Six days to go
By Kizito Makoye
Dodoma is all set for the nomination and election process of a
presidential candidate on Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ticket, which gets underway
on 2 May.
In six days time (May 4) Tanzania will know CCM’s presidential candidates for
Mainland and Zanzibar. President Bejamin Mkapa, the party’s National Chairman,
will be in Dodoma for the party’s extra-ordinary convention.
CCM’s National Executive Committee’s (NEC) special committee for ethics will
meet tomorrow (Friday) to screen the aspirants’ behaviour when they
criss-crossed the country in search for endorsement signatures.
In the end 11 CCM members picked and returned the forms to compete for the Union
presidency. The aspirants are:
Chairman of Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim
Prime Minister, Frederick Sumaye
Ambassador Ali Karume
Minister in President’s Office Planning and Privatisation, Dr. Abdallah Kigoda
CCM Vice Chairman (Mainland),John Malecela
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Jakaya Kikwete
Former Minister for Industries and Trade Iddi Simba
Ambassador Patrick Chokala Minister for Transport and Communications, l Prof.
Mark Mwandosya
Mp for Sengerema constituency, Dr. William Shija
John Shibuda, (CCM Member)
On Sunday the central committee will forward to NEC (National Electoral
Commission) the names of five aspirants for the Union presidency.
According to the timetable released by CCM Publicity Secretary, Omari Mapuri, a
special NEC committee discussed the aspirants for the Zanzibar presidency
yesterday.
The CCM’s Central Committee, comprising of 36 members, will present its
recommendations to NEC on May 2.
According to the timetable, on May 3, NEC with 207 delegates will propose the
name of the sole aspirant for the presidency of Zanzibar and will recommend the
names of the three CCM aspirants for the presidency of Tanzania. The three names
will emerge from delegates voting from a list of not more than five presented to
them by the Central Committee.
On May 4, the party’s General Assembly will finally zero in on the party’s sole
presidential contestant for the presidency of Tanzania. The winner must scoop at
least 50 per cent of the total votes of the 1,800 delegates in the General
Assembly.
Aspirants for seats in the National Assembly and House of Representatives will
collect nomination forms starting August 1, 2005 and must return them duly
filled in before 4 pm on August 3. Those wishing to become councillors will pick
up the forms on June 22 and return them by June 29.
Cutting routes could be costly
for daladala owners
By Kizito Makoye
Many commuter bus operators in Dar es Salaam whose vehicles’
licences were revoked following violation of registration formalities, have
started to play hide and seek with Dar es Salaam Region Transport Licensing
Authority (DRTLA), The Express has learnt.
Some commuter buses are plying routes they were barred from using and drivers
are avoiding authorities to avoid penalties.
180 16-seater busses operating between Sinza and Gongo la Mboto were suspended,
as a punishment for violating the agreed condition that the vehicles were to use
the whole length of the route, not cutting it short.
DRTLA Chairman, David Mwaibula said the government resolved to revoke the
licences of the said busses. “The drivers have been shortening the routes and as
a result, some passengers who travel long distances had to pay twice. This is
contrary to what the licensing agreement says,” said Mwaibula.
Mwaibula said that the licensing authority is aware that some commuter bus
operators have continued to operate unlawfully, adding that only 10 bus owners
have come forward to re-apply for the licences but that over 180 bus owners have
not come forward to re-apply for the licences.
He vowed to take stern measure against all those who still violate the order of
DRTLA. Mwaibula also warned that because bus owners resolved to unilaterally
hike the fares in Dar es Salaam, passengers should not be disturbed in any
manner.
Nuclear safety stepped up
By Angela Mazula
Tanzania has become part of countries that support the protection of
fatal resources and supplies, after Parliament ratified the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, last week.
The Convention was agreed fifteen years ago but has not been ratified until now.
Tanzania has now agreed to protect transportation of nuclear materials on air,
water and land.
The information was revealed by the Minister for Science, Technology and Higher
Education, Dr. Pius Ngwandu when reading the declaration that it will help the
country boost its national security.
He said it was important that the country controlled and enhanced the protection
of nuclear materials to bar criminals from using them against innocent citizens.
The Minister hoped that the ratification would prevent possible future incidents
like the bombing of the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998.
The ratification of the Convention follows Tanzania’s membership in the
International Atomic Energy Agency were over 76 countries around the world have
already ratified the Convention, at least 10 of them from Africa.
Representative of the Parliamentary Social Services Committee, Dr. Aisha Kigoda
said it is important to join hands with other countries in controlling such
sensitive materials, particularly in this era of great threat of international
terrorism.
Trees planted
for a better world
By Angela Mazula
The US Embassy in Dar es Salaam has donated 400 trees to four
schools in the country as part of the Earth Day celebrations.
David Colvin, Cultural Attaché attended the event that took place at Kibasila
Secondary School in Temeke, Dar es Salaam.
He said the efforts have been made possible through cooperation with the Roots
and Shoots Programme of the Jane Goodall Institute. Roots and Shoots clubs at
the four schools will be responsible for planting and caring for the trees.
The schools that received the trees are Kibasila Secondary, Pugu Secondary,
Miazini Primary and Umoja Primary. Students from Jangwani Secondary were invited
to the ceremony as observes.
Roots and Shoot’s mission is to foster respect for all living things, to promote
understanding of all cultures and beliefs and inspire each individual to take
actions to make the world a better place.
Tanzanians
overseas miss elections
By Kizito Makoye
Thousands of Tanzanians who reside and work abroad will inevitably
miss the forthcoming general elections because they were not involved in the
registration process. The elections law do not support their eligibility.
National Electoral commission (NEC) elections officer, Joseph Nsungu told The
Express last week that, according to the elections laws, Tanzanians who live
outside the country will not participate in the general elections because the
prevailing laws do not allow them to do so.
Other countries allow their citizens living abroad to cast their votes at
respective embassies.
Nsungu said that the end of voters’ registration exercise has closed the
curtain; whoever has not registered will have to wait until the elections are
over to register.
In an interview with The Express, a Tanzanian working in Britain said (on
conditions of anonymity) that the elections laws are too severe. Most people are
quite enthusiastic to participate in the elections. He called for amendments to
allow those who are not in the country to participate.
“I think it is more democratic if as many people as possible participate in the
elections, there are thousands of us who work abroad,” he said.
However, some analysts believe that it is still impractical for Tanzania to
involve its citizens abroad in the elections, bearing in mind the financial
constraints that the country is facing.
Over 10 million Tanzanians are expected to participate in the third multiparty
elections.
NHIF receive
complaints from council workers
By Merline Mhamaka, Morogoro
Employees of Morogoro Municipal Council have threatened to terminate their
membership with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) because it does not
benefit them but just adds inconveniences.
The decision was reached recently during a meeting of all municipal employees,
which also was attended by the Regional Secretary of Tanzanian Local Government
Workers Union (TALGWU). The workers had requested Anthony Mageke, the Municipal
Director to invite officials of NHIF for a dialogue with the employees.
The employees said that the operations of the fund were not transparent
especially in the side of medical treatment as the deductions did not denote the
value for the services.
They further said that the registered centres for offering such services were
reluctant to treat patients who were suffering from diseases which had big cost
implications although such ailments are enlisted in the agreement of diseases to
be treated under the fund.
In regard to that, the employees want NHIF officials to make an analysis of the
deductions and the money used by employees and their dependants because not all
employees and their dependants fall sick and the amounts used does not tally
with their monthly deductions.
In another development, employees of the Ministry of Local Government and
Regional Administration have requested the ministry to look deeply into some of
their problems including effecting promotions to workers prior to the
commencement of the new civil service scheme, scheduled for July this year.
They said that payment of the arrears will motivate workers particularly those
who are engaged in duties that are outside the circles of their responsibility.
TALGWU Regional Secretary, Pili Maganga challenged the employees to upgrade
their skills through education regardless of their ages as research has
indicated that most of them are long serving workers but are not academically
educated.
Soil erosion
troubles Mbezi residents
By Kizito Makoye
Despite the government’s ban on activities related to the excavation
on the delta of River Mbezi in Dar es Salaam, the activities are continuing,
causing possible environmental degradation.
Digging for sand is taking place despite the presence of police officers, who
occasionally patrol the area.
On Sunday The Express witnessed several lorries close to the river valley where
many unemployed young men seek casual labour, earning them Tsh. 10,000 to
Tsh.25,000 depending on the amount of sand they excavate.
“We are not going to stop, this is our livelihood which gives us income for our
families,” said Hamidu Husein caught digging at the River.
Residents of Mbezi are worried that excavation of sand will cause erosion to the
extent that they have to move. They have expressed their concern, calling for
immediate efforts.
“The local government, do not make any efforts to prevent the activities,”
complained a Mbezi beach resident.
The erosion caused by the sand digging has reached residential houses.
Mbezi ward leader, Abdul Risasi said the local government has made some
initiatives, including forming a team of ten people to keep a watchful eye on
the area and report to government authorities.
Risasi blamed the police officers patrolling the area for taking bribes in
return for keeping silent on the issue.
Rural roads
rehabilitation gets underway
By Kizito Makoye
Tanzania together with the European Union is to rehabilitate rural
roads in an ambitious programme following the signing of a bilateral agreement
on Thursday last week.
The gigantic project will improve a total of 465.65 kilometres of rural roads in
the country.
According to a joint statement issued and signed by Treasury Permanent
Secretary, Gray Mgonja and Ambassador Frans Baan, head of delegation of the
European Commission in Tanzania, Tsh. 15 billion has been earmarked for the
project.
The funds come from the remaining STABEX funds, originally provided under the
8th European Development Fund (EDF) to stabilize losses incurred from poor
coffee export earnings due to the collapse of world coffee prices between
1990-1993.
Coffee growing areas to benefit from the rehabilitation works include
Kilimanjaro (77.5km), Ruvuma (40km), Mbeya (81.3km), Kigoma (48.6km), Tanga
(38.7km), Arusha (32km), Mara (20km) and Kagera (127.55km).
Under the same initiative, a framework of mutual obligation concerning the
transfer of STABEX funds was signed in 2003 to support a Coffee Research and
Technology Support Programme and an Agricultural Sector Development Programme.
Transportation
facilitated for local CCM leaders
By Berdina Nyakeke, Musoma
CCM publicity secretaries will have an easier job after receiving
bicycles and a motorcycle.
It is publicity secretaries at ward level in Rural Musoma District that can
count themselves lucky, having received 27 bicycles and one motorcycle, worth
Tsh. 4 million.
Nimrod Mkono, MP for the Musoma Rural made the donation with the objective to
enable the secretaries to reach remote areas in their respective wards.
Handing over the donation on behalf of the MP, CCM Secretary General in Musoma
Rural, Naomi Kapambala said that the bicycles should only be used for the
intended objective.
Meanwhile the CCM Youth wing UVCCM Mara Region has received over Tsh. 12.5
million from contributions to buy a vehicle for the youth wing.
Women receive
special education ahead of elections
By Timothy Kitundu
A non-profit making organisation, Women in Law and Development in
Africa (WiLDAF) officially launched on Monday a civic and voter education
project called Women and the 2005 Elections.
Speaking to The Express in Dar es Salaam after the launching ceremony, WiLDAF
Tanzania Coordinator, Judith Odunga said that the projects aim at sensitizing
women on civic and voter education so that they can utilize their voting rights
as dedicated citizens.
According to Odunga, other objectives of the project will be to encourage women
so that they may come forward and participate in the election process and
educate on good governance and democracy.
“The most important objective of this project is to make a close follow up of
any domestic violence deeds which is linked with civic and voter education,” she
said.
Odunga added that the project covers three regions: Dodoma, Mara and Mbeya.
In general, she said, the project aims at encouraging, inspiring and motivating
women to understand that civic and voter education is the right of each citizen.
WiLDAF has offices in 25 countries in Africa including Tanzania.
back to headlines
Dam
construction thanks to Japanese NGO
By Sebastian Gabunga, Serengeti
Tanzania-Japan Food Aid Counterpart Fund, a non-governmental
organisation, has donated Tsh. 92 million to construction and renovation of dams
for washing livestock in Serengeti District in Mara Region.
According to Serengeti Regional Veterinary Officer, Safari James, the
organisation has since October last year injected Tsh. 38 million for immediate
implementation of the project; so far two dams have been constructed and two
animal washing facilities have been renovated.
Three new dams are yet to be constructed.