Imported frozen fish dominates Magogoni International market in Dar

THE Magogoni International fish market in Dar es Salaam which initially was designed to promote small scale local fish traders is now dominated by cheap imported frozen fish popularly known as ‘Vibua Kamongo’ following low supply of the fish products currently facing the market, the Guardian can report. A spot check at the market on Wednesday this week can reveal that, the market is now faced with lower supply of fish products and instead it has been flooded with cheap imported frozen fish. Traders at the market have attributed the trend which has led to such a severe scarcity as mainly due to the sea weather change at this period following the prevailing wind seasons of the year calendar that swipes through during July and early September months respectively. Speaking in an exclusive interview, fishers say whenever they set up their fish nets on the sea during night hours are not settled properly and instead are waved away by water current an aspect that they end up catching small quantities which cannot accommodate the demand of consumers. Contacted for comments, the Fish Market Manager Solomon Mushi who admitted the prevailing situation at his market noted that, the situation is more aggravated by lack of storage facilities which have never been installed at the market compound despite promise by the government after the market was built in 2003 by help of Japanese government. He exclusively narrated that, the market is running short of fresh fish due to shortage of their supply as fishers sometimes are scared to catch more fish for fear of incurring losses in case are left overnight due to lack of storage facilities, and instead the imported frozen ones helps to subsidize the incurring shortages. Elaborating on the cheap imported fish, he said that are being imported mostly by Tanzanians of Arab and Asian origin and some few local traders from Japan, Yemen, Hong Kong, China and India. These have been licensed by the government through the ministry of Fisheries. Attributing to the rising trend, the Director in-charge of Fisheries development in the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries Hosea Mbilinyi said that, the ministry issues import licenses to fish traders owing to the shortages of fish products currently produced in the country. He said on Thursday this week most Tanzanians love fresh fish caught from various waters in the country, but since their quantities is less to meet the required demand consumers have no choice except to rely on imported fish which to a certain advantage are sold at cheapest price rates. 

Fish being auctioned at Magogoni International Fish Market in Dar es Salaam.

When asked why the government issues imports licenses to fish traders he noted that, ‘there is no way to avoid importations owing to the incurring shortages of the fish products from waters  in most parts of the country which do not cater for the need of consumers in most parts of the country. He noted that, with the latest statistics made available by the ministry shows that, the annual production of fish in the country stands at 375.1 million kilogrammes, out of which about 38.5 million kilogrammes were exported outside the country. He said there is a steady rate of exportation of fish products regardless of losses and destruction that occurs in the process. In view of this an average consumption of individual in the country stands at 7.4 kilogrammes per person per year. This is a very small quantity compared to what the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) suggests that the per capital fish consumption for every individual is 18 kilogrammes of fish product per year. “In order to bridge the existing gap, the government has allowed importation of fish products in large quantities in order to cater for the need that is arising now and then”, he said. Citing the fish production rate in the country, he noted that ‘latest statistics by the ministry shows that a total of 6.6 million kilogrammes of fish were imported into the country. This is equivalent to 1.9 per cent of the total fish being produced in national waters in the country. He elaborated reasons that made Tanzania to join World Trade Organization (WTO)  and accepted the protocol introduced by the organization and the free trade area of the SADC regional states that one of the reasons is sensitize the existing trade ties between the countries. He also noted that, Tanzania must accept the importation whatsoever and has no way to avoid and in case it does. The countries signed in the WTO and SADC regional states will also be in a position to prevent Tanzania fish exports an aspect that is likely to ruin national economy. However, he has assured Tanzanians that the imported frozen fish are safer and fit for human consumption bearing the fact that, during the importation process, the bulk is normally inspected by specialized national bodies such as the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) at every entry points. Other bodies he mentioned are Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the National Atomic Agency whose roles together is to ensure the quality of fish that had been fished out in a safe and in a scientific manner to avoid suspicion to consumers. Other government bodies are TRA and security agencies.

No potentials on gas revenues in Kilwa and Mtwara district councils-Study

HOPES by Tanzanians that revenues out of gas production would help transform lives of millions of people in the country might hit a snag after the study has discovered that, the service levy paid is too minimal compared to other income generating activities in areas where its production has picked up. The Professor of economy Prosper Ngowi of the Morogoro based Mzumbe University made a concern yesterday in Dar es Salaam in his study report when contributing to a debate on a topic titled, “Tanzania’s gas economy: Examining local and national perspectives” which was presented for discussion at Breakfast talk organized by Policy Forum held at British Council. In his study report titled, ‘‘Service levy revenue from gas companies in Kilwa and Mtwara District Councils’ Prof. Ngowi has disclosed that the two districts which are endowed with natural gas reserves receives lesser amount paid as service levy by Pan-African Energy Company Ltd and M & P Company. Initially the Pan-African Energy firm was paying the levy at Ilala District Council in Dar es Salaam region for reasons that had stated earlier that it was where it is registered, but later the Ministry of Energy and Minerals ordered the diversion of such funds to Kilwa district whereby the firm is currently doing its business activities in gas as in accordance to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1980. The firm was tasked by the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) to deal with gas business activities in the district over seven years ago and is required to pay 0.3 percent of the service levy attained out of the company’s gross annual sales as stipulated in Local Government Finance Act of 1982. Findings by Professor Ngowi show that, Kilwa District Council has received a total of Sh. 1.1 billion for the service levy from the company from April 2012 and July 2014 which is equivalent to the annual average rate of Sh. 391.1 million. Likewise, study findings at Mtwara District Council show that during the same trading period, the council received a total of Sh. 93 million from M and P Company for gas production at Mnazi Bay.  This is less compared to other sources of revenues such as Cashew nuts being the main source of income generating fund for the people and which has produced a whooping Tsh. 932 million in 2014/15 trading period alone. Revenue incomes of the same crop as indicated in figures for the preceding years put in brackets are  2014 (Tshs. 358 million), in 2013 (Tsh. 337 million) and in 2012 (Tsh. 1.1 billion) whereas in 2011 (Tsh. 450 million) Professor Ngowi noted in his study report that, other companies which he could not mention re at exploration stage and that are not allowed to pay gas service levy yet. 

Exploration equipment for gas doing the work at the sea off shore in Mtwara region.

However, he further noted that the Mtwara District Council stands to potentially get huge amount of gas service levy when mass production starts based on ongoing explorations. Earlier, discussants over the topic poured much blame to the government when the topic was put across to the audience for discussion, with some saying that, the government is not serious and open with the gas business activities and its ongoing exploration. Contributed in the debate, Flaviana Charles a Programme officer of the Legal Human Rights Centre (LHRC) noted that, if Tanzanians citizens would not be careful the same gas will be like what is still in a nutshell with the minerals such as gold. Flavian who is also the Vice-President of Tanganyika Law Society is of the view of the fact that there is a need to review various gas contracts which might have been put in place and see if Tanzanians will benefit from the natural rich resource. Rose Tesha, a progtramme officer of VSO Tanzania Ltd suggested that, the government should look at other means to increase revenues and concentrate on small scale income generating activities rather than giving hopes to achieve benefits on gas whose destiny is yet to be known among Tanzanians. A retired Professor Adolf Mascarenhas of the University of Dar es Salaam has called on Tanzanians to wake up and see to the production of gas in the country and have all the details in hands instead of politicizing about the matter which would later on put a nation in danger. He is of the opinion that, the politicians and the local people must work together in close ties to ensure that the natural wealth such as gas is publicly addressed and not leave the matter for the few to make decisions. The Managing Director of the Abnsaf Ltd, Aidan Rukonge said that, the government should not have concentrated much on exploration and rather it should have put in place strategic means that could enlighten Tanzanians on the basic use of gas. A renowned Engineer Steven Ndazi of Shaloom Engineering Company suggested that, politicians should get away with the exploration and mining activities of the underground natural wealth and leave the task to be guided b y experts. He is however, on the view of the fact that, the policies that the government has put in place are likely to spoil the future of Tanzanians as this has been compiled by politicians who are not knowledgeable with the related gas exploration activities going on in the country.

CRJE refutes reports of involvement on demolition contract deal

A renowned Chinese construction company based in Dar es salaam, CRJE (Eat Africa) Ltd a subsidiary company of the China Railway Group Ltd, has refuted reports of having involved in a contract deal alleged to have entered with the government of pulling down the 16 storey building that stands along Indira Gandhi Street in Dar es Salaam. Elaborating the matter the firm’s Managing Director Hu Bo said in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday this week that, his company has never signed a contract deal to pull down the defective building which was commissioned by the government two months ago. He told this blog in an exclusive interview that, his company had only taken hand in rescuing survivors who got stacked in a heap of debris of a building that stood opposite the present one after it had collapsed in March 2013 and killed 36 people on the spot. His clarification has come about just one week after this paper carried out a story attributed  by the Ilala Municipal Director that, the firm had pulled out of the contract and that the municipal council is currently looking for another strategic investor to do the job. He clarified that his company came for help and did the job voluntarily in favour of the government following the existing cordial relations which has long been maintained between Tanzania and China. A tragic incident occurred two days after a Chinese President Xi-Jinping had ended his State visit of the country and left for South Africa. He further noted that, when the information about the collapse of a building reached President jinping while in South Africa, he called on the Chinese Ambassador in the country Dr. Lu-Yuqing and ordered him to ensure that the CRJE company should give hand of help to rescue survivors. On receiving such a message from the Ambassador, he immediately sent a team of taskforce  with equipment like excavators and dumping trucks who worked tirelessly in collaboration with the group of Tanzania People’s Defense Forces (TPDF) who already had reported on the site for three days consecutively. “After the completion of the work President Jakaya Kikwete issued a certificate of appreciation to my company for the well done job”, he said while insisting that is how they had participated in the rescue operation and not in any way otherwise. The current building together with the collapsed one both are owned by a Dar es Salaam based business man Raza Huseein Damji with the National Housing Corporation (NHC) having a 25 percent share in the project and were both constructed by Lucky Construction Limited. Sou Consult Limited did the work of structural engineering while NHA Limited was cited as the architects. The government through the ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development ordered the building be pulled down at a cost of Sh. 1 billion after building experts discovered that it had developed some internal cracks. The government had discovered that, the two buildings with different construction permits had violated the laid down contractual rules and regulations as stipulated in their contracts whereby the owner erected a 16-storey structure instead of 10 floors as stipulated in the building permits which had been issued by Ilala Municipal Council authorities in Dar es Salaam region.  The mistake was discovered when the former building collapsed and during the investigations that lasted for a couple of one month later, building experts had discovered that the present building had been constructed at fault and recommended immediate demolition to prevent further losses.

59,667 poor families to benefit through Tasaf fund in Kagera region

A Total of 59,667 poor families in seven districts in Kagera region have been set to benefit in a programme aimed to empower poor families coordinated by Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) phase 3 out of the earlier 60,885families already registered. Speaking at the special inauguration meeting of the programme which was held at Uhuru grounds in Bukoba municipal council, Tasaf’ regional Coordinator  Efrazi Mkama said that the aim of the programme is to empower poor families financially to reduce the high rates of poverty stricken situation facing them He said the total beneficiaries of the programme in the region is relatively low due to a number of different reasons among them are deaths, immigration while some of them had refused to be registered on beliefs related to witch crafty. He said the programme will run for a period of 10 years and is divided in two phases of 5 years each, the aim of the government is to at least enable the poor families get their daily need and hence alleviate the life standards of the poor people and this will be a continuous process. “This work which has associated the poor community members is not the end as the exercise will continue among the communities so that they benefit”, the regional Tasaf coordinator said. He said the government has disbursed a total of Sh. 2.3 billion which has been paid to the 59,667 poor families which are payments for two months July and August 2015 respectively. Speaking at the inauguration, the Bukoba District Commissioner Jackson Msome, whop represented the Kagera Regional Commissioner John Mongella, called on the people to join hands in the implementation of this programme so that it might become more efficient to the needy people. However, he cautioned people not to accept other people’s ideas who do not want such kind of social development activities such as this one not to happen in their areas and cited reasons that the aim of the government is to upgrade people’s life

PM: Govt looks for the possibility of its Diaspora to vote in general election

PRIME Minister Mizengo Pinda has said that the government is looking for a permanent solution which 

would enable Tanzanians living in the diaspora to cast their vote wherever they are during the general elections 

of October this year. The PM made a statement on Wednesday this week in Uganda when answering questions 

of Tanzanians who lives in Uganda at a luncheon party which they had organized at Serena Hotel in Kasmpala city.

 “We as a government we really wanted the process to be completed on time so that all Tanzanians living in the 

Diaspora are participating in the general elections, but when our talks with the National Electoral Commission

(NEC) came to discover that it couldn’t be so owing to the fact that, it was impossible to send out of the country 

the Voter Registration Machines used for registering people known as Biometric Voter Registration or BVR as the

registration is going on in the country”, he said. He said the government has not yet given up and that he himself is

optimistic that the government would work on it during another general election of 2020. 

Tanzania's Prime Minister Mr. Mizengo Pinda

Elaborating on the number of the voters in the country,, the PM clarified that initially the target was to register 24 million voters but

according to the statistics available and  experience which was attained within SADC region, the NEC advised

the government to set a target of not  exceeding 22 million people. “But as many of you might have heard, before the completion of the registration of the people in Dar es Salaam region alone which was the last in the series of

registration already we had surpassed the earlier target of 24 million voters”, he said. He said this is something to

be proud of because initially the process was marred with a number of discrepancies and many complaints  of 

people who thought that the exercise could not have been done correctly. The Premier arrived in Uganda on 

Wednesday this week at night for a one day visit to represent President Jakaya Kikwete who was invited to   

attend the commemoration of the 100 of the Uganda Scouts Association – (USA). The Ugandan President 

Yowerti Museveni is the custodian of the party