TPSF to handle job opportunities from Uganda oil pipeline

THE Uganda-Tanzania crude oil pipeline business opportunities are going to be unveiled to private sector in special workshop next Tuesday. The workshop, organised by Tanzania Private Sector Foundation and Petro Fiorentini, expects to unveil opportunities available before, during and after pipeline construction. The organizers also expect to express the role of value chain and local content to the country’s business community. TPSF Executive Director, Godfrey Simbeye, who was represented by his Lois Accaro, said the project would create enormous number business opportunities plus jobs. “The main focus of this workshop is to brief open eyes in value chains and also to give suppliers the channels, tools and means to harness and cater for this project,” Mr Simbeye told reporters over the weekend. 

TPSF's Executive Director, Godfrey Simbeye

Top on the list of priorities for the workshop will be to hear plans on how to prepare local workforce and engagement of local enterprises to maximise the national economic benefit from this project. The one-day workshop will address skills shortages in the country, both in technical and professional areas and significant investment required to provide relevant skills to local staff. Others are to build the capacity of the local supply chain to international standards and project timelines. The envisaged 24-inch pipeline to cover 1,403 kilometres is expected to convey 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day for exports. The project is expected to create 15,000 jobs during its execution after which upon completion, in 2020, it will employ about between 1,000 and 2,000 people. In Tanzania the pipe will pass through Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora and Singida to Tanga where 200 kilometres of new roads and 150 km existing ones will be upgraded by TANROADS. The envisaged pipeline through the country will be of benefit not only to Uganda and Tanzania but other countries in the region such as Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During the workshop, TOTAL will make a detailed presentation on how local force will be engaged on entire value chain. The companies in the 4.0 billion dollars (about 8.7 trillion/-)project include Total E&P of France, Tullow Oil of United Kingdom as well as China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Good job for TRA as it surpasses monthly target

THE Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has surpassed its revenue collection target for the last August, garnering 1.158 trillion/- against the target of 1.152 trillion/- for the period. The amount collected has exceeded the target by 100. 57 per cent, noting that the same period last year the taxman had collected only 923bn/-. TRA Spokesperson Richard Kayombo said in a statement in Dar es Salaam early on Monday this week that the success was part of the strategies the tax man has laid down to ensure that it meets its target for this year. “The good strategies that the TRA had put together with the government, have already started showing achievements as for the last August all deserved revenues were collected,” he said, adding that TRA has plans that would enable it expand sources of revenue collections. Some of the measures include making the busy Kariakoo market as special tax region since the area was regarded as business hub. To achieve this, Mr Kayombo said, the taxman would ensure that every trader in the area has the Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) and uses them properly. He noted that to make it happen, they have ensured that all EFDs agents in the area have opened up a joint office at Al-Falah Towers located at Msimbazi area. The move was to facilitate availability of the gadgets and address the challenges that were facing the traders in using them. Meanwhile, Mr Kayombo called on businesspeople and the general public with the Taxpayer Identity Number (TIN) in Dar es Salaam to show up in the current exercise to verify their TINs before October 15, insisting that there would be no extension of the period for the region

Poachers jailed over government trophies

THE anti-poaching campaign has gained momentum after the Arusha Resident Magistrate’s Court sentenced two poachers, Damas Komba and Jamal Athuman, to total of 40 years imprisonment or pay a fine of over 970m/- for illegal possession of government trophies. Resident Magistrate Chrisanta Chitanda convicted the two accused persons last Friday after being satisfied by evidence produced by six prosecution witnesses, led by State Attorney Felix Kwetukia. The convicts were found with five pieces of elephant tusks. None of them managed to pay the fine. Among the witnesses called by the prosecution, includes Assistant Inspector Mseja, who arrested the duo, Solomoni Jeremiah, the value of the government trophies, Police Constables James Kugusa and Sherwin Qorro, who had kept the exhibits. Inspector James and Assistant Inspector Kaitira had recorded statements for the accused persons. Exhibits tendered included five pieces of elephant tusks, certificate of seizure, certificate of valuation of trophy, exhibit handling document and caution statements for the accused persons. The prosecution had told the court that Komba (52), a businessman, who resides at Kijenge Mwanama and Athman (38), a Chef and resident of Morombo area, committed the offence on January 15, this year, at Korongo la Selela within Monduli District in Arusha City. Jointly and together, the accused persons were found in unlawful possession of the said pieces of elephant tusks weighing 25.2kg valued at 97,200,000/-, the property of the government. Facts show that the accused persons were arrested following receipt of some information from the informer to the effect that they were about to do an illegal business of elephant tusks. The trap that led to the arrest of the accused persons was set while they were in process of conducting the said illegal business. Upon being found with the tusks, the accused persons were asked if they had license to possess the trophies, but they had none. Following being found in unlawful possession of the government trophies without license, certificate of seizure was filled and signed by the accused persons signifying seizing of five pieces of elephant tusks. Thereafter, the accused persons were arrested and brought to Mto wa Mbu Police Station together with the pieces of trophies for interrogation. Upon being interrogated by police officers, the accused persons confessed to have been involved with the commission of the offence charges. About a week ago, the Karatu District Court at Arusha City sentenced another poacher, Gitabeka Giyaya (54), to 20 years imprisonment or pays a fine of 250,965,000/- for unlawful possession of 13 pieces of elephant tusks, which are government trophies. Giyaya was imprisoned having failed to pay the fine. It was alleged that on December 4, 2014, at Mang’ola Gorofani areas within the district, the accused person was found in possession of the said 13 pieces of elephant tusks valued at 25,965,000/-, the property of the government. Last month, two other poachers, Gidamis Giyamu alias Hamis and Petro Kilo alias Kinangai alias Nanga, were also sentenced to a total of 40 years or pay over 900m/-for being found with four pieces of elephant tusks, which are government trophies without permit. Both convicts opted to go to jail having failed to pay the fine. Giyamu, according to the magistrate, was required to pay 600,791,500/- to escape the custodian sentence of 20 years, while Kilo had to pay 290,172,000/- if he was to avoid the same jail term. The prosecution had told the court that Giyamu committed the offence on December 23, 2012, at Olden area within Karatu District in the city, where he was found in unlawful possession of two pieces of elephant tusks weighing 70kg, valued at 60,791,500/-, property of the government.