Category Archives: Tanzania

Ways to fix Tanzanians Railways

Rail transport is usually the most suitable mode of transportation for heavy traffic flows when speed is also an advantage because of the lower cost per person per load as the train load increases.

In Tanzania, rail transport accounts less than a half per cent to the GDP of the country. Although rail has always contributed a tiny proportion of value-added in transportation, its share of value-added continues to decline because road transport (freight and passenger) has virtually taken over all the traffic previously conveyed by rail.

The railways in Tanzania are regulated and operated by the Tanzanian Railway Corporation, which was established by the government . It inherited a rail network, from British Colonial masters, which was designed in a fashion to facilitate the flow of goods, such as groundnuts,Coffee , Maize and cotton, from the inlands to the coast, where they were shipped to Britain.

During this period, Tanzania’s single-narrow-gauge railway line was constructed and for many years was the only mode of freight movement between parts of the country. The current rail network consists of gauge tracks and of standard gauge tracks which connect Dar es salaam With Other Towns

Years of neglect and lack of investments have severely hampered the capacity of the rail network to act as a mass transit vehicle. As part of its plans to revitalise the nation’s railways, the government has privatise the Tanzanian Railway Corporation (TRC). Under the privatisation plan, the government HAS grant concession to private sector companies, who WHERE expected to provide train service and maintain the infrastructure.

However the government could go a lot further by separating the railway operations in to two broad categories – railway infrastructure and train operations, and form a railways regulatory body which regulate activities in the railways sector. Also proceeds from the privatisation process should be put into a National Railway Fund which will be used to finance railway projects.

Railway Infrastructure Company (RIC)

The ownership and maintenance of the national railway infrastructure will be transferred to a newly established special purpose vehicle (SPV) which will be partially owned by the Government and private investors. The initial lifespan of the SPV will be for thirty years with the purpose of updating and maintaining the national rail network.

The RIC will also be responsible expanding the network around the country and building new rail links as air-rail links which connect the countries airports to the centre of cities they serve, similar to the Paddington Heathrow Express in the UK. It will also be responsible for traffic control and signaling, and the construction of new train stations on the railway network.

The RIC will also take ownership of all the existing train stations and warehouses owned by the TRC in the country, which it could operate itself or lease out to train operating companies, who will also provide passenger and freight train services out of the any of the train stations in their command.

The newly formed RIC will have the following streams of revenue:

• Track Services Fees: These are fees that the company will charge train operators who make use of its tracks for passenger and freight services.

• Station and Warehouse Leases: This includes the revenue accrued by leasing out train stations and warehouses to train operators.

• Government Subsidies: Because of the capital intensive nature of rail track maintenance and new line creations, the Government, through the National Railway Fund, will subsidise some of its operations. The amount of subsidies given will be based on the performance of the company in the previous year. The review of subsidies would be done on a yearly basis until the company is at the stage where it does not require government subsidies to run its operations.

The RIC will be subject to regulation from a newly created railway board, which monitor its performance and will pass down fines in areas in which the company has failed to meet standards or agreed milestones.

For the time being, it would be more economical to keep and update Tanzania’s narrow gauge tracks, rather than convert them to the standard gauge tracks. Narrow gauge tracks tend to be slower, carry less load and far less adaptable than the standard gauge tracks.

However narrow gauge tracks involve significantly less civil engineering costs and countries like Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have shown that with the right calibration and design, it is possible to get almost the same performance of standard gauge tracks out of narrow tracks. 200-car trains operate on the Sishen-Saldanha railroad in South Africa, and Queensland Rail’s tilt train is presently the fastest train in Australia, despite running on narrow gauge tracks.

Train Operating Companies (TOCs)

These will be private sector companies which will operate passenger and/or freight train services on the national rail network. In order to offer train services, potential companies will have to bid for a franchise license from the railways regulatory body, which will grant them a government backed monopoly to operate services on certain routes for a specified duration.

The TOCs will responsible for providing their own rolling stock (locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons). The rolling stock will be have of an agreed standard and quality to avoid train companies from using old and unsafe equipment to ferry passengers.

The TOCs will also agree to lease a number of train stations from the RIC for passenger services and warehouses for freight services. These facilities will be located along the route in which they operate. Under the lease agreement the TOCs will be responsible for the following:

• Maintenance and upgrade of the buildings and land on which the facility is located.

• Security at the facilities.

• Train ticket payment collections.

• Commercial activities at passenger stations, such as the renting of shop spaces.

• Parking fee collection from other TOCs who might decide to park their own trains at the station overnight.

Railway Services Companies (RSCs)

The services units of the TRC which provide direct services to the railway industry will be sold to private companies. The benefit of selling the units is to aid them focus on their core business and improve the efficiency of the services they provide.

The services units include:

• The workshop services unit: The unit mainly provides maintenance of rolling stocks.

• Printing press: This unit is responsible for the printing of the all the tickets currently used on the national rail network.

• Catering services: This unit presently provides catering services on the long distance train services.

The proceeds from the sales of these business units will be paid directly into the National Railway Fund.

Railways Regulatory Board

The Government will establish a new railway regulatory body which will oversee all activities in the Tanzanian railways sector.

The major responsibilities of the body will be to

• Carry out economic, environmental and safety regulation of the railways sector.

• Work cross the borders with Tanzania’s neighbours to ensure harmonisation with the country’s rail network.

• Monitor performance of the RIC and its agreed milestone attainments.

• Negotiate franchise agreements with TOCs and monitor their performances.

• Assist state governments in establishing intra cities mass transit rail networks.

• Investigate major incidents and accidents that occur on the railways.

• Monitor observance of public service obligations

• Conflict resolutions within the rail network system

Intra City Light Rail Systems

While state governments will be responsible for the development and deployment of a light rail system within their states, they would however be able to apply for financial assistance from the National Railway Fund.

Interested state government will submit their proposals to the Fund which will make a determination into the amount of money it plans to contribute towards the project. Every submission will be treated on a case by case basis as to determine the economic viability of the project and its likely social and environmental impact.

Winding up the National Railway Corporation

Once the national rail infrastructure, the train operation and support services have been be taken up by the companies as described earlier, the National Railway Corporation will be wound up as a legal entity and the remaining operational and non–operational assets sold off. The proceeds of the sale will be added to the National Railway Fund.

The rolling stock could be sold to the TOCs or other companies and individuals express an interest in those assets.

The Government should transfer all the assets held by the Railway Property Company Limited, a subsidiary of the TRC, which manages nearly 200 square metres of non-operational lands and landed properties held by the TRC, to the National Railway Fund, which will either sell or grow these assets.

While it would be desirable to ensure that all members of staff of the TRC be retained or reassigned by the new companies taking over, it is more practical to expect that a only a certain percentage would be rehired as a means of making these companies more efficient.

National Railway Fund (NRF)

The National Railway Fund will be established primarily to provide financial assistance to the railway sector. NRF will be registered as a company limited by guarantee and operate independently of the Railways Regulatory Board and Railways Infrastructure Company.

The Fund will be administered and managed by a Board of Trustees representing various interests in the public and private sector and will be completely isolated from the management of the Railways Regulatory Board and Railways Infrastructure Company.

The Fund will be required to release quarterly reports on the how much of its funds are being spent and how is being spent on any of the operations is it financing.

The NRF will be responsible for:

• Providing subsidies to the RIC to assist it in the maintenance and upgrade of the national railway network.

• Provide financial assistance to state governments looking to develop their own light rail networks.

NRF will be financed by:

• Proceeds from the privatisation process of the TRC.

• A railway tax passed on to passengers and companies who make use of the national railways. The tax will be 5% of the cost of a train ticket or freighting goods by rail.

• Returns on investments made by the management board in the global capital and money market.

• Grants from governments, organised private sector and international donors

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

Tanzania: Retail investors may miss out chances of buying shares in the country’s largest gold mining firm

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REPORTS SAY RETAIL TANZANIA INVESTORS WILL MISS OUT ON A CHANCE TO BUY SHARES AND OWNERSHIP IN THE LARGEST GOLD MINING FIRMN IN THE COUNTRY.

Business News By Leo OIdera Omolo.

Reports emerging out of Dar Es Salaam say many Tanzanian retails investors might have probably lost a chance to buy shares in the country’s largest gold mining company.

This is so after the Tanzanian government is said to have failed to persuade the African Barrick Gold Mines {ABG} to offload its shares on the Dar Es Salaam Stock Exchange {BSE}.

Barrick Gold’s upcoming initial public offering will put 25 per cent of its enlarged share capital on the market as it bids to raise USD 1 billion to take its capitalization to USD 4 billion.

The firm started pre-marketing its IPO last Monday on March 8,2010 in Stock Exchanges in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, United Arab Emirates and Canada.

The Government of Tanzania, according to business sources in Dar Es Salaam, could have pressed for th IPO to be listed on the Dar Es Salaam bourse parallel to the London Exchange Stock Exchange, but is said to have been too slow off the mark.

ABG has mines in Burwagi, Bulyanhulu ,Tulawaka and North Mara, representing 9.8 per cent of the total production of the parent company.

The ABG expects gold production increased by 76-80 million ounces, net of the ABGIPO of lower total cash of USD 345, USD 455 per ounce lower net cash costs of USD 545-575 per ounce.

Tanzania export of gold continued to make up the bulk of total exports, accounting for 409 per cent in 2009.

However, now that the Bank of Tanzania has announced its relaxing of capital control rules in the IPO to allow Tanzanians to participate in the IPO, the focus is on “warehousing’”-whereby large fund managers such as the Unit Trust of Tanzania {UTT} acquire a chunk of shares at the London IPO for sale to Tanzanian citizens at a later date.

According to an article in the current edition of the influential EASAFRICAN, the Deputy Minister or Tanzania’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Omar Mzee has said the government is waiting to see the IPO prospectus before deciding on the country’s stance on the warehousing proposal.

The world’s top gold mine underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase as additional 14.21 million shares at a price of USD 36.95. The beprospectus was expected to be out last week and trading is pegged to last Monday.

Core Securities Ltd CEO George Fumbuka was quoted by the EASTAFRICAN as saying that the Tanzanian government should make it possible to enable local town councils surrounding the four gold mines to participate in the IPO in order to acquire a take in their own mineral resources.

UTT has already used warehousing in buying shares in the Tanzania Breweries Limited and also in Tanzania Cigarettes Company, which were later transferred to UTT’s collective investment scheme.

And the CEO of Orbit Securities Ltd, Laurian Malauri was also quoted as insisting that the Tanzanians government should warehouse the share offerings by buying a chunk of them on behalf of Tanzanians, using its own institutions, such as Umoja Trust Fund, and later selling them to citizens at placement prices.

“To avoid foreign exchange fluctuations, the share should be traded in local currency”, he added.

DSE listing will commence after the closure of the IPO in London and ABG will furnishing the Bank Of Tanzania {BOT} with a written commitment showing preparation or listing of the shares at DSE.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com.

About the author,

Leo Odera Omolo is a veteran Kenyan journalist operating as a freelancer in the Lakeside City of Kisumu, but also occasionally covering events in both Uganda and Tanzania. He could be reached on phone numbers 0722 486 181 or 0734 509215 0r landline 0572500827.And by mail at PO BOX 833, KISUMU ,KENYA.

Journalism and Tanzania Journalist

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Journalists are like intellectuals. Some are. Without journalists and the intellectual class, society may stagnate, regress, or even decay. Indeed, there are no societies in the modern era that has made progress without an honest and enterprising pool of journalists and an accompanying pool of intellectuals.

Every society needs men of conscience; every society needs truth-tellers; societies need men and women of courage and who are forthright in their thinking and in whatever advice, suggestions or recommendations they may proffer.

Every society needs its intellectual and journalism class mostly because you cannot entrust governance and the wellbeing of the people wholly to politicians, the elite and the bureaucrats as the vast majority of politicians, the elite and the bureaucrats are the scum of the earth. They are like the fabled vampires that suck blood and sap human energy.

We know the aforesaid to be true in Tanzania where governance is no longer about public service and caring for the people. Today, most go into public service in order to steal and to rape and to violate people’s rights. Crimes against humanity and against posterity are routinely committed by Tanzanian politicians. In almost fifty years, there has been no hash deterrent against criminality and foolishness.

In such a country and under such circumstances, you cannot go to bed with both eyes closed. You cannot entrust the future of the country to their care. You cannot leave them to their own devices. To do so is to court danger and disaster. Frankly, nowhere on the face of the earth is one likely to find such an assemblage: a thoroughly despicable group of people.

Against such a gathering, society need men and women of courage; it needs men and women of substance to speak the truth and be the nation’s conscience. Society needs such men and women to shape and to direct national conversations, its policies and politics. Tanzania needs such men and women. Colonial and post-colonial Tanzania was awash with such men and women.

And so it was that for more than 50 years, the Tanzanian intellectual class was the envy of the world. At home and abroad their voices and their writings and their services were acknowledged. Gradually however, most of its members became afflicted with several social diseases, and in no time succumbed to internal and external inducements. A few succumbed to threats and poverty; many forsake intellectual pursuits for political power.

As with their thinking-counterparts, Tanzanian journalism also has a long history of service and excellence. For a while, some of the nation’s nationalists had their roots in the art and science of journalism or in the written world. Hence, post-independence Tanzania was home to some of the best and the brightest journalists and writers East Africa had to offer.

Several Tanzanians media houses produced gadflies, intellectuals, and social critics of no mean feat. And indeed, many social critics, intellectuals and gadflies worked for or were associated with several media houses. They battled, fought against corruption and indiscipline, and championed the peoples’ rights. They also helped to shape national conversations vis-à-vis domestic and foreign policies.

Collectively, Tanzanian journalists had their shortcomings. They had their weaknesses. Individually too, there were a few bad apples. That was to be expected. They are humans. The good news was that, collectively and individually and for the vast majority of the times, they were — individually and as a group — a credit to the nation and to their profession. They made us proud. That was then.

That was then. That was the time when the journalism profession meant something to the nation and to the people. That was the time when journalists practiced their craft the way it was meant to be practiced. In pursuant of their duties, they had several obligations and responsibilities which included reporting the truth, shinning light in dark places, and educating the people and the government. Their activities furthered the people’s wellbeing. That was then. The practice and the environment are different now.

The decline was gradual. But beginning in 1995 or thereabout, things took turn for the worse. The rot became apparent. True, a few valiant and courageous voices fought the Benjamin William Mkapa ; but for the most part, the stench became widespread and unbearable in those years. And by the time Kikwete came into office, “all hell was loose and the center could not hold.” Journalism went to the dogs!

The Tanzanian journalism has been in the cesspool since. To say all practicing journalists are stained and tainted would not be correct. It is not correct. In fact, using a spiky-broad brush to pain them all would be insincerely and sinful. That is because in spite of the rotten state of the profession, there are a few good men and women who are dedicated to the idea and the ideals of the profession: journalists who toil day and night to the glory of their craft.

Majority of the reporters practicing in Tanzania today are pen-prostitutes. For a dollar, they’d sell or kill a story. For a dime, they’d write speeches for politicians. For a nickel, they’d fabricate stories. Now, if you think the reporters are slimy, well, you must know that some of the editors are truly disgraceful. A messed up bunch of people! Now, most of those who are likely to end up in the deepest part of the raging fire are members of the editorial board/columnists.

Now, take the editorial board members/columnists plus the publishers, then, you truly have the bad of the bad: the profession’s red-light prostitutes. You’ll feel nauseous once you know what this bunch is up to. They have “access” to power at all levels; they are filthy rich in filthy and unaccountable sort of way with choice lands and landed properties; they travel round the world and stay in preferred hotels. For this group of people, it is all about money and power — not journalism, and certainly not the people’s interest.

Now that intellectual pursuit is (mostly) a thing of the past and journalism too is deep in the gutter, what hope do the people have? What hope do we have against government’ abuse and excesses? Who will defend the people against foul winds blowing from all corners of the country? To whom do we leave the job of shaping public discourse and public policies? Without our intellectuals and our journalists, who is left to defend our national interest?

As it is, intellectual pursuit as a craft is in a state of despondency. The Fourth Estate is in shambles. The legislative branch is on a leash, and the executive branch is nothing but a pit of waste and corruption. As for the judiciary, well, every so often it exhibits flashes of brilliance. And that’s about it. Otherwise, it is mostly a chamber of tired and old hands.

In a democratic dispensation, journalism is the last hope of/for the nation. Therefore, the profession should clean itself up. It should look inward, self-question, retool itself and retrain its members. The current state of the professions is nothing but a disgrace. And it is pitiful.

If nothing is done to resuscitate, repair and reenergize this once glorious profession, one may not be able to tell the difference between it and street side prostitutes and carriers of social ills and malfeasance that roams Dar es salaam, Arusha and Mwanza.

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

Tanzania: The icons of audacious journalism in the renowned island of peace and good governance.

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By Douglas O. Majwala.

State efforts to establish a stably democratic society enshrined with such principles as good governance, respect for professionalism, mass campaign in support of war against graft, rule of law, human rights and free media that raises awareness of wananchi of what their government is working out for them thus make wananchi also in return fulfil their duty of citizenry, suffers deliberate sabotage masterminded by immoral figures in the society who does not have at heart the welfare of this very society.

In Tanzania, the right to give and receive information is enshrined in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (GOT, 1977).

Article 18(1) of the constitution stipulates that “subject to the laws of the land, every person is entitled to freedom of opinion and expression; that is to say, the right to freely hold and express opinions and seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers…Freedom from interference with correspondence [is also guaranteed].”

Down memory lane of the symbols of gallant journalism tend to prove that it is now becoming an order of the society since the founding of this politically independent nation where the twenty five years of the first rein managed to protect the freedom of the nation but not that of press whose role is check and balance amalgamated in the three most important duties of information, entertainment and education.

History has documented the horrific demise of an outstanding investigative journal of the defunct Mfanyakazi newspaper in early 1990s Stan Katabalo who sacrificed his spirit for the right course of this ailing nation but whose life ended up in the hands of anti-progress elements who are believed to have commissioned his manslaughter by armed banditry committed in a night raid of his Buguruni residence. The ecosystem agenda he took aloft during his last days now reveals wanton degradation and pouching to an alarming stage and has of recent sparked anger of the indigenous people in those locales.

Several times public offices responsible for management of natural resources have since been criticized and deplored for mismanagement, irresponsibility and deliberate lack of accountability when it comes to defending the national and or public interests, the offices have on different occasions been reorganized an exercise that shown some untrustworthy personnel the exit door. The late Katabalo was fulfilling his constitutional right, this constitutional right is given in its broadest sense to include rights to give and receive information on environment and natural resource management. Articles 18 and 27 are the most relevant constitutional provisions.

Adam Mwaibabile’s truthful pen turned into a painful pen in the hearts of people who had the duty to defend him as a licensed freelancer and this tarnished the image of the whole idea of establishing free media in our country. Languishing in the tortuous cubics on constitutionally backed orders of heavyweights who did not want truth revealed of the discrepancies in their administration sent him into detention and after public outcry he was able to be taken to court for justice. He was imprisoned on count of breaching the national security act by possessing sensitive cum confidential mail whose contents ostensibly aimed at barring him from getting license for his intended business. He came to pass away of complicated kidney on 01st February, 2007.

Said Kubenea’s fate is still fresh and puzzling in peoples’ memories. Fulfilling his patriotic duty earned him machete and acid assault by hired thugs and Kubenea has managed to get back to manipulate frontlines by the help of a merciful JK who fought tirelessly to make sure Kubenea’s sights are restored and wounds of bodily cuts are cured at any cost and wananchi keep getting the press flavour of their choice, which is a symbol of a loving and caring high profile patron, JK’s sympathy affirmed his inner desire for bringing freedom of the press regardless of stumbling blocks.

Kubenea the executive editor of weekly print Mwana Halisi and Mseto and Ndimara Tegambwage a veteran writer and director of IDEA an NGO working on social agenda were altogether victimized in the attack. Kubenea’s car was burnt down and received phone text messages of threat to exterminate him if he kept reporting burning issues of the public interest which involves individuals who chose apathy as a way of life in a society that is opposed to it. These non patriotic lots do not want what they perceive as toxic press note books of the Kubeneas.

The sms flushed to his hand set read “Kiburi chako kitakuponza, jiandae kwa shughuli nzito itakayokupata”, “Kifo chako kitakuwa cha aina yake, mzoga wako hautaonekana”, “Dawa ya kushughulikia maiti kama wewe imepatikana, jiandae”, “Maandalizi ya mauti yako yameiva, watangazie mabwana zako wanaokutuma. Unanuka uvundo wa kufa”, “Vuta pumzi zako za mwisho, hatuko mbali, yamebaki masaa machache kabla hatujakupeleka panapostahili”. Literally “your arrogance will betray you, get prepared for horrific incident that you are likely to face, your death will be of its kind, a cure for dealing with a dead body like you is available, get prepared, preparations for your death are completed, inform your masters who instructs you, you are smelling the odour of death, breath your final air, we are not far, few hours remaining before we take you to a right place”.

A renowned new generation in the media fraternity, electronic media hero and scooper of several awards Jerry Muro reported to be lured to succumb to blackmail by a recently sacked Bagamoyo district treasurer and managed to fall in the hands of the law enforcers, has sparked public debate on the authenticity of the allegations of receiving Tshs. 10 ml as kickback from the sacked official and now the whole saga is said to be the price Muro is paying for his investigative reports that saw about 20 police corps walking out of their employment on charges of graft when delivering as service men.

“A revenge or what?! Framed or truly corrupt?! No! No! His mic must have betrayed him! Was Muro’s wide mouth against graft and social vices a misconception of polisi jamii (community policing)?! Are TBC1 and the Police force not state machineries? Could they come to a win-win solution to clean these two sensitive instruments before public eyes and cover up government shame on the longstanding problem of graft? What happened when Police clashed with Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau officers on the allegations of that nature on different occasions when arresting police officers found receiving bribe?

Are journalistic awards of best TV reporter on graft and man eater HIV/AIDS not deserved of Jerry?! Why didn’t police inform Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau which is mandated with combating graft to carry the arrest if the sacked treasurer knew about the trap and got time to prepare the 10 ml catching lot?. Do Police and PCCB know clearly the limits of their areas of work to avoid confusion?!” Mixed feelings gripped Jerry’s fans when the news of his being booked by police struck the country and left his sympathizers awesome, all ears, eyes and mouths on Muro vs Police. Print, electronic, blind and blog media were headlined with TBC1 commentator’s arrest news.

Let the public give way for rule of law to prevail by taking Muro to court for justice to prove beyond reasonable doubt the genuineness of the allegation. Muro was advised by some of his proponents through blog that this is not the right time to come out public to explain what actually happened as this may worsen it all, but some had thoughts that going public will help wipe out possibility for concealing the truthful side of it by his accusers and also put to a balance unfounded speculations by the public. Some cited a case of former BoT chief who threatened to go public to reveal all those who were behind him in the protracted EPA scam but only ended up dying with the truth in his heart, thus appealing to Jerry not to blunder (wait) as did former BoT head.

Is free media an impractical philosophy for both public and private press? Which recipe for free media is worth adopting in the society for stability? Is freedom of the press a one man right when it comes to defending his interests against his opponents or when justifying his own cause? Is there anywhere in the world one can find conducive environment for free press? Is this kind of freedom meant for compromise? Is threat against brave journals a threat against freedom of the press? Is threat against press men who fulfils their lawful obligations a breach of Article 18(1) of the constitution of the URT? Frenzy against media, is it the price or the pride of professionalism? Why can’t society command what is right and forbid what is wrong? Which way forward for media? Is persistent brutality against media its birthright? Is media castaway in our society? Who can usher media to the Promised Land (freedom)? Has God forsaken media? Who can improve shattered relationship between media and heavy weights?

majwalaoriko@yahoo.co.uk
Tel. 0782299399

Inflationary situation likely to be on the rise in Tanzania following crop failure

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INFLATION DIGITS LIKELY TO BE ON THE RISE IN TANZANIA DUE TO FAILURE IN FOOD GRAIN PRODUCTION.

Economic Report By Leo Odera Omolo

TANZANIA is now forecasting low food production, far from previous projections, following crop destruction by heavy rains in 18 regions early this year.

The drop in food production could have a negative impact on inflation rate. It could affect the government’s effort to lower it to single-digit levels in the next fiscal year.

Tanzania was in the 2008/2009 season expected to harvest 11.3 million metric tones of maize, which would be an increase of 600,000 tones, from 10.9 million tones in 2008/2009 fiscal year. But late rains have diminished all hopes of reaching that target.

Most of the regions, including its grain producing regions classified as “Big Five” in the country, have also been experiencing floods. These have caused peasants crops in Morogoro and Dodoma and even several commercial farms to be wiped out.

The influential Nairobi weekly, the EASTAFRICAN last week quoted the country’s Director of Food Security in the Ministry of Agriculture, John Mgodo, as saying that it is too early to issue forecasts, but that the matter is being monitored closely.

But given the situation on the ground, with most of the major regions affected, a high number of people displaced and cut-off road communication, the production might go down by over 20 per cent. Food prices is the major component, which influences the calculations of the inflation rate to determine its down or upward trend.

Bank of Tanzania Governor, Prof. Bemo Ndulu, was also quoted as saying that food is the main culprit that increases the rate of inflation, accounting for over 8.0 per cent out of 12.2 per cent at last December rate.

Ndulu said that increasing food production is the only way to arrest the double-digit inflation figure, which is on the rise.

To do away with food prices “dominance when calculating inflation”, the National Bureau of Statistics {NBS} is set to revise its way of calculating the rate from arithmetic to geometric.

That way, the eight averages will be the change on base of prices, the casket of goods and services, and weight in general.

The director of Policy and Research Confederation of Tanzania Industries, Hussein Kamote, said in a recent interview that by using the geometric system, the inflation figure will decline.

The new method is expected to reduce the influence of high food prices and bring down inflation rates.

Food makes upto 55.9 per cent of the basket of goods and services used to measure inflation.

Grain reserve stocks under the National Food Reserve Agency as per last October amounted to 107,177 tones of maize, while sorghum represented a decrease of 22 per cent from 110,278 tones at the end of the proceeding month. It was 64 per cent lower than stocks of the previous October.

The decline in the stocks was on account of sale of grain to the government for distributions to regions and districts with food deficit.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania Youths, What Kind of Leaders Tomorrow?

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Tanzania’s future is uncertain. Even more unclear is the identity of the leaders who will steer the nation in the coming decade. Will dynastic politics continue to define electoral trends? Do businessmen make the best politicians? The question we don’t ask and deliberate on today is what Tanzania leadership will look like in coming years.

To be honest, I think the future leadership in Tanzania will not be too different than what it is today. Unfortunately, the bulk of today’s leadership in Tanzania is dishonest, eccentric, illogical, corrupt from top to bottom, dictatorial in essence, ego-centric and self-serving; to say the least. The future leadership, if at all we can call it so, will be following the footsteps of today’s leaders and will be no different than their predecessors. Much has been written in recent years about new, changing and emergent security issues around the globe. From terrorism to diseases and other chemical and biological threats to the recurrence of ethno-nationalism, security in the contemporary world is a different beast than even a decade ago.

Moreover, this process of evolution will likely continue to change in the years to come. These changes have had distinct impacts on the ways individuals perceive threats to their security and how they act to make themselves feel more secure. But even though much attention has been paid to the ways security (and the ways we cope with challenges to security) is changing, little, if any, attention has been paid to the ways the next generation of citizens and decision-makers perceive current and future security challenges. These analyses will inform discussion about how perceptions of leadership will (or are changing) as the next generation comes of age.

Exploring further in perspective, there was a time in Tanzania when armed robbery, kidnapping, malicious killing of another were all seen as an evil act so unheard of, the society would arise when these acts are conducted. However what we have today is stark opposite of yesteryears, where it appears there is an evidential conclusion to be drawn that certain persons are in competition to out-do the other in the conduct of these crimes. At the time Kidnapping became visible as a result of the restiveness in Tarime, it spread like an epidemic or business for profit in other parts of the country . The political citizens cashed in on this unholy trade as a means to settle political scores. The malicious unlawful killing of another human being in the name of ethnic cleansing, terrorism, political supremacy, police brutality, State sponsored homicides etc are all signs of decay in national conscience. The good neighbour principles are as gone as the 18th centuries, what we are now left with is NO FAITH, NO JUSTICE.

Leaders, especially in times like these, are people who can inspire the public, change their opinions and attitudes, rather than working against popular opinion or inciting a bloody revolution. Tanzania needs a leader who understands Tanzania’s tailored needs. Text book solutions cannot be implemented directly; neither will trial and error work as Tanzania is a country with a complex set of problems. The leader, who understands her specific needs, would be able to steer the country out of the current dark situation. The question that came to my mind when for an example, during the hay-days running up to the 2005 elections, The CHADEMA presidential candidate Mbowe was said to not be a “politician” because he has not been playing “politics” before. Why must all the leaders Present/future of the country be from the political sector? What about leaders in business, entrepreneurship, technology, science, health, education, rural development, urban development, human rights, legal reforms? Who says only a politician will be able to lead Tanzania? About time we define leadership in Tanzania more broadly to really reflect the diverse country and economy that we need to steer and put political leadership where it belongs –

Harold Pinter (Nobel Laureate) wrote and I concur “The majority of politicians, on the evidence available to us, are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed”.

As long as we remain ignorant and keep feeding on lies, tomorrow’s Tanzania is not going to be any different. It is more likely to be worse. Who is going to tackle the enormous problems facing the country? You name the problem, Tanzania got it.

1 Education. Literacy rate is abysmal after years.

2 Poverty. Tanzania had always been living on handouts from abroad.

3 Tanzania has many resources which are either not tapped or being misused.

4 Employment. The larger the unemployment, greater the problems we shall have.

5 Infrastructure. Tanzania has not improved on the colonial infrastructure.

6 Law and Order. I don’t have to enlarge on the mess Tanzania is in.

7 Politics. Tanzania eventually has ‘democracy’, but the way the politicians are acting it may not last very long.

These are only a few of the problems that need urgent attention. Some of these issues can be resolved with the presence of an Independent and fair judiciary. The logo UHURU NA UMOJA is just on the coat of arms and has no bearing on our lives, there is no Unity, Faith is fragmented, Peace is war, and Progress is nonexistent. That any of tomorrows’ leaders (we groom now) is capable of reviving Tanzania is extremely doubtful.

Sane societies would be spending time and resources educating their youths about the fundamental principles of life in a democracy, thereby exposing them to successful role models as well as strengthening their self-esteem and confidence whilst providing educational experiences in the field of civic rights which encourages social involvement and bridging cultural diversities and promoting the Tanzanian Cause with nurtured Tanzanian Spirit. However, Tanzania lacks this, the various governments over the years have rather created directly or passively a more confused and disorganized Tanzania, through their selfish lame visions, uncaring attitudes and unrealistic set targets and goals. Thereby promoting a culture of lameness / laziness, unintelligent citizenry, uncompetitive workforce, uninspiring students who cannot compete in the 21st century world of technology either because they lack the educational incentives needed for such or their lecturers are outdated/falling behind the development in teaching skills and modernized teaching tools, or the universities closed down due to one avoidable strike or the other, the effect of these has given birth to what we know as extension of secondary schools in the name of Private Universities. Tanzania cannot cope like this, her place among the comity of nations is fast depreciating, and the pride of self assumed Giant Of East is now known to be giant in size and not in substance. Folks would rather live in the Ant of Africa where basic human dignity and sense of self worth is enriched, than live in a Giant form that has no sense of belonging.

Tanzania has issues arising from the older citizens commission and omission, little wonder why a peep into the Tanzania’s future look so glue and dome. With the mindless rigging of elections, the ecliptic and incompetent persons like NEC Chair supervising elections that would propel change with accountability, to the Attorney General of Fraud, who as the chief law officer of the nation should be the driving force promoting rule of law, where all men are equal before the law, instead he is the driver of ruse of law with sole intent to satisfy his personal wants and selfish interests. This dark future incorporates the bunch of looters, maimers, killers, oppressors, and egotist nature of our political leaders from Governors, to Ministers down to Local govt chairpersons, sundry of political appointees and CO. We can agree that Tanzania youths are learning the tricks of their seniors.

A nation that wants to prosper must take into account the impact of the omission or the veracity of the commission of those that are saddle with the policy direction of that nation and the effects of their action(s) or Inactions on the citizenry present or unborn. A disturbing situation is in the offing where today’s youths see in open, the quantum display of arrogance and total disregard for public perception and opinions as seen in case of Dr J Kikwete his Kitchen Cabinets and the host of men/women in the National Assembly, the teaching is that they will be learning and perfecting the precedence set by these leaders in negativity. These learning’s and precedents have a revolving effects; the irony is these same manipulators of the already sad constitution will be the first set of people that will complain when next generation of leaders replay their “movie”.

Let us recall the days of Komandoo Salmin Amour and the third term debate. Had our legislators done the right thing as at that time, by amending other sections of the wholly flawed 1995 constitution, we may have taken care of the present Karume macabre. Instead they threw the baby with the bath water away, thereby pushing the days of rain further. Today these same people, who were in position of authority; who by act of omission or commission pushed the rain to another day are the same people today crying the rain has destroyed their homes, should they have done the necessary amendment needed the rain would have been averted prima facie.

To put this clearer, has Tanzanian leaders try to find out how countries like United Kingdom, Israel and co that do not have written constitution have managed to survive over the years with sound political, socio-cultural, technological and economical growth? The answer lies in the Rule of law, good neighbour principle, conventions / precedents and common sense. In these countries many people fear the crime not because of the punitive measures, but because it betrays morals and contradicts the good neighbour principle. These morals have been inculcated into them by the exemplary lives of their parents and neighbours (distance and close), they also know that the law is respecter of no man, as everyman will be answerable to his/her conducts. Unlike Tanzanian where the judiciary is compromised, induced or lame. Little wonders why many people prefer to bear the brunt than seek Justice Solutions.

In conclusion
Future leadership formed out of the present Tanzania where bigmanism, tribalism, , godfatherism, nepotism, lootry, total disrespect for known laws, judicial protection of the elites, security for the elites, outright subvention of the constitution, barefaced displace of political egotism, inequality before the law, miscarriage of justices to suit a personal interest, glorification of bizarreness, pacification of corruption, awarding national prestige on known criminals and persons of questionable character, presidential wining and dining with corrupt friends and associates, oppression and intimidating of the poor masses, outright rigging / imposition of candidates for elections, financial inducement of opposition, settling of unmerited political friends with appointments and contracts, issuing of contracts without due process / inflation of the contract sum to satisfy personal interest, and so on; will not only Sudanised Tanzania, but also will HaitigateTanzania. In my view a dual combination of Sudan and Haiti for one country will be equal to unfortunate element of Devil’s Sex Toy.
It is in my sanity to remind us all that “A future not reflected upon whilst it is day, corrections made when it is possible and visible will only beget a future full of chaos, uncertainties, backwardness and vices”.

I am sure the founders of Tanzania didn’t plan for the Tanzania today. It is now left to those who have the conscience to act according their faith. The worrying of my mind and thinking of my brain are hereby written.

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

Tanzania: My Tax; My Vote; My Rights!

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Humans have anger as character trait. We are naturally stoked to anger either in defense of self, values, and dear ones; or even in defense of vanity or prejudice. Anger however creates a momentary blindness of the senses. The acts stemming out of anger can be catastrophic, to the victim as well as the victor.

We are angrier with respects to the idea of the self: my tribe, my religion, my area; and even my girl friend! (A property of some sort in certain cultures) I was cajoled into anger by the conduct of certain private school operators: they sent back my child on the first day of resumption of school: their reason being that I did not pay the new term’s school fees while the child was on vacation.

Following the line of my reasoning above, I got angry because my sense of dignity was shattered when my child was humiliated with a sack from school because his father did not pay school fees ‘when they were not due’! I know, from the operators’ point of view, it was pay before service.

It is not of interest to the reader what course of action I took: whether the case is now at Supreme Court awaiting judgment or not. Of interest is the fact that the primary anger against private school operators metamorphosed into secondary anger against the government that collects and eats our taxes.
Black men and women cannot claim any credit for the installation of Western- type of State and its governance system in their areas. The system was imposed as a result of the colonial, and resource exploitation relationships. That system introduced public schooling in order to produce those literate enough to run the bureaucracy necessary for modern governance. I am able to communicate with the reader in English language due to the influence of such publicly-funded education.

The public treasury was funded from taxes: both on citizens and on the cash crops that were sold in international markets. Later, crude oil achieved the dominance it has now over the funding of all the activities of Tanzania’s three-tiers of governments.

However, I, like numerous other citizens, have lost the benefits of being good citizens like our fathers enjoyed. My education, up to university level, was not a burden on my father. In real fact, while in the university, my then state government was paying me allowances for three meals a day; plus a hefty chunk to finance my clothing and other needs.

Today, if you cannot pay for your child, the colossal university registration fee, then he or she must simply accept that university education is beyond their reach. Going from Mwanza to Kigoma, enroute to Shinyanga recently, I saw the level of the dilapidation of the road network. As usual, as a citizen, you cannot ask why you are left to your own designs on things over which you have no control.

Many Tanzanians have lost their lives either due to accidents on pothole-ridden roads, or were slain by hired assassins, or killed by armed robbers; or are simply victims of elite politics- as is the case with the recurring religious and tribal conflicts. In all the aforementioned, neither the payment of tax, nor the casting of vote, will ensure for me a fairly equitable wellbeing.

Tanzanians believe that politicians can and do come to power whether they are voted into office or not. Political parties do not easily lose elections; what it means is that they are Lords unto the society they govern, because the security apparatus is rigged against the citizens: they should quell any disturbance no matter the source of its provocation; and in many cases, Courts are simply mazes, into which election petitions lose their steam and zeal; and ultimately fizzle out!

Tax payers should really have a say as to the use of their taxes. If they do not, then the tax collector is simply a robber. Even where the State relies on Minerals , like Tanzania, and many other Mineral-producing countries, the resource ought to be a collective commonwealth, rather than the exclusive preserve of the few in power.

It is not idealism to hold elected officials accountable for the use of resources. If they are not accountable, then they definitely are thieves. Tanzanians are however so much divided by ethnicity and religion, such that the marauding political, and sometimes military class, succeed in getting them to fight each other, while the society of robbers eat their loot unmolested.

My quandary: my vote does not guarantee me good governance; my tax does not ensure for me public services, in the form of public education, infrastructure, and security. So brothers and sisters, what should I do?

Yona Fares Maro
Dar es salaam
Tanzania

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

East African Community: New fisheries research boats for Kenya and Uganda to boost Lake Victoria studies

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TWO NEW BOATS TO BE DEPLOYED IN LAKE VICTORIA BY KENYA,UGANDA AND TANZANIA TO
BOOST FISHERIES STUDIES

Fisheries News By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City.

RESEARCH program project being carried out by the three members of the East African Communities, namely Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has received three new boats valued at USD 2 million.

The three ultra-modern vessels fitted with sophisticated research gadgets will aid scientific fisheries studies in the lake.
Under the European Union-funded Fisheries Management Plan, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Uganda’s National Fisheries Research Institute will each receive a new research boat fitted with an in-built laboratory, with the ability to determine fish populations, as well as the quality of waters in the Lake. The two vessels will cost USD 1.9 million.

Tanzania Fisheries Research institute will have a research vessel that it already owns refurbished and fitted with the latest equipment to improve its research capabilities. This includes fitting it with a new engine at a cost of USD 102,682.

The fisheries plan has been implemented through the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization, over the past seven years.

The project manager, Samson Abura, said the new vessels are expected to cut down on the cost and time on studies.

The three vessels also play a major role in the management of Lake Victoria as they have modern equipment for assessing fish stocks. The lake is currently grappling with dwindling fish stocks, precipitated by intense fishing pressure, as well as infiltration of illegal and destructive fishing practices, such as the increased use of unauthorized fishing nets.

The Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute assistant director in charge of inland waters, Dr. Richard Abila, said that the new vessel is fitted with echo-sounders that will aid hydro-acoustic surveys that determine the quantity and distribution of fish in the lake. The surveys are conducted quarterly.

Dr. Abila explained that the equipment functions using sound waves that are sent into the water and a signal recorded when fish is detected. Scientists conduct three surveys in a year to give a representation of the fish population trends.
The research boats also have advanced facilities for analyising water quality.

Now researchers going on expeditions in the lake no longer have to carry equipment with them, nor do they have to carry samples back to laboratories as they can analyze them on board.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Tanzania: Ten Year BAE Systems Aviation Radar Purchase scandal that just won’t go away

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THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR SCANDAL, INVOLVING THE BRITISH FIRM AND THE SUPPLY OF AVIATION RADAR TO TANZANIA COMES BACK TO HAUNT

Investigative News Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging out of the Tanzanian capital, Dar Es Salaam says that the country is at crossroads, wondering whether to investigate afresh an international corruption case involving British arms manufacturers BAE system.

This came about after the company had allegedly admitted it was guilty of dubious financial dealings in its sale of a USD 46million Watch Air Traffic Control System to Tanzania.

BAE Systems, it was reported, admitted there were malpractices received as payment in the deal.

In its latest edition, the EASAFRICAN weekly quoted the company chairman, Mr.Dick Oliver as saying in an exclusive interview that “Under the agreement with the Serious Fraud Office {SFO}, the company will plead guilty to one charge of breach of duty to keep accounting records, in relation to payments made to a former marketing adviser in Tanzania.

“The company will pay an agreed penalty of 30 million sterling pounds {USD 46 million}, comprising of a fine to be determined by the court, and the balance as a charitable payment for the benefit of Tanzania”.

But back in Tanzania, senior officials of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau {PCCB} and the Ministry of Justice, were reported to be tight-lipped on whether to continue with fresh investigations or not.

Last week, UK’s Serious Fraud Office {SFO} allowed BAE to plead guilty in a London court to the offence of selling to Tanzania a 28 million pounds air traffic control system, and yet requesting for USD 46 million in payment.

The SFO then dropped its charges against those involved in scandal, who included Tanzanian officials Anbdrew Chenge {then the Attorney General} business tycoon Tanil K.C Somaiya of Shivacom and one Shailesh P.Vithilan.

In court, they were accused number six, eight and nine respectively. Accused number seven is not mentioned on the charge sheet.

Mr Chenge was later appointed a minister for Infrastructure Development in the President Jakaya Kikwete administration. But he resigned after SFO implicated him in the scandal, with claims alleging that he had received 1.5 million sterling pounds from BAE as “Kick Backs”.

The World Bank and the International Civil Aviation Organization –before and after the purchase of the system –said it was unnecessarily overpriced.

The PCCB investigation was however largely dependent on SFO findings, meaning the country will have to conduct its own probe.

This viewpoint is supported by the Deputy Leader of the official opposition in the National Assembly, Dr Wilbrod Slaa. And the SFO has been actively investigating the USD 39.5 million {Tshs 53.billion} contract signed in 1999 to supply a radar system to Tanzania.

The probe also relates to payments of USD 12 million to Shailesh Vithilan, BAE’s former marketing adviser based in Dar Es Salaam.

A six year investigation by SFO identified key roles played in the radar deal by Mr.Chenge, the former AG, and Dr. Idris Rashid, the then Bank of Tanzania governor.

PCCB public Relations Officer, Doreen Kapwani, was quoted last week as saying that they were yet to issue a comprehensive statement on the matter.

Tanzania Minister for Justice, Mathias Chikawe, also declined to offer any comment. But by pleading guilty under section 221 of the companies Act,1985,BAE will not face an embarrassing court case.

Last month, Uganda civil aviation authorities demanded payment back for a dummy radar, which was purchase before the summit of the Commonwealth Head of States and Government {CHOGM] in November 2007, which has since then ceased to operate.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

East African Community: EALA Meeting in Kampala is abruptly adjourned after Ugandan MPs stay away

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SPEAKER OF THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FORCED TO ADJOURN THE HOUSE PREMATURELY AFTER THE ELECTED UGANDAN MPS STAYED AWAY.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

FOR some yet to be explained reasons, Uganda elected members of the East African Legislative Assembly stayed away on Monday afternoon, prompting the Speaker of the House to adjourn the sitting twice, due to lack of quorum.

The EALA, the legislative wing of the East African Community is currently holding its two week’s session in the Ugandan capital. Such a meeting rotates to all the five member states of the EAC, namely Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Rwanda.

The state-owned NEWVISION reported this morning that the House, presided over by the Speaker, Abdularahim Abdi, was at the time receiving a report of the committee on agriculture, tourism and natural resources, on the common strategy for food security in the region.

While the committee chairperson, Dr. George Nangale, presented the report, Janet Mmari {Tanzania} raised a point of procedure, saying the House was proceeding without quorum since there was no elected Uganda member present.

The rule of procedure governing the EALA requires that all the member countries have to be represented by at least three elected MPs.

The only Ugandan legislature present in the House at the material time was the Ugandan Minister for EAC Affairs, Eriya Kategaya, who is technically not an elected member of the Assembly.

The Speaker suspended the meeting for 10 minutes to give the Clerk time to try and mobilize the Ugandan MPs.
However, after 15 minutes, the Speaker returned to the Chamber and announced that the Ugandan elected MPs could not be found, and the House adjourned again.

And after the House had adjourned, some Ugandan representatives appeared in the lobby, but they declined to talk to the media about their sudden disappearance from the House business.

Nusura Tajoni, one of the MPs later explained that the Ugandan member were attending a crucial meeting in an attempt to resolve a dispute over a committee position. But one Margaret Zziwa was bold enough to disclose that the Ugandan MPs were busy discussing other pressing issues.

Other business scheduled for the day included consideration of the committee report on regional affairs and conflict resolutions.

The House was also expected to consider a motion urging the EAC member states to take action against female genital mutilation.

Sources within the opposition parties in Uganda severely criticized the elected Ugandan MPs for lack of commitment to the deliberations of the Assembly, even when such meetings are held within their doorsteps.

One anonymous spokesman for the opposition blamed the Ugandan representatives, whom he accused of earning millions of shillings from the taxpayers, only to stay away from the meetings of the EAC.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

CHUNG MOTEGNO

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Amor mar kwayo oganda onagi duto kamoramora magintie ni gi chung` motegno
ahiinya bende gibed kod kwe.

Ang`o momiyo awacho kamano? En ni e sechegi ema wanyalo ketho weche mabeyo
to bedo maricho nikech mirima. Kaluwore kod gima nyocha otimore e kind Jakom
kod Ker, anene ni en gima ne joka bimbe ne ose pango chon.

Rang uru ane malong`o e gik matimore nyaka nee jakom chak wach mar bunge ma
MAU.

Gi lweny malich ose yudi diriyo e piny masaai. A ng`o mimiyo gigo timore?
Joka bimbe sani ose bet piny mi oneno ni onge wuodgi moro motegno manyalo
chung` e yiero mar 2012 koro gima duong` gidwaro mondo gitiek jakom. Omiyo
warit uru dhowa kod mirima to weche duto waket ni Nyasaye namar gilweny go
jogo dwaro mondo giti kod jo holo okak ma nee okawo lowo e mau mondo gi chak
godo lweny gi jokaynaanam. Mano ema omiyo gidwaro thuwowa kod jo kisii
bende. YAWA BED URU MOTANG`

Ambitious development strategies to increase sugarcane acreage in Tanzania

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TANZANIA PLANS TO RECALAIM MORE ACREAGE OF LAND TO BOOST ITS SUGAR CANE PLANTATION AND IMPROVETHE SUGAR PRODUCTION.

Business News By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City.

In a bid to increase the acreage under sugar production and meet the current shortfall in sugar output, the Sugar Board of Tanzania had embarked on an ambitious project to reclaim part of the Ruipa Basin in Kilombero district in Morogoro region. This concerted effort will release a further 15,000 hectares for cane farming.

The board is the regulator of sugar production and sales in the country. Its managing director, Mathew Kombe, was widely quoted in the media last week as saying that a survey of the area and encroachment valuation is at an advanced stage.
“The additional 15,000 hectares would go along way to supplement the current shortage arable land the sector sorely needs,” said Tanzania Sugar cane Growers Association managing director, Chais Nikokwe.

The country is also refurbishing all its sugar factories, which are yet to put out the 400,000 tones capacity to full use. They have only managed just 290,000 tones. This gives hope to industry’s watchers for further expansion of sugar production in the country with minimal additional factory investment.

Tanzania, according to the influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN, is also suffering from illegal imports, which are seen locally by experts as holding back development of the sugar sub-sector of the economy.

Even with the combined output, the East African Community’s five member states sugar sector has failed to save the domestic market. However, there is an on-going USD 4.2 million project seeking to modernize sugar production. Of this USD 2.3 million was granted by the Common Funds for Commodities, while USD 1.9 million was raised by Kenya,Tanzania and Uganda.

The project will involve training of sugar stakeholders and importation of about 900 new cane varieties to be tested in the local environment, in a bid to acquire high yield, disease-resistant seeds, with results in, among other things low production costs.

Experts anticipate that after the five years of research, there will be about 10 varieties, which will then be used to transform the East African Sugar industry.

The region’s sugar output would have risen to 1.5 million metric tones per annum.
As of 2008, the East African region consumed a total of 1.2 million metric tones annually. And with output of 1.5 million metric tones after five years, little will be left for export.

Sugarcane is listed among Tanzania’s cash crops. The country has four white sugar manufacturing plants, namely Mtibwa Sugar, TPC Moshi, Kilombero and Kagera Sugar.

The sugar fraternity, under the umbrella of Tanzania Sugarcane Growers Association, has a membership of 18,000 growers.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

UN body warns Africa of the impending conflicts over the scarce water resources

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UNDP WARNS AFRICA ABOUT THE IMPENDING DANGER OF ARMED CONFLICTS IN SOME FLASHPOINT OF THE CONTINENT FOLLOWING SCARCITY OF WATER RESOURCES.

Environmental Features By Leo Odera Omolo.

A UN body has predicted that the main conflicts in Africa during the next 25 years will be over the scarcity of water, as countries are likely to wage war against each other for access to the scarce resources.

The United Nations Development Programe {UNDP} says in a study just released at the turn of the century that water wars are likely in areas where rivers and lakes are shared by more than one country.

The inter-play of climate change, indiscriminate destruction of forests, poor agriculture techniques, and runaway population growth has worked against the continent’s once abundant water resources.

Africa has 63 international river basins that collectively cover 64 per cent of its surface area. They contain over 90 per cent of its surface water resources.

Most of these rivers are shared by two to four countries. Some are shared by many more, like the Congo river{1} and the Niger river {10}, Lake Chad and Zambezi River {8}. There are also many smaller shared basins.

The problem is complicated by the fact that trans -boundary river system are endoergic, they do not terminate in the Ocean. Rather, they flow into low-lying inland areas. Endoergic system in drier environment are considered the socio-economic lifeline of communities living in low lying areas.

The United Nations Environmental Program {UNEP} cites the saline or alkaline basins of Lake Chad, Lake Natron, and Lake Turkana ,and the fresh water Okavango-Makgadikadi and Cuvelai basins, as water systems in danger of failing.

At the same time Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya will soon be the scene of a major conflict in the near future, environmentalists, have warned.

Ten years ago, the then Egyptian Foreign Ministe,r Boutros Boutros-Ghali had predicted that the next major world war in Africa would be over the scrambles for water.

Now water diplomacy is starting to take center-stage in African, and globally. Experts are tracing fights over water rights and shortage as the root cause of many civil conflicts on the continent over the past three decades.

The influential weekly, the EASTAFRICAN reported in its latest edition that “As Kenya and Ethiopia enter series of deals on electricity generation and supply, the livelihood of close to 200,000 people is threatened. These people have for centuries depended on a lake that is fed by rivers threatened by a giant hydroelectric power project in Ethiopia.

The Gilgel Gibe 111 hydroelectric dam, which at a cost of USD 1,7 billion, will be one of the largest in Africa, is already causing concern among environmentalists and the local communities living around the Lake Turkana in Northern Kenya.

Opponents of the project says it will destroy the livelihood of thousands of people, especially the nomadic Turkana and Rendile communities, as well as the smallest tribe in Kenya, the El-Molo, that depend entirely on the fish of Lake Turkana.

Situated on the Omo River Valley, the dam is expected to have a mammoth reservoir that will hold thousands of cubic meters of water. The environmentalists and locals believed this will interfere with the livelihood of these tribes.

The other flashpoints across Africa that the UNEP and UNDP have cited include the Nile, Niger, Volta and Zambezi basins.
The UNDP report says population growth and economic development will lead to nearly one in two people in Africa living in countries facing water scarcity, and water stress in 25 years. Water scarcity is defined as less than 1,000 cubic meters of water available per person per year, while water stress means less than 1,500cubic meters per year.

According to UNDP, by the year 2025, 12 more African countries will join the 13 that already suffer from water stress or water scarcity.

“Water disputes in Africa revolve around one or more of three issues; quantity, quality and timing. These play out differently on various scales, whether international, intra-nationality, regionally or indirectly, “says the UNDP funded study report titled “Hydro political Vulnerability and Reliance Along International water in Africa.”

The Nile Basin, which encompasses nine countries –including Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, has been mentioned area potential source of conflict because of the high number of people who depend on it.

For example, if the combined population of just three countries –Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan- through which the Nile runs, rises as predicted from 150 million people today to 340 million in 2050, there will be intense pressure, which could easily spill over into war. This is according to the EASTAFRICAN weekly. Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea are among the Nile Basin states that are most vulnerable to climate variation.

The amount of water left when the Nile water has also been drastically declining is also proof that the up take along its course is rising. In case water levels reduces drastically Egypt, being at the lower end of the Nile River will be most affected.

Ends

Tanzania drops in World Gold Production

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Read from The Economist and thought relevant to share with you.

Tanzania is no longer a third largest Gold Producer in Africa according to GFMS Gold Survey as quoted by The Economist. South Africa retains its number One position at 240 tonnes of output in 2009. Ghana comes second at 80 tonnes and Mali third at 60 tonnes. Tanzania is now fourth at 50 tonnes in 2009 followed closely by Burkina Faso which doubled its production in the year under review to 40 tonnes. Tanzanian drop to number 4 is not a result of lower growth but higher growth of Mali as in 2009 Tanzania’s output grew. (paragraph made by me and statistics from The Economist)

Top 15 Gold Producers 2009 (The Economist pg 86, January 23rd 2010).
China
Australia
South Africa
United States
Russia
Peru
Indonesia
Canada
Ghana
Uzbekistan
Papua New Guinea
Brazil
Mexic
Mali
Argentina
—
Kabwe Z. Zitto,MP
Deputy Secretary General CHADEMA
Member of Parliament, Kigoma North, Tanzania.
Chairman Parliamentary Public Investments Committee (POAC).
Opposition Spokesperson on Infrastructural Development,
Co-Chair, International Parliamentarians Network http://www.parliamentariansforconflictprevention.net/members
+4915222493231

‘end single party dominance in Tanzania for sustainable growth, stability and democracy’

—

THE ROLE OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS IN IMPROVING READING CULTURE

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THE ROLE OF TEACHERS AND PARENTS IN IMPROVING READING CULTURE

Reading culture can best be explained as a learned practice of seeking knowledge, information or entertainment through the written word. Such practice can be acquired by reading books, journals, magazines, newspaper, etc. having a reading culture has become imperative in the 21st Century for everybody, especially our children, the future of the nation. To participate effectively in our children is a task that we must take very seriously. This should be the primary goal of institutional heads, teachers, parents, and our communities at large. The declining interest in reading exhibited by our children today is a cause for alarm and a challenge to all.

Reading is obviously one of the basic things a child begins to do in the early stages of formal education, within the school building. Some children also learn to read from the parents even before they start schooling. It is through reading that children broaden their understanding of life.

Reading opens up a whole new world from which to see themselves and others. Reading enables creativity to blossom in the child. It gives them the tools to explore their talent while learning about themselves and their societies. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) the English Philosopher once asserted that reading maketh a full man. Speaking…a ready man. Writing maketh him exact.”

This assertion has never been proved otherwise. Great readers have always made great writers as history, autobiographies and biographies of great men have taught us. The great writers in Tanzania such as Elvis Musiba , Erick Shigongo , Joseph Mihangwa . Prince Bagenda , Jenerali Ulimwengu to mention but few are home grown examples of great readers and writers. It is therefore, proper to say that those who can read definitely have an advantage over those who cannot. In other words “Readers are Leader.”

There is a story of a man who could not read, but he wanted his challengers to know he could. He pretended that he could read; so one day, he was put to the test. “Read this newspaper to us,” his friends challenged him. “What did Jenerali say in today’s paper?” he took the newspaper, turned it upside down and began to…mumble. He did not even know which side of the newspaper should be up.

Reading culture among children in modern Tanzania
There is no doubt that the reading culture among Tanzanian children is tragically deficient in comparison to other Western nations. One can even say that the past generation of Tanzanians—our fathers and grandfathers had a remarkable thirst for knowledge through education despite the scarce resources that they contended with.

They had a better appreciation of the value of education as a better appreciation of the value of education as a status symbol. There are examples of parents who deprived themselves of everything to see to the education of their children, a situation that was also economically and financially viable or rewarding. Thus, to know how to read for its own sake is an invaluable asset.
Sadly enough, this is not the case among many Tanzanian children in the 21st century. The importance of reading for its own sake has taken a bad hit, and reading culture has steadily declined over the years. Where do we look for the source of this problem? Who do we blame? Our parents, the children, the educational system, the nation? What has happened to Tanzanian Child of old and that love for reading so well exemplified by the past generation?

Why is the Tanzanian child no longer interested in reading except when he/she is sitting for an examination? Why the lack of interest in knowledge for knowledge sake? Indeed, this poses a problem for the future of this nation. How can a nation sustain itself in the future without great readers and writers with the imagination and creativity that characterized the Chaucer’s the Shakespeare’s, the Achebe’s soyinkas, or even the younger voices such as Adichie?

I would like to uncover some of the roots of this problem so that we can begin a modest search for a remedy.
Lack of motivation among children

It is my belief that the Tanzanian child is presently lacking in the motivation that creates a strong reading culture in the nation. There is a general apathy or loss of value for reading.
The youth is distracted by the fall outs from technological innovation in the world today. These include the easy availability of entertainment media, games and gambling. Rather than read a good novel or biography they may prefer to play card games or indulge some other pastime outside of reading.

Lack of parental guidance and encouragement
parents should encourage children by providing them good books to read at home. Those with access to modern technology such as the internet should monitor closely and restrict access time for the children. They should remember that all that glitters is not gold. Technology can also be source of endangerment for our children’s moral growth.

Inadequate funding of educational institutionsThe government can help by assisting schools with functional libraries (which are repositories of knowledge) that children can loan books from and read at leisure.

Poor economy and low standard of living
A hungry man with Tshs 2000 in his pocket knows whether it is better to buy books or food for his child. Most parents live in reduced circumstances. They can ill-afford a three-square meal a day, how much more buy books for their children.
Owing to hardship, most parents cannot provide good books for their children-especially in a situation where price of goods and services continues to skyrocket-with government not doing anything to better the situation. As a result of this, most parents cannot send their wards to school so as to be able to read and write. The only option left for such parents is to drive their children into the street-to hawk banana, icep-cream, vegetable etc.

Quest for money
Another distraction is the quest for mone-Granted that some parents may sometimes use their children’s help in supplementing family income because the times are hard; however, facts and stories show that some children. Without any duress form parents, would go seeking money rather than reading or doing their schoolwork. They hawk and sell…a situation where children engage in economic activity to sustain the family.

The Examination Code
Nowadays, many children care only about passing their examinations – without acquiring the basic knowledge that come with education. Hence. They have no need to study their books.

According to Professor Kelue Okoye in his book – “Schooling without Education.” “The import of education, therefore, includes acquiring the knowledge and skills required for proficient professional service, in addition to character formation”. But sadly enough, our present-day school children only go to school for formality sake without as much as having the least idea of what education entails.
Some of these children depend on the “mercenaries” hired by their parents to write examination for them. For this reason, these children no longer bother their heads to read their books.

Considering that education is a life-long phenomenon, its distortion or misdirection under whatever guise or circumstance robs our children of great opportunities inherent in human potentialities. And the distortion or misdirection of education implies, in reality, a negation of the process of developing the best of individuals for the collective well-being of society.

Absence of School and Public/Community Libraries
The community libraries are another target for improving reading culture. Existing public libraries are another target for improving reading culture. Existing public libraries should aim to update their collection; their services should be made pleasant enough to attract children of all ages to read outside of their teacher-assigned texts. Indeed, going to a library should be a pleasant experience for every child interest in reading. Communities can be called upon to help in building up their libraries for their children’s sake.

Increasing Cost of Publishing
Furthermore, supporting indigenous publishers has always been the best bet for any country interest in its children’s education. This support can come in various ways …reduced import taxes…and tariffs…on print materials for local production in order to reduce cost of book. Government should also consider also consider a complete waiver of import taxes and duties. VAT on education materials from abroad.

Advent of the Internet and ITC
The Internet has made its marks as a reliable source of information. So when given an assignment, children run right away to the computer and search through the internet for information which they download and submit straight to the teacher. It will even be a waste of time for them to go through what they have downloaded before submission.
They no longer read to source information through books, magazines, newspapers or even listen to radio and T.V. news since the information is always there on the internet waiting for them to download.

The Role of School Heads and Teachers
What can the School Heads and Teachers do to help?
•Cultivating a reading culture will require institutional or curricula changes in the long run. But what can we do in the short term to address this situation in the classrooms and in our homes? What can we begin to do to build the appreciation of reading?
Can we, for example, adopt the newspaper or educational magazines in our classrooms as a tool for reinforcing the teaching of civic knowledge, or economics, or social studies? Children can be asked to read and bring information from the daily papers as a group or individually.
•We can begin by looking to the community for support for our school activities (extra curriculula) that are hinged on learning; school debates, drama, and so on. These can be organized and made to attract parents’ interest.
•Fund raising can be organized to equip school libraries on a modest level
•Offer incentives to students who can read a certain number of books in school year. Cash awards are always memorable reminders to other students to emulate their peers.
•Writing contests, book reviews, story telling sessions of books read outside of class can be woven into the school curricula.
•Honouring parents who support school libraries either by donating books or paying for certain books to be placed in the libraries for the children’s use. Maintaining strict lenders’ and borrowers’ regulations and privileges are necessary to preserve library books.
•Seek collaboration with publishing companies to sponsor children who perform well in reading contests. Companies can also support school libraries through book donations, etc. Let me use this opportunity to commend companies like Zain, Vodacom, TangaCement, NMB for their efforts in equipping schools with libraries as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Conclusion

I believe we can start somewhere; and we can do it. Our children can do it too. There should be a revival of reading culture among our children that has the potential of exceeding that of past generations. It can be made possible if all hands are on deck working with a beautiful goal in mind – the parents, teachers, governments, and our communities working together with a vision of a better future for our children.

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

Zanzibar: Yes for the Unity government, but no for the referendum

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If the Union Government and the ruling party believe that what is needed to bring harmony and unity among Zanzibaris is to create a unity government (the so called government of national unity) then the people’s representatives in Zanzibar should be allowed to endorse the idea and from there a unity government should be established immediately.

But, if the union government and CCM’s NEC believe that in order to have a unity government, there should be first a referendum where by the people of Zanzibar would vote if they agree, then allow me to be the first one to vehemently oppose this referendum for being manipulative, unnecessary and would set a very dangerous precedence in the future.

It is manipulative because the referendum would avoid the political issues that have eclipsed these Islands for so long, and instead it would create a ” merry-go-around” system of dealing with political issues by simply bringing them to vote. Unfotunately, unless we know what percentage of votes would render the exercise credible, it is almost impossible to know what the people really want. Should it be a simple majority vote? What if the referendum comes out almost fifty fifty (something that could easily happen in Zanzibar)? Would we say the people’s voice has spoken?

It is unnecessary because, for almost fifty years, we have known that Zanzibar is split almost in the middle, and there is no way any government can govern effectively without involving the other party. It was for this reason, prior to the revolution, the first post independence government under Shamte, was an all inclusive one. If we already know this, and we have experienced since the elections of 1995, 2000 and 2005 that Zanzibaris are still divided, why not just go along and agree in principle, and in law, that after this year election, whoever wins MUST establish a unity Government. Isn’t that the easiest thing to do, rather than calling for a referendum, and have the people all charged up again right before the general election?

On the other hand, if this idea of national unity is a good idea, and if CCM believes that it is good for Zanzibar to have such a government, why not then consider the same idea for the mainland? Don’t they think some of us believe that a unity government should also be created on the mainland? We believe we have very good leaders outside the ruling party who could be invited to join the government in power. If they don’t believe it, they should also call a referendum on the mainland and see how many Tanzanians would support it. If it is good for one party of the union, I believe it is also good for the other!

But even worse, this is dangerous. If we agree today (as the ruling party seems to imply) that a referendum will be legally binding to the point of changing the political landscape and structure of Zanzibar, why then shouldn’t we expect that a call for a referendum in the future would be made by those voices which would like to secede from the Union? What will stop other politicians citing the referendum to call for a new referendum to decide on other political issues? The possibilities of chaos are endless.

Otherwise, yes for the Unity government, but no for the referendum!

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

MITANDAO HII ITUMIKE IPASAVYO

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MITANDAO HII ITUMIKE IPASAVYO

Hivi ni mara ngapi umewahi kuandika barua pepe kwenda kwenye anuani ya taasisi Fulani ya elimu ukakuta kumbe haifanyi kazi haswa hizi za mawasiliano kwa wote kama info@maishabora.ac.tz sio vyuo tu hata taasisi na mashirika ya umma kote huko kumekuwa na matatizo sawa .

Au hata ni mara ngapi kuona mawasiliano ya kiofisi ambayo inayo anuani zake pepe zikitumia anuani zingine za kusajili bila kupitia anuani za tovuti zao ? pamoja na kupiga kelele kwa kipindi kirefu sana inaonyesha watu hawasikii na hawataki hata kubadilika kwenda na wakati.

Kwa kipindi kirefu kidogo nimekuwa mmoja wa wale watu wanaoshangaa kwanini vyuo vikuu nchini havina au havijaanzisha huduma za mawasiliano kwa njia ya mtandao kwenye tovuti zao zinazohusu miradi Fulani au vikundi Fulani vya wanafunzi ?

Kwa mfano chuo kikuu cha maisha bora wiki hii darasa jipya limeanza na walimu wa darasa hilo wameamua kufungua group kwenye google ambapo wameweka anuani pepe za wanafunzi wao kwa ajili ya kuwasiliana nao na kubadilishana vitu mbalimbali vinavyohusu masomo yao .

Nimeamua kwenda kwenye mtandao wa maisha bora nimeshangaa kwa mfano wanafunzi wa chuo hicho hawana maelezo ya kutosha hata kuhusu group yao hiyo mbali na kujulishwa kwamba ile ni mali ya yahoo chochote kinachobadilishwa mule ni mali ya yahoo , hata chuo chenyewe hakina sera za mawasiliano kwa njia ya mtandao na hata maelezo mengine ya jinsi wanafunzi wanavyowasiliana wenyewe hata walimu kwa walimu wenyewe .

Mfano wa chuo cha maisha bora ni mfano halisi wa vyuo vingine na taasisi za elimu , mashirika ya ummah na yale yote yanayofanya kazi kwa maslahi ya nchi wote wameamua kwa makusudi kabisa kujiingza kwenye kundi hili kufungua groups kwenye yahoo au google kwa ajili ya mipasho yao ya kikazi hata kama sio public lakini ni vitu ambavyo mtu anaweza kutafuta kutumia search engine mbalimbali na kuweza kujua kinachojadiliwa ndani .

Na pia wengi wanasajili bila kupitia kwa makini maelezo kuhusu matumizi ya mitandao hiyo kama inaendana na maslahi yao kwa namna Fulani au la , hili ni suala la kuangalia kwa karibu zaidi , tujenge utamaduni wa kuwa na vyetu wenyewe .

Kuna hitajika jitihada za dhati kabisa kwa wadau popote walipo wahakikishe kwamba wanaandaa sera za mawasiliano kwenye vitengo vyao vya kazi vinavyohusu ICT ndani yake kuwe na mkataba ambapo kila mfanyakazi anayekabidhiwa kifaa hicho anaweza kuweka sahihi yake na kukubaliana na matakwa ya shirika , chuo au taasisi yake .

Vyuo hivi , mashirika na taasisi zianzishe vikundi hivi kupitia wavuti zao wenyewe hii ni kwa maslahi yao na nchi kwa ujumla , makosa ambayo yamefanyika huko nyuma kuacha mambo haya yasirudiwe tena huu ni mwaka mpya tunaingia kwenye ushindani wa kila aina kwahiyo ni vizuri basi taasisi , vyuo na taasisi zijue wajibu wao katika ushindani hii .

Nawatakia mafanikio tele katika kuanzisha sera za mawasiliano kwenye taasisi , mashirika na sehemu zingine za kazi pamoja tunaweza kwanini wao waweze sisi tushindwe .

Haturudi Nyuma

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

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE CELEBRATIONS AT HIS ANCESTRAL RURAL HOME IN ALEGO KOGELO APPEAR TO BE HEADING FOR A FLOP DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS

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PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ONE YEAR IN OFFICE CELEBRATIONS AT HIS ANCESTRAL RURAL HOME IN ALEGO KOGELO APPEAR TO BE HEADING FOR A FLOP DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Nyang’oma Kogelo.

The much highlighted one week festivities planned for Nyang’oma village in Alego Kogelo in Siaya appear to have attracted less enthusiastic crowd than it was last year. The celebrations end today, but so far, none of the expected dignitaries has turned up to grace the occasion.

It’s organizers have been forced to cut down some of the events, as well as the duration, which were originally slated to take one week, but have now been reduced to only four days.

The organizers, however, are still optimistic that the US Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Michael Rennerberger, who was expected to attend, will still grace the event with his presence. Another important guest who was expected to attend is the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who is currently on an overseas tour, putting his possible attendance in doubt.

The organizers of the event, led by Alego Kogelo civic leader, Councilor Okeyo Omedo, who is also the chairman of the celebrations steering committee, revealed that his committee was facing financial constraints, and this is what has forced them to cut down the duration from one week to four days.

He disclosed that the committee had forwarded its request for funding to the Ministry of National Heritage, with a budget of Kshs one million, but only received Kshs 50,000 which is inadequate. Moreover, the corporations that they had requested to chip in something have yet to respond.

The event, which is meant to celebrate the US President Barrack Obama’s inauguration in Washington D.C as the first black President of the most powerful nation on earth, kicked off this with several teams of tribal dancers, musical bands, football teams arriving from various locations, within the locality.

Most of the events are being held at the Senator Barrack Obama Kogelo Primary School, which is less than a kilometer from the Obama’ ancestral home, and also few meters from Nyang’oma market.

Those already arrived and converged at the venue, are members of Jo-Kogelo sub-clans, who traveled back to their ancestral home from many other Luo locations as far away as Rongo, Nyatike, Tanzania, Kano plains, Asembo, Ndhiwa, Kasipul-Kabondo, Karachuoyo, Asembo, Kisumo and other places. The majority of this sub-clan members are living in Southern Nyanza.

Since President Obama’s ascension to the presidency of the United States of America, this particular community, which is scattered in many places, has been elevated and placed in the highest esteem by their fellow Luos.

The Jo-Kogelo sub-clan, though scattered in many places inside Luo-Nyanza, have produced two MPs in Parliament. The incumbent MP for Kisumu Town West, Hon John Olago Aluoch, is a descendant of the Kogelo sub-clan, and so is the former Bondo MP, John Ougo Ochieng’, the man who is in record and credited for having vacated his Bondo parliamentary seat in favor of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in the early 1980s. Hon Ougo Ochieng’ hails from Asembo Kabondo, a sub-clan whose members are also the descendant of the larger Jo-Kogelo.

There is also a big concentration of this particular community in East Sakwa Location, Awendo-Division in Rongo district, in Southern Nyanza. Others are also to be found in Central Kadem in Nyatike district as well as in parts of Kodera in West Kasipul, Karachuonyo. Members of the Kanyakwar sub-clan, which has a big concentration in East Kisumo Location, in the outskirt of Kisumu City are also inter-related to the Kogelo Groups. This is the sub-clan of the present Kisumu Town West MP, Hon John Olago Aluoch.

Other members of this now important sub-clan are living in the North Mara region of Tanzania

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

MY LETTER TO TANZANIAN JOURNALIST

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Our Country’s failure to make the progress commensurate with 49 years of nation-building is not just a failure of leadership. It is first and most catastrophically, a failure of followership. As ordinary Tanzanians, we have failed to create an environment where good leadership can thrive. By glamorising fraud and ineptitude, we have created a country hostile to probity. Our expectation from Government House is mediocrity, so that good government surprises us pleasantly and excellence continues to amaze us. Instead of an environment of accountability, we have fostered sycophancy.

We have been content to follow every stripe of leader, from the thief to the buffoon. The consequence is that for Years we have been happy to be ruled even in absentia.

Today, we say, no more.

Protest is not a dirty word. Even babies have a voice, long before they learn language or discernment. The child that is too docile to cry when it hungers or ails might die in the hands of the most benevolent mother. A leadership, however benevolent, requires an intelligent, demanding, and courageous followership to excel.

It is the responsibility of every Tanzanian to voice the legitimate expectations of nation and to establish the standards to which our leaders must be held. We must expect great things from this country, so we must look for the leaders who can deliver. There is an acceptable standard of leadership, and then there is an unacceptable standard. We must honour leaders who excel, and censure leaders – at every level, and in every arm of government – who betray our trust.

If failure is not censured, there is no incentive in pursuing excellence. If sacrificial leadership is not recognised, then leaders of merit will not come forward, and the heroes in our cenotaphs will be the very architects of our failure as a nation. Although we are justly famous for our generosity of spirit, for our ability to forgive and forget the gravest transgressions, Tanzanians must also now boldly condemn the errors of leadership, and end the complacency that has brought us so low as a country. The only reason for the existence of political leaders is to offer service to nation. Leadership is not an end in itself. It is a privilege to serve your country; leadership is not a right to be served by your country.

Today, Tanzania stands on a precipice. Behind us is a history that can push us, irrevocably, over the brink. Yet, we are writers. If we bring anything collectively to society, it must be the imagination and the inspiration to bridge impossible gulfs. Today, we must plumb our history, not to evoke despair, but to inspire resolve. Today, we call on Tanzanians to hold hands across the trenches of our deep divisions and, somehow, find the resolution to dream again. Let us, as ordinary Tanzanians, reject the ethnic fictions that local despots have used to colonise this country over the past five decades.
Let us dream a simple dream made fantastic by our present circumstances. Let us dream of a Tanzania that works, that evokes pride, and that inspires faith. Let us dream of a Tanzania of servant-leaders and sacrificial statesmen, a Tanzania which calls the best characteristics out of ordinary men and women. Let us call on that capacity for renewal to bring opportunity out of this crisis.
Let us recreate the excitement – and the possibilities – with which we approached the Independence Day of 1961. In 49 years, the resources and destiny of this great country have been hijacked by private carpetbaggers and adventurers. Let us take back the sanctity of our polls. Let us rejuvenate the recall process. Let us police our resources, our leadership. We must liberate Tanzania anew. Today, we must take back our country.

As writers, the past and the future are fertile fields for the work of our imagination. Today, in this love-letter to our nation, we call on all Tanzanians to take authorship of our nation’s next 50 years. Our destiny is in our own hands. Shall we write into it a bigger Problem? Another half-century of mediocrity and international disgrace? Then we need do nothing.

But if we, the people of Tanzania, must write an inspirational epic of a humbled nation on her knees, who, breaking free of bondage, soars into the keep of eagles, we must begin by demanding only the best of our leaders. In the days and months to come, we the people must find our voice, our votes, and our true values. And we must make them count.
Thank you.

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

Young Tanzanians: Our Role in Tanzania transformation

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Tanzanian youth in Society transformation

There is no doubt that almost all Tanzanians want change, and the mood for change is evident from small villages to big cities where poverty, disease, lack of social infrastructure and most significantly lack of hope is everyday reality for millions of Tanzanians. 21st century Tanzania seems to be a shadow of its glorious past where recruiters from governmental establishments transverse university campuses in search of prospective employees, even before they graduated. Today, the story is different as our youth, even those who have reached the highest academic echelon, are hopeless, helpless, jobless and at times homeless.

The incandescence and pride of being a Tanzanian youth many years ago is somehow obliterated by the perpetuation of evils by our very own elders, some of whom have extolled themselves as elder statesmen. Young men and women across Tanzania have been bequeathed with a sense of social, political and economic insecurity by these same people, and many of us have been indoctrinated into a mirage of hope in an attempt to fight, sometimes violently, the selfish cause of the political elites at the polling booths and beyond. Our unquestionable allegiance to these same elders that have destroyed our land in itself raises concern that change in the political landscape of Tanzania is far from remote. There is no doubt that there are many Tanzanians at home and in the diaspora who desperately yearn for change.

Even in the face of enormous difficulties that confront the youth, we can collectively mobilise ourselves as agents of change and help build institutions of democracy devoid of generational corruption that Transparency International and the entire international community have come to associate with the mention of our country. We need to mobilise ourselves beyond the virtual platform of Wanabidii.net . We need to transform our virtual ideas into sustainable reality. Our problems in Tanzania will not be solved by secession; our problems in Tanzania will not be solved by waving spears and arrows; our problem in Tanzania can only be solved when Tanzanians at all social strata embrace the humanity of one another; when Tanzanians embrace the spirit of “Live and let live”; the true spirit of egalitarianism. Our problems could be solved through non-violent but persuasive discussions, objective engagement and sustainable diplomacy.

The youth have enormous responsibility in chatting a new cause for Tanzania. In my contacts within and outside Tanzania, there seem to be a growing and continual push for a national youth-initiated agenda and a youth-led coalition that would push for the renaissance that we all aspire to see in our country. There is by all account hundreds of youth-led non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) dotted across the country with fragmented and sometimes easily diluted ambition to single-handedly bring social and economic change. There is no doubt that one cannot readily discount the contributions of many of these NGO’s, but the reality is that meaningful progress would not be made in transforming the socio-economic and political landscape of Tanzania except these youth organisations come together and develop a strategic national agenda and priority areas that focus on improving the lot of ordinary Tanzanians, while building institutions that have democratic legitimacy; institutions that are sustainable for the sake of posterity. There is a growing need for a database of functional youth-led NGO’s, student organisations and other youth organisations to be developed. The aim is to get these NGO’s and organisations actively engaged in the development of a non-partisan national youth conference with the ultimate hope of developing goals, initiatives and strategies aimed at improving the image of our country and securing a future for Tanzanians of today and those unborn.

The current situation in Tanzania also challenges the media both print and electronic. The current situation in Tanzania where the media is biased and unwilling to cross muddy waters pinpoint the failures of the media, and highlights the lack of journalistic integrity in contemporary Tanzania. Our media houses and journalists have failed us as gatekeepers and agents of social justice. There is no doubt that the Tanzanian media is recovering from the fear of many years of oppression by previous Leaders in which legitimate media houses were closed, journalists perceived as traitors to national security arrested and imprisoned and freedom of the press stifled. Our current political dispensation promises that the media will not be harassed or subdued, so the onus is on our youthful journalists to engross themselves in a more investigative journalism poised at exposing government officials whose nefarious acts of corruption and other social and economic injustices today present a bleak future for Tanzanians, born and unborn.

The call for an alliance of all well-meaning youth-led organisations in Tanzania is growing. Together we can achieve more than we can individually. Our goals and aspirations for Tanzania share a common background and rooted in the ideals of peace, progress and prosperity, but our ideas are challenged by the fragmentation of our agenda, coupled with limited human and material resources.

We need to help build a Tanzania where poverty and despair for the majority of our population are challenged with the resources we have; we need to help build a society where our youth are not constantly harassed on arrival at foreign countries because they are by default deemed criminals or flight risks; we need to help build the generation that will build our nation. Our youth could help build sustainable democracy and democratic institutions. The Tanzanian youth could foster the election of individuals with democratic legitimacy and shy away from short-term gains and long-term losses involved in supporting individuals with questionable character.

For most of us, our role models are our parents and elders, but unfortunately this generation has for the most part failed us, meaning we have to develop our own model of problem-solving and critical analysis of the contemporary reality facing the youth. We cannot remain complacent of the reality of a typical Tanzanian youth who is faced with the quagmire of whether to eat, cloth or find adequate housing. In the land of plenty, in the land blessed with enormous human and material resources, the youth should not be faced with the challenge of sourcing clean water, health care, education and non-existent employment opportunity. The challenges facing the Tanzanian youth and indeed Tanzania is growing, we need to begin to mobilise ourselves and develop a unified voice that could question the idea of business as usual among our elitist politicians. We need to fight for a safer society that will discourage brain drain and help build sustainable economy and democracy. It is by challenging the status quo that women today are able to vote across many countries; it is by challenging the status quo that racial segregation was ended in America, and it is only by challenging the status quo that change can come to Tanzania. By the youth coming together across Tanzania with a unified but non-violent voice, change could be brought to our beloved country Tanzania, and posterity could be assured of a better future

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

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Zanzibar: Yes for the Unity government, but no for the referendum

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