Bad weather ruins growth
predictions
By Timothy Kitundu
The slow down in overall economic growth during the second half of 2003 which
recorded an average of 6.4 per cent GDP compared with seven per cent recorded in
the corresponding period in 2002 was attributed to adverse weather conditions
that affected agricultural production.
The poor performance of the agricultural sector, which accounts for the largest
share (about 47 per cent), led to shortage of food in most parts of the country
and rise in food inflation.
The latest issue of the Bank of Tanzania economic bulletin for the second half
of last year shows that the agricultural sector grew at a slightly lower rate of
4.8 per cent during the period under review compared to the rate of 5.3 per cent
recorded during the corresponding period the previous year.
The slow down in the growth of rate of the agricultural sector resulted from the
drop in crop production arising from adverse weather conditions.
“Subsequently, production of traditional export crops went down by 20.2 per cent
on average to 235,216.5 tonnes from 294,800.6 tonnes recorded during the similar
period in the previous year,” read part of the bulletin.
The growth rate of the manufacturing sector went down to 10.9 per cent compared
with 11.2 per cent attained during the corresponding period in the previous
year.
Also, when using Manufacturing Production Index (MPI), which measures the change
in production of commodities in real terms over time, manufacturing production
increased by a lower rate of 9.5 per cent, compared with an increase of 24.2 per
cent registered in the corresponding period the previous year.
The mining sector grew by 17 .6 per cent during the period under review,
slightly lower than the rate of growth of 18.7 per cent recorded during the
corresponding period in the previous year.
The lower growth in the sector, according to the bulletin, was a result of
completion of major investments in mining projects, particularly gold mining.
Meanwhile, electricity and water grew at a lower rate of 4.6 per cent during the
review period, compared with the growth of 7.6 per cent registered during the
second half of the previous year, mainly due to drought conditions.
Between July and December last year, hydroelectricity generation declined by
20.5 per cent to 1,119 million KWH from 1,408.9 million KWH recorded during the
corresponding period a year before.
The decline in electricity generation was a result of a fall in water levels in
major hydroelectric power plants.
On the other hand, construction sector grew by 12.8 per cent during the period
under review compared to 12.1 per cent recorded during the similar period the
previous year, mainly due to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of
roads and bridges, real estates and other building.
Stanchart cuts down on
non-performing loans
By Angela Mazula
The Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania Limited, one of the leading financial
institutions in the country, has slashed its non-performing loans, according to
the bank’s latest financial report.
According to the report, most of the bank’s fund, especially deposits from
clients, is now being used to realise more income returns.
The report said non-performing loans are a trouble for both commercial banks as
their clients’ report has revealed.
While by March this year when the bank closed its first quarter, about 3.9 per
cent of its loans and advances were non-performing, these had gone down by 2.7
per cent as of June 30, 2004.
The value of the bank’s general assets has gone up from Tsh. 1,984 million as of
March 2004 to Tsh 7,135 million as of June 30, this year.
The report said the bank has positively maintained all other assets with the
exception of investment in inter-branch suspense, customer liabilities and other
securities in which the bank has not shown an interest so far.
Apart from government securities, which have gone up from Tsh. 5, 267 million as
at the end of last March to Tsh. 7,436 million as of June 30, the bank has not
been investing in other forms of securities.
It said sources of non-interest income, include foreign exchange, commissions
and fees. The bank has realised significant earnings from both foreign exchange
and commission-related earnings.
Meanwhile, Citibank Tanzania Limited’s net assets have hit the Tsh. 27.835
billion mark compared with Tsh. 27.407 billion recorded at the close of the
first quarter.
The bank has also pruned its fixed assets from Tsh. 1,544 million to Tsh. 1,418
million. Like the Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank Tanzania invests in
government securities only.
The report said the cumulative profit from non-interest income has reached Tsh.
3,819 million at the same time. The Federal Bank of the Middle East Limited
recorded net assets worth Tsh. 59.712 billion as of June compared to Tsh. 57.866
billion posted at the close of the first quarter.
Returns on ordinary shareholders’ fund was 4.44 per cent as compared to only
2.63 per cent in the previous quarter.
Zanzibar voted best tourist
island
By Apolinari Tairo
TRAVEL and Leisure Magazine has announced its 2004 World’s Best Awards and named
Zanzibar Island as the highest-ranking and number one tourist and leisure island
in Africa and the Middle East region.
Nancy Novogrod, the Editor-in-Chief of the New York based Travel and Leisure
Magazine announced last week, “Zanzibar is the Number One Island in Africa and
the Middle East” for the world class travellers.
The Travel and Leisure magazine’s 9th Annual Survey of Readers’ Favourite
Hotels, Cities, Islands, Cruise Lines, Airlines, Tour Operators and more travel
stakeholders covered readers worldwide.
Novogrod said, “The World’s Best Awards always provide significant insights into
where our singularly well-travelled readers are heading, and, even, their
attitudes toward the world. It’s noteworthy that six of the highest rated hotels
this year are in Africa, reflecting an enormous shift in interest toward that
continent. And as a New Yorker, I’m delighted to see New York rated as the best
city in the US and Canada for the fourth year running.”
Tanzania and South Africa were the only travel destination representatives from
Africa during the award giving ceremony and a luncheon held at Per Se Restaurant
in New York City on Thursday, July 29 and later on, a gala at New York City’s
Lincoln Centre.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to the US, Andrew Daraja, received the award on behalf of
Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT).
South Africa scooped the readers’ World’s Best Hotel and World’s Best Small
Hotel Award in honour of Singita Private Game Reserve – Sabi Sands and the city
of Cape Town.
The city of Cape Town was selected by the readers of Travel and Leisure Magazine
as the Best City in Africa and the Middle East region.
A questionnaire designed by the Magazine’s editors had respondents reporting
where they had travelled worldwide and how, and rated only the destinations,
properties, and companies that were relevant to their recent travel experiences.
Respondents were asked to rate hotels, islands, and airlines on five
characteristics; and cities, cruise lines and tour operators/safari outfitters
on six characteristics.
Zanzibar Island is Tanzania’s prime beach destination made up of warm beaches
and deep-water sports. Ancient Arabic architecture of the medieval era in
Zanzibar’s old town complements the warm Indian Ocean beaches, pulling tens of
tourists there.
Deliberate efforts have been carried by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), an
autonomous national tourism marketing and promotional institution, to sell
Tanzania as a prime destination under the brand logo of “Tanzania: Authentic
Africa” in the world’s leading markets, including the US and Europe.
‘Only TFDA can control fake
drugs’
By Joshua Mshana
The government should strengthen the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) so
to make it more robust and ensure that there are no sub-standard or expired
drugs in the market.
Mike Murray, the General Manager of Glaxo Smith Kline (T) Ltd, a research-based
pharmaceutical company said this in a recent interview with The Express.
“The main challenge for the drugs and pharmaceutical industry is that there are
manufacturers of fake drugs. The presence of fake drugs in the market is
dangerous for users. The government should take stern measures to deal with this
problem. One of the measures is to strengthen TFDA to make it more robust and
effective,” he explained.
“In Africa, there is a lot of competition from generic manufacturers. We enjoy
competition as it is good for stimulating any business and it tends to regulate
the market” he said, adding, “Our drugs are branded, not generic, they are more
expensive but very effective. There is no point in buying something which is
cheaper and it doesn’t work. We are leading in HIV/AIDS antiretroviral market.”
Glaxo Smith Kline has been in Tanzania for 15 years. It has offices in Morocco,
Egypt, Kenya and South Africa.
The company has a major worldwide inter-biotic market share. It also has a big
consumer division in Panadol, Acqua fresh toothpaste and Rabina cold drink.
The company plans to have offices in other cities other than Dar. It plans to go
to Mwanza, Mbeya and Arusha in the near future.
Toyota saloon for Stella draw
winner
By Timothy Kitundu
The overall winner of Stella Artois grand draw scooped a Tsh. six million worth
Toyota Corolla saloon car last week. Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL), the
manufacturers of Serengeti and Stella Artois beer, had launched the mega prize
draw.
The winner, identified by the name of Mama Roy, was awarded at a function held
at the Africa Sana Bar at Sinza, Kinondoni district, in Dar es Salaam Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Minister for Home Affairs John Chiligati
commended SBL for its commitment to the industry and for creating employment for
local Tanzanians.
“SBL is a Tanzanian firm run by Tanzanians; we believe that given the quality of
their products, beer imports can be curbed and instead their products can be
exported to neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi and Congo,” the minister
said.
He observed that currently beer imports were thriving in Tanzania and not
exports adding that beer production ought to be enhanced to stabilise the
prices.
SBL chairman reiterated that the presence of SBL as a local company was an
effort to reduce unemployment in Tanzania to a certain extent.
He called upon Tanzanians to value the local products as they were of same
standards as those imported. “SBL has set an example by locally manufacturing
Stella Artois which was formerly imported and it has the same quality,” he
claimed.
In the draw, more than 10 pubs won prizes ranging from wall clocks to Sony music
sets and a number of customers won through the instant scratch card prizes. SBL,
apart from manufacturing Premium Serengeti Lager, lately added Stella Artois to
the list of its products.
Managers to be oriented on new
labour laws
By Express Reporter
The Association of Tanzania Employers (ATE), an affiliate of the Pan African
Employers Confederation (PEC) and the International Organisation of Employers
(IOC) has organised a seminar on “ the role of new labour roles in harmonising
labour relations in Tanzania”.
According to a statement signed by its Executive Director Africanus Maenda, the
seminar is aimed at providing Line managers with indepth understanding of the
new labour laws and their application in promoting good labour relations.
The statement said that the seminar will be held at Oasis Hotel in Morogoro
between August 30 and September 3.
The seminar is meant for departmental managers, line managers, human resource
managers, personnel and administration managers and industrial relations
managers.
“The Association of Tanzania Employers will use experienced resource persons as
facilitators who will adopt a participative and interactive learning methodology
which will be supported by case studies, sharing of experiences and simulation
exercises,” the statement reads in part.
The participation fee of Tsh. 300,000 will be charged from ATE member
organisations whereas non-ATE participants will be charged Tsh. 350,000.
SATF spends 500m/- on Aids
orphans
By Angela Mazula
The Social Action Trust Fund (SATF) has spent Tsh 500 million as donation for
AIDS orphans to educate them, buy their school uniforms and shelter them.
The Chief Executive of SATF, Valentine Rweyemamu, told The Express Tuesday this
week in his office that their aim is to enhance the life skills of the orphans
and make them feel normal as many of them lose the opportunity to get their
rights like primary education and others.
He said donation to orphans was one of last year’s biggest target. They had
managed to reach a large number of orphans, about 25,187
Rweyemamu said SATF had helped orphans in 18 regions and supported 24 non
governmental organisations (NGOs) in the country involved in AIDS orphans’
education.
He said SATF helps the orphans obtain primary education and qualify for
secondary education. The orphans are then helped with vocational training skills
to enable them stand on their own.
He said the number of orphans supported increased from 23,012 in 2002 to 25,187
last year and there was also a significant increase of 52 per cent in the number
of successful candidates joining school from 384 in 2002 to 583 for last year.
Market-run economy preferred
to Govt control
By Salome Mtunguja
The government is still grappling with political reforms in the manner of
competition for public office through a multi-party political system.
Tanzania is still understanding through economic reforms such as trade
liberalisation, privatisation and deregulation, economic choices and freedom.
Afrobarometer has assessed the way people perceive these economic reforms that
are important for the democratisation process.
Afrobarometer argues in a report that successful economic reforms are good for
successful democratic reforms.
In the 2003, an Afrobarometer survey revealed that over half (54%) of
respondents supported a market economy rather than a government run economy, and
that individuals should decide on their own what to produce buy and sell.
Tanzania continues to support both political and economic reforms but people
complain that the economic reforms are hurting their lower job opportunities and
are widening the gap between the rich and poor. The majority (56%) say the
government is not doing enough to reduce the gap between rich and poor.
Police still perceived as
highly corrupt: Afrobarometer
By Salome Mtunguja
A perceived high sense of honesty and low level of corruption in government can
promote legitimacy, Afrobarometer facilitator Nakatiwa Muligita said at a
one-day seminar for journalists held at the end of the week in Dar es Salaam.
Muligita said, trust in public officials and the legitimacy, which trusts afford
the state, may be enhanced or inhibited by citizen’s perceptions of corruption
among these officials. She said corruption breeds bad governance, which
undermines democracy as it eliminates accountability, transparency and equity in
society.
According to Muligita, corrupt officials have a tendency of being arrogant and
are often prone to using their ill-earned wealth to trounce on the rights of the
down trodden citizens. She said most Tanzanians perceive the police to be the
most corrupt public institution in the country as revealed by Afrobarometer
survey in 2001 and 2003.
This situation has seriously undermined the integrity and efficiency of the
police force, dealing a blow to good governance and tarnishing the image of the
government, she observed. Perceived corruption among the police has dropped from
90% in 2001 to 80% in 2003 according to a survey by Muligita, who said there
also has been a drop in the level of perceived corruption among civil servants
from 82% in 2001 to 67% in 2003.
She said the fight against corruption in the public services has to be sustained
as civil servants are still third among corrupt public officials with Customs
agents’ closely following as they are perceived by a two third (66%) of the
respondents as the fourth most corrupt public institution.
Teachers are still the least corrupt among public officials despite the rise in
the level of perceived corruption from 36% in 2001 to 45 % in 2003 neverless a
substantial majority 58% of the respondents think that teachers are not corrupt,
she observed
The Afrobarometer is a state of the art research instrument that measures the
social, political and economic atmosphere in Africa.
Households turn to wood as
kerosene prices soar
By Kizitto Joseph
The prices of kerosene in some gas stations in Dar es Salaam have gone up by an
average of 13 per cent per litre in the past three weeks.
There are also notable changes in diesel prices as a litre is sold for Tsh. 820
from the earlier Tsh. 790. Petrol is now sold for Tsh. 930 compared to Tsh. 920
some time ago.
The rising price of kerosene has forced some households to opt for wood for
cooking. “I have started using charcoal and wood for cooking as an alterative to
kerosene,” said Asha Abdalah, a resident of Kariakoo.
A rise in kerosene price has been noticed in BP stations where a litre is sold
for Tsh. 670 while Oilcom and Gapco sell the same fuel for Tsh. 680.
Engene sells diesel for Tsh. 790 per litre, petrol for Tsh. 920 and kerosene for
Tsh. 660.
Two weeks before the changes, Oilcom and Gapco sold diesel for Tsh. 790 while
Oryx and Total sold it for between Tsh. 830 and Tsh. 835, while kerosene was
sold for between Tsh. 665 and Tsh. 660.
Lumumba market traders
unhappy
By Express Correspondent
Some traders in the weekend market along Lumumba Road, Dar es Salaam, have asked
for improvements in the market by Ilala Municipal Authority.
Speaking to The Express last week, these traders say that the market needs
shades to protect them and the customers from rains and sunny weather.
“Business here prospers but the problem is lack of shades. We are compelled to
run here and there in time of rains and heat. Some times our delicate and
fragile wares are spoilt in the act of moving,” said a trader Hassan Shaban.
Lucy Semindu, Ilala Municipal Public Relations Officer told The Express that the
municipal authority had observed this problem and is working on its solution.
She said the authorities have already prepared a plan to construct the shades
and are looking for a contractor to accomplish the work.
Barclays offers trip to
English Premiere League match
By Timothy Kitundu
Barclays Bank Tanzania has launched a new promotional campaign for its Prestige
Banking customers whereby the winners will scoop STG pound 4,000 (about Tsh.
eight million) prize equivalent.
The promotion, known as “win a trip to England to watch Barclays English Premier
League soccer match” will see one lucky Tanzanian with a partner or friend jet
off to England with winners from other countries on fully paid expense trip to
watch the said event live.
Barclays Head of Retail Performance Tirus Mwithiga named other countries, which
will join Tanzania in the promotion as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Kenya,
Uganda, Mauritius and Seychelles.
According to Mwithiga, the draw will be held for the whole of September, 2004,
whereby Prestige Banking customers will have the opportunity to encourage a
friend to be a Prestige Banking customer and for each friend, the introducer
will have one entry to the draw.
According to Mwithiga, Multichoice Tanzania Limited, popularly known as DSTV,
has joined the initiative by donating three fully installed dual vision decoders
to Barclays Bank Tanzania towards the promotion.
“Prestige Banking customers in Tanzania who do not win the trip to England will
have the opportunity of to win one of Multichoice’s dual vision decoder and
watch the Barclays English Premier League live from the convenience of their
home,” he said.
Later, Mwithiga told The Express that the promotion is limited to those
customers whose income per month is above Tsh. 500,000; a letter of introduction
and an income verification document such as a salary slip or six month-old bank
statement.
Prestige Banking, according to Mwithiga, is one of the proposition that Barclays
currently offers across Africa to its chosen market segments tailored to meet
first class service, free monthly statements, free telephone banking services
and longer banking hours.
Tanzania records higher
tourist arrivals
By Express Reporter
Tanzania can boast on being atop among the leading tourist destinations in
Africa this year, but might lose holidaymakers because of overbooked wildlife
lodges. Some companies fear finding their clients diverting to other
destinations in Southern Africa and Kenya for lack of accommodation for the rest
of the year.
For the first time in its tourism history, Tanzania has recorded a big inflow of
tourists visiting its famous tourist attractions, pushing ahead hotel and
lodging bookings to January next year.
A big boom of tourist flow has been observed since last month, shortly after the
tourist season resumed, pushing most hotels and lodges in northern Tanzania’s
prime tourist attractive sites to declare “fully booked” up to December.
Stakeholders in tourism have attributed the big flow of visitors into Tanzania’s
prime and attractive tourist sites to well-planned tourism marketing and
promotional campaigns under the co-ordination of Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB),
coupled with peace and security prevailing in Tanzania.
The just started tourism season is projected to push the number of tourists from
600,000 arrivals last year to 700,00-plus visitors by the end of this year.
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) Executive Secretary Mustapha
Akunaay said the on-going tourist flow was a result of market competitiveness,
which suggests a positive growth of Tanzania’s tourist industry and the quality
of services offered to high-class visitors.
Tanzania is still considered a relatively expensive destination, but has been
getting high-class visitors from the world’s leading travel markets – the United
States and the United Kingdom.
Five out of 11 lodges and hotels inside key wildlife parks reported fully booked
for the rest of this year, with the rest looking to confirm their booking status
during the same period. Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti
wildlife parks make the hub of Tanzania’s tourism industry, attracting over 80
per cent of visitors per year.
Likewise, Tanzania is the fastest growing tourist destination in Africa
competing hard with South Africa, Botswana and Kenya after a tourism slump hit
Zimbabwe – the once leading destination in the Southern African region.
Northern Tanzania has tourist capacity of 13,400 rooms in leading hotels and
lodges. New tourist lodges and resorts are springing up in northern Tanzania to
add more rooms for the holidaymakers visiting the wildlife parks and mount
Kilimanjaro.
Holiday Inn employee wins
scholarship
By Apolinari Tairo
A TANZANIAN hotel employee Tom Kiboga from the Holiday Inn, Dar es Salaam, has
emerged the only winner from Africa in the tough international hospitality
industry competition organised by the Owners Association of Holiday Inn and
Inter-Continental chain of hotels.
Kiboga, who is a porter at the hotel’s front office, was announced the winner by
the Holiday Inn and Inter-Continental Hotels chain and given his scholarship
award by the Holiday Inn Dar es Salaam management.
In this year’s competition only ten scholarships - worth a total sum of US$
15,000 – were awarded worldwide. Kiboga has the honour of being the only winner
from Africa.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Holiday Inn, Dar es Salaam, yesterday
(Wednesday), Adam Fuller, the hotel’s General Manager, congratulated the winner
and encouraged other employees to use the massive resource base that Holiday Inn
has in furthering their education in the Hotel sector.
“We are delighted that Tom was one of the very lucky recipients and we will
supplement his scholarship with top up funding to the value of US$ 250,” Fuller
said.
He further explained that two other Holiday Inn Dar es Salaam applicants, Rukia
Chuma and Alexander Franklin, were not so fortunate with their applications but
will in any event be recognised by Southern Sun Hotels (T) Limited who will
sponsor them to compete in an international Hotel Management development
programme.
Plans afoot for organised
sale of cotton
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
Cotton stakeholders countrywide have unanimously decided to penetrate and
supervise the whole process of setting cotton prices at international markets,
so as to be able to confront problems of price decline and provide conducive
environment for sustaining the cotton sector in the country.
In a joint communiqué issued in Mwanza city Monday this week, the stakeholders,
namely the Tanzania Cotton Growers Association (TCGA), Tanzania Individual
Buyers Association (TCA), Tanzania Cotton Board and Shinyanga Region Cooperative
Union (SHIRECU) have said, together with other things, they have decided to put
in place techniques that will enable them sell cotton early through contracts.
The cotton stakeholders’ statement has come a few days after their three-day
sitting to deliberate on the cotton prices in international markets that have
continued to decline, now reaching US$ 0.39 cents per 11b (0.5 kg).
According to them, last year, the price rose to US $ 0.79 cents per 0.5 kg, but
later fell to US $ 0.52 cents, and further slided to US $ 0.44 cents per 0.5 kg
last month.
Concerned by this trend of continued decline in cotton prices in the world
market, the stakeholders welcomed the directive of Premier Frederick Sumaye that
the cotton sector as is with the coffee sector, should leave the free market to
decide on prices for farmers, instead of setting them.
Among the strategies to be used to create a conducive environment and lift the
cotton sector countrywide, they said, is to cooperate closely with banks that
have devised a strategy of protecting prices and cooperate fully in the Price
Risk Management Project devised by the government and the Institute of Common
Fund for Commodities.
They have asked the government to accelerate implementation of strategies that
will attract investors to invest in cotton spinning factories and textile mills,
where farmers will have shares.
The cotton stakeholders have also requested the Ministry of Cooperatives and
Marketing, which has a fully fledged department of marketing to supervise crop
prices in internal and external markets and educate the farmers on these prices.
According to these stakeholders, for a long time now, the Ministry of
Cooperatives and Marketing has remained an onlooker, leaving the Tanzania Cotton
Board to deal with the responsibility of enhancing, supervising and controlling
the cotton sector.
Govt projects 70bn/- cost on
PADEP
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
The government may end up spending Tsh. 70 billion to implement the
Participatory Agricultural Development and Empowerment Project (PADEP) that aims
to increase farmers’ incomes and eradicate food shortages.
Speaking on the project in Dodoma last week, PADEP official Dr. Shekania Bisanda
said the project that took off in 2003/2004 will end by 2008.
The project is being implemented with assistance from the World Bank. It is to
be conducted in 26 districts of Tanzania Mainland and two districts of Zanzibar,
aiming at reaching farmers in 840 villages.
Over 80 per cent of the projected Tsh. 70 billion cost will be sent to
districts, community and village farmers groups, as low-cost assistance, after
the projects have been approved for implementation.
The target people in the community projects will contribute material or money
equivalent to 20 per cent of all the project cost.
The main aim of the project, Dr. Bisanda said, is to boost agricultural
production, increase farmers’ incomes and household food security, thus helping
reduce poverty in villages.
The eight districts that started implementing the project last year are Hai,
Morogoro, Masasi, Nachingwea, Hanang, Rural Singida, Rural Iringa and Arumeru.
Other nine districts which are preparing to implement the projects this year are
Iramba, Sikonge, Urambo, Uyui, Monduli, Kiteto, Mbulu, Karatu and Babati.
Kenya inspired by SACCOS
By Simon Berege, Morogoro
NYERI District Tea Growers Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited in
Kenya has loudly urged their government to follow the steps taken by the
Tanzanian government in boosting the operations of credit and savings societies
in the country.
“When we go back home we will try to convince our government to do the same as
what your government is doing,” said one of the delegation members of the
society when visited Ushirikiano SACCOS Limited offices in Morogoro municipal
recently.
The idea came after the Ushirikiano SACCOS chairperson, Juma Mtumbei extended
appreciation to the Vice President’s Office for the support of Tsh. five million
through Self Entrepreneur Loan Facility (SELF) project which enabled them to
provide more loans to members.
“Actually we have learned a lot from you,” said the chairperson of the Njeri
SACCOS, Samuel Miano Gaita adding that the Kenyan government appreciates the
existence of credit and savings societies but still there is no direct fund
injection for support as it is in Tanzania.
Sighting some successes, Gaita said that their SACCOS has 19,000 members and
since its establishment in 1992 has managed to provide loans of about Ksh. 130
million with a total savings of Ksh. 122 million.
They said the SACCOS has helped a lot to improve the lives of Njeri residents
through provision of loans for key issues like school fees, development,
emergences, small business and bank services.
Mtumbei told the delegation that so far Ushirikiano SACCOS have provided a total
of 123 loans to members worth Tsh. 25,020,000 since 2000 with soft repayment
procedures.
“We started with six members but now we are 50,” said Mtumbei adding that among
the members 33 are women.
Sighting problems, Mtumbei explained that still some people are hesitant to join
with SACCOS because of historical background of Tanzanian cooperative societies
with dirty image in the community.
“The attitude of Let us see is another problem,” said Mtumbei.
Mara dairy farmers exhorted
to boost milk production
By Beldina Nyakeke, Musoma
Dairy farmers in the four districts of Mara Region earn an average of Tsh. 50
million a month from selling milk at the New Mara Dairy factory in Musoma town.
According to the executive director of the factory, James Mathayo, the factory
with a capacity of processing 10,000 litres of milk a day, at present processes
only between 3000 and 5000 litres of milk a day.
He named the milk producing districts as Bunda, Tarime, Serengeti and Rural
Musoma.
Mathayo urged dairy farmers to improve their livestock so that they produce more
milk for a market that is now faced with shortage of milk. By doing so, he said,
the dairy farmers can augment their income pull themselves out of poverty.
Mathayo advised the government to encourage Tanzanians to drink more milk.
“If the government encourages Tanzanians to drink even half a litre of milk
daily, the nation will have stronger people and life expectancy will increase,”
said Mathayo adding, the government is in a good position to motivate people
drink milk daily.
His factory he said, will be prepared to join hands with the government and
reduce the price of milk, if the latter ensures children drink milk in schools,
patients in hospitals and workers in factories.
Tax burden turns employers
off higher salaries
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
Some employers in the country hesitate to increase salaries of their workers,
for the fear of increased tax burden under the new tax Act of 2004.
This was revealed last week by the Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial
Workers Organisation (TUICO) Secretary General Boniface Nkakatisi, when talking
to members of TUICO Executive Council at Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT)
hall in Dodoma Municipality.
Nkakatisi said following enactment of the new law, there are now a string of
taxes charged on workers’ salaries.
Some employers, therefore, feel that increasing the allowances on the salaries
of their employees, is tantamount to increasing their tax load, Nkakatisi
observed.
He added that TUICO is planning to study the new Act in depth, so that it is in
a better position to fight its members from being oppressed by the new law.
Meanwhile, Nkakatisi requested TUICO leaders to unearth corrupt workers in their
work areas. Members of the Executive Committee who are attending a seminar in
Dodoma, he said, will learn the right ways to get concrete evidence on acts of
corruption.
Teachers to fight corruption
By Express Correspondent
Nyamagana District Commissioner Peter Kiroga said last week that the task of
combating corruption wrests with every individual.
Kiroga was opening a course on fighting corruption, incorporating teachers from
primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in the districts of Misungwi,
Ilemela and Nyamagana.
In addition to individuals being duty bound to combat corruption, they also need
education to understand the impact of corruption and the way to end corruption,
he said.
The decision to educate teachers on the modalities of fighting corruption has
been taken wisely, considering that teachers are the educators of the community,
he observed.
Cashew nut market promising,
says CBT official
By Ashton Balaigwa, Morogoro
Tanzania has earned US $ 21.1 million (Tsh. 21.1 billion) from sales of 3.9
million kilogrammes of cashew nut in the country and abroad in the past five
years - 1999 to 2004.
These facts were revealed by the Cashewnut Board of Tanzania (CBT)’s Marketing
and Promotion Manager Musa Meza in an interview with The Express in Morogoro.
Meza said the production of the crop continued to rise day by the day.
In the period of 1999/2000, he said, CBT sold a total of 82,555 kilogrammes of
cashew nut earning US$ 421,844 (Tsh. 421,844,000), while in the seasons of
2000/2001 697,750 kilogrammes was sold fetching US$ 2,413,903 (Tsh.
2,413,903,000).
During the 2001/2002 season, CBT sold 1,159,015 kilogrammes of cashew nut, which
fetched US$ 3,513,931 (Tsh. 3,513,931,000), Meza said. In the period of
2002/2003, CBT sold cashew nuts weighing 1,027,948 kilos for US$ 3,264,884
(Tsh.3,264,884000); while in the 2003/2004 season a total of 3 922,656 kilos of
cashew nuts was sold, bringing in US$ 12,483,675 (Tsh.12,483,675,000).
There is a stable market for the growing crop contrary to claims by some people
that cashew nut has no market.
The cashew nut crop has a certain market in Tanzania and the biggest importer of
the crop is India.
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