Invisible
Robot
- Feb 11, 2006
- 9,075
- 7,878
The media in Tanzania this week highlight how events in the year 2009 could shape the country's political landscape this year.
According to the privately-owned Citizens newspaper, "Tanzanians should bear in mind that peace is of paramount importance in the run-up to the 2010 general election although political upheavals are nothing unusual in fledgling democracy."
The paper cautioned "It's likely that the 2010 general election will, to a large extent, be shaped by political events that happened in 2009," noting that 2009 would forever be linked with deep divisions within the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which threatened to split the once seemingly rock-steady party down the middle.
According to the paper, some CCM members did the unthinkable by suggesting that the party should not nominate the incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete to fun for a second and final five-year term.
"The political landscape is likely to change after a number of prominent opposition leaders opted to run for parliamentary seats instead of the presidency.
"Some CCM members of parliament, particularly those who have been vocal against grand corruption, are crying foul, claiming that 'dirty money' is being poured into their constituencies to influence voters to reject them. This has set the stage for interesting developments next year," the daily wrote in its editorial.
Turning to another sensitive issue (the misuse of the tax payers' money), the Citizen welcomed the ban on unproductive foreign travels slapped by Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Shamsa Mwangunga on her ministry's non-core staff.
The minister's directive, according to the paper, is "highly commendable" and sh ould be emulated by all government ministries and public organizations in Tanzania because foreign travels are very costly.
Mwangunga's decision comes amid growing criticism of the government spending billions of tax payers' money on endless foreign trips.
Another privately-owned paper, The Guardian, highlighted the 'uneasy' relations between some local communities and foreign investors in Tanzania.
According to the daily broadsheet, increasing rifts between the two sides may explain recent economic reports by international bodies showing Tanzania as lagging behind its neighbours in attracting foreign investors.
"While the official explanation for the drop in performance in this crucial economic area is the failure to execute pro-business reforms, the negative perception of the investors by the majority of Tanzanians may be a major stumbling block," said the daily.
The government-owned Daily News this week highlighted the ongoing registration of cell phone lines subscribers, saying that the move would restore order in the a lready-chaotic situation in Tanzania.
Noting that the order for the registration was long overdue, the paper said that the mobile phone scene in the country has reached a point whereby sim cards and recharging vouchers are sold anywhere, including on street pavements.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced that a law that would make registration of Sim cards mandatory is being drafted.
The number of cell phone subscribers in Tanzania has shot up from 300,000 to 14.09 million over the past eight years. There are six mobile phone service providers operating in the country.
As the year 2009 came to a close, the Daily News reminded Tanzanian leaders of their obligation to abide by the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act of 1995 that requires them to declare and register their assets with the Ethics Secretariat.
Source: PANA - Jan 02, 2010
According to the privately-owned Citizens newspaper, "Tanzanians should bear in mind that peace is of paramount importance in the run-up to the 2010 general election although political upheavals are nothing unusual in fledgling democracy."
The paper cautioned "It's likely that the 2010 general election will, to a large extent, be shaped by political events that happened in 2009," noting that 2009 would forever be linked with deep divisions within the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which threatened to split the once seemingly rock-steady party down the middle.
According to the paper, some CCM members did the unthinkable by suggesting that the party should not nominate the incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete to fun for a second and final five-year term.
"The political landscape is likely to change after a number of prominent opposition leaders opted to run for parliamentary seats instead of the presidency.
"Some CCM members of parliament, particularly those who have been vocal against grand corruption, are crying foul, claiming that 'dirty money' is being poured into their constituencies to influence voters to reject them. This has set the stage for interesting developments next year," the daily wrote in its editorial.
Turning to another sensitive issue (the misuse of the tax payers' money), the Citizen welcomed the ban on unproductive foreign travels slapped by Natural Resources and Tourism Minister Shamsa Mwangunga on her ministry's non-core staff.
The minister's directive, according to the paper, is "highly commendable" and sh ould be emulated by all government ministries and public organizations in Tanzania because foreign travels are very costly.
Mwangunga's decision comes amid growing criticism of the government spending billions of tax payers' money on endless foreign trips.
Another privately-owned paper, The Guardian, highlighted the 'uneasy' relations between some local communities and foreign investors in Tanzania.
According to the daily broadsheet, increasing rifts between the two sides may explain recent economic reports by international bodies showing Tanzania as lagging behind its neighbours in attracting foreign investors.
"While the official explanation for the drop in performance in this crucial economic area is the failure to execute pro-business reforms, the negative perception of the investors by the majority of Tanzanians may be a major stumbling block," said the daily.
The government-owned Daily News this week highlighted the ongoing registration of cell phone lines subscribers, saying that the move would restore order in the a lready-chaotic situation in Tanzania.
Noting that the order for the registration was long overdue, the paper said that the mobile phone scene in the country has reached a point whereby sim cards and recharging vouchers are sold anywhere, including on street pavements.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced that a law that would make registration of Sim cards mandatory is being drafted.
The number of cell phone subscribers in Tanzania has shot up from 300,000 to 14.09 million over the past eight years. There are six mobile phone service providers operating in the country.
As the year 2009 came to a close, the Daily News reminded Tanzanian leaders of their obligation to abide by the Public Leadership Code of Ethics Act of 1995 that requires them to declare and register their assets with the Ethics Secretariat.
Source: PANA - Jan 02, 2010
