‘Death’awaits local media
By Kizito Makoye
The Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) has vehemently
criticized the shortfalls of the proposed Bill on Electronic and Postal
Communications, recently presented at a stakeholders’ meeting arguing it
suppresses press freedom.
According to the MOAT statement, signed by its Honorary Secretary, R. Nyaulawa
availed to The Express yesterday, the bill is harmful to the local media as it
conspicuously gives foreign investors unlimited access to initiate their
institutions which would pose a threat to the local media.
MOAT is irked by the fact that foreign companies are likely to use experience,
financial and technological powers to dominate the local media and consequently
colonise the media sector.
The statement said the bill repeals the broadcasting act of 1993 as it says that
an applicant of a broadcasting silence must be Tanzanian or a company whose 51
shares are owned by Tanzanians.
“The Tanzanian media is very important in the emancipation of Tanzanians from
scorn that afflicts Africa and Africans, foreign media has always reported
Africa negatively,” the statement reads in part.
The statement cautioned that the Tanzanian media needs to use all its powers to
reject to proposed bill to avert Tanzanians from what it termed a ‘worse form of
colonialism’ adding that “the higher stake of the electronic media in Tanzania
must continue to be owned by Tanzanians.”
The statement also ridiculed the government decision to hire foreign firms to
prepare the Bill instead of recruiting a local firm which could do the job
professionally, it added that the decision justifies the notion that Tanzania
can not do things on its own, instead it needs foreign assistance.
The statement further calls for the government to give ample time for
stakeholders to read the proposal, urging the regulator to draft regulations
required in the proposal and submit to the stakeholders for their views before
the Bill is presented to the government.
The media owners are also annoyed by excessive powers granted to the Tanzania
Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to make regulations grant and charge
license and suspend or withdraw licenses among other things.
The media owners also calls for forthwith restriction of foreign ownership of
the electronic media in Tanzania.
Tanzania to adopt new economic
ranking system
By Kizito Makoye
The government has underscored the need to adopt scientific
approaches that would give precise information and useful data for ranking the
country’s economic performance using purchasing power parity (PPP).
Speaking at a workshop on the International Comparison Programme (ICP) in Dar
es Salaam, the Acting Permanent Secretary, President’s Office (Planning and
Privatisation), Omari Bendera, said most countries in Africa have been placed in
economic ranks using ‘improper’ indicators such as GDP per capita, as a result
no accurate figures were recorded.
He said, modern methods such as PPP would enable cross-country comparison of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with other components and produce results basing on
comparison of item price.
The workshop, which was organised by the Africa Development Bank (ADB) in
collaboration with the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC), aims
to train officials responsible for data collection, entry and preliminary data
cleaning using ICP.
Bendera said ICP would play a central role in poverty eradication initiatives
such as reliable information base for national, regional and global
policy-making.
“ICP-Africa is meant to support and inform all development policies and actions
that are being implemented on the continent, especially those pertaining to
poverty reduction,” he added.
According to Bendera, ICP is an international statistical undertaking which
ADB’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) would coordinate regionally.
He insisted SADC countries would benefit from the project believed to be a
permanent framework for statistical improvement and capacity building in Africa.
Earlier, ADB Principal Statistician Roland Ritternan said the new arrangement
would ease the burden of handling many countries within one organisational
board, being located somewhere in the continent.
He said the newly developed programme would be the backbone of data collection
and Africa would introduce the tool at the earliest.
“This package supports not only our work, it is intended to be of use also for
national studies like the CPI or other newly introduced price indices,” he
explained.
Director General of National Bureau of Statistics Cletus Mkai, said Tanzania as
an individual country would ensure that new programmes that are being introduced
would bear fruits.
He added that as SADC member the country is being conditioned to embrace the
new regime and make it sustainable.
Foreign grants reduce Isles budget
deficit
By Timothy Kitundu
During August 2004, the budget position of the government of
Zanzibar recorded an overall deficit of Tsh.1.3 billion and after considering
foreign grants amounting to Tsh.0.7 billion, the deficit was reduced to Tsh.0.6
billion, which was financed using transfers from the Union Government.
The latest monthly economic review shows that during the period under review,
revenue from all tax categories improved as a result of increase in imports and
other trading activities.
Consequently, collections surpassed the target of Tsh.4.3 billion by Tsh.0.5
billion. The large portion of revenue emanated from imports, VAT and excise
duty. Also improvements were recorded in income tax as voluntary tax compliance
increased.
Meanwhile, non-tax revenue reached Tsh.0.4 billion, higher than the projected
Tsh.0.3 billion on account of enhanced revenue collection measures. On
cumulative basis, total revenue amounted to Tsh.8.5 billion, surpassing the
target by 3.7 per cent.
As for expenditure, total expenditure in August 2004 amounted to Tsh.6.1
billion, being Tsh.0.5 billion below the projected Tsh.6.6 billion, due to
insufficient resources. Recurrent expenditure amounted to Tsh.5.9 billion, below
the ceiling of Tsh.6.5 billion for the month. However, expenditure on salaries
and wages was in line with projections.
Development expenditure during the month was Tsh.180 million, slightly below
the target. On cumulative basis, the government spent Tsh.11.5 billion, against
the planned Tsh.13.1 billion.
Shely’s plans another factory
to boost production
By Restituta Mutasingwa
Shely’s Pharmaceutical Industries is expected to build another big
pharmaceutical factory at Mwenge area in the city. The move is aimed at
increasing the production of drugs by the firm, which is the largest not only in
the country but also East Africa.
The company’s Managing Director, Dipen Shah revealed this when briefing members
of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Affairs, who visited the factory
recently.
Shah said work on the construction of the factory had started and would be
completed by October 2005, with production commencing immediately.
He said Shely’s Pharmaceuticals that has a branch in Kenya, has a market in
Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and other African countries. At the moment, the
factory employs 600 people, of which 70 percent are women.
Member of the Parliamentary Committee, Shamim Khan, who is also the Deputy
Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children’s Affairs, commended the
steps taken by factory to employ more women.
Food experts stress on curbing
post-harvest losses
By George Michael
If the country manages to reduce the current levels of post-harvest
losses even by 20 percent, its efforts at ensuring food security would be
greatly enhanced.
Dr. Felix Ugbor, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
(UNIDO)’s country Representative for Tanzania and Malawi, said this in his
remarks at a workshop on Promoting Value Addition in Tanzania Food Industry in
Dar es Salaam recently.
“A 35-40 percent of the food produced is wasted due to poor handling and
storage, inadequate processing capacities, poor transportation network and hot
weather. The figure is even higher for more perishable commodities like fruits
and vegetables. When the government reduces post-harvest losses, the benefits
would go directly to farmers who at this point are getting poor returns for
their effort,” he said.
“The country should process food items for exports. If we increase our internal
food processing and packaging capacities. Tanzania will begin to extricate
itself from food aid,” Ugbor added.
The objective of the study, according to him, is to assess the storage and
processing activities in designated zones of the country and to identify the
products with development and market potential. It also entailslooking at the
availability and quality of support services offered to the food industry.
UNIDO will design interventions that will be of interest to all stakeholders.
The interventions are improving the enabling environment, introduction of tax
regime and incentives that are appropriate, building the necessary capacities,
introduction of appropriate technologies, attracting strategic investors or
paying more attention to the issues of quality, standards and international
accreditation of our laboratories, Ugbor said.
“Agriculture assumes greater importance because of spin-off effects through
forward linkages to agro-processing and consumption. UNIDO believes that a
prosperous agriculture is a more sustainable way of reducing poverty and
accelerating growth in the economy. But significant efforts must be made to
enhance agricultural productivity, increase investments and improve the human
and physical infrastructures,” he explained.
Realising the enormous potential in the food industry, UNIDO had for over eight
years been training women entrepreneurs in food processing. To date, over 2000
women have been trained all over the country and Zanzibar. They are trained not
only in the technical aspect of food processing, but also in how to manage their
businesses.
Over 65 percent of women who have been trained by UNIDO have set up their
enterprises, producing and marketing an array of processed food items. Their
income levels hence their standard of living have improved dramatically. They
have created job opportunities for other nationals, according to Ugbor.
However, despite the strides made so far in the food processing industry, there
are some impediments that should be addressed sooner than later, he said,
adding, lack of access to credit remains a major hurdle that needs to be
overcome. Secondly, Tanzanians must patronise made in Tanzania goods especially
the organic foods produced and processed in the country, he stressed.
Professor Kuzilwa of the Mzumbe University said that a proper balance between
the establishment of industries and the expansion of agriculture has been an
elusive problem for developing countries dependent on agriculture.
Industrialisation was likely to provide immediate solution to the problems of
poverty and general backwardness, he observed.
”There is a growing recognition of the close interrelation and interdependence
between industry and agriculture and that each has a contribution to make on the
other and on national development. Failure to pay attention to both will result
in missing their potential contributions. The country must give industry and
agriculture the priority attention they deserves in order to avoid the vicious
cycle of low income, low investment and low growth,” Prof Kuzilwa said.
The consultants who were assigned by UNIDO to conduct research on food
industry, Mercy and Lilian, observed that packaging materials and food
additives, the most important inputs in food processing are not easily
obtainable and when available they are sold at high prices.
Packaging and food additives are the largest cost components in food processing.
Most food crops are marketed in their fresh or raw form. This fact coupled with
poor storage facilities, the perishable nature of agricultural produce and the
poor handling during transportation results to post harvest losses. The losses
occur at the household level due to poor storage and during transit due to poor
handling and poor infrastructure. Losses also occur at market places.
Financial market stable
By Timothy Kitundu
In August 2004, interest rates on deposits remained unchanged from
the levels recorded in the preceding month. Average savings rate, according to
the latest monthly economic review, was 2.4 per cent ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 per
cent.
The overall time deposit rates remained steady at 4.4 per cent ranging from 1.0
to 11.5 per cent. Similarly, foreign currency denominated deposit rates remained
unchanged at 0.8 per cent, while overall rates on foreign time deposits improved
to 1.6 per cent from 1.2 per cent.
Average negotiated deposits rate fell to 6.2 per cent in August 2004, from 6.7
per cent registered in the preceding month.
Lending rates moved upwards with largest increase occurring in the loans of 1-2
year maturity, which edged to 18.9 per cent in August from 14.6 per cent in the
previous month.
As a result, overall lending rate rose to 14.8 per cent from 13.5per cent.
However, prime borrowers continued to benefit from lower cost of funds than
regular borrowers. The negotiated lending rate averaged 10.1 per cent during the
month under review.
The increase in lending rates at a time of steady deposit rates led to an
increase in the spread between 12-months fixed deposits and one-year lending
rates that stood at 9.8 percentage points in August 2004, from 9.1 percentage
points in July.
New telecom regime to
intensify competition
By Kizito Makoye
The new licensing regime for
Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), to be adopted by the
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), is likely to promote
effective competition as more players would participate in the industry.
Presenting a paper at a stakeholders’ meeting, TCRA Director of Information and
Communications Technology, Engineer John Mpapalika said the regime would bridge
the digital divide between rural and urban areas by introducing district
licences supported by rural communications development funds.
He said TCRA has adopted four areas in the ICT market: facilities, services,
content and application services, adding the carrier-based network facilities
licence would provide solutions to companies with excess capacity such as TRC,
TANESCO, TAZARA and TPDF.
Mpapalika said the new regime would split the market into international,
national, regional and district market segments which would be characterised by
rural conditions to attract investment.
He said employment opportunities may be created in the course of the process,
adding that existing operators would compete hundred per cent in all markets and
segments.
Mpapalika further said new entrants such as GSM900 cellular mobile and 3G
frequencies may be licensed but that would depend on the availability of
resources.
According to Mpapalika, the National Telecommunication Policy of 1997 requires
Tanzania to accelerate the development of an efficient telecommunication network
in all sectors of the economy and all segments of the population, including
universal access.
He added that the proposed Electronic and Postal Communications Bill that
provides legitimacy of the new licensing regime is in progress.
According to him, TCRA would invite applications for new licences before the
end of exclusivity period, saying the old licence holders will be given a
one-year period to adjust to the new licensing regime.
Japan brings more experts,
volunteers
By Kizito Makoye
The governments of Tanzania and Japan have entered into a Bilateral
Technical Cooperation Agreement in which senior volunteers, experts and survey
missions from Japan will be dispatched to serve in the country.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Gray Mgonja, and Japanese
Ambassador to Tanzania, Katsuya Ikeda , signed the agreement Tuesday which
provides measures for implementation of Japanese technical cooperation under
Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The agreement confers tax exemption on the Japanese personnel, including the
permanent staff members of JICA residing in Tanzania, who are involved in
technical cooperation.
Speaking at a brief ceremony, Mgonja said the agreement would enable the two
countries to further strengthen bilateral relations and enhance delivery of
benefits for economic and social development .
He reiterated the government would guarantee tax exemption and fees and provide
other necessary facilities for the experts, volunteers and missions entering the
country.
According to Mgonja, Japan had also sent in 174 experts and 162 volunteers in
1998 and 2002, who were placed in various government departments, institutions
and projects.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Ambassador said technical cooperation had been one of
the pillars of Japanese official development assistance since the start of
training programme in the 1950s.
“It is not too much to say that the success of our technical cooperation is due
to JICA’s enthusiastic activities and cooperation of Tanzania government,” he
stressed.
He said, in 2003, the number of Japanese experts and Tanzanian trainees reached
692 and 2200, respectively.
JICA’s Resident Representative to Tanzania Toshihiro Obata said technical
cooperation is a comprehensive programme involving administrative issues and
that the amount of paper work would be significantly reduced.
EC offers 40m/- budgetary
support
By Timothy Kitundu
Under its Poverty Reduction Support programme, the European
Commission transferred a second installment of Tsh.40 billion to the Tanzanian
budget for the fourth quarter of 2004, the Commission’s Press Information
Officer, Neema Kambona revealed in a statement.
Kambona said the Tsh.150 billion programme, which is being disbursed over a
three-year period (2003-2006), is running to schedule and that for the first
time in Tanzania, the EC used a new mechanism to adjust the level of its budget
support according to progress made in implementing the key government reforms.
According to her, the purpose of the budget support in the country is to reduce
poverty by supporting the ongoing government reforms and that budget support
provides the government with a guarantee that resources are available to carry
out ambitious reform programmes.
The overall EC aid to Tanzania 2001-2007, according to her, is provided
according to the jointly agreed Country Strategy Paper (CSP) between the
government of Tanzania and the EC.
“The total ‘programmed” envelope amounts to Tsh.370 billion of which 45 per
cent is budget support,” Kimbona added.
She said current talks around the mid-term review of the CSP could lead to an
increase of this proportion to over 60 per cent as the ‘unprogrammed’ aid of
Tsh.83 billion could be utilised as budget support.
She added that ‘unprogrammed’ share of the envelope could also in principle be
used to fund the FLEX scheme aimed at compensating for variations in exports
revenues due to sharp decreases in commodities’ world prices.
However, she said, it is not certain that, from a technical point of view,
whether Tanzania would be eligible to FLEX over the next years, therefore, given
its strong macroeconomic record, an increase in the overall budget support
envelope looks appropriate.
Against this background, Kimbona added, the EC disbursed the fixed component of
its budget support envelope for this financial year at Tsh.30 billion. The
variable component adjusted according to progress made on the management of
public funds was disbursed up to 75 per cent, which shows good progress despite
the difficulties mentioned.
'People benefit only through
meaningful laws'
By Salome Mtunguja
African Local Governments can do people good only through meaningful
clauses in their laws and regulations that provide for a consultative approach
to development.
Ghanaian Development and Management Consultant Kwame Dwamena observed this when
presenting a paper on consultation and strategic communication for local
economic development in Africa at a seminar last week.
“We need to fashion out or deepen our local governments and development agenda
in such a manner that it creates avenues for discussions as a regular pattern in
eliciting consensus among the people,” he stressed.
Dwamena said, the consultation process aims to maximise opportunities for
citizens to be informed, to have their concerns heard and taken into account,
before a decision is made by Government.
He added that consultation should improve decision-making and build
understanding, by actively involving individuals and organisations with stake in
policy, project or programme.
According to Dwamena, the project should focus on participatory planning and
evaluation until its termination.
He said the district planning authority should conduct a public hearing on any
proposed district development plan and consider the views expressed at the
hearing before adoption of the proposed district development plan.
The national development planning commission should have guidelines prescribing
the manner in which the public hearing shall be conducted, he added.
US support Zanzibar’s voters
registry
By Kizito Makoye
The United States Agency for International Cooperation USAID
yesterday dished out US$ 250,000 (Tsh.262,500,000) to the Zanzibar Electoral
Commission(ZEC) in its support for democracy in Tanzania.
The funds would be used for procurement of Permanent Voter’s Register (PVR) and
other activities leading to the general elections in 2005.
The USAID Interim Director Lucretia Taylor handed over the cheque to the ZEC
Director, Khamis Ali Ame at the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam.
The statement from the Embassy said the PVR would facilitate the implementation
of the 2005 general elections.
The PVR is part of the election process that emanated from the Muafaka political
accord between CUF and CCM Parties in Zanzibar.
According to US Embassy spokesperson John Hynes the funds would be used to
purchase scanners, other supporting equipment and provide training in their use
and maintenance, adding that a local NGO has been selected to monitor the
voters’ registration process and will also receive part of the money.
“This pre-election monitoring exercise is an important activity between now and
the onset of party primaries and election campaigns,” he said.
Hynes further added that the funds would be used on civic and voter education
activities, such as training of election workers.
The statement from US Embassy said USAID believes that an effective way of
promoting democracy and good governance is to place emphasis on strengthening
civil society.
It added that good governance will come as a result of growing demands from the
media, political parties, the private sector and donors.
Meanwhile the NEC Vice Chairperson, Justice Agustino Ramadhan said it was not
ideal for opposition Parties to pre-empt the forth coming voters’ registration
exercise before it has started.
The Muafaka accord called for a legal review and reforms of the electoral law,
inclusion of CUF members on the ZEC, a thorough investigation and report on the
2001 post-election related violence, and the establishment of a PVR for Zanzibar
Bus passengers informed of
their rights
By Salome Mtunguja
The Tanzania Passengers Service Association (HUWATA) has told owners
of buses that in case of accidents, where there are fatalities or injuries, they
ought to pay for the treatment, compensate relatives and ensure the passengers
reach their final destination.
HUWATA Permanent Secretary, Severin Mhina told this reporter any bus owner, who
does not offer any support to passengers after his bus is involved in an
accident, is liable for punishment under the License Act 1973.
According to the Act, owners of buses should make sure every passenger gets to
his or her destination and ensure security of passengers and their luggage.
TRA invites consultants for
baseline survey
By Kizito Makoye
The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) is looking for a consulting
firm to provide consultancy services to carry out a baseline survey of its
internal service levels.
According to a TRA statement last week, the consulting firm is expected to
carry out the survey and produce a final report over a period of twelve weeks
from the time of signing the contract.
The statement said the government has set aside its own funds in the TRA,
adding that it intends to use some of the funds to facilitate payment under a
contract for the provision of the said consulting services.
According to the statement, interested consultants need to provide information
that indicates they are qualified to perform the study. The selection of the
firm would be in accordance with the procedures set out by Procurement Act No 3
of 2001, the statement said.
It added, TRA is currently implementing its second corporate plan and the main
objective is to make TRA investor and taxpayer friendly and strengthen its
operational efficiency to enable the institution boost revenue collection to “
capacity levels “ rather than prescribed modest levels
Tawa Market opened
By Merline Mhamaka
A total of Tsh. 713 million has been used in completing market
projects at Tawa village in Morogoro Rural District, aimed at helping farmers in
the village.
This was revealed in a statement presented by members of Tanzania Farmers
Association Network (MVIWATA) to Morogoro Regional Commissioner (RC), Stephen
Mashishanga at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the Tawa Market and a
training institution for the farmers of Tawa village.
The report indicated that Tawa village farmers have succeeded in getting
assistance for the construction of a modern market valued at Tsh. 218 million, a
farmers training institution worth Tsh. 50 million and construction of a road
and a bridge between Tawa and Tandai at an estimated cost of Tsh. 444 million.
The aim of constructing a modern market, a bridge and a training institution, is
to enable the farmers of Tawa, Kibogwa and Kibungo Juu attract customers to
purchase their crops easily and at an appropriate time.
Before construction of the modern market, the statement read, almost half of the
crops produced by the farmers in the three wards, was spoilt for lack of a
dependable market.
The construction cost of the various development projects was met by the French
government.
In their statement, MVIWATA asked the Regional Government to set aside special
funds from their budget to maintain the market infrastructure.
The RC, for his part, said there is need for MVIWATA and farmers using the
market to initiate ways of improving agriculture in the area and the crop
quality to attract more buyers.
He also urged petty farmers in the area to join the Tanzania Farmers Association
Network in order to improve their businesses and reap more.
Ukerewe to get electricity
By Sebastian Gabunga, Nansio
Ukerewe residents in Mwanza Region have been asked to start building
modern houses in preparation for electricity, which is likely to come to the
district during the financial year 2004/2005.
Ukerewe Member of Parliament (MP) Gertrude Mongella said this at the District
Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) general congress.
She said, arrival of electricity in Ukerewe District should be a challenge to
inhabitants as they would need to build modern houses, together with reviving
projects stalled due to lack of electricity.
Mongella who also is President of Pan African Parliament said, completion of the
project to bring electricity to Ukerewe District will greatly improve work of
social service institutions such as hospitals, and local industries.
Opening the session, Minister of State in President’s Office (Planning and
Privatisation), Dr. Abdallah Kigoda said, the government was also planning to
construct a five kilometre tarmac road in the whole of Ukerewe District during
the 2004/2005 financial year.
Dr. Kigoda said, already the Government of Spain had provided US $ 11 million
(Tsh. 11 billion) for implementation of the project to create an electricity
network to Ukerewe District from Bunda District in Mara Region.
Cattle breeders cry for help
By Nestory Ngwega,Tanga.
The government has been asked to provide maximum support to people
involved in cattle rearing in order to develop livestock sector in the country.
The request was made by the cattle rearing networking group in Tanga
municipality, (UVIWAKAPO), to the Deputy Minister of Water and Livestock
development. Anthony Diallo when he visited them over the weekend.
In their message to the minister, they said, the government had so far done very
little to help people involved in livestock farming, as a result the sector
remained dormant despite its importance to the economy.
They said it was high time the government helped groups such as theirs by
providing them with cattle-rearing skills and funds to meet necessary material
such as insecticides.
The cattle rearers said livestock development would greatly help poverty
alleviation.
They explained, at present, they had no container to preserve their milk which
means if their milk does not get a market on the very day of production , it
could end up getting spoilt.
Responding to the request, the minister said that the government was aware of
all the problems facing the livestock sector, and it was working towards
addressing them.
He urged cattle rearers to be transparent on all issues, including money
collected in their groups.
TANROADS in Mara to spend
Tsh 1.5m on roads
By Beldina Nyakeke, Musoma
The Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) in Mara Region has set
aside Tsh. 1.59 million for the rehabilitation of roads and bridges in the
2004/05 financial year in Mara Region.
A statement to this effect was issued by TANROADS Manager in Mara Region,
Leonard Kadashi, at a Mara Regional Consultative (MCC) meeting, held in Musoma
town last week.
Kadashi said, TANROADS had allocated Tsh. 1,270,540 for maintenance of tarmac
roads with a total length of 155 kilometres.
He added, another batch of macadamised roads of total length of 392 kilometres
will also be offered special maintenance during the one-year period. This will
include highways and regional roads.
A total of Tsh. 321,900 has also been set aside for repairing 78 bridges. Some
will be given general repairs while other will be given major repairs.
Tsh. half million donated for
fishing projects
By Beldina Nyakeke, Bunda
Residents of Kibara Ward in Mara Region have been given Tsh. 500,000
to start a fishing project to enable them overcome economic hardship.
The assistance was given last week by the CCM’s Tanzania Parents Association
(TAPA) Chairman, Abiud Maregesi, during his tour to inspect the revival of the
party in Mara Region.
The Chairman, who also is resident of Bunda District, donated the money for
purchase of three canoes which will be used in the fishing project. A part of
the money will be used to buy fishing nets and buoys.
Village panels to fight
mountain fires
By Kim Aidan, Mgeta
Leaders up to divisional level – villages and hamlets – in Mgeta
Division of Morogoro Region, have been asked to form mini committees to control
the environmental degradation on Uluguru Mountains.
The suggestion was offered by Mvomero District Commissioner, Samwel Kamote, when
closing a workshop that discussed ways of controlling bush fires and
environmental degradation on Uluguru Mountains, to hamlet and village chairmen
in Mgeta Division.
Kamote said, the issue of protecting the Uluguru Mountains, is not an issue for
the government alone, but an issue for every Tanzanian.
There has been wanton destruction of environment in the form of fires started
intentionally.
Kamote advised the functionaries, who participated at the workshop, to enact
by-laws to control people who destroy the environment of Uluguru Mountains or
their habitats purposely.
He directed functionaries in Mgeta Division to support institutions that
sensitise and motivate people to protect environment.
Misungwi district braces for
food shortage
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
Misungwi District in Mwanza Region has set aside Tsh. 1,000,000 for
purchasing cassava plant bits, in an effort to combat shortage of food in the
district.
This was revealed by Misungwi District Commissioner (DC), Simon Masaga, when
speaking to Care International Tanzania representative, who visited his office
to hand him billboards aimed at motivating agricultural activities in his
district, recently.
The DC told the representative that the plant cuttings would be distributed to
farmers in several areas of the district.
The cassava cuttings will be bought from Ukiriguru Seed Research Station, on the
outskirts of Mwanza City and some will be brought from the districts of Geita,
Musoma and Tarime.
The rationale behind purchasing and motivating people to grow cassava is that
cassava and millet can withstand drought.
Besides cassava, the DC said, emphasis will also be placed on growing sweet
potatoes and cotton to generate more income.
Care Emergency Officer Ladislaus Rutaihwa told the DC that the billboards will
motivate the community to grow cassava and millet as a precaution for famine.
Besides distributing the billboards, Care International has already visited the
farmers and has discussed with them the matter of cultivating crops that can
withstand drought.
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