Saturday, October 20, 2012
KATIBU WA JUMUIYA NA TAASISI ZA KIISLAMU (T) SHEIKH PONDA ISSA PONDA AKAMATWA NA POLISI
KUKOJOLEWA KWA QURAN KWALETA TAHARUKI KUBWA JIJINI DAR ES SALAAM
Friday, June 29, 2012
TIGO KICKS-OFF SABASABA WITH A STYLE
Friday, November 18, 2011
TABOA wants corruption among police traffick stopped on roads
THE government has been urged to take stringent measures in order to curb corruption and negligence on part of law enforcement agencies so that accidents could be minimized in the country.
The call to that effect was echoed by the Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA) secretary general Ennea Mrutu in an interview he granted to the Guardian in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
He said Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA) has decided to use information and communication technology to educate its members on the increased road accidents, so as to avoid making mistakes while on the road.
"The national road safety committee should also show the way by discussing with relative transport stakeholders and road users alike on the importance of curbing road carnage in the country,” he said.
He added that although Tanzania amended its Road Safety Act in 1996 to require all bus owners to fix speed governors in their buses, the exercise couldn't yield the expected results as accidents increased dramatically.
Of course something is wrong somewhere, and a solution to the problem must be found quickly.
According to latest statistics, last year alone, 926 bus accidents claimed 332 lives and injured 1833 people.
He said this year alone, a total of 8,164 accidents has occurred, causing 1,126 deaths and 6,910 people were injured.
He said Tanzania Bus Owners Association has signed a contract with the Arusha-based Utrack system for the latter to install a tracking system for buses.
However, talking to this reporter at a meeting involving all Taboa members, some bus owners were unhappy with the initiative apparently because it will be difficult for them to install the equipment because it involves a lot of money.
Other Taboa members believe that the association is right to urge its members to install the U-Track System for the safety of passengers and the buses.
However some transport experts in the country have broken the silence and are warning the alarming wave of fatal road accidents will not abate unless only professional drivers are allowed to man lorries and passenger buses.
The road carnage continues to claim hundreds of lives and leaves thousands with permanent disabilities.
Speaking to this paper, some experts categorically stated that shortage of professional drivers, particularly of passenger vehicles, was the major cause of accidents currently claiming an average of 2,600 lives each year.
Statistics on road accidents in Tanzania have remained shockingly high for years now.
Apart from almost 3,000 people dying annually, thousands are left with permanent disabilities caused by severe injuries.
Alarming occurrences have involved upcountry-bound buses and the government is yet to find a lasting solution to the nagging problem.
The experts are particularly worried by an apparent failure by authorities to strictly enforce existing road safety regulations, sighting high level of corruption as the root cause of the problem.
Dr Emmanuel Mushaka, a retired university professor said it should be mandatory for lorries and buses to be handled only by professional drivers who have passed the necessary tests.
“The government should firmly declare that drivers must go to school, otherwise they are not allowed to operate vehicles,” he said.
He said although they have not done research on the matter yet, unqualified drivers account for over 70 per cent of bus and lorry drivers in Tanzania, because they get driving licences through dubious means, including bribery.
He estimated that as many as half of passenger bus drivers in the country are using fake or illegally obtained licences.
He urged police to make extra efforts to boost road safety in order to reduce persistent road accidents, which cost lives of innocent civilians and their properties.
Mr Mrutu said should serve as a challenge to the police and other road safety security organs to intensify efforts to make roads safer for all users.
“We want road safety laws to be enforced including the safety of vessels and passengers. The police must ensure that this is implemented,” he concluded.
He reminded traffic police to not only jump into action when an accident has happens by arresting the driver of the bus, and Sumatra imposing a ban on its operations.
Mrutu said the problem will persist and grow unless police and other law enforcers strictly enforce safety rules by holding accountable all those who break the road safety rules and regulations.
The call to that effect was echoed by the Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA) secretary general Ennea Mrutu in an interview he granted to the Guardian in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
He said Tanzania Bus Owners Association (TABOA) has decided to use information and communication technology to educate its members on the increased road accidents, so as to avoid making mistakes while on the road.
"The national road safety committee should also show the way by discussing with relative transport stakeholders and road users alike on the importance of curbing road carnage in the country,” he said.
He added that although Tanzania amended its Road Safety Act in 1996 to require all bus owners to fix speed governors in their buses, the exercise couldn't yield the expected results as accidents increased dramatically.
Of course something is wrong somewhere, and a solution to the problem must be found quickly.
According to latest statistics, last year alone, 926 bus accidents claimed 332 lives and injured 1833 people.
He said this year alone, a total of 8,164 accidents has occurred, causing 1,126 deaths and 6,910 people were injured.
He said Tanzania Bus Owners Association has signed a contract with the Arusha-based Utrack system for the latter to install a tracking system for buses.
However, talking to this reporter at a meeting involving all Taboa members, some bus owners were unhappy with the initiative apparently because it will be difficult for them to install the equipment because it involves a lot of money.
Other Taboa members believe that the association is right to urge its members to install the U-Track System for the safety of passengers and the buses.
However some transport experts in the country have broken the silence and are warning the alarming wave of fatal road accidents will not abate unless only professional drivers are allowed to man lorries and passenger buses.
The road carnage continues to claim hundreds of lives and leaves thousands with permanent disabilities.
Speaking to this paper, some experts categorically stated that shortage of professional drivers, particularly of passenger vehicles, was the major cause of accidents currently claiming an average of 2,600 lives each year.
Statistics on road accidents in Tanzania have remained shockingly high for years now.
Apart from almost 3,000 people dying annually, thousands are left with permanent disabilities caused by severe injuries.
Alarming occurrences have involved upcountry-bound buses and the government is yet to find a lasting solution to the nagging problem.
The experts are particularly worried by an apparent failure by authorities to strictly enforce existing road safety regulations, sighting high level of corruption as the root cause of the problem.
Dr Emmanuel Mushaka, a retired university professor said it should be mandatory for lorries and buses to be handled only by professional drivers who have passed the necessary tests.
“The government should firmly declare that drivers must go to school, otherwise they are not allowed to operate vehicles,” he said.
He said although they have not done research on the matter yet, unqualified drivers account for over 70 per cent of bus and lorry drivers in Tanzania, because they get driving licences through dubious means, including bribery.
He estimated that as many as half of passenger bus drivers in the country are using fake or illegally obtained licences.
He urged police to make extra efforts to boost road safety in order to reduce persistent road accidents, which cost lives of innocent civilians and their properties.
Mr Mrutu said should serve as a challenge to the police and other road safety security organs to intensify efforts to make roads safer for all users.
“We want road safety laws to be enforced including the safety of vessels and passengers. The police must ensure that this is implemented,” he concluded.
He reminded traffic police to not only jump into action when an accident has happens by arresting the driver of the bus, and Sumatra imposing a ban on its operations.
Mrutu said the problem will persist and grow unless police and other law enforcers strictly enforce safety rules by holding accountable all those who break the road safety rules and regulations.
Shirika la ndege la Precision na Kenya Airways wadhamini mashindano ya Gofu
PRESS RELEASE/TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
Dar es Salaam, November 18th 2011. Shirika la ndege linaloongoza Tanzania la Precision wakishirikiana na shirika la ndege la Kenya Airways wanayofaraja kutangaza udhamini wao katika umoja wa Gofu (TGU) ikiwa imeandaliwa na Gymkhana Club mjini Arusha ikifanyika kuanzia tarehe 10 hadi 11 Desemba 2011 jijini Arusha.
Akiongea wakati wa mkutanao na waandishi wa habari katika klabu,,Mkurugenzi wa Biashara wa shirika la ndege la Precision Mr. Phil Mwakitawa alisema kwamba mashindano ambayo yamedhamiria kukusanya wahiriki zaidi ya 100 mpaka 150 kutoka Nairobi, Arusha na Dar es Salaam ni nafasi nzuri kwa washirika wa kampuni zote mbili za ndege kujihusisha katika kutangaza uboreshaji wa afya kwa njia ya michezo ya gofu.
Na wakati huo huo Meneja wa nchi ya Tanzania wa Shirika la ndege la Kenya Airways Bi. Lucy Malu aliongeza kwamba shirika la ndege la Kenya na Precision Air waliwahi kuunga mkono hapo awali na pia wanayofaraja ya kuendelea kuunga mkono hata kwa mwaka huu kwasababu ni sehemu ya kutangaza gofu ya ubora kwa Afrika Mashariki nzima.
Mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa Gofu Tanzania , Bwana. Paul Matthysen ameomba udhamini katika shirika la ndege la Precision na Kenya Airways’ kwenye mashindano haya kama njia ya kuchangia katika kutangaza Gofu Tanzania na Afrika mashariki kwa ujumla.
“Mchezo wa Gofu Tanzania na Afrika Mashariki bado ni mchezo unaaokua. Kwa kupitia mashindano kama haya ndipo tunapata uzoefu na kuwa katika nafasi ya juu duniani katika mchezo,” Alisema huku akisisitizia watu waje kushuhudia Mchezo huu utakaofanyika pale Gymkhana Arusha.
Shirika la ndege la Precision na Kenya Airways wametia saini katika mkataba wa makubaliano ya udhamini na Klabu ya Gymkhana Arusha kama wadhamini wakuu wa mashinano haya kwa mwaka 2011.
Dar es Salaam, November 18th 2011. Shirika la ndege linaloongoza Tanzania la Precision wakishirikiana na shirika la ndege la Kenya Airways wanayofaraja kutangaza udhamini wao katika umoja wa Gofu (TGU) ikiwa imeandaliwa na Gymkhana Club mjini Arusha ikifanyika kuanzia tarehe 10 hadi 11 Desemba 2011 jijini Arusha.
Akiongea wakati wa mkutanao na waandishi wa habari katika klabu,,Mkurugenzi wa Biashara wa shirika la ndege la Precision Mr. Phil Mwakitawa alisema kwamba mashindano ambayo yamedhamiria kukusanya wahiriki zaidi ya 100 mpaka 150 kutoka Nairobi, Arusha na Dar es Salaam ni nafasi nzuri kwa washirika wa kampuni zote mbili za ndege kujihusisha katika kutangaza uboreshaji wa afya kwa njia ya michezo ya gofu.
Na wakati huo huo Meneja wa nchi ya Tanzania wa Shirika la ndege la Kenya Airways Bi. Lucy Malu aliongeza kwamba shirika la ndege la Kenya na Precision Air waliwahi kuunga mkono hapo awali na pia wanayofaraja ya kuendelea kuunga mkono hata kwa mwaka huu kwasababu ni sehemu ya kutangaza gofu ya ubora kwa Afrika Mashariki nzima.
Mwenyekiti wa Umoja wa Gofu Tanzania , Bwana. Paul Matthysen ameomba udhamini katika shirika la ndege la Precision na Kenya Airways’ kwenye mashindano haya kama njia ya kuchangia katika kutangaza Gofu Tanzania na Afrika mashariki kwa ujumla.
“Mchezo wa Gofu Tanzania na Afrika Mashariki bado ni mchezo unaaokua. Kwa kupitia mashindano kama haya ndipo tunapata uzoefu na kuwa katika nafasi ya juu duniani katika mchezo,” Alisema huku akisisitizia watu waje kushuhudia Mchezo huu utakaofanyika pale Gymkhana Arusha.
Shirika la ndege la Precision na Kenya Airways wametia saini katika mkataba wa makubaliano ya udhamini na Klabu ya Gymkhana Arusha kama wadhamini wakuu wa mashinano haya kwa mwaka 2011.
Monday, October 3, 2011
‘WAMATO chatoa huduma ya ARVs kwa wagonjwa wa UKIMWI Mbezi Beach’
Na Nasser Kigwangallah
KIKUNDI cha Akina Mama na Watoto (WAMATO) cha Mbezi Beach jijini Dare s salaam, ni miongoni mwa vikundi ambavyo hutoa huduma za kijamii kwa kuwasaidia watoto, akina mama na wajane ambao kwa namna moja au nyingine wameachwa na wazazi wao au waume wao waliofariki kutokana na ugonjwa wa UKIMWI.
Hivi sasa kikundi hicho kinatoa chakula, dawa za kurefusha maisha (ARVs), elimu n huduma za fya kwa wagonjwa wa UKIMWI wapato sitini hivi; wanake na wanaume khmsini n watoto kumi katika eneo la Mbezi Beach.
Hizi ni juhudi za kupongezwa sana na zinapaswa kuungwa mkono na wasamari wema hapa jijini na nchini kote kwa ujumla.
Pia WAMATO inaendesha shule ya awali na msingi hapo hapo Mbezi Beach, kwa kusomesha wanafunzi kutoka familia za kimaskini wa eneo hilo.
Shule hiyo, inayoitwa kwa jina la Bajeziro; ina wanafunzi mia tatu na tayari imesomesha wanafunzi elfu moja na mia mbili toka kuanziswa kwake miaka kumi iliyopita.
Wengi wa wanafunzi hao hivi sasa wako katika shule za sekondari na wengine wako chuo kikuu.
WAMATO inafadhiliwa na shirika moja la Canada ambalo limesema litasitisha msaada wake kwa kikundi hicho ifikapo mwezi Machi mwaka kesho kwa kuwa limekuwa mfadhili wake mkuu kwa takriban miaka kumi sasa.
“Kutokana na kukoma ufadhili wake huo, WAMATO sasa iko njia panda, haijui itawasaidia vipi akina mama na watoto wanoishi na virui vya UKIMWI na pia kutoa huduma ya chakula, dawa na sare za shule kwa watoto yatima, ambao wengi wao ni maskini sana,” anasema Mama Basila Chuwa, Mwenyekiti Mtendaji wa WAMATO.
Anaongeza kusema kuwa wagonjwa ambao anawahudumia hivi sasa ni maskini mno, hawajiwezi kwa lolote na hapana budi kuendelea kuwasaidia ili maisha yao yaweze kuimarika.
Anasema na kama hatopata msaada wa kutoha kutoka serikalini, mashirika ya kijamii na wahisani mbalimbali wa ndani na nje; bila shaka huduma zake za kutoa chakula, dawa na elimu bure kwa watoto yatima, maskini na wale wanaoishi katika mazingira magumu zitazorota.
Akizungumza kwa uchungu sana, Maria Magdlena Hasara (umri miaka 65) mama anayeishi kwa UKIMWI na kupewa msaada wa chakula, dwa n matibabu mengine kutoka WAMATO, anasema hali yake sasa imeimarika kutokana na msaada huo.
Anasema alipata UKIMWI miaka mitatu iliyopita kutoka kwa binti yke aliyekuwa na ugonjwa wa ukimwi na kupata uja uzito.
Alimsaidia kujifungua, bahati mbya ana hakutumia mipira wakati akimsaidia kujifungualia nyumbnani.
“Toka wakati huo, hali yangu ilibadilika ghafla na kujikuta nikiwa nimeambukizwa UKIMWI,”anasema.
Anongeza kusema kuwa kwa msaada wa WAMATO, hali yake ni nzuri na analea wajukuu sita, wawili wa huyo binti yake ambaye alifariki dunia mwaka 2007 na kumwachia watoto wawili; Tausi (15) na Neema (3)na wengine wanne ni watoto wa ndugu zake ambao nao wamekufa kwa ukimwi.
Maisha ya bibi huyu ni magumu sana. Anaishi kwa kugonga kokoto na wajukuu zake hao wanamsaisdia, hivyo maisha yanakwenda.
Na bila ya msaada wa WAMATO sijui hali yake leo ingekuwaje?
Kwani WAMATO wanamsaidia chakula, dawa na elimu kwa wajukuu zake hao, zikiwemo sare za shule.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
TGNP MISTREATS JOURNALISTS AT GENDER FESTIVAL 2011 IN DAR
Miss Lilian Liundi, the TGNP Communication Officer
AS per invitation, journalists turned to the Gender Festival-2011 at TGNP Mabibo in Dar es Salaam from 13th September, 2011 to September 16th, , but were disappointed by the way they were treated by Kenny Ngomuo-TGNP, Lilian Liundi-TGNP and Ananilea Nkya-TAMWA.
In fact these three people are very dangerous to the media fraternity. They are the ones who were there to mistreat journalists.
TGNP should take note of these people if they want to continue working in harmony with journalists in Tanzania.
Once journalists are invited to attend any of the programmes, it is essential, as a matter of hospitality, to be paid some allowance for taking their time on the matter.
But alas, on Friday September 16th September, 2011 during the closing ceremony last week, things turned ugly as journalists left TGNP offices disappointed, when Lilian Liundi, the Communications Officer broke out news that no allowance was available to them, as per agreement prior to the festival.
Lilian, with no respect at all to the journalists said that no allowance was available to journalists from Dar es Salaam, unless they produced cuttings of their reporting of the festival events, while other participants, including upcountry journalists and gays were being paid on their presence.
She said: “You are not entitled to any allowance unless you bring your cuttings, showing how you have reported the event.”
This is a disgrace to the journalism profession, showing how journalists are being mistreated by TGNP and her partners.
Please make sure that journalists are paid their due whenever they attend any of your functions and if you cannot pay them, please do not invite them at all.
Due to act of disregard to journalists, we have decided that no journalist will ever attend any of the functions conducted by TGNP in future and editors should take note of that.
Journalists are not there to be used to foster TGNP campaigns and then ignored in that manner.
According to reports, most journalists who had been reporting the event fo four consecutive days, left TGNP offices without having any food as nothing was served to them, who were there since morning.
Time has passed when journalists were used as mere tools to send messages through, just to be ignored like that.
Journalists must be respected due to their profession so that they could perform their duties diligently.
I think this message will be heeded in order to have a good working relationship with TGNP and other such organisations in future.
Monday, September 19, 2011
TGNP WALETA WASENGE KWENYE TAMASHA LA JINSIA 2011
KITENDO CHA TGNP KULETA WASENGE KWENYE TAMASHA LA JINSIA 2011 HUKO MABIBO WIKI ILIYOPITA NI CHA KULAANIWA. SERIKALI INAPASWA KULIANGALIA SUALA HILO KIKAMILIFU NA IKIWEZEKANA KUWAFUNGIA KABISA WATU HAWA AMBAO WANATAKA KUTUPELEKA PABAYA.
Friday, September 16, 2011
.
MR.Thomas Mihayo
MR.Thomas Mihayo, the Retired High Court Judge has brushed speculations from amongst the people in the country that a top government stalwart exerted pressure on judges to impose harsh life imprisonment on Nguza Viking 'Babu Seya' the accredited musical practinioner and his sons.
He said: “It’s not true at all…I went through the proceedings of the case and came to realise that what was being said in the streets about this case was purely gossip, with no elements of truth.”
He said surprisingly, the media were reporting these gossips,in full gear.
Judge Mihayo, the incumbent Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Ethics Committee, said he had thoroughly read court proceedings of the sodomy case against Babu Seya and his sons, as prepared by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate, before making a final verdict.
Since it has no jurisdiction to determine on the matter, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court received initial facts on the case, and forwarded it to the High Court for its ruling.
“In fact, as a high court judge who presided over this case, and made final verdict by sentencing Babu Seya and his sons to life imprisonment,” he confessed.
He added that in the course of reading these documents and proceedings of the case from the lower Court (Kisutu Magistrate's Court), I realised that what people had been saying on the streets was not true.
“It was not true that there was a certain top official in the government who put pressures on the judges in arriving at such a verdict,” he said.
According to him, he spent time to talk to the children alleged to have been molested by Babu Seya and his sons and noticed that these children had infact been sodomised, the acts which had been going on for some months before.
Judge Mihayo said he heard the story of the children and got the real picture of what transpired in the acts.
"Therefore I came to realise that parents of these children were not aware of the behaviour of their children," he said.
Babu Seya and his son are still in jail, serving a life sentence after being convicted of molesting the school children.
On February 12, last year Nguza Viking (55) alias Babu Seya (R) and his son, Johnson Nguza (27) alias Papii Kocha- lost their appeals against the life imprisonment.
But the Court of Appeal, sitting in Dar es Salaam, acquitted and set free two other Babu Seya sons - Nguza Mbangu and Francis Nguza – of the defilement charges for which they had been similarly convicted and jailed. It cited lack of evidence with which to uphold the earlier ruling.
Judge Mihayo said some media were giving wrong reports on Babu Seya and sons’ case, noting: “Had journalists conducted extensive investigative journalism, they would have uncovered the truth.”
“The bad thing is that journalists did not do thorough investigations on this case, otherwise they would have known the truth,” said Mihayo.
Investigative journalism is lacking in Tanzania, he noted, urging members of the media fraternity in the country to read the newly launched MCT print monitoring report with a view to identifying their weaknesses and correcting them
MR.Thomas Mihayo, the Retired High Court Judge has brushed speculations from amongst the people in the country that a top government stalwart exerted pressure on judges to impose harsh life imprisonment on Nguza Viking 'Babu Seya' the accredited musical practinioner and his sons.
He said: “It’s not true at all…I went through the proceedings of the case and came to realise that what was being said in the streets about this case was purely gossip, with no elements of truth.”
He said surprisingly, the media were reporting these gossips,in full gear.
Judge Mihayo, the incumbent Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Ethics Committee, said he had thoroughly read court proceedings of the sodomy case against Babu Seya and his sons, as prepared by the Kisutu Resident Magistrate, before making a final verdict.
Since it has no jurisdiction to determine on the matter, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court received initial facts on the case, and forwarded it to the High Court for its ruling.
“In fact, as a high court judge who presided over this case, and made final verdict by sentencing Babu Seya and his sons to life imprisonment,” he confessed.
He added that in the course of reading these documents and proceedings of the case from the lower Court (Kisutu Magistrate's Court), I realised that what people had been saying on the streets was not true.
“It was not true that there was a certain top official in the government who put pressures on the judges in arriving at such a verdict,” he said.
According to him, he spent time to talk to the children alleged to have been molested by Babu Seya and his sons and noticed that these children had infact been sodomised, the acts which had been going on for some months before.
Judge Mihayo said he heard the story of the children and got the real picture of what transpired in the acts.
"Therefore I came to realise that parents of these children were not aware of the behaviour of their children," he said.
Babu Seya and his son are still in jail, serving a life sentence after being convicted of molesting the school children.
On February 12, last year Nguza Viking (55) alias Babu Seya (R) and his son, Johnson Nguza (27) alias Papii Kocha- lost their appeals against the life imprisonment.
But the Court of Appeal, sitting in Dar es Salaam, acquitted and set free two other Babu Seya sons - Nguza Mbangu and Francis Nguza – of the defilement charges for which they had been similarly convicted and jailed. It cited lack of evidence with which to uphold the earlier ruling.
Judge Mihayo said some media were giving wrong reports on Babu Seya and sons’ case, noting: “Had journalists conducted extensive investigative journalism, they would have uncovered the truth.”
“The bad thing is that journalists did not do thorough investigations on this case, otherwise they would have known the truth,” said Mihayo.
Investigative journalism is lacking in Tanzania, he noted, urging members of the media fraternity in the country to read the newly launched MCT print monitoring report with a view to identifying their weaknesses and correcting them
Thursday, September 15, 2011
YAH: KUOMBA RADHI KWA NDUGU ZETU WALIOPATWA NA MAAFA YA AJALI YA MELI HUKO ZANZIBAR .
USIKU wa kuamkia Jumamosi tarehe 10 / 09/ 2011 tukio kubwa na la huzuni lilitokea huko Zanzibar.
Wananchi wengi walipoteza maisha yao na wengine kujeruhiwa kutokana na ajali ya kuzama kwa MELI iitwayo 'Zanzibar Spice Islanders' iliyokuwa ikitoka Unguja kwenda kisiwa cha Pemba.
Kwa bahati mbaya siku hiyo ya Jumamosi taasisi yetu ilikuwa inakhitimisha fainali za taifa za mashindano ya urembo ya Miss Tanzania-2011.
Kama waandaaji wa Mashindano haya na wenye Mamlaka kamili ya maamuzi juu ya ama kuendelea au la kuahirisha jambo hili, tulipatwa na mshituko mkubwa sana juu ya tukio hilo .
Kamati yetu ilikaa na kutakafari katika tukio hilo kwa kuzingatia mambo yafuatayo:
Taarifa kamili ya maafa hayo tuliipata rasmi saa tisa na nusu mchana siku ya Jumamosi ambayo ilikuwa ni masaa machache tu kabla ya fainali za miss Tanzania kuanza katika ukumbi wa Mlimani City.
Pamoja na msiba huo, wenzetu wa TFF waliendelea na mechi zao za ligi kuu, ikiwemo mechi kati ya Yanga na Ruvu Shooting.
Na katika kumbi za starehe ikiwemo mabaa na burudani za muziki wa bendi na kumbi za disco ziliendelea kama kawaida.
Muda uliokuwa umebakia kuwakilisha jina la mshiriki wetu kwenye fainali za Miss World zilikuwa zimekwisha hivyo kulikuwa na hatari ya kupoteza nafasi hiyo.
Pia tamko rasmi la kusimamisha shughuli zote za burudani lilianza tarehe 11 septemba 2011 kuomboleza kitaifa msiba huo.
Hata hivyo kama waandaaji tulifanya mashindano tukiwa katika maombolezo kwani kabla ya kuanza shindano Watu wote waliokuwepo ukumbini walisimama kimya kwa dakika moja na hata washiriki walipoingia kwenye jukwaa kwa mara ya kwanza walikuwa wamevaa vitambaa vyeusi katika mikono yao ikiashilia maombolezo.
Hali hii imetupa mkanganyiko na kujikuta tukiendelea na mashindano kitu ambacho tunaona tumewakosea Watanzania wenzetu.
Kama Waandaaji tunapenda kusistiza kwamba tunawajibika kwa hayo yaliyotokea na si Taasisi yeyote au Kampuni yeyote na tunaomba ichukuliwe kama ni makosa ya kibinaadamu hasa ukizingatia mazingira magumu tuliyokuwa nayo kwa wakati huo na mkanganyiko wa matukio na taarifa za tatizo hilo.
KUOMBA RADHI
Hata hivyo shughuli hiyo inawezekana imewakwaza watu wengi na kwa sababu hiyo na pia hali halisi ya janga hilo na kwa niaba ya viongozi wenzangu na wadau wa shughuli zetu tunatoa tamko la dhati kwa familia za ndugu wote walikumbwa na maafa haya, wale wote walionusurika katika ajali hiyo na Watanzania wote kwa ujumla.
TUNAWAOMBA RADHI KWA MKANGANYIKO ULIOTUTOKEA HADI KUFIKIA HALI HII. Hatuna neno zaidi ya kusema na kusisitiza ila kuomba radhi...
Mwenyezi MUNGU aziweke roho za marehemu mahali pema peponi,
ameen!
Hashim Lundenga
MKURUGENZI
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BREAKING NEWS FROM TANZANIA: Man on ARV develops abnormal breasts
A.N Mvati, AfricaNews reporter based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania recently wrote:
"SOME Tanzania men on anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs have experienced abnormal breast enlargement similar to that of women. There are even cases where women taking the life prolonging drug against HIV are also complaining of queer side effects including becoming disabled.
Joseph Mkanda, 43, one of the victims, said he developed strange symptoms plus growing breasts after taking the drugs. Initially, he suspected the cause to be lack of a balanced diet. But he soon realised that the main problem was the type of drugs he was taking.
“I feel very much ashamed to go out of my house, because I have developed breasts like a woman. …I fear that other people would laugh at me,” he said from his Mtwara-base.
“I went to one of the medical doctors in my village, who told me that such signs were normal for people suffering from AIDS who have been taking the drugs for a long time. At the moment, I don’t know what to do or where to go,” said Mkanda.
Salima Omar, 36, from Mtwara said she developed strange symptoms after taking the drugs. Salima, a mother of seven, said one of her daughters died shortly after birth in 2006 when she had undergone the HIV test.
Changes in body
One of her sons is also HIV positive and has been taking ARV drugs since October 2007.
She explained they had both been taking the drugs, but due to unknown reasons, she started noticing changes in her body.
But she believes the changes were caused by the fact that she has been unable to follow the instructions of taking the ARVs. She said the drugs were very strong and required the users to get a balanced diet. But Salima was unable to follow the instructions and at times stopped taking the medicine.
“These drugs are very strong; if you take them without enough food you become very weak. But there are days when I'm forced to take them without eating anything, especially when I get seriously sick. In other words, I take the medication irregularly,” she explains. The family lives off the earnings of her husband who repairs bicycles.
After spending the money on alcohol, which Salima admits she likes very much, there is little left to support a big family like theirs, especially for buying food. Actually, she has been forced to sell all the family goats in order to keep the family alive.
Like many families in Mtwara District, Salima’s has been experiencing food shortage since 2007, a situation complicated by the recent long drought in the district, forcing many people to survive on only one meal a day.
She feels very weak on days she does not take the medication. “I have even started developing some complications …I believe it is due to my inconsistency in taking the drugs. My left side is developing rashes, and I suffer much pain," she says.
Despite her HIV-positive status, Salima had until recently insisted on having more children. Three months ago she gave birth to twins. One died, and the other is very weak. While pregnant, Salima’s doctors gave her treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to her babies.
Hassan has agreed they will not have more children, although Salima is not convinced. She particularly dislikes his refusal to use a condom when having a sexual intercourse.
There is no alternative to taking ARVs by HIV positive persons, even though it is challenging to adhere to the treatment because of lack of resources to get proper diet.
Combination
According to health community reports certain drugs should not be used together because of the way they interact. For example, Idovudine and Stavudine should not be used together, and Zalcitabine should not be combined with Didanosine, Stavudine, or Lamivudine.
Dr Lilian Mtei, who has been working with people taking the life-prolonging drugs at Muhimbili National Hospital advised patients who develop strange symptoms to see a doctor immediately so that the medication can be changed.
She said there are many side effects caused by the reaction of different types of ARVs on an individual.
For his part, the Management Development for Health (MDH) and Africa Academy of Public Health (AAPH) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chalamilla Guerino, said such strange symptoms in patients are caused by Stavudine and AZT drugs when taken by a person for a long time.
“Such patients need to see a doctor whenever they notice any strange symptoms developing,” he explained.
According to the doctor, Stavudine ARVs were phased out this year because of the symptoms, but AZT is still being given to people although it has the same side effects.
For her part, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Lucy Nkya said all patients who have developed such strange symptoms should be referred to regional hospitals where they can get more assistance.
She clarified that AZT was also phased out and so could only be in the market illegally.
She explained that AZT was only given to pregnant mothers, but later the government decided to phase it out because of the side effects.
The deputy minister said that medical employees based in the rural areas receive training continuously especially those dealing with HIV/Aids cases so as to be able to face the challenges of helping the patients.
Meanwhile United States of America confirmed that it has phased out the Stavudine ARV drug because of its side effects. Despite its users developing a number of disorders, including some men using it growing breasts, Stavudine ARV is one of the drugs still being used in the country.
Ilya Levin First Secretary Director, Public Affairs Section in the US Embassy in Tanzania, told the Guardian in an exclusive interview that the side effects include lipodystrophy hyperlactatemia and polyneuropathy.
Lipodytrophy is a disorder of fatty tissue characterised by a selective loss of body fat.
Hyperlactatemia is increased levels of lactic acid in the blood while polyneuropathy is a condition in which many peripheral nerves are afflicted with a disorder.
According to Levin AZT drug is still being prescribed and used in the US under the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents - January 10, 2011.
The purpose of the changes to the guidelines is to bring them in line with international recommendations and ensure the use of more efficacious drugs, including the phasing out of Stavudine from the national ART programme.
ART initiation criteria have changed. All pregnant women and people with HIV and TB co-infection with a CD4 count below 350 would start on lifelong ART. All HIV-infected children under the age of 1 would also be started on ART, irrespective of CD4 level. All other patients would still commence treatment at a CD4 level of 200 and below. HIV-infected pregnant women with a CD4 above 350 would receive the normal PMTCT dual therapy regimen.
--
SAYINGS OF THE WISE:
"That which is good is never finished." - Sukuma, Tanzania
"Generosity is not limited by income or wealth, only by passion and creativity."
....................................................................
"SOME Tanzania men on anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs have experienced abnormal breast enlargement similar to that of women. There are even cases where women taking the life prolonging drug against HIV are also complaining of queer side effects including becoming disabled.
Joseph Mkanda, 43, one of the victims, said he developed strange symptoms plus growing breasts after taking the drugs. Initially, he suspected the cause to be lack of a balanced diet. But he soon realised that the main problem was the type of drugs he was taking.
“I feel very much ashamed to go out of my house, because I have developed breasts like a woman. …I fear that other people would laugh at me,” he said from his Mtwara-base.
“I went to one of the medical doctors in my village, who told me that such signs were normal for people suffering from AIDS who have been taking the drugs for a long time. At the moment, I don’t know what to do or where to go,” said Mkanda.
Salima Omar, 36, from Mtwara said she developed strange symptoms after taking the drugs. Salima, a mother of seven, said one of her daughters died shortly after birth in 2006 when she had undergone the HIV test.
Changes in body
One of her sons is also HIV positive and has been taking ARV drugs since October 2007.
She explained they had both been taking the drugs, but due to unknown reasons, she started noticing changes in her body.
But she believes the changes were caused by the fact that she has been unable to follow the instructions of taking the ARVs. She said the drugs were very strong and required the users to get a balanced diet. But Salima was unable to follow the instructions and at times stopped taking the medicine.
“These drugs are very strong; if you take them without enough food you become very weak. But there are days when I'm forced to take them without eating anything, especially when I get seriously sick. In other words, I take the medication irregularly,” she explains. The family lives off the earnings of her husband who repairs bicycles.
After spending the money on alcohol, which Salima admits she likes very much, there is little left to support a big family like theirs, especially for buying food. Actually, she has been forced to sell all the family goats in order to keep the family alive.
Like many families in Mtwara District, Salima’s has been experiencing food shortage since 2007, a situation complicated by the recent long drought in the district, forcing many people to survive on only one meal a day.
She feels very weak on days she does not take the medication. “I have even started developing some complications …I believe it is due to my inconsistency in taking the drugs. My left side is developing rashes, and I suffer much pain," she says.
Despite her HIV-positive status, Salima had until recently insisted on having more children. Three months ago she gave birth to twins. One died, and the other is very weak. While pregnant, Salima’s doctors gave her treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to her babies.
Hassan has agreed they will not have more children, although Salima is not convinced. She particularly dislikes his refusal to use a condom when having a sexual intercourse.
There is no alternative to taking ARVs by HIV positive persons, even though it is challenging to adhere to the treatment because of lack of resources to get proper diet.
Combination
According to health community reports certain drugs should not be used together because of the way they interact. For example, Idovudine and Stavudine should not be used together, and Zalcitabine should not be combined with Didanosine, Stavudine, or Lamivudine.
Dr Lilian Mtei, who has been working with people taking the life-prolonging drugs at Muhimbili National Hospital advised patients who develop strange symptoms to see a doctor immediately so that the medication can be changed.
She said there are many side effects caused by the reaction of different types of ARVs on an individual.
For his part, the Management Development for Health (MDH) and Africa Academy of Public Health (AAPH) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chalamilla Guerino, said such strange symptoms in patients are caused by Stavudine and AZT drugs when taken by a person for a long time.
“Such patients need to see a doctor whenever they notice any strange symptoms developing,” he explained.
According to the doctor, Stavudine ARVs were phased out this year because of the symptoms, but AZT is still being given to people although it has the same side effects.
For her part, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Lucy Nkya said all patients who have developed such strange symptoms should be referred to regional hospitals where they can get more assistance.
She clarified that AZT was also phased out and so could only be in the market illegally.
She explained that AZT was only given to pregnant mothers, but later the government decided to phase it out because of the side effects.
The deputy minister said that medical employees based in the rural areas receive training continuously especially those dealing with HIV/Aids cases so as to be able to face the challenges of helping the patients.
Meanwhile United States of America confirmed that it has phased out the Stavudine ARV drug because of its side effects. Despite its users developing a number of disorders, including some men using it growing breasts, Stavudine ARV is one of the drugs still being used in the country.
Ilya Levin First Secretary Director, Public Affairs Section in the US Embassy in Tanzania, told the Guardian in an exclusive interview that the side effects include lipodystrophy hyperlactatemia and polyneuropathy.
Lipodytrophy is a disorder of fatty tissue characterised by a selective loss of body fat.
Hyperlactatemia is increased levels of lactic acid in the blood while polyneuropathy is a condition in which many peripheral nerves are afflicted with a disorder.
According to Levin AZT drug is still being prescribed and used in the US under the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents - January 10, 2011.
The purpose of the changes to the guidelines is to bring them in line with international recommendations and ensure the use of more efficacious drugs, including the phasing out of Stavudine from the national ART programme.
ART initiation criteria have changed. All pregnant women and people with HIV and TB co-infection with a CD4 count below 350 would start on lifelong ART. All HIV-infected children under the age of 1 would also be started on ART, irrespective of CD4 level. All other patients would still commence treatment at a CD4 level of 200 and below. HIV-infected pregnant women with a CD4 above 350 would receive the normal PMTCT dual therapy regimen.
--
SAYINGS OF THE WISE:
"That which is good is never finished." - Sukuma, Tanzania
"Generosity is not limited by income or wealth, only by passion and creativity."
....................................................................
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
MSAADA WA RAMBIRAMBI WA VODACOM WAKATALIWA ZANZIBAR
SERIKALI ya mapinduzi ya Zanzibar imeukataa msaada wa maafa uliokuwa utolewe na kampuni ya simu za mikononi ya VODACOM kufuatia wananchi kuilalamikia kampuni hiyo kuendesha mashindano ya miss Tanzania wakati Wazanzibari wapo katika msiba wa kitaifa.
Waziri wa nchi ofisi ya makamo wa pili wa rais Mohamed Aboud alithibtisha kuwepo kwa taarifa hizo za SMZ kukataa msaada wa maafa uliokuwa utolewe na kampuni ya simu ya mikononi ya VODACOM.
'Ni kweli tumekataa kupokea msaada huo ingawa hatujuwi ni kiasi gani cha fedha....unajuwa wananchi wengi wametoa malalamiko yao na kukerwa kwa wafadhili hao wa mashindano ya urembo kuendelea na unesho lao wakati huku taifa limepatwa na msiba mkubwa'alisema Aboud.
Alisema wadhamini hao walikuwa wanatakkiwa kufahamu wajibu wao kwa jamii zaidi wakati inapokutwa na maafa kama hayo ya kuzama kwa meli na wananchi zaidi 197 kupoteza maisha yao.
Aboud alisema haielekei hata kidogo kwa kampuni hiyo iliyodhamini mashindano hayo kuendelea wakati huku rais wa jamhuri ya muungano Jakaya Kikwete ametangaza msiba wa taifa pamoja na rais wa Zanzibar dk.Ali Mohamed Shein.
Wananchi wengi wa Zanzibar walikerwa na kitendo cha kuendelea kufanyika kwa maonesho ya urembo ya kumtafuta miss wa Tanzania katika kipindi ambapo taifa lipo katika msiba mkubwa.
Waziri wa nchi ofisi ya makamo wa pili wa rais Mohamed Aboud alithibtisha kuwepo kwa taarifa hizo za SMZ kukataa msaada wa maafa uliokuwa utolewe na kampuni ya simu ya mikononi ya VODACOM.
'Ni kweli tumekataa kupokea msaada huo ingawa hatujuwi ni kiasi gani cha fedha....unajuwa wananchi wengi wametoa malalamiko yao na kukerwa kwa wafadhili hao wa mashindano ya urembo kuendelea na unesho lao wakati huku taifa limepatwa na msiba mkubwa'alisema Aboud.
Alisema wadhamini hao walikuwa wanatakkiwa kufahamu wajibu wao kwa jamii zaidi wakati inapokutwa na maafa kama hayo ya kuzama kwa meli na wananchi zaidi 197 kupoteza maisha yao.
Aboud alisema haielekei hata kidogo kwa kampuni hiyo iliyodhamini mashindano hayo kuendelea wakati huku rais wa jamhuri ya muungano Jakaya Kikwete ametangaza msiba wa taifa pamoja na rais wa Zanzibar dk.Ali Mohamed Shein.
Wananchi wengi wa Zanzibar walikerwa na kitendo cha kuendelea kufanyika kwa maonesho ya urembo ya kumtafuta miss wa Tanzania katika kipindi ambapo taifa lipo katika msiba mkubwa.
GENDER FESTIVAL 2011
Women activists at The TGNP gender festival 2011 held at Mabibo in Dar es Salaam from 13th September, 2011 to 16th September, 2011
A Trip to the USA
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Libyan Ambassador to Tanzania, summoned to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr Bernard Membe yesterday summoned Libyan Ambassador to Tanzania, Prof Ahmed El Ash’ab, for raising the rebel National Transition Council (NTC) flag without prior consultations.
The envoy was seen at the Foreign Ministry’s office with minister Membe, indicating that the minister had fulfilled his promise he made before journalists on Sunday that he would summon the ambassador to explain why he had raised the flag of a rebel government without notifying his hosts.
No details were available yesterday over the meeting between the envoy and the minister.
The minister said on Sunday that he was aware that the embassy had raised the flag of the Libyan rebels.
“It’s wrong. There are rules and regulations to follow for the government to recognise the existing government. They have not followed them,” said Membe.
The minister also said that Tanzania would not recognise the Libyan transitional government formed by the rebels until its true architects were known and the government was satisfied that ordinary Libyans were fully involved in its formation.
“We in Tanzania will not recognise the transitional government led by the rebels, until we are sure of the participation of Libyans in its formation and the officials leading it,” Membe maintained.
He said out of 54 African states only 14 have recognised the transitional government.
“TNC has not been able to convince Tanzania to recognise the government. We are not ready to make hasty decisions over something we hardly know,” said Membe.
“We do not know who the members of the rebel movement are, how many they are and whether they are Libyans or foreigners,” he stressed.
Membe said Tanzania would recognise the new Libyan government only if all stakeholders of the country, including citizens and all political parties, participate in the formation of the transitional government, which would prepare for elections.
Some of the countries that have already recognised the rebel-led Libyan transitional government are Kenya, Rwanda, Gabon, Nigeria, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Senegal, Burkinafaso and Botswana.
Membe also said Tanzania joins AU in calling on the three sides in the Libyan conflict, namely NATO, Col. Gaddafi’s army and the rebels to end the fighting so as to save the lives of people in Libya and give the country a chance to form its own government.
He added that Tanzania and AU had agreed that Gaddafi’s leadership in Libya had come to an end, and that what was urgently needed was to ensure that the country returned to normality as soon as possible.
Friday, August 26, 2011
NATO ACTION IN LIBYA CONDEMNED
THE chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Peace initiatives Mr Edward Lowasa has condemned the western allies NATO, led by the USA for invading Libya for no apparent reason at all.
Mr Lowasa, who was the Tanzania's prime minister in the first five-year term of president Jakaya Kikwete, before being forced to resign on bribery scandals was reacting to a barrage of questions from Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) crew members in Dodoma yesterday. Mr Lowasa is still the MP for Mbulu constuituency.
"The alleged purpose of U.N. Security Council resolution 1973, passed on March 17, was to seek to protect Libyan civilians from violent attacks by both sides. But alas, In NATO's eager hands, it has rapidly mutated into a straightforward bid to destroy Qaddafi's regime, specifically to murder Qaddafi, financially, politically and militarily by missile or bombardment and no doubt by land-based teams of Special Force assassins now deployed in the desert," he said.
He condemned also the cowardly attitude of African Union leaders for keeping mum on the issue without helping Qaddhafi, who was a staunch supporter of Africa.
"I'm saddened by the cowardly attitude shown by African leaders for not acting quickly to solve the problem which has turned into a humanitarian disaster. Libya's oil infrastructures, roads and airports have been bombed and thousands of people have been killed and injured and it remain a poorer country than ever before," he added.
NATO says more than 10,000 sorties have been flown over Libya since operations began, which shows how the Western allies have no regard to humanity.
This includes 3,794 "strike" bombing raids across the country. In the heaviest strikes yet, concentrating on attacks in Tripoli, NATO launched 157 strike missions on Tuesday, more than three times the previous daily average.
School pregnancies, hinders education progress for girls in Tanzania
According to a press statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (Tamwa), the gender activists said without stern measures to revive national moral values, schoolgirl pregnancies would escalate posing unbearable challenges to national efforts and making the right to education for all children an illusion.
Representing six human rights organisations, a statement insisted that teachers impregnating schoolgirls should be sacked forthwith, forced to pay compensation and then charged in a court of law.
It urged students to name without fear all teachers engaged in love affairs with schoolgirls to facilitate effective action against the culprits.
Of late, the country has witnessed an alarming increase of cases of schoolgirl pregnancies.
According the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training between 2004 and 2008, a total of 28,590 schoolgirls in the country dropped out of school as a result of unwanted pregnancies, 11,599 being secondary and 16,991 primary schoolgirls.
The leaders interviewed by Tamwa on what needs to be done to revive teachers’ morals were executive directors Bubelwa Kaiza (ForDia), Ussu Mallya (Tanzania Gender Networking Programme – TGNP), Ann Marie Mavenjina (Tanzania Women Lawyers Association – Tawla), Scholastica Jullu (Women Legal Aid Centre – Wlac) and Maimuna Kanyamala (Kivulini Women Human Rights Organisation). Another was Harold Sungusia, Director of Advocacy and Reforms, Legal and Human Rights Centre.
A newspaper survey which Tamwa conducted on schoolgirl pregnancies and stories published by local newspapers between December last year and the end of March this year showed there were 11 cases of schoolgirl pregnancies which involved teachers.
The activists noted with concern that schoolgirl pregnancies contributed to illiteracy and poverty among women, maternal mortality and HIV/Aids infection.
The country’s Demographic Health Survey (2010) shows that 454/100,000 equivalent to about 8,000 women and girls die annually due to preventable causes of maternal deaths including controlled schoolgirl pregnancies.
On HIV/Aids infection, a national survey conducted between 2007 and 2008 shows that 5.7 per cent of the country’s population estimated to be about 40 million people has contracted HIV/Aids and the population of women and girls is more affected at a rate of 6.6 per cent compared to 4.6 per cent of the male population.
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