Kikwete graces Christmas
Showbiz
By Burton Brown
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrisho Jakaya
Kikwete is scheduled to officiate the grand opening ceremony of Christmas music
festival at Leaders Club tomorrow.
One of the biggest music festivals ever staged in Tanzania, more than 200
artistes have been invited to perform in the twelve-hour non stop music
festival.
JKT Taarab band, the biggest music Orchestra in East Africa, will be performing
along with Muungano Cultural Troupe, while Bablooms, East African Melody will be
there to star modern taarab (Rusha Roho).
Ally Choki with his Extra Bongo Group will lead the Neo Rumba style on the stage
ahead of FM Academia and African Stars Twanga Pepeta.
Mlimani Park Orchestra will be the arrowhead of the proto rumba music and their
arch-rivals, OTTU Jazz.
Mangwair, Banana Zorro, Crazy GK, AY, Snare, Didu Baya and Afande Sele are the
mega stars expected to perform at the Leaders Club.
But arrival of Kenya’s biggest Hip Hop group, Gidi Gidi Maji Maji will help make
the Leaders Club, the hottest Christmas venue ever recorded since Tanzania won
her interdependence in 1961.
Railways plagued by cable
thefts
By Kabale Lazaro, Mwanza.
Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) has suffered a Tsh. 40 million
loss from vandalism and theft of communications wires on its railways lines
since January this year.
The Corporation’s Transportation Manager in Mwanza Region, Selicius Sadda
disclosed the loss during a press conference held at Mwanza Regional Police
Commander's Office after two Mwanza residents were apprehended with 7,889 metre
long wires.
According to the Manager, the Corporation has been incurring various losses due
to theft and vandalism of communication network and it is sometimes forced to
compensate goods which delay to reach destinations as scheduled.
Sadda said the intercepted wires weighing 355 kilos are worth Tsh.2 million,
adding that the theft is mostly done at Fera and Malampaka stations at night
hours when the watchmen are off duty.
He further said that the intercepted wires were due to be transported from
Shinyanga to Tarime where they are traded, adding that efforts are underway to
net other offenders who are involved in such illegal business.
Mwanza Regional Police Commander, confirmed the arrest of four people and they
are due to appear before court to answer charges of theft.
Chemist office receives funds
A total of Tsh. 190 million shillings
have been disbursed for renovation of chief chemist office buildings in Lake
Region. Deputy Manager of Chief Chemist Laboratory, Lake Zone Sabanitho Mtega
said recently that among the activities include renovation, fencing construction
of house and generator landscaping, and purchasing of office furniture. The
money was obtained from the Ministry of Health .
International tourists
flock Serengeti, cry foul over lack of publicity
By Lina Lorentz - Serengeti:
Though the number of tourists from Europe and America visiting
Serengeti National Park has increased manifold this year over the past couple of
years, most of them still lament lack of coordination, particularly between the
transport and accommodation sectors, publicity and information on the world’s
largest habitat of wild beasts.
While number of American tourists has increased sharply, there has also been a
significant increase in the number of tourists from countries like Spain and
China which should convey a healthy sign to the government.
“This year, more Americans have found their way to Tanzania. The fall in their
numbers following the terrorist attacks in 2001 has apparently subsided and they
are happy to fly overseas for their holidays,” said Nick Dalfield, working with
a balloon safari company in Serengeti, adding, “there has also been a sharp
increase in tourists from Spain and other southern European countries. Notably,
more Chinese visitors have come to spend time in Tanzania.” This is a good sign
for the government which is particularly targeting the Chinese market.
With the Christmas and New Year to come, the business is expected to rise
further this year to touch an all time high.
Despite an increase in the number of tourists, it is still difficult to find one
way through in the country due to poor dissemination of information, argues most
of the travellers.
“The country could do much more in terms of advertising and marketing of major
attractions and alternative ways of spending a week’s safari. Regarding
Serengeti, many tourists have come to know about the park though watching
programmes on the Discovery Channel, not much easy access information is
available from government run campaigns or sources,” said Tom Davies, a British
tourist visiting Serengeti.
According to him, it depends on how much time and effort one is willing to
spend to get information on Tanzania. “To get information about the national
parks you have to visit the websites of different tour operators. What is
lacking is a website that gives you an overview of what there is on offer,” he
pointed out.
“We were told to fly to Nairobi and drive from there to Serengeti. Had I known
more about domestic flights in Tanzania I would definitely have spared a day’s
car journey and opted to fly from Arusha or Dar es Salaam to the park,” Davies
said.
Kilwa Project second phase to
start in July
By Angela Mazula
The second phase of rehabilitation and promotion of Kilwa Kisiwani
and Songomnara World Heritage sites project will start from July 2005. In the
first phase, Tsh. 830 million has been spent on rehabilitation and restoration
of the site, jointly by UNESCO, French and Japanese governments.
The programme, which is a collaboration between the government of Tanzania,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Government of France and Japan and
the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),
will now focus on researching on the history, archeology, sociology and
producing information materials both for tourists and educational purposes.
French researchers will start their work next year to develop a better
understanding on the site, promote its history and highlight its significance to
the world. Tanzanian researchers will work in close association with the French
team to reach and make it a popular destination and also spread awareness about
the area so that it can attract tourists.
“The project aims at contributing to the national heritage and to the local
community development through conservation of the historical sites and
development of tourism,” said French Ambassador to Tanzania Emmanuelle’d Achon.
The project is currently developing multilingual information brochures for Kilwa
District and along with handouts, books and documentations for catering to the
tourists.
The conservation funds thus obtained from tourism will be utilised in
development work in the area and rehabilitation of the people living in the
area. “Improving accessibility to water for the local community is one of the
major goals along with alleviating workload on women and reduce infant
mortality. Villagers will be trained to service and maintain the water wells”,
she said
French experts have been working on the ruins and offering free training to 15
local residents on how to rehabilitate the ruins through Non Governmental
Organisation (NGOs), Chantiers, Historie and Architure Medievales (CHAM),
ARCHIPAT on drawing experts.
US Embassy bomb accused let off
By Express Team
Tanzanian court has acquitted and released a man charged over the 1998 US
embassy bombing in Dar es Salaam.
In his judgment, the judge cited too many discrepancies and doubts to convict
Rashid Sweleh Hemed, after a trial lasting for over six years.
Eleven people died in the Tanzania attack. Another blast the same day at the US
embassy in the Kenyan capital Nairobi killed a further 213 people.
The 34-year-old businessman had 11 counts of murder reduced to conspiracy
charges during the course of the trial.
But Rashid, after the case did not look too perturbed. “I am not surprised with
the judgment because I knew I was not guilty right from the beginning,” he said
as he walked out of the High Court and hugged his relatives. Judge Emilian
Mushi, who presided over the trial, said he was satisfied that the accused
person was not aware of the bombing activities by the alleged conspirators.
“There is no evidence from which it can be properly inferred that he was part of
the conspiracy to bomb the US embassy,” he said. “Accordingly, I find him not
guilty. He is therefore acquitted.” Mr Hemed’s lawyer Fauz Twaib said he was
relieved by the verdict.
“I think justice has been done today. It’s been a long wait but ultimately I
think the judgement was fair and my client deserved to win,” he told newsmen
after the verdict was announced.
WWF conservation for Mafia
district
By Kizitto Joseph
World Wide Fund for Nature Development Fund (WWF) has undertaken a
conservation project of marine parks and aquatic biodiversity in the country in
association with Vodaphone Company of England. The project also aims at solving
water problems faced by residents of Mafia District.
The project of clean and Safe water is introduced through a programme of digging
long wells capable to collect water to 86,400 litres.
Already Tsh. 12 million has been contributed to dig a well of seventeen metres
long near the headquarters of Mafia Marine Parks and Reserves.
The well is dug to serve about 37,000 residents of Utende and Kiegeani. Over 300
people from Utendekufi village will also be the beneficiaries, said Senior
Communication officer for Marine Parks and Reserve, John Mapepele.
According to Mapepele, residents of Mafia district especially at Utende,
Kiegeani and Utendekufi area used to walk to about three to six hours searching
for water for their domestic use.
This shortage he said, has compelled some students to abscond from schools with
the aim of helping their families to search for water for domestic use.
“This will be a long lasting programme aiming at covering the whole Island of
Mafia and its implementations have successfully started” said Mapepele.
He said already Marine Parks and Reserves have subjected about Tsh. 111 milion
to Mafia Islands' residents to help various social issues, and twenty nine loans
amounting to Tsh. 61.7 million were provided to groups for procuring, purse,
seine nets, boats, gill nets and fence trap.
Low conviction rate increasing
violence against women
By Kizito Makoye
An abysmally low rate of conviction is contributing to increase in
incidence of violence against women in the country, coupled with lack of
awareness and legal support system for the victims.
According to a recent study done by a Mwanza-based women rights group, out of
793 cases filed in the region, only 57 could be decided where the judgment
favoured the victim.
These cases range from sexual harassment to brutal acts of rape followed by
murder, genital mutilation and denial of basic needs by the spouse. The report
also shows a phenomenal increase in the number of sexual crimes which
corresponds to spreading of HIV infection at a much faster rate.
The report has blamed the increase in violent activities against women for
unchecked spread of HIV. Here, the report says, despite having the best of
intentions, women fail to protect themselves from the infection.
The social malady of being deserted by the husband was also a contributory
factor to the spread of the disease, the report pointed out.
One of the main reasons behind the low conviction rate was in fact, lack of
awareness in the part of victims who, quite often, are forced to withdraw or
abandon the cases or fails to engage lawyers.
“Legal support has to be provided by the government to these victims since NGOs
have not been very successful in providing such assistance,” said Executive
Director of Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) Tumaini Slaa.
“The government is still obliged to render legal assistance to vulnerable women
who are out of reach. A part of government fund has to be set aside for this
purpose which will emphasize the commitment and willingness to assist women who
cannot afford legal services,” she added.
“Lack of knowledge of legal procedures and technicalities is the main cause that
the cases never get justice,” she added.
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW), to which Tanzania is a signatory, recommends that signatories to CEDAW
provide effective legal measures to protect women against violence, take
preventive measures to change attitudes, and provide services and assistance to
women.
But authorities claim that the government has done enough. “Centre has been
helping vulnerable women by giving legal sessions covering inheritance and
marriage matters to make them aware about their rights and responsibilities,”
claimed Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with Kivulini, Rugemalira Florence.
Poaching threatens marine
ecosystem, security tightened
By Kizitto Joseph
Illegal poaching and rampant destruction in marine ecosystem has forced
authorities to tighten security around Marine Parks and Reserves in Tanzania.
The initiative has started along the special reserved zone of Kitutia.
The decision of introducing stringent security measures were taken after Mafia
Marine Parks and Reserves (HIBAMA) arrested three people with 2.5 tones of
living coral reefs at Jibondo village last month.
Senior Communication Officer for Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves, John
Mapepele told The Express in Dar es Salaam that the culprits were apprehended on
November 25 this year and were sentenced to two years imprisonment each for
violating section 22 (i) (b) and 29 of Marine Parks and Reserves of 1994.
“This rate of poaching would ensure extinction of the species,” he said.
According to Mapepele, despite educating the people about the effects of killing
live coral reefs, Marine Parks and Reserves still faces obstacles from Jibondo
villagers in Mafia who view the move as encroachment into their rights to use
natural resources.
November 23 this year Minister in the Vice President’s office (environment)
Alcardo Ntagazwa urged the Community of Jibondo to stop such illegal practices
but to no avail.
Jibondo Villagers use the coral reefs in various economic activities like brick
making and building materials.
Mapepele said the increased security in the area by Marine Parks and Reserves
has gone together with funding these residents in an alternative economic
activities.
He said the residents have been facilitated with credits to start seaweed
farming, brick making and dorma knighting as alternative economic activities to
fishing.
He said about 29 loans amounting to Tsh. 62 millions have been provided to
groups for procuring purse, seine nets, boats, gillnets and fence traps.
Parties to Verify voter list
Officers responsible for registration of voters in the Permanent voter’s
register have been challenged to exercise great care during registration
exercise, avoiding errors which are likely to deny eligible voters of their
constitutional right.
The challenge has been thrown by Mwanza Regional commissioner Daniel Ole Njolaay
when opening a seminar for assistant registrars in Mwanza.