MCT unveils media ethics book

Former Attorney General Judge (rtd) Mark Bomani (C) with copy of Guidelines for Teaching Media Ethics, a Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) publication, at annual media ethics symposium in Dsm yesterday.

The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) has unveiled ‘Guidelines for Teaching Media Ethics,’ designed to support local training institutions and journalists in the media industry to abide by professional ethics.

The guidelines were launched by former Attorney General, Judge (rtd) Mark Bomani at a one-day annual media ethics symposium organised by MCT in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
John Mireny MCT's Publication, Research and Documentation Manager said the council produced manuscript to help the industry to fight declining ethics.

While the document will be made available to journalism training institutions, he said the same will be given to newsrooms to be availed to journalists who had not been to journalism training institutions.
Meanwhile Judge Bomani has suggested that one way of reducing the prevalence of crime in Tanzania is to ensure proper custody and use of firearms.

Hed warned against use of such arms by members of the public and security organs, especially the police force to stop people from exercising their basic human rights such as the freedom of expression, belief and assembly and the right to life.

“I don’t think these groups understand their boundaries when it comes to use of firearms,” he said, noting that on several occasions police have opened fire on unarmed crowds.

He said, there are various threats to the peace and security of the country however, key players such as the police force must redefine their scope of power particularly the use of firearms they bear.

Judge Bomani, who has also previously served as Chairperson of MCT Ethics Committee, underlined the intricate part played by the media industry in raising awareness and exposing the extra judicial killings.

“Journalists must work within their professional boundaries…it is media that brings people together and builds unity necessary for the socio-economic development of the nation,” he explained.

Kajubi Mukajanga, MCT secretary general expressed dismay at the recent remarks by the top government leader that according to him, ‘encouraged police brutally’.
According to him ‘journalism is increasingly becoming a dangerous profession in this country….”

He pledged that MCT will continue to work to protect journalists.
Judge Bomani also presented to Mtwara press club, media reflector jackets that will ease their identification while in the field.

MPs cast verbal votes to pass budget

Chadema legislators in the National Assembly in Dodoma yesterday after several days of absence during which they attended the funeral of the party's supporters killed in recent bomb blast at a political

The National Assembly yesterday endorsed the proposed 2013/14 government budget amounting to 18.2 trn/- by direct vote with 235 members supporting it while 35 said no.

Announcing the results, the national assembly clerk said 270 members were in the debating chamber to cast their verbal vote, while 83 others were reported absent.

Finance Minister William Mgimwa when winding up the debate said all pertinent matters pertaining to review of tax on telecommunication services and the decision by the government to scrap Road Toll on motorcycles( Bodaboda) and tricycles( Bajaj) would be explained in the Finance Bill to be tabled in the House either today or
tomorrow.

The government also did not bow to the MPs’ pressure that called for dropping the increased Excide duty and levy on petrol and diesel. In that sense, the public should now brace for tough life in the coming financial year.

According to MPs’ observation, the increased excise duty and fuel levy would now hike the price a litre of petrol by 28 per cent, the decision that would have a spill-over effect on almost all goods and services delivered in the country.

During the debate Members of Parliament had asked the government to drop its decision of increasing tax on fuel and instead retain its earlier proposal of introducing excise duty of 1,450/- on Sim cards per month.

They said since there about 18 million registered SIM cards in the country, the government could collect over 300 billion in 2013/2014 fiscal year.

Yesterday evening Opposition Chief Whip Tundu Lissu told reporters that earlier in the morning police barred them from entering the Parliamentary debating chamber on the grounds that they had put on Chadema party attire.

They said apart being prevented from entering the House yesterday they also felt it was not fair to participate in the last stage of budget endorsement since they were denied the chance to contribute to the financial estimates debate.

They said the debate was supposed to end today ( Tuesday) but Speaker Anne Makinda shortened the debate, denying them an opportunity to participate, taking into account that the were in Arusha region to attend the funeral of their party members who died in the recent bombing.

Meanwhile failure of the country’s economic growth to trickle down to the larger section of the public is caused by slow growth of an agriculture sector that employs three-quarters of the Tanzanian population, the government has stated.

Contributing to the speech for the estimates of government revenue and expenditures for 2013/2014 yesterday in Parliament Minister of State in President’s Office (Social Relations and Coordination) Stephen Wasira said it was true that the country’s economy has maintained steady growth for the past few years but such a growth has failed to have positive impact on majority ordinary citizens.

According to the minister, agricultural sector that employs over 75 per cent of the country’s population has been growing at around 4 per cent on average while other sectors that employ a few numbers of citizens have been recording high growth.

Wasira gave examples of sectors that recorded high growth, ranging between 7and 22 per cent as trade and tourism, mining, construction, telecommunication and financial services.

“Unfortunately, these sectors neither employ the majority of the population nor provide adequate markets for products from the most predominant sectors such as agriculture,” he said.

He said to ensure the overall high growth rate is translated into significant poverty reduction the government would direct more financial and human resources to sectors that employ the majority of the population, increase productivity across-board especially in agriculture, improve business environment in both informal and formal sectors and improve social protection programmes such as TASAF to include conditional cash transfers for targeted groups.

The country’s economic growth increased from 6.4 per cent in 2011 to 6.9 per cent last year while Kenya ’s growth increased from 4.4 per cent to 4.7 per cent.
Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda’s growth rates declined from 8.6, 4.2 and 6.7 per cent in 2011 to 7.7, 4.0 and 2.6 per cent, respectively.

According to an analysis conducted by the Institute of Business Insider of the US, based on World Bank estimates, Tanzania is among the twenty countries with the highest projected compounded annual growth rate from 2013 through 2015.

The minister also spoke on the pressing need to safeguard peace and tranquility, saying with the recent isolated cases of tragic violent incidents, including bombings, every individual irrespective of his/ her political ideology is responsible for maintaining the national heritage.

“In absence of peace and tranquility no development activity can be carried out. Peace and tranquility have no political ideologies. This is a heritage that we must safeguard at all cost,” he said.

He said political parties should compete by selling their policies, including building political arguments to win people and not through inciting violence. “Democracy without discipline is chaos”.

Wasira also said the government was losing billions of through public procurement, saying the legislation must be brought to Parliament for review.
He said procurement of public good through tenders are inflated while in actual sense the prices in the local market are ordinary.

'Union split will benefit no one'

Sudan Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr. Yassir Mohamed Ali

The Sudan Ambassador to Tanzania Dr. Yassir Mohamed Ali says the union predicaments must be resolved by the new constitution for a break-up will not serve good to any party, political or otherwise.

The ambassador revealed this in Dar es Salaam over the weekend in an exclusive interview with this paper saying any separation is a loss to both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.
“God forbid, this will not happen,” he prayed.

“The break-up of Sudan was not good, we were one nation of brothers and sisters yet after the separation about 8million people became foreigners...we let go of 75 percent of oil…it is a loss but we don’t regret it was the price of peace...,” said the diplomat.

The Sudanese envoy cited Tanzania as a symbol of tolerance, peace, love and unity as such the on going talks over thee Union break-up should be viewed with great caution as whichever way the country chooses to go, it will influence the entire region.

He described Tanzania as ‘a peaceful country where any who visits never fills a stranger thanks to hospitality of the people but he warned that should the country divide then it risks creating animosity and hate one for another.

Of recent and past resource based conflict plaguing the continent is due to poor public awareness of government intentions and also cheap political games played by some politicians for self gains.

“Awareness is very important and the people need to see tangible community based results from the discovered resources,” the ambassador noted adding that diversity tolearance is key to unity as well as tolerance and respect to a difference in opinion, look, creed and political affiliations.

In the same accord, Lam Jok Wai Wuor, a former soldier of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in his study “The causes of Sudan’s break up and the Future of South Sudan” attributes the root causes of the breakup of Sudan in 2011 the failure to welcome diversity and tolerance and attempts of the state to impose Arabism and Islamism at the expense of African indigenous cultures.

Sudan, once regarded as the largest country in Africa, broke up into two on July, 9, 2011, after decades of conflict.

The first civil war between the North and the South broke out few months before the independence of Sudan on January 1, 1956 and was settled through peace in 1972. The second Sudanese civil war broke out on May 16, 1983 and lasted until a peace deal was concluded in Naivasha, Kenya on January 9, 2005.

Under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005, South Sudan was given six years interim period before exercising referendum on whether to separate from the rest of the country or confirm unity on a new basis.

Govt again urged to co-run digital, analogue broadcasts

Kasulu�Urban MP Moses Machali (NCCR Mageuzi)

Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) has called upon the government to run analogue and digital broadcasting concurrently to accommodate viewers in a major part of the country being denied their fundamental constitutional right of access to information.

The recommendation is in reaction to the response by the Minister of Communication, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa to a question by Kasulu –Urban MP Moses Machali (NCCR Mageuzi) on whether the government will revert to analogue broadcasting to accommodate the millions who just cannot afford the switch.

Machali reported that a majority of media stakeholders proposed that the two technologies be used simultaneously until 2015 which is the deadline for all countries to effect the migration to exclusive digital broadcasting.

In his response Prof Mbarawa made it clear that the government will not go back to analogue broadcasting because the two years ahead of the compulsory switch will be used to fix any ‘hiccups’ in the switch.

Prof Mbarawa further explained that returning to the broadcasting system will only increase operational costs.

He said that digital broadcasting has many positive effects but mentioned only one, clearer pictures.

MOAT also pointed out that the government statistics for Dar es Salaam digital users based on decoder sales is only 250,000 yet television set owners are estimated to be 600,000, meaning 60 percent of Dar residents have no access to any form of broadcasting.

The Media owners also argued that the government has provided no evidence as to how running both systems will increase costs and to whom. MOAT further denied government’s claim of the digital system having a lot of advantages because financial losses have been registered as businesses shun advertisements because of the low number of viewers.

Public servants urged to stick to ethics to beat corruption

Dr Edward Hoseah

The Director General of the country’s anti corruption agency has underscored the need for public servants to adhere to moral standards and have bold strategic stance if they want to overcome corruption in their work places.

Dr Edward Hoseah made the call in Dar es Salaam over the weekend when opening a one day training workshop on promoting ethics, integrity and accountability in public service to senior government officials, (Permanent Secretaries and Chief executives).

“To promote ethics, integrity, combat corruption and culture of impunity, you need a bold strategic stance to overcome the scourge,” said the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Chief.

He called upon public servants to avoid conflict of interest and disqualification stressing that they should not use their authority for improper advancement of their personal financial interests.

He advised them not to solicit or receive any gift or other favours that may influence the exercise of their functions or the performance of their duties or their judgment.

For his part, the Chief Executive of Uongozi Institute, Prof Joseph Semboja challenged senior officials to adhere to ethics, arguing that they cannot become leaders if they don’t stick to their professional principles.

“Aspiring leaders must understand that leadership is about legitimacy, be it social or political. You get society and political acceptance from your personal behaviours, conduct and perspectives; in short from your ethics,” he stressed.

He said if leaders fail the test they can only become dictators, using power or rank to rule, but they cannot be leaders either.

“In other words, there is no such thing as a bad leader... crooks cannot become leaders,” he noted, adding: “This is why our institute considers PCCB and the Ethics Secretariat important partners in supporting leadership development in this country. Our combined efforts are important for a quick impact.”

Prof Semboja said they were training senior officials because they were an important cadre in the development of ethics in the nation’s public service.

“We want to build and strengthen their knowledge base, skills and capabilities in order to enhance their competences in their workplace. This is important in order to keep pace with the changing but increasingly complex demands,” said CEO.

Two foreign firms to invest in geothermal power generation

Prof Sospeter Muhongo, Minister for Energy and Minerals

Two foreign companies from Japan and Iceland have shown interest to invest in Tanzania’s geothermal power generation.

Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo revealed this here yesterday when responding to a supplementary question by Nzega MP Dr Dalali Peter Kafumu (CCM), who had wanted to know the extent of investment in the geothermal power area.

Responding, Prof Muhongo stated that Tanzania has a total of 15 areas which are potential for geothermal production.

“But, according to the geological survey, three areas have shown to have enough stock of steam ranging from 220 to 250 degrees centigrade, which is the temperature required for power production,” he said, citing Lake Ngozi in Mbeya where the first geothermal power project is expected to start before the end of this year.

Muhongo however failed to disclose names of the companies from Japan and Iceland which are to carry out power generation activities in the area.

Recently, Geothermal Power Tanzania Ltd expressed interest to invest as much as USD 350 million to drill steam fields in the country’s south and build its first geothermal plant with the capacity to generate up to 140 megawatts by 2018.

The company began drilling two wells in Tanzania’s southwestern Mbeya region this year and found there’s potential to create power from steam within at least two systems in the area.

Tanzania, which doesn’t currently produce any geothermal energy, lies in the same Rift Valley fault system as Kenya, Africa’s biggest geothermal-power producer with an estimated untapped resource of as much as 10,000 megawatts. Geothermal energy harnesses steam and hot water from underground to power turbines in facilities that generate electricity.

In her basic question, Special Seats MP Pudenciana Kikwembe (CCM), wanted to know government plans to provide clean and safe water for people living in Majimoto ward, taking into account that water flowing in the area is not fit for human consumption.

In his response, deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Kassim Majaliwa, admitted: “It is true that water flowing from hot springs is not safe for human consumption.”

“As government, we are aware of the challenge and a deep borehole has been drilled in the area at a cost of 19.85bn/- by 2011/2012 fiscal year.”
According to Majaliwa, the government is in final stages to get a contractor to build a water supply project in the area. The project is to cost 526.813m/- in the 2013/14 financial year.

So far, Mlele district council has approved a total of 1.329bn/- to finance water projects in the area.

Police probe new FGM claims

Tarime Zonal Police Commander (RPC), Mr Justus Kamugisha

Police in Tarime and Rorya special zone are working to verify claims of existence of a syndicate dealing in human body parts and specifically those of women in a new wave of superstitious related crime.

Reports from the area say that the allegations have driven girls of the area to voluntarily seek Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) hoping to escape the more brutal kidnap, mutilation and murder.

It is alleged that women’s sexual parts are being traded in an alarming black market racket that has implicated gold mines in the area and put at risk the lives of many women and girls in the region.

The Regional Police Commander for Tarime and Rorya Regional police zone Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Justus Kamugisha denied any knowledge of the practice or even any such threat, saying no such reports or even remotely related cases have come across his desk.

“I have not heard about such incidents, however, we will take a look…,” he said.
Our source, a human rights activist, reported that the scheme was unveiled during the ongoing research into the persistence of FGM in the region.

The areas covered include Kiagata, Musoma Rural, Rorya and Tarime districts where it is understood that FGM was long practiced as a rite of passage into maturity, but now suppositious attributes have been linked to the practice in selfish bids to make quick money.

TGEI, organised under the Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWEZ-Tanzania Chapter) secretariat convened to discuss among other issues, rights to education for girls and women in the ongoing constitutional review.

Parts are sold for 40,000/- to 50,000/- and groups are reportedly paid to kidnap uncircumcised girls for the magic rituals, for both business and mining prospectus, claimed our source, making it clear that the chain of command in the trade is long.

“I don’t know whether the government is aware of this barbaric practice…it is a long chain, first there are business tycoons owning mines, middlemen, the kidnappers and killers…those who do the actual mutilation…the list goes on,” he said.

Moshi offers Bagamoyo officials cleanliness hints

Moshi Urban Council has said that strict enforcement of regulations and the decentralisation of responsibilities to the people who supervise its cleanliness campaign in their respective areas is behind the programme’s success.

Moshi Municipal Health Officer David Kimaro made the statement over the weekend when presenting a paper in a one-day workshop organised by the Bagamoyo Non Governmental Organisations Network (BANGONET).

The workshop was aimed at giving an opportunity to Bagamoyo Urban residents to hear the secret behind the success of Moshi Municipality in maintaining environmental cleanliness.

Kimaro said because of the efforts and strategies set between 2001 to 2011 have enabled the municipality to win first position among 17 Municipalities in the country for the last seven years.

Kimaro said that to ensure the campaign succeeded, the municipality provided enough cleaning equipment including placement of garbage bins in all corners of the municipality, wheel loaders, compactor trucks, skip masters and establishment of a modern dumping area.

He explained that the public was made aware of the cleanliness campaign and given the responsibility of ensuring it was properly implemented. They were made the supervisors and catalysts of the clean-up revolution in their localities.

He revealed that the Municipal authority spends over 250m/- per year on environmental cleanliness of which 180m/- is from people’s contributions.

He added that three agents employed by the municipality enforce cleanliness, arrest offenders and collect penalties set at 50,000/- per person, per offence.
According to him, it was the plan of his Municipality to grow 1.5m trees each year, an exercise carried out from April 1 to 10, every year.

During this period every individual is expected to plant 10 trees while schools, institutions, health centres and hospitals are also encouraged to do the same in their areas.

He declared that despite the efforts the Moshi Municipality is still faced with challenges such a small garbage dumping area which can only last upto 2020.
The Municipal authority plans to seek technical assistance to produce energy from the use of garbage in the dumping area.

Bagamoyo Urban Health Surveyor Assistant Officer Abdul Mohamed said the state of cleanliness of Bagamoyo town was unsatisfactory due to poor infrastructure and lack of facilities.

He said population was growing, leading to increased activity which produced 17 tonnes of garbage per day.

Contributing to the workshop, Bagamoyo resident Mwana Asha Abdallah blamed officials for not being accountable, but also for failing to involve people in plans related to improve cleanliness in the town.

She said there has not consistent follow-up of cleanliness programmes, leading the people to give up participation in campaigns in their localities. 

Solidarity not partnership, to redefine the poorest nations

Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed

The Independent Expert Group (IEG) sees solidarity, rather than partnership, as being the key to effective international collaboration in the post-2015 framework as it implies shared interests and responsibilities rather than the outdated donor-recipient relationship.

Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed, a researcher with IIED and member of the Independent Expert Group made the statement in a release by the IEG. 

The release goes on to advise that, to assert their position, Tanzania and other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) need to redefine themselves, act to improve governance and promote greater solidarity both with each other and with more developed nations. 

 

Supported by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the group aims to influence the UN’s efforts to define Global Sustainable Development Goals to take effect from 2015, when the Millennium Development Goals expire. 

 

 “The LDCs are in many ways the weakest but they also have strengths such as, their local knowledge and institutions, their culture and values and their resilience to uncertainty,” says Dr Tom Bigg of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) which coordinates the IEG’s activities. 

 

“The LDCs can be leaders in the post-2015 process by promoting new forms of international cooperation that enables greater solidarity and sharing of knowledge and responsibilities,” reads part of the IIED statement available to our reporter.

 

 “They can act to redefine development assistance by working harder to use their national wealth to meet the priorities of the poor and they can do more to share their lessons and experiences of how to measure development and manage environmental resources.” Dr Tom Bigg explains.

 

The IEG’s mission is to ensure that UN-led processes to set international goals for development and sustainability take account of the perspectives and priorities of the LDCs and promote leadership from the LDCs at the UN level. 

 

The IEG consists of 13 experts from LDCs, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eritrea, Gambia, Haiti, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, and Uganda. The former prime minister of Haiti, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, is the Chair.

 

The IEG members work in research institutes, media, civil society organizations and government agencies in the LDCs.

New irrigation schemes will boost rice production in Korogwe – Says minister

Deputy minister in the Vice-President's Office (Environment),Charles Kitwanga.

Small-scale rice growers in Mafuleta village, Korogwe District of Tanga Region will soon start enjoying the benefit of having irrigation facility in the area of about 700 ha.

“Construction of Mafuleta Irrigation Scheme is on final touches and will be handed-over to wananchi in October, this year,” deputy minister in the Vice-President's Office (Environment) Charles Kitwanga said.

 

Kitwanga made the remarks here yesterday when responding to questions in the National Assembly on behalf of Prof Jumanne Maghembe, Minister for Water.

 

The deputy minister described Mafuleta Irrigation Scheme as important towards the boosting of crop production in the area.

 

He said right now, only 300 ha are under irrigation. “So, by building this irrigation facility, farmers will be able to cultivate about 700 ha. And if all these ha are farmed, people’s livelihoods in the area will be improved.”

 

The minister disclosed that the government through Participatory Agricultural Development and Empowerment Project (PADEP), allocated 35m/- for building part of the main canal of about 450 meters in 2007/2008.

 

In 2012/2013 fiscal year, he said, Korogwe District Council through the District Agricultural Development Plans (DADPs) allocated 203m/- to complete the project. “Out of 180m/- will be used to survey the scheme as well as building permanent intake of the irrigation facility, while 23m/- has been allocated for buying modern rice milling machines in an effort to add value to the crop,” Kitwanga told the House.

 

Over 450 households have been doing rice farming in the area using the traditional-made irrigation facility.

 

The minister also attested that construction process on another Mswaha-Darajani Irrigation Scheme is underway and is scheduled to be completed in August this year.

 

Upon its completion the project, which is close to the Mafuleta scheme, is expected to consume 46m/-. The project is been financed by PADEP and the district council.

 

The minister was responding to a question by Stephen Ngonyani, (Korogwe Rural, CCM), who wanted to know the timeframe for completion of the two irrigation schemes in the district.

 

Govt wages war against on illegal fishing at Nyumba ya Mungu

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development,David Mathayo David

The government is waging an all out war against illegal fishing at Nyumba ya Mungu dam—the Northern zone's major source of hydro-electric power.

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development David Mathayo David, issued a stern warning yesterday in the National Assembly when responding to question by Betty Machangu (Special Seats, CCM) who wanted to know the government’s plans to curb illegal fishing in the dam.

The lawmaker said illegal fishing is rampant in the area and most people who deal with the dubious business come from neighbouring countries.

 

The minister stated that from now on the government is going to carry-out a crackdown against people who engage in fishing using ‘destructive’ fishing gear, which in turn dwindles fish resources in the dam.

 

He however admitted that destructive fishing practices at Nyumba ya Mungu dam have reached a deadly proportion as majority of fishermen have been engaging in illegal fishing, harvesting the species at an alarming rate and by using the banned fishing-nets and even chemicals.

 

He however asked the Beach Management Units (BMUs) to team up with government’s patrol forces to address the challenge, which poses a serious threat to the dam. The dam has the capacity of generating 8MW.

 

“I call upon BMUs and people living on the shores of the dam to disclose those involved in illegal fishing activities, including people from the neighbouring countries to responsible authorities so that they can be taken to task,” he ordered.

 

“As government, we will take stern measures against local people who collaborate with aliens in sabotaging fishing in this important water body,” the minister stated.

 

He said the dam is overwhelmed with other human induced activities, which threaten the survival of the 45 year dam found between Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions and with different fish species.

 

Mathayo admitted that the dam is also threatened with limited number of staff whereby right now there are about 11, though the actual demand is 36.

 

Among the measures, which are in place include establishing a total of 20 BMUs, he said, adding that “the idea of these units is to work on scaling down all activities which are not friendly to fish resources.”

 

Current mass fishing practices at Nyumba ya Mungu dam are said to be mainly fueled by the fact that a number of fishermen who used to fish at Lake Jipe, located about 40km north of the dam, moved to it after the lake recently dried up mostly due to drought and also the invasion of water clogging weeds.

 

The situation compelled about 4,000 out of 5,000 families of fishermen who spent many years making their living around Lake Jipe, measuring 166 square km, to move southwards due to declining fishing activities.

Investors not satified with harnessing of fish resources

Tamimi Fisheries Company

Yemen based Tamimi Fisheries Company has through its representatives expressed disappointment with the low exploit of fisheries resources in Tanzania, especially on the Indian Ocean.

Tamimi Ally, the advisor to Tamimi Fisheries Company revealed the discontent at the just-ended 17th East Africa International Trade Fair exhibition held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

“We are well aware of the richness of the Indian Ocean and that is why we are interested in doing business with Tanzania,” said the Yemenis trade advisor.

He went on to state that his company is disappointed at the low amount of fish exploitation and related marine resources which he said is not enough for a processing plant, such as the one his company is looking to establish in the country.

“Our expectations were disappointed as the local fishing in Dar es Salaam is too weak to supply the plant and meet world market demand,” Ally said.

That being the case, he advised that the government create a better fisheries sector by having the local fishermen organise themselves into small groups or associations and establish colleges to train them.

The advisor elaborated that once they have formed associations then the small scale fishermen become legible for loans and it is then possible to establish a modernised fishing scheme that would pave the way for the country to compete in the world market.

Seconding his advisor’s displeasure and surprise with the low investment going into Tanzania, the Marketing Manager of Tamimi Fisheries Company, Awadh Al-Tamimi
said: “It is very sad that even the ministry concerned does not know or have the actual figures for importation and exportation of fish which gave us the impression that the government is not serious in the sector.”

Al-Tamimi said his colleagues visited to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development offices where they inquired as to the importation and exportation statistical figures on the fisheries sector.

“It becomes very hard for us and other potential investors interested in conducting business with Tanzania to assure ourselves of profit,” he explained.

Describing the unfortunate scenario, Al-Tamimi pointed out that Dar es Salaam, for example, has a bustling catering and hospitality industry with many prominent international hotels represented yet the city, like other regions depends on fish imports.

He said the amount harvested does not meet demand and the little that is harvested falls short of proper value addition due to a lack of processing plants and a very weak chain value addition apart from domestic consumption.

“Many Dar es Salaam residents, the majority being women, depend on fish sales to meet their financial as well as nutritional needs and therefore, if the government were to improve the sector, the people would all benefit greatly,” Al-Tamimi advised.

On an optimistic note, that does however contradict the observations and reports by Al-Tamimi and his colleague, a day before the EAITE ended, Theresia Mganga, the director of administration in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development revealed that at least 7trn/- is saved annually from restricted fish product imports.

She was speaking during the second graduation ceremony of the Mbegani Fisheries Development Centre in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region where she conferred diploma certificates to 188 graduates who completed two-year Masters Degree courses.

The institute covers Marine Engineering, Aquaculture, Fish Processing, Nautical Science and Boat Building. Also Environment and Coastal Resource Management, Master Fisherman and Quality Assurance and Marketing.

Mganga’s comment agrees with the foreign observers that Tanzania has ‘enough fish reserves’ but they sharply contradict when she suggests that these vast resources ‘satisfy the local market demand’ and also that because the local supply meets demand then ‘fish and fish related imports are low’.

The Tanzania national website reports that apart from the Indian Ocean, Tanzania’s fresh waters include the riparian shared waters of East African great lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa and also small natural lakes, man-made lakes, river systems and many wetlands cover 58,000 square kilometres and all have high fish potential.

The site admits that, the country has a coastline of about 800 km declared as its Exclusion Economic Zone but has not yet exploited it and the present annual fish catch is only about 350,000 metric tonnes.

The number of fishermen who are permanently employed is 80,000 and few others obtain their livelihood indirectly from fishery related activities.

These artisanal fishermen produce about 90 percent of the total fish catch in the country meaning that only 10 percent is derived from industrial fishing.

Most of the fish caught is consumed locally while Nile perch with exception of sardines and prawns that are mostly for exports contributing to GDP a measly 1.6 to 3.1 percent annually. 

TGNP says govt grabbing villagers' land in regions

TGNP Executive Director, Usu Mallya

The Tanzania Gender and Networking Programme (TGNP) has strongly blamed the government for grabbing the Mshewe residents’ land in Mbeya Rural District and sold it to investors, leaving the villagers as tenants and workers on their ancestors’ land.

TGNP Executive Director Usu Mallya revealed this when briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam on the investigation report that was conducted by the NGO in May in the three regions of Morogoro, Shinyanga and Mbeya.

Mallya said that investors in Mbeya Region at Mshewe village, in particular have been given the land grabbed by the government leaving the indigenous being mere vasals and tenants in the plantations at low wages.

According to the report, Mallya said men are forced to bribe in order to get a chance to work in the plantations. Whereas on the other hand, women and young girls become labourers paid low wages of between 2,500/- and 3,000/- a day.

She said as a result women and girls working in those plantations have been facing various challenges such as gender violence including sexual bribery which has disseminated sexual diseases including HIV/Aids, gonorrhea, among other in the area.

She further said in their findings, they have also realised that in Kisaki Ward in Morogoro Rural Dustruct, there is a land dispute between small farmers and pastoralists. The dispute has led to the clearing of crops of farmers due to lack of area for pasturing.

Mallya said that the land dispute in that area has mainly been caused by corruption. Whereby, pastoralists are alleged to bribe local government leaders so that they should not be disturbed when they trespass to areas belonged to farmers, which are for cultivation.

Again, according to TGNP findings, lack of clean and safe water was another serious issue that needed quick measures to address it.

Mallya said that despite the national water policy whose one of the objectives in to ensure water availability is not found more than 400 meters. But it has failed to fulfill it, she barked.

In Isoso and Lubaga wards in Kishapu, water problem to people lead women and girls to travel distant routes searching for water. However, most often they have found themselves in difficult and dangerous situations, some being getting unexpected pregnancies after being raped in search of water.

Their report has also indicated that poor health services at Ilota village in Mbeya, Kisaki in Morogoro was still a major challenge. There are no enough medicines in some dispensaries. In Morogoro some residents are forced to contribute 70,000/-
Meanwhile, TGNP has called for the government to give back land taken from Mshewe residents so that they could continue with their usual lives as owners of a land and not refuge in their own country.

They have also urged leaders to fulfill their promises they had promised during their campaigns and should not remain silent. “Don’t turn these poor people as your capitals during political campaigns during general elections only, fulfill your promises to them,” she noted.

On their part, the Mshewe residents in Mbeya rural have claimed that their fertile land, on which they have been depending for decades has been given to investors, denying them land for agriculture and residential.

“We have been forced to become cheap labourers in investors’ plantations so that we can get a living, otherwise we can starve and eventually die of hunger if we don’t do that,” they lamented bitterly.

Norwegian fertiliser firm to build plant in Mtwara

YARA-International

A Norwegian fertiliser company, YARA-International has unveiled its long-term plans to set up fertilisers-manufacturing factory in Tanzania in a broader quest to enhance farmers’ access to the inputs.

The plan was disclosed at the weekend at a forum of fertilisers-distribution agencies organised by the Norway-based firm, which is specialised in the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality fertilisers globally, including Tanzania.

However, the latest revelation has come as the government struggles to lure potential foreign and local investors to support its ambitious and national-wide agriculture revolution crusade, dubbed ‘Kilimo Kwanza.’

Significant progress has been made since ‘Kilimo Kwanza’ concept came into force, but experts say some challenges still exist, including setting up a viable mechanism to increase usage of fertilisers, lack of awareness (on the part of farmers) on the importance of applying fertilisers.

YARA-Tanzania Country Director Pal Oystein Stormorken said the company has come up with a number of strategies targeting to address some of the snags inhibiting improved productivity in the agriculture, said to employ 80 per cent of the population.

In a span of three years since the company started operations in Tanzania, it has imported and distributed high-quality fertilisers to farmers across the country, he said, adding “and the results have been very impressing … improved productivity, harvests and more farmers’ income.”

The company has established fertilisers-distribution outlets in different regions countrywide, from which farmers could easily access the agricultural inputs.

As part of its long-term strategies, according to firm’s boss, the company plans to put up a fertilisers-manufacturing plant in Tanzania, but noted that implementation of the plan would depend on the natural gas situation in Mtwara and other regions in the southern part of the country.

Natural gas is an important ingredient in fertilisers-production, and that sufficient quantity of the resource could make the envisaged fertilisers-manufacturing plant a reality.

“In fact, if we are to set up a fertilizer plant here, it is not going to be for Tanzania alone, we will export the product to other East African countries and rest of Africa …. In other words, it must be a large-scale fertiliser-plant. That’s why we have to be satistified with the availability of raw material (natural gas),” observed YARA country director.

“Yes, we have such plans in future, but we need to make thorough assessment of natural gas situation before venturing into that (setting up fertilisers factory),” said Stormorken.

Hilary Patto, YARA-Tanzania Head of Marketing and Distribution, said besides selling fertilisers to the farmers, the company also educates them on the importance of using fertilisers and ABCs of applying the inputs.

In these initiatives, YARA collaborates with national agriculture development institutions and government agencies, Patto said.

Galus Mapunda, one of the farmers who attended the event, said “I used to harvest 500kgs of tobacco per one acre (before I started applying YARA fertilisers), but I am getting up to 1200kgs now.”

Songea-based farmer Oward Similar said: “At the moment, I get around 45 and 50 bags from one acre of maize, a drastic increase from 15 bags I used to harvest when applying other types of fertilisers. Bumper harvest has really improved my life and other farmers who use YARA fertilisers.” At the gala, which was attended by high-profile dignitaries, YARA awarded several individuals and local companies which excelled in the distribution of YARA products.
 

Government bans importation of substandard ‘Tiger’ batteries

The government has imposed a ban on importation of substandard batteries dubbed tiger head in the country for failure to adhere to the standard requirements hence threaten health of consumers and economy.

A statement issued by the Tanzania Bureau of Standard (TBS) over the weekend said the ban was introduced last week after identifying many manufacturers who were given standard certificate use it without following procedures.

The standard certification regulations of 2009 prohibit any one to use the TBS quality mark in products without having a licence which has been provided according to the international specified standards prepared by the Bureau.

According to the statement, the standards batch certification Act of imports, 2009 forbids any one to import into the Tanzanian market products which do not meet standards or batch which was not provided with quality certificates.

“We want to inform the public particularly importers of batteries dubbed tiger head that the producers have failed to meet standard requirement”, the statement noted.

The statement said the batteries will have to verify its standards before being shipped into the country under pre-shipment verification to conformity standards system (PVoC) and not other wise.

TBS signed contracts with three companies -- Bureau Veritas of France, Societe Generale De Surveillance (SGS) of Switzerland and Intertek Government and Trade Services of the UK who officially started inspection work on behalf of TBS in February last year.

However, the Bureau acting Director General Joseph Masikitiko was recently quoted as saying they are preparing a list of overseas manufacturers whose products are regularly imported and have a negative impact on the economy. We will visit them, verify their products and certify them,” he said.

Some of the products the bureau plans to start verifying their manufacturers are batteries and motorcycles popularly knows as ‘bodaboda’ that are increasingly imported and widely used to transport people both in urban and rural areas.

He revealed that they have come up with a number of new strategies tailored to curb importation of fake and substandard products. It will now verify and certify manufacturers of the products instead of dealing with importers and suppliers.

Still in its infancy stage, the plan aims at ensuring that manufacturers are held accountable whenever their suppliers are found in possession of fake or substandard brands of the

Darfur safety fears: Oversight by TFF?

Could one safely conclude that the Tanzania Football Federation did not see the need for concerns over the state of security in Darfur before the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry raised concern?

Couldn’t that sadly suggest that the federation is living in such confirmed isolation that there is no way it can know what is going on around it – outside its immediate “sphere of influence”?

TFF president Leodegar Tenga, who holds a similar position in Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), ought to have known the risk associated with staging a sub-continental regional soccer tournament in an area as prone to civil strife as Darfur.

Seriously, just how could he endorse CECAFA to go ahead and organise the tournament in the strife-torn region without making efforts to check with the relevant authorities?

Tenga must have known right from the beginning about initiatives taken by the regional body he presides over before endorsing the staging the regional of the club championship, popularly known as Kagame Cup, in a zone not totally free from violence.

It is the same TFF and CECAFA president who was involved in the decision by the regional association to shift the championship from Khartoum to Dar es Salaam in 2011.

If Khartoum was not safe enough to host a tournament in barely two years ago, how could Darfur become safe after almost a decade of war?

Despite being highly obsessed with soccer matters, Tenga and his lieutenants ought to have sensed the political instability in Sudan that led to the recent dismembering of the country.

We salute the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry for making highlighting the need for concerns over safety in Darfur, where CECAFA has nonetheless elected to stage its high-profile regional club championship.

Probably Tenga may have delegated his powers to his secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, and believes every word the latter says without taking trouble to digest what he is told – which would be most unfortunate.

Whoever decided on the 2011 shift should have been consulted before Darfur was picked as the venue for this year’s Kagame Cup.

However superbly CECAFA and TFF may have performed thus far, this recent oversight over safety considerations relating tom Darfur comes as a shock to most people in the CECAFA “bloc”.

We can bet that had the issue been public knowledge early enough, clubs would have spared themselves preparation costs in respect of a tournament still covered by smog.

CECAFA should have borrowed a leaf from the Confederation of African Football, which learnt a lot from what happened in Angola during last year’s Nations Cup finals.
Having secured independence after several decades, Angola still suffers from intermittent skirmishes caused by rebels who badly tainted the country’s image by after assaulting the Togo national team.

It will be recalled that CAF also replaced Libya as hosts of the Nations Cup championship that was supposed to be staged this year, with South Africa taking over the role. Reason? Security concerns.

Both TFF and CECAFA should stand reminded about the need to be especially keen on factors to be considered in the selection of countries to host crucial tournaments. Security should always come first.

Tanzania to host swimming course

Tanzania has been given an opportunity to host an international swimming course to be held in Dares Salaam for two days staring from June 29.

Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) secretary general Noel Kiunsi said the course has been sanctioned by the game’s world governing body FINA.

He said University of Dar es Salaam is the venue of the event as FINA has imposed the initiative aimed at empowering swimming officials from African countries with modern tactical and technical know-how of the sport.

He said 18 officials from different swimming clubs in the country have confirmed to attend the course and named Nigerian Olugbenga Lawal as one of the lecturers.

The TSA official expressed his delight for the course saying it will help to develop and improve swimming in the country. He urged swimming officials who have not confirmed to beat the June 6 deadline if they have the intention.

He also named other objectives of the course as to increase number of officials, enhance quality interpretation and application of swimming rules.

The course will be used as an instrument to develop and promote swimming worldwide.
This is the third course for year to be organised by FINA for Tanzania after the first one held under FINA instructor German Gerd Nottelmann at Tanganyika International School (ITS) and another in Zanzibar.

Poulsen awaits Mazembe pair

Taifa Stars coach, Kim Poulsen

Tanzania national soccer team (Taifa Stars) coach Kim Poulsen says all of his players are in sound health and only TP Mazembe striking duo of Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu are missing in his squad.

The duo were expected to arrive in Morocco yesterday to join their colleagues for ad hoc training sessions ahead of Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier tie against the host nation.

Taifa Stars players who arrived in Marrakech on Monday were expected to kick start the training session to gear up for the crucial encounter.

The TP Mazembe duo would not join their colleagues who took a brief training stint in Addis Ababa and played a friendly international against Sudan that ended in barren draw last Sunday.

The Mazembe strikers were rendering services to their team that was playing a CAF Confederation Cup against a Mozambican side over the weekend in Maputo. The qualifier match is expected to kick off close to midnight hours.

Both national teams need to win the encounter so as to keep their World cup qualification hopes on track for the global football championship in Brazil.

So far the reception has been cordial according to Boniface Wambura and the players are up beat. Depending on how the match between Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia will end, Taifa Stars are supposed to work hard and shock again the Moroccans to ease qualification prospects.

Stars are second from the top of the standings table currently dominated by Cote d’Ivoire with a difference of one point.
The Ivorians remain the only team with unbeaten run after three qualifier games and a loss to Gambia will be a blessing in disguise for the Tanzanians should they post a victory on Saturday.

Five top-placed teams from ten qualifier groups will be involved in playoff to determine qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil.

Morocco are regular qualifiers for the World Cup finals having featured for the first time in 1970. Tanzania is still searching for maiden appearance in the championship. 

Will Tanzania meet 2015 deadline on child, maternal mortality?

Investing in girls and women's health is not just the best thing to do, it is the smartest thing to do. (File photo)

Between January and March, nine mothers lost their lives giving birth at Makole Health Centre in Dodoma district. The number is three times the deaths recorded at the centre between October and December last year where three women died.

Harriet Kidayi, the Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator in Dodoma district based at the health centre blames this on late referrals to hospital.

To some, the number of women who died giving birth at the health centre, may not seem to be a big deal. But the reality is no woman should die giving birth. No woman should die giving life.

Globally, almost every minute a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and child birth. And 99 per cent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Experts say the likelihood of a motherless child dying prematurely is ten times more than that with a mother. Every year, more than one million children are left motherless.

The late referrals that Kidayi, the reproductive and child health coordinator in Dodoma district says caused the deaths of mothers at Makole health centre this year are just one among many causes of maternal deaths in Tanzania. And there are various reasons why expectant mothers get to the hospital late and many are beyond their control.

Things like lack of transport to the nearest health facility. This is a big problem in rural areas. There are areas where expectant mothers walk for two days to get to hospital for delivery. Because of poverty, they can’t afford to hire a vehicle to the hospital. And the list of reasons for late referrals is long.

With only 18 months left before the 2015 Millennium Development Goals deadline, the Tanzanian government and other stakeholders in the health sector are fighting to see to it that the country attains goals number four on reducing child mortality by two thirds and number five on maternal mortality reduction by three quarters by 2015.

The government has been promoting family planning as part of the national reproductive health strategy. This is because 20- 25 per cent of maternal deaths could be avoided through prevention of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.

Also mothers and children can become healthier and families can better provide for the care and upbringing of their children. Girls will not be forced to drop out of school because of unexpected pregnancies. Moreover, family planning is good for the overall development of the country.

Tanzania’s target is to have 60 per cent of women and girls using contraceptives by 2015 in a bid to reduce child and maternal mortality rates and improve women’s health. However, this is a challenge given that only 34 per cent of all women use family planning today. But we can get there if we want and this year’s health budget allocation of 1bn/- for reproduction health is a good move.

This is the first time that the government is allocating its own money for the purpose. The minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi said when tabling the health budget in parliament last month that this is a big step that signals to development partners that Tanzania is serious about the matter. However, some Members of Parliament were not convinced 1bn/- was enough. This year’s budget allocation for health is 753.9bn/-.

Family planning is one of the most powerful ways of improving the health of women and children and of controlling population growth of a country. This is a fact that is yet to be known by many people especially those living in the rural areas of developing countries like Tanzania.

It is because of this high level of illiteracy that the US-based Population Reference Bureau (PRB) recently organised a one-week workshop in Dar Es Salaam for health journalists who can be good ambassadors in spreading the message.

The journalists were equipped with information on maternal and reproductive health. They also discussed how the press can play a vital role in addressing reproductive health and fertility issues and how these can cause socioeconomic development.

PRB is a non-partisan and evidence based organization with a mandate of informing people around the world about population, health and the environment and at the same time empowering them to use that information to advance their well being and that of generations to come.

Presenting the Tanzania MDGs progress report at the journalists’ workshop, the Director of Advanced Family Planning, Halima Shariff said infant mortality rates have declined by more than a half in the last decade. According to 2010 statistics, the rate stands at 51 per every 1,000 live births. This therefore is a green light that the set target of reducing infant mortality rate to 31 out of every 1000 births by 2015 is achievable.

On the other hand, reducing maternal mortality ratio remains a challenge. In 1990, the maternal mortality ratio stood at 529 per every 100,000 live births and after 10 years, in 2010 that is, the ratio was 454 women per every 100,000 live births. At this slow pace, the efforts of decreasing this to 133 by 2015 may clearly not be achieved.

Access to family planning services is one key component in achieving the above. Both men and women need to know the importance of child spacing and how this greatly contributes to improving the health of both the mother and the child. They also need to know the importance of giving birth in a health facility.

2010 statistics show that only 51 per cent of births in Tanzania are attended to by a skilled personnel. It therefore becomes difficult for the 90 per cent target to be attained in less than two years. This is given the country’s serious shortage of skilled workforce among other reasons.

To curb the shortage, the government has promised to increase the number of medical personnel and also to create a user-friendly environment for family planning services especially for youths since most are denied access to the services.

Harriet Kidayi, the Dodoma Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator says there has been an improvement in accessibility and use of family planning in Dodoma. She says most women prefer modern methods like the injectable method.

In 2011 62 per cent (84,804) of the targeted women were using contraceptives out of the targeted 136,004. In 2012, the percentage rose to 77 per cent (110,234) out of the targeted 142,596.

She however says that there is still more to be done in the peri-urban areas to have more women enlightened on the matter.

“Men’s involvement in family planning issues should be enhanced to help the current situation. Though as a district we have never received serious complaints of men battering their wives due to decisions they take on family planning as is the case in some regions,” Harriet says.

On maternal deaths, Harriet says; “to address this, the government has increased the number of health centres in the region by introducing Hombolo and Kikombo facilities. It has also introduced clean delivery packs containing all the necessities needed by women during labour and this is given to every woman at 39 weeks of pregnancy to help in case of emergencies.”

She also added that the number of mothers dying during delivery had greatly gone down in Dodoma district. A total 66 deaths were recorded in 2012 compared to 129 in 2011.

To attain the target goals by 2015, more efforts are needed and these include channeling more funds in the sector. The government needs to stop depending entirely on donors since delay of funds usually causes shortages. For years, family planning budget has been dependent on donor funds.

Another area of concern is addressing high fertility rates especially in the lake zone regions. Women in rural areas still have a high rate of seven children while those in urban areas have four children per woman. Lack of access to family planning services in rural areas, lack of willingness to use them and teenage pregnancies are cited as major factors contributing to the high fertility rates.

Dr. Muzdalifat Abeid, Head of Maternal Unit at Temeke Hospital says women are not willing to use family planning due to myths and misconceptions, low understanding of family planning by men thus discouraging their wives, religious beliefs and inadequate resources to sensitize people and facilitate delivery of the services.

All these are vices to fight if we want to see changes in infant and maternal mortality rates.

Speaking at the opening of the recently concluded high level global meeting on girls’ and women’s rights in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Women Deliver President, Jill Sheffield said investing in the health and reproductive rights of women and girls has benefits for both the families and the country at large.

“When we invest in girls and women’s health, it’s not just the best thing to do, it is the smartest thing to do,” said Ms Sheffield. She explained that sexual and reproductive health should be looked at as a human rights issue.

“We should look at it as a human right to have access to contraceptives and give it a central place in our work. All these commitments are in place and governments only need to implement them,” she said.

World leaders attending the meeting called on governments to invest more in the wellbeing of mothers and girls. Having been represented at the conference, we hope Tanzania will heed the call and thus meet the MDGs on maternal and child mortality come year 2015.

Conference: Contain corruption to realise faster development

George Mkuchika (L), has a word with Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othman (C) and IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi during break at Fourth Pan African Anti-Corruption Conference in Dsm

Arresting corruption and capital flight will enable Tanzania to have more of the resources it needs to realise substantial reduction in poverty, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

Capt (rtd) George Mkuchika, Minister of State in the President’s Office overseeing the Good Governance portfolio, said that would be in line with the country’s objectives as outlined in the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP).

Opening the Fourth Pan Africa Anticorruption Conference in Dar es Salaam, the minister said the money leaving Tanzania illegally every year is ten times the total foreign aid the country receives and therefore constitutes an drain on resources that would gone into development projects.

He gave the goals the country would have achieved if there wasn’t such capital flight as including reduction of maternal mortality rate from 454 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 265 per 100,000 live births by 2025 as well as boosting access to power supply from 14 per cent of the population in 2010 to 18 per cent in 2025.

Mkuchika explained that corruption by individuals accounted for the smallest amount part of the flight of capital from Tanzania and other developing countries – only 3 to 5 per cent, adding: “The main actors are the multinational companies evading taxes. This explains why resource rich countries are poor and associated with what is commonly referred to as a resource curse.”

He said the conspiracy of factors such as corruption and lack of accountability is facilitated by the secrecy often surrounding the operations of tax havens and the fact that some companies do not observe laid down accounting standards and procedures.

The minister called for sterner measures at all levels of governance to arrest capital flight and tame corruption, saying: “Corruption undermines economic growth in individual countries and the African continent generally and jeopardises the consolidation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

He said history shows that strong democratic institutions with transparent and accountable governance structures were powerful tools in the war on corruption and other systemic abuses of power.

“Academic research shows how corruption can disrupt the economy and society at large. It erodes trust in public institutions and political processes and undermines the functioning of markets,” he noted.

He added that corruption has a direct impact on national budgets and helps groups behind organised crime groups conduct their activities faster and more viciously.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General Dr Edward Hosea said corruption was “a big issue not similar to normal offences”.

“Serious measures must be taken if the vice is to be tamed or arrested,” he noted, adding: “The World Bank says more than USD200 billion is lost each year through corruption and illicit capital flight.”

To make things worse, he said, “African Development Bank figures show that we have been losing about 50 per cent of our gross domestic product to corruption in terms of the revenue collected. If we were to collect all the revenue lost, there wouldn’t be much need for us to ask for much outside financial assistance.”

Without referring to any particular institution in Tanzania, Dr Hosea said time was ripe for the government to create stronger institutions to sweep the country clean of corruption and lack of accountability.

“This is because if we are to develop, if we are to eradicate poverty in the country, if we are to move from where we are and realise our development goals, then we need to consider corruption as an extremely serious matter,” he pointed out, adding: “Our institutions should be empowered to address the vices more appropriately and effectively.”

The PCCB chief said he would appreciate seeing corruption in fall in the category of Union matters under the envisaged Constitution for Tanzania, wondering why the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba appears to have different ideas.

“The new constitution must deal with corruption and illicit capital flight squarely. We can’t afford to leave things as they are; something must be done. I will be amazed if the new constitution remains silent on the issue,” asserted Dr Hosea.

He told the journalists that unless the country responds to the matter urgently and appropriately, poverty will become endemic “because corruption is a killer and the nation must wake up and fearlessly combat it aware that it affects the nation’s entire fabric and not only politics or the economy”.

“Failure to do so will earn us understandable blame from posterity. So let us fight it, come what may,” he added.

John Jingu, director of Tanzanian civil society organisation Integrity Watch, meanwhile said corruption and capital flight was a problem in many developing and developed nations and seriously hampered efforts to eradicate poverty.

“We must join hands in this struggle as some of these tax havens we are talking about are disguised dens where corruption is rampant and deep-rooted,” he added.
The conference is organised by Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaboration with PCCB and Integrity Watch.

'What about land ownership, Judge Warioba?'

Judge Joseph warioba

A Countrywide survey carried out by this paper has shown that many Tanzanians have received the proposed Constitution launched on Monday with mixed feelings, some saying the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has done a commendable job and others differing.

However, some remained pessimistic on the land ownership issue, which they said, does not feature anywhere in the draft.

Besides, those interviewed have warned politicians (power mongers) who might wish to interfere with the constitutional councils’ undertakings.

Other people expressed fear that the draft should not be endorsed by the Constitutional Assembly because some MPs are likely to suggest that some areas that they think will deny them positions should be removed from the suggested items.

Others have proposed Tanganyika to become the official name of the Mainland government instead of Tanzania Mainland.

Prince Mwaihojo, who is Mbeya chairman of Students’ Forum said that the committee had forgotten to highlight the issue of land ownership, saying that they will not remain silent on this.

He said land ownership was a sensitive matter that must be included in the Constitution, a move that would do away with the prevailing disputes and conflicts over land possession.

He added that land ownership has become a source of conflict and war in many countries in Africa.

So, the failure by CRC to include it the Constitutional draft has not answered some of the questions which the citizens aired when the Commission was collecting their views, he said.

“Chief Mirambo and Kinjektile Ngwale fought agisnt the colonialists so as to defend their ancestors’ land. Tanzanians must realize that the land issue is not an issue to ignore,” he said.

For his part, Boyid Mwabulanga said that the Constitutional draft was good because it had answered many of the people’s questions.
He said it has thrown out all the details available in the current constitution which were nuisance.

Interviewed Dar es Salaam residents for their part, said they were worried that the Parliament would not approve that Constitutional draft because some MPs would want some of the suggested aspects to be removed for their own interests.

Peter Mosha, who resides at Buguruni applauded the CRC for the wonderful job they have done for the benefit of the nation.

“It will be a wonderful Constitution if endorsed by the Parliament as it is,” he stressed.
Shabani Juma of Mwenge in Dar es Salaam said that he never imagined that it would come out that way as there were plenty of complaints at the time when the Commission was collecting the views.

“I traveled all the way from Kibaha to Dar es Salaam just to attend the launch of the draft at Karimjee grounds to see unveiling of a new era in Tanzanian history,” said Ali MOhammed, a resident of Maili Moja in Kibaha, Coast Region.

Ali said that there was no wisdom in advocating a breakup of the Union because “we will be disrespectful to the founders of our nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Abeid Karume who fought to unite.”

In Zanzibar, thiose interviewed warned politicians not interfere with the view of the wananchi when they discuss the draft in the councils saying issues of the Constitution are for the people and not for political parties, civil society and other institutions.

Zanzibar CCM deputy secretary Vuai Ali Vuai said the draft will help to eliminate the prevailing Union problems and improve the basis of peace and unity for the two countries.

In Arusha Senior lecturer at Mount Meru University Dr Simon Kadigumira proposed that Tanganyika should become the official name of Tanzania Mainland and not Tanzania Mainland as suggested.

The process of preparing the new constitution has just started after the Commission announced the draft on Monday.

The draft will now be sent to the Constitutional councils which will also discuss it before another draft is prepared by the Commission.

The second draft will be subjected to a people’s vote—referendum—before being submitted to the Constitutional Assembly for final endorsement.

Famous musician Ali Choki, who owns Extra Bongo Band, said the draft does not include matters pertaining to creativity, particularly the works of arts.

“I do not think that the Constitutional draft is in our favour as musicians because in the first place we are not mentioned and we were not invited to give our views,” he lamented.

Mohamed Khalfan who spoke on behalf of the Dar es Salaam Merchants’ Chamber said the most important constitutional issue and provision is the citizens’ basic rights and not anything else.