Mwanza newsBLOG

City plans major facelift

2012-01-14T10:06:00.001+03:00

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

The Mwanza City Council has asked for Sh12.4 billion from the ministry of Works for upgrading roads to tarmac level as part of strategies to ease congestion in the city.

It expects to raise Sh1.5 billion from its own sources for rehabilitating roads damaged by recent rains, it has been revealed.

Talking to The Citizen in his office on Wednesday, the Mwanza City director, Mr Wilson Kabwe, said upgrading of ring roads to tarmac level would help in reducing pressure on major roads.

He said Mwanza City has been expanding rapidly, thus the need to improve its roads in order to cope with increasing demands.

“The roads will facilitate movement and put Mwanza strategically as a tourist city. We have the potential of being among major cities in facilitating East Africa’s integration process,” he said.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-31T16:42:00.003+03:00

From Mwanza Guide 'online':

Mwanza city on a major shopping project

2011-12-31T16:07:00.001+03:00

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

THE Mwanza City Council from March next year is expected to implement a giant multi-billion commercial complex project aimed at stimulating businesses and attracting more investors in the region.

Mwanza city Assistant Economist and Planning Officer, Joseph Kashushula told the 'Daily News' on Friday that all the necessary preparations have been completed and that the commercial complex would be located at Ghana Area in Ilemela District.

He said the project is expected to stimulate businesses across the Lake Zone and the East African Community at large, “The project is expected to take three years and it is a joint venture between the Mwanza City authority and Local Authority pension Fund (LAPF),” said Kashushula.

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Illegal fishing killing factories

2011-12-20T11:26:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

FISH-processing factories in the country are on the verge of closing for lack of adequate fish supplies, it has been said.

Illicit fishing, which is said to have reached a crisis point around the country, has led to the depletion of fish population, triggering the current shortage that has left the factories yawning.

Dynamite fishing, where explosives are used to kill  schools of fish for easy collection, and catching of immature fish have depleted the lakes and seas, according to Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) fisheries units in Mwanza and Kilwa Kivinje.

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Form One-bound pupils face shortage of classrooms

2011-12-16T01:32:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

ABOUT 4,000 pupils who have passed this year's Primary School exams may not be able to pursue Secondary School studies due to a shortage of classrooms in the region.

Mwanza Regional Educational Officer (REO), Mr Khamis Maulid, said on Thursday that a total of 57,274 out of 93,918 candidates who sat for this year's primary education exams passed.

The REO said a total of 31,560 male pupils and 25,714 girls who sat for the exams in all seven districts of the region which are Mwanza Urban, Ukerewe, Magu, Sengerema, Kwimba, Misungwi and Geita scored above average in all five subjects.

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Mwanza faces water shortages

2011-12-13T02:16:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

RESIDENTS of Mwanza municipality have been going without water for the past two weeks and the problem still persists.

A survey conducted by 'Daily News' over the weekend has shown that there a few areas that get very little water while most areas of the city do not get water supply at all.

The affected areas include, Mkolani, Nyegezi, Bwiru, Buhongwa, Nyamanoro, Kitangiri, Kawekamo and Lumala.

The residents in these areas were found scrambling to buy water from street vendors at the cost of between 300/- and 1000/- per bucket.

"We have been experiencing water shortages for over two weeks now. This situation is unbearable to us because we can hardly afford to buy water at such exorbitant prices," lamented one Buhongwa ward resident, Mr Maduhu Gishiro.

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Mwanza RC warns notorious tax evaders

2011-12-07T02:40:00.002+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

AUTHORITIES in Mwanza have vowed to take stern measures against unscrupulous traders bent on evading tax payments.

Mwanza Regional Commissioner Mr Evarist Ndikilo said on Tuesday during the fifth Taxpayers' Day attended by businessmen and members of the public.

''We will have no mercy at all on unscrupulous businessmen or traders who are proven beyond doubt that they have been involved in indiscriminate tax evasion,'' says Mr Ndikilo.

Mr Nkikilo explained that recent experince has shown that some people fail to pay taxes not because of lack of awareness on tax- related matters, but they do so deliberately to make superprofits.

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PM stranded as floods hit Mwanza Airport

2011-12-06T09:13:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda was among passengers who were stranded when heavy rains caused floods that prompted closure of Mwanza Airport lasting nearly six hours.

Aircraft could neither land nor take off as a major part of the runway and taxiways were covered with water.

Mr Pinda was in Mwanza to attend the 40th anniversary of Weil Bugando Referral Hospital celebrations. He had arrived from Dar es Salaam on Friday evening for a three-day visit, which he concluded earlier yesterday, only for his return journey to be put on hold on account of the flooded airport.

A similar ordeal faced passengers bound for Mwanza from elsewhere, including Julius Nyerere International Airport.

The floods occurred only three weeks after similar incident last month.Talking to The Citizen on the phone, the Mwanza Airport manager, Ms Esther Mdale, said they were forced to close the airport for obvious safety reasons.

“The runway and taxiways were flooded and no plane could land or take off. That is why we decided to close the facility for six hours. After clearing it, we will assess the situation before opening it for resumption of operations,” she said earlier in the day.

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Weill Bugando Hospital gets timely boost

2011-12-06T09:02:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ray Naluyaga

Mwanza. The Weill Bugando Hospital, in dire need of expansion and rehabilitation, received a major boost that could change its fortunes following a successful fundraising function that netted Sh60 million.

The event on Friday night was spearheaded by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and saw pledges amounting to over Sh1.4 billion made by individuals and organisations, especially from the mining sector.

African Barrick Gold was on top of the list after pledging to fund two of the five new theatres needed at the cost of Sh500 million. It was followed by Ausdrill (T) Limited. The international Australian company dealing in drilling, blasting and exploration of gold pledged to fund another theatre at the cost of Sh237 million.

Tucta Mwanza Region pledged Sh200 million. The trade union had also participated in a fundraising campaign to rehabilitate the Mwanza regional hospital two years ago when it contributed Sh196 million.

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Fix Mwanza Airport shame

2011-12-06T08:59:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By the Editor

The eyesore that is Mwanza Airport when it rains reared its ugly head again on Sunday. This time around, it was none other than the country’s Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, who was at the receiving end. His flight out of the lakeside city was delayed for more than six hours!

This was not the first time that such a cancellation was effected at this extremely important facility. Which is to say, we aren’t raising the matter simply because our PM was caught in the thick of things.

Mwanza is a busy commercial hub, being Tanzania’s second largest city whose importance cannot be overemphasised. It is ironical that authorities seem helpless in the face of this flooding problem that leads to cancellation of flights whenever there is a downpour.

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Women with pursuit for higher education against odds

2011-12-04T12:15:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By SWAUM MUSTAPHER and BRITTO RAJENDRAN

TODAY’S lifestyle has changed the way many women think with regard to education. Like men, they too aspire for knowledge and make efforts to get it by any means to supplement the communal struggle to eliminate poverty.

The saying of ‘ukimwelimisha mwanamke umeelimisha jamii’ in the country today has stocked the fire in women’s ire to get more education for economic independence. In English the saying means: “If you educate a woman, you educate a family.”

“I feel proud when at the end of the month I can decide in my family that we have to do this and that,” said Ms Prisca Mhanus, a Bachelor of Education at St. Augustine student at the University of Tanzania (SAUT) in Mwanza. Ms Mhanus feels happy and proud when she caters for the family from her own pocket to take some economic weight off her husband’s shoulders.

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Pinda raises 1.5bn/- for Bugando rehabilitation

2011-12-04T12:10:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

THE Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, on Saturday succeeded to solicit a total of 1.5bn/- during a fund-raising event aimed at rehabilitating and improving health services delivery at the Bugando Medical Centre.

The event took place at the Gold Crest Hotel in Mwanza city. The amount exceeded the previous target of 1bn/- and it took the premier about three hours to convince businessmen, financial institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local authorities and members of the general public to contribute for the course.

Major contributions came from African Gold Barrick Mine that pledged to contribute 500m/-, while Geita Gold Mine pledged a total of 200m/-. Others were Aus Drill (237m/-), TUCTA-Mwanza (200m/-) and seven Mwanza municipal councils which contributed a total of over 70m/-.

Others in the list were Serengeti Breweries, Vick Fish, Nyanza Roads Works, Gold Crest Hotel and Shia Ithna Asheri, which altogether pledged to contribute a total of 45m/-. About 60m/- was obtained in cash during the fund-raising event and the remaining 1.4bn/- was pledges. President Jakaya Kikwete and Premier Pinda pledged to contribute a total of 24m/-.

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Mwanza TRA exceeds target by over 100 per cent

2011-12-03T10:25:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN

TANZANIA Revenue Authority (TRA) in Mwanza region has for the past fifteen years exceeded a target of tax collections by over 100 per cent.

The TRA Regional Manager Jeremiah Lusana told a news conference on Friday that the revenue authority was since its inception in 1996 required to collect 642m/-, but the actual collections had until then stood at 642,605,191,000/-, which was equivalent to an increase of 102 per cent.

“Although we face a number of challenges in the process of tax collections, we still have succeeded to go above the stated targets here in Mwanza region.

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Two die of poisonous food

2011-11-27T08:53:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAVID AZARIA in Sengerema

TWO family members of Mwabaluhi ward in Sengerema district, Mwanza region have died and four others still recuperating at the designated district hospital.

They are suspected to have taken poisoned food.

The fatalities are Aisha John, 2, and Shida John, 10, who died on Saturday in the afternoon while receiving treatment at the hospital.

Grieved villagers assisted the family after learning that the entire family suffered from serious vomiting and diarrhoea.

Speaking in serious pain from the hospital bed, the mother of the deceased, Monika Mashauri, 25, said on Friday afternoon she prepared ugali with fish for lunch and consumed the same in the evening.

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Cases of gender based violence in upswing

2011-11-27T08:48:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

THE war against gender based violence needs to be intensified in order to bring about genuine women emancipation in Tanzania, the Kivulini Women's Rights Organization Programme Manager, Policy and Advocacy, Celestine Nyenga, has said.

"A path to gender equality and women emancipation still faces lots of challenges and obstacles as we can still witness gender related violence remains pervasive in our society," she said.

Mrs Nyenga was addressing a news conference on Thursday on preparations for the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of violence against women and fight against gender related violence.

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Experts warn of extreme weather in East Africa

2011-11-24T01:25:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Zephania Ubwani

As the world is preparing for the Durban Climate Change Summit next week, experts have warned of increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, in the East African Region.The director general of the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) Dr Agnes Kijazi said here on Monday that recent flash floods, which caused injuries to people and destruction of property was a matter of concern.

These included floods associated with strong winds which swept Mwanza, Entebbe and Bukoba towns on the shores of Lake Victoria as well as landslides which continue to wreak havoc in mountainous areas in eastern Uganda.

She made the remarks when speaking at the start of a regional training workshop on severe weather forecasting and warning services, sponsored by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and which attracted experts from six countries. She said due to the global warming, a key factor for the changing climatic phenomenon, there was a likelihood of increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events like intense storms, droughts and floods.

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Mosquito spraying should never cease

2011-11-23T02:12:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
Editorial

MOSQUITOES, particularly many species of female mosquitoes, are blood sucking pests and dangerous vectors of diseases such as malaria.

Their elimination is, therefore, a matter of paramount importance. It is a matter of life and death. Mosquitoes come in various types, the most known being anopheles for their malaria-infection notoriety.

Any effort, therefore, towards the elimination of mosquitoes is a commendable move worth all encouragement.

According to officials of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), the second round of the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) operation will begin at the end of this month in 18 districts of the Lake Zone regions of Mwanza, Kagera and Mara.

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15 killed as bus collides with lorry

2011-11-20T11:43:00.003+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Phinias Bashaya

Bukoba. At least 15 people died on the spot and 13 others were seriously injured yesterday in an accident involving a bus and a lorry in Biharamulo District, Kagera Region.The mid-morning accident occurred when the Taqwa bus travelling to Bujumbura from Dar es Salaam collided with a lorry.

The Biharamulo District Hospital assistant chief medical officer, Dr Michael Abila, confirmed that the bodies of seven men and eight women had been received at the hospital, adding that only four had been identified. He said most of the injured were in a critical condition.

There were hectic scenes at the hospital as doctors and nurses struggled to save the lives of the injured, who included a one-year-old child believed to have lost his mother in the accident.

There were plans to transfer some of the victims to Mwanza for specialised treatment.

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Read also 'Road accidents cost billions' by Ludovick Kazoka - in Daily News.

Floods cause delay at Mwanza Airport

2011-11-15T02:53:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

HUNDREDS of passengers were on Monday stranded at Mwanza Airport for several hours after heavy rains led to floods at the facility and suspension of flights.

The 'Daily News' witnessed hundreds of stranded passengers at the Mwanza Airport who were waiting for the situation to return to normal.

Officials said the situation was caused by torrential rains and could not easily be avoided.

The Acting Mwanza Airport Manager, Mr David Matovolwa, told this paper that heavy rains that began on Sunday evening led to floods in most parts of the airport compound.

"When it reached on Monday at 9.10 a.m the area was heavily flooded and hence we declared a closure of all activities and that means no flights were allowed to land or take off from here," said the manager.

The manager said the aircraft that suspended landing due to the floods included, Dash 8, CRJ 540 that were travelling from Kahama to Bulyankulu and Dar es Salaam to Mwanza respectively.

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FCC to conduct campaigns on fake goods in Mwanza Region

2011-11-12T07:12:00.000+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Felix Andrew

In a move meant to reduce the rate of counterfeits, increase consumer protection and competition advocacy, the Fair Competition Commission (FCC) will today carry out awareness campaigns for various strategic groups in Mwanza Region.

Speaking in phone interview with this paper yesterday FCC Senior Communications and Public Relations Officer Frank Mdimi, said the seminar will draw over 60 participants from the business community, judiciary, police force, tax administration officers, regional and district trade officers and cooperative officers.

Others will be from the Regional Attorney General’s Chambers, consumer protection bodies, academic institutions and members of the press.

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Mary: Ranked among top 10 women inventors, innovators (Feature)

2011-11-11T12:23:00.000+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By JAMES MPINGA

GOOD things are happening in the Great Lakes region; so fast and with such resolve that they could redraw, or at least redefine, Tanzania’s future tourism map in just months to come. Mary Kalikawe, a senior Tourism expert who once worked as an expatriate in Botswana’s department of tourism is now making waves back home in this silent evolution - although she is too modest to admit it.

Mary has many other arrows to her bow. In Tanzania, she has since founded Kiroyera Tours and a consulting firm of her own tourism company over the past 10 years which, in 2007, won the ZEZE award for its effort in promoting Cultural Tourism at home and abroad. Her firm also owns the Kagera Museum in her native Bukoba town.

None of these would mark Mary out so significantly if it weren’t for her burning resolve to ‘decongest’ old tourism routes of the fabled northern circuit and bring fresh breath to the rock city of Mwanza and Lake Victoria – the gateway to almost every East African Community (EAC) member state and to the rest of the world.

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Railway infrastructure for more improvement

2011-11-11T12:13:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By LEONARD MWAKALEBELA and NASONGELYA KILYINGA in DODOMA

THE government is committed to revive the country's railway network to connect all parts of the country, Minister for Transport, Mr Omar Nundu told the National Assembly on Thursday.

''We are planning to revive our entire railway network in the country in the coming five years to ease transport woes,'' said Mr Nundu.

He further said that passenger trains would soon resume services to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam, after they were halted some years back. Currently, only cargo trains are operating between Mwanza and Dar es Salaam, through Tabora.

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Mwanza Water Authority improves services

2011-11-09T01:33:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in MWANZA

MAKOYE Budodi, 38, thinks that he doesn’t need to walk a long distance to fetch water for domestic use. A resident of Buhongwa ward in Mwanza city, Budodi recalls the early 1990s when he used to travel at least ten kilometres in search of that precious liquid.

This father of six has this to say, ”Sometimes we used to buy a bucket of water for 500/- when water shortage was very severe. But nowadays things have changed for the better as we have plenty of water around in our neighbourhood,” he explains.

Buhongwa ward is located about ten kilometres from the city centre, and Mr Budodi’s house has no water connections, but he fetches water from the nearby tap. ”I buy one bucket of water for only 30/-. The neighbours here are not selfish as they allow many people to get access to water, and sometimes others who cannoy pay for it are simply allowed to get it free of charge”, he explains.

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Police kill five in foiled robbery bid

2011-11-04T21:10:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DASSU STEPHEN in Mwanza

FIVE suspected bandits succumbed to police bullets in Mwanza on Friday as they attempted to rob a hardware store.

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Mr Liberatus Barrow, said on Friday that the incident occurred at 9.50 am near the junction between Pamba and Nyerere roads.

The suspected bandits were killed by the police force in a fierce exchange of gun fire.

The police chief explained that the suspects succeeded in entering the shop called Mukesh K. Ganatra armed with machetes and guns and the owner of the shop and his customers panicking.

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Immature Nile Perch impounded in Mwanza

2011-11-01T22:17:00.003+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

A MONITORING, Control and Surveillance (MCS) fisheries unit in Mwanza Region has impounded over 900 immature Nile Perch fish, a species facing extinction due to illegal fishing on Lake Victoria.

MCS, which is under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, impounded a huge catch of prohibited fish species at the landing jet of a fish processing factory, Vickfish, located along the shore of Lake Victoria.

Fisheries regulations prohibit catching immature species and government authorities and activists against illegal fishing have repeatedly warned against illegal fishing perpetrated by unscrupulous fishermen, traders and some owners of fish processing factories.

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Junior basketball camp closes in Mwanza

2011-10-21T09:43:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE U-18 youth basketball training camp involving students from various secondary schools in Mwanza came to an end in the city on Thursday.

Mwanza-based Planet Social Development (PSD) had organized the camp in co-operation with a Dar es Salaam firm, Mambo Basketball, with a view to promote the sport in the region.

PSD official, Kizito Bahati, said the event, which had been taking place at the CCM-Kirumba Stadium, involved a total of 81 youngsters, in which the boys totalled 68 and the rest were girls.

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Two drown, several survive in Lake Victoria boat accident

2011-10-18T08:25:00.001+03:00

Ftom The Guardian/IPPMedia, Dar es Salaam
By Correspondent

Two people drowned and several others narrowly escaped death last week after a boat they were traveling in capsized in Lake Victoria, Bunda district, Mara region.

The accident occurred on Wednesday night at Kasuguti village in the district as the men were fishing in the lake.

Kasuguti village executive office Kabanja Kabanja named the two fishermen who drowned as Kajeri Simbiti (17) and Hamis Masatu (33).

He said the survivors were rescued by villagers who witnessed them capsizing in the lake.

One reporter who also witnessed the lake accident, Misana Gamba, noted that apart from the rough lake, the boat was overloaded.

The village executive officer said the incident was reported to Bulamba police post and the bodies of the two fishermen were found the following day and buried.

Mara regional police commander Robert Boaz said he was unaware of the accident and promised to follow it up.

Albino child survives by biting assailant’s private parts

2011-10-16T23:28:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

AN albino child who is admitted to the Geita Hospital in Mwanza Region after he was attacked by a man who was after his body parts said he survived by biting the assailant's private parts.

Adam Robert (14), whose condition is improving said that he managed to bite the man amid the gruesome attack, forcing the goon to run away before cutting his fingers.

"When he was cutting my hand, I was yelling and after a few moment he started preparing to chop off my fingers. That is when I got the chance of biting his private part."

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News of albino killing disturbing

2011-10-16T23:21:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By The Editor

TRAGICALLY, persecution of albinos has resurfaced. It has been years since it was last reported that people with albinism have been attacked or killed solely for their body.

Recently, however, there have emerged reports of an attack on a 14-year-old boy in Geita district, Mwanza Region. The shocking tale of how the boy was attacked, of all people, by a person they had invited to a meal is unfathomable. It is said that the boy was attacked by a man who had gone to their home on the pretext that he had lost his cattle and was looking for them.

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Clan conflicts result in traders leaving district

2011-10-07T08:52:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Beldina Nyakeke

Tarime. As a result of perennial clan clashes a number of traders have left Tarime District, many relocating to Mwanza where they have been doing a brisk business.

Briefing the deputy minister for Industries and Trade, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, who visited the district to inspect the business environment, the Tarime District commissioner, Mr John Henjewele, said security concerns have made many people prefer to perform their activities in the neighbouring region.

He said the recurring clan clashes and cattle theft in the district have made many traders abandon the district and move to Mwanza.

Mr Henjewele said the situation had forced the district’s authorities to come up with strategies to improve the security situation to attract the traders back.

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Fake drugs flood Misungwi district

2011-10-05T10:44:00.001+03:00

From The Guardian/IPPMedia, Dar es Salaam
By Edwin Agola

Mwanza’s Misungwi District, in Lake Victoria Basin, is home to many poor farmers who barely manage to grow enough food crops, mainly rice, to live on. Their top government official charged with fighting malaria is Dr Mathias Abuya.

His job includes attending to as many as 10,000 malaria cases a year. His duty is made more challenging by ruthless, increasingly sophisticated drug cartel of counterfeits.

Standing in his small and cluttered laboratory in the provincial hospital, also called Bugando, he holds up a small plastic bag containing two identical blister packs of Artemether Lumefantrine (ALU) coartem, an anti-malarial drug popularly known in Kiswahili as 'dawa mseto,' manufactured by Norvatis Pharmaceuticals of USA, being sold in pharmacies, with altered expiry dates.

The problem according Abuya is threatening hundreds of thousands of people. Worse still it is due to cold, calculated greed. Tanzania is awash in counterfeit medications, none more insidious than those for malaria, a deadly infectious disease that is usually curable if treated early with appropriate drugs.

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Lake Victoria for environment audit

2011-10-04T08:48:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By MARC NKWAME in Arusha

THE Controller and Auditor General, Mr Ludovick Utouh, said here on Monday that his office plans to conduct an environment audit on Lake Victoria.

"The aim is to inspect the lake's condition and determine reasons behind rapid shrinking of fish resources," Mr Utouh said and added that his office in Dar es Salaam would execute the project in collaboration with counterparts in Kenya and Uganda.

He said his office had for long been associated with auditing financial statements, procurement records and expenditure in public and private institutions and not matters related to environment and fishing.

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TRA nets 16 traders in Mara

2011-09-30T01:37:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
From MUGINI JACOB in Musoma

TANZANIA Revenue Authority (TRA) has netted 16 traders including four companies for selling goods without issuing receipts using Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) in Mara Region.

The companies are Jambo plastic (Dar es salaam), Arusha Sundries Ltd (Mwanza), Promasidor PTY(T) Ltd (Dar es Salaam) and Gulled Wholesaler Ltd (Mwanza).

''We have arrested a total of 16 traders who are registered with Value added Tax(VAT) for selling goods without issuing receipts and got a revenue of 21m/- from them,'' Mara Regional TRA Acting Manager, Mr Gamaliely William Mafie, told reporters in Musoma on Thursday morning.

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We all must fight against fake drugs

2011-09-29T02:36:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By The Editor

THE Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) has moved swiftly and suspended, with immediate effect importation and sale of four types of medicine, which unscrupulous traders have pushed into private clinics and pharmacies.

In a countrywide survey, TFDA discovered that Orador, Laifin, Erythromycin and Pheoymethylpenicillin counterfeits were on sale in Mtwara, Tabora, Morogoro, Kigoma, Mwanza, Coast and Dar es Salaam regions.

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Mwanza hospital to host free operations next month

2011-09-25T09:00:00.001+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Felix Andrew

More than 50 patients with burn scars will get free treatment to be provided by a team of Western Australian surgeons and nurses at Sekou Toure regional hospital in Mwanza late next month.

The exercise, scheduled to begin on October 30 and last until November 9, this year, will be carried out by the foreign doctors in collaboration with their local counterparts.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam recently mission coordinator Devotha Temba urged patients with the problem, especially from mining areas, to show up for the treatment.

“They should not worry about the cost. Various mining firms in the country will take care of all the charges,” she said, adding that the main objective of the mission was to share experiences between foreign and local medical experts.

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Police apologise to Simba, Toto

2011-09-23T09:02:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
From GRACE CHILONGOLA, Mwanza

POLICE in Mwanza have apologised to soccer fans and players of Simba SC and Toto Africans, following a bizarre incident on Wednesday, when a police dog wrecked havoc at the CCM Kirumba Stadium during the Premier League match.

Drama unfolded halfway in the first half, when the dog cut loose from the rope that bound her neck and entered into the pitch, only to cause mayhem among players.

Huffing and puffing, the dog chased Simba striker Felix Sunzu, but the towering Zambian star and two goals hero proved to be as fastest as Jamaican short distance runner Usain Bolt. He lost it within the bush of fellow players.

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Vodacom injects 50m/- into Mwanza Cycle Challenge

2011-09-22T10:09:00.001+03:00

From Daiky News, Dar es Salaam
From a Correspondent in Shinyanga

VODACOM Tanzania will use 50m/- to sponsor the annual Cycle Challenge which will be staged next month in Shinyanga and Mwanza.

Briefing reporters in Shinyanga on Wednesday, Vodacom Tanzania Event Manager Rukia Mtingwa, said the challenge to start in Shinyanga and end in Mwanza on October 22, would have three categories.

The categories are men, women and disabled. Mtingwa said the race will cover 196 kilometres for men and 80 kilometres for women, while disabled category will cover 15 kilometres for men and 10 kilometres for women.

Read full story.

Precision Air under fire over flight delays

2011-09-19T10:51:00.002+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

PRECISION Air, the fastest growing and largest local carrier in the country, has come under intense fire over frequent delays and flight cancellations.

Irritated passengers including a journalist who were stranded at Mwanza airport on Sunday called the 'Daily News' offices in Dar es Salaam, complaining over unfair treatment and lack of communication by the carrier when cancelling flights.

This happened after the passengers were told that the early morning flight from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam which was scheduled for 8:50 am would be delayed for almost two hours.

“My ticket showed that we were to take off at 8:50 in the morning but this never happened and when we demanded for explanation from the company’s ground handling officials at the airport, nothing convincing was communicated to us”, he said.

Read full story.

Kilimanjaro Fun Festival moves to Mwanza

2011-09-16T00:12:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporter

TANZANIA Breweries Limited through its Kilimanjaro Premium Lager brand has organised a Fun Festival for its Mwanza customers on Saturday , as part of the Kili ''Jivunie uTanzania'' Campaign in line with this year’s celebration of Tanzania’s 50 years of Independence.

This is the second phase of the campaign after taking a break during the Holy Month of Ramadhan that ended recently. A statement issued by the Kilimanjaro Premium Lager Brand Manager, George Kavishe, said the event will be held at Furahisha Grounds.

Read full story.

Over 170-HIV positive children stigmatised by parents

2011-09-13T00:56:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Sheilla Sezzy

Over 170 HIV positive children between the age of one and 15 in Ilemela and Nyamagana districts are living without any form of medical care due to stigma from their parents and guardians.

The revelation was made by an HIV/Aids researcher, Dr Alex Margery, when presenting a report by a non governmental organisation that deals with providing services to victims of the disease in Mwanza City. He said research conducted between 2009/10 found that children in that age group did not receive any form of medical care due to stigma by parents and guardians.

He said the failure to expose the children to medical care systems was not due to being too busy but because of the shame of being seen at HIV/Aids centres receiving such services where they thought they would also be viewed by the society as infected persons.

Read full story.

New regions to be announced on Friday

2011-09-09T09:23:00.003+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By PIUS RUGONZIBWA

THE government will on Friday announce establishment of new regions and district councils through the Government Notice (GN).

The Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda (photo), said in Mpanda, Rukwa Region, on Thursday that the announcement has already been signed by Presidet Jakaya Kikwete.

The Notice, he said, would pave the way for citizens to give their views on the new regions and district councils within 30 days.

He was speaking to residents of Rukwa shortly after he landed in the region for a four-day working tour.

Read full story.

Chacha, Jackline triumph at Rocky City Marathon

2011-09-05T02:00:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

From a Correspondent in Mwanza

GODFREY Chacha from Mara and Arusha’s Jackline Juma won the Rock City Marathon 2011 titles in the men and women disciplines here on Saturday.

Chacha clocked 61.03.44 to outsmart over 100 rivals while Jackline timed 1:15.22 to win the women’s race.

She beat 30 others. Mohammed Gulle from Arusha prevailed in the men’s five-kilometre race, beating Dotto Ikangaa, also from Arusha and Pascal Ramadhan from Singida.

The race which started in 2009 has been organized by Capital-Plus International (CPI), an integrated communications firm based in Dar es Salaam and sponsored by Airtel, Geita Gold Mine, Air Tanzania Company Limited, Parastatal Pensions Fund (PPF), Bank M, MOIL, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), New Mwanza Hotel, and the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB).

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Liberatus Balo, who was the guest of honour at the event, said he was impressed by the private sector's efforts to promote sports in the country and asked more companies to come forward and do the same.

Read full story.

Plans to reduce deaths on Lake Victoria underway

2011-09-05T01:53:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By Correspondent ADIUE HUMBLE

EFFORTS are underway to drastically cut down the annual death toll on Lake Victoria - the world's second largest freshwater body and East Africa's largest lake - which officials estimate claims at least 5,000 lives every year.

"We are going to do something soon to trim down the death toll by 80 per cent in the blood-thirsty Lake Victoria by putting a reliable marine rescue service in place," said Dr Canisius Kanangire, the executive secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, quoting the commission's latest statistics.

Lake Victoria's killer status is little known, unlike its fame for the Nile perch fish. The lake straddles three East African countries - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Read full story.

All set for Rock City Marathon

2011-09-04T01:21:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen, Dar es Salaam

By Suleiman Jongo,The Citizen reporter

After days of preparations, the stage is finally set for this year’s Rock City Marathon which takes place this morning in Mwanza.

A Sh1m cash prize is among awards that will be up for grabs at the 21-km race starting at 7am at Mwanza’s CCM Kirumba Stadium.

Event coordinator Zaitun Ituja said yesterday that the award was for an athlete who would smash the current national record of 59 minutes.

Read full story.

Eight die as Champion bus overturns

2011-08-31T00:25:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By Daily News Reporter

Eight people died on the spot and 53 others injured when Champion Bus which was heading to Dar es Salaam from Mwanza overturned in Dodoma on Tuesday following tire burst.

Dodoma Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Stephen Zelothe, said the accident occurred at around 2.30pm, about 13 kilometres from Dodoma Municipality.

“Both front tires ruptured and the bus turned over twice,” said Mr Zelothe, adding that initial investigations showed that the accident was caused by over speeding.

Read full story.

Mwanza radio fights domestic violence

2011-08-27T04:53:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By JAFFAR MJASIRI

AFYA Radio FM, which is based in Mwanza, advocates for psychological, social and physical well-being of residents in the Lake Regions. It has recently introduced Citizen Journalism training for domestic workers in a quest to boost coverage on domestic violence.

Some media experts describe citizen journalism as a new philosophy which aims at training ordinary people to report events happening in their communities. It is another way of creating whistleblowers.

Speaking to the 'Daily News on Saturday' in an exclusive interview, the Director of the FM radio, Dr Joseph Kavit, said that besides the programmes addressing social issues that can bring psychological problems that often culminate in mental disorder, it continues focusing on domestic violence.

Read full story.

Why patients rush for miracle cure?

2011-08-26T22:10:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

By Ray Naluyaga, The Citizen Bureau Chief

Mwanza. Lack of human resources in the health sector has been blamed for the rise in dubious miracle cures of chronic diseases in the country as patients opt for them.

This was said yesterday by the president of the Medical Doctors Association of Tanzania (MAT), Dr Namala Mkopi. He was briefing journalists on the association’s two-day annual general meeting being held at the Weil Bugando Hospital from today.

He said the scarcity has led to the diseases accounting for 60 to 70 per cent of all diseases in the country.

Dr Mkopi said after MAT noticing the problem growing bigger with little attention paid to it, they have decided to dedicate this year’s AGM to addressing it.

Read full story.

Airtel bankrolls Rock city Marathon

2011-08-25T21:04:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By DAILY NEWS Reporter

AIRTEL Tanzania has come forward to sponsor this year’s Rock City Marathon which will be held on next Sunday at CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza at a tune of 15m/-.

Airtel’s Public Relations Manager Jackson Mbando said on Thursday that the sponsorship is the company’s appreciation on the role of sports it is playing in support of the economy.

He added that the company was also committed to ensure the local athletes excel by giving them a chance to display their skills.

“We are happy to be associated with this event which taking roots since it‘s inception two years ago”, he said.

He said that the sponsorship covers cash and promotional materials such as T-Shirts, caps and banners.

Read full story.

Mwanza launches new HIV/AIDS programme

2011-08-25T20:59:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By DAILY NEWS Reporter

CHAMPION, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has launched an HIV awareness and prevention programme for energy projects under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Speaking during the launch in Mwanza, CHAMPION's Programme Officer for Work place Initiatives, Dr Andrew William, said the programme would oversee HIV and AIDS programming in the workplace and surrounding communities for MCC/MCA-T-supported transport, energy and water projects across nine regions.

Read full story.

Tusks impounded at Z'bar port

2011-08-24T21:56:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

From ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar

POLICE and customs officers at Malindi port in Zanzibar, on Tuesday, intercepted and seized a shipment of elephant tusks.

The tusks allegedly originated from Mwanza and consigned to Malaysia via Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) Martin Lissu.

''We are still working on the two containers to find the exact number of pieces of ivory,'' SP Lissu said as security and custom officers emptied bags in search for the tusks.

It is estimated that more than 300 elephant tusks were packed in two containers.

He said police are holding two people in connection with the contraband shipped to Zanzibar aboard MV Bracc and stored for two weeks in the municipality.

Drilling starts at joint Stamico, TREC Buckreef project in Mwanza

2011-08-23T09:08:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By DAILY NEWS Reporter

DRILLING has commenced at a Bauckreef project in Mwanza in which the State Mining Corporation entered into joint venture with Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation earlier this year to implement.

In a statement on Monday, TREC Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph Kahama said exploration for gold has reached an advanced stage while drilling for diamond is also under way.

Mr Kahama said in the statement that the Buckreef project has an estimated measured, 5.176 million tonnes grading 2.05 grams per ton with an indicated 24.97 million tonnes averaging 1.19 grams per ton and an inferred, 17.173 million tons grading 1.51 grams per ton.

Read full story.

Kivulini, solace for victims of domestic violence fighting

2011-08-21T02:30:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By JAFFAR MJASIRI just back from Mwanza

Human rights groups dealing with victims of domestic violence in the regions of Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Shinyanga and Singida continue to support victims of that vile act through an effective network.

The programme officer Mr Zakaria Kulwa, said that Kivulini Women’s Right Organisation in Mwanza which supports other organizations dealing with domestic violence has continued to receive more cases of such cruel treatment of the fair sex on time and finding solutions.

He said that it was obvious women and domestic workers were now being able to understand their rights and turned out in large numbers to report such abuses. “We receive more than 10 cases of domestic violence everyday, which are registered by trained members of various networks including local government officials,” he said.

Read full story.

Mwanza to host EA trade fair again

2011-08-15T09:20:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

From AUGUSTINE SANGI in Mwanza

THE 6th Mwanza East African Trade Fair is scheduled to be held at the Saba Saba Grounds at Ilemela for ten days, from August 26, this year.

Announcing this, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) in Mwanza Region, Mr Joseph Kahungwa, told a news conference over the weekend that the theme of the fair is: "50 years of independence for business development in the country."

Read full story.

Over 200 Mwanza residents to get power

2011-08-13T15:57:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

From CHRISTOPHER MAJALIWA in Dodoma

MORE than 200 residents in Mwanza will be supplied with electricity through Rural Energy Agency (REA) programme in this financial year, the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Adam Malima said here yesterday.

Mr Malima said that the government through Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), was looking for more funds to implement the project which was meant to ensure that rural areas still in darkness would be connected to the national grid.

Mr Malima was responding to a question raised by Festus Limbu, MP for Magu on CCM ticket, who enquired to know what efforts the government made to ensure that Ndagalu Division in Magu constituency gets electric power. The division has had no power for almost 50 years since independence.

Read full story.

Why bustling Mwanza is sitting on a ticking time bomb

2011-08-09T22:01:00.002+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

By Ray Naluyaga

Just about ten years ago it was inconceivable that the dusty town of Mwanza that had just been declared city could have skyscrapers that are now jutting into the sky. From its humble beginnings after it was founded in 1892 as a centre for coordinating cotton exports, Mwanza is now one of the fastest expanding cities in Africa in terms of population growth and economic and social activities.

The speed of its growth was partly to blame for the recent hawkers’ riots in which at least one person was killed and several others injured. Damage to property ran into millions of shillings. It was a conflict that was caused by a scramble for the available resources.

However, despite this growth, which over the last decade has seen several skyscrapers being erected, tens of kilometres of tarmac roads built and the hospitality industry expand substantially, the city fathers, like those of Dar es Salaam, seem unable to cope with the rapid development.

For example, Mwanza city has two major roads - Makongoro that connects the airport and the city centre and Musoma, which runs from Nyegezi to the city centre. Nyamagana District, the cosmopolitan part of the city, is right in the middle of suburbs that cover a radius of approximately ten kilometres. This means that almost all of the traffic heads in one direction where more than 90 per cent of services such as banks, hospitals, markets and shops are to be found.

Read full story.

9 regions to compete in Rocky City Marathon sept

2011-08-02T23:07:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

By Suleiman Jongo, The Citizen reporter

Nine regions have so far confirmed their participation in this year’s Rock City Marathon set for September 4 at CCM Kirumba in Mwanza.

Organised by Capital-Plus International (CPI), an integrated communications firm and sanctioned by the Athletics Tanzania (AT) and the Mwanza Regional Athletics Association of Tanzania (MRAA), is one of the major athletics events in the country.

The event’s coordinator, Zaitun Ituja confirmed yesterday that preparations for the annual event were in top gear.

“Preparations for the third edition of Rock City Marathon are in full swing. Nine regions have so far registered for the race,” she said.

She named the regions as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Manyara, Mara, Mwanza, Singida, Kagera, Tabora and Shinyanga.

Ituja said the door was still open for other regions wishing to compete in the race. She said the event is also open for individual athletes.

“The previous two editions attracted some of the best athletes in the country, I am optimistic this year’s event will follow that tradition,” she added.

Read full story.

Water project needs Sh500m

2011-08-02T00:52:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

By Daniel Msangya, The Citizen Correspondent

Over Sh500 million is needed to implement a project to draw water from Lake Victoria to villages facing water shortage in Mwanza Region, the deputy minister for Regional Administration and Local Governments, Mr Aggrey Mwanri, told Parliament in Dodoma on Friday.

He said most villages preferred boreholes because they were manageable, cheap to run and more sustainable compared with ambitious projects to draw the precious liquid from the lake which they buy for Sh400 for a bucket and that such projects are very expansive to maitain.

He was responding to a supplementary question by Mr Highness Kiwia (MP for Ilemela, Chadema) who expressed his concern over the project drawing water from Lake Victoria to Shinyanga Region while people around the lake including Ilemela, Kirumba, Bugogwa, Sangabuye and Buswelu wards experienced severe water shortages.

Read full story.

Gas route: Tanzania favours Mwanza

2011-07-31T23:50:00.001+03:00

From East African Business Week, Nairobi, KENYA

CHANCES of extending the gas pipeline from Dar es Salaam Mombasa look very slim after realisation by the Tanzania government that it would be more beneficial to construct a pipeline to the Lake Zone area through the Central Corridor.

According to senior government officials who are privy to the process, the Government wants to have the pipeline through Dodoma, Singida and other regions to run up to Mwanza built before any plans to extend it to Mombasa are taken on board.

"Local experts have convinced the government that it would be more advantageous to have the gas pipeline built through the Central Corridor than one that runs from Dar es Salaam through Tanga to Mombasa," said one of the officials who attended last months Sectoral Council on Energy meeting.

The official further said that even though the study for Dar es Salaam-Tanga-Mombasa pipeline was done whereby it showed the project was viable "the study noted that Dar es Salaam, from where Mombasa was to be connected, was having gas constraints but they still recommended the project was economically justified."

Read full story.

Mwanza TFP inferno exposes fire brigade constraints

2011-07-30T22:54:00.002+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By SWAUM MUSTAPHER in Mwanza

FIRE erupted here on Saturday afternoon at Tanzania Fish Processors Limited (TFP) along Voil Street in Mwanza.

The Assistant Manager in the company’s production section, Mr Antony Nyingi, said that the fire broke out at around 2.30 pm and it was not yet known what caused it.

“The whole store caught fire and till now we do not know the value of the property destroyed and the source of this fire has not been established,” he said.

The fire started in the fishing gears’ store which keeps equipments like freezing boxes, taps, fish salt and buoys and fish nets.

Read full story.

Cotton buyers see hopes for better pay vanish

2011-07-22T04:30:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By MASATO MASATO

EXACTLY 30 days after the 2011/12 cotton buying season kicked off in the Western Cotton Growing Zone last month, the cash crop growers in Shinyanga, Mwanza, Mara and Kagera regions have pocketed 55bn/- out of at least 300bn/- that they initially envisaged to earn by the end of the season.

The crop buying season started on June 20, 2011, with cotton growers expecting to earn at least 300bn/- from the sale of over 250,000 tones of the cash crop at an average farm gate price of 1,100/- per kilogramme.

“The season is not good even though we have performed relatively better than last year in terms of the buying speed,” Tanzania Cotton Board (TCB) Director General Marco Mtunga told the 'Daily News' over a telephone interview from the lakeside city of Mwanza on Wednesday.

Read full story.

Low supply affects fish processors

2011-07-22T04:24:00.000+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam

By FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE

IN the past five years, 15 of the 25 Lake Victoria fish processing factories have closed down, the remaining are operating under capacity as greed depletes Nile perch and Tilapia on the world’s second largest fresh water body.

“We can’t close down, it’s not true,” said Harko Bhaghat, Chairman of Lake Victoria Fish Processors’ Association. Mr Bhagat said although fish stocks have depleted to record lows, suspending commercial fishing is not an option for any stakeholder.

“Logistically it’s not possible because it will hurt processors, the government and the fisherman most,” Bhaghat argued as Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Dr David Mathayo prepares to present his ministry’s 2011/12 budget estimates in Dodoma this week.

Read full story.

When riots brought Rock City to its knees

2011-07-22T04:00:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam

By MLAGIRI KOPOKA

Riots are slowly becoming common way of life in Rock City, something that I guess has lingered on from last year’s polls.The ruins of CCM Isamilo building on Makongoro Road tells how there is a Benghazi in the making in Bongo.

But let me start from where I left, you remember I told about how that ride home came to an abrupt end. Well, only the careless driver got injured.

The poor fellow was hit on his face by the wind screen as the daladala crashed into the back of the truck.

I found my initial anger towards the driver evaporating when I saw his swollen face.

I actually found myself saying ‘ pole,’ to the guy something that irritated me on a second thought, it must have been a slip of the tongue.

But all the same everyone getting off the bus was saying,

“Pole dereva,”

Read full story.

NEW visa fees for Kenya

2011-07-17T18:24:00.003+03:00

Mwanza Guide 'online' information:

Visa fees for KENYA:

With effect from July 1st this year (2011) - are visa fees for Kenya exceeded by 100%.

Transit visas: US$ 20
Single entry visa fee (valid for three (3) months to Kenya - and also for re-entry from Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and/or South Sudan) as long as the visa is valid: 50 US$.

Be aware that having expiration date in your visa in (date/month/year) in clear writing - otherwise, you will probably be cheated by customs officials in Nairobi when returning e.g. from Mwanza.

Personal experience few days ago - while re-entering Kenya from Tanzania (Mwanza).

Regulating street trading: A thorn in the flesh of public authorities

2011-07-17T07:45:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By LUSUGA KIRONDE

LAST weekend witnessed one of the most serious riots in recent times, in the city of Mwanza, involving street traders. Millions worthy of property was destroyed. The incident was to some extent depicted as being politically motivated. On the other hand it attained racial tones, with most of the property that was destroyed belonging to the Indian community.

Given the political spectrum of Mwanza, it was easy for some key officials and politicians to blame this on political foment. Yet, our urban areas have a long history of resorting to forceful eviction of street traders only to realize that sometime after, the traders are back from where they were evicted. Regulating street trading has become a thorny issue.

Read full story.

Generator fumes harmful to human health (country wide)

2011-07-16T15:51:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By LAWI JOEL

GENERATORS are meant to give a power backup in case of blackout, but the chronic power shortage in the country has condemned many people, particularly the business community and affluent class in cities and towns in several parts of the country who rely on generators.

A random survey by this paper revealed that most people who depend on generators for lighting houses and offices are not aware of the consequences generators can cause to the air and the environment.

Ms Gloria Kombe, a Senior Environmental Officer with the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), says generators and motorcycles are two-stroke engines powered by a mixture of petrol or diesel and oil, but the fuel is not efficiently burnt.

Read full story.

Mwanza hit by serious water metre theft

2011-07-16T15:40:00.003+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By AUGUSTINE SANGI in Mwanza

MYSTERIOUS thefts of mechanical water metres have lately afflicted various clients of the Mwanza Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (MWAUWASA).
MWAUWASA Assistant Manager responsible for Public Relations, Mr Robert Masunya, told the Daily News on Saturday on Friday that 74 metres had been stolen from homes between June and July 13 this year.

The official said he did not understand what had prompted this wave of theft during such period of time. Mr Masunya mentioned places where the theft was rampant as Pasiansi, Kiseke, Nyakato and Lumala in Ilemela District; and Igoma in Nyamagama District.

Read full story.

Mwanza city set to curb traffic congestion

2011-07-16T15:37:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By DAILY NEWS Reporters in Dodoma

THE city of Mwanza plans to construct two-lane ring roads from Pasiansi to Buzuruga and from Tunza Loop to the Airport at tarmac level in order to reduce motor vehicle congestion in the city centre.

Vehicle congestion in Mwanza has reached a critical level. When complete, the ring roads will see city residents heading for the Airport from Igoma, Nyakato and Buzuruga, reaching the airport without passing through the city centre. The project, which will partially be financed by the World Bank will cost 24.8bn/-.

The City Council in Mwanza expects to spend 1.28bn/- from the Road Fund on the ring roads including construction of bridges and crossings in 2011/12. The project will also see refurbishment of 18.3 kilometre roads in the city centre that will cost 24.8bn/-.

Read full story.

Mwanza needs to address the ‘machinga’ question urgently

2011-07-10T12:24:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ray Naluyaga, The Citizen Bureau Chief

A permanent solution to riots caused by petty traders in Mwanza city is unlikely to be found soon as the problem is compounded by multiple causes and vested interests.On the surface it may look political, but the problem goes far deeper than that, and encompasses the way towns and cities are planned in the country.

Speaking to journalists after the Tuesday riots sparked by a dispute over an area stretching less than thirty metres at the Makoroboi lane, Mwanza Regional Police Commander, Mr Simon Sirro said the violence was a consequence of political divisions within the city council.

“We were informed about an operation to remove petty traders by the city director’s office; our duty was to provide security, but to our surprise, other city council officials separately called hawkers’ leaders and told them to continue doing business at places where the police were deployed, regardless of the prohibition order issued earlier,” said Mr Sirro.

Read full story.

Nahodha tells Mwanza vendors to respect law

2011-07-10T12:07:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By AUGUSTINE SANGI in Mwanza

THE Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, has urged petty traders in Mwanza city to respect regulations and refrain from lawless activities which could plunge them into trouble.

The minister made the appeal on Saturday during a tour of three business places allocated for the city’s petty traders, namely Makoroboi, Buzuruga Bus Stand and Kiloleni.

Mr Nahodha’s abrupt visit to Mwanza has been prompted by fracas that erupted on Wednesday between the petty traders, the City Council militia and riot police following the traders’ reluctance to move to their new allocated places.

Read full story.

Mwanza city director blamed over clashes

2011-07-09T11:14:00.001+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By The Guardian Reporter

The Mwanza city council authorities are blamed for fuelling violence among petty traders, city militia and the police in Wednesday’s fracas, it has been said.

During the fracas, seven people were wounded, shops and vehicles set on fire and property damaged.

The incongruity is alleged to have been caused by Mwanza city director Wilson Kabwe, who has not been involving Mwanza city mayor Josephati Manyerere (Chadema) in plans to remove vendors from the city centre.

Addressing reporters yesterday, Manyerere said the chaos that happened was a result of misunderstandings between him and the city director.

He said when the office of the city director planned to relocate the vendors who invaded a mosque and an Indian nursery school, he was not informed.

Read full story.

Police arrest 131 suspects after violence

2011-07-08T11:37:00.002+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ray Naluyaga, The Citizen Bureau Chief

Police in Mwanza City have arrested 131 people in connection with the Tuesday riots by hawkers, that left one person dead and three others injured.

The Mwanza regional police commander, Mr Simon Sirro, told a news conference yesterday that preliminary investigations have revealed that the ammunition used during violent confrontations between the hawkers and law enforcers was that of shotguns normally owned by private individuals and city askaris.

“None of our officers fired a shot; and since victims were not shot by city askaris, our suspicion is that they must have been hit by bullets fired by private individuals who were determined to protect their properties from looters who were out to take advantage of the chaos and rob them,” said Mr Sirro.

The police chief explained that the law allows civilians to own the type of weapons that were used during the incident. These, weapons, he noted, are the same that are used by auxiliary police (militias) such as city askaris.

Mr Sirro had earlier blamed the incident on misunderstandings among the city council officials in areas which hawkers are allowed to go about their business.

Read full story.

131 held over Mwanza skirmishes

2011-07-08T11:20:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
From AUGUSTINE SANGI in Mwanza

MORE than 130 people have been arrested in Mwanza city following Wednesday clashes between defiant traders and riot police.

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Simon Sirro, said on Thursday that 131 suspects had been taken into custody and would be screened to identify those who should stand trial.

Most shops and offices in the heart of the city that remained closed the whole of Wednesday were open yesterday and it was business as usual.

The RPC stressed that no one was killed in the unrest as it has been reported in some newspapers. He said only three people were injured after being hit by bullets and had been admitted to the Bungando Medical Centre (BMNC) in the city.

Read full story.

Board launches new tourism campaign

2011-06-30T13:13:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Zephania Ubwani, The Citizen Bureau Chief

The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has started branding the country's tourism industry to make it more competitive.The TTB managing director, Dr Alloyce Nzuki, said recently that plans were also underway to woo visitors to new tourist attractions other than wildlife sites.

He said the new branding is intended to enable foreign visitors to capture the new slogans that sell the country as Africa's prime destination.

"The new brands will be the ones that could best portray Tanzanian hospitality," he said when addressing stakeholders of a Cultural Tourism Programme (CTP) managed by the board.

Dr Nzuki said TTB started to develop the new tourism branding last year with the intention of differentiating the destination from close competitors.

"We are developing a brand that is all inclusive," he said, adding that the exercise will go concurrently with increased marketing abroad.

However, the TTB boss reiterated that Tanzania would continue to be a wildlife-based destination for foreign visitors because it was much endowed compared to many countries.

Tourism, he said, continues to be a crucial sector for the country's economy as it is currently, the leading foreign exchange earner.

Read full story.

‘Dumped’ albino widow calls for help

2011-06-26T11:44:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By AUGUSTINE SANGI in Mwanza

A MWANZA widow whose albino husband was murdered in 2009 and left her with eight children feels she has been “dumped” and leading a miserable life.

Mariam Mazuri, now aged 48, says ever since her husband was hacked to death by attackers who were seeking albino body parts for magic purposes, has been impelled to provide for her family single-handedly.

“I’m helpless. I badly need help to educate my children,” she said when this reporter visited her at her Kigongo Ferry village in Misungwi District on Thursday.

Read full story.

Monarch Hotel expands sharply

2011-06-21T17:02:00.004+03:00

From Mwanza Guide 'online', Mwanza
By Hans Kristoffersen, editor

Mwanza is growing dramatically in recent years and the need for hotel- and conference capacity follows naturally with.

Monarch Hotel in Mwanza's quiet Kirumba Area is just about to complete an entirely new section - (photo above) about twice as large as existing from 2005.

The new department will accommodate all three conference halls, casino, bar and restaurant, fitness center for guests, indoor pool and 30 new well-appointed rooms - all of course with wireless internet, air conditioning and minibar.

Hotel manager Mr. Harrison, said that he expects a large number of conference guests as early as October this year.

Mwanza City Safaris

2011-06-14T13:35:00.004+03:00

From Mwanza Guide 'online', Mwanza

Mwanza Guide is now introducing six different guided city safaris: E.g. MWANZA CITY CENTER HISTORY TOUR - through the periods of Germans, British, Indians and early Tanzania., or AROUND CAPRI POINT PENISULA - and possibly a Saanane Island visit., or HISTORIC HARBOR OF KAGEYE - used by Arab traders, Christian explorers and missionaries. + a few more.

Photo: Dr. Robert Koch's house in Mwanza City Centre. All photos by: Hans Kristoffersen.

Read more - go to page.

'Visit Butiama - a different safari'

2011-06-14T09:20:00.002+03:00

From Mwanza Guide 'online, Mwanza

Visit the village of Butiama, one of Tanzania’s leading historical and cultural destinations and the birthplace and burial location of Tanzania’s founding president, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere.

Julius Nyerere, considered to be the ‘Father’ of Tanzania, is one of Africa’s most renowned statesmen. A son of the chief of the small Zanaki tribe, he was born in 1922 in the village of Butiama, just few miles west of Lake Victoria.

Read more - go to page.

12 arraigned today in Mwanza for witchcraft, albino killing

2011-06-06T05:57:00.002+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
From AUGUSTINE SANGI, Mwanza

TWELVE people will on Monday stand trial in Sengerema, Geita and Misungwi in Mwanza Region on charges of killing albinos and people they suspected of being witches, Regional Police Commander, Mr Simon Sirro, has said.
Mr Sirro said the accused persons were netted in a special operation mounted almost a month ago to sniff out the culprits and bring them to book. The RPC said the suspects included a 65-year-old woman.

He could not name the accused person, but said one of them, whom he mentioned by one name only, Meremeta (60), a Geita resident, was charged with the murder of more than 18 people.

Read full story.

Quality British Education in Tanzania

2011-06-04T13:55:00.003+03:00

A Mwanza Guide 'online' advertisement

You should consider BTEC, an internationally recognised vocational course being offered by Braeburn School Arusha from September, the only school in Tanzania accredited to do so.

Meet Mrs. Alison Rogers, Head of Secondary at Tilapia Hotel:

Death threats on Mara victims’ doctor gets death threatened

2011-05-31T07:49:00.001+03:00

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

The doctor who conducted a post-mortem on villagers who were shot by the police at the North Mara Gold Mine has reportedly received threatening phone messages.

On May 23, Dr Grayson Nyakarungu from Mwanza - on behalf of the victims’ families - supervised a post-mortem on four out of five people who were shot by the police while attempting to invade the mine.

Speaking to The Citizen, Dr Nyakarungu said on May 26 he received a mobile phone text message which read: “Those reports are not for political consumption… stop getting involved in the matter… Tundu Lissu is using you for his personal political gain… if you don’t stop after this warning, we shall deal with you… wait to give your evidence in court but remember how Kolimba and Amina ended.”

Read full story.

Bumper entry for Mwanza cycling meet

2011-05-30T10:47:00.001+03:00

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

Over 130 cyclists from six regions across the country have so far confirmed their participation in the Lake Zone cycling championship scheduled for next month in Mwanza. Mwanza Regional Cycling Association (MRCA) secretary general Lucas Mpilipili yesterday named the regions as Shinyanga, Kagera, Mara, Tabora and hosts Mwanza.

He told The Citizen by phone from Mwanza that the door was still open for other cyclists wishing to compete in the 120km event.“June 5 is the deadline for cyclists to confirm their participation in the championship,” said Mpilipili, adding that preparations for the event were in top gear.

Read full story.

16 killed, dozens injured in bus smash

2011-05-18T07:44:00.000+03:00

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

Sixteen people were killed and 60 others injured yesterday when two buses collided in Geita District. The 9.20am accident in Kibingo Village involved a Bunda Transport Company bus travelling to Bukoba from Mwanza and another, christened Sheraton Express, heading to Shinyanga from Biharamulo District, according to Geita Disttict Commissioner Philemon Shelutete.

He said preliminary investigations had established that carelessness on the part of one of the drivers caused the accident.“One of the drivers carelessly attempted to overtake a lorry at a blind spot, leading to a head-on collision with the bus that was travelling in the opposite direction…he did not bother to observe a basic road safety rule,” Mr Shelutete said.

Read full story.

Police hold 6 over Chegeni death plot

2011-04-20T09:50:00.001+03:00

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

Mwanza police are holding six people including the region’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) political committee member over an alleged murder plot on former Busega MP Raphael Chegeni.

Information reaching The Citizen and confirmed by the region’s police commander, Mr Simon Sirro, said the six were arrested between April 13 and 17 following a tip off.

The information links the incumbent Busega MP, Dr Titus Kamani, through SMS and conversations among the six who have been arrested, including Dr Kamani’s relative, who is allegedly the coordinator of the plot.

However, in a quick rejoinder, Dr Kamani denied having any information regarding the matter, including the arrest of his relative over the plot.

Read full story.

Minister: We have plans to maintain marine vessels

2011-04-12T08:12:00.003+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Daniel Msangya

The Ministry of Transportation has plans to undertake major maintenance of ships and reduce the problem of obsolete vessels belonging to the Marine Service Company.

This was said in parliament yesterday by the deputy minister for Transportation, Mr Athuman Mfutakamba.He said the government also planned to procure new marine vessels for Lake Victoria. In this connection it has requested the Danish government to fund a feasibility study for constructing a ship and the type of ship to be procured.

Mr Mfutakamba said to start with the government would set aside a budget in fiscal year 2011/2012 for the ship’s procurement. However, the ministry would continue to negotiate with the private sector to invest in marine transportation on Lake Victoria, he said. Currently MV Nyehunge provides service between Mwanza and Ukerewe island. On MV Clarias (photo), he explained that it was old, having been built in 1961. It was undergoing routine maintenances from time to time, he explained.

The ship was inspected by Sumatra for seaworthiness certification before being permitted to provide services in the lake, he said. Mr Mfutakamba was responding to questions from Mr Salvador Naluyaga, MP for Ukerewe (Chadema).

Read full story.

Five killed on Sunday road accident in Singida

2011-04-11T21:30:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By ABBY NKUNGU in SINGIDA

FIVE people died on the spot and 60 others escaped death when an oil tanker traveling from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza rammed onto the locomotive engine at Manyoni on Sunday night.

Singida Regional Police Commander, Celina Kaluba told reporters here on Monday that the fatal accident occurred on April 10, this year at around 8:00 pm as the tanker exploded after hitting the train engine.

Read full story.

WAG HILL LODGE is back in business

2011-04-06T12:56:00.001+03:00

Mwanza Guide 'online' informs

Wag Hill Lodge has some great prices for April.
By Hans Kristoffersen, Mwanza Guide 'online'

One night: All Inclusive at only US$175 per person. When you take in to account transport, traveling time and bar bills - Wag Hill is better value than any other exclusive lodge within driving distance of Mwanza.

Self catering is only US$100 per person, but it's not like real self catering, because we have staff to help with the cooking and do all the clearing away afterwards.

I will also continue with last month's offer of US$800 for 6 people all inclusive - OR US$500 for 6 people self catering

Great for small parties or birthdays.

Soon we will introduce WAG HILL LODGE as the very 'Honeymoon Destination' in East Africa.

Please be back - or mail us at honeymoon@mwanza-guide.com

Finally, a practical solution to Lake Victoria pollution

2011-04-06T08:28:00.004+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Correspondent

An ambitious project jointly funded by Germany, the European Union and the Government of Tanzania at a cost of 25bn/- is expected to reduce 50 per cent Mwanza City’s total pollution contribution to Lake Victoria, cut down environmental degradation of the Lake, protect the quality of drinking water in the fast growing metropolitan and promote sustainable economic development, a Special Correspondent writes. The project was launched during Maji Week celebrations in Mwanza.

"The lack of access to drinking water and sanitation is one of the main challenges of our time. Water is key to any social and economic development."

This is what the Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany, Hans Koeppel (photo) recently stated during a ceremony to inaugurate the Mwanza Sanitation Project that was held at Ilemela District in the city during the opening of the national Maji Week celebrations.

Read full story.

Lake Victoria fishermen loaned modern boats

2011-03-28T08:42:00.004+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Cosmas Mlekani

Fishermen in Lake Victoria have been advised to undertake good fishing practices in order to make fishing activities in the lake sustainable.

This was said recently by Mwanza regional fisheries officer Angelus Mahatane at the launch of modern fishing boats that will be given to fishermen on a loan basis.

He warned that statistics had shown that the Nile Perch was disappearing at an alarming rate from the lake, whereby by the year 2000, there was a total of 1.3 tonnes of them but by February 2010 only 366,000 tonnes remained.

He said Lake Victoria was very important for the Tanzanian economy because of the numerous activities that go on in and around the lake.

He said the decline in fish stocks caused some unfaithful fishermen to use illegal fishing gear in conducting their activities, thus rendering the fishing industry unsustainable.

He said the boats loaned out to small fishermen would help them change from the use of locally made fishing gear to modern ones and therefore, improve their efficiency.

Mahatane said that out of 26,983 fishing boats only 8,081 were using engines in Mwanza, Kagera and Mara regions, equivalent to only 30 per cent. Mara region has a total of 1,209 fishing boats with engines; Mwanza has 4,691 out of 14,166 and Kagera has 2,181 out of 6,683.

For his part, Quality Motors manager Theshadri Madhusodha, whose company supplied the boats, said the purpose was to give the boats to small fishermen as loans so that the latter would improve their efficiency and let their businesses grow.

He said his company decided to venture into competition after realizing that if small fishermen were empowered, they could perform better.

For her part, assistant regional administrative officer Isabella Mariki said the boats would boost the fishermen’s businesses and therefore, the economy of the Lake Zone.

Bilal condemns illegal fishing

2011-03-27T09:26:00.004+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By The Citizen Correspondent
Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal has condemned the use of monofilament and other illegal fishing gear, which are killing fish and destroying the environment in Lake Victoria.

“Lake Victoria is important for the economy of the people of Mwanza. Conserve the lake for the benefit of the future generations by using appropriate fishing gear,” he told a public rally in Sengerema during his tour of Mwanza Region to inspect development activities.

Sengerema district commissioner, Elinasi Pallangyo told the Vice President that 83 Beach Management Units (BMUs) were regularly patrolling the lake in 17 wards to curb the use of the illegal fishing gear, and that 72 such items had been impounded.

He said that despite the challenges, the government earned Sh12.2 million from fishing licence fees and Sh1.4 million worth of royalty between October and December last year.

The Rock City: A sleeping tourist hub

2011-03-23T08:56:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Elisha Mayallah

I was awoken by the sound of a horn from the ferry and housekeepers talking merrily to one another as they prepared themselves for another busy day at the Tilapia Hotel in Mwanza recently.

I had been in the city for three days and enjoyed a banquet of experiences, and all too soon the richness of all different species of fish delicacies, from the Tilapia hotel to the famous Nile Perch were on my daily menu.

During my last visit, there was heavy rainfall throughout the whole region. This time the worst drought in memory was ravaging the region. Many things had changed since when I was a resident here, in the late 70s and early 80s.

Read full story.

Police impound Sh18 million in fake notes

2011-03-20T15:04:00.001+03:00

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

Police in Mwanza Region have seized 1,865 fake banknotes with a purported value of Sh18,655,000 in separate swoops, arresting six suspects in the process.All the impounded notes in denominations of Sh10,000 and Sh5,000 resemble those that were recently released by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), and most bore serial numbers AC 0004716, BD 0100095 and BX 4086370.

The acting Mwanza regional police commander, Mr Deusdedit Nsimike, told a news conference here yesterday the fakes were seized between March 7 and 16. According to Mr Nsimike, who is also the region’s crimes officer, the police launched a special operation to crack down on the fraudsters following a tip-off from the public.

Read full story.

Why Chadema rallies draw thousands

2011-03-08T12:54:00.001+03:00

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Ray Naluyaga, The Citizen Bureau Chief

Mwanza. The capacity to address hardships that face the people in a plain language and gestures that resonate with many is the cause for Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) rise in popularity across the country, social commentators and analysts say.

And nowhere else than in the Lake Zone has the passion for the opposition party increased in leaps and bounds, especially following last year’s General Election in which many voters deserted the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

Being the most populous area in the country, the Lake Zone has over the years enjoyed relatively low cost of living, with the majority of its residents earning their income from diverse economic activities.

The region has abundant livestock and cash crops such as cotton, and it covers Lake Victoria that has been able to generate employment for thousands of people directly and indirectly. The area is also known for large availability of minerals, especially gold, which had enriched many through artisanal mining before privatisation.

But this wealth has for the past ten years been shifting from the people through privatisation, as the lucrative activities formerly done by individuals directly are now taken over by foreign companies, with the people left to seek other means of survival.

That, coupled with the current high cost of fuel, which now sells at Sh2100 a litre, exorbitant food prices and hiked cost of electricity, have automatically sent the consumer price index higher, leaving many people in the region unable to afford basic goods, and hence the disenchantment with the ruling establishment and its policies.

Mr Enock Abdufundo, a taxi driver who participated in the Mwanza demo held over a week ago, says he supports Chadema because its leadership understands what the common man is going through.

Read full story.

Police allow Chadema to demonstrate against JK

2011-02-25T01:22:00.001+03:00

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

Mwanza. The Police Force here has allowed Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) to hold a peaceful demonstration today thus averting any possible confrontations between them.

Chadema leaders said yesterday that they have completed preparations for the demonstration. They aim to pressure President Jakaya Kikwete to step down and to oppose the Sh94 billion compensation payment to Dowans. The demonstration would also challenge the government over the increasing cost of living and increase in power tariffs.

The Police Force said yesterday that it has allowed the demonstration and promised to ensure safety of its participants. The Mwanza regional Chadema secretary, Mr Wilson Mushumbusi, told The Citizen yesterday that the demonstration would start at 2pm, followed by a huge rally at Furahisha Kirumba grounds.

He said the party national secretary general, Dr Willibrod Slaa, had already arrived in Mwanza for the activities. They expected his deputy, Mr Zitto Kabwe, to arrive at any time, he said, explaining: “We have already completed preparations for the demonstration and rally.

Read full story.

Hundreds walk to work as daladala operators strike in Mwanza

2011-02-19T11:31:00.001+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
From NASHON KENNNEDY in Mwanza

CONFUSION reigned here on Monday as hundreds of residents, including students and workers were forced to walk to schools and places of work following a strike by commuter bus drivers.

The strike is said to have been agitated by the drivers and conductors who are demanding a rise in fare following ever increasing petrol and diesel prices.

Speaking in turns at Furahisha grounds in Ilemela District where they had parked their vehicles, the drivers, touts and conductors said that they have arrived into the decision following a failure by the Marine and Surface Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA) to respond to their letter which asked for permission to raise fares.

Read full story.

NEW restaurant in town: Binti Maringo Restaurant

2011-02-08T11:48:00.002+03:00

Binti Maringo Restaurant is located on the grounds of Kuleana Street Children Centre (Balewa Road) in Mwanza.

Binti Maringo services include:

All day breakfast and lunch
Business take away delivery - including sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads + pizzas
Business menus
Promotional Nights every two weeks, hosting different delicacies from around the world
Fresh bread, cake + biscuit orders
Local menu

We take pride in making our prices affordable for all, and in doing so, we attract a wide range of customers to our growing business.

About Benti
Here at Binti's we aim to cover the monthly outgoings the Centre incurs, such as water and electricity bills and staff salaries. Once these are covered, we then donate 75% of our profit to the Kuleana with 25% going back into the restaurant.

Binti's also helps raise awareness of the issues for children's rights and advertises the work of our NGO (Caretakers of the Environment) to increase awareness of the ongoing issues facing street children and their families. Furthermore, we employ residents of the Centre along with employees from struggling or difficult backgrounds, who are given supported opportunities to learn basic business management, gain work experience, and also to earn a catering qualification while being supported through their education.

Kuleana Street Children Centre aims to reintegrate street children back to their families while providing basic support - such as food, shelter, medical, education. Once these children have returned home, the Centre offers ongoing support. Binti Maringo's provides a sustainable income for this cause as well as valuable life experience for the children at the Centre.

TRA bid to recover Sh9bn diamond tax flops

2011-01-30T13:41:00.001+03:00

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

Evidence of how Tanzania has not fully benefited from its vast mineral wealth continues to emerge, the latest being the government’s failed bid to recover Sh9 billion in an unpaid taxes dispute arising from the sale of diamonds in the United Kingdom.

The Tax Revenue Appeals Board (Trab) recently ruled in favour of Williamson Diamond Limited, nullifying a Sh9 billion tax liability the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) had imposed on the company over allegedly unremitted tax.

This comes just a year after the government closed down its London-based diamond sorting firm, Tansort, over its failure to generate revenue.

However, the TRA, determined to recover the money, has appealed against the decision at the Tax Revenue Appeals Tribunal (Trat), the hearing of which is scheduled to start tomorrow in Mwanza City.

The matter dates back to 2008, when TRA’s tax investigation department in Mwanza moved to audit Williamson Diamond Limited for the period from 1999 to 2006.

Read full story.

Soft-drinks maker runs campaign

2011-01-28T13:31:00.001+03:00

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

The Nyanza Bottling Company Limited (NBCL) in Mwanza yesterday conducted a campaign to ensure sellers of its Coca Cola products throughout the company’s territory observed the set prices for returnable 350ml glass bottles.

Sales and marketing head Bhubhinder Singh said the company’s sales executives were visiting shops, roadside vending stations, bars, and other selling points to emphasise the need for all sellers to abide by the authorised price of Sh500 for every 350ml glass bottle.

“After realising that some businesspeople are charging consumers more than Sh500 per bottle, we have decided to embark on this awareness campaign to get consumers and the general public to understand our official price,” he said.

Read full story.

ATCL sued for USD 5.7m

2011-01-23T04:43:00.002+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian, Dar es Salaam
By Dominic Nkolimwa

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is being sued in American and South African courts for failing to pay USD 5.7million after breaching contracts.

Transport Minister, Omari Nundu told The Guardian in an exclusive interview yesterday that Celtic Capital Air Corporation of the US for failing to pay the debts amounting to USD 1.5milion after alleged breach of contract for lease of planes in March last year.

He said South African Airways is suing ATCL for failing to pay USD 4.2 million.

Nundu said Celtic Corporation had leased two Boeing 737-200 planes to ATCL.

“ATCL leased two planes from the Corporation, but as time went by it stopped using one of them,” he said adding: "The contract for the second air craft lapsed in March 2010 following the plane crash at Mwanza airport.

Read full story.

New Mwanza, Dar es Salaam air route launched

2011-01-17T10:19:00.002+03:00

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By EVANCE NG'INGO

AN airline company known as Fly 540 launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Mwanza on Friday.

The company will operate eleven flights a week and has capacity to carry 28 passengers.

The General Manager for Fly 540, Brown Francis, told reporters at Mwanza Airport that their route to Mwanza aimed at enabling ordinary people from Mwanza and Bukoba to have the access of flying to Dar es Salaam by plane.

Read full story.

It`s a blame game over cement as arrests continue

2011-01-16T13:48:00.001+03:00

From IPPMedia/The Guardian on Sunday, Dar es Salaam
By Staff writer

The Weights and Measures Agency (WMA) arrested 21 traders for stocking underweight cement last year.

According to the WMA, the arrests were made in six regions of the country where the routine inspections were conducted.

The arrests were made even as the cement manufacturers, transporters, traders, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and other cement industry stakeholders continue to kick dust on the real cause behind the existence and sale of bags of underweight cement in the country.

The law requires that cement be packaged in bags weighing 50kg each, but the WMA has revealed that it has found and confisticated bags weighing as low as 39 kg in Mara Region and as low as 42 kg in Arusha town.

The WMA also collected over Sh4.7m in fines from the cement stockists who were nabbed in Arusha town, Ilemela and Nyamagana areas of Mwanza, Mbeya region, Morogoro region, Nyakato and Nyasho areas of Mara region and in Tegeta and Kawe areas of Kinondoni municipality in Dar es Salaam.

Read full story.