Final call for NMB purchase
By Business Correspondent
The Presidential Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) has issued a final
notice to invite interested strategic investors to express their preliminary
interest in purchasing 49 per cent of Nation Microfinance Bank.
PSRC, the government agency for privatisation, set the deadline for the final
call to 17th of this month.
PSRC set a condition for shareholding in NMB: the bidder should be a consortium
of strategic investors led by a commercial bank having proven experience in
banking business.
“The government seeks expressions of interest from a consortium of strategic
investors led by a commercial bank having proven experience in banking business
to purchase 49 per cent,” the statement, which was issued, last week, reads.
On top of that, other things being equal, the Government would prefer a
consortium that would include Tanzanian investor(s).
PSRC says the government plans to sell 21 per cent of the shareholding to
citizens of Tanzania or bodies corporate whose beneficial ownership is held by
citizens of Tanzania or held by companies whose share capital is wholly owned by
citizens of Tanzania.
The selling of 21 per cent would follow the completion of sales of 49 per cent
of the shareholding to the aforementioned strategic investors. The government
will retain 30 per cent of the shareholding in NMB for possible sale to the
public at a later stage.
NMB has 104 branches and four agencies and customer deposits of approximately
Tsh. 384 billion as at 31, December 2003.
It is the country’s largest bank in terms of customer deposits and has
substantial customer base throughout the country, including urban centres. It
also has the largest branch network in the country.
Helsinki meeting raises alarm
By Leonard Magomba
The second meeting of the Helsinki Group drew the conclusion that the world is
at risk, endangered, unsafe, unbalanced and undemocratic.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Jakaya Kikwete, said:
“The environmental crises, the security threats, the poverty gap and the
democracy deficit are urgently the problems to be solved.”
Kikwete added that, in the government of globalisation, there is lack of
engagement in making decisions and a need of empowerment of people to
participate.
“There is, as well, a lack of political will to implement the globally agreed
policies and need of results in achieving viable, safe, fair and democratic
globalisation,” he observed.
“The present mechanism are insufficient; global institutions have failed to
correct these global ‘wrongs’. This is due to structural blockages in the
international system,” he said.
According to him, we need a new approach to solving global problems. The
challenge is to introduce new methods of global action and this is because the
global decision-making needs a transformative change, even a paradigm shift.
Finland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Erkki Tuomioja, said, “There is an
alternative way towards a world, which is fair, safe, viable and democratic. The
Hilsinki process becomes an alliance for such a change.”
Tuomioja added that, the changes aim at making the international community more
democratically accountable in setting global policies and secondly more coherent
and more compliant in implementation of the globally agreed policies, like human
rights and the UN Millennium Goals on Poverty and Human Security.
Tanga Cement shares hit
1,000-mark
By Abduel Kenge
Tanga Cement Company’s share price have reached a new height after attaining the
four-digit mark to change hands at Tsh. 1,000 this week.
The Tanga-based Cement Company’s shares, traded under Simba, experienced a price
upsurge soon after the declaration of dividend of Tsh. 28 per share.
Friday, last week, when the Dar Stock Exchange (DSE) closed for the weekend,
Simba shares closed at Tsh. 970 per share. On Tuesday, this week, Simba counter
had 32,809 shares traded at Tsh. 1,000 cum dividend per share in seven deals.
Simba shares traded Tsh.1,000, being the highest since the cement company was
listed two years ago. The primary listing price was Tsh. 330 per share.
Tanga Cement posted a net profit after tax of Tsh. 3.473 billion, representing a
31 per cent increase over the first six months of 2003.
In April, this year, the company was awarded ISO 14001 certification in
environmental accreditation to become the only cement company in East Africa to
be certified.
Overall, trading at the bourse this Tuesday saw increase of turnover to Tsh.
122.13 million compared to Tsh. 20.95 million from the previous session. A total
of 102,499 shares were traded in 31 deals compared to 27,106 shares traded in 14
deals of the previous session.
Four counters were active. DAHACO counter had 9,831 shares traded at Tsh. 570
per share in 10 deals. The Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (TBL) counter had 51,519
shares traded at Tsh. 1,340 and Tsh. 1,360 per share in 10 deals while the
Tanzania Cigarette Co. (TCC) counter had 8,340 shares traded at Tsh. 1,760 per
share in four deals.
Furthermore, when today’s trading session closed, there was an outstanding offer
of 10.08 pert cent seven-year Treasury bond with the face value of Tsh. 19
million at 102 per cent.
TIC chapter in Moshi
By Kizito Makoye
The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has opened for business, its first Zonal
Office situated in the Regional Block Moshi, Kilimanjaro, in a bid to promote
and stimulate entrepreneurship growth.
According to a statement signed by TIC Executive Director, Samwel Sitta, the
move is aimed at bringing investment promotion and facilitation services closer
to people so that local entrepreneurs can easily access TIC’s services for
increased economic activities.
The statement further said that TIC Zonal office will cater to all Northern
Regions including Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Manyara,Tanga and Singida.
The office will be fully operating under TIC headquarters, which is the primary
agency of the Government to coordinate, encourage, promote and facilitate
investment in the country and to advise the government on investment policy and
related matters.
To maintain TIC role as a “one-stop facilitative centre” the Zonal office would,
assist project establishment or business start-up; that is facilitate new
businesses, obtain licenses, work permits and visa approvals.
The office will also be responsible for stimulating and facilitating the growth
of SMEs and entrepreneurship in the Zone, providing and disseminating up-to-date
information on investment opportunities and incentives available to investors;
and, lastly, to secure investment sites and process land title deeds for
investors.
The opening ceremony of the new Zonal office will be officiated by Vice
President, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein on Friday.
LDC exports flourish
By Angela Mazula
Trade preference schemes are a key element in industrialised nations’ effort to
enhance the integration of Least Development Countries (LDC) into the world
economy.
Downing of tariffs while exporting to North America and European markets is
expected to encourage the flow of products from LDCs, raising their export
earnings and stimulating investment and economic growth there.
According to a recent report of the African Foreign Investor survey, the EU
grants duty free access to imports of all products from the LDCs with the
exception of arms, ammunition and without any quantitative restriction.
Liberalisation was immediately expected for three products — fresh banana, rice
and sugar for which tariffs will gradually be reduced to zero in 2006 for banana
and in 2009 for rice and sugar, the report indicates.
Furthermore, there are duty free tariff quotas for rice and sugar, which will
be increased annually. A majority of products already receive duty free
treatment under the Cotonou Agreement.
With the exception of arms extended tariff and quota free access to the EU
market has been availed to the remaining 919 products that include agricultural
and poultry products, vegetable, fruits, wines and foodstuff such as biscuits
and jams.
The report shows that the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) offers African
countries duty free access to the United States market for thousands of its
products that are provided duty free treatment and an additional 1,835 goods,
not covered under the Cotonou Agreement.
The report shows, among the nearly 758 foreign companies surveyed in 10
countries, there were 27 companies that considered taking advantage of AGOA a
crucial factor in their investment decision.
The surveyed companies taking advantage of AGOA are employing about 50,000
staff and have a total investment value of Tsh. 1.4 trillion compared to the
40,000 staff and Tsh. one trillion investment value of companies taking
advantage of EBA.
The African countries are facing stiff competition from India, Bangladesh,
Egypt and China in exporting textiles and apparel to the US.
World drinking water target
being met
By Angela Mazula
The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) programme is on track in its target
reaching 800 million people drinking unsafe water with safe drinking water and
sanitation by 2015.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children
Fund (UNICEF), currently 40 percent of the world’s population does not have
basic sanitation and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of
drinking water.
A recent report by the agencies said this severe human and economic toll could
be prevented by closing the gap between urban and rural population and by
providing simple hygiene education. The agencies warned that a global trend
toward urbanisation is marginalising the rural poor and putting huge strain on
basic service in the cities.
According to the report, diarrhoea currently kills 1.8 million people each year
- most of them children under five years - with millions more left permanently
debilitated and many children, particularly girls, prevented from going to
school for want of latrines, squandering their intellectual and economic
potential.
The Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy, said around the world millions
of children are being born into a silent emergency of simple needs.
“The growing disparity between the haves and the have not in terms of access to
basic service is killing around 4,000 children every day and underlies many of
the 10 million child death each year, so we have to act now to fill this gap or
death toll will certainly rise,” Bellamy warned.
“Water and sanitation are among the most important determinants of public
health. They are amongst the top of WHO’s list of components of primary health
care. Where ever people achieve reliable access to safe drinking water and
adequate sanitation they have won a major battle against a wide range of
diseases” says WHO Director-General Lee Jong-Wook.
According to WHO and UNICEF estimates, an additional 1.1 billion people have
gained access to improved source of drinking water, bringing global coverage
rates from 77 per cent to 83 per cent.
Companies excel in security
equipment
By Joshua Mshana
PEOPLE who want to buy electronic security equipment should opt for local firms
instead of foreign ones, as the former now offer high quality products.
Zilly Mruma, the Managing Director of Tanzania Accelerating Respond Electronic
Security Co. Ltd (TANAR), said in an interview that since there are many foreign
companies around, a lot of customers prefer to go to them.
“People still do not believe that local companies can do a better job compared
to foreign firms. Also, the banks do no any favours to Tanzanians. Foreigners
are the ones who get loans from the banks. Local companies do not grow because
they have no access to bank loans,” he lamented.
“Customers are finding us and seek to get our services as they have already
understood our services and their importance to security. People should save
money and use this security system to cater for long-term security. When a
customer comes to us to buy these electronic security items, they press orders
and get the items in one week,” he said.
The firm is working its way to becoming number one in supplying electronic
equipment in the country.
The main customers of the firm are multinationals, parastatals, embassies and
other local companies.
Stress on value addition in
mineral exports
By Joshua Mshana
In order to fetch higher prices and make their products more competitive, miners
must take their minerals to the Tanga Mineral Centre for processing, to add
value to them before selling the same to international markets.
Martha Bitwale, chairperson of the Tanzania Women Miners Association (TAWOMA),
said in an interview that the recently established mineral centre has already
got an office in the former Regional Trading Cooperation (RTC) building in Tanga
town.
“There are services at the centre which add value to the minerals. After the
value addition, they could be sold at a higher price in the international
market. This will improve the income and welfare of miners. Besides, there will
be regular exhibitions at the centre to create awareness and to sensitise people
dealing with minerals,” she said.
The centre will conduct training for members to enlighten them on various
issues, including market information and how to increase production of minerals
so as to expand their business and alleviate poverty.
TAWOMA has sought assistance of US$ 1,000,000 from several donor organisations
to build its capacity and train members on how to improve mining, she added.
The Centre also needs a mining engineer and a geologist. It needs experts to
assist in accessing markets, establish office, training, mobilisation and
sensitisation. Said Bitwale, TAWOMA members have realised that they need to team
up to succeed in mining activities.
“Unity is very important in order to get support and share information on
markets and networking,” she noted.
According to her, the miners need instruments for mining. Production is low due
to poor equipment, poor technology and inappropriate mining method, she
observed.
“Even if you get the market, you fail to meet the demands. There is no
sustainable market as the minerals are not processed. Gemstones are sold at a
very low price to the United States, which is our main market,” she said.
The price is low as the US gets minerals from Brazil, Burma and Sri Lanka, she
explained and added, for gemstones that have been processed, there is a good
market and the price is also good.
Low-cost houses in Dar, Coast
By Express Correspondent
Dar es Salaam and Coast Regions will in near future see a lot of low-cost houses
built by Shadhily Group Limited (SGL).
According to SGL Director, Al-hay Abdur-rahim Shadhili, the areas initially
chosen for low-cost housing schemes are Kisarawe, Mkuranga, Kibaha and Bagamoyo
Districts in Coast Region; and Temeke, Ilala and Kinondoni Districts in Dar es
Salaam. Shadhili was speaking to journalists at Maelezo last Thursday.
Shadhili said the houses will be built soon and the formalities on getting them
will be announced to the mass media.
The director of SGL added that a research is going on to establish Tanzanians’
purchasing and repayment power to enable the company repay its loan without any
delay.
Petty traders body to have
savings coop soon
By Timothy Kitundu
The Small Industries and Petty Traders Association (VIBINDO) has embarked on an
initiative to establish a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) fund
for its members by October this year.
The association picked SACCOS as its top priority out of its six areas of
operation. Among the top three areas of priority are Savings and Credit
(SACCOS), Training and Micro Health Insurance.
The Secretary General of VIBINDO, Gaston Kikuwi, told The Express in Dare es
Salaam Tuesday that they picked SACCOS as a priority because most of their
members have no access to micro credit facilities; hence the initiative could
act as a proper alternative.
“As a result of this initiative, we hope that if all goes as planned in five
years to come, a fully fledged bank of small-scale traders will take off,”
Kikuwi remarked.
According to Kikuwi, the initiative covers all VIBINDO members conducting
businesses in the three municipalities (Temeke, Ilala and Kinindoni) within Dar
es Salaam and that as an initial step already over 120 members have been joined
up.
He said, all members are eligible to join as long as they belong to the
categorised groups and that each member is allowed to buy a total of 50 shares
each, worth Tsh.2,000, which are to be purchased within a year from the floating
time.
Elaborating, Kikuwi said, the initiative was conceived in June 2004 followed by
a series sensitisation meetings held in June and July for all municipalities.
The second phase of the initiative included the production of a progress report.
“As a result of the meetings, already an interim leadership of 15 leaders - the
Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and seven committee members is in place.
Already the zero-draft of the constitution is underway and in the next meeting
of members it will be approved,” he added.
It is the aim of the association that by the time the project takes off later
this month, it will have achieved a 200 membership and by its official launch
slated for October 2004, it will see at least 500 membership from the
Association’s 40,000 members.
Dock workers demand say in
THA divestiture
By Laurent Susuma
The Dockers Workers Union of Tanzania (DOWUTA) has demanded full participation
in the entire process of privatisation of the Tanzania Harbours Authority (THA).
DOWUTA Secretary General Abdallah Kibunda said in Dar es Salaam this week that
the move will be one of the mechanisms to avoid the crisis that might crop up
between the workers and employers, namely the government.
He said, the Parastatal Sector Reform Commission (PSRC) once prepared to
privatise the ports of Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Mtwara should apply the method
of involving workers in the process at all levels.
“If we are given a role in the process, we will gain good knowledge as also
benefit from the move,” said the Secretary General.
According to him, ports, particularly Dar es Salaam which is the gateway to
Eastern and Southern Africa, should be privatised after all state-owned firms
lined up have been privatised and sold.
“We, the Dar port workers, are suggesting that ports are crucial and sensitive
so the bidders should be scrutinised and their commitment authenticated so that
only the right hands run the ports,” he stressed.
He said ports handle sensitive intelligence and security equipment as well, so
there is a dire need for detailed scrutiny before handing them over to private
firms belonging to foreign investors.
Forests: Alternative
means of income
By Timothy Kitundu
The non-exploitation of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) that require no
capital to start up, has been depriving the nation substantially in
supplementing household food by as much as over 50 per cent, an expert has said.
Instead, the government has concentrated its efforts in the development of
timber products, which need much capital and most Tanzanian entrepreneurs cannot
venture into such businesses as many obstacles stand in their way.
Professor Kiko Hamza of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) told The
Express recently that the government should encourage people to concentrate on
other areas such as the NTFPs.
“People should be encouraged to venture into NTFPs as they require no capital
compared to the log business which apart from the numerous hurdles needs large
capital. Just visit our saw mills, they are in pathetic condition; this applies
to paper mills as well,” he said.
Prof. Hamza, who was speaking to this paper during the Second Worldwide
Symposium on Gender and Forestry held in Arusha, recently, stressed that in
Mgori area, Singida Region, NTFPs ranked second after agricultural products, in
terms of revenue generation from their sales.
He said, agricultural products generated Tsh. 84,600 per annum per household,
accounting for 57 per cent, followed by honey generating Tsh.29,000 per annum
and accounting for 19.5 per cent, whereas building poles generated Tsh.15,000,
accounting for 10.1 per cent.
Other products in chronological order, according to Prof. Hamza, include
Livestock which contributed an income of Tsh.11,840 per annum, accounting for
about eight per cent and fuel wood with an income of 3,600 per annum (2.5 per
cent).
Vegetables contribute Tsh.3,000, about two per cent, and fruits and charcoal
contribute Tsh.1,000 and Tsh.350 each, accounting to about 0.7 and 0.2 per cent,
respectively.
Julius Nyahongo a researcher, told The Express that Singida honey, which is the
best in the world, is sold at a mere Tsh.5,000 per five litres while properly
labelled honey of the same capacity is sold at more than US$1,500 (Tsh.1.5
million).
Mining cos must comply to
environmental laws: VP
By Timothy Kitundu
The government has urged local and foreign mining companies to adhere to the
laid down procedures and regulations in their activities so as to protect the
environment and the eco system, both of which are threatened by disruptive
actions.
The remarks were made by Vice President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, when speaking at
a function to congratulate the Minister of State, Vice President’s Office
(Environment), Arcado Ntagazwa on his appointment as President of the United
Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
Speaking at the gathering, held at Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Shein
stressed, “This is not just a challenge for the whole of Tanzania, but also an
obligation for it to be integrated into the global efforts as far as
environmental issues are concerned.”
Dr. Shein said that by being appointed president of UNEP, the country will be
involved in various initiatives that will benefit the nation, including the
recently signed agreement on the capacity building within the New Partnership
for African Development (NEPAD) environmental initiative.
However, he added, the appointment comes in the wake of good performance and
adherence by mining companies to regulations and rules in their activities.
Alerting the companies to disruptive practices, he mentioned the hazards of
non-compliance to good mining practices as pollution of water catchments vide
chemicals used, air pollution in mining areas and their surroundings,
destruction of the ecology and the indiscriminate felling of indigenous trees,
which are irreplaceable.
“It is therefore an indisputable truth that mining activities that do not adhere
to the regulations increase poverty through the destruction of the environment
which is the axis of people’s livelihood,” he said.
Dr. Shein commended all mining firms which have adhered to the good mining
practices and were given certificates of competency, adding that the awards are
a proof that the firms are making all efforts to fight environmental
destruction.
“I particularly congratulate the Shinyanga Regional Mining Association and
individuals Jones Mushi and Nasser said for seeing the importance of taking part
in contest. This also indicates that they are aware of the importance of
protecting the environment,’ he said.
Speaking on the same occasion, Ntagazwa stressed on the adherence of good mining
practices, coupled with reliable technology and working capital.
Massive lay offs
By Kizitto Joseph
A leading international tourist company has retrenched some of its employees and
asked the rest to stay on unpaid leave, following a drop in its business.
The company, which is a professional seller and marketer of resorts for
holiday-makers, reached this decision August 27 and the business is expected to
resume on October 15 this month.
“Due to the current restructuring of the company, we have been forced to cut
down on the number of staff. It is in this line that I regret to inform you that
your employment has been terminated with immediate effect,” said part of the
termination letter sent to more than 20 employees.
Speaking to his employees through a letter of unpaid leave, Ewan Knowles
Jackson, the Group’s Managing Director, said this decision was important as it
aims to restore the DSM branch back to operational standards.
Phoenix invests in real
estate
By Timothy Kitundu
The Phoenix of Tanzania Assurance Company Limited has become the first private
insurance company to invest in real estate by acquiring the former NBC foreign
branch building, situated at the corner of Azikiwe and Jamhuri Streets in Dar es
Salaam.
By January 2005 the building will be modernized to international standards and
it will be ready for part letting to various customers including banks,
airlines, and offices in general – owing to its strategic position for
commercial occupation.
Subhash Wadhwan, the firm’s General Manager told The Express yesterday that the
aim of the investment was to indicate to their clients that money was invested
in the country.
“Insurance companies all over the world invest in real estates because we are
custodians of the public money and by so doing, we are creating a concrete
confidence to the public,” he added.
Wadhwan was optimistic of investing in real estates in the near future. Earlier
this year, the firm increased its share capital to Tsh. 1.4 billion making it
the highest capitalized insurance company on the market.
Phoenix has a wide base of clientele, which makes it the second largest private
insurance company in Tanzania on gross premium basis. Last year, the firm booked
over Tsh. 8.7 billion.
Fishing plantations mooted
for Zanzibar
By Fakih Yussuf Mohammed,
Zanzibar
Zanzibari fishermen have been urged to acquire modern fishing equipment and
train on fish plantations to improve their lot.
The principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Cooperatives of Zanzibar, Rahma Mshangama, called on fishermen to acquire formal
training, in his speech read on behalf of the Commissioner of Agriculture and
Research for Farmers, at the opening of a three-day work shop on fish
plantations.
The chief guest, director of the Marine science institute Alfonce Dubi, said
research had indicated that Zanzibar was a good place to start the fish
plantation project.
He added that research by his institute at Bumbwini had proved that fish such as
Perge, Mwatiko and Mkizi grow well in plantations.
Meanwhile, the Executive Principal of the Community of Marine Science for
Countries Across Indian Ocean (WIOMS), Julius Francis, said it was important for
experts in Tanzania to undertake research that helps the Society in its poverty
reduction plan.
He said reports on marine research be sent to the fishing communities so that
they could act on them and benefit a lot more.
Petty trade flourishes in
Tanga
By Express Correspondent, Tanga
Following the government’s decision to waive the requirement of business license
for retailers earning less than Tsh. 20 million a year, there is a mushrooming
of retail shops in Tanga Municipality.
The shop doors that were closed because of heavy tax imposed on even small
retail shops, have now re-opened in almost every corner of the municipality.
The area outside the Mkwakwani Stadium is now full of shops and petty
businesses. A petty trader. Othman Ally commended the government’s decision and
said it would help many people uplift their standard of living.
Another trader Rashid Abdalla of Ngamiani area said he was happy to see the
government show some consideration for the poor traders. Rashid now owns a
retail shop, which helps him get his daily bread and enables him to pay school
fees for his children.
Dodoma Rural spends 339.8m/-
on health projects
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
The Dodoma Rural District Council, in cooperation with the Central Government,
donors and the public, have spent Tsh. 339.8 million, on implementing various
health projects in the last six months.
This was revealed last week by the Council’s Director Suzan Bidya, when
presenting a report on implementation of Election Manifesto for the period of
January to June this year.
Some of the implemented projects, according to her, include construction of six
new dispensaries and rehabilitation of servants quarters at the villages of
Chalinze, Ikowa, Idifu, Mlowa Barabarani, Chibelera and Muumi Makulu.
Others are the purchase of 1,579 mosquito nets for malaria protection together
with dissemination of 34,416 condoms for protection from AIDS infection.
Concerning the water sector, the Director said, the district is confronted with
the problem of having no reliable and permanent water sources, such as water
springs. To counter the problem, the district is directing its efforts at
drilling deep and shallow wells of water, harvesting rain water and providing
windmill water pumping machines; which, so far have reduced the water problem
for humans and livestock.
The district, Bidya said, so far has 363 water sources; of them, 298 are working
but provide only 74 percent of water required for all the residents of the
District.
During January to June this year, the Council spent a total of Tsh. 22.1 million
for drilling four shallow wells, spreading water pipes, purchasing water
machines and digging trenches in several villages, the Director said.
Ilovo Sugar Factory workers
on war path
By Kim Aidan, Morogoro
Over 1,000 workers of Ilovo Sugar Factory in Kilombero District of Morogoro
region have called Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Stephen Mashishanga to a
round table conference and intervene in a conflict, where the workers claims’
are being allegedly oppressed by the Factory management.
Speaking to The Express reporter on phone, the workers said they had staged a
strike at the factory from Monday this week, and asked the regional
administration to intervene.
The workers claim that since the privatisation of the sugar factory to Ilovo
Company of South Africa, local workers were not valued though they had
contributed a lot to the factory.
Together with being made to work very hard to make sure the factory reaches its
capacity levels, they had been deprived of their basic rights and economically
exploited, the workers alleged.
A Tanzania Union of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (TUICO) official,
who wanted anonymity, said the workers may continue the strike for the whole
week, if the management does not sit with the workers to find a solution to the
problem.
In an earlier sitting between TUICO officials on one side and the Factory
Management and District Government leadership on the other, it was agreed that
the workers resume work. But the issues are still unsettled and the workers even
reached the point of setting the sugarcane farms on fire. About 20 hectares have
been burnt.
The TUICO official said sugarcane cutters oppose the high room rent, which is
more than their incomes per month. He gave an example of 10 workers who live in
one room, each paying rent of Tsh. 2,500 per month. Altogether they pay Tsh.
25,000 per month for a single room. The workers want the rent to be for the
house not for a room.
Kilombero District Commissioner Deogratius Mwita admitted there was strike and
promised to it by meeting with the workers and the management.
Villagers advised to guard
game reserves
By Kim Aidan, Morogoro
Consultant for Wami-Mbiki Game Reserve Project from the Hunters Association of
Denmark, Thomas Holst Christensten, has urged the public, especially villagers
living around Game Reserves, to guard animals in the reserves from poachers,
instead of leaving the duty to game scouts alone.
People living around should fully participate in protecting the reserves, as
they also benefit in one way or another from the animals, Christensten advised
during his tour of villages surrounding the Wami-Mbiki Reserve, saying the major
objective of the project was to motivate the public at large, to protect natural
resources found in their villages.
The Project is preparing modalities that will enable villagers to obtain title
deeds to own the wildlife and land.
Project Development Officer Margareth Sakaya, on her part said, villagers will
have to demarcate special areas for wildlife, while other areas will be owned by
villagers themselves.
Water projects get boost
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
A total of Tsh. 170 million has been spent by Dodoma Water Development
Corporation (MAMADO) in Dodoma Region, for assisting water projects in the
Region.
The money was given by various donors from 2002 to 2004, whereby the Water Aid
Agency provided a total of Tsh. 76 million and the World Food Programme (WFP)
donated Tsh. 94 million.
Reporting to a session of councillors held at the Municipal Council Hall in
Dodoma recently, Dodoma Region MAMADO Director General Matthew Halla, said the
money had been spent on implementing various water projects in the region.
The money had been used to construct rain water harvesting systems, drilling of
deep and shallow wells and enabling Saving and Credit Cooperative Societies
(SACCOS) that work for strengthening development and supervision of water
projects in villages.
Up to now, Halla said, a total of 31 villages in Dodoma Region have benefited
from MAMADO in implementing several water projects in their villages, thus
reducing the water problems they had faced for a long time.
Halla further said, MAMADO is a public non-governmental organisation (NGO) in
Dodoma Region, which was established in the 1960s and finally registered in May,
2000.
The objective of establishing the corporation was to work with the government
and other stakeholders in initiating, implementing, supervising and developing
water and environmental projects in Dodoma Region.
Speaking about MAMADO members, Halla said the corporation has a total of 200
members, consisting of individuals and members from villages, non-governmental
organisations and water boards.
Members have successfully contributed a total of Tsh. 35 million for MAMADO and
the money has been deposited in a bank as capital, for the corporation to become
self reliant.
Vehicles sailing on Lake
Tanganyika unsafe
By Damas Ayuke, Kigoma
Ninety per cent of seagoing vehicles on Lake Tanganyika are not fit to transport
passengers and cargos, as they do not match the safety standards required for
such business.
This was revealed by the Government Inspector for seagoing vessels, Michael
Marwa, when presenting a paper on seafaring, at a one day seminar called to
sensitise seafarers on the importance of conducting inspection of seagoing
vehicles sailing on Lake Tanganyika.
Marwa said following research conducted on Lake Tanganyika, it had been found
out that many seagoing vessels had been built in a style, unfit for seafaring
and unsafe for their users.
He added that many sailing boats were a bother to passengers, due to their
unsatisfactory structure; passengers get soaked when it rains or feel cold when
wind is blowing, indicating that the vehicles are sea unworthy.
Nevertheless, Marwa said, many sea vehicles are simply made without caring for
the standards.
Many vehicles are entered into the waters without being inspected by experts to
verify their capacities of carriage.
In addition to all these shortcomings, the government inspector said, vehicle
owners have also been transporting petrol together with passengers, risking
human lives.
Rounding up issues raised by seminar participants, the Director of
Communications and Transport, who also is the Registrar of Ships in the country,
Dr.Bartholomeo Rufunjo, said for a long time now, control of marine ships has
always been in doubt as there is no firm supervision of sailing ships.
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