuangalia kama mazingira hayo yanaweza kuwezesha social development and continuity! Kama hawa westerners wanapenda Serengeti waambie waende kuishi huko halafu tuone kama hawatabadili baadhi ya vitu!

Sasa tukiangalia Cost and benefits za barabara ya Tanga-Entebbe tunaona itaweza kuwa ya maana kama tu urefu wake utakuwa mdogo au kama wa Mombasa-Kampala maana biashara za siku hizi zinaangalia muda wa usafirishaji ambao huzingatia urefu wa njia ya usafirishaji! Na Ninarudia tena hao nchi za magharibi hamna hata moja inaweza kuacha ambitious project kama hiyo! jaribu kutumia google ujifunze nimekupa mfano wa mji wa Dresden (wa urithi wa dunia) na daraja! Pili nimekupa mfano wa milima ya Alps na tunnels na pia nimegusia kwa nini Alps Mts ni baadhi tu ya vilele vipo protected na si mlima woote! pia Yellowstone National park in the US! Pia angalia swala la nukes hata nchi ya Ujerumani inayosifika kimazingira mpaka leo hawataki kuzima vinu vyoote maana wanajua economic benefits za kutumia nyuklia japokuwa ni mionzi yake ni sumu kali kwa mazingira na wanazo teknologia yoote ya mbadala wa nuklia! Tusikurupuke tu kwa vile mshenzi fulani anasema hiki na kile tutafanywa scape goats! maana kiukweli hamna hata nchi moja ambayo inaweza kukataa mradi utakaofungua fursa za biashara ati kisa ya mazingira huwa mara nyingi wanatafuta best alternative na kwa sisi hapo Serengeti best alternative ni tunnels! In short technology has so advanced to enable barabara kupita within the Serengeti with the lowest impact on environment End of story....tunajua Uganda ni nchi yenye mafuta sasa na tunajua fursa ngapi zitatupita kama tutakuwa wajinga na kusikiliza kelele za watu waliokwisha endelea na kuacha kuzichangamkia! Ebu jiulize swali moja hivi leo hii serengeti kugundulike crude oil proven reserves lets say over 30 bio. barrels of oil, unafikiri stori ya kutunza mazingira itaendelea kuwa hiihii tunayoiskia!

Hebu jaribu kujiuliza Selous japokuwa ni protected area kumegundulika uranium UNESCO imeruhusu/iko njiani kuruhusu sehemu ya hifadhi kukatwa na kuruhusiwa kuchimbwa uranium of all the resources we know! Kisa ?? An australian company (Mantra resources) with western connections ndiye mdau! juzi kwenye media tunaambiwa ndio walipa kodi wakubwa hata kabla uchimbaji hajuaanza just to sweeten ur hearts ila ukweli ni media ziko mute kwa vile tunajua nani ana-control media dunia hii! Au swala la ardhi ya wakazi wa Mpanda kuchukuliwa na kampuni ya Agrisol ya kimarekani imagine ingekuwa kampuni ya kichina hapo! hata amb. Leihnardt ametetea kampuni ya kwao japokuwa tunajua watu wamenyang'anywa ardhi! fungua macho mzee kuna scramble of resources is going on among MTCs!

 

[nngu007]

Published On: Tue, Dec 27th, 2011
Infrastructure |


[h=2][/h]News emerged just before the long Christmas weekend that Uganda and Tanzania have signed a joint agreement with CCECC, the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, worth over 450 million US Dollars, to prepare a feasibility study for a new proposed railway route from Tanga port to Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria from where then a new railway ferry route is supposed to connect across the lake to a proposed new lake port in Uganda. Operated by Uganda Railways, a suggested new port would be connected by a rail link to the capital Kampala and beyond, strange considering that two lake ports already exist at Port Bell and Jinja, and are both grossly underutilized at present, which could be equally used for this purpose.
Additionally the two countries have reportedly also signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding worth over 3 billion US Dollars, under which the Tanzanian lake port in Musoma and the extension of the Tanga port in Mwambani are to be constructed and of course a direct standard gauge line railway connecting the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria.
The conservation fraternity was seemingly caught unaware by the preceding negotiations between CCECC and the governments in Kampala and Dar es Salaam and the subsequent speedy signing of a contract as people prepared to celebrate Christmas and were probably preoccupied with preparations for the festive season, to watch the development unfold. While the two countries had for some time discussed developing alternative routes to create much needed redundancy between Uganda and Indian Ocean ports the landlocked Pearl of Africa presently depends almost entirely on the main route to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa the lack of funding was seen as the key obstacle to actually drive the project forward.
Some conservation groups in Uganda are presently looking into the procurement process, as past complaints about ignoring or sidelining the relevant law has halted projects dead in their track, and questions are also asked under what authority the government in Kampala has borrowed their share of the reported US Dollars 450 million, again something an increasingly belligerent and assertive parliament would have to consent to in advance.
It is understood from sources close to the action in Kampala that China has offered preferential credit terms to pre-finance the feasibility study, similar to their preparations in building the TAZARA railway line between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka / Zambia in the 70s, and that the entire financing of the project may well also be arranged by China, clearly aiding their desire to establish further political and economic strongholds in the Eastern African region and cement its greater influence on the continent as the hunt for the remaining global resources intensifies.
It is unclear at this stage what, if at all, impact this project will have on other plans promoted by Kenya, to develop a new deep sea harbour in Lamu incidentally also largely to be financed by China it appears with a connecting new standard gauge railway line leading to Southern Sudan and into Ethiopia while theKenya and Uganda Railways Corporations are also advancing plans to turn the present railway betweenMombasa and Kampala into a standard gauge, high speed railway line in coming years.
In Uganda there has also for long been talk of reviving the dormant route from Malaba at the border withKenya to Gulu and extend it to Juba, the present capital of Southern Sudan, but the presently proposed multiplicity of projects, all seemingly aimed at providing the much required SINGLE redundancy to the present main rail connection, may still cause added consultations and discussions between the partner countries and the financiers, to avoid costly duplication for the purpose of gaining a national advantage instead of focusing on the overall regional needs in terms of infrastructural improvements. That is of particular importance in Tanzania where a rail corridor is also to be developed jointly with Rwanda and probably Burundi and Congo, both of which are said to be keen to get their own rail link connect to that new line from Dar es Salaam. For that project the financing has already advanced and MoUs are in place, as has in the past been reported here. Ugandas response, and here national interests clearly supersede regional interests, was to propose the revival of the Kampala to Kasese rail line, with an extension into the Eastern Congo, while also repeatedly talking of their own add on rail link into Rwanda.
Western development partners, notably including the World Bank, hold regular consultative sessions to compare notes and avoid recipient countries playing them, in the process identifying and eliminating duplications, but as China plays its own power games here, they are not thought to be part of this process as it would arguably limit their own plans and designs for the wider Eastern African region.
Western economic woes at present also reduce the clout of the US and Europe in terms of availing the required major credits, singly or in syndicated formats, and reports of their begging in China for participating in bail outs and stabilization packages for in particular the Euro zone has further cast doubts over Western abilities at this time to fully and effectively participate in what cynical observers have already termed the new Berlin Conference. While not a formal conference the intent though is the same to take over Africa, this time however determined by deep pockets and readily available cheque book diplomacy, almost reminding one of the height of the cold war, except that in this round China is playing the lead fiddle with the Russians and Indians also trying to get into the game with but a few drumbeats in the background.
Chinas charm offensive in Africa, which now dates back at least two decades in earnest, focuses almost entirely on infrastructural developments, following which mining and a rather one sided trade have come into the equation. This cheque book diplomacy as born fruits as Chinese money is not tied to the Western credo of human rights, governmental transparency, best practice and anti corruption measures to name but a few the American and European governments nowadays link to giving aid and financial support, lest they be crucified by their own constituencies at home. Environmental standards for projects too are high on the agenda of Western development partners and the newly emerging world power China seems less concerned about all those requirements to do business and has become a viable alternative in this day and age, as the pilgrimage of African leaders to China and the rapidly expanding presence of the Peoples Republic in Africa, politically, economically and in terms of expatriate labour amply demonstrates.
It is no wonder therefore that the conservation fraternity in Tanzania is deeply suspicious of the Chinese involvement, as best practice is not something commonly embraced by Chinese companies, which have often in the past sought to bypass or circumnavigate environmental requirements by using political interventions and directives.
Ugandan sources close to the action have, upon raising the spectrum of the railway cutting across theSerengeti with them arguably the most direct route from Musoma immediately pointed to the sole responsibility of the Tanzanian government to determine a routing, and urged to await the outcome of the feasibility studies and the various routing alternatives, but had to concede that they would not stand in the way of Tanzania taking their pick of those, even if it would run across the Serengetis migration routes. And here the more suspicious minds amongst the conservation fraternity and environmental groups are already seeing the doomsday scenario for the Serengeti revived, coupling an earlier highway project with a railway. Inspite of a written commitment by the Tanzanian government to UNESCO earlier in the year, that no highway would be built across the park, this was later on exposed as a skillfully crafted lie, as in particular controversial tourism minister Maige had not long afterwards rubbished his own letter to UNESCO, proclaiming that the road would go ahead, nothing new of course for a man who habitually belittles the dangers of mining Uranium in the Selous or denies that the icecap of Kilimanjaro is going to disappear if climate change is not halted or reversed.
The Facebook based Stop the Serengeti Highway movement, now over 44.600 strong and growing, incidentally launched following articles about the then largely unknown plans by the Tanzanian government to build a major road across the Serengeti, has already indicated that they would equally strongly oppose any plans to build a rail line across the park. Those in the know are aware that a rail link would then also open up pending mining concessions in the area between the Serengeti and Musoma and possibly give the much needed green light for a soda ash factory at Lake Natron, another pet project of the Tanzanian President, which could only viably export soda ash using rail transport.
In an article titled The corridor of destruction a series of plans have been exposed and linked together in this format for the first time, of major projects between the Coelacanth habitat at the Tanga Marine National Park at Mwambani all the way across the Serengeti to Lake Victoria, posted on the 01st of May and available via this link:www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/tanzania-conservation-breaking-news-the-corridor-of-destruction-from-the-coast-to-the-lake . The read is giving ample reason to sit back and take a more holistic look at the present Tanzanian governments plans to rapidly exploit its natural resources for short lived profits, eventually leaving a destroyed and diseased habitat behind when the mineral riches have been siphoned away. They are also almost willfully ignoring the other green option, i.e. the sustainable use of its nature and wildlife resources, which in the long run would bring greater economic benefits to the country and the Tanzanian people than allowing foreign greed and hunger for the ever sparser resources our planet has remaining, to dictate which way to go.
In addition has experience shown that poaching is experiencing a particularly sharp upturn near major work camps where Chinese companies, in Eastern and Southern Africa are engaged in big projects, adding this component to the issue of the now proposed railway routings and their impact on biodiversity hotspots. Here again China is in the bad books of the global conservation movements as THE main cause for the increase in poaching in Africa. Chinese citizens relentless hunger and greed for blood ivory and rhino horn, which has now become the number one threat for the survival of not just species but the hugely important safari tourism industry in Eastern and Southern Africa has been the stuff of much chat room and blog comments and with a railway line being constructed from the coast to the lake, workers camps will be set up near protected areas with plenty of opportunity to go out poaching or induce and pay for poaching after hours. From Southern Africa one gruesome story after the next emerges of wholesome slaughter of elephants and rhinos, the latter often found still alive after their horns have been hacked off, leaving them die in sheer agony. The arrival on the East African shores of yet more Chinese funded mega projects is very likely to bring this evil right to the doorsteps of our own national parks here in the region.
The conservation fraternity and environmental watch dogs are still coming to terms with these latest developments, not the least as the timing was well chosen as many, including the investigative media, are off on vacation, but come the first week of the new year, phone lines will run hot again in an effort to assemble and gather as much information about the MoUs as possible and to the evaluate the options, from going to court over local to regional to international lobbying to make certain, that environmental and conservation concerns are not bulldozed aside by the political masters hell bent to turn their pet projects into a legacy.
The question only is, what legacy will that be in the long term? As the saying goes in German und nach mir die Sintflut, none of them will be bothered much of what happens to their countries environment after they are gone, bringing a new meaning to the phrase of burnt earth, the type with a delayed reaction after the profit have been reaped by those with no concern for the long term impact and with the money gone, the resources gone and climate change accelerating unchecked, there may indeed be not just the proverbial burnt earth looming beyond the horizon but a real one
Do I even dare to wish my readers a Happy New Year 2012? Well, I do it anyway as there is always hope and we have prevailed in the past to change or halt seemingly cast in iron projects.
Join or like STOP THE SERENGETI HIGHWAY on Facebook to make your objections known and get the latest updates and information on this newest assault on Tanzanias hitherto still largely pristine environment. And as always, watch this space for breaking news from Eastern Africa and from the Indian Ocean Islands.
By Wolfgang H. Thome

 

[nngu007]

Published On: Tue, Dec 27th, 2011
Infrastructure |Politi-Convetionalist/Published On: Tue, Dec 27th, 2011


News emerged just before the long Christmas weekend that Uganda and Tanzania have signed a joint agreement with CCECC, the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, worth over 450 million US Dollars, to prepare a feasibility study for a new proposed railway route from Tanga port to Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria from where then a new railway ferry route is supposed to connect across the lake to a proposed new lake port in Uganda.

Operated by Uganda Railways, a suggested new port would be connected by a rail link to the capital Kampala and beyond, strange considering that two lake ports already exist at Port Bell and Jinja, and are both grossly underutilized at present, which could be equally used for this purpose.Additionally the two countries have reportedly also signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding worth over 3 billion US Dollars, under which the Tanzanian lake port in Musoma and the extension of the Tanga port in Mwambani are to be constructed and of course a direct standard gauge line railway connecting the Indian Ocean to Lake Victoria.

The conservation fraternity was seemingly caught unaware by the preceding negotiations between CCECC and the governments in Kampala and Dar es Salaam and the subsequent speedy signing of a contract as people prepared to celebrate Christmas and were probably preoccupied with preparations for the festive season, to watch the development unfold. While the two countries had for some time discussed developing alternative routes to create much needed redundancy between Uganda and Indian Ocean ports the landlocked Pearl of Africa presently depends almost entirely on the main route to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa the lack of funding was seen as the key obstacle to actually drive the project forward.

Some conservation groups in Uganda are presently looking into the procurement process, as past complaints about ignoring or sidelining the relevant law has halted projects dead in their track, and questions are also asked under what authority the government in Kampala has borrowed their share of the reported US Dollars 450 million, again something an increasingly belligerent and assertive parliament would have to consent to in advance.

It is understood from sources close to the action in Kampala that China has offered preferential credit terms to pre-finance the feasibility study, similar to their preparations in building the TAZARA railway line between Dar es Salaam and Lusaka / Zambia in the 70s, and that the entire financing of the project may well also be arranged by China, clearly aiding their desire to establish further political and economic strongholds in the Eastern African region and cement its greater influence on the continent as the hunt for the remaining global resources intensifies.

It is unclear at this stage what, if at all, impact this project will have on other plans promoted by Kenya, to develop a new deep sea harbour in Lamu incidentally also largely to be financed by China it appears with a connecting new standard gauge railway line leading to Southern Sudan and into Ethiopia while theKenya and Uganda Railways Corporations are also advancing plans to turn the present railway betweenMombasa and Kampala into a standard gauge, high speed railway line in coming years.

In Uganda there has also for long been talk of reviving the dormant route from Malaba at the border withKenya to Gulu and extend it to Juba, the present capital of Southern Sudan, but the presently proposed multiplicity of projects, all seemingly aimed at providing the much required SINGLE redundancy to the present main rail connection, may still cause added consultations and discussions between the partner countries and the financiers, to avoid costly duplication for the purpose of gaining a national advantage instead of focusing on the overall regional needs in terms of infrastructural improvements. That is of particular importance in Tanzania where a rail corridor is also to be developed jointly with Rwanda and probably Burundi and Congo, both of which are said to be keen to get their own rail link connect to that new line from Dar es Salaam. For that project the financing has already advanced and MoUs are in place, as has in the past been reported here. Ugandas response, and here national interests clearly supersede regional interests, was to propose the revival of the Kampala to Kasese rail line, with an extension into the Eastern Congo, while also repeatedly talking of their own add on rail link into Rwanda.

Western development partners, notably including the World Bank, hold regular consultative sessions to compare notes and avoid recipient countries playing them, in the process identifying and eliminating duplications, but as China plays its own power games here, they are not thought to be part of this process as it would arguably limit their own plans and designs for the wider Eastern African region.

Western economic woes at present also reduce the clout of the US and Europe in terms of availing the required major credits, singly or in syndicated formats, and reports of their begging in China for participating in bail outs and stabilization packages for in particular the Euro zone has further cast doubts over Western abilities at this time to fully and effectively participate in what cynical observers have already termed the new Berlin Conference. While not a formal conference the intent though is the same to take over Africa, this time however determined by deep pockets and readily available cheque book diplomacy, almost reminding one of the height of the cold war, except that in this round China is playing the lead fiddle with the Russians and Indians also trying to get into the game with but a few drumbeats in the background.

Chinas charm offensive in Africa, which now dates back at least two decades in earnest, focuses almost entirely on infrastructural developments, following which mining and a rather one sided trade have come into the equation. This cheque book diplomacy as born fruits as Chinese money is not tied to the Western credo of human rights, governmental transparency, best practice and anti corruption measures to name but a few the American and European governments nowadays link to giving aid and financial support, lest they be crucified by their own constituencies at home. Environmental standards for projects too are high on the agenda of Western development partners and the newly emerging world power China seems less concerned about all those requirements to do business and has become a viable alternative in this day and age, as the pilgrimage of African leaders to China and the rapidly expanding presence of the Peoples Republic in Africa, politically, economically and in terms of expatriate labour amply demonstrates.

It is no wonder therefore that the conservation fraternity in Tanzania is deeply suspicious of the Chinese involvement, as best practice is not something commonly embraced by Chinese companies, which have often in the past sought to bypass or circumnavigate environmental requirements by using political interventions and directives.

Ugandan sources close to the action have, upon raising the spectrum of the railway cutting across theSerengeti with them arguably the most direct route from Musoma immediately pointed to the sole responsibility of the Tanzanian government to determine a routing, and urged to await the outcome of the feasibility studies and the various routing alternatives, but had to concede that they would not stand in the way of Tanzania taking their pick of those, even if it would run across the Serengetis migration routes. And here the more suspicious minds amongst the conservation fraternity and environmental groups are already seeing the doomsday scenario for the Serengeti revived, coupling an earlier highway project with a railway. Inspite of a written commitment by the Tanzanian government to UNESCO earlier in the year, that no highway would be built across the park, this was later on exposed as a skillfully crafted lie, as in particular controversial tourism minister Maige had not long afterwards rubbished his own letter to UNESCO, proclaiming that the road would go ahead, nothing new of course for a man who habitually belittles the dangers of mining Uranium in the Selous or denies that the icecap of Kilimanjaro is going to disappear if climate change is not halted or reversed.

The Facebook based Stop the Serengeti Highway movement, now over 44.600 strong and growing, incidentally launched following articles about the then largely unknown plans by the Tanzanian government to build a major road across the Serengeti, has already indicated that they would equally strongly oppose any plans to build a rail line across the park. Those in the know are aware that a rail link would then also open up pending mining concessions in the area between the Serengeti and Musoma and possibly give the much needed green light for a soda ash factory at Lake Natron, another pet project of the Tanzanian President, which could only viably export soda ash using rail transport.

In an article titled The corridor of destruction a series of plans have been exposed and linked together in this format for the first time, of major projects between the Coelacanth habitat at the Tanga Marine National Park at Mwambani all the way across the Serengeti to Lake Victoria, posted on the 01st of May and available via this link:www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/tanzania-conservation-breaking-news-the-corridor-of-destruction-from-the-coast-to-the-lake . The read is giving ample reason to sit back and take a more holistic look at the present Tanzanian governments plans to rapidly exploit its natural resources for short lived profits, eventually leaving a destroyed and diseased habitat behind when the mineral riches have been siphoned away. They are also almost willfully ignoring the other green option, i.e. the sustainable use of its nature and wildlife resources, which in the long run would bring greater economic benefits to the country and the Tanzanian people than allowing foreign greed and hunger for the ever sparser resources our planet has remaining, to dictate which way to go.

In addition has experience shown that poaching is experiencing a particularly sharp upturn near major work camps where Chinese companies, in Eastern and Southern Africa are engaged in big projects, adding this component to the issue of the now proposed railway routings and their impact on biodiversity hotspots.

Here again China is in the bad books of the global conservation movements as THE main cause for the increase in poaching in Africa. Chinese citizens relentless hunger and greed for blood ivory and rhino horn, which has now become the number one threat for the survival of not just species but the hugely important safari tourism industry in Eastern and Southern Africa has been the stuff of much chat room and blog comments and with a railway line being constructed from the coast to the lake, workers camps will be set up near protected areas with plenty of opportunity to go out poaching or induce and pay for poaching after hours. From Southern Africa one gruesome story after the next emerges of wholesome slaughter of elephants and rhinos, the latter often found still alive after their horns have been hacked off, leaving them die in sheer agony. The arrival on the East African shores of yet more Chinese funded mega projects is very likely to bring this evil right to the doorsteps of our own national parks here in the region.

The conservation fraternity and environmental watch dogs are still coming to terms with these latest developments, not the least as the timing was well chosen as many, including the investigative media, are off on vacation, but come the first week of the new year, phone lines will run hot again in an effort to assemble and gather as much information about the MoUs as possible and to the evaluate the options, from going to court over local to regional to international lobbying to make certain, that environmental and conservation concerns are not bulldozed aside by the political masters hell bent to turn their pet projects into a legacy.

The question only is, what legacy will that be in the long term? As the saying goes in German und nach mir die Sintflut, none of them will be bothered much of what happens to their countries environment after they are gone, bringing a new meaning to the phrase of burnt earth, the type with a delayed reaction after the profit have been reaped by those with no concern for the long term impact and with the money gone, the resources gone and climate change accelerating unchecked, there may indeed be not just the proverbial burnt earth looming beyond the horizon but a real one

Do I even dare to wish my readers a Happy New Year 2012? Well, I do it anyway as there is always hope and we have prevailed in the past to change or halt seemingly cast in iron projects.

Join or like STOP THE SERENGETI HIGHWAY on Facebook to make your objections known and get the latest updates and information on this newest assault on Tanzanias hitherto still largely pristine environment. And as always, watch this space for breaking news from Eastern Africa and from the Indian Ocean Islands.

By Wolfgang H. Thome

 

[nngu007]

Ok we played UN and US GVT now the Chinese gave us money now Serengeti is in the play for the Uganda Railway...

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

Ondoa wasiwasi Mkuu, ndio kazi ya Feasibility Studies kujikitia huko huko; naamini kwamba wataala hao walioletwa na serikali zetu mbili hizo kutoka Uchina bila shaka watatushauri vema kitu cha kufanya pale Serengeti.

Katika hili ni kwamba ama tunaweza kupitisha reli hiyo chini ya ardhi bila kusumbua makazi ya asili ya wanyama wetu au walau tukawabughudhi kidogo kwa kwa kuweka reli kupita juu kwa juu kwenye msururu wa midaraja yaani flyovers mpaka kumaliza eneo la wanyamapori.

..tatizo ni hicho kipande cha Arusha -- Musoma.

..tutarudi kulekule kwenye mgogoro wa barabara ya Arusha-Serengeti-Musoma.

 

[Thesi]

The problem with Africans is leadership. Leaders who don stand for common good of their nations but short term gains for them n their corrupt political parties.
Africans are going to loose great from China partnerships. Chinese are working with african leaders to exploit n not for the good of majority. If Africans leaders were good Africans could had benefited from Chinese but opposite is true. Tanzanians n organisations concerned should shout on these things if it true that we are going to loose valuable resources like Serengeti for these kind of projects that could be deviated to other locations than Serengeti.
Chinese do not care about well being of our citizens why do we give them huge projects? For billions provided to these projects they pay their workers slavery salarie and they don care even about paying social contributions. How can African leaders ignore these exploitations and praise Chinese for cheap gains?
Chinese don care any harm they cause to our resources. Some people will say even western companies do the same but atleast the later do have principles and human rights in mind. If all Africans are killed but Chinese companies get contracts in Africa you will never see Chinese companies punished by communist government but western companies their reputation will be at stake n they will be exposed n punished.
African leaders want to ignore western because they don want restrictions that prohibit them from corruption deals. I don say that all western companies are clean but atleast there is good pay for workers n corruptions are condemned.
When African leaders embrace China mostly for short benefits n unanalized oportunity costs n diverse damade to environment Africans we need to wage war on China contrary to our corrupt leaders.

 

[Bantugbro]

Tumeshawajua maadui/wapinzani wetu wakuu kwenye hizi major infrastructure projects, the so-called conservationist fratenity are nothing but puppets of a neighboring country which seeks to maintain the un-maintanable regional economic dominance.:lol:

 

[Bantugbro]

A tunnel is one way to go, so is the alternative route suggested by the STSH group. The only question i have with tunnel is, is this pathetic government of ours capable of executing such a project. They have been trying to build the Kigamboni bridge since the 1980's. A simple friggin bridge has taken them almost 30 years to get started on.

Alpha,

Kama umeshawahi kusafiri na TAZARA sidhani kama ungetoa comments hizo hapo juu. FYI, katika Afrika nzima hakuna reli yenye tunnels nyingi na ndefu kama za TAZARA..., kama wajenzi ni wachina hakuna kitakachoharibika...

 

[livefire]

I have been analysing this debate from a distance, for some reason i still am not convinced on Kenya losing substancial market share, i owe this to its strategic position. You might get an expanded GDP due to chineese cash flows to finance the project but the greater worry is.
1) are your governments making a ghost project? The conservationist are least of my concern, any govt ignores them anyway.
2) will there be Return on Investment to finance the credit hole.
3) Market players must have been aware of this move. (having Kenya in context and its interests).
4) it has already been proposed to have a direct rail route from mombasa to malaba which will also serve the greater lakes countries.

Kenya seems to be least concerned at the moment with this development. Alot of fact finding being done before considering your project a possible competitor. Furthermore, Kenya through KRC have adamantly stuck to there plan to have a total overhaul of its rail system.
considering the budget they have tagged to this project, to me it seems Kenya is getting it right. Kenya is taking it a notch higher, they want to convert all strategic rail lines to electric rail status, am sure Uganda will be covered here. Plus, if its a total overhaul, rerouting may also be in the cards. A certain pal of mine talked of standard gauges, it will be addresed accordingly, (one of EAC requirements i guess)

 

[Geza Ulole]

I have been analysing this debate from a distance, for some reason i still am not convinced on Kenya losing substancial market share, i owe this to its strategic position. You might get an expanded GDP due to chineese cash flows to finance the project but the greater worry is.
1) are your governments making a ghost project? The conservationist are least of my concern, any govt ignores them anyway.
2) will there be Return on Investment to finance the credit hole.
3) Market players must have been aware of this move. (having Kenya in context and its interests).
4) it has already been proposed to have a direct rail route from mombasa to malaba which will also serve the greater lakes countries.

Kenya seems to be least concerned at the moment with this development. Alot of fact finding being done before considering your project a possible competitor. Furthermore, Kenya through KRC have adamantly stuck to there plan to have a total overhaul of its rail system.
considering the budget they have tagged to this project, to me it seems Kenya is getting it right. Kenya is taking it a notch higher, they want to convert all strategic rail lines to electric rail status, am sure Uganda will be covered here. Plus, if its a total overhaul, rerouting may also be in the cards. A certain pal of mine talked of standard gauges, it will be addresed accordingly, (one of EAC requirements i guess)

what budget? do u try to mean the one of US$ 200 mio. + that RVR couldn't raise on time regardless of Citadel being the main shareholder! Be realistic to urself 2012 will be a year to remember TZ can muzzle all that considering bio. of US$ that are to be injected in its economy! Just tell me when was the last time Kenya was a recipient of a project worth US$ 1 bio.? Pls don't mention of Lamu port which is still on the draw-board! No bragging here but the fact that u don't want to accept... BTW what do you mean by your country being strategic positioned (if 9 countries surround TZ compared to 5 that surround ur country)? what does the word strategic mean to you? of your neighbors which of them are having stable governments and which of them are quitting your rail network in preference of a neighbor gateway? stop sleeping brother! anyway what do you mean ghost projects? which of your projects have not been ghosts! To mention a few, Goldenberg, Anglo leasing, Tamoil EA pipeline and refinery and so many without forgetting the first privatization to Sheltam Rail Corporation that went awry! i think bitterness is haunting u cause your country should be the last to laugh at us on ghost projects! check FDIs flow to the region for facts finding on credit hole plugging! TZ has more spenders than Kenya (as people living under two dollar a day or below poverty line are many in Kenya (at 50%) than in Tanzania (at 36%) according to CIA facts)!

 

[livefire]

what budget? do u try to mean the one of US$ 200 mio. + that RVR couldn't raise on time regardless of Citadel being the main shareholder! Be realistic to urself 2012 will be a year to remember TZ can muzzle all that considering bio. of US$ that are to be injected in its economy! Just tell me when was the last time Kenya was a recipient of a project worth US$ 1 bio.? Pls don't mention of Lamu port which is still on the draw-board! No bragging here but the fact that u don't want to accept... BTW what do you mean by your country being strategic positioned (if 9 countries surround TZ compared to 5 that surround ur country)? what does the word strategic mean to you? of your neighbors which of them are having stable governments and which of them are quitting your rail network in preference of a neighbor gateway? stop sleeping brother! anyway what do you mean ghost projects? which of your projects have not been ghosts! To mention a few, Goldenberg, Anglo leasing, Tamoil EA pipeline and refinery and so many without forgetting the first privatization to Sheltam Rail Corporation that went awry! i think bitterness is haunting u cause your country should be the last to laugh at us on ghost projects! check FDIs flow to the region for facts finding on credit hole plugging! TZ has more spenders than Kenya (as people living under two dollar a day or below poverty line are many in Kenya (at 50%) than in Tanzania (at 36%) according to CIA facts)!

Lamu works has already been secured...dont dare go to that. comparing Kenyan economy to tz doesnt need a genius. If by spending you imply the middle class populace, i dont buy it. CIA has most of the time gotten it wrong esp when its Africa. We have massive frauds in Kenya but atleast we have massive developments altogether and which are productive. Everyday theres a new project, be it geothermal (do u know the costs implied here), rail systems, roads, mineral contracts, hospital services...talk of a country that knows where it wants to be and invests wisely.

At present state, only 10% of our economy is funded by foreign parties, can the same be willfully said about yours? Be a gentleman, we are only discussing viability of rail projects not economy particulars, snap out of it.

The only country we have been serving by rail is uganda, the rest pick it from there. If ever uganda reverts to utilising the rail system en masses, then the proposed Mombasa Malaba route will be just fine and almost adequate to render your rail system irrelevant.

Remember its all about the Ugandan people (clients) and not the governments, the people will obviously choose the cheapest mode of transport available to them factoring distance# i insist, kenya is corrupt so is tanzania but when national interests are on the line funding can never be an issue.

Just to clarify, this major scandals you are talking about were extensively perpetuated under Mois regime, presently controls are so tight you wont last long. Heard of computerising all govt transanctions? The govt portal was proposed for that specific purpose. (to track flow of finance)

 

[Lonestriker]

Lamu works has already been secured...dont dare go to that. comparing Kenyan economy to tz doesnt need a genius. If by spending you imply the middle class populace, i dont buy it. CIA has most of the time gotten it wrong esp when its Africa. We have massive frauds in Kenya but atleast we have massive developments altogether and which are productive. Everyday theres a new project, be it geothermal (do u know the costs implied here), rail systems, roads, mineral contracts, hospital services...talk of a country that knows where it wants to be and invests wisely.

At present state, only 10% of our economy is funded by foreign parties, can the same be willfully said about yours? Be a gentleman, we are only discussing viability of rail projects not economy particulars, snap out of it.

The only country we have been serving by rail is uganda, the rest pick it from there. If ever uganda reverts to utilising the rail system en masses, then the proposed Mombasa Malaba route will be just fine and almost adequate to render your rail system irrelevant.

Remember its all about the Ugandan people (clients) and not the governments, the people will obviously choose the cheapest mode of transport available to them factoring distance# i insist, kenya is corrupt so is tanzania but when national interests are on the line funding can never be an issue.

Just to clarify, this major scandals you are talking about were extensively perpetuated under Mois regime, presently controls are so tight you wont last long. Heard of computerising all govt transanctions? The govt portal was proposed for that specific purpose. (to track flow of finance)

It is so easy to heap the blame on Moi but we all know that the most corrupt individuals are stil in the cabinet.We know that Kibaki knew and possibly participated in the Anglo-Leasing according to Michela Wrong's 'It's our turn to eat'.Cleary the funding-eating snake is still alive in Kenya.
Perhaps Kenya's budget is directly funded by donors by 10%,but what I know is that Kenya is run by Donor's NGOs funds.Everywhere you go in Kenya you meet a mzungu funded NGO and a church

 

[Jagermaster]

Huyo ndiye Jakaya Mrisho Kiwkete, nyinyi semeni yeye anafanya kweli.

Acha kudanyanya watu, hiyo bandari na reli ni Uganda initiative, wanahitaji kwa udi na uvumba baada ya kuona wajaluo wanaweza chukua Kenya uchaguzi ujao. Kumbuka Mseveni na Wajaluo hawaivi kabisa hasa baada ya wajaluo kumtuhumu Mseven kuwa anatoa tafu kwa wakikuyu wakati wa uchaguzi na pia aliwatukana wajaluo wakati wa mgogoro wa kisiwa cha migingo. Hakuna ubishi hiyo reli ni waganda wanaitaka kwa sasa kuliko wakati wowote ule. Acha kutoa sifa kwa mkuu wa nchi ambaye hajui hata kwa nini Tz ni masikini.

 

[Jagermaster]

The problem with Africans is leadership. Leaders who don stand for common good of their nations but short term gains for them n their corrupt political parties.
Africans are going to loose great from China partnerships. Chinese are working with african leaders to exploit n not for the good of majority. If Africans leaders were good Africans could had benefited from Chinese but opposite is true. Tanzanians n organisations concerned should shout on these things if it true that we are going to loose valuable resources like Serengeti for these kind of projects that could be deviated to other locations than Serengeti.
Chinese do not care about well being of our citizens why do we give them huge projects? For billions provided to these projects they pay their workers slavery salarie and they don care even about paying social contributions. How can African leaders ignore these exploitations and praise Chinese for cheap gains?
Chinese don care any harm they cause to our resources. Some people will say even western companies do the same but atleast the later do have principles and human rights in mind. If all Africans are killed but Chinese companies get contracts in Africa you will never see Chinese companies punished by communist government but western companies their reputation will be at stake n they will be exposed n punished.
African leaders want to ignore western because they don want restrictions that prohibit them from corruption deals. I don say that all western companies are clean but atleast there is good pay for workers n corruptions are condemned.
When African leaders embrace China mostly for short benefits n unanalized oportunity costs n diverse damade to environment Africans we need to wage war on China contrary to our corrupt leaders.

Crap crap...Deaf-muted by Western hegemony

 

[livefire]

It is so easy to heap the blame on Moi but we all know that the most corrupt individuals are stil in the cabinet.We know that Kibaki knew and possibly participated in the Anglo-Leasing according to Michela Wrong's 'It's our turn to eat'.Cleary the funding-eating snake is still alive in Kenya.
Perhaps Kenya's budget is directly funded by donors by 10%,but what I know is that Kenya is run by Donor's NGOs funds.Everywhere you go in Kenya you meet a mzungu funded NGO and a church

now is not the time to discuss NGOs, get a dictionary it will be of help. Anyway most of the projects under NGO's scope are of health services in nature and to some extent social amenity construction eg schools. Mark you these NGO's are in remote places. The only collosal amount NGOs run are under HIV programmes. These largely sums up the ten percent fund, the rest going to environmental conservation agencies. Steer away from propaganda.
The so called 'leaders' are tamed, corruption is there but it has steadily been put to check.

 

[Askari Kanzu]

Lamu works has already been secured...dont dare go to that. comparing Kenyan economy to tz doesnt need a genius. If by spending you imply the middle class populace, i dont buy it. CIA has most of the time gotten it wrong esp when its Africa. We have massive frauds in Kenya but atleast we have massive developments altogether and which are productive. Everyday theres a new project, be it geothermal (do u know the costs implied here), rail systems, roads, mineral contracts, hospital services...talk of a country that knows where it wants to be and invests wisely...

Stop living in a grandiose illusion of a megalomaniac. Tanzania and Kenya are just tweedledum and tweedledee among the wretched of the earth. Honestly, as a Tanzanian I am neither convinced nor impressed by Kenya, another poor Third World country. Go sell your crap to those hoi polloi of Isiolo who keep on fighting over grazing land in what you call "a country that knows where it wants to be and invests wisely"!

 

[Bukyanagandi]

23rd December 11
Tanzania and Uganda sign rail pact with Chinese firm


Sylivester Domasa
Tanzania and Uganda yesterday signed an agreement with a Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the construction of Tanga-Arusha and Musoma-Uganda railway for speeding up linkages between the East African economies.
Under the USD 450 million project, the Chinese's Civil Engineering Construction Corporation has been commissioned to conduct a feasibility study and implementation of the project, said Transport Minister, Omar Nundu.
The two countries also signed the USD3billion Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the railway line and the three ports.

THE GUARDIAN

Naona Jakaya kafanya kweli tena kama kawaida yake, huu ni mradi mzuri sana wa kuongezea kipato nchi yetu. Kuna kitu ambacho huwa kinanishangaza kidogo-hivi kuna mantiki gani ya kujenga reli mpaka Musoma kutoka Tanga alafu mabehewa yapakiwe tena kwenye meli Mpaka Uganda? Hivi turn around logistics za rollingstock zinakuwaje! Mimi nashangaa ni kwanini wachina wasiombwe kujenga reli ya Kutoka Tanga kwenda Musoma - Mwanza - Bukoba alafu ndiyo inakwenda ku-link na reli ya Uganda, mimi naona ujenzi huu hautakuwa wa gharama sana kwa kuwa reli inapitia sehemu ambazo hazina milima.

Tatizo na gharama za usafirishaji wa mizigo/abiria kwa wakazi wa kanda ya ziwa hasa Bukoba huko juu sana, kuna mantiki gani ya kujenga reli ya kwenda Rwanda na Burundi mkasahau Bukoba, wakati mwingine huwa nafikili labda kuna agenda ya SIRI kuhusu Mkoa huu nini! Sisemi haya kwa kukurupuka kuna wakati fulani watu walijipanga kuanzisha Chuo Kikuu Bukoba miaka ya nyuma nadhani walipata hata wafadhili, walimu na wanafunzi; walipo taka kukisajili walipata vikwazo chungu mzima actually nilimsikia Waziri Bugeni akibeza kwa kejeli akisema eti "Wanataka kuhanzisha University of BUKOBA" alirudia neno hilo mara mbili, nilishikwa na butwaa nikajiuliza kwani tataizo ni nini! Wakati huo huo anakubali kianzishwe Chou kikuu cha Udaktari cha Wahindi pale karibu Interchick chuo chenyewe wakati huo sijuhi kama kilikuwa na majengo zaidi ya manne au walimu wa kutosha.

Hayo yalitokea zama zile kabla ya Jakaya, mimi nina hakika Jakaya ni msikivu na muhungwana akishauliwa vizuri anaweza kuona mantiki ya kupitisha reli Bukoba na kuiganisha na ya Uganda na Wachina wanamuheshimu sana Jakaya hawawezi kumkatalia, bahati mbaya watajitokeza watu wa kupinga hilo na kutoa visingizio chungu mzima hili hilo lisifanyike. Mimi namshauri Jakaya kama raia wa kawaida kwamba kuliko kuangaika na ununuzi wa meli zilizotumika afadhali awaombe wachina watujengee reli ya kupitia Bukoba kwenda Uganda.

 

[livefire]

Stop living in a grandiose illusion of a megalomaniac. Tanzania and Kenya are just tweedledum and tweedledee among the wretched of the earth. Honestly, as a Tanzanian I am neither convinced nor impressed by Kenya, another poor Third World country. Go sell your crap to those hoi polloi of Isiolo who keep on fighting over grazing land in what you call "a country that knows where it wants to be and invests wisely"!

i thot all communications with u were forthwith terminated till u grow a brain cell or two. I sense deficiency is an issue still. infact am not contibuting on any issue you raise . What was the word again, 'grandiose blah blah'. i dont need your attention, just stay clear. Whoever told u hard vocabulary deployment makes u any relevant did u a great injustice. Newsflash, this aint England. I respond to Geza, Bantugbro only and any jf member but you, you can keep wallowing in ua grandiose...wat was it again? I lost it somewhere along the way. #not relevant.