Improve ties with people, legal aid providers urged

Dr Benson Bana

Coordination and collaboration among legal aid providers has been highlighted as crucial elements in the effort to improve legal service delivery in the country.

University of Dar es Salaam’s head of Political Science and Public Administration, Dr Benson Bana, made the remarks over the weekend at a special workshop for legal sector stakeholders including legal aid organizations, prisons, judiciary and social welfare department.

The workshop was organized by the Legal Services Facility (LSF) which is a forum that seeks to enhance coordination and collaboration amongst respective stakeholders to ensure public access to justice in Tanzania.

According to Dr. Bana, who among other things is also a political analyst and lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), improvement of legal service delivery and realization of justice would be impossible if activities of the key stakeholders were not well-coordinated.

“In a situation where you have a critical mass of institutions doing similar activities integrated in strategic goals and objectives, the need for coordination and collaboration becomes indispensable…” Dr.Bana observed.

He also noted that coordination and collaboration enhances efficient use of available resources, minimizes duplication of efforts and curbs wasteful use of resources which in turn enables the legal aid providers to create appropriate networks need to exchange knowledge and experience on the quality and quantity of services as well as sharing best practices in their modus operandi (method of operation).

Coordination and interdependence will enable legal aid providers to deliver desired results, the two elements cannot be separated, as noted by Dr. Bana, the preeminent principle of management is coordination and the essence of coordination is interdependence.

Expounding, he pointed out that, in a situation of interdependence, the need for coordinated action is unavoidable if at all the Legal Service Facility (LSF), judiciary, prison, police, legal aid organizations and other stakeholders are to accomplish their tasks.

“We have to find relevant methods to achieving coordination across the justice sector, among legal aid providers at both national (macro) and grassroots (micro) levels…” he observed.

Speaking at the forum, Scholastica Jullu, LSF Programme Officer (legal sector), said the workshop, amongst other objectives, intends to initiate coordination, communication and information sharing amongst legal aid stakeholders.

“We aspire to forge a working relation amongst legal aid stakeholders that will effectively bring tangible results towards increasing coverage and quality legal aid provision in the country…”

An expert in prison affairs, John Nyoka, was of the opinion that realization of justice for all Tanzanians is next to impossible as long as key stakeholders like police, the judiciary as well as the social welfare department continue to work in isolation.

Kaleb Lameck Gamaya, Programme Director at a legal aid organization, NOLA, had this in mind, “Legal aid stakeholders must work together in a coordinated manner otherwise access to justice will not be realized.”

JK azindua mradi wa maji

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete, amezindua rasmi mradi wa uzalishaji maji katika mkoa wa Singida utakaogharimu kiasi cha sh bilioni 31.1.

Mradi huo unaotarajiwa kuhudumia zaidi ya wananchi 109,523 mkoani hapa sawa na asilimia 100 ya wakazi wote, ulianzishwa Novemba 2, 2009 na unatarajiwa kumalizika mapema Desemba.

Akizungumza na wananchi mkoani hapa, Kikwete alisema kuwa mradi huo utaweza kutosheleza mahitaji ya maji kwa asilimia 100 na hivyo kumaliza tatizo hilo.

“Mimi napenda niwahakikishie kwamba huu mradi utakapokamilika kamwe hamtakuja kupata shida ya maji katika mkoa huu, maana katika mikoa yenye uhaba wa maji Singida ni kinara ila sasa mtabaki mnasimulia tu,’’ alisema.

Rais Kikwete alisema mradi huo umefadhiliwa na benki ya Kiarabu kwa maendeleo ya Afrika (Badea) kwa kisai cha sh bilioni 7.2 pamoja na Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Taifa (OPEC) uliofadhili sh bilioni 7.4.

Alisema kuwa serikali ya Tanzania kupitia programu ya maendeleo ya sekta ya maji imefanikiwa kutoa kiasi cha sh bilioni 10.4 ili kufanikisha mradi huo.

Naye Waziri wa Maji, Profesa Jumanne Maghembe, alisema kuwa mradi huo utaongeza uzalishaji wa maji kutoka wastani wa lita 3,885,000 kwa siku na kufikia lita 21,093,000 sawa na asilimia mia moja

Vigogo CHADEMA waswekwa rumande

DIWANI wa kata ya Kirumba, jijini Mwanza, Dan Kahungu (CHADEMA), na katibu wa chama hicho wilaya ya Ilemela, John Anajus, wamewekwa maabusu kwa kosa la kukaidi amri halali ya mahakama, iliyozuia uchaguzi wa meya na naibu wake katika manispaa hiyo.

Mbali na viongozi hao Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Mfawidhi, imeagiza kukamatwa na kufikishwa mahakamani Mkurugenzi wa Oganaizesheni wa CHADEMA Taifa, Benson Kigaila, na aliyekuwa Meya wa Jiji la Mwanza, Josephat Manyerere kwa kosa hilohilo.

Amri hiyo ilitolewa jana na Hakimu Mkazi Mfawidhi mkoani Mwanza, Angelo Rumisha, kufuatia kesi namba 69/2012 iliyoko mahakamani hapo dhidi ya watuhumiwa sita kutoka chama hicho, ambapo alisema mara baada ya wote kukamatwa mahakama itatoa hukumu yake kwa pamoja.

Akitoa amri hiyo, Rumisha alisema mahakama haiwezi kutoa adhabu kwa baadhi ya watuhumiwa na kwamba agizo la kutaka wakamatwe Manyerere na wenzake ni kutaka mahakama iheshimiwe, mara inapotoa amri zake halali kwa mujibu wa sheria za nchi.

Kupitia kesi hiyo namba 69/2012, Rumisha aliwataja wengine wanaotakiwa kukamatwa na polisi kisha kufikishwa mahakamani hapo mbali na Kigaila ni Katibu Mwenezi wa chama wilaya ya Ilemela, Kalod Majura.

Awali ilidaiwa mahakamani hapo na wakili wa upande wa mlalamikaji, Salum Magongo, kuwa watuhumiwa wote kwa pamoja walishiriki kikao cha kutangaza uamzi wa kumfukuza udiwani, Henry Matata wa CHADEMA (kata ya Kitangiri), kabla pingamizi lililokuwa limewasilishwa mahakamani na diwani huyo halijatolewa uamzi.

“Mteja wangu Henry Matata aliweka pingamizi mahakamani baada ya kamati ya utendaji ya CHADEMA kutangaza kumvua uanachama kinyume cha taratibu. Lakini watuhumiwa wote wa kesi hii walishiriki kuvunja sheria kwa kumtangaza kumfukuza udiwani,” alidai wakili Magongo.

Wakili huyo aliendelea kudai kuwa kwa kufanya hivyo washtakiwa hao walipuuza amri halali ya mahakama iliyotolewa Septemba 15, mwaka huu, kinyume cha sheria na taratibu.

Hata hivyo, hakimu Rumisha aliamuru diwani Kahungu na Anajus waende mahabusu katika gereza la Butimba, hadi hapo watuhumiwa wengine watakapokamatwa na kuhukumiwa kwa pamoja

Ex-German leader pushes for SMEs in East Africa

Former German President, Horst Kohler

Former German President Horst Kohler has committed to push for development of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in East Africa, which represents almost 70 per cent of the emerging entrepreneurs in the region.

In a meeting between him and the East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera held over the weekend in Berlin, Germany, the former leader also pledged to mobilise investments for the region promote German SME interest and investments in EAC as well as facilitation, development and growth of EAC SMEs.

Kohler, a fervent supporter for empowering Africa’s SMEs and a firm believer in the enormous opportunities that abound the continent, lauded EAC’s integration of five nations—Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi—as a best example of easing poverty and underdevelopment in the East African countries.

Dr Sezibera called for more German SME interest and investments in EAC noting: ‘My trip here is mainly centred towards strengthening our historic economic ties…’’

The EAC Secretary General acknowledged Kohler’s role in facilitating part of the Euros 14 million grant towards the construction of the EAC Headquarters in Arusha which is expected to be formally inaugurated on 28 November, according to a press statement from the EAC Secretariat availed to the Independent East African News Agency (EANA).

Ambassador Sezibera is in Germany for the First EAC-Germany Business Forum which aims at exploring business and investment opportunities in East Africa. Present during the courtesy visit was, Ambassador Ken Nyauncho Osinde, who is the current chair of the EAC Ambassadors in Germany.

Mr Kohler, is a distinguished politician and economist. He was President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development from 1998 to 2000 and head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2000 to 2004 before becoming Germany’s President (2004-2010).

He is also the brains behind the “Partnership with Africa” iniative which was launched in 2005 to enhance dialogue and encourage a genuine partnership between Africa and Germany. One element of this initiative is the exchange programme “Go Africa… Go Germany” a German-African Scholarship Exchange Programme.

The EAC was revived in 1999 with a Treaty by founding Partners Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Rwanda and Burundi joined in 2007. The former EAC collapsed in 1977 mainly because of divergent political and economic perceptions of the Partner States.

The five EAC countries are tremendously rich in agriculture, mining, fisheries and tourism, among other resources yet the larger part of its people live on barley a dollar per day

Ripoti ya Ngwilizi kuwasilishwa

• Katibu wa Bunge asema ni wakati wowote

KATIBU wa Bunge Dk. Thomas Kashililah, amesema kuwa taarifa kuhusu ripoti ya kamati ndogo iliyoundwa kuchunguza tuhuma za wabunge kujihusisha na vitendo vya rushwa, itawasilishwa bungeni siku yoyote kuanzia leo katika mkutano unaoendelea sasa.

Dk. Kashililah aliyasema hayo katika mahojiano maalumu na gazeti hili, akitakiwa kufafanua kuhusiana na ripoti hiyo na kile kinachoaminika kuwa ni msimamo wa Spika Anne Makinda, kutotaka ripoti hiyo isisomwe bungeni.

“Kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya 296 inayohusu Haki, Kinga na Madaraka ya Bunge hili jambo linahusu haki, ni lazima taarifa yake itawasilishwa,” alisisitiza Dk. Kashililah.

Hata hivyo, licha ya kulihakikishia gazeti hili kuwa ripoti hiyo itawasilishwa bungeni lakini alikataa kutaja ni siku husika na kusisitiza kuwa tayari Spika amekwishaifanyia kazi.

Dk. Kashililah alisema Spika hajaing’ang’ania ripoti hiyo kama ambavyo wengi wamekuwa wakiamini na kwamba uamuzi wowote utakaofanywa kuhusu ripoti hiyo utakuwa ni wa wazi.

Alisema baada ya Spika kuifanyia kazi ripoti hiyo, ataamua kama yeye aiwasilishe au airudishe kwenye kamati hiyo iliyokuwa ikiongozwa na Brigedia Hassan Ngwilizi, itoe taarifa.

Kuhusu taarifa ya ripoti hiyo kutokuwamo kwenye ratiba za shughuli za Bunge, Dk. Kashililah alisema hilo halimzuii Spika kupanga utaratibu wake wa kuipeleka bungeni.

“Spika anapotaka kuliingiza jambo kwenye shughuli za Bunge hahitaji kuliweka katika ratiba, atakapoamua itaingizwa kwenye Order Paper (ratiba inayoonyesha shughuli za Bunge kwa siku)…mamlaka anayo, anaweza kurekebisha,” alisema.

Kwa mujibu wa ratiba ya mkutano wa tisa wa Bunge, leo baada ya kipindi cha maswali na majibu, utawasilishwa Muswada wa Marekebisho ya Sheria mbalimbali ya mwaka 2012.

Kesho baada ya kipindi cha maswali, kutakuwa na tathmini ya matumizi ya Kanuni za Kudumu za Bunge siku ambayo pia huenda suala la taarifa ya ripoti hiyo ya Ngwilizi ikaingizwa kwenye ratiba.

Alhamisi ratiba inaonyesha kuwa kutakuwa na maswali kwa Waziri Mkuu na baada ya hapo, yatafuata maswali ya kawaida kisha hoja binafsi za wabunge na Ijumaa baada ya maswali kutakuwa na hoja binafsi za wabunge kabla ya kuahirisha Bunge.

Tangu kamati ya Ngwilizi imalize uchunguzi wake na kukabidhi ripoti kwa Spika, kumekuwepo na taarifa kadhaa zikidai kuwa Makinda anakataa ripoti hiyo isijadiliwe kwa maelezo kuwa anahitaji muda kuifanyia kazi.

Makinda alitoa uamuzi wakati wa kikao cha wabunge wote kilichokuwa kikijadili ratiba ya shughuli za Bunge hili la tisa.

Bila kutoa ufafanuzi wa kina, Spika Makinda alisema yeye ndiye anajua lini na wakati gani wa kuileta hoja hiyo bungeni na kamwe hawezi kuileta kwa shinikizo la wabunge.

Hata hivyo, hatua hiyo iliibua maswali kutoka kwa baadhi ya wabunge waliotaka kujua sababu za kutoileta ripoti hiyo ijadiliwe bungeni, lakini Spika hakutaka kutoa ufafanuzi na badala yake alisisitiza kwamba haitajadiliwa katika mkutano huo wa Bunge.

Makinda anaelezwa kuwa asingeweza kuileta ripoti hiyo bungeni kwani uchunguzi umebaini hakuna mbunge aliyejihusisha na rushwa wakati tayari alishavunja Kamati ya Nishati na Madini kwa tuhuma hizo.

Wajumbe wengine waliomo kwenye kamati ya Ngwilizi ambaye pia ni mbunge wa Mlalo ni Saidi Arfi (Mpanda Kati), John Chiligati (Manyoni Mashariki), Goesbert Blandes (Karagwe) na Riziki Omary Juma (Viti Maalumu).

Lipumba ambana

Wakati huo huo Spika Makinda ameendelea kung’ang’aniwa akitakiwa kuwasilisha mbele ya Bunge ripoti ya uchunguzi wa tuhuma za wabunge kudaiwa kupokea rushwa.

Akizungumza na Tanzania Daima jana jijini Dar es Salaam, Mwenyekiti wa Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba, alisema hatua ya kukalia ripoti hiyo inaudhalilisha muhimili huo na kamati iliyofanya kazi hiyo.

Prof. Lipumba alisema kuwa ni muhimu Watanzania wakatoa shinikizo ili kiongozi huyo aiweke ripoti hiyo hadharani kuliko kuendelea kubaki nayo na kuiweka kabatini.

“Kitendo cha kubaki nayo bila kuiweka mezani kwanza, kinalidhalilisha Bunge pili anataka kuufanya mjadala huo kuwa mrefu zaidi jambo ambalo halipendezi,” alisema.

Alisema kuwa hata kiongozi huyo akiendelea kubaki nayo anapaswa kufahamu kuwa ripoti hiyo imeandaliwa na watu hivyo inaweza kuendelea kuvuja vipandevipande.

Prof. Lipumba alisema kuwa iwapo Makinda atashindwa kuleta ripoti hiyo kwa wakati kuna uwezekano wa kuonekana kuwa imebadilishwa tofauti na ile iliyoandaliwa na kamati husika.

Alisema kuwa Spika Makinda anapaswa kuwa tayari kuitoa ripoti hiyo hata kama itakuwa inaiumiza serikaki na washirika wake kwa kuwa huo ndiyo uwazi na demokrasia kukua

`Tanzania is most favourite tourist destination in Africa`

Geoffrey Tengeneza

The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in collaboration with Egyptian and French tour operators—Siag Travel of Egypt and Team Koro Aquittaine, have organised the ‘Cairo to Dar es Salaam,’ adventure trips that will be taking place every year from January 2013.

TTB Public Relations Officer Geoffrey Tengeneza said here at the weekend that the opening of the Northern parts of Africa to Tanzania will help bring new types of tourists especially from North Africa, Middle-East and South of Europe.

Tengeneza revealed that by driving across Africa may create another form of leisure touring which is free from air travel inconveniences because just as the dubbed ‘Egypt Gateway to Africa,’ recently proved, people can simply use their own cars for such expeditions.

“You have an excellent ambassador in Cairo, very cooperative and is selling Tanzania extremely well,” said Siag who is the Chairman and founder of the Cairo-based, Siag Travel of Egypt.

“Unlike what is being speculated across the world, we have encountered no problems in all the countries that our expedition went through, which means it is possible to drive across the continent safely and sound,” said the French speaking Andre Koro, through an interpreter.

Last Friday, a convoy consisting of 31 French nationals, eight Egyptians and one Briton made a long journey of cutting across the African continent by road, from Cairo to Cape-Town, drove into Serengeti National Park and the adjacent Ngorongoro Crater here at the weekend.

Their sampling of the country’s two leading tourist attractions was enough to make the group of cross-country motorists decide that from North, down South, Tanzania was possibly the best destination ever.

The convoy was expected to go around Africa in 58 days, but they were expected to drive around Tanzania in eight days before crossing to Zambia.

“Most of the people making this journey had never seen wild animals in real life and natural surroundings, we only watch wildlife episodes on television,” said the leader of the expedition, Rami Siag, who is chairman and founder of the Cairo-based, Siag Travel of Egypt.

He said that the aim of the tour was to open Africa to the world, with Egyptian Coastal City of Alexander seeming as potential gate to the continent.

The convoy however has great interest in eastern parts of Africa and so far Tanzania tends to top the favourite destinations’ listing.

“The Serengeti migration was unbelievable; it was like watching thousands of giant animals on a very large 3D screen; awesome!” said Siag who was again lost for words upon entering the crater where the group got rare sighting of the endangered rhinos, a hunting pride of lions and some of the largest buffaloes ever walked earth.

Siag travel which is currently based in Egypt plans in the future to expand its operations to neighbouring Sudan, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia and possibly also Tanzania.

“My motivation is to have African countries, especially in eastern Africa, retain strong links with Egypt,” said Rami Siag, adding that authorities in all the countries they have passed through so far have been very cooperative.

The crater itself proved to be a spellbinding natural feature in its own right and even before the expedition drove to Dar-es-salaam, via Moshi where they were to catch a glimpse of Africa’s highest peak (Mount Kilimanjaro), they had made up their minds to organise annual trips from Egypt to Tanzania.

The tour delegation will also be sampling Pare and Usambara Mountains, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha (Tanzania’s largest) National Parkss during their drive across Tanzania.

The planned annual 'Cairo-Dar-Cairo' expeditions starting in January 2013 will pioneer this form of on-ground, cross-country tourism

`Zanzibar readying for gas, oil search`

Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi

The Zanzibar government has said it is set to explore and extract gas and oil in the next two years, after the two items are removed from the Union matters list.

Disclosing this to eight investors from The Netherlands at his residence in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Isles Second Vice President Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi said: “After the two items are fully excluded from matters of the Union in the ongoing Constitution reforms, the Isles government would invite investors to explore and extract the resources.”

The Vice President told the investors that according to the prevailing constitution, natural gas and oil are matters of the Union and Zanzibar is taking legal measures to ensure that the two are removed before it invites investors to do extraction activities.

He expressed optimism that natural gas and oil would be excluded from matters of the Union after the Constitutional Review Commission concludes its work in 2014.

The Zanzibar Government of National Unity plans to set up a body to coordinate and regulate matters pertaining to natural gas and oil, soon after CRC’s work he said.

The Isles government has already written the Union government officially asking it to remove the two items from the list.

“We expect to have a new constitution in 2014, and we also look forward to having a solution in this matter,” the Vice President said.

He said Zanzibar would reduce its overdependence on development partners after it begins to drill the products which are in high demand in the world market.

Availability of the two resources in Zanzibar would facilitate business and economic opportunities in the area, and contribute to reduction of poverty among the people, he said.

However, when contacted to clarify the Isles Vice President’s position, Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union) Samia Suluhu, said she is not aware that natural gas and oil will be removed from matters of the Union in 2014.

“I am just back from Mecca and of course I am not in a good position to comment on the matter now…It would be a good idea to talk to the Isles Minister for Energy and Minerals,” she said.

In another development the Isles Vice President said his government is working to improve tourism, agriculture and Malindi port for the sectors to offer better services.

Earlier, former president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), René van der Linden, who is leading the panel of investors, said there are good developments in strengthening relationships between Tanzania and The Netherlands.

Linden commended the support and receptions given to his team, saying it has opened a new chapter between the two governments in implementing development projects.

For his part, The Netherland Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Ad Koek Koek, said his government has offered studying opportunities to Tanzanian officials to learn different issues pertaining to gas and oil.

Dr Koek said the offer would help the officials to acquire knowledge on the industry given that Zanzibar is also planning to get into the sector.

The resolution to remove the oil and natural gas on the matters of the Union was adopted by the Isles Revolutionary Council after the Representatives support in 2009.