Sunday 31 August 2008

Business News: EXCHANGE RATES

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam

BOT (Bank of Tanzania) exchange rates effective on 27th August 2008.

Read Business News in Sunday Observer.

Whitedent launches school quiz 2008

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Staff Reporter

School Quiz 2008, a special Whitedent Toothpaste sponsored quiz popularly known as Squiz for children has been launched in Arusha, Mwanza, Mbeya and Dar es Salaam following a similar quiz last year restricted to Dar es Salaam Region.

Thed programme will be aired on ITV and created an excitement among primary school pupils and teachers.

Read full story in Sunday Observer.

Saturday 30 August 2008

U.S., Tanzania governments partner with Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative to open two new AIDS centers

From Baylor College of Medicine, Huston, Texas, United States of America
By Lori Williams


A public-private partnership will enable the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) to significantly expand its network of centers of excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa by building two clinics in Tanzania, a country hit hard by HIV/AIDS.

The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced today a grant award to BIPAI of $22.5 million over five years to support the operations of the two centers of excellence and associated satellite clinic facilities.

His Excellency Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, participated in the announcement in Washington D.C. The Tanzanian government is working in partnership with BIPAI to establish the two centers in Mbeya and Mwanza and to ensure their integration into existing public health programs. It is expected that the centers will provide care directly to at least 15,000 children. Another 4,400 children will receive care in associated satellite facilities.

Read full story from Baylor College of Medicine.

Friday 29 August 2008

Mwanza trade fair begins

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JOHN NCHIMBI in Mwanza


AN East Africa Trade Fair which has been dubbed 'Bringing East Africa region closer' begins today at the Sabasaba grounds in Mwanza.

The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (TCCIA) Mwanza branch Executive Officer, Hassan Karambe, said they expect more than 350 traders from across the region to take part in the event that cliamxes on September 7.

Karambe observed that traders will showcase a variety of commodities ranging from agriculture, clothes and services to mention but a few.

Read full story in Daily News.

Wednesday 27 August 2008

Lake Victoria canoeing event for October

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JOHN NCHIMBI in Mwanza

A canoeing competition involving fishermen from Musoma, Ukerewe, Bukoba and Mwanza is scheduled for October, it has been learnt. Mwanza City’s Cultural Officer Rose Mankenke said here yesterday that preparations for the event were underway and more entrants are expected this year compared to previous meets.

Read full story in Daily News.

Drills show rich nickel deposits

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter


UK's African Eagle Resources plc has announced the discovery of early nickel assay on the basis of results from drilling at its Dutwa gold and base metals project in Mwanza Region.

The company said yesterday in a statement that it is conducting a programme of vertical reverse circulation drilling at Dutwa to investigate a promising 2.5 km-long nickel anomaly from last year's geochemical soil sampling programme.

Seven of the first ten drill holes yielded high nickel values from a considerable thickness of laterite within the top 50m.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Tuesday 26 August 2008

Taha postpones regional tourney

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Oforo Kinyaha

The East and Central Africa Handball Championship which was set to start last Sunday at Mwanza's CCM Kirumba Stadium, has been called off indefinitely.

The Tanzania Handball Association (Taha) Secretary-General, Sudi Omary, said yesterday that the tourney was postponed because the ground was under renovation.

"We do not know when the renovation will be finished. We will set new dates once the ground will be ready," he said.

Read full story in The Guardian.

20 Mwanza schools for basketball league

From This Day, Dar es Salaam
By This Day Reporter

OVER 20 schools in Mwanza are set to battle it out in the regional inter-secondary schools basketball league 2008 opening in the city on Saturday.

Mwanza Regional Basketball Association (MRBA) organizes the league with a view to unearth talents and promote the game at the regional level.

The event’s coordinator, Kizito Bahati, told THISDAY by phone from Mwanza yesterday, that MRBA will cooperate with a family planning organization, Population Services International (PSI) in organizing the league, which ends on September 13.

’’PSI will team up with MRBA in organizing the league in which the former will be educating participants on the need to fight immoral acts including drug abuse and promiscuity, and equipping them with skills in fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge given that the event will involve youths,’’ he said.

Read full story in This Day.

Schools to get book aid

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Mobile telephone operator Zain Tanzania will tomorrow announce names of 26 schools across the country that will receive books under its 'Build Our Nation' programme.

Its Lake Zone manager Ali Maswaya said the schools would be picked in a grand draw to be conducted in Mwanza.

"The project is divided into quarters whereby in each quarter one school per region is selected via a random computer draw to receive Sh1 million worth of books, bringing the total to Sh26 million," he said in a statement released yesterday.

This year Zain will spend more than Sh500 million on the programme that will benefit over 520 secondary schools.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Uhuru Torch projects in Mwanza worth 8.6bn/-

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JACOB KAMBILI in Mwanza


A total of 109 development projects worth over 8.6bn/- are to be launched in Mwanza region during this year's Uhuru Torch relay scheduled to begin here on Wednesday. Briefing the press yesterday on the tentative time table of the relay.

Regional Commissioner, Dr. James Msekela said foundation stones for 25 projects worth 717.0m/- would be laid and that 56 projects worth 1.9bn/- would be inaugurated while 28 others projects worth 5.9bn would be officially opened during the week-long relay.

Read full story in Daily News.

Regional handball meet postponed

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JOHN NCHIMBI in Mwanza

The East and Central Africa Handball championship which was scheduled to begin here today has been postponed indefinitely. The Secretary General of Mwanza Handball Association (MWAHA) Nyagabona Benjamin told the 'Daily News' here yesterday that the venue planned to host the event was still under repair.

“We were supposed to begin today but up to now we are still making final touches of the stadium renovation,” he said. Nyagabona said lack of finances had made their work a little bit difficult and hence failed to finish the stadium within expected time. However he is hopeful that by September 1 the stadium will be complete and ready for the showdown.

Read full story in Daily News.

Sunday 24 August 2008

The shocking confessions on albino killings in Lake Zone

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Guardian on Sunday team

As Warren Baffet and Billy Gates work hard to maintain their billionaire status in the world, back home in Tanzania, some greedy, heartless gold miners and fishermen in the Lake Victoria zone are trading in the body parts of albinos, which are controversially reported to enable them catch more fish and strike the precious stones more easily and in huge quantities.

It is the appalling truth that proves how our nation is slowly turning into a "garden of evils" as lust for quick wealth, drives some Tanzanians into murdering the rare albinos, who, in addition to the suffering occasioned by skin disorder, are now living in perpetual fear of being kidnapped and murdered.

The section of the Lake Victoria Zone that embraces Mwanza and Shinyanga regions - informally known as Sukumaland - used to be notorious for the brutal killings of elderly women suspected to be witches.

Read full story in The Guardian.

Over 80 illegal immigrants deported - immigration

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JACOB KAMBILI in Mwanza

The Government has deported a total of 83 illegal immigrants and arraigned 21 others, while advising another 32 to legalize their stay in the country in the past year, immigration officials have said.

Mwanza Regional Immigration Officer, Mr Mohammed Mselem noted that the illegal immigrants are part of 156 aliens arrested last year in the region. “The aliens came from various nations. There were 46 Kenyans, 34 Burundians, 33 Congolese, 12 Ugandans, 11 Rwandans and 9 Ethiopians,” he said.

Read full story in Daily News.

Thursday 21 August 2008

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Patty Magubira in Mwanza

Kenya's Prime Minister, Mr Raila Odinga, is scheduled to arrive in Mwanza early next month.

Livestock Development and Fisheries minister John Pombe Magufuli said yesterday that Mr Odinga would be on a two-day tour of Kagera and Mwanza regions on September 5 and 6 to take part in the first anniversary of the death of Mr Magufuli's father, Mr Joseph Magufuli, in Chato District, Kagera Region.

The Kenyan premier would on the following day inaugurate a building at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) situated about 11 kilometres on the southern fringes of Mwanza, Tanzania's second largest commercial city after Dar es Salaam. Mr Odinga, who hails from the Kenyan lakeside city of Kisumu, would address residents of the lakeside city of Mwanza immediately after inaugurating the SAUT building.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Cheap Imitation Goods Are Flooding Markets

From IPS News, Rome, ITALY
By Sarah McGregor

More than 20 percent of the merchandise offered in Tanzania's major trading centres - including the cities of Arusha, Mwanza and Moshi, and the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar - is pirated, the study showed. That rises to 70 percent if you include below-standard goods.

The fakes business is booming in one of the world's poorest nations, where pricey authentic items are beyond the reach of most consumers. The east African nation ranks 159th out of 177 countries on the United Nations' Human Development Index, which measures a range of poverty and economic indicators. Per capita spending is 340 dollars a year.

‘‘I don't think we're doing a bad business because we're helping people to survive on the little money they have,’’ said salesperson Yahaya Khalini, who declined to give his real name in fear of police retribution. More than half the mobile phones and computer parts dangling from hooks in his tiny store in Kariakoo are knock-offs, which are illegal to sell.

Read full story HERE.

Monday 18 August 2008

Fans urged to rally behind teams

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

Tanzanians have been urged to rally behind their teams during the East and Central Africa Handball Championship which is scheduled to begin on August 25 in Mwanza. The Deputy Secretary General of Tanzania Handball Association (TAHA) Nicholas Mihayo, yesterday said lack of support was partly to blame for inability of local teams to clinch trophies on home soil.

“We are tired of losing trophies at home and I appeal to Mwanza fans to come and support the local teams so that for once the trophy remains at home.” He said teams are undergoing vigorous training and some of them have been in camp for now approximately a full month.

Read full story in Daily News.

Saturday 16 August 2008

UNDP Goodwill Ambassador actress Misako Kanno coming to Tanzania

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Valentine Oforo

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Japanese actress Misako Konno is expected to arrive in Tanzania on Monday for a five-day visit.

According to a statement released by UNDP, Konno who is also a famed television personality and writer, will visit Mwanza and Dar es Salaam regions promoting works of UNDP in the country by advanced key messages through television/radio appearances, public lectures, essays and articles.

While in Mwanza she will be expected to meet with the regional commissioner before visiting PV Solar Project at Ilemela, a health centre in Sengerema and solar power income generating activities in Sengerema whereby she will also handover UNDP branded footballs.

Read full story in The Guardian.

Kamanga ferry to increase fares

From East African BUSINESS WEEK, Nairobi, Kenya
Written by DANIEL SAID

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA– Kamanga Ferry Limited (KFL) has lodged an application to the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA).

KFL says it is seeking to increase passenger fares by 22.5% and cargo charges by 30% on average on their Kamanga to Mwanza ferry route on Lake Victoria.

According to KFL’s submission, the proposed increase is attributed to the increase in diesel prices, manning level and sectoral salary adjustment as per government directives from January, 2008 and the depreciation of the Tanzanian shilling against strong currencies such as the EURO.

Read full story in East African Business Week.

Friday 15 August 2008

Technician puts queries on DIT invention claim

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Patty Magubira in Mwanza

A Mwanza City based electrical technician has accused Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) of copying a technological device he invented to protect power transformers from vandalism and thunderstorms.

Gratian Ndyamukama said yesterday that he was surprised to hear his son based in Dar es Salaam informing him that he saw the DIT lecturers bragging on a television program that the institute had invented the technology he christened Transformer Security Protection (TSP).

Popping into this newspaper's offices here to see the story for himself from the newsroom file, he said he had since 2006 sold the idea to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals seeking support to set up a manufacturing unit for it.

Read more:

http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=7309

Winner in Azania Bank draw picked

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Correspondent in Mwanza

A RESIDENT of Mwanza, Benedicto Mtesigwa, has won a Toyota Hilux pick-up worth 16m/- in a final draw conducted by Azania Bank in Mwanza.

The raffle which ran from May 16 to August 4 was special for the bank's customers for Nkrumah and Mwaloni branches in Mwanza.

The bank's Business Development Manager, Twisa Mwambona, said that 540 account holders qualified for the draw which was supervised by the Gaming Board of Tanzania

Read more:
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/business/?id=6560

Thursday 14 August 2008

Barclays Bank draw winners named

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By ESTER SHEDAFA

FIVE Barclays Bank customers were lucky winners as the bank conducted its first draw of ‘Maisha Bomba’ and ‘Wajasiriamali’ promotions yesterday.

The draw was conducted at the bank’s Mikocheni Branch in Dar es Salaam in the presence of personnel from the Gaming Board Agency.

The winners are Kalinga Huddy from Dar es Salaam, Dr Charles Uria from Mwanza, Henry Barbanas Njuguna from Arusha, Abraham Shamumoyo from Dar es Salaam, and Mukwata Musingi from Mwanza.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/columnist/?id=6556

Southern regions barred from growing cotton

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Daily News Reporter

The government will not lift the 47-year-old quarantine imposed on the southern regions from growing cotton, unless it was satisfied that the cotton-devouring red worms (Diparopsic castanae) are eliminated.

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Dr David Mathayo David, said the government stopped cotton growing in the regions in1946 after the highly destructive red worms were seen in pilot farming projects.

“A research made in 2004/05 confirmed the existence of the worms in various southern regions including Rukwa and Mbeya,” he said when answering a question from Mr Mtutura Abdallah Mtutura (Tunduru—CCM). The legislator had sought to know why the government was not allowing Tunduru farmers to grow cotton.

He said the district was endowed with similar geographic climate conditions as Shinyanga and Mwanza where cotton growing was booming. Dr Mathayo said the government would not lift the quarantine because the destructive worms were likely to spread to other cotton growing regions and consequently affect the crop in those areas.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/business/index.php?id=6539

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Self examine breasts, First Lady tells women

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JIANG ALIPO


The First Lady, Mama Salma Kikwete, has advised women to self examine their breasts regularly to enable early detection of breast cancer thus facilitate successful treatment. Mama Kikwete was speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the launching of the Tanzania Breast Cancer Foundation (TBCF), a charitable organisation dedicated to help women with breast cancer.

The services will start at Bugando Hospital in Mwanza and then extended to other referral hospitals soon.

Read more:
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/home/index.php?id=6519

Mwanza urges Nane Nane exhibitors to take up plots

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JACOB KAMBILI in Mwanza

Mwanza City is set to host national Nane Nane exhibitions in 2011 for the zone regions. Speaking briefly at the just-ended Nane Nane shows, the Regional Preparatory Committee Chairperson, Mr Samwel Kamote, called upon members of public to apply for plots of land reserved for pavilions.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/home/?id=6522

Tuesday 12 August 2008

More than 3,800 new teachers take up jobs

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

A TOTAL of 3,861 teachers were employed in the past financial year (2007/08) in the effort to curb critical shortages in secondary schools, the Deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Gaudentia Kabaka, told the National Assembly yesterday. Ms Kabaka said that out of the 3,861 new teachers 3,460 have diploma level status while 401 are degree holders.

She said 219 teachers have been posted to Mwanza Region. Fifty-seven of them are science teachers and 162 are arts teachers, she said.

The deputy minister said 12,692 teachers graduated from various colleges and universities in the country last month. They will be employed soon and deployed in various schools countrywide, she said. Ms Kabaka was answering a question from Ms Esther Nyawazwa (Special Seat—CCM), who wanted to know when the government would deploy more teachers to Ngulla Secondary School in Kwimba District, Mwanza Region.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/business/index.php?id=6489

Journalists for poverty alleviation workshop

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter


JOURNALISTS from Zanzibar and the Mainland meet for two days in Dar es Salaam starting today to chart out ways and means of mobilizing people into implementing government strategies that envisage alleviation of poverty.

The objective of the workshop is to orient the journalists on the Property and Business Formalization Programme (PBFP), popularly known in Kiswahili as MKURABITA. The programme is also enshrined in the National Strategy for Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction ( Mkurabita) on the Mainland and Mkuza in Zanzibar).

According to a statement issued yesterday by Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa), the journalists will be required to write feature articles or produce Radio and TV programmes at the end of the workshop.

Read more:
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/business/index.php?id=6494

Monday 11 August 2008

Enjoying our tourist attractions

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Peter Temu

Last Monday, we had a brief account of Tanzania`s tourist attractions.

In this presentation, we shall discuss how we can enable tourists, local as well as foreign, to enjoy those attractions.

The mention of local tourists should not raise eyebrows. Some people think, mistakenly, that a tourist is invariably a foreigner.

In fact tourism, like charity, begins at home. Each year, for example, more Americans visit the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls, or Las Vegas than do foreign nationals; just like the largest number of visitors to the Riviera and the Mediterranean coast are not Asians or Americans, but the Europeans themselves.

If domestic tourism in an African country like Tanzania seems insignificant, the reason is perfectly understandable.

At our present stage of development, tourism is still regarded by many as a luxury that we cannot afford.

Travel for pleasure and recreation is not for people who can hardly make ends meet.

Read more:
http://ippmedia.com/cgi-bin/ipp/print.pl?id=120335

Fly540 airline sets eyes on Mwanza

From Daily Monitor, Kampala, Uganda
By Walter Wafula


As the race to capture African skies by several regional airlines moves into higher gear, Fly540, a promising East African airline, is positioning itself to take on the continent’s established airlines. Fly540 is a Kenya-based airline which became the third operator on the Entebbe-Nairobi route in February.

The carrier kicked off with low-cost flights compared to Kenya Airways and Air Uganda, which plied the route prior to its entry. Now, Fly 540 is promising to extend services, to other African regions with an ambition to become Africa’s first budget airline.

Ms Jackie Arkle, the marketing manager, told Business Power in interview recently that Fly540 under the 530 Aviation trade mark is working towards becoming the first low-cost airline serving Africa.

The airline has started off by spreading its wings to cover Uganda, after establishing a nationwide presence in Kenya and will spread them further, to Tanzania. The Northern town of Mwanza will be its first destination, in Tanzania opening a low-cost carrier for tourists and businesspeople travelling between Kenya and Tanzania.

Read more:
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/business_power/Fly540_airline_sets_eyes_on_Africa_69679.shtml

World Bank to help ‘alleviate poverty’

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JACOB KAMBILI in Mwanza

AN official with the World Bank (WB) has affirmed the bank’s continued material and moral support for Tanzania's efforts to alleviate poverty amid research findings which show that urban populations in the country live “far below the poverty line.”

“We are determined to continue cooperating closely with the government, through Tanzania Social Action Fund (Tasaf), in a bid to alleviate poverty," the International Financial Institution's representative, Mr David Mlongo, said.

Mr Mlongo was addressing Mwanza City councillors, Ward Executive Officers, representatives of Civil Society Organizations and the business community, during the launching of the Mwanza City Community Foundation (MCCF) at the weekend.

Read more:
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/magazine/index.php?id=6476

Saturday 9 August 2008

Regions want district development programme sustained

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Daily News Reporter


District and regional authorities have underscored the need for donors and other development partners to continue supporting development projects that seek to improve the welfare of people in their respective areas.

The authorities said during a one-day District Development Programme (DDP) meeting held in Dar es Salaam yesterday the needed support was in terms of financial, technical and capacity building of human resources.

Read more:
http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/analysis/index.php?id=6438

Measles cases double in Mwanza Region

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JACOB KAMBILI in Mwanza

Cases of measles among children aged less than five years in Mwanza Region have increased drastically over the last two from mere 13 patients in 2006 to 147 by June, this year. The Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Meshack Mmasi, said here yesterday that the upward trend was attributable mainly to what he called a lack of consistency in immunization against air-borne diseases, particularly in the recent past.

"I appeal to all parents, guardians and the general public at large to turn out in large numbers at the national immunization campaign along with your children. The noble crusade commences on August 30. “You will have your children jabbed in order to ward off infectious diseases,” he said. Mr Mmasi was speaking at a preparatory meeting, whose guest of honour was the Regional Commissioner for Mwanza, Dr James Msekela.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/home/?id=6418

Thursday 7 August 2008

Siboka’s album ready

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Sunday NEWS Reporter

Former Mr Tanzania Coaster Siboka who has now ventured into traditional music launches his first album in Mwanza’s City Cabanna Hall tomorrow. The three times Guiness Mr Tanzania bodybuilding title winner said ‘Niwe Wange ‘is the name of the 10-track album.

He mentioned the tracks as Kadogoli, Elele, Kandamija, One Love, Watoto Wangu, Bifu, Mapenzi ya Kisirani, Niwe Wange, Nkulukumbi and Christina. Siboka who has formed his own group known as Dar Tingisha Asilia, said the tracks are in Kiswahili, Kihaya, Kikerewe and Kisukuma.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/editorial/index.php?id=6389

Wednesday 6 August 2008

Fresh call for diversification of tourism products

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Felix Andrew

Tanzania has been reminded to consider strategies that will promote other kinds of tourism instead of concentrating on marketing national parks only.

This was said in Dar es Salaam last week at a press conference called on by Malcom Ryen, the chief ecologist of Coastal Travel Ltd (CTL).

In his view, government and other stakeholders should partner and encourage tourists to spend more time in the country, moving away from present "rush from one park to the other".

"Tanzania has perfect climate, very nice people and good food, why could we not promote lifestyle tourism?" he wondered.

Given the country`s more than 900 km of coastline, it would be possible as for instance to encourage tourists to buy beach houses and come to spend their winter time here, bringing investment and cash. This can also be done upcountry in places such as Iringa, Mwanza, Bukoba, which are also harbouring great tourism potential.

Read more:

http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2008/08/06/120003.html

MPs: Act on albino killings now

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Bernard James in Dodoma

Members of Parliament yesterday demanded that the Government urgently address the persistent problem of albino killings in the country.

Their demands come amid reports that more than 20 albinos were killed between June and now, in bizarre incidents blamed on witchcraft and sorcery.

Most killings have of late occurred in the Lake Zone region, especially in Mwanza, Shinyanga and Mara, where the albinos are mostly concentrated.

Tanzania's first albino MP Al-Shymaa Kwegyir said time was up for the government to make an official statement on the killings that has put their lives at risk.

Read more:
http://thecitizen.co.tz/newe.php?id=7151

Monday 4 August 2008

Tanzania Railways introduces rebate schemes

From East African BUSINESS WEEK, Nairobi, KENYA
Written by DANIEL SAID

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) has introduced discounting schemes in order to help its customers offset some of their logistics costs and be able to transport their goods by rail.
The schemes that seem to be a relief to its customers will be valid for a period of six months and thereafter they will be subject to a review.

It started last month (July).

According to Mr. Dhananjay Naik, TRL Additional Executive Director (Commercial and Security) the rebate would be applicable to cotton customers for the cotton season 2008/09 with rebate ranging from 6 to 15% depending on the number of bales.

Read more:
http://www.busiweek.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=239&Itemid=1


Saturday 2 August 2008

Life of fear for Tanzania's Albinos

From Al Jazeera

As part of its new Africa Uncovered series, Al Jazeera went to Tanzania and found the targeted killings of Albino citizens has shocked the country

Susana Nyere is certain the men that murdered her husband were local.

"The killers were speaking our tribal language; they must be from here, from this village, or the villages around us, not from a far place," she says.

Rutahiro Nyerere, a 53-year-old from Tanzania's second-largest city, Mwanza, had been having dinner with his wife in late June when four men emerged from the shadows and the horrific slaughter began.

Read more:
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/general/2008/08/20088171455171120.html

Mwanza leads in albino killings - Masha

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By CHABBY BARASA

The number of albino killings reported since June last year has reached 23, with Mwanza topping the statistics with 14 deaths. This was revealed in Parliament by Minister for Home Affairs Lawrence Masha when winding up his ministry’s budget estimates for 2008/09 financial year, endorsed on Thursday.

Mr Masha said 34 suspects had been nabbed and after police completed investigations, the culprits would be taken to court. The minister mentioned other regions where the killings were reported as Mara (4), Arusha, Mbeya, Shinyanga, Ruvuma and Mtwara, all with one death each.

Read more:

http://dailynews.habarileo.co.tz/home/index.php?id=6277

Friday 1 August 2008

This open access will deplete our fisheries

From IPP Media, Dar es Salaam
By Emanuel Kihaule

Sometime in May, this year, President Jakaya Kikwete while in Mwanza Region expressed his concerns over the increasing acts of over fishing and illegal fishing in Lake Victoria which, according to him, posed a threat to the future of the lake's fishery resources.

"Over fishing is posing a great threat. Reports show that the number of fishermen has gone up from 51, 935 in 2002 to 98,015 last year," he revealed.

Fishing vessels operating in the lake have also increased from 15,434 to 29,730 during the period, he added.

He said this shortly after officially inaugurating a new fish-processing plant that is owned by Tanzania Fisheries Development Company Limited (TFDC), a subsidiary of the National Investment Company Limited (NICOL).

"I really wish these findings were wrong. But this is the reality," said the President, expressing his deepest concern over the future of the lake and its fisheries.

President Kikwete further said that the size of fish being caught was also worrisome, pointing out that of late Nile Perch species coming out of the lake weighs between two and five kilogrammes as compared to 15 and 45 kilogrammes some years back.

Read full story:
http://ippmedia.com/cgi-bin/ipp/print.pl?id=119638