MV Serengeti to ply Uganda route

From The Sunday Vision, Kampala, Uganda
By Steven Candia

A Tanzanian ferry - MV Serengeti is set to begin plying Lake Victoria, connecting Mwanza (Tanzania) and Port Bell (Uganda), amid safety concerns and allegations of flouting of regulations and procedure by Uganda authorities.

Marine Service Company Ltd, a Tanzanian firm, last week ran an advert in the media announcing the commencement of the ferry’s services between the two ports.

“The passenger and cargo vessel MV Serengeti with the capacity of 350 tonnes and 690 passengers now operates along the route on a weekly basis. Freight and passenger charges are affordable,” the company said.

But the Transport Licensing Board (TLB), which regulates the transport sector, immediately dismissed as “illegal” the move by the company, saying the venture is riddled with breaches.

TLB also said the company had announced its operations in the country without registering.

Regional handball meet hangs in balance

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By SUNDAY NEWS Reporter

The Handball Senior Challenge Cup tournament hangs in balance as member countries are yet to respond to Tanzania Handball Association (TAHA) call to take part in the event. TAHA Secretary General Sudi Omary yesterday told the ‘Sunday News’ that they sent invitation letters to member countries but they are yet to receive any reply.

“We sent letters to Uganda, Kenya and Zanzibar associations inquiring whether they will come for the tournament but they have not yet answered us. “We wanted to set a convenient date for every one,” said Omary. However, Omary observed that yesterday they were scheduled to meet again and try to find out a solution to this quagmire. The tournament is expected to take place in Mwanza before the end of the year if all member countries are to come.

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Residents 'shun clinics for publicising HIV test results'

From The Citizen, Dar es Salam
By Paulina David in Mwanza

Most people in Mwanza districts are no longer going for HIV/Aids tests at local clinics because workers at the health centres are publicising test results, an official has said.

Misungwi district council executive director Xavier Tilyeselekwa recently told a Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) meeting that people also lacked faith in health workers at local clinics.

"Many people now prefer the regional headquarters to local clinics because some health workers have a tendency to reveal test results to other people," he said.

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JK orders probe into bus crashes

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Deogratias Kishombo and Gasper Andrew


President Jakaya Kikwete has ordered thorough investigations into the two bus accidents which killed 22 people and called for legal action against all those operating defective buses.

The directive is contained in a condolence message that the President sent to the Dodoma and Singida regional commissioners yesterday.

"If it is established that the accidents were a result of reckless driving or breach of traffic laws, all people involved should face legal actions as a way of combating the frequent accidents in the country," read part of the President's message sent to Mr Wiliam Lukuvi, the Dodoma regional commissioner and Mr Parseko Kone, his Singida counterpart, as well as the bereaved families.

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Mwanza to spend 1.9bn/- on road repairs

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


Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Mwanza Office has received over 1.9bn/- from the Road Fund for maintenance of roads in the region. The TANROADS Manager, Dr Leonard Kadashi said this at the TANROADS Board meeting, held yesterday to deliberate on the implementation of infrastructure development projects.

He, however, said the agency was yet to receive funds for development projects. TANROADS Mwanza plans to spend 440.4m/- on maintenance of 282-kilometre trunk roads, including the 132-kilometre Mwanza-Musoma stretch for 310m/- and 102-kilometre Mwanza -Shinyanga road that is estimated to cost 130.4m/-.

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African visitors arrive from Bray's 'twin town' Mwanza

From Bray People, Wexford, Ireland

MAYOR Leonard Bihonda and Joseph Mlinzi from Mwanza in Tanzania paid a flying visit to Bray and Wicklow last week, now that Mwanza is twinned with Bray.

After helpng to switch on the Christmas lights in Bray, Mayor Bihonda went to East Coast FM for his next stop, where the delegation showed a particular interest as they hope to set up a community radio station in Mwanza, Tanzania's biggest town, next year.

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Two bus crash bodies identified

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Gasper Andrew, Singida

Two people out of 15 who died in a grisly bus accident at Sekenke escapement in Iramba district on Monday have been identified.

Singida regional police commander Celina Kaluma, named the deceased as Christopher Mwakabelo, a student at the University of Dar es Salaam and an inspector of Mohamed Bus Tans company, Issa Mgeja, 30. Mgeja had boarded the bus at Misigiri village, two kilometres from where the accident occurred.

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When would bus drivers ever learn?

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By The Editor

Negligence on the road by irresponsible drivers has once again resulted into loss of human lives in the country - very sad indeed. Twenty-two people were killed and 50 others injured in the latest spate of road accidents in this country, this time involving two buses - Zuberi and Saibaba - in Singida and Dodoma regions respectively.

Going by records, the two buses ring a bell as they have been involved in fatal accidents before, raising many eyebrows as to their safety records. It remains to be seen what authorities would do this time to take the two bus companies to task. Human life is sacred much as it is precious and should not be tampered with in any way.

According to initial police investigations, the two accidents happened as a result of vehicle defectiveness and sheer negligence. In case of the Singida accident, brake failure on a steep section of the road caused Zuberi, on its way to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam, to veer off the road before plunging into a river, killing 17 people.

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Two accidents kill 22 people

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Gasper Andrew, Iramba

At least 22 people died yesterday and more than 80 were injured in two fatal road accidents at Sekenke escapement in Singida Region and Chinangali in Dodoma.

In the first accident, a Scania bus operated by Zuberi company, is reported to have veered off the road and crashed after its brakes failed.

By noon yesterday, only one body had been identified. Bodies of 16 other passengers killed in the accident and the injured had not been identified. But among the dead, 12 were males and five females.

The body of Issa Mgeja from Shinyanga is preserved at Iramba hospital. The injured passengers were rushed to Singida regional hospital where 16 bodies of the dead passengers are preserved.

On reaching Singida, the driver of the ill-fated bus which was heading to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam, had cautioned the passengers that the bus was defective and needed repairs for it to proceed.

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20 perish in road accidents

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporters

Twenty people have died and 50 others seriously injured in two road accidents involving buses in Singida and Dodoma regions yesterday. Fifteen died and 35 were injured after a bus christened Zuberi bound for Mwanza from Dar es Salaam overturned at Sekenke area in Singida Region yesterday.

Five others died on the spot and other 15 injured in an accident that occurred yesterday at Manchali area, involving a Saibaba Bus travelling from Dodoma to Dar es Salaam. Singida Regional Commissioner (RC) Mr Parseko Kone said the bus, with registration number T 677 AGJ, veered off the road after the driver lost control and plunged into a valley.

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Varsity students’ strikes, demands dissapoint JK

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By SUNDAY NEWS Reporter


President Jakaya Kikwete has expressed grave disappointment on the recent spate of strikes by local public university students in the country over procedures used by students to demand their rights. The President said this yesterday during the 10th graduation ceremony of St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) in Mwanza.

He said that he had no problem with people demanding for their rights but do not have to strike, vandalise and insult people. He said; "I was once a student leader at the University of Dar es Salaam and I did such things. My problem is when students engage in misplaced arrogance, become rowdy, vandalise property and beat up those not part of the strike".

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Lack of toilets exposes Mwanza City residents

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Jane Kajoki, Mwanza


Only less than half of the people in Mwanza City are using proper toilets, officials have said.

The majority are exposed to waterborne diseases due to poor sanitary facilities.

Dr Meshack Masi, the regional medical officer, said a significant number of people on the outskirts of the city were using plastic bags, which they dump willy-nilly, each time nature called.

The city's official records show that only 47.2 per cent of the residents use proper toilets, while 139 institutions lack durable and quality latrines, he said during the occasion to mark 'Toilet Usage Day' at Saba Saba grounds.

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90 pc of Tanzanians don’t use latrines

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

Over 10 per cent of Tanzanians pass waste from their bodies, including faeces and urine indiscriminately in the bush or around water bodies for lack of latrines. Statistics made public here shows that of all the existing latrines, about 52.8 per cent are either in a dreadful state of dilapidation or of sub-standard, while only 38.0 per cent of them can be regarded as 'decent and durable'.

The startling statistics are contained in the speech by Mwanza Regional Commissioner Dr James Msekela read on his behalf here at the "World’s Toilet Day', marked at national level here on Wednesday.

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Pupils protest as strike begins on wobbly note

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Citizen Team

Pupils from three Dar es Salaam primary schools took to the streets yesterday, asking the Government to pay their teachers so that teaching could resume.

The demonstration took place on a day a countrywide strike called by the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) drew only partial support.

Teachers shunned the strike and reported for duty as usual at some secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. However, teachers at most primary schools in the region did not teach despite being present at their workplaces.

IN MWANZA, TTU in the region vowed to continue with the strike until "the last teacher is paid by the Government".

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10 pupils share one book - Report

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Tom Mosoba

The number of students sharing text books in Tanzanian primary and secondary schools has deteriorated over the last five years, it has been reported.

The student to book ratio, according to a private study, has widened drastically from a national average of 1:3 in 2004 (Government statistics) to now a high of 1: 14 in Dodoma region as at September this year.

Other badly affected regions including Kigoma, Lindi, Mwanza and Mtwara have a ratio of between 1:10 and 1:13, according to the study carried by the Publishers Association of Tanzania (Pata).

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Airline starts Dar - Mwanza morning flight

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Precision Air will today launch a morning flight between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza.

According to a schedule, the plane will be departing from the Julius Nyerere International Airport at 7.30 am and landing in Mwanza at 9:40 am.

Marketing and corporate communications manager Annette Nkini said the new flight would enable business travellers to reach Mwanza in the morning.

"Some of our customers have been expressing desire to be in Mwanza before 10:00 am. With the acquisition of the new aircraft, that desire can now be fulfilled", she said.

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Teachers divided over strike

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By PIUS RUGONZIBWA


Teachers are sharply divided over which way to go...strike or go back to class, our random survey reveals. However, the President of the Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU), Mr Gratian Mukoba, has maintained that today’s strike remains as scheduled.

But his position is not shared by teachers in Mbeya and Mwanza regions, where teachers say they will not join in the strike. “TTU should address itself to more serious problems facing teachers…teachers are sacked from their jobs without proper procedures while others are mistreated by their education officers and the TTU takes no action,” some teachers said in Mbeya.

Read story in Daily News - here.

On a mission in Tanzania

From The Des Moines Register, Iowa, United States
By JANE ODLAND

After an overnight stay in Arusha, we all flew to Mwanza, where International Health Partners took us to the project site in Nyakato. Travel assistance for our team came from money given for mission work and other money raised specifically for our project.

Mwanza is known as "Rock City." Immense granite outcroppings on the steep dirt hillsides provide a striking backdrop to makeshift housing covering those hills. The city had no streets, sidewalks, utilities or sanitation.

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200 children suffer from diabetes annually

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

An average of 200 Tanzanian children, aged below 15 are said to be affected by diabetes annually, a disease in which sugar and starch are not properly absorbed from the blood, it has been learnt.

The Director of the Bugando Medical Centre (BMC), Dr Charles Majinge said this over the weekend when speaking at the 'Diabetes Day' event commemorated at national level here.At global level, he said, the number of diabetic peoples is estimated at 500,000.

Some 30 diabetic children, mostly drawn from Lake Zone regions of Mwanza, Shinyanga and Mara, went camping here for three weeks, as part of activities to commemorate the annual event. During the camping time the children received basic instructions on the management of their own health problems.

One of the diabetic children Ritta Raymond (15) said they had been advised to refrain from eating too much starch foods that contain carbohydrates.Besides cutting down carbohydrates, the children were also advised to do away with boredom.

Nyamagana Stadium to stay

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

At last Mwanza Councillors have agreed to protect the historic Nyamagana Stadium, which was facing demolition to pave way for construction of a business and leisure complex. Following the move, a rising tide of temper, resentment and hostilities among the majority of Mwanza City residents, particularly football fans and pundits, towards the city father's plan has subsided gradually.

The latest development follows a firm and difficult decision reached by the Councillors during their meeting, held here early this week to the effect that the historic sports field should be left alone as it in the sense that its use should not be tampered with.

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PRESS RELEASE

From WALL STREET JOURNAL, New York, USA

Lake Victoria Mining Company, Inc.: Kalemela Gold Project Triples in Size With Two New Acquisitions, Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt, Tanzania.

Roger A. Newell Ph.D., President and CEO of Lake Victoria Mining Company, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company has acquired, subject to final payment, two exploration licenses (PL 2910, PL 3006) contiguous with the existing Kalemela License PL 2747. Once the acquisition is complete, the Kalemela Gold Project will contain over 260 square kilometers.

Dr. Newell stated: "This acquisition is an important opportunity for the company to expand its footprint in this prominent, productive and highly prospective gold belt. I'm very pleased to obtain these properties so early in our development of the Kalemela Project. Our recent assay and magnetic survey results on the existing license, PL 2747, suggests important geological structures trend into these two new licenses. These additional licenses certainly add to the potential for a substantial discovery in this famous mining district."

Read Press Release in full length.

Trades cash in as fake products swamp Geita

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Damian Darius

Geita Counterfeit products have flooded markets in Geita District, Mwanza, as unscrupulous traders cash in on desperate buyers.

The district has suddenly been turned into a dumping site of fake drugs, building materials and other basic commodities, posing a serious health and safety risk to people, livestock and the environment.

District authorities have declared war against traders selling phony products, but the battle seems too hard to win as the business has proved to be flourishing in most parts of the district.

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Over 306m/- raised for Mwanza hospital

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

Plans to turn Pasiansi Health Centre in Mwanza city into a full-fledged hospital are under way, following a successful fund raising held here over the weekend that netted 306,893,510/-.

The ambitious 650m/- project got an impetus here when the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor David Mwakyusa, who officiated at the event, announced that 13.7m/- was obtained in cash. A total of 241.4m/- was in pledges while other well- wishers pledged donations of building materials worth 50m/-.

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Lake Victoria Mining Company, Inc. Kalemela Gold Project Continues to Advance Based on Encouraging Soil Assays

From Your Mining News, Aberdeen, United Kingdom

Lake Victoria Mining Company, Inc. has received additional encouraging assay results from soil samples collected at the Kalemela gold project, about 125 kilometers east of Mwanza in northern Tanzania.

Roger Newell stated that these are the kind of gold-in-soil assays that encourage us to take the next exploration steps towards defining a mineable deposit.

Read full story here.

Shein wants water projects sustained

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

The Vice-President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to solve the problem of non-availability of clean and safe water facing Tanzanians both in urban and rural areas, in line with the 2025 Development Vision.

Dr Shein made the pledge here yesterday shortly after inaugurating a multi-billion shilling Mwanza water supply project, owned and managed by the Mwanza Urban Water supply and Sewerage Authority (MWAUWASA), at a newly built Capripoint's Treatment Plant.

The 52bn/- project is among four ambitious water supply ventures funded jointly by the Tanzanian Government, European Union and Germany Development Bank, "KFW'. The other projects are in Iringa, Mbeya and Dar es Salaam. The VP told the people who attended the function that water was the most indispensable resource and urged them to conserve and protect water sources at all costs.

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Hail Queen Margrethe, hail Denmark

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By The Editor

Tanzania is presently playing host to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Consort Henrik who are paying a four-day state visit. It is indeed an honour to have the Royal Couple here, considering the friendly relations between the two countries that have existed for a period of four decades now.

As President Jakaya Kikwete said at a state banquet in honour of the Queen and prince consort, Denmark has been a friend indeed during both good and difficult times. In fact the people of Tanzania have benefited greatly from generous development and technical assistance from Denmark.

Read full story in Daily News.

Sell more shares bank urged

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

The CRDB Bank Mwanza shareholders have called on the bank management to offer more shares for sale.

"We would like to invest more in the bank as it is stipulated in your vision and mission statements," noted a participant at the shareholders meeting.

The event drew shareholders from Nyamagana, Ilemela, Ukerewe, Sengerema, Kwimba, Magu, Misungwi and Geita districts - all of Mwanza Region.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Women for boat races

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Suleiman Jongo

Lake Victoria Balimi boat race organisers have included women in this year's championships expected to take off in Nansio, Musoma, Mwanza and Bukoba.

A Tanzania Breweries Limited official, Fimbo Butala, said the first race will get underway on Saturday in Nansio while Musoma competitors will have their turn on November 15. TBL sponsors the races.

The third event will be held in Bukoba on November 22 and Mwanza will host the event on November 29. Winners from the four events will convene for the finals to be held in Mwanza on December 6.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Kabaka shines in SHIMIWI meet

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JOHN NDITI in Morogoro

Badaka Kabaka from RAS of Mwanza beat Sikitu Chande of the Ministry of Information Culture and Sport to emerge women’s champion in draft in the ongoing inter-ministerial and government games SHIMIWI here yesterday.

Though Chande finished second, she became the second female in the ministry of Information Culture and Sports to get a medal after Rahabu Kibona secured gold in short put event.

The third runner up sport was grabbed by Maselina Mashumbuzi from the High Court team while in male category Juma Popa from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare took gold medal. Boniface Nyigo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation was second and Johnson Ndigo from Ministry of Infrastructure Development settled third.

Read full story in Daily News.

Man guns down friend in freak accident

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam
By Patty Magubira

Mwanza Police in Mwanza are holding a Tanzania Roads Agency (TanRoads) engineer allegedly for accidentally gunning down his friend.

Mwanza regional police commander Jamal Rwambow said Felix Ngaila alias Mulima's pistol went off accidentally killing his disabled friend, Franchis Mkondo alias Mangala, 43, at about 2.30pm at Mwashibula Malya village in Kwimba district on Sunday.

The duo left the city using a Toyota double-cabin vehicle to Mangala's home village to inspect farms, the TanRoads engineer intended to buy.

On arrival at the village, the duo picked Mangala's relative, Paul Nhibula, 47, to help them look for suitable farms for purchase.

Read full story in The Citizen.

Community Airlines to re-start in December

From East African Business Week
Written by DANIEL SAID


DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA-A privately owned air cargo and passenger service operator in the Tanzanian skies, Community Airlines, which suspended its services a few months ago, will next month start domestic flights in Tanzania.

The airline was started early this year and its operations were suspended in August on reasons that were not made public.

The airline nicknamed “Budget Airline” due to its cheaper fares was established “purposely for stimulating a new market in the country which has not yet been fully tapped."
Speaking to East African Business Week last week from Dodoma, a senior official with the airlines who preferred anonymity said the company had hired an aircraft that would take up the routes between Mwanza, Musoma, Bukoba, Shinyanga and Kigoma towns.

Read full story in East African Business Week.

Mwanza female cyclist wins SHIMIWI’s 16 km race

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JOHN NDITI in Morogoro

Cyclist Salome Shimba of Mwanza’s RAS won the 16- kilometre race of the ongoing Inter Ministerial and Government Department Games (SHIMIWI) here yesterday. Using Phoenix bicycle, Shimba needed only 28 minutes to accomplish what the organizers thought would take 45 minutes.

The first runner-up spot was grabbed by Hilda Masanghe of RAS of Coastal Region while Sophia Fungameza of the High Court came third. In the men’s category, Hassan Likoneko of the High Court was crowned champion using only 27 minutes while Abdalla Okumu of Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism came second and Rajab Salum from Vice-President’s office finished third.

Read full story in Daily News.