McHANCY REPORTER NewZ

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday ordered all district councils across the country to establish Drug Revolving Funds so as to ease provision of health services and availability of drugs at hospitals, health centres and dispensaries in their areas.   The Head of State was speaking during a function to lay a foundation stone for Kilolo District Hospital in Iringa Region. He said the establishment of the Drug Revolving Funds would facilitate easy availability of drugs and medical equipment. He said the councils would be able to purchase the requisite equipment and drugs directly by using funds from the accounts. The Head of State explained that the government had already allocated 50bn/- for improving health services in dispensaries, health centresand hospitals during the 2018/19 financial year. He added that the government would continue to implement the ruling party’s (CCM) 2015 election manifesto, which, among other things, promised to provide free education. He said so far, the gove

TANZANIA gears up to become self-reliant on livestock vaccine production, with the country’s veterinary laboratory agency (TVLA) set to manufacture at least eleven such products by 2020.   Meanwhile, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries is working on a ‘decree’ that would make the livestock vaccination compulsory. The TVLA revealed yesterday that to date, five types of the vaccines had been produced since 2014 and that the remaining six were at various stages of trial. Dr Furaha Mramba, Chief Executive Officer of the TVLA, explained that the rabies vaccination was one of those on trials and that full production would commence next year. Others on trials are Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Contagious CaprinePleuropneumonia (CCPP), Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease and peste des petits ruminants (PPR). “It’s cost-saving when the country produces its own vaccines instead of importing them,” Dr Mramba said yesterday in Dar es Salaam. She cited the five types of vacc

THE Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Luhaga Mpina said some unfaithful government officials have been teaming up with unscrupulous businessmen to finance individuals involved in illegal fishing in Lake Victoria.   Winding up deliberations and observations from Members of Parliament during the seminar on fishing industry, Mr Mpina said the major challenge the ministry was facing in dealing with monitoring and control of the sector is the presence of a few government officials who have been dealing with illegal fishing business. “Most of the people involved in illegal fishing to a greater extent are government officials. Sometimes you find that the District Executive Director (DED) masterminds illegal fishing. Do you expect a municipal or district council will make intervention of the menace in such a situation?” he queried. “Some of the top businessmen in fishing zone are the major sponsors as they facilitate those involved in illegal fishing as well the local government so th

DODOMA Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Binilith Mahenge, has directed trade unions in his region to report to his office employers who violate workers’ rights for legal action.   Addressing workers on Labour Day here yesterday, Dr Mahenge, said employers who will not comply with the National Social Security Fund Act which directs them to contribute funds for the social security should be reported to his office. “I want to get reports on employers who have the tendency of violating workers’ rights in my area,” said the RC, who graced the annual event held at Jamhuri Stadium to celebrate the achievements of workers. Under the theme “We support the Government’s Decision to merge pension funds”, this year’s Labour Day was aimed at reminding the employers on complying with the National Social Security Fund Act. Dr Mahenge assured the trade unions that the government would work on complaints lodged by workers to them, stressing that the authorities should be informed on the complaints for a

pleads for workers’ patience as he builds strong economic foundations PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday rejected workers’ request for pay rise, citing huge development projects that consume massive amount of money as among the reasons.   Dr Magufuli, addressing workers at the climax of May Day celebrations at Samora Stadium in Iringa municipality, however, assured that public employees will get their statutory salary increment. In his speech, which some radio and television stations beamed live, the president said he wished hiking salaries on Labour Day but after realising several challenges ahead, he decided to postpone his wish. But, he promised that before the end of his tenure in office he will have increased wages for all workers. “I don’t want to give you a meagre 10,000/- salary increase, I instead, want you to enjoy a super package that will make everybody happy,’’ he promised. During his speech, the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Secretary General, Dr Yah

TRADE Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) yesterday applauded the enactment of Public Service Social Security Fund Act to merge the various pension funds into two schemes.   The trade union apex body welcomed the move, saying the merger will lead to lucrative packages for pensioners. Through the new legislation that the National Assembly enacted and President John Magufuli assented to, the country now has two social security funds, the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for public and private sectors, respectively. Prior to the legislation, there were five pension funds with almost similar benefits. They included NSSF, PPF Pension Fund, Public Service Pension Fund, Local Authorities Pension Fund and Government Employees Provident Fund (GEPF). Speaking at the climax of the International Labour Day at Samora Stadium in Iringa yesterday, TUCTA Secretary General, Dr Yahaya Msigwa, appreciated the amalgamation, describing it as critical

TANZANIA Data Lab (dLab) has established a strategy to train women and girls countrywide on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Data, to enable them tap various opportunities in digital realm especially in access to financial systems.   Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Project Management and Engagement Advisor of dLab, Mr Godfrey Justo said already 40 school girls and women are continuing with the course at the centre. He further said the training aims at enabling them to access easily various systems in the financial services which form part of life of every citizen. Mr Justo pointed out that the move towards establishing the project came up after observation that many women and girls do not have the right knowledge to access various data that involves the modern technological knowhow. He said few women in the ICT and Data realm depict a picture that is making them lag behind in various opportunities available in technologies as well as in entrepreneurship issues.

AS Tanzania grapples with increased trade in substandard goods, China has asked African regulatory authorities and security organs to tighten security at entry points to curb the proliferation of counterfeits.   The call comes amid growing concerns on phoney goods flooding the African markets, with China featuring on the list of nations that supply the substandard merchandise. Director General of African Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dai Bing, speaking to African journalists here, said the Asian nation fully supports efforts aimed at freeing the African markets from fake products. Mr Dai made it clear that the Chinese government neither manufactures nor supports any unscrupulous trader dealing in the evil practices. He said he has learnt about the illegal business with great concerns and the Chinese government is upset with information that implicates the country, which is among the world’s science and technological powerhouses, in fake products. The Confedera

NATIONAL Assembly yesterday pledged support to Livestock and Fisheries Ministry spearheaded campaign against illegal fishing, proposing publicly naming of all leaders implicated in the dealings. The legislators believe the harsh initiative will help in taming the problem for good. For some time now, illegal fishing has impeded the country to benefit from the important resources despite the fact that 346,337 square kilometres, about 37 per cent of the entire Tanzania comprises of water. Speaking at the ministry organised seminar for Members of Parliament (MPs) on the fight against illegal fishing at Pius Msekwa Hall in the parliamentary grounds here, some lawmakers advised the government to take stern measures against all people involved in the scandalous business for the country to benefit from the resource. Kyerwa MP Innocent Bilakwate said most of the things have not been moving in the country due to irresponsibility. “I would like to ask the government to take stringent measures

THE Prevention and Combatting of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Rukwa Region are further investigating the work of Public Expenditure Trucking Survey (PETS), where mismanagement of funds were spotted in its construction of two development project valued at over 3.4bn/-.   The Acting PCCB who is the Regional Chief Bureau, Mr Asajile Siso, made the revelation here yesterday that in January – March 2018 - reports: “We are closely following the fund expenditure on development projects through the Public Expenditure Trucking Survey to uncover if there was mismanagement of allocated funds or if the value for money reflect the work being seen.” He said once they are through with their investigations and there is any foul play action would be taken including taking legal actions against the culprits. Mr Siso hinted that the government had allocated 3,398,405,424/- for the construction of development projects he named as Laela Water Project, where 1,893,496,725/- was pumped in. He further said t

THE Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe is expected to grace the climax of the World Press Freedom Day to be marked at national level here.   Meanwhile, the National Assembly Speaker, Mr Job Ndugai is today to officiate at the media symposium on the status of the media in the country. Speaking to members of the Central Press Club (CPC) here yesterday, Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) Secretary, Mr Neville Meena said journalists will have time to discuss the challenges facing the industry taking into account the increasing use of social media. “A number of presentations are lined if there is a need to control social media and other related online media and come up with the best practice proposals,” he said. On her part, Vice-Chairperson of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), Ms Jane Mihanji said today’s symposium is an ideal platform for the media to discuss where they come from, where they are at present and a way forward and how the press club

PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein yesterday graced the World Workers Day (May Day) in Pemba with a call on civil servants to observe ethics as well as work hard, as the government continued with a clean-up exercise that included identifying ghost workers and abolishing uncalled-for salary disparity in public offices.   In his speech in Wete town, Pemba North, Dr Shein told the audience that braved a downpour that he was happy with the pace of social and economic development in the islands attributed to hard work and increasing financial discipline in public expenditure. “We have been doing all we can to ensure that the welfare of civil servants and employees in the private sector improves gradually. Salary increases and reforms in the public sector aims at improving working environment for all workers,” the President said. While pressing the private sector to adopt the basic salary of 300,000/= per month to match the government’s, ongoing salary review among executives in the government se

Journalists have been called upon to shun corruption as they perform their duties for the benefit of the society. The call was made on Tuesday by the Mara Regional Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) commander, Alex Kuhanda. He said that people rely on media as their main source of information and journalists in the country must avoid corruption at all costs, so as not to publish biased information which will destroy the society. "Pen can be a dangerous weapon if not well used, scars caused by a pen, take long to be repaired" insisted the RBC He insited that PCCB in Mara region will continue to work closely with media organs but any journalists accused of involving themselves in corruption conducts will be dealt in accordance with the law. Kuhanda also thanked Journalists in Mara region for giving infomation to PCCB on corruption acts which are worked upon by his bureau.