Two Tanzanians to attend youth Parliamentary forum in Nigeria

THE National Parliament has selected two students from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) as representatives for youths in the country to attend the first ever youth Parliamentary forum for Africa region due to be held in Akwa Ibo state in Nigeria end of this month, it has been learnt. The forum to be organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) will discuss together with other matters relating with the increased unemployment opportunities in Africa and this will be the main agenda which is a great challenge to youths who graduates from higher learning institutions. The Deputy Director in charge of Parliamentary protocol and matters related to the International Cooperation, Dermatrius Mgalami told a press conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam that, the two youths would be among the 38 youths from 19 countries in Africa who are members of CPA. He named them as Sylvanus Joseph (32) a Masters student pursuing Strategies and peace studies and Judith Kapinga (27) a fourth year student pursuing law both studying at the UDSM mlimani campus in Dar es Salaam.  

Tanzania National Parliament building in Dodoma

He said that, the youth parliamentary meeting is in line with the normal commonwealth parliamentary sessions which normally are conducted by 19 member states Tanzania included. He added that, for this youth parliamentary session will more be based specifically on the economic integrated issues on the commonwealth states on the creation of job opportunity. However, he said adding that, the two will come back with the deliberations passed by their Parliament and present them to the Speaker of the National Assembly in Dodoma to see how such proposals will be worked out by the government. Elaborating on the best criteria used to select the candidates, he said that, the National Assembly formed a special committee to scrutinize best students as representatives for this forum and sent applications to all 14 publicly and privately owned higher learning institutions accredited in the country. After the first and second selections, the best students were selected to attend interviews which the panelists were sure enough to have done their job of making the right choice of the overall students and have them to represent their fellow youths in this important forum, he said. Members of CPA for Africa region are those countries which were under British colonialism up to the time of their independence, with the exception of the Republic of Mozambique and Rwanda who joined the association recently. CPA was established in 1911 and its jurisdiction was based on other continents apart from Africa which was still under colonial rule. In Africa it will be the first whereas in Tanzania the youth parliament was established in 1980 and ceased from working in 1999. According to Mgalami, the essence of the forum is to give an opportunity for youths to speak out their minds on the various economic matters related to their future life.

Tanzania-Malawi border dispute taken to retired SADC leaders

BORDER dispute between Tanzania and Malawi over Lake Malawi has taken a new twice whereby the two warring groups have decided to take the matter for mediation to retired eminent persons of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Benard Membe told journalists on Saturday last week in Dar es Salaam that, the decision has been reached after the two countries had not reached to a conclusion pending the disagreement and agreement on both sides over the matter. Elaborating on this decision, he said that they have officially agreed on two fundamental matters that Malawi still maintains that the Lake north of Mozambique belongs to Malawi as per the treaty signed between the Germans for Tanganyika and the British for Nyasaland in 1890 during colonial time. Whereas Tanzanian side have disagreed with their counterpart and maintains that her border passes straight in the middle across the long stretch map of the Lake splitting the northern part of the water body roughly equally between the neighbours as internationally recognized.

Tanzania Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Benard Membe

He said Because of these fundamental differences both sides have seen the need to find the third mediator to negotiate and see what could be a solution to the matter. In view of this, they will send a letter to the SADC mediation committee chaired by former Mozambican President Joachim in early December. In this letter they will request him to include among other professional lawyers across African continents that would help in legal matters to attain right decisions and added that the committee will work for three months and give out its decision in late March 1913. According to Membe, incase the decision would not be reached then there will be a need for the issue to be handled at the highest levels of international arbitration such as the International Court of Justice for further mediation. Earlier he explained the objective of the meeting was for the two sides to discuss options for resolving the boundary issue as considered and recommended by the joint committee of officials from both countries who met yesterday after a three day meeting with Malawian delegation which was in the country for discussions that began on Wednesday. After the talks, the ministerial meeting followed and recommended that, SADC be approached jointly by the two states to identify a mediator acceptable to both parties. According to Membe incase the SADC mediators failed, then the matter would be taken to International Court of Justice (ICJ) subject to the Vienna Convention on the law of treaties of 1969 whereby the two sides have agreed on the need for a speedy resolution of the matter. On the other side of the Malawian Minister for Foreign Affairs Ephraim Chiume expressed her profound gratitude and thanked President Jakaya Kikwete and President Joyce Banda for the steps they have taken to make sure that, the matter is solved peacefully and amicably. Both Ministers have agreed to accept with the decision passed for the resolution.

A low cost air carrier to give priority of employment to Tanzania pilots

AS the Professional Association of Tanzania Pilots (PATP) complains of the foreign domination of the country’s civil aviation industry over the recruitment of cabin crew, a newly established low cost fastjet flight carrier has promised to recruit Tanzanian pilots of the highly professionals, it has been learnt. The company’s Chief Commercial officer, Richard Bodin confirmed early this week in Dar es Salaam that, Tanzanians are among 30 pilots who have been recruited by the firm to fly three airbus A319 planes which will arrive in the country to start its operation in two weeks to come. He said in an exclusive interview during the launching of the official ticket two sale weeks ago for a plane which is scheduled to inaugurate its first operations for the domestic flight in the country end of this month.  He said that, the company was looking for local Tanzanians who are professionally trained as pilots able to maintain high standards of safety, but could not specify exactly the number of the needed local pilots as they are still going on with scrutiny. The coming of Fastjet aircraft in the country might be a relief to some stranded Tanzania pilots who have been wandering about in search of jobs but to no avail, says PATP’s Secretary General Captain Khalib Iqbal who once served as Precision Air pilot. Captain Iqbal was quoted by the media early this week as saying that, “Tanzania has enough qualified pilots to fly any type of aircraft, but it’s unfortunate to see most of them have been left stranded by some aircraft companies because of the existing bureaucracy in the aviation industry which is fond of discrimination and do not have trust with local pilots”. He has however thanked the government’s intervention in its circular signed by former Director General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority aviation (TCAA) Engineer Margreth Munyagi in June 2011 following the cancellation of earlier circular introduced in 2004. The new circular reads that ‘aircraft owners or operators are urged to give priority of employment to Tanzanian nationals’.  The fastjet which has acquired fly 540, aspires to become a pan-African low cost air carrier by treading on terrain which several other aircrafts have failed to operate in Africa. Fastjet homogeneous fleet will only consist of airbus A319 planes which have already been approved by the Tanzania aviation industry official experts to be fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. Being one of the low cost air carriers, it expects to kick off its operations as all its logistics have been finalized. The aircraft will be flying to Mwanza and Kilimanjaro from Dar es Salaam twice each day at a minimum price of $ 20 (Approximately Sh. 32,000) one-way excluding taxes and charges. According to him, the minimum price will be made available to a traveler who book earlier and within a specified scheduled time. “We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of Tanzania.” He said adding that his company is determined to seek for business opportunity in order to open up low cost travel and bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across the country.  However, he has observed that, there are more Tanzanians travelling domestically by air today than any other time, therefore he has assured enormous opportunities for growth given the expanding middle class and their rising disposable income. Another point he noted is the fact that Tanzania has been relying on a single airline in order to service the majority of its domesticated routes. The airline company adds to 72 air operators already registered with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authorities in the country as of 31^st August this year. Statistics made available by the Authority shows that, out of 72, only 49 are in internal operations and none of them tackles international direct flight. Fastjet is incorporated in England and Wales under the companies Act 1985 with registered number 05701801 and its registered office is Suite 2C, first point Buckingham Gate, Gatwick Airport, RH6 0NT.

Low cost airline carrier eyes business in Tanzania

FastJet Airbus A319 a renowned air company based in England has set its feet in Tanzania to seek for business opportunity in order to open up low cost travel and bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across the country. It has been learnt The airline will commence flying in November with seats expected to going on sale online a few weeks from now. Fares will be available for as low as between $20 and $80 one-way excluding taxes and charges, the General Manager Africa jet Kyle Haywood said last week in Dar es Salaam. “Our initial focus will be on East Africa with the airline’s first base at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where the A319 aircraft has already been approved by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)”, he said adding that, being one of the low cost air carriers, it expects to kick off its operations in November this year if all the logistics are finalized”. However, he said adding that, “this will be followed by a second base in Nairobi, Kenya, once the A319 is approved there.  “We look forward to bringing a great, reliable and affordable service to the people of East Africa.”  The airline company adds to 72 air operators already registered with the TCAA in the country as of 31^st August this year. Statistics made available by the Authority shows that, out of 72, only 49 are in internal operations and none of them tackles international direct flight. Kyle Haywood has observed that, there are more Tanzanians travelling domestically by air today than any other time, therefore he has assured enormous opportunities for growth given the expanding middle class and their rising disposable income. Another point he noted is the fact that Tanzania has been relying on a single airline in order to service the majority of its domesticated routes, and in view of this more broadly his airline has come to ease the operations at most low cost price which would be more affordable by the majority of Tanzanians. Elaborating on Africa’s business trend and the general perspective, he said that the continent is booming noting that, 7 out of 10 fastest growing global economies are in Africa with a rapidly growing consumer market. He says Africa has increased the potential of open aviation policy infrastructure across regions and the markets is under served for 1.5 seats per person in Europe is equivalent to one seat for every 13,000 people in Africa.

Narrating on his company’s interest to invest in Africa, he noted that, Airbus forecasts total passenger traffic in Africa which is growing at a yearly average rate of 5.7 percent between 2010 and 2030, this is well above the 4.8 percent world average growth rate. Hence he added that, there is limited capacity of pan continental airlines to meet this demand. “We want o enable people to swap arduous bus journeys for convenient flight just as Brazil, Asia and Mexico have done” he said adding that, it is about democratizing air travel enabling huge numbers of middle class Africa consumers to travel quickly, cheaply and safely. Africa is a growth aviation market with regional and intercontinental traffic both growing rapidly as a result of the continent’s continued economic expansion.  With over one billion people, Africa is hampered by poor infrastructure, a lack of roads and railways and long distances between urban populations. The African aviation market is significantly underserved with air travel spending as a percentage of GDP a fraction of that of other emerging markets.  With rapid economic growth and, as a result, the growing wealth of African citizens, more and more people will be able to benefit from aviation and fly for the first time. Airbus forecasts total passenger traffic in Africa will grow at an annual average rate of 5.7 percent between 2010 and 2030, well above the 4.8 per cent world average growth rate and expects to deliver more than 1,100 new passenger aircraft, 4 percent of world deliveries, in the next 20 years to satisfy growing demand. “FastJet will open up low cost travel to the African market, and the Airbus A319 will bring new levels of comfort to air passengers across Africa.  Once established in East Africa, FastJet has plans to launch in Accra, Ghana and Luanda and Angola. FastJet is incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number 05701801 and its registered office is Suite 2C, First Point, Buckingham Gate, Gatwick Airport, RH6 0NT 

Oil companies starts supplying the borrowed transit oil

SOME Oil Companies have started to transport the borrowed bulk of transit oil to various upcountry regions which are hit by fuel scarcity from the Dar es Salaam based main reservation depots. A spot check at four main oil depots namely Puma (former BP), Oil com, Camel oil, and Gapco which are all located at Kurasini suburb in Dar es Salaam last week over the weekend witnessed a number of trucks with their oil tankers lined up at these depots and security guards on duty were seen busy directing the drivers to the main packing bay for loading the consignment. Efforts to get spokesmen for further clarifications about the issue from these oil depot stations proved futile as for yesterday’s Saturday were all not on duty. But some interviewed drivers and security guards confirmed to this writer that, the bulk oil were on transit to upcountry regions. However, they said adding that, the exercise started late on Friday afternoon and was so hectic as it had involved the arrangements of trucks and checking up of other documentations to ascertain their authenticity, said one security guard at the gate of Gapco depot. In early this week, the government had borrowed 50 percent of the fuel destined for the country’s landlocked neighbours in a bid to avert an impending fuel crisis which has occurred in the country with the upcountry regions being the most hit by the scarcity. EWURA’s Public Communications Manager, Titus Kaguo told a press conference in Dar es Salaam on Friday this week that, half of the 80 million litres held in transit would be sold locally after the oil firms had fulfilled “conditions of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).” He said already nine local oil firms had ordered a total 21.3 million litres of diesel, 5.2 million litres of petrol as well as 1.4 million litres of kerosene to cover the deficit, but added that they would not be allowed to sell unless they have settled down conditions imposed by TRA that requires them to pay 100 percent of their taxes.

However, EWURA reckons that fuel supplies would come back to normal “within a couple of one weeks’ time basing on the assumptions that “two big oil ships” could be offloading enough fuel to meet the entire country’s needs next week. Meanwhile, a spot check at various filling stations within Dar es Salaam city showed that some of the fuel outlets have fuel stocks for sale in due course, while reports from upcountry still painting a worse scenario. In the unfolding circus of words, the minister of Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo on Friday evening ordered Ewura’s management to cancel oil import licenses of companies alleged to have failed to import fuel for six consecutive months.  Muhongo issued the order at a news conference in Dar es Salaam on Friday evening which was also attended by key oil importers. He said Ewura should report to him on the implementation of the order tomorrow (Monday). Currently, Tanzania uses a new bulk oil procurement system under which only few oil companies import oil in bulk and sell it to the others as opposed to the old joint procurement system where oil companies would import on their own. Some economic critics have appreciated the move by the government and its efforts to get rid of the situation which has to a greater extent proved a success in mid of this week after it had awakened industry stakeholders  including key players by taking effective control measures that aimed at remedying any possible escalation of the crisis which is likely to disrupt people’s economic activities. Ms. Consolata Masalu an economist with a foreign leather company based in Dar es Salaam said early this week that, the government has to be careful and time conscious to ensure that the oil companies who involves in bulk procurement are time conscious. Consolata is on the view of the fact that, once the supply of oil is left staggering, many economic activities dwindles an aspect that disrupts the economy for oil is an engine of economic growth.

Feared foodstuff shortage in Dar unjustifiable – survey

DESPITE of the persisting shortage of fuel in the country which to a certain extent continues to haunt the economic stance of the people, the supply of food stuffs in the city of Dar es Salaam has remained stable throughout, the survey by this paper can establish. According to a week- long survey in various markets in the city of Dar es Salaam suburbs for instance at Kariakoo, Buguruni, Mwananyamala and Temeke markets, the supply of most foodstuffs such as rice, maize and beans has been consistently going on for the last two weeks since the oil crisis broke out.  The survey has discovered that due to the staggering sale of fuel in upcountry regions, the price for these commodities from the main supplying areas which might have been affected by their supply with the higher transportation costs to the city of Dar es Salaam has remained as they are the main. A kilogram of high quality price is sold at between Sh. 1,750 and Sh. 2,300, a kilogram of high quality beans popularly known as ‘Soya’ from Mbeya region is fetched at between Sh. 1,700 and Sh. 1,800, whereas the price for a kilogram of maize has constantly remained at Sh. 900. The survey has also discovered that the upcountry bus transport fares from the main Ubungo bound upcountry bus terminal in Dar es Salaam have remained intact though most transporters experienced some difficulties to buy fuel to operate their vehicles, owing to the fact that some filling stations in the city of Dar es Salaam are reported to have no fuel stock now for the third week running. There has no increase of transport fare by bus operators to upcountry regions though some operators decided to stop some of their buses from operating for lack of fuel. Reports from other upcountry regions has shown that, the on-going scarcity of fuel commodity has caused fare increase as the commodity have been sold in a black market. The survey was carried with a view to find out the economic implications which might have occurred as a result of the fuel crisis which was first experienced since the Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced the monthly decrease of the indicative price quotations for oil products in early October.  The industry regulator had in early October cut the price of petrol which is being used by most transporters in the country by Sh. 306 (equivalent to 13.30 percent) to Sh. 1,994 per litre down from Sh. 2,300 as it was sold in the previous month. It had also lowered that of diesel by Sh. 192 (8.96 percent) to Sh. 1,993 compared to Sh. 2,142 sold in September. Some players in the oil industry had on Wednesday this week attributed the shortage of fuel in some parts of the country to low prices for petroleum products set by the industry regulator as compared to import charges. They were quoted as saying that, setting prices of petroleum products below import costs is to blame for current fuel shortage in the local market. However, they noted that, the recent indicative prices announced by EWURA are lower than prices quoted by the importer of oil through Bulk Procurement System (BPS) and this according to them has resulted the shortage in the local market. Efforts by the government to get rid of the situation has proved a success in mid of this week after it had awakened industry stakeholders  including key players by taking effective control measures that aimed at remedying any possible escalation of the crisis which is likely to disrupt people’s economic activities. On its move to curb the looming fuel shortages, one step by the government is that, it has instructed Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to immediately sell the available fuel stocks to upcountry regions so as to avert serious shortage being experienced there, which according t EWURA there is a stock of 80 million litres.

Mwangosi’s case takes a new twist as LHRC lodges complaints to UN and ICC bodies

LEGAL Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has lodged two major complaints over human rights violations which have been committed by the government of Tanzania to UN-Special Rapporteur on judicial killings and to the Director of Criminal Investigations at the International Criminal Court (ICC) respectively in which Mwangosi’s case is taken as an example. The aim of the LHRC is to seek for their intervention over the continued killings of the innocent people which have been taking place in the country for unknown reasons, the Executive Secretary of the LHRC Helen Kijo-Bisimba told a press conference recently in Dar es Salaam. Speaking rather in a pensive mood, Ms Helen was confident enough when she confirmed to journalists that, her office had sent the two reports of complaints to these two different international judicial organizations on 28th September 2012. The sent reports has requested the concerned bodies to react as quickly as possible in the investigations over the incriminating issues of killings which are taking place now and then in Tanzania, and if possible should they take legal actions against the government. She said LHRC has come up with such a decision after going through the recently three probing reports of killings of a Channel ten journalist, Daudi Mwangosi who was killed by the police in a cold blood while on duty at Nyololo village in Mufindi District, Iringa Region over one month ago. She noted that out of the three probing reports presented, her office is strongly objecting the probing committee formed by the Minister for Home Affairs Dr. Emmanuel Nchimbi and led by Judge Steven Ihema, saying that it has spoken widely in favour of the government and that it couldn’t have presented real facts to defend the argument contained in a report which she says is full of lies. In view of this, however, after noticing that as the government favors the police who were seen on a TV screen accomplishing their task of killing a journalist, then her centre no longer trust the report and together with this, have lodged a complaint report to UN special reppoprteur on judicial killings as well as to the Director of Criminal Investigation at ICC Court in Hague-Holand for their intervention.

The Executive Secretary of the Tanzania's Legal Human Right Centre, Dr. Hellen Kijo-Bisimba

In her introductory remarks on behalf of the LHRC centre, Ms. Helen has also criticized the government’s reports saying that it fell short of providing some important details and instead it aims at protecting killers and the government officials in connection with the issue as a whole. “This is the habit which the government has been maintaining of defending its officials whom it has seen to have committed crimes and seeks for the opportunity to exonerate them from blame” she said adding that, her centre was not so surprised to have seen their report which it had indicated openly the desire to protect the offenders as our government has yet for long put a system of investigating themselves and or hold them accountable. Elaborating on the report of the probing team led by Judge Stevem Ihema, she said that, the government has affirmed its stance before the public that it had no intention of investigating the killings done by the police, and instead it had the intention of cleaning the killers and defending some police officers associated with the incident.  “If someone reads Dr. Nchimbi’s probing committee report in details, might see how it has been seeking for falsehood in order to show how CHADEMA leaders were at fault for convening a meeting, and yet were already told to hold on to pave for the way of the national census day which had been extended an aspect which id wrong” she said. Clarifying a point about what the Commission for Human Rights did in regard to CHADEMA and census, she said that, already the Iringa Regional Police Commander, Michael Kamuhanda has interfered with the principles of good governance as already his junior OCD of the Mufindi district had already given a green light to CHADEMA party officials to go on with the meeting. Therefore, due to Dr. Nchimbi’s probing committee which has proved failure to show some relevant facts on the findings and moreover looks so different, this shows bad attitude the ministry of home affairs has of protecting the malpractice of some police officers who are fond if killing innocent civilians, hence it shows violation of human rights. She said the report released by the investigation team formed by the minister aimed at clearing the image of the police force in the country and to defend the ongoing atrocities committed by the force in the country.