Magufuli hates tree felling without a particular purpose

The negative aftermaths caused as a result of indiscriminate tree felling are numerous an aspect that bring about loses resulting to land degradation. This is not good at all and in order to prevent the menace, stakeholders need to be careful and abide by the policy frameworks imposed by the government in order to defend natural resources. Due to the prevailing situation which has been noticed to have been practiced by some unscrupulous business people, President John Magufuli has come up in arms and cautioned Tanzanians to be careful with the situation, thus blaming them for not taking care and precautions over the matter for the country’s destruction due to environmental degradation. Dr Magufuli decried the indiscriminate clearing of forests, directing District Executive Directors (DEDs) and District Commissioners (DCs) to take actions but through observance of human dignity. He issued the directive over the weekend at Kasungu grounds in Kaliua district in Tabora region, shortly after he had inaugurated the 56-kilometre Kaliua-Kazilambwa road, which the Chinese contractor CHICO has constructed. The president condemned whom he described as ‘pseudo politicians’ from his own CCM party bent on corrupting Wananchi through “allowing them to invade forests and clear some oldest and unique species of trees just to make charcoal for the sake of getting votes but we are killing our own country.” He charged, “Just imagine a 20-year-old man clearing a 150-year-old tree merely for charcoal and worse still, there is no replacement. I must tell you the truth, this is not allowed.”  President Magufuli warned that should people be granted the freedom to destruct the environment from one place to another, the country will be courting a disaster, and soon Tanzanians will be forced to relocate to other countries like Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due unsupportive environment at home. He said even the world’s first class honey from Tabora region is at risk should the habit of clearing trees continue unabated, with water crisis likely to persist due to environmental degradation related drought.

Direct students’ admission in higher learning institutions starts

Tanzania universities are  ready to admit students who pursue higher learning studies in all universities accredited in the country. This is after the government had recently diverted its system it used before and it has now empowered higher learning institutions with full authority to do so just as it had been doing before.  The government’s call was made public by President Dr. John Magufuli. Before the new changes came into being, the task was entirely left for Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) who had the mandatory of admitting students to pursue higher learning studies. MAJOR universities in the country said last week that., they were fully equipped to expertly handle direct applications from students. University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Vice- Chancellor Professor Rwekaza Mukandala said the institution has already installed computerized system to handle the applications. “We have also agreed with the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) to team up in verifying the authenticities of the academic certificates attached in the applications,” Prof Mukandala said, hinting that effective today the university’s programmes will be unveiled on the website. He was optimistic that the country’s oldest university will get enough qualified applicants to fill all available slots for each programme. Previously, aspirants for higher learning institutions applied through the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), which dictated for students and which universities to study. But, TCU, in its statement last May, announced the procedural change in admissions to undergraduate programmes, effective this 2017/18 academic year. Under the new arrangements, higher learning institutions will directly handle the applications and selections of students for their respective programmes, with July 22 to August 13 set as the application timeframe. The change follows President John Magufuli’s directive to TCU to shift from dealing with applications into regulatory tasks, allowing students to correctly make choices pertaining to their educational pursuit to suit personal dreams.

Tanzania is able to collect up to Tshs. 17 trillion

TAXATION pundits remain optimistic that the country is on the right track to collect the projected 17.1tri/- in tax revenues in the 2017/18 fiscal year. With the 2016/17 tax collection target of 15.1tri/- met by over 95 per cent, the government’s newly outlined measures to widen the tax base will help in attaining this year’s ambitious goal. Speaking with the media in an exclusive interview over the weekend in Dar es Salaam, a day after the government announced the collection of 14.4tri/- in the previous fiscal year, analysts commended the government especially for its dream of getting rid of donor dependency. The newly introduced property tax on both surveyed and non-surveyed homes at the rates of between 10,000/- and 50, 000/- is among factors that will strongly contribute to the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)’s achievements. TRA announced on Tuesday last week that it had collected 14.4tri/- in the previous year, an increase of 7.6 per cent from the 13.3tri/- collected in the previous year. However, the tax collection agency missed its target of 15.1 tri/- by 700bn/-. A lecturer with Mzumbe University, Dar es Salaam Campus, Professor Honest Ngowi, said “The collections are not bad although TRA needs to strengthen its efforts to attain this year’s target of 17.1tri/.” The economist argued that there is a challenge to recover the missing 700bn/- gap, remaining hopeful, however, that TRA will do better, with big boost expected from well managed collections from land and houses. “But, improving the business environment will help the country toenhance the government revenues because traders will not fear to do businesses,” the don advised, commending the appointment of Professor Florens Luoga as TRA Board Chairman. Professor Delphine Rwegasira from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)’s economics department appreciated TRA progress, saying the authority is most likely to achieve its future targets. “For a country like Tanzania, this (14.4tri/- collection) is a great achievement … TRA has slightly missed the target but I agree they have done a recommendable job. We have to appreciate,” said the don, adding: “TRA should now double efforts to achieve the new target.” The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget, Ms Hawa Ghasia congratulated TRA for the achieved milestone, saying the country is heading towards donor-independency budget.

Bright future for Tanzania as exports for second-hand clothes looms

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has predicted a bright future for Tanzania free of imported second-hand clothes, thanks to a growing number of textile industries in the country. The premier was equally impressed that the textiles will provide ready and reliable market for the country’s cotton, urging farmers of the cash crop to produce in large quantities to provide sufficient raw materials for the industries. Mr Majaliwa made the remarks in Dar es Salaam over the weekend during his working tour of fabric manufacturing plants, Namera Group of Companies, at Gongo la Mboto area and Ubungo-based Nida Textile Mill. “Existence of textile mills is a clear indication that the country is determined to get rid of second-hand clothes and instead rely on own production at affordable prices,” he stated, noting further that cotton farmers no longer need to export their produce as local textile industries can consume all the cash crop. “Domestically produced cotton can be processed for local industries; there is no need to export it. I urge farmers to produce adequate cotton to cater for the domestic market,” he explained. Earlier, the PM visited Lake Cement manufacturing plant which produces the construction material under the Nyati brand and hailed the investors for heeding to President John Magufuli’s industrialization agenda. The cement factory produces 700,000 tonnes of cement per annum and has a workforce of 2,000 people. According to an official with the company, the factory pays over 80bn/- in taxes every year. Mr Majaliwa urged the industry owners to give priority to surrounding communities in recruitment and pay them adequately as well as observing the deadlines for tax payments.

Tanzanians canceled to vie for EAC opportunities

FOREIGN Affairs and East African Co-operation Minister, Dr Augustine Mahiga, has counseled women and youth to equip themselves with alternative skills to cater for the East African Common Market. Dr Mahiga also advised the parties to embrace the existing regional integration by sensitively dealing with all challenges to free it from disintegration. “You ought to know that competitiveness is a must, it is therefore vital to look for ways to resolve different conflicts and conquer competition so that these co-operation yields fruits,” said Dr Mahiga. He said that the important thing is to create opportunities, whereas in the case of investment, jobs should be created, as well as enabling an effective trade and education environment. He observed that the focus is to establish solid economic communities which will help improve lives through value addition of crops, trade and investment. “The East African co-operation will help strengthen the integration and stimulate economic growth and thus improve lives of the people,” noted the minister. The Managing Director of the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), Mr Francis Kiwanga, the organisers of the forum dubbed ‘Tanzania Youth Caravan 2017,’ said the aim is to enable youth to benefit from the Common Market Protocol by implementing the EAC youth policy’s vision and mission. “We want to achieve an integrated East African Community, whereby its youth are empowered to fully participate and benefit in all facets of the region’s development,” observed Mr Kiwanga. 

Flags for six EAC member states

He pointed out that the target is to reach over 10,000 women and youth throughout the country, by introducing them to the opportunities and encouraging them to take up the challenge,” he said. He also noted that the campaign will be rolled out in other parts of the country including Mwanza, Arusha, Morogoro, Singida and Shinyanga. University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Senior Lecturer, Dr Haji Semboja presented research findings of the study on youth employment policy in East Africa and looked on factors such as employability, job creation, entrepreneurship and equal opportunities for all. “It was discovered that most of the youth in the country lack employability skills, career planning and even the kind of entrepreneurs are not productive. However, the economy of the country is still dependent on agriculture and not other sectors to give enough space for opportunities,” said Dr Semboja. He observed that most of the existing business opportunities are not sustainable and taxable; they are therefore not very helpful to the economy of the country. On his part, the Country Director of TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), the co-organisers of the conference, Mr John Ulanga, stressed the need for producing quality and standard products. “Seventy per cent of the women doing business in our country borders are conducting informal trade due to lack of awareness on proper modalities,” noted Mr Ulanga. He highlighted on the need for innovative business undertakings to be able to make transformation and boost the economy.