Aliens trigger security alarm
Illegal immigrants linked to banditry,
drug trafficking
By Express Reporters
The unabated influx of illegal immigrants from
strife-torn countries into Tanzania is becoming a security nightmare for the
authorities, as disenchanted by the ground realities some of these turn to
criminal activities.
Despite government efforts, an unprecedented number of foreigners, mostly
Somalis, have continued to flood major cities, especially Dar es Salaam. A huge
number of Somalis, who fled their country for several reasons, including
economic hardship and future uncertainty, managed to penetrate and sneak in
through the porous borders.
Impeccable sources in Dar es Salaam told The Express that some of these aliens
are sheltered by Tanzanians of Somali origin dwelling in the vicinity of the
city soon after they arrive from Somalia. Noticeably, most of them hail from
Hargeysa and Mogadishu in Somalia.
The sources further disclosed that the illegal immigrants, mostly youths in
their early twenties, come with a little knowledge of English language. Upon
arrival, they undergo intensive crash courses to get an insight into Kiswahili
in order to ward off any suspicion.
According to the sources, the young Somalis are reported to be getting jobs in
private companies as watchmen and mechanics. But some of them and those
unemployed resort to criminal activities such as drug trafficking and banditry.
This reporter spoke to two Somali boys, alleged to have contravened immigration
formalities, who are currently in Dar es Salaam sheltered by a Tanzanian family
in the Kariakoo area. The boys identified themselves by single names as
Abdulkadir and Mahmood and admitted that they travelled from Hargeysa in
Somalia.
The boys said they had resolved to travel to Tanzania, believing they could
secure educational opportunities and thereafter get jobs here. They were unhappy
with the socio-political situation in their country.
“It is true that we came all the way from Somalia, through Kenya, but we are
very optimistic about settling down here… we are more comfortable here,” said
Abulkadir.
The boys blamed the interim government of Somalia for not doing enough to lift
the country’s economy, following decades of wars and civil unrest, and are
determined to succeed in Tanzania “by hook or crook”.
It seems the police depend on tips from Good Samaritans to curb the massive
entry of the Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians at the borders. As one of our
reporters witnessed at the Himo junction in Kilimanjaro, where six people of
Somali citizenship were easily nabbed following a tip from unknown sources.
The Express reporter aboard Dar Express plying between Dar es Salaam and Moshi
saw a lone young Somali seated at the back before other passengers boarded it at
Majengo, Kiborloni and Himo (Junction) in Moshi.
Soon after it departed from the stand, two traffic police officers stopped the
bus and asked the conductor how many Somali were in the bus.
“I have taken only two at the junction,” he responded. The police officer
boarded the bus himself and fished out four more to the astonishment of the
passengers. No one noticed them that they were together since they sat at a
distance.
Ever since the arrest of Somalis destined for South Africa acquiring Tanzanian
passports in Dar es Salaam, no searches were made by the police, which suggests
that they act only on tip-offs.
The Somalis have adopted ingenious ways to ward the police. They prefer to buy
local Swahili newspapers, mainly those loved by lay people, and the that the
police normally use Kiswahili as a major criterion to net non-Tanzanians.
As witnessed in another episode in Dar Express, the police pointed to some
elderly women gesturing them to climb down after noticing some Ethiopian
features in their faces. “We babu wee tukome unatuona wakuja nini (Literally you
guy leave us alone, we are not strangers here)?” screamed the women.
The police left them apologising profusely.
Another detainee was a white-skinned man of Chagga tribe, who was told to stand
up and come down for questioning. “Oh baba’ angu tunatafutana siyo (please stay
out of this).” The police quickly beckoned him to stay in his seat.
The search though is not common at most border posts at Holili, Tanzania-Kenya
border at Kilimanjaro and Hororohoro, which connects Tanga and Mombasa in Kenya.
Once they arrive in Dar es Salaam, most of the Somali have been undertaking
evening Swahili courses and you may see a lot of them with exercise books in
Kariakoo, Mtoni and Ilala areas in Dar es Salaam.
As revealed by Hussein Bille, a Somali who was born at Kiwira and lived in
Tanzania for about five decades, most of them come to Tanzania based on stories
they get from their relatives that Tanzania is peaceful country with remarkable
hospitality to the aliens.
“Most of them believe that you can become rich easily in Tanzania.”
Added Mohamed Shiri, some of them find difficult to live in Tanzania as they are
not skilled enough to qualify for the white-collar jobs, which they prefer.
According to Shiri, living in Tanzania is now difficult for the Somali compared
to the past.
“I think the strong anti-poaching policies of the Tanzanian government made
things difficult for the Somalis. Most of them had to flee the country to evade
the long arm of the government as they were in the past alleged to be illegal
business dealers,” he reasoned.
Police in Dar es Salaam said they are deeply committed to bring to justice all
offenders including those who contravened immigration procedures, adding that
they are yet to receive any information in relation to Somalis allegedly
involved in criminal activities in the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, has endeavoured to combat illegal
immigration. Apparently, the situation still proves to be a thorn in the
Immigration Department’s side as more illegal immigrants enter the country.
In 2003/4 for instance, about 1,339 immigrants were arrested for violation of
immigration regularities compared to 555 foreigners arrested in 2002/3.
Presenting his ministry’s budget to the Parliament, Minister for Home Affairs
Omar Ramadhani Mapuri admitted to the increase in illegal immigration and that
some local people use illegal methods to help these entering the country.
“Illegal immigration activities have increased and this is due to some local
people inviting and protecting these people in their homes,” the minister said.
Apart from local people inviting illegal immigrants to their homes, the Minister
stressed, business people use illegal immigrants who possess false documents in
their business, hence violating the Immigration Act (1995).
Tanzania is one of the countries that have received a lot of refugees as a
result of civil wars in the neighbouring countries such as Burundi and
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The political turmoil has resulted in some
refugees fleeing their camps to other parts of the country.
Although the situation looks grave, the Ministry is working hard to rectify it
by increasing patrols and searching border and crowded areas.
“The government has issued a special book for registering foreigners in the
villages, wards, districts and regions so that people from other countries are
here with legal documents,” said Mapuri.
The government will also continue with its plan of collaborating and educating
the public to impress upon them the importance of reporting to the authorities
about illegal foreigners in their neighbourhood.
Sources told The Express that cross border commuter bus operators are often
behind the problem as those who penetrate from one East African country to
another seem to use them for their familiarly with immigration officials at
borders.
A conductor of Falcon bus plying between Dar es Salaam, Nairobi Kampala and
Mwanza, Hamisi Ally, admitted that his company couldn’t afford to leave out a
passenger, who does not have travel documents.
“Whenever the passengers do not have passports, we normally maneuver with
immigration officers at entry border on behalf of the passengers,” he said.
He added: “Most of our customers, especially those from Mwanza, do not have
passports but because they want to travel, they are forced to pay a quid pro quo
to cross the border safely.”
He said often about a quarter of the passengers travel without passports between
Nairobi and Mwanza.
Other immigrants flooding to the country are from war-torn neighbouring
countries, such as Rwanda and Burundi.
A Rwandan immigrant said, “We have been in this country for the past ten years
with our family as we wanted to escape the war in our own country.”
She said, “My parents died in the Rwanda genocide and my uncle brought me to
Tanzania for studies. I am now married to a Tanzanian.”
She added that she had once been in trouble with the immigration officials for
she did not have birth certificate or affidavit, although her husband who is a
Tanzanian easily liased with immigration officials and secured a passport for
her.
“I don’t think it is hard to get a Tanzanian passport. It took me only two days
and 50,000 shillings to get one,” she boasted.
EA Assembly problems exposed
By Lina Lorentz
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) are facing challenges two and a
half years after its inauguration; reaching out to the public and attracting
ministers to its meetings are some of them.
Justin Bundi, clerk at the EALA, explained to The Express the achievements and
problems the assembly has encountered. Although the members from Tanzania, Kenya
and Uganda have managed to gain grounds there remain things to be done.
“The fact that our members are experts in their respective fields, enables the
Assembly to gain useful facts and consequently take well informed decisions,”
said Bundi.
The members, who are elected by their respective parliaments, lack connections
to any local constituencies, which make debates in the Assembly rather different
from that in the national parliaments, explained Bundi.
“You don’t get the commonplace arguments and quarrels between MPs. Rather, the
members are more likely to effectively and efficiently explain their points,
without elaborating on rather unnecessary matters”, said Bundi.
Moreover, the EALA can boast with having 100 per cent attendance at its
meetings. The Assembly meet three times a year, for sessions lasting
approximately 10 to 14 days.
“Since the members only come to Arusha to attend the meetings, they might as
well show up in the Assembly,” noted Bundi. So far the EALA has passed seven
Bills and dealt with numerous parliamentary business, such as managing its own
budget.
Apart from the meetings, the members attend workshops and go on tours in the
three East African countries throughout the year, to gain knowledge about
different situations and conditions in their countries.
However, much more could be done if the Assembly received more coverage by the
media and was more acknowledged by the national parliaments, observed Bundi.
“Part of the problem is that none of the member states have a separate minister
post for dealing with regional cooperation. Without any ministers attending our
meetings it is difficult to get the attention by governments and attract the
media,” said Bundi.
At present it is only Kenya that is in the process of establishing a separate
ministry devoted to EALA. As regards Tanzania, the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Jakaya Kikwete, who is supposed to deal with East African cooperation, has so
far been involved in numerous other matters, thus being unable to devote time to
the EALA.
“There are those who wish that the Assembly should be fully democratic, with
members directly elected by the public. But as it stands now, few people even
know about the existence of the Assembly, which would make elections very
difficult,” said Bundi.
What further concerns Bundi is the fact that members are only allowed to sit for
one period of years. All members are replaced at the same time; consequently
much of the knowledge the Assembly has acquired will go missing when the old
members are replaced.
“The system should accommodate new members while there are still some old
members left in the Assembly, serving their terms. We need to preserve the
information we gain, without letting some of it get lost,” said Bundi.
New book highlights unfair
laws
By Leonard Magomba
The Tanzania Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC) launched a new book last week,
primarily designed to inform Tanzanians of the ongoing campaigns against various
discriminatory laws.
In the book, the civil society organisation calls on the government to respect
the international human rights instruments it has ratified and immediately
abolish suppressing laws.
According to the statement issued by the WLAC last week, many activist groups
have been pushing for changes in the customary laws, which have attracted
criticism for discriminating widows and daughters since 1995.
“As part of civil society and being a key stakeholder, we have a firm mission in
these campaigns. We want the state organs to repeal existing customary laws and
replace them with a new piece of legislation providing for equal rights to all,”
said WLAC Executive Director, Scholastica Jullu.
The current customary inheritance laws of 1963 do not allow widows to inherit,
even jointly generated wealth left by their deceased husbands.
According to the law, the lion’s share of inheritance goes to boys and offers
little to girls, something that activists have strongly condemned as
discriminatory and contrary to the country’s constitution.
“Section 24(1) of the constitution allows every Tanzanian to own valuable
property, both men and women,” said Jullu adding “It also provides for people’s
property to be protected by rights in accordance with the law.”
The book highlights the case of HIV/AIDS widows facing harassments and being
kicked out of their own houses by their husband’s relatives. These are
instances, which could be avoided with a change in customary laws, according to
WLAC.
Furthermore, since Tanzania has ratified human rights conventions, it has the
obligation to repeal all laws that are inconsistent with human rights
principles, notes the book.
“It’s time to act and do away with mere words. The government must act and
effect sweeping reforms on discriminatory laws. Our mothers and girls continues
to suffer and are denied of their inheritance rights,” said Jullu.
Sacked officers blame DC of
misconduct
Angela Mazula, recently in Tanga
Ward Executive Officers (WEO) of Muheza District have blamed the District
Council for making them redundant, while waiting to sit for their Form Four
examinations in November this year.
The 11 WEO are waiting to sit for their Form Four examinations as part of
upgrading the education level of local administrators, when the District Council
sacked them and employed new WEO.
Speaking to The Express at Regional Secretary’s office in Tanga Region, the
concerned WEO said that since 1999 they have been given termination letters from
their employer; the same employer who wants them to have an O-Level Certificate.
According to WEO, they were given a four-year leave to take up and complete
their studies, knowing that they would return to work after completion of their
studies. The recent decision of the District Council does not follow these
arrangements.
The matter has been forwarded to the Regional Commissioner, (Rtd.) Captain Jaka
Mwambi, the Local Government Authority and the concerned District Council of
Muheza by the Tanzania Local Government Workers Union without response.
Alex Mkemwa, Tanga TALGWU Regional Secretary said, “Justice has not been done so
far because the employer has been violating the government by-laws on how to
employ executive officers.”
He said the by-laws allow employers to recruit a person with Form Four Level
qualifications and work experience of no less than three years or a person with
primary education qualifications but with five years work experience.
“I wonder why these people have been terminated while they have the required
experience and still study?” questioned Mkemwa.
Apart from the termination letters, the WEO have complained about the terminal
benefits. Hamisi Ally, one of the terminated WEO, said: “We have worked for 12
to 18 years and with the small pension I will be getting, I won’t be able to go
to my village which is not in Tanga.”
RC Mwambi commenting on the matter said, “I think these officers have to sit
down and study their contracts. It seems they don’t know that employers can fire
them if they are not efficient in their work even after three years of being
tied to the contracts.”
He added, “For what I know, they might not do a good job, that’s why their
employers decided to fire them and employ others who don’t even have the
required qualifications.”
He advised the WEO to go to court and open a case, appealing to their employers.
The RC said the council has the right to fire or suspend any worker who seems to
be inefficient in their work, and advised that officers should not think that
they could work forever.
Work contracts yet to
materialise
By Kizitto Joseph
Few qualified drivers and increased fuel prices are said to be the reasons for
the delay of work contracts between daladala workers and bus owners in Dar es
Salaam.
Members of the Dar es Salaam Bus Owners Association (DARBOA) told The Express
last week that they cannot sign contracts because many daladala drivers fail to
meet the qualifications as outlined in the constitution of the employment
agreement.
According to the rules of the contract, drivers need a Class C driving licence
obtainable only from the National Institute of Transport (NIT).
“When we consider this part of the constitution, very few drivers qualify, and
things are even worse with the conductors,” said Mohammed Said, member of
DARBOA. He urged drivers to give priority to education rather than employment.
Another bus owner and member of DARBOA, who did not ant to reveal his name, said
the increased fuel prices had forced him to hesitate entering into contract with
his employees.
Since the prices began to rise, he has faced business uncertainty and his daily
income has been unreliable.
“I know the importance of entering the contract, but my economy is so unstable
that I fail to determine my daily profit,” he said.
Shukuru Mlawa, General Secretary of Union for Drivers and Conductors, Dar es
Salaam Region found these claims ridiculous. He thought the bus owners were
neglecting the contract, regarding it as meaningless.
According to Mlawa, it is the daladala workers who buy fuel at their own cost,
not the bus owners.
“Again it is not true that all drivers do not qualify for employment. We have a
list of qualified drivers from NIT who are not employed by contracts,” he said.
Again, he insisted on appealling to the court against DARBOA if the meeting with
Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner turned out to be unsuccessful. The meeting
was scheduled for July 29, but was postponed because of other engagements by the
RC.
Under the contract, which was supposed to come into work on July 1 this year,
daladala drivers would earn Tsh. 60,000 per month and conductors Tsh. 50,000.
Book on civic ethics launched
By Moses Lusamba
In the run-up to next year’s general election, a book on civic ethics has been
published to give citizens better understanding of their roles in a flourishing
democracy.
The book, entitled “Civic Ethics Handbook for Development, Reflective Citizens’
Skills for Democracy” is co-authored by the philosophy unit at the University of
Dar es Salaam and the Rural Integrated Project Support (RIPS) programme, with
assistance from the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
Dr. Sirkku Hellensten, Civic and Professional Ethics Education Project Manager
and Dr. Azaveli Lwaitama CPEP activist co-ordinator, together with other people
involved, launched the book last week.
Dr. Hellensten said the book would not only fill a gap in civic education but
since the elections are approaching, the book aims to empower people and enhance
their knowledge on citizens’ contributions to the democratic process. In the
past, much of the information that has been available has focused on
institutions and the process of democratic governance.
Dr. Lwaitama said that there has been a lot of discussions about development and
political promotion of human rights, good governance and democratic rule in
general in Tanzania. Debates have revolved around why the country needs to
promote human rights and why democratic rule is essential for developing a just
society.
The RIPS Programme manager, Julie Adkins said that she hopes the book would
empower the public from village level to local authorities and civil society.
By taking an innovative and original approach, focusing on moral aspects of
democracy and development as a whole, the book aims at questioning the meaning
of central concepts that are often taken for granted, such as human rights, good
governance and justice.
Dr. Hellensten added that the book also aims to move away from technical and
theoretical aspects and put focus on ethical and philosophical reflections.
The book is in English but will be translated to Swahili to reach a wider
audience.
Medics withhold facts
By Angela Mazula, recently in
Tanga
Doctors, nurses and councillors have been requested to be extra open to people
who donate blood when it comes to telling them about their HIV/AIDS status.
Speaking during a seminar on HIV/AIDS organized by Voluntary Counselling and
Testing (VCT) at VETA hall in Tanga last week, a pastor of Tanga Diocese, Elisha
Tendwa said that it is important that people know their health status.
If a blood donator is found HIV positive, he or she should be told the truth by
medical staff, instead of being presented with made-up excuses for why their
blood is not accepted by the hospital, Tendwa explained.
Medical staff has to be straight and tell the truth to their customers.
Speaking about the new testing centre in Tanga, Tendwa said “we are very happy
to get this place of testing our health because there were no places like this
before in Tanga except in Korogwe District which is far from here; people will
appreciate the service.”
Agnes Ndyetabula a teacher of counselling (ANGAZA) in Tanga Region said since
the beginning of VCT in Korogwe District, a large number of people have tested
their health status.
She said about 90 per cent of the residence in Korogwe District have been
tested. The number of people coming forward for testing greatly exceeded their
predictions.
Ndyetabula explained that national statistics show that since 2000, around
124,652 people have used the VCT service. Many appreciate the service and it
boosts people’s confidence, knowing their status.
Bandits cause havoc in
Morogoro Municipality
By Ramadhan Libenanga, Morogoro
Residents of Uwanja wa Taifa and Sabasaba wards in Morogoro Municipality, have
complained of increasing acts of violence where weapons like machetes (bush
knives) and spears have been used, causing many residents to fear for their
lives.
Talking to The Express some of the residents, whose relatives were victims of
the violence last week, said more than eight people had been hacked with
machetes and robbed of their properties.
One of the residents, who wanted anonymity, said there have emerged groups of
muggers in the areas of Mawenzi, Saba Saba and Uwanja wa Taifa wards.
The muggers he said have created a system of ambushing people in narrow passages
or near people’s homes. When people return from work or stroll around at night,
bandits ambush them, hack them with machetes or injure them with spears.
A victim of one ambush, who identified himself as Athumani Madilu, said he was
hacked with a machete in his home at Mawenzi, causing him injuries that forced
him to seek medical care at Morogoro Regional Hospital.
Madilu said the group of muggers who used machetes and spears are young people
who live in the neighbourhood.
Although residents have complained about the muggers and reported matters to the
police, no action has been taken against the thugs.
According to local political functionaries, there is a possibility that the
police have failed to net the bandits due to lack of enough efforts, such as
conducting manhunts.
Because of the silence of the police, Madilu said, the group of muggers continue
to terrorize people, as they know there will be no action taken against them and
so the spiralling acts of violence will continue.
In another incident, the muggers ambushed Maro Siwa’s car, a resident of Uwanja
wa Taifa and hacked him with machetes, stealing his money, mobile phone and
ignition key for his car.
Speaking on the disaster, Maro Siwa’s relative who identified himself as Yusuph
Mweta said the group ambushed his relative when he was entering his house after
parking his car, and started attacking him with machetes, injuring parts of his
head.
“We have sent him to Muhimbili National Hospital for further treatment as he is
unconscious,” Yusuph Mweta lamented with sorrow.
When Morogoro Regional Police Commander, Christopher Shekiondo was reached for
comment, he said the police in Morogoro Region is working very hard, but the
problem is that when the suspects are send to court, the complainants do not
turn up.
Commander Shekiondo said this state of affairs has contributed to the failure of
curbing criminal acts in several areas of Morogoro Region.
Shekiondo called on Morogoro Region residents to give the police force enough
cooperation from the time charges are made to the case’s final conclusion in
court, instead of leaving the whole responsibility to the police force.
School construction costs
59.6m/-
By Beldina Nyayeke, Musoma
Musoma Town Council in Mara Region has spent a total of Tsh. 59,573,000 for the
construction of Kiara Day Secondary School in Musoma Town.
The Town Council Executive Director, Theonas Nyamhanga at a business working
session, held at Musoma District Council hall in Musoma Town Monday this week,
gave the information.
Nyamhanga said the money came from various sources. Musoma District Council
contributed Tsh. 49,500,000 and Musoma businessmen contributed Tsh. 6,983,000.
The Office of National Security in Mara Region contributed Tsh. 101.000; the
public Tsh. 1,253,000 and the Council's workers Tsh. 1,136,000. ALAT in Mara
Region contributed Tsh. 100,000 including construction materials worth Tsh.
500,000.
The money, Nyamhanga said, was spent in the construction of two blocks with four
classrooms, three rooms for teachers’ offices, including an administration
block.
Students’ toilets, sewerage cavity, headmaster’s house and a laboratory building
with three rooms have also been constructed.
The one-day session aimed at discussing and programming modalities of
constructing three secondary schools of Makoko, Bweri and Buhare that are under
Musoma District Council.
Witchcraft troubles school
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
A resident of Narumu village, Hai District, Kilimanjaro Region, claiming to be a
witchdoctor, has confessed that he was responsible for practicing witchcraft
that affected 30 students of Narumu Primary School.
Students at the school were made to faint and loose consciousness for almost
half an hour.
The witchdoctor, whose name is withheld, was caught possessing some implements
he said he used in the process.
According to the Hai District Education Officer, Bathazar Msaki, the incident
has led to some of the 465 students at the school refusing to attend classes out
of fear, thus affecting the school’s general attendance.
Msaki said that the witchdoctor confirmed that he was responsible for the
incidents at a joint meeting with the school committee and the parents of some
of the affected students. The witchdoctor promised such incidents wouldn’t occur
again.
Nevertheless, despite his promise, the witchdoctor carried out similar practices
at Kyeku Primary School where 11 students were affected by his witchcraft.
Msaki didn’t reveal if any legal steps have been taken against the witchdoctor.
In another development, Msaki said further problems had affected students in the
district, this time affecting Standard One and Two pupils.
Msaki said tensions have risen among the students following rumours of blood
sucking incidents in the area, causing the six to seven year old students to run
away whenever they see a government car arriving at their school compounds.
The Hai District Health Officer Dr. Gabriel Masuki said the two incidences are
not connected and that the tension among the young students is the result of
illusions linked to blood sucking rumours being spread by unfaithful villagers
in the areas.
Teachers without houses in
Meatu
By Kabale Lazaro, Shinyanga
About 578 teachers teaching in 106 government primary
schools in Meatu District, Shinyanga Region, have no houses to live in.
Meatu District Inspector of Schools, Cazimir Mshandete told The Express early
this week that the district had only 78 teachers’ houses, which do not suffice
the requirements.
Because of this many teachers have been forced to rent and live in villagers’
houses.
“This state of affairs, including the problem of more than one teacher family
living in one house, cause great decline in education standards,” the Inspector
of Schools emphasized.
Nevertheless he said, his office is continuing with its efforts of motivating
the public, so that they see the need of constructing teachers’ houses instead
of waiting for the government and donors to construct them.
Water stations vandalised
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
THE water department in Kilimanjaro Region is running short of water gauges;
particularly level and data logger gauges, used to measure the amount of water
in rivers in the region.
The Kilimanjaro Region acting hydrologist, Isaya Macha last week, confirmed
this. He explained the difficulties his department faces especially when it
comes to measuring the level and amount of water in some of the rivers in the
Region.
He said so far five water-gauging stations have been completely destroyed or
stolen by unknown persons causing a big loss for the department.
He said, “According to random investigations conducted by the office, the
stealing of the hydrometers is provoked by the ever growing business in scrap
metals in different parts of the country in which people involved sell their
products in neighbouring countries.”
According to Macha, stations badly hit are Nyumba ya Mungu, Miwaleni,
Nafco-Kahe, Njoro Juu and Weruweru. Reparations will not make the gauges at
these stations fit for use.
The hydrologist continued to say that stealing gauges started in 2002 and it is
continuing at an alarming rate. The scrap metals business contributes
considerable to the problem.
To curb the situation Macha has urged the government to supply the region with
new gauges to replace the stolen ones so that the department could continue with
its regular services.
He urged all residents staying near the gauging stations to make sure they take
the responsibility of guarding the gauges from the culprits.
Unemployed youths attacked by
ISHI official
By Beldina Nyakeke, Musoma
Youths between 15 and 24 years in Musoma District, Mara Region, have been
directed to involve themselves in various economic undertakings instead of
sitting at jobless corners doing nothing, a thing that can lead them to fall
victims of immoral activities.
The call was made Monday this week by ISHI Mara Regional Chairman, Christopher
Mirumbe in a one-day seminar, held at the Anglican Church Hall in Musoma town.
Following that many of the youths are unemployed, they have been sitting at
jobless corners, playing pool, thus enticing them to have unsafe sex and thus
running the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS.
The workshop brought together teachers from secondary schools and colleges in
Musoma District to discuss work schedule for schools and colleges, which will
start early next month.
Contributing in the workshop, teachers said current ISHI leaflets and billboards
advertisements do not reflect the intended aims of stopping people from rampant
coition, instead they flare people and especially youths into having unsafe sex,
which might lead them to contract HIV/AIDS.
Youths demand change
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
Youths in Dodoma Region have recommended that mentioning qualification of
experience in job adverts should be abolished, as it disqualifies youths who
have recently graduated, to get employment.
Elias Ntrambigwa, Chairman of Youth Group Fighting for Human Dignity and
Environment (Youth – PHIDAPETA), said this in Dodoma Municipality, when he
talked about problems of employment for youths.
Using the qualification of experience as criteria, Ntambigwa said, he favours
old people and encourages the present state of affairs in which elders are
leading the nation.
“This qualification is a great oppression and we young people see it as a
disgrace to the dignity of our humanity because we fail to get the rights we
deserve,” emphasized Ntrambigwa.
He requested youths of Dodoma Region, to wake up and contest in great numbers
for various positions in the next elections, so that they get an opportunity to
fight for their rights.
The youth group with 15 members involves itself in providing human rights, civil
and environmental education. It was established in October last year, under the
guardianship of Bishop Dr. Peter Mwamasika of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Tanzania, Dodoma Diocese.