Tanzania, Finland sign mineral research MoU

Minerals and Energy Minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo

 Goverments of Tanzania and Finland on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct researches to identify availability of minerals in the Southern parts of the country.


Under the agreement between the Geological Survey of Tanzania and a Finland based Geological Survey agency, it is expected that the sector in the country will be improved for socio-economic development.

Giving remarks after signing the MoU in Dar es Salaam, Minerals and Energy Minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo said the government has entered the agreement with the Finnish agency so that it can learn from Finland and improve the geological sector in the country.

He said Finland has a lot of experience in the mineral sector and it is an opportunity for local experts to learn from them.

According to him, the country is still short of power but the government is aiming to migrate from the use of hydroelectric power to the use of natural gas, solar power and bio-energy.

He called on investors to invest in the energy sector in the country, saying it still needs more power to speed up economic growth.

Prof Muhongo added that investments in power transmission and distribution are also open for investors.

Earlier on, Prime Minister of Finland, Jyrki Katainen said that relations between the two countries have been good since 1960’s.That is why investors from Finland are operating in various sectors in the country.

The Finnish Premier said research and the use of technology are important aspects of industrial development.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Plans for education for sustainable development in school curriculum

The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) is working to incorporate education for sustainable development in the education curriculum for schools.

The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) is working to incorporate education for sustainable development in the education curriculum for schools, it has been learnt.

A participant in the stakeholders meeting on education for sustainable development held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Aisha Ghuyiya from TIE, said it was working to slot in such education from primary schools to higher learning institutions.

She said if the education is included in the education curriculum children will be made aware of the importance of proper utilization of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

“The process is at a good stage and once completed will help in creating awareness   among members of the public,’ she said.

Ghuhiya advised   stakeholders to use the social media like community radios, television and newspapers to disseminate education to the public. These can now be accessed by most people in contrast with previous years, she said.

For his part, the coordinator of WWF Lake Victoria Catchment Environment Education Program (LCVEEP), Kelvin Robert, said concerted efforts are required to ensure that the society is fully mobilized to know the importance of utilizing the resources for sustainable development.

“It is broadly understood that today’s generation of young adults, more than any proceeding one, is more interconnected and communicative than before.

“This is particularly through the electronic and social media as well as face to face communication. So it is now time to use the youth to spread the education for sustainable development. This is because they are very capable of doing  so,”  Robert noted.

He said the WWF, through youth groups, has changed attitudes of members of the public in the Lake Victoria zone. They are now aware of proper utilization of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

They know how to preserve the environment after getting education for sustainable development, he added.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Mwanza councillors approve 88bn/- for 2014/2015 budget

Mwanza city

Councilors here have endorsed 88bn/- budget for 2014/2015, few days after they rejected the earlier one tabled by the Mwanza City Council demanding for amendment.

Last week, the Mwanza City Council presented 87.3 bn/- budget but it was rejected by the councilors, claiming that it does not reflect the actual demands of the people.

The councilors, both from the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi and the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo instead ordered the city fathers to amend the budget and bring back a realistic one.

The amended budget of 88bn/- was endorsed late Tuesday after a long and heated debate which lasted  four hours, and this was after the city fathers promised to improve it for the betterment of Mwanza residents.

 The issue the construction of a clinic at Utemini took a centre stage at the Full Council meeting chaired by the Deputy Mayor John Minja.

The councilors demanded explanation from the City officials on how the money disbursed by the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) to build the clinic was spent.

Councilor for Igoma Adam Chagulani said unless the councilors get satisfactory explanation on how the money was spent, they would not endorse the budget.

 Chagulani said it would be unfair to milk wananchi to contribute towards the construction of the clinic yet the money was allocated for the purpose. He said all those involved in misappropriating the money should be dealt with accordingly. 

 For his part, councilor for Mirongo Ward Daud Mkama called on city fathers to explain as to why 800m/- was spent without the blessing of the full Council.
Responding to queries raised by the councilors, the City Council Human Resource Officer,

Francis Mkabenga said the council took 850m/- from BOT’s disbursed money and used the same as a guarantor to secure 800m/- from CRDB. He said the money was meant to run the council which was cash strapped.

Mkabenga however, said that they later failed to pay back the money to the CRDB forcing the bank to deduct its money from the 3.1bn/- disbursed by the BOT.

The budget was endorsed after collection from internal revenues was raised to 10bn/- from 9bn/- which was rejected in the earlier proposed budget.

The councilors agreed that the increased amount of 1bn/- from the internal revenue be directed to improve education and health services.

They also challenged the city fathers to increase the scope of revenue collection in order to raise sources of income.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Ambassador Ndagiza chair of APRM Eminent Persons

Former Rwandan Ambassador to Tanzania, Fatma Ndagiza

Former Rwandan Ambassador to Tanzania, Fatma Ndagiza has been appointed new chair of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The panel is the main advisory body to APRM Heads of State and government.

The appointment was announced at the end of the 20th Summit of APRM Heads of State and government held on Wednesday in Addis Ababa.

A press release from APRM headquarters said Ambassador Ndangiza succeeds the outgoing Chairperson of the APR Panel, Barrister Akere Tabeng Muna who served as a panel member from the inception of the Mechanism in 2003 up to this month. Muna was also a team leader of the Tanzanian review process. 

“She was first appointed as member of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons at the 16th Summit of the APR Forum in 2012. She is currently serving as the Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board. Prior to her assumption of these positions, she served as Rwandan Ambassador to Tanzania and was also accredited to Malawi, Zambia, Seychelles and Madagascar,” said the statement.

Speaking after the appointment, Ambassador Ndagiza expressed her commitment to strengthen the Mechanism to greater heights. She said her tenure as the Chairperson of APRM starts at a time when the APRM celebrate its 10th Anniversary and when there is great interest in the replication of the successes of the Mechanism from other Continents. 

Speaking about the appointment in Addis Ababa, the APRM Tanzania Executive Secretary, Rehema Twalib who attended the meeting said apart from the appointment of Ambassador Ndagiza, some more countries joined the APRM and South Africa and Mozambique presented their progress reports.

Tanzania is among the 34 members out of 54 African Union member states who have voluntarily joined the mechanism which seeks to foster accelerated development, adoption of democratic principles and cherishing principles of good governance among member states.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Govt praised for youth fund boost

Acting Director of the Department of Youth Development in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, James Kajugusi.

The government has been hailed for increasing the youth’s fund budget hence opening doors for them to contribute to national development.

Acting Director of the Department of Youth Development in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, James Kajugusi said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Femina Hip Annual Youth Conference in Dar es Salaam, Kajugusi said the government has in this financial year set aside 6.1bn/- for the youth fund to allow more youths benefit from the loans. He noted that funds allocated for youths in previous fiscal years were not enough compared to demand.

“The increased budget in the youths’ fund has opened doors for many youths in groups across the country to easily acquire loans,” said Kajugusi, adding that the government aims to support youths as it recognises their contribution to national development.

He called upon youths across the country to form groups so that they can easily access loans from the youth fund and vijana saccos which have been established in every district. He said through the funds, the youths can engage themselves in entrepreneurial activities instead of waiting for formal employment.

He suggested for the introduction of a subject on entrepreneurial skills in education curriculum and the need for participatory teaching methods to build youths capacity in terms of thinking, innovation and creativity.

“We have invested in youth economic development and mobilisation because we need to have independent fathers and mothers in the future who will be able to run their lives through self employment,” he said.

Femina Board member, Astronaut Bagile called upon the youth to respect and embrace volunteerism especially in social issues without thinking of getting any payment, saying it is the best way for them to improve their skills and create networks that will help them reach their goals.

Raswiu Rashid, a student from Nakake Secondary School in Karagwe said he has learned that volunteerism pays because it helps one sharpen their skills.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Lissu retains Singida East constituency

  Tundu Lissu, Singida East MP

 

The Court of Appeal of Tanzania, Dodoma Zone, yesterday declared Singida East MP Tundu Lissu the legitimate representative for the Constituency.

The Appeal Court reached the decision after dismissing a request filed by the prosecution side.

The prosecution led recently by Wasonga Advocates filed a notice of appeal to the Appeal Court, asking it to review the verdict issued by the High Court of Tanzania in Dodoma that favoured the opposition MP.

However, it later transpired that the two plaintiffs, who appeared at the High Court during the hearing, had sworn not to appeal against the ruling, prompting the prosecution side led by Wassonga Advocates to ask the Court of Appeal to dismiss the notice of appeal through a special request.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal judges, Dodoma Zone, sat to decide on the withdrawal request, upholding the verdict issued by the High Court on April 27 last year.
That aside, the Court of Appeal ruled out that the two plaintiffs should pay all the costs incurred. The second plaintiff was ordered to pay the costs incurred of the Court of Appeal.

The two plaintiffs are Shaban Salema and Pascal Halu who in different periods had pulled out from continuing with the case.

The decision by the Court of Appeal was reached after the two plaintiffs pulled out from the case No 49/2013 that was being heard by a panel of three judges, led by Judge Angela Kileo, Salum Massati and Natalia Kimaro of the same court.

While ruling out the verdict Judge Kileo said the court has accepted the request to remove the appeal by section 4(a) and (d) of the court’s standing order of 2009.

“As per the order 4(a)(d) of the orders of the Court of Appeal of 2009, we have agreed the appeal be removed,” said Judge Kileo
Furthermore, he said alongside the verdict, the second plaintiff Pascal Halu will pay all the costs incurred by Court due to delays he caused to issue a notice at specified time, declining to continue with the case.

“The costs of conducting the case will be paid by the second plaintiff…at the High Court all costs will be paid by both of them as earlier ruled out by the High Court,” said Judge Kileo
Earlier, during the proceedings the two plaintiffs were represented by advocate Godfrey Wassonga, the Judge said the court couldn’t continue with the proceedings as the plaintiffs had pulled out on their own accord.

A legal matter emerged as to who would pay the costs. Legislator Tundu Lissu who represented himself in the defense wanted the court to rule out an advocate defending them to pay all the costs incurred.

Students' enrolment rate in Tanzania schools is high, says UN recent report

Amarakoon Bandara

A recent report on the New Global Partnership by the United Nations affirms that Tanzania has succeeded in students’ enrolment rate for both primary and secondary schools by 90 percent.

Summarizing the report in Dar es Salaam, last week an economic advisor with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Amarakoon Bandara said that Tanzania has succeeded in students’ enrolment despite that the quality of education in the country is extremely poor.

The observation was made at a regular end of Thursday week of every month by the UNDP office in collaboration with the UN Information centre (UNIC) to articulate recommendations of post-2015 development agenda.

The function was attended by students of Saint Joseph Cathedral and Saint Anthony within the perimeter of the city centre and close to UN offices, along with officials of several non-governmental organisations.

‘Fun Thursday’ is a monthly occasion organized with a view to inform youths of various developments geared by the United Nations under the theme ‘Bringing young people closer to the United Nations.’

The report that sets out what has been achieved so far by the international community from various areas indicates how each country signing for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) issued in 2000 had performed up to May this year.

Among the seven areas of the MDGs that Tanzania signed, it has done well in universal primary education whereby enrolment rate is much higher. However, poverty is still a big issue in the country which continues to haunt people especially rural dwellers, not changing since the database of 2001 was laid.

Illustrative statistics by the Ministry of Education show that as from 1961 to 2001 the number of primary school pupils increased nearly tenfold from 486,470 to 4,875,764 but for the period between 2001 and 2012 primary school pupils nearly doubled, rising by 97 percent from 4,875,764 to 8,247,472.

Secondary school students’ enrolment also increased from 11,832 during independence time (1961) to 289,699 in 2001 but the country experienced a sharp increase from 289,699 students in 2001 to 1,884,270 in 2012, with Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) and the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP).

The two programmes saw the massive construction of ward secondary schools,, meant to provide a semblance of education permitting a more self-reliant youthful population, who are rudderless if they are just left aside after finishing primary school.

The new global partnership is a report compiled by the UN Secretary General’s high level panel of eminent persons on the Post-2015 Development agenda that charts out ways on how to eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development.

The group members consisting of 27 persons across the globe were commissioned in July last year and started working on the development agenda beyond 2015 through thematic consultations organized by the UN system and member states in every region.

In Tanzania the exercise was conducted by UNDP in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, focusing on the energy sector.

The two organizations handled the consultations with the help of civil society organizations (CSO) and contacted people to collect views which were carried forward as major agendas after expiry of MDGs set targets in 2015.

The ESRF found out that Tanzania needs abundant energy supply in order to propel national economic activities.

The outcome of the consultation indicated that the poverty stricken situation in the country was a mark of government failure to resolve the situation.

However, Bandara noted also that despite abundant supply of the natural resources in the country, Tanzania faces problems emanating largely from poor management systems.
He said that if the resources were well utilized, the level of poverty in the country would have been reduced to a certain extent and bring down the percentage than is the situation at present.

Deliberations of the panel raise a sense of optimism that 13 years since the start of the new millennium have seen the most rapid reduction in poverty in human history, with half a billion fewer people living below the international poverty line of $1.25 a day.

Children’s death rates have fallen by more than 30 percent with about three million children’s lives saved each year compared to year 2000. Deaths from malaria have fallen by one quarter globally.

This unprecedented progress has been driven by a combination of economic growth, better policies and the global commitment to the MDGs which set out an inspirational rallying cry for the whole world.

The post 2015 agenda of the MDGs is a universal agenda with a practical focus on things like poverty, hunger, water, sanitation, education and healthcare, driven by five big transformative shifts.

The latter were defined as leave no one behind, put sustainable development at the core and transform the economies for jobs and inclusive growth. Others are build peace and effective, open and accountable institutions for all and the last involves forging a new global partnership.

Summarizing the various agenda, Bandara noted that transformation aims at ending extreme poverty in all its forms in human history and ensure that every person achieves a basic standard of well being.

Developed countries have a special role to play, fostering new technologies and making rapid progress in reducing unsustainable consumption by mobilizing social, economic and environmental action together. These could eradicate poverty irreversibly and meet the aspirations of eight billion people in 2030, the UN official added.