Meat traders blame DCC over failure to construct modern abattoir

SOME meat traders in Dar es Salaam have expressed their disappointment over what they described as the failure of the Dar es Salaam City Council to fulfill its long standing promise of constructing a modern abattoir in order to enable them conduct slaughter activities in hygienic environment. Speaking in an exclusive interview early this week in Dar es Salaam meat traders said that, they are surprised to see no sign of construction is being undertaken ever since the promise was made by the city authorities and instead continues to slaughter their cows in dilapidated abattoirs.  The call by the meat traders has echoed when contacted by this paper with a view to find out their way forward amid reported news of filthy surrounding the old abattoir in which they operate located at Mazizini area in Ukonga within Ilala Municipal Council that made the government to suspend its operation and resumed after one week’s time. The Mazizini abattoir being the oldest facility was designed to serve the Dar es Salaam residents whose population by then was approximately less than 1 million people was built in 1972 and designed to accommodate 50 cows per day compared to currently 300.  In recent years, the facility has been facing eminent closure for a number of times due to filthy surrounding its compound which primarily is due to the increased number of cows being slaughtered per day which do not match with the available infrastructure. Samwel Mkunda a meat trader said that, health environment in most abattoirs found in the city is due to the increased number of cows accommodated compared in the past as such facilities were designed to accommodate fewer cows than as it is now. In view of this, he has therefore asked for quick investments so as to help cater for the need as such areas needs to undergo expansion to increase infrastructural upgrades in order to cope with the increased demand. However, he said adding that, otherwise the situation would become worse as the population increases.  “filthy would continue to dominate in these abattoirs as there is no strict supervision work being carried by the authorities concerned” he said while asking the government to look for strategic investors to carry on the work. The Chairman of the Union of meat sellers in Dar es Salaam, popularly known by its Kiswahili acronym ‘UWANJU’ Mr. Clement Malijo said that, it’s high time to have a modern facility for a slaughter house in the city of Dar es Salaam bearing in mind the fact that it is the centre of the country’s business with many foreign dignitaries of various levels. Another meat trader Ezekiel Chilongo wondered and said that, it’s really a shame to notice that, over 50 years now since independence time, Dar es Salaam the main commercial capital city once known as the Haven of Peace is supplied with cow meat being slaughtered in dilapidated abattoirs which are equipped with poor facilities that do not meet international standards. He has however appealed to the government to ward off such a shameful scenario in order to match with the current global technological changes and has appealed to the authorities concerned to look for a strategic investor who would construct a modern abattoir if the government has failed to do so.  

A typical characteristic of a modern slaughter house looks like this one.

Just a week after the government closed down the Ukonga Mazizini abattoir for operating in unhygienic conditions, traders shifted their operation to the nearby Vingunguti slaughter house which according to the supervisor Dr Juma Nganyangi, the area could not accommodate the number of cows slaughtered thus worsening its already filthy environment. Earlier reports by this paper revealed mid this week that, slaughtering and skinning work at the abattoir was being done in large area used as car parking by people coming to pick up meat at the abattoir, this is because of the fact that spaces available inside were full. Ukonga Mazizini abattoir was closed down by the minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Environment), Dr Terezya Huvisa for operating in unhygienic conditions an aspect that posed a serious health hazards and threat to meat consumers in the city of Dar es Salaam. The abattoir was later ordered open to resume its operation on Tuesday this week. It can be recalled that, fourteen years ago, the defunct Dar es Salaam City Commission (DCC) which was charged with revitalizing various cities’ economic and social development activities had put in its long term strategic plans to construct a modern slaughter house whose implementation up to now is not yet in place. Plans by the DCC had some significance to cope with the growing trend of the population which currently is estimated to be about 4.5 million people living in Dar es Salaam city and its surrounding suburbs, also to have quality meat being supplied in hygienic manner. The DCC’s initiated plans under the chairmanship of Charles Keenja as a principal architect behind the move seems to be faltering and the successors of the DCC which changed its operations in early 2000 and became Dar es Salaam City Council controlling the three Municipal councils of Ilala, Temeke and Kinondoni seemed to have put the plans in drawing boards. For the last two weeks a follow up was made on the project to see of its implementation as per the program set since it was announced over a decade ago, but virtually discovered that the whole plan has been put out of the budget due to financial squeeze. The building was initially planned to be constructed near Kiltex industrial premises site along the road to Pugu Auction market at Gongo La Mboto on the city’s outskirts, and would require huge investment of money on its completion. However, efforts to contact the Director of Ilala Municipal Council, Mwendahasara Maganga in his office early this week for comments proved futile, but his close aid who preferred anonymity said in an exclusive interview that, the council is now looking for a strategic investor who would build the abattoir as the municipal council is no longer able to afford the highly expensive costs for a modern abattoir.  He said the Municipal Council has set aside special areas which have been designed for the allocation of the abattoir for such an investment. He named the areas as Kitunda, Chanika and anywhere else within Ilala district which could be more convenient for the allocation of such a modern facility. Contacted for comments on the investment matters, the Executive Director of Tanzania Investment Centre Juliet Kairuki said last week in Dar es Salaam that, among the areas which is not properly invested is on modern abattoirs which she said have more investment opportunities in the country. She said in an exclusive interview that, her centre is looking now and then at least to get strategic investors in this area for the city of Dar es Salaam so as to help meat traders in the city to run smoothly with their daily operational activities.  Currently Tanzania has one modern abattoir in Arusha city which was built in collaboration with the British government in mid 1990s. In Dar es Salaam, other city's abattoirs which are privately owned are located in areas of Kimara, Mbagala and Tegeta suburb. The only abattoir owned by the government is the one located at Vingunguti suburb.

Police act on handling acid materials

Police Force in the country is planning to come up with a special modality of handling acidic material by regulating its importation, management and selling procedures. The resolve by Police was announced in Dar es Salaam on Saturday last week by Inspector General of Police ( IGP) Said Mwema three days after individuals poured acidic on two British girls in Zanzibar.  Flanked by Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP) Elieza Feleshi and Chief Government Chemist Prof Samwel Manyele  IGP Mwema said the major objective of putting stringent regulations on acid handling  is to ensure the dangerous liquid does not land in the hands of criminals. He said police force is currently working in collaboration with the office of the Chief government chemist over the control of the dangerous liquids which according to him has become a serious weapon used by some criminals to harm people. Either IGP Mwema stressed that, the police is also planning to work closely with the people in the country to help control the handling of the acidic in order to ensure their safety and also let them know its dangerous impact despite it has an economic use for industrial processing. IGP Mwema has asked people to report any planned mission which might have been organized by criminals believed to take an acid with a view to cause harm to others anywhere and that all police stations in the country have been alerted to be aware of the impeding dangers ahead. However, he has called on the cooperation among the people in the country as this is not an easy task to be controlled by the police force alone bearing in mind the fact that Tanzania has a vast area with a growing population of 45 million people.  “Sulphuric Acid is for the economic use for the industries and not purposely to harm people” he said and asked people to report to the police to enable on the misuse of this liquid which some criminals have turned it to be a weapon to harm their enemies. He further stated that, the increased acts of pouring an acid to the people in the country has caused a great threat to the lives of the people in the country and the police force is asking people to cooperate in order to net the culprits as prevention is better than cure, moreover the issue is a concern of everyone. Elaborating on the control of the acidic use, the Chief Government Chemist Professor Manyele said that, there is a need to review the Acid control Act which would starts from home and even in industrial processing plants where the liquid is extensively us

Inspector General of Police Said Mwema

ed for economic purposes.  He said the control should involve security organs in the country and that all users must now be registered and given instructions on how to use the acid. He said there must be permits to be issued to both sellers as well as users. Sellers will now be forced to register their customers systematically giving the details of their residences, the quantity sold and for which purpose. He said adding that all these details would be supervised by a special supervision team. He also noted that, motorbike drivers will not be given permits which will enable them go straight with their motor vehicles to a seller and fill the quantities they like for brake lining instead of the way as it is done now. All these preparations he said will start effectively in October this year as the government is also planning to build the main poison control centre in the country which will coordinate all the details. The Director of the Public Prosecution Elieza Feleshi said that, any criminal case requires to have adequate for conviction.

Avoid unnecessary chaos, Muslims urged

MUSLIM believers in the country have been called upon to follow the right channels when demanding for their rights, instead of emulating other fellow Muslims in some other parts of the world who press for their democracy by using force resulting into bloodshed.  The call was made in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Regional Chief Kadh of the Muslim religion Hamid Jongo when addressing fellow Muslim believers during the first day of the Eid-El-fitry Celebrations marked at a regional level at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. He said that, although it’s a legal right for one to demand for the rights, but a true democracy cannot be attained through bloodshed except it has be followed through on the legal in the right channel. The Chief Kadh was on the view of the fact that, in some parts in the world Muslims have been noticed to be in the forefront to demand for the true democracy without following the right channels citing an example of the countries like Syria, Libya and Afghanistan which he said are becoming notorious to fight for their rights in harsh ways. He reminded fellow Muslims that, the holy book of Quran does not allow believers to perform such malpractices within the Islamic Community and added that, those who practices them breaks the rules of the Islamic law. However, he said and added that, “incase they would engage into such malpractices these would result into chaos in such a manner that they will find themselves displaced internally within their own country”. While addressing the congregation, the Chief Kadh expressed his disappointment after having realized that, there are groups within the Islamic community (in areas which he couldn’t identified) which are conducting their own prayers at their own time and at different places. This is not good he stressed. However, he noted that, Muslims should be united together and have a common mind in belief as directed by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)  so that they may continue to dominate peace among themselves. He further note that, these groups do not develop Islamic religion and instead they bring hatred among the believers who at last separate. However, he cautioned such groups should desist from doing such things and instead concentrate on what the Islamic teachings tell.  On his part, the Dar es Salaam Sheikh Alhad Salum directed Muslim believers within the region to intensify security in their mosques in a bid to maintain security as a whole. The move he said is within the agreement reached upon in their recent=t meeting together with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema.  The celebrations was attended by the National Chairman of the CUF Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, others were the Dar es Salaam Regional Police Commander special police Zone ACP Suleiman Kova, the CCM Regional Chairman Ramadhani Madabida and other BAKWATA regional leaders. The Eid-El-fitry celebrations which enter the second day today will be celebrated in collaboration with the Swautun Naqiy group in special Eid-El-fitry to be marked alongside by the launching of an album which discusses peace talks and the Islamic belief in Dar es Salaam city.

Kova tells Muslims to obey country’s laws

Regional Police Commander (RPC) for Dar es Salaam special police zone, Commissioner of Police Suleiman Kova has cautioned fellow Muslims in the country to desist from staging illegal demonstrations as a sign of demanding for their rights and instead follow the right channels according to the laid down rules. Commander Kova issued the directives as a guest of honour when addressing Muslims in Dar es Salaam region on the second day of the Eid-el-Fitry celebrations that was climaxed at the regional level last week on Saturday evening at Mnazi Mmoja grounds. However, he has warned perpetrators of such illegal acts who are fond of inciting others into breaking country’s laws to stop the malpractice and wanted them to channel out their demands through legal procedures instead of emulating other fellow Muslims in some other parts of the world who press for their democracy by using force resulting into bloodshed. The celebrations went alongside with the launching of an Islamic album titled “Tanzania’s Peace” which has been prepared by Swautun Naqiy group in Dar es Salaam. Songs in the album carry the message requesting all Tanzanians to maintain peace and harmony.  These were presented by Ustadh Mohammed Shaugy and Hasan Juma whose main theme in the song purposely meant to alert Tanzanians not to disrupt the long standing peaceful situation the country has been enjoying since independence time. According to the two composers, the celebrations were the signs that shows that Muslims are after peace and that is why have decided to prepare an album as a way of disseminating news message about peace among the people in the country. Commander Kova noted in his speech that, although it’s a legal right for one to demand for the rights, but a true democracy cannot be attained through bloodshed except through legal channels. In view of this, he has asked religious believers of all denominations to obey the country’s laws while pressing for the rights so as to let peace prevail in the country. He reminded fellow Muslims that, the holy book of Quran does not allow believers to perform such malpractices within the Islamic community and added that, those who practices them breaks the rules of the Islamic law and denounce the fame and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W . 

However, he added that, “incase they would engage into such malpractices these would result into chaos in such a manner that they will find themselves displaced internally within their own country”. “All religions in the country helps to maintain peace as they preach to love one another” he said adding that, every Muslim is required to respect other people’s religions as they are also supposed to do the same. However, he has asked al Sheikhs to educate youths in this aspect so as to make them grow by following religious spiritual models. However, he noted that, Muslims should be united together and builds a common mind in belief as directed by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). In view of this, have to collaborate with other religions to maintain the existing peace in the country. He also noted that, the disruption of peace would refrain some investors who have shown interest to come and invest in the country, and that out of their investments Tanzania youths benefits from the employment opportunities in various sectors. Commander Kova is on the view of the fact that, it would be futile to see that suppose peace is not among us, then the investors would run away and youths in the country would suffer from lack of employment and have nothing to sustain their daily life. He talked of Islamic countries like Somalia, Iraq and others as a case study whose population by 100 percent are Muslim believers, citing various political chaos caused as a result of their beliefs which has been resulting into fatal accidents and peace has never been maintained in those countries. Commander Kova bought 20 albums in the form of DVD cassettes each one worth Sh. 5,000 and paid a total of Sh. 100,000 which he awarded some to invited guests and some Sheikhs of the Dar es Salaam region who attended the occasion. On his side, the Dar es Salaam regional Sheikh Alhaj Mussa Salum thanked Commander Kova in his remarks for the efforts he has so far made towards ensuring peace in the city of Dar es Salaam. He has however alerted Muslims not to engage in malpractices which the government has been suppressing with a view to continue maintaining peace. He has therefore asked fellow Muslims not to be tempted in any way to accept interruptions which would cost them later. He gave an example of some countries in the world which had peace like Tanzania and all of a sudden their citizens are now living in fear for they didn’t maintain their status.

Refuse to be divided on communal basis, says Dr Bilal

VICE President Dr. Gharib Mohammed Bilal has urged people in the country irrespective of their religious affiliations not to entertain ideas to divide on the basis of religion, tribe, race or gender in their communities. Dr. Bilal made this appeal in a keynote address to mark Eid-El-Fitr that was celebrated at the national level on Friday last week in Tabora. He told Muslims not to accept attempts to divide Tanzanians on religious interest, insisting that people should not be ashamed to frown upon misdeeds conducted by appealing to religion. The VP said that freedom of worship is ensured for every Tanzanian as established in the constitution, such that every person has the duty to respect other people’s religion and should not be boastful of his beliefs, or take his faith to be better than others.

Dr Bilal reminded religious leaders of all denominations in the country to spend time to prepare and spiritually build their followers to become good citizens, helping to consolidate and protect the good reputation of the country. He said that Tanzania has been a peaceful country for a long time, which makes some people take the peace for granted and do not mind if  bad things were to happen here. In recent months there have been acts of violence which spread fear among the people, he said, noting that some malpractices are committed by those who do not wish the country well, conducting bad acts for their own benefit. 

Tanzania's Vice-President Dr. Mahammed Gharib Bilal

In view of the rising disturbances, the government remains committed to ensure that people are safeguarded by all means and will continue to fight those who tend to disrupt the peace and harmony wherever they are. “I would like to assure you that, the government of Dr. Jakaya Kikwete will not be ready to tolerate troublemaking which makes people live in fear and doubt due to violent acts conducted  by a few hooligans,” he said. In the meantime, Mwinyi Sadallah reports from Zanzibar that five people are being held by the police in connection with the acid attack on two British volunteers, Isles President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein assured the public that his government will hunt for the culprits and land them in law courts. Dr Shein made the remarks during Eid Baraza in prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadhan at the Bwawani Hall here. He said those responsible for security will use all means at hand to search for the attackers. “The government is disappointed by this incident, that has caused a lot of problems internally and internationally as it came unexpectedly,” the president intoned. Efforts to maintain peace will be intensified, he said, urging the public to cooperate with security organs to uncover the criminals, for the public interest. Dr Shein says the incident deserves condemnation because it is contrary to humanity and offensive to human rights principles. “It is against humanity, contrary to Islamic principles. It is cruel to pour acid on someone,” he declared. He added: “We will ensure justice is done and we will have no mercy on those behind the incident. The law will take its course.” The two Britons attacked are Katie Gee (18) and Kirstie Trup (18) who were in Zanizibar serving as English language volunteer teachers at the St Monica Primary School located at Mkunazini area. Zanzibar Urban West police commander Mkadam Khamis Mkadama said yesterday that five people are being held in connection to the attack. Mkadam said they were being interrogated to gather information for fruitful investigations, with the acid victims flown to London yesterday.