Tanzania plans to employ more magistrates

The government is planning to employ more magistrates to curb with the current shortages staff facing the judicial industry in the country, the Minister for Justice and Constriction Professor Palamagamba Kabudi has said. Prof. Kabudi was responding a question in parliament today which was raised by a special seat Gimbi Masaba (Chadema) who wanted to know when will the government build a regional court in Simiyu region. 

Minister for Justice and Constriction Professor Palamagamba Kabudi responding questions directed to his ministry in Parliament

Responding the question, Prof. Kabudi told the house that, the government is in the process to construct many courts in the country including the regional court in the newly established region of Simiyu. He said and added that, the government has also put in its strategic plans to reduce the work load of cases found in many courts in the country by increasing the employment of magistrates and judges in the country. Prof. Kabudi noted that, his ministry has already sent a request to the government employment agency to facilitate the move and give back the feedback during the coming financial year of 2018/19. He Also noted that, the construction of courts in the country will go alongside with the construction of a court houses in Ngara and Ukerewe districts which the minister noted that will be completed by 2020. Either minister Kabudi has confirmed that his minister would enhance training for the magistrates at Lushoto based judicial school so as to get more qualified trainees for the new posts.

Dr. Shein urges on adherence to ethical practices

The Zanzibar President  Ali Mohamed Shein graced the World Workers Day (May Day) in Pemba with a call on civil servants to observe ethics as well as work hard, as the government continued with a clean-up exercise that included identifying ghost workers and abolishing uncalled-for salary disparity in public offices. In his speech in Wete town, Pemba North, Dr Shein told the audience that braved a downpour that he was happy with the pace of social and economic development in the islands attributed to hard work and increasing financial discipline in public expenditure. “We have been doing all we can to ensure that the welfare of civil servants and employees in the private sector improves gradually. Salary increases and reforms in the public sector aims at improving working environment for all workers,” the President said. While pressing the private sector to adopt the basic salary of 300,000/= per month to match the government’s, ongoing salary review among executives in the government seeks to abolish disparity. We cannot allow a cleaner in institution X to be paid 900,000/= while someone doing the same job elsewhere is paid 300,000/=,” he said. Dr Shein said the ongoing reforms also included flushing out ghost workers, through verification of all civil servants.

Zanzibar President  Ali Mohamed Shein 

“I already have the report for this year. We must purge cheats and underperformers from the public service. I have directed that some of them be off-loaded and will not spare any civil servant in any position, who fails to perform,” he remarked emphatically. Mr Khamis Mwinyi Mohamed, Executive Secretary of the ‘Zanzibar Trade Union Congress (ZATUC), raised some concerns of the workers to the President, including resistance by some private sector employers to adjust their employees’ salaries in accordance with government’s directives. Mr Mohamed also asked the government for continued social welfare enhancement, to which Dr Shein responded: “I am advising all workers to pay attention to the 2018/2019 budget speech. It will contain most of the answers for your requests and if you are not satisfied come and see me at the State House.”

Information Minister to grace World Press Freedom day

The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe is expected to grace the climax of the World Press Freedom Day to be marked at national level here. Meanwhile, the National Assembly Speaker, Mr Job Ndugai is today to officiate at the media symposium on the status of the media in the country. 

The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe

Speaking to members of the Central Press Club (CPC) here yesterday, Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) Secretary, Mr Neville Meena said journalists will have time to discuss the challenges facing the industry taking into account the increasing use of social media. “A number of presentations are lined if there is a need to control social media and other related online media and come up with the best practice proposals,” he said. On her part, Vice-Chairperson of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), Ms Jane Mihanji said today’s symposium is an ideal platform for the media to discuss where they come from, where they are at present and a way forward and how the press clubs have been supporting them in addressing the challenges.

Dodoma RC directs a union on any rights

Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Binilith Mahenge, has directed trade unions in his region to report to his office employers who violate workers’ rights for legal action. Addressing workers on Labour Day Dr Mahenge, said employers who will not comply with the National Social Security Fund Act which directs them to contribute funds for the social security should be reported to his office.  “I want to get reports on employers who have the tendency of violating workers’ rights in my area,” said the RC, who graced the annual event held at Jamhuri Stadium to celebrate the achievements of workers. Under the theme “We support the Government’s Decision to merge pension funds”, this year’s Labour Day was aimed at reminding the employers on complying with the National Social Security Fund Act. Dr Mahenge assured the trade unions that the government would work on complaints lodged by workers to them, stressing that the authorities should be informed on the complaints for action. As for the presidential announcement that Dodoma should be upgraded to city, the RC said plans were underway to survey over 100,000 new plots of land in the new city, adding that the exercise to sell 18,000 plots announced recently was in progress. 

Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC), Dr Binilith Mahenge

 “The objective of the exercise to survey plots is to ensure that every Dodoma resident gets an opportunity to own a plot,” he said. Dr Mahenge appealed to the investors to invest in real estate business in Dodoma due to growing demand of residential houses in the wake of the government’s decision to relocate the seat of government to the Central Zone region. He also ordered public and private institutions to embark on the campaign to plant trees around their offices to support the campaign launched by Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan which is geared towards making Dodoma green. Earlier, Executive Committee Member of Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA), Mr Sostheness Ndishi, expressed concern on the government’s decision to merge pension funds, saying the workers were worried over their benefits. “Workers are worried over the calculation to be used to get their benefits in pension funds after the government merges the social security funds,” he said.  He also expressed gratitude to the government for starting to clear workers arrears comprising leave and relocation allowances.

Journalists asked to shun malpractices

Corruption has become one of the impediments to mankind development and hence the Journalists who are the eyes of the society have been called upon to shun corruption as they perform their duties for the benefit of the society.  The call was made by the Mara Regional Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) commander, Alex Kuhanda. He said that people rely on media as their main source of information and journalists in the country must avoid corruption at all costs, so as not to publish biased information which will destroy the society. "Pen can be a dangerous weapon if not well used, scars caused by a pen, take long to be repaired" insisted the RBC. He insisted that PCCB in Mara region will continue to work closely with media organs but any journalists accused of involving themselves in corruption conducts will be dealt in accordance with the law. Kuhanda also thanked Journalists in Mara region for giving information to PCCB on corruption acts which are worked upon by his bureau.

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN IRINGA TOWN TODAY

A ;procession of workers matching towards Samora Stadium in Iriga town today as part of the celebrations to mark this year's (2018) Workers' May day which at the national level have been climaxed in Iringa region. The procession was received by His Excellency President Dr. John Magufuli who addressed the nation.