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Showing posts from April 16, 2018

Natural gas uses save 22tri/-

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POWER generation through natural gas has helped the government to save 10 billion US dollars (over 22tri/-) in 13-year period, according to Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).   The government saved amount after it started using natural gas in power generation in 2004 to December 2017. TPDC’s researcher Engineer Aristides Kato said over the weekend that during the period, the country gained other opportunities, thanks to the presence of natural gas. He named the opportunities as establishment of construction companies, creation of job opportunities, port improvement, establishment of security companies and various colleges. Speaking at a TPDC organised seminar for editors and journalists on the corporation’s strategic plans ahead of building up an industrial economic country, Engineer Kato said so far 50 per cent of electricity in the country is generated from natural gas. At least 37 big industries and three institutions use natural gas to run their daily operations,

Smoking: A growing health hazard

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HEALTH complications wrought by tobacco smoking in Tanzania and elsewhere vary from life-threatening pneumonia in children to outright impotence in men. More dangerous narcotic drugs are also prevalent in Tanzania, where more and more young people pick up the habit. On the global front, during the past decade, tobacco leaf production has shifted from high-income countries to developing countries, particularly those in Africa.   Most African governments promote tobacco farming as a way to alleviate poverty. The economic benefit of tobacco farming has been used by the tobacco industry to block tobacco control policies. The tobacco industry is active in promoting the alleged positive aspects of tobacco farming. This includes “protecting” farmers from what they portray as unfair tobacco control regulations that reduce demand. In fact, tobacco farming has many negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of farmers. In a recent study in the Tabora region of Tanzania, the main tobacc

Birth registration in rural areas gaining ground

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THE ability to prove one’s identity is essential to securing a number of lifeenhancing services such as healthcare, education, financial services, connectivity and social protections. However, at least 1.5 billion people still lack an official form of identification and in many countries, this problem disproportionately affects the most vulnerable segments of society such as the poor, individuals fleeing persecution or conflict, women and children. According to the Innovations in Mobile Birth Registration report, for decades, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as a number of international treaties, have guaranteed every child the right to be registered at birth and the right to both a name and nationality. More recently, the Sustainable Development Goals have set a global target to provide every person with a legal identity - including birth registration - by 2030. As a permanent recording of a child’s identity and the first legal recognition of the chi

Restoring stability onto parental issues welcome

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SOME issues are so critical that, they cannot be perceived to be boring to read or hear about, no matter how frequently they are discussed. Fitting most appropriately in that category is the scheme that Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda initiated recently, to inject sanity onto the essentially hallowed issue of parenthood.   We are invoking the combination of word and expression sanity without batting the proverbial eyelid, because, as what has been transpiring at the RC’s base clearly shows, disharmony and attendant stress is rocking some family units. Scandals have been exposed, of some men who had literally co-produced children with female companions, literally going into hiding. They haven’t been fending for the children through financial upkeep, to facilitate basics like food, clothing, schooling and medical care. It is a burden that the companions, as mothers, have been striving to shoulder solo, and, for luckier ones, with some support from sympathetic relatives

Simba eye 11-pt gap in Prisons tie

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PREMIER League title race leaders, Simba host Prisons today at the National Stadium, seeking maximum points and race far ahead of their closest pursuers. A win in their tough match against diehards Prisons warders will place them 11-points ahead of their closest title challengers Young Africans. Simba were eight-superior to their adversaries Yanga after defeating Mbeya City 3-1 in their last match at the National Stadium last Friday. The team’s Head Coach, Frenchman Pierre Lechantre who expressed high hopes to win the 24th round, however, admitted beating Prisons won’t be an easy job. “We respect Prisons as one of the best Premier League outfits, but we bank on our team work and fighting spirit to win not only against Prisons, but the rest of our league matches,” he said. Adding, he said they will fight hard though they expect a stiff resistance from the Mbeya-based side. He said he banks on Emanuel Okwi-John Bocco partnership to deliver, though he admitted the partnership was not in

Four left as Yanga leave for Ethiopia

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KEY players were missing in Young Africans squad that left early yesterday for a return CAF Confederation game against Wollaita Dicha of Ethiopia on Wednesday.   Yanga who relegated to the CAF Confederation play off after losing 2-1 to Township Rollers, won 2-1 in their first leg game held at the National Stadium on April 7. The players missing in the squad included defender Andrew Vincent, custodian Ramadhan Kabwili, Said Mussa and midfielder Ibrahim Ajib. Ajib was left on health reasons while Kabwili and Mussa are with the National U-20 team, Ngorongoro Heroes. Vincent was still unfit after picking injury during their first leg match against Wollaita Dicha. The team’s Assistant Coach, Shadrack Nsajigwa is tasked toe to ensure his team defend the 2-0 lead and win the Confederation Cup’s Group stage ticket. Nsajigwa promised to work hard and win the ticket despite missing the services of the Head Coach, George Lwandamina who has rejoined his Zambian home team, Zesco. Twenty players,

Boys, Uganda share spoils in CECAFA U-17 match

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NATIONAL Under-17 football team, Serengeti Boys shared spoils with their Ugandan counterparts following a 1-1 draw in their Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Under-17 Championship opener yesterday.   Serengeti Boys faced their compatriots Uganda in group B match staged yesterday at Muyinga Stadium on the second day of the tournament. The tournament officially kicked off on Saturday with the hosts Burundi taking on Kenya in a Group ‘A’ fixture starter. Serengeti Boys under the tutelage of Coach Oscar Mirambo are pooled in group B of the tournament alongside Uganda, Sudan and Zanzibar. Serengeti Boys were leading 1-0 until the end of the first half. Uganda fought hard on resumption and managed to level the score in the middle of the second half. According to CECAFA General Secretary, Nicholas Musonye, there are eight member associations taking part in this year’s event. The members include Tanzania Mainland, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, S

Tanzania seals dreadful treble in Games

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TANZANIA has finished the Gold Coast’s Club Games medal-less, after dismal performances in both men and women’s marathons in a closing day yesterday.   Making its final attempt of roping medals in the Gold Coast Games, Tanzanians watched in dismay as none the five marathoners tasked in the medal hunt doing well. Only two of them managed to finish the 42km race; Stephen Huche Gwandu who finished 14th and Sarah Ramadhani who finished 9th in the women race. Said Juma Makula, didn’t finish at all. Gwandu, who finished 14th in the event won by an Australian, Michael Shelley, clocked 2 hours, 33 minutes and 03 seconds. Shelley clocked 2:16:46 ahead of Ugandan runner, Munyo Solomon Mutai who won silver while bronze went to Robbie Simpson of Scotland who penned 2:19:36. The Commonwealth record is 2:09:12 set by Ian Thompson of England in 1974. Sara Ramadhani who finished 9th clocked 2 hours, 46 minutes and 52 seconds. The Club Games record is 2 hours, 25 minutes and 28 seconds s

President’s office mourns Kongwa Executive Director

MINISTER of State in President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Governments, Suleiman Jafo, yesterday consoled the family of Kongwa District Executive Director (DED) Izengo Ngusa.   The late Ngusa died in a grisly road accident yesterday morning after his car with registration number T619 DMA crashed with a tanker at Mbande Makaravati area in Kongwa District, Dodoma Region. As a result, the tanker overturned on top of the DED’s vehicle, killing him instantly. “I have been saddened by the news of the road accident that has claimed the life of Kongwa DED, Izengo Ngusa,” Mr Jafo said in his condolence message that was issued through Communications Unit in his office. Contacted by the ‘Daily News’, the Head of Communications Unit in the Ministry, Ms Rebecca Kwandu, confirmed the accident. She however declined details, saying, “I cannot go into details because the matter is being handled by the police,” “As we are talking right now, both the minister and Dodoma Regional Commissio

Tanzania: A route for human traffickers

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THE government through the Ministry for Home Affairs has promised to continue cooperating with other countries across the world to fight human trafficking.   The Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary Ambassador Yahya Simba said this recently here when closing a meeting that involved a committee for fighting human trafficking. The committee met in Morogoro to discuss and go through the 2015-2017 human trafficking strategy. It met to make some necessary changes to enable smooth implementation of the strategy in fighting human trafficking in and outside the country. He said the problem is big across the World and that approximately 700,000 people have been transported illegally from one place to another. “ Our fellow human beings are being sold like any other commodity in market. They are being used as slaves. We have some information that our country is also being used as a route for trafficking human beings. As a country we must strongly fight this illegal business,” he said. He said

Researchers zero in 25 climatic resilient cassava varieties

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RESEARCHERS have identified 25 types of cassava seeds that they will develop to make them resilient to the country’s climatic challenges, diseases, drought and extreme coldness.   Efforts are intended to enable regions that currently don’t grow the crop due to weather factors to start cultivation to improve food security and raise income of the country’s farmers. The research is conducted under the project dubbed, “Marker assisted selection of useful cassava germplasm adapted to biotic and abiotic stresses caused by global climate change.” It’s a multi-country project, which is part of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, involving Tanzania and Kenya. The Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI) and Kenyatta University are responsible for the implementation of the project in Tanzania and Kenya, respectively. “The good thing is that we can now bring cassava seeds in areas, which do not grow the crop…and we are happy that farmers in thos

‘Take climate change reports seriously’

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EXPERT reports on climate change point to dangers the world is facing. Government functionaries must take the reports seriously to save Tanzania from threats and probable hazards associated with the phenomenon. The call was made here recently by the Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Engineer Joseph Malongo in a speech read on his behalf by the Director of Environment Impact Assessment at National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), Dr Fadhila Khatibu. Dr Khatibu was opening a seminar on climate change for state and non-state actors. He said effects of climate change are harmful and glaring in Tanzania. He named harmful effects as including steadily rising ocean level which is destroying the coastal environment. As a result of this effect, he said, salty water is flooding coastal fresh water wells and farms and aggressive high waves are destroying mangrove forests. Tiny islands like Maziwe in Pangani area and Fungu la Nyani in Rufiji basi

Dar Court fines Chemical importer

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THE Government Chemist Laboratory Authority (GCLA) has won a case against Oakwood Holdings Ltd over unlicenced importation of Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol) as well as engagement of chemicals business in the country. Speaking shortly at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court after Senior Resident Magistrate Wilbald Mashauri ruled in their favour, GCLA Legal Officers, said the ruling is an indication of how they are dealing with chemical management against unlicenced importation, distribution and sale of chemicals in the country. “This is a clear indication that we are determined to handle the chemical management in the country, Chief Government Chemist is the sole registrar of all those involved in the business, thus they have to abide by the laid down rules and regulations. According to the judgment, the Oakwood Holdings Ltd has been ordered to pay fine as well as confiscation of 40,000 litres of the chemicals which will be handed over to the GCLA. On his part, Director of Oakwood Holdings

TPDC offers trade opportunity in natural gas supply

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TANZANIA Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) plans to engage private firms in natural gas business to reinforce supply and uses of natural gas for vehicles and homes. The first phase is set to kick off in Dar es Salaam later this year by involving Ilala, Kinondoni, Ubungo, Temeke and Kigamboni districts. TPDC official Engineer Aristides Kato said over the weekend that the government will enter into agreements with private companies on the business operation. He said the parties will agree on the specific time for the private companies to invest by building up infrastructure and selling natural gas. Engineer Kato said after the agreed time is due, the infrastructure will be retained by the government through TPDC. According to the official, interested investors must be well equipped financially and technologically. “The company must be able to apply modern technology in supplying gas to wananchi at cheap prices,” he said. He said wananchi will spend an average of 1000/- per day o

JPM appoints 10 Judges, Solicitors

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PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday appointed 10 High Court Justices, Deputy Attorney General, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Solicitor General and Deputy Solicitor General.   According to the statement released by the State House, President Magufuli appointed the judges to fill the positions left vacant by retired justices. He has also appointed the Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Director of Public Prosecution to ensure efficiency on court related matters. The newly appointed judges are Ilvin Mugeta, Elinaza Luvanda and Yose Mlyambina. Others are Immaculata Banzi, Mustafa Siyani, Paul Ngwembe and Agnes Mgeyekwa. The list also includes Stephen Magoiga, Thadeo Mwenenpazi and Butamo Philip. Before the appointment, Mr Butamo was the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Vice President’s Office. The Head of State has as well appointed Evaristo Longopa, the Deputy Attorney General, replacing Mr Ngwembe who has been appointed the High Court Judge. Also the president has appointed Mr

Shell supports UDSM Geology Department

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THE Department of Geology at the University of Dar es Salaam has expressed gratitude to Shell Tanzania for supporting Oil and Gas capacity building project at the Hill. Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Friday, the Acting Head, Geology Department at the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Emmanuel Kazimoto said his college had received a remarkable assistance from Shell to improve teaching. “Four years ago we received 40m/- to support two student field excursions, one in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro Dodoma, Singida, Nzega and Kahama, and another one in 2015/2016 in Ruvu – Kwendikwazu - Pare-Usambara mountains – Minjingu - Ngorongoro - Oldupai Gorge - Oldoinyo Le Ngai and Oldonyo Sambu,” he said. Dr Kazimoto said his college had also received 61m/- from Shell which was spent on the purchase of 15 teaching microscopes, 99 Geology Books (and Petroleum Geology), and 15 Global Positioning Systems equipment for geological mapping courses. He added that some Shell members of staff have also participated

Local healers’ status may rise

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AS the Tanzanian government grapples with the challenge of enhancing the health status of its people, one of the goals to which the Fifth Phase government is laying much emphasis , a potential opening in tackling Tuberculosis (TB) would be most delightful.   The opening would be in the form of the government enforcing a recommendation to train over 70,000 Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) to diagnose suspected TB patients in rural areas. The recommendation comes from a new study published late in March 2018 by the Infectious Disease of Poverty journal conducted by scientists from Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) and Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. TB affects 10 million people and kills nearly 1.7 million every year, making it the leading cause of mortality worldwide from an infectious disease. In Tanzania and elsewhere, the prevalence of TB varies considerably across regions with the presence of other diseases (comorbidities) accounting for different TB treatment outc

Fire outfit sounds extra caution on electronic devices

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THE Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force has urged students, heads of schools and the general public at large, to be extra cautious while using electronic devices. The combined advice and warning follows the acutely worrisome recurrence of fire outbreak incidents in various boarding schools. , told the ‘Sunday News’ in Dar es Salaam yesterday that, the consequences of fire incidents included deaths, damage to infrastructure and destruction of property. He disclosed that investigations on the recent incidents revealed that improper uses of electronic devices, especially in boarding schools, was the main cause of fires. Elaborating, Inspector Mwaseba said that many students tampered with electric wiring systems in the course of charge their mobile phones. “Fire disasters have been occurring in our society because fire is part of our daily life; it is also apparent that negligence or sabotage were sources of most fire incidents,” he noted. Inspector Mwaseba appealed to school owners to always

5 suspected elderly women’s killers held

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THE Misungwi district defence and security committee in Mwanza Region is holding five people, over suspicions of being part of a network that is behind the killing of elderly people. One of them, Nchali Zachariah, is a witchdoctor.   The others are Simon Malonja a resident of Ibongoya A in the district, Charles Kasuluzu a resident of Ibogoya A and Samike Kinasa. Security organs have been tracking the members of the group since 2013, over suspected involvement in killing four elderly women and chopping off their breasts and secret parts. The body items, which are perceived to be powerful agencies for generating wealth, are highly prized and in great demand. The Misungwi district defence and security committee chairperson, Mr Juma Sweda, told the ‘Sunday News’ recently that the law would take its course in connection with the suspects. He elaborated: “We have been tracking them for a long time without success, but now that we have arrested them, they will subsequently appear in court t

Police drive yields 368 suspects, an arms assortment

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THE Police seized eight firearms, 145 rounds of ammunition, 96 knives, Mozambican military coats and shoes and explosive making equipment. All the items were seized in an ongoing police campaign in Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma regions.   According to Deputy Commissioner of Police-in-Charge (DCP) of Special Police Operations, Liberatus Sabas, a totalarrested, 13 of whom have been taken to court. The police said 152 suspects were handed over to the Immigration department for further processes while nine were still under investigation and 194 were placed under police supervision. DCP Sabas mentioned the types of firearms seized as two Sub Machine Guns (SMGs), five pistols, one shortgun and 145 rounds of ammunition. According to police, some of the suspects are people who fled from Rufiji in the Coast Region and Kibiti in Lindi Region when police were conducting a special operation in response to killings masterminded by unknown individuals. “I order all individuals who fled from Rufiji and

Pressure against female ‘cut’ up

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TRADITIONAL elders from all 13 clans within the Kurya community in Mara Region are teaming up with other anti-gender based violence organisations operating here in a grand initiative envisioned to end the widely condemned practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The initiative is aimed at sensitising parents and around 2000 mostly underage girls in Tarime and Rorya districts who are exposed to the widely condemned ritual, practised at twoyear interval in turns amongst the clans. FGM is illegal and authorities here are struggling to sanction parents and guardians who coerce hundreds of their school going girl-children to undergo the traditional ritual and later marry them off in return for hefty dowry paid in the form of livestock and money. The chairman of one of the clans, Mr Sinda Nyangore, told participants attending an FGM eradication event that brought together several organisations dealing with GBVs that “this time around we are determined to bring the notorious practice t

Two UDP members file case over some contentious issues

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TWO members of United Democratic Party (UDP) have filed an application before the High Court, seeking leave to sue the party’s Chairman, Registered Trustees and Registrar of Political Parties for allegedly failing to hold meetings and conduct elections of leaders. In the application pending before Judge Isaya Arufani, the two members of the opposition party, Salum Dilunga and Paul Kabindo, are seeking court’s leave to file an application for mandamus to compel national party officials to call for and convene the National Delegates Conference. They are furthermore applying for orders requiring the party Chairman and Registered Trustees to hold meetings for the party’s organs and conduct statutory elections as required and provided for in the UDP Constitution. Judge Arufani is set to hear the application on April 25, at the High Court in Dar es Salaam. In the statement to support the application, the two members represented by advocate Frederick Jonathan have advanced some grounds, all

PM meets StarTimes Group President

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PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa (pictured) yesterday met with the President of StarTimes group, Mr Xin Xing Pang, with the aim of strengthening the existing partnership between Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and the Star Media (Tanzania) Limited.   The event comes close on the heels of a revelation that the latter was supposed to pay 3bn/- this year as goodwill to TBC as the two institutions look to settling misunderstandings that have dogged their contract for years. In their meeting, Mr Majaliwa expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the two institutions and expressed his expectations that the partnership would be consolidated. The Government has vowed to sustain a good criteria for supporting enabling the two to run their businesses viably. Both sides have reaffirmed that they would have a mutually beneficial relationship and strengthen the existing relationship between the national broadcaster and the Star Media Company, as well as cooperate closely in pot