‘F’ IN SPORTS
By Fatima Grace Bapumia
Most Tanzanians, according to The Express survey have given the Tanzanian
government and the sportsmen an “F” (failure) in sports.
Tanzania for several years has had a poor performance in sports both nationally,
regionally and internationally since we, as a nation have failed to produce
internationally adored sports icons and more to it, due to our poor sports
standards we have even lost interest in local sports.
Following the presidential call for strengthening sports in Tanzania, some of
the stake holders argue that the appeal should have come a long time ago, while
others believe it is never too late. However despite the decision to improve
sports in Tanzania, the President, Benjamin Mkapa, in his end of the month
speech has not made it clear what fundamental strategies will be used to improve
sports in Tanzania.
Veterans have informed The Express that one of such strategic changes may
include the separation of the Ministry of Sports from the Ministry of Labour,
Youth Development and Sports. “I will not say it is too late, but we need a
Ministry of Sports independent of Youth and Labour, the youth have their own
problems, there is massive labour problem in Tanzania, hence the Sports sector
remains ignored or little cared for” said an ex-Olympic champion for Tanzania,
Filbert Bayi.
Bayi also told The Express, sports in Tanzania was in its most progressive stage
when it was under the Ministry of Sports, Education and Culture about ten years
ago. “Sports and Education go together, and Sports are part of Culture thus, the
three would blend together; I suppose Sports is part of Youth Development, but
combining it with the Ministry of Labour puts a heavy burden on the Ministry”
he said.
Bayi, an athlete himself, is optimistic that the new government will do its part
in promoting other sports equally, as opposed to giving too much emphasis to
football. In an interview with The Express, Bayi had said earlier that little is
being done to promote other sports such as Athletics in Tanzania, whereas there
is a lot of potential among Tanzanian youth to compete at international level if
trained well.
The Chairman of the Automobile Association of Tanzania, Nizar Jivani, told The
Express, that the presidential appeal is long over due, “In the past the schools
were responsible for training children with talents in sports, this played a big
role in promoting sports in the country, but for the past two decades, the
schools do not seem to have encouraged sports at all, and if they do then it’s
only football. We concentrate so much on football, and the result is zero,” he
said.
Jivani also queried, if the government supports football, why then other sports
like rally are deprived of government support, further adding that Motor Rally
being an expensive sport needs more funds in order to train the rally drivers
for international competitions.
“We have won the African Rally Championship but rally drivers need more training
before competing in Europe”.
The Express was also informed by other sources that the National Sports Council
has not done anything significant in supporting either sporting activities or
the sports associations in Tanzania. “This is a dummy body, if we want to
improve sports then before building a stadium we should first restructure the
NSC” the source lamented. Further adding that it is unnecessary for the
government to spend 60 billion TShs on a multipurpose stadium in Dar Es Salaam,
whereas, for the people in the regions even a decent football pitch is a
luxury.
According to the survey conducted by The Express, most people argued that the
Ministry of Labour, Youth Development and Sports have failed the Tanzanians,
then so has the Minister by paying little attention to the need for sporting
activities among Tanzanian youth. “I do not see what the Ministry has done so
far, our sports standard is as poor as it has always been” The Express was told.
Drawing examples from European sports clubs, Zully Remtullah, the Chairman of
Tanzania Cricket Association, said that sports clubs in Tanzania ought to have
their own funding instead of waiting for assistance from government. Moreover he
also said that there is a need for the government to see that its sports
policies are well implemented. “Current sports policies are good but only if
they are implemented, accordingly, we tend to talk a lot with no action” he
said, adding that once the sports associations become independent of the
government the sports sector will see great progress.
Zully also emphasised the need to have a positive attitude towards physical
activities as an imperative to developing sports. “We Tanzanians are not very
sports-oriented in general, we lack the drive to engage in sports activities
and this needs to change, for as much as we need a good infrastructure for
sports, we equally need the drive to utilize them,” he said.
Zully who has been a sportsman himself, said Tanzania did well in the sports
sector in the 1960s and 1970s, and in order to revive the passion for sports in
Tanzania, there is a need for an open forum between all sports associations and
the government.
Rashid Matumla, who had won world championship title in boxing in 1999, told The
Express, that if the government were more serious with sports he could have won
more titles, hence bringing fame to Tanzania. “When I won the title I did not
have the money to go for more fights to defend my title for the next year. I
asked the governement for help but they refused”. He added that he has yet to
see what the government will do to promote sports.
Meanwhile President Benjamin Mkapa told the Tanzanians that he is tired of
seeing Tanzania not progressing in sports at an international level. This he
said during the end of month address to the nation. “ I want the new stadium to
be a catalyst for Tanzania to raise the standard of sports nationally,
regionally and internationally” he said.
However, the president did not mention whether or not the government will give
any financial support to the sports bodies or fund any sporting activities in
Tanzania.
PPT-
Maendeleo promises to seek visas for Tanzanians
By Kizito Makoye
The Progressive Party of Tanzania PPT-Maendeleo has said, if given
the mandate to rule, it will help citizens who wish to travel to various
destinations outside the country to get entry visa from respective embassies
promptly.
PPT- Maendeleo National Chairman Peter Mziray told The Express last week that
many Tanzanians have been going through distressful procedures when applying for
visas from various embassies while foreigners are coming to Tanzania without
strict regulations.
“We will ensure that all good citizens who want to travel to various countries,
which we have good diplomatic relationships with, are given entry visas as long
as they are capable of paying for their tickets” he said.
He said PPT-Maendeleo policy does not deny young people going outside the
country, seeking for employment, and that it is their basic right to do so.
He said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has not
done enough to convince Embassies and High Commissions to lessen strictness when
issuing visas to Tanzanians.
He also said that all children born in Tanzania will automatically be citizens
even if the parents are non-Tanzanians, adding that birth certificates will be
issued at the dispensary level, so that even those women who are giving birth at
home can get their children registered.
He added that the children will continue to hold Tanzanian citizenship until
they reach 18 years of age, when they will have the right to denounce the
citizenship should they wish to do so.
According to PPT- Maendeleo’s election manifesto which has been issued, the
party’s policy is to formulate Labour Intensive Industries which would use
natural resources that the country is endowed with, and absorb unemployed young
people and women.
“The Problem of unemployment especially for youth is similar to a landmine which
is likely to explode any time” Mziray asserted.
PPT-Maendeleo party got permanent registration in 2003, no candidate has
expressed desire to vie for the presidency so far.
Mufti’s
secretary participates in Muslim leadership programme
By Express Reporter
The Secretary to the Mufti of Zanzibar, Fadhil Soraga is off to the United
States to join 20 other participants from Africa, attending a three-week
programme on ‘Leadership in the Muslim Community’
A press release from US Embassy, made available to The Express on Tuesday, said
that the programme which starts this week is funded by the US State Department.
According to the statement the participants will have a chance to visit
different locations including Washington, DC; Detroit, Michigan; Kansas City,
Missouri; and Los Angeles, California.
Soraga has been working for the Zanzibar Mufti’s office since 2003, he holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree from the Medina Islamic University of Saudi Arabia.
Other participants are from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Uganda, and two each
from Chad, Mauritius, Nigeria and Togo.
The statement said that the programme aimed at introducing participants to the
structure and foundation of the US government, emphasizing separation of powers,
checks and balances, and citizen participation in the decision-making process.
It also said that the participants will witness examples of leadership in
business, government, community and social affairs.
NEC tactile voting commended
By Kizito Makoye
The National Institute of The Blind (TNIB) has commended the
National Electoral Commission for preparing a new arrangement which will enable
blind people to fully participate in the forthcoming general elections, by
casting their votes through tactile voting.
The TNIB Executive Director, James Shimwenye told The Express last week that if
the new arrangement is going to be implemented this year, it would simplify the
voting process for the blind people who previously had to seek assistance from
relatives or other people.
He said, the experience in previous elections had shown that most blind people
were facing lots of problems, especially when it comes to identifying the
candidates of the political parties.
“The main problems that blind people are facing when they are going to vote, is
to identify the candidates, but I hope with the new system being introduced,
that problem will be eliminated” he said.
He challenged NEC to put polling booths (tactile voting) in areas where the
blind can easily get access, adding that the blind people could not trust just
anybody helping them to cast the ballots as they could easily dodge by casting a
vote for the wrong candidate.
Shimwenye also pointed out that the old system, whereby other people had to
assist them casting their votes, could, in the worst cases, jeopardize their
lives, if the candidate realized that they had not chosen him or her.
He said TNIB has also embarked on civic education for their members in three
regions, including Mtwara, Lindi and Rukwa, something which will raise awareness
in the prospective voters.
In its bid to raise awareness on the importance of taking care of the eyes of
its members, TNIB is involved in an eye-care project, because most of its
members are still not well informed about how to take care of their defective
eyes.
CHADEMA flexes
its muscles for October elections
By Tunu Ally, Dodoma
In the run-up to the forthcoming general elections, Chama Cha
Demokrasia na Maendeleo, CHADEMA advised its members in Dodoma that they should
work extra- hard to build people’s confidence so that they join the party.
This was said by a Member of Parliament for Kigoma Urban Constituency Amani
Kabourou, when speaking to various ward leaders, and prospective candidates for
Parliamentary and councillor seats on the CHADEMA ticket.
They were exchanging ideas, knowledge and experience on how to prepare for the
coming general election due in October 30.
The MP said, CHADEMA is still in its elementary stage, and therefore it would be
better for members to continue strengthening the party at grass-root levels,
leaving aside higher posts at least for the time being, given that the party
requires consolidation.
Having few legislators in the Parliament of Tanzania and the House of
Representatives in Zanzibar should not be a discouraging factor, as the party is
extending its network especially outside the country, so as to bring more funds
to strengthen the party.
“Leaders and members, you have heard that our Chairman went to the USA where he
met the Prime Minister of Australia and President George W Bush. This is one
strategy of CHADEMA’s expansion network so that we get funds, experience and
knowledge of running our political party.”, observed Kabourou.
Nevertheless, the MP said, presently CHADEMA members ought to be committed to
the party and those vying for various political posts, especially
councillorship, should do so to build up the party.
He requested all party contestants to be extra vigilant during election period
as the National Electoral Commission, whose members are civil servants is still
bureaucratic.
He added that election war is a matter of importance, and it would be better for
CHADEMA members to organize themselves properly against any oppression and
fraudulent polling in the elections.
CHAWATA
cautions disabled on drunkenness
By Emmanuel Lazaro, Dodoma
The Disabled Association of Tanzania (CHAWATA) has warned members to
utilise grants and contributions given to them sparingly, to better their living
standards instead of involving themselves in debauchery and drunkenness, things
which are considered a disgrace and therefore discourage people who want to help
them.
The warning was made by CHAWATA Executive Committee member in Dodoma Urban
District, Idd Mrisho, who said the association would like to see the disabled
benefit from the assistance given by improving their standards of living.
Mrisho went on saying two disabled people were allegedly involved in a rampage
in a bar scrambling for a woman, adding that the association strongly condemned
such acts.
On the other hand CHAWATA in Dodoma Urban District has congratulated the
Chairman of the IPP Groups of Companies, Reginald Mengi, for his tireless
efforts at assisting the disabled and the marginalized.
“The association values and respects the contribution made by Mengi to Tanzanian
disabled.” Mrisho said.
He added that Mengi is worthy of imitation, especially in the way he takes the
problems of the disabled as his own problems.
“Mengi is the only person who sits and eats food with disabled people, listens
and solves their problems to the best of his ability,” he said.
The Tanzanian community ought to love and value their disabled groups, he said
“We should not wait for outside people to come
and help, but outsiders should add to our efforts where we get stuck.” Mrisho
observed.
Mrisho has requested the community to give an opportunity to the disabled to
show their contribution in ideas and in community work, instead of letting them
down, seeing them as worthless creatures.
Help for the Mentally disabled
By Merline Mhamaka, Morogoro
The Centre for Mentally disturbed Children, situated at Mehayo in
the Mazimbu area of Morogoro Municipality, expects to spend about Tsh. 150
million for the construction of low-cost houses at Tunayaweza Village on the
outskirts of the municipality, which will be given to youngsters who are able to
work after completing self-reliance training at the centre.
The construction programme followed immediately after the centre asked for a
special area to construct the houses, to enable self-reliant trained disabled
people to have special residences where the centre will still make a follow up.
The Director of Mehayo Centre, Linda Ngido, in her presentation, congratulated
Morogoro Regional Commissioner Stephen Mashishanga, for providing them with an
area of 60 hectares for the construction of permanent homes for the disabled.
Besides acquiring the area, the centre needs a water dam, power services, a road
and a dispensary, which must be obtained after the completion of 15 houses,
where five will be given to women and 10 to men.
The Director appealed to all Tanzanians to contribute money for the disabled
which will be used to complete the construction of the houses, and provide
infrastructure for the welfare of the centre.
The centre aims at enabling the disabled to learn practical crafts, find ways of
how they can employ themselves, and build confidence in themselves that they can
live good lives without depending upon outside people.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner Stephen Mashishanga in his address, which was
read on his behalf by Assistant Administrative Officer (Community Development)
Esther Lauwo, said the time had come for Tanzanians to learn the importance of
caring for the disabled, and warned those who hide them in homes to stop such
habits.
Mehayo Centre was established by Linda Ngido in cooperation with her friends
from the Netherlands and Norway in 1995, as a non-governmental organization with
nine youths. But now there are 45 young people and the programme of instruction
includes hygiene, agriculture, handicrafts, cookery, tree planting and animal
husbandry together with poultry keeping.
Dodoma
for Nanenane Celebrations in 2006
By Tunu Ally, Dodoma
Speaking in his office, Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Mussa Nkangaa,
said that the Farmers’ Day celebrations will take place in the region starting
from 2006, after Mbeya region has had its turn.
He told The Express that various reasons have made completion of essential
services at the Nanenane exhibition Grounds fail to materialize, so that the
Farmers’ Day exhibition will this year be at regional level, and at national
level next year.
He said services which were yet to be completed included water and electricity,
adding that now there is the problem of transport to enable participants to the
celebrations to reach the grounds of the exhibitions.
At present water and electricity are available, but the exhibition grounds lack
an entry gate and fence to help in the collection of entry fees from people who
will enter the Exhibition Ground, he said.
He said that it is very difficult to impose an entry fee at the exhibition this
time around, because the ground does not have a fence, adding that effectively
next year people will be charged upon their entry at the ground.
The fence will be constructed by people who have pavilions and institutions
around the Exhibition ground, to enable the region to host the national
celebrations for next year.
The aim is to have permanent pavilions at the Exhibition Ground, where
participants will display their agricultural produce.
He said that this will enable farmers in the Central Zone to participate every
year, so that they learn new techniques of agriculture etc. from the various
exhibitions displayed at the Exhibition ground. The R C called upon citizens of
Dodoma to attend this first-time regional event in large numbers.
He has also called on Daladala bus owners to come up and transport people to the
Exhibition area to enable the celebrations to succeed, given that this is the
first time the cerebration has been held in Dodoma Region.
University students helped
compete for jobs
By Merline Mhamaka, Morogoro
About 60 students from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and
from other universities, have participated in a two weeks entrepreneurial course
at SUA in Morogoro
Course Coordinator, Professor Romanus Ishengoma said, out of the 60 students, 54
are from SUA and the other six are from various other universities in the
country, including Mzumbe University and University of Dar es Salaam.
According to Prof. Ishengoma, the course aims at building the capacity of the
students and enabling them to compete in a free market of employment, given that
many students have failed to cope with the situation after completing their
university education.
The Course Coordinator said the entrepreneurship studies were started in 2002,
under the FOCAL Project which is sponsored by the Norwegian Agency for
International Development (NORAD) in cooperation with SUA.
Opening the entrepreneurial course of study on behalf of the Acting
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerald Monela said that the studies had come at an
opportune time, especially during this period when employment is scarce.
There are 15 programmes in the study course and 2500 students who qualify in the
fields of agriculture, forestry, livestock medicine and science every year,
according to the professor. The course aims at helping post-graduates compete in
the free market, whether in the formal or the informal sector.
FOCAL Project Coordinator at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Dr. Emmanuel
Luoga, elaborated that the programme was established in 2002 and is expected to
end in 2006.
“The programme was started after discovering that there was a problem of
employment for university graduates immediately they complete their studies in
universities, and this countrywide”. Dr Luoga concluded.
Mwanza
City residents not sure whom to elect
By Sebastian Gabunga, Mwanza
As the general elections for councillors, parliamentarians and the
president are approaching, some Mwanza Residents are not sure of what kind of
leaders to elect, so that they bring them development.
This was proved during a tour of reporters which was conducted at Sumba Locality
in Kiseke area, Ilemela District on the outskirts of the City of Mwanza.
The tour incorporated reporters from the regions of Mwanza, Shinyanga, Kagera,
Mara and Kigoma, who were attending a one-day seminar on how to report the
general elections news.
Some residents who were interviewed by reporters admitted they had very little
knowledge on election and civic education, which might make them able to elect
good leaders who will cooperate with them in bringing development to Mwanza
Region.
For example, Bernadeta Mayala (23), resident of Sumba Locality, said she would
choose a leader who would bring development. But changed and added that she
would elect a leader who will be ready to bribe her to enable her to have
something to eat with her family members.
Individually, she argued, many times contestants give false promises and after
they have been elected, disappear into thin air till the next election comes.
On his side, Samwel Enos (39) said the thing that forces him to participate in
the coming elections is to elect good leaders who will present people’s problems
to people’s development implementation organs.
Samwel believes that this year’s elections will be good following many people
acquiring civic education, although some still do not know what civic education
is all about.
He called on the leaders to continue providing civic education to as many people
as possible, especially how to elect good leaders who will cooperate hand in
hand with the people in bringing development.
In the civic education, which was conducted by ACORD and sponsored by the United
Nations Development Programme and held in Sumba Locality, some residents wanted
to know what steps they should take about elected leaders who pass resolutions
without incorporating them.
Coordinating the meeting, Ms Agnes Jackson led the discussion till they arrived
at an answer that each is bound to attend meetings, so that if something is
passed which is contrary to the people’s wishes, they should be able to oppose
it.
The seminar for reporters, held at Monareh Hotel in Mwanza City, was organized
by Tanzania Journalists Association and sponsored by UNDP, to ensure civic
education and voting reach as many people as possible.