Kikwete: ‘Stop charging locals in dollar foreign currency’

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has warned school owners and other business entities operating in the country to immediately stop charging local Tanzanians to pay their services in dollar foreign currency including school fees for their children. A statement issued to the media by the directorate of Presidential Communications said that President t Kikwete issued a warning on Wednesday night this week when talking to Tanzanians living in New Delhi. The President is currently visiting India where he is currently in a tour of a four day state visit which ends today at the invitation of Indian President Hon. Pranad Mukherjee. The statement says that, President Kikwete was responding to some of the queries raised by those Tanzanians who wanted to know various development aspects of the social, economic and political matters taking place in the country. He said no any local Tanzanians should be reinforced to settle bills in terms of dollar currency while buying a product or paying school fees, but this should be settled down by foreigners who visit the country as they are obliged to do so because they come along with foreign currency such as dollars. However, he said, “for Tanzanians it should not be reinforced whatsoever and insisted that they should settle their bills by using Tanzanian coins which is a legal payment tender for the local monitory exchange”. Other queries they wanted to know is about corruption and what steps has the government taken so far in the fight over the scourge. In response, the President said that his government has taken many steps including empowering the concerned related institutions tasked to deal with corruptions in the country. He said most Tanzanians have been made aware of the phenomenon and the effects caused into a greater extent and how they have introduced effective legal means to curb with the issue. Either the President noted that, the fight against corruption is very diverse and that it cannot be managed by one person. In view of this, a joint collaborative effort is urgently needed in collaboration with such institutions. “We have empowered institutions such as the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Controller and Accounts General (CAG) office and ensure that the reports issued are publicly discussed in Parliament”, he said. The statement further quotes the President as saying that all these have been increased in order to pave the way for the people know exactly what is going on in the country. “PCCB and other institutions  have been given the mandatory to deal directly with corruption related cases in the country as these have been increased from four in 2005 to 24”, he said adding that the issue of corruption is now widely known among Tanzanians that as it was before. Responding over the issue of increased number of accidents in the country, President Kikwete admitted the increase of the number and clarified that this is because of large increased of vehicles on the road coupled by profuse alcoholic drinking and laziness caused by impervious drivers who do not want to comply by traffic rules and regulation set by government. Giving the statistics on vehicles in the country, President Kikwete said that it is estimated that in 2005, Tanzania had a total of 1.72 million vehicles, but during the past ten years there has been an addition of 1.5 vehicles. He said this is a tremendous increase which goes alongside with the road improvements and maintenance. He gave an  example of what is happening at his own town of Chalinze which he  said has become notorious of such malpractices whereby truck drivers stops for a brief stopover and begins drinking without realizing that have a long  way to go ahead. The President queried the rationale behind this why is the habit persisting and yet the placer is full of traffic police.

Tanzania to sign pact to curb poaching in southern regions

THE Government is on the move to sign pact with neighboring countries of Zambia and Mozambique with a view to protect elephant poaching which has become rampant in the country.  The Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources Lazaro Nyalandu revealed on Thursday night last week in Dar es Salaam at a cocktail party organized to congratulate an awareness campaign against wildlife poaching in Tanzania which was launched earlier in the morning. The campaign called the “Wildlife Pride” is a collaborative effort between the government and the Wild Aid as well as the African Wildlife Foundation organizations.  The campaign also involves religious leaders and local celebrities like former Miss Tanzania Jacqueline Mengi, artist Ali Kiba, Venessa Mdee and former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet. In his speech, Nyalandu noted that, the government is underway to sign the pact with the two countries with the aim to help prevent illegal across border trade of the precious ivory tusks. The pact would also involve the exchange of suspected criminals involved in illegal ivory  trade, a move that would also help get hold of the suspected poachers with ease. He said that, some poachers get free access to do illegal business in southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara, Ruvuma, Morogoro which are located closer to Selou game reserve and Mbeya and Iringa which are closer to the biggest and leading Ruaha National park and Miombo Woodlands. The two national reserves have been providing a hideout for poachers who do their mischief and make their escape through to the neighbouring countries of Zambia and Mozambique and some parts around lake Nyasa bordering Malawi. However, he noted that in order to curb the escalating phenomenon, Tanzania is planning to sign pact with these two countries a move that is anticipated to stop illegal cross border elephant tusks. Minister Nyalandu said that since the government embarked on the anti-poaching drive five years ago between 2009 and 2014, his ministry has successfully managed to curb the vice that has proved at a considerable high rate of performance. Giving out statistics, the Minister who currently is vying for the highest top most position in the country said that, in Tarangire national park there has been an increase of elephants population by 66 percent, whereas in Serengeti national park there has been an increase of 98 percent. He further noted that, there has been an increase of elephant population at Selous game reserve between 2013 and 2014 whereby about 38,200 have increased tremendously. The occasion was attended by the three country diplomats of the US, German and China whose governments together have pledged to give support over the on-going fight against poachers in the country. The three Ambassadors Mark Childress of USA, Egon Konchanke of German and Lu. You Qing of China made a pledge in their key note address and have also supported the government’s move towards eradicating the phenomenon. Home to one of the largest concentrations of African elephants on the continent, Tanzania has emerged as a poaching hotspot. A recent report suggests that Tanzania is the largest source of poached ivory in the world.

Belgium wants Tanzania to preserve its valuable cultural heritage

TANZANIA government has been instructed to develop the habit of preserving its most valuable cultural heritage in its National Museum so as to help the incoming generation know about what their forefathers did in the past about traditional culture. The concern was made mid this week in Dar es Salaam by the Belgium Ambassador accredited in the country Koen Adam during the inauguration of a month long photo exhibition known as “Trenches in Africa” an initiative organized by the government of Belgium in collaboration with National Museum in the country. The initiative has jointly put in place the unknown historical knowledge of Tanzania’s participation during the First World War (WW1) which took place over 100 years ago. During the occasion, the Belgium Embassy in Dar es Salaam demonstrated some 71 horrific photographs at the National Museum that shows how Belgium soldiers emerged from Congo, the then Belgian colony and entered the then East Africa German colony through Lake Tanganyika to help the British fight the German soldiers in Tabora and Mahenge. Ambassador Adam clarified that, his office has decided to display these photographs to bridge the gap of practical knowledge among the majority of Tanzanians most of whom youths who have learned the history of WW1 in books.  In his introductory speech, Ambassador Adam noted that, in any country in the world national museums have greater roles to play when it comes to preserve national culture as they are the only places whereby a country preserves its heritages and other memories of the past events to enable the incoming generation become knowledgeable about their country. The exhibition consists of 26 panes and three short movies that cover well this historical period and after which it will become part of the museum patrimony as a gift by Belgium authorities to the government of Tanzania.  In an exclusive interview, the Director General of the National Museum Professor Audax Mabula admitted of some of the discrepancies that the government has not yet addressed and looked at more critically when it comes to the preservation of important national heritages. 

 

However, he said that, the costs of collecting data and information is an impediment as it requires money to pay experts involved in the data collection. However, he said his institution is trying with much effort it can in order to have as much data as possible. However, he said that, more information that the national museum has in place arte those ones which are documented in form of pictures and rarely old materials could be seen as it is impossible to collect them unless the government hires experts to do the job. Lucas Catherine, a Belgian historian who created this exhibition has paid a special attention to the contribution and sacrifice of thousands of Congolese and Tanzanian soldiers including the carriers and their families who were deployed in battlefield. He said historians often tend to overlook that although the wars in Africa were fought between European powers as part of a European conflict, the main victims were always Africans. However, he elaborated that the exhibition also tries to bring tribute to them. On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources under which the national Museum falls, Dr Adelhelm Meru thanked the Belgium government for their closer cooperation that enabled the government receive photos that depicts World War 1. He noted that, what the Belgium government has done is a good remembrance which keeps on maintaining the cordial relationship between the Belgian government and Tanzania government which has been existing since independence time. Meanwhile, it can be remembered that the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources has kept some cultural heritage of the strong local African Chiefs who fought against the colonial rule such as Mkwawa at Kalega in Iringa town as well as Chief Songea of Ngoni people in Songea town. The two African leaders are remembered for their bravery as they stood firmly to oppose the colonial rule of the ruthless German colonialisation process that culminated between 1890 and 1907.

Fuel users castigates the proposed increase of levy on petroleum products

THERE is a mixed reaction among fuel users in the country following the proposed increase levy on petroleum products which was announced in Parliament on Thursday this week when the Minister for Finance tabled the national budget for the coming 2015/16 financial year. Speaking in an exclusive interview yesterday in Dar es Salaam transport stakeholders have expressed their disappointment over the proposed new price on levy and said that, it would continue haunting the transport sector in the country. Hamidu Juma, a daladala driver plying between Posta and Makumbusho in the city said that, the government should revert its decision and called on Parliamentarians not to pass the proposed budget bearing the fact that transport industry is the most important sector for national economy. He wondered the rationale of proposing rise of fuel levy, and yet there is a constant decrease of fuel prices at a global market. Obeid Kaswati, a taxi driver in the city said that with this sudden increase, users of transporting vehicles should expect fare rise whatsoever which would ultimately compel transport users deep into their pockets to afford the anticipated prices. However, he is of the view of the fact that the Parliament should not pass the budget and instead has called on the review to maximize profits among transport operators in the country as a whole. Rehema Makangale, a petrol seller at Oilcom filing station at the heart of the city centre welcomed the idea as she knew his company would make a profit when fuel prices shoots up. Obadia Kasara who runs a private office at the city centre fears if the proposed budget would be passed as he knows that there will be a fare increase for commuter transport, a rare phenomenon that disturbs the low income city residents. He has however, appealed to the Parliamentarians not to pass the proposed budget this around bearing the fact that there has been a series of strikes formed by transporters on certain issues related with the government’s refusal to increase transportation fare. Commenting on the kerosene increase, a cross section of Das res Salaam city residents have expressed their concern with deep hearted feelings for the people who lives in rural areas, saying that, the increase would continue haunting the budget of low income earners. Salima Ally, a resident of Mwananyamala ‘B’ wonders as the current price of kerosene continues to haunt the majority poor people in rural areas who utilize the product for domestic use, what of if the proposed levy increase is passed how could the price be fetched . The survey by the Guardian shows that, kerosene in the country is sold more or vlerss rthe price of diesel and petrol since the Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) introduced monthly indicative price quotations for oil products in the country. A decade ago, before the introduction of indicative price for kerosene, the product was sold almost half the price of petrol and diesel, but now it is surprising to note that, there is a slight difference in price quotations and sometimes kerosene price is sold higher than either of the two oil products. The prevailing situation according to the survey reveals that, the product has been affecting the budget of the low income earners majority of whom are rural dwellers in the country as the indicative prices by EWURA does not make an effective change on the product. Kerosene oil has become a common usable commodity as a main source of fuel for people in rural communities as the supply of electricity in these areas is very scanty and rather inadequate due to poor infrastructure.  Users of the product say that the product continues to be fetched at a higher price rate that is not easily affordable and is more aggravated by the indicative price levels which keep on fluctuating month after month.  In early 1970, over four decades ago, the price of a twenty littre full of a tin of kerosene was sold at Tsh. 21 only, recalls mzee Zablon Megwe (78), now a retired prisons officer. He said  that, by then kerosene was being sold in specially manufactured tins carrying 20 litres which nowadays are not in the market.  However, he added that, the retail prices for the commodity could be sold by shopkeepers running a retail shop in special locally made kits of measurements known as 'Kibaba'. He said in an exclusive interview yesterday in Dar es Salaam that, he could manage to survive with the little salary he was earning at that time of Sh. 620/- per month as a prison officer that could cater for other household needs for the whole month.

BG Tanzania to support petroleum geology programmes at UDSM

BG Tanzania, a local business of BG Group has announced funding for the Masters of Science (MSc) course in Petroleum Geology programme at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) starting from 2015/2016 academic year.  A statement issued to the media yesterday in Dar es Salaam by a media consultant Africa practice Tanzania Ltd said that, the funding covers all tuition and study related expenses for the first batch of 13 students to be enrolled for the newly introduced engineering science programme. The statement signed by the communications officer Meg Muigai and made available to the Guardian said that, “this is a commitment to capacity building which is a reflection of BG Tanzania’s social investment strategy”. The strategy which focuses on supporting the Tanzanian government and its citizens to gain skills and competencies aims to seize direct opportunities associated with the development of the country’s natural gas sector. Three years ago, BG East Africa President and Asset General Manager, Derek Hudson reiterated the need for his company to engage in the company’s education investment commitments as part of its Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR). According to him, the vision of BG Tanzania is to support the government in developing a Tanzanian oil and gas sector in which Tanzanians can actively participate.  BG Tanzania which currently undertakes exploration activities of oil and gas off the Indian Ocean bordering Mtwara region is an associate partner of BG Group which is headquartered in the United Kingdom. The company has operations in more than 20 countries, across five continents with a global workforce of more than 5,000 employees, with the majority based outside the UK.