Diaspora in US 2010 - a lot to like

[Mwafrika]

Nimehudhuria mikutano/sherehe nyingi sana za watanzania walioko nje ya nchi - UK, Canada, Japan, na US. Mengi sana mazuri hutokea ila pia mabaya huwa hayajifichi (muulize Nyani Ngabu akuambie why). Kitu kimoja naweza kusema kuhusu huu mkutano wa Diaspora US 2010, kulikuwa na mengi mazuri yaliyotokea na ambayo wengi walipenda.

Nitaendelea kuweka hapa kama muda utaruhusu, ila kwanza, nilipenda mpango wa NSSF kuhusu kuruhusu watanzania walioko nje ya nchi kushiriki kwenye mfumo wa hifadhi -

MINNEAPOLIS - The National Social Security Fund of Tanzania (NSSF) today unveiled an ambitious welfare scheme for Tanzanians in the Diaspora estimated at 170,000.

The groundbreaking scheme was announced by the NSSF Director of Operations, Mr. Crecentius .J. Magori, when he addressed delegates to the second annual Diaspora Council for Tanzanians in America convention (DICOTA) that is going on this weekend in Minneapolis.

In a well received speech, Mr. Magori qualified his remarks by stating that final details were still pending and were subject to the consultations he will be holding with Diaspora members while in Minneapolis.
Dubbed WESTADI (Welfare Scheme for Tanzanians in Diaspora), the scheme is targeted to cover at least 5% of the Diaspora.

The scheme which is modeled in the form of an insurance policy will provide for outpatient and in-patient medical services to members and their families back in Tanzania. A low annual premium of $200 will provide coverage for the insured and up to four dependents while in Tanzania and include those left behind in Tanzania.

"Medical services will be provided by accredited and reputable medical providers", said Mr. Magori.

A section of his presentation that drew the most applause was when he announced that part of the proposed scheme will cover the transportation of the human remains of a member back to Tanzania and that the benefit package will also provide for an air ticket for one individual to accompany the remains.
"The days of calling a mchango (fundraiser) to send a body home will be history", he declared to cheers from the audience.

Other benefits to accrue from the scheme will include the provision of an airline ticket to a sick member to go back to Tanzania. A ticket will also be provided to a person accompanying the sick member.

On how premiums for the new scheme will be collected, Mr. Magori said the NSSF is in negotiations with Stanbic Bank, part of the Standard Chartered Bank system for the management and collection of premiums. The idea of using a multinational bank seemed to trouble some in the audience who felt there could be other more convenient and cost-effective ways "such as PayPal" one delegate offered.

Whichever way the premiums were remitted did not appear to trouble North Carolina physician Dr. Kurwa Nyigu as long as they were efficient. “These are things to be explored whether it’s PayPal or standard Banks,” Nyigu said.

Nyigu who was also a delegate to the inaugural DICOTA Houston convention last year was impressed by NSSF's presentation at that convention which led her to visit NSSF’s office in Tanzania while on vacation last year. Nyigu was impressed with the tremendous changes the NSSF has made in this year’s convention and how much NSSF officials have listened to her suggestions as a member of the Tanzanian Diaspora.

“The first convention was more ideas without a clear plan,” Nyigu said. “This year’s convention is more detailed and engaging."

Source ni local paper ya minneapolis - Mshale News

 

[Mkandara]

Mkuu haya maneno lakini kitu kimoja tu hivi mbona tunashughulikia sana maswala ya KUFA badala ya UZALISHAJI?..Kwa nini sisi Watanzania tuna mila za kutukuza zaidi hariusi na vifo kutoa michango yetu badala ya kufikiria uwezekano wa sisi Watanzania kufungua mabanda ya biahsara ambayo yanauza mali zetu huku nje iwe Nyama, samaki, korosho, Khanga, vitenge, vinyago, ofisi za Utalii na hata matunda yetu kama ndizi, machungwa, embe na kadhalika.

Majuzi tu nimetembelea duka la Wazaire hapa mjini wanauza hadi Nyama ya nyani waliokaushwa nikapigwa butaa kuyaona haya huku majuu lakini ndio wanafanya wenzetu. Sisi tunabakia majungu na kukutana siku za kifo na harusi tu vipi Wabongo?

Sawa, sikatai umuhimu wa kurudisha mwili wa marehemu nyumbani lakini sidhani kama hii ni hoja kubwa sana inayotukwaza kama tukiweza kuzalisha fedha ktk Jumuiya zetu nadhani tunaweza kabisa ku afford expenses kama hizi. Na ndio maana ukiwauliza watu nyumbani kuhusiana na duo citizenship wanashindwa kuelewa mchango wa Diasporas ktk kuendeleza nchi yetu... mimi nadhani imefika wakati tujifunze toka kwa Diasporas wenzetu wanao ongeza pato la nchi zao kwa wao wenyewe kutumia Uraia wao kununua mali za nchi zao na kuziuza nje pasipo kusubiri wageni wafikirie wajaribu ili kutafuta soko la mali hizo..

Mwisho, kulingana na mpango uliopo sasa hivi kwa nini hao NSSF wasifungue online banking wenyewe badala ya kupitia banks nyinginezo hali inawezekana kabisa kuhamisha fedha kwa credit cards (visa or Mastercard) ili kurahisisha kwa Watanzania wote waishio nchi za nje?

Wakuu zangu I would love to be part ya hii DICOTA lakini kama kawaida yetu hiki ni chombo cha Marekani...Na sijui kama wizara ya mambo ya nje chini ya Mh. Membe wamefikiria kuunda chombo cha kitaifa chini ya wizara yake ambacho kiwe na vichwa kama kina Mkandara hapa! - Haaa! haaa! haaa!

 

[Mwafrika]

Mkuu haya maneno lakini kitu kimoja tu hivi mbona tunashughulikia sana maswala ya KUFA badala ya UZALISHAJI?..Kwa nini sisi Watanzania tuna mila za kutukuza zaidi hariusi na vifo kutoa michango yetu badala ya kufikiria uwezekano wa sisi Watanzania kufungua mabanda ya biahsara ambayo yanauza mali zetu huku nje iwe Nyama, samaki, korosho, Khanga, vitenge, vinyago, ofisi za Utalii na hata matunda yetu kama ndizi, machungwa, embe na kadhalika.

Mkandara,

Samahani sikupata muda kujibu hii on time.

Ingawa mimi si msemaji wa DICOTA au wa watanzania wote wa diaspora, jibu la swali lako ni kwamba, yaliyoongelewa ni mengi sana - ya biashara na vitu vingine. Nimesema nitaweka mengine kadri muda utakavyoruhusu.

Majuzi tu nimetembelea duka la Wazaire hapa mjini wanauza hadi Nyama ya nyani waliokaushwa nikapigwa butaa kuyaona haya huku majuu lakini ndio wanafanya wenzetu. Sisi tunabakia majungu na kukutana siku za kifo na harusi tu vipi Wabongo?

Kwa taarifa yako, wafanyabiashara wa kitanzania wanaoishi marekani ni wengi hata mimi nilishangazwa sana na idadi yao. Kuna bwana mmoja alipewa tuzo ya kuwa mjasiriamali bora hapa US, ana business ya usafirishaji inayoingiza zaidi ya dola milioni moja kwa mwaka.

Kuna mengi sana watanzania wanafanya ila huwa hayasikiki.

Sawa, sikatai umuhimu wa kurudisha mwili wa marehemu nyumbani lakini sidhani kama hii ni hoja kubwa sana inayotukwaza kama tukiweza kuzalisha fedha ktk Jumuiya zetu nadhani tunaweza kabisa ku afford expenses kama hizi. Na ndio maana ukiwauliza watu nyumbani kuhusiana na duo citizenship wanashindwa kuelewa mchango wa Diasporas ktk kuendeleza nchi yetu... mimi nadhani imefika wakati tujifunze toka kwa Diasporas wenzetu wanao ongeza pato la nchi zao kwa wao wenyewe kutumia Uraia wao kununua mali za nchi zao na kuziuza nje pasipo kusubiri wageni wafikirie wajaribu ili kutafuta soko la mali hizo..

Mkandara,

Ingawa hata mimi sipendi biashara ya kurudisha maiti nyumbani, siwezi pia kukana usumbufu unaopatikana kila mara tunavyohangaika kujaribu kutafuta dola alfu 15 au 20 ili kufanya hivyo. Kama NSSF wanakubali kutusaidia, am all for it

Mwisho, kulingana na mpango uliopo sasa hivi kwa nini hao NSSF wasifungue online banking wenyewe badala ya kupitia banks nyinginezo hali inawezekana kabisa kuhamisha fedha kwa credit cards (visa or Mastercard) ili kurahisisha kwa Watanzania wote waishio nchi za nje?

Magori alisema kila kitu kiko mezani

Wakuu zangu I would love to be part ya hii DICOTA lakini kama kawaida yetu hiki ni chombo cha Marekani...Na sijui kama wizara ya mambo ya nje chini ya Mh. Membe wamefikiria kuunda chombo cha kitaifa chini ya wizara yake ambacho kiwe na vichwa kama kina Mkandara hapa! - Haaa! haaa! haaa!

Unaweza kujiunga tu na DICOTA ... kwenye america tutaongeza s mwishoni ili isomeke americas

 

[Mwafrika]

Kutoka kwenye same source hapo juu ...

Hii ni jinsi issue ya ICT ilivyojadiliwa kwa ufupi

MINNEAPOLIS - Tanzania is in need of more skilled IT personnel and investors to fully exploit the recent landing of the submarine cable in the country, the second annual Diaspora Council for Tanzanians in America convention (DICOTA) in Minneapolis was told during the second day of deliberations on how to harness the resources of the Diaspora for the development of the country.

During a freewheeling discussion on ICT (Information and Communications Technologies), delegates expressed concern over whether Tanzania was maximizing the new fiber optic cable that the country has now acquired and whether all parts of the country were benefitting.

Mr. Philemon L. Luhanjo, Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Tanzania cabinet assured delegates that 16 of the 21 regions in the country have already had access to the fiber optic backbone "and the government has spent $170 million to bring this thing (fiber)" and that the government will eventually roll it out to all the regions soon. The challenge, he said, was that businesses and potential investors have yet to tap into the new opportunities that the fiber optic cable has presented acknowledging the underutilization of the new bandwidth the country enjoys.

"Infrastructure without the human capital will be a waste", said Dr. Negus Adefris, an IT consultant who suggested that one way for the country to overcome and address the IT personnel shortage that the landing of the fiber has revealed is to tap into the many Tanzanian IT professionals that now reside abroad. Dr. Adefris who runs a consulting practice said his company has engaged many such Tanzanian IT professionals "some who own their own companies" he said.

A local physician, Dr. Crispin Semakula, said Tanzania needs to urgently prepare for "systemic use of ICT" as it lays the groundwork on spreading the use of such. He gave examples of how he uses ICT in his Minneapolis practice saying telemedicine could help overcome the lack of physicians in rural Tanzania.

Panelists that included a Sprint IT expert of Tanzanian origin offered a menu of options that Tanzania could choose from as it prepares to use ICT to address the myriad societal and economic challenges the country faces.

Mr. Norbert Safari Leone who owns a construction company in Dar es Salaam and is a delegate to the convention intimated to Mshale that he is an early adopter of ICT in running his business. On why businesses in Tanzania might not be taking advantage of the new fiber optic and the resulting high bandwidth it offers, he said "to be honest the charges (for ICT services) are so high right now that I cannot blame any business for not using it."

His company, Nordic Construction, has to use technology to remain competitive. His hope, he said, is that charges will be more reasonable in the near future to ensure wide adoption by Tanzanian businesses.

Eric Shigongo, CEO of Global Publisher, perhaps put it in context for potential Diaspora investors when in an unscheduled short motivational talk of his rags to riches story following a lively ICT session he said "don't let money stop you, what matters is the idea."

BTW - ninajaribu kuwasiliana na jamaa wa DICOTA kuona kama nitapata habari zaidi (maana hiyo source hapo juu iliweka mambo machache tu kwenye online version ya gazeti lao.

Dj luke ameweka picha kwenye blog yake, najaribu kuwasiliana na mwalimu AB anisadie kuziweka hapa

 

[Gaijin]

kwa nafsi yangu nimekuwa diaspora kwa miaka mingi sana (kumi na mbili hivi) lakini sidhani kama nimesaidia kunyanyua uchumi wa tanzania moja kwa moja.

apart from watalii kadhaa waliokwenda tanzania kutokana na kunijua mimi, na kufunza kiswahili kwa watu wachache..........sidhani kama nimesaidia taifa kwa uwepo wangu nje (moja kwa moja)

uwekezaji niliofanya tanzania ni wa unmovable assets kwa hiyo faida yake kwa taifa ni ndogo

watu tulio diaspora we need more oppoturnities za kusaidia taifa nafikiri ( or maybe it is just me .........)


tungefaidika kwa kupata namna ya utumaji pesa mwepesi zaidi kwa kuanzia

 

[Mwafrika]

kwa nafsi yangu nimekuwa diaspora kwa miaka mingi sana (kumi na mbili hivi) lakini sidhani kama nimesaidia kunyanyua uchumi wa tanzania moja kwa moja.

apart from watalii kadhaa waliokwenda tanzania kutokana na kunijua mimi, na kufunza kiswahili kwa watu wachache..........sidhani kama nimesaidia taifa kwa uwepo wangu nje (moja kwa moja)

uwekezaji niliofanya tanzania ni wa unmovable assets kwa hiyo faida yake kwa taifa ni ndogo

watu tulio diaspora we need more oppoturnities za kusaidia taifa nafikiri ( or maybe it is just me .........)


tungefaidika kwa kupata namna ya utumaji pesa mwepesi zaidi kwa kuanzia

Gaijin,

Hii ya kutuma pesa, kama sikosei CRDB walisema wanaongea na benki za huku ili kurahisiha hii shughuli ya utumaji pesa. CRDB pia wameanza mpango unaowawezesha diaspora kufungua akaunti CRDB wakiwa nje ya nchi.

 

[Mwafrika]

Hii inatoa kwa ufupi yaliyosemwa na Bloom + Luhanjo

MINNEAPOLIS - Tanzania continues to be among the top recipients of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), the bilateral development fund that is run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. agency created under the Bush administration "to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth".

The announcement was made by Jonathan Bloom, MCC's Deputy Vice President during a featured speech at the second annual Diaspora Council for Tanzanians in America convention that got underway this morning.

Compacts, as the large five-year grants that MCC provides to eligible countries, have been instrumental in important projects that have gotten underway in Tanzania. The current five year compact that Tanzania is taking advantage of consists of US$470 million out of the US$7.2 billion that MCC has provided to the 19 countries it is working with currently, easily making the country an important player.

With stringent government, good policies, country ownership, and result, MCC provides effective and deserved foreign assistance to selective countries. "What we support is to provide the basis of these types of opportunities," Bloom said. He said the projects MCC has funded have acted as catalysts to a variety of other projects that Tanzanians have initiated.

Over 300 delegates are gathered in Minneapolis for the convention. Participants like Magabe Maasa came with obscure hope and questions ruminating in his mind. "These are all smart officials," Maasa said. "I don't know why Tanzania is poor."

One of the first speakers this morning was Mr. Philemon L. Luhanjo, Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Tanzania cabinet. He delivered a speech on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete who praised the objectives of DICOTA.

Luhanjo said, "His Excellency said, ‘My promise to you DICOTA, my government and I will give you all the necessary cooperation and support.'"

 

[Mwafrika]

Hii inatoa kwa ufupi yaliyosemwa na Bloom + Luhanjo

MINNEAPOLIS - Tanzania continues to be among the top recipients of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), the bilateral development fund that is run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the U.S. agency created under the Bush administration "to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth".

The announcement was made by Jonathan Bloom, MCC's Deputy Vice President during a featured speech at the second annual Diaspora Council for Tanzanians in America convention that got underway this morning.

Compacts, as the large five-year grants that MCC provides to eligible countries, have been instrumental in important projects that have gotten underway in Tanzania. The current five year compact that Tanzania is taking advantage of consists of US$470 million out of the US$7.2 billion that MCC has provided to the 19 countries it is working with currently, easily making the country an important player.

With stringent government, good policies, country ownership, and result, MCC provides effective and deserved foreign assistance to selective countries. “What we support is to provide the basis of these types of opportunities,” Bloom said. He said the projects MCC has funded have acted as catalysts to a variety of other projects that Tanzanians have initiated.

Over 300 delegates are gathered in Minneapolis for the convention. Participants like Magabe Maasa came with obscure hope and questions ruminating in his mind. “These are all smart officials,” Maasa said. “I don’t know why Tanzania is poor.”

One of the first speakers this morning was Mr. Philemon L. Luhanjo, Chief Secretary and Secretary to the Tanzania cabinet. He delivered a speech on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete who praised the objectives of DICOTA.

Luhanjo said, “His Excellency said, ‘My promise to you DICOTA, my government and I will give you all the necessary cooperation and support.’”

 

[Gaijin]

mwafrika unakumbuka tukaambiwa kuhusu tembo card ya crdb?

hizo pesa utakazo katwa bora hata uipatie city bank na benki nyengine .............

service za utumaji pesa kwa benki za tanzania bado zina makato makubwa mno kulingana na huduma yenyewe