By Fred Okumu, Dar es Salaam
STEAL
133 BN Syphoned off BOT account!
All those culprits known!
REPAY
Why worry just return & be merry!
Greatest crime but no action yet!
The decision by the government to allow more time for recovery of the looted EPA funds has met with stiff resistance from civil rights activists, that it is creating double standards for thieves and those who sabotage the economy.
Yesterday, FEMACT said in a statement in Dar es Salaam that should a legal action be avoided against the EPA plunderers, it will slow down the campaign against corruption and grand theft of public resources, and damage the integrity of the government.
FEMACT further challenged the president to announce in public the names of all those officers from BoT who were proven to be involved in the EPA scandal.
“Failure to do so will encourage the government officials to continue to steal money,” said the statement, signed by TAMWA executive director Ananilea Nkya.
The gender movement said any war against corruption succeeds only if there is transparency, and that the EPA scandal provides an opportunity to the president to show by his action that he is ready to fight the graft czars, whoever they are.
If appropriate measures are not taken on EPA culprits, FEMACT said, they feared it would be the beginning of openly and deliberately building two classes among Tanzanians, those who live above the law and those who live under the law.
According to many people interviewed by The Express, the president should have allowed the law to take its course and have the culprits arrested and charged by now, in a court of law, just like other criminals.
“Why should the option of paying back looted funds be given to these big shots and not to the small criminals who are arrested everyday,” said Dar es Salaam, preferring to remain anonymous
“We are sending wrong signals to the public as most of them now truly believe that the culprits will never be charged since they will refund the amounts looted, in fear of criminal prosecution.”
According to Dr. Seng’ondo Mvungi, a senior law lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, the president has used a mandate that he does not have, the power of pardoning criminals ex judicially. “He cannot exercise the power of prerogative of mercy before a court decision,” he said.
He said the EPA figures who looted were criminals, and the president had no power to negotiate with criminals. In a shocking twist, the president held out an olive branch, extending the repayment deadline to October 31st this year for the suspects.
The issue of transparency has also been raised by Dr. Semboja Haji, an economist at the University of Dar es Salaam. “This entire EPA thing is about lack of transparency,” he said. “If people had been aware of the EPA funds it would not have been easy to embezzle them...”
Mbeya police kill bandits posing as soldiers
By Joachim Nyambo, Mbeya
The police in Mbeya region in collaboration with Kasumba village residents on the border of Tanzania and Malawi, have managed to kill three bandits appearing to be armymen from Rwanda, after the bandits tried to commit violent robbery in one of the Exchange Bureaus at Kasumulu in Kyera district in Mbeya region.
Talking to reporters in his office Monday this week, the Regional Police Commander of Mbeya Zelothe Stephen said the suspected bandits who are thought to have been Rwandese citizens were killed on August 25th in the morning after they failed to rob the money exchange businessmen.
The bandits, he said, after they alighted at the new bus terminal in Kyera town on August 24, at 8:00 a.m, met one youngman (name withheld) and asked him to carry their luggage and direct them to a mosque where they went for prayers, and later arrived at Kimako Guest house.
On the second day, August 25th the suspected bandits went to Kasumulu in the company of their two hosts and arrived at White Stone Guesthouse, where they asked a man called Ras to find them money exchange businessmen so that they could change their money, and later returned with 438,050 Malawian Kwacha and put them on the table.
After he had placed the money on the table in the room, the RPC said, one of the bandits drew a red bag, opened it and pulled out on SMG weapon and started shooting at random, causing a commotion which made the police at nearby Kasumulu Police Post and the public surround them and manage to kill them while they were trying to escape via Kiwira and Songwe rivers to Malawi.
The RPC went on to tell that after the suspects were killed, they were found to have army uniforms such as clothes, belts and Rwandese army boots, as well as several traveling warrants, hand guns and an MSG gun with serial numbers A.362745, a magazine with 12 SMG bullets and several other army materials.
Elaborating further the RPC said that the suspects traveled by Scan Link Bus from Kahama to Dar es Salaam, later by Al-Saedy bus from Dar es Salaam to Kyera.
The bodies of the bandits have been preserved at Mbeya Referral Hospital, while the police are continuing with investigations, and have also called on the public not to welcome unknown guests and to inform the authorities concerned if they see a stranger.
By Aristide Kwizela, Dar es Salaam
The Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority in Tanzania (EWURA) takes into account production, supply and making costs, returns on assets and other important factors in setting rates or establishing tariffs so as to protect both the consumers and the investors.
Other factors taken into consideration are: relevant benchmarks including international benchmarks for prices, costs and return on assets in comparable industries, the financial implications of the determination or the stakeholders and the country’s economy, the desirability of establishing maximum rates and charges, to be adjusted regularly, and any other factors EWURA considers relevant.
Speaking during the Public Hearing of the Application (No.TR-G-08-018) for Natural Gas Distribution Tariffs Adjustment, submitted jointly by Pan African Energy and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation, Mr. Simon F. Sayore who is the Chairman of EWURA Board of Directors said that EWURA is mandated to protect the safety and economic aspects of various sectors, including the natural gas sector, to allow mutual benefit.
“EWURA aims to provide the best international practices at all levels in the regulated sector. In the process the authority balances the interests of the society on fair, honest, professional, impartial and transparent bases”, Mr. Sayore said.
Mr. Sayore added that EWURA normally uses public forums wherever there are proposals by water and energy companies and authorities for increasing tariffs and cost to the consumers, where stakeholders get a chance to contribute their views on the rates and later are incorporated in the action taking.
In Tanzania, although the country has adopted economic liberalization still some of the key sectors need to be regulated, so as to avoid unfair gambits and also economic problems for the society, and the market at large. Water, energy and public transport are some of the sectors that are still regulated by the government.
Addressing Parliament last week, President Jakaya Kikwete commended Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) and Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) for regulating their respective sectors.
He said prices of fuel, power tariffs and bus fares could have been higher than the current figures had the regulators not been in place. He said that he once got a message from upcountry advising him to scrap Sumatra for failing to perform its functions effectively.
The president was clarifying concerning the current high prices of fuel in the world. President Kikwete said if Ewura had not been around or effective, power tariffs in the country could have been higher as Tanesco was pushing for higher power tariffs than those fixed by Ewura. Although Tanesco applied for an over 40 per cent power tariff hike last year, Ewura accepted only a 21 per cent increase.
As an autonomous multi-sectoral regulatory authority, EWURA is responsible for technical and economic regulation of the energy and water sectors in Tanzania. Recently Ewura suspended the tariff review process of Songas Limited and ordered the power firm to re-structure its application.
Sumatra was established by Act of Parliament (No. 9) of 2001 and started its operations on August 20, 2004. It has recently raised bus fares but at lower rates than the ones proposed by bus owners.
Govt promotes status of Sinza area
By Kizito Makoye, Dar es Salaam
The Ministry of Lands and Human Settlement Development, in collaboration with Kinondoni Municipal Council has promoted the status of Sinza, which initially was designated for low and middle income earners, into an area for business.
According to the announcement made public on Tuesday, the Ministry is in the process of recognizing various changes that have been underway in the area, including the transformation of various residential plots into places of business.
This is a blessing for a multitude of businessmen who continue to open their investments in the area, which now has a completely business environment due to the presence of hotels, social halls, bars, garment shops and other commercial activities.
According to the announcement which was signed by the Permanent Secretary Z. Masele, Sinza area was developed under the programme which was known as Sinza Detailed Layout Plan No 1/73/174, which aimed at making the Sinza quarter a place for low income earners.
It can also be observed that due to the urban changes in policy, economy and social development, the Sinza area ended up being developed by middle and high income earners, consequently there have been massive infrastructural developments contrary to the initial land use specifications.
The statement warned that Sinza has been randomly developed without consultation with the relevant authorities, as it is stipulated in the Land Act of 1999 as well as the City Planning Act No 8 of 2007.
Meanwhile the government is in the process of improving infrastructures in the Kariakoo quarter to cope with the surging demand for land to be used for various economic and social purposes. The development programme for Kariakoo area encourages “vertical constructions” which leaves the area with a pile of skyscrapers.
Cultural factors needing remedy
By Aristide kwizela, Dar Es Salaam
Stigma and harmful practices like wife inheritance, polygamy, serial monogamy, female genital mutilation, child marriages, initiation to womanhood, widow cleansing and treatment for infertility by traditional healers have been named as challenges facing the country in the efforts to combat HIV and AIDS.
These were revealed by the Executive chairperson of Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr.Fatma Mrisho when was presenting a paper on Gender and HIV/AIDS Challenges and opportunities, the Tanzanian experience at the 17th International Conference in Mexico city.
She said other factors contributing to high rate of HIV infection in the country are marginalization of women in decision making on matters concerning reproductive health and testing and high stigma on AIDS.
However Dr. Mrisho said a national campaign led by President Jakaya Kikwete and the first lady Mama Salma Kikwete has played a great role in combating the challenges and also in mitigating stigma, as testing coverage doubled from 15 percent to 35 percent that is 4.5 million people.
When talking on the infection of HIV, rate and treatment in Tanzania, Dr. Mrisho said that the country was committed to reducing HIV infection from seven percent in 2004 to five percent by 2010, by among other things implementing policies and programmes meant to empower women and girls to take action to prevent themselves from infection, fighting stigma and reducing mother to child infection.
She said that mid this year, 302,209 people living with AIDS countrywide were accessing AIDS treatment and care. Sixty three percent of them are women and 37 men.
Dr.Mrisho said that the current survey carried out within the country shows that the rate of infection among women decreased as their education level increased. “This is the testimony that education empowers women to make decisions on matters concerning their health”.
Tanzania is said to have a population of 34 million people and is estimated to have 2.5 million people living with HIV, the virus which cause AIDS.
Government to borrow through sovereign bonds
By Fred Okumu, Dar es Salaam
The government of Tanzania has been urged to explore borrowing through sovereign bonds as an alternative way of financing its poor infrastructure, as the option is inevitable.
The push came from Ter-Minassian, director of the Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. She was speaking at this year’s Gilman Rutihinda Memorial Lecture at the Dar es Salaam International Conference Centre.
Ter-Minassian said: “The situation of infrastructure in Tanzania doesn’t compare well with that of its regional neighbours; it is poor both in terms of coverage and quality, even by the low standards in Africa South of the Sahara.”
Minassian, described by chairman governor Prof. Benno Ndulu as having wide knowledge and operational experience, was invited straight from Washington to speak on ‘how to finance economic development using sovereign bonds.’
Sovereign bonds are debt security issued by a national government within a given country, and denominated in a foreign currency. The foreign currency used will most likely be a hard currency, and may represent significantly more risk to the bondholder.
She noted that there was growing theoretical and empirical evidence from World Bank studies that showed access to infrastructure was related to economic growth.
She however warned the government to borrow cautiously, and prepare a comprehensive debt strategy. “The importance of a reliable and comprehensive debt analysis mechanism cannot be emphasized,” she said.
Prof. Ndulu, who noted that development finance was in short supply, said sovereign funds issues had of recent weeks become ‘an extremely topical issue’.
He said in recent weeks there had been discussion on whether Tanzania can borrow in the capital market to finance its development, noting that some African countries had begun using the option, the governor said.
Prof. Ndulu said: “Tanzania is therefore at the right time to get this lecture which will give the ability to make better use of the instrument to fill investment gaps and take the country to new heights.”
Minassian advised Tanzania to avoid bullet loans, “borrowing today and paying in the next government.” Nevertheless, she said a number of countries were using sovereign bonds, including Gabon, Ghana and Mauritius.
Ter-Minassian said there was a need to see that all the available sources of finance were explored. Other options are private sector investment and Private-public partnerships, PPPs. “The challenge for the government now is to define the mix of options,” she said.
Ter-Minassian, who read law in Rome, Italy and economics at Harvard, USA, also gave international lessons about sovereign bonds in the global capital market.
First, the government should be wary of raising more finance than needed. In addition, independent formal advisers on debt should be used. The third thing is to use the funds in projects with high economic value, rather than in recurrent expenditure.
The lecture was the third in the series of lectures in memory of Rutihinda, BoT governor between 1989 and 1993.
Like Minassian, he also said sovereign bonds presented great challenges despite being beneficial.
Tentatively, Prof. Ndulu noted that Tanzania had ‘acquired a new status for borrowing in the capital market, after a series of debt relief processes and reforms that have put the country on a good footing.’
It reflected president Kikwete’s utterance on Tanzania’s borrowing status during his mid-term address, domestic debts having been paid and external debts cancelled. He said: “What this means is that Tanzania now qualifies to be a borrower.”
Orphan languishes in remand
By Osoro Nyawangah, Magu
The hopes of Ally Ghati (16) of sitting his final Primary Education Examinations next month are slim, due to staying in remand at Magu prison since being accused of a criminal offence in May this year.
According to reliable information that reached The Express, this boy is an orphan and in prison because of a theft charge by The Bethany Family Centre of Yitwimila village, which was caring for him.
The boy told The Express that he was arrested by the police together with Said Thabit (28), Meshack Masolwa (30) and Cherehani Bahati (16), farmers and residents of that village for plotting to steal materials worth Tsh 950,000 from the centre.
The orphan, a pupil in class seven at Yitwimila primary school, said that after he has suspected and arrested, his colleagues were bailed but he has no one to stand bail for him. Thus he will miss the chance of graduating from school, and even if declared innocent his life is ruined.
Acting District Social Welfare Officer Wambura Kizito said Ghati did not deserve to be mixed in with remandees and prisoners at the adults’ jail, but again due to having no jail for children in the region or the Lake Zone, the office has found it impossible to rescue him from this perilous environment.
Patent information vital for technological advance
By Fred Okumu, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania stands a chance of making a quantum leap in technology if local stakeholders access and use the vast online database of patent information.
Globally, there are more than 60m patent documents online, so Dr Evarist Makene, Principal Research Officer with the Centre for the Development and Transfer of Technology under the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology, said on Tuesday.
“Patent information is a powerful tool for stimulating the creation of new technologies in industry, he said at COSTECH headquarters in Dar es Salaam. “ Patent documents are the most valuable and largest source of technological information.”
He said over 80 per cent of technical information came from patent documents alone. He however, said most people in the country didn’t know how to access the information.
He said so far, COSTECH has conducted awareness seminars on intellectual property and to date has trained over 600 participants.
Tellingly, 78 per cent of participants said they had never heard of intellectual property. In addition, 94 per cent confessed to having not used patent information.
He said information on many global patents can be accessed online, it having become ‘public domain’ - by law. This is the body of knowledge on innovations, inventions, writing, art, music upon which nobody holds exclusive rights.
A patent is given for a non-renewable period of 20 years, after which it enters the public domain. Subsequently, technical information, filed at the time of applying for the patent, can be accessed and be commercially exploited by others.
In view of the importance of intellectual property, Tanzania has formed the Tanzania Property Advisory Services and Information centre at COSTECH. Dedicated to creating awareness on the intellectual property issue, it also provides advisory services.
The first of its kind in Africa, TIPASIC targets R& D institutions, researchers, innovators, inventors and the public in general.
Dr. Makene called on people to use the services of the centre, which are free. “The centre is manned by well-qualified staff capable of serving all clients,” he noted.
The centre’s services are providing patent information, advising clients on preparation of patent application documents, and in technology transfer selection and agreements.
Dr. Makene said by June this year, some 60 clients had visited the centre to get services.
Oppression of citizens by official bullies
By Mussa Mwangoka, Mpanda
The Tanzania Revenue Authority in Mpanda district has been accused by the people because of its brutality and rudeness in performing its duties, especially its officers at higher levels, including the district manager Aggrey Kimbalei.
This was discovered in Mpanda town after the manager nabbed one vehicle which had not paid transfer tax from the first owner to the second owner, and where the manager refused to receive the payment in an atmosphere of confusion.
This was related to our Express reporter in Mpanda town after the manager had impounded a vehicle to collect government revenue as was his duty, and the surprising thing was that he refused to accept the money or to explain where the customer should go to pay the necessary tax, whilst insisting that the vehicle should stay in the yard for two more days.
Speaking about the incident, the owner of the vehicle concerned, Alkado Kalifumu (42), a resident of Mpanda town, said that he had bought the Chaser car from his friend, and due to being new to the car business, he did not know that he had to pay a transfer free.
“He told me to pay Tsh 80,000, and because I had Tsh 200,000 in my pocket, I took the money for payment, but Kimbaki refused it, claiming there was nobody there in the office to receive the money, thus ordering the car to stay for two days in the TRA parking yard,” Alkado said.
He went on to say that the manager told him that the car should be inspected by the traffic police, and it is then the matter was taken to Mpanda police station. But he was not allowed to drive the car, and Alkado Kalifumu had to walk to the police station.
It is then the police on duty showed him a book on traffic Laws which indicate that vehicles should be inspected at the police station and not elsewhere, unless by police force special operations.
The policeman on duty decided to phone the TRA office and told the manager to allow the car to be driven to the police station for inspection, but the manager refused to permit this and he had taken the keys and pocketed them.
Kalifumu further said that so as not to waste more time he went to the office of the D C of Mpanda to ask for assistance so that he could get attention at the TRA office. Mpanda District Administrative Secretary then phoned the manager who came to the DC’s office, and when he was told to serve his client, the manager claimed that there was no problem, and that he would provide him with the services he needs but he should pay his car’s fees.
“When we left the DC’s office I went straight to the TRA office, but now I was told that he cannot be taught his work by the DAS and that he would not return the car before two days, that I should go home until two days had passed”.
Eventually, Kalifumu said that he got his car through the assistance of one TRA officer who wrote him all the documents necessary for paying at the bank, and took his car while the manager was unaware what was happening.
Fresh fish business women told The Express reporter that the TRA once confiscated a vehicle they had hired to transport their fish from Lake Tanganyika, thus causing the fish to go rotten and causing them a loss of over Tsh 670,000, after the vehicle was ordered to stay in the TRA parking yard for three days.
However, our reporter managed to have an opportunity to meet the manager, and when he was asked concerning the allegations, he refused to comment on the grounds that he was not the spokesman (!) and that the spokesman is the TRA Regional Manager.
Arrested for using fake notes
By Joachim Nyambo, Mbeya
A resident of Ipizya village, Mbozi district in Mbeya region has been arrested for possessing five fake notes of denomination Tsh 50,000, while attempting to purchase commodities in various shops in Mbozi town.
The suspect has been identified as Peter Simbeye (22), who on August 22 at around 3:00 pm in Ipizya village was arrested while possessing fake notes with numbers AX8622040, AX8624049 and AX 862450, AX6624094 and AX 6624095. The suspect was arrested after the shop owners became suspicious about them and informed the police.
R P C of Mbeya, Zelothe Stephen, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and that investigations are continuing to find out the source of the pseudo money, which is spreading speedly in Mbozi district.
RPC Stephen has cautioned the public and business people to beware of fake notes and that everybody having doubts about banknotes should inform the police at the nearest police post.
The RPC also told reporters that on August 23, this year at round 5.45 p.m, the police while on patrol at Kafundo and Ipinda areas in Kyera District managed to arrest Michael Fanuel (35), in possession of one bhang (cannabis) roll and 35 bhang seedlings, which were grown on his farm.
He told reporters that the suspect, who smokes and sells bhang, is in remand prison, and will be arraigned in court any time now to answer the charges confronting him.
Just write what we want, please
By Joachim Nyambo, Mbeya
The government in Mbeya Region has admitted that there is favouritism in providing news to the media in the region, so that people can comprehend what is happening in the region.
Regional Commissioner of Mbeya John Livingstone Mwakipesile made this admission at a session with reporters, held at his office at the end of last week.
Speaking with reporters who had attended the meeting, Mwakipesili said this happens due to some reporters getting the habit of criticizing the leadership’s performance, a condition which he personally said spoils the leaders’ reputation in the region.
The Regional Commissioner said that there was no reason for the government in the region to invite reporters, who surely will report evils and not write what the leaders have targeted.
He added, saying that the leaders have been inviting the media to report what they want with the aim of making a conducive environment for their leadership, is unbecoming.
“I do not find any reason to invite a media organ that will write news to finish me off and that is why we choose organs that will publicize what we have called them for and not something else,” Mwakipesile roared.
The RC was forced to make this public confession, after some reporters who attended the meeting used the opportunity to air their long time grievances about discrimination by the regional government concerning invitations to attend various development activities conducted by the regional leadership, and also when national leaders visit the region.
However, the reporters were seen to be not satisfied with the RC’s explanations, saying this denies some media from getting the basic news for informing the public about what is being done in the region for the people’s development.
The reporters said that for a long time they have been blamed by their editors for failing to convey important news which other media organs receive, thus making them be seen as uncommitted to their duties.