Grand launch for Redd’s Miss Tanzania logo
By The Express Reporter
On Wednesday night, the Miss Tanzania Beauty pageant entered a new era after the launching of a new logo embracing the new sponsors of the beauty pageant, Redd’s Miss Tanzania, in a colourful ceremony held at the Mlimani City Complex hall.
Hundreds of Dar es Salaam city revellers converged to celebrate the launching ceremony which was graced by the soothing sounds of the Tanzanite Band and DJ Kim.
After the opening remarks made by Tanzania Breweries Limited marketing manager Fimbo Butallah, who together with Hashim Lundenga, director of Lino International Agency, was organizing the event, master of ceremonies Taji Liundi brought down the hammer which signalled the launch of the new baby.
To bring down the curtain there was the incumbent Vodacom Miss Tanzania 2011, Salha Israel, at the head of her other compatriots who contested the throne last year.
Earlier in the day, the Miss Tanzania Committee through the organizers, Lino International Agency, signed a three-year contract with Tanzania Breweries Limited, which will see the brewers sponsor the event through its Redd’s Brand, using Sh 700 million annually.
Speaking at the event, Butallah said the sponsorship package will be worth Sh 700 million annually but will be reviewed according to the beauty contest requirements.
“The sponsorship package is worth Sh 700 million and will cover the beauty pageant contest from district, regional, zonal and at the national level. The parties shall review the requirements of the beauty contest annually to set the sponsorship package,” Butallah said.
For his part, Lundenga commended the brewers for once again coming in handy to sponsor the event and said it is timely and would help the organizers to achieve their objectives.
“For the past few years, Tanzania Breweries Limited, through the Redd’s Brand has been co-sponsors of the beauty pageant but now they have come on board as the main sponsor which is very commendable. With this sponsorship, Redd’s Miss Tanzania will be one of the most popular shows in this country and we shall aim to improve and maintain the international standards,” Lundenga enthused.
From left to right Redd’s brand manager Victoria Kimaro, Asia Idarus, TBL marketing manager Fimbo Butallah and Kushila Thoma.
'World Bank cause of economic hardships'
By Damas Makangale
A senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam Economics Department, Dr Haji Semboja, has told The Express in an exclusive interview that the World Bank was and is still the cause of economic hardships and substantial rises of commodity prices in the country.
Dr Semboja was reacting to a recent study on a Public Service Monitoring Project, conducted by the WB in collaboration with Twaweza on substantial rises of commodity prices and economic hardship, which fuel bribery and corruption in Tanzania.
He said that in days gone by the Tanzanian economy was formed under the ownership of the government on behalf of the indigenous people of Tanzania, but after the Kagera war the government started immediately to experience economic crisis, from early 1980 to 1990.
“At that time politics, economics and the social system in the country were formed based on the traditional ways of life of the people of Tanzania, to govern their own natural resources and decide their own destiny for the benefit of the country and its people,” he said.
Dr Semboja said that the introduction of the free market economy was supposed to take into consideration the importance of the private sector in controlling the country’s economy.
He said that the WB was the first global institution to advise the government on the restructuring of the Tanzanian economy, from state-owned economy to market economy, without considering the indigenous people of Tanzania.
“The indigenous people of Tanzania were supposed to be represented by the private sector inside the market economy, to ensure that their rights were not ignored in the new economic adjustment,” he added.
Dr Semboja said the restructuring of the state-owned companies under the directives of the World Bank allowed foreign private companies, that paved the way for business people with capital from outside the country to come and buy all the public enterprises in collaboration with political gurus.
He further said that this kind of restructuring was a stepping stone for the foreign private firms to control the nation’s economy, and leave the majority of poor people as cheap labourers in their own country.
“The Tanzanian economy is dominated by foreigners of whom the majority are business people, hence most of them are driven by “a profit-oriented state of mind,” he stressed.
He noted that these petty capitalists are driven by the hunger for profit while the majority of them are running various industries, manufacturing companies, telecommunications, while Tanzanians are not running anything or even delivering services.
The university lecturer said that currently in the world of today the first class are people from the Western and the second class from the Asian and the third from African countries.
Dr Semboja added that the modern system introduced by the WB skipped ordinary citizens such as farmers, teachers, doctors, nurses and all civil servants in Africa including Tanzania.
He said that the ongoing go slow from the interns and specialists doctors across the country is a vivid example of the negative repercussions of the economic adjustment proposed by the WB 25 years ago.
According to him the adjustment also pushes the political leaders to abandon their leadership ethics and morals in serving their people, and the current situation about the doctors means that they have lost their legitimacy to govern the country.
He clarified that the new economic system has produced a majority of petty capitalists from the political parties who want to hoard wealth that fuels social class-divisions in the country.
He cited the example of the President Jakaya Kikwete who flew to Davos , Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, and once he arrived in Dar he went to officiate the First National Bank from South Africa without saying any single word about the doctors' strike until today.
Dr Semboja explained further that the majority of leaders, including President Kikwete, are never admitted to Muhimbili National Hospital, but they apply to the hospital services to clear their journey to India and overseas for medical check-ups.
“Lack of commitment or vision to solve the doctors' strike has caused hundreds of poor people to lie dying in the regional hospitals,” he emphasized.
He said that African governments are always being ousted by their people through demonstrations due to hunger, which fosters food inflation and economic hardships.
The recent research study on Public Service conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with Twaweza has revealed that a substantial increase of commodity prices and economic hardships have fuelled bribery and corruption.
The research project was carried out through a mobile phone survey and implemented by a group of independent consultants, and the project builds on the high usage of mobile phones in the city to gather timely and reliable data on citizens’ perception of, and experiences with, public services.
The report describes a study to assess the effects that rising food prices had caused in the lives of citizens in the city and their food consumption patterns. The study is based on mobile phone interviews with 350 citizens in all three city districts.
The report said, during 2011, Tanzanians have experienced substantial rises in commodity prices. The country’s inflation rate has seen a drastic and unremitting increase throughout the year, reaching 18% by December.
Government ready to embrace Genetically Modified Crops
By Damas Makangale
The government has confirmed that it is ready to open all doors for Genetically Modified Crops (GMO) in a move that will attract more international partners in the bio-technology industry as the best way to fight hunger in Tanzania.
Speaking to invited dignitaries at the International conference on Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-based Farming Systems in East and Southern Africa, organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Prof Jumanne Maghembe said the country had no option but to welcome the new technology to foster agricultural development in Tanzania and Africa at large.
Maghembe said Tanzania is at a crossroads so it’s important not to close the doors to science and technology, because when weather patterns change then the country’s agricultural stakeholders needs to develop new crops to match with the climate change.
The minister told participants drawn from various 18 research organizations across the world that depending on rain as the basis for growing crops once a year makes 77.5 per cent of the population work for only 4 months a year.
"We are looking at irrigation as the fastest means to increase growth in the agricultural sector, as the best tool to fight poverty," he said.
Prof Maghembe said the government was taking seriously the modernization of agriculture for rural communities, to create a balanced growth in the economy.
The national discussion on whether to allow GMOs is currently between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Vice President's Office, with a debate on safety legislation protecting farmers and consumers, and whether to remove a contested clause (the strict liability clause) from the bio-safety regulatory framework.
The clause in the bio-safety regulatory framework states that if GMOs were to be introduced, the companies supplying them would be accountable in a case where something wrong happens to the seed output, crop yields or the health of consumers.
Sources say there is currently a division regarding interpretation on whether to keep or abandon the precautionary principle, which affects the liability of seed companies in the case of harm to people, loss to farmers or damage to the environment.
And even as some activists take a swipe at any attempts to remove the clause, sources say local scientists are arguing that it (the clause) is a hindrance to research and agricultural technology. On Monday, Prof Maghembe asked the conference to direct their thoughts towards practical steps and coordinated actions that will address rural hunger, enhance food security, create a food surplus and eradicate poverty.
The minister noted that 77.5 per cent of the population depend on agriculture. He added, "The rate of growth is not more than 4 per cent for a farmer, growing maize and producing 800kg per hectare whereas a Chinese farmer grows 8 tonnes per hectare."
Water scarcity hits Moshi Township
By Lyamuya Stanley, Moshi
DROUGHT caused by inadequate rainfall which was below the annual average rainfall observed during the year 2011 had led to a situation whereby the Moshi Township is now experiencing scarcity of water for domestic use.
Most of the water sources from the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro like the Nsere Springs which discharge its water to the residents of this town is now experiencing an acute shortage of water.
This situation had in turn led to a point whereby residents of this town are forced to experience water rationing whereby while some parts of this town is getting its water supply during the day other parts have to get its supply during the night.
Revealing this was the Moshi Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (MUWSA), Managing Director, Antony Kasonta while having an interview with The Express held in his office located here in Moshi recently.
Giving details he said MUWSA depends on Nsere and Shiri Springs not forgetting bore holes drilled near the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Hospital for its water supply which now stands at a total of 22,000 cubic meters per day adding that with such a supply his authority is now running short of 3,500 cubic meters of water per day.
“We used to drain a total of 11,000 cubic meters of water per day from Nsere Springs the same have now dropped to 7,000 cubic meters per day. When this is added to a supply of 11,000 cubic meters of water drawn from Shiri Springs and a total of 4,000 cubic meters per day drawn from bore holes drilled near KCMC all sum up to a total of 22,000 cubic meters of water per day which is inadequate when it comes to feeding all of the Moshi town residents with clean and safe water” he said.
He further said if industrial and commercial water demands were added to this domestic demands the total demand of water across Moshi Township could reach a total of 38,000 cubic meters per day.
However, he said the current demand is not 38,000 cubic meters which was supposed to be supplied by MUWSA as most of the giant industries in Moshi like Bonite Bottlers, Tanzania Breweries, Serengeti Breweries and Pulp and Paper Board Mill have all drilled their own respective water bore holes adding that in the contrary the current situation of water scarcity now being experienced by Moshi residents could have been worse.
When asked on plans by MUWSA to counter the present scarcity of water he said through the Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) which is a national program of improving water services in both rural and urban areas across the country plans are underway some already being implemented by MUWSA to improve this situation.
“Through WSDP, my authority will drill more bore holes near KCMC while plans are also underway to draw water from Kikafu Springs located along the banks of Kikavu River. If all goes well as planned a total of 5,100 cubic meters of water per day will be drawn from Kikafu Springs while each of the five additional bore holes to be drilled near KCMC area are expected to generate a total of 4,000 cubic meters of water per day” he said adding that in total under WSDP Moshi residents will have an additional 25,100 cubic meters of water per day the same expected to be achieved by 2015.
Let African FTA build on regional trade blocs
By Mboneko Munyaga, East African News Agency
The 18th African Union (AU) Summit ended last Tuesday (January 31) in Addis Ababa with a declaration to create an African free trade area (FTA) by 2017 in order to boost intra-African trade, which is pitifully small for a continent that requires greater bonding for it to match the rest of the world in output and consumption.
An FTA is basically a trade bloc whose member countries have agreed to eliminate tariffs, import quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods and services traded between them. If people are also free to move between the countries, in addition to FTA, it would also be considered an open border.
Looked from the point of view of what has been achieved so far through a number of regional integration pacts such as the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), hammering a continental accord shouldn’t be that much of a big problem.
Open borders would also be a another very important stage in African integration and renaissance as basically that is what the continent was all about before colonialism. There was no need for either holding a passport or visa for an African to move from one part of the continent to another and in most cases get established in life there. That is how the continent was peopled.
However, since colonialism, national boundaries have been another reality. But every cloud they say, has its silver lining. Those borders have, in the last 100 years or so, helped to stabilise societies and communities as another dynamic and reality African life as the continent joined the broader world comity of nations. In a continent where some parts are ravaged by terrorists and pirates, open borders may not be a very palatable idea at least for now.
But what do African countries really have to trade amongst themselves? The trade pattern since colonialism made Africa to depend on the metropolitan powers for all their trade and other external relations, including language. An FTA therefore, would be another good opportunity to spread Kiswahili as indigenous lingua franca, which, in the next 100 years all the people on the continent, would be comfortable to use.
Another important area is to embark simultaneously, on an African Green Revolution (AGR) so that hunger and undernourishment become things of the past on the continent. In the past, AU has championed agriculture through the now hardly heard of New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which had a Comprehensive Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) that was adopted in 2003.
A number of countries signed CAADP compacts and developed a series of agricultural policies and strategies, including ‘Kilimo Kwanza’ in Tanzania but the reality on the ground remains that of a continent in a dilemma as far as food production is concerned. Africa is the only continent without a green revolution and the result is all too clear for all to see.
The EAC is perhaps the most advanced and complex pact of the African regional trade blocs. I believe learning from its experience, both its successes and challenges, the envisaged African FTA can be a very good instrument of African integration at least to a level of free spirit that our forefathers enjoyed before the continent was torn apart by colonialism.
Kenya to import 700,000 bags of maize
By Reporter, East African News Agency
In partnership with the private sector, Kenya is set to import at least 700,000 bags of maize by June - in a bid to ensure the country's food security according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Of the maize to be imported, 600,000 bags will be from member states of the East African Community (EAC) while the private sector will import at least 150,000 bags from outside the region, the ministry's latest food security report says.
Previous maize imports to Kenya have largely been from Uganda and Tanzania. In 2008, the country imported 200,000MT of maize - worth over about US $90 million - from Uganda to avert a then looming food crisis.
The Kenyan government also intends to freeze maize exports to other nations and expects a harvest of 10 million bags by June, the ministry said in the report.
"From this balance sheet, if anticipated short rains production is achieved and imports sustained at current rates with no exports, the national stocks level as at June 30 is estimated to be a surplus of 7.4 million bags," according to the report.
The country's staple, maize is consumed by 90 percent of the people Kenya but in the past months, the report indicated, maize imports had declined due to a rise in supplies from Kenyan farmers.
"The increase in stocks at various levels is mainly attributed to additional stocks from long rains harvests in the North Rift [region] and short rains harvests from Western region and Nyanza [province]," the report stated.
The report painted a favourable picture for Kenya's food security situation in the coming months, as it emerges from its worst famine in decades in 2011, which saw millions of people starve.
Prices of main food commodities such as maize, rice, millet, sorghum and potatoes are likely to remain stable in the coming months if the current supply levels are maintained, the ministry stated.
Meanwhile, Rwanda has announced plans to increase the production of the country's maize and commercialize it in order to increase income for the predominantly small scale farmers.
Dativa Mukaniyonzima, in charge of Internal Trade in Rwanda’s Ministry of Commerce told the Independent the East African News Agency (EANA) yesterday that Rwanda targets at least 700.000 tonnes by the end of season 2011-2012 .
Eastern Rwanda is the country’s biggest maize producer, where 320.000 tonnes of maize produce are expected, according to Mukaniyonzima.
Africa’s economic growth lauded
By Reporter, East African News Agency
Despite global difficulties, Africa's economic growth remained strong in 2011, reaching an average of five to six percent in most countries, according to the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Jean Ping.
Calling for the speeding up of the continent's economic integration, Ping said: "The tripartite arrangement concluded between the East Africa Community [EAC], the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa [COMESA] and Southern Africa Development Community [SADC] for the establishment of free trade area must be supported and emulated elsewhere."
Ping made the remarks on 29 January during the opening ceremony of the 18th summit of AU head of states and governments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and a copy of his speech was availed to the Independent East African News Agency (EANA.
He said some African countries recorded double-figure growth rates, adding that the continent has made progress in reduction of deficits and inflation, had increased productivity and productive investment, a requirement for employment- and wealth-creation.
Ping attributed Africa's change of fortune to the export of raw materials. "We also, and more importantly, owe it to the initiatives that we have taken to promote political and economic, good governance, the reduction in number of conflicts, the increase in domestic demands and improvements in business climate." he added.
He advised Africa to invest in infrastructure development.
The 18th AU Assembly, held under the theme "Boosting intra- African trade", is expected to adopt the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), which was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala recently.
Droughts brings economic and social disasters within Pangani Basin
By Lyamuya Stanley, Moshi
FOR the past four years rainfall pattern across many parts covered by the Pangani Basin had been below the annual average.
Most parts within this basin did not get the usual short rains happening in the months of September through December every year while at the same time most of these parts did not get enough of the long rains occurring every year during the months of March to June.
Statistics obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) state that places along this basin like Tengeru-Arusha, Korogwe-Tanga, Kahe-Kilimanjaro, Moshi-Urban, Handeni-Tanga and Kilimahewa- Kihurio in Kilimanjaro region had in the last year received 50, 80, 4, 50, 90 and 52 percent of their respective average annual rainfall.
When reached to comment on this situation the officer In-Charge of Pangani Basin water Offices with its offices in Moshi, Hamza Sadiki said the same was true that rainfall pattern along his basin had dropped drastically in the past four years adding that the same now had a severe effect on the social and economic livelihood of people living within this basin.
He said the inadequate rainfall which hit many parts of Pangani Basin in the past four years had gone at par with an observed water scarcity and falling water levels within water sources (springs) couples with a declining discharge measured at cubic meters per day in some drilled water bore holes.
Citing an example he mentioned the Nsere Springs which discharge its water to the Moshi Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (MUWSA) later being distributed for both domestic and commercial use within Moshi Township.
“Nsere Springs water discharge have declined from the normal recorded discharge of 11,000 cubic meters per day to the same of 7,000 recorded now” he said adding that this declining discharge had led to a situation whereby MUWSA have been forced to start water rationing in Moshi Township.
When asked as to whether this drought had any impact on the generation of hydro-electricity at Hale in Tanga and Nyumba ya Mungu Dam located here in Kilimanjaro region he said the situation is very serious.
“This drought had caused declining water levels at both Hale and Nyumba ya Mungu Dam meaning the generations of hydro-electricity from these two places have been severely affected. The situation is very serious at Nyumba ya Mungu Dam where’s water levels have fallen drastically the same now being below the minimum operational level for the generation of electricity.
Quoting statistics obtained from his office he said while the minimum operational level required for the generation of hydro-electricity at Nyumba ya Mungu is 683.35 meters above sea level the same as recorded recently on 30th January 2012 was 682.68 meters above sea level.
Coming to water conflicts he said the ongoing drought going at par with inadequate or scarcity of water had also led to a situation whereby some residents along this basin are now claiming right of ownership of the available inadequate water resources.
Elaborating he said residents living in upper parts of some rivers within this basin are holding the said water claiming it to be their personal right thus denying residents let’s say in the lower parts of the same river an accessibility to the said water resources a situation which have now led to observed rampant water conflicts.
Coming to crop yields he said the ongoing drought which was severe in 2011 went at par with declining crop yields in all regions covered by this basin.
Citing an example of Kilimanjaro region while quoting statistics obtained from the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioners Offices he said the yields of food crops like maize, paddy millet and beans had declined drastically in 2011 when compared to previous year.
“Maize production had declined from 385,665 tons recorded in 2009/10to the same of 144,468 tons in 2010/11,paddy yields declined from 71,602 tons recorded in 2009/10 to 60,368 tons recorded in 2010/11, millet from 1965 tons recorded in 2009/10 to the same of 925 tons in 2010/11 while beans production declined from a record of 72,484 tons realized in 2009/10 to the same of 52,905 tons in 2010/11” he said.
He further said to counter this drought which went at par with declining crop yields many farmers across this basin had to opt for irrigation agriculture to improve their economic livelihood.
However, he said this irrigation was more or less over irrigation as the use of inadequate available water resources in some rivers had in turn caused water conflicts and encroachments of water sources.
“Shiftable cheap Chinese water pumps had to be deployed along river banks to get water for irrigation. Although this helped a lot to increase the yields of vegetables the same found wetlands, river banks and water sources being turned into irrigation agricultural lands something which is very much illegal” said the PBWO Chief.
Quoting statistics obtained from the Kilimanjaro Agricultural Officer offices he said contrary to the case of declining yields of food crops observed following this drought the deployment of irrigation agriculture along river banks, wetlands and water sources had in turn led to an increase in vegetables yields in the sense that the same had shoot up from a recorded yield of 55,926 tons recorded in 2009/10 to 86,500 tons in 2010/11.
However, he said residents of Kilimanjaro region should not be proud of this increase in vegetables yields as the use of fungicides, herbicides and pesticides sprays along river banks and wetlands to improve yields will in the coming years cause toxicity of water along Pangani River.
Giving details he said the use of fungicides and herbicides sprays along river banks and wetlands though not felt by now will slowly pollute the water found in rivers adding that though its effect won’t be felt by now the same will have a severe effect in the future.
Pangani Basin is a trans boundary basin shared by Tanzania and Kenya; which covers 56,300 square kilometers where 5% of this area lies in Kenya. In the Tanzanian part, there are 18 Districts falling within the administrative Regions of Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga. It includes two cities and one municipality of Arusha, Tanga and Moshi respectively.
The Basin consists of five sub basins; Pangani River (43,650 km2), Umba River (8,070 km2), Msangazi River (5,030 km2), Zigi and Coastal Rivers including Mkulumuzi (2,080 km2) which all independent drain to the Indian Ocean.
The main economic activities in the basin are small scale fishing, tourism, hydroelectricity power production, mining, industry and irrigation. The Basin also comprises various National Parks, Game Reserve and Controlled Areas for wildlife as well as tourism like Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Mkomazi National Parks; and Amani Nature Reserve. The Basin is rich in minerals and gemstones; there is a unique blue diamond (tanzanite) which can be found only in Tanzania
UK police lauds EAC harmonization programme
By Mboneko Munyaga
The Head of United Kingdom's National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), Kurt Eyre, has lauded the efforts of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States to harmonize Police
Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) as a move in the right direction.
He observed that as society changes so too will the nature of policing challenges, from inter and intra-state conflicts to transnational organized crimes, rule of law and access to justice.
"This calls for more efficient, vibrant and professional policing function," he said when addressing a ten-man EAC delegation of senior police officers and experts at the NPIA International Academy in Bramshill, Hampshire, the United Kingdom, over the weekend.
The NPIA leads on national policing issues such as leadership, protective services, civil contingencies, command doctrine and counter terrorism. The International Academy at Bramshill also provides a professional overseas policing advisory service in support of regional security and justice sector training and development projects.
He noted that the feeling emerging throughout Europe and the public service is "not what you do for your own benefit but the satisfaction you get from what you do, that benefits the entire community".
"Your countries have a greater role to play in improving the level of trust and confidence in the Police forces," he noted, underlining that the role of police is becoming central in overall development in the modern world, and it will even play a more active role in the near future.
He asked participants to challenge themselves, use NPIA resource services and build a clear vision of where they want to go.
Earlier, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso said the EAC Secretariat hoped the visit would help the police officers better appreciate the need for harmonization.
In a speech read for her by EAC Peace and Security Officer Didacus Kaguta, Kiraso emphasized that the Police in the region were operating under different laws, structures and levels of professionalism.
"Harmonization will bridge the gaps that currently exist within the policing systems between Partner States. This will make these institutions stronger as they adhere to the basic minimum international standards," she said.
The week-long study visit was co-ordinated by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the British High Commission in Tanzania.
The purpose of the visit was to study the United Kingdom's experience in harmonizing policing standards and polish the draft EAC Common Standing Operating Procedures with a view to strengthening the regional law enforcement agencies.
The Regional Peace and Security Strategy stresses enhancement of the EAC spirit of cooperation by promoting collective responsibility in the provision of regional security by the Partner States. It broadly covers collaboration on cross border and trans-national organized crimes, among others.