Lake Victoria shores pathetic

From The Citizan Daily, Dar es Salaam

By Miguel Suleyman

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

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

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

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

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

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Christopher Maregesi

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

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

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

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

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

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Fishermen, factories settle fish price row

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Melard Karoza

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

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

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

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Report: Harmful gas emissions reduced by 86pc

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Miguel Suleyman

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

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

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

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Saccos receive Sh49bn loan, 90,000 members to benefit

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Frederick Katulanda

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

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

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

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Fishing industry on the brink of collapse, govt told

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Veneranda Sumila

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

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

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Charity donates over 250 desks to Mwanza schools

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

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

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

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

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