TBS rejects oil cargo at Dar port

TANZANIA Bureau of Standards (TBS) has rejected an oil cargo consignment aboard MT Alburaq ship amounting to 100,000 metric tones of diesel destined for Tanzania market due to failure to meet the required standards, it has been learnt. Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Petroleum Importation Coordinator Ltd (PIC) Michael Mjinja said recently in Dar es Salaam that, his organization received a letter from TBS on Thursday this week stating that it had stopped the owner Addax Oryx oil company from offloading the consignment at the port. He said Addax Oryx which won the 5th and the 6th oil marketing tender respectively, and in its last tender it loaded oil cargo to be transported into the country, and on reaching at Dar es Salaam port, the TBS officials who works in collaboration with other quality certifying companies such as the Independence Survey Ltd, discovered that the consignment did not conform to the required standards. Narrating about the incident, he said that, the rejected cargo consignment would be returned to its country of origin which he couldn’t disclose when asked but noted that, they are only looking at the bill of lading of the consignment. He also clarified that oil selling companies comes from Arabian countries in Middle East. “Following the incident which to a certain extent has tarnished a good name of the Addax Oryx which has won their tenders for three times, has to face a disciplinary action which he noted that is likely to be blacklisted from the main oil supplying companies in the country” he said. However, he said the decision by the PIC management is to stick to the rules and regulations governing petroleum importation procedures and that it would not hesitate to take disciplinary legal actions against the offenders who want to attempt to bend the contractual procedures for their own benefits.


Asked if the return of the consignment would affect the entire operational demand for the diesel in the country, he said that, there would be no any shortage of diesel oil whatsoever as the storage capacity in the country is measured in terms of stock which he said is enough to caster for the need in the country. He also noted that, his office is currently working over the issue and if possible take the necessary legal measures as per the contract with the oil marketing company says, and added that the contract would require the ordering company to return the fresh bulk alongside with the extra payment of $ 0.5 to be charged as fine in addition to every metric tones ordered. On December 4 this year the PIC suspended Geneva-based Addax Energy SA from tendering for the January, 2013 bulk oil purchases due to violation of regulations in the previous tender. The multinational company is said to have delayed delivery during the fourth tender. Such delays may result (again) into serious shortage of Petroleum products in the country Mjinja revealed last month during the previous 7th tender bids for oil supply for January, next year. According to him, tender period has been reduced to one month from two months with effect from Tender 4. PIC is now looking on having product based tenders instead of combi-cargo tenders. During tendering the PIC Tender committee overseeing the process declared Augusta Energy SA the winner to supply oil in January, next year. Meanwhile, a local Oil Marketing company -Gapco Tanzania Ltd, has won bulk procurement tender for the supply of fuel in the country scheduled for the month of February next year. The company was announced the winner yesterday in Dar es Salaam at a function of opening tender bids which was conducted by Petroleum Importation Corporation (PIC) at their office headquarters located along Nyerere Road. This is the first local company to have won such a tender which it had competed with other six oil marketing companies operating in the country. The companies are Augusta Energy SA, Addax energy SA, Vitol SA, Glencore energy UK Ltd, and Gunvor SA. Before he announced the winner, the Chairman of the tendering committee Nazir Hadji who is also a Country Manager for Nat Oil Company Ltd opened the tender box on which there were six large envelops which had contained details of the contesting companies. In each envelop, there were two copies and an original letter on which the specifications for the tender bids for the deliveries of the February supplies were written in respect to the regulations set. After the evaluation of all who participated was done, Gapco Ltd was announced the winner after scoring an average price of $ 52.50 per metric tone. In the trading period, the company will supply a total of 282,872 metric tones of all fuel worth $ 14.8 million. Specifying the metric tones of each oil product, the chairman noted that, the company will supply 178,900 metric tones of diesel, 73,300 metric tones of petrol, 24,520 metric tones of jet fuel and 6,150 metric tones of kerosene. Describing the various challenges facing the CIP, the General Manager Michael Mjinja said that, his company is worried to see how the premiums keeps of declining and noted that, they only prefer to take those ones whose weight average has the lowest price level. Other challenges he noted is based on the storage capacity which he said is not enough and that his organization is currently working on the issue to see that such a problem comes to an end. However he noted that, for this year, his organization has been awarding tenders to foreign companies whereby two companies Addax Energy has been awarded 3 times and Augusta Energy Ltd has been awarded also 3 times. “But we are happy this time around to have a local company announced the winner, and following this victory this is a great success of the year 2013” he said adding that there would be a constant supply of oil in the country throughout the year and which the EWURA would also get the chance to arrange their indicative prices on the product.

High tax rates affects consumers of alcoholic drinks, claims CTI

THE Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) has said that, the recent increase of the 25 percent tax which the government had imposed on alcoholic drinks for 2012/13 financial year has affected consumers of such products in the country. Claims by CTI come barely after four months have passed.

CTI Chairman, Felix Mosha said recently in Dar es Salaam that, the tax increase has reduced the purchasing power of consumers as the retail prices of such products are sold at a high price rate which is unaffordable by most consumers. He also noted that, consumers of tobacco related commodities such as cigarettes and some soft drinks are facing hard time as they have to fetch deeper into their pockets to afford such commodities since the tax increase of the 20 percent was imposed on such products in this year’s budget. The CTI boss was highlighting various challenges facing manufacturers when he addressed industrialists in the country during the award giving ceremony to honour best manufacturers of the year 2012, the ceremony was attended by President Jakaya Kikwete at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. He dismissed claims that, his organisation always speak in favour of their members during the time when the budget session is in discussion to deliberate the outcome for the next financial trading period, but noted that, claims by CTI on tax structure proposals is always considered by looking at the national economic estimates. For example he said that, the budget proposals issued by CTI during 2011/12 fiscal year targeted main challenges that faced the industrial sector during 2010/2011 trading period. If the government could consider their budget proposals of that time, definitely the industrial sector would grow up by 10 percent contrary as it now growing at a rate of 4 percent, he said. Due to little money which the government has been collecting year after year from the tax payers to its coffers, it has now developed the tendency of increasing income tax mostly on luxurious commodities such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, cigarettes and etc. By increasing taxes on these commodities there is a definite decrease in sales which ultimately results into low sales that determines poor profit margin with which manufacturers can no longer manage to meet operational costs, thus resulting into lower government revenues. However, he appreciated the role being played by various institutions such as TBS and Fair Competition Commission (FCC) of ensuring that, they supervise and fight against counterfeit products so as to allow fair business transactions for the sake of defending consumers in the country. Despite of this, however, he noted that although such institutions are similar in executing their duties, but the most disappointing thing to note is that, they have increased bureaucracy in their work performances among them. Either such institutions have been charging higher tax rates in order to meet their operational demand, thus they increase the cost of doing business. He gave an example of Fire and Rescue Force which in recent days it had increased its normal fee structure from Sh. 300,000 to Sh. 9 million. He regarded such institutions for not organizing their operations fairly as wherever there is a slight increase imposed by the government, they also tend to increase their operational fees to businessmen beyond expectation. In view of this, the CTI has requested the government to look more critically the operations of these institutions and make sure that, they should be integrated together so as to reduce the unnecessary operational costs likely to occur in business dealings in order to attract both foreign and local investors. “It is now high time for the government to finance operational costs of these institutions so as to let them work more efficiently and with seriousness rather than changing their services to be the main sources of their operational income”, he said.

VP cautions African Muslim scholars

MUSLIM Communities across Sub Saharan African region should desist from succumbing on the demands pushed by some Islamic groups and networks bent of threatening the cohesion that has existed between them and people of other religions. VICE-President Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal made the concern recently in Dar es Salaam when addressing African Muslim scholars from 42 different African countries who gathered to deliberate matters related to the development of Islamic religion in Africa. However, he has cautioned scholars and requested them to continue maintaining good relationships with fellow Christians in various countries bearing the fact that there are so many believers of both religions. Contrary to that, he noted that, Africa region is likely to witness massive religious clashes like what has started to emerge in Nigeria and a long peaceful country of Tanzania. A three day meeting under the theme that highlighted “the conduct of former Prophets” had various presentations from experts and lecturers from Islamic University of Kuwait and others who are experts in Islamic religion. The meeting has been organized by a newly formed organization of Muslim Scholars in Africa which was established in 2011 with its headquarters based in Bamako, Republic of Mali. Tanzania Muslim community joined the organization in early this year. Addressing the congregation in Swahili and translated in Arabic language, the VP said that he was optimistic that, the meeting would critically discuss the recent religious clashes which happened in the country with a view to continue live in peaceful manner as this is a sign of Tanzanians of respecting  followers of the two major religions. “A belief should not be taken as a quarrel, except it should be a means of building us morally bearing in mind that one of the ethical criteria of living is to have good faith with the people whom you live together irrespective of their different religious beliefs which does not belong to another believer” he said. He added that, the world in which we live is a globalised sphere and there is no community which can live in isolation like an island. In view of this, however, he cautioned African Muslim scholars and other religious leaders that are aught to look at a most critical point that would see how the globalization process in Africa does not affect their religious beliefs. However, he noted that, by taking a precaution over the matter, it’s upon African religious leaders to direct their leadership codes that show good conduct of their believers, but also how the believers would benefit with the greatest developments of the existing science and technology which have of recently revolutionalized people’s way of living and mankind development in general. Earlier the President of African Muslim scholars Tanzania chapter, Sheik Amran Seleman Kilemile stressed that, Tanzania joined the organization with a view to join relations with other scholars from other African countries and also to share experiences from them. However, he said adding that, other purposes were directed with a view to find a lasting solution of the numerous problems facing Muslims in the country which he declined to specify when asked. But he further insisted that, Tanzania membership would have an advantage of knowing what is going on in other countries. “We expect after this meeting to come up with many different resolutions which would aim to reform Islamic situation and Muslims who live within Sub Saharan Africa region so that the organization should take the responsibility of resolving various problems as related in the aspects to education, social and economic way of life. Other resolutions would be as related in the promotion of Islamic religion..

Two credit reference bureaus licensed by BOT

LOAN borrowers from various financial and credit institutions in the country will now have their credit information database monitored from the Credit Reference System (CRS) which was established by the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) in September this year by two credit reference bureaus which have been recently licensed by the bank, it has been learnt. The BOT’s Director of Banking Supervision Agapiti Kobelo has named the companies as Dun & Brandstreet Credit Bureau Tanzania Limited and Creditnfo Tanzania whose task he said would be to provide customer’s credit reporting services as they would be recorded in the system by the financial institutions. The BOT boss told attendants in a one day stakeholders’ workshop on credit information sharing held yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the workshop was organized by Tanzania Consumer Advocacy Society (TCAS) in collaboration with the Consumers’ International and it discussed consumer educational awareness. He said BOT has licensed these companies in order to ensure fruitful operations of the credit reference system in Tanzania and thereby the BOT will effectively supervise the operations of the reference databank to ensure that the information collected is managed securely and responsibly at all times and in accordance with provisions of the law and regulations. “Through the system, the borrowers’ information would now be easily acquired by other banks from the companies if needed to see if they might have other loans taken from other financial institutions or not” clarified another BOT official Abubakar Ukhotya. However, he noted that, students who take education loan will also be easily traced through to their employers. The CRS system of the BOT is designed to collect and provide information on the payment record of all clients of the lending banks and other financial institutions as well as those of Savings and Credit schemes in the United Republic of Tanzania and other entities engaged regularly in the extension of credit facilities. During the workshop some stakeholders of the invited financial institutions expressed their concern on the awareness of the system saying that, bank customers need to be educated on the importance of the system before going to an institution to seek for loans. Contributing over the topic on customers’ awareness, TCAS Executive Director Benard Kihiyo noted that, while the benefits of a sound credit information sharing system are evident, it is critical to educate borrowers (consumers) on how to use their credit reports and manage their level of debt. He also insisted on consumer education noting that it is an important part of the process of awareness and understanding of the loan borrowers. However, he said this is a basic consumer right that must be insisted to the general public for the comprehensive records. He said financial education is therefore an important pillar which complement the work being done in enhancing credit information sharing, and added that, consumer awareness program on information is important also. Contributing his views, another stakeholder Onica Makwakwa of Consumer International noted that, “Customers’ Information was an important aspect to be known by loan givers so that once they get such information would help them know exactly how to go about to see their background status of borrowing money from other institutions. The workshop brought stakeholders from BOT, CSOs, MFIs, Banks, CRBs, SACCOS, VICOBA and TAMFI.

Refugees left unattended in Dar guest houses

SOME refugees from Kasulu camp which is managed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who had been transferred to Dar es Salaam for medical treatment are hardly surviving for lack of money since the start of this year, The Guardian on Sunday can reveal. The refugees, who are being accommodated in two different local guest houses namely Elly Tex House and Bosco guest house both located at Ilala suburb in the city of Dar es Salaam, are under the care of a locally registered care group firm known as Relief to Development Society (REDESO) now for a year since they came. The society entered into contract with the UNHCR to undertake medical care as well as treatment for their refugees who fall sick and need to be transferred to referral hospitals such as the Muhimbili National hospital in Dar es Salaam city and anywhere else in the country. Investigations has discovered that, since the start of this year, all refugees who have been accommodated for shelter in these two different guest houses have not been given their subsistence allowances which enables them to buy food since the start of this year. In an exclusive interview with this paper, they have expressed their disappointment and thrown blame to their care giver whom they have accused of taking no seriousness of the matter on the humanitarian grounds.  Speaking on condition of anonymity, they have expressed their sympathy and noted that have been surviving by help of well wishers and workers at guest houses where they have been lodged. A spot check at one of the guest in which are accommodated namely Elly Tex House which is located at a junction of Arusha and Lindi street at Ilala found a miserable circumstances as a pregnant woman, a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is surviving by drinking water and little food offered by well wishers and workers of the guest house who probably might have had a great sympathy on her because of her pregnancy which is nearing to delivery. Another refugee, who did not want his name or his nationality to be mentioned in the newspaper, noted that REDESO accounts them Sh. 5,000 per day the money that is paid in lumpsum for fifteen days totaling Sh. 75,000 to buy only food from morning till they go to bed. With this amount of money however, he says that is not enough to cater for other daily requirements such as the basic necessities of human everyday life since he entered in the city in March 2012 to undergo a medical treatment. The sympathizing refugees most of whom comes from neighbouring countries of Burundi and DRC and few others who came from Ethiopia possessing valid permits issued by UNHCR that identifies them to be seeking for the political asylum in the country. The political asylum seekers wonders as to how the UNHCR pays accommodation for them amounting to Sh. 300,000 per month per room on which each one of them is located, and yet it delays to pay them money for their meals to keep them alive. In his understanding, being sick he is worried if the government is quite aware of the problems facing him and other refugees at a guest house and what appropriate action is being taken by the relevant authorities to solve the matter. He is on the view of the fact that, incase one of them dies for lack of proper diet, how could they treat the issue? He queried. Responding to such claims, REDESO General Manager Mbekenya Desdeurius who admitted the situation said in a telephone interview that, his organization which was given the mandate to deal with the medical clearances for the refugees in the country had no money as they had not yet received fund from UNHCR an aspect that they failed to pay them on time. However, he further noted that, these would be paid today on Monday. Elaborating on what had caused the delay, he affirmed that, the delay was due to the fact that, his organization had not yet settled down new contracts for the year 2013. “You know we had delayed to pay the refugees on time because of the important logistics basing on the delay of contractual basis between UNHCR and his organization owing t a number of factors including a series of Christmas festivities and new year” he said adding that, the money is already signed and would be given to refugees as usual. REDESO is one of the leading projects implementing partner to the UNHCR in refugee camps and local communities in Tanzania. Also the organization is implementing sustainable community development programs in refugee-affected areas in Kagera Region, Kigoma Region and Tanga Region. The organization concerns with relief and development to local and International displaced communities and other vulnerable local communities. Since the inception, the organization has initiated and managed project assignments for the government of Tanzania international organizations, donor agencies and local NGOs.

Kikwete attends Sajuki’s burial in Dar

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete yesterday led thousands of Dar es Salaam mourners who turned up at the funeral of a famous film star artist Juma Kilowoko (26) alias ‘Sanjuki’ who died on Wednesday this week at Muhimbili National Hospital. The burial took place at Kisutu cemetery grounds in the city centre at around 13.30 noon and was also attended by Mayor of Ilala Jerry Slaa, Iddi Azam an MP for Kinondioni among the top dignitaries. Also in attendance was the deputy Secretary General of the leading CHADEMA opposition party and an MP for Kigoma North Zitto Kabwe, members of the Tanzania Film Federation (TAFF) and other artists’ group members, friends and close relatives of the deceased. The arrival of the body at the cemetery grounds was preceded by President Kikwete who when he entered the ground was received by the Mayor of Ilala Jerry Slaa and was given a chair on which to sit and shortly it was followed by the body of the deceased which was carried in a casket escorted by fellow members of the TAFF which was immediately lowered down beside the grave. A Muslim requiem prayers followed and after which film fans and other people who could not control their temper surged forward to take a glimpse of what was happening an aspect that made security men around to beef up their movements as they tried to prevent the mob whose presence almost prevented the President when he went to put a spade of soil on top of a grave. After the activities came to an end, President Kikwete consoled the bereaved family and other film fans and told them that, nobody has power to prevent what the lord has decided to take the soul of their departed comrade who he described as a famous young man who has brought fame in the film industry not only in Tanzania but also to the neighboring countries. He therefore urged them to stay in peace and continue do their work without fear. On his side, the TAFF Chairman, Simon Mwakifwamba in his greetings to console the bereaved family, thanked the President and his presence which he said had brought hope to the film industry stakeholders in the country. “This is an awesome that shows the President values his people of all walks of life. Then the President departed from the cemetery grounds and went to Tabata Bima, a small suburb from where the deceased was living with his family. In his greetings, the TAFF Chairperson has thanked various government leaders and other political leaders for their contribution of money upon hearing the death of their fellow artist which he said has to a greater extent helped to facilitate the funeral arrangements of their departed comrade. The late Sajuki started his career as a film artist when he joined a famous Bagamoyo artist group before he started to work independently and succeeded to attain fames which had emanated due to his different kind of film works that he produced.  Tanzania film fans popularly known as ‘Bongo film fans’ which have the local contents will continue to remember the late Sajuki for his various famous work which he produced through his own locally registered company known as Waje Productions Limited. Among the famous film titles that the film fans remembers him for bears both Swahili and English titles which includes for Swahili as Shetani wa Pesa, Mboni yangu, Dhambi and Vita,. The English titles he is remembered for includes, Round, Hero of the Church, Briefcase, Beverage, Two brothers and Behind the scene. When he was attacked by illness in 2010, the late Sajuki was taken to India for further treatment and returned back in the country with a full recovery and resumed his work again, but he started to succumb other badly sufferings up to the time he met untimely death. In short the late Sajuki was highly concentrating in the preparations and the making up of films as well as live performances. Born in 1986 in Songea in Ruvuma region, the late Sajuki has left a widow Wastara Juma and one child. Sajuki’s death has occurred few days after the government announced that it would sponsor his treatment in India again as it had promised before where he went earlier following contributions by well wishers Tanzanians and regained fully before he was attacked again by the disease. Before his death, the late Sajuki had ever fallen off a podium when he lost strength in one of his performances at Sheik Abeid Aman Karume stadium in Arusha city that aimed at raising funds which would enable his return India for treatment. He had been proclaimed to have died several times.

New TPA Board suspends 4 directors

THE Newly appointed Board of Directors for Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has suspended its top officials including four directors, eight managers of the various departments and other three subordinate officers of the authority in a move to pave way for further investigations on various allegations leveled against them. The suspension follows a thorough scrutiny which was ordered to be done by the Board in collaboration with an enquiry committee formed by the Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe about two months ago. With this number, it will now make a total of 23 workers who shall have been suspended since the minister started to deal with the TPA. The move aimed at finding out private networks that secretly involved with the rampant theft and other loss of the properties at the port including containers which have been disappearing n a mysterious condition at the port. The four directors and their specialization in brackets are Engineer Bakari Kilo (Director of Engineering), Florence Nkya (Director of Planning), Ayub Kamili (Director of ICT), and Maimuna Mrisho (Director of Management Systems).  Announcing their suspension yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Infrastructure Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe said that, as the Board is still going on with the investigation pending on various misuse of the TPA’s properties which he said aimed at getting rid of unfaithful workers and this will be continuous until efficiency at the port is regained. Before he met with the workers, the Minister held a two hour closed door meeting with the Board members and other top officials of the TPA, a meeting which was bound for access to journalists.  The eight managers are Engineer Raymond Swai (Engineering department), Bahebe Machibya (Procurement and energy dept), Theophil Kimaro (Procurement Manager), Mary Mhayaha (Head of Engineering dept) and Mathew Anthony (Container dept). Others are Marcelina Mhando (ICT Manager), Owen Rwebangira (In charge of Oil Jet), Fadhili Ngorongo (Marine dept), Fortunatus Sandaria (Security Manager). Other subordinates are Mohammed Abdula (Driver) and one security guard who was identified by one name as Kilimba. Dr. Mwakyembe was addressing workers at the port yard who gathered for hours in a meeting he had just convened which also gave the opportunity workers to air out their views and various problems affecting their daily activities and used time to deliberate on the possible ways how to avert them.

Tanzania's Minister of Infrastructure Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe.

He also used the opportunity to introduce his newly appointed Board members to TPA workers whom he mentioned to them as Raphael Mollel (Chairman), Julius Mwambiro (Deputy Chairman) and others are  members who are, Bajkari John, Said Sauku, Jaffer Machario, Katherine Kavishe, Asha Kassim, Dr. Bakari and Dr. Hildebrand Shayo In his speech he noted that, it was shaming to see that, a big port that serves 6 landlocked countries is becoming notorious with some unbearable behaviors which he said is tarnishing a good name of out country. However, he has assured them that he would continue to fight with embezzlers until he sees that the condition is restored as usual. He said that, ever since he started port operations, there has been a monthly increase in revenue collected at the port compared to before. However, he said that, the revenue has increased from Sh. 28 billion in September to Sh. 38 billion in October, and added that may be in November the revenue is expected to reach at approximately Sh. 42 billion per month. “This is still less than the Kenyan government is collecting at Mombasa port which is equivalent to Sh. 300 per month”, he queried and noted that, Tanzania port revenues are down because of theft which is growing at a rampant rate. He said recently, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had threatened to send a letter to boycott their business involvement with the TPA and in replied he has assured the president that, he will stand firm to ensure that, he cut off all networks that caused any losses of the containers. During the meeting, a cross section of workers complained before the Minister and revealed how the management was beaching various work laws an aspect that most of them have been working for a long time without being employed. Kondo Rajabu who works at the dockyard section noted that, they have so many workers who have been there working for long without being employed at asked the minister to intervene in order to solve their long standing problems. Elaborating the issue, the Minister reminded the management that, if that was the trend, they would be bound for accusation before the court of law as it was illegal for a casual labourer to keep working for the year throughout without reviewing their contracts. On the issue of employment, the minister has assured workers that, he would form a committee which would go through workers’ details to find out whoever would be found to have submitted documents which are not relevant to the basic qualifications needed for a particular professional fields, the culprits would be axed without mercy. However, he has asked those who knows that did a mistake and are working in a position to which he or she is not professionally qualified, then they should remove themselves otherwise once his  committee finds them with such mistakes, will all be given a summary dismissal whereby they would loose all their benefits.