Category Archives: Tanzania

Tanzania: Opposition parties in nation are gearing to wrest power from CCM after five decades

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Political News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

WITH only two months to go before the October 31 poll in Tanzania, election fever has gripped the country as voter registered in record number.

This is at a time that the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi {CCM} faces the stiffest challenge to its uninterrupted five decade long dominance fro a re-energized opposition that seek to combine its members to wrest control of the Tanzanian parliament.

Tanzania National Election Commission chairman Lewis Makame was last week quoted by the influential EASAFRICAN weekly as saying that about 21,210,187 voters of the targeted 22,210,187 voters have already been registered in the permanent voters register.

Justice Makame said this figure is equivalent to 94 per cent and higher by 23 per cent than the 15,919,749 voters who were registered in the 2005 elections.

A total of 55,000 polling stations will be set up country-wide for the forthcoming polls, which it is estimated will cost Tshs 60.2 billion {USD 395 million}.

At the same time news emerging from the Tanzanian capital of Dar Es Salaam says the ruling CCM party faces a spate of defections as disgruntled losers in the party’s primaries crosses over to the opposition side.

The Civic United Front {CUF}, which dominated politics of the twin Islands of Zanzibar and Pemba and the CCM, the Chama Cha Maendeleo Na Demokrasia {Chadema},which is the strongest opposition party on the mainland Tanzania, say they are confident of retaining not only the seats already held, but also of taking away a sizable chunk from the CCM, which has dominated the House for over 18 years since the introduction of multiparty democracy in Tanzania.

In the 2005 general election, CCM won 254 seats, CUF 22, in the Union and House of Representative together with Chadema and the Tanzania Labor Party took five each with the United Democratic Party bagging two seats. Seven seats were vacant.

CUF chairman, Prof.Ibrahim Lipumba was also quoted by the EASAFRICANM as saying that his party would be fielding mostly young candidates to run for parliamentary seats countrywide, with the exception of a few constituencies.

Prof Lipumba said that CUF has already nominated 120 candidates from the mainland and 50 from the Isles to vie for the Union Parliamentary seats. The party has also nominated other 50 from Unguja and Pemba to contest in the Zanzibar House of Representative. The party intends to nominate more than 200 candidates for the Union.

Political pundits say CCM is running scared given the rising anti-incumbent sentiment, alternatively chastened and encourage by the results of its just ended primary elections.

The ruling party is also grappling with the fallout from widespread irregularities, with the opposition counting on winning over veteran CCM members who have lost in the primaries but still command, a large following within CCM.

Prof.Lipumba said CUF has invited CCM members who lost in the just concluded election primaries to join the opposition.

“If there is a phrase the ruling CCM won’t like uttered, It is “the boot”. According to CUF, the opposition parties have been complaining after every election that their votes were stolen, only for CCM to scoff at them, this time the boot is on the other foot

“This time, the malady has befallen them. We hope the situation will offer an opportunity to the ruling party to address the problem of corruption in election more squarely under a free electoral commission,” said Prof Lipumba.

At the same time Dr. Willbrod P.Slaa, the Secretary General of CHADEMA, said CCM has lost the moral authority to fight corruption. He said his party’s presidential candidate, said if CHADEMA takes over the government; it would make it a priority to fight corruption. His party aims are to reach every corner of the country in its quest to win more civic and parliamentary seats. The party is currently has five elected MPs and as many special seats parliamentarians. It also has some councilors in different districts of the country.

Dr Slaa, however, warned that under the new election financing law, which requires people contributing to political parties to give their names, physical addresses and other particulars, many people giving cash would be apprehensive about giving out cash lest they are harassed by the government for supporting the opposition.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania: Nation’s forces in the high state of alertness following the bombing of Ugandan City

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS emerging from Dar Es Salaam says that Tanzania has stepped up its border security in the wake of the Kampala twin terrorist bomb attacks that claimed the lives of 76 people.

The Tanzania Peoples Defense Force {TPDF} says in a press statement that fending the country’s border is a daily activity, but now that the soldiers are more alert than ever before.

The Defense and National Service Minister Dr. Ali Mwinyi was early this week quoted by press as saying East African armies are currently holding joint security meetings regarding the security of the regional economic bloc.

The Minister said that the situation in Mogadishu needs a joint effort to restore peace and political stability before the terrorist spreads to the rest of East Africa –the immediate neighbors of the conflict prone country in the Horn of Africa.

Asked as to when Tanzanian troops will be send to reinforce the peacekeeping forces in Somalia, the Minister said,” we are yet to reach a conclusion” without indicating when the government will decide over the issue.”

East African countries have all voted to increase the peacekeeping troops in Somalia from 6,100 to 8,100.

Dr Mwinyi also said that the TPDF is not training soldiers for the Somali Transitional Government, which the Al-Shabab militia, widely seen as being responsible for the Kampala attacks is hell-bent to overthrow.

Al-Shabaab, it has bee noted, has never before attacked any targets outside Somalia. The July 11 attack in Kampala was the first one, but it came after the Mogadish based terrorists had warned both Uganda and Burundi governments about its planned vengeance actions. The two Eastern African nations which are members of the enlarged East African Community are the sole contributors of troops to the AMISOM.

At the same time Tanzania’s opposition politicians have appealed to the EAC and the au to pursue a diplomatic approach to restore sanity and peace in Somalia.

The opposition groups have also severely criticized the government of Tanzania for being indecisive on whether to send peace keeping troops to join the AMISOM -the African Union Mission in Somalia.

NCCR-Mageuzi secretary general Sam Rubuza has been widely quoted I the local media as saying that the situation in Mogadishu cannot continue being handled with “kid gloves, adding “The EAC stands to suffer more if Somaia unrest continue. We need to take a keener interest in the situation there.” Said opposition chief.

But Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe made t categorically clear that the military solution will not work in Somalia. He warned that countries sending troops to serve with the AMISOM peace keeping forces in Somalia are only opening up themselves to terrorist attacks. “Military action is not the solution. The violence breeds violence and more misery.”

The solution in the Somalia conflict turned religious war requires a full scale international diplomacy, which should work as a process and not an event to end the civil strife there once and for all.

‘We need a serous social engines to intervene [ in the Mogadishu strife}after studying its root cause and using diplomacy to attack the situation without causing more pains to the people in that troubled country”, said Mr Mbowe.

The Chadema boss cited military actions which have failed to solve political conflicts in other countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq and which have since degenerated to religious conflicts and wars.

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Tanzania & Kenya: LAKE VICTORIA BASIN LAUNCHES UNIVERSITIES’ RESEARCH FUND FOR MARA RIVER BASIN

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By Agwanda Powerman

The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with three Universities; Ardhi University (Tanzania, Egerton University (Kenya) and Maseno University (Kenya) to support critical studies in natural resources and landscape conservation in the Mara River Basin.

The ceremony which took place in Kisumu will allow collaboration between the Commission and the Universities on applied research on Biodiversity Conservation in the Mara River Basin and the Environmental Flows Assessments of the Mara River.

The research will also include wildlife habitat conservation ,conservation enterprise and capacity building and leadership with an initial amount of US dollars 60,000 with 20,000 going to each of the three Universities under partnership.

“This new collaboration is part of broader initiatives being implemented under the “Trans boundary Water for Biodiversity and Human Health in the Mara River Basin Project” supported by USAID /East Africa and implemented by the LVBC” the organizations’ Executive Secretary General Dr.Tom Okurut said.

He added that under the recently -concluded Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (BSAP) for the Mara Basin ,the measures to be undertaken will target improving policy,legislation and institutions,economics,investments,applied research ,communication ,education and awareness -raising.

“The LVBC is an institution of the East Africa Community responsible for coordinating the sustainable development agenda for the Lake Victoria Basin,the Mara Basin is one of the basins of the Lake Victoria Basin and is essential for the survival of wildlife anchoring Kenyan and Tanzanian tourism” Okurut further said.

He added that the survival of the Eco system depends on the flow of the Mara River and the collaboration between the Commission and the Universities will play an essential role of supporting a long term capacity development for science based management system of the ecosystem.

WORLD & TANZANIA: OPPOSITION IS MOUNTING WORLD WIDE ON SERENGETI PARK NEW HIGHWAY

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Environmental Feature By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The Tanzanian government decision and plan to build a highway road linking up its northern towns of Arusha and Musoma through the Serengeti National Game Park has sparked off world wide vehement opposition by wildlife consrvati9nist and environmentalists.

Reported these columns a week ago, the project is expected to cause a big rift between the country and its donor and development partners among the Western nations and the United States as well as in other countries of the world.

The country’s development partners are said to be up in arms and have warned Dar Es Salaam that the planned new highway road through the Serengeti Park if implemented will disrupt the wildebeest annual migration and thus damaging the country’s tourism dependent economy.

The same international conservationist groups had successfully thwarted the government of Tanzania previously earmarked joint plan with its neighboring Uganda to construct the now abandoned Tanga-Musoma rail line to ease landlocked Uganda ease access the sea rout and outlet for its exports and imports.

The rail line was expected to be much a shorter route to the currently much under-used Tanzanian Indian Ocean coastal port of Tanga, and could be much shorter that routing Ugandan goods and cargoes through the Kenyan ports of Mombasa and Dar EDs Salaam.

The rail line plan which was worked out between the late Presidents Julius Nyerere and the late Pres Apollo Milton Obote and was later endorsed by President Yoweri Museveni was shelved a decade agof9ollowing protracted moppositi9nb by the environmentalist and conservationist groups from allover the world. These groups had expressed fear that with trains passing through the world famous Serengeti wildlife sanctuary.

He Serengeti National Game Park, which is the largest in the region and housed thousands of wild animal species stretches from the Tanzania’s Northern town of Arusha and winding up on the shore of Lake Victoria in Musoma region. The spirited argument put forward by these groups was that the noisy coming out from the trains engine could, grossly interfere with the natural habitatsm9of the wild animals in the park.

A face book page posted under the heading “stop the Serengeti Highway “has generated thousands of petition signatures in the last two weeks.

The world-wide campaign against this multimillion dollar project has further been propelled by a New York Times blogger Olivia Judson, who was quoted this week by the Nairobi weekly, the EASTAFRICAN as lamenting that that the proposed road will damage Tanzania’s record of conservation.

Expressing bewilderment as to why the road has been cho9sen, the New York Times blogger had noted that the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is “Well known for his interest in nature.

‘Just last moth, the blogger wrote, the President had personally greeted and welcomed six block rhinos fl9wn into the Serengeti National Game Park from South Africa and Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve,’ a statement by the Arusha Regional Commissioner Isidori Shirima says

However, there has been a three-year silent protest by these activists including the Tanzania National Parks Authority {tanapa} against interference with wildebeest annual migration, which has become the center of attractions for tourists from all over the world for its spectacular phenomenon.

According to the Arusha Regional Commissioner, the government of Tanzania deemed the proposed 480 km Arusha-Musoma tarmac road would be of good socio-economic significance for Tanapa.

Of the project total cost USD 260 million will cover the Arusha-Serengeti section and USD 220 million for Serengeti-Musoma segment.

D.Kakoko the regional manager for Tanzania Road Agency was quoted last week by the local media as saying that the actual construction work on the new highway would commence in early 2012,while feasibility studies are expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Some of the activists are sad to have been alarmed by the new road’s expected potential impact have note that it enjoys the support of local communities through which it would pass. And a few Times readers commenting on the Judson’s blog posting argued that the new road is essential and crucial to Tanzania’s development and should not be opposed by well-off outsiders.

Traders and travelers from the densely populated areas to be served by the proposed road must be currently more than 418km to the south to skirt the protected Serengeti ,an environmental website acknowledges.

A spokesman of the Tanzanian National Parks Authority [Tanapa}Pascal Shelutete,was quoted in a recent UK daily telegraph story in defense of the project.”This new road will bring great benefits to the economy of this cut-off part of the country and ease the movement of people and goods.

“No big project of the scale would be contemplated without a thorough feasibility study, and it shows that there will be no impact on the animals migration.”

He noted that only unpaved 40-mile stretch of the two-lane road’s480km will pass through the Serengeti.

But that may be enough t0 disrupt the annual movement of tens of thousands of wildebeest between the Mara and Serengeti watering grounds, the wildlife advocates say.

The new road will also opened opportunities for poaching and increase the risk of transmitting diseases to wildebeest from domesticated livestock transported through the park, “they argue.

The entire ecosystem of the Serengeti, which is of great economic as well as environmental importance to Tanzania, could suffer negative consequence if the wildebeest migration does not occur, the activist add.

The northern route newly approved by the government has previously been rejected on the e environmental grounds,’ The Times blogger points out.

Elsewhere in Holland an expert in wildebeest movement who is a lecturer in one of that country’s universities said he as concerned about the prospect of cutting off one side of Serengeti National Game Park from the other.

Dr.Grant Hopradt said in a comment,” there is obvious concern of creating a physical barrier. Wildebeest have e no problem crossing roads, but there is nothing elsewhere in conservation with this high capacity for traffic, he told a newspaper in the UKJ.

But by the end of last week an online petition has started a great against the proposed road, which has gathered over 2000signaturs around the world.

The DAILY TEEGRAPH of the UK reported in part that the Maasai Mara, which borders the Serengeti would also be affected as 1.8 million wildebeest and 800,00 zebras and the lions, hyenas, cheetahs and wild dogs that stall there are eventually moving the two areas.

More than 100,000 tourists visit the Maasai Mara during the peak migration months between July and October.

Critics, however, say the new commercial highway will cut through the key migration routes used by the animals and as such could permanently change the natural wonders.

The government of Tanzania this month approved then new road project linking its northern towns of Musoma and Arusha, which will com as a considerable relief to traders and travelers.

Top tourist officials in the neighboring Kenya said they were also worried and concerned about the new road, but were waiting to see what will happen.” We are waiting for the details while hoping the authorities has thoroughly investigated the positive alternatives.

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Tanzania: Nation scores the top marks as a peaceful country in the EAC region

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Writes leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The United Republic of Tanzania has been ranked the most peaceful member states of the East African Community {EAC} in a recently published survey.

The survey, the Global Peace Index 2010, ranks the East African country ahead of EAC, peers with a peace index of 1, 832.However,in overall ranking ,Tanzania is at position 55 out of 149 states surveyed.

The study was done by the Australian-based Institute for Economic and Peace focusing on indicators such as internal peace relations with neighboring countries and military spending.

Second in the region is Rwanda with a peace index of 2,012 and at position 75 overall. The higher index score, the least peaceful a nation is.

In overall ranking, Uganda took position 100, Kenya 120 and Burundi 131 follow in that order with index of 2,369 and 2,577 respectively.

The finding may be of significance to investors as peace and stability are crucial characteristics of a prospective investment destination.

In the ranking, Kenya and Burundi find themselves among the bottom 20 per cent of the countries that were surveyed alongside Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Ethiopia among others.

Kenya’s position is only 28 places above that of Iraq, which Burundi is even worse 18 places above Iraq, Somalia.

Kenya’s war-torn neighbor is the second least peaceful nation, with an index of 3,390.

The finding, seem close to a recent World Bank survey which found that Rwanda was the EAC region least best business destination.

However, the Bank survey, which also indicated Burundi as the least conducive place for business and was based mainly on economic indicators, such as how easy it was to register a business and tax regimes.

Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the report, is the least peaceful with an average peace index of 2.23.

For war-torn countries Somalia, Sudan, Chad and Democratic Republic of Congo continue to occupy the lowest 10 positions in the index and each experienced deterioration in their scores,“ it says.

Botswana fares best in Sub-Saharan Africa, at position 33.The report attributes this to a reduction in the proportion of its population in jail.

“The country’s military capability is limited, as it is free of internal conflict, and low scores for most measures of safety and security point to a relatively harmonious society, although the homicide rate is high.”

In Africa, Tanzania took the top position with a peace index of 1678,it ranked 37 overall of all countries surveyed.

Globally, the report says, New Zealand is ranked as the country most at peace for the second consecutive year, followed by Ireland sand Japan, while Iraq is last for the fourth year running.

The report acknowledged that “This concept of peace is notoriously difficult to define”. However, the survey considered a measurement of peace as the “absence of violence.”

It thus sought to determine what cultural attributes and institutions are associated with states of peace and relied on 23 indicators.

The survey, which focused on an going domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarization, also says that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year.

The survey registered “overall increases in several indicators, including the likelihood of violent demonstrations and perceptions and of criminality.”In some nations, an intensification of conflicts and growing instability appears to be linked to the global economic downturn in late 2008 and early 2009,”says the reports.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

TANZANIA: DAR IS CONSTRUCTING THE CONTROVERTSIAL ROAD NETWORK THROUGH SERENGETI GAME PARK DESPITE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS CONSEVATIONISTS.

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Environmental and Conservation Report By Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS emerging from the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam, say environmentalists and conservationists are up in arms against the construction of the 480 kilometer highway across the world famous wildlife sanctuary, the Serengeti National Game Park.

The road, which is to be tarmacked at an estimated cost of USD 480 million, is to link the country’s Northern Town of Arusha in Tanzania and the famous Maasai Game Reserve in Kenya.

The announcement about this multimillion dollar road network project was announced last week by the Regional Commissioner for Arusha, Isidori Shirima. This announcement now bring to an end a three – year strong protest by the green activists, including the Tanzania National Parks Authority {TANAPA}, they termed “interference with the wildebeest annual migration route. which in recent years has gained world-wide instant fame.

According to the regional commissioner, the new highway will in certain season of the year see the wildebeest herds march across in tens of thousands attracting more tourists into the country.

Of the project total cost, USD 260 million will cover the Arusha-Serengeti section and USD million the Serengeti-Musoma segment.

Deusdedit Kakoko,the Arusha based regional manager of the Tanzania Road Agency said the construction work for the project will commence in 2012 while feasibility studies are to be completed by the end of this year. ”We will mobilize resources and float tenders for consultants in January,”said Kakoko.

When asked why they had accepted the routing they were once vehemently opposed to, the officials were hesitant to speak.”This issue is no longer in our corridors.”The ball is now in the court of Tanaroads,” Tanapa’s public relations manager Pascal Shelutete said on phone. Before hanging up.

An environmentalist law lecturer Makamura University College in Arusha Elizabeth Laltalka said the project would be in line with sustainable development.

“Serengeti will remain wild and with the new road, Tanzanians will no longer have to travel through border into Kenya,” said Laltalka.

Serengeti National Game Park, which shares anecosyst6em with the Kenya’s famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve hosts the spectacular annual wildebeest migration.

In 2006, a jury of experts declared the annual wildebeest migration across the Mara River from Tanzania into Kenya one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania: Securing a Social Licence to Operate? From Stone Age to New Age Mining

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From: Yona Maro

This report says that despite its relatively nascent operations, commercial mining is becoming a significant contributor to the Tanzanian economy and has the potential to become more so. While mining’s contribution to Tanzania’s gross domestic product (GDP) is a relatively modest 2.3%, its export value constitutes some 45% of foreign earnings. Moreover, the government has set a target for the sector of a 10% contribution to GDP by 2025. Africa’s third-largest gold producer after South Africa and Ghana, Tanzania is also endowed with significant diamond, gemstone and nickel deposits. Since the commencement of Tanzania’s commercial mining operations, up to 15% of Africa’s mining investment has been ploughed into the country’s mining industry. Tanzania’s gold deposits, along with its favourable Mining Act, have attracted investment from two of the world’s major gold producers, Barrick Gold and AngloGold–Ashanti. However, mining in Tanzania has also attracted a great deal of increasingly trenchant criticism, resulting in claims that the country is not deriving its fair share from its mineral endowment and the government establishing the Bomani Commission to inquire into the mining sector, tasked with examining the existing Mining Act. While at the time of writing this report the government had not released its response to the Bomani Commission’s findings, the expectation is that the government may seek to take a 10% stake in selected mining operations, increase the royalty on gold producers from the current 3% to 5%, and scrap a number of tax breaks and incentives embedded in the current Mining Act and other legislation.

http://www.saiia.org.za/images/stories/pubs/reports/saia_rpt_07_goldstuck_hughes_20100326.pdf

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Tanzania & Uganda: The late Dr Julius Nyerere is to be promoted to the sainthood by the Vatican

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart, Jakaya Kikwete, have supported the crusade to declare former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere a saint.

Kikwete, Museveni, Mama Maria Nyerere and Archbishop Lwanga after the special prayers at Namugongo yesterday

The two presidents yesterday attended a special service for Nyerere at the Namugongo Martyrs’ Shrine and testified to his goodness, which they said should qualify him for sainthood.

The Catholic Church in Tanzania started the campaign to to make Nyerere a saint.

The process, which will end with Rome declaring or rejecting the petition, is currently at the stage where people who knew Nyerere come forward to give testimonies of his goodness.

According to the Archbishop of Kampala, Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, there will also be another side which will come up to try and dispute that Nyerere was good.

Lwanga was the main celebrant at the service, which attracted many Tanzanians, including Nyerere’s widow and family.

The Tanzanians were led by the Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba, Method Klaini.

Pilgrims from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda also attended the service.

Museveni said Nyerere was a devoted Christian and his principles made Tanzania a united and peaceful country.

“I am a witness to Nyerere’s devotion. The Bible is clear. It says we shall know them by their fruits not by their words. Tanzania is a country of Christians, Muslims and animists but Mwalimu (Nyerere) was able to unite them by demonstrating that they are all children of God,” Museveni said.

He said he had discussed with Nyerere’s wife the possibility of inviting the presidents who worked with Nyerere to Uganda for special prayers, but regretted that this could not be possible this year because the country is hosting the AU summit in July.

“We shall arrange for all the freedom fighters to come and witness,” Museveni said, thanking Kikwete for attending the service.

“We should continue praying that Nyerere reaches the next stage of being declared blessed of God, and then saint,” he said.

Responding to a request for assistance to build a perimeter wall around the church, Museveni pledged sh229m.

The Rector of the Uganda Martyrs Shrine, Fr. Nennis Ssebugwaawo, had earlier said thieves, drug addicts and murderers had invaded the place, adding that sometimes dead bodies are dumped in the lake at the shrine.

Museveni also pledged sh900m for the construction of a hotel at the shrine, which will accommodate visitors and generate income.

Kikwete said if Nyerere is canonised saint, it will make Tanzania proud.

“Anything that elevates the name of Tanzania, as president, I will be part of. We gave Nyerere the title of Father of the Nation because of the good things he did.

“For 23 years, he led the process of building a nation of several nationalities, 120 tribes and different races. He succeeded in building a united peaceful country. Tanzanians will always be grateful,” Kikwete said.

In his sermon, Lwanga urged Christians to promote peace, goodness and righteousness.

He expressed concern that Africans today are espousing strange ideologies, including homosexuality.

Lwanga said Africans should learn from the martyrs who stood their ground when they refused to be forced into sinfulness and stuck with Christ even as they faced death.

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Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda: East African states have decided to levy fee on all the fishermen and fish traders operating in Lake Victoria

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Business and Economic News By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY

THE three governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have agreed to impose levy charges on fishermen and fish traders operating in Lake Victoria in the near future.

This was agreed at the Council of Ministers in charge of fisheries from the three countries at a meeting held in the Ugandan capital, Kampala last week. The proposal is contained in a joint ministerial statement issued last Friday after the meeting.

It is indeed one of the various raft of measures aimed at raising funds to run and manage this fisheries sector.

“All the three countries will have to ensure that the fish landing site users fee is legislated as a funding mechanism for Beach Management Unit, “reads the joint statement.

It was signed by the Ugandan Minister for Agriculture, Culture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Hope Mwesigye, Kenya’s Fisheries Minister Dr.Paul Nyongesa Otuma. Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Uganda Rajab Gamal signed for his country’s Minister for Fisheries.

The move came in the wake of the reported move by the European Union {EU} which has been supporting most of the Beach Management Units and infrastructure development had announced it would be pulling out by August this year.

To-date, the EU has finance the Beach Management Units within the three territories to the tune of Kshs 3 billion. The phased out EU support aimed at fighting illegal fishing, building office blocks, research and vessels, among other activities.

And among the options the three Ministers discussed was the possibility of increasing states contributions to the regional kitty managed by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, whose administrative headquarters is based in Uganda.

Presently, every country provides an equivalent amount of money to the tune of Kshs 9 billion [USD 120 million} and Kshs 24 million {USD320,000}

The Council of Minister, however, is exploring the possibility of setting up a fish levy trust to help in the implementation of the programs.

Dr Otuoma was quoted by the press as saying that the running of the water body can no longer be done by every state individually.

Among the challenges faced include deterioration of water quality due to pollution, over fishing and use of illegal harvesting methods..Stocks of the biggest income earner, the Nile Perch, have been on the decline, pushing high its price in the local and international market.

Available statistic released in February this year by LVFO shows show that 360,000tons of Nile perch had been harvested cumulatively b the three countries. This compared badly with the 1,932,000 tons last year.

The decline in many fish species in Lake Victoria is also attributed the poor quality of water which is excessively polluted by industrial residues discharged from various towns and u country industries.

Numerous Non-Governmental Organizations {NGOs} have sprung up in recent year and went over drive in raising funds from foreign governments, mostly in Western Europe purporting to be working towards the preservation of Lake Victoria waters and fighting its environmental degradation, but only converted the donor money into wealth making.

These NGO are found within the three countries of Tanzania Uganda and Kenya. They usually approach the donor agencies with elaborate plans earmarked for fighting pollution and other environmental degradation in the water mass, but all the funds got siphoned and ended up lining the pockets of the NGO bosses, but strangely enough thy still able to continue conning the donor nations of millions of dollars of taxpayers money in those countries.

The sweet talking bosses of these NGO have become excessively wealthy and jet set flying to every capital of the world, especially within the EU nations attracting donor fund, and yet the quality of water in Lake Victoria has deteriorated so much that it is no longer even fit not only for fish breeding, but even for human consumption.

Millions of dollars raised from the generous donor agencies most of it is squandered in funding the purchase of the latest state of the art vehicles, mostly the four wheel drive Japanese fuel guzzling cars private posh houses in the cities, business enterprises premises and other valuable properties while Victoria is on its deathbed!!.

Lake Victoria has changed its color and the water looked dirty and contaminated due to human errors and pollution by industrial wastes.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya & Tanzania: NILE perch stocks in the Lake Victoria is slowly and steadly recovering

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

A report recently prepared by experts says that the economically and commercially important Nile perch stock in Lake Victoria is slowly but steadily recovering after Kenya and Tanzania banned fishing in their territorial water to foreign fishermen.

THE Tanzania’s Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Dr. John Magufuli was recently quoted in the press as saying that the3 Nile perch stock is now at about 400,000 tons, up from 340,000 tones recorded in 2008.

The Minister’s remarks were based on a recent hydro acoustic survey. IT says say that in 2008, the fish stock was estimated to be about 750,000 tones

The Minister explained that zero tolerance drive against excessive fishing and use of inappropriate methods by the two countries have also contributed to the rising fish stock.

“In the next six months, Lake Victoria will have satisfactory stocks of Nile perch and other fish species, “said Dr.Magufuli.

Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest fresh water mass covers a total area of 68,800 square kilometers and has a maximum depth of 80 meters. Tanzania owns the lion’s share of 49 per cent, while Uganda has 45 per cent with Kenya having the smallest portion of only t per cent.

The Nile perch is of great significance to the three Eastern African countries, which jointly owns Lake Victoria. The lake provides fish for domestic and export markets. The value of the catch fro the lake is about USD 350 million annually at landing sites, with a further USD 250 million generated as foreign exchange from Nile perch fillets exports to European Union countries, Middle East, Japan and the US.

Over 30 million people in East Africa depend on fishing for their livelihood. Fish is also provides high quantity food protein in the form of nutrient and animal protein for million of consumers in the region.

Inland fisheries contributed 1-12 per cent of the GDP in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, most of which is from the Nile perch in Lake Victoria.

Last year, Tanzania earned nearly USD 23 million from fish catches in Lake Victoria alone.

It should be remembered that in 2008, nearly five cargo planes from Ukraine, Holland and Belgium used to land at the Mwnza Airport, on the southern shores of Lake Victoria every week, to carry an estimated 400 tones fresh Nile perch fillets to Europe, Middle-East, Japan and other destinations.

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TANZANIA: NYERERE’S VISION STILL LIVES WITH US

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Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News

BY JOSEPH ADERO NGALA
ARUSHA-TANZANIA

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela acknowledges that even after former President of the Republic of Tanzania and founder Julius Kambarage Nyerere had stepped down from public office in his own country, we still benefit from his leadership and wise counsel, in pursuit of development, peace and justice not only in our countries, our region and our continent, but throughout the world.

As the Africa wise men say, when elders sit under a tree there must be a new good thing coming on the way. This happened recently in Arusha, Tanzania when a team of experts gathered for a workshop that brought a number of renowned writers, professors, lecturers and human right activists from Rwanda, Kenya Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania.

The deliberation took three days from May 6 -8 at Kibo hotel place. The workshop was convened pursuant to the East Africa Calendar of Activities covering January-June 2010. The purpose of the workshop was to develop a research Agenda for the Centre through a consultative and collaborative approach.

The think tank discussed and generated consensus amongst the participants on the general direction of the policy-oriented research; determine research topic /focal areas under three thematic areas; and determine a set of research questions for the different research topics.

The Deputy Secretary General Political Federation Hon Beatrice Kiraso in her opening remarks welcomed the participants drowned from the East African countries. In her maiden speech she informed the workshops participants that the vision of East Africa Community is to have a peaceful, secure and politically united East Africa.

She noted further that the Treaty underscores peace and security as pre-requisites to social and economic development within East Africa community and vital to the achievement of the objective of the community.

She underlined the importance and relevance of peace and stability to all the four stages of integration and emphasized that without peace and stability, all the remarkable achievements of regional integration cannot be sustained.

Kiraso informed the workshop that the overall objective of Nyerere centre for Peace Research (NCPR) is to provide the East African Community with relevant and timely research, training and information that contribute to deepening and widening of integration in areas of Peace and security, good Governance and foreign policy coordination.

She made it very clear that the centre will carry out its mandate through empirical and policy-oriented research and capacity building in key areas that will enhance deepening and widening of the East Africa Community integration in general and peace and security, good governance and common foreign policy pursuits in particular.

The author was one of the experts attending the workshops. During the discussion there were a number of debates that generated issues raised from cattle’s rustling, transport, child soldiers, prostitution, war lords, constitution reviews.

Present were among eminent professor Makumi Mwagiru, the guru of peace and security from the University of Nairobi, Professor Beregu from St Augustine University, and a well known Kenyan Professor Gilbert Khadiagala who chaired the meeting.

The Nyerere Centre for Peace Research started as a joint effort of the East African Community (EAC) and Arcadia University that provides an academic resource to the member states of EAC. Engaging in policy research and analysis, data collection and training, the centre supports decision makers, civil society organizations and the community whose aim is to build capacity and promote the peaceful settlement of conflict in the region.

The Nyerere Centre for Peace Research is located at the site of the EAC Headquarters in Arusha. Housed in the Princes Margaret of the former State House Compound (barara ya afrika Masharitiki) the centre will preserve and celebrate the heritage of this site and draw on the distinct cultures of Eastern Africa as a means to promote peace.

Julius Kabarage Nyerere was born on April 13, 1922 in Butiama, Tanganyika, to local Zanaki Chief. Nyerere Burito. At age of 12 he began his education at the Government Primary School in Musoma, walking 26 miles each day to attend classes.

He completed his schooling in a year early. He was then transferred to the Tabora Boys government Secondary School in 1943 he moved on to Makerere university for certificate in education, and then returned to Tabora to teach at St Mary’s Mission school. In 1949 he became the first Tanganyika to study in Britain when he obtained a Masters of Arts in history and economics at the University of Edinburgh.

On his return to Tanganyika, he took a teaching position at St Francis College in Dar-es-salaam, where in 1954 he developed the Tanganyika Africa national union (TANU) which grouped together nationalist factions towards an agenda of independence and self-reliance for the country.

Nyerere then entered the colonial legislative council in 1958 and in 1961.Tanganyika was granted self-governance and Nyerere was elected its Prime minister. When Tanganyika received full independence in 1962, Nyerere was elected president, a post he held until his retirement in 1985.

During his political career, Nyerere grew to become one of the most respected and beloved African leaders through his messages of peace, Unity and liberation for the Africa people. He was instrumental in the creation of the organization of Africa unity (OAU) and acted as the keystone of several liberation moments across the continent as well as the union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika to form the united republic of Tanzania. His work continued beyond his retirement, acting as the chair of the intergovernmental south centre and a mediator in Burundi. He died on October 14, 1999, in London.

The workshop was organized by Pamela Atakunda and Ethel Sirengo. At the end of the workshop the way forward was reached -that East Africa community to strengthen the human resource capacity of NCPR in order to be able to undertake the proposed research activities; resource mobilization to effectively implement the research activities; have a timeframe for the research activities and updates the existing database of research institutions and individual researchers.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

E-Mail news@ppa.or.ke
Tel 254-20-4441372
Website : www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

Kenya & Tanzania: Tea Company plans to arrest lightning menace in its plantations

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

DEATH by lightning of both human and livestock as well as destruction of property is not strange in East Africa.

On average, lightning kills about 40 people annually in Kenya alone. It strike mostly during the short-rains season beginning from the months of September and December, and also is very common at the starts of the long rain season in the months of April-May.

In Zimbabwe the death is reported to be averaging between 200 and 250 annually, followed by the neighboring Zambia with an average death toll of between 140 and 180 people annually.

In Kenya the National Lightning Committee is said to have been dormant for lack of funds, despite the fatalities recorded every year.

The most prone areas are low-laying regions of the highlands west of Rift Valley and around Equator. These regions report the highest strikes with most victims being those sheltering rain under trees or in verandas or in the open {tea fields}.

In the South Rift region of Kericho and its environs where incidences of lightning strike are so common. Other areas include the neighboring Kisii region and Southern Nyanza and along the shorelines of Lake Victoria.

Kericho is the region where Kenya most Kenyan tea is grown. The region is always recorded the highest number of incidences of deaths caused by the thunderbolt. Other area include the North Rift region of Uasin Gishu, Keiyo, Nandi, Marakwet, Trans-Nzoia and the menace spread of the low-laying land of Bungoma, Kakamaga, Mumias Busia and Siaya.

It is for this reason that one of the multinational tea companies, the Unilever Tea Company Ltd. {formerly Brooke Bond Tea Company Ltd.} and its Tanzania subsidiary, the Tanzania Tea Company Ltd, recently carried out a special study to monitor to monitor lightning strikes with the view to evacuate personnel in time before lightning strikes.

The study was also driven by the stringent policy on safety of its personnel in the tea fields. The companies have invested heavily in technology as well as management systems. Over 22,000 workers are benefiting from a safer work environment. There have been no more facilities and the number of false evacuations has reduced, resulting in more productive man hours.

This innovative programme carried out in Tanzania and Kenya impressed the judges of the inaugural East African Community Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2010 held in Dar Es Salaam recently.

The companies were awarded the “Best Workplace Practice Award in the Bank M- sponsored awards. The awards were held in partnership with East African Business Council, and a Nairobi weekly the EASTAFRICAN.

“The programme, incorporated a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate the greatest risk employees face – lightning strikes in the tea plantations, “noted the judges.

The judges selected this program specifically for its rigorous approach to assessing the biggest risk facing employees and putting in place comprehensive management and reporting systems to ensure that the initiative was carried out to its best and challenges were overcome. Partnering with local and international experts and technology organizations as well as investing time in communicating and training employees creatively about the new system is testimony to the true commitment Unilever Tanzania and Kenya have made for their employees.

In the same category, Safaricom the largest mobile phone provider in Kenya,Foundation’s “World of Difference Program” – a secondment program sending employees to the Foundation’s non-governmental organization partners such as Red Cross Kenya to provide training and support on IT systems, administration and marketing was highly commended by the judges.

Twelve employees have been sent to four NGOs and more employees will be sent this year.

Voluntary Service Organization was brought on board to measure and evaluate employee performance.

Tea is grown in Tanzania’s highland region of Mufindi, and also in Malawi Mt. Sochwe region near Blantyre, KERICHO AND Sotik Highlands and the Nandi Hills as well as Maborokie in Limuru area. These are the areas which attracts most rainfalls during the rainy season in the year, making them prone to lightning menace.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania: The nation plans to build its nuclear power plant in the near future

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Economic and Business News By Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

REPORTS emerging from Dar Es Salaam, says Tanzania is planning to build a nuclear power plant in the near future with the technical backing of a South African and French multinational companies.

It would be the first nuclear plant of its kind in the Eastern African region. This is following a move by South Areva, a South African multinational firm, which is a member of the French multinational Areva Groups to bid to its construction.

Currently, the country, which depends on hydro-electric power to produce electricity, suffers from frequent acute power shortage.

The chairman of Areva South Africa Mohamed Madhi was recently in Dar-Es –Salaam from where he disclosed the plans to newsmen. He said his firm was seeking opportunities in East Africa to invest in nuclear power production.

He explained that Areva will produce clean energy in Tanzania though the construction of nuclear power plant pending the conclusion of negotiations with the government of that country.

“Areva is one of the leading companies that will be bidding for contracts to build energy capability in Tanzania,’ said Madhi. The firm is also a leading global nuclear energy with integrated capability across the full nuclear energy cycle from mining of uranium, to building of power stations, transmission and distribution of electricity and recycling and disposal of nuclear waste.

According to Madhu, South Africa, is currently working on a capital expansion program that will treble its power generation capacity from the current 38,000MW to about 80,00MW.

“Nuclear is expected to to form a significant portion of the energy mix in three projected capital expansion plan” Madhu said, adding that in the last capital expansion program the government anticipated that nuclear would form over 30 per cent of the new-built program.

According to Areva, nuclear is currently seen as a cost-effective environmentally friendly and relevant development energy option. Globally, it says, there is resurgence of interest in nuclear energy ,referred to in the industry as the “Nuclear Renaissance driven by the growing demand for energy among the fast growing emerging economic powers India and China.

It is also driven b the climate change issue, as other ‘base-load “option, coal fired power stations- is increasingly seen as a carbon intensive.

Madhu said the African continent ha energy resources-uranium solar, hydro, geothermal coal and gas which and underdeveloped.

However, experts at the Arusha-based Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission say extensive preparation are needed before the country can and process uranium.

The Commission’s director Prof. Idi Mkilaha in a recent interview with the EASTRAFRICAN that according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, baseline studies to assess the current level of contamination need to be made besides the mining regulations, there are regulations on safety and safeguard matters to consider.

Asked about the generation of electricity from nuclear, Prof Mkilaha said mining uranium and electricity generation are two different things.

“Major steps towards nuclear power plant development involve energy planning and analysis to establish and predict the optimum energy mix for the country in the short and long term,” he added.

Further steps include developing safeguards and nuclear regulatory framework and infrastructure, carrying out self-assessment in terms of the basic infrastructure for nuclear development and implementation, and human resources capacity development in nuclear technology.

The country also needs to carry out stakeholder and community education on nuclear power plant and its implications, identifying suitable and appropriate technology, site and nuclear power plant vendors, construction of nuclear power plant, and finally commissioning, monitoring and reviews of future development.

Prof. Mkilaha said uranium investment can take between 10 and 20 years to start paying back and as such economic benefits must be planned carefully before any commitment is made.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania: 1000 delegates from 86 countries to converge in Dar for the World Economic Forum

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Economic News By LeoOdera Omolo In Kisumu Town.

Important gatherings which will involve over 1000 delegates from 85 countries are expected this week in the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam to attend the 20th World Economic Forum.

According to the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, eleven African heads of state and governments will be among the participants expected to be in attendance at the forum which starts on Thursday.

The forum comes on the heel of the just concluded Investment Conference held in the Uganda capital, Kampala, which both Presidents Yoweri Museveni, Jakaya Kkwete and Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga were the key speakers.

Preside Kikwete will be the host of the forum, which is expected to explore he theme ‘Rethinking of Africa’s Growth Strategy.’

Kikwete told the organizers and newsmen in Dar Es Salaam that Africa is full of potential and it has been growing steadily despite the economical instability and recession that is facing the world today.

“We will have the opportunity to examine Africa’s present strategy to ensure there is a better tomorrow,” said President Kikwete.

The forum is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Africa meeting. At the same time, Africa is marking 50 years since the start of independence movement that transformed the continent’s geopolitical landscape.

“It is a fitting gesture to celebrate this milestone year by hosting the Africa meeting for the first time in East ,said World Economic Forum director Katherine Tweedie in a press statement issued in Dar Es Salaam at the weekend

She said it is encouraging o see the strong support from President Kikwete, the government and the business community at this pivotal point in time, when Africa and the rest of the world seek answers to the economic crisis to find solutions.’.

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Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda: Governments are blamed for mismanagement of Lake Victoria

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda failed to manage Lake Victoria leading to a sharp decline of its most valued species, the Nile Perch

Experts have predicted that there will be no Nile Perch in Lake Victoria in the near future unless there is a drastic change in the way the resource is harvested, the Kenyan Fisheries Ministry has said.

Official statistics made available to this writer indicate that the stocks harvested steadily fell from 1.9 million tones to 1.2 million tones between 1991 and 2001.The figure further dropped to 544,000 tones in 2005.

Regional survey carried out in 2008 also show a further drop to approximately 299,000 tones, raising fears that the poor fishing, use of unlawful fishing gear, is rapidly depleting the lake of its economically important resources.

Kenya’s Minister for Fisheries Development, Dr. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, readily admitted that the decline has led to reduced exports and less of revenue for the three states sharing Lake Victoria.

Fish processors contend that while they have instituted self regulation measures to address the declining fisheries level, which is the responsibility of the governments, this has not been strictly enforced.

According the Kenyan based fish processors and exporters association CEO, fish factories can barely operate at their optimum capacity leading to the collapse of several factories over the years.

“We cannot even raise the 10tons that most factories require to break even,“ said the CEO. There are eight fish processing factories on the Kenyan side of the lake, four are located in Kisumu City, while Nairobi Homa-Bay and Migori towns have one each.

The latest statistics indicate a sharp decline in the number of the Nile Perch from 1.2 million tones a decade ago, to 299,000 tons last year.

Besides the huge economic effects supporting the estimated USD 250 million annual export market, experts have linked to dwindling fish stocks in the lake to emerging fishing conflicts such as the row over Migingo Island and wars of an escalation of such incidents, id this is not adequately addressed.

Lack of commitment has been blamed for the failure of national initiative by the three governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to reverse the trend.

In the recent past, the focus has been on joint plans that have bit fared well so far. Last year, a plan to eliminate illegal fishing and trade in immature Nile Perch fish species in Lake Victoria by December flopped.

However, an Assistant Director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute[KMERI] Dr. Richard Abila, explained that though success was made in removing illegal gear, authorities could not keep up with the rate at which they were being re-introduced in the lake.

A joint communique by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization Council of Ministers that set the stage for the planned crackdown against illegal fishers alluded to this, saying, that as soon after the confiscation, the illegal fishing gear were immediately replaced by racketeers.

Drawing from the experience of the botched attempt, the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are planning a fresh onslaught against the declining Nile Perch stocks.

A major security operation is planned in Lake Victoria later moth {April 2010} to mop up illegal fishing gear. The planned week-long operation is part of the regional initiative dabbed ‘Operation Save the Nile Perch conducted by the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization {LVFO].’Te total biomass of fish in the lake was estimated at two million tones in 2007 of which 30 per cent were Nile Perch, which had declined to 15 per cent in 2008, a total of 91,000 tones of fish species valued at USD 319.4 million were exported, but in 2009, this figure had dropped to 81,000tones valued at USD 310 million.

Kenyan Fisheries Minister Dr.Otuoma said sad other effect of this decline include closure of some fish processing plants, while many are operating below their production capacity

Other effects said the Minister include re-emergence of cross border conflict such as the on-going dispute between his country and Uganda over Migingo Island, loss of income by fishermen employees and traders.

These issues, the Minister said highlights un-sustainability of the fish stocks and unacceptable status of the Lake Victoria fisheries.

“Scientists’ evidence has positively identified the root cuase of this steady decline in the un-sustainability of the fish stocks which by nature are predetermined.”

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania to go nuclear

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REPORTS emerging from the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam, says the country is to begin mining and processing uranium within three years, following the announcement of two commercial discoveries in the Central and Southern regions of the country.

Exploration estimates indicate that the country has about 5.9 million pounds of uranium oxide {U306} deposits, that at the current prices of USD 41 per pound, is worth USD 2.2 billion.

Two firms, Matra Resources and Uranex Resources, have been exploring for the mineral in Tanzania, and have confirmed discovery, which are now only waiting for the new Mining Bill to be tabled in Parliament before the end of this month to commence mining.

A week ago, the report says, the Proactive Investors Website said Uranex, an Australian listed company with projects in Australia and Tanzania, had announced the discovery of new uranium mineral mineralization, during pitting of its previously untested Mbuga G site in the northern part of the Manyoni Project in Central Tanzania.

In addition, further uranium mineralization has also been identified at Mbuga A C West, D, and F, including recent assays returned from 2009.

Managing Director, John Cottle was quoted last week by the influential EASTAFRICAN as saying, “We are very excited about these new uranium intersection as they continue to confirm our belief in the mineral potential of the Manyoni district.

The Mining Bill is geared to create a win-win situation for both investor and Tanzania, unlike its predecessor, the mining Act 1998, which gave disproportionate note revenue benefits to many companies operating in the land. Both Matra and Uranex said the actual production will begin after three years.

The coming on stream of uranium will make the most dependable export for Tanzania after gold.

The mining sector in general earned the country USD 111.5 million in 2009, contributing 3 per cent to the gross domestic products {GDP}.

Tanzania ultimately aims to exploit its uranium deposits to produce nuclear power to export to the East, Southern and Central African markets.

And last week, at a meeting of the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa {FNRBA} held in Abuja, Nigeria, the United States pledged its willingness to help African countries interested in generating electricity from nuclear sources. Tanzania is a member of FNRBA, along with Congo, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia and Tunisia.

Matra, which will mine uranium in the South of the country at Namtumbo district, Ruvuma region expects to produce 3.7 million pounds per year worth USD 151.7 million, using a 1,500 strong workforce and investment of about USD 400 million, according to its website.

Ends

Leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania Should have a Robust patent Protection System

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Are Tanzanian lawyers paying any attention to patent practice? Why are they not collaborating with Tanzanian scientists and engineers to develop a robust patent protection system? While our lawyers are enmeshed in land cases, election/chieftaincy petitions and petty politics, the legal minds of other nations are moving forward, in tandem with their inventors, leaving us behind like paralytic consumers of technology.

If I wasn’t a Tanzanian, maybe I wouldn’t have any interest in the affairs of that country. For example, I don’t know what Liberian leaders tell their citizens. As far as I am concerned, whatever Ugandan engineers tell their political leaders does not interest me so much. But I care for Tanzania and read about my beloved country everyday, thanks to the power of technology.

Speaking of technology, I’ve read so much about the “achievements” of Tanzanian engineers, scientists and technologists that my head spins. We have been hearing such claims or variations thereof since 1961! Who is fooling who?

For those who care to know, the technological development of any nation is directly proportional to her patent practice. Patent law is designed to protect innovative scientific inventions. When you pick up your cell phone, which happens to be the most prolific invention in the hands of Tanzanians today, the parts used to make them are protected by patents from one or more countries. The maker of the cell phone, for example, Nokia, may not own even one part of the units that make up the device but licensed them from the owners of the patents. The owner of the patent, called a patentee, need not be a cell phone maker or in any manufacturing business at all. The patentee to the intermittent windshield wiper was not a car manufacturer. Instead, car manufacturers took non-exclusive licenses from him and paid him loyalties for using his invention. An exclusive license may have antitrust implications; I leave that for another day.

Patent licensing and patent litigation are the most flourishing areas of legal practice today due to the proliferation and advances in science and technology. Companies go into cross-licensing to checkmate unnecessary conflicts and compete only in those areas where they really need to. In 2004, Sony and Samsung entered into an agreement to share patents on basic technology, to speed up product development, and avoid adding to a growing number of cross-border patent disputes. The implication is that your Sony Plasma TV shares same technology as your neighbor’s Samsung!

I have been reading the World Intellectual Property Organization, (WIPO) report since 2003. I usually subject it to a search for “Tanzania”, a ritual all electronic documents that come to my desk pass through. It would have been like searching for the face of your lover in Kariakoo market, but again, thanks to technology, it took less than 3 seconds. My search for Tanzania saves me unnecessary embarrassment. I need to know where my beloved country stands before discussing such document. To appreciate what the WIPO report said about Tanzania, we need to know what it said about other countries.
The 2009 report shows that worldwide patent application filings have increased an average of 4.7 percent a year since 1995, with the highest growth experienced in North East Asian countries, notably South Korea and China. Of the 5.6 million patents in force in 2005, 90 percent were granted by 10 patent offices: the United States, Japan, Germany, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, Spain, China, Canada and the Russian Federation. Additional details include the following:

1. The largest recipients of patent filings are the patent offices of Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, and the European Patent Office. These five offices account for 77 percent of all patents filed in 2005, and account for 74 percent of all patents granted.

2. That China experienced the highest growth rate in both residential and nonresidential filings, boasting a 42.1 and 27.9 percent increase, respectively, over earlier filing rates.

3. Residents of Japan were the most frequent patent grantees worldwide, followed by residents of the United States, South Korea, Germany and France. Applicants from Japan and the United States owned 28 percent and 21 percent, respectively, of patents in force worldwide in 2005.

4. U.S. applicants continue to lead in overall PCT applications, followed by applicants from Japan and Germany.
Tanzania did not show up in Table 1: Patent Filings and Grants by Office, meaning that we have a dead patent office. However, in Table 2: Patent Filings, Grants and Patents in Force by Country and Territory of Origin, Tanzania is credited with Non-resident direct filings, one National Phase Entry, one PCT International Application, and only 2 Patents in force since 2000 !

In contrast, South Africa has 5,554 National Phase Entries, 248 non-resident filings and 2,486 patents in force. China, our satellite development partner, has 2,561 non-resident direct filings, 156 Resident Direct filings, and 59,087 patents in force. Brazil has 3,821 Resident direct filings, 2,560 non-resident direct filings, and 5,500 patents in force. United States garnered 202,776 direct resident filings, 51,921 non-resident direct filings and 1,214,556 patents in force.

If we really have scientists and engineers in Tanzania, how come they’ve not done anything to change the world like their foreign counterparts? What have all the research institutes done to positively impact the lives of Tanzanians? People all over the world are coming up with innovative ways of performing old tasks and improved seeds for bountiful harvests. The report shows that the United States and the Japanese Patent Offices respectively had more than 900,000 and 800,000 patents pending in 2005. How many Tanzanians have been issued with any utility patent from any country whatsoever since 2000?

Professor Boroffice of Nigeria was once quoted as saying, “We must contribute to the development of technology because he, who has technology, has power.” I agree with him. But nobody ever transfers power willingly. The Chinese did not send their scientist to the UK or the US to build satellites. They stole the technology by the process of reverse engineering. The professor should know what I am talking about, but I doubt whether our lawyers do. Reverse engineering is the general process of analyzing a technology specifically to ascertain how it was designed or how it operates in order to duplicate or enhance the object. Reverse engineering is illegal in some countries. Our lawyers should study our domestic laws and international treaties on the subject. We can start with products whose patents have expired and move from there.

If I may I humbly ask, are Tanzanian lawyers paying any attention to patent practice? Why are they not collaborating with Tanzanian scientists and engineers to develop a robust patent protection system? While our lawyers are enmeshed in land cases, election/chieftaincy petitions and petty politics, the legal minds of other nations are moving forward, in tandem with their inventors, leaving us behind like paralytic consumers of technology.

Finally, one conclusion to be drawn from the above facts is that Tanzanian leaders and scientists know nothing with respect to patent law in the development of science and technology. When President Jakaya Kikwete bemoaned the various problems confronting the country, attributing them to disrespect for the rule of law, he, a scientist, I believe, knows the importance of obeying natural laws. Inventions are based on strict adherence to natural laws. Obedience to law is the key to technological development. Our total disregard for laws is our bane. You cannot practice science with a crooked mind. Science abhors dishonesty!

—
Yona Fares Maro
I.T. Specialist and Digital Security Consultant

Tanzania: PAC has ordered Tanzania’s fictitious diamonds sorting office in the UK closed down

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TANZANIA HAS CLOSED DOWN ITS DIAMOND SORTING AGENCY OFFICES IN LONDON FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE INVESTIGATIONS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

REPORTS emerging from the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam say that country has closed down its diamond sorting firm in the UK and transferred its operation to Dar.

The Commissioner of Minerals in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, Dr Peter Dalaly Kafumu, has confirmed the report by saying that the closure was necessary, following Petra Diamond’s purchase of De Beers interest in the Williamson Diamonds mines, which are located in Mwadui, Shinyanga in Central Tanzania.

He explained that since Petra Diamonds sells its mineral products directly to the overseas markets, the functions of Tanzania Diamond Sorting {Tansort} in London has become irrelevant and redundant.

Petra bought a 75 per cent stake at Williamson Diamond Mines from De Beers Societe Anonyme subsidiary Willcroft Company Ltd in 2008 for USD 10 million, and changed the firm’s name to Williamson Diamond Ltd. The government of Tanzania retains the remaining 25 per cent of the shares.

According to Dr Kafumu, Tanzania law stipulates that if a mineral {diamond} company is selling its products via a third party, then the government agency is needed to work out the prices. However, if the firm sells direct to the market, there is no need for any government agency coming in the picture as a go-between.

Tansort, which was established in 1966, came into limelight when it was reported to have failed to disclose its financial accounts, forcing the Parliamentary Public Account Committee {PAC} to launch investigations on its activities in 2004. The committee suggested its immediate closure to save its misuse of public funds.

Pac investigations had revealed that between 1994 and 2000, De Beers had paid USD 4.05 million to Tansort for the sorting of 901,300 carats of diamond. De Beers pays Tansort USD 4.5 per carat.

But according to the government officials, no money paid by De Beers to Tansort has been remitted to the Treasury. Thus in 2004, PAC was allowed to investigate Tansort activities and methods of payment of royalties from diamond sales.

The PAC investigations reported gross misappropriation of funds, but the government is yet to give detailed explanations on the firm’s activities and why it does not remit money to the Treasury.

A human rights lawyer, Tindu Lissiu was recently quoted by the EASTAFRICAN as saying that the closure of Tansort does not mean the corruption allegations are also closed for the firm.

However, the PAC chairman, John Cheyo {UDP}, said his committee wanted the firm to be closed long ago and gave “full blessing “,as price checking and quality control was directed by the De Beers.

“The accountant and audit general will continue to follow the matter in a normal manner and report. We are satisfied with the progress and we hope by end-year things will improve,” Hon Cheyo, a Member of Parliament for the United Democratic Party said.

Parliament’s hansard records indicate that on July 17, 2006, when tabling the budget for the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, the then Minister Dr Ibrahim Msababa said Tansort was allocated one million dollars for the training of its staff and officials.

The sums of money was also meant to meet office rent expenses for the company, which according to the Minister, was to be moved back to Tanzania from the UK.

The PAC in 2004 formed the probe committee, after it found that answers given by the accounts officials from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals were not “satisfactory”.

The reports say the processing of the diamonds before they are handed over to Tansort is undertaken entirely by Williamson Diamonds ltd. “What Tansort office checks is only the weight and seals, but the existing system does not allow the officer to determined whether the size and quality of diamonds he has received are the same as that sent from the mine“, says the report.

The PAC also looked into the establishment of Tansort and why USD 2.5 billion accruing from the sorting of diamonds were not remitted to the Treasury. The committee found that Tansort does not legally exist since its creation in 1966.

The Tanzanian government has failed to explain how it was crated or produce documents to support its creation.

Ends

Kenya and Tanzania in a joint wildlife census to determine the number of animals

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KENYA AND TANZANIA IN JOINT WILDLIFE CENSUS ON LARGE HERBIVOROUS ANIMALS TO DETERMINED THE NUMBER OF BIG GAMES IN THEIR RESPECTIVENATIONAL PARKS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

DESPITE their divergent opinion about the future of ivory trade, Kenya and Tanzania have come together for a joint aerial wildlife census.

The cross border count will assess the impact of last year’s prolonged drought in the greater Amboseli ecosystem, besides generating information that will be used to plan and streamline management of parks in the two countries.

The census exercise brought together 50 officials, from the pilot and Geographic Information System {GIS} experts, to data entry clerks and technical observers. Kenya funded it to the tune of USD 42,763.

Kenya Wildlife Service monitoring and biodiversity information manager, Erustus Kanga told newsmen that the operation targeted large herbivorous mammals, from the size of gazelles and above, including elephants, elands, giraffes and buffaloes.

The team crisscrossed the Amboseli ecosystem that spans 6,000 square kilometers, including the Amboseli National Park and the surrounding community ranches, Nguruman-Magadi as well as the West Kilimanjaro region up to Lake Natron in Tanzania.

Amboseli is among the areas that have been hard hit by prolonged drought over the past two years, leading to massive deaths of zebra, wildebeest, elephant, buffaloes as well as livestock from the local communities.

The census come barely a fortnight to the decisive Doha meeting, where the two countries are expected to face off as a decision is made by parties in the Convention Trade on Endangered Species {Sites} on whether to allow Ivory trade or not.

Tanzania and Zambia have applied to be allowed to sell off their ivory stocks, a development that Kenya is vehemently opposed to.

Among the sticking points in the row are complaints by Kenya authorities that they were not consulted by their neighbors before they made the bid.

Mr Kanga insisted that the difference between the different opinions did not affect relations between wildlife managers from the two countries during the operation.

During the operation, the two countries established co-operational bases on either sides of the common border.

While KWS, which partnered with African Wildlife Foundation and Amboseli National park, the Tanzania National Parks operated from Kilimanjaro National Park.

This is the first time that the two countries are collaborating on the census.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBER STATES TO ADOPT ONE SINGLE ENTRY VISA TO THEIR NATIONAL GAME PARKS.

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EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY MEMBER STATES TO ADOPT ONE SINGLE ENTRY VISA TO THEIR NATIONAL GAME PARKS.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Residents of the East African Community {EAC] will be required to pay the same fees as Tanzanians to enter the country’s national parks.

A note recently sent to game park managers by Tanzania National Parks Authority spokesman, Pascal Shelutete, reads as follows; ‘This is to inform you that nationals of Rwanda and Burundi are to be charged preferential rates just like those of Kenya and Uganda.

“Thus arrangement is in line with the EAC plans to promote the region as a single tourism destination,” adds the note.

This mean EAC residents will now pay Tshs 1,500 [about USD 1 for adults]and Tshs 500 { about 35 cents USD} for children visiting any national parks in Tanzania per day.

Analysts believe the uniform directive is timely and will boost the industry in the EAC Common Market with nearly 130 million consumers and combined GDP of nearly USD 60 billion.

In 2006, each of the three founding EAC partner states of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were charging different figures for non-citizen tourists. In Uganda, the entrance fees for EAC citizens to any of the country’s national game parks was USD 10 per day, while Ugandans were charged Ushs 5,000 {about USD 2.5}.

In Tanzania, the entry fees to Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti for foreign tourists and EAC residents was USD 60 and USD 50 respectably. In Kenya, the average charge fee for non-citizens was set at USD 30 per adult and USD 19 per student or child per day.

At the same time, sources at the EAC secretariat in Arusha say a task force appointed to study the region’s preparedness for a single tourist visa will present its report in June this year.

“The partner states are still consulting on the matter with the possibility of a trial visa to be introduced first, as they try to harmonize their tourism policies and laws,” a source explained.

The secretariat is reported to have approached the partner states, seeking information from the immigration departments on visa regulations and statistics from major tourism market countries.

Sources added that there was a likelihood of starting with a trial single visa in June this year, to determine whether East Africa is ready to introduce a single tourist visa for the region.

Experts working on the matter want visitor’s statistics for the sample countries that will participate in the suggested trial visa before the actual document is introduced.

The major source market for tourists coming to East Africa are the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa and Scandinavian countries.

Also sought for is information on information and communication technology {ICT} system used by the partner states to network with various centers such as border points and embassies.

In recent past, tourism players based in Arusha were said to have faulted the EAC governments for delaying the single visa tourism entry visa for the region.

Tourists visiting the region often spend hours crossing from one EAC state to another because they use different visa for each country.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com