silver25
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 29, 2010
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Jully 2010
DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS
Hospital to benefit from Sh30m drug
IMA World Health has donated drugs worth Sh30 million to the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) for treatment of burkits' lymphoma (BL), a common childhood cancer that predominantly affects children in areas that have a high prevalence of malaria.
IMA World Heath country representative Jim Cox said late last week, during the handing over ceremony, that the organization decided to donate drugs in order to improve the quality of care to BL patients in the country.
According to Mr Cox, majority of children suffered from BL and as a result needed immediate help. "This will be a catalyst for developing more standardised treatment guidelines for other cancers in the country to ensure quality care," he said.
IMA also donated chemotherapeutic drugs to selected sites in their bid to ensure children had access to treatment. Dr Diwan Msemo from ORCI said the donation had come at the right time as most of the children at Ocean Road hospital were suffering from BL.
Source: Saturday, 03 July 2010
Sh103bn set aside for rural power projects
The government will spend Sh103 billion on the implementation of rural electrification projects in 16 regions of Tanzania Mainland, Parliament was told.
The minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr William Ngeleja, said the regions to benefit from the funding would include Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga, Mwanza, Mara, Coast and Morogoro. Others are Dodoma, Singida, Mbeya, Rukwa, Tabora, Kigoma, Kagera and Shinyanga. When presenting the government's report on new power projects to be implemented through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other development partners.
Source: Saturday, 03 July 2010
Norway's Sh2bn to save forest
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam has signed a contract with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) worth nearly $1.3 million (around Sh1.7 billion) to help Tanzania prepare for a new international climate change protocol involving forests.
A statement issued by the embassy last week pointed out that the four-year project would target efforts to reduce the loss of 52,000 hectares of forest in the Southern Highlands areas in Rungwe and Sumbawanga districts in Mbeya and Rukwa regions respectively.
Deforestation and forest degradation is the cause of around 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.
Over the next four years, the project will plant half a million indigenous trees, establish a locally managed Mt Rungwe honey enterprise and undertake an extensive environmental education programme, the statement noted. It also warns that wood extraction and fire were major threats to the forests, promising that the project would develop village woodlots and a fire rapid response programme. "This project aims to bring economic incentives to at least 100,000 people in the area,"
Source: The Citizen Monday, 05 July 2010
Korean agency trains police officers on cyber crime
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has organised special training for members of the Police Force on the prevention and combating of cyber crime.
KOICA country representative Holywater OH said recently that the course aimed to build capacity of local police and to enable them to share the Korean experience and knowledge in curbing web-based crimes.
He said knowledge and experience on various forms of cyber crime was crucial in this era of the increasing foreign investment and technology development. The training was part of implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation between KOICA and the Police Force signed on May 18, this year.
The training, he explained, aimed to increase understanding about KOICA and the World Friends Korea volunteers' program among security contact officers of the areas where KOICA volunteers serve.
Source: The Guardian Monday 19th July,2010
Police to learn about cyber crime
THE South Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) has offered to train some members of the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) on cyber crimes. A statement issued in Dar es Salaam On Wednesday by KOICA Tanzanian Office Resident Representative, Mr Holywater, said that seven police officers will be invited to attend an International Workshop on Cyber Crimes to be held in South Korea in September, this year.
He said that the training would be a good opportunity for the force to build its capacity and share Korea's experience and knowledge in preventing and combating cyber crime. Such training, he said, was crucial in this era of the increasing foreign investment and technology development. Mr Holywater further said that KOICA plans to dispatch a so-called Tae Kwondo master (Korean Martial Arts) to the Dar es Salaam Police College.
"It is expected that the workshop will play an important role in strengthening the mutual co-operation and good relations between KOICA and TPF," the statement quoted the Resident Representative as saying. The statement further states that KOICA and TPF officials held a joint workshop recently, as part of implementation of Memorandum of Understanding of co-operation between the two parties signed on May 18, this year.
Source: Daily News,Thursday July 22, 2010
EU, Mbarali district plan 1.5bn/- international rice market
Mbarali District Council and the European Union (EU) expect to construct an international market for cereals near Igurusi village in Mbeya region at a cost of more than 1.5bn/-.According to Mbarali district executive director George Kagomba, the planned market, whose design would resemble Kibaigwa's maize market in Dodoma region, would be mainly for selling rice.
The market complex, to be operated by farmers' networking group known as Mviwata, will be designed to have enough storage facilities as well as processing and selling points.
He said that for a long time, rice farmers in the region have been experiencing the problem of lack of reliable market complex for selling their rice to local and international customers.
Meanwhile, Kagomba hinted that a similar international market would be put up in Rukwa region to enable farmers in the southern highlands meet local and international buyers.
Mbarali district agriculture and livestock development officer Dickson Maruchu said that some small-scale industries would be constructed at the planned international market
Source:The Guardian ,Wednesday,28th July,2010
NMB supports Nane Nane preparations
NATIONAL Microfinance Bank (NMB) has donated 35m/- in support to the Tanzania Agricultural Society (TAS) which is organising the annual Farmers' Day (Nane Nane) celebrations and exhibitions at national level in Dodoma.
The TAS Chairman, Mr Engelbert Moyo, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that this year's exhibitions would give more emphasis to the government's Kilimo Kwanza initiative, to supports agriculture development and provides loans to farmers, warehouses and traders
The celebrations would provide a platform for policy makers and other stakeholders in the Kilimo Kwanza to assess the implementation of main pillars of the initiative.
Nane Nane forms a unique platform to showcase the banks' support to the agriculture development and that NMB is participating in Arusha, Mtwara,Tabora, Mbeya, Morogoro and Dodoma
Source
aily News Thursday,29 July,2010
SOCIAL ISSUES
Rukwa to repair 1,500kms roads
THE government is to rehabilitate trunk and regional roads covering 1,505 kilometres and repair 109 bridges at the cost of over 4.8bn/- in Rukwa Region during the 2020/11 financial year. TanRoads Rukwa Regional Manager Engineer Joseph Nyamhanga said on Wednesday that during the next fiscal year the government plans to repair 425 km and 27 bridges on trunk roads.
The regional roads would span 1,080 km with 82 bridges at the cost of 3.2bn/-. The trunk and regional roads would be repaired by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development through the Tanzania Roads Agency (TanRoads).
However, the major rehabilitation of trunk and regional roads under performance-based management of roads (PMMR) at the cost of over 8.4bn/- is in line with government efforts to ensure that those roads are passable throughout the year. Also a section of Muze- Kilyamatundu (144 km) that was impassable for many decades has now been opened up and passable throughout following rehabilitation work which was done with funds from the Danish government through DANIDA worth over 683.9m/-.
Source: Daily News Thursday 1st July 2010
Surgeons challenged on fistula prevention
Women dignity programme oficer Subila Mwambingu ccaled on surgeons tofind ways to prevent ratyher than repair fistula.Mwambingu threw the challenge at two day National Fistula Programme(NFP) shareholders meeting in dar-es salaam ,which was organised by Women Dignity,Africa Medical and Research Foundation(Amref)with support from the ministry of Health and social Welfare.
The meeting aimed at combating and preventing fistula among tanzanian women and girls who contract the disease after derivery then programme seeks to provide free fistula repair service.Tanzania has no specific data on the axact number of patients because we have not conducted any research ,but we have received new cases b etween 2500 and 3000, this year ‘Mwambingu said.
Dr.Lumumba Mwita said so far they had trained 45 doctors and 75 nurses to address the shortage of surgeons involved in fistula repair services, and confirmed that Amref gave priority to mothers ,newborns and children in its programme that aimed at building community capacity for the improvement of maternal and child health in Tanzania,Kenya and south Sudan
Source:the Guardian, Thursday,01-July,2010
Beware of AIDS, workers told
CIVIL servants have been urged to take appropriate measures in avoiding contracting new HIV infections. When addressing employees of the Local Government Training Institute (LGTI), the Principal, Mr Said Nassoro, said the disease has already caused a huge loss to the Government.
He said that a large number of workers have already lost their lives and others are sick. "In a research we conducted in 2005 it was revealed that 21,000 Government workers (which is seven per cent of 354,890 civil servants, were living with HIV/AIDS", he said.
Mr Nassor said a recent research shows that the number of Government workers who are living with HIV has dropped to five per cent due to awareness seminars and training.
He said the Government, through the sponsorship of GTZ, has conducted capacity building and training to 20 workers from LGTI of Dar es Salaam, Tabora, Dodoma and Mtwara who will enlighten other workers and students on HIV and AIDS.
"Make sure you have the mobile counselling and volunteering services in colleges. Our goal is to see to it that the new HIV infection rate drops even farther," he said.
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Turiani Hospital rewards midwives
Turiani Mission Hospital (Bwagala) in Turiani has introduced a system of giving allowances of 5,000/- to traditional midwives who take pregnant women promptly to hospital for child bearing instead of keeping them until their condition get critical.
Speaking with 'Daily News', some of the nurses said the procedure is aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths in Turiani and neighbouring areas. The upshot is to meet some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
They said the allowances are designed to encourage the traditional midwives to take pregnant women to hospital as early as possible instead of staying with them for a long time. They also said that under support from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), they have managed to train midwives on the effect of staying for too long with pregnant women who are in labour pain.
Ms Amina Haji and Cesilia Andrea are midwives in Diongoya Ward in Turiani, They said after the training they have now understood the danger of keeping pregnant women at home for too long because some women have to be operated on during child bearing. Assistant Hospital Medical in charge, Dr Mashaka Shemkande told 'Daily News' an the average of 30 to 40 pregnant women among 1,200 miscarry while six to 10 die during delivery.
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Road crash claims 15 lives, injures scores in Kondoa
Fifteen people died on the spot, while 48 others sustained injuries, in a road accident in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region yesterday.The accident that occurred around 7am yesterday involved a lorry, which skidded off the road and overturned at Mnenia village, on the Kondoa-Arusha road, about 30 kilometers from Kondoa town.
According to the Dodoma regional medical officer, Dr Godfrey Mtey, a five-man medical team has left for Kondoa to attend to those injured during the accident. Reports said that 40 out of those injured were in critical condition.
"By yesterday, about 40 people, some of them with multiple fractures, were still admitted at Kondoa district hospital," said Dr Mtey, adding that four women were among them.
The Dodoma regional police commander, Zelothe Stephen, confirmed the news, saying he would give a detailed report after receiving it from the district hospital.
"I'm following closely the details of the accident, and I'll release them later. I'm still engaged with an entourage for various top national leaders who are currently in Dodoma,"
Source:The citizen,Saturday 10,July, 2010
Two more Segera accident victims die
TWO more victims of the Segera road accident in Tanga Region in which a minibus caught fire following a head-on collision with a lorry have died bringing the number of dead passengers to twelve.
Reports from Muheza District Designated Hospital said the dead are two out of the four injured individuals who were admitted to the hospital after they were severely injured in the Sunday night's accident. Ten people died on the spot and eight others were severely injured after the minibus they were travelling in caught fire following a head-on collision with a lorry at Segera in Korogwe District.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr Jaffar Mohamed, said on Monday that police were yet to determine the cause of the accident. He added that eyewitnesses told police that the accident was caused by an attempt by the lorry driver to overtake a motorcycle.
Two of them passed away in the afternoon yesterday. Two of the dead were drivers and the rest were passengers. The accident involved the minibus with Registration Number T 569 ANJ property of Sayona Trans Company.
The bus has been travelling between Tanga and Mkata in Handeni District. It collided head on with an oil tanker (T 514 ART) bound for Tanga from Kilimnjaro Region. The accident, which took place at the weekend, left the minibus in flames. The minibus had carried mainly second-hand clothes traders who were coming from an open market.
Sourceaily News Tuesday,27th July,2010
Healthcare providers urged to support battered women
Tanzania Media Women's Association (Tamwa) has called on healthcare providers in the country to support pregnant women suffering from assault and battering from their partners by providing them with counselling and legal services.
According to a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday by Tamwa, treatment, counselling and legal support could be offered by health workers, particularly to women survivors of battering.
Doctor in charge at Sinza dispensary Samuel Lema said in an interview recently that unless an expectant mother "is critically questioned," many attending clinics with injuries opt to hide the truth to protect their partners from possible prosecution.
"Victims conceal such matters until when fetal heartbeat is missing and emergency abortions due to severe bleeding have to be performed. That's when a woman reveals she has been beaten," said Dr Lema.
Other healthcare providers interviewed in some Dar es Salaam hospitals also mentioned shortages of staff as a contributing factor to failure by medical personnel to support battered pregnant women
Source:The Guardian Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Dar schools seriously short of desks
Primary schools in Dar es Salaam face serious shortage of desks, with Ilala municipality needing 18,000 to seat schoolchildren now forced to squat in classrooms.
One such school is Mtakuja Primary School in Ilala Municipality where more than 600 pupils were seen taking lessons while seated on the floor, a posture which negatively impacts their performance.
The school has attracted the sympathy of donors and yesterday the Dar es Salaam North Rotary Club donated 50 desks worth four million shillings and pledged to look for funds to rehabilitate six classrooms.
Speaking to journalists in the city after receiving the donation, the school headmistress Elizabeth Chiwambala attributed the shortage of desks to lack of commitment from parents to participate in school projects.
"Most of the pupils here are either orphans or have one parent. Most live below the poverty line and as a result, cannot contribute towards school development. We depend on donations from well wishers such as the Rotary clubs. I appeal for others to emulate their kindness for the sake of the children," said Chiwambala.
The school situated at Vingunguti area, hardly 10 kilometres from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, enrolled 3,650 pupils beyond its capacity with only 77 teachers of whom 66 are female and the rest men
Nasra Issa, a standard seven pupil did not mince her words on the situation at the school:
"Here the concentration of the pupils in class is low because we are crowded, lack basic needs such as text books and we write with the support of our knees. As a result, our performance in the final exams is dismal," she said.
She said last year, candidates were transferred to other schools to sit for their national exams, but none of the 600 candidates made it to a government secondary school.
Source: The Guardian Thursday, July29th, 2010
Water body in Bukoba set to spend Sh7bn
The Bukoba Water and Sewage Authority (Buwasa) is, by the end of this year, to start spending Sh7 billion in improving water infrastructure in the municipality.
According to Buwasa public relations officer Ms Julieth Shangali, the project to refurbish the water infrastructure which was constructed many years ago has been financed by French Development Aid (AFD).
Ms Shangali told The Citizen that following the poor state of the water infrastructure, Buwasa loses 50 percent of water it produces due to leaking pipes.
She said the project would include a feasibility study, project designing, announcement of tender in order to find the suitable engineer for the work as well as procurement of equipments that shall be needed.
She told The Citizen that the project would also involve the construction of a new water treatment site, filter and laying of new pipes from Bunena to Kashura wards.
Source: The Citizen Thursday, July 29, 2010.
Three Songea road accident victims referred to Lugalo
Three out of fifteen people who were injured in a road accident which occurred last week in Chabruma area in the outskirts of Songea town,in Ruvuma region,have been transferred to Dar es salaam for further treatment.The three are National Service servicemen with Mlale camp in songea district,who were on training
Medical Officer Mathayo Chanangula said that they had been transferred to Dar es salaam for further treatment after it discovered that they had sustained severe injuries on their heads
The accident occurred on July 24,this year,while these three from Mlale camp were using their Pick-up they were treavellingin was rammed by a vehicle yet to be identified in chabruma area.
Source: The Guaardian Wednesday,July28,2010
16 perish in Bukombe bus crash
Sixteen people died yesterday and 41 others were seriously injured after a passenger bus collided with a lorry at Kanegele village in Bukombe District, Shinyanga Region.
Kahama District Commissioner, Bahati Matala confirmed the accident at a news conference.
According to the DC, the accident occurred after the bus, Super Najmunisa with registration number T294 ACZ collided with a lorry with registration number T192 AGY.
The bus was heading to Dar es Salaam from Bukoba, while the lorry was coming from Kahama district, Shinyanga Region.
"The main cause of the accident was speeding on the part of both drivers," Matala said, disclosing, however, that information he had received on the scene indicated that the lorry driver had moved to other side of the road, thus colliding with the bus.
Source. The Guardian 31st July 20
ECONOMICI ISSUES
Enter the EA common market
WHILE the East African Community (EAC) regional common market is launched t, officials at the secretariat admit that there are still a number of issues that need to be ironed out before the protocol could function properly. According to EAC Secretary General Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, is not going to be coloured with any visible fanfare. It is just the first step towards a more tangible thing. Let's just treat July 1st as the day of a new hope,"
Tanzania, for instance, is still holding back to allow freedom of labour movement and capital market until 2015. Other EAC member states like Kenya, have opened labour doors to some selected fields of employments such as high-tech professions and management in which it is already well catered for internally without need to import more.
The speaker for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr Abdirahin Abdi, said there were still some laws that need to be amended in the EAC partner states to make the common market fully operational.
The Deputy Secretary General in-charge of planning and infrastructure, Dr Aloyce Mutabingwa, said in order for trade in the region to operate smoothly, several non-tariff barriers needed to be addressed as well as total overhaul of regional infrastructure set-up such as the railway and road networks.
Source;DailyNews Thursday,1-July 2010
Bringing vibes of Kilimo Kwanza to the trade fair
ON June 28, the 34th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) kicked off at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere grounds, here on the outskirts of the city. It is expected to last until July 8.
Although it is a slow start as usual, analyst predicts it to come to its full swing as days move on. Once one approaches the grounds from the city centre along Kilwa Road, people from all walks of life are seen to converge here though one can notice a big number of students, who are on their mid year vacation at the moment.
Representatives of various services offered by telephone companies could be seen on the junctions of the road, outside and inside the grounds. They carry burners and are adorned in their colourful outfits. But what interested me most is the big billboard on the main entrance gate that carry a slogan ‘TUDUMISHE AZMA YA KILIMO KWANZA' a nation-wide slogan that emphasizes the contribution of the agricultural sector in the country.
I was tempted to ask the authorities concerned what made them choose it; Ramadhani Khalfan is the Director General of Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE). He says this theme is a crosscutting one, meaning that it shows the contribution of this sector (agriculture) to the development of trade and industry sector.
Source: Daily News Friday 2nd July 2010
Plan International spends 432m/- on health facilities
Plan international has spend a total of 432m/- on the construction of four maternity and infant wards at Mlandizi Health center .Speaking at the handover ceremony last week ,Plan InternationTanzania acting managing director Gerald Magashi said the construction of the wards was done in two phases .
During the first phase,Maternity and child wards were constructed ,while surgery and dental units were constructed in the second phase .These project is among the social projects implemented by Plan International.We have many projects in Education and health sectors in various parts of Tanzania "Magashi said.He noted that the organization would continue engaging in social seervices because they believed true development coould brought about by smart partnership of government non government organizations and society in general.For her part Coast regional commissioner Amina Said thanked Plan International for the help.
She said the health center would assist many people since they walk at least 31km to seek treatment at Tumbi hospital.Many fatal road accidents occur in this region because of careless drivers but we hope that this health center wil save the lives of many people . She said it was time for road users to take care to reduce unnecessary road accidents
Source:The Guardian Monday,5.7.2010
Tasaf projects implemented poorly
TANZANIA Social Action Fund (TASAF) experts have discovered that out of 3,000 community projects that have been verified recently, more than 2,000 were implemented below standard.
The TASAF Acting Director General, Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga, told reporters in Dar es Salaam that engineering inspections discovered further that each of the projects verified had contained engineering problems that need to be rectified.
"We are now passing on the experts' report and thereafter we will be in a position to give detailed information on the problem discovered in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar," he said.
Mr Mwamanga was briefing reporters on the outcome of the International Forum on Social Protection held last month in Arusha that majored on the learning in effective design and implementation of public works programmes.
The Forum according to him, put Tanzania on the World map in terms of how it approaches and implements the Social protection agenda particularly in Public Works Programmes (PWP).
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Govt allocates 1.1bn/- for rural water projects
The government has set aside 1.1bn/- for implementation of three water projects at Euga, Minepa and Itete in Ulanga District, Morogoro Region. Upon completion, the ambitious projects are anticipated to end water shortages facing thousands of villagers in the areas for a longtime.
Reading out district council's report for the past five years, Morogoro district council executive director Alfred Luanda said that implementation of the projects were in different stages.
He said that although implementation of Euga water project was a little bit advanced compared to others, there were technical problems linked to a water source and experts were researching on that. He explained that 400m/- had been set aside for Euga project, 400m/- for Minepa and 300m/- for Itete.
Luanda said that other achievements by the council over the last five years include the opening of the 7.4-kilometre Kwiro-Sali road and upgrading of Makanga-Msogezi road.
Source: The Guardian Monday 19th July, 2010
Entrepreneurs urged to forge business linkages
FORGING business linkages between Trans-National Corporations (TNCs) operating in Tanzania and local suppliers has been singled out as a solution to ensure that the country's SMEs produce goods and services that meet the standards of today's industry and markets.
In this regard, Mr Laston Msongole, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said that a successful indigenous entrepreneur is the one who effectively utilizes the presence of foreign investors in Tanzania, to build up business networks and supply chain linkages.
Mr Msongole said this when talking at a Business Linkages Policy Forum held on Thursday in Dar es Salaam. The Forum was organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC). The Forum aimed at opening a direct window to discuss policy issues which impact on the conduct of business climate in the country, hence making the Business Linkages Programme a success.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary explained that given the context of global competitiveness, developing the country's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is an inevitable reality of life in the 21st century. Business Linkages Programme is an effort that TIC has undertaken to build entrepreneurship development in the country. It is being implemented in partnership with the UNCTAD.
Sourseaily News Friday 2nd July 2010
World Bank rescues community projects
The World Bank has signed an agreement extending $35m (over 45bn/-) to Tanzania to rescue stalled community projects executed by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) in the country. The financial boost, extended through the ‘Crisis Response Window', follows the country's effective implementation of community projects, TASAF Acting Executive Director, Ladislaus Mwamanga said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Mwamanga said most of the incomplete community projects in TASAF II were a result of, among other factors, escalating costs of building materials due to global economic downturn and power rationing that hit the nation over the last two years.
He said the WB had carried engineering verification and was satisfied that at least every LGAs had incomplete community projects according to the requirement of a particular sector.
"For example, the education sector defines a classroom to be complete when it has been fitted with ceiling board plus desks. But whereas TASAF intervention in a community was to put a classroom by erect a building with all fittings without desks, the WB regards that as incomplete project" he said.
He named other factors as minimal contribution from the communities in terms of labour and cash due to unforeseen crisis at the time of submitting proposals. For example, he said, if a community experience food shortages, that particular community would spend time fending for families rather than participating in communal activities.
Source: The Guardian Monday 5th July 2010
Morogoro SIDO-assisted firm manufactures cassava feed machines
Cassava producers and livestock keepers have a reasons to smile after a local company came up with a cassava granting machine capable of producing high quality starch for use in textile industries and production of animasl feeds.
Engeener Frank Sospeter said that they embarked on the project after many livestock keeper and farmers showed that there was a high demand of machine to rise the quality of cassava flour, starch, juice, fine chips and animal feeds.
He said the petrol powered machine's production capacity is 600-800kg per hour, with a fuel consuption of 1.0-1.5 litres per hour.With this impact they had secured markets in Malawi, Kenya,DRC Congo Burundi as wel as other neighbouring countries.
Source: The Guardian Friday 9th July 2010
NMB, partners launch new loan scheme
THE National Microfinance Bank in collaboration with Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), Business Development Gateway (BDG) and Enablis Entrepreneurs in Tanzania have announced a partnership in providing loans to entrepreneurs.
The entrepreneurs will be able to access loans branded as NMB Juhudi loans from NMB to facilitate their business. This was announced by NMB Chief Commercial Officer Kees Verbeek at the bank's pavilion at the just ended 34th DITF at Mwalimu Nyerere Trade Fair Grounds along Kilwa Road in the city.
The facility involves small loans to micro and small entrepreneurs with the purpose to expand small and sustainable businesses. The beneficiaries of the scheme can enjoy lower interest rate with a discount of three per cent from the normal interest rate charged by the bank.
Whereas the bank will provide loans from 5m/- to a maximum of 500m/-, the partner organizations will support entrepreneurs in other areas of development. They shall help entrepreneurs with business skills development, business plan writing, business management skills, financial management, business registration and after care services.
Source: Daily News, Friday 9th July 2010
Credit reference bureau coming soon, says BoT
THE Bank of Tanzania (BoT) is finalising procedures for the establishment of Credit Reference Bureau, a facility that will enable lenders access borrowers information. The facility would enable lenders including bankers, financial institutions, operators of hire purchase ventures and other traders determine creditworthiness of their potential customers.
The BoT Governor, Prof. Benno Ndulu, said the facility would serve as the data base for the country's debtors. Prof. Ndulu made the remarks at the BoT pavilion at the just ended 34th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF). The governor said the bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs have already drafted the regulations for Credit Reference System.
"We are now finalising the procedures of procuring two companies for the establishment of a credit reference databank at BoT under the Financial Sector Support project," he said. Once in place, he said, BoT would support commercial banks to establish whether debtors are creditworthy or not, the move that seeks to curb loan defaulters.
Source: Daily News, Friday 9th July 2010
World Bank: Govt slow on instituting accountability
The World Bank is pushing the government to adopt focused and result-oriented measures for keyingredients in the country's fight against corruption. He said lack of affirmative measures to enhance accountability and transparency fuel corruption in public sector, derailing national endeavours to battle against the vice.
"Numerous shortcomings exist in the management of public funds and expenditures alot of money is directed to unnecessary expenditure such as holding seminars and workshops, purchasing posh cars," he said, adding: "The government must institute accountability, transparency and implementation of projects focusing on these areas."
He cited the government delay in accounting for funds disbursed under the World Bank-funded project on accountability and transparency. The project which commenced in 2006 is implemented by the Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, Ethics Secretariat, and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Source: the guardian tuesday 6.July.2010
Agriculture gets big boost from animal power project
Twenty-eight projects implemented under the participatory development project (PADEP) framework in 32 villages in Handeni District, using animal power in farming, have moved a step further in the modernisation of agriculture.
"Our aim is to expand the use of animal power to rid the farmers of the hand hoe," he said, adding that the agricultural revolution would succeed if the farmers are helped to do away with the hand hoe.The district received a total of Sh1.7 billion for implementation of 145 projects under PADEP during three years from the 2005/06 financial year.
Community projects received the largest share of the funds totaling Sh1.16 billion for the implementation of 33 community projects, against Sh349.4 million directed to group projects.
A total of Sh212.5 million was spent on capacity building to empower communities and groups. Apart from the use of animal power, there were 32 poultry keeping projects in 32 villages, followed by 28 goat keeping projects implemented in 28 villages. Other projects were maize farming, 10 oil crop extraction projects, dairy and pig farming, and cassava production.
Source:The Citizen,Monday 12-July,2010.
Sh18.4bn set to repair, build armymen houses
The ministry of Defense and National Service has set aside Sh18.4billion during the 2010/11 financial year for the construction of new houses and rehabilitation of old ones in Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF) barracks. The minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, told the National Assembly yesterday that his ministry has also set Sh12.6billion for the National Service during the current financial year.
Dr Mwinyi was replying to Ms Aziza Sleyum (Special seats-CCM) who had wanted to know what efforts was the government taking to help TPDF soldiers who are living in indecent houses in Tabora Region. The minister admitted that there were serious problems of poor housing for army men in the barracks throughout the country.
He said that his ministry was trying to resolve the problem by making sure that a handsome budget is allocated for the construction soldiers' houses. Dr Mwinyi said each year his ministry has been allocating budget for the construction and rehabilitation of houses for the army men, adding that Sh5billion was set in the 2008/09, and Sh33.5billion in 2009/10.
Source: The Citizen, Tuesday, 13th July 2010
Economic empowerment moves to higher stage
THE government is broadening economic growth and poverty reduction strategies in the country under the second phase of MKUKUTA, the National Assembly was told on Tuesday.
The Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Mr Mustafa Mkulo, said preparation of implementation guidelines of the second phase of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Alleviation (MKUKUTA II) was going on.
Moving his ministry's budget estimates for 2010/2011 financial year, the minister said the government would continue to supervise activities of the economic empowerment policy by focusing on areas set to boost growth of the economy.
He said the Economic Empowerment Act, 2004 is to be reviewed to give the investment board powers to plan, co-ordinate and follow up implementation of empowerment programmes.
He told the House that efforts were being made to strengthen the Tanzania Inter-Bank Settlement System (TISS) and enhance financial control in ministries, departments, regions and local authorities.
Source: Daily News Wednesday 14th 2010
Tanzania can compete in EA market, says don
The government has been advised to identify and promote the East African Common Market, the products in which it has an edge over its partners.
The University of Dar es Salaam Dean of the Business School Dr Marcellina Chijoriga made the remarks in Dar es Salaam at the weekend after a public lecture on the Economy of the.She said Tanzania, like other countries would benefit from the common market which comprises more than 120 million people if it will adopte focused strategies to utilize the market.
"It is true that Tanzania is still lagging behind in the industrial sector when compared to a country like Kenya, so it is upon it to identify products which will have competitive advantage in the market." said Dr. Chijoriga.
Dr. Chijoriga said that Tanzania has many opportunities which can distinguish it from other member countries in the Common Market, because there were products which are produced in Tanzania but people think that they are from the neighbouring countries.
Source; The Guardian Monday 19th July,2010
Small entrepreneurs get 6.6 bn/- boost,
THE government has dished out 6.6bn/- capital subsidies to 1,644 entrepreneurs, calling upon beneficiaries to use the monies on intended purposes so as to boost the country's economy.
The subsidies were awarded in Dar es Salaam on Saturday by the Minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance), Ms Sophia Simba, on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete at the climax of four-day entrepreneurs exhibitions.
This was the second disbursement of subsidies under the Business Development Gateway (BDG) project supervised by Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF). The first dish out was made last year when some 1,136 entrepreneurs received subsidies worth 3.3bn/-.
"It is the government's hope that you will use these subsidies to achieve the intended purposes, failure to do so, you will embarrass yourself and you will also demoralise the government and its partners in this project," she said.
Ms Simba noted that the first round proved very successful, adding that the government achievements in creating 1.3 million employments was largely contributed by BDG as the private sector's contribution stands at 90 per cent. The minister said she was glad to note that 50 per cent of the beneficiaries were women, urging them to continue coming out in big numbers and also encourage more youth groups to establish businesses and join entrepreneur groups.
Sourceaily News,Saturday,24th July,2010
New farming project keen to boost output
A NEW project to boost small-scale farmers' production through mixed farming and improved soil fertility has been launched in Arusha and is set to benefit 50,000 peasants in selected districts.
''The focus is mostly going to be on an improved variety of pigeon peas which can withstand drought and harsh conditions. The peas also can be inter-cropped with maize,'' said Dr Bashir Jama the Director of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) which is to execute the three-year project.
Mr Jama said districts that will benefit from the project include Arusha Rural, Meru, Hai, Siha, Babati, Kilosa, Gairo and Kondoa where more than 50,000 farmers, especially women will have access to technical outreach support, fertilizers, seedlings and markets.
''It is also a good idea that the legumes, in addition to helping introducing nitrogen into the soil, also grow alongside maize plants -- the most prized crop in the country because around 80 per cent of farmers depend on maize,'' said Mr Shirima.
The Arusha RC pointed out that the project complements the nation's latest drive to boost the agriculture sector through the 'Kilimo Kwanza' (Agriculture First) initiative.
A farmer from Babati, Ms Rose Fratern Muriang' said that the demand for pigeon peas is at its highest with a 100-kilo bag fetching between 140,000/-and 160,000/- and already farmers rely on the improved variety of the legume as their most reliable cash crop.
Sourceaily News,Wednesday,28th July,2010
POLITICAL ISSUE
Massive CCM vote for Kikwete
INCUMBENT Union President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was nominated by the Special Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Congress to seek another five yearterm. He won a massive 1,893 votes out of the 1,909 votes cast. Only 16 voters said "No". Announcing the results of the vote, Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume said Mr Kikwete has accorded him an overwhelming 99.16 per cent of all the votes.
He said that only 16 votes (0.84 per cent) said "No" to Mr Kikwete's bid. And in a dramatic manner, Mr Kikwete announced the appointment of Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal his running mate in the general elections.
Dr Bilal received a resounding ‘yes' from the congress delegates. Dr Bilal was born on February 6, 1945, in Unguja. He is a scientist who obtained his first degree in nuclear science from Howard University in the United States in 1967. Dr Bilal was appointed Zanzibar Chief Minister by President Salmin Amour in 1995. During 2000 general election, he contested the Zanzibar presidency but lost
Source Dailuy News, Sunday 11th July 2010
Kikwete says ‘thank you'
CCM National Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, has thanked his party for enabling him to fly the national flag around the country on his campaign trail. He said that if he emerges victorious during the October 31 elections he would lead the country with greater zeal, greater speed and greater vigour. He used the occasion to introduce Dr Ali Mohamed Shein as the presidencial aspirant in Zanzibar on the CCM ticket.
Mr Shein was nominated presidential contender on the CCM ticket on Saturday by the ruling party's National Executive Committee (NEC). He will face the Secretary General of the Civic United Front (CUF), Mr Seif Sharif Hamad in the struggle for the Isles presidency.
Dr Shein praised Mr Kikwete for his popularity and massive victory in the Congress vote. "Indeed, you deserve another term as President of this country," Dr Shein said. He said he was overwhelmed by the honour accorded to him and the electoral challenges that lie ahead. He promised to conduct a decent campaign during which he will not abuse his opponent or other people.
Sourceaily News Monday July 12, 2010
Kikwete names Dr Bilal running mate
JK receives 99.16 of CCM conference votes to vie for Union presidency Shein pledges to unit Zanzibaris for progress, to resolve pending issues
President Jakaya Kikwete who was overwhelmingly endorsed by CCM to pursue a second presidential term yesterday named Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal as his running mate. Dr Bilal, a former Chief Minister of Zanzibar, was one of the aspirants for the Zanzibar presidency who made it to the final three, but Dr Ali Mohamed Shein was endorsed for the race.
The announcement came at the end of the president's speech to acknowledge his party's endorsement list achievements over the last five years and plans ahead, including that of building the Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agricultural Sciences.
Some delegates interviewed commended President Kikwete's choice of Dr Bilal as his running mate saying it would help to consolidate peace and harmony in Zanzibar. Jenista Mhagama, a legislator and AFP Chairman, Saidi Sudi said Kikwete's wisdom of picking Bilal as running mate would enhance peace and harmony as key agenda in the country. Dr Bilal was born on February 6, 1945 in Unguja.
Source: The Guardian Monday,12th July,2010.
CCM cadre donates Sh100m to Chadema
A staunch supporter of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, businessman Mustafa Jaffar Sabodo, yesterday contributed Sh100 million to the opposition Chadema "to strengthen democracy in Tanzania".
Mr Sabodo presented a cheque for the the donation to Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe, who was accompanied secretary-general Willibrod Slaa and the party's director of finance, Mr Anthony Komu.
A press statement issued by Chadema yesterday in Dar es Salaam quoted Mr Sabodo as saying that although he was a cadre of the ruling CCM, he wanted liked see that a strong opposition and thriving democracy in the country.
The statement, signed by Chadema director of communications and publicity Erasto Tumbo, said Mr Sabodo termed Chadema as "a serious opposition party". The businessman has not hesitated to criticise the CCM government, particularly on good governance issues.
Source: The Citizen, Tuesday, 13th July 2010 (Daily News 13th July 2010)
TLP picks Mgaywa presidential candidate
THE Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) yesterday picked Mr Muttamwega Mgaywa as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections on October 31. Mr Mgaywa is a former Member of Parliament for Mwibara Constituency in Mara Region and was declared the winner in the race by the TLP National Chairman, Mr Augustino Mrema, at the national congress held in Dar es Salaam.
He scooped 73 votes, representing 91.7 per cent, defeating Mr Macmillan Lyimo who managed 11. Announcing the results, Mr Mrema congratulated the two presidential bidders for demonstrating that democracy exists in the party.
He asked them to work together for the interest of the party and the nation. "I am happy now that TLP has a candidate. I urge you to render him all the support for the party to win with flying colours," he said.
Mr Mrema who announced his intention to run for Member of Parliament in Vunjo Constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, told the delegates that had TLP been a company as propagated by some people he called 'party enemies,' then they would have stopped operations long time ago.
Source: Daily News, Tuesday 13th July 2010
MPs advises govt to expand tax sources
The Parliament Committee on Finance and Economy yesterday advised the government ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to create new sources of income and to enhance tax collection in efforts to build an independent economy.
Contributing to the Finance and Economic Affairs Budget tabled in the House yesterday, the committee's chairman, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, said the ministry needs to explore new strategies to boost tax collection from different sources instead of relying on traditional sources.
He said during the 2009/2010 fiscal year for example, the government failed to reach its tax collection target and that such a situation leads to a debt burden on the government unnecessarily.
The ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs had planned to collect Sh5096.016 billion during the financial year which was 16.4 per cent of the national income, but until April this year, it managed to collect only Sh3821.162 billion.
Among other reasons, the committee advised the government to stem out mismanagement of the public funds, which has become a chronic problem in public funds management.
Source: The Citizens, Thursday 14th July 2010
CCJ leaders now join Chadema
Leaders of the new political party, CCJ yesterday crossed to Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), ahead of the country's General Election on October, 31, this year.The CCJ leaders were officially received by Chadema national chairman, Freeman Mbowe, at the party's headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
On the list of CCJ leaders who moved to Chadema included the party's chairman, Richard Kiyabo, deputy secretary general-Mainland, Dickson Ng'hily, and Fred Mpendazoe, spokesperson of the part
The former CCJ leaders announced their intention to vie for parliamentary seats on Chadema's ticket in the forthcoming elections. Ng'hily said he planned to stand in Temeke constituency while Kiyabo plans to run in Bukene constituency and Mpendazoe in newly constituted Segerea constituency.
Presenting an official statement on behalf of others, Fred Mpendazoe, said their decision was prompted by lack of time for CCJ to secure permanent registration and prepare for the election.
Source: Daily news Monday,19th July,2010
Kikwete touts clean elections
THE National CCM Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, has reiterated the need for election of leaders are visionary, competent and clean in the forthcoming general elections. Addressing CCM members, supporters and well-wishers at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam on, the president also underscored the role of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in delivery of clean, free and fair elections at every stage.
He insisted that Voters must be given the opportunity to freely and fairly elect leaders of their own choice anad process aspirants must be scrutinised transparently and judged on merit. Voters know good leaders corruption should not be allowed to influence them. "Any one who will be implicated in corrupt practices during the electoral process will face the music," he said.
President Kikwete, who was flanked by his running mate, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal and Zanzibar CCM presidential candidate, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein at the grand reception, urged the party aspirants for various positions to be well versed with the CCM 2010 Elections Manifesto.
Source: Daily news Monday,19th July,2010
TSN staff eyes election on CCM ticket
A LIBRARIAN with the Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN), publishers of 'Daily News' and 'HabariLEO', has announced her intention to become a Member of Parliament through the Special Seats of the CCM-women wing (representing people with physical disabilities) during the coming general elections in October.
Ms Zaituni Saeedia (39), told reporters in Dar es Salaam on Monday that she would work on the multilateral and regional contracts on the disabled peoples' rights to be implemented in the country, saying once elected she would ensure that the policies and Laws enacted carried views of the disabled rights and interest.
"I will make sure that global and regional contracts and declarations on the disabled rights and interests are incorporated in the countries laws and implemented," she said. she believes that having a malfunctioning part of the body is not a hurdle for the disabled to take part in development because the disabled could work as any human being.
"I want to bring the revolution to the society by showing that being physically impaired is not a hurdle for that person to nfluence development by changing their way of living and become proactive," she noted.
Source: Daily News Tuesday,20th July.2010
'Yes' push hots up ahead of Z'bar referendum
Supporters of the referendum slated for July 31 have launched massive campaign to rally people behind their move as those opposed to the proposition of forming a government of national unity fails to come in the open.
The ‘yes' camp campaign was launched in Pemba on Sunday in a well attended concert and yesterday a number of rallies were held in various areas in the island to sensitize people to give a not to the proposals contained in the referendum. The concert was partly funded by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD). Some of the funds provided by the Centre were used to purchase campaign materials such as posters.
Addressing one such rally, the Civic United Front (CUF) secretary general, Mr Seif Shariff Hamad, said ‘yes' vote in the referendum would help to cement Zanzibar unity. He said Zanzibar has reached a point where it needs a government of national unity to solve its prolonged political problems.
"The government of national unity is needed for the interests of Zanzibaris and the country," he said noting that the referendum was historical move which has been facilitated by the House Representative enactment of the law.
Source: The Citizens, Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Police enlightened on poll rules
THE Police Force has been warned against taking sides during the coming national general elections in October. The Registrar of Political Parties, Mr John Tendwa, said this On Wednesday in Dar es Salaam when addressing print media correspondents, who were attending a threeday training session organized by the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF).
Mr Tendwa said that police have often been the source of conflicts because they misuse the law. Some allow illegal public rallies and campaigns to take place. He said that the police have the power to deny or allow campaigning chance to any contestant.
To avoid double allocation of campaign ground to political parties, they have to be fair and be bold enough to tell the campaigners what to do," he said. "The law guides the police to either allow or allocate another place if the appointed one has been taken over by another person.
Trouble often erupts when police come with their bombs and guns to chase away campaigners who are in the wrong area," he said. In making sure that the police do not cause conflicts, he said, the office is in the process of compiling the do's and don'ts of the coming general elections starting in Zanzibar next Monday.
Source: Daily News, Thursday July 22, 2010
Tendwa probing CCM over 'early' compaigns
The Registrar of Political Parties office is investigating allegations that some political parties, including the ruling CCM, are engaging in premature campaigns, which is illegal. Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Political Parties Registrar John Tendwa said his office has received numerous complaints from different parties that are accusing one another of starting campaigns ahead of schedule.
According to a timetable issued by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), official campaigns for the October 31 General Election kick off on August 20, to end on October 30. Though Mr Tendwa avoided naming any political party, he confirmed that his office has received complaints from some parties, alleging that some of their rivals have already embarked on serious campaigns before the August 20 whistle.
"We are following up these allegations and if we establish they are genuine, we will take actions according to the laws," said Mr Tendwa when addressing a group of journalists attending training at Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) offices in Dar es Salaam.
Source: The Citizen, Thursday, 22 July 2010
14 parties sign electoral code of conduct
FOURTEEN political parties have signed the elections code of conduct which is aimed at ensuring that the forthcoming general elections are free and fair. Some major political parties did not send representatives to sign the code of conduct.
The parties that were not represented at the signing are Chadema, DP and UDP. CUF said it needed more time to scrutinise the code, while African Progressive Party of Tanzania (APPT-Maendeleo) said it was not impressed with the document.
The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Justice Lewis Makame, said that the code of conduct was aimed at allowing the country to have free and fair elections.
He said that parties which would not sign the code of conduct were not going to be allowed to participate in the campaigns and all candidates for various seats are required to sign the code individually. He said that even if the party did not sign, candidates must vow to abide to the code.
The Code outlines the dos and don'ts in the campaign process. The code recognised Kiswahili as the official language for campaigns and that tribal languages will only be used wherever necessary and there must be a translator.
Sourceaily News Tuesday,27th July,2010
Chadema, CUF face poll ban
Chadema and CUF will be barred from the General Election if they fail to sign the Election Code of Conduct before August 20, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
They are among five opposition parties that did not sign the document at a meeting organised by the NEC in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Others parties at risk of being locked out of the October 31 elections are the Democratic Party (DP), United Democratic Party (UDP) and PPT-Maendeleo.Contacted for comment, UDP chairman John Cheyo told The Citizen that he had not been informed of the meeting.
"I'm hearing this for the first time from you... no one bothered to inform me or any other UDP leader of this important meeting...the party doesn't have any information whatsoever," he said.
But NEC director of elections Rajabu Kiravu dismissed the claims, saying it sent invitations to all political parties last Thursday.
"NEC has no reason to discriminate against some parties…we treat them equally…we sent out invitation letters, which were all received by the parties they were addressed to," he said, adding that parties and candidates that would not sign the Code of Conduct would be barred from the elections.
CUF representatives attended yesterday's meeting, but refused to sign the document on the grounds that they needed more time to go through it before the party agreed to the guidelines.
The party's director of human rights, Mr Mtatiro Julius, said they were not ready to sign as they were provided with the document a few hours earlier.
"We received the document this morning. We haven't even gone through it, and it will be ridiculous to sign something you haven't read thoroughly and understood," he said, and asked the NEC to give the party adequate time to peruse and digest the code.
Chadema and DP could not sign the document because they were not represented at the meeting.
Contacted later, Chadema's director of foreign affairs, Mr John Mnyika, said party officials had received the document from NEC and were perusing it.
"We have noted that some sections which we suggested should be changed have not been amended...we are still consulting with our lawyers to establish the effects of such sections," he said, adding that Chadema would issue a statement later.
A PPT-Maendeleo representative, Ms Elizabeth Swaganya refused to sign the Code of Conduct, saying there was no point doing so as the authorities had already failed to enforce what was contained in the document.She said while the NEC was insisting that the document be signed, some parties were blatantly ignoring the guidelines.
Source: The Citizens, Wednesday, 28th July, 2010
NCCR-Mageuzi picks Rungwe presidential candidate
THE opposition party NCCR-Mageuzi joined the race for the Union presidency on Tuesday by picking Mr Hashim Rungwe (61) its candidate, who vowed to invest in moral integrity if elected in the October general elections.
The candidate, who is a seasoned politician said that fight against corruption, negligence and lack of nationalism would be his top priorities.
Speaking to reporters soon after collecting the presidential nomination forms, the aspirant, who is also a renowned lawyer and human rights activist, said that he will spearhead the struggle to build a nation entrenched in the highest moral values.
"If I get the blessings from my party and elected to the presidency I will ensure that moral values are inculcated at all levels of the society, including children, youth and adults," he stressed.
The High Court advocate also said that education will be another priority because for any nation to be able to make their leaders fulfil their day to day commitments, its people need quality education which will make the citizens critical and analytical.
"In order to build a nation of such calibre and to ensure that high development levels are achieved, if elected in the forthcoming elections, we will start a programme "Mwanzo Wenye Nguvu (A strong beginning)," said Mr Rungwe.
He explained that this programme will ensure that every mother who is expecting to bring a new citizen in this nation, the issue of health and nutrition to both mother and child will be addressed as an initial step and priority in order to achieve a healthy nation..
Sourceaily News Wednesday,28th July,2010
NCCR-Mageuzi member collects presidential nomination forms
Mr Hashim Rungwe, yesterday became the first NCCR-Mageuzi member to pick presidential nomination forms for the October 31 General Election.According to the party's head of campaign, organisation and elections, Mr Faustine Sungura, the party is set to pick its presidential candidate on Saturday.
Mr Rungwe, who is also the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) member, said he would be to remove all bad and outdated laws, if elected the president."If elected, I will make sure that I remove laws which favour some political parties," he said after picking the nomination forms.
"All parties should be entitled to subsidies to enable them grow," he said querying: "How would the party grow if they are not given the money?"
If nominated by his party, the 61-year-old High Court advocate who joined NCCR-Mageuzi in 2000, would challenge the incumbent, President Jakaya Kikwete; Civic United Front (CUF) chairman, Prof Ibrahim Lipumba; Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), former MP, Mr Mutamwega Mugahywa; and Chadema secretary general Dr Willibrod Slaa.
For his part, the NCCR-Mageuzi head of ideology, policy and training, Mr George Kahangwa, commended the Prevention and Convention Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for ‘a job well done' during the ruling party's (CCM) preliminary nomination process.
Source:The Citizen Wednesday,28th July,2010
Mrs Sitta in PCCB dragnet
THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) here is interrogating 10 people, including the Minister for Community Development, Gender, and Children, Ms Margaret Sitta, on suspicion of bribing party members with cash and mobile phones to solicit votes.
Ms Sitta, who is the wife of the Speaker of Parliament and Urambo East MP, Mr Samuel Sitta, is among the aspirants for the parliamentary special seats in Tabora Region through the party's women's wing.
Briefing reporters here on Wednesday, the Acting Regional PCCB Commander, Mr Bruno Rwenyagira, said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday at around 1:55am at a guest house known as Camise situated in Cheyo A area, 100 meters from the regional PCCB office.
He named other suspects nabbed alongside the minister as the Uyui District Youth Secretary, Julius Kilimanjaro, Ipuri Ward CCM Secretary, Lucas Simwanza, Lutende Ward UWT Secretary party's Elizabeth Kondora and the ward's UWT Chairperson, Catherine Sepetu.
Other persons held are a CCM guard, Michael Manyanda, a teacher at Majengo Primary School, Mary Joseph, Uyui CCM District Publicity Secretary, Rashid Abdalla, a guard with CCM, Abdul Kayamba and the minister's driver, Cosmas Urio.
The PCCB official further said that the minister was caught in possession of seven mobile phone handsets, 1,015,000/- cash and 145 empty envelopes.
Sourceaily News Thursday,July 29,2010
ZEC urged to conduct free, fair referendum
Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad yesterday challenged the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to be fair, ethical and respect the decision of people of Zanzibar after the July 31 referendum in order to avert political squabbling in the Isles.
The referendum, scheduled for this Saturday, will allow people of Zanzibar to say 'yes' or 'no' to the formation of a government of national unity in the Isles. The expected national unity government will be formed after the forthcoming general election.
"ZEC needs to make sure that the decision of the majority people of Zanzibar is respected. It has to be fair and ethical in co-coordinating and supervising the referendum," said Hamad at a news conference yesterday.
According to the CUF secretary general, the presence of internal and external observers and the decision to count votes at each polling station would go a long way to getting the results on time.
Despite fierce criticism from some sections of the community, most people, including clerics, academicians and political and government leaders, have widely supported a 'yes' vote so as to pave the way to the formation of a national unity government.
"Many people of Zanzibar are expected to say 'yes', with the exception of a few people who are against the formation of national unity government in the Isles," said Hamad, criticizing people who are circulating posters and flyers to instigate people to vote 'no'
Source: The Guardian Thursday,July29,2010
DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS
Hospital to benefit from Sh30m drug
IMA World Health has donated drugs worth Sh30 million to the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) for treatment of burkits' lymphoma (BL), a common childhood cancer that predominantly affects children in areas that have a high prevalence of malaria.
IMA World Heath country representative Jim Cox said late last week, during the handing over ceremony, that the organization decided to donate drugs in order to improve the quality of care to BL patients in the country.
According to Mr Cox, majority of children suffered from BL and as a result needed immediate help. "This will be a catalyst for developing more standardised treatment guidelines for other cancers in the country to ensure quality care," he said.
IMA also donated chemotherapeutic drugs to selected sites in their bid to ensure children had access to treatment. Dr Diwan Msemo from ORCI said the donation had come at the right time as most of the children at Ocean Road hospital were suffering from BL.
Source: Saturday, 03 July 2010
Sh103bn set aside for rural power projects
The government will spend Sh103 billion on the implementation of rural electrification projects in 16 regions of Tanzania Mainland, Parliament was told.
The minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr William Ngeleja, said the regions to benefit from the funding would include Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga, Mwanza, Mara, Coast and Morogoro. Others are Dodoma, Singida, Mbeya, Rukwa, Tabora, Kigoma, Kagera and Shinyanga. When presenting the government's report on new power projects to be implemented through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other development partners.
Source: Saturday, 03 July 2010
Norway's Sh2bn to save forest
The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam has signed a contract with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) worth nearly $1.3 million (around Sh1.7 billion) to help Tanzania prepare for a new international climate change protocol involving forests.
A statement issued by the embassy last week pointed out that the four-year project would target efforts to reduce the loss of 52,000 hectares of forest in the Southern Highlands areas in Rungwe and Sumbawanga districts in Mbeya and Rukwa regions respectively.
Deforestation and forest degradation is the cause of around 20 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.
Over the next four years, the project will plant half a million indigenous trees, establish a locally managed Mt Rungwe honey enterprise and undertake an extensive environmental education programme, the statement noted. It also warns that wood extraction and fire were major threats to the forests, promising that the project would develop village woodlots and a fire rapid response programme. "This project aims to bring economic incentives to at least 100,000 people in the area,"
Source: The Citizen Monday, 05 July 2010
Korean agency trains police officers on cyber crime
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has organised special training for members of the Police Force on the prevention and combating of cyber crime.
KOICA country representative Holywater OH said recently that the course aimed to build capacity of local police and to enable them to share the Korean experience and knowledge in curbing web-based crimes.
He said knowledge and experience on various forms of cyber crime was crucial in this era of the increasing foreign investment and technology development. The training was part of implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation between KOICA and the Police Force signed on May 18, this year.
The training, he explained, aimed to increase understanding about KOICA and the World Friends Korea volunteers' program among security contact officers of the areas where KOICA volunteers serve.
Source: The Guardian Monday 19th July,2010
Police to learn about cyber crime
THE South Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) has offered to train some members of the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) on cyber crimes. A statement issued in Dar es Salaam On Wednesday by KOICA Tanzanian Office Resident Representative, Mr Holywater, said that seven police officers will be invited to attend an International Workshop on Cyber Crimes to be held in South Korea in September, this year.
He said that the training would be a good opportunity for the force to build its capacity and share Korea's experience and knowledge in preventing and combating cyber crime. Such training, he said, was crucial in this era of the increasing foreign investment and technology development. Mr Holywater further said that KOICA plans to dispatch a so-called Tae Kwondo master (Korean Martial Arts) to the Dar es Salaam Police College.
"It is expected that the workshop will play an important role in strengthening the mutual co-operation and good relations between KOICA and TPF," the statement quoted the Resident Representative as saying. The statement further states that KOICA and TPF officials held a joint workshop recently, as part of implementation of Memorandum of Understanding of co-operation between the two parties signed on May 18, this year.
Source: Daily News,Thursday July 22, 2010
EU, Mbarali district plan 1.5bn/- international rice market
Mbarali District Council and the European Union (EU) expect to construct an international market for cereals near Igurusi village in Mbeya region at a cost of more than 1.5bn/-.According to Mbarali district executive director George Kagomba, the planned market, whose design would resemble Kibaigwa's maize market in Dodoma region, would be mainly for selling rice.
The market complex, to be operated by farmers' networking group known as Mviwata, will be designed to have enough storage facilities as well as processing and selling points.
He said that for a long time, rice farmers in the region have been experiencing the problem of lack of reliable market complex for selling their rice to local and international customers.
Meanwhile, Kagomba hinted that a similar international market would be put up in Rukwa region to enable farmers in the southern highlands meet local and international buyers.
Mbarali district agriculture and livestock development officer Dickson Maruchu said that some small-scale industries would be constructed at the planned international market
Source:The Guardian ,Wednesday,28th July,2010
NMB supports Nane Nane preparations
NATIONAL Microfinance Bank (NMB) has donated 35m/- in support to the Tanzania Agricultural Society (TAS) which is organising the annual Farmers' Day (Nane Nane) celebrations and exhibitions at national level in Dodoma.
The TAS Chairman, Mr Engelbert Moyo, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday that this year's exhibitions would give more emphasis to the government's Kilimo Kwanza initiative, to supports agriculture development and provides loans to farmers, warehouses and traders
The celebrations would provide a platform for policy makers and other stakeholders in the Kilimo Kwanza to assess the implementation of main pillars of the initiative.
Nane Nane forms a unique platform to showcase the banks' support to the agriculture development and that NMB is participating in Arusha, Mtwara,Tabora, Mbeya, Morogoro and Dodoma
Source
aily News Thursday,29 July,2010SOCIAL ISSUES
Rukwa to repair 1,500kms roads
THE government is to rehabilitate trunk and regional roads covering 1,505 kilometres and repair 109 bridges at the cost of over 4.8bn/- in Rukwa Region during the 2020/11 financial year. TanRoads Rukwa Regional Manager Engineer Joseph Nyamhanga said on Wednesday that during the next fiscal year the government plans to repair 425 km and 27 bridges on trunk roads.
The regional roads would span 1,080 km with 82 bridges at the cost of 3.2bn/-. The trunk and regional roads would be repaired by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development through the Tanzania Roads Agency (TanRoads).
However, the major rehabilitation of trunk and regional roads under performance-based management of roads (PMMR) at the cost of over 8.4bn/- is in line with government efforts to ensure that those roads are passable throughout the year. Also a section of Muze- Kilyamatundu (144 km) that was impassable for many decades has now been opened up and passable throughout following rehabilitation work which was done with funds from the Danish government through DANIDA worth over 683.9m/-.
Source: Daily News Thursday 1st July 2010
Surgeons challenged on fistula prevention
Women dignity programme oficer Subila Mwambingu ccaled on surgeons tofind ways to prevent ratyher than repair fistula.Mwambingu threw the challenge at two day National Fistula Programme(NFP) shareholders meeting in dar-es salaam ,which was organised by Women Dignity,Africa Medical and Research Foundation(Amref)with support from the ministry of Health and social Welfare.
The meeting aimed at combating and preventing fistula among tanzanian women and girls who contract the disease after derivery then programme seeks to provide free fistula repair service.Tanzania has no specific data on the axact number of patients because we have not conducted any research ,but we have received new cases b etween 2500 and 3000, this year ‘Mwambingu said.
Dr.Lumumba Mwita said so far they had trained 45 doctors and 75 nurses to address the shortage of surgeons involved in fistula repair services, and confirmed that Amref gave priority to mothers ,newborns and children in its programme that aimed at building community capacity for the improvement of maternal and child health in Tanzania,Kenya and south Sudan
Source:the Guardian, Thursday,01-July,2010
Beware of AIDS, workers told
CIVIL servants have been urged to take appropriate measures in avoiding contracting new HIV infections. When addressing employees of the Local Government Training Institute (LGTI), the Principal, Mr Said Nassoro, said the disease has already caused a huge loss to the Government.
He said that a large number of workers have already lost their lives and others are sick. "In a research we conducted in 2005 it was revealed that 21,000 Government workers (which is seven per cent of 354,890 civil servants, were living with HIV/AIDS", he said.
Mr Nassor said a recent research shows that the number of Government workers who are living with HIV has dropped to five per cent due to awareness seminars and training.
He said the Government, through the sponsorship of GTZ, has conducted capacity building and training to 20 workers from LGTI of Dar es Salaam, Tabora, Dodoma and Mtwara who will enlighten other workers and students on HIV and AIDS.
"Make sure you have the mobile counselling and volunteering services in colleges. Our goal is to see to it that the new HIV infection rate drops even farther," he said.
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Turiani Hospital rewards midwives
Turiani Mission Hospital (Bwagala) in Turiani has introduced a system of giving allowances of 5,000/- to traditional midwives who take pregnant women promptly to hospital for child bearing instead of keeping them until their condition get critical.
Speaking with 'Daily News', some of the nurses said the procedure is aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths in Turiani and neighbouring areas. The upshot is to meet some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
They said the allowances are designed to encourage the traditional midwives to take pregnant women to hospital as early as possible instead of staying with them for a long time. They also said that under support from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), they have managed to train midwives on the effect of staying for too long with pregnant women who are in labour pain.
Ms Amina Haji and Cesilia Andrea are midwives in Diongoya Ward in Turiani, They said after the training they have now understood the danger of keeping pregnant women at home for too long because some women have to be operated on during child bearing. Assistant Hospital Medical in charge, Dr Mashaka Shemkande told 'Daily News' an the average of 30 to 40 pregnant women among 1,200 miscarry while six to 10 die during delivery.
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Road crash claims 15 lives, injures scores in Kondoa
Fifteen people died on the spot, while 48 others sustained injuries, in a road accident in Kondoa District, Dodoma Region yesterday.The accident that occurred around 7am yesterday involved a lorry, which skidded off the road and overturned at Mnenia village, on the Kondoa-Arusha road, about 30 kilometers from Kondoa town.
According to the Dodoma regional medical officer, Dr Godfrey Mtey, a five-man medical team has left for Kondoa to attend to those injured during the accident. Reports said that 40 out of those injured were in critical condition.
"By yesterday, about 40 people, some of them with multiple fractures, were still admitted at Kondoa district hospital," said Dr Mtey, adding that four women were among them.
The Dodoma regional police commander, Zelothe Stephen, confirmed the news, saying he would give a detailed report after receiving it from the district hospital.
"I'm following closely the details of the accident, and I'll release them later. I'm still engaged with an entourage for various top national leaders who are currently in Dodoma,"
Source:The citizen,Saturday 10,July, 2010
Two more Segera accident victims die
TWO more victims of the Segera road accident in Tanga Region in which a minibus caught fire following a head-on collision with a lorry have died bringing the number of dead passengers to twelve.
Reports from Muheza District Designated Hospital said the dead are two out of the four injured individuals who were admitted to the hospital after they were severely injured in the Sunday night's accident. Ten people died on the spot and eight others were severely injured after the minibus they were travelling in caught fire following a head-on collision with a lorry at Segera in Korogwe District.
The Regional Police Commander, Mr Jaffar Mohamed, said on Monday that police were yet to determine the cause of the accident. He added that eyewitnesses told police that the accident was caused by an attempt by the lorry driver to overtake a motorcycle.
Two of them passed away in the afternoon yesterday. Two of the dead were drivers and the rest were passengers. The accident involved the minibus with Registration Number T 569 ANJ property of Sayona Trans Company.
The bus has been travelling between Tanga and Mkata in Handeni District. It collided head on with an oil tanker (T 514 ART) bound for Tanga from Kilimnjaro Region. The accident, which took place at the weekend, left the minibus in flames. The minibus had carried mainly second-hand clothes traders who were coming from an open market.
Source
aily News Tuesday,27th July,2010Healthcare providers urged to support battered women
Tanzania Media Women's Association (Tamwa) has called on healthcare providers in the country to support pregnant women suffering from assault and battering from their partners by providing them with counselling and legal services.
According to a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday by Tamwa, treatment, counselling and legal support could be offered by health workers, particularly to women survivors of battering.
Doctor in charge at Sinza dispensary Samuel Lema said in an interview recently that unless an expectant mother "is critically questioned," many attending clinics with injuries opt to hide the truth to protect their partners from possible prosecution.
"Victims conceal such matters until when fetal heartbeat is missing and emergency abortions due to severe bleeding have to be performed. That's when a woman reveals she has been beaten," said Dr Lema.
Other healthcare providers interviewed in some Dar es Salaam hospitals also mentioned shortages of staff as a contributing factor to failure by medical personnel to support battered pregnant women
Source:The Guardian Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Dar schools seriously short of desks
Primary schools in Dar es Salaam face serious shortage of desks, with Ilala municipality needing 18,000 to seat schoolchildren now forced to squat in classrooms.
One such school is Mtakuja Primary School in Ilala Municipality where more than 600 pupils were seen taking lessons while seated on the floor, a posture which negatively impacts their performance.
The school has attracted the sympathy of donors and yesterday the Dar es Salaam North Rotary Club donated 50 desks worth four million shillings and pledged to look for funds to rehabilitate six classrooms.
Speaking to journalists in the city after receiving the donation, the school headmistress Elizabeth Chiwambala attributed the shortage of desks to lack of commitment from parents to participate in school projects.
"Most of the pupils here are either orphans or have one parent. Most live below the poverty line and as a result, cannot contribute towards school development. We depend on donations from well wishers such as the Rotary clubs. I appeal for others to emulate their kindness for the sake of the children," said Chiwambala.
The school situated at Vingunguti area, hardly 10 kilometres from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, enrolled 3,650 pupils beyond its capacity with only 77 teachers of whom 66 are female and the rest men
Nasra Issa, a standard seven pupil did not mince her words on the situation at the school:
"Here the concentration of the pupils in class is low because we are crowded, lack basic needs such as text books and we write with the support of our knees. As a result, our performance in the final exams is dismal," she said.
She said last year, candidates were transferred to other schools to sit for their national exams, but none of the 600 candidates made it to a government secondary school.
Source: The Guardian Thursday, July29th, 2010
Water body in Bukoba set to spend Sh7bn
The Bukoba Water and Sewage Authority (Buwasa) is, by the end of this year, to start spending Sh7 billion in improving water infrastructure in the municipality.
According to Buwasa public relations officer Ms Julieth Shangali, the project to refurbish the water infrastructure which was constructed many years ago has been financed by French Development Aid (AFD).
Ms Shangali told The Citizen that following the poor state of the water infrastructure, Buwasa loses 50 percent of water it produces due to leaking pipes.
She said the project would include a feasibility study, project designing, announcement of tender in order to find the suitable engineer for the work as well as procurement of equipments that shall be needed.
She told The Citizen that the project would also involve the construction of a new water treatment site, filter and laying of new pipes from Bunena to Kashura wards.
Source: The Citizen Thursday, July 29, 2010.
Three Songea road accident victims referred to Lugalo
Three out of fifteen people who were injured in a road accident which occurred last week in Chabruma area in the outskirts of Songea town,in Ruvuma region,have been transferred to Dar es salaam for further treatment.The three are National Service servicemen with Mlale camp in songea district,who were on training
Medical Officer Mathayo Chanangula said that they had been transferred to Dar es salaam for further treatment after it discovered that they had sustained severe injuries on their heads
The accident occurred on July 24,this year,while these three from Mlale camp were using their Pick-up they were treavellingin was rammed by a vehicle yet to be identified in chabruma area.
Source: The Guaardian Wednesday,July28,2010
16 perish in Bukombe bus crash
Sixteen people died yesterday and 41 others were seriously injured after a passenger bus collided with a lorry at Kanegele village in Bukombe District, Shinyanga Region.
Kahama District Commissioner, Bahati Matala confirmed the accident at a news conference.
According to the DC, the accident occurred after the bus, Super Najmunisa with registration number T294 ACZ collided with a lorry with registration number T192 AGY.
The bus was heading to Dar es Salaam from Bukoba, while the lorry was coming from Kahama district, Shinyanga Region.
"The main cause of the accident was speeding on the part of both drivers," Matala said, disclosing, however, that information he had received on the scene indicated that the lorry driver had moved to other side of the road, thus colliding with the bus.
Source. The Guardian 31st July 20
ECONOMICI ISSUES
Enter the EA common market
WHILE the East African Community (EAC) regional common market is launched t, officials at the secretariat admit that there are still a number of issues that need to be ironed out before the protocol could function properly. According to EAC Secretary General Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, is not going to be coloured with any visible fanfare. It is just the first step towards a more tangible thing. Let's just treat July 1st as the day of a new hope,"
Tanzania, for instance, is still holding back to allow freedom of labour movement and capital market until 2015. Other EAC member states like Kenya, have opened labour doors to some selected fields of employments such as high-tech professions and management in which it is already well catered for internally without need to import more.
The speaker for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr Abdirahin Abdi, said there were still some laws that need to be amended in the EAC partner states to make the common market fully operational.
The Deputy Secretary General in-charge of planning and infrastructure, Dr Aloyce Mutabingwa, said in order for trade in the region to operate smoothly, several non-tariff barriers needed to be addressed as well as total overhaul of regional infrastructure set-up such as the railway and road networks.
Source;DailyNews Thursday,1-July 2010
Bringing vibes of Kilimo Kwanza to the trade fair
ON June 28, the 34th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) kicked off at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere grounds, here on the outskirts of the city. It is expected to last until July 8.
Although it is a slow start as usual, analyst predicts it to come to its full swing as days move on. Once one approaches the grounds from the city centre along Kilwa Road, people from all walks of life are seen to converge here though one can notice a big number of students, who are on their mid year vacation at the moment.
Representatives of various services offered by telephone companies could be seen on the junctions of the road, outside and inside the grounds. They carry burners and are adorned in their colourful outfits. But what interested me most is the big billboard on the main entrance gate that carry a slogan ‘TUDUMISHE AZMA YA KILIMO KWANZA' a nation-wide slogan that emphasizes the contribution of the agricultural sector in the country.
I was tempted to ask the authorities concerned what made them choose it; Ramadhani Khalfan is the Director General of Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE). He says this theme is a crosscutting one, meaning that it shows the contribution of this sector (agriculture) to the development of trade and industry sector.
Source: Daily News Friday 2nd July 2010
Plan International spends 432m/- on health facilities
Plan international has spend a total of 432m/- on the construction of four maternity and infant wards at Mlandizi Health center .Speaking at the handover ceremony last week ,Plan InternationTanzania acting managing director Gerald Magashi said the construction of the wards was done in two phases .
During the first phase,Maternity and child wards were constructed ,while surgery and dental units were constructed in the second phase .These project is among the social projects implemented by Plan International.We have many projects in Education and health sectors in various parts of Tanzania "Magashi said.He noted that the organization would continue engaging in social seervices because they believed true development coould brought about by smart partnership of government non government organizations and society in general.For her part Coast regional commissioner Amina Said thanked Plan International for the help.
She said the health center would assist many people since they walk at least 31km to seek treatment at Tumbi hospital.Many fatal road accidents occur in this region because of careless drivers but we hope that this health center wil save the lives of many people . She said it was time for road users to take care to reduce unnecessary road accidents
Source:The Guardian Monday,5.7.2010
Tasaf projects implemented poorly
TANZANIA Social Action Fund (TASAF) experts have discovered that out of 3,000 community projects that have been verified recently, more than 2,000 were implemented below standard.
The TASAF Acting Director General, Mr Ladislaus Mwamanga, told reporters in Dar es Salaam that engineering inspections discovered further that each of the projects verified had contained engineering problems that need to be rectified.
"We are now passing on the experts' report and thereafter we will be in a position to give detailed information on the problem discovered in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar," he said.
Mr Mwamanga was briefing reporters on the outcome of the International Forum on Social Protection held last month in Arusha that majored on the learning in effective design and implementation of public works programmes.
The Forum according to him, put Tanzania on the World map in terms of how it approaches and implements the Social protection agenda particularly in Public Works Programmes (PWP).
Source: Daily News Monay 5th July 2010
Govt allocates 1.1bn/- for rural water projects
The government has set aside 1.1bn/- for implementation of three water projects at Euga, Minepa and Itete in Ulanga District, Morogoro Region. Upon completion, the ambitious projects are anticipated to end water shortages facing thousands of villagers in the areas for a longtime.
Reading out district council's report for the past five years, Morogoro district council executive director Alfred Luanda said that implementation of the projects were in different stages.
He said that although implementation of Euga water project was a little bit advanced compared to others, there were technical problems linked to a water source and experts were researching on that. He explained that 400m/- had been set aside for Euga project, 400m/- for Minepa and 300m/- for Itete.
Luanda said that other achievements by the council over the last five years include the opening of the 7.4-kilometre Kwiro-Sali road and upgrading of Makanga-Msogezi road.
Source: The Guardian Monday 19th July, 2010
Entrepreneurs urged to forge business linkages
FORGING business linkages between Trans-National Corporations (TNCs) operating in Tanzania and local suppliers has been singled out as a solution to ensure that the country's SMEs produce goods and services that meet the standards of today's industry and markets.
In this regard, Mr Laston Msongole, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs said that a successful indigenous entrepreneur is the one who effectively utilizes the presence of foreign investors in Tanzania, to build up business networks and supply chain linkages.
Mr Msongole said this when talking at a Business Linkages Policy Forum held on Thursday in Dar es Salaam. The Forum was organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC). The Forum aimed at opening a direct window to discuss policy issues which impact on the conduct of business climate in the country, hence making the Business Linkages Programme a success.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary explained that given the context of global competitiveness, developing the country's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is an inevitable reality of life in the 21st century. Business Linkages Programme is an effort that TIC has undertaken to build entrepreneurship development in the country. It is being implemented in partnership with the UNCTAD.
Sourse
aily News Friday 2nd July 2010World Bank rescues community projects
The World Bank has signed an agreement extending $35m (over 45bn/-) to Tanzania to rescue stalled community projects executed by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) in the country. The financial boost, extended through the ‘Crisis Response Window', follows the country's effective implementation of community projects, TASAF Acting Executive Director, Ladislaus Mwamanga said in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Mwamanga said most of the incomplete community projects in TASAF II were a result of, among other factors, escalating costs of building materials due to global economic downturn and power rationing that hit the nation over the last two years.
He said the WB had carried engineering verification and was satisfied that at least every LGAs had incomplete community projects according to the requirement of a particular sector.
"For example, the education sector defines a classroom to be complete when it has been fitted with ceiling board plus desks. But whereas TASAF intervention in a community was to put a classroom by erect a building with all fittings without desks, the WB regards that as incomplete project" he said.
He named other factors as minimal contribution from the communities in terms of labour and cash due to unforeseen crisis at the time of submitting proposals. For example, he said, if a community experience food shortages, that particular community would spend time fending for families rather than participating in communal activities.
Source: The Guardian Monday 5th July 2010
Morogoro SIDO-assisted firm manufactures cassava feed machines
Cassava producers and livestock keepers have a reasons to smile after a local company came up with a cassava granting machine capable of producing high quality starch for use in textile industries and production of animasl feeds.
Engeener Frank Sospeter said that they embarked on the project after many livestock keeper and farmers showed that there was a high demand of machine to rise the quality of cassava flour, starch, juice, fine chips and animal feeds.
He said the petrol powered machine's production capacity is 600-800kg per hour, with a fuel consuption of 1.0-1.5 litres per hour.With this impact they had secured markets in Malawi, Kenya,DRC Congo Burundi as wel as other neighbouring countries.
Source: The Guardian Friday 9th July 2010
NMB, partners launch new loan scheme
THE National Microfinance Bank in collaboration with Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), Business Development Gateway (BDG) and Enablis Entrepreneurs in Tanzania have announced a partnership in providing loans to entrepreneurs.
The entrepreneurs will be able to access loans branded as NMB Juhudi loans from NMB to facilitate their business. This was announced by NMB Chief Commercial Officer Kees Verbeek at the bank's pavilion at the just ended 34th DITF at Mwalimu Nyerere Trade Fair Grounds along Kilwa Road in the city.
The facility involves small loans to micro and small entrepreneurs with the purpose to expand small and sustainable businesses. The beneficiaries of the scheme can enjoy lower interest rate with a discount of three per cent from the normal interest rate charged by the bank.
Whereas the bank will provide loans from 5m/- to a maximum of 500m/-, the partner organizations will support entrepreneurs in other areas of development. They shall help entrepreneurs with business skills development, business plan writing, business management skills, financial management, business registration and after care services.
Source: Daily News, Friday 9th July 2010
Credit reference bureau coming soon, says BoT
THE Bank of Tanzania (BoT) is finalising procedures for the establishment of Credit Reference Bureau, a facility that will enable lenders access borrowers information. The facility would enable lenders including bankers, financial institutions, operators of hire purchase ventures and other traders determine creditworthiness of their potential customers.
The BoT Governor, Prof. Benno Ndulu, said the facility would serve as the data base for the country's debtors. Prof. Ndulu made the remarks at the BoT pavilion at the just ended 34th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF). The governor said the bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs have already drafted the regulations for Credit Reference System.
"We are now finalising the procedures of procuring two companies for the establishment of a credit reference databank at BoT under the Financial Sector Support project," he said. Once in place, he said, BoT would support commercial banks to establish whether debtors are creditworthy or not, the move that seeks to curb loan defaulters.
Source: Daily News, Friday 9th July 2010
World Bank: Govt slow on instituting accountability
The World Bank is pushing the government to adopt focused and result-oriented measures for keyingredients in the country's fight against corruption. He said lack of affirmative measures to enhance accountability and transparency fuel corruption in public sector, derailing national endeavours to battle against the vice.
"Numerous shortcomings exist in the management of public funds and expenditures alot of money is directed to unnecessary expenditure such as holding seminars and workshops, purchasing posh cars," he said, adding: "The government must institute accountability, transparency and implementation of projects focusing on these areas."
He cited the government delay in accounting for funds disbursed under the World Bank-funded project on accountability and transparency. The project which commenced in 2006 is implemented by the Finance and Economic Affairs Ministry, Ethics Secretariat, and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
Source: the guardian tuesday 6.July.2010
Agriculture gets big boost from animal power project
Twenty-eight projects implemented under the participatory development project (PADEP) framework in 32 villages in Handeni District, using animal power in farming, have moved a step further in the modernisation of agriculture.
"Our aim is to expand the use of animal power to rid the farmers of the hand hoe," he said, adding that the agricultural revolution would succeed if the farmers are helped to do away with the hand hoe.The district received a total of Sh1.7 billion for implementation of 145 projects under PADEP during three years from the 2005/06 financial year.
Community projects received the largest share of the funds totaling Sh1.16 billion for the implementation of 33 community projects, against Sh349.4 million directed to group projects.
A total of Sh212.5 million was spent on capacity building to empower communities and groups. Apart from the use of animal power, there were 32 poultry keeping projects in 32 villages, followed by 28 goat keeping projects implemented in 28 villages. Other projects were maize farming, 10 oil crop extraction projects, dairy and pig farming, and cassava production.
Source:The Citizen,Monday 12-July,2010.
Sh18.4bn set to repair, build armymen houses
The ministry of Defense and National Service has set aside Sh18.4billion during the 2010/11 financial year for the construction of new houses and rehabilitation of old ones in Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF) barracks. The minister for Defence and National Service, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, told the National Assembly yesterday that his ministry has also set Sh12.6billion for the National Service during the current financial year.
Dr Mwinyi was replying to Ms Aziza Sleyum (Special seats-CCM) who had wanted to know what efforts was the government taking to help TPDF soldiers who are living in indecent houses in Tabora Region. The minister admitted that there were serious problems of poor housing for army men in the barracks throughout the country.
He said that his ministry was trying to resolve the problem by making sure that a handsome budget is allocated for the construction soldiers' houses. Dr Mwinyi said each year his ministry has been allocating budget for the construction and rehabilitation of houses for the army men, adding that Sh5billion was set in the 2008/09, and Sh33.5billion in 2009/10.
Source: The Citizen, Tuesday, 13th July 2010
Economic empowerment moves to higher stage
THE government is broadening economic growth and poverty reduction strategies in the country under the second phase of MKUKUTA, the National Assembly was told on Tuesday.
The Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Mr Mustafa Mkulo, said preparation of implementation guidelines of the second phase of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Alleviation (MKUKUTA II) was going on.
Moving his ministry's budget estimates for 2010/2011 financial year, the minister said the government would continue to supervise activities of the economic empowerment policy by focusing on areas set to boost growth of the economy.
He said the Economic Empowerment Act, 2004 is to be reviewed to give the investment board powers to plan, co-ordinate and follow up implementation of empowerment programmes.
He told the House that efforts were being made to strengthen the Tanzania Inter-Bank Settlement System (TISS) and enhance financial control in ministries, departments, regions and local authorities.
Source: Daily News Wednesday 14th 2010
Tanzania can compete in EA market, says don
The government has been advised to identify and promote the East African Common Market, the products in which it has an edge over its partners.
The University of Dar es Salaam Dean of the Business School Dr Marcellina Chijoriga made the remarks in Dar es Salaam at the weekend after a public lecture on the Economy of the.She said Tanzania, like other countries would benefit from the common market which comprises more than 120 million people if it will adopte focused strategies to utilize the market.
"It is true that Tanzania is still lagging behind in the industrial sector when compared to a country like Kenya, so it is upon it to identify products which will have competitive advantage in the market." said Dr. Chijoriga.
Dr. Chijoriga said that Tanzania has many opportunities which can distinguish it from other member countries in the Common Market, because there were products which are produced in Tanzania but people think that they are from the neighbouring countries.
Source; The Guardian Monday 19th July,2010
Small entrepreneurs get 6.6 bn/- boost,
THE government has dished out 6.6bn/- capital subsidies to 1,644 entrepreneurs, calling upon beneficiaries to use the monies on intended purposes so as to boost the country's economy.
The subsidies were awarded in Dar es Salaam on Saturday by the Minister of State in the President's Office (Good Governance), Ms Sophia Simba, on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete at the climax of four-day entrepreneurs exhibitions.
This was the second disbursement of subsidies under the Business Development Gateway (BDG) project supervised by Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF). The first dish out was made last year when some 1,136 entrepreneurs received subsidies worth 3.3bn/-.
"It is the government's hope that you will use these subsidies to achieve the intended purposes, failure to do so, you will embarrass yourself and you will also demoralise the government and its partners in this project," she said.
Ms Simba noted that the first round proved very successful, adding that the government achievements in creating 1.3 million employments was largely contributed by BDG as the private sector's contribution stands at 90 per cent. The minister said she was glad to note that 50 per cent of the beneficiaries were women, urging them to continue coming out in big numbers and also encourage more youth groups to establish businesses and join entrepreneur groups.
Source
aily News,Saturday,24th July,2010New farming project keen to boost output
A NEW project to boost small-scale farmers' production through mixed farming and improved soil fertility has been launched in Arusha and is set to benefit 50,000 peasants in selected districts.
''The focus is mostly going to be on an improved variety of pigeon peas which can withstand drought and harsh conditions. The peas also can be inter-cropped with maize,'' said Dr Bashir Jama the Director of Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) which is to execute the three-year project.
Mr Jama said districts that will benefit from the project include Arusha Rural, Meru, Hai, Siha, Babati, Kilosa, Gairo and Kondoa where more than 50,000 farmers, especially women will have access to technical outreach support, fertilizers, seedlings and markets.
''It is also a good idea that the legumes, in addition to helping introducing nitrogen into the soil, also grow alongside maize plants -- the most prized crop in the country because around 80 per cent of farmers depend on maize,'' said Mr Shirima.
The Arusha RC pointed out that the project complements the nation's latest drive to boost the agriculture sector through the 'Kilimo Kwanza' (Agriculture First) initiative.
A farmer from Babati, Ms Rose Fratern Muriang' said that the demand for pigeon peas is at its highest with a 100-kilo bag fetching between 140,000/-and 160,000/- and already farmers rely on the improved variety of the legume as their most reliable cash crop.
Source
aily News,Wednesday,28th July,2010POLITICAL ISSUE
Massive CCM vote for Kikwete
INCUMBENT Union President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete was nominated by the Special Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Congress to seek another five yearterm. He won a massive 1,893 votes out of the 1,909 votes cast. Only 16 voters said "No". Announcing the results of the vote, Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume said Mr Kikwete has accorded him an overwhelming 99.16 per cent of all the votes.
He said that only 16 votes (0.84 per cent) said "No" to Mr Kikwete's bid. And in a dramatic manner, Mr Kikwete announced the appointment of Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal his running mate in the general elections.
Dr Bilal received a resounding ‘yes' from the congress delegates. Dr Bilal was born on February 6, 1945, in Unguja. He is a scientist who obtained his first degree in nuclear science from Howard University in the United States in 1967. Dr Bilal was appointed Zanzibar Chief Minister by President Salmin Amour in 1995. During 2000 general election, he contested the Zanzibar presidency but lost
Source Dailuy News, Sunday 11th July 2010
Kikwete says ‘thank you'
CCM National Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, has thanked his party for enabling him to fly the national flag around the country on his campaign trail. He said that if he emerges victorious during the October 31 elections he would lead the country with greater zeal, greater speed and greater vigour. He used the occasion to introduce Dr Ali Mohamed Shein as the presidencial aspirant in Zanzibar on the CCM ticket.
Mr Shein was nominated presidential contender on the CCM ticket on Saturday by the ruling party's National Executive Committee (NEC). He will face the Secretary General of the Civic United Front (CUF), Mr Seif Sharif Hamad in the struggle for the Isles presidency.
Dr Shein praised Mr Kikwete for his popularity and massive victory in the Congress vote. "Indeed, you deserve another term as President of this country," Dr Shein said. He said he was overwhelmed by the honour accorded to him and the electoral challenges that lie ahead. He promised to conduct a decent campaign during which he will not abuse his opponent or other people.
Source
aily News Monday July 12, 2010Kikwete names Dr Bilal running mate
JK receives 99.16 of CCM conference votes to vie for Union presidency Shein pledges to unit Zanzibaris for progress, to resolve pending issues
President Jakaya Kikwete who was overwhelmingly endorsed by CCM to pursue a second presidential term yesterday named Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal as his running mate. Dr Bilal, a former Chief Minister of Zanzibar, was one of the aspirants for the Zanzibar presidency who made it to the final three, but Dr Ali Mohamed Shein was endorsed for the race.
The announcement came at the end of the president's speech to acknowledge his party's endorsement list achievements over the last five years and plans ahead, including that of building the Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agricultural Sciences.
Some delegates interviewed commended President Kikwete's choice of Dr Bilal as his running mate saying it would help to consolidate peace and harmony in Zanzibar. Jenista Mhagama, a legislator and AFP Chairman, Saidi Sudi said Kikwete's wisdom of picking Bilal as running mate would enhance peace and harmony as key agenda in the country. Dr Bilal was born on February 6, 1945 in Unguja.
Source: The Guardian Monday,12th July,2010.
CCM cadre donates Sh100m to Chadema
A staunch supporter of the Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, businessman Mustafa Jaffar Sabodo, yesterday contributed Sh100 million to the opposition Chadema "to strengthen democracy in Tanzania".
Mr Sabodo presented a cheque for the the donation to Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe, who was accompanied secretary-general Willibrod Slaa and the party's director of finance, Mr Anthony Komu.
A press statement issued by Chadema yesterday in Dar es Salaam quoted Mr Sabodo as saying that although he was a cadre of the ruling CCM, he wanted liked see that a strong opposition and thriving democracy in the country.
The statement, signed by Chadema director of communications and publicity Erasto Tumbo, said Mr Sabodo termed Chadema as "a serious opposition party". The businessman has not hesitated to criticise the CCM government, particularly on good governance issues.
Source: The Citizen, Tuesday, 13th July 2010 (Daily News 13th July 2010)
TLP picks Mgaywa presidential candidate
THE Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) yesterday picked Mr Muttamwega Mgaywa as its presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections on October 31. Mr Mgaywa is a former Member of Parliament for Mwibara Constituency in Mara Region and was declared the winner in the race by the TLP National Chairman, Mr Augustino Mrema, at the national congress held in Dar es Salaam.
He scooped 73 votes, representing 91.7 per cent, defeating Mr Macmillan Lyimo who managed 11. Announcing the results, Mr Mrema congratulated the two presidential bidders for demonstrating that democracy exists in the party.
He asked them to work together for the interest of the party and the nation. "I am happy now that TLP has a candidate. I urge you to render him all the support for the party to win with flying colours," he said.
Mr Mrema who announced his intention to run for Member of Parliament in Vunjo Constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, told the delegates that had TLP been a company as propagated by some people he called 'party enemies,' then they would have stopped operations long time ago.
Source: Daily News, Tuesday 13th July 2010
MPs advises govt to expand tax sources
The Parliament Committee on Finance and Economy yesterday advised the government ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to create new sources of income and to enhance tax collection in efforts to build an independent economy.
Contributing to the Finance and Economic Affairs Budget tabled in the House yesterday, the committee's chairman, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, said the ministry needs to explore new strategies to boost tax collection from different sources instead of relying on traditional sources.
He said during the 2009/2010 fiscal year for example, the government failed to reach its tax collection target and that such a situation leads to a debt burden on the government unnecessarily.
The ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs had planned to collect Sh5096.016 billion during the financial year which was 16.4 per cent of the national income, but until April this year, it managed to collect only Sh3821.162 billion.
Among other reasons, the committee advised the government to stem out mismanagement of the public funds, which has become a chronic problem in public funds management.
Source: The Citizens, Thursday 14th July 2010
CCJ leaders now join Chadema
Leaders of the new political party, CCJ yesterday crossed to Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), ahead of the country's General Election on October, 31, this year.The CCJ leaders were officially received by Chadema national chairman, Freeman Mbowe, at the party's headquarters in Dar es Salaam.
On the list of CCJ leaders who moved to Chadema included the party's chairman, Richard Kiyabo, deputy secretary general-Mainland, Dickson Ng'hily, and Fred Mpendazoe, spokesperson of the part
The former CCJ leaders announced their intention to vie for parliamentary seats on Chadema's ticket in the forthcoming elections. Ng'hily said he planned to stand in Temeke constituency while Kiyabo plans to run in Bukene constituency and Mpendazoe in newly constituted Segerea constituency.
Presenting an official statement on behalf of others, Fred Mpendazoe, said their decision was prompted by lack of time for CCJ to secure permanent registration and prepare for the election.
Source: Daily news Monday,19th July,2010
Kikwete touts clean elections
THE National CCM Chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, has reiterated the need for election of leaders are visionary, competent and clean in the forthcoming general elections. Addressing CCM members, supporters and well-wishers at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam on, the president also underscored the role of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in delivery of clean, free and fair elections at every stage.
He insisted that Voters must be given the opportunity to freely and fairly elect leaders of their own choice anad process aspirants must be scrutinised transparently and judged on merit. Voters know good leaders corruption should not be allowed to influence them. "Any one who will be implicated in corrupt practices during the electoral process will face the music," he said.
President Kikwete, who was flanked by his running mate, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal and Zanzibar CCM presidential candidate, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein at the grand reception, urged the party aspirants for various positions to be well versed with the CCM 2010 Elections Manifesto.
Source: Daily news Monday,19th July,2010
TSN staff eyes election on CCM ticket
A LIBRARIAN with the Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN), publishers of 'Daily News' and 'HabariLEO', has announced her intention to become a Member of Parliament through the Special Seats of the CCM-women wing (representing people with physical disabilities) during the coming general elections in October.
Ms Zaituni Saeedia (39), told reporters in Dar es Salaam on Monday that she would work on the multilateral and regional contracts on the disabled peoples' rights to be implemented in the country, saying once elected she would ensure that the policies and Laws enacted carried views of the disabled rights and interest.
"I will make sure that global and regional contracts and declarations on the disabled rights and interests are incorporated in the countries laws and implemented," she said. she believes that having a malfunctioning part of the body is not a hurdle for the disabled to take part in development because the disabled could work as any human being.
"I want to bring the revolution to the society by showing that being physically impaired is not a hurdle for that person to nfluence development by changing their way of living and become proactive," she noted.
Source: Daily News Tuesday,20th July.2010
'Yes' push hots up ahead of Z'bar referendum
Supporters of the referendum slated for July 31 have launched massive campaign to rally people behind their move as those opposed to the proposition of forming a government of national unity fails to come in the open.
The ‘yes' camp campaign was launched in Pemba on Sunday in a well attended concert and yesterday a number of rallies were held in various areas in the island to sensitize people to give a not to the proposals contained in the referendum. The concert was partly funded by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD). Some of the funds provided by the Centre were used to purchase campaign materials such as posters.
Addressing one such rally, the Civic United Front (CUF) secretary general, Mr Seif Shariff Hamad, said ‘yes' vote in the referendum would help to cement Zanzibar unity. He said Zanzibar has reached a point where it needs a government of national unity to solve its prolonged political problems.
"The government of national unity is needed for the interests of Zanzibaris and the country," he said noting that the referendum was historical move which has been facilitated by the House Representative enactment of the law.
Source: The Citizens, Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Police enlightened on poll rules
THE Police Force has been warned against taking sides during the coming national general elections in October. The Registrar of Political Parties, Mr John Tendwa, said this On Wednesday in Dar es Salaam when addressing print media correspondents, who were attending a threeday training session organized by the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF).
Mr Tendwa said that police have often been the source of conflicts because they misuse the law. Some allow illegal public rallies and campaigns to take place. He said that the police have the power to deny or allow campaigning chance to any contestant.
To avoid double allocation of campaign ground to political parties, they have to be fair and be bold enough to tell the campaigners what to do," he said. "The law guides the police to either allow or allocate another place if the appointed one has been taken over by another person.
Trouble often erupts when police come with their bombs and guns to chase away campaigners who are in the wrong area," he said. In making sure that the police do not cause conflicts, he said, the office is in the process of compiling the do's and don'ts of the coming general elections starting in Zanzibar next Monday.
Source: Daily News, Thursday July 22, 2010
Tendwa probing CCM over 'early' compaigns
The Registrar of Political Parties office is investigating allegations that some political parties, including the ruling CCM, are engaging in premature campaigns, which is illegal. Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Political Parties Registrar John Tendwa said his office has received numerous complaints from different parties that are accusing one another of starting campaigns ahead of schedule.
According to a timetable issued by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), official campaigns for the October 31 General Election kick off on August 20, to end on October 30. Though Mr Tendwa avoided naming any political party, he confirmed that his office has received complaints from some parties, alleging that some of their rivals have already embarked on serious campaigns before the August 20 whistle.
"We are following up these allegations and if we establish they are genuine, we will take actions according to the laws," said Mr Tendwa when addressing a group of journalists attending training at Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) offices in Dar es Salaam.
Source: The Citizen, Thursday, 22 July 2010
14 parties sign electoral code of conduct
FOURTEEN political parties have signed the elections code of conduct which is aimed at ensuring that the forthcoming general elections are free and fair. Some major political parties did not send representatives to sign the code of conduct.
The parties that were not represented at the signing are Chadema, DP and UDP. CUF said it needed more time to scrutinise the code, while African Progressive Party of Tanzania (APPT-Maendeleo) said it was not impressed with the document.
The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Justice Lewis Makame, said that the code of conduct was aimed at allowing the country to have free and fair elections.
He said that parties which would not sign the code of conduct were not going to be allowed to participate in the campaigns and all candidates for various seats are required to sign the code individually. He said that even if the party did not sign, candidates must vow to abide to the code.
The Code outlines the dos and don'ts in the campaign process. The code recognised Kiswahili as the official language for campaigns and that tribal languages will only be used wherever necessary and there must be a translator.
Source
aily News Tuesday,27th July,2010Chadema, CUF face poll ban
Chadema and CUF will be barred from the General Election if they fail to sign the Election Code of Conduct before August 20, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
They are among five opposition parties that did not sign the document at a meeting organised by the NEC in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Others parties at risk of being locked out of the October 31 elections are the Democratic Party (DP), United Democratic Party (UDP) and PPT-Maendeleo.Contacted for comment, UDP chairman John Cheyo told The Citizen that he had not been informed of the meeting.
"I'm hearing this for the first time from you... no one bothered to inform me or any other UDP leader of this important meeting...the party doesn't have any information whatsoever," he said.
But NEC director of elections Rajabu Kiravu dismissed the claims, saying it sent invitations to all political parties last Thursday.
"NEC has no reason to discriminate against some parties…we treat them equally…we sent out invitation letters, which were all received by the parties they were addressed to," he said, adding that parties and candidates that would not sign the Code of Conduct would be barred from the elections.
CUF representatives attended yesterday's meeting, but refused to sign the document on the grounds that they needed more time to go through it before the party agreed to the guidelines.
The party's director of human rights, Mr Mtatiro Julius, said they were not ready to sign as they were provided with the document a few hours earlier.
"We received the document this morning. We haven't even gone through it, and it will be ridiculous to sign something you haven't read thoroughly and understood," he said, and asked the NEC to give the party adequate time to peruse and digest the code.
Chadema and DP could not sign the document because they were not represented at the meeting.
Contacted later, Chadema's director of foreign affairs, Mr John Mnyika, said party officials had received the document from NEC and were perusing it.
"We have noted that some sections which we suggested should be changed have not been amended...we are still consulting with our lawyers to establish the effects of such sections," he said, adding that Chadema would issue a statement later.
A PPT-Maendeleo representative, Ms Elizabeth Swaganya refused to sign the Code of Conduct, saying there was no point doing so as the authorities had already failed to enforce what was contained in the document.She said while the NEC was insisting that the document be signed, some parties were blatantly ignoring the guidelines.
Source: The Citizens, Wednesday, 28th July, 2010
NCCR-Mageuzi picks Rungwe presidential candidate
THE opposition party NCCR-Mageuzi joined the race for the Union presidency on Tuesday by picking Mr Hashim Rungwe (61) its candidate, who vowed to invest in moral integrity if elected in the October general elections.
The candidate, who is a seasoned politician said that fight against corruption, negligence and lack of nationalism would be his top priorities.
Speaking to reporters soon after collecting the presidential nomination forms, the aspirant, who is also a renowned lawyer and human rights activist, said that he will spearhead the struggle to build a nation entrenched in the highest moral values.
"If I get the blessings from my party and elected to the presidency I will ensure that moral values are inculcated at all levels of the society, including children, youth and adults," he stressed.
The High Court advocate also said that education will be another priority because for any nation to be able to make their leaders fulfil their day to day commitments, its people need quality education which will make the citizens critical and analytical.
"In order to build a nation of such calibre and to ensure that high development levels are achieved, if elected in the forthcoming elections, we will start a programme "Mwanzo Wenye Nguvu (A strong beginning)," said Mr Rungwe.
He explained that this programme will ensure that every mother who is expecting to bring a new citizen in this nation, the issue of health and nutrition to both mother and child will be addressed as an initial step and priority in order to achieve a healthy nation..
Source
aily News Wednesday,28th July,2010NCCR-Mageuzi member collects presidential nomination forms
Mr Hashim Rungwe, yesterday became the first NCCR-Mageuzi member to pick presidential nomination forms for the October 31 General Election.According to the party's head of campaign, organisation and elections, Mr Faustine Sungura, the party is set to pick its presidential candidate on Saturday.
Mr Rungwe, who is also the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) member, said he would be to remove all bad and outdated laws, if elected the president."If elected, I will make sure that I remove laws which favour some political parties," he said after picking the nomination forms.
"All parties should be entitled to subsidies to enable them grow," he said querying: "How would the party grow if they are not given the money?"
If nominated by his party, the 61-year-old High Court advocate who joined NCCR-Mageuzi in 2000, would challenge the incumbent, President Jakaya Kikwete; Civic United Front (CUF) chairman, Prof Ibrahim Lipumba; Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), former MP, Mr Mutamwega Mugahywa; and Chadema secretary general Dr Willibrod Slaa.
For his part, the NCCR-Mageuzi head of ideology, policy and training, Mr George Kahangwa, commended the Prevention and Convention Corruption Bureau (PCCB) for ‘a job well done' during the ruling party's (CCM) preliminary nomination process.
Source:The Citizen Wednesday,28th July,2010
Mrs Sitta in PCCB dragnet
THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) here is interrogating 10 people, including the Minister for Community Development, Gender, and Children, Ms Margaret Sitta, on suspicion of bribing party members with cash and mobile phones to solicit votes.
Ms Sitta, who is the wife of the Speaker of Parliament and Urambo East MP, Mr Samuel Sitta, is among the aspirants for the parliamentary special seats in Tabora Region through the party's women's wing.
Briefing reporters here on Wednesday, the Acting Regional PCCB Commander, Mr Bruno Rwenyagira, said that the suspects were arrested on Tuesday at around 1:55am at a guest house known as Camise situated in Cheyo A area, 100 meters from the regional PCCB office.
He named other suspects nabbed alongside the minister as the Uyui District Youth Secretary, Julius Kilimanjaro, Ipuri Ward CCM Secretary, Lucas Simwanza, Lutende Ward UWT Secretary party's Elizabeth Kondora and the ward's UWT Chairperson, Catherine Sepetu.
Other persons held are a CCM guard, Michael Manyanda, a teacher at Majengo Primary School, Mary Joseph, Uyui CCM District Publicity Secretary, Rashid Abdalla, a guard with CCM, Abdul Kayamba and the minister's driver, Cosmas Urio.
The PCCB official further said that the minister was caught in possession of seven mobile phone handsets, 1,015,000/- cash and 145 empty envelopes.
Source
aily News Thursday,July 29,2010ZEC urged to conduct free, fair referendum
Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary General Seif Sharif Hamad yesterday challenged the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to be fair, ethical and respect the decision of people of Zanzibar after the July 31 referendum in order to avert political squabbling in the Isles.
The referendum, scheduled for this Saturday, will allow people of Zanzibar to say 'yes' or 'no' to the formation of a government of national unity in the Isles. The expected national unity government will be formed after the forthcoming general election.
"ZEC needs to make sure that the decision of the majority people of Zanzibar is respected. It has to be fair and ethical in co-coordinating and supervising the referendum," said Hamad at a news conference yesterday.
According to the CUF secretary general, the presence of internal and external observers and the decision to count votes at each polling station would go a long way to getting the results on time.
Despite fierce criticism from some sections of the community, most people, including clerics, academicians and political and government leaders, have widely supported a 'yes' vote so as to pave the way to the formation of a national unity government.
"Many people of Zanzibar are expected to say 'yes', with the exception of a few people who are against the formation of national unity government in the Isles," said Hamad, criticizing people who are circulating posters and flyers to instigate people to vote 'no'
Source: The Guardian Thursday,July29,2010
