Tuesday 31 December 2013

Social disputes, killings taint Lake Zone image in 2013

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Miguel Suleyman

Despite 2013 being a banner year for infrastructure and energy sectors in the Lake Zone, the major life-saving projects were largely camouflaged by widely reported killings and social disputes.

Serial killings that plagued the zone this year, including the recent murder of former CCM chairman Mr Clement Mabina, and five people who were torched to death in Geita, have been the most high-profile murders recorded recently.

The killings, however, don’t shadow disputes over slaughtering rights and killings on witchcraft beliefs which heralded major events that stained human rights records across the Lake Zone. The killings which were reported in Simiyu, Mara, Geita and parts of Mwanza region alarmed the authorities, including the Inspector General of Police Saidi Mwema, who reacted by ordering district security committees to intervene by recruiting people who would provide public awareness on the legal and social impact of the killings.

Read full story.

Friday 27 December 2013

Makamba challenges local clerics to groom better future leaders

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Mwanza. The deputy minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Mr January Makamba, has appealed to clerics in Lake Zone regions to take a leading role in grooming future leaders of the country.

Speaking at a Christmas dinner party hosted by the Great Lake Zone Entertainment here, Mr Makamba said that clerics could contribute immensely to grooming future leaders by giving them vital teachings which prepare them to serve their families, neighbours and other people better and with commitment.

With over 200 deacons, bishops and priests from six regions of the Lake Zone, Mr Makamba, quoted several verses from the Bible describing the kind of leaders who can serve Tanzania, which, in the recent years saw voluminous cases of riots, injustice, brutal killings and corruption and sex scandals.

Read full story.

Thursday 26 December 2013

Construction of 71km road on target, says contractor

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Melard Karoza

The construction work of a road that connects Shinyanga and Mara regions via the newly promoted Simiyu Region was proceeding on schedule with over 50 per cent reportedly finished.

The 71-kilometre portion of 175-kilometre road that starts at Mwigumbi in Shinyanga, connecting with Mwanza-Musoma highway, has over a half being completed by this month.

The project was scheduled to be completed early next year.

The rainy season, which lasted for three months in the entire Lake Zone region, didn’t affect much the construction progress despite causing damage to some parts of the road, noted the project manager, Mr Wang Lizhi, whose China Communications Construction Company is implementing the project.

Read full story.

Thursday 19 December 2013

ATCL resumes flights to Burundi

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ludger Kasumuni

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has re-launched its Dar es Salaam-Bujumbura flights after suspending the services for almost 20 years. The route - which will be served thrice a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - has resumed after security in Burundi returned to normal.

The airline has also introduced Dar-Mbeya route which is scheduled for four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The national flag carrier has also resumed Dar-Mwanza daily flights which started on Sunday.

Read full story.

Wednesday 18 December 2013

Burial of former CCM chairman set for tomorrow

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

The burial of the late CCM chairman and Kisesa Ward councillor, Mr Clement Mabina, will be held tomorrow at Kanyama Hill.

Mabina, who was the CCM Mwanza chairman until October 2012, was killed by a mob at Kanyama Hill in Kisesa Ward on Sunday, about 10 kilometres East of Mwanza City. Family spokesman Timothy Gregory told The Citizen yesterday that burial arrangements, slated for Thursday, were on course.

“Some of the key members of the family who were outside the country have arrived, including his daughter,” said the family spokesman.

Read full story.

Read also:

Unexpected violent end of a fearless businessman

Tuesday 17 December 2013

7 arrested over killing of former CCM chairman

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Police are holding seven people in connection with the killing of the former CCM Mwanza chairman and
Kisesa Ward Councillor, Mr Clement Mabina.

The arrest of suspects brought panic in Kisesa and Kanyama areas where the Mabina was killed on Sunday by an angry mob allegedly because of a land dispute.

Mwanza Regional Police Commander Valentino Mulowola, however, declined to name the suspects, pointing out that divulging their identities could disrupt ongoing investigations that sought to expose the actual killers and the motive behind their action.

Read full story.

Monday 16 December 2013

Ex-CCM boss killed by mob

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

The immediate former CCM regional chairman and Kisesa Ward Councillor, Clement Mabina (pictured), died yesterday after he was attacked by angry residents in a land dispute, the Police and the ruling party authorities have confirmed.

Mabina, who was recently ousted by Anthony Diallo in a vote for regional party chair by was killed in the afternoon by furious crowd in a revenge attack following the death of a city resident the former chairman allegedly shot dead at a farmland in Kisesa, a suburb about 10km east of the Mwanza City.

Mwanza acting regional police commander Christopher Fuime confirmed the incident, saying police were deployed to the village after the fatal attack on Mabina. “Preliminary reports indicate that there was a misunderstanding, prompting Mr Mabina to open fire in the air to threaten the irate villagers,” he said.

Read full story.

Saturday 14 December 2013

Govt faults district on Nyamagana renovation

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Delay by Nyamagana District to react to a project proposal forwarded by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), is the main hindrance to plans of upgrading the Nyamagana Stadium in Mwanza.

The Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports said here yesterday that some $618,000 is needed to upgrade the stadium located in the centre of Mwanza City.

Elaborating, the ministry noted that the International Football Federation (Fifa) has agreed to provide $500,000 whereby Nyamagana Municipality is supposed to come up with $118,000 in order to fully finance the project.

Read full story.

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Police search for rapist of 11-yr-old girl

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Jackline Masinde

Police in Mwanza have mounted a hunt for a Mwatulole villager (name withheld) for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old pupil on Friday night.

The Standard Three pupil (name withheld), who studies at one of the primary schools in Mwatulole Village was defiled by the man while asleep in her room.

The suspect was arrested after the victim’s father, Moses Cheketela, reported the matter to law enforcers. However, he managed to escape from custody while being taken to a nearby police station.

The victim, who has been admitted to Geita regional hospital, said her father was away when the man tiptoed into her half-closed room, grabbed and defiled her.

Read full story .

Sunday 8 December 2013

Students crack their heads to survive on campus

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Edward Qorro

Students and staff at St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) in Mwanza have always held the name Zion dear to their hearts.

At Zion, there is a secretarial bureau and a restaurant where both students and staff frequent to have their daily meals.

Twenty three-year-old Noel Shirima, a third-year Public Relations in Marketing student is the brain behind the two ventures.

Before he joined the university, Shirima had no idea he would one day be a successful entrepreneur. However, circumstances compelled him to scratch his head and think of a way that could help him make money to solve his financial problems.

“At one point I nearly got de-registered by the university administration for lack of tuition fee. The only solution to my problem was to start up a business on campus,”
says Shirima.

Read full story.

Tuesday 3 December 2013

Teaching now top choice for Saut students

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Mwanza. Teaching has now become an exciting career as evidenced in the 15th graduation of St Augustine University of Tanzania (Saut) where 30 per cent of the graduates attained a degree in education.

During the colourful ceremony at the Lake Zone’s biggest learning institution, 1,134 students out of all 3,963 graduates, attained Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in education.

“With private schools and universities trying to live up to the standards in terms of packages and attractive environment, the teaching profession seems to have a bright future in Tanzania and would remain the most secure job provider for a long time,” said Mr Iman Lwinga, one of the graduates.

Read full story.

Sunday 1 December 2013

Roaring win for Mwanza flour mill in Top 100 poll

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ludger Kasumuni
 
Mwanza-based Kipipa Millers is the overall winner of the 2013/14 survey of Top 100 Mid-Sized Companies carried out by KPMG in collaboration with Mwananchi Communications Limited, NBC Bank and the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE).

With five years’ business experience in milling cereals, Kipipa was cited for demonstrating robust business growth from a starting capital of Sh1.5 million in 2008 to sales turnover of over Sh5 billion and caters for Mwanza residents and Tanzania Breweries Ltd (TBL).

The minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, said the project plays a vital role in nurturing an entrepreneurship culture based on strong partnerships between the private and public sectors.

Read full story.

Saturday 30 November 2013

Ward medical officers key to reducing child mortality rates

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Correspondent

Mwanza. Maternal health stakeholders have been urged to effectively engage ward and district health officers as another approach to reduce death among expectant mothers and under five children by 75 per cent as stipulated by the 2015 millennium development goals (MDGs) .

In addition, involvement of ward health officers in strengthening maternal health will improve availability of services rendered to pregnant women and children.

This can influence citizens to contribute their resources to implementing different projects geared toward improving health services.

The resolution was reached during a one day meeting organised by a Mwanza-based NGO, Tandabui Health Access Tanzania, THAT/ AFYA Radio.

Read full story.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Experts: Include rainwater harvesting in irrigation plans

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Agriculture experts have stressed the need to include rainwater harvesting in various irrigation projects in Shinyanga and Mwanza regions.

With major irrigation projects being carried out across the Lake Zone regions, agriculture experts insist that tapping of rainwater, which is wasted in most areas of the zone, can help to offset the costs of irrigation, promote soil conservation and provide an alternative to watering restrictions during a severe drought and, in a small way, reduce flooding and clean streams.

An expert from Ukiriguru Agriculture Research Institute and a breeder of the newly developed cotton seed, UKMO8, Dr Evelyne Lukonge, insisted the improvement of rainwater harvesting technology in the irrigation set up, especially in areas that are far from Lake Victoria.

Read full story.

Tuesday 26 November 2013

Surgery in a blackout: The doctor healing children's broken hearts

From CNN (Cable News Network), USA
By Teo Kermeliotis and Sara Sidner

The masked man had already cut her chest open when the lights went off, plunging the entire room into darkness.

This was not good. In fact, it was downright dangerous. A power outage is probably the last thing anyone would want to happen midway through surgery, let alone while performing the delicate task of closing a hole inside the heart of a six-year-old girl.

But Dr Godwin Godfrey and his team had come prepared.

"We knew that we always have power cuts in the hospital - they can happen at any time, even at night - so we had prepared a back-up manual handle that we could use to run the pump by hand," says Godfrey, who works at the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza, north Tanzania.

Read full story.

Saturday 23 November 2013

'Security firms not registering their staff in social security schemes'

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By The Guardian reporter 

Security firms in Tanzania are notoriously not registering their staff in any social security fund against the law and “…even the few which have registered them are not remitting the deducted contributions to the funds.” Parastatal Pensions Fund (PPF) Lake Zone Manager Meshack Bandawe has alleged.

Closing a training programme for KK security guards (a security firm) over the weekend in Mwanza, Bandawe also alleged that the security firms are underpaying the guards well below the minimum wage set by the government and in most cases do not pay on time.

Read full story.

Filthy latrines behind 80 percent of waterborne plagues - report

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By The Guardian reporter

More than 80 percent of waterborne diseases in Misungwi District are caused by the use of unhygienic toilets, District Commissioner, Mariam Lugaila (Photo) has said noting that 60 percent of the residents in Mwanza use temporary and unhygienic latrines.

The study findings released during the World’s Toilet Day on November 19 which also gave accord to the World Hand washing day on October 21, this year observed to put emphasis on the importance of hygiene and sanitation.

She said the district authority is determined to raise the percentage of hand washing after visiting toilets among its residents from 17 percent to 30 percent.

In that respect, she called on Misunwgi residents to build permanent and hygienic toilets that will keep them and their families away from epidemic diseases like cholera and dysentery.

Read full story.

Thursday 21 November 2013

New details emerge in Dar passion killing

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. A third victim of Tuesday’s passion shooting in Dar es Salaam died yesterday at the Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) where he had been admitted to in serious condition.

The facility’s public relations officer, Mr Patrick Mvungi, confirmed that Kenyan national, Francis Shumila, 41, succumbed to bullet wounds at 6.40am. He was a pilot with the Precision Air.

Doctors lost an overnight battle to save the life of the man who was hit by three bullets, one on the head, another on the stomach and yet another on his arm. Shumila’s death follows that of Alfa Alfred, 34, and Gabriel Munisi, both of whom died at the scene of the dramatic shooting on Tuesday.

Read full story.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Man shoots dead his lover’s sister, turns gun on himself

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Henry Mwangonde

Dar es Salaam. A Mwanza businessman yesterday shot dead his lover’s sister and injured her mother before killing himself at Ilala, according to police. A driver caught in the drama was also injured.

Gabriel Munisi sprayed a vehicle with bullets in the 7am attack. There were four people in the vehicle, including his lover Christina Nandonewa, her mother Hellen Eliezer, sister Alpha Alfred and driver Francis Mishumila.

The five were leaving home for the airport, where Nandonewa was to board a plane for Cyprus, when Munisi approached and started firing at the car. Alfred died instantly, according to Ilala Regional Police Commander Marieta Minangi. Munisi then turned the trigger on himself.

Read full story.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Air transport brings new hope to Mwanza

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Mwanza. Improved flight service to and from Mwanza has relieved pains inflicted by the virtual collapse of century-old railway services, a situation stakeholders claim will be luring more investments in the tourism sector.

Since gaining city status some years back, Mwanza City has been striving to enhance tourism and make it the area’s fourth source of income after agriculture, fishing and livestock rearing. Amadeus East Africa, one of the major players in the tourism sector, claimed through its country manager, Mr Renatus Kyakalaba, that Mwanza was fast advancing as an investment hub with the readily available air transport spearheading its goal to become the busiest tourism hub in west of Tanzania .

Mr Kyakalaba was speaking to tourism stakeholders in Mwanza during an occasion to mark the 10th year of Amadeus in East Africa.

Read full story.

Theft case against Canadian adjourned

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Diana Heriel

Mwanza. The trial of a Canadian woman, Randal Dunn, 33, charged with theft of Sh30 million was postponed again as the court awaits concrete evidence to prove her guilty.

Dunn, who was manager of Monarch Hotel, is indicted for stealing from her employer Sh30 million.

Government prosecutor Juma Sarige requested the court to once again postpone the trial, claiming that the evidence provided was too weak to support her conviction.

It is alleged in the case filed at the court by Oswald Masatu, the owner of Monarch Hotel, that the accused allegedly stole Sh30.5 million during her tenure as manger of Monarch Hotel.

Read full story.

Sunday 10 November 2013

Stop using children in mining, Kikwete urges

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Salum Maige and Jackline Masinde

Geita. President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday officially launched the promotion of new Geita region. During the occasion he also strongly warned against child-labour reportedly fostered by the region’s gold mine sites.

Alarmed by absenteeism from school and child labour in the pockets of mine sites in the region, President Kikwete ordered Geita municipal council to implement by-laws that put to task parents found to have denied their children access to school by making them work in the mines and fishing points.

Read full story.

Saturday 9 November 2013

Concert to help build centre in Africa

From Canstar Community News, Winnipeg, Canada
By Cindy Chan

A local non-profit wants to help opportunities grow in Tanzania through an upcoming concert at the West End Cultural Centre (WECC).

Growing Opportunities International (GO!) is hosting "Listen Local! Grow Global!" a benefit concert at the WECC (586 Ellice Ave.) on Nov. 30.

The concert will feature hypnotist Jesse Lewis, musician Elsa Kaka, and two documentaries by Furst. There will also be a silent auction and refreshments for purchase.

Founded in 2010, GO! is a non-profit and volunteer-run organization that partners with individuals in developing countries with visions and goals of making their communities a better place. For example, GO! has helped a volunteer nursery school teacher in Rwanda build a two-classroom schoolhouse.

"(The teacher) had been teaching 80 nursery school kids in her backyard for five years," GO! co-founder Amanda Furst (photo) said.

Now, that school has 70 students studying in it every day.

Furst said the benefit concert is one of many fundraisers to help build a community centre and home for street kids and orphans in Mwanza - northern Tanzania.

"We’re still in the construction process. We have a field cleared out, but we haven’t started fully on construction," Furst said.

Read full story.

Friday 8 November 2013

Barlow murder trial postponed again

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Diana Heriel

Mwanza. The murder trial of former regional police commander Liberatus Barlow was postponed for the 29th time on Monday pending investigations into chemicals contained in bullets that killed him.

Before senior resident magistrate Angelo Rumisha, government prosecutor and attorney Castus Ndamugoba requested the court to postpone the case because the investigations had not yet been completed.

Read full story.

Thursday 7 November 2013

TZ farmers set to reap big from superior cotton seeds in 2014

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Miguel Suleyman

 A new and superior certified cotton seed, UKMO08, which has been bred by Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Institute, will be used by farmers effectively from the coming planting season.

The new cotton seed replaces the aged UK 91, which officially expires this season.

The new seed was unveiled this week in Mwanza during a training programme to farmers and field officers from 31 cotton-growing districts in the western Tanzania Cotton Growing Zone (WCGZ) held here at Victoria Palace.

Read full story.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Farmers oppose seed price, contract farming

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Citizen Reporters

Kahama/Mwanza. The widely accepted contract farming system now faces stiff opposition in Shinyanga and Simiyu regions, where cotton farmers reportedly issued public statements opposing the system.

People who claim to be cotton farmers have publicly denounced both the system and the quality seeds produced by Quton Seed (T) Limited, which were highly recommended during a series of stakeholders meetings in the western cotton growing zone.

Read full story.

Mwanza records success in curbing crime, say police

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Mwanza. Amid spiralling crime levels in big cities, the crime rate in Mwanza, the second largest city in the country, has gone down, despite many incidents of machete attacks in the region’s poor rural.

Mwanza acting regional police commander Joseph Konyo, said the crime rate this year has not surpassed figures of 2011 and 2012, as most reported incidents in the city’s two municipalities, Ilemela and Nyamagana, were minor incidents.

Speaking at the weekend during the official handing over of a police post constructed by the Parastatal Pension Fund (PPF), Mr Konyo said no incident of a serious organised crime has been recorded in Mwanza since the killing of the then regional police commander, Mr Liberatus Barrow in 2012, a situation he claimed to show the success of efforts to combat crime.

“Even though this scenario might, on the face of it be construed to mean crime has gone down, indeed crime in the first, second and third quarters of the year has decreased,” said Mr Konyo.

Read full story.

Firm uses Sh9bn on water project

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Jackline Masinde

Geita. Geita Gold Mine (GGM) has completed its part in the implementation of a project to tap Lake Victoria water for supply to Geita Municipality.

The remaining part of the project was supposed to be implemented by the government after the firm had finished installing machinery and pipes that supply water from Lake Victoria, just five kilometres from Geita Municipality.

The company’s public relations officer, Mr Tenga Tenga, told The Citizen at the weekend, that GGM resorted to complete the project to sort out the long existing water problem in the newly promoted region.

Read full story.

Friday 1 November 2013

Geita miner to spend Sh4 billion on girls secondary school

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Geita. Construction of Nyankumbu Girls’ Secondary School in Geita will be completed early next year, it was revealed yesterday, bringing a ray of hope to thousands of girls who walk long distances in search of education.

The project is undertaken jointly by Geita Gold Mine (GGM) and the Geita District Council. The two signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in November 2007 under which they agreed that Geita District Council would provide land for development while GGM would construct the school and dormitories.

“Construction will be completed next March. We’ve spent about Sh4 billion so far,” GGM communications manager Tenga Tenga said in a statement. Under the MoU, the district council would also fully manage the 500 girls capacity school once built including providing teachers, stationery and equipment.

Read full story.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Bugando in dire cash constraints

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza

Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) still faces acute shortage of funds, a situation that is said to hinder it’s provision of better medical services.

The second biggest referral hospital is now seeking financial assistance from the government and partners to boost the operational budget after the available funds were found to be insufficient to operate the hospital efficiently. The hospital’s executive director, Prof Charles Majinge, told the Vice President, Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal, and health partners attending Bugando Day celebrations here that more funds were needed despite having well-wishers who support the institution. “For example, the hospital needs Sh20 billion to meet its operational costs besides workers’ salaries. But it only accessed Sh1 bilion from the government,” said Prof Majinge.

Read full story.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Bugando to offer heart surgery services

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

In Summary:
African Barrick Gold who contributed Sh500 million to the project, said, through its envoy, Deo Mwanyika that its commitment in health service complies with the company’s zeal to ensure there are better environments, workers welfare and harmonious environments with communities around its mining sites.

Only Sh50, 000 will be charged for open heart surgery at the newly launched service at Bugando Medical Centre, the hospital management told visiting Vice President, Mohamed Gharib Billal.

Speaking during the official launching of the heart surgery and cancer treatment services at the Lake Zone’s biggest referral hospital, Bugando Medical Centre’s executive director, Prof Charles Majinge, said it normally costs a patient Sh6 million to get such a service in foreign hospitals, a relief he said would save billions of shillings and many lives across the Lake Zone regions.

“Open heart surgery is very expensive and it is one of the medical operations that need a high level of professionalism. It is now readily available here and hopefully it is a big relief even to those who spend millions for the service in India and other parts of globe,” said Prof Majinge.

Read full story.

Monday 28 October 2013

Bilal hails Bugando theatres

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman,The Citizen

Vice President Mohamed Gharib Billal officially launched two life-saving medical services at Bugando Medical Centre here that bring hope to over 18 million residents across Lake Zone regions.

Besides opening buildings that serve as cancer and heart theatres, the Vice President witnessed Tanzanian doctor Godwin Godfrey, conducting a successful heart surgery at the newly-opened theatre.

“I have witnessed how the operation was conducted by a team of doctors led by a Tanzanian...this is a milestone and a big achievement,” said the Vice President whose official opening of the cancer and heart surgery theatres was part of celebrations to mark the 41st anniversary of the Lake Zone’s biggest hospital.

Read full story.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Man killed, two wounded in pre-dawn raid at church

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

In Summary:
“I don’t think the attack had anything to do with banditry since they didn’t bother with valuables in the church. We are frightened by this kind of attack and would like the government to take quick action,”

One person has been killed and two others severely wounded when unidentified people raided the Gilgal Christian Church early yesterday morning.

The attackers carried traditional weapons including pangas. The incident occurred at Pasiansi suburb in Ilemela District, Mwanza.

Mwanza regional police commander Ernest Mangu confirmed the incident. He named the deceased as Elias Meshack, a resident of Ilemela, and injured persons as Mr Elias Maskauzi and Mr Tumsifu Pungu.

Read full story.

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Chinese ready to overhaul rail line

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Athuman Mtulya, The Citizen

A China construction company is willing to overhaul the central railway line, says a statement

China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), which also built a 1,860km Tanzania-Zambia railway from 1970-1976 told Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda who is China that they are ready for the job and they waiting for the green light from the government of Tanzania.

CCECC president Yuan Li told Pinda that China was talking to the ministry of Transport over the matter.

Mr Yuan expects that the two parties would agree on the matter.

Mr Pinda said the overhaul would reduce a burden of damaged roads as a result of a big bulk of heavy loads being transported by trucks after the collapse of the railway line decade ago.

“When the reconstruction is done it will also opened more doors for economic opportunities. It will boost trade with Rwanda, Burundi and DRC and we can even transport Ugandan cargo via Mwanza,” he said.

Read full story.

Saturday 19 October 2013

TBL pours Sh400m for canoeing event

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Staff Writer

Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) through its beer Balimi Extra Lager has poured Sh400 million to sponsor this year canoeing competition designed for Lake Zone regions athletes.

Speaking yesterday, TBL Marketing Manager, Fimbo Butallah said that the purpose of using huge money is to develop the game in the zone which has been staged for 14 years in its history.

Butallah said the amount would be used to facilitate the competition from the start and will use Sh24 millions to award the winners. He said another amount would be used to cover competition expenses including promotions.

He said that they are regarding that the competition is an avenue for Lake Zone residents due to the fact that it influences crowd of people.

Read full story.

Tuesday 15 October 2013

Community urged to give girl child education priority

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Annastazia Fredy

With the Lake Zone ranked among areas with the highest cases of female genital mutilation and teenage pregnancies, a call to enhance girl’s education hoisted the banner of this year’s International Day of Girl Child marked in Mwanza at the regional level at the weekend.

The worst victims being young girls in poor rural areas across the Lake Zone regions, the zone, according to researches, also leads in sexual violence and school dropouts, a situation that calls for collective efforts to address it.

Read full story.

Thursday 10 October 2013

Contract farming to be streamlined

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Cotton stakeholders are making headway in streamlining contract farming ahead of this year’s season that starts in November.

Some ginnery owners yesterday pledged to support the government’s push for contract farming. They believe if well implemented, contract farming will lead to increased cotton production.

This comes weeks after cotton stakeholders met in Mwanza and announced a ‘No Investment, No Cotton’ policy in a bid to streamline contract farming.

“We will continue to work closely with the government towards improving production,” said Mr Amini Ladhani of Mwatex Ltd. In the last season, the company spent over Sh100 million on supporting contract farming. Contract farming gives the right of buying cotton only to ginnery companies that provided inputs, pesticides and certified seeds to farmers prior to a planting season.

Read full story.

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Govt committed to improve health sector, Bilal says

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Annastazia Fredy

The Tanzania health sector has made a sky-leap achievement in a ten-year period in terms of technological advancement, medical facilities and professionalism, Vice President Mohamed Gharib Bilal said in Mwanza at the weekend.

Dr Bilal, who was speaking during the opening of the fourth Tanzania Medical Students Association (Tamsa) conference on Monday, said he was relieved that 80 per cent of medical practitioners and health workers, who were trained in the country decided to report to their work places. Medical students from US, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and host Tanzania are attending this year’s conference. The conference’s theme is Impact of Global Health in Africa; it’s time to face the challenges.

Read full story.

MP donates mobile lab to serve 21 schools

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

Secondary school students in Nyamagana District will benefit from a mobile laboratory worth Sh5.9 donated by the area MP, Mr Ezekiel Wenje.

Mr Wenje, who handed over the facility yesterday, said he bought the equipment using the Constituency Development Catalyst Fund (CDCF) money to respond to schools’ request for science laboratory services.

The state-of-the-art laboratory will to some extent reduce the shortage of laboratories facing 21 secondary schools in Mwanza. Only nine schools in the city have laboratories.

Read full story.

Monday 7 October 2013

Board opens zonal office to boost tourism

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman The Citizen on Sunday Reporter

The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) on Friday opened its office in Mwanza that will serve six other regions in the Lake Zone.

Officially opened by the deputy minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, the occasion marked the region’s major step in boosting tourism and make it the fourth source of income for residents still glued to the agro-pastoral economy.

The opening of the office, as explained by the TTB managing director, Mr Aloys Nzuki, aimed at supporting Mwanza Region’s efforts to serve as a hub of the Tanzania’s western tourist zone.

Mr Nzuki said, the zonal office would also act as the board’s liaison office for Mwanza, Geita, Mara, Simiyu and Shinyanga regions.

“The large zonal market potential suggests the need to establish presence in the sector that now serves one of the biggest sources of foreign income and the rapidly growing sector,” he said.

Read full story.

Sites and places in Mwanza

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen on Sunday Reporter and Agencies

Mwanza is Tanzania’s second largest city and the economic heart of the Lake Region. Mwanza is located in the extreme northern part of Tanzania Mainland dominated by Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria.

The location - on the southern shores of Lake Victoria and the altitude - 1.134 metres above sea level - ensure a fresh breeze, friendly humidity and agreeable temperatures throughout the year. The town looks onto the lake, which includes dramatic views of the Bismarck Rock - a massive outcrop of granite rocks.

Lake Victoria is nearly 69,000 square kilometres, Africa’s largest tropical lake and the second largest fresh water Lake in the world. It is the source of the great Nile River. The lake occupies sections of three East African countries - Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda but more than half of it is in Tanzania.

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Tuesday 1 October 2013

Mwanza grapples with lack of conference facilities

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Lusekelo Philemon 

Authorities in the rocky city of Mwanza have started chasing for potential investors, who would be interested to invest in modern conference facilities.

“We are forced to call for investors to do so, taking into account that the city has no conference facility that would house more than 3,000 people at once as it is with other cities in Tanzania,” Mwanza Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo said.

Briefing a group of EAC Brand Survey volunteers in his office lately, the RC said the city was in a good location to host regional and international conferences but failed to do so because of lack of conference facilities as in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Eng. Ndikilo said accommodation facilities are no longer a challenge as there are some people in Mwanza who have invested in hotels, “but most of them lack conference facilities, a situation that makes the city at a losing point.”

“We are anxious to start lobbying for some EAC meetings to be held here, but it is very difficult because we don’t have such facilities. So, I take this opportunity to encourage investors to view Mwanza as an important area for investment,” RC Ndikilo said. He, however, stated that regional authorities are working on making the region a tourist hub in the Lake zone by putting up better infrastructure that is tourist friendly.

The ongoing expansion of Mwanza airport to international status will be a catalyst for the growing tourism industry, along with Saanane Island National Park. Mwanza has more than 40 tourist attractions, the RC added.

Pastoralists rescued from angry farmers

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Salum Maige

Game rangers from Mwanza in collaboration with law enforcers have rescued six pastoralists who were taken hostage by a group of over 50 farmers at Ruande Forest Reserve in Geita Region.

A land dispute had erupted between farmers and the pastoral community near the forest reserve, a situation that forced farmers to take six pastoralists hostage.
Armed with bush knives and axes, a group of over 50 farmers ambushed and surrounded the pastoralists on Friday morning. They took them hostage for several hours, threatening to behead those who would not surrender.

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Over 1.5 tonnes of drugs confiscated

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

The Pharmacy Council of Tanzania has closed down 120 pharmacies in the Lake Zone for illegally selling drugs from government hospitals, operating without licences and in violation of regulations.

The crackdown, which started on September 16 through 27 in Mwanza, Geita and Shinyanga regions found that some 52 pharmacies belonged to government officials working in public hospitals and health departments, according to the deputy registrar of PCT, Ms Leah Chenya.

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Saturday 28 September 2013

Bank employees charged with stealing over Sh600m

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Diana Heriel

Five employees of Stanbic Bank were yesterday charged with stealing over Sh600 million.

They pleaded not guilty before Mwanza Senior Resident Magistrate, Angelo Rumisha, and were released on bail until October 21 when their case will be heard.

The accused, who faced nine charges, were alleged to have stolen Sh601.5 million through fraudulent transactions on separate occasions between June 1 and August 16, last year.

Before the court were Ms Maria Caroll Rajabu, 27; Mr Omary Hatibu, 45; Mr Clement Stephen, 45; Ms Elizabeth Ezekiel Mboto, 39, and Ms Priscuss Fidelis Tarimo, 30.

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Mwanza unveils strategies to reduce Arusha’s dominion in Serengeti Park

 From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza

The authorities here have announced strategies that aim to increase the volume of tourists heading to Serengeti National Park via its airport, a move likely to threaten the domination of Arusha as the preferred route.

The strategies include a plan to enhance the western Tanzania route that includes Mahale, Gombe and Rubondo Island, which is mostly favoured by tourists with an interest in the historic MV Liemba.

Announcing the move, Mwanza regional commissioner Evarist Ndikilo, said during the official opening of a Tourism Week fair that the region, in collaboration with Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), was committed to further promoting the sector and the vast natural attractions available in the entire Lake Zone.

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Thursday 26 September 2013

Mwanza backs stadium's artificial turf installment

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By The Guardian reporter

Mwanza Regional Commissioner’s office has pledged to support the installation of artificial turf on the centrally-located oldest stadium of Nyamagana.

Regional Commissioner Evarist Ndikilo who was accompanied by the city’s mayor Stanslaus Mabula confirmed to the Tanzania Football Federation’s president Leodegar Tenga that the authorities will give boost by contributing a staggering $118,000 for the installation of the turf.

The total cost of the project which is highly funded by FIFA will now hit $ 618,000 as FIFA supports with injection of $500,000 through its Goal Project IV.

The RC and City Mayor who visited the TFF offices in Dar es Salaam yesterday, have jointly confirmed that they will be able to organize fund raising to attain the pledged sum by mid next month.
The two officials were also accompanied by the city’s director Hida Hassan.

The Goal Project IV has been channeled to Mwanza for the refurbishment of the Nyamagana Stadium that came close to extinction through estate developers in 2008.

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Wednesday 25 September 2013

Farmers begin ‘no investment no cotton’ drive

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Cotton stakeholders here have launched a ‘No Investment No Cotton’ policy in the region’s bid to streamline the contract farming system.

Officially announced in a stakeholders meeting held at Mwanza Hotel over the weekend, the policy gives the right of buying cotton only to ginning companies that provided inputs, insecticides and certified seeds to farmers prior to a planting season.

The Mwanza regional commissioner, Mr Evarist Ndikilo, who chaired the meeting told the stakeholders that companies which did not provide farmers with vital inputs would not be allowed to buy cotton next season.

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Arusha exhibitors likely to hijack Tourism Week show in Mwanza

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Despite the ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources’ pavilion occupying the biggest space at the Tourism Week Exhibition in Mwanza, exhibitors from Arusha are likely to dominate the show this time in the same manner they did during last year’s debut.

The second edition of the show started on a low note yesterday at Nyamagana Stadium as has always been the trend with the first day. Most exhibitors were still putting final touches to their stands. Some were still installing their pavilions while others were painting and bringing in their products for exhibition.

Most of the exhibitors said they recorded low businesses while others said they received few visitors at their stands.

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Sunday 22 September 2013

Police on the hunt for psycho who butchered Mwanza family

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman, The Citizen Bureau Chief

Three members of the same family have been killed at Ihila Village at Buhongwa Ward .

Police are yet to arrest the killer(s) and are investigating the matter, which occurred at around 4 am yesterday.

Family head Jones Elias Lulinga, 44, was stabbed to death while his wife and seven-month-old child Eliud are suspected to have been strangled.

The motive for the killings that has caused fear and panic in the area couldn’t be immediately established as the 12 year-old survivor Debora Elias was asleep when the deaths occurred.

Regional crime officer Joseph Konyo said it was too early to comment on the motive behind the killings as strategies to arrest the killers were on course.

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What's in a name: Mwanza, Mara at loggerheads over Serengeti

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

A dispute over Mwanza’s intention to rename its airport Serengeti resurfaced ahead of the start of this year’s World Tourism Week which begins here today at Nyamagana Stadium.

Serengeti, Tanzania’s most popular national park and a world heritage site, sparked off the debate between Mwanza and Mara regions due the former’s intention to change its airport name to Serengeti.

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Saturday 21 September 2013

JK launches 60MW Nyakato power plant

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By The Guardian reporter 

President Jakaya Kikwete has reaffirmed that for Tanzania to acquire meaningful development then the country must increase power generation, distribution and consumption, pointing out that electricity is not a luxury but rather a necessity.

The president made the remarks yesterday during the official launch of the Nyakato power plant that has the capacity of generating 60 megawatts of electricity and will be connected to the national grid.

President Kikwete, who is on a five-day tour of Mwanza region said the power plant will increase the reliability of power supply in the Lake Zone.

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Saanane Island officially declared 16th National Park

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Lusekelo Philemon 

The government has officially declared Lake Victoria’s Saanane Island, (photo) as the country’s 16th National Park.

The new Saanane Island National Park has an area of 2.18 square kilometres will now include the total areas of the former Saanane Island Game Reserve, Chankende Islands and parts of Lake Victoria water surrounding Saanane and Chankende islands.

According to TANAPA’s Public Relations Manager, Pascal Shelutete, the move follows Government’s Notice Number 227 issued recently.

"…the resolution to establish the park was passed by the National Assembly October last year," Shelutete said in a statement.

Historically, Saanane Island was managed as a zoo in 1964 and elevated to the status of a Game Reserve in 1991. In 2006, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism directed Tanzania National Parks to assume full responsibility of managing and overseeing the overall running of the game reserve and initiate the process of elevating it to the status of a National Park.

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Mwanza plans to upgrade airport road to four lanes

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Lusekelo Philemon 

To meet the demands of increasing traffic, authorities in Mwanza have laid out a plan to expand the existing roads as well as to construct new ones and generally modernising infrastructure across the rapidly growing city.

To start with, authorities plan to construct four-lanes from the international airport to the Central Business District and 10bn/- has been allocated for the purpose. Upon completion would greatly ease traffic in the country’s second largest city.

Noting that Mwanza is one of the fastest growing cities in sub-Sahara Africa, Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Eng Evarist Ndikilo (photo), acknowledged that it calls for planners to develop the best approaches to overcome inevitable urban challenges bound to grapple the lake city.

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Friday 20 September 2013

7 polluting gold mines hit with Sh450m fines

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
 By The Citizen Correspondent

Mwanza. The National Environment Management Council (Nemc) has slapped fines totalling Sh450 million on seven gold mines for environmental pollution that threatens biodiversity and human health.
The fine, the first of its kind, came after a three-week investigation, according to the head of a National Environment Management Council task force, Dr Yohana Mtoni. He told reporters yesterday that six of the gold mines were foreign-owned.

The mines belong to the South Africa-based AngoGold Ashanti, London-based African Barrick Gold, Australia-based Resolute Limited and locally-owned El-Hillal Minerals Limited.

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Saturday 7 September 2013

It’s a tricky affair doing business on Lake Victoria

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Sex-for-fish deals are the only way to ensure women in the region can get a regular supply. But is this how things should go?


A drop in the supply of fish in Lake Victoria has resurrected the notorious fish-for-sex deals known locally as “jaboya”. A survey at landing sites in Mara, Geita and Mwanza indicates a sharp rise in the practice since March, when the fish shortage picked up pace.
Local groups have tried to put an end to the shady deals, but matters are complicated by the way the system works and the players involved.  “It is hard to curb the practice since it appears to be a survival mechanism for women” says Baraka Almas of a non-governmental organisation, Supreme.  “It is a complicated system.”

Saturday 31 August 2013

We can end road madness!

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By staff writer


In Summary
But this madness can be stopped. Human factors such as carelessness, and lack of safeguards that have led to the dire situations are matters that are within our control as a people.

It is with profound sadness that the nation received news that 13 people travelling in a minibus got killed when their vehicle rammed into a stationary truck. Gruesome deaths such as these add to a narrative that is becoming common on our roads. In recent years, road accidents have contributed significantly to the country’s overall mortality, competing with well-known killers such as Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

With the challenges that have been facing the transport sector in the past few years, it is no wonder that recent surveys have suggested that the country is currently losing lives through road carnage at a rate higher than that of population growth.

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Friday 23 August 2013

Cut number of road blocks, traders urge

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza, The Citizen Correspondent


Business communities in the Lake Zone have asked the government to reduce the number of road blocks along the Mwanza to Sirari highway, saying their presence only served to attract illegal dealings and smuggling of commodities across the border.

The businessmen, most of who engage in exporting cotton and ground nuts to neighbouring Kenya, claimed that road blocks were senselessly placed and have been used as sources of income by dishonest officials.

One of the businessmen, a Bariadi-based groundnut exporter, Mr Pius Sabeya, called on the government to address the situation.


Read full test:http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/-/1840392/1960646/-/edd8sqz/-/index.html

Sunday 7 July 2013

Lake Victoria shores pathetic

From The Citizan Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Once healthy and crystal-clear water of southern part of Lake Victoria, has now turned pungent, stinking with algae.

Mwanza. Efforts to turn Mwanza into a major tourist attraction and a hub of western Tanzania tourist route is a daunting task.

Once healthy and crystal-clear water of southern part of Lake Victoria, has now turned pungent, stinking with algae.

But the city’s water and sewerage authority (Mwauwasa) strongly denied a role in the pollution. The watchdog’s managing director, Mr Anthony Sanga, says: “Our sewerage system is foolproof and strictly adheres to sanitation laws. The pollution is most often created by domestic and industrial waste poured into River Mirongo.”

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Monday 1 July 2013

Man gets 60 years in prison, 12 lashes for rape, robbery

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Christopher Maregesi

Bunda District resident magistrate, Ms Safina Semfukwe, said the punishments reflected the offence committed by the accused.

A resident of Lake Victoria’s Island of Manchwera, Erick Ouma (25), has been sent to jail for 60 years after the court found him guilty of rape and robbery.

Ouma also will receive 12 lashes and pay a fine of Sh500,000.

Bunda District resident magistrate, Ms Safina Semfukwe, said the punishments reflected the offence committed by the accused.

Earlier, the public prosecutor, inspector of police Masoud Mohamed, alleged in court that Ouma, who is a fisherman, raped a woman at Namguma Island.

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Fishermen, factories settle fish price row

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza

Following the consensus, the fish price has now shot up from Sh2,500 to Sh4,200 per kilogramme.

Mwanza. A dispute over fish price between fishermen and fish processing factories has eventually been settled after the latter agreed to increase the price by 85 per cent.
Following the consensus, the fish price has now shot up from Sh2,500 to Sh4,200 per kilogramme.

Mr Daudi Kisila, the executive chairman of Kitila Fish Frozen Small industry, one of eleven firms operating fish storage facilities in the Lake Zone, told The Citizen yesterday that the introduction of better storage facilities enables fishermen to store their catches for a long time while searching for better markets locally and in other areas of the Great Lakes region, especially in DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

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Sunday 16 June 2013

Report: Harmful gas emissions reduced by 86pc

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

Mwanza. Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has been commended for playing a major role in the country’s sky-high leap success to curb ozone depleting substances (ODS).

In collaboration with other stakeholders, the institution has managed to reduce the ODS by 86 per cent by 2009, according to a report released on Thursday by experts from the Vice President’s Office during a meeting with environment stakeholders in the city.

As unveiled by Peter Nyang’ombe, an industrial expert from the ministry, until 1999, Tanzania used about 254 tonnes of ozone depleting substances per year but the tonnage has been reduced to only 35.76 annually by 2009, reflecting a 86-per cent drop.

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Saccos receive Sh49bn loan, 90,000 members to benefit

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

Mwanza. A total of 390 savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) have received a loan of Sh49 billion from Self Project, a private firm based in the city.

The money is expected to trickle down to the grassroots and benefit 90,000 registered members of the entreprenuers’ groups.

Speaking during the signing of a Sh90-million loan for AIC Nyasho Saccos group of Musoma and Tugeme Saccos of Magu, the acting Self Project coordinator, Mr Harold Materu, said that it has issued a total of Sh49 billion to various entrepreneurs and civic organisations from 2002 to January 2013.

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Saturday 15 June 2013

Fishing industry on the brink of collapse, govt told

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Veneranda Sumila

Mwanza. The fishing industry is banking on the government to pull it back from the brink of collapse. It is asking the authorities to reduce the fuel levy on the grounds that fishermen do not carry out their business on land.

“It is surprising to see that fishermen are charged up to Sh122 per litre as fuel levy while, in the actual sense, fishing is done in water,” said Bahari Bounty chief executive Harko Bhagat. “We do not touch the ground.”

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Thursday 9 May 2013

Charity donates over 250 desks to Mwanza schools

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Over 800 pupils in five districts of Mwanza Region have benefited from 250 desks donated by Hassan Maajar Trust, a civic organisation committed to boosting the education sector in the country.

Districts set to benefit from the donation, estimated to cost about Sh20 million, include Misungwi, Kwimba, Sengerema, Ukerewe and Magu, according to the trust’s vice chairman, Mr Sharif Maajar.

Speaking during the official handing over of the donation at Nyamijundu Village, Misungwi District, whose schools received 50 desks, Mwanza Regional commissioner, Mr Evarist Ndikilo, thanked the organisation for the support.

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Sunday 5 May 2013

Albino society appeals for help

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza

The public has been urged to support people with albinism, especially school age children to access
education.

The chairman of the Tanzania Albino Society (Tas) in Mwanza Region, Mr Alfred Kapole, said pupils and students with albinism often fail to attend classes due to their decreased visual acuity.

“I appeal to the public to support people with albinism as most of them are from poor families and cannot afford to get their needs as required,” he said in an interview with The Citizen.Mr Kapole, said apart from sight problems, people with albinism have been suffering from photophobia, extreme sun sensitivity and skin cancer.

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Tuesday 16 April 2013

SAUT don sees no point in special probe on F4 exam fiasco

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Anthon Mayunga

The Saint Augustine University of Tanzania (Saut) Vice Chancellor, Dr Charles Kitime, has challenged the government on the formation of the team to probe reasons behind mass failures in the last year Form Four examinations.

Dr Kitime said the formation of the team that will spend taxpayers’ money was meaningless because the cause of the problem was well known.

Speaking to journalists who attended a special training on business reporting in Mwanza, Dr Kitime said the decision shows how the government was not focused on improving the education sector in the country.

“I am surprised to see the Prime Minister forming a special team to probe the reason behind the mass failures in the 2012 Form Four examinations. I think it is well known that we have an acute shortage of teachers, poor learning environments and lack of books just to mention a few,” said Dr Kitime.

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Thursday 11 April 2013

Firm opens new route to Mwanza

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By the Citizen Reporter

Passengers and traders in the Lake Zone region are set to benefit from direct bus transport services connecting Mwanza and the neighbouring Burundi’s capital city Bujumbura.

Burundi’s transport giant, Otraco, has recently opened a Mwanza-Bujumbura bus service route in its efforts to establish closer business ties between Tanzania and Burundi traders.

Otraco, which stands for Office Transport en Commun, becomes the first Burundian firm to offer the services, as it has been vice-versa for years.

One of the bus operators, Mr Phillip Pascal, told The Citizen they travel twice a week to and from Bujumbura.

However, he urges Burundian traders to explore the opportunity as the business between the two cities is almost a one-way-traffic as Burundian traders imports more from Mwanza while exports hardly nothing to the Lake Zone region.

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Thursday 4 April 2013

Bus, train fares to increase by up to 40 per cent from next week

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ludger Kasumuni

Daladala, bus and train fares will increase by up to over 40 per cent next week.

Commuters using daladalas will from April 12 pay between Sh400 and Sh700 per trip, up from Sh300 and Sh650 respectively, depending on the distance travelled, the Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) said yesterday.

Schoolchildren will pay a flat rate of Sh200 instead of Sh150.

Fares for long-distance buses will rise by 20.3 per cent, 16.9 per cent and 13.2 per cent for standard, semi-luxury and luxury buses, respectively, according to Sumatra acting director general Ahmad Kilima.

Third-class train fares will go up by 44.1 per cent while second and first-class tickets will cost 25 per cent more.

Mr Kilima said bus travellers will pay Sh58 per kilometre instead of Sh51.64 for luxury buses, while those using semi-luxury and standard buses will pay Sh53 and Sh46.11, respectively, instead of Sh45.53.

For example, the luxury bus fare between Dar es Salaam and Arusha will be Sh36,000 instead of Sh32,000, while travellers using semi-luxury buses between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza will pay Sh61,400, up from Sh53,000.

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Wednesday 27 March 2013

TZ losing its wildlife to cash-rich Asia, Far East as demand buoys local poaching

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Reporter

Mwanza. The presence of lucrative markets for game has been pointed to foster poaching that endangers wild animals.

Speaking during an official opening of a workshop organised by Tanzania National Park Authority (Tanapa) and attended by stakeholders from natural reserve conservation areas at Gold Crest, Mwanza Regional commissioner, Evarist Ndikilo, called for intervention from the international community to stop those markets and save wildlife and natural attractions from extermination.

Various countries in southern Asia and Far East have been alleged to provide good markets for game products, the leading of them being elephant tusks, rhino trophies, skin products and other forest products.

Photo by: Hans Kristoffersen (COPYRIGHT). Location: Rubondo Island National Park

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Saturday 16 March 2013

462 fake nurses flee Bugando Hospital, Mwanza

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen's Reporters

The Pharmacy Board of Tanzania has caught 462 nurses working in the Lake Zone’s major health facilities with fake certificates.

The board’s crackdown aimed at nabbing people who illegally run medical and pharmacy businesses, also impounded 76 fake certificates, according to the board’s public announcement to the press yesterday.

The exercise’s coordinator from the board, Richard Selumbe, told The Citizen that during the exercise they carried out inspections on 1,206 assistant nurses serving at Bugando Hospital, the Lake Zone’s biggest referral centre, where they found only 743 nurses with genuine certificates. The remaining 386 who were suspected to have fake certificates fled their work stations fearing the board’s test.

“We are holding 76 fake certificates owned by those who were inspected, but we couldn’t get 386 others since their owners fled. The total number of owners of the fake certificates reached 462,” noted Serumbe.

He said most of the fake certificates show the nurses studied at the African Inland Church’s medical school, whose location Serumbe said was still undisclosed.

“Its location is said to be in Mwanza, but conflicting reports say it is in Magu while others claim the college is in Shinyanga,” noted Serumbe.

Read full story.