Where civil contractors flouts CRB rules

ONE of the major roles being played by Tanzania’s Contractors’ Registration Board (CRB) is to ensure that all building and civil contractors in the country observes their rules and regulations to the maximum level possible. The Board’s rules and regulations set are the pillars that guides all contractors and the public in general. This is in a bid to avoid shoddy construction work intended to be done in a given project. There are so many rules and regulations set by the Board and therefore to be complied by contractors in order to build a good relationships between them as employers and their personnel at work places. Such rules directs them to strictly observe the environment in which they work such as taking into account the safety measures and others in order to maintain security at work places and thus, enhance work performance. But on the other way around, contractors are to blame for they do flout these rules for unknown reasons and consequently the habit leads them into performing shoddily.

This is a contractor’s sign board placed strategically at the center of a junction road of Ally Hassan Mwinyi Road and Ocean Road near the traffic lights at Salander bridge at Upanga area in Dar es Salaam city. The area is close to the shores of Indian Ocean. The details on the board describes a routine maintenance of Ocean Road/Luthuli street whose construction covered a stretch of a 19 km road, is already finished and was funded by Road Fund Board. Sajo civil engineering and building contractors ltd were the contractors.

The placement of the contractors’ sign boards at a project site is such one rule that has to be strictly adhered by all contractors in a progressive project anywhere. But to some extent, this is flouted without caring the messages being portrayed on their boards, and if the project is finished, it’s advisable that such
Sign boards like this one here must be removed from their positions when a project is finished. This is another contractor’s sign board strategically placed at the corner of a main road from that comes from Buguruni Malapa and joins with that one of Nelson Mandela Highway at a place near Buguruini CCM bus stop in Dar es Salaam city. This is also wrongly placed, does the CRB supervisors care for this? The sign board states a routine maintenance of municipal roads zone B Ilala area from Msimbazi streets. This is work was being undertaken by SKO Building contractors limited of Dar es Salaam, the presence of these sign boards creates confusion to motorists and passersby.

A contractors’ sign board normally carries details of the construction work in progress in their sites. In actual fact, contractors are supposed to place such boards that describes the nature of the work being undertaken and the names of contractors and company’s involved close to their sites and this must be arranged in a systematic manner to highlight the public what the project is all about.

When have you ever seen a contractor’s sign board is placed on top of a roof? This is completely awkward, what a hale is this? It’s all about a rehabilitation work being undertaken by Zein Enterprises Limited, a Dar es Salaam based civil contractor at Ukonga area in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam region. This is a 7 km road project being geared by Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS) it starts from a place known as Mombassa going up to Msongola which is a new settlement past TARAZA railway line.

This road which is being rehabilitated, it joins Ukonga-Mombassa and Msongola village 7 kilometers away but not into a tarmac level, this involves the spread of a gravel an aspect that courses inconveniences during rainy seasons.

But on the other way round, you might be perplexed to see that these boards are sometimes placed in a wrong positions that are sometimes a great confusion to passersby and drivers who speeds on the road.

You can see this sign board is placed on top of a small business booth belonging to a petty trader. It’s actually placed in a wrong position. Nobody actually knows who is at fault, the contractor or the owner of a trading booth?

Most of the contractors never mind to put them on the right position, but who is at fault? Does the CRB supervisors do not carry out their supervision work? Or is it because of negligence of the whole concept? Who has to be blamed for this?

Public remains oblivious about National Health Insurance Fund

It has been revealed that a wider section of the public is ignorant about existence and social benefits of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). This assertion was made on Monday this week by NHIF`s Customer Relations Officer Rehani Athumani when briefing team of parliamentarians who visited its pavilion at the just ended 32nd Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF). To address that weakness, the Fund, in collaboration with the local governments authorities, are planning to conduct nationwide public awareness campaigns up to grassroots level with view to making the Fund much more familiar to all stakeholders. Intended campaigns were mentioned by the officer as a rejoinder to a question asked by the Health and Social Welfare Minister Professor David Mwakyusa relating to Fund`s plans to ensure majority of Tanzanians understand its social and economic role. “It’s true Hon. Minister, we`re facing a challenge of making ourselves better known to the public, and as proposed solution to this problem, plans are underway to ensure intensive awareness campaigns are conducted aimed at educating people about socio-economic benefits of the Fund” he said.

Professor David Mwakyusa, Minister for Health and Social welfare.

Awareness gigs would aim at informing Tanzanians all over the country about services provided by NHIF and beneficiary members are entitled to thereof. According to Rehani, the envisaged awareness campaign would enable the Fund to attain its goal of extending health services to 45 per cent of Tanzanians by 2015. The fund target covering the entire nation with quality and effective health systems and services. Since its effective launch in July 2001 as first attempt towards defined national safety net mechanism, NHIF has been instrumental in reducing public health sector’s funding burden from government’s budgets. Besides healthcare services it is now providing, NHIF also plans to put up two major investments--Medical Centre of Excellence and a modern Diagnostic Center to alleviate people from the distress of having to travel long distances in or outside Tanzania is search of diagnostic services. The centres would be built up in Dodoma, a place considered more strategic based on its central location. According to him, the total investment costs for the two projects and other technical matters are currently on the drawing board and the exact figures will be known latter. Upon their completion, two projects would be leased to competent managers so that the Fund concentrates on its core activities.

National Assembly takes part in DITF to showcase itself

THE National Assembly took part for the first time in the just-ended Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) with a view to creating public awareness of one of the key pillars of the state. This was revealed in an interview at the Julius Nyerere Fair grounds on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam by the House director for civil education and international co-operation Jossey Mwakasyuka. “We have never participated in any trade fair before because we had the fear that it`s difficult to handle the whole process. But we got courage when we toured a trade air in Zimbabwe where we saw other parliaments participating as institutions” he said. He said most people were not aware of what was going on in the National Assembly because they failed to attend its sessions where they could learn more about its activities.

The current National Assembly speaker, Mr. Samwel Sitta (standing extreme left) with other national leaders including President Jakaya Kikwete when the latter had sworn in the Chief of the Armed Forces General Davis Mwamunyange (standing at the center, front row)

Mwakasyuka said among challenges the National Assembly was facing included public exposure about its activities. The National assembly has vowed to publicize itself with its activities even to those living in rural areas. Many people were amazed to have seen the National assembly to have advertised itself in public. Thomson Joseph, a visitor who toured the pavilion at the DITF, was excited to see the institution participation in the fair. However, its participation had been an eye opener to every person about its activities. Among the most impressive things were the newly constructed State-of-the-art National Assembly building (known by Kiswahili language, Jengo la Bunge)

Prime Minister inaugurates the 32nd Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF)

ON 1st July this year, at Mwalimu J.K.Nyerere trade fair (formerly known as Sabasaba grounds), Tanzania Prime Minister Mr. Mizengo Pinda officially opened the 32nd Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair in a colourful ceremonial occasion that took place within the trade fair grounds. The Premier pressed an electronic button that produced a sound like that of a siren van to usher its official opening. This was after the end of a two hour ceremony. The fair that kicked off on 28th June, will be closed next week on 8th July. Together with other activities, the Prime Minister handed over certificates of participation to all 27 foreign countries which have taken part in the fair. He also issued trophies to the winning local and international companies as in accordance to various winning categories earlier selected by a panel of judges by the Board of External Trade (BET), the chief organizer of the event. The function was attended by a number invited guests who included the national parliamentarians, foreign diplomats accredited in the country, distinguished guests and other national dignitaries also graced the occasion. After the ceremony, the Prime Minister had an opportunity to go round the selected pavilions and saw for himself what products the companies had brought for the exhibition.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Mizengo Pinda hands over a trophy to a representative of the Tanzania Teleccommunication Company (TTCL) which has emerged the winner in ICT category during the award presentation of the winning companies at DITF grounds. TTCL is a sole provider of the landline telephone services in the country. The company is also an ISP provider through CDMA technology.

In his speech, the Prime Minister thanked all foreign countries that turned up to showcase their products in this special trade fair that is going on its 32nd year since its establishment in 1976. A week long occasion that is scheduled to be climaxed on 8th would pave the way for the local people as well as national companies would have an opportunity to exchange views and ideas. Despite of a strong criticism which has been leveled against the performance of this well known trade fair, it’s a place of show casing business merchandise, the exhibitions have made a good number of strides since their establishment 32 years ago.

When the ceremony ended, the Prime Minister was taken around in few selected pavilions to see for himself. You can see him walking along the main street built across the fair ground known as Taifa Avenue

Not only that the fair has been transformed in terms of name, place, ministry, number of participants and nature of business, but also it has changed in terms of structure, scope and exhibited products. Otherwise, known as SabasSaba because of the date inherited from Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) to signify the latter’s establishment on July 7th 1954. The fair has moved from a mere agricultural exhibition to one dominated by parastatal organizations to an International phenomenon currently driven by the private sector.

Photo Journalists and TV shooting cameramen at work during the function which was held at PTA main conference hall at DITF grounds.

The available archival records show that it started as an agricultural show known as National Agricultural and Trade Fair (NATF) in December 1962, under the then Ministry of Trade and Cooperative unions with one Briton known as Lucas as the harbinger. A current show-goer of the DITF would be surprised to learn that the products displayed in those days were agricultural, livestock, natural resources produce and cultural products. These are contrary to what one could see today.

TTCL; pavilion at Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere's trade fair grounds. The company emerged the winner in ICT category
DITF has traveled a long way from a local stage for farmers and livestock keepers to an organ that carries many of Tanzania’s trade aspirations to the wider global horizon. The fair grounds, since inaugurated by the late Mwalimu J.K Nyerere (First Tanzanian President), it had 10 days of exhibition with the last day being climaxed on 8th of every July each year are being held at Mtoni SabaSaba suburb in Tameke district, Dar es Salaam region at a place known by many as Mwalimu J.K Nyerere Trade Fair grounds.

Tanzania prepares to recycle obsolete ICT equipment

THE Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) in the country is preparing a national system to dispose of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment that has become obsolete. Talks are underway between the COSTECH and a UK based Digital Links which will be responsible for collecting and recycling the redundant ICT equipment in the country. According to COSTECH’s Director of Information and Documentation Mr. Theophilus Mlaki, the system which is scheduled to start next year is expected to preserve the environment as most obsolete ICT products are prone to some chemicals which are harmful to human health. Research has shown that, ICT waste contains substantial quantities of hazardous chemicals including lead, cadmium, mercury, brominates and chlorinated flame retardant. The effects of lead on human health is well-known because of their recognized hazardous nature, this was first banned from gasoline in the 1970s. Mercury which is used in flat panel displays, poses another serious hazards. It can cause damage to serious organs like the brain and kidneys as well as the fetus if left exposed and placed in improper disposal ways.

Desktop computers like these ones will be disposed of in a sanitary way when they become obsolete. Tanzania government is underway for their collection for recycling.

Experts say brominated flame retardants are used in the plastic housing of electronic equipment and in circuit boards to prevent fire from spreading. These are potential endocrine disruptors which are persistent in environment and store in the fat of animals and humans. According to Mr. Mlaki, the preliminary procedure is to establish e-waste collection sites across the country which would be managed buy a disposing firm the Digital Link which would be working in collaboration with local partners. The system among other things would create a strategy for ICT users and suppliers to have an obligation of proper waste collection and management and by supporting this initiative, Tanzania will be helping to promote the future health of her environment The initiative will provide job opportunities for youths and people of all ages including men and women who would be busy collecting ICT waste products and earn payments. The experiences have shown that, even in the National ICT policy of 2003, there is no phrase that shows how Tanzania is expected to face environmental and social consequences caused by ICT waste. The system will work to ensure redundant IT equipment are either reused or recycled, preventing toxic metals from entering the solid waste stream or underground. There is no local manufacture of ICT in Tanzania and local dealers or agents import these products. There are no standards guiding the imports in both hardware and software, according to the National policy Tanzania is among developing countries with a booming business on ICT equipment which are imported, but it still lacks recycling policy and based on this experience the country needs to have its own recycling system. On the global level, the problem is a massive one, every year, 20 to 50 million tones of e-waste is generated worldwide. E-waste contains valuable materials such as gold and copper. But it has highly toxic substances such as lead and mercury.
Recycling of discarded equipment of that nature can bring health and environmental hazards unless there are adequate safeguards.

Old cell phones are among the ICT gadgets to be disposed of when they become obsolete
ICT equipment such as those computers and mobile phones contains hazardous substances that interfere with the lungs and at times expose people to high risks of contaminating skin cancer. The Digital Link would through this system expand its project of supplying refurbished computers in Tanzania schools from UK. Reports from Green pace International and the department of Biological Sciences of the University of Exeter in UK shows that as the market for electrical and electronic products grows rapidly, the lifespan of products is dropping. Dismantling of ICT equipment in Tanzania is currently typically carried out in unregulated small workshops without adequate working protection.

Showcasing government activities at Mnazi mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam

ONE of the development strategies the government of Tanzania is maintaining in order to accomplish its openness policy to its citizens, is the way it organizes its development plans. The idea is to build up truth and transparency and at the same time to ward off bureaucracy that exists among its people in terms of service giving. To achieve its goals, the government organizes various functions to let its people know how it conducts its activities and services. Wherever possible, it welcomes challenges and advices from the public in a bid to enhance productivity.

Tanzania Vice-President, Dr. Mohammed Shein
In order to accomplish with these tasks, the government has developed a tendency of organizing each year a week long public show in order to showcase its activities to the general public. A week long exhibitions which is organized by the President’s Office, Public Service Management, gives an opportunity to various ministries and government agencies including institutional sectors to advertise themselves. These events normally takes place at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam. In this year’s occasion, a total of 115 government ministries including agencies participated in the show.

Ms. Hawa Ghasia, the Minister opf State in President's Office responsible for Public Service Management

This is a memorable occasion indeed as every individual was allowed to enter freely. Ms. Hawa Ghasia, the Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Public Service Management opened the show on 16th June 2008 and was closed by Vice-President Dr. Mohammed Shein I had enough time to visit the area to see for myself what was going on and here is my perspective.


As I entered to the show ground which is located at the heart of the Dar es Salaam city center, I came across a broad placard made of a linen that carried the message to would be show-goers highlighting was it is all about. There were few petty traders who had flocked at the entrance of the gate entering the show ground busy selling soft drinks and ice-creams in packet which they carried on moving bicycles.


My first glimpse as I entered in, I came across few groups of people who had clustered at a pavilion that belonged to President’s office, Public Service Management, the chief organizer of the event. It’s here whereby people received all the information about the show itself and the activities inside the ground. A broad sign board was placed over the stand written in Kiswahili language which literally means, The United Republic of Tanzania, President’s Office, Public Service Management. In commemoration of the week of public service, Date: 16-23 June 2008. Theme: To effectively consolidate workers’ performance which cares for the accountability in public service.



As I went round, I noticed the show ground was planned in such a manner that, the pavilions were built in the form of humans settlements like houses arranged in lines like street thoroughfares and these pavilions were partitioned and placed in a good order leaving a space in between for passers by. They were decorated with a national flags every where within the compound. National flags were hoisted over the poles which were scattered almost everywhere. A stranger would automatically knew something important to do with the government was going on.


I began walking round each pavilion after the other and see what the participants had prepared for their show-goers. I actually drew my intention to some but a few pavilions which I had decided to highlight to you here. I visited the Vice-President’s pavilion to see activities undertaken together with those of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This is where the Minister for State in Vice-President’s office Mr. Seif Khatibu is in-charge of the union matters. I saw photos of the past Presidents of the Revolutionary government of Zanzibar including that one of the first President, Mr. Abeid Aman Karume who ruled the Isles government between 1964-1972 when he was assassinated, and his position was overtaken by Aboud Jumbe from 1972-1983, then Mr. Ally Hassan Mwinyi took over the control shortly before he was elected in a countrywide general election to become the second phase President of the United Republic in 1985. Mr. Mwinyi handed over the Presidency of the Zanzibar to the late Abdul Wakil who when his term ended in 1990, Dr. Salmir Amour took over. Mr. Wakil died of the heart complications eight years later. Dr. Salmir Amour ruled the Island in two terms exclusively up to 2000 and handed the power to the current President Aman Abeid Karume, the son of the first President of Zanzibar who completes his term in 2010. At the pavilion also were the photos of our country’s President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and that of his predecessor Benjamin Mkapa. People at the pavilion had enough time to review the past documents that included the past newspapers published way back in 1960s and other things which of course were beneficial to the current generation to know. People were asking questions in order to know the inside of the union between our two states, how it was formed and what were the agreements in general. Actually there were strong arguments which came from the show-goers, whereupon little and unsatisfactory answers were given by the attendants most of whom seemed to know little about the union. Generally they couldn’t be in a position to say enough how the union came into being and instead left their men puzzled.


From there, I visited the Ministry of Agriculture whereby I saw various modern agricultural implements including modern machines such as tractors which were brought for display. It’s very unfortunate that, the sector is composed of local farmers whose working implements are still primitive. The sector seems to have not yet been modernized as many poor farmers in the country depends on their olds working tools. The majority of farmers in Tanzania are still using poor agricultural implements an aspect that the sector accounts for low productivity. It actually needs modernization. Tractors were displayed but their presence were nothing less as most farmers in the country are unable to afford their prices due to financial constraints.


The government is actually trying with all its impunity to let the sector grow despite of a number of hindrances and increase the output as it is still the mainstay of the country’s economic development. One person remarked that, as the poverty stricken situation is still growing up among the poor families in rural Tanzania, this is a nightmare.


The National Institute for Livestock Research (NILR) which is under the ministry had brought a he goat weighing over 100 kilograms. A goat became an attraction to show-goers as this photo shows above.


I moved on my left hand side and came into contact with a pavilion belonging to a recently established surface and Marine Transport Agency (SUMATRA). This is the new government agency that is responsible for regulating all transport activities in the country. The agency has been in the forefront to fight with the irregular increase of the transport fare being practiced by transporters in the country. Mr. Nicodemus Odhiambo, the firms’ Communications Public Affairs Officer was in a good position to tell people all about the agency as he is seen in the photo giving instructions to the people on how the agency currently undertakes their activities in the country and how they deal with cruel transporters when they visited the pavilion.


Tanzania Building Agency (TBA) was not left behind in this occasion, this is also another agency formed in the country following an Act of Parliament which was established in 1997. The firm was formed six years ago for the purpose of building government’s houses for civil servants at a low cost. The agency also builds high cost houses for senior government officials like Ministers. Since the agency was formed, six years ago, it has managed to construct fine State lodges in all the regional headquarters in the country. This is a great achievement indeed since independence. Apart from this, its vision has focused to ensure that all public servants in the country gets housing facilities at a low cost level.


The Dar es Salaam Water Sanitation Authority (DAWASA) also took part, and you can see people who had thronged at the pavilion probably to get information on how the authority tackles a long standing water problem facing residents of Dar es Salaam city and what strategies are there being undertaken in order to remedy the situation. The firm is now faced with lots of activities including the rehabilitation of old underground water pipe infrastructure which were laid long time ago during colonial times in the city of Dar es Salaam. Water supply had been unreliable in most parts of city’s suburbs, an aspect that some parts have not been receiving water regularly. About 40 percent of the Dar es Salaam cit residents benefits from the DAWASA water supply. However, the firm is struggling to extend its services to the neighboring suburbs and to other remote areas.


Mr. Alisante Temba of National Housing Building Research Agency (NHBRA) is demonstrating how the brick making machine for low cost housing is used at the agency’s pavilion. The agency manufactures bricks for the construction of low-cost housing schemes only.


This is a pavilion of the institute responsible for curbing and preventing corruption practices in the country, the firm is popularly known as ‘TAKUKURU’ as expressed in its abbreviation form in Kiswahili language, which stands for, the National Institute for Curbing and Preventing Corruption in the country. It’s a newly formed institute which came into being eight months ago. It had replaced the former Corruption and Prevention Bureau (PCB). The firm has become a great annoyance to the general public for its poor performance, it has failed to fight corruption malpractices which is rampatly growing in the country. Despite of the recent increased rate of corruption malpractices including the grand corruption involving the bigwigs in the country, these seems to be going on without being tackled and the institute seems to have turned a blind eye to these controversial scandals. It is in this pavilion when I arrived I found people who had gathered with anxiousness to actually know the development of the on-going serious financial scandals in the country such as that of the EPA and the Richmond Saga together with others. But to the great dismay, people were not satisfied by the whole work performance of the firm despite of an inscription put ahead of their pavilion written in Kiswahili language to mean “Stop taking bribe, maintain good work performance that yields good results”.


This is a pavilion of DART agency (Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport), the agency has been given a mandate to deal with the upcoming project that would woe the transport problem in the city of Dar es Salaam. The project that is still under research would be effectively expected to start in 2010 by constructing designated roads through which the buses would be passing along within the city. In these routes, long buses would be used to carry city commuters. An attendant at the pavilion is seen showing people how a sketch map of the designated routes would be. Dar es Salaam, a home of four (4) million people, lacks reliable transport system. The operation is currently being provided by private operators in the city. Citing high operation costs fuelled by high prices at local and international markets, transporters want the government to allow them to raise the fares an aspect that is intervened by SUMATRA.


This is the pavilion of the Ministry of Land and Human Settlements who showed their skills on the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). An attendant is showing the people how the names of the people who owns plots of land have been put in an up to date record of the ministry’s main computer at the head office. This is a computer system, the first to be established by the Ministry in order to keep up their details. Apart from this, the ministry has a website www.ardhi.go.tz . The Ministry has also formed a network and all the details can be downloaded from their website from far a distance.


Actually the pavilion was an attraction to the people who wanted exactly to know how the land disputes are solved by the ministry. According to the attendants, the disputes are solved by looking at the master plan out on their system. All surveyed lands plots in the country have been recorded in their computers.


This is the Government Chemist Laboratory Agency’s pavilion. In this pavilion, people saw various activities the firm is doing. The most attractive feature in this pavilion is where people were amazed when they were informed on the use of DNA and all the characteristics it compounds on various aspects, like how it detects human bones, how it detects drug users and parents especially men who refuses their children after birth. According to one expert, Ms. Gloria Tom Machuve, with the use of Buccal Swab found on somebody’s neck, the detection by DNA is easier. The firm that is specialized in drug detections, also uses DNA to detect criminals and the type of a weapon that might have been used in a criminal act such as knives, machetes and even guns. The agency has also specialized in food, in this it detects the food that is poisonous and the types of drinks or cosmetics for that matter to establish whether these products conform to the required standard and are fit for human consumption.

UK Charity body donates computers to fight digital divide in Tanzania

A UK Charitable Organization, the Computer Aid International (CAI) recently donated over 1,500 computers to a wide range of not for profit organizations to help reduce poverty in Tanzania through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions. The organization’s program officer for East Africa region Mr. Benjamin Makai has issued an announcement requesting more local institutions dealing with education provision and community development sectors saying that, are eligible to apply for computer aid from his organization. According to him, Nairobi based organization was committed to bridging the digital divide between rich and poor countries through provision of high quality refurbished computers and their application in education and poverty reduction. The firm has shipped over 100,000 pieces of desktop computers to where they are most needed in more than 100 countries and out of the lot, over 1,500 pieces have been shipped to Tanzania. The recipient or the supporting partner will meet the costs of shipping only. Computer have of late proved useful tools that ensure farmers in rural areas have enough food to feed their families, it can access life saving health care and children receive education to develop skills that improves their job prospects. CAI develops partnerships with overseas institutions that provides training and technical support to beneficiaries. In order to ensure their recipient make the best use of the equipment, the firm continuously seek partners in Tanzania to help achieve these objectives.