McHANCY REPORTER NewZ

THE Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Mara Region has arrested two Officers from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries for allegedly requesting and receiving bribe.   Mara Regional PCCB, Alex Kuhanda said the accused were sent from Dodoma to evaluate Livestock and Fisheries activities in Mara region. “In Borenga Village, of Tarime District, the accused contrary to their assignment, they illegally arrested two businessmen from neighboring country, Kenya who were trading on potatoes” the PCCB boss told reporters over the weekend. He added; “after arresting them, they accused the businessmen of three offences of entering illegally in the country, evading tax and for not possessing business licence” he said. However, Mr Kuhanda said that the foreign businessmen had observed all legal procedures that allowed them to cross the border to Tanzania. “The businessmen were in possession all required documents needed documents and hence, all accusations were invalid . ”

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has given the Director of Criminal Investigations two weeks to complete investigations on a 7bn/- economic sabotage and money laundering trial facing four prominent figures, including renowned advocate, Dr Ringo Tenga.   Senior State Attorney Jacqueline Nyantori gave the order at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam last Friday when the case came for mention. She informed Principal Resident Magistrate Thomas Simba that investigations into the matter are at advanced stages. “There are only two issues that have remained in order to complete the investigations. The DPP has given the DCI two weeks to work on those issues. Under such circumstances, your honour, we pray for another mention date,” she asked without going much in detail to disclose on the said two issues. The magistrate appeared to have been satisfied with the prosecution’s positive progress in conducting the investigations and adjourned the trial for another menti

THE Tanzania Agriculture Development Bank (TaDB) will launch new branches in Dodoma and Mwanza later this year as the financial institution strives to expand its network coverage to help boost the country’s economy.   The Deputy minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Ashatu Kijaji says TaDB would set its new branch in Dodoma this year bringing service closer to central regions, Singida, Tabora, Dodoma and Iringa. “The plan is to ensure the bank is more accessible to all farmers across the country,” she said in Dodoma yesterday. TaDB five-year development plan 2016/17-2020/21 shows the Dar es Salaam based institution targets to issue loans to at least 1 million farmers, thereby increasing chances for the country to realise its Development Vision 2025. There were no additional details from the government regarding the establishment of two new centres. Observers however, welcomed the decision as vital for the sustainability of agriculture sector. The state-owned development finance in

EAST African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Speaker, Mr Martine Ngoga has hailed the University of Dodoma (UDOM) for its initiative to plant trees in its campus, saying it will serve as an inspiration to the entire Dodoma region to become green in a near future.   Speaking at an event to plant 1,000 cashew trees at UDOM Campus over the weekend, Mr Ngoga, pointed out the higher learning institution was in good position to inspire members of the public to start planting trees in the central zone region. “UDOM has the best opportunity to inspire the whole Dodoma region to become green in a near future,” said the EALA Speaker, who graced the trees planting event which was also attended by Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Japhet Hasunga. EALA, which embraces a rotational principle in holding its meetings in the Partner States, is sitting in the country’s designated capital city for the first time. The sitting, which is the fourth meeting of the first Session of the fourt

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has ordered the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to utilise recommendations on marine resources as given by Dr Fridtjof Nansen research vessel. The vessel has conducted research in the sea under the sponsorship of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Speaking during a ceremony to welcome the vessel, which has conducted a research in Tanzania waters for 12 days, the President’s representative, Chief Secretary,. John Kijazi asked all government institutions and Ministry to utilise the recommendations and results from the conducted research for improvement of various sectors. “Conducting a research is one thing and utilising the result is another thing, therefore, make sure you utilize the results of this research as required,” he said. He gave 30 days to TAFIRI who participated in conducting research in the Dr Fridtjof Nansen vessel to involve other researchers to submit results of the research to the government so that implementation of various reco

IN a period of five months at least 26 industries have been established in Kilimanjaro region. The move is in line with the government instructions that each region must establish at least 100 industries by December 2018.   Regional business officer, Mr Richard Pweleza told the ‘Daily News’ that until March 2018 Siha district had established one industry, Hai three, Moshi District five, Rombo two and Same fifteen while Moshi Municipal and Mwanga still do not have new industries. He said each district council has been instructed to establish a certain number of industries basing on its geographical position and economic status. He said the goals were set for November 2017 to December 2018. Pweleza said before November 2017 the region had 192 factories. He said some of them were already shut down and that the current efforts include reviving the old ones and establishing new ones. “Many industries have been closed due to various factors including lack of raw materials, international co

AN ambitious study that seeks to apply advanced technology to prevent elephants from destroying crop farms has kicked off in Western Serengeti to address human-wildlife conflicts.   The ongoing study is anticipated to relieve people in villages adjacent Ikorongo and Grumeti game reserves and the Ikona Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Mara region. The Singita Grumeti Fund (SGF) is conducting the study in collaboration with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) and other conservationists. The research will see a number of elephants being fitted with GPS enabled satellite collars that would be tracking their movements in and outside the reserves. “The major objective of the research is to address human/ wildlife conflicts .We want to understand the movement of elephants and use the information to prevent the problems before they happen,” SGF Ecologist and Head of Research and Monitoring, Mr Noel Mbise said in an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News’ over the weekend. He

INTERNATIONAL project whose goal is to boost banana production in Tanzania and Uganda brings together a team of international researchers to deliberate on delivery of hybrid varieties to farmers.   The team will starting today to Friday gather at Arusha-based Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) to review their progress and plan for next years’ activities. “The Breeding Better Banana project is focused on breeding varieties that farmers like and with resistance against the key problems. However, bananas are difficult to breed because they are sterile and do not produce seeds. “Breeders deal with this (challenge) by using fertile parent varieties that produce seed but the process takes long time,” Lead Banana Breeder at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and project’s team leader Prof Rony Swennen said. Banana is an important staple food crop and major source of income for millions of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and Uganda,

NUMBER of wildebeests in Tanzania’s second largest national park, the Serengeti, will be determined in the new census that starts this week.   Arusha-based Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) in collaboration with other global environment and wildlife conservation organisations will execute the four-points aerial satellite counts in the park at the cost of 100m/-. TAWIRI Director General Dr Simon Mduma said here over the weekend that they will use four different methods and sites in conducting the Gnus count. “We shall collect between 3,000 and 3,500 satellite images that will form the first basis for ordinary counting; secondly, we will feed the images into computers and experts from the UK-based Glasgow University will count them digitally under the supervision of three professors,” explained Dr Mduma. He named the dons who will foresee the digital counting as Professors Joson Matthiopoulos, Dan Haydom Markus Borner and Dr Grant Hopcraft. The same satellite images will be

Sumatra vows to connect them all to vehicle tracking system ALL upcountry buses will effective June 30, 2018 be connected to vehicle tracking system (VTS) to observe their general movements, including speed, it has been learnt.   According to the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), the system which was established for trial in December, 2016, aims at ensuring safety and security of passengers and their properties are given priority throughout the trip. As of January, 2017, 40 buses had been connected to the system. Sumatra Director General Gilliard Ngewe told the ‘Daily News’ in his office over the weekend that hitherto 859 buses have been connected and by June 30 this year, all upcountry buses will be hooked to the system, which enables the authority to monitor the bus throughout the journey, from the beginning to the end of the trip. He said in comparison to the previous years, bus accidents in the country have decreased significantly because bus owners and

CONTROLLER and Auditor General (CAG) (pictured) has backed Tanzania Petroleum Development Company’s (TPDC) move to halt transfer of shares by Pan African Energy Corporation (PAET) to Swala Oil and Gas Tanzania.   In its 2016/17 audit report, the CAG Professor Mussa Assad proposed the halting of the share transfer to remain intact. “My review on Swala Oil’s acquisition of 40 per cent stake in PAET in my previous year’s audit revealed a number of anomalies in the Songosongo Production Sharing Agreement (PSA),’’ says Professor Assad in his recently released report. He said the government was advised to withstand its decision to suspend sale of shares to Swala Oil pending determination of the raised anomalies. According to the CAG report, PAET is among the companies involved in the development of gas field in the country. The Company is wholly owned by PanAfrican Energy Corporation (PAE) which is subsidiary of Orca Exploration Group Inc (Orca). The report says Orca had arranged for an in

THE Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson has told the Public Investment Committee (PIC) to come up with a strategic programme on public utilities which will give the Parliament a clear picture on investment issues.   Moreover, she called the committee to be keen with the hospitality accorded to them when they pay official visit to public institutions saying such caring should not influence their decision in fulfilling their responsibilities. She gave the remarks here yesterday when closing a two-day seminar for the PIC members on capacity building on the roles and responsibility in overseeing investment matters in public institutions. “We believe you are now versed with your roles and powers as committee members, I believe you will guide the institutions effectively for the national economic growth especially on issues of investment and empowerment of the institutions” said the Deputy Speaker. Adding that “ At a certain point together with the Speaker, we realised that some committee bear

INCREASED resilience has been termed as a key measure in addressing adverse impacts of climate change, as volunteers turned up in huge numbers to mark the Earth Day at Themi Living Garden in Arusha Municipality.   The remark was given at the garden, during an event organised by Oikos – a non-profit organisation, during the celebrations with the aim to raise awareness about climate change. Emphasis was laid on pollution and environmental issues, as well as influencing changes in policy and human behaviour. This year’s theme of the Earth Day is ‘End Plastic Pollution’. The Ecoboma Project Manager, Mr Godlove Stephen, said here that Oikos emphasises the importance of investing on the capacity of vulnerable communities to adapt and recover from climate change-related shocks. Environmental conservation activities include collection of hard waste that had been transported by floods from city centre and uphill areas to the garden, planting of trees and raising awareness among the community

“THE recent flood waters have brought here giant fishes that have started to bite people,” the residents of Mto-wa-Mbu have complained over the weekend, but on further investigation we discovered that, what bites them are actually eels.   The muddy waters that flooded the entire Mto-wa-Mbu shopping centre late last week, have brought many aquatic creatures into the nearby rivers and paddy farms, some of which have started to affect local residents. “Women and children who have been going to fetch water or wash clothes in rivers have been suffering wounds from serious bites,” explained Mzee Ali Mohammed, a resident of Kigongo-Inn. Mzee Mohammed and a number of Mto-wa-Mbu residents believe that the rains have caused the number as well as the size of fishes to swell, to an extent of attacking people. Children are now fearing to venture near rivers and adults do so by taking precautions. But others, like Mr Josephat Lyimo points out that, the area was infested by eels, that are essential

LAND owners in Kinondoni and Ubungo districts of Dar es Salaam will be the first to receive electronically produced tittle deeds by June, this year.   Minister of Land and Settlements Development, William Lukuvi revealed this to the reporters in Dodoma, Monday, as he was explaining what the government has done so far in the land sector. Responding to the queries featured in the Controller and Auditor General’s report, Mr Lukuvi said, the Land Ministry is in the final stages of changing from analogy system of documentation of land issues to Integrated Land Management Information System (ILMIS). Until April 15, this year, the Minister said, 220,000 of 320,000 land ownership documents have already changed to electronic system. Explaining how the electronic tittle deeds will look like, he said, it will be only one page document instead of three. The successes in Ubungo and Kinondoni will be replicated to entire Dar es Salaam Region and all parts of the country.