1,000/- a litre
By Express Team
Tanzania’s fuel pump prices have catapulted to their highest levels since
independence and yet little is being done to pull back the prices from the
imminent four-digit mark.
The spiralling fuel prices could bring in their wake unwelcome rise in
inflation, restrict economic growth - not to say disillusion the voters with
elections just 18 months away.
Currently, fuel pump prices for petrol sold in Dar es Salaam range between Tsh.
900 and Tsh. 980 while diesel is sold at between Tsh. 860 and Tsh. 880, forcing
motorists and manufacturers to dig deeper into their reserves to absorb the
rising cost of keeping cars and production.
Tanzanian fuel prices are hit by two factors — shilling depreciation and world
crude oil prices that have risen by about 30 per cent this year to levels not
seen since the early 1980s, almost touching the US$50-a-barrel mark.
However, in real terms, stripping out inflation, oil prices remain lower than
the highs reached in 1979 during the Iranian revolution. During that period the
price of crude oil averaged US$80 a barrel in today’s money.
There are a dozen and one factors influencing the price rise, but Freight on
Board (FoB) price of finished petroleum products, shilling depreciation and a
number of taxes influence pricing.
Every litre of oil is taxed Tsh. 330 that includes Sales Tax, VAT, Road Fund and
a commission for the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) for oil
development and research. These are but a few taxes imposed on fuel.
Tanzania Association of Oil Companies Marketing (TAOCM)s' Thomas Masili said
Tuesday that due to the volatile world markets “it’s obvious that (the) prices
will continue to climb further” as companies adjust prices in accordance with
purchasing cost.
Until 1997, the petroleum sector had traditionally been a highly regulated
business. Thereafter, the government liberalised downstream market ostensibly to
promote competition in the sector. TAOMC has 15 members, who control over 80 per
cent of the market share.
Tanzania procures its finished product from overseas — mainly from Saudi Arabia.
Currently, the annual consumption stands at 1.4 billion litres.
The increase in fuel prices in the country adds upward pressure on the inflation
rate, as transportation costs go up. But even those who don’t have a car will
feel the impact. Rising oil prices lead to higher business costs, cutting into
business profitability. Many businesses, such as airlines, will seek to pass
this onto the consumer, cutting into household income.
Since President Mkapa came to power in 1995, the government has been trying to
tame inflation to four per cent but failed on account of various factors —
mainly drought. However it managed to curb it from 30 per cent plus, to about
five per cent of today.
Like inflation, government efforts to reach poverty alleviation GDP of 7 to 8
per cent could not be attained. In 2003/04 fiscal year, the economy grew by 5.9
per cent, the below 6.3 per cent estimated.
Nevertheless, Tanzania has made a tremendous leap in striping fuel-dependence in
running some of its industries, after the completion of Songo Songo gas project.
The gas reached Dar es Salaam last month.
TANESCO is using the gas to fire its electrical turbines, producing about 115
megawatts, and Tanzania Portland Cement Co. Ltd. (TPCC) converted its
furnace-kiln to gas - a move the management said could save Tsh. 6 billion on
fuel annually. The Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (TBL) is next in line as currently a
gas pipe is being laid to the factory.
The demand is fuelled by global economic expansion which is driving what the
International Energy Agency says is the biggest increase in oil demand for 16
years. There is higher than expected demand in industrialised countries and
China’s rapidly expanding economy has created a huge demand boost.
On the other hand, major oil exporters are divided between those such as Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait that favour lifting output in an attempt to ease prices, and
those such as Venezuela that argue against conciliatory moves towards big
consumers, principally the US.
The president of OPEC last week predicted that crude oil prices - which broke
US$46 a barrel last week - would tumble to US$30 a barrel next year.
According to Peter Odell, emeritus professor of energy studies at Erasmus
University, Rotterdam, the blame for the 50 per cent increase in oil prices over
the past six months lies firmly with the financial institutions betting on the
direction of the price.
An institute in Sweden has released a report, this month, where it has tried to
calculate the effects of a high oil price on the global economy. It has assumed
that the prices on oil will gradually recede to US$ 28 per barrel at the end of
2006.
OPEC is currently pumping 30 million barrels per day and is not having any
greater free production capacity. OPEC will meet in Vienna next month to decide
over its production.
Tibaigana wake up
By Kizito Makoye
Dar es Salaam Regional Police Commander RPC Alfred Tibaigana, the architect of
the exercise to ensure that Dar motorists have their cars inspected before
safety stickers are issued, has all reason to be furious with his officers after
The Express investigations reveal that there is no inspection being done even
when visiting the Central Police. Stickers are issued without inspectors even
testing your car!
The issue came into limelight after the RPC said that all those caught with
stickers but no certificates of their cars having being inspected will be
prosecuted.
The Express investigation conducted in Dar es Salaam Tuesday revealed only a
handful of motorists showing interest in getting their vehicles inspected.
Despite the meagre number, the inspectors do not bother to carry out inspection
but merely demand the required fee and issue completed ‘vehicle inspection
report’ and stickers.
The main objective of vehicle inspection is to save motorists from fatal
accidents, but the way things stand, it has become a meaningless, symbolic
exercise - prelude to the National Road Safety Week celebrations, scheduled at
national level in Ruvuma between September 18 and 25.
The idea seems to be non-starter considering the poor human resource allocated
to it.
If the six traffic inspectors, appointed by the traffic police in Dar es Salaam
for the vehicle inspection exercise, were to inspect the 200,000 plus motor
vehicles in Dar, at an average of one car every 15 minutes (i.e 24 cars for the
six inspectors every hour) and assuming the inspectors work ten hours day, the
total maximum number of cars that the inspectors can inspect a day is 240.
At this rate, assuming the inspectors also work on weekends, it would take them
over two years to inspect all the cars in Dar alone! Even a lay person, with
some simple arithmetic, can figure out how serious the police are about
inspecting motor vehicles.
The Express investigative reporter witnessed uniformed inspectors, with no
equipment at all and doubtful credentials, issuing reports such as “no
mechanical fault defected” even to vehicles with mechanical problems.
The investigation further revealed that no extra money was charged for the
report other than charges for the road safety stickers, which cost between Tsh.
3,000 and Tsh. 4,000 for private and commercial vehicles, respectively.
When asked how vehicle inspection was being carried out, the three inspectors on
duty declared there was no need for them to undertake any inspection as long as
the report was issued!
The officials’ nonchalant attitude has completely destroyed motorists’
confidence and most opt to go to streets, where they can get counterfeit
stickers easily.
“Umeleta Magari mangapi boss, na ukaguzi wa aina gani unaotaka…mbona tunasikia
wewe una magari mengi sana (how many cars have you brought today boss, and what
kind of inspection do you want us to do… we are told you own many vehicles),”
queried a relaxed uniformed vehicle inspector at the Traffic Police
headquarters, when this reporter accompanied by a driver approached him with a
decidedly faulty car.
The driver was later ordered by the police to bring the car to the compound for
inspection. Surprisingly, no inspection was done at all and the queries
pertained to the car model and ownership. Thus, an unsafe car got an all-clear
signal.
Despite proof to the contrary, the Dar es Salaam Regional Traffic Officer (RTO),
Afraen Ndossi maintains that all vehicles sent to them are being inspected.
Apparently, there is a huge communication gap between the management and
officers assigned for inspection.
Ndosi reiterated that motorists were being offered free inspection on the eve of
the Road Safety Week. Under normal circumstances, they would be apprehended and
prosecuted, he said. The punishment, according to him, includes a fine of up to
Tsh. 20,000.
He told The Express that the inspection exercise is being conducted at different
designated areas in the city, including Chang’ombe police station, Oysterbay,
Central Police Station, Ubungo Terminal and Magomeni. He admitted though that
the inspectors are stationed in the designated areas and not many motorists are
interested in getting their vehicles inspected.
He warned that as soon as the Road Safety Week is over, the police will launch a
massive crackdown on all vehicles that do not bear the Road Safety Stickers.
Regarding fake stickers, Ndosi admitted there are unscrupulous people making
money out of the exercise.
RTO Ndossi was quoted by a newspaper as saying genuine stickers are not for sale
and should be given to motorists only after proper vehicle inspection.
The Express investigation revealed that sticker forgery is a lucrative business
and a relatively easy task as the stickers do not have any special security
features. The only criteria that police use to establish the authenticity of the
stickers is their issue number and signature, which the forgers can easily
duplicate.
Stakeholders in the transport sector are unhappy about the Ministry of Home
Affairs taking over as the custodian of the motor vehicle inspection exercise
while clearly lacking expertise.
An official with the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Works was quoted
recently saying, they had on several occasions raised the issue with the police,
but in vain.
“On several occasions during meetings with other stakeholders we have called for
the exercise to be carried out by experts and not police officers, who lack
expertise to do the job,” he observed.
He said mostly it is the drivers who are blamed for fatal accidents, but the
real problem lies with the vehicles that are not road worthy.
Dar as Salaam Regional Police Commander (RPC) Alfred Tibaigana could not be
reached for comments as he has travelled to Zanzibar.
LIBEL CASES: MEdia to get fair
deal
By Kizito Makoye
The High Court of Tanzania has appointed 12 journalist court assessors from
various media institutions to scrutinise cases filed in the court against
journalists, media outlets, houses and institutions.
The Executive Secretary of Media Council of Tanzania, Anthony Ngaiza, told The
Express in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday that the
appointment is based on the Council’s recommendation.
Selected journalists include: Ichikaeli Maro (Daily News) Theophil Makunga
(Mwananchi) Kajubi Mukajanga (MCT), Pili Mtambalike (MCT) Ayub Rioba (IJMC) and
Aloyce Komba (The African).
Others are Flora Wingia (Nipashe), Saidi Nguba (Uhuru), James Mwakisyala (The
East African), Pudenciana Temba (Daily News), Theodatus Muchunguzi (Mwananchi)
and Alakok Mayombo (The Guardian).
The journalists were selected based on their experience in newspaper
publication, English language fluency and age (below 60 years).
“The MCT considers the High Court’s move as a watershed in the history of the
media industry in Tanzania…it should therefore be seen as a guarantee for press
freedom in the country, and should be emulated by other countries across the
continent,” he stressed.
According to Ngaiza, court assessors with no media training, experience or
exposure have in the past handled all cases involving the media. As a result
questionable verdicts were reached in most cases as people who could not
appreciate the nature of journalistic work, environment and circumstances in
which alleged offences were committed, determined them.
He further said the condition of service for court assessors are still poor and
unfavourable in terms of emoluments and work environment.
He added that MCT is working on a project that can help get independent
resources outside the court system so as to help the appointed journalist court
assessors foot the incurred costs when offering their services to the Court.
“Court assessors with background in journalism are going to be a salvation to
the media industry…the assessors must evaluate the nature of environment in
which the accused committed the said offence…respected journalist has the
ability to assess the case in a balanced manner,” he reiterated.
According to government Notice No. 3/76 the Magazine Act, in all defamatory of
character cases, assessors must be involved.
Govt ignores human rights
treaties claims LHRC
By Angela Mazula and Timothy
Kitundu
While Tanzania has been in the forefront in the ratification of various human
rights instruments, it has failed to issue the periodic report to the African
Commission on Human and People’s Rights, which was last submitted in 1991.
Over the past 15 years the government of Tanzania has not submitted any report
to the economic social council as required under the International Convention on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
According to the 2003 Annual Report of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC),
the government has the obligation of ensuring that it conforms to the
international standards of human rights; first by ratifying the said
international instruments and making them part of Tanzanian laws.
Speaking to The Express, Executive Director of LHRC, Hellen Bisimba said that
there are some conventions that the government has ratified but have failed to
pass as laws. This will only add confusion, she stressed.
The report further says that last year, Tanzania ratified two conventions on
specific children’s rights but there has not been any laws made to domesticate
the earlier ratifications such as the International Convention on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR).
Other conventions that have not been integrated into the country’s laws include
ICESCR, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on
the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
In terms of constitutional reform the report states, the government is not
convinced that there is a need for constitutional reforms instead it has amended
some parts of the constitution.
Professor Khoti Kamanga of the University of Dar es Salaam pointed to some of
the difficulties the government face in regard to ratification of human rights
conventions as well as integrating them into the law.
If it fully accepts many of the human right conventions, it is obliged to
provide well-stocked libraries, acquire equipment that is modern and appropriate
to legal related work and establish intersectroral government agencies with
responsibility for the coordination and implementation of the obligations
arising from human rights treaties.
Moreover, critics would argue that the death penalty is inconsistent with the
said treaty, said Kamanga.
Assistance Chairman of Commission of Human Rights and Good Governance,
Ambassador Ahmed Ramia said the government has to be careful when signing these
kinds of conventions because “some of what is being stated in the treaties does
not correspond with our culture and tradition,” he said.
“As a government you can’t sign all treaties which come in front of you. There
are some issues, like the right for homosexual people to receive equal respect
and recognition as heterosexual people (which is stated in human rights
treaties), but that is something Tanzania does not allow,” he said.
He said the government must be given enough time to go through these treaties
and conventions and debate on which parts of them that should be ratified,
without causing problems to society.
Mentally retarded children
visit Selous Game Reserve
By Apolinari Tairo
A group of 25 mentally handicapped children from Mbagala Primary School in Dar
es Salaam have made a learning trip to Selous Game Reserve this week, to
stimulate their senses through wildlife viewing.
The special trip, the first of its kind to involve disadvantaged children, has
been organized by the Mbagala Unit of the Mentally Handicapped Children and
facilitated by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and the Selous Game Reserve
management.
The children, most of whom cannot speek, managed to interact with the wild
creatures in the world’s biggest wildlife reserve and learnt the secrets of
nature through seeing and listening.
Incharge of the Special Education Unit for Mbagala Primary School, Lightness
Mbila said the trip was part of a learning programme designed to help the
children to learn visually outside their homes and school so as to increase
their grasping capacity.
“Through such trips, there will be very drastic and quick changes in their
brains and senses,” said Mbila.
“We are preparing and changing this group of disadvantaged children to be
acceptable in their communities by imparting them with both classroom education
and outside knowledge through this kind of trips”, she said.
Children suffering from mental disorders have been neglected, denied parental
and societal care because most Tanzanian communities regard them as cursed
members and unwanted newborns.
Mbila said the children’s interaction with wild animals during the visit had
changed their sensations and behaviour. They can now speak to their teachers and
parents about the wildlife through signs and facial expressions.
The three-day visit took the children to various parts of the park where they
managed to view the wild animals roaming in their natural habitat.
Both TTB and The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism are encouraging local
communities to visit the country’s wildlife to increase cultural and local
tourism.
Govt fails in its mission
By Lina Lorentz
The government has put itself in a catch 22 situation regarding the illegal
occupants living in the Jangwani Valley close to the City centre Dar es Salaam.
The government has for many years claimed that the occupants pose a health
threat to the City since the area they occupy is flooded every rainy season,
thus increasing the risk of the spread of diseases such as cholera.
Once in a while the government made attempts to solve the problem by threatening
the occupants of eviction and demolition of their houses. But in many cases the
threats fail to materialise as the residents take the matter to court and get a
court injunction stopping any attempts of eviction, unless the government pay
compensation to the concerned residents.
Upon such a decision, the government retract its threats and the occupants can
go back to their homes.
Khatib Muhammed, a resident of Jangwani for 12 years, told of many instances
where the residents, when faced with the threat of eviction, collected money in
their community and took the matter to court.
“The government is not serious in its intention. It knows that in order to get
us evicted it will have to pay us compensation. The government is not committed
to spend that money,” he said.
“Without compensation, I have no option but to remain here,” the married man
with two children explained.
In fact, Muhammed described the area, which the government ideally wants to see
demolished, as any other community, with its own kindergarten, nearby police
station and CCM office. “Our children go to schools in Muhimbili, Mchikichini
and Magomeni. Of course it is a struggle for them, as they get to school on foot
and walk along heavy trafficked roads,” he said.
Hamis Makuka, a 67-year-old resident of the area, explained that for the last
couple of years, people have tried to build better houses to cope with annual
floods. “The foundations have improved as well as the roofing,” he said. “In
fact, the floods are not of such a big concern and there are hardly any
outbreaks of diseases affecting the children,” he said.
Other changes that have taken place were last year’s installation of a communal
water tap provided by the government. “We had lobbied for fresh water for many
years, and finally the government gave in for our demands,” said Makuka.
The Jangwani community, some of whose residents keep cows, pigs and goats, have
witnessed increasing numbers of occupants in the last years, many of whom are
relatives to already settled families.
Preservation of ancient fish
launched
By Kizitto Joseph
Six African countries have jointly formed an African Coelacanth Ecosystem
Programme (ACEP) with the aim of ensuring preservation of coelacanth (ancient
fish) and rare fish species in the African continent.
Assistant chairperson of the National Coelacanth Committee, Ibrahim Katenda told
journalists in Dar es Salaam that the programme will give education on
geophysical habitats of the species, coelacanth biology, oceanography, marine
ecology, molecular biology and geographical information.
The countries running the programme are South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania,
Kenya, Comoro and Madagascar.
As part of the programme activities, yesterday a research ship from East London
arrived at the Dar es Salaam Port providing opportunities for people to go
onboard and see marine creatures found in the Ocean.
However Katenda said the programme still needs donors to sponsor the running of
day-to-day activities.
John Mapelele, National coordinator of Environmental Education, Coelacanth
Committee explained that the programme would seek to enhance people’s
understanding and knowledge of ancient and rare fish.
According to Mapelele, Tanzania has managed to preserve only three species of
coelacanth. The species were drawn from water along Kilwa, Dar es Salaam and
Mafia Islands.
Commission hires cars for
election
By Kizitto Joseph
The National Electoral Commission will not buy new cars to offer transport
service during the coming general elections due to its poor financial situation;
instead it will hire cars from various places.
Director for Elections, Rajab Kiravu said this last week when attending a
seminar in Dar es Salaam organised by the National Electoral Commission on the
use of a Permanent Voters’ Book during the forthcoming general elections.
He explained to the District Directors at the seminar that due to lack of
sufficient funds, the commission would hire cars to offer transport services
during registration and voting.
Kiravu urged the directors to ensure proper use of the money. In previous
elections, some Directors misused the funds and caused problems in accomplishing
the task.
The use of the voters’ book is a new introduction to Tanzania thus the
commission was explaining essential procedures to be followed when using it.
In the 2000 general elections, the National Electoral Commission used cars
granted by the Japanese government. This time President Mkapa had already
announced that almost all costs of the 2005 general elections depends on
internal funding.
School neglected for 40 years
By Kizitto Joseph, recently in
Morogoro
Mzumbe Secondary School is facing acute problems with its school building due to
lack of maintenance; buildings are likely to collapse if immediate measures to
repair them are not taken, Ray Mwasha, Headmaster of the School said last week.
He told The Express that on top of this dilemma, the school also has problems of
scarcity of clean and safe water, lack of classrooms and teachers, as well as
referral and textbooks and laboratory equipment.
"The buildings and infrastructure are worn out. The School is going to collapse
at any time if maintenance is not carried out", said Mwasha.
Despite all these, the School has an excellent academic record as it scored high
marks in the National Exams, but due to the current problems, many of the
successful students are forced to shift to other schools.
Mwasha said Mzumbe Secondary School, which was opened in 1953, had its last
maintenance in 1957. He considered over 40 years without maintenance as posing a
serious risk to the lives of staff members and students.
“For over 40 years the buildings have been neglected. I would be surprised if
they lasted another five years. Many students opt to study outside the
classrooms to escape possible disaster in waiting,” said Mwasha.
Once the annual exam results are out, the school always receives congratulations
and positive remarks from government officials, Mwsha told. But no body seems
inclined to support the school financially. “The school needs help from
different people. We have opened an account with the aim of giving people the
chance to give their contribution to our Quality Education Development Fund,” he
said.
In the last Form VI results, Mzumbe performed well and was among the top schools
in the country, it managed to produce six out of the ten best students
nationwide. It has maintained this position for the past consecutive five years.
Bandits grab cars, kill
driver
By Kim Aidan, Morogoro
Three people grabbed two cars, killed one of the drivers and stole over Tsh. 10
million in salaries belonging to workers of Kingwita Sisal Estates, when the
driver was on his way from the bank.
The incident happened last week, on former Dar es Salaam highway (Bigwa Road) at
Railway Crossing. The offenders intercepted the car belonging to Kingolwira
Sisal Estates (registration number TZP 1218), driven by Rashid Ramadhani, whom
they shot in the neck.
Soon after the attack, the bandits tried to flee to Matombo via Bigwa Road but
had an accident and overturned before reaching Bigwa Road.
The bandits escaped unhurt from the accident and grabbed a bicycle from a
passer-by, riding it to the main Dar es Salaam Road, where they grabbed another
car going in the same direction towards Mbeya.
Morogoro Regional Police Commander, Christopher Shekiondo said the bandits
threatened the driver with a gun and forced him out of the car.
The turmoil drew the attention of many people; some even started to chase the
car. When the driver was forced out of the car, people mistook him for one of
the bandits. Upon grabbing him, people began to beat him up until police arrived
on the scene and ordered people to stop what they were doing.
The driver got injuries round his head and a broken arm, and was rushed to
Morogoro Regional Hospital for treatment.
The police are still searching for the three offenders.
In the last couple of weeks there have been several car robberies and killings
in the area.
Children ward to cost 100m
By Ashton Balaigwa, Morogoro
Morogoro Regional Hospital expects to spend more than Tsh. 100 million on the
construction of a modern children ward.
The ward is expected to be operational in November this year would have a
capacity of accommodating more patients than it does at present.
Talking to The Express on Monday, Morogoro Regional Medical Officer Dr. Meshack
Massi said, up to now, a total of Tsh. 85 million has been spent on the
construction of the ward.
The modern children ward when completed will have the capacity of accommodating
or admitting enough children to reduce the present problem of congestion and
over-crowding.
Completion of the modern ward, he said, will expand the Morogoro Regional
Hospital’s capacity of providing services to children and minimize deaths which
occur from various diseases.
At present, Massi said, the hospital has two wards capable of admitting 38
children at a time. One ward is specifically for those with infectious diseases
and the other for common diseases.
In another development, Morogoro Regional Hospital is confronted with the
problem of lack of blood, Dr. Massi said.
Morogoro Regional Hospital receives many accident victims, due to centrality of
its position on Dar es Salaam – Tunduma highway; but the blood bank services
have so far remained unused.
The hospital management is waiting for a directive from the Central Government
to start the blood bank services.
Climbers advised to check
their health
By Heckton Chuwa, Moshi
Tour operators who deals with mountain climbing have been urged to advise their
clients to do health check-ups before commencing their trips.
A KCMC referral hospital specialist when talking to The Express on Friday,
following the deaths of two tourists who were climbing Mount Kilimanjaro a few
weeks ago.
He said that climbing Africa’s highest mountain without having a proper health
check-up first could put one’s life at risk.
A few weeks ago at two separate occasions, a Namibian and South African tourist
died when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It was established they both experienced
breathing problems.
The specialist, who preferred anonymity, said the death of the first climber was
a result of breathing problem he experienced when descending from the mountain.
“The second tourist suffered similar symptoms but according to his colleagues
who accompanied him, he was running the risk of having a heart attack and had
been given medication to prevent it. But he had forgotten to take the regular
dose of the medication,” said the specialist, adding, when he experienced the
problem, the guide and fellow participants tried to help him but it was too
late.
He said many people visit Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. If an increasing
number of them consulted their doctors beforehand more climbers would enjoy the
experience. He advised operators to inform prospective climbers of the
conditions they will be put under when they make the trek; perhaps even putting
the information in their advertisements.
Residents contribute 29.5m/-
By Sebastian Gabunga, Ngudu
Residents of eight wards of Kwimba District in Mwanza Region have contributed a
total of Tsh. 29,559,425 for construction of ward secondary schools in
cooperation with Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).
TASAF Coordinator in Kwimba District, Julius Swai said the money had been
contributed by the community through various projects.
The money, he said, has enabled construction of classrooms, administration
blocks and teachers’ houses in every ward.
Explaining further Swai said up to June 30 this year, every ward had contributed
between Tsh. 1.7 million and Tsh. six million and that contributions were
continuing well.
According to Swai a total of Tsh. 1.6 billion is need to complete construction
of the eight secondary schools. TASAF has been asked to contribute Tsh. 1.2
billion and wananchi the rest.
Baby dies after being dropped
in toilet
By Belensi Alkadi, Bunda
A baby girl aged seven months and weighing 1.8 kg was found thrown in a toilet
pit in Mugeta Village, Mugeta Ward, Chamriho Division, Bunda District in Mara
Region; she later died in hospital.
Mugeta Ward Councillor Asha Abdallah, told reporters Monday that the baby girl
was rescued from a toilet pit at Mugeta Public Auction area August 21 this year,
around 7.00 am.
The baby was discovered after a young man named Malembo, went to the toilet and
heard the baby crying. He informed the Ten Cell Leader of the area, who issued
an alarm to the community.
After rescuing the baby girl from the toilet, they found that she was tied to a
rope probably used to drop the baby in the toilet pit.
They took the baby to Mugeta Police Post and then to Mugeta Health Centre for
examination. After examination, she was found with a cut in the face and arm. As
the Health Centre could not provide sufficient help, the baby girl was rushed to
Bunda Designated Hospital where she died last Sunday at 7.00 am, shortly after
she was treated.
According to Abdallah nobody has been arrested in connection to the incident.
LHRC demands explanation
By Beldina Nyakeke, Musoma
The Legal Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has requested the Police in Mara Region to
give an explanation regarding the claims of a policeman murdering a woman,
Malima Marceli, two months ago.
In the letter sent to the Regional Police Commander (of which The Express has a
copy), LHRC Director Hellen Kijo-Bisimba, claims the organisation received the
news of the murder from their representative in Musoma, saying the Police in
Mara had failed to bring the accused policeman to justice.
Kijo-Bisimba questions the way in which the Police investigations has been
conducted and asks for explanation by the Police concerning for example the
allegation that relatives to the murdered woman have been told to “shut up”.
“We have found that we better intervene in the issue, so that if your office has
no information about the event, it should be informed and take appropriate
steps. If your office has information, we should learn the steps being
undertaken,” read the letter, which was also copied to the Criminal
Investigation Officer (CIO).
Kijo-Bisimba dismissed steps taken by the Police of allegedly transferring the
accused policeman to Serengeti District, claiming that this indicates the police
boss embraces his subordinates when they commit crimes.
The police allegedly killed Marceli during a music show held at Musoma Hotel
Hall on claims that the deceased entered the Hall wearing slippers.