EA nations dread reciprocal
trade with EU
By Angela Mazula
The East African Community (EAC) has a daunting task of beating the deadline set
by the European Union (EU) for entering the Free Trade Areas (FTA) negotiations
and considering whether and how to negotiate Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPAs) with EU.
Speaking to reporters, Professor Otieno Ondek from the University of Nairobi’s
faculty of law said in Dar es Salaam, it is clear that it may not be possible
for EAC to enter into a meaningful Free Trade Areas (FTA) negotiations with the
EU in the frame timed proposed.
Ondek said the EAC is not sufficiently competitive to withstand premature and
large-scale introduction of duty-free imports from the EU; a reciprocal
arrangement will have almost immediate benefit for the EU but greatly undermine
local industries.
He added that given the heavy dependence of EA government on import duties for
their fiscal revenues, it is not surprising that little, if any, preparations
have been made toward ETA talks under the auspices of the EAC.
He said, until last year, Tanzania enjoyed a surplus balance of trade account
of over Tsh. 60 trillion with the EU, a rare feat for a country whose economy is
largely dependent on manual agriculture.
Dar es Salaam’s annual exports to the EU last year topped over half a billion
dollars. But with reciprocity applying after 2020, the country’s fragile
industrial and agricultural sectors are bound to be swamped by high quality
European exports.
Prof. Ondek said the negotiations have been in progress since 2002 under the
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). EPAs are basically trade and development
co-operation agreements between the EU and African Caribbean Pacific states
grouped in six blocs or a single country like South Africa, which has already
signed an EPA with the EU.
The EU says with an over Tsh. 19,000 trillion 9th European Development Fund
(EDF) and a lot more money still available from a backlog of funds dating back
to EDF 7, the Common Partnership Agreement (CPA) is perhaps the best trade and
development co-operation regime in the world, which is offering tangible
benefits through trade and official development aid (ODA).
According to the latest EU and Tanzania Joint Annual Report, Dar es Salaam
exported commodities worth of Tsh. 5.6 trillion against imports of Tsh. 5.4
trillion in 2002, Prof. Ondek explained.
Malawi to buy Iringa cattle
By Jacqueline Mujuni
Tanzania will soon start to export dairy cattle to Malawi, following a request
forwarded to Kitulo Farm in Iringa Region after the Nane Nane exhibition this
year in Mbeya Region.
Tanzania, according to Department of Livestock Development, has been exporting
about 1,000 heads of cattle to the Comoros mainly for beef and this will be the
first time to receive a request for dairy cattle from Malawi.
Kitulo Farm, which produces pure Frasier type of cattle, hosts about 950 heads
of cattle, being ox, heifers and dairy cows. It has sold about 40 heads of
cattle locally this year.
Director of Livestock Development at the Ministry of Water and Livestock
Development Boki Jeremiah said: “Some people from Malawi requested to buy about
500 heads of cattle from Kitulo but we will sell them only 30 this year.”
A head of cattle is sold for Tsh. 450,000 locally, which for foreigners it is
US $500 –600 (Tsh. 500,000 to 600,000).
Apart from cattle rearing, Kitulo Farm produces milk, about 1,200 litres per
day. This amount cannot meet the demands of Iringa and Mbeya regions.
“This has been attributed to the transport factor of supplying milk to both
regions and that most people buy milk from small scale herders,” said Jeremiah.
According to the Ministry of Water and Livestock Development, a single
Tanzanian consumes an average of 35 litres of milk, 10 kg of beef and 27 eggs
per year – a quantity that has been cited as low compared to other countries.
Statistics show Tanzania has 17.7 million heads of cattle, 12.5 million goats,
3.5 million sheep and 880,000 pigs.
The government is planning to upgrading six farms, including Sao Hill, Mabuki,
Ngerengere, Kitulo, Kibaha and Nangaramo, so as to increase heifers production
which will be transferred to small-scale herders.
Municipal Bonds in the offing
By Business Correspondent
The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) is working on modalities to introduce
Municipal Bonds.
DSE Chief Executive Director Jonathan Njau could not give a time frame for job
completion but said: “We are preparing selected Municipalities to buy the idea.”
The Bourse CEO said he was expecting the Municipalities to buy the idea,
especially after the abolition of nuisance taxes at local councils, which have
led to significant loss of revenue for them.
Municipal Bonds are a form of securities issued by Municipal Councils to finance
their activities. These bonds may be general obligation bonds, normally serviced
by the municipal taxes or Revenue Bonds, serviced by a cash flow from a project
financed by these bonds.
“They are differentiated from other bonds basically by the issuer, namely
Municipalities rather than Central Government or Corporate,” said Njau.
Other requirements, which DSE and Capital Market and Securities Authority (CMSA)
are working on, include review of the Local Government Act to bring it in line
with issuance of the Municipal bonds.
Also, DSE would like to scrutinise municipal good governance and disclosure of
financial results by Councils as well as training of key staff on how to handle
Municipal Bonds, said Njau.
Bonds secondary markets at the DSE have remained dormant for sometime now. There
are several reasons for this dormancy. These include frequent issuances, excess
liquidity in the economy, direct access by investors to the Primary Market at
the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and lack of adequately capitalised Primary Dealers.
“We have had 10 secondary market transactions only since these bonds were listed
in 1999 (for EADB) and 2002 (Treasury Bonds),” Njau observed.
DSE was established in 1998 mainly to facilitate the privatisation process in
the country. However, despite privatisation of over 300 parastatals, only five
former parastatals have been listed on the bourse so far.
In the 2004/05 Tanzania budget, Minister for Finance, Basil Mramba abolished
about 40 nuisance taxes, which cripple councils’ revenue collection. The
government pledged to subsidise the municipals. Municipals are now required to
publish their financial results annually.
KQ lands at DSE
By Business Correspondent
Finally the cross-listing of Kenya Airways shares at Dar es Salaam Stock
Exchange (DSE) will take place next Friday, October 1st, this year.
However more detail of the cross-listing will be known today when the KQ
Executives jet in Dar for official announcing of the airline cross-listing at
DSE
KQ cross-listing intention to Tanzania began in 2000 but could not materialised
due to some regulation-hiccups in the nascent Tanzania stock market and East
African Community desire to harmonise the stock markets in the region.
Orbit Securities Ltd., CEO, Laurian Malauri said: “every thing is ready we are
waiting for arrival of KQ the executive tomorrow (today).”
Orbit Securities is the sponsoring broker and investment advisor of KQ
cross-listing at Dar bourse.
KQ will be the first foreign-equity company and the first airline to be listed
on the Dar es Salaam bourse. Given its performance on air and on books, its
shares prices are expected to skyrocket on the first trading day.
DSE Aug turnover impressive
By Business Correspondent
Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), the best bourse in emerging African economy,
recorded an impressive turnover last month in comparison with the previous
month.
The six-year-old bourse recorded a turnover of Tsh. 9.06 billion last month
(August) compared with a turnover of Tsh. 1.47 billion realised in July the same
year.
According to the DSE monthly report issued last week, a total of 6,918,175
shares exchanged hands in 282 deals in the month under review against 565,644
shares sold in 272 deals in July.
As a result, the report noted, total market capitalisation increased to Tsh.
678.74 billion from Tsh. 665.76 billion in July.
The huge turnover was attributed to Tanzania Breweries Ltd. (TBL), as the
country’s leading brewer dominated the market. TBL shoved 6,508,716 shares worth
Tsh. 8.73 billion, which were sold in 82 deals.
“Most of TBL shares were traded on Foreign Investors’ Board as one of the
foreign strategic investors in TBL disposed of its shares to local investors,”
the report says.
Tanga Cement Co. shares, Simba, had 175,230 shares worth Tsh. 164.96 million
traded in 63 deals. During the period, the company’s interim financial results
were released, pushing Tanga base equity price to an all time high of Tsh.
1,000.
However, the share prices slumped to Tsh. 940 yesterday after trading
ex-dividends.
DAHACO counter had 140,266 shares generating Tsh. 81.27million traded in 88
deals, while the Tanzania Cigarette Company (TCC) counter had 42,610 shares
worth Tsh. 74.90 million exchanging hands in 31 deals.
At the TOL Ltd counter, a total of 51,253 shares worth Tsh. 16,918,490 were
traded in 17 deals, whereas on TaTePa counter 100 shares worth Tsh. 44,000 were
sold in single deal. The month marked worst trading for TaTePa shares since they
were listed about three years ago.
TBL and Simba counters closed the month at Tsh. 1,360 and Tsh. 1,000 per share,
respectively, whereas DAHACO and TCC counters closed at Tsh. 570 and Tsh. 1,760
per share, respectively.
TOL counter closed at Tsh. 335 per share, while TaTePa counter closed at Tsh.
440 per share - the lowest ever price for TaTePa.
Apart from six equities, DSE has about 14 bonds — government and corporate. But
the bourse had 10 secondary market transactions only since these bonds were
listed in 1999 (for EADB) and 2002 (for Treasury Bonds).
Sumaria, SIDO collaborate for
SME growth
By Leonard Magomba
The Sumaria Group of Companies and Small Industrial Development Organisation
(SIDO) are working out a scheme to enable established firms become Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
Harpreet Duggal, Group Manager of Sumaria, has said, “Apart from exhibitions,
we are now working on how to dissipate skills from an established firm to SMEs.”
Duggal added that these will include training programmes for staff of SMEs at
Sumaria factories, business skills programmes and free onsite consultation.
According to him, Sumaria has been collaborating very closely with SIDO for the
past three years. It has been one of the main sponsors of SIDO’s SME exhibitions
across Tanzania.
“Sumaria sees these exhibitions as a good way to showcase to the general public
what local SMEs can produce,” explained Duggal.
Sumaria also works very closely with SIDO in the Standing Committee on SMEs set
up by the Confederation of Tanzania Industries.
As part of Sumaria’s thrust on SME development, some of the Group companies
have taken initiatives to develop SMEs in their own realm of business.
There are three initiatives currently undertaken by Sumaria in the area of SME
development, which is the Private Sector Initiative, SIDO Initiatives and Group
Company Initiatives, explained Duggal.
The Private Sector Initiative is an initiative taken on by the large
corporations in Tanzania to provide business opportunities to local SMEs so that
they can develop and prosper.
This initiative, currently led by Sumaria, has other like-minded corporates in
its fold. These include BP Tanzania, Tanzania Breweries, Tanzania Cigarette
Company, Kahama Mining, Kilembero Sugar, Tanga Cement and National Microfinance
Bank.
“These corporates take deliberate measures to see how they can outsource
requirements locally and develop SME vendors,” said Duggal.
The SME database is used as a handy operational tool for the procurement
managers of these companies. Quarterly Spend maps are used to track the how much
procurement has shifted from imports to local SMEs.
Every two months, the Private Sector Initiative working group meets to take
stock of the progress and strategise on the way forward.
Some of Sumaria’s Group companies have also taken initiatives to develop SMEs
in their own realm of business. Theses are Royal Dairy (Ole), Nyanza Bottling
(Coca-Cola), SDL Limited (the producer of Foma detergents) and Aha toothpastes
and S&C Limited (Cotton ginning).
Duggal said Royal dairy, for instance, has helped entrepreneurs set up 14 milk
collection chilling centres. It has also provided chilling tanks, generator and
testing equipment to them.
Computer college introduces
Internet courses
By Joshua Mshana
COMPUTER Lab, a computer and English teaching college, has introduced Internet
courses to attract more students and cope with competition from other colleges.
Stanley Malai, the acting director of the college, said this in an interview
with this paper last week.
“We are striving to cope with competition by introducing Internet courses. We
have gone around many colleges, they don’t have Internet courses. Therefore, our
major difference is the teaching of Internet courses,” he observed.
He said: “Our students are mainly school leavers, mature adults and people who
have not had the chance to study computer in college.”
According to him, in the English course, his college gets mature adults and
school leavers. The beginner’s course in English is a favourite for many people.
The reason for introducing the English course is to influence more people into
speaking English, said Malai.
Debt relief not enough, says
report
By Timothy Kitundu
International efforts to reduce the debt burden on the world’s poorest
countries, including Tanzania, are failing to provide the expected level of
relief, according to a new report that was discussed recently by finance
ministers from the G7 nations.
Charity groups are hoping that the annual progress report by the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund will add to pressure on wealthy countries to write
off 100 per cent of the debt of the most impoverished states.
According to a communiqué sent by the African Economic Editors Network, the
Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC), which was set up eight years
ago with the aim of eliminating US$100 billion (about Tsh.110 trillion) of the
debt of the poorest countries has not been much effective.
“So far, about a third of the debt has been cancelled and some estimates
suggest HIPC countries still have about US$90 billion (about Tsh.99 trillion) in
debt stock,” reads part of the communiqué.
The latest update provides additional evidence that even those countries that
have received HIPC relief have unsustainable debt levels - defined by the
initiative as more than 150 percent of annual exports.
The cost of topping up relief to reach this level - estimated last year at
US$860 million ( about Tsh.946 billion) is now expected to be more than US$ two
billion (about Tsh.2.2 trillion), according to the report.
Last year’s report estimated that countries entering the process would spend
US$2.4 billion (about Tsh.2.46 trillion) servicing their debts last year. In
fact, they spent US$ 2.8 billion (about Tsh.3.08 trillion), an average of 15.2
percent of government revenues and higher than the expected 14.6 percent.
The report also produced new forecasts, suggesting that those countries
qualifying for relief because of their high debt-to-export ratios would see
these ratios fall by less than expected. Instead of emerging from the process
with debt-to-export ratios averaging 140 per cent, they were now likely to end
up with ratios of 171 percent.
The communiqué quoted Max Lawson, policy adviser to Oxfam, as saying that the
research underlined the need for more radical action on debt. Some
non-governmental organisations are worried, however, that a more generous debt
write-off might be offset by a reduction in new aid.
Meanwhile, the World Bank and IMF staff have proposed extending the HIPC
Initiative by two years to the end of 2006 to give more poor countries a chance
to qualify for the scheme, whereas 27 countries have so far benefited from HIPC.
The decision whether to extend HIPC’s “sunset clause”, which expires in
December, will have to be taken by the two institutions’ shareholder
governments.
“The case for topping up should continue to be considered on a case-by-case
basis based on a strengthened analysis at the completion point, including on the
impact of discount rate changes and unanticipated new borrowing, where
relevant,” reads part of a World Bank report.
Nation adopts international
finance standards
By Abduel Kenge, recently in
Zanzibar
Tanzania has started using the International Finance Reporting Standards (IFRSs)
to report corporate financial results since July first this year, heading for
workable and effective internal controls.
Previous the country’s accountants and auditors were using a local system
structured by National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA), which directed
even international firms to adhere to the regulations.
Due to trade liberation and globalisation, international corporates in Tanzania
were required to prepare two financial documents, making the whole process
expensive. The country was the only one left in the region to adopt IFRSs.
NBAA Executive Director, Ludovick Utouh said another reason to adopt IFRSs was
the collapse of ENRON, WorldCom and other giants in the US, which put the role
and relevance of internal audit into limelight.
“The corporate failures have necessitated governments (include Tanzania) to come
up with stricter legislations and regulations to regulate how corporations
should be managed,” Utouh said.
He added: “In coming up with these laws, the roles and responsibilities of the
key players in corporate management have been streamlined and more clearly
defined.”
The Executive Director was speaking to about 200 internal auditors across
Tanzania, who were attending a one-day workshop in Zanzibar over the weekend.
The workshop’s aim was to clearly re-assess the role of the internal audit
function in the country.
Workshop facilitator Dr. Mussa Assad of Faculty of Commerce and Management at
University of Dar es Salaam, told the auditors to break out of tradition and
learn the use of computers.
Dr. Assad said: “Computers have made it possible for white-collar criminals to
steal more money in shorter time, leaving a less visible audit trail.”
He added: “This trend has created a great need for accountants with specialised
knowledge and skills.”
“At this time, there is little formal training available in the field of
forensic accounting,” he warned.
Dr. Assad said the demand for forensic accounting experts will increase as
transactions become more complex and IT becomes a more integral part of
financial and management reporting system.
Neema Mssusa, head of finance and administration at Diamond Trust Bank, said
one of the key skills that a new IT (Information Technology) audit manager must
acquire is the application of risk management.
“All audit work should be driven by the risk inherent in the processes and
technologies. After all, if the risk is low, why do we need to audit it?” she
challenged the auditors.
NBAA was set up in 1971 and has 1,350 members. It also has about 400 external
auditors. The Board says it is not wise to combine the role of external auditor
with that of an internal auditor as it does not reflect good governance.
Road maintenance budget
doubles in 4 years
By Timothy Kitundu
The Tanzania National Roads Agency has said that its annual budget for road
maintenance from the Roads Fund Board has been steadily increasing from Tsh.26
billion in the financial year 2000/2001 to Tsh.46 billion in the financial year
2004/5.
Ven Ndyamukama from the Maintenance Division of TANROADS said in Dar es Salaam
recently that the government of Tanzania finances the maintenance of roads and
development partners are providing some support.
“The government has set aside a dedicated fund by the name of the Roads Fund,
which is administered by the Roads Fund Board with the main source being fuel
levy whereby currently Tsh.100 is charged for every litre of fuel sold,” he
explained.
According to Ndyamukama, the Roads Fund distribution is such that 90 per cent
is for road maintenance and 10 per cent is for road development works.
The recipients of the Roads Fund include Ministry of Works (7 per cent),
TANROADS (63 per cent) and PORALG (30 per cent) for road maintenance activities.
Elaborating in the essence of road maintenance, Ndyamukama said that as the
road is put to use, the riding quality deteriorates and the rate of
deterioration being dependent upon a number of factors, which include traffic
volume, rainfall, terrain and type of surface, among others.
“In order to maintain the riding quality to acceptable levels and minimise
transport costs, maintenance is carried out. Road maintenance is also carried
out to in order to protect the investment such that it attains the design life,”
he added.
Despite this acknowledged importance, he said, some countries have huge
backlogs of maintenance for roads, which have deteriorated beyond normal
maintenance and in some developing countries, clearing this backlog will require
up to two per cent of the GDP for a period of about 10 years or more.
He said, if the backlog is allowed to remain, additional transport costs, which
will be borne by the national economy, is about four times the maintenance
budget shortfall.
Currently, a total of about 29,000 kilometres of the roads network is under
maintenance under the responsibility of TANROADS, this includes about 10,000 km
of trunk roads and about 19,000 km of regional roads.
Women’s associations bear
fruits
By Timothy Kitundu
Tabora Women Agroprocessing Group, a union of 26 women’s associations has been
able to process a total of 25 tonnes of Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP) annually
since 2000 and has in the process been creating employment for 270 women.
Theddy Mzobora, Vice Chairman of the group told The Express recently that most
of the raw materials for their activities are obtained from forests in the form
of wild fruits, honey and other NWFPs.
“We have opened a shop in Tabora where we sell most of our products and that
provides us with a reliable market source as most of the people are now turning
to organically processed foods,” she said.
According to her, instead of depending solely on wild fruits and other NWFPs,
they have launched an initiative whereby they are planting and domesticating
some of the trees, which provide them with the raw materials.
She mentioned the domesticated trees as vitex mambasae, vitex doniana, stryehnos
spirrosa, mng’ango, and baobab.
As an advancement strategy, the groups have divided themselves in two categories
whereby the urban dwellers have concentrated their activities in making juice
from domesticated trees and those in the rural area make wines from wild fruits.
“The secret to our success is that we have participated in various trade fairs
and exhibitions which expose our products to internal and external markets. We
emerged first runners up at a Cooperatives Trade Fair held in Tabora at national
level last year,” she said.
Local mattresses fight
imports
By Joshua Mshana
VITAFOAM (T) Ltd. is striving to improve the quality of its products and keep
its prices low so as to cope with stiff competition from the imported mattresses
using powder line (filler).
Rumin Shah, Marketing and Sales Manager of Vita Foam (T) Ltd, said this in an
interview in the City yesterday.
“We are competing with imported products. We have to match prices and improve
the quality of our products. Our prices are competitive and many customers can
afford to buy them. Imported mattresses have no guarantee, no TBS approval and
their prices are higher than local ones. Local mattresses are filler free but
imported ones are using powder,” he explained.
“The firm is the first TBS approved company in the country. It is also the
first and the only company that gives guarantee to its customers. It is the only
company which is making bacteria-free products. We are one of the leading
companies in the mattress business. Our products guarantee zero headache,” Shah
said.
The firm’s products include pillow, Vita Raha, with three-year warranty, Vita
Supreme five-year warranty, Vita spring three-year warranty and Vita Raha Plus
(which is for orthopedic purpose, for those who have back bone problems)
ten-year warranty.
“Since we started almost five years ago, no one has returned our mattresses,”
claimed Shah.
The firm also manufactures sofa sets, chair pillows, bed sheets and complete bed
set for bedroom, including curtains.
Importers asked to be
environmentally conscious
By Business Correspondent
The government has directed Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) importers to switch
to ozone friendly materials and has called for an importation halt of utensils
using ozone gas.
The Minister of State, Vice President’s Office (Environment and Union Affairs),
Arcado Ntagazwa, said people should be sensitised on the effects of using ODS
and what it does to the ozone layer.
The Minister suggested that the users switch to ozone friendly materials in
order to conserve the ozone gas and avoid the health risks associated with its
depletion.
The Minister was opening a seminar to mark the International Ozone Day in Dar es
Salaam this week. The International Ozone Day is marked on September 16.
He said Tanzania has already ratified the Vienna Convention for the Protection
of the Ozone Layer of 1985, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer of 1987 that provide 2010 as the deadline to manufacture and use
ODS.
The depletion of the ozone layer makes the earth vulnerable to ultra-violet
radiation from the sun that could cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, loss of
immunity to diseases and cause less productivity of plants and animals.
Ntagazwa mentioned measures being taken to reduce the use of ODS in the country
as including control of importation of ODS and establishment of a network to
exchange information on alternative technology.
Others are to train technicians on servicing air conditioners and refrigerators
to make them ozone friendly, to prepare legislation and regulations on
importation of ODS and to come up with a procedure on licensing garages and
workshops that recover and recycle used CFCs.
A Legal Officer from the Customs Department of the Tanzania Revenue Authority
(TRA), Joseph Makandege, called for capacity building for customs officers, for
them to participate fully in controlling the ODS materials.
United National Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) representative Felix
Ugbor said the use of ozone depleting substances had a trade aspect, which must
also be looked into. Current Third World nations are under transitional period
to conform to the Vienna Protocol until 2010.
Five nabbed for torture in
Kwimba ginnery
By Kabele Lazaro, Kwimba
Five persons, including two Asians, working at a cotton cleaning factory in
Kwimba District in Mwanza Region are being held at Nhungumalwa Police Post on
suspicion of locking and later forcing a fellow worker, Mayunga Sallu (21), to
mate with a dog, for allegedly stealing 200 empty bales for preserving cotton.
Mayunga, who resides in Kibitilwa village in Kwimba district, alleged last week
that some officers and security guards at the African Ginneries Ltd forced him
to lick the dog’s back, clean the toilet with his hands, fastened his manhood
with a rope and locked him in bathroom for three consecutive days.
He named the people who treated him brutally as Barat and Nitingi, both officers
of Asian origin at the Ginneries; Pluru, supervisor of oil station at the
Ginnery; and Sinje Deus and Peter Deus, both guards at the Ginneries.
According to Mayunga, the event took place on September 9 this year when he and
other workers were on the night shift at the factory.
After being locked in the bathroom for three days and released, he told The
Express he went to report the incident at the office of the Village Executive
Officer at Mande, which is within the factory area.
He said the Village Executive Officer, Logeti Kalemani, told him to go to
Mwamashimba Health Centre for treatment. The health centre also advised him to
go to Ngudu District Hospital for further treatment following the serious nature
of injuries.
While in Ngudu town, he complained to the District Commissioner, who in turn
sent him to the Officer Commanding the District (OCD). Here, he was advised to
go back to Mhungumalwa Police, who finally arrested the alleged culprits.
However, Mwanza Regional Police Commander told The Express he had not received
any information on the matter yet.
Nhungumalwa Officer Commanding the Station (OCS) Marisi told this reporter
arrangements are being made to transfer the suspects to the district
headquarters.
Products sans TBS mark suffer
By Damas Ayuke, Kigoma
Industrial producers have been advised to get the TBS mark on their products to
facilitate sales in large numbers and have a sure market.
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Senior Marketing Officer in the country, Daud
Mbaga, made this call when addressing reporters at the Trade Fair Grounds for
Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), held at Mwanga Stadium Centre
in Kigoma town.
Mbaga said, many times, producers of various commodities countrywide, have
failed to get markets for their products internally and externally for the lack
of TBS mark.
He also advised the producers to focus on the quality of their commodities to
attract more consumers.
Citing the example of processed and canned foods, he said, there was a need to
adhere to quality both inside and outside the container.
Mbaga advised the producers to stop fearing the trade sector and find markets
within and outside the country.
He urged them to register with SIDO so that it becomes easier for TBS officials
to meet and orientate them on TBS mark.
The senior marketing officer was in Kigoma to attend a SIDO exhibition held at
Kigoma Trade Fair Grounds in Central Zone, which includes the regions of Tabora,
Singida, Dodoma and hosts Kigoma. The Fair also incorporated various regions
countrywide and five regions of Burundi.
The Fair was opened by the Minister of State in the Vice-President’s Office,
Arcado Mtagazwa, on September 17 , and ended on September 20.
Fishing industry must work on
quality: Meghji
By Nestory Ngwega, Tanga
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Zakia Meghji has called upon the fish
processing industry to produce commodities of high quality to compete in the
international market.
Meghji said this when visiting the Tanga Municipality. She said that since the
government had been able to secure Tanzanian presence in the world’s fish
market, it was the responsibility of the fish industry to maintain the required
international standards for its products.
According to the minister, the national fishing sector is growing tremendously;
therefore its growth should not deteriorate due to bad quality products.
She observed that the government’s policy of privatisation was aimed at
providing an opportunity to investors within and outside the country to invest
massively, thus speeding up development in the country.
However, she challenged investors in the fishing sector to improve the living
standards of fishermen by buying fish at a good price.
Meghji also urged investors to collaborate with local communities in furthering
development projects such as schools and water wells.
Court drama draws Bunda
residents
By Belensi Alkadi, Bunda
A famous businessman of Bunda town in Mara Region, Amos Chacha Mnanka, nicknamed
Ushanga Urembo (32), and another youngman Ally Hussein ‘Madenge” (27), have been
arraigned in Bunda District Magistrate Court, charged with two offences of
robbing with violence and defilement.
It was claimed in court Monday last week before District Magistrate in-charge,
Richard Maganga, by Public Prosecutor Inspector of Police Omaro Athmani, that
the first offence was committed on September 9, at round 8.00 pm at Posta Street
in the town, where both robbed by violence Tsh. 1,360,000; mobile phone of
Motorola type worth Tsh. 200,000; a pair of shoes worth Tsh. 20,000 and wrist
watch, all properties of Zakaria Marwa, a businessman in Dodoma Municipality.
The Public Prosecutor told the court further that on the same day, same time and
same area, the accused committed the second offence by sodomising Zakaria Marwa
without his consent, causing him severe injuries.
The suspects have refuted the charges but were refused bail as four other
suspects were still at large. Also exhibits such as photographs shot while the
complainant was being sodomised may be hidden and thus spoil the evidence. They
remanded them till September 28 this year, when the case will be mentioned
again.
The news of this famous businessman, who at other times managed to bring in the
town several bands, including Twanga Pepeta and Double M Sound, being arraigned
in court has become a talk of the town and received with mixed feelings by Bunda
residents. The Bunda Magistrate Court was filled to capacity to hear the case of
the year.
Sisal exports earn nation
15bn/-
By Heckton Chuwa, in Tanga
SISAL farmers in the country generated an income of more than Tsh.15 billion in
the past four years as a result of exporting the product, it was learnt.
The Managing Director of the Tanzania Sisal Board (TSB), Wilson Odhiambo, told
the press, the income was generated by exporting 15,000 tonnes of
sisal harvested after efforts to revive the crop were launched in 1999.
He said, during the period, the sisal sector has employed 12,000 people
permanently with 24,000 others working as labourers in different sections.
According to Odhiambo, “Efforts are being made by the Board to ensure sisal
farming is expanded countrywide to add to production.”
He said sisal cultivation is being supported by enviromentalists, who are at the
forefront in fighting the use of plastic products and added that different
research studies show that sisal can also be used as a raw material in producing
electricity, manufacturing vehicle parts, fertiliser and animal feeds.
Odhiambo urged farmers in the country to take part in the programme of reviving
the crop as price of the product has risen compared to that of other cash crops.
The crop, which was introduced in the country 120 years ago, deteriorated during
the 1980s following the fall of its price in the world market caused by the
introduction of nylon threads, which turned out to be a threat to the product in
the market.
Vandalism costs Tanesco
200m/-
By Kim Aidan, Morogoro
The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Limited in Morogoro, has lost
Tsh. 200 million, after iron fittings were stolen by unknown people from two
poles connecting to the national grid in Mkambarani area in Morogoro Rural
District.
TANESCO Manager in Morogoro Region, Nicholas Kamoleka, told reporters last week,
that the iron fittings theft from the electric poles, took place on September 11
and 12 evening in Mkambarani area.
Kamoleka said the work of replacing the iron fittings will take more than two
weeks as the vandalised poles connecting to the national grid are very expensive
to obtain.
He requested the residents to keep TANESCO informed on acts of vandalism for
their own good.
There has been a number of sabotages against TANESCO, including transformer oil
thefts and electric wire cuttings, things that bother people in affected areas,
Kamoleka said.
He added, the Police in the region already have mounted a manhunt to nab the
thieves of electricity infrastructure.
Investors accused of
weakening unions
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
The Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress
of Tanzania (TUCTA), Nestory Ngulla, suspects that some investors are employing
new manoeuvres to weaken workers’ organisations to prevent them from fighting
for their members’ rights.
Ngulla made this accusation recently, when opening a two-week training course
for leaders of workers’ organisations from the regions of Mwanza, Kagera and
Mara.
He said some investors had started providing incentives to employees, who
refrain from joining genuine workers’ organisations. He added, this state of
affairs had created conflicts amid workers’ organisations.
The TUCTA Secretary General observed, globalisation had retrenched many workers
and called on workers all over the country, despite their fewness, to stand
together and fight for their rights.
“We need to stand in solidarity and face the truth that this is the
globalisation era, where all investors worldwide are brought together through
this one system. So we need to learn what is happening to our fellow workers in
other countries,” Ngulla exhorted.
According to Ngulla, in attracting investors, the government is obliged to
favour investors and overlook implementation of workers’ rights.
Where workers organizations are weak, he said, investors benefit more and
deprive the workers, who are the producers of the commodities, their rightful
dues.
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