A relief for primary schools in Tanzania

At least 500 primary schools in three regions in Tanzania including Dodoma have improved sanitation infrastructure after receiving subsidies through the Health Promotion and Systems Strengthening (HPSS) project for the past five years. This was revealed last week by Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator of HPSS, Mr Ally Kebby, pointing out that the main goal of the project worth 1.8bn/- is to increase the quality of latrines at schools and household level. “ We’ve also managed to raise awareness on significant health issues and knowledge to improve health to three regions carrying out the project,” said Mr Kebby during Dodoma Regional Health Promotion meeting. HPSS is a project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in collaboration with the government of Tanzania and it has been implemented by Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Dodoma, Morogoro and Shinyanga. 

Students in a congested class following teachings

According to Mr Kebby, the project helps communities to take action in improving their hygiene and sanitation status to prevent illness and seek timely and appropriate health assistance. He pointed out the project is executed in 120 villages of seven districts in Dodoma Region, 21 in Bahi, 25 Chamwino, 18 Chemba, 15 Dodoma Municipality, 18 Kondoa, 22 Kongwa and 23 Mpwapwa district. Mr Kebby added that the project aims at improving access to quality and utilisation of health resources and services in Dodoma Region and arriving at an effective and well governed health system. Presenting report on the project, Dr Kate Molesworth, who is HPSS component expert, said HPSS project approach was to support the health system to become more responsive to the health needs and demands of the different population groups. “It aims at strengthening the demand side through health Students in a congested clads system strengthening in the region,” she observed. Dr Molesworth informed that HPSS in its Health Promotion component focuses on strengthening the engagement and capacities in health promotion of existing government staff such as Health and Community Development Officers and Assistant

Ndugai’s assures Tanzanians that he is fit

The speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai has assured Tanzanians that he has recovered and that he is now fit to continue with his job effectively and efficiently, after returning from India where he had been receiving treatment. Since last year, Mr Ndugai was outside parliament and had not presided over parliamentary sessions. Yesterday, the Speaker was delightfully welcomed by lawmakers who had missed his presence for long. Virtually, every MP who stood up in the debating chamber to make contributions started by welcoming the Speaker back to the parliament, wishing him well in the course of discharging his duties in the august House. Immediately after the Question and Answer session, Mr Ndugai thanked all Tanzanians who had prayed him when he was undergoing treatment in India. “I wish to thank all MPs, my electorate in Kongwa constituency, and all Tanzanians who remembered me through their prayers, and I can now tell you all that I have recovered,’’ he said. He further thanked Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson and all chairpersons of the House. The Speaker paid special tribute to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa who he said had regularly phoned him, to enquire about his health status. “Sometimes when you are seriously sick and you don’t have people closer to you, you feel like you will die tomorrow, but I thank the Prime Minister who called me on several occasions,’’ he said, amid cheers from other MPs.

Tanzania-Kenya launches a wildlife conservation project

Tanzania and Kenya have through the European Union (EU) backing launched three 85bn/- new wildlife cross-border projects. The EU Delegation to Tanzania and East African Community (EAC), together with EU Delegation to Kenya, Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism met here recently to launch the ambitious projects. The projects are funded under the 11th European Development Fund’s (EDF) Cross-Regional Wildlife Conservation Programme for Eastern and Southern African and Indian Ocean regions. Experts from Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, TAWA and Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) as well as representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Planning and East African Community gathered here for the occasion. EU Head of Natural Resources Section Jenny Correia Nunes said the EU has been supporting wildlife conservation efforts in Tanzania for decades, with the aim of boosting the domestic capacity to manage wildlife. “We as well support ant poaching drive and promote community participation. It is our hope that by the end of these projects all stakeholders will have the capacity to sustainably manage ecosystems and the wildlife they host and that the already good collaboration between Kenya and Tanzania in combating cross-border wildlife crimes is strengthened even further,” she said. The projects’ implementing partners are Vi Agro forestry, Oikos East Africa and Stichting IFAW. The launch also aimed at bringing together participants to exchange information among themselves and key stakeholders in the wildlife field and see how best to increase the projects’ effectiveness in wildlife protection. The projects also envisage improving livelihoods of the communities living in or adjacent to the trans frontier conservation areas through community involvement in conservation activities and strengthening cross-border collaboration. Participants were informed of the objectives of each project and how they will be implemented. 

They were also updated on the regional component that is implemented through the United Nations Organisation on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and which involves government stakeholders in combating wildlife crime. The EU has been a long-standing collaborator in wildlife conservation activities across the globe and particularly Tanzania. In her closing remarks, Ms Grace Aloyce from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Office of National Authorising Officer, said: “Sustainability of the efforts to combat wildlife crimes should go hand in hand with improvement of livelihoods of the adjacent communities. Incentives for community engagement in protection should outweigh the temptation to participate in poaching or degradation of wildlife habitats. Conservation is costly, financial contribution of the EU to this programme is highly appreciated. ” The regional programme has 12 projects implemented by civil society organisations focusing on community involvement in wildlife conservation and improved management of shared eco-systems and one project implemented through UNODC that involves government stakeholders with focus on law enforcement and enhanced anti-trafficking efforts. The whole programme has a financial window of 30 Million Euro (over 80bn/-) and it aims at strengthening Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) management and improved law enforcement on wildlife crime. The three regional wildlife cross-border projects that cover Tanzania and Kenya include the Greater Kilimanjaro initiatives to enhance community participation in sustainable conservation of the trans-frontier ecosystem and wildlife – implemented by Oikos East Africa and the Strengthening Community Support for Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Efforts in the Greater Kilimanjaro Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA)- implemented by Stichting IFAW as well as the Initiative for Conservation of Mara-Serengeti Transboundary Ecosystem– implemented by Vi Agro forestry.

Makonda’s call is overwhelmingly responded

Hundreds of women thronged the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner’s (RC) office yesterday with claims against their negligent partners in the upkeep of children. The desperate mothers defied the heavy rains that pounded many parts of the city and its environs, determined to meet RC Paul Makonda for help. Mr Makonda had on March 8, this year, speaking at the International Women’s Day celebrations, invited all women in the region who have been deserted by their parental partners to report to his office for legal assistance. Apparently, women in their hundreds made good of the RC invitation, thronging the office to register their claims. But, yesterday Mr Makonda invited men believing that they were raising children who are not their biological offspring to as well report at his office for support. The Ilala Boma grounds on which the RC office sits were filled to capacity with scores of women from different parts of the city arriving as early as 10:00 am, all with claims against the children’s fathers who have failed in their parental responsibilities. A lady, Ms Safina Muhamed was a centre of attraction at the RC office compound with her half-caste boy whom she said has been deserted by a Chinese national.   

A cross section of the Dar es Salaam women who are said to have been deserted by their spouses thronged at Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner's Office in Dar es Salaam to air out their grievances.

The photo of Ms Muhamed with the baby boy became viral in social networks. The woman told reporters that she met the Chinese when she was working at a construction company, Hainan, which has its main offices at Mwenge area in Dar es Salaam. “At that time, the company was constructing houses for the army at Gongo la Mboto. We lived together under one roof until I realised that I was pregnant. “When I delivered the baby, he used to provide for the baby but his working permit expired and left for China. He left me with phone contacts but since then we have not communicated,” said the seemingly troubled lady. Ms Muhamed was worried as to whether the father of the child was alive or dead, revealing that there are many women who were abandoned with children they sired with Chinese. The RC urged all women who have been deserted to turn up in big number, explaining that his office is well prepared to handle such cases. “The number of women who have turned up is high and this shows the magnitude of the problem and this is just the first day; we will have more five days to settle these issues,” he assured the women. Adding; “If there are men out there who think the children being claimed to be theirs are not then should as well report at my office for solution.” And, given the ongoing rains he advised mothers to leave the children at home and report with them when directed to do so at an appropriate time.

TRA collection has surpasses targets

Since the fifth phase government came into power, it has shown a tremendous development in tax collection and this is because it is so strict tyo ensure that everyone including campaniea pays taxes. This is very good indeed. Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has collected a total of 11.78tri/- in nine months from July to March of the 2017/18 Fiscal Year compared to 10.86tri/- gained in corresponding period during 2017/18 fiscal year. The collection, according to Taxman’s report released today (Tuesday), is an increase of 8.45 per cent compared to the corresponding period. The data made available to Daily News Digital indicates that December last year, the collection soared by 15.58 per cent to 1.64tri/- compared to only 1.41tri/- in the corresponding period. It further revealed that the month of September was not good for the taxman as its collection went down by 2.37 per cent compared to the same month of 2016/17 FY. But the Taxman improved the collection in the following six months and December was the best month since it managed to collect 1.64tri/-.