Former leaders frowns upon the ongoing conflicts in Africa region

There is no way if Africa will not unite, there will be endless conflict across the region. These were the words formerly uttered by Tanzanian father of the nation the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in his mobilization movements of uniting the people of Tanganyika during in his early campaigns of freeing the country out of the colonial yoke. Contrary to his saying, a lot has emerged in Africa region fifty years down the lane, it is as if Satan the devil has ascended on the earth easting the region. It is said that, selfishness is an outdated attitude that all African leaders should get rid of and respect their countries’ constitutions on term limits, former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa has said. Addressing reporters ahead of the official opening of the African Leadership Forum 2017 in Johannesburg -South Africa, Mr Mkapa said regional bodies -- the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) have a role to play in seeking amicable solutions in areas of conflicts. “We need readiness to take measures. We also need brave African leaders to address issues of marginalised democracies that subject Africans to deaths and turmoil. Leaders should consult different cadres before coming to a certain decision,” he said. Mr Mkapa warned that unless African leaders speak with one voice and take bold decisions to solve conflicts in countries like South Sudan and Libya, instability would continue affecting the continent, sometimes creating rooms to loot resources from the affected countries. The former president said some conflicts have remained unsolved for years due to African leaders being disorganised and lacking coordination among themselves. Former President Jakaya Kikwete urged the AU to boldly continue addressing the Libyan conflicts, which have so far claimed many lives.

Former African leaders lined up for discussion in Johannesburg-South Africa.

Nigerian former leader Olusegun Obasanjo said that unless African leaders took the bull by its horns, more conflicts might continue emerging in the continent, citing efforts by African leaders to contain Charles Taylor in Liberia for reference. His argument was supported by former President of Tunisia Mohamed Marzouki who insisted that countries facing conflict in Africa should always resolve to hold national dialogue meetings, which bring together all cadres, including the opposition and other parties to the conflicts. “If convened before eruption of catastrophes, national dialogues put conflicting parties at mutual understanding. The meetings should not wait for issues to get out of control,” he warned. Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah remained optimistic that Africa was leading towards the direct direction, when former leaders meet and commend ways of creating peace and stability in Africa. She insisted on the AU to work on the sources of conflicts in search of permanent solutions to problems facing Africa, the view that was supported by Professor Funmi Olonisakin, the Director of the African Leadership Centre, King’s College London, saying that regional cooperation was vital in bringing about implementable democratic process. The African Leadership Forum has brought together former Heads of State as well as leaders from all sectors across Africa to discuss pressing issues affecting Africa’s sustainable development. The African Leadership Forum 2017 aims at building on three previously successful dialogues convened by President Mkapa. The meetings focused on Africa’s transformation, integration in Africa and African business. Mr Mkapa and his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki co-chair this year’s forum. The dialogue focuses on the complex dynamics that have caused continuous conflicts and deliberate on how to practically and realistically navigate through them for lasting peace. According to the Uongozi Institute, Peace and security in Africa is of great concern not only because of the fatal consequences that result from its absence but because much of Africa shall continue to be very poor without sustained peace and security. Further, to achieve the goals of effective integration, unity and sustainable development within and amongst African nations, it is fundamental that there is peace and security.

Why Ngorongorto crater becomes the famous tourist destination centre in Africa

The Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s only wildlife filled with unbroken caldera has emerged the top tourism revenue source, raking in over 100bn/-, annually. According to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) Conservator, Dr Fred Manongi, so far Ngorongoro, one of the World Heritage Sites, tops other attractions and national parks in the country, receiving some 600,000 tourists per year. The 102bn/- collected in the 2016/17 fiscal year has set a historical record, said Dr Manongi, noting that in the 2015/16 year, the authority collected 70bn/-, a slight increase from the previous year’s 60bn/-.Ngorongoro has therefore beaten Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Africa’s highest peak, whose revenues are estimated at slightly over 80bn/- per annum. “We’ve almost doubled our collec tions in just two years... credits go to the government, which has successfully promoted the country’s tourism potential abroad, leading to an influx of foreign visitors here,” said Dr Manongi. A recent move to collect gate and concession fees through Electronic Payment System, replacing the old analogue cash-in-hand modes of transaction, has also contributed to increased revenues. 

Dr.Manongi being interviewed by TBC crew

Dr Manongi said the NCAA will further ensure that conservation of flora and fauna remains the top priority in the area, the only location on earth where the endangered and rare black rhinos roam freely. Ngorongoro, which shares the Serengeti eco-system with Maswa Game Reserve, Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara, features a number of attractions, including three craters; the main Ngorongoro, Empaakai and  Olmoti Craters. With over 65 lions, Ngorongoro boasts of the highest concentration of the big cats, 500 hyenas, abundant wildebeests, buffaloes, including the rare white buffalo, flamingos, elephants, hippos in the crater lake, large snakes, warthogs and zebras. Ngorongoro Crater is the only place where all the bigfive -- Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes and Rhinos can be seen in a single game drive in less than two hours. Giraffes are on the other hand found up on the caldera rim. Unlike other national parks, Ngorongoro is a controlled conservation area operating as multi-use and unique location combining the protection of wildlife while also allowing human habitation, strictly for the native Maasai.

Magufuli condemns PCCB on slow pace follow up on issues

President John Magufuli yesterday condemned the slow pace on investigations and prosecution of graft cases, directing the anti-corruption body to discharge the cases, swiftly. If we curb corruption by 80 per cent, we will be in a position to solve many challenges facing our country; the efforts we are taking now to tame the vice are already attracting admiration from development partners and investors,” Magufuli remarked at the State House in Dar es Salaam.  Speaking after swearing-in the newly appointed Deputy Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Brigadier General John Mbungo, Dr Magufuli said swift investigations and prosecutions would manifest the government resolve to tackle the social vice.  “I have committed myself to squarely deal with corruption and I want you to do the same in your workplaces. I want as many corrupt people as possible jailed, I know there are people who do not want to hear that but it’s what I want.  “The corrupt, it seems, have turned themselves into tutors of others... if we jail them all, we will get rid of the vice. Fear nobody in this fight. Corruption is a sin. Any corrupt person is not only my enemy but the enemy of the state,” Dr Magufuli told the new appointee and other leaders who attended the ceremony.  He expressed his regret that Tanzanians were facing shortage of medicines, better roads and other social services due to graft, saying it was high time the country became bribe-free. Dr Magufuli directed all leaders in the country to throw their weight in taming corruption and shield the country against the negative impacts of graft on the economy and social wellbeing. “If you look at all problems we are facing as a country today, ghost workers, drug dealings, fake certificates, shoddy contracts, fraud in subsidized farm inputs, injustice in courts of law, are because of corruption,” he said. 

President Magufuli in a light moment with military officers at State House in Dar es salaam yesterday.

But, he appreciated efforts which have been taken by the anti-corruption bureau, urging it to pull its socks and deal with all suspects of bribery dealings in accordance with the law. Shortly after he was sworn-in, Brig. Gen. Mbungo took the oath of integrity for public leaders, which was administered by the Commissioner of Ethics, Judge (Rtd) Harold Nsekela. The new appointee appreciated the appointment by President Magufuli and pledged to work with other leaders at PCCB to curb corruption in the country. Meanwhile, Dar es Salaam city has recovered 791m/- from corruption cases and yesterday added another impetus to the fight against the vice, by launching awareness campaign through the Rapid Transit Buses. The campaign, themed: ‘Penda Nchi Yako, Kataa Rushwa’ literally meaning, ‘Love your country, reject corruption’ was officially launched by the Minister of State in the President’s Office-Public Service and Good Governance, Angellah Kairuki. Dar es Salaam Regional Administrative Secretary Theresia Mbando, speaking at the event, said that during the 2016/17 fiscal year, PCCB in the region won 14 cases out of 21 cases filed in courts. She explained that from July last year to last month, PCCB received and worked on 220 corruption-related reports, out of which it probed 47 reports and forwarded the rest to other public institutions for actions. According to Ms Mbando, the PCCB submitted 34 files to the Director of Public Prosecutions, seeking approval to file cases in the courts against the culprits. The campaign will involve 60 buses with billboards bearing strong messages against corruption fixed on different parts of each bus, from interior to exterior parts, making them more visible. Treasury Registrar Dr Oswald Mashindano stated that since the campaign will involve moving billboards, each bus would manage to have the message reaching 300,000 people, daily. Brigadier General Mbungo said the campaign would cost about 223m/- out of which PCCB will contribute only 12.9m/- and UDART footing the rest.

Morogoro fatal accident deserve condemnation

At least ten people died in two separate road accidents in Morogoro region yesterday. In the first incident, seven people died instantly and 38 others were injured after a bus with registration number T915 BGF, Mfundo Express, plying between Ilonga and Morogoro Urban veered off the road and plunged into a basin at Ndororo hill, Chikuti village in Ulanga district’s Vigoi division. Ulanga District Commissioner Jacob Kassema told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that the deadly accident occurred at around 8.00am along Mahenge-Morogoro road. He explained that seven people died on the spot, with 38 injured, out of whom 18 were women and 20 men, including four children. The DC explained that of the 38 casualties, three in critical condition were rushed to St. Francis hospital in Ifakara while the rest were admitted to Ulanga district hospital. Mr Kassema said six of the deceased were female and one male, with six bodies identified by their relatives. 

People look at the ill-fated bus which was involved in accident in Morogoro yesterday,

Ulanga District Medical Officer Dr Rajab Risasi said that one of the deceased was a child and the driver of the bus. In another accident, three students of the Morogoro-based Kayenzi Secondary School died and 27 others injured after a minibus they were travelling in hit a train yesterday morning, Regional Police Commander Ulrich Matei confirmed.  The RPC said one of the deceased was identified as Monica Julius while the other two were not recognised. The bodies of the deceased are preserved at Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital, pending identification and burial arrangements.  “We are holding one Charles Petro, 39, driver of the ill-fated minibus for interrogation and further investigation before arraigning him in court … because the accident was caused by reckless driving at a railway crossing spot,” he said. He urged drivers and other road users to comply with road safety regulations to avoid accidents. Rehema Awadhi, living near the railway line said she woke up early yesterday and, as she prepared herself for her domestic chores at around 7:30am, she heard a terrible ‘bang’ followed with the pupils’ cries. She allegedly witnessed the train dragging the commuter vehicle for almost ten metres from her house. “It was terrible… I have never seen such suffering of little angels,” she narrated. Ms Awadhi said yesterday’s was the sixth accident since she started living at the area, blaming drivers who often ignore train alerts. She said, “I think there should be a gate, which the drivers will definitely observe… otherwise, many more will perish.”

Dodoma RC up in arms against regular school donation

DODOMA Regional Commissioner (RC) Jordan Rugimbana has banned all public primary schools heads across the region from asking parents for financial contributions, advising that anyone approached for a contribution should report the matter to the authorities. The RC made the directive during an impromptu visit at Chadulu Primary School in Ipagala ward following complaints from parents over frequent requests for contributions, saying the school should refund those parents. The ban comes after complaints from parents who were made to contribute up to 5,000/- for water, education service, exam fees for Standards Four and Seven pupils before they sat for their national examinations. 

Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC) Jordan Rugimbana 

Mr Rugimbana said any school in need of financial support should inform the district or regional authorities to get permit for such contributions, saying schools in Dodoma, in particular, should inform municipal director. Meanwhile, Chamwino district council – working with the UN World Food Programme - plans to introduce irrigation schemes in three villages to enhance food security within the district. Chamwino district council director Athumani Masasi said the irrigation scheme to benefit some 400 people in Fufu, Suli and Chiboli villages would enable the villagers to increase family income es. Mr Masasi noted that the project was now running full throttle following completion of a feasibility study for that purpose. He said further that Chamwino had since started implementing the project in Mvumi-Makulu village, all financed through US-based initiative christened Water for Food Institution