By Elias Mhegera
1.Positiveness: The ability to work with and see people and situations in a positive way.
2.Servanthood: The willingness to submit, play team ball and follow the leader.
3.Growth Potential: A hunger for personal growth and development; the ability to keep growing as the job expands.
4.Follow-Through: The determination to get the job done completely and with consistency.
5.Loyalty: The willingness to always put the leader and the organization above personal desires.
6.Resiliency: The ability to bounce back when problems arise.
7.Integrity: Trustworthiness and solid character; consistent words and walk.
8."Big Picture" Mind Set: The ability to see the whole organization and all of its needs.
9.Discipline: The willingness to do what is required regardless of personal mood.
10.Gratitude: An attitude of thankfulness that becomes a way of life.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
What brings job satisfaction?
In attempting this question, the more emphasize has been given to the general concept of Job Satisfaction. The first part tells the meaning of satisfaction as explained by different scholars in different perspectives, the second part asserts the major factors that influence job satisfaction, the third part is the discussion concerned with the outcomes of job satisfaction, and the last part is conclusion which gives the summary picture of the discussion above followed with reference books (Bibliography).
Many people tend to confuse between satisfaction and motivation these two terms have different meanings although they relate to job satisfaction, you cannot escape to talk about motivation. Motivation is the drive to satisfy a want and it is concerned with goal direction behaviour.
According to Armstrong, M (2006: 264) the term motivation refers to the attitudes and feelings people have about their work. Positive and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate job satisfaction, negative and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate dissatisfaction.
Gupta, C (2009: 33.3) conceptualizes the term satisfaction as it refers to contentment experience after the satisfaction of want. It employees effective response towards the work itself, rewards promotion, supervision and others just to mention a few.
Morale is often defined as being equivalent to job satisfaction, Guion, R.M (1958) defined job satisfaction (morale) as the extent to which an individual’s needs are satisfied and the extent to which the individual perceives that the satisfaction as streaming from his work situation.
Therefore I can say that job satisfaction is often determined by the employee’s perception an organisation provides the things which they consider to be important, how well outcomes meet or exceed expectations, and this is the one’s feelings regarding the nature of his/her work.
The major factors that influence job satisfaction are as follows: According to Armstrong M. (2006: 264), the level of job satisfaction is influencing intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors, that is the quality of supervision social relationship with their work group, and the degree to which individuals succeed or fail in their work.
The quality of supervision is very important in an enterprise where by workers become more satisfied when they are supervised by someone whom they consider to be a good supervisor/good leader. A good leader is the one who leads people in a required manner by following leadership skills and techniques. In the organisation the employees need to be respected, trusted and given opportunity in a participation in decision making and …
Furthermore, Punel et all (2003) believes that discretionary behaviour which helps the firm to be successful is mostly likely to happen when employees are well motivated and committed to the organisation and whether the job gives then high level of satisfaction. Their research found that the key factors influencing job satisfaction were career opportunities, job influence, team work and job challenges.
Many people tend to confuse between satisfaction and motivation these two terms have different meanings although they relate to job satisfaction, you cannot escape to talk about motivation. Motivation is the drive to satisfy a want and it is concerned with goal direction behaviour.
According to Armstrong, M (2006: 264) the term motivation refers to the attitudes and feelings people have about their work. Positive and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate job satisfaction, negative and favourable attitudes towards the job indicate dissatisfaction.
Gupta, C (2009: 33.3) conceptualizes the term satisfaction as it refers to contentment experience after the satisfaction of want. It employees effective response towards the work itself, rewards promotion, supervision and others just to mention a few.
Morale is often defined as being equivalent to job satisfaction, Guion, R.M (1958) defined job satisfaction (morale) as the extent to which an individual’s needs are satisfied and the extent to which the individual perceives that the satisfaction as streaming from his work situation.
Therefore I can say that job satisfaction is often determined by the employee’s perception an organisation provides the things which they consider to be important, how well outcomes meet or exceed expectations, and this is the one’s feelings regarding the nature of his/her work.
The major factors that influence job satisfaction are as follows: According to Armstrong M. (2006: 264), the level of job satisfaction is influencing intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors, that is the quality of supervision social relationship with their work group, and the degree to which individuals succeed or fail in their work.
The quality of supervision is very important in an enterprise where by workers become more satisfied when they are supervised by someone whom they consider to be a good supervisor/good leader. A good leader is the one who leads people in a required manner by following leadership skills and techniques. In the organisation the employees need to be respected, trusted and given opportunity in a participation in decision making and …
Furthermore, Punel et all (2003) believes that discretionary behaviour which helps the firm to be successful is mostly likely to happen when employees are well motivated and committed to the organisation and whether the job gives then high level of satisfaction. Their research found that the key factors influencing job satisfaction were career opportunities, job influence, team work and job challenges.
The Zanzibar Revolution
On the night of January 12, 1964 a band of some 300 people violently seized the Island of Unguja. They were led by a little known man named John Okello, who had lived on Pemba, having come to the Islands some years earlier from Uganda. In Zanzibar he developed a popular following among a core of young, tough men, many of whom were the Stevedores and Porters who worked the ships coming in and out of Zanzibar Harbor. His group met in secret. He promised changes to these men, fellows long used to working together, in sometimes dangerous settings, and ready to follow orders of any "captain" who could pay their fee. Theirs became a rebellion looking for a home.
Political unrest had been increasing on Zanzibar and Pemba since the death of Sultan Khalifa in 1960. He had reigned in Zanzibar for almost 50 years, since 1911. After much jockeying for constituencies and coalitions the main political parties had narrowly split the two general elections of 1961 to the satisfaction of none. The British were leaving, their troops, including a contingent of Irish Guards, stationed near the golf course at the edge of Stone Town, pulled out in early 1963. When the new Sultan, Jamshid, hoisted the flag of the independent nation of Zanzibar, on December 12, 1963, he marked the departure of the last British Resident, (Governor) of Zanzibar and the end of the Colonial period.
Another election in late 1963 had given a slim majority to a coalition of two political parties, the ZNP (the Zanzibar Nationalist Party) and the ZPPP ( the Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples Party). The ASP (the Afro-Shirazi Party) was to be in the minority in a British style parliamentary system with the Sultan serving as the reigning but not ruling "monarch".
This Nation, a full member of the British Commonwealth and a newly enrolled sovereign member of the United Nations was destined to last only 33 days.
Political debates raged and street demonstrations were not uncommon in those days. I remember bicycling to school through crowds chanting the names of political leaders and traveling in the country past road-blocks manned by British soldiers. The various factions debated everything; rights versus privileges, new-comers versus old established families, Capitalism vs Socialism, merchants vs landowners, Zanzibari's vs Pemban's, Asians vs Arabs, Swahili's vs Mainlanders, and all this against the backdrop of the Cold War and the other nationalistic and de-colonial movements abounding in Africa at that time.
John Okello didn't have answers to these thorny issues, but he did have the insight to realize that all of these competing interests presented an opportunity for a man of action like himself. After all, a few hundred determined men might be able to seize the few local centers of communication and the three police barracks. Once he had those under his control and possessed the weapons stored there, who on the islands could throw him out? Would the politicians join together to denounce and oppose his illegal actions? Or as he hoped, would they continue to distrust each other, to suspect that one or another of themselves must have put him up to it? Would not they want to make a deal with him, quick, before someone else did? On that January night he rolled the dice.
The ASP Party leaders, though surprised by Okellos' actions, (many were not even on the Island at the time) moved quickly to embrace the rebels. Hundreds of party followers were wiped into a frenzy by those eager to seize this opportunity to cut the Gordian knot of democratic debate and go straight to the prize of Ruling. They sought to gain the chance to remake society in accordance with their own ideals. Ideals were a dime a dozen in those days. Humanity was to become a much more costly item.
Having seen just how vulnerable a government could be, and not trusting their own mixed record in open elections, it was clear to some ASP leaders that drastic measures were warranted to secure the survival of what was now being called "The Revolution". The mobs were unleashed. Law and order disappeared from the streets of Zanzibar. Landowners and merchants were dragged from their houses and shops, looting and killing spread throughout Stone Town. The City literally Sacked itself.
Arabs and Asians, who had supported the other Parties in large numbers, were killed indiscriminately. In a single night uncounted lives were lost and over the next few days thousands more fled the Islands with only what they could carry.
John Okello established for himself the rank of "Field Marshall" and, with his mob-battalions, established a reign of terror on the Islands. He broadcast bizarre threats and promises of death to all who might oppose him.
He believed he was touched by God and demonstrated an eccentric attachment to symbolic numbers. For example on January 13, 1964, he broadcast the following messages: "The government is now run by us....should you be stubborn and disobey orders I will take measures 88 times stronger than at present." and, "If anyone fails to comply... and locks himself in a house, as others have done...I have no alternative but to use heavy weapons. We, the army have the strength of 99,099,000."
His threats and his ability to act on them, panicked citizens, especially minority groups of all types. On January 14, 1964 he broadcast these chilling words. "Here is the Field Marshall of Zanzibar and Pemba....I am thinking of going to Mtendeni (village) to destroy it if the people there do not obey orders. After 40 minutes I am coming to finish you off, especially the Comorians". And "To all Arab youths living in Malindi; I will pass through Malindi armed with weapons of which I alone know. I want to see everyone stripped to his underpants and laying down. I want to hear them singing...father of Africans. God bless him in his task and that of the Field Marshall."
When the dust settled the multi-cultural diversity of the Islands was radically altered. A One Party State was decreed. Still nervous regarding the possibility of resurgent opposition from their now exiled opponents, the "revolutionaries" further secured their positions by signing an agreement of confederation with mainland Tanganyika. This would allow thousands of mainland political allies to intervene in any future struggle. The police forces on the Isles were virtually replaced by mainland police loyal to the Party and an isolationist curtain fell over the Isles which was destined to persist for more than 20 years.
Today that curtain is being lifted. The end of the Cold War and the drive for economic modernization has again opened Zanzibar to the outside world. Multi-party elections were held in 1995 and 2000, more are promised in 2005. A government of more pragmatic and honest leaders has developed in Tanzania and some of the exiles from the revolutionary times are returning to the Islands. The peaceful tolerance of diverse peoples, which was always a feature of Zanzibari life, is now struggling to return to the streets of Stone Town.
________________________________________
Webmaster: Barghash@msn.com
Political unrest had been increasing on Zanzibar and Pemba since the death of Sultan Khalifa in 1960. He had reigned in Zanzibar for almost 50 years, since 1911. After much jockeying for constituencies and coalitions the main political parties had narrowly split the two general elections of 1961 to the satisfaction of none. The British were leaving, their troops, including a contingent of Irish Guards, stationed near the golf course at the edge of Stone Town, pulled out in early 1963. When the new Sultan, Jamshid, hoisted the flag of the independent nation of Zanzibar, on December 12, 1963, he marked the departure of the last British Resident, (Governor) of Zanzibar and the end of the Colonial period.
Another election in late 1963 had given a slim majority to a coalition of two political parties, the ZNP (the Zanzibar Nationalist Party) and the ZPPP ( the Zanzibar and Pemba Peoples Party). The ASP (the Afro-Shirazi Party) was to be in the minority in a British style parliamentary system with the Sultan serving as the reigning but not ruling "monarch".
This Nation, a full member of the British Commonwealth and a newly enrolled sovereign member of the United Nations was destined to last only 33 days.
Political debates raged and street demonstrations were not uncommon in those days. I remember bicycling to school through crowds chanting the names of political leaders and traveling in the country past road-blocks manned by British soldiers. The various factions debated everything; rights versus privileges, new-comers versus old established families, Capitalism vs Socialism, merchants vs landowners, Zanzibari's vs Pemban's, Asians vs Arabs, Swahili's vs Mainlanders, and all this against the backdrop of the Cold War and the other nationalistic and de-colonial movements abounding in Africa at that time.
John Okello didn't have answers to these thorny issues, but he did have the insight to realize that all of these competing interests presented an opportunity for a man of action like himself. After all, a few hundred determined men might be able to seize the few local centers of communication and the three police barracks. Once he had those under his control and possessed the weapons stored there, who on the islands could throw him out? Would the politicians join together to denounce and oppose his illegal actions? Or as he hoped, would they continue to distrust each other, to suspect that one or another of themselves must have put him up to it? Would not they want to make a deal with him, quick, before someone else did? On that January night he rolled the dice.
The ASP Party leaders, though surprised by Okellos' actions, (many were not even on the Island at the time) moved quickly to embrace the rebels. Hundreds of party followers were wiped into a frenzy by those eager to seize this opportunity to cut the Gordian knot of democratic debate and go straight to the prize of Ruling. They sought to gain the chance to remake society in accordance with their own ideals. Ideals were a dime a dozen in those days. Humanity was to become a much more costly item.
Having seen just how vulnerable a government could be, and not trusting their own mixed record in open elections, it was clear to some ASP leaders that drastic measures were warranted to secure the survival of what was now being called "The Revolution". The mobs were unleashed. Law and order disappeared from the streets of Zanzibar. Landowners and merchants were dragged from their houses and shops, looting and killing spread throughout Stone Town. The City literally Sacked itself.
Arabs and Asians, who had supported the other Parties in large numbers, were killed indiscriminately. In a single night uncounted lives were lost and over the next few days thousands more fled the Islands with only what they could carry.
John Okello established for himself the rank of "Field Marshall" and, with his mob-battalions, established a reign of terror on the Islands. He broadcast bizarre threats and promises of death to all who might oppose him.
He believed he was touched by God and demonstrated an eccentric attachment to symbolic numbers. For example on January 13, 1964, he broadcast the following messages: "The government is now run by us....should you be stubborn and disobey orders I will take measures 88 times stronger than at present." and, "If anyone fails to comply... and locks himself in a house, as others have done...I have no alternative but to use heavy weapons. We, the army have the strength of 99,099,000."
His threats and his ability to act on them, panicked citizens, especially minority groups of all types. On January 14, 1964 he broadcast these chilling words. "Here is the Field Marshall of Zanzibar and Pemba....I am thinking of going to Mtendeni (village) to destroy it if the people there do not obey orders. After 40 minutes I am coming to finish you off, especially the Comorians". And "To all Arab youths living in Malindi; I will pass through Malindi armed with weapons of which I alone know. I want to see everyone stripped to his underpants and laying down. I want to hear them singing...father of Africans. God bless him in his task and that of the Field Marshall."
When the dust settled the multi-cultural diversity of the Islands was radically altered. A One Party State was decreed. Still nervous regarding the possibility of resurgent opposition from their now exiled opponents, the "revolutionaries" further secured their positions by signing an agreement of confederation with mainland Tanganyika. This would allow thousands of mainland political allies to intervene in any future struggle. The police forces on the Isles were virtually replaced by mainland police loyal to the Party and an isolationist curtain fell over the Isles which was destined to persist for more than 20 years.
Today that curtain is being lifted. The end of the Cold War and the drive for economic modernization has again opened Zanzibar to the outside world. Multi-party elections were held in 1995 and 2000, more are promised in 2005. A government of more pragmatic and honest leaders has developed in Tanzania and some of the exiles from the revolutionary times are returning to the Islands. The peaceful tolerance of diverse peoples, which was always a feature of Zanzibari life, is now struggling to return to the streets of Stone Town.
________________________________________
Webmaster: Barghash@msn.com
Contact of Press Clubs in Tanzania.
Contact of Press Clubs in Tanzania.
Press Club Contact Person Telephone Email Address
Arusha Press Club Elia Mbonea 0713 231752 embonea@yahoo.com
Central Press Clubs Rachel Chizoza
Katibu
0756 922169/
0757 649789 habaricentral@yahoo.com
rachelchizoza@yahoo.com
Coast Region Press Club Masau Bwire 0784 434127/0713 434127 mbwire2003@yahoo.com
Lindi Press Club Christopher Lilahi 0784 744817 lindi.pressclub@yahoo.com
christopherlilahi@yahoo.com
Mwanza Press Club Jimmy Luhende 0754 388882 jimmy.luhende@gmail.com
Media Club of Kilimanjaro Yusuph Mazimu 0655080066/ 0756 000844
0787 689443 mecki.kilimanjaro@gmail.com
masanja80@yahoo.com
hildakileo@yahoo.com
Mbeya Press Club Nico Mwaibale ,pkossima@yahoo.com pkossima@yahoo.com
Mara Region Press Club Emmanuel Bwimbo 0764 009887 ebwimbo@yahoo.com
Tabora Press Club Liwa Theonas
William Mahimbo 0754 812926
0789 763605 taborapressclub@yahoo.com
theonasliwa@yahoo.com
Tanga Press Club Hassan Hashim 0754 474721 tangapress@hotmail.com
Morogoro Press Club Thadei Hafigwa 0754 683186 moro_pc@hotmail.com
hafigwa@yahoo.com
Rukwa Press Club Essengo Dulla 0756 579715 rukwapressclub@yahoo.com
Iringa Press Club Franck Leonard 0784 991020 iringapressclub@hotmail.com
fonard2002@yahoo.com
Ruvuma Press Club Juma Nyumayo 0755 448177 ruvumapressclub@yahoo.com
Pemba Press Club Khatib J. Mjaja 0777 845766 pembapress2002@yahoo.com
Singida Press Club Doris Megji 0783 801885 dorismeghji@yahoo.com
Media Club of Manyara Region Zakaria Mtigandi 0754 486012 manyaramediaclub@gmail.com.
Shinyanga Press Club Shija Felician 0784 678406 shinyangapress@yahoo.com, shinyapress@yahoo.com
Kagera Press Club Mathias Byabato 0754 527358 presskagera@yahoo.com
byabato2003@yahoo.com
Mtwara Press Club Rashid Mussa 0713 425764 mtwarapressclub@yahoo.com
rashidmussa2002@yahoo.com
Kigoma Press Club
Prosper Kwigize
0713 412155 kigomapressclub@yahoo.com
pkwigize@yahoo.com
Zanzibar Press Club zanpress@hotmail.com, zanpress@yahoo.co.uk
Dar City Press Club Minvech Milano 0715 500111 milano108@raha.com
darcitypressclub@gmail.com
Press Club Contact Person Telephone Email Address
Arusha Press Club Elia Mbonea 0713 231752 embonea@yahoo.com
Central Press Clubs Rachel Chizoza
Katibu
0756 922169/
0757 649789 habaricentral@yahoo.com
rachelchizoza@yahoo.com
Coast Region Press Club Masau Bwire 0784 434127/0713 434127 mbwire2003@yahoo.com
Lindi Press Club Christopher Lilahi 0784 744817 lindi.pressclub@yahoo.com
christopherlilahi@yahoo.com
Mwanza Press Club Jimmy Luhende 0754 388882 jimmy.luhende@gmail.com
Media Club of Kilimanjaro Yusuph Mazimu 0655080066/ 0756 000844
0787 689443 mecki.kilimanjaro@gmail.com
masanja80@yahoo.com
hildakileo@yahoo.com
Mbeya Press Club Nico Mwaibale ,pkossima@yahoo.com pkossima@yahoo.com
Mara Region Press Club Emmanuel Bwimbo 0764 009887 ebwimbo@yahoo.com
Tabora Press Club Liwa Theonas
William Mahimbo 0754 812926
0789 763605 taborapressclub@yahoo.com
theonasliwa@yahoo.com
Tanga Press Club Hassan Hashim 0754 474721 tangapress@hotmail.com
Morogoro Press Club Thadei Hafigwa 0754 683186 moro_pc@hotmail.com
hafigwa@yahoo.com
Rukwa Press Club Essengo Dulla 0756 579715 rukwapressclub@yahoo.com
Iringa Press Club Franck Leonard 0784 991020 iringapressclub@hotmail.com
fonard2002@yahoo.com
Ruvuma Press Club Juma Nyumayo 0755 448177 ruvumapressclub@yahoo.com
Pemba Press Club Khatib J. Mjaja 0777 845766 pembapress2002@yahoo.com
Singida Press Club Doris Megji 0783 801885 dorismeghji@yahoo.com
Media Club of Manyara Region Zakaria Mtigandi 0754 486012 manyaramediaclub@gmail.com.
Shinyanga Press Club Shija Felician 0784 678406 shinyangapress@yahoo.com, shinyapress@yahoo.com
Kagera Press Club Mathias Byabato 0754 527358 presskagera@yahoo.com
byabato2003@yahoo.com
Mtwara Press Club Rashid Mussa 0713 425764 mtwarapressclub@yahoo.com
rashidmussa2002@yahoo.com
Kigoma Press Club
Prosper Kwigize
0713 412155 kigomapressclub@yahoo.com
pkwigize@yahoo.com
Zanzibar Press Club zanpress@hotmail.com, zanpress@yahoo.co.uk
Dar City Press Club Minvech Milano 0715 500111 milano108@raha.com
darcitypressclub@gmail.com
Kitwanga: digital component to transform communication
Elias Mhegera
SERVICE providers have been called to reduce tariffs in order to allow a big segment of Tanzanians to access communication facilities.
The call was made by the Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Charles Kitwanga who was then Guest of Honour at the 10th Annual Broadcasters Conference at the Kunduchi Beach on Friday last week.
The occasion was organized by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and well attended by providers of services in the electronic media namely radio and televisions.
The theme of the event was “Taking Advantage of the Broadband Infrastructure to Provide Broadcasting Services in East Africa: Challenges for Content Creation and Delivery”.
Kitwanga said that although the influx of cellular phone providers have reduced tariffs much to the advantage of consumers, but yet a big segment of Tanzanians are not enjoying the advent of such technologies.
He therefore called for providers of these services to negotiate among themselves in order to reach a point where every Tanzanian can manage to own and operate a cellular phone.
The deputy minister said that communication is so vital in improving the lives of the people. He lauded the electronic media for its vital contribution in making people to know policies and vote for right candidates during the recent past elections.
Himself a Member of Parliament for Misungwi of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) he said that communication technology is an enhancer and enabler of development to people in some many ways.
He warned Tanzanians however, to be wary of the side effects of ICTs and electronic media in general. He also counseled importers of the communication devices to tell the truth to their customers that the analogue technology will be replaced in 2012 by the digital component.
Speaking earlier before the minister was retired Justice Buxton Chipeta who is the TCRA Board Chairman who called for a continued support from the private sector in the media industry.
He lauded its contribution due to quick delivery of communication services, educating the masses, entertainment and unveiling of challenges affecting the people which have prompted the government to find solution immediately.
Justice Chipeta called for constant training of the service providers in order to cope with the challenges that are associated with globalization of the communication industry.
Earlier the Acting Director General of the TCRA, Ms Rehema Makuburi said that communication is a crosscutting process which can facilitate the entire government sector to realize their goals more quickly.
She urged media operators to take advantage of the advent of the SEACOM and EASSY broadband cables to enhance cooperation of the East African countries in the communication industry.
Ms Makuburi urged service providers to cope with the fast changing trends in communication, and the challenges facing the industry and how broadcasting should be managed efficiently.
The Director of Sahara Media Group Samuel Nyalla said that he was welcoming the new technologies but precaution that the implementation will be associated with heavy coasts which he demands the government to subsidize.
SERVICE providers have been called to reduce tariffs in order to allow a big segment of Tanzanians to access communication facilities.
The call was made by the Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Charles Kitwanga who was then Guest of Honour at the 10th Annual Broadcasters Conference at the Kunduchi Beach on Friday last week.
The occasion was organized by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), and well attended by providers of services in the electronic media namely radio and televisions.
The theme of the event was “Taking Advantage of the Broadband Infrastructure to Provide Broadcasting Services in East Africa: Challenges for Content Creation and Delivery”.
Kitwanga said that although the influx of cellular phone providers have reduced tariffs much to the advantage of consumers, but yet a big segment of Tanzanians are not enjoying the advent of such technologies.
He therefore called for providers of these services to negotiate among themselves in order to reach a point where every Tanzanian can manage to own and operate a cellular phone.
The deputy minister said that communication is so vital in improving the lives of the people. He lauded the electronic media for its vital contribution in making people to know policies and vote for right candidates during the recent past elections.
Himself a Member of Parliament for Misungwi of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) he said that communication technology is an enhancer and enabler of development to people in some many ways.
He warned Tanzanians however, to be wary of the side effects of ICTs and electronic media in general. He also counseled importers of the communication devices to tell the truth to their customers that the analogue technology will be replaced in 2012 by the digital component.
Speaking earlier before the minister was retired Justice Buxton Chipeta who is the TCRA Board Chairman who called for a continued support from the private sector in the media industry.
He lauded its contribution due to quick delivery of communication services, educating the masses, entertainment and unveiling of challenges affecting the people which have prompted the government to find solution immediately.
Justice Chipeta called for constant training of the service providers in order to cope with the challenges that are associated with globalization of the communication industry.
Earlier the Acting Director General of the TCRA, Ms Rehema Makuburi said that communication is a crosscutting process which can facilitate the entire government sector to realize their goals more quickly.
She urged media operators to take advantage of the advent of the SEACOM and EASSY broadband cables to enhance cooperation of the East African countries in the communication industry.
Ms Makuburi urged service providers to cope with the fast changing trends in communication, and the challenges facing the industry and how broadcasting should be managed efficiently.
The Director of Sahara Media Group Samuel Nyalla said that he was welcoming the new technologies but precaution that the implementation will be associated with heavy coasts which he demands the government to subsidize.
Kiwanga: New Constitution must change the political scenario
By Elias Mhegera December 2010
THE debate for the formulation of the new constitution will go on with or without the formation of the commission as promised by the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda
Speaking to The Express exclusively the Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Francis Kiwanga says the debate has started and it will go on particularly from January next year until when there is a new constitution in place.
Kiwanga said that previously there were such commissions like the Judge Francis Nyalali Commission and Judge Robert Kisanga but all these had good recommendations which were never implemented.
“It is true we need a team of experts in the constitution which will be facilitated by the government, but at the end of the day the government should not hijack the debate,” he said.
Prof Palamagamba Kabudi: An expert on Constitutional Law and the current dean of the School of Law of the University of Dar es Salaam says the formation of such a commission will be good news but the debates on the constitution should go on.
“These debates are healthy and they should go on, we had similar debates in 1983 to 84 leading to the resignation of the then Zanzibar’s President and Union Government’s First Vice President Aboud Jumbe,” he said.
The prominent lawyer says the constitutional amendments are a common practice in Tanzania according to the demand of the time. He reminds of the 1962 Republican Constitution which replaced the Independence Constitution.
Prof Kabudi reminds of the 1964 following the Union of with Zanzibar, and again the 1965 Constitution which paved way for the single party system in Tanzania.
He further reminds of the 1977 which remains intact today, and which he says needs to be overhauled in order to match with political pluralism in this country.
One thing which he emphasizes is the importance of the Leadership Codes as enshrined in the Arusha Declaration. He sees the moral decay as depicted by many leaders is partly contributed by the abandonment of that socialist Blue Print.
He therefore called for the government not to hijack nor suppress the debate because a healthy debate will eventually produce a good constitution for all.
A prominent political scientist and lecturer in political communication and research, Prof Mwesiga Baregu lauded the PM’s stance in forming the Constitutional Commission but asked what is that commission going to deliberate on?
He said the constitution debate has been there for years and did not understand why there is a formation of another commission again, unless it was going to discuss issues that were deliberated in the two previous commissions of the late Nyalali and Judge Kisanga.
He says that the two commissions had articulated all important matters that needed to be implemented. He therefore called for a National Constitutional Conference or Convention that will encompass various groups of people.
He suggested that the conference should be a combination of NGOs, CBOs, and representatives of political parties, religious leaders, peasants and all groups in the society.
“The citizens must own the constitution, therefore it should be written in Kiswahili. From there then it can be translated into English,” said Prof Baregu.
A prominent Dar es Salaam based advocate, Prof Abdallah Saffari, says it is strange to see that the PM is talking of a commission now.
This is because his party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), through its Secretary General, Yusuf Makamba and Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice Celine Kombani who said recently there are no funds for overhauling the constitution.
He was worried that the formation of the commission was just meant to tone down the constitutional debate which of recent has involved very prominent people in this country.
He admits that the government has the task of administering the process for the formation of a new constitution, but this should not mean to hijack the process in its favour.
He is also worried by this sudden change of attitude by the CCM government which he says for years has been adamant clinging to the constitution which did not meet expectations of many Tanzanians.
Buberwa Kaiza the Executive Director of the Concern for Development Initiatives (ForDIA), says the PM has a good point, but this should not be a strategy to hijack or calm down the debate.
He concurs with Prof Baregu that the formulation of a new constitution should involve all groups in the country, the NGOs, the corporate, people, peasants, civil servants, political parties and religious groups.
He there after suggests that their views should be discussed by a team of experts but not formed by the government, although the government should facilitate the expenses.
From there the first draft should be disclosed subject for discussion for not less that three months, then there should be a review voting for the bills and ratification of the same.
“With this kind of transparency the president will finally amend the people’s document, not the type of the one which exists now which benefits a segment of Tanzanians and sideline majority of them,” he concluded.
THE debate for the formulation of the new constitution will go on with or without the formation of the commission as promised by the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda
Speaking to The Express exclusively the Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Francis Kiwanga says the debate has started and it will go on particularly from January next year until when there is a new constitution in place.
Kiwanga said that previously there were such commissions like the Judge Francis Nyalali Commission and Judge Robert Kisanga but all these had good recommendations which were never implemented.
“It is true we need a team of experts in the constitution which will be facilitated by the government, but at the end of the day the government should not hijack the debate,” he said.
Prof Palamagamba Kabudi: An expert on Constitutional Law and the current dean of the School of Law of the University of Dar es Salaam says the formation of such a commission will be good news but the debates on the constitution should go on.
“These debates are healthy and they should go on, we had similar debates in 1983 to 84 leading to the resignation of the then Zanzibar’s President and Union Government’s First Vice President Aboud Jumbe,” he said.
The prominent lawyer says the constitutional amendments are a common practice in Tanzania according to the demand of the time. He reminds of the 1962 Republican Constitution which replaced the Independence Constitution.
Prof Kabudi reminds of the 1964 following the Union of with Zanzibar, and again the 1965 Constitution which paved way for the single party system in Tanzania.
He further reminds of the 1977 which remains intact today, and which he says needs to be overhauled in order to match with political pluralism in this country.
One thing which he emphasizes is the importance of the Leadership Codes as enshrined in the Arusha Declaration. He sees the moral decay as depicted by many leaders is partly contributed by the abandonment of that socialist Blue Print.
He therefore called for the government not to hijack nor suppress the debate because a healthy debate will eventually produce a good constitution for all.
A prominent political scientist and lecturer in political communication and research, Prof Mwesiga Baregu lauded the PM’s stance in forming the Constitutional Commission but asked what is that commission going to deliberate on?
He said the constitution debate has been there for years and did not understand why there is a formation of another commission again, unless it was going to discuss issues that were deliberated in the two previous commissions of the late Nyalali and Judge Kisanga.
He says that the two commissions had articulated all important matters that needed to be implemented. He therefore called for a National Constitutional Conference or Convention that will encompass various groups of people.
He suggested that the conference should be a combination of NGOs, CBOs, and representatives of political parties, religious leaders, peasants and all groups in the society.
“The citizens must own the constitution, therefore it should be written in Kiswahili. From there then it can be translated into English,” said Prof Baregu.
A prominent Dar es Salaam based advocate, Prof Abdallah Saffari, says it is strange to see that the PM is talking of a commission now.
This is because his party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), through its Secretary General, Yusuf Makamba and Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice Celine Kombani who said recently there are no funds for overhauling the constitution.
He was worried that the formation of the commission was just meant to tone down the constitutional debate which of recent has involved very prominent people in this country.
He admits that the government has the task of administering the process for the formation of a new constitution, but this should not mean to hijack the process in its favour.
He is also worried by this sudden change of attitude by the CCM government which he says for years has been adamant clinging to the constitution which did not meet expectations of many Tanzanians.
Buberwa Kaiza the Executive Director of the Concern for Development Initiatives (ForDIA), says the PM has a good point, but this should not be a strategy to hijack or calm down the debate.
He concurs with Prof Baregu that the formulation of a new constitution should involve all groups in the country, the NGOs, the corporate, people, peasants, civil servants, political parties and religious groups.
He there after suggests that their views should be discussed by a team of experts but not formed by the government, although the government should facilitate the expenses.
From there the first draft should be disclosed subject for discussion for not less that three months, then there should be a review voting for the bills and ratification of the same.
“With this kind of transparency the president will finally amend the people’s document, not the type of the one which exists now which benefits a segment of Tanzanians and sideline majority of them,” he concluded.
REMMY ONGARA’s PHILOSOPHY WILL LINGER ON
December 2010
By Elias Mhegera and Freddy Macha
FROM London where he had scores of fanatics to Biafra grounds and in Sinza at his home, and at the graveyard the talk was the same, Remmy was a philosopher.
From London a veteran journalist Freddy Macha says he came to know even more about Remmy Ongala’s final years which were dedicated to the philosophy of humility, forgiveness and love.
He says these are some of the most basic tenets of any true religion. Macha remembers that the last time he spoke to Remmy was in 1997 at his house, in Sinza, he had not quite converted to Pentecostalism.
By becoming a born again Christian known as ‘Ulokole’ in Swahili had a lot of transformation to the life and philosophy of the legendary, and this was confirmed by the long time music associate Filbert Nyoni.
Nyoni says he was closer to the musician since when he joined their band Matimila after being convinced by a famous soloist Fan Fan Mossesengo, who had crossed there from Makassy Ochestre.
“I know by becoming a born again Christian it was signifying that Remmy had lost hope in life, but otherwise his fans still needed him on the conventional stage performances, not Gospel Music,” says Nyoni.
He is convinced that music fans would have convinced Remmy to go back to stage performance if he was to go into full recovery. This then would have been another source of commotion and controversy.
To Freddy Macha, however, this conversion was a personal spiritual journey. “I do not want to judge or analyze that matter further but my interest is with Remmy Ongala, an artist I had a great connection,” reads part of his obituary to The Express.
The veteran journalist was writing a weekly culture and art column in the Sunday News (Cultural Images- 1981-84) he interviewed and reviewed his music and gigs a couple of times.
In 1983 he decided to publish his biography after having realized that the musician had such an interesting life, that he was misunderstood by the majority of the population and audiences.
“Sometimes I would be in his house, Toni (Remmy’s wife) would cook a stew of meat and vegetables while Remmy made Ugali or something else. This was unusual but was part of Remmy’s versatile personality and progressive family life style,” says Macha.
Macha who used to visit and interview Remmy during his performance tours in the UK, describes the musician as a deeply spiritual man with keen thoughts and a very simple straightforward way of thinking.
The message in his songs were for the poor, within this context he used to sing about death, poverty (Mnyonge hana Haki) and even his own physical appearance (“Remmy mimi sura mbaya, lakini roho yangu nyeupe”) admitting that he is ugly but his heart is clean.
He remembers that in a conversation in London, in 1996 Remmy told him that his ambition was to be able to read people’s thoughts without talking to them. He was personally interested in people; he loved and sang about them.
He says within this he would then pen songs like Arusi ya Mwanza, Kilio, Dole, Carolla and Mambo Kwa Soksi, which spoke of social issues particularly the use of condom in protection against HIV/Aids, while making everyone smile.
He graphically analyses a sea creature that we always consume, with relish. He takes you through the fish’s life. A fish that does not blink when it is picked out of the water never blinks when it is cooked and eventually eaten, “still unblinking.”
Remmy was not just sympathetic, he was being symbolic, although one may equally deduce his stand against animal cruelty. He called for human beings not kill millipedes when they see them because the arthropods are ‘friends’ of human beings.
Bad even more is the fact that Remmy urged African politicians to remove country borders and passports because Africa is one. This view is both a Pan Africanist and internationalist position where the singer sees the world as his living room.
But this was after he was troubled by some immigration officials in Tanzania after he was arrested shortly after a foreign trip on grounds that his working permit had expired.
Mbombo Kamunebu a.k.a. Mbombo wa Mbomboka says Remmy was a poet and politician apart from being a comedian. He remembers to have worked with him at the Orchestre Makassy and he realized that anytime you could expect him to come up with a word that will cause loud laughter from the audience.
When he recorded a song ‘Mrema’ after the then popular Minister for Home Affairs Augustine Mrema all went well, so when Mrema joined the opposition party NCCR-Mageuzi he used to follow him in the political rallies but soon he hit a snag after being prohibited by the government.
By Elias Mhegera and Freddy Macha
FROM London where he had scores of fanatics to Biafra grounds and in Sinza at his home, and at the graveyard the talk was the same, Remmy was a philosopher.
From London a veteran journalist Freddy Macha says he came to know even more about Remmy Ongala’s final years which were dedicated to the philosophy of humility, forgiveness and love.
He says these are some of the most basic tenets of any true religion. Macha remembers that the last time he spoke to Remmy was in 1997 at his house, in Sinza, he had not quite converted to Pentecostalism.
By becoming a born again Christian known as ‘Ulokole’ in Swahili had a lot of transformation to the life and philosophy of the legendary, and this was confirmed by the long time music associate Filbert Nyoni.
Nyoni says he was closer to the musician since when he joined their band Matimila after being convinced by a famous soloist Fan Fan Mossesengo, who had crossed there from Makassy Ochestre.
“I know by becoming a born again Christian it was signifying that Remmy had lost hope in life, but otherwise his fans still needed him on the conventional stage performances, not Gospel Music,” says Nyoni.
He is convinced that music fans would have convinced Remmy to go back to stage performance if he was to go into full recovery. This then would have been another source of commotion and controversy.
To Freddy Macha, however, this conversion was a personal spiritual journey. “I do not want to judge or analyze that matter further but my interest is with Remmy Ongala, an artist I had a great connection,” reads part of his obituary to The Express.
The veteran journalist was writing a weekly culture and art column in the Sunday News (Cultural Images- 1981-84) he interviewed and reviewed his music and gigs a couple of times.
In 1983 he decided to publish his biography after having realized that the musician had such an interesting life, that he was misunderstood by the majority of the population and audiences.
“Sometimes I would be in his house, Toni (Remmy’s wife) would cook a stew of meat and vegetables while Remmy made Ugali or something else. This was unusual but was part of Remmy’s versatile personality and progressive family life style,” says Macha.
Macha who used to visit and interview Remmy during his performance tours in the UK, describes the musician as a deeply spiritual man with keen thoughts and a very simple straightforward way of thinking.
The message in his songs were for the poor, within this context he used to sing about death, poverty (Mnyonge hana Haki) and even his own physical appearance (“Remmy mimi sura mbaya, lakini roho yangu nyeupe”) admitting that he is ugly but his heart is clean.
He remembers that in a conversation in London, in 1996 Remmy told him that his ambition was to be able to read people’s thoughts without talking to them. He was personally interested in people; he loved and sang about them.
He says within this he would then pen songs like Arusi ya Mwanza, Kilio, Dole, Carolla and Mambo Kwa Soksi, which spoke of social issues particularly the use of condom in protection against HIV/Aids, while making everyone smile.
He graphically analyses a sea creature that we always consume, with relish. He takes you through the fish’s life. A fish that does not blink when it is picked out of the water never blinks when it is cooked and eventually eaten, “still unblinking.”
Remmy was not just sympathetic, he was being symbolic, although one may equally deduce his stand against animal cruelty. He called for human beings not kill millipedes when they see them because the arthropods are ‘friends’ of human beings.
Bad even more is the fact that Remmy urged African politicians to remove country borders and passports because Africa is one. This view is both a Pan Africanist and internationalist position where the singer sees the world as his living room.
But this was after he was troubled by some immigration officials in Tanzania after he was arrested shortly after a foreign trip on grounds that his working permit had expired.
Mbombo Kamunebu a.k.a. Mbombo wa Mbomboka says Remmy was a poet and politician apart from being a comedian. He remembers to have worked with him at the Orchestre Makassy and he realized that anytime you could expect him to come up with a word that will cause loud laughter from the audience.
When he recorded a song ‘Mrema’ after the then popular Minister for Home Affairs Augustine Mrema all went well, so when Mrema joined the opposition party NCCR-Mageuzi he used to follow him in the political rallies but soon he hit a snag after being prohibited by the government.
Mining sector yet to benefit Tanzania
Dec 2010
By Elias Mhegera
A serious debate ensued at the Paradise Hotel in the Benjamin Mkapa towers when stakeholders met to discuss the contribution of the mining sector in this country.
The discussion on Tuesday this week was part of the awareness workshop on implementation of Tanzania Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative TEITI; the stakeholders in attendance were from the government, civil society, media and representatives from the mining companies.
Earlier giving the history of TEITI, retired judge Mark Bomani who is the chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSG), said that the initiative was part of the process to guarantee transparency in the mining sector.
He reminded the audience that the process was important in Tanzania due to its gold reserve potential being the third country in Africa after Ghana, and South Africa.
He said for that matter the committee was formed in December 2007, and it submitted its first report in May 2008. He said that although Tanzania is not yet a full member but due to the fact that it has minerals, oil, and natural gas, hence the initiative.
The TEITI-MSG is comprised of 16 people, five from the government, five from the mining companies and five from NGOs while the chairperson is the 16 in the team.
Presenting a paper titled “EITI: The Global Context and Reporting Process,” Abdul Omar from the World bank Country Office in Dar es Salaam said the initiative was important recommended in the World Summit for Sustainable Development, that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.
He said the rationale of the initiative was the fact that it is both implementable and adaptable in the Tanzanian environment. He lauded the global initiatives for transparency particularly in maintaining proper auditing in key sectors of the economies in African countries Tanzania inclusive.
He added that it was such initiatives that brought about arrangements like The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Tanzania; all these were part of efforts to bring about compliance in expenditures.
Bubelwa Kaiza who is the country coordinator of the Publish What You Pay (PWYP-T), a coalition of companies, and the government, said he is yet to see the benefits of many of the companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
PWYP is a global network of which undertakes public campaigns and policy advocacy to achieve disclosure of information about extractive industry revenues and contracts.
Ambassador Ami Mpungwe who is the chairperson, Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy (TCME), said it was not fair to underestimate the contribution of the investors in the mining sector.
He defended the investors saying they are supporting various projects in this country including education, health, and provision of employment and even buying local foodstuffs from the natives.
This view however was challenged by Deodatus Balile , who is an editor at the New Habari Corporation, who said that there are many companies in this country which constantly report on losses in order to evade taxes but reports from abroad is that they accrue supper profits.
END
.
By Elias Mhegera
A serious debate ensued at the Paradise Hotel in the Benjamin Mkapa towers when stakeholders met to discuss the contribution of the mining sector in this country.
The discussion on Tuesday this week was part of the awareness workshop on implementation of Tanzania Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative TEITI; the stakeholders in attendance were from the government, civil society, media and representatives from the mining companies.
Earlier giving the history of TEITI, retired judge Mark Bomani who is the chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholder Working Group (MSG), said that the initiative was part of the process to guarantee transparency in the mining sector.
He reminded the audience that the process was important in Tanzania due to its gold reserve potential being the third country in Africa after Ghana, and South Africa.
He said for that matter the committee was formed in December 2007, and it submitted its first report in May 2008. He said that although Tanzania is not yet a full member but due to the fact that it has minerals, oil, and natural gas, hence the initiative.
The TEITI-MSG is comprised of 16 people, five from the government, five from the mining companies and five from NGOs while the chairperson is the 16 in the team.
Presenting a paper titled “EITI: The Global Context and Reporting Process,” Abdul Omar from the World bank Country Office in Dar es Salaam said the initiative was important recommended in the World Summit for Sustainable Development, that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002.
He said the rationale of the initiative was the fact that it is both implementable and adaptable in the Tanzanian environment. He lauded the global initiatives for transparency particularly in maintaining proper auditing in key sectors of the economies in African countries Tanzania inclusive.
He added that it was such initiatives that brought about arrangements like The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Tanzania; all these were part of efforts to bring about compliance in expenditures.
Bubelwa Kaiza who is the country coordinator of the Publish What You Pay (PWYP-T), a coalition of companies, and the government, said he is yet to see the benefits of many of the companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
PWYP is a global network of which undertakes public campaigns and policy advocacy to achieve disclosure of information about extractive industry revenues and contracts.
Ambassador Ami Mpungwe who is the chairperson, Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy (TCME), said it was not fair to underestimate the contribution of the investors in the mining sector.
He defended the investors saying they are supporting various projects in this country including education, health, and provision of employment and even buying local foodstuffs from the natives.
This view however was challenged by Deodatus Balile , who is an editor at the New Habari Corporation, who said that there are many companies in this country which constantly report on losses in order to evade taxes but reports from abroad is that they accrue supper profits.
END
.
Violence in Igunga uncalled for
THE commotions going on during the Igunga by election have gone far beyond the normal tradition of the electoral process in Tanzania. There are two sad major incidents to be noted so far.
In the first incident the Igunga district commissioner Fatuma Kimario alleges to have been manhandled by followers of the main opposition party in Tanzania the Chama cha Maendeleo na Demokrasia (CHADEMA), at the Isakamaliwa village.
While in the second incident the member of the national executive committee of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and current legislator for Mtera Livingstone Lusinde complained that his motor vehicle a Toyota Prado make was hurled by stones at the Nkinga village allegedly by the CHADEMA followers.
On its part CHADEMA officials are complaining that the Government has been violating campaign procedures deliberately in order to pave way for a smooth victory of the CCM candidate Dr Dalaly Kafumu
In another stance these officials are complaining that its counterpart in the opposition camp the Civic United Front (CUF) is being used by the CCM to instigate violence so in a way helping the ruling party to snatch the constituency. Whatever the case, violence must be avoided in Igunga at any cost.
In the first incident the Igunga district commissioner Fatuma Kimario alleges to have been manhandled by followers of the main opposition party in Tanzania the Chama cha Maendeleo na Demokrasia (CHADEMA), at the Isakamaliwa village.
While in the second incident the member of the national executive committee of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and current legislator for Mtera Livingstone Lusinde complained that his motor vehicle a Toyota Prado make was hurled by stones at the Nkinga village allegedly by the CHADEMA followers.
On its part CHADEMA officials are complaining that the Government has been violating campaign procedures deliberately in order to pave way for a smooth victory of the CCM candidate Dr Dalaly Kafumu
In another stance these officials are complaining that its counterpart in the opposition camp the Civic United Front (CUF) is being used by the CCM to instigate violence so in a way helping the ruling party to snatch the constituency. Whatever the case, violence must be avoided in Igunga at any cost.
The Word of Jesus Christ
The 100th Monkey. (One At A Time)
James Smith
John 135Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
A Fable or Metaphor told by one Dr. Lyall Watson tells us of…
The Japanese monkey, Macaca Fuscata, who had been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years.
In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkey liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers too.
This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists. Between 1952 and 1958 all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes -- the exact number is not known. Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.
THEN IT HAPPENED!
By that evening almost all the monkeys in the tribe were washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
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Now I’m not sure of the actual events of this story told by Mr. Watson, but I do believe there is a point in time or a threshold that a revival church reaches where all of a sudden the vast majority of the church “buys into” the vision and passion that it’s leadership shares.
And it’s at this point that the struggle to promote the ideas and vision of the church from its leadership ceases being a struggle and constant burden and soon becomes a natural way of life no longer needing promoted, and encouraged, but only needing managed and directed.
There comes a point where this now Revival Church has a revolution in its thinking, in its communications and in its behaviors.
Many people call this point the 100th monkey because it’s at this point that perpetual idealism is set in motion.
Understanding today that the idealism we are speaking about is true evangelism, means that genuine revival is set in motion for the church that reaches this point of the 100th monkey.
But how do we reach this point?
• First, we have to understand that this threshold is not easily obtained.
• In fact I believe that the majority of attempts to reach this threshold in the North American Church fail.
• But I also believe that this phenomenon that would create a paradigm shift for the entire church is entirely possible.
• In fact we have seen it demonstrated in Churches here in the US and even around the world.
• There are many churches who have pressed pass one numerical and ideological barrier after another until they reached the point where evangelism is the norm and ordinary way of life for its members.
• These churches are either on their way to becoming or are already mega churches in their communities.
But how do we get to the 100th monkey effect?
• In the story told by Mr. Watson, it was 1 monkey at a time.
• The young monkeys began teaching one another.
Isn’t it something that Children are easier to teach a new concept than adults.
• Isn’t it something that new converts are oftentimes the best soul winners?
• It’s true, that people who have not been in the church for very long are usually the ones who bring the most visitors and who witness to more people.
• Children are not hindered by past experiences.
• They ‘re zeal and excitement is young and vibrant.
• And so it’s easy for them to find new things to learn and behaviors to mimic.
But then after the young monkeys taught each other to wash the potatoes, they began teaching their parents.
• You see relationships play a very large part of any church that is going to grow.
• You cannot be an island to yourself.
• You cannot be unattached to the rest of the congregation.
• Simply attending a church is not really belonging to a church.
• Belonging to a church means you are involved in the fellowship and family of that church.
• We can learn from one another.
• We can help one another.
• We can encourage one another.
• We can strengthen one another.
• We can set aside some old ways of thinking together.
• We can gain new knowledge and understanding of the Bible – together.
• We can grow together.
But what about those who are not connected?
• What about the adult monkeys with no children in Mr. Watsons experiment?
• They had no children to teach them.
• They sat aloof in their groups of misplaced relationships, until they saw a change that was working.
• You know some people just have to see it for themselves.
• Pastor, you can preach something and a certain percentage of the church is going to believe it simply because you said it.
• But there are many who are going to have to hear it a couple more times before they can accept it or believe it.
• And there are still others that are not going to accept something or believe it until they see it working with their own eyes.
• I’m one of these people myself at times.
• I don’t have a problem with these people.
• Just because someone doesn’t get on board with the direction the church is going immediately does not mean that they will never get on board with it.
• It just means that they need some time to adjust to the new way of thinking.
• They just need some time to see it begin to work in their church.
• Some of us here are the monkeys who have experienced some negative things in the church and we really need more than another sermon on church growth to believe that it can happen in our church.
• We need to see it begin to happen.
• That’s ok….
• You just keep coming…
• You just keep listening to the passion of our pastor…
• You just keep watching what is happening in this place…
• The 100th monkey is about to wash it’s potatoes…
• A paradigm is about to shift for someone….
• And when this begins to happen, we won’t have to preach about it.
• We won’t have to train people for it.
• We won’t have to hold seminars to encourage it…
• It will become a way of life for us.
• It will become organic.
• It will become perpetual.
• It will become true Apostolic Evangelism.
How are we going to reach the 100th monkey effect?
• 1 person at a time.
• How are we as a church going to reach the place of perpetual evangelism? 1 person at a time.
• 1 ordinary person at a time.
God uses ordinary people who live ordinary lives.
• John 1:35-48 – (in simplest understanding).
1 person at a time.
• It was not some supernatural event.
• It was not some huge push by the church leadership.
• It was not orchestrated.
• It was not directed.
• It was simply people introducing other people to Jesus Christ.
• And that kind of evangelism continued for the next 3 ½ years until the book of acts when over 7 thousand people were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
You say, No, Brother Smith, the crowds came because of the miracles of Jesus. That’s right, but the crowds also left as fast as they came because of preaching of Jesus. But regardless, they came because someone told them about Jesus.
Who have we told about Jesus this week?
• Who have we invited to come to church with us this week?
What would have happened if Andrew would have never invited Simon to come meet Jesus?
• I’ll tell you would have happened, The Appostle Peter never would have stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached the message of salvation.
• And the 100th monkey would have never been reached in the Apostolic church.
Every person you invite to the House of God is a potential key person to the revival and Spiritual Growth that God would send to this community.
• You never know who it is that you are inviting.
• It might look to you to be just an old fisherman out tending his nets, but it just might be the greatest evangelist the world has ever known.
• There are many Pastors of churches in Pentecost who used to be drunkards sitting on barstools.
• There are many preachers of the gospel who at one time were drug addicts.
• There are litereally thousands of people who many people had given up on who are now crucial and vital members of growing churches.
• Don’t think twice when the thought comes to invite someone to church.
• Don’t think twice when the opportunity comes to introduce someone to Jesus.
• Don’t think twice when you see someone who needs what you have.
• Tell them about Jesus.
Perpetual Energy. (Energy – able to sustain itself.)
• Light bulb that energizes a solar array that generates a Light bulb that energizes a solar array...
• Now this phenomenon is not easy to produce right now on the large scale, but they have created this in small scale experiments.
Is it possible that a perpetual energy of true evangelizim could be created and continued here?
One where we are not just doing what we are told to do or what we are asked to do when it comes to outreach and evangelism…
But one where we are doing the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
And where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
Where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
Where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do… Are you getting it?
• It’s Perpetual Evangelism.
• It’s Organic Outreach
• It’s the 100th Monkey Phenomenon
• It’s genuine Apostolic Evangelism
John 2
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
What did Mary do?
• She set the scene for a miracle.
• She created an opportunity for Jesus to do something miraculous.
• She found someone who had a tremendous need in their life and she introduced them to someone who could meet that need.
And the monkeys kept washing their potatoes.
• You want to be a soul winner?
• Be someone that recognizes when someone has a need and invite them to see how Jesus can meet that need.
James Smith
John 135Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
A Fable or Metaphor told by one Dr. Lyall Watson tells us of…
The Japanese monkey, Macaca Fuscata, who had been observed in the wild for a period of over 30 years.
In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were providing monkeys with sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. The monkey liked the taste of the raw sweet potatoes, but they found the dirt unpleasant.
An 18-month-old female named Imo found she could solve the problem by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream. She taught this trick to her mother. Her playmates also learned this new way and they taught their mothers too.
This cultural innovation was gradually picked up by various monkeys before the eyes of the scientists. Between 1952 and 1958 all the young monkeys learned to wash the sandy sweet potatoes to make them more palatable. Only the adults who imitated their children learned this social improvement. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then something startling took place. In the autumn of 1958, a certain number of Koshima monkeys were washing sweet potatoes -- the exact number is not known. Let us suppose that when the sun rose one morning there were 99 monkeys on Koshima Island who had learned to wash their sweet potatoes. Let's further suppose that later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes.
THEN IT HAPPENED!
By that evening almost all the monkeys in the tribe were washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The added energy of this hundredth monkey somehow created an ideological breakthrough!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I’m not sure of the actual events of this story told by Mr. Watson, but I do believe there is a point in time or a threshold that a revival church reaches where all of a sudden the vast majority of the church “buys into” the vision and passion that it’s leadership shares.
And it’s at this point that the struggle to promote the ideas and vision of the church from its leadership ceases being a struggle and constant burden and soon becomes a natural way of life no longer needing promoted, and encouraged, but only needing managed and directed.
There comes a point where this now Revival Church has a revolution in its thinking, in its communications and in its behaviors.
Many people call this point the 100th monkey because it’s at this point that perpetual idealism is set in motion.
Understanding today that the idealism we are speaking about is true evangelism, means that genuine revival is set in motion for the church that reaches this point of the 100th monkey.
But how do we reach this point?
• First, we have to understand that this threshold is not easily obtained.
• In fact I believe that the majority of attempts to reach this threshold in the North American Church fail.
• But I also believe that this phenomenon that would create a paradigm shift for the entire church is entirely possible.
• In fact we have seen it demonstrated in Churches here in the US and even around the world.
• There are many churches who have pressed pass one numerical and ideological barrier after another until they reached the point where evangelism is the norm and ordinary way of life for its members.
• These churches are either on their way to becoming or are already mega churches in their communities.
But how do we get to the 100th monkey effect?
• In the story told by Mr. Watson, it was 1 monkey at a time.
• The young monkeys began teaching one another.
Isn’t it something that Children are easier to teach a new concept than adults.
• Isn’t it something that new converts are oftentimes the best soul winners?
• It’s true, that people who have not been in the church for very long are usually the ones who bring the most visitors and who witness to more people.
• Children are not hindered by past experiences.
• They ‘re zeal and excitement is young and vibrant.
• And so it’s easy for them to find new things to learn and behaviors to mimic.
But then after the young monkeys taught each other to wash the potatoes, they began teaching their parents.
• You see relationships play a very large part of any church that is going to grow.
• You cannot be an island to yourself.
• You cannot be unattached to the rest of the congregation.
• Simply attending a church is not really belonging to a church.
• Belonging to a church means you are involved in the fellowship and family of that church.
• We can learn from one another.
• We can help one another.
• We can encourage one another.
• We can strengthen one another.
• We can set aside some old ways of thinking together.
• We can gain new knowledge and understanding of the Bible – together.
• We can grow together.
But what about those who are not connected?
• What about the adult monkeys with no children in Mr. Watsons experiment?
• They had no children to teach them.
• They sat aloof in their groups of misplaced relationships, until they saw a change that was working.
• You know some people just have to see it for themselves.
• Pastor, you can preach something and a certain percentage of the church is going to believe it simply because you said it.
• But there are many who are going to have to hear it a couple more times before they can accept it or believe it.
• And there are still others that are not going to accept something or believe it until they see it working with their own eyes.
• I’m one of these people myself at times.
• I don’t have a problem with these people.
• Just because someone doesn’t get on board with the direction the church is going immediately does not mean that they will never get on board with it.
• It just means that they need some time to adjust to the new way of thinking.
• They just need some time to see it begin to work in their church.
• Some of us here are the monkeys who have experienced some negative things in the church and we really need more than another sermon on church growth to believe that it can happen in our church.
• We need to see it begin to happen.
• That’s ok….
• You just keep coming…
• You just keep listening to the passion of our pastor…
• You just keep watching what is happening in this place…
• The 100th monkey is about to wash it’s potatoes…
• A paradigm is about to shift for someone….
• And when this begins to happen, we won’t have to preach about it.
• We won’t have to train people for it.
• We won’t have to hold seminars to encourage it…
• It will become a way of life for us.
• It will become organic.
• It will become perpetual.
• It will become true Apostolic Evangelism.
How are we going to reach the 100th monkey effect?
• 1 person at a time.
• How are we as a church going to reach the place of perpetual evangelism? 1 person at a time.
• 1 ordinary person at a time.
God uses ordinary people who live ordinary lives.
• John 1:35-48 – (in simplest understanding).
1 person at a time.
• It was not some supernatural event.
• It was not some huge push by the church leadership.
• It was not orchestrated.
• It was not directed.
• It was simply people introducing other people to Jesus Christ.
• And that kind of evangelism continued for the next 3 ½ years until the book of acts when over 7 thousand people were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost.
You say, No, Brother Smith, the crowds came because of the miracles of Jesus. That’s right, but the crowds also left as fast as they came because of preaching of Jesus. But regardless, they came because someone told them about Jesus.
Who have we told about Jesus this week?
• Who have we invited to come to church with us this week?
What would have happened if Andrew would have never invited Simon to come meet Jesus?
• I’ll tell you would have happened, The Appostle Peter never would have stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached the message of salvation.
• And the 100th monkey would have never been reached in the Apostolic church.
Every person you invite to the House of God is a potential key person to the revival and Spiritual Growth that God would send to this community.
• You never know who it is that you are inviting.
• It might look to you to be just an old fisherman out tending his nets, but it just might be the greatest evangelist the world has ever known.
• There are many Pastors of churches in Pentecost who used to be drunkards sitting on barstools.
• There are many preachers of the gospel who at one time were drug addicts.
• There are litereally thousands of people who many people had given up on who are now crucial and vital members of growing churches.
• Don’t think twice when the thought comes to invite someone to church.
• Don’t think twice when the opportunity comes to introduce someone to Jesus.
• Don’t think twice when you see someone who needs what you have.
• Tell them about Jesus.
Perpetual Energy. (Energy – able to sustain itself.)
• Light bulb that energizes a solar array that generates a Light bulb that energizes a solar array...
• Now this phenomenon is not easy to produce right now on the large scale, but they have created this in small scale experiments.
Is it possible that a perpetual energy of true evangelizim could be created and continued here?
One where we are not just doing what we are told to do or what we are asked to do when it comes to outreach and evangelism…
But one where we are doing the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
And where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
Where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do.
Where we allow the excitement and energy of this work to begin to feed upon itself to generate an energy that motivates us and encourages us to do the work of ministry and evangelism because it is the natural thing for us to do… Are you getting it?
• It’s Perpetual Evangelism.
• It’s Organic Outreach
• It’s the 100th Monkey Phenomenon
• It’s genuine Apostolic Evangelism
John 2
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
What did Mary do?
• She set the scene for a miracle.
• She created an opportunity for Jesus to do something miraculous.
• She found someone who had a tremendous need in their life and she introduced them to someone who could meet that need.
And the monkeys kept washing their potatoes.
• You want to be a soul winner?
• Be someone that recognizes when someone has a need and invite them to see how Jesus can meet that need.
Hiroshi Nakagawa :education key to development
By Elias Mhegera
JAPANESE Government has yet more extended its development partnership after granting assistance for grassroots human security projects. The signing ceremony was conducted at the ambassador’s residence, Kenyatta Drive.
Speaking before invited guests, the Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania Hiroshi Nakagawa said that the first three projects are to construct three girls’ hostels in three regions; namely, Mipa Secondary School in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region; Namswea Secondary School in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region; and Kinyangiri Secondary School in Iramba District, Singida Region.
Moreover the fourth project is to construct four wells in the four villages at Mangaka Town in Nanyumbu District, Mtwara Region.
The last project is to supply a new sterilizer to the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) in Dar es Salaam.
The ceremony was attended by a high powered delegation from the Tanzania’s Government by Gaudence Kayombo, Member of Parliament for Mbinga East; and his counterpart Ms Salome Mwambu, Member of Parliament for Iramba East. The occasion was also attended by Anselin Tarimo, Regional Administrative Secretary for Ruvuma Region.
This time, a total of four hundred and fifty-one thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight US dollars ($ 451,558) has been provided for the implementation of these five projects. This was in response to the basic human needs education being fundamental, and it is indispensable in improving people’s lives.
The ambassador said that education benefits not only the individual life, but the country itself, as improved knowledge and skills are expected to accelerate economic development in a country. Under the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP), the enrollment rate at Secondary education level has increased in recent years.
The Japanese ambassador to Tanzania said that the construction of three girls’ hostels will provide safer and better learning environments to female students in Kishapu, Mbinga and Iramba districts, and that those girls who benefit from it will grow up to contribute to their country’s development in the near future.
He emphasized on the need for improved access to safe and clean water. He warned that the lack of safe water negatively affects the quality of medical care service at hospitals in the region, and that the project for four wells at Mangaka Town will enhance people’s access to safe and clean water, and improve their quality of life. After the completion, it is estimated that approximately ten thousand and four hundred (10,400) people will have improved access to safe water.
On their side the recipient institutions thanked the Japanese Government for its continued support to development initiatives. The Iramba East legislator Ms Salome Mwambu said that the assistance has come in an opportune time due to the fact that there are students who had to walk long distances in her constituency due to lack of accommodation.
From Kishapu, Theonas Nyamhanga who is the district executive director (DED) said that his district is facing similar problems and he appreciated the fact that the Japanese Government could still assist Tanzania a few months after it had faced natural calamities early this year.
END
JAPANESE Government has yet more extended its development partnership after granting assistance for grassroots human security projects. The signing ceremony was conducted at the ambassador’s residence, Kenyatta Drive.
Speaking before invited guests, the Japanese Ambassador to Tanzania Hiroshi Nakagawa said that the first three projects are to construct three girls’ hostels in three regions; namely, Mipa Secondary School in Kishapu District, Shinyanga Region; Namswea Secondary School in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region; and Kinyangiri Secondary School in Iramba District, Singida Region.
Moreover the fourth project is to construct four wells in the four villages at Mangaka Town in Nanyumbu District, Mtwara Region.
The last project is to supply a new sterilizer to the Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) in Dar es Salaam.
The ceremony was attended by a high powered delegation from the Tanzania’s Government by Gaudence Kayombo, Member of Parliament for Mbinga East; and his counterpart Ms Salome Mwambu, Member of Parliament for Iramba East. The occasion was also attended by Anselin Tarimo, Regional Administrative Secretary for Ruvuma Region.
This time, a total of four hundred and fifty-one thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight US dollars ($ 451,558) has been provided for the implementation of these five projects. This was in response to the basic human needs education being fundamental, and it is indispensable in improving people’s lives.
The ambassador said that education benefits not only the individual life, but the country itself, as improved knowledge and skills are expected to accelerate economic development in a country. Under the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP), the enrollment rate at Secondary education level has increased in recent years.
The Japanese ambassador to Tanzania said that the construction of three girls’ hostels will provide safer and better learning environments to female students in Kishapu, Mbinga and Iramba districts, and that those girls who benefit from it will grow up to contribute to their country’s development in the near future.
He emphasized on the need for improved access to safe and clean water. He warned that the lack of safe water negatively affects the quality of medical care service at hospitals in the region, and that the project for four wells at Mangaka Town will enhance people’s access to safe and clean water, and improve their quality of life. After the completion, it is estimated that approximately ten thousand and four hundred (10,400) people will have improved access to safe water.
On their side the recipient institutions thanked the Japanese Government for its continued support to development initiatives. The Iramba East legislator Ms Salome Mwambu said that the assistance has come in an opportune time due to the fact that there are students who had to walk long distances in her constituency due to lack of accommodation.
From Kishapu, Theonas Nyamhanga who is the district executive director (DED) said that his district is facing similar problems and he appreciated the fact that the Japanese Government could still assist Tanzania a few months after it had faced natural calamities early this year.
END
Tanzania’s stance on Libya: double standard?
SO far Tanzania’s stance is not to recognize the Libya's National Transitional Council, and this is in line with the African Union which called on August 26 for the formation of an inclusive transitional government in Libya.
It is true that it might be too early recognize the rebels as sole legitimate representatives of the nation while fighting continued. But it is also a fact that there are members within AU member countries that have announced their recognition of the NTC.
This tells this country that it must find a way to strike the balance between a myopic stance and what is really going on in the ground; the reality is Gaddafi’s era is gone. Just recently Nigeria had asked the UK and France to prevail on the NTC in order to stop the killings. This indicates that there is no way any African country can talk of Libya without recognizing the ‘rebels’.
Recently the Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Bernard Membe had summoned the Libyan envoy to this country after he had raised the rebel’s flag in his embassy. Membe said this was a breech of protocol but the Libyans know better what is better for them than citizens of other countries.
It is true that it might be too early recognize the rebels as sole legitimate representatives of the nation while fighting continued. But it is also a fact that there are members within AU member countries that have announced their recognition of the NTC.
This tells this country that it must find a way to strike the balance between a myopic stance and what is really going on in the ground; the reality is Gaddafi’s era is gone. Just recently Nigeria had asked the UK and France to prevail on the NTC in order to stop the killings. This indicates that there is no way any African country can talk of Libya without recognizing the ‘rebels’.
Recently the Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Bernard Membe had summoned the Libyan envoy to this country after he had raised the rebel’s flag in his embassy. Membe said this was a breech of protocol but the Libyans know better what is better for them than citizens of other countries.
Government funds misappropriated
By Elias Mhegera
ALTHOUGH the Government has instituted a series of measures in order for the public to be informed of their expenditures but still many people in the rural setting are unaware of this.
The recent Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (PETS) in Coast region by the Community Development for All (CODEFA) NGO, on the distributed subsidies revealed that only a few people are interested to know exactly what has been set aside for them while a good number of the remaining population does not care at all.
In the study ending in May this year that was conducted in four villages of Mzenga ‘A’ Vilabwa, Chakange and Mitengwe all in Kisarawe district, revealed that some villagers do not understand even if they are supposed to question on expenditures in their villages.
The survey discovered that 33 percent of the interviewees did not even understand of the existence of such funds, while 14 percent new of the existence but did not know the exact location of such funds. Moreover 51 percent knew that there were such funds in the district level but did not know the exact amount of such funds.
A handful of people discovered that lack of transparency on expenditures could lead to misappropriation of such funds but they did not know the proper mechanisms to intervene in checking such expenditures. 53 percent admitted that they did not benefit from the existence of these funds.
However the villagers were aware that they are supposed to contribute to the development of their villages. For instance the spraying of cashew trees with fumigants was done for Tsh 600 per tree, while agricultural inputs were bought at Tsh 20,000 for a bag
For that matter villagers did not see if these funds were contributing towards their development because the whole process of allocation of funds and land distribution is not transparent.
This study by CODEFA, had involved all the funds that were supplied to the villages for development projects. Some of these funds were contributed by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).
Although it is in records that TASAF had distributed over Tsh 12 million for development projects, the only amount which could be accounted on was Tsh 4.09 million while the remaining amount of more than seven million was stolen.
It is argued that the district development director (DDD) and the district extension officer had colluded in the stealing of these funds although villagers’ names remained in the registrations in order to justify the whole process.
It was also revealed by the study that only a handful of the youths do participate in agriculture because they see that agriculture has lost its appeal so these have turned to other commercial activities like firewood and charcoal vending.
The poor motivation in agricultural activities coupled with scarcity of training in modern farming have distracted the youths in agriculture. Although this survey had involved many stakeholders but villagers were not accustomed to the culture of storing any data or information which is a discrepancy.
END
ALTHOUGH the Government has instituted a series of measures in order for the public to be informed of their expenditures but still many people in the rural setting are unaware of this.
The recent Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (PETS) in Coast region by the Community Development for All (CODEFA) NGO, on the distributed subsidies revealed that only a few people are interested to know exactly what has been set aside for them while a good number of the remaining population does not care at all.
In the study ending in May this year that was conducted in four villages of Mzenga ‘A’ Vilabwa, Chakange and Mitengwe all in Kisarawe district, revealed that some villagers do not understand even if they are supposed to question on expenditures in their villages.
The survey discovered that 33 percent of the interviewees did not even understand of the existence of such funds, while 14 percent new of the existence but did not know the exact location of such funds. Moreover 51 percent knew that there were such funds in the district level but did not know the exact amount of such funds.
A handful of people discovered that lack of transparency on expenditures could lead to misappropriation of such funds but they did not know the proper mechanisms to intervene in checking such expenditures. 53 percent admitted that they did not benefit from the existence of these funds.
However the villagers were aware that they are supposed to contribute to the development of their villages. For instance the spraying of cashew trees with fumigants was done for Tsh 600 per tree, while agricultural inputs were bought at Tsh 20,000 for a bag
For that matter villagers did not see if these funds were contributing towards their development because the whole process of allocation of funds and land distribution is not transparent.
This study by CODEFA, had involved all the funds that were supplied to the villages for development projects. Some of these funds were contributed by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).
Although it is in records that TASAF had distributed over Tsh 12 million for development projects, the only amount which could be accounted on was Tsh 4.09 million while the remaining amount of more than seven million was stolen.
It is argued that the district development director (DDD) and the district extension officer had colluded in the stealing of these funds although villagers’ names remained in the registrations in order to justify the whole process.
It was also revealed by the study that only a handful of the youths do participate in agriculture because they see that agriculture has lost its appeal so these have turned to other commercial activities like firewood and charcoal vending.
The poor motivation in agricultural activities coupled with scarcity of training in modern farming have distracted the youths in agriculture. Although this survey had involved many stakeholders but villagers were not accustomed to the culture of storing any data or information which is a discrepancy.
END
Nabaki Afrika: go for quality goods
BY Elias Mhegera
THE Government has called Tanzanians to reject substandard goods which of recent years have turned this country into almost a destiny of junky goods.
This call was made on Saturday last week by the Kinondoni District Administrative Secretary Bernard Marcelline when he spoke exclusively to The Express shortly after launching of the “Win Free Roof Competition” at the Nabaki Afrika complex in Mwenge.
The award of a value of 15,000,000/=Tsh will go to a person who will parches construction goods at any of its shops countrywide. The offer was meant to enhance the spirit of spending money by getting quality goods.
Mercelline who represented his District Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana commended the company for having invested heavily on quality construction materials which have proven good to many of their users.
Earlier speaking to senior journalists and editors the Nabaki Afrika Managing Director Hamish Hamilton said that his company has managed to meet customers demand after having stayed in this country for over 18 years, hence being quite aware of the climatic conditions of this country.
Hamilton said that the “cutting edge” that has made Nabaki successful was the fact that it managed to identify the real demands of Tanzania from the outset from as far as 1994. “We started with a few products – some stayed, others fell by the way side” he narrated.
The MD who was supported by his wife Ms Tania Hamilton who also the co-director of the company boasted that Nabaki a Kiswahili name which mean I remain here means that his company will remain in Africa and in Tanzania in particular simply because quality roofing is a high demand due to construction activities which goes on from time to time.
“Harvey Roof Tiles from South Africa was the roof tile we first imported and then we moved to Decra Tiles from New Zealand - the world’s first metal roofing tile and till the best!,” he said, elaborating that his company moved to Decra when it was discovered that the quality of the SA tiles was not up to the standard that it had expected.
The MD boasted further that apart from being the main supplier of construction materials in this country his company has embarked in a series of training of the local personnel so as to empower them with a unique brand of knowledge.
He charged that through such trainings his company has produced good artisans in gypsum ceilings, repairing and construction of swimming pools and installation of water tanks and pipes.
In other developments his company since 1998 has been involved in importation of quality shade net, construction chemicals and water filters. Supported by the company’s General Manager Vatsal Shah the managing team boasted of having employed 70 staff whereby 95 percent are Tanzanians.
In the same vain the company boasts that it is supplying its goods to over 200 distributors whose sales are over 13 Billion hence boosting the country’s economy. The year 2000 was a turning point by importing the world’s best roofing material Decra. END
THE Government has called Tanzanians to reject substandard goods which of recent years have turned this country into almost a destiny of junky goods.
This call was made on Saturday last week by the Kinondoni District Administrative Secretary Bernard Marcelline when he spoke exclusively to The Express shortly after launching of the “Win Free Roof Competition” at the Nabaki Afrika complex in Mwenge.
The award of a value of 15,000,000/=Tsh will go to a person who will parches construction goods at any of its shops countrywide. The offer was meant to enhance the spirit of spending money by getting quality goods.
Mercelline who represented his District Commissioner Jordan Rugimbana commended the company for having invested heavily on quality construction materials which have proven good to many of their users.
Earlier speaking to senior journalists and editors the Nabaki Afrika Managing Director Hamish Hamilton said that his company has managed to meet customers demand after having stayed in this country for over 18 years, hence being quite aware of the climatic conditions of this country.
Hamilton said that the “cutting edge” that has made Nabaki successful was the fact that it managed to identify the real demands of Tanzania from the outset from as far as 1994. “We started with a few products – some stayed, others fell by the way side” he narrated.
The MD who was supported by his wife Ms Tania Hamilton who also the co-director of the company boasted that Nabaki a Kiswahili name which mean I remain here means that his company will remain in Africa and in Tanzania in particular simply because quality roofing is a high demand due to construction activities which goes on from time to time.
“Harvey Roof Tiles from South Africa was the roof tile we first imported and then we moved to Decra Tiles from New Zealand - the world’s first metal roofing tile and till the best!,” he said, elaborating that his company moved to Decra when it was discovered that the quality of the SA tiles was not up to the standard that it had expected.
The MD boasted further that apart from being the main supplier of construction materials in this country his company has embarked in a series of training of the local personnel so as to empower them with a unique brand of knowledge.
He charged that through such trainings his company has produced good artisans in gypsum ceilings, repairing and construction of swimming pools and installation of water tanks and pipes.
In other developments his company since 1998 has been involved in importation of quality shade net, construction chemicals and water filters. Supported by the company’s General Manager Vatsal Shah the managing team boasted of having employed 70 staff whereby 95 percent are Tanzanians.
In the same vain the company boasts that it is supplying its goods to over 200 distributors whose sales are over 13 Billion hence boosting the country’s economy. The year 2000 was a turning point by importing the world’s best roofing material Decra. END
LHRC: Parents must write will before hand
By Elias Mhegera
TANZANIAN parents have been advised to write to their Will before they die in order to reduce problems to their spouses during probate causes.
This advice was part of the greetings to Tanzanian women by Ms Miriam Gonzalez who is the Head of Trade at the DLA-Piper in the United Kingdom. She spoke on behalf of Lawyers Circle an organization from the UK which deals with women issues.
Early while inviting his visitors the Executive Director for the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Francis Kiwanga said that the aim of this visit was to encourage and inspire women activists and legal NGOs dealing with women issues to operate more professionally and without fear.
The exchange of these lawyers will also involve reviewing and discussing pertinent international agreements like the Maputo Protocol which calls for equal representation between men and women in all aspects of leadership like the Parliament and other posts.
Kiwanga said that women are always disadvantaged whenever they have to compete with men in various issues, thus the justification to have such bodies. He said that although his centre has main offices in Dar es Salaam but it has cluster centres which assist in the provision of services.
He counseled the media to cover more stories on human rights and other pertinent issues since people at large have a trust in them. “Previously people used to run to the police stations to air their problems, now days they rush to the media in order to invite wide attention, this is a positive development that we should all cherish,” he said.
On her part Ms Gonzalez who spoke on behalf of her group she challenged the women activists and paralegal institutions to identify and intervene to in time to help all women who are in need of closer attention whenever they fell victim of circumstances.
Among women groups that were represented at the occasion are the Women's Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), others are; Southern Africa Human Rights NGO-Network (SAHRiNGON) Women in Law and Development in Africa Tanzania (WiLDAF), Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) and many others.
TANZANIAN parents have been advised to write to their Will before they die in order to reduce problems to their spouses during probate causes.
This advice was part of the greetings to Tanzanian women by Ms Miriam Gonzalez who is the Head of Trade at the DLA-Piper in the United Kingdom. She spoke on behalf of Lawyers Circle an organization from the UK which deals with women issues.
Early while inviting his visitors the Executive Director for the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Francis Kiwanga said that the aim of this visit was to encourage and inspire women activists and legal NGOs dealing with women issues to operate more professionally and without fear.
The exchange of these lawyers will also involve reviewing and discussing pertinent international agreements like the Maputo Protocol which calls for equal representation between men and women in all aspects of leadership like the Parliament and other posts.
Kiwanga said that women are always disadvantaged whenever they have to compete with men in various issues, thus the justification to have such bodies. He said that although his centre has main offices in Dar es Salaam but it has cluster centres which assist in the provision of services.
He counseled the media to cover more stories on human rights and other pertinent issues since people at large have a trust in them. “Previously people used to run to the police stations to air their problems, now days they rush to the media in order to invite wide attention, this is a positive development that we should all cherish,” he said.
On her part Ms Gonzalez who spoke on behalf of her group she challenged the women activists and paralegal institutions to identify and intervene to in time to help all women who are in need of closer attention whenever they fell victim of circumstances.
Among women groups that were represented at the occasion are the Women's Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), others are; Southern Africa Human Rights NGO-Network (SAHRiNGON) Women in Law and Development in Africa Tanzania (WiLDAF), Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) and many others.
Prisons in Tanzania more of a hell than reforming centres
Following the publication of a prison diary which turned out to be the first ever book to elucidate vividly the situation in Tanzanian prisons, The Express was inspired and hence conducted an interview with Rev Kamara Kusupa one of the founding members of political pluralism in Tanzania and the NCCR-Mageuzi party, through our staff writer Elias Mhegera here are the excerpts
1. Qun: Please kindly give us your brief historical background?
Ans: After having pursued formal education I was employed by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in 1978 up to 1980, by then it was known as the Anti Corruption Squad, it was later transformed to the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB), and later on to the current PCCB. After writing a letter to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in 1980 condemning what I termed as lavish expenditures by the ruling party, I was sacked from my job. After having stayed idle for the whole year of 1981, I decided to join evangelistic duties, and hence I joined a three years diploma programme at the Dodoma International Bible College 1982-85, and thereafter I went on with my religious duties up to the time of introducing multiparty politics in Tanzania.
2. Qun: What made you to join active politics despite your religious duties?
When I heard that Reverend Christopher Mtikila had joined active politics during the wave of change for multiparty politics I was inspired, so I immediately joined in 1990, and I was part of the 11 people team which found the National Committee for Constitutional Reforms (NCCR) which later was transformed into a political party the National Convention for Construction and Reforms, while retaining its acronym.
3. Qun: What went wrong and what were your initial feelings when you were imprisoned for five year plus?
All troubles started after I had presented to the UN a paper where I claimed that some small miners had been buried alive in Bulyang’ulu Shinyanga due to some investors major mining plans, things were never the same for me again. So I was sentenced for having being an accomplice in fraudulent money, my term started in 2001 and finished in 2007. My initial feelings were fear and hopelessness, but I regained confidence after having joined other inmates.
4. Qun: What did you learn after having stayed in prison for sometime?
It is rather saddening to find that in a country which has a good reputation of having maintained peace and tranquility there are such pathetic conditions in the prisons. Apart from the human rights violations that are conducted by some prison officers but also mixing of prisoners but those at tender ages are at a disadvantage. For instance it is due to those intolerable conditions that some prisoners accept to be engaged in homosexual practices, the prison warders and the Government in general has not done enough to get rid of these immoral acts. So there three dimensions of this problem, in the first place it is the psychological trauma which goes hand in hand with the life in prison, but secondly is mistreatment from the prison officers, and thirdly is mistreatments that are conducted by inmates among themselves.
Moreover through my experience after having interviewed a good number of inmates I discovered that prisons in Tanzania are not places where people can be transformed but they are places which can destroy people even more because they still retain the characters that were institutionalize during the colonial era. I also learnt that a good number of inmates have been implicated to crimes which they did not commit simply because legal service are expensive for those with limited means.
I can argue with confidence that corruption in the Police Force by some officials as well as in the judiciary causes a lot of pain to those who can not bribe these unscrupulous officials. Family conflicts for properties after deaths of parents or even matrimonial conflicts between married spouses are some of the reasons which cause an influx of inmates while such situations could have been resolved amicably at the family level.
I also learnt that prison warders also live in poor conditions a situation which forces them to act brutally against prisoners as one way of reducing their psychological stresses. Poor hygienic conditions have reduced the dignity of human beings to large extent while the sizes of many prisons are small, able to carry only a quarter of the existing populations.
It is also a common practice that some prison officials steal some goods that were meant for prisoners particularly food items, eating utensils like plates and some working tools which could have reduced the burden of work to them.
5. Qun: And how did you feel as days for leaving the prison were approaching?
I was not assured of my self because it is a common practice that one’s jail term can be extended on various grounds including mere fabrication of cases.
6. Qun: Now that you are back to a normal life what do you suggest to the Government in order to improve lives of inmates?
As you did see in my book I dwelt in the 60 last pages of the book on suggesting what should be done. For instance it is not proper to deny prisoners proper media coverage because this can push the Government to act immediately. Medical care should be improved because that is tantamount to the violation of human rights. A good number of inmates die because they lack proper treatment, also due to contamination, and for the fact that such congestions make them amenable to communicable diseases. In this case the common ones are tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/Aids due to homosexual practices and sharing of things of sharp edges like razor blades during cutting of hairs.
There is a need to establish permanent health facilities like dispensaries and hospitals in all prisons particularly the big ones like those of Ukonga in Dar es Salaam, Butimba in Mwanza and Isanga in Dodoma such prisons should have specialized medical facilities and doctors who knows well the circumstances facing prisoners.
Another important transformation to be made is to improve halls of residence for inmates because they do not reflect the current level of development where prisoners are supposed to produce good furniture and many other items. Communication should be improved so that prisoners can get in touch with their relatives all over this country particularly when they are in need of services like legal counsel for appeals.
Food being a basic necessity and a human right issue should be delivered in time and the quality that reflects that prisoners are human beings too, regardless of other issues surrounding them. Parole and many other reliefs that are provided to prisoners must be awarded on grounds of fairness and equality because under the current situation always there is a lot of lobbying by relatives who are outside the jail to the extent that corruption is part and parcel of the game for one to be considered. It is time that now repressive laws must be removed both in the courts, and in the prisons themselves. It is claimed that working conditions in the judiciary are poor to the extent that some legal personnel like magistrates come up with rulings which are inhumane and reflecting the laws that were institutionalized during the colonial era.
7. What strong message do you want to carry across to other politicians in the opposition and Tanzanians in general?
I want to assure them that soon I will be back in active politics because I had to take a break after five years of a grueling journey in the Tanzanian jails. This experience has reinvigorated me further rather than breaking me down.
END
1. Qun: Please kindly give us your brief historical background?
Ans: After having pursued formal education I was employed by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in 1978 up to 1980, by then it was known as the Anti Corruption Squad, it was later transformed to the Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCB), and later on to the current PCCB. After writing a letter to the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere in 1980 condemning what I termed as lavish expenditures by the ruling party, I was sacked from my job. After having stayed idle for the whole year of 1981, I decided to join evangelistic duties, and hence I joined a three years diploma programme at the Dodoma International Bible College 1982-85, and thereafter I went on with my religious duties up to the time of introducing multiparty politics in Tanzania.
2. Qun: What made you to join active politics despite your religious duties?
When I heard that Reverend Christopher Mtikila had joined active politics during the wave of change for multiparty politics I was inspired, so I immediately joined in 1990, and I was part of the 11 people team which found the National Committee for Constitutional Reforms (NCCR) which later was transformed into a political party the National Convention for Construction and Reforms, while retaining its acronym.
3. Qun: What went wrong and what were your initial feelings when you were imprisoned for five year plus?
All troubles started after I had presented to the UN a paper where I claimed that some small miners had been buried alive in Bulyang’ulu Shinyanga due to some investors major mining plans, things were never the same for me again. So I was sentenced for having being an accomplice in fraudulent money, my term started in 2001 and finished in 2007. My initial feelings were fear and hopelessness, but I regained confidence after having joined other inmates.
4. Qun: What did you learn after having stayed in prison for sometime?
It is rather saddening to find that in a country which has a good reputation of having maintained peace and tranquility there are such pathetic conditions in the prisons. Apart from the human rights violations that are conducted by some prison officers but also mixing of prisoners but those at tender ages are at a disadvantage. For instance it is due to those intolerable conditions that some prisoners accept to be engaged in homosexual practices, the prison warders and the Government in general has not done enough to get rid of these immoral acts. So there three dimensions of this problem, in the first place it is the psychological trauma which goes hand in hand with the life in prison, but secondly is mistreatment from the prison officers, and thirdly is mistreatments that are conducted by inmates among themselves.
Moreover through my experience after having interviewed a good number of inmates I discovered that prisons in Tanzania are not places where people can be transformed but they are places which can destroy people even more because they still retain the characters that were institutionalize during the colonial era. I also learnt that a good number of inmates have been implicated to crimes which they did not commit simply because legal service are expensive for those with limited means.
I can argue with confidence that corruption in the Police Force by some officials as well as in the judiciary causes a lot of pain to those who can not bribe these unscrupulous officials. Family conflicts for properties after deaths of parents or even matrimonial conflicts between married spouses are some of the reasons which cause an influx of inmates while such situations could have been resolved amicably at the family level.
I also learnt that prison warders also live in poor conditions a situation which forces them to act brutally against prisoners as one way of reducing their psychological stresses. Poor hygienic conditions have reduced the dignity of human beings to large extent while the sizes of many prisons are small, able to carry only a quarter of the existing populations.
It is also a common practice that some prison officials steal some goods that were meant for prisoners particularly food items, eating utensils like plates and some working tools which could have reduced the burden of work to them.
5. Qun: And how did you feel as days for leaving the prison were approaching?
I was not assured of my self because it is a common practice that one’s jail term can be extended on various grounds including mere fabrication of cases.
6. Qun: Now that you are back to a normal life what do you suggest to the Government in order to improve lives of inmates?
As you did see in my book I dwelt in the 60 last pages of the book on suggesting what should be done. For instance it is not proper to deny prisoners proper media coverage because this can push the Government to act immediately. Medical care should be improved because that is tantamount to the violation of human rights. A good number of inmates die because they lack proper treatment, also due to contamination, and for the fact that such congestions make them amenable to communicable diseases. In this case the common ones are tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/Aids due to homosexual practices and sharing of things of sharp edges like razor blades during cutting of hairs.
There is a need to establish permanent health facilities like dispensaries and hospitals in all prisons particularly the big ones like those of Ukonga in Dar es Salaam, Butimba in Mwanza and Isanga in Dodoma such prisons should have specialized medical facilities and doctors who knows well the circumstances facing prisoners.
Another important transformation to be made is to improve halls of residence for inmates because they do not reflect the current level of development where prisoners are supposed to produce good furniture and many other items. Communication should be improved so that prisoners can get in touch with their relatives all over this country particularly when they are in need of services like legal counsel for appeals.
Food being a basic necessity and a human right issue should be delivered in time and the quality that reflects that prisoners are human beings too, regardless of other issues surrounding them. Parole and many other reliefs that are provided to prisoners must be awarded on grounds of fairness and equality because under the current situation always there is a lot of lobbying by relatives who are outside the jail to the extent that corruption is part and parcel of the game for one to be considered. It is time that now repressive laws must be removed both in the courts, and in the prisons themselves. It is claimed that working conditions in the judiciary are poor to the extent that some legal personnel like magistrates come up with rulings which are inhumane and reflecting the laws that were institutionalized during the colonial era.
7. What strong message do you want to carry across to other politicians in the opposition and Tanzanians in general?
I want to assure them that soon I will be back in active politics because I had to take a break after five years of a grueling journey in the Tanzanian jails. This experience has reinvigorated me further rather than breaking me down.
END
New Constitution for social changes
By Elias Mhegera
WHILE Tanzanians are still collecting views on the proposed Bill for the constitutional review many are casting doubts whether the amended changes will suffice the expected aspirations.
Meeting at the Dar es Salaam International Conference Centre on Tuesday this week was a conglomerate of NGOs dealing with civic education, human rights and the media.
The conference was organized by the Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), in collaboration with the Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS). A range of issues were discussed on the efficacy of the amendment to be done.
The main presenters were Prof Chris Maina and Bashiru Ally from the University of Dar es Salaam, Steven Mmbogo programme officer TADIP, while the chairperson of the event Ms Rose Mwakitwange.
The theme of the discussion was “will the constitution review reflect and deliver up to the will of the people?” the general consensus was the process has started with a wrong approach hence wrong conclusion.
Presenting his paper Prof Maina said that it was true that there is a need to enact a new constitution but the way the Bill has been presented reflects that the Government is ushering for constitutional amendments.
Elaborating further he said that calls for a new constitution have been taking new turns from time to time. For instance it was more pronounced in 1965 after this country was turned into a single party state under the leadership of the founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
He further reminds that the call subsided for sometime just to resurface in 1984 but the whole movement collapsed after it was again quashed. This wave was to resurface from early 90s after the collapse of the former USSR and its satellite states.
Prof Maina says the global transition to multiparty politics swept Tanzania as well to the extent that it reintroduced political pluralism in 1992 but retaining the Government machinery and constitution that made the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi to enjoy supremacy above all other institutions.
He therefore challenges that such a political legacy cannot be left to go on unchanged in the current situation. He also mentions that the fact that Zanzibar has a new constitution under the structure of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which has automatically ousted the Revolutionary Governemnt of Zanzibar which is recognized in the Union constitution.
On his part Mmbogo said that the Bill is unfriendly and could spell doom the fate of constitutional formation taking into consideration that it has been challenged almost every where when people discuss it.
Contributing to the debate the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Dr Willibrod Slaa said that due to the sensitivity of the debate public hearings could have been extended in many other parts of this country than conducting its in three stations of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Zanzibar.
This view was shared by the National Convention for Construction and Reforms (NCCR), secretary general Sam Ruhuza who said that the Bill indicates that the process will not deliver what people were expecting therefore it should be returned to the people.
END
WHILE Tanzanians are still collecting views on the proposed Bill for the constitutional review many are casting doubts whether the amended changes will suffice the expected aspirations.
Meeting at the Dar es Salaam International Conference Centre on Tuesday this week was a conglomerate of NGOs dealing with civic education, human rights and the media.
The conference was organized by the Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), in collaboration with the Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS). A range of issues were discussed on the efficacy of the amendment to be done.
The main presenters were Prof Chris Maina and Bashiru Ally from the University of Dar es Salaam, Steven Mmbogo programme officer TADIP, while the chairperson of the event Ms Rose Mwakitwange.
The theme of the discussion was “will the constitution review reflect and deliver up to the will of the people?” the general consensus was the process has started with a wrong approach hence wrong conclusion.
Presenting his paper Prof Maina said that it was true that there is a need to enact a new constitution but the way the Bill has been presented reflects that the Government is ushering for constitutional amendments.
Elaborating further he said that calls for a new constitution have been taking new turns from time to time. For instance it was more pronounced in 1965 after this country was turned into a single party state under the leadership of the founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
He further reminds that the call subsided for sometime just to resurface in 1984 but the whole movement collapsed after it was again quashed. This wave was to resurface from early 90s after the collapse of the former USSR and its satellite states.
Prof Maina says the global transition to multiparty politics swept Tanzania as well to the extent that it reintroduced political pluralism in 1992 but retaining the Government machinery and constitution that made the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi to enjoy supremacy above all other institutions.
He therefore challenges that such a political legacy cannot be left to go on unchanged in the current situation. He also mentions that the fact that Zanzibar has a new constitution under the structure of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which has automatically ousted the Revolutionary Governemnt of Zanzibar which is recognized in the Union constitution.
On his part Mmbogo said that the Bill is unfriendly and could spell doom the fate of constitutional formation taking into consideration that it has been challenged almost every where when people discuss it.
Contributing to the debate the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Dr Willibrod Slaa said that due to the sensitivity of the debate public hearings could have been extended in many other parts of this country than conducting its in three stations of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Zanzibar.
This view was shared by the National Convention for Construction and Reforms (NCCR), secretary general Sam Ruhuza who said that the Bill indicates that the process will not deliver what people were expecting therefore it should be returned to the people.
END
Madini na Nishati vipi?
FEMINIST ACTIVIST COALITION
(FemAct)
C/O Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania ( TGNP) S.L.P 8921 Dar es Saalam,Tanzania, Kituo cha Jinsia, Barabara ya Mabibo Mkabala na Chuo cha Usafirishaji (NIT) Simu +255 22 2443205; 2443450; 2443286 Selula: 255 754 784 050, Fax. 2443244, Barua Pepe info@tgnp.org, Tovuti www.tgnp.org
Julai 19, 2011
TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
Wizara ya Madini na Nishati Inaaibisha Taifa na Watanzania
Sisi Muungano wa Asasi za Kiraia zinazotetea Usawa wa jinsia, haki za binadamu, maendeleo na ukombozi wa wanawake kimapinduzi (FemAct) tumepokea kwa mshtuko, mshangao na masikitika makubwa, tuhuma kuwa Katibu Mkuu, Wizara ya Madini na Nishati, ameandaa mpango mahususi wa kukusanya pesa kutoka idara na wakala walio chini ya wizara yake, kwa ajili ya kuhonga Wabunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ili wapitishe bajeti ya wizara hiyo.
Kwetu sisi wanaharakati, kitendo hiki ni ishara ya mambo makubwa zaidi yanayofanywa na baadhi ya viongozi wetu yanayosababisha kuendeleza ufukara na umaskini wa taifa letu na watu wake.
Kama tuhuma hizi ni za kweli, ni wazi kuwa mikakati mingine kama huu haikuanza mwaka huu, na hauwezi kuwa makakati wa Wizara ya Madini na Nishati pekee. Na kama hivyo ndivyo, basi Serikali ya Tanzania yote inanuka rushwa, na haina uhalali wa kuendelea kuongoza nchi, Serikali na Watanzania.
Uchambuzi yakinifu wa bajeti tunaofanya mara kwa mara sisi wanaharakati unatuonyesha jinsi gani rasilimali za taifa hili zinavyoendelea kufaidi wachache na kudumisha ufukara kwa wengi. Wanaharakati wa FemAct tunasema kwamba tatizo kubwa lisiishie kwenye kuwaadhibu waliyohusika na rushwa ya kupitisha bajeti. Tatizo ni pana zaidi na linahitaji tafakari pama ya kimfumo.
Sasa tumeamini kuwa Serikali inayoghubikwa na kuendeshwa kwa mfumo wa kuhongana miongoni mwa viongozi na watendaji wenye mamlaka ya kufanya maamuzi katika mihimili mikuu ya dola, ni Serikali ya hatari na isiyostahili kuenedelea kuwa madarakani. Serikali ya namna hii haiwezi kuwa na utashi wa kutumikia matakwa ya wananchi, isipokuwa kununuliwa na mafisadi.
Tatizo la Umeme
Tatizo la umeme sio la leo, ni suala ambalo limekuwa likipigiwa kelele kwa muda mrefu, Serikali imekosa mbinu na mikakati sahihi hadi kufikia hatua ya kutaka kubinafsisha Shirika la Ugavi wa Umeme (Tanesco). Mikataba mingi michafu imeingiwa na Serikali kwa kutumia makampuni makubwa ya nje kama IPTL, Agreco, Songas, Richmond, Dowans na Net Group Solution. Hakika mbinu chafu zisingezaa matunda mema; tatizo la kukosa umeme limeongezeka mara dufu na wakati wote huu mwananchi masikini anaendelea kuteseka licha ya kulipia gharama zote anazobebeshwa na viongozi waongo na wahongwa.
Lakini katika mazingira haya ya rushwa, utapeli na ufisadi, Serikali imekosa utashi wa kushughulikia tatizo la umeme kwa kuzingatia mipango ya muda mrefu kama Miradi ya Makaa ya Mawe, Mchuchuma , Ngaka na Kiwira, ambavyo kwa pamoja ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 1500 za nishati ya umeme ambayo inatosha kumaliza tatizo lililopo kwa takribani miaka mingi ijayo.
Inashangaza kuona taifa lenye rasilimali nyingi na miaka 50 baada ya uhuru likizalisha megawati 1034, wakati vyanzo vitatu vilivyotajwa hapo juu vingezalisha megawati 1500.
Mbali na mradi wa Mchuchuma, maporomoko ya mto Rufiji ya Stgiler’s Gorge, yana uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati zaidi ya 2,000 za umeme wa gharama nafuu. Lakini kila mwaka tunasikia kuwa mradi huu utaanza bila mafanikio matokeo yake tumeendelea kung’ang’ania kukodisha majenereta kutoka Ulaya na Marekani ambayo baada ya muda mfupi hushindwa kufanya kazi wakati mwingine kutuingiza kwenye mikataba michafu ya kifisadi.
Umeme kwajili ya nani?
FemAct tunataka kuona umeme ukiwa ni nishati muhimu kwa kila raia wa taifa hili, masikini wa kijijini na wa mjini, unaopatikana na kwa bei ambayo inaruhusu kila mwananchi anaweza kumudu gharama zake.
Ingawaje Tanzania ina utajiri mkubwa wa vyanzo vya nishati kama vile gesimoto(geothermal) nishati ya jua na upepo, pamoja na mkaa wa mawe, takribani asili mia 39% ya wakazi wa mijini na asili mia 2% ya wakazi wa vijijini wenye kufikiwa na umeme. Asilimia 10 ya kaya zote ndizo zinapata umeme kwa kupitia gridi ya taifa, na 1% tu ya kaya zote za Tanzania zinauwezo wa kutumia umeme kwa ajili ya kupikia. Wakati tukidai kwamba taifa limekumbwa na dharura kuwa gizani takribani nusu mwaka sasa, asili mia kubwa ya watanzania wako kwenye hali hii ya hatari takribani mika hamsini tangia tupate uhuru.
Iweje, miaka hamsini tangu tupate uhuru Taifa liko gizani? Iweje wazalishaji wakuu wa chakula, mazao ya biashara na walezi wa watoto wa taifa hili wawe kwenye giza kuu tangu bendera ya mkoloni kushushwa na kupandishwa kwa bendera ya Taifa huru? Iweje asili mia sabini hadi tisini ya Watanzania wamekuwa wakitegema aidha mkaa au kuni kwa ajili ya kupata nishati ya matumizi ya kaya?
Kwanini serikali itoe rushwa?
FemAct inaamini kuwa kuna sababu nyingine inayolazimisha Serikali kujaribu kutoa rushwa ili kupitisha bajeti ya Wizara ya Madini na Nishati; uwekezaji kwenye sekta ya madini na gesi asilia unatatizo kubwa.
Mfumo mzima wa mikataba, uwekezaji, usimamizi na uendeshaji wa shughuli za madini na gesi asilia hapa nchi unanuka rushwa, hakuna uwajibikaji na uwazi wake una mashaka. Watanzania hawanufaiki na madini na gesi asilia kutoka nchini mwao. Kuna migogoro mingi katika maeneo yanakochimbwa madini na gesi asilia baada ya wananchi kugundua ulaghai unaofanywa na Serikali kwa kushirikiana na wawekezaji katika migodi ya madini na visima vya gesi asilia.
Kutokana na masuala yaliyoorodheshwa hapo juu, FemAct inataka Serikali ifanye marekebisho haraka kukidhi haja ya madai yafuatayo:-
1. Katibu Mkuu,Waziri ,Naibu wake kwa pamoja na watendaji wengine waliohusika kuchangisha fedha za kuwahonga wabunge waondolewe kazini na kuchukuliwa hatua za kinidhamu na kisheria haraka. Matendo yao ni kinyume na Sheria ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Namba 11 ya mwaka 2007.
2. Tunamtaka Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania awafute kazi watendaji hao mara moja na kuwachukulia hatua za kisheria ili iwe mfano kwa wahalifu wengine waliojificha katika ajira za Serikali.
3. Katika marekebisho ya bajeti ya Wizara ya Madini na Nishati Serikali ilete mikakati sahihi ya kulimaliza tatizo la umeme nchini. Serikali itaje vyanzo mbadala vya kuaminika vya kuzalisha umeme na sio kukodisha majenereta na kujiingiza kwenye mikataba ya kifisadi.
4. Serikali ieleze hatua dhabiti inazozichukua kuhakikisha vyanzo vya umeme wa upepo, nguvu ya jua,makaa ya mawe,maporomoko ya mto Rufiji, yanatumika ipasavyo kuzalisha umeme badala ya kuingia mikataba na makampuni ya kitapeli na kutegemea umeme wa mvua.
5. Kamati ya kudumu ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini ieleze sababu za kushindwa kugundua mapungufu katika bajeti hiyo mapema na kuirudisha serikalini badala ya kupoteza muda wa umma.
6. Serikali ielekeze nguvu ya kufikisha umeme kwa wananchi wa vijijini na kwa bei rahisi ili kuongeza tija katika uzalishaji hasa kupitia kilimo na kuongeza ari ya kuanizishwa kwa viwanda vya kusindika mazao vijijini.
7. Serikali iwe wazi katika shughuli zake zote, hususan, mikataba ya madini, kufua umeme na kuzidua gesi asilia.
8. Serikali iunde tume huru kuchunguza mauaji ya hivi karibuni huko Nyamongo Mara na hii itamkwe ndani ya bajeti kwamba serikali itawalinda wananchi wake waishio jirani na migodi kwa mali zao na usalama wao. Vile vile serikali itoe tamko hatima ya mgodi wa Buhemba.
9. Serikali iweke wazi mikataba yote ya madini iliyopo ili kutoa fursa kwa umma kudadisi ikiwa ina maslahi kwa taifa. Zoezi la kuweka mikataba yote ya madini hadharani ni muhimu sana kuliko kuendelea kuvutia wawekezaji wapya katika sekta za nishati na madini ambazo zimeghubikwa na kashfa za ufisadi na uzembe.
Imetolewa Dar es salaam na:
Usu Mallya
Kny Sekretarieti ya Femact
(FemAct)
C/O Mtandao wa Jinsia Tanzania ( TGNP) S.L.P 8921 Dar es Saalam,Tanzania, Kituo cha Jinsia, Barabara ya Mabibo Mkabala na Chuo cha Usafirishaji (NIT) Simu +255 22 2443205; 2443450; 2443286 Selula: 255 754 784 050, Fax. 2443244, Barua Pepe info@tgnp.org, Tovuti www.tgnp.org
Julai 19, 2011
TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI
Wizara ya Madini na Nishati Inaaibisha Taifa na Watanzania
Sisi Muungano wa Asasi za Kiraia zinazotetea Usawa wa jinsia, haki za binadamu, maendeleo na ukombozi wa wanawake kimapinduzi (FemAct) tumepokea kwa mshtuko, mshangao na masikitika makubwa, tuhuma kuwa Katibu Mkuu, Wizara ya Madini na Nishati, ameandaa mpango mahususi wa kukusanya pesa kutoka idara na wakala walio chini ya wizara yake, kwa ajili ya kuhonga Wabunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ili wapitishe bajeti ya wizara hiyo.
Kwetu sisi wanaharakati, kitendo hiki ni ishara ya mambo makubwa zaidi yanayofanywa na baadhi ya viongozi wetu yanayosababisha kuendeleza ufukara na umaskini wa taifa letu na watu wake.
Kama tuhuma hizi ni za kweli, ni wazi kuwa mikakati mingine kama huu haikuanza mwaka huu, na hauwezi kuwa makakati wa Wizara ya Madini na Nishati pekee. Na kama hivyo ndivyo, basi Serikali ya Tanzania yote inanuka rushwa, na haina uhalali wa kuendelea kuongoza nchi, Serikali na Watanzania.
Uchambuzi yakinifu wa bajeti tunaofanya mara kwa mara sisi wanaharakati unatuonyesha jinsi gani rasilimali za taifa hili zinavyoendelea kufaidi wachache na kudumisha ufukara kwa wengi. Wanaharakati wa FemAct tunasema kwamba tatizo kubwa lisiishie kwenye kuwaadhibu waliyohusika na rushwa ya kupitisha bajeti. Tatizo ni pana zaidi na linahitaji tafakari pama ya kimfumo.
Sasa tumeamini kuwa Serikali inayoghubikwa na kuendeshwa kwa mfumo wa kuhongana miongoni mwa viongozi na watendaji wenye mamlaka ya kufanya maamuzi katika mihimili mikuu ya dola, ni Serikali ya hatari na isiyostahili kuenedelea kuwa madarakani. Serikali ya namna hii haiwezi kuwa na utashi wa kutumikia matakwa ya wananchi, isipokuwa kununuliwa na mafisadi.
Tatizo la Umeme
Tatizo la umeme sio la leo, ni suala ambalo limekuwa likipigiwa kelele kwa muda mrefu, Serikali imekosa mbinu na mikakati sahihi hadi kufikia hatua ya kutaka kubinafsisha Shirika la Ugavi wa Umeme (Tanesco). Mikataba mingi michafu imeingiwa na Serikali kwa kutumia makampuni makubwa ya nje kama IPTL, Agreco, Songas, Richmond, Dowans na Net Group Solution. Hakika mbinu chafu zisingezaa matunda mema; tatizo la kukosa umeme limeongezeka mara dufu na wakati wote huu mwananchi masikini anaendelea kuteseka licha ya kulipia gharama zote anazobebeshwa na viongozi waongo na wahongwa.
Lakini katika mazingira haya ya rushwa, utapeli na ufisadi, Serikali imekosa utashi wa kushughulikia tatizo la umeme kwa kuzingatia mipango ya muda mrefu kama Miradi ya Makaa ya Mawe, Mchuchuma , Ngaka na Kiwira, ambavyo kwa pamoja ina uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati 1500 za nishati ya umeme ambayo inatosha kumaliza tatizo lililopo kwa takribani miaka mingi ijayo.
Inashangaza kuona taifa lenye rasilimali nyingi na miaka 50 baada ya uhuru likizalisha megawati 1034, wakati vyanzo vitatu vilivyotajwa hapo juu vingezalisha megawati 1500.
Mbali na mradi wa Mchuchuma, maporomoko ya mto Rufiji ya Stgiler’s Gorge, yana uwezo wa kuzalisha megawati zaidi ya 2,000 za umeme wa gharama nafuu. Lakini kila mwaka tunasikia kuwa mradi huu utaanza bila mafanikio matokeo yake tumeendelea kung’ang’ania kukodisha majenereta kutoka Ulaya na Marekani ambayo baada ya muda mfupi hushindwa kufanya kazi wakati mwingine kutuingiza kwenye mikataba michafu ya kifisadi.
Umeme kwajili ya nani?
FemAct tunataka kuona umeme ukiwa ni nishati muhimu kwa kila raia wa taifa hili, masikini wa kijijini na wa mjini, unaopatikana na kwa bei ambayo inaruhusu kila mwananchi anaweza kumudu gharama zake.
Ingawaje Tanzania ina utajiri mkubwa wa vyanzo vya nishati kama vile gesimoto(geothermal) nishati ya jua na upepo, pamoja na mkaa wa mawe, takribani asili mia 39% ya wakazi wa mijini na asili mia 2% ya wakazi wa vijijini wenye kufikiwa na umeme. Asilimia 10 ya kaya zote ndizo zinapata umeme kwa kupitia gridi ya taifa, na 1% tu ya kaya zote za Tanzania zinauwezo wa kutumia umeme kwa ajili ya kupikia. Wakati tukidai kwamba taifa limekumbwa na dharura kuwa gizani takribani nusu mwaka sasa, asili mia kubwa ya watanzania wako kwenye hali hii ya hatari takribani mika hamsini tangia tupate uhuru.
Iweje, miaka hamsini tangu tupate uhuru Taifa liko gizani? Iweje wazalishaji wakuu wa chakula, mazao ya biashara na walezi wa watoto wa taifa hili wawe kwenye giza kuu tangu bendera ya mkoloni kushushwa na kupandishwa kwa bendera ya Taifa huru? Iweje asili mia sabini hadi tisini ya Watanzania wamekuwa wakitegema aidha mkaa au kuni kwa ajili ya kupata nishati ya matumizi ya kaya?
Kwanini serikali itoe rushwa?
FemAct inaamini kuwa kuna sababu nyingine inayolazimisha Serikali kujaribu kutoa rushwa ili kupitisha bajeti ya Wizara ya Madini na Nishati; uwekezaji kwenye sekta ya madini na gesi asilia unatatizo kubwa.
Mfumo mzima wa mikataba, uwekezaji, usimamizi na uendeshaji wa shughuli za madini na gesi asilia hapa nchi unanuka rushwa, hakuna uwajibikaji na uwazi wake una mashaka. Watanzania hawanufaiki na madini na gesi asilia kutoka nchini mwao. Kuna migogoro mingi katika maeneo yanakochimbwa madini na gesi asilia baada ya wananchi kugundua ulaghai unaofanywa na Serikali kwa kushirikiana na wawekezaji katika migodi ya madini na visima vya gesi asilia.
Kutokana na masuala yaliyoorodheshwa hapo juu, FemAct inataka Serikali ifanye marekebisho haraka kukidhi haja ya madai yafuatayo:-
1. Katibu Mkuu,Waziri ,Naibu wake kwa pamoja na watendaji wengine waliohusika kuchangisha fedha za kuwahonga wabunge waondolewe kazini na kuchukuliwa hatua za kinidhamu na kisheria haraka. Matendo yao ni kinyume na Sheria ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa Namba 11 ya mwaka 2007.
2. Tunamtaka Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania awafute kazi watendaji hao mara moja na kuwachukulia hatua za kisheria ili iwe mfano kwa wahalifu wengine waliojificha katika ajira za Serikali.
3. Katika marekebisho ya bajeti ya Wizara ya Madini na Nishati Serikali ilete mikakati sahihi ya kulimaliza tatizo la umeme nchini. Serikali itaje vyanzo mbadala vya kuaminika vya kuzalisha umeme na sio kukodisha majenereta na kujiingiza kwenye mikataba ya kifisadi.
4. Serikali ieleze hatua dhabiti inazozichukua kuhakikisha vyanzo vya umeme wa upepo, nguvu ya jua,makaa ya mawe,maporomoko ya mto Rufiji, yanatumika ipasavyo kuzalisha umeme badala ya kuingia mikataba na makampuni ya kitapeli na kutegemea umeme wa mvua.
5. Kamati ya kudumu ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini ieleze sababu za kushindwa kugundua mapungufu katika bajeti hiyo mapema na kuirudisha serikalini badala ya kupoteza muda wa umma.
6. Serikali ielekeze nguvu ya kufikisha umeme kwa wananchi wa vijijini na kwa bei rahisi ili kuongeza tija katika uzalishaji hasa kupitia kilimo na kuongeza ari ya kuanizishwa kwa viwanda vya kusindika mazao vijijini.
7. Serikali iwe wazi katika shughuli zake zote, hususan, mikataba ya madini, kufua umeme na kuzidua gesi asilia.
8. Serikali iunde tume huru kuchunguza mauaji ya hivi karibuni huko Nyamongo Mara na hii itamkwe ndani ya bajeti kwamba serikali itawalinda wananchi wake waishio jirani na migodi kwa mali zao na usalama wao. Vile vile serikali itoe tamko hatima ya mgodi wa Buhemba.
9. Serikali iweke wazi mikataba yote ya madini iliyopo ili kutoa fursa kwa umma kudadisi ikiwa ina maslahi kwa taifa. Zoezi la kuweka mikataba yote ya madini hadharani ni muhimu sana kuliko kuendelea kuvutia wawekezaji wapya katika sekta za nishati na madini ambazo zimeghubikwa na kashfa za ufisadi na uzembe.
Imetolewa Dar es salaam na:
Usu Mallya
Kny Sekretarieti ya Femact
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Gender parity must be insisted in institutions
July 2011
By Elias Mhegera
THE next month of August promises to be one of the most eventful months on the gender calendar in the Southern African zone.
According to the press communiqué that has been circulated by the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance there will many celebrations while at the same time this will be a women's month that will involve many activities ahead of the SADC Heads of State Summit scheduled for 17 August in Luanda.
The Alliance will take the occasion to launch the 2011 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, the third edition in an annual series of publication. The SADC Council of NGOs will also be hosting a 7th Civil Society Forum from 8-9 August in Johannesburg, with a smaller caucus meeting in Angola on 13 August, with an open invitation to all members of civil society across the region.
The same month of August will also see the exciting re-launch of the 50/50 Campaign to promote women in decision-making and a Gender and Governance cluster meeting in Harare from 4 -5 August.
The occasion will put together representatives of the NGOs and CSOs that have been championing for the Maputo protocol that call for a 50/50 promotion of women in the governing systems throughout the zone.
The Lesotho Alliance Network will host a similar event on 3 August in Maseru. Following these events, an Alliance meeting will be held from 10-11 August in Johannesburg
to draw up strategies for organizing and mobilizing at country level and for further strengthening Alliance institutional mechanisms.
An the same time the Alliance delegation will head to Angola, together with a group of Portuguese-speaking journalists from Mozambique who will be trained on reporting based on the economic provisions of the SADC Gender Protocol.
The busy month for women activists in the region has been arranged as a special period where women can soldier on promoting gender equality and equity in the SADC. The whole of June and July months period has utilized for a fair share of footwork by Alliance gender activists.
Many Alliance country networks held reference group meetings to review inputs into the 2011 Gender Protocol Barometer and others used the opportunity to regroup. The preparation occasion has appointed Angola, to serve as an Alliance network country focal point when the Platforma da Mulheres Accao (PMA), was elected at a roundtable meeting on 5 July 2011.
Among the key objectives of the meeting are to assess progress on implementing the 28 targets of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development within the three years since its adoption using the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer as a monitoring and evaluation tool.
Moreover this will be used as an occasion to further strengthen the Alliance’s institutional mechanisms with more emphasis on new theme clusters – Faith Based Organisations and the Men’s Sector.
The occasion will as well convene an Alliance Gender and Governance cluster meeting and use the opportunity re-launch and develop a strategy for the 50/50 women in decision making as a regional cross cutting campaign.
By Elias Mhegera
THE next month of August promises to be one of the most eventful months on the gender calendar in the Southern African zone.
According to the press communiqué that has been circulated by the Southern African Gender Protocol Alliance there will many celebrations while at the same time this will be a women's month that will involve many activities ahead of the SADC Heads of State Summit scheduled for 17 August in Luanda.
The Alliance will take the occasion to launch the 2011 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, the third edition in an annual series of publication. The SADC Council of NGOs will also be hosting a 7th Civil Society Forum from 8-9 August in Johannesburg, with a smaller caucus meeting in Angola on 13 August, with an open invitation to all members of civil society across the region.
The same month of August will also see the exciting re-launch of the 50/50 Campaign to promote women in decision-making and a Gender and Governance cluster meeting in Harare from 4 -5 August.
The occasion will put together representatives of the NGOs and CSOs that have been championing for the Maputo protocol that call for a 50/50 promotion of women in the governing systems throughout the zone.
The Lesotho Alliance Network will host a similar event on 3 August in Maseru. Following these events, an Alliance meeting will be held from 10-11 August in Johannesburg
to draw up strategies for organizing and mobilizing at country level and for further strengthening Alliance institutional mechanisms.
An the same time the Alliance delegation will head to Angola, together with a group of Portuguese-speaking journalists from Mozambique who will be trained on reporting based on the economic provisions of the SADC Gender Protocol.
The busy month for women activists in the region has been arranged as a special period where women can soldier on promoting gender equality and equity in the SADC. The whole of June and July months period has utilized for a fair share of footwork by Alliance gender activists.
Many Alliance country networks held reference group meetings to review inputs into the 2011 Gender Protocol Barometer and others used the opportunity to regroup. The preparation occasion has appointed Angola, to serve as an Alliance network country focal point when the Platforma da Mulheres Accao (PMA), was elected at a roundtable meeting on 5 July 2011.
Among the key objectives of the meeting are to assess progress on implementing the 28 targets of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development within the three years since its adoption using the SADC Gender Protocol Barometer as a monitoring and evaluation tool.
Moreover this will be used as an occasion to further strengthen the Alliance’s institutional mechanisms with more emphasis on new theme clusters – Faith Based Organisations and the Men’s Sector.
The occasion will as well convene an Alliance Gender and Governance cluster meeting and use the opportunity re-launch and develop a strategy for the 50/50 women in decision making as a regional cross cutting campaign.
Distance learning still vital
By Elias Mhegera
August 2011
ZANZIBAR’S President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein, has counseled African countries to see the importance of upholding distance learning being an essential strategy in their development initiatives.
In his closing speech to the third conference of the African Council for Distance Education at the Mlimani City Hall in Dar es Salaam that was read by the Zanzibar’s First Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad on his behalf, on Friday last week, Dr Shein said that African intellectuals and students have a vital role to play in this aspect of development.
“In meeting the challenges of scarcity of funds for the education sector distance learning could be one of the possible ways to fill this gap, but Governments must be pushed in this initiative through a supportive budget” said Dr Shein.
He said that education was the only method to ensure that African people undergo transformation and this could be made possible only if more people are empowered to acquire education.
He gave an example of Malaysia, China and India whose transformations were a product of a long-term investment in the education sector. In a similar bid Dr Shein urged this country to make maximum utility of Information Technology (IT) in order to fulfill this obligation.
He acknowledged the fact that African countries are faced with enormous challenges to the extent that they fail to set priorities as to what should be given more impetus.
He advised African countries to identify to their partners development partners their priorities rather than allow these donors to select what should be a priority to the African continent.
In a separate encounter Seif Sharif Hamad who has been an icon of Tanzanian politics for the past three decades said that Tanzanians are waiting eagerly to see how President Kikwete will react following Igunga’s MP Rostam Aziz resignation from his party posts and as a legislator.
He highlighted that since it was the President himself who had called for self responsibility by resignation to some politicians who had fallen out of the political system, it was imperative for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chairman to give an official statement after Azizi’s resignation.
However he admitted that being an outsider in the CCM party politics he was being subjected to mere speculations just like any other Tanzanian but he was hopeful that any major transformation in the ruling party will work for the betterment of the lives of people.
“I am an outside let us wait and see what will be the final result of these events,” he clarified. He did not hesitate to comment on the on-going commotions in the august House by saying that people were expecting prudence on whatever was being discussed for the benefit of all Tanzanians.
He was worried that recent trends indicate that the Parliament has been reduced into an avenue of exchanging heated speeches as if there were no laws and rules guiding its proceedings. He reminded people’s representative to adhere to ethics surrounding their calling of service to the people.
August 2011
ZANZIBAR’S President Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein, has counseled African countries to see the importance of upholding distance learning being an essential strategy in their development initiatives.
In his closing speech to the third conference of the African Council for Distance Education at the Mlimani City Hall in Dar es Salaam that was read by the Zanzibar’s First Vice President Seif Sharif Hamad on his behalf, on Friday last week, Dr Shein said that African intellectuals and students have a vital role to play in this aspect of development.
“In meeting the challenges of scarcity of funds for the education sector distance learning could be one of the possible ways to fill this gap, but Governments must be pushed in this initiative through a supportive budget” said Dr Shein.
He said that education was the only method to ensure that African people undergo transformation and this could be made possible only if more people are empowered to acquire education.
He gave an example of Malaysia, China and India whose transformations were a product of a long-term investment in the education sector. In a similar bid Dr Shein urged this country to make maximum utility of Information Technology (IT) in order to fulfill this obligation.
He acknowledged the fact that African countries are faced with enormous challenges to the extent that they fail to set priorities as to what should be given more impetus.
He advised African countries to identify to their partners development partners their priorities rather than allow these donors to select what should be a priority to the African continent.
In a separate encounter Seif Sharif Hamad who has been an icon of Tanzanian politics for the past three decades said that Tanzanians are waiting eagerly to see how President Kikwete will react following Igunga’s MP Rostam Aziz resignation from his party posts and as a legislator.
He highlighted that since it was the President himself who had called for self responsibility by resignation to some politicians who had fallen out of the political system, it was imperative for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chairman to give an official statement after Azizi’s resignation.
However he admitted that being an outsider in the CCM party politics he was being subjected to mere speculations just like any other Tanzanian but he was hopeful that any major transformation in the ruling party will work for the betterment of the lives of people.
“I am an outside let us wait and see what will be the final result of these events,” he clarified. He did not hesitate to comment on the on-going commotions in the august House by saying that people were expecting prudence on whatever was being discussed for the benefit of all Tanzanians.
He was worried that recent trends indicate that the Parliament has been reduced into an avenue of exchanging heated speeches as if there were no laws and rules guiding its proceedings. He reminded people’s representative to adhere to ethics surrounding their calling of service to the people.
Food fortification a healthy necessity
Elias Mhegera
May 2011
TANZANIANS from all walk of lives have been reminded once again to share knowledge on food fortification in order to avoid micronutrient deficiencies.
The call came from a one day seminar that was organized by the World Bank in Tanzania which brought together experts from nutritionists, medical doctors to journalists in order to discuss better ways of disseminating education on food fortification.
Researches have so far revealed that lack of staple food fortification costs Tanzania more than 650bn/- each year. It was under such circumstances that experts sought for shared information on food fortification which is an intentional addition of vitamins and minerals to staple foods.
It was observed that although cases of goiter which were once very much pronounced in this country have been reduced to large extent but there are still many cases of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of micronutrient deficiencies.
The mentioned cases manifest themselves in many forms whereby some children are born with big heads, open spinal cords and a good number of them with very much reduced intelligence quotient and in extreme cases they die at tender ages.
Dr Othman Kiloloma, a Neurosurgeon from Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) narrated that the whole exercise of treating victims of micronutrient deficiencies is not only expensive but their operations are very tricky and delicate.
“About 600 victims of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of such deficiencies are admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital for operations each year, we better see now how prevention is better than cure,” he elaborated.
He called for expectant mothers to develop a culture of well preparedness by consuming foodstuffs which are rich in irons folic acid and other nutrients that are protective to bodies. To this effect he called all knowledgeable people of this country to share this knowledge with their family members.
Dr Kiloloma spoke at length on Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), saying that this is a mal-development in a fetus/ embryo with resultant anomalies in the brain and spinal cord and their surrounding structures he emphasized that although it all starts with malnutrition but the consequences are very devastating.
On prevalence of the problem he said that so far it is Worldwide-2 per 1000 live births. However such incidences are low in countries with p folic acid treatment to mothers during and before pregnancy.
In Tanzania the rate is 3.02 per 1000 live births according to Kinasha et al, 2002; The incidence and pattern of neural tube defects is more pronounced in Dar es Salaam and other nearby regions like Morogoro and Coast region, but he admits that this might be caused by the fact that such cases can easily be reported to hospitals because the costs are comparatively low.
The specialist acknowledges that some people in the hinterland might fail to report such cases because of beliefs in witchcraft, and for the fact that it is costly to come to the hospital and stay for many days while attending their patients.
He remarks that due to such deficiencies cerebral palsy is inevitable. To this extent the MOI hydrocephalus series receives patients from all over this country while the main mode of treatment is known technically as VP shunt.
He moreover clarifies that sporadically another kind of treatment known as ETV has been performed. Soon MOI will fully embark on ETV as the first line treatment for hydrocephalus. He appreciates the contribution of Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a partner in the treatment of NTDs at MOI. From the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) was an expert in nutrition Celestine Mgoba who said that it is estimated that until the country officially introduces the technology to have its foods fortified, it will continue losing about 150bn/- each year in decreased productivity caused by vitamins and mineral deficiencies.
The expert said that lack of knowledge in that area has caused severe problems whereby the average diet in many families is monotonous, deficient and poor in essential micronutrients.
Mgoba warns that the effects of the micronutrient deficiencies that occur in childhood are many and they can manifest themselves even more seriously at adulthood of the affected. He also gave an example of how iron deficiency in adults decreases work productivity by up to 17 per cent while the IQ of the victim is also affected.
Briefing of the developments in the field of nutrition and food fortification was the World Bank Tanzania Nutrition Specialist Ms Janneke Jorgensen who called for the Governments support for small industries in terms of technical support and tax exemptions so that they can manage the fortification costs.
Recent studies have proven that nutrients can reduce tumor-related pain in 65 percent of cancer patients while also they can more than double survival time in patients with inoperable lung cancer.
May 2011
TANZANIANS from all walk of lives have been reminded once again to share knowledge on food fortification in order to avoid micronutrient deficiencies.
The call came from a one day seminar that was organized by the World Bank in Tanzania which brought together experts from nutritionists, medical doctors to journalists in order to discuss better ways of disseminating education on food fortification.
Researches have so far revealed that lack of staple food fortification costs Tanzania more than 650bn/- each year. It was under such circumstances that experts sought for shared information on food fortification which is an intentional addition of vitamins and minerals to staple foods.
It was observed that although cases of goiter which were once very much pronounced in this country have been reduced to large extent but there are still many cases of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of micronutrient deficiencies.
The mentioned cases manifest themselves in many forms whereby some children are born with big heads, open spinal cords and a good number of them with very much reduced intelligence quotient and in extreme cases they die at tender ages.
Dr Othman Kiloloma, a Neurosurgeon from Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) narrated that the whole exercise of treating victims of micronutrient deficiencies is not only expensive but their operations are very tricky and delicate.
“About 600 victims of 'sipina bifida' and Hydrocephalus which are a result of such deficiencies are admitted at the Muhimbili National Hospital for operations each year, we better see now how prevention is better than cure,” he elaborated.
He called for expectant mothers to develop a culture of well preparedness by consuming foodstuffs which are rich in irons folic acid and other nutrients that are protective to bodies. To this effect he called all knowledgeable people of this country to share this knowledge with their family members.
Dr Kiloloma spoke at length on Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), saying that this is a mal-development in a fetus/ embryo with resultant anomalies in the brain and spinal cord and their surrounding structures he emphasized that although it all starts with malnutrition but the consequences are very devastating.
On prevalence of the problem he said that so far it is Worldwide-2 per 1000 live births. However such incidences are low in countries with p folic acid treatment to mothers during and before pregnancy.
In Tanzania the rate is 3.02 per 1000 live births according to Kinasha et al, 2002; The incidence and pattern of neural tube defects is more pronounced in Dar es Salaam and other nearby regions like Morogoro and Coast region, but he admits that this might be caused by the fact that such cases can easily be reported to hospitals because the costs are comparatively low.
The specialist acknowledges that some people in the hinterland might fail to report such cases because of beliefs in witchcraft, and for the fact that it is costly to come to the hospital and stay for many days while attending their patients.
He remarks that due to such deficiencies cerebral palsy is inevitable. To this extent the MOI hydrocephalus series receives patients from all over this country while the main mode of treatment is known technically as VP shunt.
He moreover clarifies that sporadically another kind of treatment known as ETV has been performed. Soon MOI will fully embark on ETV as the first line treatment for hydrocephalus. He appreciates the contribution of Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a partner in the treatment of NTDs at MOI. From the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC) was an expert in nutrition Celestine Mgoba who said that it is estimated that until the country officially introduces the technology to have its foods fortified, it will continue losing about 150bn/- each year in decreased productivity caused by vitamins and mineral deficiencies.
The expert said that lack of knowledge in that area has caused severe problems whereby the average diet in many families is monotonous, deficient and poor in essential micronutrients.
Mgoba warns that the effects of the micronutrient deficiencies that occur in childhood are many and they can manifest themselves even more seriously at adulthood of the affected. He also gave an example of how iron deficiency in adults decreases work productivity by up to 17 per cent while the IQ of the victim is also affected.
Briefing of the developments in the field of nutrition and food fortification was the World Bank Tanzania Nutrition Specialist Ms Janneke Jorgensen who called for the Governments support for small industries in terms of technical support and tax exemptions so that they can manage the fortification costs.
Recent studies have proven that nutrients can reduce tumor-related pain in 65 percent of cancer patients while also they can more than double survival time in patients with inoperable lung cancer.
Tanzania: power crisis=political confusion
By Elias Mhegera
August 2011
WITH the already ailing economy, the power crisis has just come to add more confusion and illusions both to the big industrialists and the small entrepreneurs alike.
On Friday last week it was the Chief Executive Officers Round Table of Tanzania coming with their version of what should be done in order to solve the unending blackouts.
On Sunday the media had it that the electrical engineering department of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), has come up with a tangible proposal on power rationing, two days later on Tuesday it was the assurance from the Government that the rationing will be over soon.
Mufuruki counseled the Government to find alternative energy as a permanent panacea to the power crisis which has seen politicians falling one after another due to their failure to handle it properly as it was for the former Premier Edward Lowassa, Ministers Dr Ibrahim Msabaha and Nazir Karamagi.
“With a power generation mix of 54 percent hydro, 34 percent natural gas and 11 percent fossil fuel, the nation finds itself in very precarious situations now that the hydro power generators have been hit hard by falling rains and our power plants are operating significantly below capacity,” he warns.
In 2005 immediately when he assumed duties as Premier Lowassa came up with a proposal of the artificial rain from Malaysia, soon there cries from the environmentalists on the effects of such rains to the environment soon the idea was quashed.
His turn to generators cost him his post after it was argued that he was an accomplice in the Richmond scandal which now is history to all Tanzanians. Currently it is the top officials in the ministry if energy who will have to be investigated for an attempt to bribe MPs whether it is on power or mineral issues no one understands.
Economists like Dr Bohela Lunogelo, scientists and other researchers have already warned of the dangers of famine and land grabbing of this nation was to turn to bio-fuels as an alternative source of energy.
So the energy crisis has turned out to be the core of politics of the day. No wonder recently a senior official with the Civic United Front (CUF) Julius Mtatiro was quoted as telling journalists during the press conference on Sunday last week that Minister Ngeleja must resign from his post for a failure to get rid of the unending power rationing.
But who exactly will solve the power crisis in Tanzania? speaking to journalists on Friday last week the CEOrt chairman Ali Mfuruki said that there are devastating effects caused by the on going power crisis on the social economic health in this country but the Government has not done enough to involve the private sector in finding a lasting solution.
“A national disaster calls for a declaration of a state of emergency complete with strategic intervention measures such as emergency tax and emergency spending laws designed to enable the Government and other stakeholders to effectively tackle this crisis,” he expounded.
He was saddened by the fact that the Government’s 2011/12 budget that was passed recently did not take seriously into consideration strategies that will help in dealing with the power crisis.
He was skeptical of a series of statements from the Government through the minister due to the fact that all the projects that are aspired by the Government are expensive.
“All the four new power plants announced by the honourable minister (240 MW at Kinyerezi, 230 MW at Somanga Fungu, 300 MW at Mnazi bay and 300MW at Kiwira coal) are expected to come onshore two to three years from now and that is assuming that the Government can marshal the USD 1.5-2 billions needed to finance these projects, “he warned.
Another high flying official from the CEOrt Yogesh Manek warned that the continuing power woes in this country are forcing industrialists to lay off workers a fact that is a hindrance to the poverty reduction efforts.
“It is our hope that the Governemnt will heed our call in the spirit of partnership and collaboration,” concludes the CEOrt plea. Indeed these calls in their totality reflect the fact that power politics might take a dominant role for quite sometime.
August 2011
WITH the already ailing economy, the power crisis has just come to add more confusion and illusions both to the big industrialists and the small entrepreneurs alike.
On Friday last week it was the Chief Executive Officers Round Table of Tanzania coming with their version of what should be done in order to solve the unending blackouts.
On Sunday the media had it that the electrical engineering department of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), has come up with a tangible proposal on power rationing, two days later on Tuesday it was the assurance from the Government that the rationing will be over soon.
Mufuruki counseled the Government to find alternative energy as a permanent panacea to the power crisis which has seen politicians falling one after another due to their failure to handle it properly as it was for the former Premier Edward Lowassa, Ministers Dr Ibrahim Msabaha and Nazir Karamagi.
“With a power generation mix of 54 percent hydro, 34 percent natural gas and 11 percent fossil fuel, the nation finds itself in very precarious situations now that the hydro power generators have been hit hard by falling rains and our power plants are operating significantly below capacity,” he warns.
In 2005 immediately when he assumed duties as Premier Lowassa came up with a proposal of the artificial rain from Malaysia, soon there cries from the environmentalists on the effects of such rains to the environment soon the idea was quashed.
His turn to generators cost him his post after it was argued that he was an accomplice in the Richmond scandal which now is history to all Tanzanians. Currently it is the top officials in the ministry if energy who will have to be investigated for an attempt to bribe MPs whether it is on power or mineral issues no one understands.
Economists like Dr Bohela Lunogelo, scientists and other researchers have already warned of the dangers of famine and land grabbing of this nation was to turn to bio-fuels as an alternative source of energy.
So the energy crisis has turned out to be the core of politics of the day. No wonder recently a senior official with the Civic United Front (CUF) Julius Mtatiro was quoted as telling journalists during the press conference on Sunday last week that Minister Ngeleja must resign from his post for a failure to get rid of the unending power rationing.
But who exactly will solve the power crisis in Tanzania? speaking to journalists on Friday last week the CEOrt chairman Ali Mfuruki said that there are devastating effects caused by the on going power crisis on the social economic health in this country but the Government has not done enough to involve the private sector in finding a lasting solution.
“A national disaster calls for a declaration of a state of emergency complete with strategic intervention measures such as emergency tax and emergency spending laws designed to enable the Government and other stakeholders to effectively tackle this crisis,” he expounded.
He was saddened by the fact that the Government’s 2011/12 budget that was passed recently did not take seriously into consideration strategies that will help in dealing with the power crisis.
He was skeptical of a series of statements from the Government through the minister due to the fact that all the projects that are aspired by the Government are expensive.
“All the four new power plants announced by the honourable minister (240 MW at Kinyerezi, 230 MW at Somanga Fungu, 300 MW at Mnazi bay and 300MW at Kiwira coal) are expected to come onshore two to three years from now and that is assuming that the Government can marshal the USD 1.5-2 billions needed to finance these projects, “he warned.
Another high flying official from the CEOrt Yogesh Manek warned that the continuing power woes in this country are forcing industrialists to lay off workers a fact that is a hindrance to the poverty reduction efforts.
“It is our hope that the Governemnt will heed our call in the spirit of partnership and collaboration,” concludes the CEOrt plea. Indeed these calls in their totality reflect the fact that power politics might take a dominant role for quite sometime.
MBEYA: SPECIAL REPORT: health sector
By Elias Mhegera
May 2010
Provision of Quality Medical Services
MBEYA referral hospital could be one of the best of its category countrywide in terms of quick delivery of service and high morale of its staff, according to its director, Dr Eleuter Samky.
Responding to this journalist during the survey which was sponsored by HakiElimu, Dr Samky said that there has been no complains of any kind from either patients or their relatives in recent times.
“Given the circumstances I can proudly say that our hospital ranks quite high in the hospitals of our calibre, we lack resources, specialized engineers and other human resources but still our spirits are quite high” he confirmed.
He attributed this fact to the total commitment of workers who knows that their shortage should not affect their patients anyhow. He was supported by the hospital’s secretary, Ms Aisha Mtanda.
So far the hospital caters for four regions namely; Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma. The trend of referred cases is increasing which signifies that patients are satisfied by services at the hospital.
A tour in some wards under the escort of Ms Mtanda indicated that the hospital is well equipped with modern type of equipment in its laboratory, operation rooms, and other appliances for medical examination.
There was also an opportunity to hear from the ‘horse’s mouth’ as this would cement the report from the workers themselves and their patients. The report was encouraging with various differences. Some relatives complained that they cannot afford to live in the city while attending their relatives at hospitals including the referral hospital.
There was no sharing of beds, nor was any patient found sleeping on the floor as it has been frequently reported in other referral hospitals. A whole day survey indicated that there is big number of patients in the morning but they are all well attended before noon.
The basic services that are provided at the hospital according to Dr Samky are X-ray, provision of basic medicine for emergency cases and quick intervention whenever the need arises.
The charges are comparatively low with flat rates ranging from 10 to 15 shillings depending on the services that are provided. Ms Mtanda on her part encourages fresh graduates to make themselves available for services throughout the country and not cling to Dar es Salaam as is the trend now.
“I grew up in Dar es Salaam but I don’t see any difficulty working here in Mbeya, it is just the matter of switching the attitude towards this line of thinking” she disclosed.
Overcoming the Challenges
On the side of challenges Dr Samky admits that they fall within the country’s social economic framework. There is a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses to man the hospital of its size.
Similarly there are shortages in other supporting staff for the health sector. Resources are scarce given the fact that a good number of those who are attended at the hospital come from low income families.
However, all these problems are overcome due to well organization and management of the available staff and resources. The government in this aspect has been very supportive according to its resource capacity.
Comments from Mbeya Residents
From Hassan Mbarazi a madrasa teacher he lauded the government on its continued support of the health sector, but he called for the need to inject more funds in the health sector saying that there are shortcomings that must be met.
He challenged the government to divert funds from other sectors that have proved failure to the health sector because it is directly related with lives of people. For instance he counseled that funds which have been misappropriated must be recaptured and be redirected to the health sector.
A Mbeya based journalist Christopher Nyenyembe said that there are quite improvements in the health sector in Mbeya. These to a certain extent have been facilitated by other factors like improvement in infrastructure and water supply which is so vital for hospital purposes.
However Nyenyembe precaution that in order to improve services in Mbeya there must be a balanced provision of services from grass root level particularly in the rural settings where a good number of Tanzanians dwell.
He challenged the system whereby all basic resources and social services amenities are concentrated in the urban centres. Therefore he warns that with the neglect of the rural areas there ultimate result is the high rural-urban migration whereby Mbeya city has not escaped this trend.
Rose Mwakingwe a nurse at Ilemi Hospital in one of the Mbeya suburbs says that the health sector has been hit hard by the global financial crunch in so many ways. For instance civil servants cannot afford the fast rocketing prices which means they have to look for other sources of incomes in order to support their families.
Mwakingwe said she had to revitalize her spirit of tolerance in difficulties due to the fact that she must tackle her duties in the hospital regardless of the fact that she is leading a difficult life caused by inflation and unmet workers demands.
A city based councilor from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi who preferred anonymity commented that the health sector in Mbeya has remained stable almost throughout all the four phases. He however noted that the recent speech by President Jakaya Kikwete against the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) could demoralize workers.
A highly placed source within the Mbeya Regional Medical office admitted that congestion of patients is always a common phenomenon at the regional hospital due to the shortage of doctors, nurses and other supporting staffs.
He hinted that the recent general inspection was not satisfactory to the extent that inspectors had threatened to close the hospital for sometime until when the situation was improved. He called for the central government to inject more funds in the health sector in order to rescue the situation.
The Mbeya regional hospital is the mainstay of many patients in the fast growing city of Mbeya due to the fact that it caters for other neighbouring regions and for non Tannins who frequently use Mbeya borders on their travels to and from Dar es Salaam.
May 2010
Provision of Quality Medical Services
MBEYA referral hospital could be one of the best of its category countrywide in terms of quick delivery of service and high morale of its staff, according to its director, Dr Eleuter Samky.
Responding to this journalist during the survey which was sponsored by HakiElimu, Dr Samky said that there has been no complains of any kind from either patients or their relatives in recent times.
“Given the circumstances I can proudly say that our hospital ranks quite high in the hospitals of our calibre, we lack resources, specialized engineers and other human resources but still our spirits are quite high” he confirmed.
He attributed this fact to the total commitment of workers who knows that their shortage should not affect their patients anyhow. He was supported by the hospital’s secretary, Ms Aisha Mtanda.
So far the hospital caters for four regions namely; Iringa, Mbeya, Rukwa and Ruvuma. The trend of referred cases is increasing which signifies that patients are satisfied by services at the hospital.
A tour in some wards under the escort of Ms Mtanda indicated that the hospital is well equipped with modern type of equipment in its laboratory, operation rooms, and other appliances for medical examination.
There was also an opportunity to hear from the ‘horse’s mouth’ as this would cement the report from the workers themselves and their patients. The report was encouraging with various differences. Some relatives complained that they cannot afford to live in the city while attending their relatives at hospitals including the referral hospital.
There was no sharing of beds, nor was any patient found sleeping on the floor as it has been frequently reported in other referral hospitals. A whole day survey indicated that there is big number of patients in the morning but they are all well attended before noon.
The basic services that are provided at the hospital according to Dr Samky are X-ray, provision of basic medicine for emergency cases and quick intervention whenever the need arises.
The charges are comparatively low with flat rates ranging from 10 to 15 shillings depending on the services that are provided. Ms Mtanda on her part encourages fresh graduates to make themselves available for services throughout the country and not cling to Dar es Salaam as is the trend now.
“I grew up in Dar es Salaam but I don’t see any difficulty working here in Mbeya, it is just the matter of switching the attitude towards this line of thinking” she disclosed.
Overcoming the Challenges
On the side of challenges Dr Samky admits that they fall within the country’s social economic framework. There is a chronic shortage of doctors and nurses to man the hospital of its size.
Similarly there are shortages in other supporting staff for the health sector. Resources are scarce given the fact that a good number of those who are attended at the hospital come from low income families.
However, all these problems are overcome due to well organization and management of the available staff and resources. The government in this aspect has been very supportive according to its resource capacity.
Comments from Mbeya Residents
From Hassan Mbarazi a madrasa teacher he lauded the government on its continued support of the health sector, but he called for the need to inject more funds in the health sector saying that there are shortcomings that must be met.
He challenged the government to divert funds from other sectors that have proved failure to the health sector because it is directly related with lives of people. For instance he counseled that funds which have been misappropriated must be recaptured and be redirected to the health sector.
A Mbeya based journalist Christopher Nyenyembe said that there are quite improvements in the health sector in Mbeya. These to a certain extent have been facilitated by other factors like improvement in infrastructure and water supply which is so vital for hospital purposes.
However Nyenyembe precaution that in order to improve services in Mbeya there must be a balanced provision of services from grass root level particularly in the rural settings where a good number of Tanzanians dwell.
He challenged the system whereby all basic resources and social services amenities are concentrated in the urban centres. Therefore he warns that with the neglect of the rural areas there ultimate result is the high rural-urban migration whereby Mbeya city has not escaped this trend.
Rose Mwakingwe a nurse at Ilemi Hospital in one of the Mbeya suburbs says that the health sector has been hit hard by the global financial crunch in so many ways. For instance civil servants cannot afford the fast rocketing prices which means they have to look for other sources of incomes in order to support their families.
Mwakingwe said she had to revitalize her spirit of tolerance in difficulties due to the fact that she must tackle her duties in the hospital regardless of the fact that she is leading a difficult life caused by inflation and unmet workers demands.
A city based councilor from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi who preferred anonymity commented that the health sector in Mbeya has remained stable almost throughout all the four phases. He however noted that the recent speech by President Jakaya Kikwete against the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) could demoralize workers.
A highly placed source within the Mbeya Regional Medical office admitted that congestion of patients is always a common phenomenon at the regional hospital due to the shortage of doctors, nurses and other supporting staffs.
He hinted that the recent general inspection was not satisfactory to the extent that inspectors had threatened to close the hospital for sometime until when the situation was improved. He called for the central government to inject more funds in the health sector in order to rescue the situation.
The Mbeya regional hospital is the mainstay of many patients in the fast growing city of Mbeya due to the fact that it caters for other neighbouring regions and for non Tannins who frequently use Mbeya borders on their travels to and from Dar es Salaam.
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