EAC YAINGILIA KATI MZOZO WA TANZANIA NA RWANDA

Wakati Tanzania ikisema kuwa iko tayari kukaa meza moja na jirani yake Rwanda kumaliza hali ya uhasama iliyoanza kujitokeza katika siku za hivi karibuni, Katibu Mkuu wa Sekretarieti ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki, Dk Richard Sezibera amesema jitihada za kidipolomasia zinafanyika kutatua tofauti hizo za kimawazo. 
  

Bila kutaja taasisi wala wanaohusika katika jitihada hizo za kidiplomasia, Dk Sezibera aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jijini Arusha jana kuwa jitihada hizo zinafanyika kimya kimya bila kushirikisha vyombo vya habari “Migongano na tofauti za kimtazamo miongoni mwa viongozi wakuu wa nchi wanachama wa EAC ni jambo lisilo la afya kwa Jumuiya na linastahili kushughulikiwa kidiplomasia,” alisema Dk Sezibera.
 

Akizungumza kwa tahadhari kubwa kukwepa kuingia kwa undani kuhusu suala hilo, Katibu Mkuu huyo alisema inafaa kila linalowezekana lifanyike kutatua mgongano wowote unaotokea kati ya viongozi wakuu.
 

Mjini Dar es Salaam, Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Benard Membe naye alisema katika mahojiano kuwa iwapo Rwanda itaomba kukutana na Tanzania kwa ajili ya kumaliza mzozo huo Serikali itakuwa tayari kutoa ushirikiano.
 

“Tanzania tunaona kuwa hii itakuwa njia ya busara zaidi kumaliza tofauti zetu kwa njia ya mazungumzo badala ya kuendelea kuishi kwa uhasama” alisema Membe na kwamba hali ya ujirani mwema na tofauti zetu tuzimalize kwa njia ya mazungumzo.”
 

Waziri Membe alisema siyo jambo la busara kuacha mzozo huo ukakaamuliwa na mataifa ya nje ili hali nchi zenyewe bado zinafursa nzuri ya kukaa mezani na kujadiliana namna ya kutafutia ufumbuzi mzozo huo.
 

Uhusiano wa Tanzania na Rwanda unatajwa kuwa katika wakati mgumu kutokana na kauli za majibizano baina ya viongozi wa pande zote mbili. Hivi karibuni Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliisihi Rwanda kutotoa kauli za kejeli kwani kwa kufanya hivyo kunaweza kuhatarisha uhusiano uliodumu kwa muda mrefu .
 

Hata hivyo, Dk Sezibera alisema tofauti na migongano kati ya viongozi haiwezi kuathiri wala kuvunja Jumuiya ya sasa ya Afrika Mashariki kama ilivyotokea kwenye Jumuiya ya awali mwaka 1977 kutokana utofauti wa muundo na misingi ya Jumuiya ya sasa.
 

“Jambo lililo dhahiri ni kwamba tofauti za kimtazamo kati ya viongozi wa nchi wanachama (Kikwete na Kagame), haziwezi kuhatarisha uhai wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashairiki kwa sababu muungano huu umejengwa katika muundo na misingi imara tofauti na ule (jumuiya) wa zamani,” alisema Dk Sezibera

-Mwananchi.

EAC YAINGILIA KATI MZOZO WA TANZANIA NA RWANDA

Wakati Tanzania ikisema kuwa iko tayari kukaa meza moja na jirani yake Rwanda kumaliza hali ya uhasama iliyoanza kujitokeza katika siku za hivi karibuni, Katibu Mkuu wa Sekretarieti ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki, Dk Richard Sezibera amesema jitihada za kidipolomasia zinafanyika kutatua tofauti hizo za kimawazo. 
  

Bila kutaja taasisi wala wanaohusika katika jitihada hizo za kidiplomasia, Dk Sezibera aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jijini Arusha jana kuwa jitihada hizo zinafanyika kimya kimya bila kushirikisha vyombo vya habari “Migongano na tofauti za kimtazamo miongoni mwa viongozi wakuu wa nchi wanachama wa EAC ni jambo lisilo la afya kwa Jumuiya na linastahili kushughulikiwa kidiplomasia,” alisema Dk Sezibera.
 

Akizungumza kwa tahadhari kubwa kukwepa kuingia kwa undani kuhusu suala hilo, Katibu Mkuu huyo alisema inafaa kila linalowezekana lifanyike kutatua mgongano wowote unaotokea kati ya viongozi wakuu.
 

Mjini Dar es Salaam, Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Benard Membe naye alisema katika mahojiano kuwa iwapo Rwanda itaomba kukutana na Tanzania kwa ajili ya kumaliza mzozo huo Serikali itakuwa tayari kutoa ushirikiano.
 

“Tanzania tunaona kuwa hii itakuwa njia ya busara zaidi kumaliza tofauti zetu kwa njia ya mazungumzo badala ya kuendelea kuishi kwa uhasama” alisema Membe na kwamba hali ya ujirani mwema na tofauti zetu tuzimalize kwa njia ya mazungumzo.”
 

Waziri Membe alisema siyo jambo la busara kuacha mzozo huo ukakaamuliwa na mataifa ya nje ili hali nchi zenyewe bado zinafursa nzuri ya kukaa mezani na kujadiliana namna ya kutafutia ufumbuzi mzozo huo.
 

Uhusiano wa Tanzania na Rwanda unatajwa kuwa katika wakati mgumu kutokana na kauli za majibizano baina ya viongozi wa pande zote mbili. Hivi karibuni Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliisihi Rwanda kutotoa kauli za kejeli kwani kwa kufanya hivyo kunaweza kuhatarisha uhusiano uliodumu kwa muda mrefu .
 

Hata hivyo, Dk Sezibera alisema tofauti na migongano kati ya viongozi haiwezi kuathiri wala kuvunja Jumuiya ya sasa ya Afrika Mashariki kama ilivyotokea kwenye Jumuiya ya awali mwaka 1977 kutokana utofauti wa muundo na misingi ya Jumuiya ya sasa.
 

“Jambo lililo dhahiri ni kwamba tofauti za kimtazamo kati ya viongozi wa nchi wanachama (Kikwete na Kagame), haziwezi kuhatarisha uhai wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashairiki kwa sababu muungano huu umejengwa katika muundo na misingi imara tofauti na ule (jumuiya) wa zamani,” alisema Dk Sezibera

-Mwananchi.

FEZA KESSY NI MIONGONI MWA WASANII WALIOKUWA WAMEVAA VIBAYA KATIKA UZINDUZI WA VIDEO YA YAHAYA YA LADY JAYDEE

Video ya yahala ilizinduliwa rasmi jana pande za nyumbani lounge. Baadhi ya wasanii kama Feza Kessy ambaye alikuwa mgeni rasmi, Vanessa Mdee  na  Mkolon...

Pamoja  na  kuwa  mgeni  rasmi, Feza  anadaiwa  kuwa  miongoni  mwa  wasanii  waliokuwa  wamevaa  vibaya....

Vazi   lake  lilikuwa  likiyaanika  matiti  yake  hadharani, hali  ambayo  iliwafanya  hata  watoto  wayashuhudie

Was Uhuru Kenyatta invested? Was the ceremony a coronation? Did he experience ‘ascend’ to presidency?

KENYA has a new President in the person of Uhuru Kenyatta. The Custodian (9 April) had this front page feature on the event that took place on 9th April, titled: “Raila, Kalonzo retreat to SA as Uhuru in ‘invested’”.

OK we could debate this but was Uhuru “invested”? The meaning of “invest” that is close to the Uhuru Presidential investiture is the phrasal verb “invest with” which means to officially give someone power to do something. Therefore, I would have hesitated to say Uhuru was invested, unless I described the event further by saying: “Uhuru was invested with power ……”.

It would have been better to use the more common vocabulary: “Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as Kenya’s President”. Presidential contestant, Raila Odinga (mtani), and his running mate did not attend the ceremony since they are reported to have taken: “a flight to South Africa with their families” and were “expected back in the country tomorrow a day after Uhuru’s coronation”.

Again I would have hesitated to use the noun “coronation” in these circumstances; for, my Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines coronation as “the ceremony at which someone is officially made king or queen”. Yea? “A ceremony at which someone is officially made king or queen”. Now we ask ourselves: “Was Uhuru officially made king? No. Kings do not go through elections.

They are usually born. Some five years from now, Uhuru will be facing an election. Therefore, it is safe to say that the ceremony at which he was sworn in as Kenya’s President was not a “coronation”. Why did Raila and his principals not attend the swearing- in ceremony? According to the paper: “Sources say Raila and Kalonzo had been ‘prevailed’ by CORD MPs ‘to skip’ the swearing in ceremony….” Raila and Kalonzo were not prevailed by CORD MPs. They were “prevailed upon” by their MPs.

“To prevail on” or “prevail upon” means to persuade someone to do or not do something. Moreover I do not think Raila and Co “skipped: the swearing in ceremony”. This would mean, they had a schedule, and then found that they were running out of time for example and decided to leave out this particular activity.

In real life however, they deliberately decided not to attend. My choice vocabulary would be: “they boycotted the swearing in ceremony”. Having been prevailed upon by their MPs: “they bought the idea saying attending Uhuru’s inauguration will be tantamount to endorsing a regime whose ‘ascend’ to power they disputed……”. Now “ascend” is a verb when what we need in this sentence is a noun. There are many societies which mix up “nd” and “nt”, and it is possible that the writer of this news item comes from such a community. It is “ascent” to power not “ascend” to power.

*****

While Kenyans are celebrating the swearing in of their 4th President, Tanzania is trying to solve the jinx of who should slaughter certain animals for public consumption. A prominent businessman has come up to declare that “Fighting over animal slaughtering is shameful” (Custodian 9th April, p. 2). This disagreement has already resulted into physical clashes and deaths: “The clashes resulted in the beheading of Pastor Mathayo Machila and injuries to several others besides causing massive significant damage to property”.

We want to point out two areas of concern with the sentence on the beheading of the Pastor. One, when the writer talks of “injuries to several others”, it was necessary to be clear whether these “several others” were Pastors or not. Since it is only one Pastor who was beheaded, the sentence needed to be rewritten. Besides, it is not possible to cause “massive” damage to property which is not significant. Thus to say “massive significant” damage to property is to make unnecessary overemphasis.

A rewrite would read something like: “The clashes resulted in the beheading of Pastor Mathayo Machila and injuries to several other people, besides causing extensive damage to property”.

*****

We now make a quick hop to Makerere University in Kampala Uganda, where we are given insights into what new university entrants go through. This is in an article titled: “Freshers and their struggle to fit in” (East African Business Weekly, April 8-14, p. 17). One fresher who was interviewed had this to say: “I remember fear grasping through me when I first ‘stepped foot’ at campus”. “Stepped foot on campus?”

We disagree. The writer had the choice of either saying “set foot on campus”, or, “stepped on campus”, but not “stepped foot on campus”. Did fear “grasp” through this fresher? We would have gone for a simple word: “Fear ran through me”. Our rewrite would run something like this: “I remember fear running through me when I first set foot at the campus”.

The fresher is warned: “many of the students have failed to graduate from campus as a result of misallocating their time by wasting it on misleading events such as parties. They concentrate more on the socializing part of university life rather than ‘concentrating more’ on their academics and and perhaps balancing the two may be the best option and perhaps ‘by balancing the two’ they will realize success, especially during the first year of universities and it all depends on sense of balance”. The paragraph above has too many repetitions, and I leave it you to think of a rewrite. All the best for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ponda, acid attack ‘not linked’

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mr Robert Manumba.

POLICE have denied reports by the international media that link the Muslim cleric Ponda Issa Ponda with the recent incident of acid attack on two British girls in Zanzibar.

A section of international media has since Saturday, when reports began filtering that Ponda had been injured during an attempt to arrest him, been telling the world that the cleric was being pursued for allegedly being involved in the attack.

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mr Robert Manumba, told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam that “the origin of such information is unknown and questionable’’. “Ponda is under arrest for hate speeches that instigated chaos in various places in the country.

We have no proof yet to connect him with the recent acid attack in Zanzibar or elsewhere in the country,” he said. Mr Manumba called on anyone with such evidence to let the police know so that they can launch an investigation.

“I wonder who conveyed such information to the international media because as far as police are concerned, we have not made such a statement. We call on any one with evidence on such allegations to report to the police,” he said.

Ponda is still hospitalized under heavy police guard at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) in Dar es Salaam where he is undergoing post-surgery treatment for the wounds he sustained on Saturday.

On Monday, police in Dar es Salaam special zone announced a reward of 100m/- to anyone who will provide information that will lead to the arrest of perpetrators of incidents of acid attacks in the country. Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Mr Suleiman Kova said in the city that increased incidents of acid attacks has necessitated the move.

“I request the general public to provide information that would help the police find the suspects and allow the law to take its course through mobile telephone number 0754034224,” Mr Kova pleaded. There has of late been a series of acid attacks on several individuals, including a prominent local businessman and two British teenagers, the motive for which is yet to be established as police continue with investigations.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Issaya Mngulu, who heads investigation team formed by the National Criminal Justice Forum to investigate the circumstances under which Ponda was injured, said the team is currently on field in Morogoro Municipality.

“We are already in Morogoro and the work has started. But we cannot be certain over when the work will be concluded,” he said. Mr Mngulu noted that terms of reference for the investigation have been established but hastened to say that the police were not ready to share them with the media at this point.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ms Dianna Melrose, commented on the acid attack in Zanzibar, thanking the government for the pledge it had made to relentlessly hunt all the culprits.

“I would like to thank the governments of Tanzania and Zanzibar for their public condemnation of the attack and their stated determination to leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators -- and ensure that they are brought to justice.

This will reassure British tourists planning to travel to the island,” she said in a statement. She added: “Pending police investigations, it would be unwise to leap to conclusions about the motive for the attack or what it means for foreign visitors.

Nevertheless, we have updated our Travel Advice to inform people of the attack and reiterate the need for caution.” She described the attack as a shocking one and extended her thoughts and sympathy to the young women and their families while wishing them speedy recovery. “Zanzibar remains a popular tourist destination and most visits are trouble free.

British nationals are however encouraged to take care and to read our Travel Advice,” she advised.

Uganda to face Egypt in friendly on Wednesday

Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ (File photo)

UGANDA Cranes, who eliminated Tanzania from the

UGANDA Cranes, who eliminated Tanzania from the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, play Egypt in an international friendly in El Gouna on Wednesday.

The Cranes are preparing to face Senegal next month in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier. The Pharaohs are also through to the next round of World Cup qualifiers after picking up 15 points in Group G, while second placed Guinea have 10 points.

Egypt host Uganda in a friendly in the coastal town of El Gouna, 430km from Cairo, due to the political unrest and security issues in the capital. First-choice goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, who recently joined Bidvest Wits University on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, is among the foreign-based players who have made the trip.

“This is a very important friendly because it’s against a giant side,” said Cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic whose team last week improved to 77th place in the latest Fifa rankings. Elsewhere, African champions Nigeria meet South Africa in Durban in arguably the pick of the friendly games.

Ivory Coast welcome Didier Drogba back to their squad for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations. The 35-year-old striker is in Sabri Lamouchi’s 23-man squad for their meeting with Mexico on 14 August.

The Elephants, who beat Taifa Stars 4-2 in a World Cup qualifier, are one of three teams already through to the play-offs, with one game left to play in the second round, which concludes between September 6 and 10. The Guineans travel to Blida next week to meet Algeria -- the third team assured of a qualifying play-off place.

The 2012 Nations Cup champions Zambia -- who lie second in their qualifying group behind Ghana -- play Senegal in Paris tomorrow. Malawi, meanwhile, play Rwanda in Kigali, with the Flames preparing for a decisive qualifier against the Super Eagles in Calabar on September 7.

Furniture industry for windfall business

Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Saada Salim Mkuya.

LOCAL investors in the furniture industry are set to benefit, thanks to the government decision to procure

LOCAL investors in the furniture industry are set to benefit, thanks to the government decision to procure all furniture domestically, with the views of boosting small scale entrepreneurs and scale up economic growth.

The government passed a policy, obliging all ministries and departments to buy locally made furniture which are durable and provide employment opportunities to the domestic manufacturers.

Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Saada Salim Mkuya said in an interview with the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam that the government was determined to ensure procurement of local made furniture starts effectively in this fiscal year.

“Procuring local made furniture is one of the government efforts to cut down expenditures, its implementation therefore is of paramount importance,” she noted. She said the purchase of foreign made fixtures was expensive, with most of them being of low quality and subjecting the government into heavy losses.

Ms Mkuya added that the public procurement of various goods and services should always adhere to the value for money as well as render the expected satisfaction. “The public sector depends on the range of goods and services which they procure to deliver their core services.

The goods and services must be of right quality, cost effective and available whenever needed,” she noted. The furniture sector employs a large number of youths but most of them are disappointed due to unaddressed hurdles including market unreliability.

Delays in implementing the government decision to buy locally manufactured furniture have impeded the subsector’s growth and contributions to the overall economic development.

The Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Dr William Mgimwa was recently quoted as saying the procurement of locally made furniture will be a fundamental milestone in building capacity of local manufacturers and would contribute significantly to boosting individual and national incomes.

However, poor working tools, capital deficiency, lack of creativity and limited market opportunities are some of the key impediments that hinder the progress of local furniture makers. As a result, the huge market for furniture is flooded with imported substandard carpentry products.

7,000 aliens leave for home

President Jakaya Kikwete.

RESPONSE to President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive

RESPONSE to President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive for aliens in Kagera Region to leave the country or be forcefully removed has been positive with almost 7,000 illegal residents leaving the country in the past fortnight.

President Kikwete had asked the aliens to leave lest security and defence organs force them to do so when addressing the public during celebrations to mark the Heroes Day in Muleba District, Kagera Region, on July 25. The deadline expired on Sunday.

Despite the positive response, security organs have vowed to launch a special operation to root out illegal immigrants, sources have said, with the Kagera Regional Commissioner, Mr Fabian Massawe, stressing that all logistics to start the operation are ready.

According to the Kagera Regional Police Commander, Mr Philip Kalangi, at least 6,780 illegal immigrants have crossed borders and returned to their home countries from the region since the president’s directive. Similarly, about 1,600 cattle have been taken back to Rwanda by their owners through Rusumo border point between Saturday and Sunday.

The RPC said that it is also estimated that about 5,000 cattle have been taken back to Uganda through illegal routes since the directive and that a total of 20 homemade guns have been surrendered at different police stations throughout the region.

However, according to our sources, at least one sub-machine gun (SMG) has also been surrendered to the police in the region. Among those who have returned home through official routes, 4,377 are Rwandans, 2,219 Burundians and 174 Ugandans.

The source, who witnessed the aliens leaving, said that those who crossed the border to Rwanda could be seen being welcomed by that country’s officials, indicating the government has been keenly following the events. It is also estimated that those who returned to their country through illegal routes may have numbered 20,000 since the president issued the directive.

Although almost all of those who left the country are from neighbouring countries, the government has repeatedly said that no citizens of a particular country had been a target, the main objective being to curb incidents of armed robbery and illegal grazing.

“The aim was to rid the country of illegal immigrants as well as people who have encroached into wildlife management areas (WMA) and catchment areas that are a lifeline for Lake Victoria,” the source said.

President Kikwete’s warning came in the wake of a recent incident in which a group of heavily armed bandits ambushed several buses along the Muleba-Biharamulo Road and robbed passengers of their belongings whose value was yet to be established.

“We cannot allow Tanzanians to be terrorized by a few criminals,” he said, adding that the government would soon conduct an operation involving the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF), police, immigration and intelligence officials to confiscate the firearms. The operation would cover three regions of Kagera, Geita and Kigoma.

The president also challenged the immigration department to ensure that the screening of foreigners who are hiding in villages was conducted thoroughly. Kagera Region, for example, has an estimated 35,000 illegal immigrants. He warned that if the exercise was not done properly, Tanzania would face an enormous task after a period of 50 or 60 years.

He noted that some of the leaders, including village executive officers (VEO), ward executive officers (WEO) and councillors had turned themselves into immigration officers as they were busy issuing illegal residence permits. “Illegal issuance of residence permits is done in broad daylight and leaders in this region keep a blind eye.

This is corruption because your services are bought at a very low price and the aliens know this. That is why the number of aliens keeps rising,” the president said.

CCM official, colleagues seek revision of 699m/- High Court judgment

Mr Ramadhani Madabida

CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Dar es Salaam Region Chairman Ramadhani Madabida and four other appellants have asked the Court of Appeal to revise the High Court’s Commercial Division judgment, requiring them to pay 699m/- debt to Stanbic Bank Tanzania Limited.

Through their advocate, Dennis Msafiri, the appellants told Justices Steven Bwana, Semistocles Kaijage and Kipenka Mussa that the trial judge committed errors in ruling in favour of the bank, by holding that a document titled “Debt Settlement Agreement” was not an acknowledgment of debt.

The advocate for the appellants also comprising Salum Shamte, Pharmaceutical Investment Limited, Mpewani Trading Company Limited and Global Trading Company Limited, submitted that trial judge also erred in admitting the document and another one titled “Debt Restructuring Agreement” in evidence.

Giving an example on the Debt Settlement Agreement, Mr Msafiri submitted that an objection was raised to its admissibility on grounds that it was unstamped and subjected to stamping during the trial as such a course was not allowed under the provision of Section 47 (1) of the Stamp Duty Act.

The counsel further told the justices that the trial court erred in law in holding that the suit was not barred by time limitation and wrongly held that the suit was proved notwithstanding absence and production of primary agreement or agreements evidencing loan transactions.

However, advocate for the Bank, Mr Dilip Kesaria, requested the justices of the appeals court to dismiss with costs the appeal in question. “The judgment sought to be appealed is good and sound (one) based on the pleaded facts, evidence at trial and the applicable laws and should be allowed to stand,” he said.

Regarding the “Debt Settlement Agreement,” the advocate submitted that it was plainly and obviously an agreement relating to the rescheduling of Pharmaceutical Investment Limited’s repayment obligation in settlement of its debt and provided for a new repayment schedule. “It is a debt Settlement Agreement and not Acknowledgement of Debt as correctly held by the learned trial judge,” said Mr Kesaria.

He said having so held, the trial judge followed established legal principles of permitting the Bank to pay the requisite Stamp Duty before allowing its admission in evidence. The counsel further submitted that the suit was filed within the time limit because where there was continuing breach of contract, as was the case in the matter, a fresh period of limitation accrues every moment of time during which the breach arises.

“Pursuant to Section 27 (3) of the Law of Limitation Act, there is a fresh accrual of a right of action on the date of the acknowledgment of debt in the year 2007, being the same year in which the suit in the lower court was commenced by the respondent (Stanbic Bank) herein,” he submitted.

On May 22, 2009, High Court Judge Frederick Werema ordered the appellants to pay Stanbic Bank a total of 699,860,717/- after he was satisfied that the bank granted credit facility to Pharmaceutical Investment Limited as principal borrower, while Madabida and the others executed guarantees.

Judge Werema said there was debt restructuring agreement, which was signed by Mr Madabida as the Managing Director for and on behalf of Pharmaceutical Investment Limited.

It was alleged that as of October 31, 2003, the quantum of the debt stood at 1,110,444,611/66. Such amount was rescheduled by reducing it to 971,861,047/93 and was further scaled down to 800m/- on May 24, 2004. Due to inability of the company to pay the debt, a further rescheduling reduced it to 529m/-. The plaintiff had pleaded in the suit that the quantum of the debt as of August 31, 2007 was 699,807,717/-.

Moshi water supply authority’s job pleases minister

Prof Jumanne Maghembe

WATER authorities have been advised to emulate the efficiency of Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (MUWSA). The Minister for Water, Prof Jumanne Maghembe, offered the advice over the weekend at Moshi, while launching MUWSA's new board of directors.

Prof Maghembe said MUWSA has exceeded millennium and government targets as far as supply of clean and safe water to the Moshi Municipality.
The minister noted that government values highly the contribution by water authorities' board members as they were key to reach the millennium development goals (MDGs) set for 2015.

"I would like to congratulate the past boards because their contributions have helped Moshi Urban Water and Sewerage Authority to go above the millennium and government targets in delivering clean water services.

"Moshi municipality has no problems in relation to scarcity of clean water and the residents of this town get clean and safe water for an average of 17 hours a day," noted the minister.

The new MUWSA Managing Director, Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja, who has 40 days in office, has announced an end to water rationing, meaning that residents are getting water for 24 hours.

Prof Maghembe called on other urban water authorities also to learn from MUWSA in implementing successfully the government policy - Kilimo Kwanza."MUWSA is the only authority in the country implementing government's slogan of Kilimo Kwanza. You conserve the environment and increase productivity in agriculture through Mabogini Irrigation Project by using refined sewage.

"It is my only hope that other authorities will learn from MUWSA for this will help us get rid of famine  as farmers will gradually reduce usage of clean water in irrigation, dependency on rain and ultimately raise their incomes," said the minister amid applause from MUWSA staff.   

Prof Maghembe praised the MUWSA managing director and ordered him to further modernise the authority so that it ranks first among others. He said Engineer Luhemeja was among 29 experts who formulated "Big Results Now"  (BRN) in the water sector.

Earlier, Eng Luhemeja told the minister that they have started well with BRN, as the rift among the workers that existed was no longer there.The MD said from July 1st to December 24th), they will address four main areas, namely to reduce water loss; raise customer network; have better customer services and improve supply of water and increase the proceeds.

He said collections from customers have gone up from 302m/- in June to 349.5m/- last July. The target is to collect 1bn/- by June 2014, when they will have increased water sources and production. The target is to have 50,000 customers up from the existing 21,000.

In their message to the minister, MUWSA workers noted that failure is not their option, and said they were happy with appointment of the new MD and the Board and that staff are allowed to go for further studies in line with the ministry's policy.

The board MUWSA board members are Shally Raymond (Chairperson), Professor Faustine Bee (Vice Chairperson), Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja (Secretary to the Board), Japhary Michael, Elizabeth Minde, Boniface Mariki, Alfred Shayo, Hajira Mmande, Abdala Mkufunzi and Bernadette Kinabo.

Ponda admitted at MNH under heavy police guard

THE controversial Muslim leader, Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda, at the Intensive Care Unit of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam on Sunday where he was lined up for a major operation following a gun wound he sustained in Morogoro on Saturday. (Photo by Staff Photographer)

THcontroversial Muslim leader, Ponda Issa Ponda, has been admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam for emergency treatment -- under police custody.

Ponda, who was on police wanted list, was reportedly injured on his shoulder on Saturday night after police opened fire as he was attempting to escape arrest in Morogoro municipality. Police Spokesperson SSP Advera Senso confirmed to the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam on Sunday that Ponda was under arrest and admitted at the MNH.

He described his condition as ‘stable’. “It is true that he is now under police custody at Muhimbili where he is undergoing treatment for the wound he sustained during an attempt to arrest him on Saturday,” she said.

In an earlier statement, Ms Senso said that a police team, led by Commissioner of Police Issaya Mngulu from the police headquarters has been tasked to investigate the matter to find out the circumstances under which he was shot.

“The police force calls upon the people to remain calm while the matter is being legally handled,” she said. Explaining the Saturday’s drama, Ms Senso noted that on the day in question, there was a workshop held at Kiwanja cha Ndege Primary School grounds in Morogoro Municipality where Sheikh Ponda arrived in the late hours of the day and greeted the Muslims present.

“There was an Idd-el-Fitr Baraza held by an association of Muslim preachers at Kiwanja cha Ndege Primary School in Morogoro Municipality where Ponda arrived ten minutes before it closed and talked briefly to the congregation,” she said.

She explained that the forum, which started at around 2pm, was closed at around 6pm where people started dispersing, some of them shielding a small car that carried Sheikh Ponda. “After moving from the grounds, the police put up a road block in an attempt to arrest Sheikh Ponda who was on the police wanted list for allegedly instigating chaos in various places in the country,” she elaborated.

Ms Senso further noted that Ponda’s followers had then stopped the police from arresting him and started throwing stones, forcing the police to open fire on air to disperse them. “In the ensuing chaos, Ponda’s supporters were able to escape with him.

At the moment Ponda is in Muhimbili Hospital where he is undergoing treatment of the injury he is believed to have sustained during the confrontation,” she said. A survey conducted at the MNH showed that the situation was calm and activities there went on as usual.

A man who identified himself as Ponda’s cousin, Isihaka Rashid, told the ‘Daily News’ at the hospital that his relative was rushed there by family and friends.

He noted that a PF3 form was acquired from the Selander Bridge Police Post in the late hours of Saturday which gave Ponda a go ahead to see doctors at Muhimbili Hospital. He noted further that X-ray images showed that Ponda’s arm had sustained several fractures and that he underwent minor surgery to remove the bullet pieces remaining.

He confirmed Saturday’s reports that the cleric had been rushed to the Morogoro Regional Hospital for treatment but people escorting him to the hospital sneaked him to escape the police dragnet.

An arrest warrant was early in the week issued for the arrest of Sheikh Ponda on allegations of incitement in Zanzibar. The order was issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Ponda is on a one-year suspended sentence relating to the destruction of property with a condition not to commit any offence in the meantime.

Zimbabwe's MDC challenges Robert Mugabe election victory

Robert Mugabe has dismissed criticism of the polls

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Zimbabwe - New Era?

• A guide to rigging complaints
• Tsvangirai faces oblivion
• Harare diary: 'Sad and crushed'
• Vote around the country

Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has filed a legal challenge to Robert Mugabe's victory in last week's presidential elections.

The electoral petition seeks an order for the result to be declared null and void and a new election to be called within 60 days.

The MDC's 15 grounds include alleged bribery, abuse of "assisted voting" and manipulation of the electoral roll.

Mr Mugabe, 89, won with 61% of the presidential vote.

His Zanu-PF party gained a parliamentary majority of more than two-thirds, with 160 seats against 49 for the MDC.

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Analysis

Brian HungweBBC News, Harare

The MDC legal team carried huge piles of papers into the court but some wonder if their petition will reap any legal or political dividends.

The petition is premised on 15 grounds that the lawyers hope will put the judiciary under the spotlight.

The MDC says it has evidence of bribery, that the voters' roll was manipulated and illegally delivered late, that many thousands of people were disenfranchised during the voter-registration exercise and many more were turned away at the polls.

MDC spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora says the legal route was the only available remedy to the disputed poll. Perhaps it is more than that.

The MDC has always questioned the independence of the judiciary and may suspect that the court is unlikely to order a rerun. But it still wants its evidence to play out in court, and ultimately in public, to prove its claims that the poll was a farce.

Should it lose the legal case, it hopes that at least the court of public opinion will be on its side.

The MDC is to file a complaint on the parliamentary results at a later date, reports the BBC's Brian Hungwe in the capital Harare.

With a two-thirds majority, Zanu-PF is able to amend the constitution, potentially restoring presidential powers which were reduced earlier this year.

'Turned away'

Lawyers for the MDC, which filed its petition with the country's constitutional court, told the BBC they had "strong evidence of electoral irregularities".

They said a shockingly high number of people were unable to vote at the polls, and that food and other bribes were used to persuade voters to back Mr Mugabe, our correspondent says.

"The Movement of Democratic Change has filed its election petition... what we seek is that this election be declared null and void in terms of section 93 of the constitution of Zimbabwe," said MDC spokesman Douglas Mwonzora.

The challenge comes a day after Zimbabwe's electoral commission said nearly 305,000 voters had been turned away from polling stations on election day. The MDC says the true number is about 900,000.

Mr Mugabe's margin of victory was some 940,000 votes.

A week after the election, Mr Mugabe dismissed criticism of the polls and lashed out at Western countries for their response.

Zimbabwe's nine-member constitutional court has up to 14 days to respond to the legal challenge.

Correspondents say some of the judges are believed to be Mugabe loyalists.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission said nearly 305,000 voters were turned away

The MDC says it is "aware" of this, and as a result it will make its appeal public and even produce evidence of "bribed goods", the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Johannesburg.

'Disenfranchised'

If the court upholds the results, Mr Mugabe must be sworn in within 48 hours of the ruling.

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"We have done the best that we can under the circumstances, presented the matter before the court, and it is now up to the court to determine how strong the case is," said MDC lawyer Chris Mhike.

African and regional monitors praised the poll for being peaceful but noted some irregularities. Western observers were not invited to witness the 31 July vote.

But a local observer group, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) and its network of 7,000 observers, has said that about one million voters - mainly in urban areas - were "systematically disenfranchised" by being omitted from the voters' roll or turned away.

The electoral roll has come in for criticism for having duplicate names and the names of dead Zimbabweans.

The MDC says 900,000 people were turned away from polling stations - mostly in the capital where the MDC's vote is strong - and another 300,000 people were coerced through "assisted voting".

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai rejected the vote as fraudulent and said his party would boycott government institutions.

The Zanu-PF and the MDC have been in a coalition since 2009, after the last election sparked widespread violence.

Zanzibar acid attack on Trup and Gee: Reward offered

Kirstie Trup (left) and Katie Gee were in Tanzania as volunteers

Zanzibar police say a reward of 10m Tanzanian shillings (£3,971, $6,170) has been offered for information leading to the capture of attackers who threw acid at two UK women.

The teenagers from London, Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, had acid thrown on their faces, chests and hands as they walked in Zanzibar City on Wednesday evening.
The island's government is putting up the reward money.
Local police said it was considered a large amount of money on Zanzibar.
The two 18-year-olds are believed to have left Tanzania on a flight to the UK on Thursday night.
They were initially taken to Tanzania's largest city Dar es Salaam for medical treatment.
'Unprovoked attack' Reporting from the scene, the BBC's Alastair Leithead said the attackers sped away after the incident, and police do not know why the women were targeted.
Officers said it is the first time foreigners on the island have been attacked in this way.
The women's families have said they are "extremely upset" by the "completely unprovoked attack" on their daughters.
The victims were two weeks into a three-week trip, volunteering for the charity Art in Tanzania.
Before they left Tanzania, the country's President Jakaya Kikwete visited the women at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam and promised that those responsible for the "shameful" attack would be found

British women attacked with acid in Zanzibar

British women attacked with acid in Zanzibar

Stone Town is a Unesco world heritage site

Two British women have had acid thrown in their faces on the east African island of Zanzibar, police have said.

The pair, both reportedly aged 18, were believed to be working as charity volunteers on the island.

They were flown to Dar es Salaam in mainland Tanzania for treatment, but their injuries were not said by official to be life threatening.

The Foreign Office said it was “aware of an incident” and was “providing consular assistance”.

Police said two men on a moped threw the acid at the women, splashing their faces, chests and hands as they strolled through the streets of Stone Town, the old part of the island’s capital Zanzibar City, which is a Unesco world heritage site.

Deputy police commissioner Mkadam Khamis told AFP news agency: “The motive for the attack on the volunteers aged 18 years, has not been established. Investigations are on until we apprehend the criminals.”

Respect local culture

The police on Zanzibar said it was the first time foreigners had been attacked in this way.

The BBC’s Tulanana Bohela in Dar es Salaam says Islam is the main religion on Zanzibar and in more remote parts of the island, away from tourist beaches, there are signs asking foreigners to respect the local culture and cover up – in case skimpy outfits upset villagers.

However, most islanders depend on tourism for their livelihoods and are happy to see tourists and there is little antagonism towards them, she says.

The Foreign Office’s travel advice for the semi-autonomous Zanzibar is the same as that for the rest of Tanzania.

The Foreign Office says that while the majority of 75,000 British nationals have “trouble free” visits to Tanzania every year, “violent and armed crime is increasing” and “there is an underlying threat from terrorism”.

It also says that “mugging, bag snatching (especially from passing cars) and robbery have increased throughout the country” and “in Zanzibar incidents have taken place in Stone Town and on popular tourist beaches”.

Recent attacks in Zanzibar include an acid attack on a Muslim cleric in November, and the shooting dead of a Catholic priest in February. Another priest was shot and wounded in December.

Syria conflict: Officials deny Assad motorcade attacked

Syria's Presidency Facebook page shows Mr Assad leaving a mosque after Eid prayers

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Syria conflict

• Khalidiya 'setback, but no defeat'
• Syria's civil war within a civil war
• Meeting 'heart-eating cannibal'
• Harsh justice

Syria's information minister has denied rebel that claims they attacked President Bashar al-Assad's convoy.

Reports that rebel rockets hit his motorcade were "dreams and illusions", Omran Zoabi told Syrian state TV.

Rebels said they fired mortars at his convoy as it headed towards the Anas bin Malek mosque in the Malki area, where the president has a residence.

Pictures showed Mr Assad unharmed at a prayer service at a Damascus mosque to mark the end of Ramadan.

Earlier, Islam Alloush of the militant Liwa al-Islam Brigade, told Reuters news agency the president's motorcade was hit as it drove to the mosque in the Syrian capital.

Opposition activists and residents also reported what seemed to be the sound of several incoming mortar explosions in the early morning, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.

President al-Assad appeared alongside Syria's Grand Mufti on state-run TV

However it is not clear if the reported blasts in the district were connected to the presidential visit. Bashar al-Assad drove his own car to the mosque, Omran Zoabi told state TV.

In his third public appearance in little more than a week, President Assad was seen alongside Syria's grand mufti, for Eid prayers, which are usually held an hour or two after sunrise. In previous years, Mr al-Assad has been seen attending them early in the morning.

The pictures aired on state TV carried a "live" caption only momentarily

It was unclear whether the pictures of the president aired on Syrian state television were pre-recorded, analysts at BBC Monitoring said. For a brief moment they carried a "live" caption, which then swiftly vanished.

It is possible that the footage was pre-recorded, analysts said, as the reports that the president's convoy was struck while travelling to the mosque had come around one hour previously.

'Different convoy'

All roads leading to al-Rawdha neighbourhood of Damascus, where the presidential office is, were closed for security reasons before the incident, Syrian opposition sources told the pan-Arab Saudi-owned Dubai-based al-Arabiya television station.

Firas al-Bitar, a rebel leader, told al-Arabiya that 17 mortars had targeted the presidential convoy. The opposition had been given advance information on Mr al-Assad's movements, he asserted.

But another of the president's opponents, Wahid Sagar, told Al Arabiya the president might have been in a different convoy to one which reportedly came under attack.

Activists say government forces shelled Raqqa in eastern Syria on Wednesday

On Wednesday, Syrian government forces claimed to have killed more than 60 rebels in an ambush near Damascus.

Military sources quoted by the state news agency Sana said the victims were insurgents in the jihadist group, al-Nusra Front. They had been planning an attack on a military post, they said.

The news came as rights group Amnesty International released satellite images of Aleppo, one of Syria's biggest cities, showing how clashes between government and rebel forces had devastated built-up areas.