Tuesday, July 28, 2015

UN dishes out USD22.5m in election support



The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) has dished out USD22.5 million to facilitate for smooth  and emphasised the need for government to respect the status of the media during this election period. 
 
In a statement issued over the weekend in Bagamoyo at a two days media and election training seminar organised by the Tanzania Editors’ Forum and UNDP, the UN Resident Representative Alvaro Rodriguez, said as a development partner, UNDP is impressed with the democratic electoral process in Tanzania. 
 
He said media has the power to inform the public about government policies and public institutions which in turn enables the public to make informed decisions and choices during elections. 
 
As for the funding, he explained that is given under the Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP), a three year project (2013-2016) introduced by UN in 2012 to among other things, prevent election-related conflicts. 
 
He highlighted Norway and Sweden as key contributors among others and detailed that they channel their funding via the One fund budget that is under the UNDP coordinated Joint Donor Basket Fund (JDBF).
 
He also pointed out that since 2012, the UN has deployed an electoral Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Tanzania following a request by both the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) submitted to the UNDP requesting UN electoral assistance.     
 
“The UNDP partnership with NEC and ZEC as well as other national partners is aimed at strengthening the election cycle to ensure free and fair elections,” Rodriguez said. 
 
“Tanzania has made great strides in socio-economic and political stability since it turned to multiparty democracy in 1992,” he commented. 
 
“The country has held four rounds of successive elections which have been considered well conducted, competitive and open,” he added. 
Rodriguez said the assistance provided by the UN for the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections was important for the development of democracy in Tanzania. 
 
“As a direct outcome of this assistance, the UN supported Deepening Democracy in Tanzania Project (DDTP) was developed,” he went on to say.  
 
According to him, over the past two decades the UNDP has assisted more than 80 countries through coordination management of about 342 electoral projects that required more than 2.5bn/- in expenditure and most were held in Africa.
 
They were part of the democratic transition of various types of undemocratic leaderships from military, one-party, one-person rule and others.
 
  “The UN electoral support has resulted in capacity enhancement for national electoral institutions and processes and in some countries elections now take place with minimal support,” detailed the UN Resident Representative. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Friday, July 17, 2015

Why parents prefer English in schools

Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Director of Control and Quality, Mrs Marystella Wassena gives her views in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the launch of the Twaweza report on parents’ preference with regard to the medium of teaching and learning. Right is UDSM Lecture, Professor Kitila Mkumbo. PHOTO|VENANCE NESTORY 
Most parents want English to be used as the medium of instruction in schools from primary level, a recent Twaweza research findings show.
The research shows that nine out of 10 (89 per cent) parents said that children face difficulties in changing languages upon enrolling for O-Levels after finishing primary school.
Under the current policy, Kiswahili is used as a medium of instruction in primary education while English is used for the remaining levels up to university.
The Twaweza research, aimed at finding citizens’ views on education, found out that despite the new Education and Training Policy 2015 stipulating that Kiswahili should be used as the language of instruction for both primary and secondary schools, the majority of parents prefer English.
Presenting the study outcome on behalf of Twaweza CEO, University of Dar’s Dr Kitila Mkumbo, said the findings, which collected from 1,381 respondents from Tanzania Mainland only, show that the majority of parents who prefer English have said it takes time for their children to adjust from Kiswahili to English, something that affects their ability to learn.
He pointed out that the respondents have confidence in the provision of primary education as it has showed that 64 per cent of the general population believes that primary school adequately prepares students for secondary school.
“The data also tells the story of increasing access to education in a new way, one out of ten citizens (11 per cent) report having completed secondary school to O-level, one out of four (26 per cent) report having a son or daughter in secondary school, this implies that more young people have access to secondary education,” he said.
Commenting on the research findings, the director of schools quality assurance from the ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Marystela Wasena, said the ministry acknowledges the challenge.
She said although the government has allowed the two languages to be officially used in schools, the country still needs to promote Kiswahili locally and internationally.
For his part, former Control and Auditor General (CAG), Mr Ludovick Utouh commended the government efforts but said the country needs participatory long- term policies on education.
“We see the challenges of English even to the teachers, which means that even as the majority prefers it to Kiswahili, we must have the good foundation in preparing teaching guidelines and even the human resources (teachers), so I would say we see the challenges on our monitoring, and the reports are already in the ministry for implementation,” she said.
“I cannot say the current system is bad, but we need to have policies that would be implemented for longer period, the policies that were participatory made involving extensive researches and diversity of stakeholders,” he said adding that as the country being bilingual is inevitable.
Source: The Citizen

Thursday, July 16, 2015

'historic' agreement reached on financing for new UN sustainable development agenda


In many rural economies, the forest enterprises of families and communities are major contributors to local livelihoods.
Countries agreed today on a series of bold measures to overhaul global finance practices and generate investments for tackling a range of economic, social and environmental challenges at the United Nations Third International Conference on Financing for Development, being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“This agreement is a critical step forward in building a sustainable future for all. It provides a global framework for financing sustainable development,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said after negotiators reached the deal at the Conference, which has been running in the Ethiopian capital since Monday, 13 July, and officially wraps up its work tomorrow.
“It gives us the foundation of a revitalised global partnership for sustainable development that will leave no one behind,” said of the groundbreaking agreement, which will be known as the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
The agreement provides a foundation for implementing the global sustainable development agenda that world leaders are expected to adopt in New York this September and for reaching a binding agreement at UN climate negotiations in Paris in December to reduce global carbon emissions.
It marks a milestone in forging an enhanced global partnership that aims to foster universal, inclusive economic prosperity and improve people's well-being while protecting the environment.
Financing is considered the linchpin for the success of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, which will be driven by the implementation of 17 goals. In support of implementation of these goals, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda contains more than 100 concrete measures, addressing all sources of finance, and covering cooperation on a range of issues including technology, science, innovation, trade and capacity building.
“This historic agreement marks a turning point in international cooperation that will result in the necessary investments for the new and transformative sustainable development agenda that will improve the lives of people everywhere,” said Wu Hongbo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Secretary-General of the Conference.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

NHIF hands over bedding sets to Muheza district


National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) last Thursday donated 400 bed sheets worth Sh7 million to Muheza District Council, the fund’s community health director Eugen Mikongoti, has said.
 
Speaking on behalf of director general Michael Mhando, Mikongoti said the donation of bed sheets was part of their social cooperate responsibility to Muheza community.
 
He said they had done so in various other hospitals to support communities and in particular, in the health sector.
 
Mikongoti said they plans to bring 120 bed sheets  in the near future  for distribution in other hospitals in the district.
 
He stated that the fund also dished out soft loans to councils, religious organisations and individuals for the rehabilitation of hospital buildings and other activities.
 
According to Mikongoti, they had been setting aside  10 m/- for soft loans every year. “We have already dished out such loans to various institutions for rehabilitation of buildings such as the Muhimbili National Hospital.”
Muheza district commissioner Esterina Kilasi  who received the bed sheets, said she would ensure they got soft loans and continue the rehabilitation of the designated hospital of Muheza.
 
The NHIF community health manager for Tanga Region, Ally Mwakababu said the health fund was well placed to ensure it helped the community.
Muheza Designated Hospital district medical officer, Dr Juma Mfanga thanked the fund, saying the hospital receives patients from various places of Tanga Region.
 
“We also receive patients from our neighbouring Kenya because of the quality of service that we offer,” he stressed. The acting district executive director for Muheza, Antony Senkoro and the acting district medical officer in-charge, Reynard Mndeme called on other stakeholders to emulate the NHIF by donating to the designated hospital.

Job creation first priority on Dr Magufuli's to-do list



Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli yesterday outlined his priority areas that are aligned with the party’s manifesto citing job creation through investment in the revolution of agriculture, industry and trade.
Right next on his priority list follows health, infrastructure, water and human rights, again this being as stipulated by the party’s manifesto.
Dr Magufuli who is the Works Minister made the statements yesterday in Dar es Salaam when addressing Dar es Salaam residents at the Mbagala Zhakeem grounds in Temeke District where he pledged to ensure development for every citizen regardless of their political affiliation.
He said when he is elected Head of State, he will embrace the political ideologies that were built by the late father of the nation Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and warned public servants who don’t fulfill their obligations of stern measures to come.
Earlier, at the CCM headquarters on Lumumba St, Dr Magufuli pledged to cooperate with party members and other elected leaders in national development issues.
Dr Magufuli commended his fellow candidates who picked presidential nomination forms saying the big number of presidential hopefuls was clear sign of increased democracy within the party.
His running mate, Samia Hassan Suluhu promised to increase the number of women at decision making posts calling for realisation of the 50/50 ration between women and men in key areas.
“Women are the best component of development in every nation,” she said.
In his comments, Emmanuel Kaiza, a resident of Tabata said; “I am confident in Dr Magufuli because I believe he has the capacity to move this country to the next step because he hates negligence and corruption”.
On Sunday this week, CCM national congress announced Dr John Magufuli as its Presidential flag bearer in the General Election slated for October 25. 
He got 2,104 votes out of the 2, 422 votes cast equivalent to 87.1 per cent. He was followed by Ambassador Amina Ali Salum, (253 votes) and Dr Asha-Rose Migiro (59 votes).
The National Executive Committee (NEC) picked the three from a short list of five candidates.  Those dropped by the NEC were Bernard Membe Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and January Makamba, Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology

 Source: The Guardian

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Govt for more investment in food processing

The permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture, food security and cooperatives, Sophia Kaduma

The government has called on investors to chip-in and invest in fruits and vegetable processing to add value to the country’s agro-products.
 
The permanent secretary in the ministry of agriculture, food security and cooperatives, Sophia Kaduma made the call here at the     weekend  when speaking at the 3rd Agribusiness Expo 2015, held at the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) grounds located few kilometres from Arusha city centre.
 
The event was organised by Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) and attracted more than 500 farmers and exhibitors from across the country.
 
“Despite the fact, farmers have encouraged to grow more fruits and different types of vegetables, but the challenge remains on reliable markets…that is why we are to encourage local and foreign investors to come and invest in the sector,” Kaduma said.
 
He said food processing is an area which was yet to be tapped in Tanzania; hence the need for investors to explore the opportunity remained important.
 
She said there were more people who grow different varieties of crops like tomatoes but during the harvesting season more tomatoes rot in farms because of the market   unavailability.
 
“But, if there were food processing plants in place the challenge could be addressed, and our farmers would have got their returns,” she suggested.
 
She however said her ministry was working with other line ministries on the possibilities of trimming off taxes on food processing plants for the benefit of the agricultural sector.
 
Kaduma also asked the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) to compliment government’s endeavours by encouraging more stakeholders to invest in the sector.
 
She however informed the participants that in the next planting season the government was to resume the former agricultural input voucher scheme, for the benefit of smallholder farmers in the country.
 
According to her, the farm input system will include improved seeds of maize and rice as well as fertilizers.
 
“But, farmers shouldn’t sell fertilizers to anybody but rather use it to improve your crop yields,” she said, adding that previously some farmers used to sell the subsidised fertilizers to other people who have money.
 
EAGC chief executive officer, Gerald Masila said the expo was meant to empower farmers with better farming skills as well as linking them with traders and other players.
 
He also said the Agribusiness Expo was one of its kind that brings together all players in the agribusiness industry who exhibit their wares and services and always serves as a one-stop shop that creates a face-to-face encounter between the service providers and the users/buyers- in this case the farming community.
 
The expo targeted players in the agro-industry, including agro dealers, farm implements traders, food processors, players in the financial sector including banks, insurance companies, and research institutions, among others.

BY LUSEKELO PHILEMON - The guardian


Students unveil key innovations

Secondary school students in different regions have come up with 120 research findings meant to address various problems in their surroundings and the country in general.
According to Young Scientists Tanzania (YST), a non-governmental organisation which facilitated the research projects, the reports will be unveiled during an exhibition scheduled for August 5 to 7.
The executive director of the YST, Dr Gozibert Kamugisha, said over the weekend that the event which will be held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam will showcase year-long innovative and scientific investigations by the students.
The students carried out research in several science fields such as chemical, physical and mathematical. Others included biological and ecological sciences, social and behavioural sciences and technology.
Most of the projects focus on addressing issues such as health, agriculture and food security, communications and transportation safety, among others.
He said prizes will be awarded to students with the best projects.
About 60 students will win prizes in the form of cash, medals, trophies, equipment and library refurbishment.
Mr Kamugisha noted that the initiative was in the wake of realizing that while pass rates are gradually improving, the major problem remained to be the lack of practicals and application of sciences in improving people’s lives.
“It’s now a right time for education policy to consider putting subjects that will engage secondary school students going to the field to do researches,” he said.
Mr Brian Nolan, Secretary to Embassy of Ireland which financed the event, said science and technology has crucial contribution to attaining Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and post MDGs through enabling access to knowledge, industrialization, job creation and food security.
For his part, Mr John Ulanga, vice president for policy and corporate affairs of the BG Tanzania, which also sponsored the event, said if Tanzania targets to reach middle-income country, it should focus on science and technology.


He also said as the country is also gearing towards oil and gas economy, science and technology could play a major role in attaining that by producing its own experts on the sector.
By Bernard Lugongo - The Citizen

Friday, July 10, 2015

Breaking News: The Kili 2015 Heroes Made it to the World's Highest Free Standing Mountain!!



They made it!  In the early hours of today, Thursday July 9, the team of 38 Climbers lead by Captain James Shilla Nzuamkende,  proudly arrived at the Uhuru Summit – World’s highest free standing Mountain!

Sadly one committed Climber tried so hard again and again throughout the night but could not make it to the Summit. So only 38 made it including the two Children –Susan and Michael from Moyo wa Huruma.

WE CONGRATULATE THE WHOLE CLIMBING TEAM FOR THEIR  INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE,   APPRECIATIONS  FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS YEARS CLIMB AFTER LIVING THEIR SPOUSES, FAMILIES AND WORK TO  DEDICATE THEIR TIME  AND ENERGY FOR THIS NOBLE CAUSE.

FURTHER OUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS, WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR FINANCIAL AND VARIOUS SUPPORT IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS YEAR’S CLIMB SUCCESSFUL. FROM INDIVIDUALS TO COMPANIES, LARGE AND SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS, TOGETHER THEY HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE WHICH WILL RESULT INTO MORE PROJECTS BEING SUPORTED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE KILI CHALLENGE FUND PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES.







Wednesday, July 8, 2015

22m treated nets coming



Twenty-two million insecticide treated mosquito nets will be distributed countrywide next month by the Population Service International (PSI) through the Global Fund for Aids, Tuberculosis and  Malaria (GFATM) to support programme to combat the spread of malaria in the country. 
 
The mosquito nets were scheduled for distribution early this year, however, according to the PSI  deputy country representative, Romanus Mtung’e the programme required finalising important elements including household recipient registration.
 
Speaking exclusively with the Guardian early this week the deputy country representative said the treated mosquito nets would be distributed to all regions in the mainland except in Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma.
 
He said the three regions would not be recipient of the programme since they had received Long lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) through the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI). The initiative is a pilot programme for distributing free LLINs in schools. The three regions are set to benefit from the initiative for third consecutive term this year.
 
Mtung’e told the Guardian, already public awareness campaign and household registration had been successfully commissioned in the Lake Zone regions. He said a rollout for other regions would follow in the southern highlands regions.
 
“Now the Lake Zone awaits actual distribution of LLINs any time from next month,” he said.
 
However, he said the only challenge facing his team in Lake Zone was the fact that there was serious abuse of LLINs because some residents used them in illegal fishing activities.
 
Mtung’e insisted however that it was the government commitment to ensure that all regions benefitted from the massive LLINs distribution.
 
Apparently, he conceded that if there were free LLINs distributed along with free bed nets to pregnant mothers through antenatal clinics would cover the population by 80 per cent.
 
The latest clarification from PSI symbolises new development for fill—in—the gap after the UK government’s funding support for the National Voucher Scheme (NVS) announcement to indefinitely freeze the support last year.
 
The sad news came after alleged reports of fund misappropriation.
 
Dr Susan Mpanga Mukasa, PSI country representative revealed in Dar es Salaam last year.
 
The Global Fund will provide at least 20 million insecticide treated mosquito nets that will be distributed for free to expectant mothers in  a  move aimed at  supporting  the country’s efforts  to combat  the spread of Malaria.
 
In another development, the PSI deputy country representative, noted that his institution had managed to connect at least 261 out of 300 private health centres to offer family planning services, cervical cancer screening and treatment as well as the ability to provide integrated management of childhood illnesses. 
 
He said the 261 private health centres were within 18 regions in Tanzania mainland.
 
“This development has resulted to more than 8,000 women being screened for cervical cancer, 200 getting preventive treatment though PSI and 82 others were referred for further cancer treatment,” he detailed.
 

The Kili Challenge Heroes Faces Day IV

“Since the launch of the Kili Challenge in 2001, there has never been an incident where we had all the climbers reaching the summit, this year will be different, the team is eagerly to make it, the spirit is high, the attitude are positive, this is all what we want…. As a captain, I will do all what I can to ensure everyone makes it to the top, we are here to make the history”


It was 7:30am when  the group of 39 2015 Kili challenge Heroes left Baranco Camp in deep silence despite the most fresh tasty breakfast they had with the famous cucumber soup.

The walk today took the team 6hrs to Karanga Camp for an early rest before tomorrow where they will face the Great wall climbing famous as “Kissing rocks”.  Tomorrows’ challenge is not a cliff face and it's not a climb. It's mostly a very steep path that requires the team to use their hands every now and then with a bit of a scramble in a couple of places.

At Karanga, the team relaxed while taking in extraordinary views of the sunset high above the clouds.



Monday, July 6, 2015

Kili Challenge Flag Off


Vice President Geita Gold Mine (GGM), Simon Shayo, addressing the media (not in picture) at the Flag Off Machame Gate in Moshi, Tanzania for the 14th year of Kilimanjaro Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. 
Kili Challenge Ambassador from South Africa's Rugby team Mr. Krynauw Otto (in blue) joined by other climbers at the Flag Off Machame Gate in Moshi for the Kilimanjaro Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania sponsored by Geita Gold Mine (GGM) to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania
Member of the Board of Geita Gold Mine, Ambassador Richard Mariki (first right) joined by Vice President Geita Gold Mine (GGM), Simon Shayo (second right) together leading a team of 39 climbers, participating in the Kili Challenge which aims to raise funds to fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.