BREAKING NEWS: Four albino killers get death sentences

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By Jackline Masinde

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

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

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

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

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

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IAA launches new campus in Mwanza City

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

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

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

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

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

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Mwanza on sensitisation campaign to protect children against violence

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

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

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

Mwanza Regional Secretariat, Jalia Mtani

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

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

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Almost 5000 Mwanza small traders refuse to pay levies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Commuter bus operators halt services

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

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

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

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

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

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Doctors team up to save twins

From The Citizen Daily, Dar es Salaam
By  Jesse Mikofu

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

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

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

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

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15 suspects arrested over abduction of albino-girl

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

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

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

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

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