Media Fund eyes minerals, drugs, violence, quality TV in new cycle

The Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) and several other stakeholders including the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) have launched five fellowship programs for senior journalists and editors. The six months fellowship programs will focus on extractive industries, Gender Based Violence (GBV), women broadcasters, combating drug trafficking and preventing drug abuse for senior journalists and editors, and a fellowship on television production for senior producers. Officiating at the launching of the fellowships last week in Dar es Salaam, the minister for Labour and Employment Gaudensia Kabaka advised journalists who were selected for the fellowships to use this opportunity to transform their profession for sustainability. She said that TMF fellowship programs are an alternative approach in mentoring media practitioners to both develop the media and foster development. “I advise all media stakeholders to consider TMF’s business models to transform their media organizations for sustainability. Relying on advertisements as the major means of revenue generation would continue to compromise their editorial independence and stifle growth,” she declared. Speaking about the fellowships, Khadija Mrisho from the Lawyers. Environmental Action Team (LEAT) said the extractive industries program is meant to create a conceptual understanding for participants to understand how the industry works, plus the policy and legal implications. “To spread understanding among the media and create active involvement in resource governance and patriotism, the fellowship is a collaboration and partnership between LEAT and TMF,” she elaborated. For her part, a representative for Tanzania Media Women’s Association (Tamwa) in Zanzibar, Mzuri Mzuri said that GBV is another fellowship which was launched in partnership intending to create conceptual understanding of GBV implications, policy and legal challenges. “It aims to raise awareness and education on GBV issues among the public and demand accountability and accountable reporting, protection to victims and justice for perpetuators,” she said. Meanwhile, Derek Murusuri, the project manager at Live Media Corporation said that the Life Media TV fellowship program for senior producers is unique that intends to transform television broadcasting and up the quality standards and creativity of documentaries that will promote domestic accountability. Another fellowship program on combating drug trafficking and preventing drug abuse for senior journalists and editors aims at enhancing consistency and accountability in reporting drug traffic cases. A representative for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)   Dorothy Usiri said the focus on drug use and illicit trafficking is intended to address critical information gaps and associated repercussions with regard to young people’s ability to being productive members of the society. She said that it is an opportunity to inspire the public to act against drug abuse and trafficking and to encourage positive change among young people who will be well informed about the risks. The women broadcasters fellowship is meant to increase the number of women broadcasters into TMF grant recipients, promote specialized reporting on development issues and quality radio and television content production. Recipients of this fellowship were overall part of women Excellence in Journalism Awards (EJAT) winners, to be mentored by veteran broadcasters to produce programs that will promote domestic accountability and meet international broadcasting standards.

Effectiveness on garbage collection in Dar city is still a nightmare

Successful waste management in Dar es Salaam still remains a nightmare after the authorities admitted that poor technology, prolonged rain periods and depleted infrastructures have fatally maimed the efforts to clean the city. Insufficient garbage collection has left the business centres of the stinking with garbage debris overwhelming in the city council sanitary infrastructures. A two week survey carried out in a number the city suburbs revealed that there is huge heaps of stinking rubbish left uncollected and continuously releasing horrible smell which hygienically threatens health security of the people around. The survey also revealed that, the scattered garbage heaps contained mostly in plastic bags and in some sacks could be seen all over the place within the city’s suburbs has now become a nuisance to people with some blaming the city fathers for their failure to keep clean the surroundings. However, the authorities concerned seem to be unconcerned with the situation despite calls by residents who are quite disappointed with steps taken by the city fathers in order to ward off the situation. Investigations by this paper has it that companies tendered to collect the refuse  and dispose them from the three municipal councils of Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke to a dumping area seems to have failed to do their jobs. However, an officer who spoke on strict condition of anonymity said that, the available poor working facilities (tools), coupled by poor technology used including lack of experiences are the contributing factors that leads to the poor garbage collection. Interviewed residents noted that, as the situation persists, it is also very disappointing to note that, no any development is being taken so far with a view to remedy the situation. It has been discovered that, with the re recent survey carried out at Kariakoo area which is certainly the top of the list of the notorious places to see for most visitors to Tanzania, is badly hit by the situation. An environmental health officer has said that, it is an undeniable fact that the famous Kariakoo Market Complex in Dar es Salaam, one of the city's historical landmarks and a popular shopping area for all kinds of foodstuffs and other goods, has been overwhelmed by the situation. Hassan Mkumbwa said in an exclusive interview on Tuesday last week that, the ever-increasing population of the city in recent decades has contributed a lot to improper keeping of the waste management systems in the area and some other parts in the city.  However, the Guardian moved further to investigate about the issue as to why it is becoming so difficult to keep the city clean and its environment especially in garbage collection. Contacted for comment, the Environmental Health Officer from the city council, Membe Protus Membe has said that, the on-going long rains has drawn back the speed of garbage collection in most parts of the city suburbs. Elaborating on the issue, Membe who is the acting head of Waste Management Dept of the city council said that, the current rains has retarded the pace of garbage collection following the damage on the infrastructures caused at the main dumping site located at Pugu Kinyamwezi on the outskirts of the city. He said that, the main roads leading to the site had been destroyed by heavy rains and that, currently the city council has contracted a firm known as ‘Motorcyke Contractor to repair the damaged roads. He said about 4.5 Km stretch of the road surrounding the site is being repaired including a road of about 1.2 Km stretch leading to the site from the main road. He said due to ongoing maintenance work, and coupled by the ongoing rainfalls, fleet of trucks carrying garbage from the main city suburbs has reduced their trips from 150 to currently 80 trips per day. This is almost by half percentage rate, he affirmed. He further attributed the fact that, currently the three municipal councils collects between 1,500 and 2,000 tones of garbage out of the produced 4,252 tonnages per day. He noted that, from the statistics Kinondoni municipal council leads with 2,026 tones, followed by Temeke 1,138 tones and lastly Ilala which collects about 1,088 tones of garbage per day. In addition to that, he has affirmed that, the city council has acquired Sh. 270 million to build a cell pit out of five which have been designated at the dumping site. The construction which is expected to commence at any time will help conserve filth in sanitary way.

Govt to strengthen English language in teachers’ colleges

AFTER having realised the standard of English teaching methodology in the country is gradually deteriorating, the government has reiterated its commitment to continue putting more emphasis on English language teaching programmes for Teachers’ Training colleges (TTC) in the country. The move by the government has come at a time when the education sector in the country is seriously blamed for high failures of the examination results of both Ordinary and Advanced level students’ performance rates resulting partly from poor understanding of English language being taught in schools. The Director for teachers’ colleges in the country Bakari Issa said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that, the programme which started two years ago has targeted only 34 public TTCs in the country aims to get qualified teachers who would use English language for communication while teaching students at all levels of education from primary up to secondary schools. He said the programme would later on spread to other private teachers’ colleges accredited in the country with the same mission that aims to strengthen the basic use of English language in public schools which in the past recent decades has deteriorated its quality standards resulting into poor performance level standards. Bakari issued the plea at a function whereby he received over 800 dictionaries for primary and secondary level dictionaries to TTC and schools across the country. The books which have been donated by British Council Tanzania office are part of the EQUIPT ELT classroom project which is a larger British Council’s mission aimed at enhancing the quality of English education in Tanzania’s schools. “We are working with the British Council to develop relevant modern materials for schools that work in the Tanzanian context”, he said adding that the English training will broaden up the minds of both teachers and students alike. Elaborating more about the project, the Director of English at the British Council David Pardoe said that, the EQUIPT ELT is designed to equip teacher trainers with the English language skills they need to engage, inspire and empower future generations of Tanzanians. The project is works in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in the country with a view to achieve its aim of increasing access to quality education through the medium of English. He further noted that, the aim of the project is to provide teacher trainers with access to a diverse range of educational tools to support the training and teaching capabilities of students. However, he is optimistic that the donated materials will help catalyze and improve English education in Tanzania’s schools. The ‘Connecting Classroom’ programme runs in over 50 countries and is just one of British Council’s many active projects. In Tanzania, the project provides schools with international school partnerships, professional development for teachers, school leadership trainings, working to embed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. In Tanzania more than 300 schools take part in the ‘Connecting Classrooms’ project where teachers’ capacities are enhanced and young learners get the ability to gain knowledge and skills through international cultural interactions using alternative technology in learning and improving their English language skills as a result.

Water as a perenial problem for the poor

Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Company (Dawasco) has transformed its daily responsibilities as a pretext of receiving money from their customers as a source of income. The Guardian can report. The investigation conducted by this paper carried out in some parts in the city for three weeks has revealed that, the water company provide services to people who pay them money contrary to the law and for those who failed to provide money are not attended by the authorities. For those whose customers whose water pipe bust, they are forced to purchase spare themselves something which is contrary to the law. A month ago, Dawasco water pipe distributing water from Kimara Suka to Golani busted and Dawasco technicians changed the pipe and took connectors and saddle cramp which was connecting water to one among the resident living near the area. An eye witness who preferred to be anonymity said “I witnessed when Dawasco people changing the pipe, and they took connectors which were connecting water to some of the houses and leave with them” Details revealed that it is Dawasco’s tendency to take away connectors and ask their customers who have already connected with water services to purchase connectors and other instruments used to connect water when their pipe bust. Japhet Lufano who’s water connectors was taken by Dawasco technicians suffered for almost three months without water. Lufano said “I was getting water before the pipe bust, but when Dawasco people came and change the pipe they decided to took the connectors connecting water to my residence and when I followed to re-connect water again they asked me to purchase water connection instruments something shocked me up” Furthermore, Avelin Shayo a resident of Kimara suka was charged Sh. 51, 000 with Dawasco technicians for purchasing water connections instruments. He said “As you know water in the city has become a crisis we had no way out of escaping and since I was in need of water I collaborated with my neighbour and we paid the mentioned amount then after they connected water for us” To prove that, news reporter went to Dawasco on 28^th April 2014 claiming to be disconnected with water services and the management asked him to fill the form so that technicians could come and solve the problem. From that day to present, there is no action which has been taken by Dawasco for repairing the pipe, instead they normally say comes tomorrow, we will give you a technician who will go and connect the pipe something which they failed. For his part, Kimara Branch Manager, who identified by one name as Chacha directed the reporter to one among the engineer so as he could assign a technician to go and re-connect water but from that day no technician who was assigned.

However, this week Chacha assigned one among the technicians to go with the reporter and check the problem, he went with the reporter and then the technician turned feedback to the branch manager. The following day (Wednesday) the reporter went back to Kimara Branch so that he could be given a technician, unfortunately he was asked to purchase saddle cramp six inches worth Sh. 20,000, Gate valve ¾ valued Sh. 10,000, Male connector valued Sh. 1500 and Nipple ¾ valued Sh. 1000, all valued Sh. 32,500. Despite of agreeing to purchase the equipments the assigned technicians refused to go and perform the tasks, investigation goes further and revealed that since he was not assured to be paid that’s why he refused to go.

 Investigation went further and the reporter decided to contact Dawasco Public Relations Officer, Everlasting Lyaro, to prove if a customer who has already connected with water services is supposed to purchase any instrument for connecting water. Lyaro said “I you were already connected you are not supposed to purchase any instrument it is the duty of the company to bare all the cost”

Microsoft reveals shift in cybercrime tactics

Microsoft Corp has released new data indicating that as attacks against software targets are becoming more difficult and expensive cybercriminals are increasingly turning to deceptive tactics for malicious purposes such as stealing people’s personal and financial information. In the last quarter of 2013, the number of computers that had to be disinfected as a result of deceptive tactics more than tripled from a similar period the previous year. This increase in deceptive tactics corresponds with a 70 percent decline in the number of severe vulnerabilities exploited in Microsoft products between 2010 and 2013. Additionally, the increased adoption of key security mitigations across the industry are making it more difficult and expensive for cybercriminals to develop software exploits. Microsoft Corp director for Trustworthy Computing, Tim Rains said: “Keeping cybercriminals on the run requires a robust security strategy,” elaborating that “the safest houses don’t just have locked doors. They have well-lit entry points and advanced security systems. It’s the same with computer security - the more we layer our defenses the better we are at thwarting attacks.” According to Microsoft’s new data, one of the most common tactics used was deceptive downloads. These downloads were identified as a top threat in 95 percent of the 110 countries/regions that Microsoft data examined.  Rains also said that cybercriminals lure their victims with deceptive downloads by bundling malware with legitimate downloadable content such as software, music or videos found online. While the threat of deceptive downloads is on the rise, their impact is often not seen right away. “Infected machines often continue to function, and the only observable signs of the malicious download might be a slower computer or unexpected search results popping up in a browser. Over time, fraudulent activity like click fraud generated from the infected computer can tarnish an individual’s online reputation,” he said. “Of serious concern in Africa is the threat posed from illicit software downloaded from the internet, which is infected with malware deliberately bundled by cybercriminals,” says Daniel Kamau of the Anti-Piracy Lead for sub-Saharan Africa.  “With the internet population on the continent fast growing, downloading software online is a popular alternative but can have serious consequences if it’s not legitimate,” he said. While deceptive downloads were identified as one of the most prevalent tactics used worldwide, ransom ware is another deceptive practice that continues to affect people and can be devastating for those victimized by it.  Ransom ware often pretends to be an official-looking warning from a well-known law enforcement agency. It accuses its victim of committing a computer-related crime and demands they pay a fine to regain control of the computer. Ransom ware is geographically concentrated, but for cybercriminals looking to make a quick profit, the data shows it is an increasingly alluring tactic.  In fact, the top ransom ware threat encountered globally increased by 45 percent between the first half and the second half of 2013.  In light of this new information on cyber threats, Microsoft advises customers take a few actions to help keep themselves protected, including using newer software whenever possible and keeping it up to date, only downloading from trusted sources, running antivirus, and backing up files. “Migrating to Windows 8.1 gives users a chance to modernize their business, and prevent their systems from being attacked by malicious software. The end of support service is an opportunity for users to build a secure and robust working ecosystem to avoid any software compliance issues,” said Hasmukh Chudasama, Microsoft Solutions Business Manager at Dimension Data, E.A.  “Most customers who have upgraded so far have reported that they are seeing reduced malware activity in their networks,” he asserted.  Microsoft releases its cyber security report twice a year, which culminates data from more than a billion systems users worldwide and some of the busiest online services.  The report provides an in-depth analysis on the latest threat trends for 110 countries/regions worldwide and is designed to help inform people about the most prevalent global and regional threat trends so that they can better protect themselves and their organizations.