Govt to build over 9000 houses for prison staff

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Getrude Mbago

The government has announced plans to build over 9,000 houses for prison staff to address the

The Minister for Home Affairs, Charles Kitwanga

shortage of housing that they face.

The project will be rolled out across four regions of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma and Mwanza and is expected to start early next year detailed Home Affairs Minister Charles Kitwanga (photo). He said the government is keen to address all challenges facing the prison force.

“We have already signed a contract with Poly Technologies Company, a Chinese company to implement the project,” he added.

"Prison workers should rest assured...they will all have good accommodation...we will implement the project in all other regions as well,” he pledged. “It is very important to make sure prison staff reside in good houses for them to work in diligently,” he went on to say.

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Police push to curb drunken driving in Mwanza Region

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE Police Force in Mwanza Region has pledged to work with other stakeholders to sensitize drivers on the importance of avoiding drunken driving especially during this festive season.

The Head of Traffic in Mwanza, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohamed Likwata, said during a seminar organized by Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL), that drunken driving was one of the major causes of road accidents.

The SBL training seminar is run under the theme: ‘Friends, Don’t let Friends Drink and Drive’ and ‘Taking a Drink? Let someone Take the Key’.

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Major housing project underway in regions

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Daily News reporter

A DREAM by the majority of lowly paid public servants to own modern and durable homes is set to be realised soon following a move by Watumishi Housing Company (WHC) to launch a construction drive of 800 houses in four regions.

The move by WHC is a fulfilment of a promise made by the fourth phase government under retired president Jakaya Kikwete for the government to seek a lasting solution to the lack of descent houses by civil servants.

Speaking to the press in Dar es Salaam, WHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Fred Msemwa named the regions with the housing units in brackets as Tanga at Pongwe area (40), Mwanza at Kisesa Township (56) and Dar es Salaam which will receive the bulk of the houses to be built in Kigamboni (400), Bunju (190) and Magomeni Usalama (104). According to the WHC Chief Executive Officer, the Magomeni Usalama project is set to build two flat buildings with 15 floors each.

The buildings to be built right at the heart of a historical part of Dar es Salaam in which it used to be the home for a good number of mid-ranking civil servants of independent Tanzania Mainland (Tanganyika) is set to change once and forever the area’s scenery.

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Mwanza City urged to elect capable, educated mayor

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By NASHON KENNEDY in Mwanza

THE newly-elected councillors in Mwanza Region have been urged to ensure that they elect a mayor who is graft-free, educated and impartial and one who will take the city to the next level.

Speaking at different occasions here, Mwanza residents pointed out that due to the rapid growth of the city and the huge economic activities conducted by both local and international investors, the city needs a competent mayor.

“The reputation of the councillor who should be elected as mayor of the city is that he or she must first have sufficient knowledge to question and oversee the revenue and expenditure of the city”, said Mr Robert Masunya, a Mwanza resident.

According to Mr Masunya, the new Mwanza Mayor must be able to interpret various policies, rules operating state authorities and not depend on the old requirement of one just knowing how to read and write.

“That is not applicable in the current environment, perhaps it may be used on councils in small towns and in rural areas”, he said.

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Mwanza city roads need urgent repairs

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By PIUS RUGONZIBWA in Mwanza

THE Mwanza City Council (MCC), is seeking 822m/- for the rehabilitation of the badly damaged road infrastructure caused by heavy rains that poured in early November this year.

In a letter written to the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Prime Minister’s Office in respect of the matter, the amount is urgently sought to return roads and bridges in their normal order to allow transportation of people and goods as it was the case before.

“Various roads in the city have been badly dilapidated to the point that it is making hard for the public transport to operate and this is mainly caused by the geographical position of the city which is surrounded by the hills,” read part of the letter that was made available to the ‘Daily News’ as signed by the Acting City Director, Mr Jeremiah Mahinya.

Many of the affected are unpaved roads interconnecting the hills surrounding the Lake side City involving damaged culverts and drainage systems. The most damaged part of the City that needs urgent renovation includes the Isamilo-Jeshini road, Mkuyuni-Tambukareli and Maina-Nyakato road and Igoma-Kishiri-Fumagila road.

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Meeting seeks to end Mwanza land conflicts

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
DAILY NEWS Reporter in Mwanza

ILEMELA Municipality has been called upon to find lasting solutions to land-related disputes among Bugenda, Monze 'A' & 'B' and Nyamwilolelwa residents that arose from unplanned settlements.

The call was made by the Tanzania Home Economics Association (TAHEA) Project Manager (Improving Rural Housing), Mr Musa Masongo, here at the weekend, when he was giving an evaluation of land conflicts in the Municipality and measures taken to resolve disputes that include surveying plots for better housing.

TAHEA is a professional non government organisation (NGO) founded in March 1980 in Mwanza City, with the aim to empower individuals, families and the entire community in the country, socially, economically and with gender perspective through education, training, information and consultancy.

He said residents have bought plots and created unplanned settlements with the government failing to stop them, a situation he said will bring great harm if it is not controlled earlier.

"The biggest problem is having residents build unplanned settlements and later have their plots taken by the government. I am requesting the government to survey unplanned areas in order to avoid conflicts," Mr Masongo explained.

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Mwanza outlines plans to contain cholera

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By NASHON KENNEDY in Mwanza

MWANZA City administration has outlined strategies to contain outbreak and spread of cholera. The strategy will engage all city workers who will provide public education on the nature, causes and how the disease is spread.

The strategy is the result of the action taken by the District Commissioner (DC) of Nyamagana, Mr Baraka Konisaga and the Mwanza City Director, Mr Adam Mgoyi, who on Friday convened a meeting involving ward executive officers, healthy officers and community development officers from all 18 wards of Nyamagana District.

“I have called you here in this meeting, so as to give you the government directives on strategy to combat cholera. You must supervise and work tirelessly in promoting hygiene,” Mr Konisaga said.

He urged the workers to be careful with the disease claiming that it may cause the city to spend a lot of money on treatment of the disease. “Prevention is better than cure. Tell the residents to take care and heed instructions of health professionals and urge them to cooperate with them. cholera is dangerous disease,” he explained.

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Mwanza contains cholera outbreak

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By PIUS RUGONZIBWA in Mwanza

Acting Mwanza Regional Medical Officer, Dr James Kengia, told the ‘Daily News’ yesterday that the cholera situation was sharply improving thanks to public awareness and massive campaigns deployed since the prevalence was first reported in September, this year.

Dr Kengia said there have been collaborative efforts by all stakeholders in spreading health education particularly to the fishing community, in Ukerewe and Sengerema districts that were severely hit by the communicable and deadly disease.

“We are working very hard to make sure the disease is contained to the maximum and I thank all the players who have demonstrated maximum cooperation with our department to return our region to normal and make sure it is free from the epidemic,” he said.

According to him, as of yesterday, cholera camps in all the affected districts recorded sharp decrease of patients with only five still admitted in Ukerewe, two in Sengerema, five in Ilemela and only one in Mwanza City Council (MCC).

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Official count shows CCM sweep in Lake Zone

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Daily News Reporter

On the other hand, the ruling party has performed poorly in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro regions where the opposition has regained its parliamentary seats and added more to its list of MPs.

In the newly-formed Simiyu Region, CCM clinched all seven parliamentary seats in addition to all but one in Mwanza where Chadema managed to retain the Ukerewe seat. CCM regained Nyamagana and Ilemela constituencies where Mr Stanlaus Mabula and Ms Angelina Mabula have been declared winners, throwing out Ezekia Wenje and Highness Kiwia, both of CHADEMA.

The Returning Officer for Nyamagana Constituency, Mr Tito Mahinya, announced that Mr Mabula scoped 81,170 against 79,280 garnered by Mr Wenje. Meanwhile, the Returning Officer for Chato constituency, Mr Joel Ally, has announced Dr Medard Kalemani as the new MP by scooping 78,817 against 32,000 won by CHADEMA candidate Benedict Lukanima.

Dr Kalemani thus succeeds CCM’s Union presidential race frontrunner, Dr John Magufuli, who represented the constituency for the past 20 years, ten of which he sailed through unopposed.

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Dar es Salaam-Mwanza ATCL flights set to resume

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

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) will resume flights on the Dar es Salaam-Mwanza route tomorrow, the state-owned firm said yesterday.

Acting Managing Director Mr Johnson Mfinanga told journalists in Dar es Salaam that ATCL’s 50-Seater Bombardier CRJ-200 will ply the route 14 times in a week.

“With the resumption of our scheduled flight between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, Tanzanians now have an option of flights. The Dar es Salaam-Mwanza route is key to ATCL’s overall business strategy of addressing our clients’ diverse requirements, which includes among others, providing more seat capacity and a quick turnaround in our scheduled flights,” said Mr Mfinanga.

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Three priests and a nun died today

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Phinias Bashaya

Missenyi. Three priests and a nun died today and 13 others passengers were injured after their vehicle collided head on with a bus at Bugorola Village in Missenyi District, Kagera Region.

A Toyota Landcruiser ferrying the priests was on its way to a thanksgiving mass at Kimiza Village in Karagwe District where their colleague was consecrated as a priest.

The vehicle collided head on with a bus christened Sabuni Express, which was on its way from Karagwe to Mwanza via Bukoba town. Pastor Erasto Nakure, who was in the fateful vehicle, identified the priests who died in the accident as Onesmo Bahabwa, Michael Mwelinde and Frolian Tuombe, who was the driver of the vehicle. He also identified the nun Margaret Kadebe.

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Singida road accident leaves 6 dead as 44 are in critical state

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Gasper Andrew

Singida. At least six people died and 44 others were seriously injured in two different accidents in Singida Region yesterday.

Regional Police Commander Thobias Sedoyeka, said in the first incident, a bus called Nice Line Coach, which was heading to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam was involved in an accident at Manga Village, about 11 kilometres from Singida town.

According to an eye witness who was travelling on the bus, Mr Ron Nairo, the accident occurred at around 8pm.

He claimed that after passing the weighbridge, the driver started driving fast claiming he was trying to reach the town before sunset because he had eye complications. “After leaving the weighbridge the bus was in high speed. I was seated at the back of the driver’s seat,” he said.

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Mwanza airport project to cost 105bn/-

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Dickson Ng`hily 

Construction of the highly anticipated Mwanza International Airport estimated to cost 105bn/- will yet to be realised.

The snug in the project was raised yesterday in the House during the question and answer session, when Transport Minister Samuel Sitta was responding to a question by Maria Hewa, Special Seat MP (CCM).
The MP wanted to know when the Mwanza airport and related infrastructure would be renovated to improve service delivery.

Citing that the airport would serve as the transport hub for the Great Lakes Region and other international flights from across the world, Sitta said; "the expansion project will cost the government 105b/- and the government is working hard to make sure the funds are available for the project.”

“Despite the fact that we are facing shortage of funds, the government had already spent about 12.5b/-in the project,” he added.

According to him, the construction work is being carried out by China based Beijing Construction Engineering Group. He detailed that the company is constructing a new passengers' lounge with the capacity of hosting two million passengers per annum when completed.

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10 killed, 50 injured in accident

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Stela Ibengwe

 Ten passengers were killed and 50 others were injured, some of them seriously, after their bus collided with a lorry in Shinyanga Region.

The accident occurred yesterday around 2pm at Ibingo Village, Samuye Ward in Shinyanga District.

The bus involved in the accident, named ‘Unique Express,’ was heading to Tabora from Mwanza. It collided head-on with a ‘Coca Cola’ lorry, which was coming from Tinde heading to Shinyanga.

Speaking with reporters at the scene of accident, Shinyanga Regional Police Commander Justus Kamugisha, said the bus driver was in high speed and that he lost control and hit the lorry, which was also in the middle of the road.

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Road accidents kill over 900

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Alex Malanga

Dar es Salaam. At least 970 people died and over 2,470 others injured in road accidents in the past four months, police said.

Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga told journalists here yesterday that 273 died in January alone and 876 others were injured in road accidents.

He explained that 238 died in the accidents in February and 726 others were injured.

“It is saddening that between March 11 and April 12 some 103 people died in road accidents and 138 others were injured.”

He said to a large extent speeding was the main source of accidents followed by other factors such as poor infrastructure, sharp corners and sliding.

Mr Mpinga is planning to meet Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (Sumatra) officials to work out new strategies to control speed.

“There is need for Sumatra to review the schedule for buses going upcountry,” he said.

He said it would be better to spend two days for long routes like that from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza to reduce road accidents.

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Thousands in Dar, Mwanza stranded as drivers strike

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

Mwanza. Hundreds of passengers yesterday endured hours of agony and frustration after bus drivers went on strike to demand a reverse of an order to redo driving training and fair employment contracts.

Some drivers separately told The Citizen on Saturday that a directive by the Traffic Police Commander Mohamed Mpinga to re-do the driving course and limit speed or face two weeks in jail or have their licences revoked was draconian.

The strike was apparent at the main bus stands of Nyegezi and Buzuruga where hundreds of passengers desperately sought for alternatives to reach their destinations in vein.

This paper visited the two stands as early as 6am and witnessed empty buses parked.

“We don’t know what to do. We really suffer. We are asking responsible authorities to find ways of ending this strike soon,” a stranded passenger, Mr Joseph Wambura, said.

Victor Gervas who is employed by Bunda Express said they resorted to a strike in protest of decision by bus owners to heed to new directives by head of traffic police.

With the new directive, drivers are required to undergo a two-week driving course at Sh560,000 every three months. The drivers there was no need to do so because they have already undergone the same course after paying Sh200,000.

Read full story.

Read also related stories:

18 burnt to death in yet another road smash

At least 12 die in accidents

300 passengers stranded at Ubungo as road rules bite

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Kelvin Matandiko

Dar es Salaam. More than 300 passengers planning to travel up-country got stranded yesterday at Ubungo Bus Terminal after the buses they were to travel with arrived late in the city.

The delay resulted from implementation by traffic police of the road rule that wants drivers not to surpass the 80-kilometre per hour speed limit.

Police imposed the regulation as one of the measures to try and reduce road accidents that have been claiming tens of lives of passengers as well as causing huge property losses.

More than 50 buses travelling from Mwanza, Kigoma, Bukoba, Tabora, Kahama and other regions had to stop when it got 10pm as they are not allowed to travel during the night for security reasons. This means they arrived late in the city.

As of yesterday, many passengers were in dilemma at Ubungo as they were not aware of the traffic regulation.

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Dar, Mwanza on terror plot.

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Godfrey Obonyo

Al-shabaab militants are planning to carry out terrorist attacks in two cities of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, The Guardian on Sunday has learnt.

Information that started circulating in public domain early yesterday stated that the Islamist militant group is operating under detour camouflage to organise terror activities in the country’s big cities.

The plot to inflict terror mayhem among Dar es Salaam and Mwanza dwellers would target Uganda as well, the civic intelligence reads, but without mentioning the location.

This paper took it up to establish the authenticity of the information and revealed that security sources were also working with the second ear.

The information that sparked attention of both local and international social media and spread first to the newsmen reads that “BREAKING NEWS: The Australian, UK and US Governments have issued an enhanced terrorist alert for Uganda. Al Jazeera TV have intimated possible attacks in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

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Dark side of Fastjet: Why it’s not cheaper anymore

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

Is Fastjet really a low-cost airline? This question has been asked several times by passengers flying Tanzania’s budget airline, but the answers have been confusing, sometimes misleading.

Think about these facts. If you booked your flight to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam seven days before travelling, the return ticket will cost you a whopping Sh696,000 if you don’t have any luggage weighing 20kg or more, which costs an extra Sh20,000. This means that a return ticket for a traveller with at least 20kg of luggage costs Sh716,000.

That is what happened last week, when Asha, a 34-year-old businesswoman, booked a Fastjet flight to Mwanza, hoping to travel next Sunday, on Easter, and return to Dar es Salaam on April 14, this year.

“I was shocked to hear that it would cost me that much money (Sh716,000) for a return ticket to Mwanza…is Fastjet still a low-cost airline?” she asked in a text message to The Citizen.

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Fastjet to introduce KIA-Entebbe flights

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Patty Magubira

Arusha. Fastjet Tanzania starts flying between Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and Entebbe in Uganda tomorrow as the budget airline cements its presence in the region’s growing aviation sector.

The Dar es Salaam-based airline is deploying its Airbus A319 on the route in a move that also seeks to promote KIA as one of Tanzania’s most promising international gateways, surrounded by the country’s tourism hotspots of Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, the Mount Kilimanjaro as well as the Arusha National Park on Mount Meru terrains.

“We will offer three flights each week – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – on the route,” the airline’s general manager Mr Jimmy Kibati said here at the weekend.

He said the decision to turn KIA into one of its bases in the country also stems from the fact that the airport is close to Arusha which is the headquarters of the East African Community (EAC).

“It is in this belief that we are also introducing flights between KIA and Mwanza starting from March 30, 2015 (today) where we will offer four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays,” he said.

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UN set to investigate albino killings in EA

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

The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday decided to appoint an expert to investigate abuses suffered by albinos in East Africa. The 47-member council adopted by consensus a resolution establishing a three-year watchdog position. It expressed “grave concern at attacks and widespread violations against persons with albinism, including women and children, persons with disabilities and the elderly.”

The resolution, presented by Algeria on behalf of the group of African states, comes after UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein earlier this month decried a steep hike in attacks on albinos in East Africa. “These attacks are often stunningly vicious, with children in particular being targeted,” Zeid said.

The move by UN Human Rights Council comes when the number of incident of violation against people living with albinism, which include abduction, mutilation and even killing have started to surge in Tanzania. Last year, three such cases occurred each in Mwanza, Tabora and Simiyu regions, while this year one case was reported in Geita. In Mwanza, an albino child, who went missing, has not been recovered.

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LAKE ZONE: Man gets 60yrs for rape of duo

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Twald Salum

A resident of Old Misungwi Village in Misungwi District, Mwanza Region, Manota Doto, 45, has been sentenced to 60 years in jail as well as receiving six strokes of cane over two rape charges.

The man was given the punishment by the Misungwi District Court on Monday after it found him guilty of raping a 40-year-old widow as well as defiling her 15-year-old daughter (their names withheld) on the same day.

Reading charges at the court, the prosecution led by Assistant Inspector of Police Doroth Mgenyi alleged that the defendant committed the offense on April 8, last year, at Masawe Village.

It further told the court that on the fateful day, the accused man raided the complainant’s home at 8 pm raped the woman and defiled her daughter after he threatened to kill them if they cried out for help.

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Lukuvi launches NHC's house project in Mwanza

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

Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development, William Lukuvi has launched phase one of the construction of quality and affordable houses in Buswelu on the outskirts of Mwanza.

The first phase will see a total of 30 houses constructed under supervision from the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

Speaking to journalists at the launch over the weekend, Lukuvi said the total cost of the 30 houses is 1.8bn/-, which NHC has secured from financial institutions as a loan.

He said the construction which started in January this year will take eight months hence end in September.

The minister assured that the project will be implemented as per the schedule laid out by the contractor and not otherwise. He said this will give NHC time to start the second phase of the construction which will entail 32 houses to tune of 3bn/-.

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BREAKING NEWS: Four albino killers get death sentences

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Jackline Masinde

Geita. The husband of a 32-year-old woman with albinism is among four men (Photo to your right) sentenced to death for her 2008 killing in Nyamaruru Village. Zawadi Magindu’s attackers, who included her husband Nassoro Charles, cut her limbs and right hand with an axe and a machete.

High Court Judge Joacquine Demello ruled that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the four committed the murder.

The killers are Nassoro Charles, a resident of Beda Village in Kagera Region, Masaru Kahindi of Nyamaruru Village in Geita Region, Ndahanya Lumola whose origin was not stated, and Singu Nsiantemi from Kakoyoyo Village in Bukombe District.

The four attacked the woman at 7pm as she ate dinner. Kahindi, a neighbour, and Magindu’s husband were armed with an axe and a machete. They chopped off her legs and right hand.

Said the Judge: “The attackers also beat and threw out of the house the mother of the deceased, Ms Magdalena Mashimba, and her granddaughter, Semen Hamisi. As they beat the elderly woman, her granddaughter--who was hiding behind the door--identified the attackers and their voices since there was moonlight on that night.”

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IAA launches new campus in Mwanza City

From IPP Media/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Prosper Makene 

The Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) has opened a new campus at Buzuruga area, Nyamagana District in Mwanza Region with the aim of reaching a one third of Tanzania’s population living in the Lake Zone.

Already the IAA has established a campus building at Quality Plaza along Nyerere Road in Dar-es-Salaam City and Babati in Manyara.
The Institute has grown from offering full time certificates to undergraduates, postgraduate and Masters programmes.

Speaking at the launch of the campus over the weekend, Mwanza acting Regional Commissioner Baraka Konisaga said the government will continue to invest in the construction of schools and higher learning institutions that’s why the region has provided a plot for the IAA to establish a campus.

Konisaga also called on the accountancy institute to speed up the establishment of more branches countrywide in a move to produce more accountants who will help in developing the economy.

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Mwanza on sensitisation campaign to protect children against violence

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

A sensitisation campaign to protect children against violence has been launched in by a multi-faceted cooperation team in Mwanza.

The team includes social welfare officers, civil society organisations, child protection teams from the Mwanza municipal councils under the auspicious support of PACT Tanzania.

Mwanza Regional Secretariat, Jalia Mtani

A Social Welfare Officer from the Mwanza Regional Secretariat, Jalia Mtani, told journalists yesterday in the region that the sensitisation will be carried out during the upcoming week of defense and protection for children.

“We will hold mass education on best ways to protect children, debates about the reasons why people violate children's rights and the importance of reporting child abuse to concerned authorities,” she said.

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Almost 5000 Mwanza small traders refuse to pay levies

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

A total of 4,800 small and medium entrepreneurs who operate at major markets in the city centre have threatened not to pay levies to the Nyamagana District authority if their demands are not met by today.

Announcing the decision over the weekend the Chairman of the Society of Market Traders Justin Sagara said following discussions with the management and representatives of the traders it was decided that there is no point of paying 960,000/- per day while the municipality has failed to even put up toilets and other facilities for them.

Each of the entrepreneurs pay 200/- to be allowed to do business at the markets and local auctions located at Buhongwa, Milongo, Mkolani, Sabasaba, Mkuyuni, Kitangiri, Kirumba Magomeni, Nyakato National, Igoma within Nyamagana and Ilemela Districts.

Some of the traders go to the other five districts monthly for auction.The five districts are Ukerewe, Misungwi, Kwimba, Sengerema and Magu.

Sagara said they have for a long time been asking, particularly, Nyamagana District authorities to construct lavatories in areas where the City Council has allocated for the traders but to no avail.
He wonders why the municipality cares less for the genuine needs despite the fact that it Nyamagana ollects revenues from the traders, millions of shillings.

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Commuter bus operators halt services

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

Commuter bus drivers plying the Igoma-Airport route yesterday refused to offer transport services after Mwanza city council ordered them to stop using bus stops in the city centre.

The drivers opposed the order saying it was unfair to them and their passengers.

Social and economic activities stopped for more than seven hours in the Lake Zone city after drivers protested the city council’s order by blocking Nyerere road and forcing other drivers to stop and abandon passengers.

Upcountry buses were also delayed after all roads were blocked in the city causing confusion to passengers and traders in the area.

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Doctors team up to save twins

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Jesse Mikofu

A team of pediatricians and surgeons at Bugando referral hospital have joined forces to save the lives of conjoined twins.
                               

The two were born by Elena Paul, 21, on January 3, this year, at Mara regional hospital and were later referred to Bugando referral hospital in Mwanza for specialist treatment. 

The two baby girls had a combined weight of 4.6 kilograms at birth and had conjoined chests and stomachs.

Dr Festo Manyama, a pediatrician at Bugando referral hospital told The Citizen that a team of surgeons and other specialists have been assembled to determine how best to deal with their condition.

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15 suspects arrested over abduction of albino-girl

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

Police in Mwanza have arrested 15 people in connection with the abduction of a 4-year-old girl with albinism (name withheld) last month. The development comes as regional commissioner Magesa Mulugo vowed to explore all possible means to make sure that the girl is found and rescued.

Speaking at a public meeting at Ndami Village in Kwimba District where the girl was abducted from, Mr Mulugo said police in collaboration with other authorities were working around the clock to rescue the girl.

“Police have arrested 15 people in connection to the abduction of the girl; I want to assure you we will do everything in our power to rescue the girl and that the assailants are brought before justice,” said Mr Mulugo.

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