Cement firm awards mining researchers for good work.

National Environmental Council director of environmental impact assessment Ignace Mchallo (2nd-L), hands over a dummy cheque for euros 5,000 to first researcher in Quarry Life Award Leonard Gastory Lugali in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Looking on (from L) are Tanzania Portland Cement Company finance and administration director Ignatius Asare, environmental manager Julieth Tibaijuka, senior environmental officer David Mwakalobo and HeidelbergCement Group biodiversity and natural resources manager Dr Michael Rademacher. The award is organized and sponsored by the cement firm. (Photo: Guardian Photographer)

Three students have been awarded cash prizes worth euro 10,000 after emerged winners in the first Quarry Life Award competition launched by the Tanzania Portland Cement Company (TPCC).

A press statement issued by the company yesterday mentioned the first winner as Leonard Gastory Lugali, whose project was titled “Integrated Constructed Wetland for Wastewater Treatment, Nutrient Recovery and Quarry Re-naturalisation” who pocketed euro 5,000.

The second winners were David Maleko and Eliya Mtupile whose project was titled: “The Potential of Leucaena Leucocephala Pioneer Trees and Cenchrus Ciliaris Understory Grass Species in Soil Improvement and Forage Production at the Wazo Hill Quarry. They were awarded euro 3,500 by the cement firm, the statement said.

The third award--euro 1,500 cash, went to third winners Kelvin Ngongolo and Samuel Mtoka from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, Kingupira Wildlife Research Centre whose project was titled: “Can Revegetation of Wazo Hill Quarry Increase Butterfly Species Diversity and Abundance?”

According to the statement over 30 project proposals were submitted to the firm by students and researchers from various institutes in Tanzania, and the top 5 project proposals were selected by a national jury members to proceed to the next stage to develop project reports.

The competition came to a close on September 28, this year, in which the top five project reports were evaluated again by the national jury members based on the criteria developed by the group to select the top three reports.

According to the statement, the second chapter of the competition will take place again next year, as the cement firm and the Heidelberg Group strive to make nature the biggest winner.

The main aim of the competition which was launched last year was to boost mining ecology and biodiversity; to increase stakeholders’ awareness on the biological value of mining sites and to increase collaboration with the surrounding and external community.

AngloGold in Tanzania to pay USD200million in tax dues in year 2012.

AngloGold Ashanti Limited`s (ANG)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited’s (ANG) Tanzanian unit expects payments to the government to double to about USD200m this year, after it pays its first full-year corporate tax and a royalty increase that it’s negotiating to decrease.

Geita Gold Mine Limited paid about USD100m to Tanzania last year, “slightly less” than USD45m of which was royalties, Geita Managing Director Gary Davies said. The royalty component will grow because the government raised the rate and gold’s price increased, he said.

“We are paying the 4 percent royalty rate but in protest, because we are still discussing it, and have not yet reached an agreement,” he said yesterday in an interview in the northern town of Arusha at a mining conference. “The latest round of discussion was fairly positive. I can’t give details of it.”

The Tanzanian government increased royalties for mining companies by 1 percentage point to 4 percent when it enacted legislation in 2010. African Barrick Gold Plc (ABG), the biggest producer of the metal in the East African country, is the only miner that has agreed to pay the higher royalty so far.

Tanzania, which vies with Mali to be Africa’s biggest producer of gold after South Africa and Ghana, is seeking to gain more from the resource. Energy and Minerals minister Sospeter Muhongo has urged companies to aim at breaking even in at most five years, so that they start paying corporate tax.

“Tanzania’s mining industry is currently based on six major mines, and we think government should aim at gaining more from the sector by expanding it, awarding more licenses,” Davies said. “Trying to gain more from the existing operations may instead shrink the sector.”

Extending Geita
Geita is producing about 500,000 ounces a year and has a mine-life of about seven years, he said.

“We are doing exploration to try and extend it, probably for another seven, eight years,” Davies said.

The company has started studies for underground mining at Nyakanga, which is part of the Geita license that may be completed by 2015 he said.

AngloGold is also exploring alternative sources of energy to decrease dependence on expensive fuel-generated power currently, accounting for 15 percent of the plant’s costs, according to Davies. The Tanzania Electric Supply Co. may connect the mine to the national grid by 2015.

“Electricity from the national grid will have an impact on cost,” Davies said. “We will maintain it as one of the alternatives among other sources, while we see if that supply is reliable and sustainable.

Swiss govt boosts poultry farmers in the central corridor

The Swiss government has been supporting poultry keepers in along the central corridor boosting ventures through the Market Systems Work approach in three regions.

The areas flank the entire stretch of the railway line between Dar and Kigoma with some districts in Dodoma, Tabora and Manyara regions involved.

Women entrepreneurs are bound to enjoy increasing income as their market scope expands in a project which targets to reach over 500,000 households.

The Swiss supported and Dodoma based Rural Livelihood Development Programme (RLDP) is the organization that has stepped up to meet the challenge, donating in cash and kind to some 40 local chicken producers in Kongwa, Igunga , Nzega and Babati districts.

A statement issued by RLDP recently reported that the organisation has announced to use past experience in similar projects to support the free range chicken model in the districts targeting particularly the otherwise overlooked female entrepreneurs.

RLDP has been conducting its initial test phase in Mbiti and Bupandagila villages in Bariadi District and later, during the first roll up phase in Chamwino and Manyoni districts, both trials proved to be successful.

RLDP through Rural Livelihood Development Company (RLDC) is presently facilitating three agricultural sectors, sunflower, cotton and rice.

RLDC works in collaboration with the private sector, the government, local producers and non-government organizations for maximum utilisation of available resources with the aim of reducing poverty in the country.

After groups of poultry producer were formed and trained, chicken were housed, fed and vaccinated. Eventually, mortality rate was reduced and chicken flocks increased considerably, making it safe to say, the model has succeeded in substantially increasing income of rural poultry producers.

RLDP programme manager Francis Massawe was quoted earlier this year saying that since its inception in 2008, the approach has reached over 100,000 household beneficiaries through work in agricultural and communication projects implemented in three phases.
It is expected that by 2016 more than 500,000 households will be reached

Joshua Nassari atishia kuyashtaki magazeti

Mbunge wa Arumeru Mashariki, Joshua Nassari

Mbunge wa Arumeru Mashariki, Joshua Nassari, ametoa siku 14 kwa magazeti mawili yatolewalo kila siku nchini kumsafisha kwa uzito waliotolea habari ya kumhusisha kufyatua risasi kwenye kata ya Daraja Mbili wakati wa uchaguzi mdogo, vinginevyo atayashitaki Baraza la Habari Tanzania (MCT).

Akizungumza na vyombo vya habari jijini hapa jana, alisema ameshangazwa kuona propaganda chafu dhidi yake zikiendeshwa kwa wazi na chuki kubwa.

“Mimi nilipita eneo la kupigia kura saa mbili kamili asubuhi nikaend kata ya ya Bang’ata wilayani Arumeru nikiwa kama wakala mkuu, kusimamia uchaguzi na tukio hili la kufyatua risasi limetokea mchana saa saba, nashangaa naandikwa mimi,” alisema.

Alisema kuwa kikubwa anachokiona ni kumpaka matope kupitia magazeti hayo.

Nassari alisema kuwa anachofahami fika magazeti hayo kupitia waandishi hao wanatumiw ana watu kumchafua kwa sababu wanazojua wao, kufuatia kushinda uchaguzi wa Jimbo la Arumeru Mashariki.

“Kwa kweli sasa sitakubaliana kamwe na tabia hii, maana nachafuliwa kwa makusudi na kusababisha wapiga kura wangu wajenge chuki dhidi yangu, alisema.

Kamanada wa Polisi mkoani Arusha, Liberatus Sabasi, alipoulizwa alisema: “Mimi silijui suala hili, nimesikia katika vyombo vya habari, ninachojua mimi risasi zilifyatuliwa na Mjumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu, Wilaya ya Arusha (NEC), Godfrey Mwalusamba wakati akimwokoa Mussa Hamisi, aliyekatwa panga, wakati akimwokoa mama mmoja aliyedaiwa kugawa pesa za kuhonga, wapiga kura wa Daraja Mbili ili kuipigia CCM,”alisema.

Alisema Mwalusamba alilazimika kufyatua risasi baada ya kumwona Mussa Hamisi, akikatwa panga na kundi la watu hao walitawanyika na kuwa watu wanane walitiwa mbaroni.

CCM, Chadema walumbana vikali

Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, Dk. Willibrod Slaa

Matokeo ya uchaguzi mdogo wa udiwani katika kata 29 Tanzania Bara, yamezua malumbano makubwa kati ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) na Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).

Malumbano hayo yameibuka baada ya CCM kutaka Katibu Mkuu wa Chadema, Dk. Willibrod Slaa ajiuzulu kwa madai ya kushindwa kwa wagombea wote wa chama hicho aliowafanyia kampeni katika uchaguzi huo uliofanyika Jumapili iliyopita.

Hata hivyo, wakati CCM ikimtaka Dk. Slaa kujiuzulu kwa sababu hizo, Chadema nayo imemtaka Katibu wa Halmashauri Kuu (Nec) ya CCM wa Itikadi na Uenezi, Nape Nnauye, pamoja na viongozi wote wa CCM ngazi ya taifa kujiuzulu, kwa madai kwamba, ushindi ilioupata katika uchaguzi huo umepatikana kwa kutumia mbinu chafu.

CCM ilitoa kauli hiyo kupitia Nape alipozungumza na waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam wakati Chadema ilitoa kauli hiyo kupitia Mwenyekiti wa Baraza lake la Vijana (Bavicha), John Heche, alipozungumza na NIPASHE kwa njia ya simu jana.

KAULI ZA CCM

Wa kwanza kutoa kauli hiyo alikuwa Nape, ambaye alisema umefika wakati sasa kwa Dk. Slaa kuwaachia vijana waipiganie Chadema, kwa kuwa kampeni zilizoongozwa naye kuwanadi wagombea udiwani kupitia chama hicho katika kata zilizoko Kanda ya Ziwa, zimesababisha kuangushwa katika uchaguzi huo.

Nape alidai mbali na Dk. Slaa, pia Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Freeman Mbowe, licha ya kutumia gari la Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Bungeni kuwanadi wagombea kupitia chama hicho katika kata zilizoko Kanda ya Kusini, ameambulia patupu kwani wagombea hao nao pia wameangushwa katika kinyang’anyiro hicho.

Alisema pia matokeo ya uchaguzi huo katika kata zilizoko wilaya za Bagamoyo, mkoani Pwani na Liwale, mkoani Lindi, Chadema imeshika nafasi ya tatu.

“Watanzania wamezikataa aina ya siasa zinazofanywa na Chadema pamoja na uongo unaofanywa na viongozi wake,” alisema Nape na kuongeza:

“Dk. Slaa anaongea uongo ndiyo maana watu wamewakataa wagombea aliowanadi. Aliwahi kusema kuwa kuna mtoto wa kigogo amekamatwa na dawa za kulevya China wakati si kweli.”

Nape alisema matokeo ya uchaguzi huo yanaifanya kaulimbiu ya Chadema kubadilika; badala ya kuwa Movement for Change (M4C), kwa maana ya “Vuguvugu la Mabadiliko”, sasa imewe Movement for Death (M4D) akimaanisha “Vuguvugu la Kifo.”

Alisema ushindi wa CCM katika kata 22 kati ya kata 29, ni uthibitisho tosha kwamba sera na wagombea wa chama hicho wanakubalika, kwani imeshinda, huku ikiwa katika changamoto ya uchaguzi wa ndani ya chama.

Kata hizo 29 na halmashauri zao kwenye mabano ni Bangata (Arusha), Daraja Mbili (Arusha), Msalato (Dodoma), Mpwapwa (Mpwapwa), Magomeni (Bagamoyo), Lwezera (Geita) Bugarama (Kahama), Mwananza (Shinyanga) na Vugiri (Korogwe).

Nyingine ni Tamota (Lushoto), Makata (Liwale), Mnero na Miembeni (Nachingwea), Mlangali (Ludewa), Luwumbu (Makete), Mpepai (Mbinga), Mletele (Songea), Ipole na Kiloleli (Sikonge) na Miyenze (Tabora).

Kata nyingine ni Karitu (Nzega), Mpapa na Myovizi (Mbozi), Lubili (Misungwi), Kilema Kusini (Moshi), Nanjara/Neha (Rombo), Mtibwa (Mvomero), Mahenge (Ulanga), Likokona (Nanyumbu) na Kitangiri (Newala).

Kati ya kata hizo 29, Chadema ilishinda katika kata tano, wakati Chama cha Wananchi (CUF) na Chama cha Tanzania Labour (TLP) kila kimoja kilishinda kata moja moja.

Nape alisema kushindwa kwa CCM katika kata hizo, kumetokana na changamoto mbalimbali zinazokikabili chama hicho, ikiwamo kusimamisha wagombea wasiokubalika, migogoro ndani ya chama na chama kushiriki uchaguzi huo huku kikiwa na uchaguzi wake wa ndani ambako nguvu kubwa iliwekwa huko.

Hata hivyo, aliwashukuru wananchi waliowachagua wagombea wa CCM na kusema: “Katika kata 29, kushinda kata 22 si jambo la mchezo.”

Alisema katika uchaguzi uliofanyika katika kata zilizoko wilaya ya Misungwi na Geita, wafuasi wa Chadema waliokutwa wakigawa chumvi kwa wapigakura, lakini mbinu yao hiyo ilifeli, baada ya kuzuiwa kufanya kampeni hiyo chafu.

Nape alisema vurugu zote zilizotokea katika uchaguzi huo katika baadhi ya maeneo zilitokana na baadhi ya watu kukataa matokeo na kusema CCM inalaani vikali vurugu hizo.

Alisema kuna baadhi ya watu wamekuwa vichocheo vya vurugu na kutolea mfano wa vurugu zilizowahi kutokea katika mikoa ya Singida, Morogoro, Arusha na Iringa, ambako kote huko zilisababisha mauaji ya watu mbalimbali.

Kutokana na hali hiyo, aliwataka wananchi kukataa siasa za fujo na kuitaka Chadema kujenga utamaduni wa kukubali matokeo na si kuanzisha vurugu.

MAJIBU YA CHADEMA

Wakati Nape akisema hayo, Heche alisema wanaopaswa kujiuzulu ni Nape na uongozi wote wa ngazi ya juu wa CCM kutokana na kutumia mbinu chafu kushinda uchaguzi huo.

Heche alisema CCM katika uchaguzi huo ilitumia rushwa kama ilivyofanya hivyo katika uchaguzi wake wa ndani kwa nyakati tofauti hivi karibuni.

Alisema kutumika kwa rushwa katika uchaguzi wa CCM, kumethibitishwa hata na Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho Taifa, Rais Jakaya Kikwete.

Heche alidai kwa kuwa CCM imethibitika kutumia rushwa na kutokana Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Tanzania (Takukuru) kuwa dhaifu katika kushughulikia tatizo hilo, chama hicho hakina sababu yoyote ya msingi ya kujisifia kwamba kimeshinda uchaguzi wakati mazingira ya ushindi wao yanawasuta.

Alidai mbali na kutumia rushwa, CCM pia ilitumia Jeshi la Polisi mkoani Mbeya kuwatisha wapigakura kwa kutangaza hali ya hatari baada ya watu wanaosadikiwa kuwa ni walinzi wa chama hicho maarufu kama ‘Green Guard’ kutuhumiwa kuua baadhi ya watu.

Heche alidai katika kutangaza hali hiyo, Jeshi hilo liliwataka wananchi kutokwenda kupiga kura, hali ambayo iliipa CCM mwanya wa kushinda kirahisi, kinyume cha hali halisi.

Hata hivyo, alisema CCM wanapaswa kurudi na kujiuliza tatizo linaloikabili, kwani kwa mara ya kwanza Chadema imeweza kusimamisha wagombea katika kata zote 29 na kuvunja mwiko wa zamani wa CCM katika uchaguzi huo kupita bila kupingwa.

Alisema pia katika kata zote 29, Chadema imefanikiwa kuongeza kura zaidi ya zile ilizopata katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2010.

Heche alisema vilevile, kata mbili za Nanjara/Neha, mkoani Arusha na Mtibwa, mkoani Morogoro zilizokuwa kwenye himaya ya Chadema, zote wameshinda na kuongeza kata nyingine tatu zilizokuwa chini ya himaya ya CCM.

Alizitaja kata hizo tatu kuwa ni pamoja na ile ya Daraja Mbili, iliyoko mkoani Arusha, Ludewa, mkoani Iringa, Iringa na Kiloleli (Sikonge), mkoani Tabora.

“Hivyo, kujisifu kwamba ulikuwa na watoto kumi, wawili wakafa unafurahi watoto wako kufa?” alihoji Heche.

Alisema pia faida nyingine waliyoipata kinyume cha inavyokejelewa na CCM, ni kwamba, katika kipindi chote cha uchaguzi huo, Chadema ilifanikiwa kuvifikia vijiji 116, ambako walitumia fursa hiyo kuimarisha chama na kufungua matawi mapya ya chama.

“Kwa hiyo, kama ni kujiuzulu, basi Nape na uongozi wa CCM ndiyo wanaopaswa kujiuzulu,” alisema Heche.

RPC MBEYA ANENA

Hata hivyo, Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Mbeya, Diwani Athumani, alipoulizwa na NIPASHE kuhusu madai ya Polisi kutumika kuwatisha wapiga kura, alisema mtu aliyetoa madai hayo ndiye anayeweza kuyathibitisha ikiwa ni pamoja na kueleza vizuri na si yeye.

“Mimi ninachoweza kusema ni kwamba, huo ni uongo na ni uzushi, kwisha, basi,” alisema Kamanda Athumani.

Pembe za mabilioni zamakatwa jijini Dar.

                                     

*Zakutwa kwenye nyumba jijini Dar
*Zilikuwa zikisafirishwa kwenye jeneza

Baadhi ya watuhumiwa wanaodaiwa kukutwa na meno ya tembo katika eneo la Kimara Stop Over Jijini Dar es Salaam wakiwa chini ya ulinzi wa polisi. Nyuma yao (kwenye gari) ni baadhi ya meno hayo yenye thamani ya Sh. Bilioni 2.2

Jeshi la Polisi Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam limekamata shehena ya meno ya tembo yenye thamani ya Sh. bilioni 2.15.

Aidha, watu wanne wanashikiliwa kwa tuhuma za kukutwa na shehena hiyo.

Kamanda wa Polisi wa kanda hiyo, Suleiman Kova, jana aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam kwamba, shehena hiyo ni vipande 214 vya meno ya tembo na mifupa mitano ya mnyama huyo yenye uzito wa kilo 450.6.

Alisema watuhumiwa hao walikamatwa eneo la Kimara Stop Over juzi baada ya kupata taarifa kutoka kwa wasamaria wema kwamba kuna nyumba inashukiwa kuwa na mali zilizoibiwa pamoja na nyara za serikali.

Kamanda Kova aliongeza kuwa, baada ya Jeshi hilo kupata taarifa lilijipanga na kuipekua nyumba hiyo aliyopanga Peter Kami ambaye anaishi pamoja na Leonida Kabi na kukuta vipande 214 vilivyokuwa vimehifadhiwa kwenye chumba kimojawapo.

Alisema meno hayo yalikutwa yakiwa yamehifadhiwa kwenye magunia 12 huku yakiwa yamefunikwa kwa bendera ya Taifa.

“Pamoja na meno hayo, pia zilikutwa pembe za ng’ombe 10 zikizokuwa zimeshindiliwa pamoja na chokaa, pamoja na mifupa ya tembo mitano, yenye kilo 450.6,” alisema Kova.

Aidha, Kamanda Kova aliwataja watuhumiwa waliokamatwa kuwa ni pamoja na dereva wa daladala aliyekuwa akijifanya kuwa ni ofisa wa polisi aliyejulikana kama Polisi Simoni (42), Charles Wainaine (41), mkazi wa Rombo Tarakea, ambaye ni ndugu yake na Peter Kabi, ambao wote ni Wakikuyu kutoka nchini Kenya.

Kamanda Kova alifafanua kwamba uchunguzi wa awali unaonyesha kuwa watuhumiwa hao ni wahalifu wazoefu katika matukio ya mtandao wa ujambazi, usafirishaji, pamoja na umiliki wa nyara za serikali.

“Mpango wa siri uliokuwepo ni kutumia gari aina ya Coaster, iliyokuwa iendeshwe na dereva Polisi Simon na kuweka jeneza lenye meno hayo na kulifunika na bendera ya Taifa ili ionekane wanasafirisha maiti ya mtu maarufu serikalini kwa lengo la kuvihadaa vyombo vya dola,” alisema Kamanda Kova.

Kwa mujibu wa Kova, mtuhumiwa Leonida Kabi, anashikiliwa kwa kosa jingine ambalo ni kumshawishi askari aliyezikamata nyara hizo kwa kutaka kumpa rushwa ya Sh. milioni 15, na kuahidi kuwaongezea kiasi kingine siku ya pili yake.

Aidha alisema kuwa uchunguzi wa kina utafanyika ili kubaini mtandao mzima wa wizi wa nyaraka za serikali hapa nchini pamoja na nchi za Kenya na Mashariki ya mbali na popote duniani ili kukomesha uhalifu huo.

Watuhumiwa hao wanatarajiwa kufikishwa mahakamani baada ya uchunguzi kukamilika.

Kwa mujibu wa Jeshi la Polisi, kiasi hicho cha meno ya tembo ni sawa na tembo 91 waliouawa.

Aidha, kukamatwa kwa meno hayo kunakuja siku moja tu baada ya Waziri Kivuli wa Wizara ya Maliasili na Utalii, Mchungaji Peter Msigwa, kueleza kwamba mwendelezo wa matukio ya kuuawa kwa tembo ni matokeo ya kuwalinda majangili badala ya kuwachukulia hatua.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari juzi jijini Dar es Salaam Mchungaji Msigwa alimshauri Rais Jakaya Kikwete kuingilia kati na kuvunja mtandao wa ujangili ili kunusuru wanyamapori na maliasili nyingine za Taifa.

Mchungaji Msigwa ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Iringa Mjini (Chadema), alisema mpaka sasa ni miezi mitatu tangu alipowasilisha taarifa za ujangili bungeni na kumtaka Waziri wa Maliasili na Utalii, Balozi Khamis Kagasheki, achukue hatua dhidi ya majangili hao na matokeo yake amewaajibisha watu watatu wa Idara ya Wanyamapori huku watuhumiwa wakubwa wakiachwa jambo ambalo alidai ni hatari na kusababisha idadi ya wanyama kupungua kila wakati.

Alisema wiki iliyopita pembe za ndovu zenye uzito wa tani nne kutoka Tanzania na Kenya zenye thamani ya Sh. bilioni 2.5 zimezipotiwa kukamatwa na vyombo vya usalama vya mamlaka ya Jiji la Hong Kong.

Katika Mkutano wa Bunge uliopita, Kambi ya Upinzani bungeni pamoja na maoni ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Ardhi, Maliasili na Mazingira iliwataja vinara wa ujangili akiwemo Bryson Baloshingwa ambaye ni kiongozi wa mtandao wa ujangili kwa kufadhili uwindaji wa faru na biashara haramu ya meno ya tembo; uharamia unaofanyika katika hifadhi za Serengeti, Katavi, Tarangire, Ziwa Manyara na Ngorongoro.

Alisema Baloshingwa anafadhili pia majangili wanaoua wanyama katika mapori ya akiba ya Ugalla, Rungwe, Moyowosi na Maswa.

Alisema inashangaza kwamba wafadhili na majangili wanafahamika kwa majina lakini hawachukuliwi hatua na pindi wanapokamatwa hufunguliwa kesi rahisi zenye dhamana hivyo huachiwa kwa dhamana.

“Usalama wa tembo uko hatarini kutokana na serikali kutochukua hatua dhidi ya ujangili wa tembo pamoja na taarifa hizi kuwepo serikalini na viongozi wa CCM kushiriki katika ujangili," alisema.

WATUHUMIWA MAUAJI YA BARLOW

Wakati huo huo, Jeshi la Polisi, Kanda Maalum ya Dar es Salaam limeeleza kwamba watu waliomuua aliyekuwa Kamanda wa Polisi mkoani Mwanza, Liberatus Barlow, walikimbilia jijini humu na kufanya uhalifu kabla ya kukamatwa.

Kamanda Kova alisema watu hao ni watuhumiwa wakubwa wa ujambazi wa kutumia silaha nchini na hususani katika majiji ya Dar es Salaam na Mwanza.

WATUHUMIWA SUGU MBARONI

Katika tukio jingine, Kamanda Kova alisema polisi wamekamata watuhumiwa sita sugu wa ujambazi, silaha mbili na risasi 25 za SMG pamoja na jambazi sugu akiwa na sare za Jeshi la Ulinzi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ).

Punish clerics, politicians instigating violence-call

The Sengerema District Council in Mwanza Region has endorsed a declaration that enables application of a law that empowers the District Commissioner to arrest political and religious leaders whose actions may threaten peace, particularly when they use abusive language and instigate people to disrupt normal flow of activities.

The Council asserts that it is high time law was reinforced so that political and religious leaders would face court proceedings and that the law should not distinguish the affiliations of the leaders.

The Council plans to submit their argument to the DC so that implementation may start immediately while the Council works on supporting by-laws.

Apart from passing the declaration, they also demanded that leaders, including ward councilors, who would be linked to actions related to the dissuasion of people from engaging in social development activities to be dealt with by the special council ethics committee while the councillors found in fault are to be suspended from taking part in at least three consecutive meetings.

Unlike before, under the proposition, government servants, including village and ward executive officers as well as extension officers who will be accused of abusing their offices would not be shifted elsewhere instead they would be fired and then taken to court.

It was also agreed during the meeting that those executives from Ilenza, Nyangamlamila and Isagehe villages who were accused of abusing their offices including misappropriating funds contributed by the villagers to construct a secondary school, should be returned to Ilenza ward and once proved that they were involved in the funds mismanagement, they should then be taken to court.

Among those accused and or suspected of corruption, include, the former ward executive officer, Sofia Manyilizu from Katwe ward who the Ward Councillor of Ilenza, Joachim Balele, claims that the people have refused to accept back for fear that she will interfere with fact finding on a pending corruption case.

Another is former Lugata Ward Councillor (CCM) Adrian Tizeba who resigned and shifted to CHADEMA he was accused of failing to return a bank loan worth 8m/- afforded him on guarantorship of the District Council.

However, most of the complaints were directed against the Construction Department and that of Land where it was claimed that accountability and transparency were huge problems. The matter has been put forward by CCM councilor (rtd) Lieutenant Joseph Yared and supported by CUF councilor Thobias Bukoma

UN promises more support to Tanzania`s economic growth to end poverty

As the United Nations marks its 67th anniversary this year, it has vowed to continue extending technical support and knowledge-sharing to Tanzania to enable government ministries, departments, agencies, local government authorities and non-state actors to better manage the economy, promote equal access to economic opportunities, improve trade and use natural resources sustainably to spur productivity and job creation.

The global body is also assisting the government in developing an inclusive growth strategy to help all Tanzanians to access opportunities for economic growth, in particular vulnerable groups such as women and people working in low paying sectors.

The strategy is to provide inputs to promote pro-poor and environmentally sustainable economic development through policy advocacy, capacity development and knowledge sharing.

“We have jointly celebrated the 2012 UN Week with various activities on the theme of Changing Peoples’ Lives: Greening the Environment for Sustainable Livelihoods.

This year we focused on environment, as majority of the population of Tanzania is highly dependent on environment and natural resources for livelihoods and quality of life.

On the other hand, Climate Change is posing severe challenges and these have become increasingly apparent in the form of floods, droughts and environmental degradation, in addition to deforestation, water source encroachment and unchecked cultivation.

We need some remedial action plans for mitigation and adaptation,” said Alberic Kacou, Resident Coordinator of the UN’s System in Tanzania when marking the UN Week.

“While, the Rio+20 aimed at securing renewed political commitment towards sustainable development, the 14th session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), of which, now Tanzania takes over the Presidency moved the environment and energy agenda further through Arusha Declaration.

The recent UN’s Sustainable Energy for All (SEA4ALL) mission to Tanzania held important discussions with the Government and other stakeholders on how SE4ALL can support Tanzania’s efforts in enhancing the energy agenda and to explore partnership opportunities for energy access, energy efficiency and renewable energy,” he added.

Kacou said that Tanzania’s development aspirations will not be possible without peace and security in and around the region.

It is the moral obligation of every citizen and every community to maintain peace and harmony in the country, he emphasized.

“What is now needed is not a renewal of the pledges but effective implementation of the commitments made, considering the changing environment and the increased capacity of the institutions to perform their obligations as effective partners. The United Nations system has its own limitations” he noted.

However, he also pointed out that the UN does assess its comparative advantages and establishes appropriate partnerships to enhance the capacity and support the role of State and local authorities in providing stability, jobs and security for their people.
The UN Development Assistance Plan requires building analytical capacities within government to help them make policy choices to develop a pro-poor public finance framework and invest in economic sectors that are most likely to accelerate growth and employment.

The UN is also helping to strengthen national capacities in research, policy analysis and capacity development in the implementation of policies on national employment, productivity enhancement, trade development, the application of science, technology and innovation as well as the use of appropriate environment and population strategies, said Kacou.

Furthermore, he said support services, including value chain development are an important part of the UN assistance to improve productivity, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and services where more livelihood opportunities exist for low-income households.

“The UN is facilitating national and sub-national enterprise creation and productivity in agriculture and agro-industries including sustainable access to markets and trade integration, these measures should enable more household enterprises and small businesses to enter the economic mainstream, thus broadening economic participation” he said.

He added: “The government of Tanzania has made major strides in the health sector raising optimism to achieve the related Millennium Development Goals by 2015,

The major achievements have been on MDG 4 – reducing child mortality. Infant mortality rate has dropped from 115 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 51 in 2010, while under-five mortality has declined from 191 per 1000 live birth to 8”.

On the Millennium Development Goal 6, the UN boss said Tanzania has managed to reduce HIV incidence among the 15 to 49 year olds to 5.7 per cent which is closer to the agreed target.

According to preliminary data from the Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey (THMIS) 2012, malaria prevalence among the children between 6 to 59 months old has reduced to 10 per cent.

“Again, Tanzania is likely to achieve the MDGs on education (MDG 2-achieving universal primary education and gender equality (MDG 3). It is also likely to achieve some other MDG targets such as increased access to improved drinking water in urban areas (MDG 7)...”he said.

For Tanzania, the most challenging still is achieving MDG1- reducing poverty and hunger by half, improving maternal mortality (MDG 5-reducing maternal mortality by three forth), access to improved drinking water in rural areas (MDG 7) and access to improved sanitation in both urban and rural areas.

Although Tanzania is likely to achieve the MDGs on gender equality, certain challenges still remain in the form of traditions like Child Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation, which need significant attention. October 11 marked the celebrations of the first ever international day of Girl child and this year's theme was ‘child-marriage’.

On average, almost two out of five girls get married before their 18th birthday. Tanzania has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world.

East African Cooperation Minister Samuel Sitaa said at the 67th anniversary of the UN that Tanzania is of the view that the UN has done fairly well in a number of areas but challenges still remain. Today, the world faces unprecedented challenges in the areas of peace and security, climate change, extreme poverty and hunger, terrorism, piracy and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to name but a few. Most of these issues are global in nature and do not respect national boundaries.

He said in order to address these challenges, there is a need for the UN that reflects the needs of the current world - the world of the 21st Century. The 67 year old UN must confront current global challenges from that angle.

“We as members states of the UN should complete the journey of the reforms that we started for the UN to remain relevant.

Completion of these reforms is long overdue. We must strengthen the United Nations Organs particularly the General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council which are more inclusive, democratic, transparent and representative. These Organs are better placed to address most of the challenges confronting us,” he said.

”As we are here celebrating the UN Day, Members of the UN are meeting in New York to deliberate on different issues affecting the world. One issue that has been, and is being discussed is about the Post-2015 development agenda, the completion of MDGs and the formulation of the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he noted.

He said the UN System and the UN Team at the Country level must assist countries to undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation of the MDGs. This review must indicate the status of implementation of each goal.

“With the cooperation from the United Nations and our development partners, Tanzania has made progress in the achievement of the MDGs. We have attained Goal 2: Universal primary education.

We have also made considerable gains on Goal 3: Promoting gender equality and empowerment of women; and Goal 6: Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases. Tanzania has also achieved moderate results on other remaining goals. The Government is still working hard with our development partners to ensure that we achieve them as well” He says.

“On behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, I wish to appreciate the support rendered to Tanzania in this regard. While appreciating the support provided so far, we appeal to the UN System and the international community in its entirety, to recommit fully to the implementation of all the Millennium Development Goals by the set deadline of 2015”.

Tanzania is proud to have been one of the eight countries that volunteered to pilot the Delivering as One Initiative. The initiative has proven to be a success by increasing the coherence and efficiency of the United Nations Systems at country level and further reducing bureaucracy and duplications of development programmes.

Through the joint planning, programming, budgeting and implementing, Tanzania has experienced more strengthened partnership and cooperation with the UN System and development partners at the country level.
Does  this exist to the county like Tanzania which is having a high number of nature resouces to run its self?
This is my view over this matter whic is very painful to people who know Tanzania and its various richest resouces.

Is shift to marketing examination by computer productive?

ANDREWS M.M
mcphersonandrews@gmail.com

As we have always observed in the past, one of the talents our managers of states affairs are blessed with is the ability to create and stimulate controversy in society, by making unexpected decisions. 

The latest move of introducing a system of marking primary school final examinations by computer may be cited as one of the best examples. Those who keep abreast of current affairs might have already noted that a lively unofficial debate on this “a wonderful’’ idea is in the air. It is likely to keep our minds busy for a while.

Apparently the introduced innovation is not all that complicated. It is based on setting multiple choice questions and requiring the examinee to shade what he/she considers a correct answer by using the HB pencil.

Once this procedure is observed to the letter, then a computerized optical mark reader mechanically gets to work and comes up with the candidate’s total mark score. We are told it is ‘smart” enough to punish those who attempt to play tricks with technology by, for example, shading two answer options while the instructions require shading one answer.

Parents and some education experts have shown eagerness to know why the ministry of education has made a shift to primary school exams computer marking system, and the brains behind it seem to have the answers on their fingers tips. Computer marking is faster, they say, and will enable the relevant examinations management body to announce the results within a short time.

Another reason mentioned is that the Examination Council will no longer need thousands of examination markers, as a single computer is capable of replacing tens of teachers. It is argued that this will reduce the examination marking costs, and thus the government will make substantial savings.

Ministry officials further emphasise that given the rate at which the number of primary school leavers in the country is increasing, costs of marking the exams were expected to rise correspondingly, had it not been for this technological intervention.

The other day a friend of mine who enjoys humour jokingly remarked that probably another advantage of examination computer marking , which is not being highlighted by officials, is the fact computers have no word “bias” in their vocabulary, and take no bribes, under any circumstances.

Ministry officials are aware that there are parents and other members of the public who have reservations on the above - mentioned approach to marking primary school examinations. The former, however, assure the latter that the system works, and a few other African countries, including Kenya and Botswana, have already adopted it. Skeptics are advised not to be scared of new technology but to embrace it.

What is the main argument advanced by those who question the rationale and impact of the new development? Well, they question the multiple questions format as a methodology of testing the student’s ability to demonstrate understanding of issues and facts, and communicate what he/she understands effectively.

Others rightly note that multiple choice questions may, at times, give an opportunity to students who are good at guess work to fluke and get good grades they don’t deserve. It is argued as well, that in a situation where it has been revealed that some primary school leavers do not know how to write competently, multiple choice questions are likely to enable them to pass and qualify for Form One entry, only to fail to cope with secondary school studies, or proceed and join the army of Form Four mass failures.

While all this is being debated, there is one disturbing issue raised by critics. Is it proper for the ministry of education, or rather the government, to introduce a change of this kind without consulting key stakeholders? This is not an academic question.

There is time the ministry decided to remove sports activities from both primary and secondary school’s programmes without consulting stakeholders. Agriculture and commercial subjects were also at one time unilaterally removed from the secondary school syllabus. We have had half-baked teachers employed to “cheat” students in our education system.

For heavens sake, it is high time the government involve key stakeholders before making changes in the vital education sector.

The decisions made by bureaucrats affect the future of our childre, and parents have a right to have a say in such matters. Do we necessarily need to have this issue well spelt out in the envisaged new constitution to avoid taking education key stakeholders for granted?

Why half measures won`t resolve religious, other social conflicts in Tanzania

ANDREW McPHERSON MANDARI
mcphersonandrews@gmail.com

It is now crystal clear to all of us that attributes which, since independence, have characterized Tanzania as an island of peace in the often troubled continent are disappearing fast, leaving behind warranted concerns and worry about the future of our country.

Only a self cheating, unrealistic and accomplished wishful thinker can continue to entertain the notion that our status as a peaceful nation is not currently being subjected to a big test.

Tell-tale signs of social instability in the making are unfolding every day. Recent developments referred to include the intraparty elections of the ruling party, which have been characterized not only by normal political friction among rivals, but by all sorts of dirty tricks, leaving behind bitter enemies belonging to the same political family.

The yawning income gap, and a situation where a few people wallow in wealth obtained under dubious circumstances while a big percentage of the population can’t make ends meet, has brewed discontent and frustration among those being shortchanged. Resulting regular workers strikes, land related conflicts, and youth riots here and there are a reflection of national peace under threat.

The most disturbing developments, however, are rising religious conflicts, reflected in the riotous ugly scenes which of late have taken place in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, leaving Tanzanians in disbelief as to what has befallen their motherland.
A 14-year-old boy desecrates the Koran in Mbagala suburb of Dar es Salaam, and hell breaks loose as churches get attacked and property is either destroyed or stolen.

In Zanzibar, a leader of the so called religious awakening NGO or movement disappears under unclear circumstances and riot erupts, with some of the rioters directing their attack on religious institutions and believers. All signs eventually show that there is method in this kind madness.

It is this kind of scenario which is tempting all those with national interests at heart to call on all of us to deliberate on the situation and figure out what has gone wrong. As we await a national dialogue on religious tension and its impact to peace in the country, some observations worth pondering are already being made by some compatriots, if what is being said by way of conversation among members of the public, and comments appearing in the media, are anything to go by.

You have observers who feel the country’s leadership has shown weakness in dealing with people hell bent to stir religious trouble in the land. For example, it is today common for religious fundamentalists belonging to a given denomination to attack other denominations in broad day light, during public preaching sessions, and get away with it. This kind of incitement is dangerous, and surely there are laws which can be used to book such characters. How come this is not done?

Religious media is also being used to openly stoke religious fire by writing incitement stories and airing equally dangerous programmes in the electronic media.

We, of course, cherish freedom of expression and are even crusaders of its protection. But, when this freedom is abused or used negatively, then we strongly suggest that wayward media communicators should be legally made accountable for their misdeeds. Indeed, this is another area where our administrators have been unnecessarily sparing the rod and spoiling the proverbial religious child.

There is this accusation that some religious actors are used as pawns in the political chess game. We can’t take this claim for granted when, for example, the religious awakening movement in Zanzibar is also openly demanding full sovereign status for this part of the United Republic of Tanzania. It is believed that some politicians and government officials may have been fronting the movement to pursue this hidden agenda, only to pay the price when the religious monster opted to be untamed.

It is observed as well that some politicians are nowadays playing a religious card during elections. This breed of new politicians is bound to tolerate the impunity displayed by religious agencies which can easily hold the former at ransom once the elections are over.

As noted somewhere in this column, there is more than meets the eye in the unfolding religious disharmony in the country. There is need to search for the truth in this matter and expose both direct and indirect players in the whole dirty game. The sooner we engage in this vital exercise the better for our present and future wellbeing as well as our country’s political stability

Dar residents happy with commuter train services

A pupil disembarks from a carriage at the Dar es Salaam railway station at the end of the maiden trip of the city commuter train service yesterday morning. The service was launched by Transport minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

Dar residents yesterday witnessed ‘dream come true’ as the first commuter train rolled off the stage at Ubungo Maziwa station chugging through industrial and residential areas to offload its first batch of passengers at the Central Railway station.

On board was Transport Minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe who launched the service, promising to address any the hitches likely to crop up as the services picked up.

The fare from Ubungo Maziwa to Station is 400/- for adults and 100/- for school children.

Speaking before the launching of the service, Dr Mwakyembe said the government plan was to see the train operating in the city in a bid to improve the service, noting that some of the infrastructures were still under construction.

The minister said that the response of people on the first day was remarkable as at least 900 passengers used the service; and were happy to pay a fare of 400/- for adults and 100/- for students.

He added that the service will operate for six days (from Monday to Saturday) except for Sundays and holidays. TAZARA and TRL will offer the service from 06.00am to 10.00am, break and then resume from 15.00pm to 20.00.

Dr Mwakyembe also said that the two-minute stops proposed at each station was too much, saying that only one minute was enough.

He said although there is only one train at the moment, they were working on infrastructure to support the project such as a bypass for the trains and when this is accomplished another train will come into service.

“In this fiscal year’s budget the government has allocated 5.1bn/- to hire engines and coaches from abroad…but we’ve realised that this is expensive because one engine costs 3m/-per day …so Tanzanian engineers from TAZARA and TRL have managed to rehabilitate the old coaches, engines and railway infrastructures at a cheaper cost,” he said.

He said the TRL engineers have successfully rehabilitated 14 coaches and two engines while Reli Assets Holding Company has reconstructed the railway for a cost of 2.6bn/-.

Dr Mwakyembe called on the responsible authorities to ensure that people are not running business along the railway premises.

He threatened to take punitive action against railway workers said to be involved in fuel theft.

For his part, the TRL managing director Kipallo Msamfu said the passengers will be free to buy tickets at any pay points; adding that currently the Selcom wireless machines are authorised to sell the tickets which will be valid for a day.

In August this year while tabling the budget estimates for his ministry, Dr Mwakyembe said that the use of railway transport in Dar es Salaam to reduce congestion would help over 30,000 passengers a day.

He said each train will have six coaches with the capacity of carrying 1,000 passengers. This plan will have eight runs in the morning and eight in the evening at peak hours

No let-up in fuel crisis

Ewura: Shortage there, but we�re addressing it
Energy ministry working for lasting solution

Vehicles queue for fuel at Bonjour petrol station along Sam Nujoma Road in Dar es Salaam yesterday. There has been fuel scarcity in the city in the past few days. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Panic and confusion was the reaction of motorists as several filling stations in the city reported depletion of stocks, despite promises by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority that the situation was normalising.

Some Dar es Salaam residents were forced to drive as far as Kibaha in search of the commodity in vain.

Many of the filling stations along Morogoro Road were closed, with attendants saying they had run out of stocks, with commuter buses, trucks, taxis, motorcycles and ordinary vehicles being turned away.

One of the commuter bus drivers overheard directing colleagues where to get fuel, said: “We refueled in Kongowe,” stressing that most of the filling stations had no fuel.

The survey also found filling stations at Mwenge, Ubungo, Mbezi and Kimara and other parts of the city out of fuel, while oil dealers said they did not know the source of the problem.

Mariam Kigomba an employee of Puma Energy at Mwenge said the filling station has experienced severe shortage of petroleum for three consecutive days.

Other filling stations like Oilcom along Sam Nujoma Road, Camel Oil at Afrika Sana, and TSN Bamaga have been facing shortage of the commodity for almost a week.

Abdallah Juma who a conductor in a bus operating between Mwenge and Mbezi said they were only refueling their vehicles at one filling station along the whole route.

“This is the only station where most vehicles were refueling. The rest of the stations were empty,” said Juma.

Commuter bus drivers and conductors said they suspected that oil firms were on a boycott, noting that scarcity set in soon after the announcement of the new oil prices early this month.

Commenting on the situation, Ewura's Manager for Communications and Public Relations Titus Kaguo admitted that the country was facing serious shortage of fuel in the local market.

“We had agreed with the Tanzania Revenue Authority to allow oil marketing firms to buy transit fuel to fill the gap and when the ships come, to return the stocks,” he said, adding however that implementation was delayed by the long holiday weekend.

“But I have to admit that we’re facing shortage of fuel in the local market… worse still the problem is being fueled by inadequate number of filling stations operating under big Oil Marketing companies,” he said.

He said a number of oil marketing companies were loading the fuel cargo at depots and that more filling stations will be restocked soon.

He also pointed out that when the country faced a fuel crisis, marketing firms tended to stop selling oil to other filling stations not under their supervision.

The manager advised the government through the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to set up a national strategic reserve for fuel to end the recurring fuel crisis.

“When installed, the government can easily tap the available fuel from the strategic reserves, to cover the fuel demand as emergency,” stressed Kaguo.

Confirmed reports said top government authorities including the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Permanent Secretary, Eliakim Maswi were holding a meeting yesterday to find ways to solve the fuel crisis.

“I am in a meeting discussing the same fuel problem. Call me later in the evening--- I will be in a position to talk,” said the PS when called by this paper.

However when this paper called, the PS did not respond

World Bank grants Tanzania USD25 million to boost yields

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has yesterday approved dishing out USD25 million to boost the productivity of Tanzania’s agriculture sector through timely delivery of seeds and fertilisers to 300,000 farmers, and additional financing of USD30 million to enable farmers access the latest knowledge of agricultural, farming technology and irrigation infrastructure.

A statement availed to this paper from the World Bank said the funds will be provided by the International Development Association, which helps the world’s poorest countries by providing loans (referred to as “credits”) and grants to run projects and programmes which would boost their economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives.

The funding comes at a time of rising grain and fertiliser prices; this is why investments in rural farms are needed to help smallholder farmers get inputs, extension services and access to local infrastructures.

The statement said the financing will support seed and fertiliser subsidies under Tanzania’s flagship National Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme (NAIVS) that has already distributed over 15 million vouchers to over 2.5 million farm households, enabling the purchase and application of more than 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 50,000 tonnes of improved seed.

“These inputs have increased production to 1.5 million tonnes of additional maize and rice reducing the country’s dependence on costly grain imports and food aid,” revealed the report.

The statement further said that the additional resources will support local investments under the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) to increase smallholder crop and livestock productivity and farm incomes by strengthening small scale irrigation development, farmers’ capacity building, service delivery and market linkages.

It said the programme has noted substantial gains, including rehabilitation and establishment of 120,822 hectares in irrigation contributing to a 48 percent gain in total irrigated area, which has led to a doubling of irrigated rice productivity. The number of farmers using improved seeds and farm mechanisation has also increased.

“Increasing the productivity of Tanzania’s agriculture sector is essential for the country to meet its economic growth targets, boosting food security and protecting the environment,” said Philippe Dongier, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania.

“This support is designed to help Tanzania achieve the goal of five percent agricultural growth rate and give farmers access to latest knowledge, technology and infrastructure,” said Dongier.

Agriculture is the primary economic activity for 80 percent of Tanzania’s population. The Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) is Tanzania’s primary tool for implementing its growth strategy for the agriculture sector as outlined in Mkukuta II, the national development plan.

“Achieving income growth and food security are closely inter-linked and both depend on the sustained adaptation of modern agricultural technologies,” said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in Africa.

“Our support for Tanzania’s agriculture economy is designed to offset the risks posed by spiking food and fertiliser prices and climate change by equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase food production to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate impact of climatic shocks,” he said.

“Recent impact surveys indicate that the improved seeds and fertilisers made available by the subsidy programme have increased average maize yields by 1.2 tonnes per hectare, and increased average rice yields by 0.6 tonnes per hectare,” said Tijan Sallah, World Bank Sector Manager Agriculture, Rural Development and Irrigation, adding, “We look forward to effective implementation of these projects for the benefit of all Tanzanians.”

Punish clerics, politicians instigating violence-call

The Sengerema District Council in Mwanza Region has endorsed a declaration that enables application of a law that empowers the District Commissioner to arrest political and religious leaders whose actions may threaten peace, particularly when they use abusive language and instigate people to disrupt normal flow of activities.

The Council asserts that it is high time law was reinforced so that political and religious leaders would face court proceedings and that the law should not distinguish the affiliations of the leaders.

The Council plans to submit their argument to the DC so that implementation may start immediately while the Council works on supporting by-laws.

Apart from passing the declaration, they also demanded that leaders, including ward councilors, who would be linked to actions related to the dissuasion of people from engaging in social development activities to be dealt with by the special council ethics committee while the councillors found in fault are to be suspended from taking part in at least three consecutive meetings.

Unlike before, under the proposition, government servants, including village and ward executive officers as well as extension officers who will be accused of abusing their offices would not be shifted elsewhere instead they would be fired and then taken to court.

It was also agreed during the meeting that those executives from Ilenza, Nyangamlamila and Isagehe villages who were accused of abusing their offices including misappropriating funds contributed by the villagers to construct a secondary school, should be returned to Ilenza ward and once proved that they were involved in the funds mismanagement, they should then be taken to court.

Among those accused and or suspected of corruption, include, the former ward executive officer, Sofia Manyilizu from Katwe ward who the Ward Councillor of Ilenza, Joachim Balele, claims that the people have refused to accept back for fear that she will interfere with fact finding on a pending corruption case.

Another is former Lugata Ward Councillor (CCM) Adrian Tizeba who resigned and shifted to CHADEMA he was accused of failing to return a bank loan worth 8m/- afforded him on guarantorship of the District Council.

However, most of the complaints were directed against the Construction Department and that of Land where it was claimed that accountability and transparency were huge problems. The matter has been put forward by CCM councilor (rtd) Lieutenant Joseph Yared and supported by CUF councilor Thobias Bukoma

Mwalimu Nyerere on education: `The Power of Teachers

ANDREW MCPHERSON MANDARI  
My views over the Tanzania education and how mwalimu want the Tanzania to be on education sector, and the power of teachers in society and education development all over the country.

On 14th October, 2012, Tanzanians in the country and abroad commemorated Nyerere Day, which is a public holiday, set aside in order to find time to celebrate the life of the first President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. A number of symposiums, workshops, public displays and many more were organised worldwide.

In this column, I present an abridged version of an article titled “Mwalimu and the State of Education” written by Chambi Chachage, which appeared in the book named “Nyerere”. The original version appears in the website: http://fahamubooks.org/book. This abridged version has obtained written permission from both the original writer and the publisher.

There will be three articles based on Nyerere’s speeches on ‘The Power of Teachers’, ‘A Great Urge for Education’ and ‘Education for Service and not for Selfishness’ that he delivered in 1966, 1954 and 1999 respectively. Today’s article will focus on ‘The Power of Teachers’.

In his book on ‘Education and Development’ in Africa, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere commented that “Yet Primary Education for all, at least in Africa, requires full commitment from the State”. If there is one theme that was so dear to Julius K. Nyerere then it is education. He thought about it. He spoke about it. He even wrote about it. No wonder he is called Mwalimu, ‘The Teacher’.

A two volumes collection entitled Nyerere on Education published by HakiElimu, E & D Limited and the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation in 2004 and 2006 respectively reveals that about 35 essays and speeches on the theme are attributed to his name. This article is a critical review of the thoughts and practices of Mwalimu on this theme of Elimu in relation to the current state of education in Tanzania.

Julius K. Nyerere was a teacher by profession. He earned a diploma in education in 1945 at the then Mekerere University College in Uganda. Probably like many teachers today his choice of this career was an afterthought.

The teachers of our times would surely relate to his experience of declining “the offer to teach at Tabora Government School” upon his graduation and choosing instead “to teach Biology and History at St Mary’s, a new Catholic secondary school in Tabora” (Shepperson’s Perspective in Molony 2000: 7). By the time he left to pursue further studies at Edinburgh University in Scotland Mwalimu was politically conscious. However, as William E. Smith (1973) and John C. Hatch (1976) document, he is on record for claiming that his self-evolved ideas of politics were formed completely at the latter university were his strongest subject was philosophy.

While at Edinburgh he became more acquainted with the philosophical works associated with social democratic liberalism. Of particular interest to him were the treaties of the father of Utilitarianism and a philosopher of education, John Stuart Mill, whom he admired a lot. However, he was to thus admit later after Uhuru: “I was concerned about education; the work of Booker T Washington resonated with me” (Nyerere Quoted in Ikaweba Bunting 1999).

When he came back to the then Tanganyika in 1952 he joined St Francis’ College in Pugu as a teacher of history. Educators who were recently debating about a quest to compel them not to be involved in politics would relate to Mwalimu’s experience of having to quit this then relatively lucrative job shortly afterwards. He had to resign from the teaching post so as to be a politician.

Having personally experienced the perils and pleasures of teaching, Mwalimu was always concerned about the plights and prospects of teachers. In his review of Nyerere’s 1966 remarks at Morogoro Teachers College, Jenerali Ulimwengu (2004) notes how Mwalimu “is at pains to dispel the popular perception of teachers as a powerless group”. Sadly, this perception persists today. Mwalimu was correct in calling it “one of the biggest fallacies of our society. For teachers can make or ruin our society. As a group they have power which is second to none. It is not the power of a man with a gun; it is not a power which can be seen by a fool” (Nyerere 1968a: 228).

The teachers’ threats to strike and the open strikes that hit Tanzania in late 2008 give a glimpse of this power. But there are those ‘silent strikes’ that go on each and every day. These involve deliberate absenteeism, lack of teaching motivation, being overwhelmed with the workload and so forth.

It is not surprising then that some teachers interviewed in HakiElimu’s (2004) study on The Living and Working Conditions of Teachers in Tanzania were nostalgic about the times of Mwalimu. To them those were the days when teachers “were respected a lot” and the “salary you got was enough to live a decent life.” Of course some things have improved after the multi-dimensional crisis that faced the education sector during the Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) that were introduced in the 1980s. As Rakesh Rajani (2003) optimistically observed in the wake of the Primary Education Development Plan (PEDP), the announcement of PEDP brought about real hope and change which included the recruitment of about 7,000 teachers.

PEDP aimed ‘to recruit adequate number of new teachers’; ‘establish a teacher-to-pupil ratio that effectively accommodate enrolment increases’; ‘ensure equitable and gender-balanced distribution of trained teachers’; and ‘improve the use of existing teachers.’ To that end the plan made “provisions for teacher training and upgrading” as well as “strengthening the skills of existing teachers” (Rajani 2003: 5). But not everything went according to plan. For instance, HakiElimu’s (2005) Three Years of PEDP Implementation: Key Findings from Government Reviews revealed that 1,064 more than the targeted numbers of teachers were recruited. However, this report also revealed that the teacher-to-pupil ratio had increased from 1:46 to 1:59 indicating that the PEDP targets for teacher recruitment were underestimated. The consolidated review also revealed that the distribution of training teachers within regions and districts remained problematic as teachers were unwilling to be posted in remote areas. Its update, HakiElimu’s (2007) What has been Achieved in Primary Education? Key Findings from Government Reviews, found out recruitment does not necessarily translate into teachers in classrooms since out of the 10, 510 teachers that were deployed to schools in 2006 only 7,271 reported.

The situation by the end of 2009 had not improved significantly. For instance, on the basis of official sources such as the latest Basic Education Statistics in Tanzania (BEST) and Poverty and Human Development Reports (PHDR), HakiElimu & IDASA (2009) noted that the teacher-pupil ratio deteriorated as it moved from 1:53 in 2002 to 57:1 during the first year of PEDP. By the year PEDP I ended, however, the rate improved slightly to 1:52. This, the joint study revealed, could partly be attributed to the massive campaign of fast tracking the training of school leavers and recruiting them as teachers.

These teachers are sometimes referred to pejoratively as ‘Yebo Yebo’ or ‘Vodafasta’, a quick Vodacom network commercial product, to stress their lack of prerequisite qualifications, proper training and requisite skills. Such derogative perceptions and degraded plans are the hallmark of what Mwalimu was referring to as one of the biggest fallacy of our society. As the study further noted, in 2007 the ratio deteriorated again to its 2002 figure, i.e. 1:53, prompting the PHDR2007 to realistically admit that “it is unlikely that the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty’s (MKUKUTA) target of 1:45 by 2010 will be reached” (URT 2007: 27). Predictably, according to BEST2009, the ratio is 1:54 for both 2008 and 2009, a far cry from the 2010 target.

The Primary Leavers Examination Results (PSLE) for 2009 also gives us a glimpse of the state of education. More than 50 percent of the students who sat for the exam failed. The Minister responsible for Education was quoted by the media attributing this poor performance to mass failures in Mathematics and English. 20.96 percent of the students passed the former whilst over 35.44 percent passed the latter. Tellingly the Minister thus said: “We are trying to address these problems by training teachers in the two subjects and also improving the curriculum so that we can get more competent teachers for the two subjects” (The Citizen 11 December 2009: 17).

It is quite clear that we don’t really hearken when “Mwalimu decries the fact that teachers are usually underestimated and accorded less social recognition than they deserve” (Ulimwengu 2004: 4). We haven’t really made sense of what he means when he “points to the tendency to ignore teachers and explains that this is so because teachers, unlike civil servants, do not wield obvious power” (Ibid). If we really understood him in that regard then we wouldn’t have a situation such as the one documented by HakiElimu & IDASA (2009) on the reasons given by Ludewa’s District Education Officer in Iringa region on why Masimavalafu Primary School tended to come last in PSLE, that is, because for a long time it had one teacher. We would not have a situation whereby parents in many areas of our country have to volunteer hiring temporary teachers because those deployed by the government do not report to work or opt for other career opportunities as “their living standards are at low levels and many are not attracted to become teachers” (HakiElimu 2004: 13). By doing so we are embracing that biggest fallacy of our society even though “the truth is that it is teachers, more than any other single group of people…who shape the ideas and aspirations of the nation” (Nyerere 1968a: 226).

Mwalimu Nyerere’s legacy is tied to the history/herstory of the education sector in Tanzania. His regime produced positive as well as negative results in the education realm. However, I do not endorse the assessment that his policy on education was a total failure that neo-liberal revisionists, nay, a historical critics, presents to counter our nationalist history as they attempt to erase what we achieved from our consciousness.

CHADEMA yaitesa CCM

• Thomas Nyimbo atangaza kujiondo

CHAMA cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), kimeendelea kukiburuza Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) katika siasa, ambapo kwenye matokeo ya udiwani katika uchaguzi uliofanyika jana, chama hicho kimefanikiwa kutetea kata zake na kunyakua nyingine za CCM.



Hata hivyo uchaguzi huo ambao ulifanyika kwenye kata 29 katika halmashauri mbalimbali nchini, umemalizika huku vurugu kubwa zikitawala na kusababisha wafuasi wa vyama hivyo kuumizana.

Hadi tunakwenda mitamboni matokeo ya kata 14 yalionyesha kuwa CCM ilikuwa imefanikiwa kurejesha kata zake saba, huku CHADEMA ikinyakua kata sita, ambapo mbili zilikuwa za kwao na nne imewanyang’anya CCM na CUF ikiwa na kata moja.

Katika matukio ya vurugu, mbunge wa viti maalumu, mkoani Shinyanga, Rahel Mashishanga (CHADEMA), na katibu wa chama hicho jimbo la Nyang’hwale, mkoani Geita, Michael Ndege, wamenusurika kuuawa baada ya kuvamiwa na kisha kupigwa na kukatwa mapanga na watu wanaosadikiwa kuwa ni wafuasi wa CCM.

Viongozi hao walifanyiwa unyama huo kwa nyakati tofauti juzi na jana, ambapo Ndege alivamiwa juzi majira ya saa 3 usiku akiwa anaelekea kulala katika nyumba aliyofikia kata ya Lwenzela, saa chache baada ya kumalizika kwa mkutano wa kampeni.

Inadaiwa kwamba akiwa njiani kwenda kulala alivamiwa na kundi la vijana waliokuwa wamevalia sare za CCM, kisha kumkata kwa mapanga na visu, jambo lililosababisha kutokwa damu nyingi na baadaye kukimbizwa hospitali ya wilaya ya Geita.

Akizungumza na mwandishi wa habari hizi juzi usiku kwa njia ya simu, Katibu wa CHADEMA wilaya ya Geita, Rogers Luhega, alisema kwamba kiongozi huyo alivamiwa na kundi hilo kwa mambo aliyodai ni ya kisiasa.

Kwa mujibu wa Rogers, baada ya tukio hilo waliomba msaada kwa askari polisi waliokuwa wakilinda usalama katani humo, lakini walikataa.

Hata hivyo, alisema usiku wa kuamkia Oktoba 27, mwaka huu, alikoswakoswa kuchomwa mshale na watu aliodai kuwa ni wafuasi wa CCM, ikiwa ni lengo la kudhoofisha nguvu ya chama chake katika uchaguzi huo mdogo kata ya Lwenzela.

Kamanda wa Polisi, mkoa wa Geita, Leonald Paul, alipoulizwa kuhusiana na tukio hilo alisema kwa sasa wanafuatilia kwa undani tukio hilo na watu waliohusika ili sheria ifuate mkondo wake.

Kuhusu Mashishanga, inadaiwa kuwa jana majira ya asubuhi alivamiwa na kundi la vijana wanaosadikiwa kuwa ni wafuasi wa CCM wakati alipokuwa akitembelea kujionea upigaji kura linavyoendelea katika kata ya Mwawaza, jimbo la Shinyanga Mjini.

Waziri Kivuli wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi, Vincent Nyerere, aliliambia gazeti hili kuwa mbali na Mashishanga kuvamiwa na kupigwa, gari lake pia lilipondwa kwa mawe na vioo kuharibiwa vibaya.

“Ni kweli nimeambiwa Mashishanga amevamiwa na kupigwa na wafuasi wa CCM wakati akitembelea kuona upigaji kura kata ya Mwawaza. Pia gari yake imepondwa na vioo vinaelezwa vimeharibika vyote,”alisema.

Nyerere aliongeza kuwa mbunge huyo alikuwa na mdogo wake ambaye alipigwa na kuteguka bega la kushoto na kuumizwa sehemu za mdomoni.

Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Shinyanga, Evarist Mangala alipoulizwa kuhusuana na taarifa za kuvamiwa na kupigwa kwa mbunge huyo alisema hana taarifa juu ya tukio hilo na aliahidi kufuatilia zaidi.

Katika tukio jingine ambalo Tanzania Daima lilishuhudia, Katibu wa CCM wilaya ya Kahama, ambaye hakufahamika mara moja jina lake, aliingia kwenye kituo cha kupigia kura cha Shule ya Msingi Bugalama akiwa na sime mkononi.

Katibu huyo aliyekuwa akitumia gari namba T 507 BEW likiwa na nembo ya CCM, inadaiwa alifanya hivyo kwa lengo la kuwatisha mawakala wa CHADEMA waliokuwa wakisimamia kura za mgombea wao, lakini baadaye alitimuliwa.

Mkoani Ruvuma katika kata ya Mletele Manispaa ya Songea, nako wafuasi wa vyama hivyo walichapana kwa mapanga na fimbo na kusababisha zaidi ya watu watano kujeruhiwa wakati wa kufunga kampeni za uchaguzi mdogo.

Tukio hilo ambalo lilitokea juzi saa tisa jioni huko katika kijiji cha Lihumbu, wafuasi wa CHADEMA akiwemo mbunge wao wa viti Maalumu, Chiku Abwao, walivamiwa na kupigwa na wafuasi wa CCM ambao wanadaiwa kuwa walikuwa na gari ndogo.

Hata hivyo wafuasi wa CHADEMA walifanikiwa kulikamata gari dogo la wafuasi wa CCM akiwemo Mwenyekiti wa UVCCM wa wilaya hiyo, ambayo ndani yake inadaiwa ilikuwa na mapanga, vipande vya nondo, mundu, fimbo na bundi akiwa hai.

Mmoja wa wafuasi wa CHADEMA Frank Mgao alisema kuwa baada ya kukamatwa gari hilo, askari ambao waliongozwa na Mkuu wa Polisi wa Wilaya hiyo, Nico Mwakasanga, waliwakamata na kuwapeleka kituo kikuu cha polisi cha Songea ambako wanaendelea kuhojiwa.

Mgao alisema kuwa baadhi ya wanachama wenzake na wanachama wa CCM wamejeruhiwa kwa kupigwa na panga sehemu mbalimbali za miili yao na wengine wamelazwa katika Hospitali ya Serikali ya Mkoa wa Ruvuma ambako wanaendelea kupata matibabu zaidi.

Matokeo

Wakati hali ikiwa hivyo, matokeo ya udiwani katika baadhi ya kata yalikuwa yakiendelea kutolewa huku CHADEMA ikiendelea kuiliza CCM kwa kuzitwaa baadhi ya zilizokuwa kata zake.

Jijini Arusha katika Kata ya Daraja Mbili, CCM ilipoteza kata hiyo kwa CHADEMA iliyozoa kura 2192 dhidi ya 1315 za chama tawala.

CHADEMA wameweza kuzirejesha kata zao mbili za Nangerea jimboni Rombo, ambapo mgombea wao Frank Sarakana alijizolea kura 2370 dhidi ya 1134 za Dysmas Silayo wa CCM pamoja na ile ya Mtibwa, mkoani Morogoro.

Wilayani Sikonge katika kata ya Ipole, CCM walipoteza kata hiyo kwa CHADEMA iliyopata kura 577 dhidi ya 372 za washindani wao, na vilevile kuitwaa kata nyingine ya Lengali wilayani Ludewa iliyokuwa ya CCM.

CHADEMA pia ilikuwa ikiongoza katika kata ya Mpwapwa, mkoani Dodoma, hadi tunakwenda mitamboni usiku.

Nayo CCM ilifurukuta kwa kuzirejesha kata zake za Msalato ya mkoani Dodoma, Bang’ata ya Arumeru Magharibi kwa kuwa 1177 dhidi ya 881 za CHADEMA, Mletele ya Songea CCM ilishinda kwa kura 950 na CHADEMA ilipata 295.

Pia CCM iliweza kutetea kata zake za Mwawaza mjini Shinyanga, Lwenzela mkoani Geita, Bungala wialayni Kahama na Bagamoyo mkoani Pwani kwa kuibwaga CHADEMA wakati Chama cha Wananchi (CUF) kilishinda kata ya Newala.

Nyimbo atimka CHADEMA

Aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge wa CHADEMA katika jimbo la Njombe Magharibi mwaka 2010, Thomas Nyimbo, jana alitangaza kukihama chama hicho.

Nyimbo ambaye amewahi kuwa mbunge wa CCM kwa miaka 10 katika jimbo hilo kabla ya kutimkia CHADEMA mwaka 2010, alisema hivi sasa atabaki kuwa mwanasiasa huru asiyefungamana na vyama.

Mbele ya mkewe, Mary Mwenga, alisema amechukua uamuzi huo baada ya kuona siasa za kushabikia vyama hazina tija kwa Watanzania walio wengi na badala yake zinawanufaisha viongozi wachache.

Nyimbo alifafanua zaidi akisema kuwa alichojiuzulu ni siasa za vyama, lakini si siasa moja kwa moja, huku akitamba kuwa yeye alizaliwa akiwa ni mwanasiasa, kiongozi na mtu ambaye mawazo yake yanahitajika.

Katika taarifa hiyo aliyoitoa kwa vyombo vya habari mithiri ya mhadhara, Nyimbo alitumia zaidi ya saa moja na nusu kuelezea mustakabali wa taifa na vijana kutokana na vyama vya siasa kuelekea kuwatumbukiza kwenye machafuko.

“Nimeachana na CHADEMA baada ya kubaini kuwa siasa za vyama hazina tija kwa wananchi na taifa kwa ujumla na ni wakati huu sasa wa kuachana na dhana ya vyama vya siasa vituandalie sera na tunahitaji sasa itungwe sera ya kitaifa ambayo mgombea inabidi atueleze tukimchagua ataitekeleza vipi,” alisema Nyimbo.

Alisema kuwa ikiwa Katiba mpya inayoandaliwa hivi sasa itakuruhusu mgombea huru, atakuwa tayari kugombea ubunge tena kwenye jimbo lake la Njombe Magharibi, lakini kama Katiba hiyo itazuia fursa hiyo hatogombea tena wadhifa huo maisha yake yote.

Aliongeza kuwa baada ya kupatikana kwa Katiba mpya, inabidi itungwe sera ya taifa itakayolindwa kisheria, ambayo kila chama kitakachofanikiwa kuingia madarakani kilazimike kuifuata badala ya ilivyo sasa vyama vinaogelea hovyo.

Nyimbo alidai kuwa ameamua kujiondoa ndani ya chama hicho baada ya kubaini kuwa kinaenda kinyume na malengo yake kama kinavyojipambanua mbele za watu.

Alisema licha ya kuwaaminisha wananchi, hususan vijana kuwa ndio chama chenye kuleta mabadiliko ya kweli, viongozi wake wa daraja la juu akiwataja Mwenyekiti Freeman Mbowe na Katibu Mkuu Dk. Willibrod Slaa wamekuwa wakijinufaisha binafsi.

Kuhusu CCM, Nyimbo alidai kuwa chama hicho kinajimaliza chenyewe kutokana na kuacha suala la rushwa kwenye chaguzi zake za ndani kuwa ndio kigezo muhimu cha kuwapata viongozi wake

KUELEKEA 2015: Kambi ya Lowassa ngoma mdundo

.Hofu ya mpasuko mkubwa yanukia CCM

Waziri Mkuu aliyejiuzulu, Edward Lowassa

Matokeo ya chaguzi za ndani ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), yameibua taswira isiyotarajiwa kutokana na kundi linalomuunga mkono Waziri Mkuu aliyejiuzulu, Edward Lowassa, kupata ushindi mnono.

Tayari CCM inaaminika kuwa katika wakati mgumu kuelekea Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2015, ambapo ‘safu’ iliyoshinda maeneo tofauti ya uongozi na vikao vikubwa vya chama hicho, wapo upande wa Lowassa.

Lowassa ambaye mwaka 2005 alikuwa mmoja wa wasaidizi wa karibu wa Rais Kikwete, alipowania urais kwa mara ya kwanza, anasadikiwa kukigawa chama hicho hasa baada ya kuibuka kwa kashfa mbalimbali za rushwa na matumizi mabaya ya madaraka.

Lakini kashfa kubwa zaidi ni ile iliyohusu mkataba wenye utata wa kuzalisha umeme, uliosainiwa kati ya serikali ya kampuni ya Richmond, ambao hata hivyo ulikuwa chanzo cha kujiuzulu kwake (Lowassa).

Chanzo cha habari cha kuaminika kutoka ndani ya mtandao unaoegemea upande wa Lowassa, kimeliambia NIPASHE Jumapili kuwa, hadi kufikia mwishoni mwa wa wiki, walikuwa wamemiliki asilimia 65 ya wajumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu ya Taifa (Nec).

Takwimu hizo zinajumuisha matokeo ya uchaguzi wa jumuiya ya Umoja wa Vijana wa CCM (UV-CCM) ambapo kwa mujibu wa chanzo hicho cha kuaminika, ni watu watatu pekee walioshinda, ambao hawamuungi mkono Lowassa.

“Huyu jamaa (Lowassa) anaenda vizuri na inavyoonekana hakuna namna ya kumzuia katika urais 2015,” kilieleza chanzo hicho ambacho hata hivyo, kinasisitiza kuhifadhiwa kwa jina lake.

Matokeo ya chaguzi hizo yamelalamikiwa sehemu kubwa ya nchi, kwamba ulitawaliwa na vitendo vya rushwa, lakini Katibu wa Itikadi na Uenezi wa CCM, Nape Nnauye, alikana na kusema hali ni shwari na kwamba kashfa hizo zinakuzwa na vyombo vya habari.




HOFU YA MPASUKO YATANDA


Wakati hali ikiwa hivyo, taarifa zinaeleza kuwa hofu ya mpasuko mkubwa kukikumba chama hicho umetanda, hasa ikiwa kundi linaloonekana kumuunga mkono Lowassa, litafanikiwa kumpitisha mgombea urais wake kwa mwaka 2015.

Awali, ilielezwa kuwa chaguzi za ndani ya CCM zilisubiriwa kuwa kipimo cha kukubalika ama kukataliwa kwa Lowassa, ili kupata mkakati wa namna ya kumpata mgombea urais anayestahili.

Vyanzo tofauti vieleza kuwa wapo wajumbe ndani yake, waliotaka Lowassa asiwanie urais 2015, kwa kigezo kwamba jina lake lilishachafuka, hivyo itatumika nguvu kubwa kumnadi ndani na nje ya chama.

Watetezi wa hoja hiyo wanaeleza kuwa, kutokana na hilo, yapo majina yaliyopendekezwa ili mmojawao apitishwe na kuungwa mkono na wengine, akiwemo Lowassa.

Mmoja wa waliotajwa kufaa kwa ajili ya uteuzi ni aliyekuwa Waziri katika wizara moja muhimu, lakini akaenguliwa katika sakata lililotokana na shinikizo la wabunge.

Waziri huyo ambaye hadi sasa anaaminika kuwa mfuasi wa Lowassa, ni miongoni mwa mawaziri sita waliofukuzwa kazi na Rais Kikwete, kwa njia ya kutoteuliwa.

Tukio hilo lilitokana na taarifa ya Mdhibiti na Mkaguzi MKuu wa Serikali za Mitaa, Ludovick Utouh na ile ya Kamati ya Bunge ya Ardhi, Mazingira na Maliasili inayoongozwa na Mbunge wa Kahama, James Lembeli.

Wachambuzi wa masuala ya siasa wanasema, ikiwa Lowassa atasimamishwa kuwania urais mwaka 2015 kupitia CCM, kuna kila dalili za viongozi na wanachama kukihama katika hali ya kutisha.

Wanaotajwa kuwa na nafasi kubwa ya kuondoka CCM ikiwa Lowassa atapitishwa kuwania urais ni wazee waandamizi waliowahi kushika nafasi kubwa za uongozi ndani ya chama na serikalini.

“Unajua kwa hali ilivyo, si rahisi watu kama (anawataja majina) kuwa ndani ya CCM na serikali yake inayoongozwa na Lowassa, kwa hiyo msione ajabu watu msiowatarajia wakakihama chama,” kinaeleza chanzo chetu.




KIKWETE NJIA PANDA


Kwa upande mwingine, Rais Kikwete anatajwa kuwa ‘njia panda’ kutokana na mabadiliko ya siasa ndani ya CCM, hasa pale rushwa na hujuma vinapotajwa kutawala.

Kauli aliyoitoa katika mkutano wa Jumuiya ya Wanawake wa chama hicho (UWT), kwamba watakaoshinda wawe tayari kufanya kazi na walioshindwa, inatajwa kuwa moja ya jitihada za kuepusha mgawanyiko ndani ya chama hicho.

“Kikwete anakerwa na rushwa lakini kwa hali ilipofikia sasa, ni wazi kwamba hawezi kuzuia upepo wa kundi linalotajwa na kutuhumiwa kwa rushwa, “ kinaeleza chanzo chetu.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa hizo, Rais Kikwete ameuona mwelekeo wa CCM si mzuri mbele ya umma, hivyo kutumia chaguzi hizo kama sehemu ya kutahadhalisha, kwamba kisipoangalia ‘kitaangukia pua’ katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2015.




LOWASSA AZIDI KUTETEWA


Wakati shutuma na tuhuma zinazomhusisha Lowassa zikitolewa sehemu tofauti, wapo wana-CCM wanaoamini kwamba kiongozi huyo ni jasiri na kwamba ana uwezo wa kuongoza.

Mjumbe wa Baraza Kuu la UVCCM, Hussein Bashe, amekaririwa akisema Lowassa ni kiongozi mwenye uvumilivu na anayedhihirisha kuwa tayari kukabiliana na kuvishinda vikwazo, hivyo kustahili uongozi wa nchi.

Bashe ambaye jina lake lilitajwa katika tuhuma za rushwa wakati wa uchaguzi wa UVCCM mjini Dodoma hivi karibuni, alisema anajisikia fahari kuzifuata na kuzitekeleza siasa za Lowassa.

Kauli hiyo ni tofauti na zile zilizowahi kutolewa na wanaojulikana kama ‘makamanda wa ufisadi’ akiwemo Waziri wa Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki, Samuel Sitta na Waziri wa Ujenzi, Dk Harrison Mwakyembe.

Makamanda wa ufisadi wamekuwa wakiwataja matuhumiwa wa ufisadi ambao jina la Lowassa limekuwa miongoni mwao, kuwa wanastahili kufukuzwa uanachama na kunyimwa nafasi ya uongozi wa nchi

UVCCM wakemewa

• Nape awatetea adai kuchapana ni kawaida

SIKU moja baada ya vijana wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (UVCCM), kuchapana hadharani kupinga viongozi wao wapya wakidai uchaguzi wao ulitawaliwa na rushwa, baadhi ya viongozi wa dini wameta hatua zaidi zichukuliwe kukomesha rushwa inayozidi kushika mizizi.

Wao viongozi wa dini walikemea rushwa huku wakitaka pia nyumba za ibada ziheshimiwe badala ya kutumiwa kama majukwaa ya kisiasa na baadhi ya watu.

Akizungumza katika Kanisa la Christian Misssion Fellwoship la jijini Dar es Salaam kwenye ibada ya Jumapili iliyokuwa maalumu kwa ajili ya kuombea amani, Askofu Mkuu wa kanisa hilo, Dk. Mgulu Kilimba, alisema kitendo cha vijana hao kutwangana makonde kinaonyesha hakuna mafanikio ya kukabiliana na tatizo la rushwa.

Alisema serikali na watawala wamekuwa wakilaani na kukemea ubaguzi wa dini, rushwa na ufisadi bila kuwepo kwa mafanikio ndiyo maana taifa linashuhudia vijana wakitwangana kutokana na kushamiri kwa matendo ya rushwa.

“Hii yote ni vita ya kiroho. Chuki na rushwa ni roho ya shetani na inapaswa kukemewa na viongozi wa dini huku watawala wakitakiwa kuchukua hatua ili kukabiliana na tatizo hilo linalozidisha chuki kwa jamii,” alisema.

Alisema kuwa kutokana na matatizo hayo, kanisa hilo limechukua hatua ya kufanya ibada maalumu ya kuombea taifa amani iliyohusisha maombi kutoka makabila 12 ambapo waliomba kwa lugha zao pamoja na kuimba wimbo wa taifa kwa ajili ya kusisitiza amani.

Huku akisoma maandiko kutoka katika kitabu kitakatifu cha Biblia 1Timotheo 2:1-2 ‘Basi, kwanza kabisa, naagiza kwamba dua, sala, maombezi na shukrani zitolewe kwa ajili ya watu wote: kwa ajili ya wafalme na wote wenye mamlaka, ili tupate kuishi maisha ya utulivu na amani, tukimcha Mungu na kuwa wenye heshima kwa kila njia.’

Kuhusu nyumba za ibada, Dk. Kilimba alionya viongozi wa kidini kuhakikisha kuwa nyumba za ibada zinatumika kwa ajili ya mahubiri ya neno la Mungu na kuepuka kutoa mahubiri ya kisiasa yanayochangia kuwepo kwa vurugu.

Alisema kuwa viongozi wa dini wanaaminiwa na jamii inayowazunguka iwapo watatoa neno lolote linaweza kujenga nyufa na kujitokeza kwa chuki.

Dk. Kilimba alisema kuwa iwapo amani itaondoka matajiri na walio na fedha watalazimika kukimbia na kuwa wakimbizi katika nchi nyingine huku maskini wakikosa mahali pa kukimbilia na kuishia kuuawa hivyo ni muhimu kuitunza na kuilinda amani kwa gharama zozote.

Alisema amani hiyo ni tunu iliyotoka kwa Mungu ambapo waasisi wa taifa hili akiwemo hayati Julius Nyerere waliiacha na inapaswa kuenziwa.

Naye, Mchungaji wa Kanisa la Mikocheni B Assembilies of God, Dk. Getrude Rwakatare, alisema kuwa ibada ya Jumapili imetumika mahsusi kwa ajili ya kuombea taifa amani.

Alisema kuwa ni muhimu Watanzania wakaishi kwa kusameheana na kuondokana na makundi ili taifa liendelee kujivunia kuwa kisiwa cha amani.

“Manung’uniko hayajengi na wala hayasaidii tuondoe kunyoosheana vidole ili tuzidi kuijenga nchi yetu na taifa liendelee kuwa kimbilio la nchi nyingine,” alisema.

Aidha mchungaji Niku Kiungu kutoka nchini Marekani, alisema kuwa Mungu ataendelea kulibariki taifa hili kwa kuwa hata wimbo wa taifa umeanza kubariki mataifa mengine kwanza.

Nape awatetea UVCCM

Katibu wa NEC, Itikadi na Uenezi, Nape Nnauye, alisema kuwa Watanzania hawapaswi kushangazwa na kitendo cha vijana wa UVCCM kuchapana makonde juzi hadharani kwani tukio hilo si la kwanza kutokea kwao.

Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima kwa njia ya simu, Nape alisema ugomvi wa juzi katika makao makuu ya umoja huo jijini Dar es Salaam ni mambo yanayowakuta vijana wengi katika maeneo mbalimbali na kwamba kinachotakiwa ni namna ya kuutuliza.

“Mimi niko Mwanza, sijapata taarifa sahihi hivyo siwezi kukupa tathmini yangu, lakini tambua haya yalianza enzi za kina John Guninita, hata mimi na Nchimbi tulishawahi kugombana mwaka 2003 kwa sababu ya umoja huo, cha msingi ni kuangalia nini kitafanyika baada ya tendo hilo,” alisema Nape.

Alisema wakati wa kina Guninita kanuni za uchaguzi zilifuatwa na bado kulitokea hali ya kutoelewana na kusisitiza kuwa hata marehemu baba yake Moses Nnauye akiwa kiongozi wa jumuiya hiyo, walishachapana kwa bakora kwa ajili ya kuweka mambo sawa.

Aliongeza kuwa anasikitishwa na hali ya vijana wa chama hicho kukosa uvumilivu hata kufikia hatua ya kuvamiana mwilini na kupigana na kwamba chama kitakaa baada ya kupata taarifa kamili na kisha kutoa tamko lake juu ya tukio hilo.