Concern over unhygienic running of city abattoir

MEAT consumers in Dar es Salaam are at risk of being infected by abdominal disease after the survey carried out by this paper has discovered that, the situation of the Ukonga abattoir compound in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam region is extremely in dirty condition. A spot check at the scene early this week can reveal that, there are heaps of scattered cow dug which have been left uncollected for long, thus this situation is likely to pose health risks to skinned meat within the compound. Apart from uncollected filth, the slaughtering of cattle is still being done in the traditional way. The survey has discovered that, usually slaughtered cattle are being hooked up on strong iron bars inclined over the roofs in a slaughter house for safety as well as to let skinners carry out their duties more smoothly and with care. But at Ukonga abattoir things are different as skinners do carry out their work of skinning the slaughtered cattle over the dirty floor which is spotted with blood all over. The blood draining trenches through which the abdominal heaps of cattle dug is forced through are old and needs minor repair, these seems to have not been repaired for long. The heaps around are disposed off in unsanitary manner within the compound as there is no underground sewerage tanks into which to dispose such refuse. But instead, they have deliberately left the stinking heap in an open space giving unpleasant bad smell, an aspect that is posing a health threat to people as well as residents living closer to the abattoir who are occasionally are inconvenienced by such a horrible smell. The practice is against the health directives and contrary to the rules and regulations imposed by the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) officials, who have been insisting on the maintenance of good environmental conditions by disposing sewerage and refuse in a sanitary manner. When contacted for comments, the Secretary of the union of owners of the abattoir popularly known by its Swahili acronym 'UWEMA' Mr. Hamisi Lemgo said in an interview early this week in Dar es Salaam that, his organization is currently faced with financial squeeze an aspect that makes them to be unable to meet other important operational activities required to be done within the abattoir. However he has expressed their concern over their failure to keep clean the compound citing low daily revenue which his union currently gets is not enough to incur all the overhead expenses required after being calculated by the Ilala municipal council who scoops a lion share of the daily collections. He says their collections are counted from the number of cattle which are being slaughtered per day, which according to him range between 200 and 250. Each cattle is charged with Tsh. 4,000 and out of this his union earns Tsh. 1,200 only as calculated per every head of cattle. This is approximately 20 percent of the total revenue. With these charges therefore, his union earns Tsh. 7.2 million per month, the amount which he says is not sufficient to cater for the entire needs within the abattoir. This has been existing for the last four years now_, he said in great dismay adding that, the municipal council has refused to increase the charge rates despite of their request to do so as they could be able to get enough money in order to cater for other basic operational demand in the abattoir. He clarified that, apart from looking at the general cleanliness of the compound, his union has to cover other expenses such as payments of the basic utilities such as water supplies, electricity and pay for security workers and people whom they hire to collect the filth. According to him, his organization has tried in vain to let the government through Ilala municipal council to increase its current revenue status saying that the money which is currently paid to them is low and not enough to overcome all the expenses required to be incurred as operational costs in their abattoir. The Ukonga abattoir is the oldest among the total four slaughter houses found in the city of Dar es Salaam. It has a large compound with three slaughter houses which are located within a short walking distance of about 30 meters away. They have old dilapidated roofing constructed in early 1970s.

TIC to focus agriculture as the main priority for national investment

THE Government has reiterated its need to continue putting more efforts in agricultural investment potentials as the sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, an official from Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has said. The Acting Executive Director of the TIC, Raymond Mbilinyi said in an exclusive interview last week in Dar es Salaam that, his office has laid down strategies with more efforts to be concentrated in Southern agricultural growth corridor which enjoins all regions within Southern Highlands of Tanzania. He said the government has opened an avenue to both local and foreign investors to come and invest in sugar industry and other food stuffs so as to minimize the current high inflation rate that has hit the nation as it was declared by President Jakaya Kikwete in 2011. The move is to implement the goals set by the government to ensure an effective implementation of the five years economic development plans under the national investment program which ends in the year 2016. The TIC boss noted that, under the sector’s improvement, he mentioned horticulture and livestock development, bearing in mind that agricultural sector is the biggest sector which has employed a greater number of Tanzanians and because of this fact it needs a boost. He said adding that, the government is also looking for ways on how to promote it. Other areas of investments he mentioned are in rail, port and airports infrastructure which he said this requires mostly expansion and rehabilitation to the utmost standards required. He said the rehabilitation of berth 1 to 7 and 13 and 14 at the Dar es Salaam port. These would help increase transit trade between landlocked countries neighboring Tanzania. For rail infrastructure, the government is planning to build a new railway link between Tanzania and Rwanda, which will start from Isaka in Shinyanga dry port to Kigali city in the Republic of Rwanda. Power areas, an emphasis is also required in order to increase power distribution and generation. “Other important things we need are to improve Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) services in Dar es Salaam by rehabilitating terminal two and build terminal 3”, he said adding that, this will increase the capacity of cargo handling. So in these logistics infrastructure would proceed so far. Development on human capacity such as training in specialization to human training, this is another area that would be concentrated within the five development plan. The TIC boss said this when he had officially launched a Dar es Salaam based full service locally established legal investment firm known as Forbix Attorneys which has a vast expertise in legal activities in the practice areas of banking, corporate, business and government affairs.. The firm was established in February this year and works with a view to carry out legal matters within the country and outside. The firm serves its clients in diverse sectors including private business, government and non-profit institutions in countries throughout East and Central Africa region. According to the Managing partner of the Forbix Attorneys Nasra Hassan, the firm has exceptional experience in banking services from domestic and international lending to debt, equity and derivate securities. The company provides superior services to clients in the public and private sectors under Private Public Partnership (PPP) competitive spirit and deals with other finance contributors in various industries. The firm’s services includes the following activities, Bankruptcy and financial restructuring, capital markets, insolvency and receivership, mortgage, debentures, charge documents and guarantees, securities, tax, trade and commodity finance. Forbix attorneys business lawyers are known for facilitating and adding value to a broad scope of business transactions, whether in counseling new business in formation and early growth strategies or assisting established companies in restructuring top increase profitability.

TIC says Tanzanian lawyers still inadequate

THERE is absolutely fewer numbers of private advocates and legal companies which have invested their activities in Tanzania, an aspect that has caused a great deficit of lawyers in legal sector in the country, an official from Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has said. The Acting Executive Director of the TIC, Raymond Mbilinyi said early this week in Dar es Salaam that, approximately 2,000 Tanzanian lawyers have invested in legal activities, noting that the number is few compared to Kenya which has about 10,000 lawyers. The number surpasses that one of Tanzania five times. In view of this, the TIC boss has urged local Tanzanian lawyers and advocates to invest more in legal sector as the doors are opened by his institution this time around when the five East Africa countries are about to sign a joint common market cooperation, and once this is effected, foreigners are likely to invade Tanzania legal market. The TIC boss made the remark during the official launching ceremony of a newly local established legal investment firm known as Forbix Attorneys for which he was the guest of honour. The ceremony took place early this week in Dar es Salaam. Forbix Attorneys is a Dar es Salaam based full service investment firm with three lady partners who have a vast expertise in legal activities in the practice areas of banking, corporate, business and government affairs. Established in February this year, the firm works out legal matters within the country and outside. The firm serves its clients in diverse sectors including private business, government and non-profit institutions in countries throughout East and Central Africa region. According to one of the Managing partners, Nasra Hassan, the firm has exceptional experience in banking services from domestic and international lending to debt, equity and derivate securities. Other partners are Helen Makanza and Khadija Sijaona. The company provides superior services to clients in the public and private sectors under Private Public Partnership (PPP) competitive spirit and deals with other finance contributors in various industries. The firm’s services includes the following activities, Bankruptcy and financial restructuring, capital markets, insolvency and receivership, mortgage, debentures, charge documents and guarantees, securities, tax, trade and commodity finance. Within its shortest time of its operations, Forbix Attorneys business lawyers are known for facilitating and adding value to a broad scope of business transactions, whether in counseling new business in formation and early growth strategies or assisting established companies in restructuring top increase profitability.

TABOA threatens to go on strike

TRANSPORT services for upcountry passengers is bound to be paralyzed, leaving passengers stranded at the main bus stands following threats by Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA) who plans to go on strike at anytime from now. It has been learnt. Sources from within TABOA’s management have said that, the reasons for this is to press for the fulfillment of their long standing problems and demands which have not yet been found a solution by the government despite of their promise made over a year ago. TABOA’s Secretary General, Ernea Mrutu said the executive committee meeting of his association had reached a decision to go on strike if their demands were not yet fulfilled as required. “That is the only solution into getting our problems solved” he said though he declined to disclose the actual date and time when asked. However, he noted that the government has repudiated their requests despite of the several reminders which his association has sent to them in order to see the immediate implementation but to no avail. He further said, the association is shocked by the government’s failure of finding a lasting solution and how sluggish are some of its leaders who seem to be reluctant to make a quick decision on the matters affecting them. However, he said adding that this is a violation of their legal rights accusing the implementers to have turned a blind eye to their most crucial problems hampering their daily operational activities. Such claims he said had been presented in a meeting with other transport agents after the strike in early May 2011 which was amounted by the drivers through their umbrella body – Bus Drivers Association (UWAMATA) of upcountry drivers at Ubungo upcountry bus terminal in Dar es Salaam. He stated that drivers were not given contracts by their employers, forcing them to work all through without knowing their benefits upon termination. Drivers were seeking the support of the government to pin down owners of the buses to pay them accordingly, saying it was not easy for the drivers alone to win the war. This was during the time when Omary Nundu was in tenure of the office in his capacity as a Transport Minister. He said adding that, in the last six hour drivers’ strike were pressurizing for their employment and salary increase to the tune of Sh. 350,000 and other fringe benefits such as Health insurance. According to him, he thought the government would have turned to hear of their grievances as the driver’s strike had opened a momentum of understanding to their most troubled problems but he is dismayed as nothing has been fulfilled at all by the concerned bodies. He listed down the most troubled issues faced by members of his association (Transporters) as there are many check points along upcountry main roads whereby police are inconveniencing their operations. He also mentioned various stations which have been established by district authorities through which the main roads passes, saying that are nuisance as they charge the operators taxes for their district councils. Each station charges differently at a rage of between Sh. 1,000 and Sh. 2,000 per each bus that passes through. Inconveniences encountered by bus operators at various upcountry inspection points which according to him is done without proper legal procedures. There are a number of check points almost in every municipal council and town council through which these buses passes as some are doubtful for they are not officially registered They had written a letter to the office of the Minister responsible for Regional administration and local government Authority for inquiry about the matter but in vain. However, efforts to contact the newly appointed Minister for this ministry for clarification, Hawa Ghasia proved futile. However, an official who preferred anonymity could not say anything as he was not a spokesman of the ministry when contacted. Another trouble is the issue of touts at most bus stands, this he said their presence has been causing a chaotic operation. Citing Ubungo bus terminal for being the most notorious and the government has failed to remove them as per the agreement reached in their last meeting. “The removal of touts in most congested upcountry bus stands such as Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, is not yet accomplished despite of the order issued by the former transport minister, Omary Nundu”. He said claiming that, the situation is not yet fully controlled as they are inconveniencing passengers. He claimed that, the terminal belongs to the government through Kinondoni Municipal council, therefore it’s their duty to make sure that the area is calmed as for them (TABOA) have hired the place and each transporter pays taxes as levies charged at the terminal. Another issue is concerned with the increase of bus fare in order to match with the inconsistent rise of fuels as regularly announced by EWURA. But the government does not want to hear their cries. He noted that, the continued stance of Surface and Marine Authority (SUMATRA) and its failure to release new up country bus fares has pinned down upcountry bus transporters, adding that all these proposals have not yet been implemented. Cornered by the writer of this news to verify the truth about the matter, the Manager Public Affairs of SUMATRA Mr. David Mziray noted that, his organization was currently organizing the reviews sent by DARCOBOA after which they would embark on the upcountry transport agents systematically.

NIDA to start individual registration for national IDs in Dar suburbs

NATIONAL Identification Authority (NIDA) has alerted residents of Dar es Salaam city to reveal out all those people whom they suspect to be foreigners during the process of registering people in their areas for national identification cards. An official with the Authority said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that, the registration exercise which is expected to take place by end of this month for Dar residents will be preceded by preliminary education to be issued on the importance of the exercise to the people, civil society groups and human rights activists. NIDA’s Head of Information, Thomas William told journalists who attended a five hour seminar organized by his organization that, the move behind is to get genuine people and the right citizens who are directly concerned with the national IDs and nobody else. He said the exercise will be carried in a unique manner that will involve walking along passing through one house after the other. In view of this, he has asked people to give moral cooperation in order to ensure a good success. “The work will be done between NIDA office in collaboration with the executive ward government secretaries working in various city’s suburbs” he said adding that they will all take records and relevant details of prospective applicants in a permanent registration book which will be issued by NIDA. He said after the important details are taken, applicants will be issued with an application form to fill on which their details will be taken for scrutiny. National IDs were expected to be issued on April 26 this year, as a pilot project starting with security forces and civil servants living in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and residents of Kilombero, Morogoro Region, but challenges related to forged school certificates and other shortcomings forced the authority to postpone the issuance date. According to him, elements of forgery of school certificates, and other documentations among other factors, have made the work more than difficult. He said adding that the authority has failed to beat their target because of these shortfalls. He said the verification of the documentations detailing the records of applicants will be checked and approved by the Immigration department to verify the nationality of a person, while RITA will be concerned with the verification of somebody’s age, after these verifications are cleared, the ID will b e issued free of charge. Describing the importance of the national IDs, he said that, these are many and noted the most important one is to get to know one’s nationality and the physical location including places of domicile. All these would be included and put in a special database for reference.Realising the importance of the National IDs, the Government of United Republic of Tanzania established the National Identification Authority (NIDA) on 1st July, 2008 in order to let Tanzanians known among the five East African countries and even to overseas countries. NIDA’s Executive Director, Dickson Maimu was recently quoted in Dar es Salaam as saying that, the process of engaging the company that would produce the IDs was in the final stages. The $176 million (about Sh200 billion) project has been delayed for decades now with documents, meetings and tendering moving from one office to the other.

CHADEMA urges its legislators to voice people’s concern in Parliament

THE Opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) has ordered its incumbent 65 legislators to discuss the inflation issues in the Parliament during the National budget session which is scheduled to start three weeks from now. The party’s Secretary General, Dr. Wilbroad Slaa gave the call yesterday in Dar es Salaam noting that, the current inflation rate which stands at 20 percent rate has hit the low income people to the extent that the situation has driven them into severe extreme poverty. Dr. Slaa made the concern when he was addressing a public rally during the launch of the party’s national campaign aimed at putting awareness to the people on the whole issue of constitutional review process which the commission appointed by the President Jakaya Kikwete is going to collect people’s views countrywide starting in early next June. He said boasting that, it was CHADEMA which had the audacity in Parliament to speak on behalf of the people in the country, despite of having low numbers of both appointed and elected legislators. However, he said that CHADEMA’s policies stands for the rights of people’s problems and other social and economic grievances currently facing the majority of the low income earners in the country. He wonders as to why the government led by the ruling CCM does not take any interest to rectify the alarming situation in order to save its people over the issue, and in view of this, he has asked CHADEMA’s legislators to take on the responsibility to ward off such grievances in parliamentary debate sessions. He wondered about the recent appointment of the new cabinet ministers after the reshuffle made by President Kikwete saying that it had many ministers, saying that, that by having such a great number of ministers in the country was to increase unnecessary expenditure an aspect that is a misuse of people’s taxes. He has blamed the government for increasing the price of kerosene without noticing that the commodity is being used by people in rural areas who covers the majority of the country’s population. He has dismissed the reasons earlier issued by the government after it had increased the price when it said that, it was done on pretext to defend diesel which was being adulterated into higher percentage rate. However, “that should have not been the reason” he said, adding that, it was not the way of defending people’s rights in anyway.

TIC to focus agriculture as the main priority for national investment

THE Government has reiterated its need to continue putting more efforts in agricultural investment potentials as the sector is the backbone of the country’s economy, an official from Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has said. The Acting Executive Director of the TIC, Raymond Mbilinyi said in an exclusive interview last week in Dar es Salaam that, his office has laid down strategies with more efforts to be concentrated in Southern agricultural growth corridor which enjoins all regions within Southern Highlands of Tanzania. He said the government has opened an avenue to both local and foreign investors to come and invest in sugar industry and other food stuffs so as to minimize the current high inflation rate that has hit the nation as it was declared by President Jakaya Kikwete in 2011. The move is to implement the goals set by the government to ensure an effective implementation of the five years economic development plans under the national investment program which ends in the year 2016. The TIC boss noted that, under the sector’s improvement, he mentioned horticulture and livestock development, bearing in mind that agricultural sector is the biggest sector which has employed a greater number of Tanzanians and because of this fact it needs a boost. He said adding that, the government is also looking for ways on how to promote it. Other areas of investments he mentioned are in rail, port and airports infrastructure which he said this requires mostly expansion and rehabilitation to the utmost standards required. He said the rehabilitation of berth 1 to 7 and 13 and 14 at the Dar es Salaam port. These would help increase transit trade between landlocked countries neighboring Tanzania. For rail infrastructure, the government is planning to build a new railway link between Tanzania and Rwanda, which will start from Isaka in Shinyanga dry port to Kigali city in the Republic of Rwanda. Power areas, an emphasis is also required in order to increase power distribution and generation. “Other important things we need are to improve Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) services in Dar es Salaam by rehabilitating terminal two and build terminal 3”, he said adding that, this will increase the capacity of cargo handling. So in these logistics infrastructure would proceed so far. Development on human capacity such as training in specialization to human training, this is another area that would be concentrated within the five development plan. The TIC boss said this when he had officially launched a Dar es Salaam based full service locally established legal investment firm known as Forbix Attorneys which has a vast expertise in legal activities in the practice areas of banking, corporate, business and government affairs..The firm was established in February this year and works with a view to carry out legal matters within the country and outside. The firm serves its clients in diverse sectors including private business, government and non-profit institutions in countries throughout East and Central Africa region. According to the Managing partner of the Forbix Attorneys Nasra Hassan, the firm has exceptional experience in banking services from domestic and international lending to debt, equity and derivate securities. The company provides superior services to clients in the public and private sectors under Private Public Partnership (PPP) competitive spirit and deals with other finance contributors in various industries. The firm’s services includes the following activities, Bankruptcy and financial restructuring, capital markets, insolvency and receivership, mortgage, debentures, charge documents and guarantees, securities, tax, trade and commodity finance. Forbix attorneys business lawyers are known for facilitating and adding value to a broad scope of business transactions, whether in counseling new business in formation and early growth strategies or assisting established companies in restructuring top increase profitability.