Conservators have become poachers, pastoralists assert

 

A cross-section of Ngorongoro based pastoralists blame modern conservation as a key factor towards rising wildlife poaching in national parks and game reserves.

Speaking here yesterday pastoralists suggested the need for the government to work on the challenge, saying wildlife modern conservation techniques had failed to scale-down poaching.

“It is difficult to differentiate the poacher and the conservator,” a resident said, noting that local people have seen people who pretend to be conservators of the country’s wildlife resources, but they don’t do so.

“One day, I witnessed twelve carcasses of elephants killed in the conserved area. The situation is terrible. Ordinary people like me fail to understand what conservators do,” said James ole Palkani.

Palkani who lives close to the Serengeti National Park in Ololosokwan village in Loliondo described the situation as very serious that needs to be addressed.

“The Maasai have been living with wildlife for many years, without any problem, taking into account that we don’t eat wild meat. But since the introduction of so-called modern conservation techniques things have changed for the worse,” he said.

Another villager said wildlife conservators use sophisticated tools in their work, but the number of killed wildlife kept on increasing on a daily basis.

“It is so sad to see elephants being killed by people who have been commissioned to protect them,” he said.

“These modern conservation techniques are not for protecting but killing wild animals. As pastoralists, we are wondering why the government continues to use so called modern conservation techniques, which have failed to address the problem,” said Charles ole Ndagoya.

Ndagoya who head the Ngorongoro-based Paralegal and Human Rights Organization, suggested that the government comes up with a solution that would sufficiently address the challenge.

He said it was high time for the government and other stakeholders to go back to the use of traditional ways of addressing poaching which is posing a serious threat to elephants and other large mammals like rhinos.

Ndagoya also queried government action of giving land to supposed investors, who are hardly investing anything other than hunting wildlife in protected areas.

Citing examples, the activist said that in Loliondo there were a number of rhinos but none can be cited at present. “And this happens at at time when the government has given the mandate to conservators to protect the wildlife. But we are fully aware that wild animals are killed by people who have been commissioned to take care of the animals.”

H e said that in the good old days wild animals mingled with domesticated animals like cattle, and they didn’t fear a human being, but now it’s not the case. “We have created fear among wild animals…” he said, imploring the government to come up with a participatory approach.

The local people would be allowed and be part of the conservation team, the activist explained. “Let’s give room for local people to use the skills that they used all along to protect wildlife.”

It is estimated that Tanzania loses three elephants per day due to poaching, a disquieting trend that threatens to wipe out wildlife attractions within the current decade.

Netragen provider unfazed by TFDA banning order

Despite a ban imposed by the Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA), a traditional medicine product, Netragen is still being circulated across the country.

Two weeks ago, TFDA-Lake Zone Office banned the production, distribution and advertisement of Netragen drug after detecting violation of laws and regulations governing the drug sector on the part of the producer (Herboworx).

Impeccable sources said Herboworx Ltd based in Mwanza is still distributing Netragen, which is claimed to help persons with peptic ulcers, seeking the drug despite the banning order by TFDA-Lake Zone Branch.

Speaking on the phone yesterday, TFDA Information Officer, Gaudensia Simwanza said the TFDA head office is currently investigating those reports. “…we want to get the truth of the story before we take action,” she said.

She, however, noted that the ban imposed by the TFDA Zonal office on the production, distribution and advertisement of Netragen drug was still intact and must be respected by the manufacturer.

It was against the law for traditional medicinemen to distribute drugs to various centres, warning Herboworx against distributing Netragen drug to its centres located in Dodoma, Mbeya, Dar es Salaam, and Mwanza.

TFDA would deploy zonal officials to conduct inspections across the regions to see if Herboworx centres were still distributing the drug, “so that appropriate legal and disciplinary actions are taken against the culprits if we find that they disobeyed an order issued by the authority through its Lake zonal office.”

Herboworx station managers for Dodoma and Mwanza interviewed by Clouds FM last week said that the drugs were still on sale, and that distribution to needy patients was going on.

Announcing the ban two weeks ago, TFDA’s Lake Zonal Inspector Aggrey Muhabuki told a press conference that there was gross violation of laws and regulations governing the drugs sector on the part of Herboworx.

Speaking after an inspection at the company’s production sites and clinics, TFDA official said the entire chain of production, distribution and advertisement of Netragen and other traditional drugs of Herboworkx do not meet requirements as provided for in the Traditional Medicine Act and TFDA regulations.

TFDA’s scrutiny has revealed that Herboworx has no license and permit allowing it to provide services from authorities governing the drug sector—either TFDA or the Traditional Medicine Council.

Secondly, the company has been advertizing its products, which the zonal inspector said was wrong and contrary to the Traditional Medicine Act. The traditional medicine law allows a traditional doctor to personally administer drugs or herbs to patients, and not open distribution branches.

Even the production of Herboworx drugs were done in an environment which does not meet drug standards and safety.

“The production site is not clean. Packaging and labeling of their products does not meet the set quality and standards requirements,” she stated.

Speaking before TFDA statement, Herboworx operator Mwita Marwa said that Netragen drug was approved by the Government Chemist and that he had permits from the Traditional Medicine Unit of Ministry of Health and Social Welfare at Mwanza, claims which TFDA inspectors said were not true, insisting that he had no permit or license for the services.

“Because of these shortfalls, from today (two weeks ago), the authority bans production, distribution and advertisements of Herboworx products, until the company complies with laid down procedures, rules, laws and regulations governing the drug sector,” the zonal inspector had declared.

The authority also issued a warning to traditional doctors to abide by laws and regulations, failure of which stringent measures would be taken against them.

DPP appeals against verdict on DECI case

DPP Elieza Fereshi

The Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP) has submitted a notice of appeal against a judgment issued by Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court that the four directors of the Development for Entrepreneurship Cooperative Initiative (DECI) should pay a fine of 21m/- each or a six-year imprisonment.

As part of the verdict, the court also instructed the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) to collect all the money from DECI sources after the accused were found guilty of two offences including operating a financial institution without an appropriate license.

The accused who are pastors of Pentecostal churches are Jackson Mtares, Dominic Kigendi, Samuel Mtares and Timotheo Ole Loitingye. All the four accused deceived their followers who trusted them as religious leaders and swindled them out of millions.

On August 19 this year before Resident Magistrate Aloyce Katemana on behalf of Resident Magistrate Stuwart Sanga issued the verdict.

However the DPP was not satisfied with the ruling and submitted a notice of appeal against the verdict which didn’t show who is to refund DECI members.
However, in the judgment, the court acquitted Arbogast Francis, who was not found guilty.

During the judgment, Defence Advocate, Hudson Ndusyepo attempted to plead the cleric’s case seeking the court’s sympathy on account of his clients’ elderly ages. When that didn’t work, he claimed that there were numerous persons living off the accused and would suffer severely should the four be jailed.

But after the prosecution team, led by State Attorney Prosper Mwangamila presented 16 witnesses between July 17 and August 19, this year, the court was able to prove beyond reasonable doubts that the accused had committed the offence and were guilty as charged.

Mwangamila requested the court to confiscate assets that the accused have amassed in the past six years, noting that the priests had bought lands, buildings, vehicles and saved huge sums of money at the expense of their unsuspecting congregations.

Two of the accused remain in custody after having failed to meet the fine terms, while Timotheo Ole Loitingye and Mtares were set free after paying a fine of 21m/-.

An alert by the media helped give voice to the largely innocent public and to wake overly gullible government agencies from the sad fact that church elders were involved in a money scheme luring hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting citizens out of their hard earned money.

According to media reports, by May 14, 2009, at least half a million people had sunk billions of shillings into the scheme, some having borrowed from banks, rickety family budgets and savings and credit cooperative societies for the purpose.

However when the media was revealing the scheme, bishops from the 82 Pentecostal Church of Tanzania which represents several churches, called media reports ‘raging rumours driven by ignorance, ill-will and vendettas.’ 

Local contractors demand equality in tender awards

 Local contractors have expressed concern that the government has continued to skip them in tender awards, preferring foreign contractors instead who fail to complete projects in time.

The concern was expressed by Contractors Association of Tanzania (CATA) General Secretary Placid Ngiliule when talking to The Guardian during a one-day workshop on various 2013/14 tax laws changes organised by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

He said the tendency of awarding tenders to foreign contractors is discouraging the locals.

He said it is a shame that 60 percent of the construction market is under foreign firms and only 40 percent is operated by local contractors.

“Not all local contractors lack professionalism or technological skills to engineer the projects that are entrusted to foreign firms,” he stressed, saying that they should be judged by their work.

Ngiliule argued that the government should prioritise local contractors in awarding tenders so as to empower them, something that will fast track national development.
According to Ngiliule, these foreign contractors make loads of profit but lots of it goes to their country (capital flight), something that denies the government a whole bunch of revenues.

“Local contractors are in a better position of increasing permanent employment opportunities and contribute a great deal in the country’s economy,” he reasoned.

Expounding on the employment issue, he said people who secure jobs with foreign contractors are normally on a temporal agreement because once the project is complete, they are left jobless.

He pointed that CATA is trying to build capacity among local contractors by helping them access capital that would help them purchase modern working equipment.

“There is a need to empower local contractors because many of them still look like small medium entrepreneurs due to lacking capital and tenders,” he said.

Elaborating on tax charged on local contractors, he noted that TRA cuts much money from them thus causing CATA to fail operating on its own.
He said there should be a limit on tax and other bills so that the association can remain strong.

Ngiliule also challenged the government to pay contractors in time and also award tenders jointly between foreigner contractors and the local ones to facilitate exchange of experience, technique and skills.

KOICA trains 800 local govt officials

In an effort to increase the understanding of local government leaders and improve service delivery, at least 800 Tanzanian government officials have received various training through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

According to a statement from KOICA, the 800 government officials received the trainings between 1991 and August, this year.

During the training, local administration management topic was given first priority so as to meet the Tanzania government’s demand of delivering proper services to its people through local authorities.

This year alone, about 15 officials from local government authorities participated in the course including a Human Resources Officer from Kinondoni Municipal Council.

Following the trainings they have been offering, KOICA and KOICA Alumni Association of Tanzania (KAAT) jointly held the 2013 KAAT Feedback Seminar on Local Administration Management in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

The official development assistant in collaboration with Korean government through KOICA, has provided training to government officials of its partner countries.

The themes for the seminar were the ‘Human Resources Development for Improvement of Services delivery in the Local Administration System and Decentralisation by Devolution in Tanzania.’

Participants discussed a number of issues but they wanted to come up with the best knowledge and experience gained from Korea so as to raise the standards of service delivery.

The feedback seminar was held in order to stimulate participants coming back from that course to apply their lessons from Korea to their individual duties. 

Sumatra intervenes in cargo tracking dispute

Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra)

Tanzania Electronic Cargo Tracking Agency (Tecta) has called on the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) to revoke the recently signed agreement between the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and Belgium based firm named Antaser Afrique.

The inked agreement between the two institutions gives the Belgium firm mandate to implement electronic cargo tracking note (e-CTN) system at the Dar es Salaam Port.

Tecta Executive Director Dennis Makoi told this paper in an exclusive interview that TPA’s top management decision was against international and the country’s cargo shipping, clearing and forwarding regulations.

Makoi said principally the overseeing agency- Tanzania Shipping Agency Association (TASAA) is the only agency with authority to sign contracts on behalf of the government and private firms to implement the system in the country.

According to him, despite TPA being aware of the pending five-year contract signed between TASAA and a French-based firm Phoenix Cargo Security on August 17 last year; they still went ahead to sign a new contract with Antaser Afrique on July 3, this year.

“This has created tension among stakeholders on the effectiveness of the system especially at the Dar port,” he said calling upon the regulator to intervene in the matter before it gets out of hand.

Makoi also said that before the signing of the first contract, the government announced the tender to which among the best five companies in the world only two; Antaser Afrique and Phoenix Cargo Security were invited to make presentation of their facilities.

He said: “It was unfortunate that Antaser Afrique was disqualified after having failed to provide its presentation on time. Besides it had no facilities in both Conakry Guinea and in Belgium as it had claimed in its documents.”

Commenting on the matter, Sumatra Public Relations Manager, David Mziray said the regulator was hosting a closed door meeting with various stakeholders in cargo, shipping, clearing and forwarding industry in the country.

He said Sumatra was aware of the matter particularly the introduction of the electronic cargo tracking note system to be effective on September 1 this year.

“We are working on the matter. We’re sure we will reach conclusion that will benefit both parties,” he said in a telephone interview.

When reached for comments, TPA Director General Eng Madeni Kipande declined to comment on the matter.

“I don’t even know you. Are you retarded? Send me your inquiries in writing then I will respond,” he reacted.

For two consecutive weeks stakeholders notably importers in the shipping business in the country have been protesting against TPA’s plan to introduce the electronic cargo tracking note which will be used to closely monitor the movement of cargo at the Dar port.

NIDA collects data for national IDs

National Identification Authority (NIDA)

The National Identification Authority (NIDA) has started collecting biometric information from 2.6 million Dar es Salaam residents ahead of issuing them with National Ids.

Thomas William, the NIDA’s head of Communications and Documentation said the exercise will start in Temeke district covering those who filled their registration forms last year.

“The information includes finger prints, electronic signatures and other personal details like age and gender,” William said.

Preliminary wards are all streets of Kimbiji, Pemba Mnazi, Kigamboni, Vijibweni, Kibada, Mjimwema, Somangila, Kisarawe II, Tungi and the streets of Mtoni Kijichi, Mgeninani and Misheni in Kijichi ward.

William explained that the work was to start as soon as Parliament Budget session ended, but was delayed by the visit of US President Barack Obama and the heads of state attending the smart partnership dialogue in Dar es Salaam.

There are other glitches however, like shortage of data entry clerks and registration officers to take information of people, the current ones are working on temporarily basis but despite the set back the official asserts:

“We have organised ourselves well and people will be notified before the commencement of the exercise through the media and other outlets,” he said noting that the authority has ordered (imported) for more equipment to efficiently conduct the exercise.

“We need people to be cooperative and provide correct information,” William said.

NIDA has so far issued IDs to 220,000 civil servants and a few selected citizens.

President Jakaya Kikwete inaugurated the national identity cards project in February this year when the first 46 IDs were issued to top government leaders and a few prominent persons, marking a milestone in the registration and identification of Tanzanians.