Mnyika: Nec ifanyiwe marekebisho kabla ya 2014

Mbunge wa Jimbo la Ubungo jijini Dar es Salaam kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), John Mnyika

Mbunge wa Jimbo la Ubungo jijini Dar es Salaam kupitia Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), John Mnyika, ameitaka Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba kufanyia marekebisho katika Tume ya Taifa ya Uchaguzi (Nec) kwanza kabla ya kukamilika kwa zoezi la kupatikana kwa katiba mpya.

Mnyika, aliyasema hayo jana jijini hapa katika viwanja vya ofisi ya kata ya Makurumla, wakati akichangia maoni yake mbele ya Tume hiyo.

“Kwa sasa Tume hii ina mapungufu hivyo haitawezekana kupatikana kwa katiba mpya na bora yenye maoni waliyoyatoa wananchi ifikapo mwaka 2014, hivyo tume iandike marekebisho kuhusu tume ya uchaguzi ili iwe na mfumo huru kwa sababu ndiyo inayosimamia kura ya maoni,” alisema Mnyika.

Alifafanua kwa ufupi baadhi ya mapungufu hayo kuwa ni Tume ya uchaguzi kuteuliwa na Rais bila kuwapo kwa mapendekezo kutoka kwa wadau pamoja na kuwatumia watumishi wa Serikali.

Aidha, Mnyika ameitaka katiba mpya isisitize kuwa Bunge ni chombo kikuu na chenye kujisimamia chenyewe katika kupandisha kodi, kutumia fedha pamoja na kupitisha bajeti bila kusimamiwa na Rais.

“Bunge limekuwa kibogoyo ambalo halina meno ikiwa namaanisha halina mamlaka kuhusu bajeti kwani haliwezi kukataa bajeti ya serikali kwa kuhofia kuvunjwa, hivyo Bunge lipewe uhuru kutoa maamuzi yake,” alisema Mnyika.

Aliendelea kwa kusema kuwa wananchi wapewe madaraka ya kumwadhibu diwani au mbunge kwa kumvua uongozi kwa kupiga kura ya maoni ya kutokuwa na imani na kiongozi huyo hata kama muda wa kutoka madarakani haujaisha

Vurugu zatawala mkutano wa CCM

  Jeshi la polisi mkoani Mara limelazimika kurusha risasi za moto ili kuwadhibiti watu waliodaiwa kuwa ni wafuasi wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) jimbo la Musoma mjini ambao walionekana kupinga kauli ya Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Abdallah Bulembo, za kudai kuwa madiwani wa halmashauri hiyo wanatumia vibaya fedha za halmashauri hiyo.

Bulembo ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa Jumuiya ya Wazazi ya CCM Taifa, alikumbana na hali hiyo juzi jioni wakati akihutubia wanachama wachache wa Ccm katika uwanja wa Shule ya Msingi ya Mkendo huku mkutano huo ukikumbwa na zomea zomea na kufanya kiongozi huyo kukatisha hotuba yake kila mara.

“Serikali imeleta fedha kwaajili ya kumalizia ujenzi wa ofisi ya Manispaa, madiwani wa Chadema wamehamisha fedha hizo na kuzielekeza kujenga barabara…utaratibu wa kubadili matumizi utawatokea puani siku si nyingi mtakuja kuona,” alisema Bulembo na kuchafua hali ya hewa.

Kutokana na kauli hiyo, vijana,wakina mama na wazee ambao walikuwa enao la karibu na mkutano huo, walianza kuzomea.

Zomea zomea hiyo ilionekana kumkera Bulembo ambaye alisema kuwa hata wakizidi kushangilia vitendo hivyo kwa kipindi kifupi kijacho hawatapata maendeleo kwani serikali hawezi kuleta fedha kwa kulenga mradi wowote kisha madiwani wakahamisha matumizi yaliyokusudiwa.

“Baada ya miaka miwili utasaga meno hakuna fedha mtakazozipata hapa kwa maendeleo na watu watafikishwa mahakamani…mfano mzuri huyu Meya wenu Kisurura ameletewa milioni 96 za barabara, yeye kapeleka milioni 70 na kujenga barabara chini ya kiwango na mitaro hivyo hivyo,” alisema Bulembo huku akiendelea kuzomewa.

Baada ya kuona hali hiyo imekuwa ngumu alijaribu kuhamia kwa Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu Chadema, Godbless Lema, akidai ameshangaa kuona kwa jinsi Lema asivyoheshimu maamzi ya mahakama kwa kitendo chake cha kuandika kwenye kitabu cha wageni nyumbani kwa Mwalimu Nyerere kuwa ni Mbune wa Arusha Mjini wakati akijua siyo mbunge wa Arusha Mjini.

Kauli hiyo ilionekana kuwachukiza zaidi watu hao ambao walikuwa wengi kuliko wale walikuwa wakimsikiliza Bulembo ma kuwatolea maneno ya kuwadukuza eneo hilo. Baada ya maneno hayo Bulembo aliwaambia waliokuwa wakimsikiliza kuwa akisema CCM oyeee, CCM oyeee, Ccm oyeee’.

Baadaye alisema kuanzia sasa CCM haitawavumilia tena watu watakapanda katika majukwaa na kuanza kumtukana na kutoa rugha za kashfa kwa Rais Jakaya Kiwete ambaye ni Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho.

Wakati mkutano ukikaribia kumalizika, polisi walianza kuwakamata ovyo vijana waliokuwa wakiimba jina la Mbunge wa Musoma Mjini, Vincent Nyerere, jambo lilosababisha baadhi ya vijana kurusha mawe na kuwafanya polisi kurusha risasi na kuwalazimisha waliokuwapo kukimbia.

Baadaye polisi waliondoka na baadhi ya vijana waliowakamata

Arusha council to set up environment court

  Arusha city council is to set up a special environment court to deal with people found degrading the environment.

Arusha district Commissioner John Mongella revealed this here yesterday when speaking at a public debate on climate change and ways to address the adverse impact of eco-degradation. The debate was hosted by an Arusha-based NGO, ANGONET.

“We’re currently looking into the possibility of setting up a court on environment matters and how it will operate,” the DC said.
He said when the court is operational culprits would be liable to six-month jail sentences or fines.

He said climate change was a real threat to human survival, hence there was need to take action to address the trend.
The DC said most parts of the world have been experiencing unprecedented climatic changes, which costs governments, as sometimes they are forced to buy food to feed those in need.

“In some areas people have been starving because they have nothing to eat, and some areas which used to produce bumper crops are now producing much less,” he said.

He commended ANGONET for organizing the debate to exchange views on how to improve the country’s environment, which was now threatened by rampant tree felling for charcoal and timber.
“It is high time Tanzanians took responsibility on environmental conservation seriously,” he said, calling on youths in the city of Arusha to form environmental groups.

TAZARA DG: Revenues channeled to salaries, fuel

   Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has said that its management is concerned, committed and active towards addressing plights of employees, obstacles to the authority’s operations in serving its customers.

Tazara Managing Director, Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika said in a press statement that the company is still challenged with meeting the operational expenditures including payments for fuel and salaries, noting that it should be recognized that train movements challenges are caused by deficiencies in the maintenance of locomotives, wagons and other essential plant and machinery items.

His statement comes following media reports that some authority’s workers have claimed that there are no cargo trains moving on Tazara railway and that payment of salaries has been delayed arising from poor planning.

Tazara boss assured his workers that a lot was being done to address both the immediate manifestations of the problems as well as the fundamental causal factors, in efforts whose fruits shall begin to be seen soon, with the support and cooperation of all employees and the sanction of the next sitting of the Board of Directors, which is anticipated in the next few weeks.

He said that this includes efforts towards moving the traffic that is on hand and bringing back the freight that is being moved by road through more adequate and better applied working capital provisions and efforts to engage with local and foreign private sectors including sate regional bodies in sourcing finance.

However he added that right now efforts were being put in place for the delivery of over 76 wagons that are running with nearly 4,000 metric tones of fertilizer which is awaited in Zambia but also pushing for a further 2,000 metric tones to have its documentation and clearance requirements completed so that it too may be dispatched from Dar es Salaam to Zambia.

On salaries, Mbikusita-Lewanika said that all revenues being received were being directed towards payments of salaries and fuel, and as a result workers in both Tanzania and Zambia have begun receiving their salaries as from October this year

JK: Sell plots at affordable prices to cut housing costs

Banks urged to lower interest charges on housing loans
President Jakaya Kikwete braves the rain as he unveils a plaque marking the inauguration of some 35 houses that are compensation to the Gongolamboto ammunitions depot explosion victims. The construction was done by the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force (TPDF) in Msongola in Ilala district on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. Photo: Omar Fungo

President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday directed the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development to ensure that councils sell plots at affordable prices to enable Wananchi to buy houses built by the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

He also warned the councils to stop turning lands into a source of income by selling the plots in high prices to NHC and other investors, saying it has implication on the costs of the houses which will be built.

Kikwete made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday when laying a foundation stone to mark the official construction of the NHC houses at Kigamboni, Kibada area.

A total of 290 houses will be constructed under the affordable houses scheme being implemented by the housing corporation.
The President gave the example of some councils which buy plots for 6m/- from ordinary people and sell them for upto 300m/-. As a result the houses which will be built in the area automatically attract high prices, he said.

“This habit cannot be left to continue …the ministry responsible should work on it to ensure that councils sell plots at reasonable prices,” he stressed.

The President also directed the Ministry of Finance to hold discussions with banks which have entered into contract with NHC to provide loans to people so that they can buy the corporation’s houses to reduce interest rates.

He said by doing so NHC will be in a position to sell the houses to many more people.
He also advised the NHC for the coming years to open a financial institution so as to reduce dependence on banks.

For his part, Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development Goodluck Ole Medeye said the housing project was implementation of a strategic plan aiming at building 15,000 housing units countrywide by 2015.

Explaining the project the NHC Managing Director Nehemia Mchechu, said implementation started in November this year and was expected to be completed in May next year, adding that the houses will be sold for between 45m/- and 52m/- per unit with VAT.
Mchechu said the price went up because NHC was supposed to put up all infrastructure at Kibada that was supposed to be done by other institutions.

Meanwhile, the President handed over 36 modern homes to the victims of last year’s Gongo la Mboto bomb blast, assuring them that those who were not fully compensated after the tragedy will soon receive their compensation.

He however, instructed the Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) to fast track construction of the Banana-Kitunda _Msongole Road in order to facilitate movement of people and commodities.

Kikwete said the government has spent over 665bn/- for compensation, renovation of some buildings, construction of new ones, food and medical treatment.
Said Meck Sadiki, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner said the houses were to have been handed over to the victims in July this year, but the plan failed due to various reasons including shortage of funds and delays in acquiring land for to build the houses

Billions of shillings stashed in foreign banks who is to bell the fat cats?

Talk about our newly rich compatriots who are reported to have kept billions of shillings in foreign banks is in the air, and is likely to keep heads rolling for as long as the riddle surrounding the identity of the characters involved remains unsolved.

Reasons why members of the public have interest in this development are obvious. One, for most of the post- independence period the country did not have a reputation of having leaders and other members of the elite with millions or billions of shillings kept abroad. In fact, we used to be surprised by reports of leaders in other countries who had developed a habit of banking their cash abroad.

Secondly, members of the public are curious to find out how a few people have acquired the billions to keep in foreign banks, in a situation where the government is surviving on a shoe string budget, and millions of citizens are finding it difficult to economically make ends meet.

You have those wondering why a person who has earned his/ her fortune legally and has national interests at heart, opts for banking his/her “savings” abroad and boost the economies of the already financially strong countries. By the way, the law prohibiting citizens to have accounts abroad has not been repealed, and if changes have been made, the public is yet to be informed.

One may as well note that the theme is being raised at a time when awareness and concern about corruption in the country are preoccupying our minds. Even the ruling party deliberated on this topic seriously at its latest national conference, and apparently resolved to hold the corruption bull by the horns. Whether the commitment to tackle the problem is genuine or not, will be determined by mother time.

The latest twist in the saga started in June this year, when the National Bank of Switzerland issued its annual report, with some information on the amount of money kept in Swiss banks by foreigners.

The country-by- country breakdown reportedly indicated that some well-to- do Tanzanians have a total of about Sh314 billion in their Swiss banks accounts, although some whistle blowers claim the amount is much bigger than the one mentioned above.

The local media, some civic activists and opposition MPs have found the disclosed information too important and sensitive to pass without being digested and raising questions on the implications of this kind of development to the future of the nation.

It is against this background that the issue ended up in parliamentary corridors, and attracted a spirited debate. The government is now required to conduct an investigation and establish who the suspected Tanzanians are, and how they earned their fortune. The parliament needs the report by April 2013.

In short, the government has been given a daunting task of belling the fat cats, who may include past and present top officials in the government and political systems, as well as genuine and crookish tycoons. Is the government of the day committed to undertake such a task seriously? This is another highly debatable question.

One thing which is clear here is the fact that getting names of suspects is not easy, as banks treat such in information with strict confidentiality. Establishing how the billionaires earned their money is much more complicated. Already senior government officials, including the anti-corruption body Chief, are saying whoever has a list of suspects and other detail should come forward and spill the beans. This is not necessarily a bad idea, but it has to be understood that key information on this matter can’t be outsourced from Tanzania.

The position of the Swiss authorities on the issue makes the situation worse. Reports unearthed by reliable local media outlets revealed that the Tanzania government is required to furnish Swiss authorities with details about the controversial bank accounts before it can get any cooperation from the latter. Observers note that this is a polite way of saying no cooperation is expected from the beneficiaries of the stolen billions.

As complications arise, our basic question as to whether local leaders are committed to taking serious measures to bell the fat cats remain unanswered. Investigation on Kagoda Company, which was used to steal billions from the Central Bank is stalled. The radar money was refunded because the British took initiative to assist us.

The list of money theft scandals which have not been well investigated is quite long. I tend to agree with one friend of mine who believes that serious investigation of this scandal can probably take place if donors intervene.

Msofe case postponed pending investigations

Papaa Msofe

The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday postponed a murder case facing a prominent businessman in the city, Marijani Abdubakari Msofe, also known as Papaa Msofe, to December 27, this year.

The decision to postpone the case was reached by the court after the prosecution led by State Attorney Mwanaisha Komba informed the court that the investigations had not been completed.

Msofe is accused of having killed a fellow businessman, Onesphory Kituli last year in a feud over a house, which the deceased had bought on mortgage after making a down payment of 30m/-.

When first charged, the accused was not allowed to enter any plea because murder cases are normally handled by the High Court now he has entered a not guilty plea and remains in custody since there is no bail on murder cases

CTI set to award best manufacturers

IPP sponsors event

Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) chairman Felix Mosha briefs the press in Dar es Salaam yesterday on the President�s Manufacturer of the Year Awards ceremony to be held in the city today. With him are IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi (L), who is the main sponsor of the event, and CTI Executive Director Christine Kilindu. (Photo: Selemani Mpochi)

The Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) is today expected to award outstanding manufacturers through its President’s Manufacturer of the Year Award (PMYA) which is being fully sponsored by IPP Limited for 50m/-, an amount never reached by multiple sponsors since the competition started in 2005.

President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to grace the event which will have winners from 17 selected economic sub-sectors (large, medium and small businesses).

Addressing journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Chairman of CTI Felix Mosha said the whole exercise has been done by an independent assessor, INNOVEX Development Consulting Ltd for transparency and neutrality. He said main purpose of the award is to pay tribute and recognise the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy.

“We thank the Executive Chairman of IPP Limited, Reginald Mengi and the entire team for enabling CTI to organise this year’s competition”. Mosha noted, adding that there have been major improvements since its establishment in 2005 with the number of sub-sectors increasing from five to 17.

He said under each sub-sector industries are placed in three categories based on turnover, capital investment and number of employees. He said large scale industries are those with annual turnover of 40bn/- and above, investment in machinery above 800m/- and over 100 employees.

Medium scale industries are those with annual turnover of between 400m/- and 39.99bn/-, capital investment in machinery (between 200m/- and 800m/-) while the number of employees should be between 50 and 99.

He said small scale industries should have their annual turnover below 400m/-,capital investment in machinery of between 5m/- and 200m/-and employing between five and 49 persons.

According to Mosha the assessor used various criteria including economic performance (30 percent), technical performance (30 percent), export performance (10 percent), health and safety (10 percent) and corporate and social responsibility (20 percent)

He said criteria for the overall winner are different whereas the following indicators were used, gender balance at management level which requires a manufacturer to have 30 percent of women in management team.

Others are efficient measures to reduce industrial discharges into the environment, labour tranquility and staff training, adherence to the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and International Standards (ISO) and linkages to other sectors of the economy. For his part, IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi said it is important for successful industrialists to support other manufacturers so as to improve their industries.

Mengi who is the former CTI Chiarman said the industrial sector is very crucial for the country’s development, adding that is why CTI has decided to introduce the award.

He thanked CTI for accepting his contribution in this year’s award. He added: “I would like to thank CTI for accepting my support… I hope you will continue to receive my contributions for the coming years”.

CTI Executive Director, Christine Kilindu said the contribution from IPP limited is a record because it comes from a single company. She said previously the event was supported by multiple sponsors who are not members.

Power connection fees down next month

Prof Sospeter Muhongo

Power connection charges will fall in at least six regions next month, Energy and Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo has revealed.

Without naming the regions, he said that the applicable fees have already been set for each region.

Residents of Lindi and Mtwara regions have meanwhile, started enjoying the lower rates. They will for the next six months be paying only 99,000/- connection fee for both single and three-phase power, a steep reduction from 455,104.76/- for single phase and 912,104.74/- for three phase.

According to the Minister, residents of Lindi and Mtwara have been given such lower prices as an offer to enable more people in the regions have access to electricity. He said the residents have for a long time complained about high fee for power connection despite the regions being major producers of gas in the country.

“We have started with Lindi and Mtwara regions…the rest will enjoy the new electricity connection fee in January next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) Communications Manager, Badra Masoud said the new charges will be announced through a press conference next week. She however did not reveal the exact date of the meeting between Tanesco and journalists.

Tabling the 2012/13 budget estimates for the ministry, Prof Muhongo said the new charges aimed at reducing the burden of power connection cost by 30 and 70 per cent from the levels that new customers have been shouldering.

He said in rural areas charges for connecting power to new customers for a single phase which does not exceed 30 metres will now be 177,000/- while in urban areas customers will pay 320,960/- instead of 455,108/-.

The reduction is equivalent to 61.11 per cent for rural dwellers and 29.48 per cent for urban dwellers. However, the rates will only apply to customers whose connection will not demand an additional electricity pole.

The minister explained that for rural dwellers connected through a single phase line but requiring one electricity pole will pay 337,740/- while urban dwellers will pay 515,618/-, a reduction of 75.02 per cent and 61.86 per cent in rural and urban areas respectively.

Currently rural dwellers pay 1,351,884 for power connection service that requires a single electricity pole

Mrithi wa Milovan huyu hapa

KOCHA mpya wa mabingwa wa soka Tanzania Bara, Simba, Mfaransa Patrick Liewig, anatarajiwa kutua nchini leo tayari kuanza kazi ya kukinoa kikosi hicho, imefahamika.

Liewing anashuka kuchukua mikoba ya Mserbia, Milovan Cirkovic, ambaye uongozi wa Simba uliamua kusitisha naye mkataba baada ya kumalizika kwa mzunguko wa kwanza wa Ligi Kuu Bara.

Kuja kwa kocha huyo, kutamaliza uvumi wa atakayechukua mikoba ya Milovan. Hivi karibuni ilidaiwa Mmalawi Kinnah Phiri atapewa majukumu hayo.

Habari za uhakika kutoka ndani ya Simba zinaeleza kwamba, Liewig mwenye shahada ya ukocha, alikuwa akifanya kazi Club Africain ya Tunisia kama Mkurugenzi wa Ufundi, Meneja na pia Meneja wa timu ya wachezaji wa kulipwa.

Kiongozi mmoja wa Simba ambaye hakupenda kutajwa jina lake, aliliambia gazeti hili kwamba, mara baada ya kutua nchini, kocha huyo atasaini mkataba ambako atakuwa akilipwa mshahara wa dola 5,000 za Marekani kwa mwezi.

Aliongeza kuwa, kocha huyo anatarajiwa kuwasili na mshambuliaji kutoka nchini Cameroon, ambaye amependekeza asajiliwe Simba kutokana na ubora alionao.

Kocha huyo ambaye kwa sasa makazi yake yapo nchini Ivory Coast, alizaliwa Oktoba 10, 1950 nchini Ufaransa, ambako pia aliwahi kucheza soka ndani na nje ya nchi hiyo kati ya mwaka 1971 na 1985.

Pia amepata kushiriki kozi mbalimbali za ukocha, ikiwemo ya makocha wakuu, iliyoandaliwa na chama cha soka cha Ufaransa, stashahada ya juu kwa timu za kulipwa na stashahada ya juu kwa vyuo vya soka, ambayo iliendeshwa na aliyekuwa Kocha wa timu ya taifa ya Ufaransa wakati huo, Gerard Houllier.

Aidha, kocha huyo amewahi kufundisha katika shule ya soka ya PSG kuanzia mwaka 1989 hadi 1999, ambako alikuwa akiwajibika katika timu za U-16, U-18 na U-20.

Akiwa PSG, Liewig amefanya kazi chini ya makocha Tomislav IVIC, Henri Michael, Artur Jorge, Luis Fernandez, Ricardo Gomez, Alain Giresse na Philippe Bergeroo.

Mwaka 1999 – 2001, alikuwa meneja wa chuo cha soka cha klabu ya Al wahda ya Abu Dhabi, ambapo aliziongoza klabu za vijana chini ya miaka 18 na 21, kabla ya mwaka 2001 - 2003 kuwa kocha mkuu wa timu za watoto na vijana Falme za Kiarabu.

Mwaka 2004–2009, aliwahi kutumika katika klabu mbalimbali nchini Ivory Coast, ikiwemo Asec Mimosas, huku pia akitunukiwa tuzo ya ukocha bora nchini humo.

Kocha huyo, pia aliwahi kufanya kazi na timu ya taifa ya Misri ‘The Pharaos’ na klabu ya Al Ahly ya nchini humo na klabu mbalimbali nchini Tunisia, Ufaransa, Brazil, Malaysia na Argentina

CHADEMA yamvaa Wassira

CHAMA cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) kimewataka wakazi wa Jimbo la Bunda kubadili mtazamo wao kwa kuwachagua viongozi wachapa kazi.

Akiwahutubia mamia ya wakazi wa mji wa Bunda juzi katika mkutano wa hadhara mjini hapa, Mjumbe wa Mkutano Mkuu wa CHADEMA Taifa, Godbless Lema, alisema matatizo ya watu wa Bunda kamwe hayataisha kama hawatafanya uamuzi wa kuachana na mbunge wa sasa wa jimbo hilo, Stephen Wassira ambaye alidai kazi yake ni kulala tu bungeni.

Alieleza baadhi ya upungufu wa Wasira ni pamoja na uzee, hali inayomfanya kusinzia bungeni kutokana na kushindwa kustahimili hoja ngumu zinazoibuliwa na wabunge vijana, wasomi wanaotaka mabadiliko.

“Watu wa Bunda walifanya makosa kuwa na mbunge mchapa usingizi bungeni…msisubiri malaika awaondolee usingizi wenu, wapeni CHADEMA nafasi, ili kutafuta uhuru na haki mliyopoteza kwa muda mrefu,” alisema.

Kuhusu kero ya maji, Lema alidai licha ya fedha nyingi zinazotolewa na serikali kwa maendeleo ya maji mjini Bunda, bado Wassira ameshindwa kukidhi mahitaji ya maji.

“Maji yako umbali wa kilomita 12, lakini watu wa Bunda hawana maji kwa sababu ya ufisadi unaofanywa na viongozi wa serikali,” alisema Lema

Lowassa: Iundwe Tume ya Elimu.

WAZIRI Mkuu aliyejiuzulu, Edward Lowassa, amependekeza iundwe Tume ya Elimu itakayokuwa na wataalamu ili kuchunguza na kutathmini, iwapo mfumo wa elimu nchini unaendana na hali ya sasa.

Akizungumza katika mahojaino na Shirika la Utangazaji la Uingereza (BBC) ofisini kwake jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Lowassa alisema kuwa ni kosa kusema kuwa mitaala ya elimu nchini haifai, na kuongeza kuwa la msingi ni kuundwa kwa tume hiyo.

“Mimi nasema kuwa, sasa wakati umefika kama taifa kuunda Tume ya Elimu ili kuangalia na kupitia mfumo wote wa elimu, kuangalia mitaala yetu kuanzia elimu ya awali mpaka vyuo vikuu, kuangalia ubora wa elimu hiyo, vitabu gani vitumike, hali ya maisha ya walimu, yaani kwa ujumla tuangalie upya kuhusu mfumo wa elimu yetu,” alisisitiza.

Lowassa ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Monduli, aliongeza kuwa nchi zote zilizoendelea duniani, zimekuwa zikifanya hivyo, akitolea mfano Marekani, ambako hivi sasa kuna mchakato wa kuangalia elimu inayotolewa kama inaendana na changamoto za karne ya 21.

Alisema kumekuwa na malalamiko mengi miongoni mwa wadau wa sekta ya elimu ya kwamba, mitaala ya elimu nchini haimwandai mwanafunzi kuweza kukabiliana na changamoto za maisha ya karne hii, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuweza kujiajiri.

Alifafanua kuwa, Serikali ya CCM imefanya makubwa sana katika sekta ya elimu, hususan awamu hii ya nne, ambapo kwa mafanikio makubwa imeweza kujenga shule za sekondari katika kata zote nchini.

Katika mkutano wake mkuu wa nane hivi karibuni mjini Dodoma, CCM ilitoa mapendekezo kadhaa miongoni mwao likiwa la kuboresha elimu nchini.

“Mimi nilipata bahati ya kuongoza juhudi hizo za serikali kwa mafanikio makubwa kujenga shule hizo, lakini mafanikio hayo yamekuja na changamoto zake,” alisema.

Lowassa aliongeza kuwa, tume hiyo ikiundwa itaangalia changamoto hizo zote na kutoa mapendekezo ambayo yatajadiliwa na wadau wa sekta hii katika kuboresha mfumo wa elimu nchini.

Miongoni mwa changamoto kubwa zilizojitokeza kutokana na mafanikio hayo ni ubora wa elimu inayotolewa na shule hizo, uhaba wa walimu pamoja na vitendea kazi vikiwemo vitabu na maslahi kwa walimu.

Lowassa ambaye anatajwa kuwa mmoja wa wana-CCM watakaogombea urais mwaka 2015, alisema Tanzania ina bahati ya kuwa na wasomi waliobobea ambao wanaiweza kazi hiyo ya kuangalia iwapo mitaala inayotumika inakidhi haja na matakwa ya karne tuliyonayo

CHADEMA yaibwaga CCM

• Kiwia atetea ubunge wake Ilemela

KWA mara nyingine tena, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), kimezidi kukitesa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) katika kesi za kupinga matokeo ya ubunge zilizokatiwa rufaa Mahakama Rufaa.

Hatua hiyo imejitokeza jana baada ya Mahakama ya Rufaa Tanzania, kuitupilia mbali rufaa iliyofunguliwa na wanachama watatu wa CCM dhidi ya Mbunge wa Ilemela jijini Mwanza, Highness Kiwia (CHADEMA).

Wanachama hao; Yusuph Lupilya, Nuru Nsubuga na Beatus Madege, walikata rufaa kupinga hukumu iliyotolewa na Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Mwanza, kupitia kwa Jaji Gadi Mjemas, ambayo ilidaiwa haikutenda haki.

Uamuzi huo wa jana unakuja zikiwa ni siku chache tangu mahakama hiyo, iifute rufaa ya kupinga hukumu ya Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam, iliyokuwa imefunguliwa na aliyekuwa mgombea ubunge wa CCM katika Jimbo la Ubungo dhidi ya mbunge wa sasa, John Mnyika (CHADEMA).

Jopo la majaji watatu wa mahakama hiyo chini ya Mwenyekiti wake, Jaji Januari Mssofe na wenzake Benard Luanda na Salum Masati, walitoa uamuzi huo wakisema rufaa iliyowasilishwa mahakamani hapo ilikuwa na upungufu.

Kwamba haikuambatanishwa na maombi ya rufaa, hati ya madai ya msingi na kiapo, ambapo vitu hivyo ni muhimu kwa sababu ndiyo vinaonyesha wanachokiona ni kipi.

“Mahakama kupitia kifungu cha 96 (1) (c) mpaka (f) cha kanuni za Mahakama ya Rufani imetupilia mbali rufaa hiyo na wkata rufaa walipe gharama za kuendeshea rufaa hiyo,” alisema Jaji Mssofe.

Wakili wa Serikali Mkuu, Gabriel Malata ambaye anamwakilisha Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali (AG), alidai vitu hivyo ambavyo havikuambatanishwa katika kumbukumbu ya rufaa hiyo vinainyima uhuru mahakama kujua nini kilikuwepo kwenye madai.

Alidai kuwa, hata mrufani mwenyewe hajui pa kusimamia kwa sababu hajui nini mkata rufaa anadai katika maombi yake, pia alidai vitu hivyo vinasaidia kujua nini kilichoamuliwa Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Mwanza.

Malata alidai rufaa iliyokuwa mbele ya jopo hilo ilikuwa ni batili kisheria na inatakiwa itupiliwe mbali, kutokana na kutokamilika.

“Rufaa hiyo itupiliwe mbali kwa sababu hajafuata taratibu za kisheria na walipe gharama za rufaa hiyo, tulitumia muda mwingi kuwasilisha nyaraka mbalimbali mahakamani,” alidai Malata.

Hata hivyo, Wakili wa Kiwia, Tindu Lissu alidai nyaraka hizo ambazo hazikuambatanishwa katika kumbukumbu za rufaa hiyo, ni muhimu kwa sababu Mahakama ya Rufaa ingeweza kujua kuwa kesi ya msingi ilifunguliwa lini.

Alidai kila shauri la uchaguzi linafunguliwa ndani ya siku 30 baada ya matokeo ya uchaguzi kutangazwa na kuhoji kama shauri hilo lilifunguliwa kihalali.

“Mahakama hii inatakiwa kujiridhisha, kama mambo hayo yalifanyika kihalali, kwa hiyo nyaraka ambazo hazikuambatanishwa katika rufaa hiyo zilikuwa ni muhimu,” alidai Lissu.

Pia alidai hati ya madai ambayo haipo mahakamani, kama ingekuwepo mahakama ingejua kama kesi ya msingi ilifunguliwa ndani ya siku 30, kwa hiyo mahakama haina sehemu ya kuegemea kutokana na nyaraka hizo kutokuwepo.

Lissu alidai kuwa, mleta maombi anatakiwa ndani ya siku 14, tangu kupeleka maombi mahakamani ajue gharama ya maombi hayo.

“Rufaa hii ni batili, hamna budi kufutwa kwa gharama, kwa sababu hawakufuata taratibu za kisheria,” alidai Lissu.

Wakili wa wakata rufaa, Luhigo Andrew, alikubali kuwepo kwa upungufu huo na kuiomba mahakama wafanye marekebisho kwa sababu rufaa hiyo ina maslahi kwa jamii.

“Hata kama, hatuwezi kuvunja sheria kwa sababu ina maslahi kwa umma, pia hatuwezi kupitia dirishani badala ya mlangoni, hapa tunataka haki itendeke,” alisema Msoffe.

Hata hivyo, wakili huyo aliiomba mahakama kama rufaa hiyo itatupiliwa mbali, basi wanaomba wapate punguzo la kulipa gharama hizo, kwa sababu wakata rufaa hawana uwezo wa kulipa.

Lakini Lissu alipinga akadai kuwa si kweli kuwa hawana uwezo wa kulipa wakati katika kesi ya msingi walikuwa na mawakili wawili, na hata katika rufaa hii wana mawakili wawili kwa hiyo wana uwezo wa kulipa gharama hiyo.

Awali katika kesi hiyo ya madai namba 12 ya mwaka 2010, wanachama hao walimlalamikia Kiwia, msimamizi wa uchaguzi jimbo hilo pamoja na Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali.

Walidai kuwa sababu ya kukata rufaa ni wapiga kura wengi kutopata fursa ya kupiga kura siku ya uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2010, ambapo walitishwa na wafuasia wa CHADEMA.

Pia walidai uchaguzi huo haukuwa wa huru na haki, na sababu ya tatu ni msimamizi wa uchaguzi na mwanasheria mkuu kutotoa sababu ya wananchi wenye sifa ya kupiga kura Ilemela kushindwa kufanya hivyo.

Machi 9 mwaka huu, Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Mwanza, kupitia kwa Jaji Gadi Mjemas ilitupilia mbali malalamiko hao, ambapo walalamikaji waliamuliwa kulipa gharama zote za uendeshaji wa kesi dhidi ya Kiwia.

Akizungumza nje ya mahakama hiyo jana, Kiwia ambaye katika uchaguzi huo alimwangusha Antony Diallo ambaye sasa ni Mwenyekiti wa CCM mkoani Mwanza, alisema kuwa kuondolewa kwa rufaa hiyo kutamsaidia kuwatumikia wananchi kwa muda wa kutosha.

Aliwataka wananchi wa Ilemela waendelee kuwa na imani naye ili malengo yao yatimie.

“Kwa kweli hii kesi imenichukua muda mrefu, ni miaka miwili sasa, kuondolewa kwa rufaa hii itanipa muda wa kutosha kuwatumikia wananchi,” alisema Kiwia.

Ndege za Japan zajibu "tisho" la Uchina

Ndege ya kivita ya F-15

Japan imeziamuru ndege zake za kivita zipae angani baada ya ndege ya serikali ya Uchina kuingia katika anga ya visiwa vya Bahari ya Mashariki mwa Uchina kwa muda, duru rasmi zimesema.

Msemaji wa serikali Osamu Fujimura alisema kuwa Japan iliamuru ndege za kivita za aina ya F-15 zipae angani wakati ndege hiyo ya Uchina ilipoonekana.
Taarifa zinazohusiana
Siasa

Tukio hilo lilipotokea tu, Japan "iliilalamikia" Uchina “mara moja”, shirika la habari la Kyodo lilimnukuu akisema.

Visiwa hivyo, vinavyojulikana kama Senkaku nchini Japan na Diaoyu nchini Uchina, vimegombaniwa na nchi hizo mbili kwa muda mrefu sasa.

Safari ya kawaida

Walinzi wa baharini wa Japan nao pia walisema kwamba meli za Uchina zinazofanya uchunguzi nazo zilionekana karibu na visiwa hivyo mapema siku hiyo.

Kwa upande wake, Uchina imesema kwamba safari ya ndege yake hiyo ni jambo la kawaida.

Japan ndiyo inayomiliki visiwa hivyo, ambavyo pia Taiwan inadai ni vyake.

Bahari inayozunguka visiwa hivyo ina samaki wengi na pia inadhaniwa kwamba ina mafuta.

Mmiliki

Japan ilitwaa visiwa vitatu kutoka kwa mmiliki Mjapani wa kibinafsi mnamo mwezi Septemba, lakini kitendo hicho kilizua malalamishi ya kidiplomasia na kutoka kwa raia nchini Uchina.

Tangu hapo, meli za Kichina zimekuwa zikionekana katika eneo la visiwa hivyo, jambo ambalo limeisababisha Japan kutoa onyo mara kwa mara

Waasi wa Somalia wa Al Shabab washindwa kijeshi

13 Disemba, 2012 - Saa 06:39 

Jeshi la AU nchini lililopo Somalia

Rais mpya wa Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, anasema kundi la wanamgambo wa Al Shabab limeshindwa kijeshi.

Bwana Mohamud ameiambia BBC kuwa serikali yake inawatuma wazee wa kimbari ili kuwashawishi vijana waliokuwa wamehadaiwa kujiunga na Al Shabab, kutupilia mbali alichosema ni maadili potovu na kusitisha ghasia.

Serikali ya Somalia imekuwa ikiimarisha utawala wake, na kudhibiti nchi hiyo ikisaidiwa na wanajeshi wa Umoja wa Afrika. Kabla ya sasa, Somalia ilikuwa haijawa na serikali rasmi kwa zaidi ya miaka 20.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud alichukua hatamu za uongozi mwezi Septemba mwaka huu

''Syria yabanwa na waasi'' yasema Urusi

13 Disemba, 2012 - Saa 11:20 GMT

Wanamgambo wa Free Syrian Army wakimkashifu Rais Al-Assad

Kuna uwezekano kwamba serikali ya Syria inaweza kushindwa na majeshi ya upinzani wakati wowote ule, naibu waziri wa masuala ya kigeni wa Urusi amesema.

Wanajeshi wa rais Bashar al-Assad "wanazidi kupoteza maeneo zaidi kila wa leo", Mikhail Bogdanov alisema Alhamisi, kulingana na mashirika ya habari ya Urusi.
Taarifa zinazohusiana
Siasa

Urusi imekuwa mmojawapo wa washirika wakuu wa serikali ya Bwana Assad.

Wakati huohuo, Urusi inafanya mipango ya kujitayarisha kuwahamisha maelfu ya Warusi toka Syria, Bwana Bogdanov alisema.

Mlipuko

"Kwa kweli hatuwezi kutupilia mbali uwezekano wa kwamba waasi wa Syria wanaweza kushinda," Bwana Bogdanov alisema.

Nchini Syria kwenyewe, vyombo vya habari vya serikali vimeripoti kutokea kwa mlipuko katika eneo la Qatana, jijini Damascus, ambalo limewaua watu 16, wakiwemo watoto saba.