SBL hailed for buying materials from local farmers

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

THE Mwanza Regional Commissioner Mr John Mongela has challenged industries to buy locally farmed and produced raw materials instead of importing them and deny local producers capacity to expand their businesses.

He made the appeal yesterday as he officiated at the launch of a new beer dubbed ‘Pilsner King’ produced by Serengeti Breweries Ltd (SBL) Mwanza plant targeting Lake Zone consumers.

The RC said it was normal for beverage industries to import raw materials in the past but of late the trend has changed with many of them now buying locally produced ones commending SBL for maintaining the practice.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend our local industries like SBL for supporting our farmers by directly buying raw materials for their industries from them which contributes a lot in not only increasing income but also creating more direct and indirect employment,” he said.

Mr Mongela said buying locally produced raw materials in large quantities will gradually create competition among farmers and local manufacturers on issues of quality and standards of their products in order to attract foreign markets as well.

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New ship plans at Lake Victoria finalised

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By FLORENCE MUGARULA

LAKE Victoria travellers have every reason to smile as the government is building a new ship and conduct major and minor rehabilitation to existing vessels in the lake. It is obvious that water transport is vital in the economic growth of any nation.

Transportation and the mobility it confers are linked to a level of output, employment and income

MV Victoria (2011)

within a national economy. In many developed countries, transportation accounts between 6 and 12 per cent of the GDP.

Business studies show that transportation accounts on aver age between 10 and 15 per cent of household expenditures, while it accounts around 4 per cent of the costs of each unit of output in manufacturing.

However, this figure varies greatly according to sub sectors. For some times now, vessels that ply Bukoba-Mwanza route have been grounded for services. However, the government through Marine Service Company Limited (MSCL) confirmed to the ‘Business Standard’ that everything is in place to set a new and bright dawn for Lake Victoria travellers.

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Precision Air launches flights to Kahama

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JIMMY LWANGILI

PRECISION Air launched flights to Kahama Airstrip in Kahama, Shinyanga Region, yesterday, making it the first airline to make scheduled flights to the airstrip, after it was handed to the government authorities for public use.

The Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) listed airline will begin with three flights a week to the airstrip which was operated by Acacia Mining and used for charter flights.

The Shinyanga Regional Commissioner (RC), ZainabTareck, said the airstrip would stimulate business and economic activities in the district and neighbouring areas and help to unlock the great potential of the district to traders, investors and tourists.

“We are officially starting to use this airstrip after the Acacia Mining Tanzania handed it over to the government for the public uses," she said during the launch of the flights at the airstrip yesterday.

According to her, they approached Precision Air to start operations in the district since December, last year, until recently when preparations were finalised. Precision Air’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Hillary Mremi, said by opening up Kahama route the corporate is living its slogan ‘You are why we fly’ through opening up routes which are meant to serve the demands of the public.

“There will be no need for passengers from Shinyanga and Kahama to drive all the way to Mwanza to catch their flight to Dar es Salaam. Our flights from Kahama will not only save time, but the cost of travel for the ordinary people and traders as well,” he said.

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Success as cotton weight cheating drops by 27pc

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By MOSES MATTHEW in Mwanza

AUTHORITIES have managed to reduce the level of cotton weight cheating from 34 per cent during 2015/2016 season to seven per cent in 2017 season.

Some farmers have been accused of tampering with the weight of their produce. In August, 2016, at least 30 farmers in Lake Zone were fined 10m/- for tampering with the weight of cotton. The Cotton Board of Tanzania (CBT) said farmers were punished for mixing cotton with sand and other materials

to increase weight.

The Mwanza Regional Weight and Measurement Agency (WMA) Manager, Mr Hemed Kipengile, told the ‘Daily News’ that the cheating had dropped after WMA and other stakeholders made follow ups and introduced mobile courts which charged and meted out punishments to culprits.

“The mobile courts helped to address the problems, all famers and traders who were involved in the dirty game were charged and punished accordingly,” he said when he visited various areas that produce and process cotton in the region.

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