Transport stakeholders reiterate call for weigh bridge removal

The continued presence of a number of weigh bridges which have been constructed along the main roads going through upcountry regions in the country has been cited to be a major factor inconveniencing trunk drivers who transports goods across the border. The Chairman of the Association of Truck Owners in Tanzania, David Masanja reiterated the call over the week end in Dar es Salaam during the launch of Logistics Innovation for Trade (LIFT) Fund which is initiated by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA). Masanja was contributing in a debate put across for discussion before the actual launching exercises took place that highlighted the impact of goods transportation and logistics to the Tanzanian people. In his contribution, he blamed the government to have failed to remove all weigh bridges stationed along the main roads which the stakeholders have been crying but to no avail. In his speech he noted that, weigh bridges have been inconveniencing truck drivers who pose in a queue and take more time an aspect that make them reach late to their final destination. Masanja who claimed himself to be a driver in recent past, said that, the long tiresome journey all the way coupled by frequent check up by the police in every a certain distance of a kilometer confuses drivers who are bored without a cause. 

A truck on a weigh bridge.

According to him, he suggests that, there should be only one point for weigh bridge check up at the port of embarkation for all fleet trucks so as to avoid disturbances by the police on their way through. He also blamed a routine inspection of police on the sealed containers on transit at every police control barrier, saying that, this is not fair as there is no rule to open a container once it is sealed at the port of embarkation. However, he said that, police should have a trust on what has been sealed has its own regulation unless otherwise there is a suspicion for security purposes, or should they introduce a screening technology like what is being done in other countries. Cornered for comments an officer from the Ministry of transport who was contacted and spoke in a telephone interview on conditions of anonymity and rejected the idea of removing weigh bridges for among the reasons he cited of having them stationed along main roads is to restrict drivers from overloading excess loads. He said that, the government had imposed such restrictions in order to let drivers adhere to basic rules of transportation as stipulated in the national transport policy with fears as most roads would get damaged if such rules are left without being observed. Tanzania has been seen to be embracing an overdue transport logistics among which have been hampering the transport sector in central corridor despite the East Africa Community initiatives of letting such barriers to be removed to allow free movements of goods to EAC regional states. However, a transport stakeholder, Ibrahim Ahamed Said from Zanzibar said in an interview that, the government needed to reduce non-tariff barriers in order to facilitate inland transportation. However, he suggested that, there is a great need to revamp the central railways network systems in order to be used for transportation of goods as the mode is cheaper, reliable and efficient than road transport for it doesn’t demand check up nor any other unnecessary logistics as claimed by transporters.

MwanaHalisi publishers launch an online publication

THE MwanaHalisi Publishers Ltd, which was publishing the banned weekly Kiswahili investigative newspaper famously known as MwanaHalisi on Friday last week launched an online publication in place of the banned newspaper. The occasion which took place in Dar es Salaam was graced by Chairman of Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) Dr. Reginald Mengi and witnessed by senior media practitioners of various media outlets, and also in attendance was the Executive Director of Media Council of Tanzania Kajubi Mukajanga. The newspaper which will now be read through website www.mwanahalisionline.com has come into being after over two years and a half when the government banned the newspaper for having flouted rules and conduct of ethical reporting. In his speech Dr. Mengi praised the decision by the management of the MwanaHalisi Publishers for their dedication of establishing an online newspaper publication which he said would continue to inform Tanzanians of what is happening around them. In line with his thanksgiving, Dr. Mengi who is also the IPP group Chairman has requested media practitioners in the country to strictly observe objectivity and clarity in their reporting, and noted that the two elements encourages professional work efficiency. 

The Chairman of Media Owners Association of Tanzania (MOAT) Dr. Reginald Mengi gestures after he had pressed a button on a computer that ushers the launch of the MwanaHalisi online publication. 

Speaking in favour of the MwanaHalisi editorial team led by their Managing Editor Said Kubenea, Dr. Mengi flashed back his experience and wanted other media practitioners to emulate him for his courageous behaviors he shows when writing investigative news contents. He said some journalists in the country do not write about the community and the mischief which are going on, and instead relies mostly to please politicians even if are at fault. “Journalists should not report shallowly and instead they must develop the habit of balancing their news contents and gather detailed facts that would not mislead their readers”, he said and added that, by doing this they would be maintaining the status core of their professionalism. In his opening introductory remarks, the Managing editor of the MwanaHalisi online publication, Said Kubenea noted that, his company has decided to establish an online publication while they are waiting for the government to revert their decision since it imposed a ban over two years ago. He said the MwanaHalisi online publication is a public property that everybody will have an access to free of charge. However, he further said that, they are currently welcoming online advertisers to the website and also in near future they would subscribe their readers for the sake of getting money to pay fellow workers who since the ban have nothing to survive with. On his part, the Executive Director of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Kajubi Mukajanga insisted four things in his speech as successful goals and said that, the new publication should adhere to the integrity while disseminating online information news. He advised them to show courageousness as some of the newspapers have been playing a crucial role of uncovering mischief including grand corruption as a commendable job which must be praised at all cost. He has also urged them to sacrifice for themselves when performing works which has a great interest to the general public. However, he urged the management to show courage and perseverance and never despair while performing their duties.

Escrow saga: More demand for severe punishment against offenders

Two days after the Attorney General Fredrick Werema announced his resignation over the allegations on the controversial Escrow saga leveled against him, eight civil society organizations have called on severe punishment to be imposed against the offenders. The organizations are Policy Forum, Tanzania Coalition on Debt and Development, ACTIVISTA, Tanzania Youth Vision Association, SIKIKA, Action Aid Tanzania, HakiElimu and Youth Partnership Countrywide. In their joint statement released on Thursday last week in Dar es Salaam this week, they have asked the government to take serious legal actions as recommended in the Parliamentary resolutions over the matter three weeks ago. Among the resolutions, Members of Parliament resolved among other things that the government should bring to task all those involved in the pillaging of the Tegeta Escrow account (TEA). But according to a joint statement, the wrong doers have abused their office power which has resulted into theft of public funds, a move that has shamed the nation. The statement further says that, the government should demand the immediate and transparent repayment of all escrow monies paid fraudulently to the Pan Africa Power Solutions Tanzania’s (PAP) plus interest, and to implement Parliament’s recommendations to resolve the IPTL affair for the public interest. 

Tanzania's Attorney General Fredrick Werema  who resigned last week

The call by civil organizations has come at a time when the general public is anxiously waiting to see what President Jakaya Kikwete would rule out over government’s officials implicated in the Escrow saga, The civil organizations had gone through both reports of the National Audit Office (NAO) and the one of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which was read during the Parliamentary debate which ended in late November 2014, and is satisfied with the contents highlighted. The forum is surprised by the way how the TEA funds were transferred from the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) to private banks, and subsequently to individual bank accounts. These acts manifest a lack of due diligence on the part of the parties concerned, the statement said. The statement further says that, if those involved in this scandal are not held accountable for their abuse of power and the theft of public money, it will be a continuation of the nation’s systemic weaknesses related to prosecution of leaders shown to have been involved in corrupt practices. The public is growing increasingly angry and offended by these acts of grand corruption, the manner in which those accused of corruption defend their actions, and the apparent impunity of those involved. Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2006, all banks and financial institutions should take reasonable due diligence measures to identify politically exposed persons, to establish the source of their funds and to monitor them. The IPTL scandal represents a serious crisis in the legitimacy of the Government of Tanzania that can only be resolved by strong leadership and decisive action to bring closure to the long-drawn out IPTL saga once and for all, the statement concludes.  Following the anxiety by the public who earlier were informed of the president’s decision over the matter this week, efforts by this paper to contact the Chief Secretary of State Ombeni Sefue for clarifications proved futile as the State’s telephone number was engaged.

Tanzania signs a loan agreement to facilitate tertiary education on biomedical

The African Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to issue about $9.4 million (Sh. 15.5 billion) to Tanzania government on loan basis to help provide high quality and competitive skilled workforce in biomedical science programmes in the country. The signing agreement for the loan was held on Friday last week in Dar es Salaam at a colourful ceremony whereby Tanzania government was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Dr. Servacius Likwelile and ADB resident representative in the country Tonia Kandiero. According to Dr. Likwelile, the programme focusing on cardio vascular diseases will be conducted at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), is intended to provide technical skills on medical experts in four major training skills that includes, leveraging knowledge base on ICTs, research and service delivery for cost effectiveness and efficiency. Others are provision of modern equipments with appropriate technologies and remote guidance on other health institutions and enable them to share in the guidance and expertise of the limited of specialists’ within the East African community. The signing agreement will make Tanzania become the first centre of excellence for skills and tertiary education in Biomedical programme among the East African countries, whereby the same programme would be made available later in other East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.   

On her part, the Bank’s resident representative in Tanzania Tonia Kandiero has congratulated Tanzania for being the first among other East African countries and noted that, this is a key milestone to the implementation of the programme. She noted that, it is estimated that the East African community is accessing approximately $ 150 million (Sh. 250 billion) annually for biomedical related services from outside the region. With this dependence, however, she clarified that, Tanzania project will be part of the network centres that will contribute to a reduction in foreign dependency and expenditures for diagnostics and treatments mainly in Europe, North America and South Asia She said that, the project falls within the priorities of the Bank’s country strategy for Tanzania (2011- cost amounting to $ 0.75 million) An official from the Ministry of Finance who identified by one name Kuchaka told the Guardian in a telephone interview that, Tanzania has been given 90 days to fulfill the conditions of agreement entered, and thereafter the implementation of the project would start on straight.2015 and the Banks’ Capital Strategy 2013-2017) and the new education model for Africa which aims to address labour market needs and skills, adoption of ICT, support and research activities. According to her, under this project, the total cost for Tanzania  is $ 9.4 million o0f which her Bank finances 90 percent of the total cost, while the government contributes 10 percent of the total

Formation of national youth council in offing, govt declares

At last the government has resolved to establish a National Youth Council (NYC) which would help overcome various matters pertaining to the development of youths in the country, a government official has said. The acting Director of youth development department in the ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports James Kajugusi said in Dar es Salaam during the International volunteer day whose climax celebrations was held at a national level last week in Dar es Salaam. He said in an exclusive interview that, the government is currently finalizing the strategies it had put in place in order to accomplish the need of having a national organ which would stand for the welfare of youths in the country regardless of their political affiliations. The government’s decision has come about after the cry by the Tanzania Youth Forum (TYF), a youth organ which for long had been urging the government to form a non partisan body which would look after various challenges affecting youths in the country including unemployment. TYF through its Chairman Fahami Matsawily sent a request to the government almost a year ago to follow the examples of Kenya and Uganda which have already established such organs in their respective countries. The annual occasion which was organized jointly between UN Volunteers in collaboration with the Information ministry in the country was also attended by about four youth volunteering organizations. The organizations exhibited their products and services to the general public, and are among the 34 civil organizations which volunteer their activities in the country. They included Restless Development, Volunteers Services Overseas (VSO), Raleigh Tanzania and Four life Company. Kajugusi further clarified that, the decision by government to form a youths’ council has come in thought after the government had ratified the UN Youths Charter 2006, which together with other things wants governments to involve youths in effective production of national resources. He also noted that, the ministry is in pipeline to propose the bill and send in Parliament which would protect the various guidelines that would help lead the processes once is made to work out. 

Minister for Information, Youth and Culture Dr. Fennela Mukandara 

He said among the main tasks to be spearheaded by the NYC after its formation is to reduce the rising unemployment rate which currently is faced by most youths in the country. Together with other things, the council would also ensure youths’ participation in every aspect of national economic development bearing in mind the fact that youths’ contribution to the GDP is of the high percentage rates in the country. In this, he clarified that youths provides about 75 percent of the total workforce in every aspects of national production in areas such as agriculture, fishing, education, industrial mining activities, livestock keeping, construction and many others for national economic growth. The national volunteer day occasion which was celebrated under the theme, “the importance of volunteerism for national development” called on youths in the country to have a spirit of volunteering for the country’s economic development. In her message to the nation, the Minister for Information, Youth and Culture Dr. Fennela Mukandara said that, “the government believes that the rate of volunteering among the youths is a factor that leads to the national development goals”.  Dr. Mukandara reminded youth that volunteering is one of the learning resources for human life and that to transfer that experience and knowledge is one way to solve the existing economic problems which are exacerbated by the fight against disease, ignorance and poverty. In view of this, Dr. Mukandara has insisted cooperation among youths which could bring positive change of their life and the nation at large. “World statistics has shown that up to mid 2014, total youths population in the world was estimated to be about 3 billion and over. With the greater number of youths in the global sphere, their participation is very essentials to reach development targets”, Dr. Mukandara noted.