Saturday, November 15, 2008

ZAIN, taking the lead in rural coverage in Tanzania

TANZANIA’s leading mobile phone operating company, Zain Tanzania Ltd is the leading operator in the country in terms of coverage and reaching people in rural areas, a senior official said in a statement recently. According to the firm’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Chiruyi Walingo, the company is more emphasizing on rural coverage program to reach even further into remote. He says his firm has enhanced coverage in the Lake Zone and covered areas such as Busulwa, Bubombi, Mugumu, Fort Ikoma, Nyamongo, Binagi and Bugire in Mara rural districts as well as Mugango, Majita, Makutano, Butiama, Nyamuswa and Kiriba in Mara urban areas. "Zain has the widest coverage in the country will soon be extending its coverage to Mugeta and Kiriba areas also in Mara urban area. It is currently the only network in Namuhula, Nyasamo, Nyangili, Misasi, Mbarika, Sumve, Maligisu, Kisorya, Kanguguli and Kadashi in the lake zone”, he said. "The expansion is going hand in hand with upgrading the network in other zones. Zain has upgraded its network in areas such as Mbunyani in Ngorongro, Serengeti, Babati, Karatu and Mbuli in Manyara Region as well as Monduli, Mererani and Namanga in Arusha Region," the statement noted. "Other areas covered are Sikonge, Igurubi, Kashindi, Tumbi, Ipole, Ukubisi, Ganga, Usinge, Mambali, Mwisi, Nkinga, Tura, Igalula, Ndata in Tabora region and Makere, Mahembe, Kasanda, Manyovu in Kigoma region." The company will be covering numerous new districts and several underdeveloped rural areas as well as upgrading its network in other regions as well, it elaborated.

This is Africa's map showing ZAIN Network coverage that's confined within 15 African countries. In Tanzania, the network is underway to expand its coverage in rural areas.

"Considering the role mobile communication has in helping to improve the quality of life for people, we believe that extending access in communication is the area where we can make the biggest contribution to society," Mr Walingo said. Efforts at network expansion are going hand in hand with the supply of affordable handsets and tariffs to ensure Tanzanians have access to one of the most vital facilities in this age of globalization, where telecommunication is no longer a luxury but a necessity. To mark the launch of its new colourful identity across Africa, Zain also announced the creation of the world’s first cross-continental borderless network, extending and linking its one Network service between Africa and the Middle East. The service will be available to 500 million people stretching from the west coast of Africa to the Middle East, covering an area larger than the United States. One Network allows Zain customers affordable cross-border communications, helping friends and families stay connected. This truly is a defining moment in the history of global telecommunications. The connecting of One Network across two continents demonstrates how under one brand, Zain is able to offer enhanced mobile telephone services. Going forward it will now be easier and more affordable for people to keep in touch and support cross-continent trade and enterprise. This is the essence of the Zain brand promise to create 'A wonderful world. All Zain customers (pre-paid and post-paid) in Africa and the Middle East using 'One Network' enjoy the benefits of being treated as 'local' customers wherever they are. Customers can make calls and send messages at local rates when communicating with a traveling Zain customer who will receive incoming calls free-of-charge and be able to make calls back home at local rates. Pre-paid customers can also top up their phones with recharge cards bought from either their home country or more than one million outlets available in one of the 15 One Network countries. The One Network service is automatically activated upon crossing the geographical border into one of the countries, with no prior registration required or sign-up fee. Tunu Kavishe, corporate social responsibility manager for Zain in Tanzania said: "We are confident that our Tanzanian customers will embrace the vibrant and colourful Zain identity. As one brand, we will be better positioned to offer customers more innovative products and services alongside the best network coverage on the continent." The re-branding of Celtel comes less than a year after the brand became the group's master corporate brand that was successfully launched across its Middle Eastern markets.

Mobile phone use soars in Africa

THE beleaguered African continent continues to make dramatic progress in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). The technological advances, however has given rise to mobile phones. The African mobile telephone market has been the fastest growing market of all regions that grows twice at the rate of the global market, according to United Nations report. The number of subscribers leaped from 16 million in 2000 to a staggering 250 million in 2007, this is in accordance to the latest figures made available. Mobiles now outnumbered fixed telephone lines by nearly five-to-one in Africa, although it may not be evenly spread across the large continent. The study which was tabled at the month long meeting of the UN’s Economic and Social council that began in early July this year, points out that investment in ICTs infrastructure in Africa has also improved dramatically totaling US$ 8.0 billion in 2005 up from US$ 3.5 billion in 2000. These figures reflect an increasingly vibrant private sector investment environment which has been stimulated by the opening of most African telecommunications markets, coupled wit the establishment of independent regulators in almost 890 percent of the countries in the region.

African continent has increasingly made a dramatic progress on the use of mobile phones for its socio-economic development

Still, according to the Geneva-based International Telecommunications Union (ITU), fewer than four out of every 100 Africans have internet access, while broadband penetration is below one percent.
As a result, Africa’s 90 million inhabitants nearly 14 percent of the world’s population have access to less than a fifth of one percent of the world’s international connectivity. In contrast, Ireland’s four million people have better international connectivity than the entire African continent. The ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations, believes that ICTs are essential for creating new skills, generating growth and technological change and are also critical; for Africa’s overall economic growth. However, ICT stakeholders have described the spread of mobile telephony as the striking progress of ICTs in Africa that is a big success stories in Africa.
According to them, Africa’s mobile market has been the fastest growing of any region over the last five years, and has grown twice as fast as the global market. It has also been a significant contributor to expanding access opportunities to a vast majority of its population.

Vodacom to introduce high speed cafes in three cities

The mobile phone company, Vodacom Tanzania Limited, supported by two multinational organisations-GSMA Development Fund and Qualcomm, has unveiled a plan to introduce high speed internet cafes in three Tanzanian major cities. According to a press statement issued recently in Dar es Salaam, the initial three cafes will be set up in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Arusha, it said. These cafes would use a high speed broadband connection known as Wireless Reach Initiative. Run by local entrepreneurs, each Internet cafe will be equipped with several computer terminals connected to Vodacom`s HSPA network, which can provide download speeds of up to 7.2 megabits per second. The statement said users would be able to pay a small fee to access the computer terminals, which will enable them to surf the Internet to find important information about everything from education to health to commodity prices to weather forecasts.

People at the internet café in Sengerema district, Mwanza region, the compelling problems on low bandwidth discourages users in most cafes in the country.

In a country where fixed lines and computers are scarce, the cafes will enable many ordinary Tanzanians to enjoy Internet access and the many associated benefits for the first time in their lives. The statement added that the cafes would sell other Vodacom products and services, such as airtime vouchers, payphone calls and handset recharging, as well as acting as an agent for the M-pesa mobile money transfer service. Tanzania is one of the fastest developing countries in Africa today with an average GDP growth of 6.5 per cent per year. Availability of information and communications are key to fostering this growth, the statement added. Vodacom Tanzania Limited, through its voice and data services for the last eight years, has been in the forefront of ensuring meaningful access to communications for the people of Tanzania. Dietlof Mare, Vodacom Tanzania Managing Director was quoted in the statement saying: “We are very proud to add to our bid as a total communication solutions provider to the people of Tanzania our new alliance with the GSMA and Qualcomm to bring high-speed Internet cafes to this country.
Having supported the deployment of several hundred Internet cafes connected to mobile networks in Bangladesh, the GSMA Development Fund has extensive experience in this field, said the statement. Qualcomm, as a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies and data solutions, including HSPA, is contributing by bringing its expertise to the project and enabling 3G software and hardware, network service, technology training and project management.

The rationale need of ICT in business activities

THE successful future of a society and any industry depends on its ability to compete in a global market which is technologically changing, and Tanzania is not exceptional nor isolated in a long perspective that creates wealth which is needed for the country’s future economic development. The successes of nations depends on a variety of business activities the concerned nation deals with and such activities by any means whatsoever, are always necessitated by use of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). These are those tools which actually are helpful in speeding up the process of globalization in terms of technology and information giving. Such things are computers connected with internet, radios, televisions and telephones to mention a few. There is no local manufacturer of the ICT gadgets mentioned above in Tanzania, all local dealers or agents import these products for use into the country including their software. Tanzania has made a remarkable progress in deploying these gadgets in a bid to speed up economic development and their progresses has well been received by people, and service providers who are striving to address unmet demand and competition in newly liberalized markets. To accomplish the need, few local ICT companies are developing application packages and most of the software which are used by both public and private sectors are imported for use in the country at a considerable cost. Tanzania has a little skilled capacity to support the ICT industry in terms of developing, selling or supporting hardware and software. Despite of this, it’s therefore imperative for every sector of development to exploit the opportunities offered by emerging new technologies in order to maintain the ICT equipment and networks.

Computers have proved successful in executing business activities.

According to an ICT consultant based in the city, Mr. Rajan Mohammed, in order to meet challenges ahead of us successfully, people and the society are required to have the appropriate knowledge, skills and ability to understand so as to cope with the emerging technologies in effective and innovative ways. According to him, access of ICT components and their application in Tanzania is still very low and this is mainly due to the continued illiteracy many citizens have on the devices, and for those few who have managed to narrow this digital gap are frequently faced by insufficient electricity power supply. However, this has been a growing phenomenon in Tanzania resulting into poor deliveries of services wherever an ICT tool like computers which are largely dependent for the purpose at the service counters. With the respect of evolution of technology since early 1990s, the use of ICT has enhanced effective delivery services and its evidence are evident wherever there is a service to be offered by help of computers that concerns with cash handling such as in the banks. Although computers are sometimes interrupted, but these are normal cases of internet failure which usually occurs due to low bandwidth provided by Internet Service Providers (IPS), and the weary customers standing on the queue are told to wait for a while as technicians are busy working on the issue to solve the problems. Tanzania which in the past was conducting a socialist type of economy before it allowed trade liberalization policy in 1985, has entered in international investment forum that culminated in the mushrooming of banking institutions in the country. Now with the proliferation of banking institutions in the country, follows business competition which is exacerbated by the emerging technologies. To cope with the situation internet as the main driving force is extensively used for innovative work.
A vivid example was shown last year by “The Citibank Tanzania Ltd” which it had introduced an online funds transfer. This is an innovative way that see to its customers the transfer of funds online to beneficiary accounts held at other commercial banks in the country . With the use of internet, most commercial banks in Tanzania are now striving as hard to remain competitive and innovative to cope with the technologically ever changing world, especially in the payment systems in order to make their transaction much quicker. With the emergence of the globalization, business operators are under constant pressure for reforms and the internet is a driving force allowing their capital to move quicker. The most surprising thing to note is that, internet by not recognizing its borders is encouraging everyone to engage in the process.

An employee at the business counter offering services to customers, all transactions are fed in networked computers.

In recent years, internet has transformed the performance of the global banking business transactions. With new technological set ups, most Banks have been automating their services in order to cater for the increase in demand for quick, efficient and cost effective practices. Telephones as another ICT tool, playas a significant role to ease business activities in societies. Mobile phones unlike fixed ones can quickly define one’s geographical position in a global market. “Mobile phones and internet as new media facilities do not actually increase the economic growth rates as per capita income, but in the real sense to simplify the concept, they actually ease communication and the attainment of information”, says an economist. Joel Ezekiel said in an interview that “it’s important to realize that internet is useful to farmers as it represents an instant and economic way of knowing what the market prices for agricultural commodities such as cash crops for the purposes to trade”. With an estimated 200,000 global networks, the internet is the fastest growing infrastructure industry in the world’s history of communication. It enables information and goods to travel much faster than before, making it easier to transport things and communicate with people. The use of mobile phones and internet in African rural communities have a significant impact that provides immense opportunities to promote and foster aspects of human development in terms of social, economic, education and cultural political development. Businessmen, farmers, teachers, engineers, doctors, ordinary people and any other professional body of all walks of life elsewhere in the world use the facility for communication purposes and for the mutual benefit of their gain and nation as well. Various studies shows that new media facilities leapfrog the development divide and accelerate efforts to combat poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy in a bid to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Danish envoy remarks on MwanaHALISI saga

In Tanzania, following the suspension of MwanaHalisi for the alleged sedious story which raged the government, about an impending plan to oust President Kikwete from office, and a persistent warning by the government on several occasions to change its style of reporting, the Danish ambassador Bjarne Sorensen accredited in the country has said donor countries are closely following up the circumstances that led to the ban of this newspaper. The Danish Ambassador spoke recently in Dar es Salaam during an exclusive interview shortly after addressing a news conference on the upcoming state visit of Danish Queen Margaret II and her husband Prince Henrik. The pair who visited the country in a four day state visit left the country last week. According to Sorensen, MwanaHalisi is among the few newspapers committed to fighting corruption and all graft elements. ”We understand the focus of the paper that it is a voice of voiceless people. Being irked by all sorts of corrupt elements, we, the donor community, are closely following the circumstances that led to the ban to ensure there are no plans to jeopardize the efforts” said Sorensen. He said there are a number of questions donor countries need to have their answers regarding the whole issue. The envoy said the development partners couldn’t remain quiet because if they did, their efforts of fighting the vice would be meaningless. ”We need to know if the decision had followed the right channels, as we know for sure that the country abides to the principles of rule of law governed by instruments such as a well-set judicial system and an ethics commission which could work on the matter in a fair and transparent manner”, said the Danish ambassador. He said that a call from editors, anti-corruption bodies and human rights activists suggested the need for immediate intervention on the matter. The government banned the weekly early last month on claims that it published seditious stories, but many analysts link the ban to a story that the newspaper carried, which alleged that big shots in the ruling party CCM were plotting to unseat President Jakaya Kikwete through the party nomination process. About a week ago, the French Ambassador to Tanzania, Jacques de Labriolle, who is also the current representative of the European Union Chair, expressed concern over the ban. Speaking exclusively, de Labriolle said there was some surprise, because it is the third time there is a problem with the same newspaper since the beginning of this year, while no other papers in the country has so many troubles. The representative of the EU chair said that the ban had certainly caused some surprise and some worry among the European Heads of Mission in Tanzania.

Three-month ban on Tanzanian weekly rattles independent Media

Tanzania’s radical weekly MwanaHASILI has been subject to a breadth of government tactics used to quiet the press, from human torture, last January the Managing Editor had acid thrown in his face, the incident followed by a newsroom raid and now, a three-month publishing ban. Across the media scene, editors and journalists in the country, especially in the independent sector, wearier to send their publications to the printer, are reaffirming their right to a free press.
MwanaHALISI, which has seen its circulation growth from 7,000 to 60,000 since it was launched in May 2006, has had great success with the public, while some of those involved in the stories the paper unearths have become its harshest critics. On 13 October 2008, the country’s Minister of Information, Sports and Culture, Captain George Mkuchika, announced the three-month ban for the paper’s alleged wont for running controversial stories. Specifically, the paper was accused of intending to “incite public hatred” against president Kikwete and for contributing to quarrels within the president’s family. The October headline, deemed seditious, that read “The plot to oust Kikwete from power discovered – His son Ridhwani to be used – people implicated with graft reorganize themselves,” triggered the government to take concrete action against the paper. Mkuchika said that the paper was trying to ferment chaos by comparing the situation in Tanzania to the environment in South Africa that led to the resignation of president Thabo Mbeki. Further, he said it was laced with false information and intruded on other people’s privacy, something according to political analysts is totally untrue.
Under the tenets of the Newspaper Act of 1976, the paper was suspended on 13 October in line with the law. “I would like to emphasize that this punishment should serve as a lesson, not only to this particular newspaper, but also to others that deliberately violated professional guidelines on the pretext of exercising freedom of expression,” said Mkuchika. His warning has indeed percolated throughout the media scene; however, media professionals are not succumbing lightly to his warnings. Rather, in a strong concerted effort the Editors Forum of Tanzania has led the private media to enact a media blackout on Mkuchika. Thus far the editors of ITV, The Guardian, Nipashe, Mwanachi, Mtanzania, Bingwa, The African, Kulikoni, This Day, The Express, Majira, Star TV, The Citizen and Mwanaspoti have joined in. “The media scene in Tanzania is nervous. Editors, especially those with independent papers, which expose vices in the government, are taking extra care before deciding what to publish. They fear that more papers could be banned. Since the creation of the new Communications Division headed by Mkuchika, coincidentally a veteran journalist, respect for press freedom has been ebbing away.

Journalists and editors from various media houses in a peaceful demonstration against the banning of MwanaHalisi weekly tabloid n Dar es salaam recently. The ban is against the suppression of press freedom

Meanwhile, Editors from different media houses staged a peaceful demonstration to register their opposition to a government ban on MwanaHALISI weekly tabloid. The peaceful march that started at Lugoda Street, Gerezani near Business Times offices and headed to the information ministry offices along Samora Avenue in Dar es Salaam, was also supported by activists from other organisations. The editors marched with sealed mouths, being a mark of silencing the media and suppressing its freedom. They also displayed placards that carried varied messages, all opposed to the banning of MwanaHALISI. Some of the placards read as follows, “the government should not temper with press freedom, Mwanahalisi is banned but the corrupt leaders are still in office. Who revealed the EPA, Richmond and UVCCM scandals? We want MwanaHalisi back”. “We shall continue writing until the end of this world. The newspapers Act of 1976 should be abandoned; MwanaHaLISI is the ear, mouth and eye of every Tanzanian”. At the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports headquarters, the protestors were received by the Deputy Director of the Tanzania Information Services Habib Nyundo, as the minister was not in office at that time. Nyundo said he had received the message and would convey it to the minister. However, he advised the editors to stop using the name `Editors Forum because it was not registered anywhere.
”I received your message, but I would like to advise you to stop identifying yourselves under the Editors Forum banner because it is not known to the government”, he said.
In response, Editors Forum acting chairperson Absalom Kibanda differed with Nyundo.
Kibanda argued that the editors forming the body were fully known and operated legally because they were registered professionals with the Tanzania Information Services (Maelezo). He said it was improper for the government to reject the editors group at the same time accepting its members as registered professionals. He said adding that they should tell them the suitable persons who should belong to the Forum. He insisted the banning of MwanaHalisi was improper because contribution of the private media to the development of the country was crucial as compared to state-run outlets. Kibanda said the aim of the demonstration was not to prove the story wrong or right, but making it clear to the government that silencing the media was totally wrong. The chairman of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-Tanzania, Ayoub Rioba, said Tanzania was a country that was ruled by democratic principles and there was no way the state could deny that fact but only adhere to it. Ananelia Nkya, executive director of the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), said the banning of MwanHALISI denied people the right to give their opinion. “If this continues, a day will come all private newspapers will be banned,” she said. MwanaHALISI was banned for three months after it published a story in its October issue linking big shots in the ruling party CCM to an alleged secret plot to oust President Jakaya Kikwete

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Alternative source of power generation, is the business solution

A National day on Solar power was recently celebrated in Dar es Salaam with a number of solar companies that emerged to showcase their products in an open exhibition at Mnazi Mmoja ground which was attended by the general public. This is a very important day nationally as it reminds the people on the importance of the solar power energy to their national economy. You don’t have the need to wait for the electricity power from the national grid, when there is an alternative means to solve your problem immediately” one stakeholder of the solar energy power industry remarked in a workshop held recently in Dar es Salaam. It was a great occasion indeed as many stakeholders emerged to showcase their products to the general public. Just continue enjoying this pictorial scene.

This is a placard carryinng the message portraying a national day of solar energy power which was placed at the entrance leading to an exhibition ground at Mnazi Mmoja ground.

Insufficiency of electricity power generation from the major hydro-electric power stations in the country such as, Mtera, Kihansi Nyumba ya Mungu dams is a major cause for many people and companies to resort power generation from other alternative energy sources in order to keep abreast with their business activities. The alternative sources of power generation are the solutions because they are viable and affordable. They can help run the country’s economies even in the absence of hydro-electricity power generation.

Rex Investment Limited is a solar energy contractor in the country. It’s a local Tanzanian company which was established in 2000 and has been registered by the Contractors’ Rwegistyration Board (CRB) as a specialist contractior grade one. The firm is sopeciaolised in importing and selling solar panels

Due to insufficiency of electricity power supply currently facing Tanzania, many business entities have resort to the use of especially diesel generators and solar energies for power supply. In order to curb the persisting situation, big organizations, companies, individuals and other business enterprises in the country such as Rex Investments Limited and others who are in the dire need for cheap source of power supply have managed to keep working their business transactions by using alternative power source generation. With the generator machines, despite of their expensiveness, it’s the most reliable of all alternative source of power generation. Generating power machines are among the five basic sources of power supply. Others are wind, gas, nuclear, solar energy and coal.

During the national celebrations of the solar energy day, the occasion had brought together many stakeholders in the solar energy sector and one of the companies were Phocos. This is a German based company which is operating here in Tanzania as an investor in the solar power sector supplying solar energy. Phocos is one of the largest suppliers of off-grid power supply system components in the world. Headquatered in Ulm, Germany.

Generators are the second to be valued in the absence of hydroelectric power energy, followed by solar energy in terms of use. Generators come in handy as back-up energy sources when the local power grid, that is dependent on 80 percent hydro energy in the country fails to deliver. The selection of an internal combustion engine for independent power generation is very crucial for an efficient power supply.

Phocos develops, designs and manufactures products to suit the needs of all stakeholders in the global solar power market. The firm is strongly committed to developing and producing products that meets their strict specifications in terms of quality, innovation and technology. The firm’s highly skilled research and development teams works in close collaboration with the University of Applied Science of ULM and distinguished institutes of Germay to produce components which greatly enhance the life span of the battery and improve the efficiency of the sector power system.

Energy which is saved by improvements in efficiency provides the greatest environmental benefit at the lowest cost. Building insulation, fluorescent lighting, and public transportation are some of the most effective means of conserving energy. Some analysts say, the power cuts currently affecting Tanzania could be the first sign of the drought’s economic impact. Under the persisting situation caused by water levels at the dam’s hydro-electric power station, this has resulted into a day time power cuts that sometimes lasts for 16 hours up from 8.5 hours.Tanzania’s total generation capacity is 953 MW of which more than two thirds is hydro-electric. To plug the power shortfall, the National Power Utility Firm (TANESCO) also intends to rent generators from outside the country.

Direct Foreign Investments in Tanzania has really increased the degree of the internal use of solar energy power.

According to President Jakaya Kikwete, the drought had slashed hydropower capacity to close to 50 MW, out of a total capacity of 56. Tanzania hopes to generate more power from natural gas and coal both available in the country so as to relieve its reliance on hydro-power generation. He says, his government would boost gas powered generation by an additional 300 MW and start generating another 200 MW from coal. Whenever the power goes out in Dar es Salaam city which consumes almost 65 percent of the hydro power MW in the country, generators clatter into life and sellers of the designated diesel powered machines report brisk business. In today’s competitive market, it is important to be able to get the key best engine generating set package. Key considerations are the price and availability of alternative fuels the type of duty the set will be required to perform.

GS power installations (PTY) Ltd deals with competitive security electrics fensing, intelligent power gate motors, electric security and perimeter control systems. The company is continually striving for an increase services on security systems with special emphasis and the emerging market. The company’s success is based on high quality work as well as professional development of skills and capabilities and above all, their commitment to the mission, the visions and the practice of the work values.

Many operators nowadays are in the market for standby or emergency power particularly for maintenance of essential services such as Information Technology departments, computers and communications. However, if one need a factory away from the grid, he or she may need a base load generator designed to operate in constant load 24 hours a day if the grid is not reliable, especially at critical times of the day.

Ms. Brenda Kazimili, is a facilitator on Solar energy under Tanzania Solar Energy Association (TASEA). She is explaining a point on solar energy power to show goers who visited her stand during the national day on solar power recently at Mnazi mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam. Mr. Brenda trains a course for technicians artisan and users on solar PV systems. She is a University graduate and currently working under the department of physics at the University of Dar es Salaam for TASEA as a facilitator on the use of solar energy power countrywide.

Today most generators run on diesel, and also there are natural gas variants and biogas is used in some specific markets. Natural gas is now widely available in many countries and sounds like a viable alternative. With reliable generators, someone’s businesses would be independent of vagaries of the local grid. This would certainly go long way increasing the productivity of the business.

This is Ensol Tanzania Limited, the dfirm is a solar energy equipment supplier and specialist contractor as well. The firm is after a cost effective system which will provide good long term service, ENSOL (T) Ltd designs a custom power back-up system which matches the power equipment to a customer’s crucial load.

Building contractors use generating set exceedingly, often requiring site use plant that will be operated continuously. In the long term, the operation would be intermittent with major load variations as and when a tower crane is swung into action. As the sun heats up the Earth unevenly, winds are formed. The kinetic energy in the wind can be used to run wind turbines, some capable of producing 5 MW of power. The power output is a function of the cube of the wind speed, so such turbines generally require a wind in the range 5.5 m/s (20 km/h), and in practice relatively few land areas have significant prevailing winds. Luckily, offshore or at high altitudes, the winds are much more constant.

An attendant responds questions to visitors who wanted to know how Chromagen Solar Energy Systems works. This was during the recent national day celebrations on solar energy power which was held at Mnazi Mmoja grounds.

Wind strengths vary and thus cannot guarantee continuous power. Some estimates suggest that 1,000 MW of wind generation capacity can be relied on for just 333 MW of continuous power. Energy in water can be harnessed and used, in the form of motive energy or temperature differences. Since water is about a thousand times heavier than air, even a slow flowing stream of water can yield great amounts of energy.

People gets information about Chromagen Solar Energy systems how is works. This is an Israel’s leading manufacturer of Solar Energy Systems. The firm specialises in design, manufacturing and distribution of all solar energy equipment for domestioc, commercial and industrial use. The firm manufactures the solarsonic collector. The firm has been in operation for over 30 years and its products institutes in the European Union and worldwide. In the photo above, an attendant who is partly hidden is showing her show goers on how the machine works.

Hydroelectric power is probably not a major option for the future of energy production in the developed nations because most major sites within these nations with the potential for harnessing gravity in this way are either already being exploited or are unavailable for other reasons such as environmental considerations. The solar panels (photovoltaic arrays) on this small yacht at sea can charge the 12 V batteries at up to 9 amperes in full, direct sunlight. Since most renewable energy is ultimately "solar energy" this term is slightly confusing and used in two different ways, firstly as a synonym for "renewable energies" as a whole and secondly for the energy that is directly collected from sunlight. Obviously the sun does not provide constant energy to any spot on the Earth, so its use is limited. Solar cells are often used to power batteries, as most other applications would require a secondary energy source, to cope with outages. Some homeowners use a solar system which sells energy to the grid during the day, and draw energy from the grid at night; this is to everyone's advantage, since power demand for air conditioning is highest during the day.

Few people in Tanzania have access to energy services that can foster development and reduce poverty. According to a principal official of the Tanzania Traditional Energy Development (TaTEDO), Thomas Mkunda, energy in rural areas is used for cooking, heating and lighting, baking and roasting at domestic, commercial and institutional levels. TaTEDO is promoting the use of appropriate modern energy technologies for poverty reduction and environmental conservation in three zones in Tanzania namely Northern, Lake and Eastern zones.

Geothermal energy ultimately comes from radioactive decay in the core of the Earth, which heats the Earth from the inside out, and from the sun, which heats the surface. Usually, the term 'geothermal' is reserved for thermal energy from within the Earth. Geothermal electricity is created by pumping a fluid (oil or water) into the Earth, allowing it to evaporate and using the hot gases vented from the earth's crust to run turbines linked to electrical generators. The geothermal energy from the core of the Earth is closer to the surface in some areas than in others. Where hot underground steam or water can be tapped and brought to the surface it may be used to generate electricity. Geothermal heat from the surface of the Earth can be used on most of the globe directly to heat and cool buildings. The temperature of the crust a few feet below the surface is buffered to a constant 7 to 14 °C (45 to 58 °F), so a liquid can be pre-heated or pre-cooled in underground pipelines, providing free cooling in the summer and, via a heat pump, heating in the winter. Other direct uses are in agriculture (greenhouses), aquaculture and industry.

This is also the stand belonging to GS power installation as it shines in the eyes of its visitors.

The present consumption of geothermal energy does not in any way threaten or diminish the quality of life for future generations, consequently, it is considered a renewable energy source. Plants use photosynthesis to store solar energy in the form of chemical energy. Biofuel is any fuel that derives from biomass. Typically biofuel is burned to release its stored chemical energy. Research into more efficient methods of converting biofuels and other fuels into electricity utilizing fuel cells is an area of very active work. Biomass, also known as biomatter, can be used directly as fuel or to produce liquid biofuel. Agriculturally produced biomass fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol and bagasse. (often a by-product of sugar cane cultivation) can be burned in internal combustion engines or boilers.

Chloride Exide (T) Limited also participated in the exhibition, the firm being the leader in the renewable energy systems, seeks to maximize use of renewable energy in sub-saharan region of Africa. At Chroride Exide, a company that is also based in Kenya maintains a full range and stock of quality panels, and balance of systems suported by a knowledgeable sales team and highly qualified technicians so as to meet any consultation and installation requiments. This is part of the internal view of the entire Mnazi Mmoja ground, a popular place to conduct national celebrations.

The Mnazi Mmoja ground has become a popular place for exhibitions and a place to commemorate important national occassions. It’s also a place to conduct various national ceremonies, geographically the area is centred and is within the Dar es Salaam Central Business District. This ground is a property of the Dar es Salaam city Council and was inaugurated during the occasion to mark the 38th anniversarry of the declaration of the Dar es Salaam to become a city in 1962. The inauguration ceremony was held in 1999.

Is it legal for women to wear men’s clothes?

WOMEN are always in the forefront to speak for their rights in a society. The advocacy is portrayed through various women’s organizations who are keen in demanding for their rights and are also against any acts of hostilities that men are doing to them including raping. But on the other way round, none of these organizations have stood firmly to point an accusing finger to some practicing women in a society who seems to have no respect and instead tend to behave like men in a society, thus denouncing the lord God who created people with different characteristics knowing each one of them has a role to play in respect of their gender. The most embarrassing thing that has commonly emerged in most African societies nowadays is the habit of women to put on long trousers, a garment that is specifically chosen by the lord God to be men’s dress.

A group of women who have put on long trousers walking along past Millennium Tower building at Kijitonyama area.

They think in doing so, they would one day become men. They actually tend to look like men and want to behave like men, something which by any means whatsoever can be legalized. The habit of women to wear long trousers is strongly an abomination act to the lord God himself who knew from the beginning that his creatures would wear the types of clothes he had chosen for them in respect of the nature of his creation. According to his creation, women would wear skirts, blouses and gowns while men would put on shirts, long trousers and short trousers.

Many reports says that, many young ladies and middle aged women have formed a tendency of wearing men’s long trousers. This shows rudeness for the part of their thinking.

But it’s extremely an annoying thing to see that women have become so notorious in mixing up men’s clothes for themselves an aspect that actually doesn’t show up loyalty before the lord God. The bible says in 1st Timothy 2:9 God forbade mixing up of clothes. I witnessed one day, a daladala driver who was in a verbal conflict with a woman (who looked like a man by the way she had addressed up herself) after a long argument that she was looking for man ship that she knew would never attain.

Two women crossing a makeshift bridge made up of wood planks, this is at Sinza in Dar es Salaam. This temporary bridge passes over a ditch for drainage which seems to have not been repaired for long, hence full of a stinking stagnant water which has now become a breeding pond for mosquitoes and other insects that harass people around.

One Muslim fundamentalist has ever said in a recorded cassette that, the shameful dresses such as the mini-skirts which halfly shows nakedness commonly being practiced by most
young ladies in most African societies is a shameful act as far as African tradition is concerned. This is an idea which of course requires moral support as the habit has been perpetrating the increased moral decay in the African society and to the great surprised, none of the women’s organizations in the country and elsewhere in Africa has ever frowned upon.

It’s a common habit nowadays to see young ladies clad in men’s clothes like long trousers as this lady is seen along the streets of Upanga area in Dar es Salaam

Women have been demanding for their rights, but what rights have they been denied? Is there any law which favors men? In this way the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS disease would never stop. This fundamentalist further warned that, journalists must also be serious with their publications. The presence of obscene photographs in their local newspapers which has become so notorious in most Tanzanian weekly Swahili newspapers their impact causes deteriorating morals in the society. Such photos are the greatest stimulus to the spread of the HIV/AIDS as such photos promotes sexual desire. It’s therefore imperative to observe ethics which are against societal traditions and culture for indecent photographs in newspapers plays a significant role in inducing some people to continue committing unsafe sex resulting into infections.

This is how contractors meets challenges

This is a dramatic incident of an almost falling down four storey building along Zanaki Street in downtown Dar es Salaam city that recently surprised passersby along the street when it was discovered to have inclined against another building adjacent to it. The building whose foundation was built in 1940s is said to have been constructed on a watery ground and it seems as if its foundation was not made much stronger to sustain the weight of a building in future, an aspect that has caused the building to bend.

Two storey buildings have inclined each other. The old buildings are said to have been constructed in 1940s.

A technical expert on concrete building materials from the Structure and Building Material Laboratory of the structural engineering department of the College of Engineering and Technology of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is seen taking photo with a special camera designed to determine the sustainability of the building which seems to have bent against the other.

May be we should say the technology of constructing a foundation was not done in a more scientific manner. This is contrary to modern technologically constructed building whereby the technology has advanced. Both Engineers and Contractors’ Registration Boards have assigned reputable technical experts to find out the possibility of rescuing any possible losses that the building is likely to cause in future. In the picture, an expert from the department of civil engineering of the University of Dar es Salaam is seen taking a photo to establish the possible cause of the danger.

The legality of public breast feeding

BREASTFEEDING in public is one of the most-discussed areas of nursing a baby that sometimes causes a friction between family members, friends and outright strangers in a society. Some people believe that public breastfeeding is natural and beautiful, a sharing of the nurturing process between mother and child. Others feel it is a private and intimate act, which should be sheltered from the eyes of others. Yet other people think that breastfeeding is perfectly fine though they just don't want to see it openly. It's all very confusing, because the breast in this culture, is essentially considered the primary sexual attribute of women. Men judge women by their breasts in terms of their size, perkiness and cleavage. Having thus hyper-sexualized that part of the body, the culture then proceeds to regulate its appearance. Even when a baby is attached to it, a breast is a breast, and in the puritanically small minds that so often prevail, a thing that incites men to sexual frenzy. It's idiotic, but there it is, and local laws and regulations may reflect the awful truth that breasts are not to be hidden or displayed. They are part of the public domain and thus subject to the laws of the land. In some backwards places, one may suffer stares of disgust and whispers of outrage, be ousted from a mall or restaurant or even receive a citation for baring a woman’s breast in public, even when it is to provide the finest kind of nourishment to a beautiful baby.

Public breastfeeding of babies should not be a matter of a serious concern, as this is the right of a woman.

Women have two alternatives as they can go ahead and breastfeed their children in the open space and duke it out each and every time someone else is offended, or they can do what women have done for centuries and put a tiny little receiving blanket over themselves and their babies and nurse them in a shady little tent. When it comes right down to it, each woman makes constant choices about how and when to expose her body. When you're a teenager it might be short skirts, when you're pregnant, you may opt for belly-baring fashions that remind us that the first religions honored women's fecundity and big, round goddess bodies. There's no reason to breastfeed openly unless you're interested in inciting comment. Clever tops, nursing bras and breastfeeding covers can keep you looking modest no matter what a wild thing you are. If you're traveling, especially to other countries, find out how women breastfeed in the places where you're going so you don't offend the citizens of that land. While in airplanes it's a consideration to your seatmates to ask the flight attendant if there's a special place where you can spread out a little to nurse. Otherwise, do use a cover to obstruct strangers’ eyes. In churches or mosques, nursing mothers generally leave the service and find a quiet, private room in which to breastfeed. In restaurants, you may find resolute opposition to nursing in public. Some people find that seeing a baby feeding interferes with their enjoyment of their own food. And it's not just breastfeeding that puts them off, except many an iron-stomached person has been rendered virtually seasick watching a doting parent pushing food into the drooling, messy mouth of a teething child. Sometimes, breast-feeding just doesn't go right, there might be a beast substitute of it and all the advice in the world can't prevent some women from finding it too painful. If you've worked with a lactation consultant, practiced various holds and techniques and still find breastfeeding uncomfortable, you may need to bottle feed your baby. In this case, you might be able to use a breast pump so your baby still gets the ideal—breast milk in a bottle feeding. If you can pump your breasts and store the milk, you're way ahead of the game

Why testing for HIV/AIDS disease

IT is now over a year since the National campaign for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS disease was launched in July 2007 by President Jakaya Kikwete in the country. Many people most of whom youths and middle aged have emerged in response to the call to carry out the exercise in a bid to know their health status. Quite a good number of Tanzanian citizens responded possitively to the call made by the President who urged people to undergo such testing services in various testing centers such as the most popularly known as ‘Angaza centres’. The Angaza project, meaning ‘shed light’ in Kiswahili aims to remove the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS disease and therefore reduce the spread of the disease by encouraging every Tanzanian to know their HIV status. Since the project was launched, it has aimed at increasing access to quality testing and counselling services so that to provide community care support for those with HIV/AIDS. Using rapid HIV tests which are accurate, easy to perform, low cost and which require minimal laboratory equipment. Another aim for the project was to carry out training voluntary counselling and testing counsellors as well as increasing social marketing campaigns so as to improve awareness of testing sites and to dispel myths and stigma surrounding the disease. In the last 20 years, HIV/AIDS has spread rapidly across Tanzania, lowering life expectancy, ruining individual life, harming the national economy and and it’s the worst disaster leaving one in ten Tanzanian children orphaned. Whilst acknowledged as a national disaster, less than 10 percent of the country’s late teen and adult population are aware of their HIV status, rendering it impossible to contain the disease and difficult to care for those that have been already infected. For many Tanzanians, HIV/AIDS testing had remained stigmatised. Until recently, testing was carried out with little regard for confidentiality and was followed up with ineffective and inappropriate counselling. Girls and young women are often the most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS disease and are three times more likely to be HIV positive than their male counterparts. This is partly the result of cultural traditions, which make it difficult for females to negotiate safe sex and refuse the advances of older men. Other cultural norms provide obstacles to the fight against HIV/AIDS. For example, married couples often fail to discuss sex despite the fact that half of HIV infections occur within marriage. Parents rarely talk to their children about their sexuality. Lack of openness increases ignorance and creates stigma and embarrassment around discovering one’s HIV status. Since the campaign for voluntary testing and couseling was launched, there is a tremendous achievements shown. Statistics made available by African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) shows that, over half a million people have been tested at voluntary counselling and testing sites throughout the country.

The governmemnt of the United States of America through its international aid agency (USAID) has been in the forefront in helping Tanzania’s initiatives on the fight against HIV/AIDS disease. To ensure an effective implementation of the policies and oprograms it has set, the organisation has placed a number of billboards for awareness of the scourge against a dreadful AIDS disease in the country. A billboard like this one written with the word “Kengele” advocates the message that informs men should not use their personalities to entice women, especially school girls with their money as an inducement to lure their minds into practicing immorality that is likely to result into AIDS infection.

The firm’s statistics further indicate that, the mostly affected group is aged between 15 and 49. Other statistics shows that HIV/AIDS disease prevalence rate stands at 8.8 percent according to the Ministry of Health and Social services. In order to win a comprehensive information on HIV transmission to the population, addressing the vulnerability of women and girls to violence and abuse, ensured access to condoms, clean needles and methadone and expanded access to anti-retroviral drugs is needed. A high profile, mass media campaign has publicised the HIV/AIDS epidemic and encouraged people to go for testing and become aware of their HIV status. The campaigns has also resulted into the establishment of post test clubs which have been set up to support those who have tested positive and to discuss HIV/AIDS related information. Despite of much sensitization on the exercise, the government and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) in the country still have a lot of work to do in the area of advocacy and creating awareness about the importance of HIV/AIDS voluntary testing and counseling. Most citizens are happy that they can test for their HIV status whenever they feel like and the fact that it is private and confidential and at no added cost as opposed to private hospitals and government health centres. At most Angaza centers in the country, each one who reports for voluntary testing is issued with a number used instead of one’s name through counseling and testing, though the confirmed status of each patient is relayed by word of mouth and not in a written form. A spot check at Manyoni based Angaza center, recently confirmed that the exercise of testing is going on with a number of people responding to the call including young couples who wants to get married. The increased access to HIV testing and counseling is essential to promoting earlier diagnosis of HIV infection, which in turn can maximize the potential benefits of life-extending treatment and care, and allow people with HIV to receive information and tools to prevent HIV transmission to others. People are wondering why should they get tested for HIV, but there are a number of benefits one gets out of this exercize as some of them may unknowingly be transmitting HIV to other people. It’s a strong insistence the government and the civil societies do strongly encourages people who are at risk for HIV to be tested regularly. Whether or not to take the HIV antibody test, however, is a personal decision that only one can make for himself or herself and also there are certain things one may wish to consider after realizing their health status. If one finds out that he or she is HIV-positive (infected with HIV), you and your healthcare providers can better plan early treatment and intervention, improving your chances of slowing down the progression of HIV disease. Suppose someone has undergone a test and found to have been negatively infected, may feel less anxious whatsoever. By knowing your status, you can find out whether or not you can infect others, and what precautions you might take to prevent transmission to other people. Regardless of the result, testing tends to increase one’s commitment to overall good health habits. If you test positive, you can learn more about HIV and be proactive in taking care of your health, and if one is considering having a baby, can take advantage of treatments that potentially prevent transmission of HIV to the baby.

Scaling up VCT benefits and service delivery

HIV prevention and care are inextricably linked components of the stepped up war against AIDS disease and a Voluntary Counseling and testing (VCT) serves as a unique bridge between the two. Although VCT is an important entry point for HIV prevention and care, not all population groups have an equal likelihood of accepting VCT and therefore public health interventions on HIV testing is specifically tailored for each population group. In addition to its role in prevention, HIV testing and counseling is a critical first step in identifying those who are HIV positive so as to effectively link them with HIV treatment, care, and support services. These services include the prevention of HIV-related illnesses, (including tuberculosis), psychosocial and family support, and comprehensive treatment with anti-retroviral therapy, as it becomes available. Knowing one’s HIV status also provides essential information to better enable HIV positive persons to plan for their own future and that of their family. VCT can help to connect clients with services including hospital care, legal services, and support for orphans and vulnerable children. Experience has shown that VCT clients benefit from ongoing support and counseling to cope with their diagnosis and facilitate disclosure.

Voluntary testing for HIV/AIDS disease is an important exercise as it enables one to know his or her own health status.

Studies carried out in Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe have shown that while around 60 percent of adults want to know their HIV status, only 15 percent or less have had access to VCT. Carefully designed radio, television, and print advertising have not yet increased awareness and use of VCT services in most parts of these countries. Most VCT clients report positive experiences with disclosure of their HIV status, yet HIV positive women may remain more vulnerable to negative effects. Studies have shown that fear of a violent reaction by a male partner because of a positive result is a barrier to both VCT and subsequent disclosure of results to male partners. HIV-related stigma and discrimination contribute to the creation of a barrier to participation in VCT, disclosure of HIV status, and seeking care, treatment and support by people living with HIV/AIDS. Involving the community in VCT and related programs helps to increase participation in VCT and fosters community ownership of the programs. This approach can help people living with HIV/AIDS to be accepted within their communities, thereby reducing stigma and denial. Providing VCT with quality counseling and appropriate linkages, referrals, and prevention and care services can enhance the opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS to access care, treatment and support. A key component of infection control is the identification of those infected with the disease, coupled with efforts to interrupt transmission. Studies in the developing world have demonstrated that VCT can lead to self-reported changes in high-risk sexual behavior among both HIV positive and HIV negative people. In U.S based studies, participant reports of sexual behavior change have been further corroborated by a reduction in sexually transmitted infections. The body of evidence is especially strong for VCT as a tool to help HIV positive persons to reduce their high-risk behaviors to avoid spreading the disease to uninfected persons. VCT counselors work one-on-one with clients to help them to assess their individual risk for HIV and engage them in a focused discussion of realistic ways to reduce their risk.

A person is being tested for HIV/AIDS at Angaza centre

Voluntary counseling prepares individual both psychologically and physically to understand and accept the results from an HIV testing exercise and this directly influences the accessibility of the available care orphans. Rapid testing for HIV has become one of the most prominent ways that people receive HIV tests today. In as little as 20 minutes, you can find out your HIV status. Rapid tests work similarly to traditional HIV test, they look for antibodies to HIV, not the virus itself. Most commonly, a rapid test is administered by sampling the oral mucosa (the mucous that is everywhere in your mouth) and putting it through a test to see if HIV antibodies are present. The provision of integrated VCT services in several districts in the country are using the rapid HIV testing technique almost at every HIV testing centers. The overall aim is to ensure that confidential VCT is widely accessible by clients with a number of generally improved health services delivery. Since the introduction of the program, there has been rapid uptake of services reflecting that demand is very high. Analysts to the trends in the socio-demographic factors of the VCT clients facilitate understanding of those who volunteer to be tested to pave way to the development of appropriate interventions to further control the AIDS epidemics. HIV antibody testing can be ordered through a private physician, some clinics, and hospitals. If you give your name, even if the test site says your name is known only to them and not the lab, the test is technically confidential and anonymous. Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file. There are also testing sites that offer confidential testing. “Those who are tested confidentially and are found to be infected with HIV are reported to local public health officials so that the government can better track the extent of the disease in the population as a whole”, says doctor Francis Michael of Manyoni district hospital. According to him, the information is collected to allow public health officials to track these diseases. HIV reporting makes it easier for localities to collect information about the epidemic, providing the government with valid, uniform data for service and prevention planning.

WHO calls for total ban on tobacco adverts

THE World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a total ban on all tobacco advertising , saying industry advertising strategy was enticing more young people to rake up smoking. WHO has said smoking poses health devastation and asked governments, particularly in the developing countries top impose a ban to save the lives of young people including women targeted by tobacco advertising. WHO said recently during World Tobacco Day that it was focusing its campaign this year on youths, citing statistics that show most young people start smoking before the age of 18 years.

All billboards advertisements carrying pictures of various brands of cigarettes manufactured b y Tanzania Cigarette Company (TCC) bearing a strong warning “Smoking is dangerous and harmful to human life” these are written in Kiswahili language. Billboards like these ones which are scattered within the city of Dar es Salaam and in other cities and towns in upcountry regions, are such adverts which have been prohibited by WHO.

Under the Tanzania Tobacco products (Regulations) Act 2003, smoking in public is banned, but anti-smoking campaigners have expressed concerns saying the Act has several loopholes including continuing to allow cigarette companies to advertise their products. The Tobacco industry employs predatory marketing strategies to get young people hooked to their addictive drug. But comprehensive advertising bans do work reducing tobacco consumption by up to 16 percent in countries that have already their legislative step, says Dr. Douglas Bettcher, Director of Agency’s Tobacco Force Initiative in a statement issued recently in New York-USA. Dr. Bettcher said only a total ban was acceptable because when one form of advertising is banned, the tobacco industry simply shifts its vast resources to another channel such as the movies, the internet, fashion magazines or music and sports venues. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan described this industry as a complex tobacco marketing that caught the desire of millions of young people worldwide with potentially devastating health consequences.

A portrait of a juvenile in an advert that warns smoking is dangerous and harmful to human life. Billboards like this one has been strongly prohibited by the WHO and those nations like Tanzania which still continues to promote them despite their ban are strongly condemned by WHO.

Recent studies have indicated that the more young people are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more they are likely to take up smoking according to WHO. A global survey found that over half of 13 to 15 year old youths reported seeing billboard advertisements for cigarettes in the past months. Advertising is becoming more aggressive in the developing world where bans ion tobacco marketing are less likely. Around the world, girls and young women are also an increasing target of the industry. In a different statement WHO said contrary to claims by advertisers, the electronic cigarette-battery powered product usually made of stainless steel and resembling an actual cigarette has not been proven a sale or legitimate nicotine replacement therapy for smokers trying to quit. Marketers have claimed that the product helps smokers break their additions to tobacco with some even going so far as to imply that WHO views it as a legitimate nicotine replacement therapy like nicotine gum, lozenges and patches.

Air-conditioning Giant Carrier strengthens their hold and presence in Tanzania!

More than 80 leading professionals, who included architects, building contractors, project engineers, project consultants, specialized contractors, and other stakeholders in the Tanzanian construction industry, attended the Carrier Air Conditioning seminar that was held recently at Coral Beach Hotel. Royal Furnishers Limited, the Sole Authorized Dealer for Carrier Residential and Light Commercial Air Conditioning Systems in Tanzania, in collaboration with Air Conditioning & Heating International (AHI), based in the United Arab Emirates, who are responsible for the distribution of Carrier Air Conditioning equipment in East and Central Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe, organized and hosted this seminar, which turned out ta href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhl6_J0ZEAwKPARTJFmrnCLnZAyYwp0Q6d03f3qAIEsk3kKuu-K2CV_KXJWAdu_nGwScy_F0WPX6oEqZi63XDjKHKToyjcMl3a_RKWiNUjBrvcYWMii9xGksWS97piLXPvtOhAW1zqETq/s1600-h/NOR_0050.JPG">
o be very interesting and beneficial to all attendees.
A sensitizing seminar on the use of carrier air-conditioners to construction industry stakeholders.

Mr. Ajit Chandraraj, the Business Unit Manager of Air Conditioning & Heating International, gave the welcome speech, followed by the respective Sales Managers of Residential and Commercial Systems, Mr. Syed Imam Jafar and Mr. J. Nair, presenting brief overviews on Carrier products. Some of the attendees expressed their concern especially on the availability of sub standard equipment in the local market, and they were advised to always procure the equipment from manufacturers’ authorized dealers whenever possible. Interviews conducted with some of the local expert consultants and air conditioning contractors in attendance, expressed better prospects and the beginning of a new era in air conditioning for the ever growing Tanzanian market.

These are a range of carrier air-conditioners being sold in the country by Royal Furnishers, a sole agent of the Dubai based manufacturers of the residential and light commercial air-conditioning system in Tanzania

The seminar showcased a wide range of products that are designed to suit the growing requirements of the market and also addressed the current global issues such as global warming and energy crisis. Carrier, named after the inventor of commercial air conditioning Willis Carrier, is regarded as the world’s leader in air conditioning ever since it was formed in 1902. Carrier Corporation was the first air conditioner manufacturer, way back in 1994, to start a world wide program to phase out Ozone depleting Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in its air conditioning products, 16 years ahead of mandates for developing countries including China, India and the Middle East. The firm still continues its legacy and has earned, in recognition of the company's achievements in helping restore the earth's protective ozone layer.

This is the outside scenery of the Coral Beach Hotel located on the shores of Indian Ocean in Masaki in Dar es Salaam.

Apart from the ozone depletion, another health and environment related issue which has been hounding the mankind, is the quality of air people do breathe in. According to a recent study conducted in Britain, “the air inside an office is probably ten times more polluted than the outside air” According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 50 percent of all illnesses, including allergies, are caused or aggravated by the pollution of indoor air. The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked allergies third on the list of world wide ailments after cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Today’s offices and houses can contain bacteria, viruses, mould, fungus, mites and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). All these pollutants impair air quality and can be harmful to our health, and may cause headaches, fatigue, nausea, nose-, eye-, skin- and lung irritations, asthma and other respiratory problems. Sometimes being exposed to these pollutants for too long can cause cancer.