Mwanza woman knocks speeding plane, dies

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

A WOMAN aged between 25-30 years, whose name was not immediately obtained, died after knocking an aircraft while it was taking off from Mwanza Airport heading for Dar es Salaam, at around 9pm on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, the Acting Director General of the Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA), Mr Richard Mayongela, said the accident occurred as the woman suddenly invaded the runway from the western side of the airport.

According to Mr Mayongela, the side which the victim used to trespass was not fenced, making it easier for her to approach the runaway only to meet her death as the FastJet aircraft was also gaining momentum, ready to fly.

“We are not in the good picture to ascertain what prompted the now deceased to enter the runway, but our experts are still working on the whole matter as we are speaking now,” he said.

The DG, however, said all the precautions that are observed when aircrafts land and take-off, including inspection of all crucial parts of the airport such as runways, were taken accordingly.

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Mwanza to fight illegal fishermen

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

MWANZA Region has outlined various strategies for the year 2018. Fighting illegal fishing and narcotic drugs come on top of the list with reports indicating that the two vices are recurring in some areas.

The Regional Consultative Council (RCC) that met last week under the chairmanship of the Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr John Mongela, was told of massive incidents of illegal fishing that are going on despite control measures by security organs.

Reporting the incidences of rampant illegal fishing, the Sengerema District Commissioner (DC), Mr Emmanuel Kipole, called for a stiffer regional coordination in fighting the culprits who appear to be influential and well equipped.

He said that he had official reports that almost half of the fish bought by the fish processing plants in Mwanza are substandard and fished illegally using illegal fishing gear - a situation that is dangerous to health. The DC said he had implemented several actions against the practice, but tricky culprits easily sneak to other parts of the region.

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MV Umoja now operates to Port Bell from Mwanza

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By FLORENCE MUGARULA

THE Marine Service Company Limited (MSCL) has launched trips to Port Bell Uganda by using its cargo ship ‘MV Umoja’, the ‘Daily News’ has learnt. MV Umoja made its first trip to Port Bell in Uganda on December 23, 2017.

According to the company Acting General Manager, Mr Eric Hamissi MV Umoja carried 1,200 tonnes of cement from Mwanza to Uganda. He said the launching of Mwanza-Port Bell route basically creates a great opportunity for traders in two countries to operate profitable business since water transport was cheaper compared to other means.

He said MV Umoja, which ‘wagon ferry’ designed is capable to carry up to 22 wagons at once. “This is a special ship for carrying cargoes, which are already loaded in wagons, it has a railway-line within, thus when it docks at Port Bell, the train engine pulls the wagons out direct to the next destination,” he said.

However, Mr Hamissi said since the railway line from Port Bell to Kampala is currently out of use, MV Umoja has been forced to carry loose cargo to Uganda. “Last year when President John Magufuli visited Uganda, he agreed with President Yoweri Museven to rehabilitate Port Bell-Kampala railway line, therefore upon the completion of the rehabilitation, we will be able to carry cargoes in wagon as planned since then,” he noted.

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Armyworms overrun farms within Lake Zone

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

THE government has reported an invasion of a dangerous crop killer worms that have since destroyed some farms around the country.

Announcing the presence of pests known as Fall Army Worm or Maize Leaf worm and measures to contain them, the Minister for Agriculture, Dr Charles Tizeba said here at the weekend that all the regions, in particular the Lake Zone, should take immediate measures to eradicate the vermin.

He cited the areas already affected as Kakonko district in Kigoma region and Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera region as well as others in Mwanza region.
“This worm is reported to originate from Southern Africa … particularly Zambia and is well known for its attacks on beans, maize and even cotton. I urge all the regions to take measures as soon as possible,” he said.

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Vet or register afresh all driving schools to eliminate ‘rogue riders’

From Daily News, Dar es Salaam
By Correspondent REHEMA KULWA

AS you read this article, kindly put politics aside and ask yourself who is pleasing or serving whose interests when rogue motorbike riders are awash everywhere and cause the deaths of innocent Tanzanians in the name of them “being at work” and business as usual?

In a nutshell there is madness in bodaboda industry that must be brought to a halt willynilly because we have laws and regulations which must be respected by all citizens regardless of who in the society and particularly in the roads.

Many articles have been written and people have spoken their minds that bodaboda industry, despite providing employment to the youth, is infiltrated by individuals who do not deserve to be there, but instead jails, because first they are not licensed riders by any authority, and therefore, pay no respect to human lives and instead hide there to dent the industry.

The story may be long, but drive along the roads in any urban area in the country and don’t be surprised by the bodaboda riders riding recklessly, endangering lives and overtaking left and right, and to make it worse hurl all sorts of nasty and lewd insults to you if you happen to be a female driver, cautioning them to abide by traffic rules.

These guys, to some extent, call fellow men ‘shangazi’ (aunties) who happen to remind them that they are endangering their lives and their passengers whenever they speed and crisscross the roads haphazardly without hooting or within a twinkle of an eye.

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Remote places to benefit from ambitious drug supply scheme

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

THE supply chain of drugs has recorded an historic landmark in the country as Mwanza Region will from next month use drones to supply drugs in not-easily-accessible areas, particularly in Ukerewe Island.

A team of officials from the World Bank and Mwanza regional authorities recently witnessed the first launch of the initiative dubbed Lake Victoria Drone Expo & Challenge (LVC) which will make it easier and more convenient for the Medical Stores Department (MSD) to supply drug kits to the island.

The MSD Director General, Mr Laurian Rugambwa Bwanakunu, said the supply of drugs and medical equipment was very expensive but using drones would not only make it less expensive but will facilitate timely delivery of drugs in hard-toreach areas, starting with Ukerewe.

He said the drones would be more helpful in delivering drugs mostly required in emergency cases, including vaccinations, poisons resulting from bites and blood. “Lately, the supply of drugs cost more than 3bn/- per year; therefore the pilot implementation of LVC in Mwanza Region would produce new statistics of the costs involved in the supply chain for the near future,” he said.

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Optimism high as Mwanza Investment Guide kicks off

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

THE Mwanza regional administration has officially launched ‘Mwanza Investment Guide (MIG)’ to propel investor interest in the Lake Victoria-side region that has all the hallmarks of one of fastest growing economic hubs in the East African regional bloc.

Speaking during the launching ceremony held here on Monday and attended by people who included Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Mr John Mongela (photo), said the economic guide would enable investors to explore the available opportunities in the region as she will become the centre of excellence for investment issues for the East African Community (EAC) member states - Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

government officials and Members of Parliament, the MIG was prepared by the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) under United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) funding, aimed at pushing the region into a middle income economy by 2025.

“We are developing a scientific process to attract both domestic and foreign investors into our region as we have solid security for investments,” said Mr Mongela.

On the President John Magufuli’s recent directive for each region to establish 100 small and medium-sized industry every year, Mr Mongela said he would meet the district commissioners for the region’s seven districts to chart strategies for implementation.

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