Solidarity not partnership, to redefine the poorest nations

Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed

The Independent Expert Group (IEG) sees solidarity, rather than partnership, as being the key to effective international collaboration in the post-2015 framework as it implies shared interests and responsibilities rather than the outdated donor-recipient relationship.

Dr Essam Yassin Mohammed, a researcher with IIED and member of the Independent Expert Group made the statement in a release by the IEG. 

The release goes on to advise that, to assert their position, Tanzania and other Least Developed Countries (LDCs) need to redefine themselves, act to improve governance and promote greater solidarity both with each other and with more developed nations. 

 

Supported by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the group aims to influence the UN’s efforts to define Global Sustainable Development Goals to take effect from 2015, when the Millennium Development Goals expire. 

 

 “The LDCs are in many ways the weakest but they also have strengths such as, their local knowledge and institutions, their culture and values and their resilience to uncertainty,” says Dr Tom Bigg of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) which coordinates the IEG’s activities. 

 

“The LDCs can be leaders in the post-2015 process by promoting new forms of international cooperation that enables greater solidarity and sharing of knowledge and responsibilities,” reads part of the IIED statement available to our reporter.

 

 “They can act to redefine development assistance by working harder to use their national wealth to meet the priorities of the poor and they can do more to share their lessons and experiences of how to measure development and manage environmental resources.” Dr Tom Bigg explains.

 

The IEG’s mission is to ensure that UN-led processes to set international goals for development and sustainability take account of the perspectives and priorities of the LDCs and promote leadership from the LDCs at the UN level. 

 

The IEG consists of 13 experts from LDCs, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eritrea, Gambia, Haiti, Mali, Nepal, Senegal, and Uganda. The former prime minister of Haiti, Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, is the Chair.

 

The IEG members work in research institutes, media, civil society organizations and government agencies in the LDCs.

Govt wages war against on illegal fishing at Nyumba ya Mungu

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development,David Mathayo David

The government is waging an all out war against illegal fishing at Nyumba ya Mungu dam—the Northern zone's major source of hydro-electric power.

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development David Mathayo David, issued a stern warning yesterday in the National Assembly when responding to question by Betty Machangu (Special Seats, CCM) who wanted to know the government’s plans to curb illegal fishing in the dam.

The lawmaker said illegal fishing is rampant in the area and most people who deal with the dubious business come from neighbouring countries.

 

The minister stated that from now on the government is going to carry-out a crackdown against people who engage in fishing using ‘destructive’ fishing gear, which in turn dwindles fish resources in the dam.

 

He however admitted that destructive fishing practices at Nyumba ya Mungu dam have reached a deadly proportion as majority of fishermen have been engaging in illegal fishing, harvesting the species at an alarming rate and by using the banned fishing-nets and even chemicals.

 

He however asked the Beach Management Units (BMUs) to team up with government’s patrol forces to address the challenge, which poses a serious threat to the dam. The dam has the capacity of generating 8MW.

 

“I call upon BMUs and people living on the shores of the dam to disclose those involved in illegal fishing activities, including people from the neighbouring countries to responsible authorities so that they can be taken to task,” he ordered.

 

“As government, we will take stern measures against local people who collaborate with aliens in sabotaging fishing in this important water body,” the minister stated.

 

He said the dam is overwhelmed with other human induced activities, which threaten the survival of the 45 year dam found between Manyara and Kilimanjaro regions and with different fish species.

 

Mathayo admitted that the dam is also threatened with limited number of staff whereby right now there are about 11, though the actual demand is 36.

 

Among the measures, which are in place include establishing a total of 20 BMUs, he said, adding that “the idea of these units is to work on scaling down all activities which are not friendly to fish resources.”

 

Current mass fishing practices at Nyumba ya Mungu dam are said to be mainly fueled by the fact that a number of fishermen who used to fish at Lake Jipe, located about 40km north of the dam, moved to it after the lake recently dried up mostly due to drought and also the invasion of water clogging weeds.

 

The situation compelled about 4,000 out of 5,000 families of fishermen who spent many years making their living around Lake Jipe, measuring 166 square km, to move southwards due to declining fishing activities.

Investors not satified with harnessing of fish resources

Tamimi Fisheries Company

Yemen based Tamimi Fisheries Company has through its representatives expressed disappointment with the low exploit of fisheries resources in Tanzania, especially on the Indian Ocean.

Tamimi Ally, the advisor to Tamimi Fisheries Company revealed the discontent at the just-ended 17th East Africa International Trade Fair exhibition held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

“We are well aware of the richness of the Indian Ocean and that is why we are interested in doing business with Tanzania,” said the Yemenis trade advisor.

He went on to state that his company is disappointed at the low amount of fish exploitation and related marine resources which he said is not enough for a processing plant, such as the one his company is looking to establish in the country.

“Our expectations were disappointed as the local fishing in Dar es Salaam is too weak to supply the plant and meet world market demand,” Ally said.

That being the case, he advised that the government create a better fisheries sector by having the local fishermen organise themselves into small groups or associations and establish colleges to train them.

The advisor elaborated that once they have formed associations then the small scale fishermen become legible for loans and it is then possible to establish a modernised fishing scheme that would pave the way for the country to compete in the world market.

Seconding his advisor’s displeasure and surprise with the low investment going into Tanzania, the Marketing Manager of Tamimi Fisheries Company, Awadh Al-Tamimi
said: “It is very sad that even the ministry concerned does not know or have the actual figures for importation and exportation of fish which gave us the impression that the government is not serious in the sector.”

Al-Tamimi said his colleagues visited to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development offices where they inquired as to the importation and exportation statistical figures on the fisheries sector.

“It becomes very hard for us and other potential investors interested in conducting business with Tanzania to assure ourselves of profit,” he explained.

Describing the unfortunate scenario, Al-Tamimi pointed out that Dar es Salaam, for example, has a bustling catering and hospitality industry with many prominent international hotels represented yet the city, like other regions depends on fish imports.

He said the amount harvested does not meet demand and the little that is harvested falls short of proper value addition due to a lack of processing plants and a very weak chain value addition apart from domestic consumption.

“Many Dar es Salaam residents, the majority being women, depend on fish sales to meet their financial as well as nutritional needs and therefore, if the government were to improve the sector, the people would all benefit greatly,” Al-Tamimi advised.

On an optimistic note, that does however contradict the observations and reports by Al-Tamimi and his colleague, a day before the EAITE ended, Theresia Mganga, the director of administration in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development revealed that at least 7trn/- is saved annually from restricted fish product imports.

She was speaking during the second graduation ceremony of the Mbegani Fisheries Development Centre in Bagamoyo District, Coast Region where she conferred diploma certificates to 188 graduates who completed two-year Masters Degree courses.

The institute covers Marine Engineering, Aquaculture, Fish Processing, Nautical Science and Boat Building. Also Environment and Coastal Resource Management, Master Fisherman and Quality Assurance and Marketing.

Mganga’s comment agrees with the foreign observers that Tanzania has ‘enough fish reserves’ but they sharply contradict when she suggests that these vast resources ‘satisfy the local market demand’ and also that because the local supply meets demand then ‘fish and fish related imports are low’.

The Tanzania national website reports that apart from the Indian Ocean, Tanzania’s fresh waters include the riparian shared waters of East African great lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa and also small natural lakes, man-made lakes, river systems and many wetlands cover 58,000 square kilometres and all have high fish potential.

The site admits that, the country has a coastline of about 800 km declared as its Exclusion Economic Zone but has not yet exploited it and the present annual fish catch is only about 350,000 metric tonnes.

The number of fishermen who are permanently employed is 80,000 and few others obtain their livelihood indirectly from fishery related activities.

These artisanal fishermen produce about 90 percent of the total fish catch in the country meaning that only 10 percent is derived from industrial fishing.

Most of the fish caught is consumed locally while Nile perch with exception of sardines and prawns that are mostly for exports contributing to GDP a measly 1.6 to 3.1 percent annually. 

TGNP says govt grabbing villagers' land in regions

TGNP Executive Director, Usu Mallya

The Tanzania Gender and Networking Programme (TGNP) has strongly blamed the government for grabbing the Mshewe residents’ land in Mbeya Rural District and sold it to investors, leaving the villagers as tenants and workers on their ancestors’ land.

TGNP Executive Director Usu Mallya revealed this when briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam on the investigation report that was conducted by the NGO in May in the three regions of Morogoro, Shinyanga and Mbeya.

Mallya said that investors in Mbeya Region at Mshewe village, in particular have been given the land grabbed by the government leaving the indigenous being mere vasals and tenants in the plantations at low wages.

According to the report, Mallya said men are forced to bribe in order to get a chance to work in the plantations. Whereas on the other hand, women and young girls become labourers paid low wages of between 2,500/- and 3,000/- a day.

She said as a result women and girls working in those plantations have been facing various challenges such as gender violence including sexual bribery which has disseminated sexual diseases including HIV/Aids, gonorrhea, among other in the area.

She further said in their findings, they have also realised that in Kisaki Ward in Morogoro Rural Dustruct, there is a land dispute between small farmers and pastoralists. The dispute has led to the clearing of crops of farmers due to lack of area for pasturing.

Mallya said that the land dispute in that area has mainly been caused by corruption. Whereby, pastoralists are alleged to bribe local government leaders so that they should not be disturbed when they trespass to areas belonged to farmers, which are for cultivation.

Again, according to TGNP findings, lack of clean and safe water was another serious issue that needed quick measures to address it.

Mallya said that despite the national water policy whose one of the objectives in to ensure water availability is not found more than 400 meters. But it has failed to fulfill it, she barked.

In Isoso and Lubaga wards in Kishapu, water problem to people lead women and girls to travel distant routes searching for water. However, most often they have found themselves in difficult and dangerous situations, some being getting unexpected pregnancies after being raped in search of water.

Their report has also indicated that poor health services at Ilota village in Mbeya, Kisaki in Morogoro was still a major challenge. There are no enough medicines in some dispensaries. In Morogoro some residents are forced to contribute 70,000/-
Meanwhile, TGNP has called for the government to give back land taken from Mshewe residents so that they could continue with their usual lives as owners of a land and not refuge in their own country.

They have also urged leaders to fulfill their promises they had promised during their campaigns and should not remain silent. “Don’t turn these poor people as your capitals during political campaigns during general elections only, fulfill your promises to them,” she noted.

On their part, the Mshewe residents in Mbeya rural have claimed that their fertile land, on which they have been depending for decades has been given to investors, denying them land for agriculture and residential.

“We have been forced to become cheap labourers in investors’ plantations so that we can get a living, otherwise we can starve and eventually die of hunger if we don’t do that,” they lamented bitterly.

Norwegian fertiliser firm to build plant in Mtwara

YARA-International

A Norwegian fertiliser company, YARA-International has unveiled its long-term plans to set up fertilisers-manufacturing factory in Tanzania in a broader quest to enhance farmers’ access to the inputs.

The plan was disclosed at the weekend at a forum of fertilisers-distribution agencies organised by the Norway-based firm, which is specialised in the manufacturing and distribution of high-quality fertilisers globally, including Tanzania.

However, the latest revelation has come as the government struggles to lure potential foreign and local investors to support its ambitious and national-wide agriculture revolution crusade, dubbed ‘Kilimo Kwanza.’

Significant progress has been made since ‘Kilimo Kwanza’ concept came into force, but experts say some challenges still exist, including setting up a viable mechanism to increase usage of fertilisers, lack of awareness (on the part of farmers) on the importance of applying fertilisers.

YARA-Tanzania Country Director Pal Oystein Stormorken said the company has come up with a number of strategies targeting to address some of the snags inhibiting improved productivity in the agriculture, said to employ 80 per cent of the population.

In a span of three years since the company started operations in Tanzania, it has imported and distributed high-quality fertilisers to farmers across the country, he said, adding “and the results have been very impressing … improved productivity, harvests and more farmers’ income.”

The company has established fertilisers-distribution outlets in different regions countrywide, from which farmers could easily access the agricultural inputs.

As part of its long-term strategies, according to firm’s boss, the company plans to put up a fertilisers-manufacturing plant in Tanzania, but noted that implementation of the plan would depend on the natural gas situation in Mtwara and other regions in the southern part of the country.

Natural gas is an important ingredient in fertilisers-production, and that sufficient quantity of the resource could make the envisaged fertilisers-manufacturing plant a reality.

“In fact, if we are to set up a fertilizer plant here, it is not going to be for Tanzania alone, we will export the product to other East African countries and rest of Africa …. In other words, it must be a large-scale fertiliser-plant. That’s why we have to be satistified with the availability of raw material (natural gas),” observed YARA country director.

“Yes, we have such plans in future, but we need to make thorough assessment of natural gas situation before venturing into that (setting up fertilisers factory),” said Stormorken.

Hilary Patto, YARA-Tanzania Head of Marketing and Distribution, said besides selling fertilisers to the farmers, the company also educates them on the importance of using fertilisers and ABCs of applying the inputs.

In these initiatives, YARA collaborates with national agriculture development institutions and government agencies, Patto said.

Galus Mapunda, one of the farmers who attended the event, said “I used to harvest 500kgs of tobacco per one acre (before I started applying YARA fertilisers), but I am getting up to 1200kgs now.”

Songea-based farmer Oward Similar said: “At the moment, I get around 45 and 50 bags from one acre of maize, a drastic increase from 15 bags I used to harvest when applying other types of fertilisers. Bumper harvest has really improved my life and other farmers who use YARA fertilisers.” At the gala, which was attended by high-profile dignitaries, YARA awarded several individuals and local companies which excelled in the distribution of YARA products.
 

Government bans importation of substandard ‘Tiger’ batteries

The government has imposed a ban on importation of substandard batteries dubbed tiger head in the country for failure to adhere to the standard requirements hence threaten health of consumers and economy.

A statement issued by the Tanzania Bureau of Standard (TBS) over the weekend said the ban was introduced last week after identifying many manufacturers who were given standard certificate use it without following procedures.

The standard certification regulations of 2009 prohibit any one to use the TBS quality mark in products without having a licence which has been provided according to the international specified standards prepared by the Bureau.

According to the statement, the standards batch certification Act of imports, 2009 forbids any one to import into the Tanzanian market products which do not meet standards or batch which was not provided with quality certificates.

“We want to inform the public particularly importers of batteries dubbed tiger head that the producers have failed to meet standard requirement”, the statement noted.

The statement said the batteries will have to verify its standards before being shipped into the country under pre-shipment verification to conformity standards system (PVoC) and not other wise.

TBS signed contracts with three companies -- Bureau Veritas of France, Societe Generale De Surveillance (SGS) of Switzerland and Intertek Government and Trade Services of the UK who officially started inspection work on behalf of TBS in February last year.

However, the Bureau acting Director General Joseph Masikitiko was recently quoted as saying they are preparing a list of overseas manufacturers whose products are regularly imported and have a negative impact on the economy. We will visit them, verify their products and certify them,” he said.

Some of the products the bureau plans to start verifying their manufacturers are batteries and motorcycles popularly knows as ‘bodaboda’ that are increasingly imported and widely used to transport people both in urban and rural areas.

He revealed that they have come up with a number of new strategies tailored to curb importation of fake and substandard products. It will now verify and certify manufacturers of the products instead of dealing with importers and suppliers.

Still in its infancy stage, the plan aims at ensuring that manufacturers are held accountable whenever their suppliers are found in possession of fake or substandard brands of the

Darfur safety fears: Oversight by TFF?

Could one safely conclude that the Tanzania Football Federation did not see the need for concerns over the state of security in Darfur before the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry raised concern?

Couldn’t that sadly suggest that the federation is living in such confirmed isolation that there is no way it can know what is going on around it – outside its immediate “sphere of influence”?

TFF president Leodegar Tenga, who holds a similar position in Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), ought to have known the risk associated with staging a sub-continental regional soccer tournament in an area as prone to civil strife as Darfur.

Seriously, just how could he endorse CECAFA to go ahead and organise the tournament in the strife-torn region without making efforts to check with the relevant authorities?

Tenga must have known right from the beginning about initiatives taken by the regional body he presides over before endorsing the staging the regional of the club championship, popularly known as Kagame Cup, in a zone not totally free from violence.

It is the same TFF and CECAFA president who was involved in the decision by the regional association to shift the championship from Khartoum to Dar es Salaam in 2011.

If Khartoum was not safe enough to host a tournament in barely two years ago, how could Darfur become safe after almost a decade of war?

Despite being highly obsessed with soccer matters, Tenga and his lieutenants ought to have sensed the political instability in Sudan that led to the recent dismembering of the country.

We salute the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry for making highlighting the need for concerns over safety in Darfur, where CECAFA has nonetheless elected to stage its high-profile regional club championship.

Probably Tenga may have delegated his powers to his secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, and believes every word the latter says without taking trouble to digest what he is told – which would be most unfortunate.

Whoever decided on the 2011 shift should have been consulted before Darfur was picked as the venue for this year’s Kagame Cup.

However superbly CECAFA and TFF may have performed thus far, this recent oversight over safety considerations relating tom Darfur comes as a shock to most people in the CECAFA “bloc”.

We can bet that had the issue been public knowledge early enough, clubs would have spared themselves preparation costs in respect of a tournament still covered by smog.

CECAFA should have borrowed a leaf from the Confederation of African Football, which learnt a lot from what happened in Angola during last year’s Nations Cup finals.
Having secured independence after several decades, Angola still suffers from intermittent skirmishes caused by rebels who badly tainted the country’s image by after assaulting the Togo national team.

It will be recalled that CAF also replaced Libya as hosts of the Nations Cup championship that was supposed to be staged this year, with South Africa taking over the role. Reason? Security concerns.

Both TFF and CECAFA should stand reminded about the need to be especially keen on factors to be considered in the selection of countries to host crucial tournaments. Security should always come first.

Poulsen awaits Mazembe pair

Taifa Stars coach, Kim Poulsen

Tanzania national soccer team (Taifa Stars) coach Kim Poulsen says all of his players are in sound health and only TP Mazembe striking duo of Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu are missing in his squad.

The duo were expected to arrive in Morocco yesterday to join their colleagues for ad hoc training sessions ahead of Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier tie against the host nation.

Taifa Stars players who arrived in Marrakech on Monday were expected to kick start the training session to gear up for the crucial encounter.

The TP Mazembe duo would not join their colleagues who took a brief training stint in Addis Ababa and played a friendly international against Sudan that ended in barren draw last Sunday.

The Mazembe strikers were rendering services to their team that was playing a CAF Confederation Cup against a Mozambican side over the weekend in Maputo. The qualifier match is expected to kick off close to midnight hours.

Both national teams need to win the encounter so as to keep their World cup qualification hopes on track for the global football championship in Brazil.

So far the reception has been cordial according to Boniface Wambura and the players are up beat. Depending on how the match between Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia will end, Taifa Stars are supposed to work hard and shock again the Moroccans to ease qualification prospects.

Stars are second from the top of the standings table currently dominated by Cote d’Ivoire with a difference of one point.
The Ivorians remain the only team with unbeaten run after three qualifier games and a loss to Gambia will be a blessing in disguise for the Tanzanians should they post a victory on Saturday.

Five top-placed teams from ten qualifier groups will be involved in playoff to determine qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil.

Morocco are regular qualifiers for the World Cup finals having featured for the first time in 1970. Tanzania is still searching for maiden appearance in the championship. 

Will Tanzania meet 2015 deadline on child, maternal mortality?

Investing in girls and women's health is not just the best thing to do, it is the smartest thing to do. (File photo)

Between January and March, nine mothers lost their lives giving birth at Makole Health Centre in Dodoma district. The number is three times the deaths recorded at the centre between October and December last year where three women died.

Harriet Kidayi, the Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator in Dodoma district based at the health centre blames this on late referrals to hospital.

To some, the number of women who died giving birth at the health centre, may not seem to be a big deal. But the reality is no woman should die giving birth. No woman should die giving life.

Globally, almost every minute a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and child birth. And 99 per cent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Experts say the likelihood of a motherless child dying prematurely is ten times more than that with a mother. Every year, more than one million children are left motherless.

The late referrals that Kidayi, the reproductive and child health coordinator in Dodoma district says caused the deaths of mothers at Makole health centre this year are just one among many causes of maternal deaths in Tanzania. And there are various reasons why expectant mothers get to the hospital late and many are beyond their control.

Things like lack of transport to the nearest health facility. This is a big problem in rural areas. There are areas where expectant mothers walk for two days to get to hospital for delivery. Because of poverty, they can’t afford to hire a vehicle to the hospital. And the list of reasons for late referrals is long.

With only 18 months left before the 2015 Millennium Development Goals deadline, the Tanzanian government and other stakeholders in the health sector are fighting to see to it that the country attains goals number four on reducing child mortality by two thirds and number five on maternal mortality reduction by three quarters by 2015.

The government has been promoting family planning as part of the national reproductive health strategy. This is because 20- 25 per cent of maternal deaths could be avoided through prevention of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.

Also mothers and children can become healthier and families can better provide for the care and upbringing of their children. Girls will not be forced to drop out of school because of unexpected pregnancies. Moreover, family planning is good for the overall development of the country.

Tanzania’s target is to have 60 per cent of women and girls using contraceptives by 2015 in a bid to reduce child and maternal mortality rates and improve women’s health. However, this is a challenge given that only 34 per cent of all women use family planning today. But we can get there if we want and this year’s health budget allocation of 1bn/- for reproduction health is a good move.

This is the first time that the government is allocating its own money for the purpose. The minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Hussein Mwinyi said when tabling the health budget in parliament last month that this is a big step that signals to development partners that Tanzania is serious about the matter. However, some Members of Parliament were not convinced 1bn/- was enough. This year’s budget allocation for health is 753.9bn/-.

Family planning is one of the most powerful ways of improving the health of women and children and of controlling population growth of a country. This is a fact that is yet to be known by many people especially those living in the rural areas of developing countries like Tanzania.

It is because of this high level of illiteracy that the US-based Population Reference Bureau (PRB) recently organised a one-week workshop in Dar Es Salaam for health journalists who can be good ambassadors in spreading the message.

The journalists were equipped with information on maternal and reproductive health. They also discussed how the press can play a vital role in addressing reproductive health and fertility issues and how these can cause socioeconomic development.

PRB is a non-partisan and evidence based organization with a mandate of informing people around the world about population, health and the environment and at the same time empowering them to use that information to advance their well being and that of generations to come.

Presenting the Tanzania MDGs progress report at the journalists’ workshop, the Director of Advanced Family Planning, Halima Shariff said infant mortality rates have declined by more than a half in the last decade. According to 2010 statistics, the rate stands at 51 per every 1,000 live births. This therefore is a green light that the set target of reducing infant mortality rate to 31 out of every 1000 births by 2015 is achievable.

On the other hand, reducing maternal mortality ratio remains a challenge. In 1990, the maternal mortality ratio stood at 529 per every 100,000 live births and after 10 years, in 2010 that is, the ratio was 454 women per every 100,000 live births. At this slow pace, the efforts of decreasing this to 133 by 2015 may clearly not be achieved.

Access to family planning services is one key component in achieving the above. Both men and women need to know the importance of child spacing and how this greatly contributes to improving the health of both the mother and the child. They also need to know the importance of giving birth in a health facility.

2010 statistics show that only 51 per cent of births in Tanzania are attended to by a skilled personnel. It therefore becomes difficult for the 90 per cent target to be attained in less than two years. This is given the country’s serious shortage of skilled workforce among other reasons.

To curb the shortage, the government has promised to increase the number of medical personnel and also to create a user-friendly environment for family planning services especially for youths since most are denied access to the services.

Harriet Kidayi, the Dodoma Reproductive and Child Health Coordinator says there has been an improvement in accessibility and use of family planning in Dodoma. She says most women prefer modern methods like the injectable method.

In 2011 62 per cent (84,804) of the targeted women were using contraceptives out of the targeted 136,004. In 2012, the percentage rose to 77 per cent (110,234) out of the targeted 142,596.

She however says that there is still more to be done in the peri-urban areas to have more women enlightened on the matter.

“Men’s involvement in family planning issues should be enhanced to help the current situation. Though as a district we have never received serious complaints of men battering their wives due to decisions they take on family planning as is the case in some regions,” Harriet says.

On maternal deaths, Harriet says; “to address this, the government has increased the number of health centres in the region by introducing Hombolo and Kikombo facilities. It has also introduced clean delivery packs containing all the necessities needed by women during labour and this is given to every woman at 39 weeks of pregnancy to help in case of emergencies.”

She also added that the number of mothers dying during delivery had greatly gone down in Dodoma district. A total 66 deaths were recorded in 2012 compared to 129 in 2011.

To attain the target goals by 2015, more efforts are needed and these include channeling more funds in the sector. The government needs to stop depending entirely on donors since delay of funds usually causes shortages. For years, family planning budget has been dependent on donor funds.

Another area of concern is addressing high fertility rates especially in the lake zone regions. Women in rural areas still have a high rate of seven children while those in urban areas have four children per woman. Lack of access to family planning services in rural areas, lack of willingness to use them and teenage pregnancies are cited as major factors contributing to the high fertility rates.

Dr. Muzdalifat Abeid, Head of Maternal Unit at Temeke Hospital says women are not willing to use family planning due to myths and misconceptions, low understanding of family planning by men thus discouraging their wives, religious beliefs and inadequate resources to sensitize people and facilitate delivery of the services.

All these are vices to fight if we want to see changes in infant and maternal mortality rates.

Speaking at the opening of the recently concluded high level global meeting on girls’ and women’s rights in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Women Deliver President, Jill Sheffield said investing in the health and reproductive rights of women and girls has benefits for both the families and the country at large.

“When we invest in girls and women’s health, it’s not just the best thing to do, it is the smartest thing to do,” said Ms Sheffield. She explained that sexual and reproductive health should be looked at as a human rights issue.

“We should look at it as a human right to have access to contraceptives and give it a central place in our work. All these commitments are in place and governments only need to implement them,” she said.

World leaders attending the meeting called on governments to invest more in the wellbeing of mothers and girls. Having been represented at the conference, we hope Tanzania will heed the call and thus meet the MDGs on maternal and child mortality come year 2015.

Conference: Contain corruption to realise faster development

George Mkuchika (L), has a word with Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othman (C) and IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi during break at Fourth Pan African Anti-Corruption Conference in Dsm

Arresting corruption and capital flight will enable Tanzania to have more of the resources it needs to realise substantial reduction in poverty, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

Capt (rtd) George Mkuchika, Minister of State in the President’s Office overseeing the Good Governance portfolio, said that would be in line with the country’s objectives as outlined in the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP).

Opening the Fourth Pan Africa Anticorruption Conference in Dar es Salaam, the minister said the money leaving Tanzania illegally every year is ten times the total foreign aid the country receives and therefore constitutes an drain on resources that would gone into development projects.

He gave the goals the country would have achieved if there wasn’t such capital flight as including reduction of maternal mortality rate from 454 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 265 per 100,000 live births by 2025 as well as boosting access to power supply from 14 per cent of the population in 2010 to 18 per cent in 2025.

Mkuchika explained that corruption by individuals accounted for the smallest amount part of the flight of capital from Tanzania and other developing countries – only 3 to 5 per cent, adding: “The main actors are the multinational companies evading taxes. This explains why resource rich countries are poor and associated with what is commonly referred to as a resource curse.”

He said the conspiracy of factors such as corruption and lack of accountability is facilitated by the secrecy often surrounding the operations of tax havens and the fact that some companies do not observe laid down accounting standards and procedures.

The minister called for sterner measures at all levels of governance to arrest capital flight and tame corruption, saying: “Corruption undermines economic growth in individual countries and the African continent generally and jeopardises the consolidation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

He said history shows that strong democratic institutions with transparent and accountable governance structures were powerful tools in the war on corruption and other systemic abuses of power.

“Academic research shows how corruption can disrupt the economy and society at large. It erodes trust in public institutions and political processes and undermines the functioning of markets,” he noted.

He added that corruption has a direct impact on national budgets and helps groups behind organised crime groups conduct their activities faster and more viciously.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General Dr Edward Hosea said corruption was “a big issue not similar to normal offences”.

“Serious measures must be taken if the vice is to be tamed or arrested,” he noted, adding: “The World Bank says more than USD200 billion is lost each year through corruption and illicit capital flight.”

To make things worse, he said, “African Development Bank figures show that we have been losing about 50 per cent of our gross domestic product to corruption in terms of the revenue collected. If we were to collect all the revenue lost, there wouldn’t be much need for us to ask for much outside financial assistance.”

Without referring to any particular institution in Tanzania, Dr Hosea said time was ripe for the government to create stronger institutions to sweep the country clean of corruption and lack of accountability.

“This is because if we are to develop, if we are to eradicate poverty in the country, if we are to move from where we are and realise our development goals, then we need to consider corruption as an extremely serious matter,” he pointed out, adding: “Our institutions should be empowered to address the vices more appropriately and effectively.”

The PCCB chief said he would appreciate seeing corruption in fall in the category of Union matters under the envisaged Constitution for Tanzania, wondering why the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba appears to have different ideas.

“The new constitution must deal with corruption and illicit capital flight squarely. We can’t afford to leave things as they are; something must be done. I will be amazed if the new constitution remains silent on the issue,” asserted Dr Hosea.

He told the journalists that unless the country responds to the matter urgently and appropriately, poverty will become endemic “because corruption is a killer and the nation must wake up and fearlessly combat it aware that it affects the nation’s entire fabric and not only politics or the economy”.

“Failure to do so will earn us understandable blame from posterity. So let us fight it, come what may,” he added.

John Jingu, director of Tanzanian civil society organisation Integrity Watch, meanwhile said corruption and capital flight was a problem in many developing and developed nations and seriously hampered efforts to eradicate poverty.

“We must join hands in this struggle as some of these tax havens we are talking about are disguised dens where corruption is rampant and deep-rooted,” he added.
The conference is organised by Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaboration with PCCB and Integrity Watch.

'What about land ownership, Judge Warioba?'

Judge Joseph warioba

A Countrywide survey carried out by this paper has shown that many Tanzanians have received the proposed Constitution launched on Monday with mixed feelings, some saying the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has done a commendable job and others differing.

However, some remained pessimistic on the land ownership issue, which they said, does not feature anywhere in the draft.

Besides, those interviewed have warned politicians (power mongers) who might wish to interfere with the constitutional councils’ undertakings.

Other people expressed fear that the draft should not be endorsed by the Constitutional Assembly because some MPs are likely to suggest that some areas that they think will deny them positions should be removed from the suggested items.

Others have proposed Tanganyika to become the official name of the Mainland government instead of Tanzania Mainland.

Prince Mwaihojo, who is Mbeya chairman of Students’ Forum said that the committee had forgotten to highlight the issue of land ownership, saying that they will not remain silent on this.

He said land ownership was a sensitive matter that must be included in the Constitution, a move that would do away with the prevailing disputes and conflicts over land possession.

He added that land ownership has become a source of conflict and war in many countries in Africa.

So, the failure by CRC to include it the Constitutional draft has not answered some of the questions which the citizens aired when the Commission was collecting their views, he said.

“Chief Mirambo and Kinjektile Ngwale fought agisnt the colonialists so as to defend their ancestors’ land. Tanzanians must realize that the land issue is not an issue to ignore,” he said.

For his part, Boyid Mwabulanga said that the Constitutional draft was good because it had answered many of the people’s questions.
He said it has thrown out all the details available in the current constitution which were nuisance.

Interviewed Dar es Salaam residents for their part, said they were worried that the Parliament would not approve that Constitutional draft because some MPs would want some of the suggested aspects to be removed for their own interests.

Peter Mosha, who resides at Buguruni applauded the CRC for the wonderful job they have done for the benefit of the nation.

“It will be a wonderful Constitution if endorsed by the Parliament as it is,” he stressed.
Shabani Juma of Mwenge in Dar es Salaam said that he never imagined that it would come out that way as there were plenty of complaints at the time when the Commission was collecting the views.

“I traveled all the way from Kibaha to Dar es Salaam just to attend the launch of the draft at Karimjee grounds to see unveiling of a new era in Tanzanian history,” said Ali MOhammed, a resident of Maili Moja in Kibaha, Coast Region.

Ali said that there was no wisdom in advocating a breakup of the Union because “we will be disrespectful to the founders of our nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Abeid Karume who fought to unite.”

In Zanzibar, thiose interviewed warned politicians not interfere with the view of the wananchi when they discuss the draft in the councils saying issues of the Constitution are for the people and not for political parties, civil society and other institutions.

Zanzibar CCM deputy secretary Vuai Ali Vuai said the draft will help to eliminate the prevailing Union problems and improve the basis of peace and unity for the two countries.

In Arusha Senior lecturer at Mount Meru University Dr Simon Kadigumira proposed that Tanganyika should become the official name of Tanzania Mainland and not Tanzania Mainland as suggested.

The process of preparing the new constitution has just started after the Commission announced the draft on Monday.

The draft will now be sent to the Constitutional councils which will also discuss it before another draft is prepared by the Commission.

The second draft will be subjected to a people’s vote—referendum—before being submitted to the Constitutional Assembly for final endorsement.

Famous musician Ali Choki, who owns Extra Bongo Band, said the draft does not include matters pertaining to creativity, particularly the works of arts.

“I do not think that the Constitutional draft is in our favour as musicians because in the first place we are not mentioned and we were not invited to give our views,” he lamented.

Mohamed Khalfan who spoke on behalf of the Dar es Salaam Merchants’ Chamber said the most important constitutional issue and provision is the citizens’ basic rights and not anything else.

MPs express mixed feelings over proposed Constitution

Peter Serukamba

Mixed feelings arose in the House yesterday over Monday’s Constitutional draft launch some lauding the changes while others expressing their doubts.

On the side of those who oppose it, Member of Parliament for Kigoma-Urban Peter Serukamba (CCM) acknowledged that the draft contains a number of good aspects, saying that they are not practical and at best, difficult to implement.

For example, Serukamba does not support the three-tier government arguing that it is only going to break the federation.

“Accepting the three governments system is encouraging Union break up,” he claimed and further suggested that the three government structure will considerably increase administration costs to be covered by a coffers that is very limited and that being the case then according to him, it follows that other relevant and time sensitive areas will be sidelined or reduced.

Lawmaker for Urambo- West Prof Juma Kapuya (CCM) also cautioned over the three governments warning that the nation should tread softly since there is the risk of weakening the Union as Serukamba warned earlier.

Prof Kapuya is also against the reduction of presidential power but commended the restriction of ministers saying he supports their having no political affiliations noting that the effect will be increased efficiency and accountability as well as fair distribution of country’s resources.

Energy and Minerals Deputy Minister George Simbachawene, is also uncertain over the practicality of a three-tier government, he too fears that it will only lead to the breakup of the Union.

He said the system may be implemented to satisfy the Union stakeholders but basically it may lead to the breakup of the Union.

The Deputy Minister also said that the changes have taken away the expectations of some people especially politicians who want to become ministers.

Of those in favour of the draft, Stone Town lawmaker Ibrahim Sanya (CUF) called upon Tanzanians to welcome the draft calling it ‘good’ and ‘well intended’.

He too highlighted the fact that minister won’t have political association to be a commendable aspect and he too is in support of the three government structure saying ‘they’ have been waiting for it, for a long time. Mustafa Mkulo (Kilosa, CCM) praised the Commission for incorporating education qualifications for MPs saying to have efficient representation in Parliament the representatives must be educationally qualified.

Mkulo, who is a former Finance minister, supported the three government structure apparently because Zanzibar will now be more committed to the Union government.

Special Seats MP Mariam Msabaha (Chadema) supported the removal of the special seats but warned that female MPs must not be suppressed.

Martha Mlata (Special Seats, CCM), is also in favour of omitting the special seats MPs because according to her it imposes hardships to the legislators noting that the new system exerted in the draft is in favour of female who under the new draft will be assigned constituencies.

Tanzania reaches out to Japan for teachers, books

President Jakaya Kikwete with President of Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr. Akihiko Tanaka.

Tanzania has turned to Japan asking the latter to avail mathematics and science teachers in a bid to curb the country of its major shortage of teachers of these subjects.

In addition, Tanzania has Japan to step in the publication science and mathematics books on in order to ensure that each student has a copy of textbook as a way to increase the quality of education.

The request was made on Monday in Yokohama Japan when President, Jakaya Kikwete met and held talks with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Akihiko Tanaka as released in a statement sent by Directorate of Presidential Communications.

President Kikwete is in Japan for a seven-day tour and he has so far attended the Fifth Tokyo Conference on African Development (TICAD) and is expected to leave Japan tomorrow morning for an official visit to Singapore for a two day visit before returning home.

The president told Dr Tanaka that one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector, which has expanded greatly in the last seven years, is the lack of mathematics and science teachers.

“There are two items I ask of JICA. We lack of teachers sufficient mathematics and science teachers and the deficit is over 26,000, our colleges can provide only 2,200 graduates per year, at that rate, it will take us 12 years to fill the gap, that is too long. So, we ask JICA and Japan in general, to step in and help us, “said President Kikwete
“A part from lack of teachers for these subjects, I would like to also call on Japan through JICA to help our country in publishing science and mathematics books as another contribution towards improving our education," he added.

President Kikwete admitted to receiving strong support from the US government in printing of textbooks for secondary schools but the need remains great if the country is to secure better quality of education.

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has already agreed to step up to the challenge and provide teachers to cover the said subjects.

Dr. Tanaka also answered to the affirmative stating that JICA is focusing on the development of the education sector in Tanzania and noted that so far, of 70 volunteers sent to Tanzania from Japan 20 are mathematics and science teachers.

“We will look into this area closely and take appropriate measures, we will look at how we can increase the number of teachers from our volunteers to teach in Tanzania every year” pledged Dr Tanaka.

Public urged to extend more assistance to cancer patients

Real Insurance chief executive officer, Stephen Okundi

A Call has been made for individuals, companies and institutions to extend support to cancer patients, a positive gesture which health stakeholders said could help to improve and prolong their lifespan.

The call was made by Real Insurance chief executive officer Stephen Okundi at a special function held over the weekend when the company donated food and other domestic supplies to cancer patients admitted at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar es Salaam.

In recognition to the need for humanitarian support to patients, the company’s management has made an impassionate appeal to players in the private sector to cultivate the culture of supporting cancer patients, saying the gesture could bring sigh of relief to the sick people.

The latest donation was part of the company’s long-term social corporate responsibility strategy, designed to assist patients and other vulnerable social groups in need of assistance in Tanzania, according to Okundi.

Among other items given to Ocean Road cancer patients include bags of rice, beans, sugar, flour, cooking oil, tooth paste with a total value of more than 3m/-.

“We are doing this not because the company is rich but we feel and understand the obligation to assist the needy - cancer patients, who also need both moral and material supports from the community. This kind of support can even speed up their recovery,” Okundi said.

He made an appeal to other corporate companies, organisations, investors and individuals to emulate the spirit by extending a helping hand to patients suffering from long illnesses.

Quoting documented medical research studies, Okundi said: “Currently, there are many patients in Tanzania dying not because they have not received proper treatment, but because they lack encouragement and timely support from the community.”

“Therefore, everybody is duty-bound to take good care of patients, by giving them both moral and material supports they need. We should not leave this task to the government alone,” Okundi advised.

Speaking after receiving the donation, the Ocean Road Hospital’s social worker officer, Nicolas Mshana, expressed profound appreciation for the contribution from Real Insurance company ltd, which he said would make patients feel good knowing that society remembers them.

“Some patients have stayed long in the hospital. They absolutely need this kind of support. The generous act has set a good example and sense of care to the needy. It reminds other generous groups of their noble obligation to care for others,” Mshana remarked.

He further said that the government had invested a lot in general operations of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute; including the installation of modern facilities for high-class treatment.

He said: “it was unfair to continue pressing the government to provide other minor essentials which the community, business companies, individuals can equally do,” he asked.

Gap between rich, poor countries remains wide'

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

The latest edition of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s World of Work report 2013 has revealed that the gap between rich and poor in most low and middle-income countries remains wide.

Many families which have managed to rise above the poverty line are at risk of lapsing back.

According to the report that was made available to the Guardian yesterday, by contrast, income inequalities have increased in advanced economies over the past two years, against the backdrop of increasing global unemployment – predicted to rise from the current 200 million to nearly 208 million by 2015.

The world work report 2013 states “repairing the economic and social fabric”, income inequalities rose between 2010 and 2011 in 14 of the 26 advanced economies surveyed, including France, Denmark, Spain and the US.

Inequality levels in seven of the remaining 12 countries were still higher than before the start of the crisis.

It states that although the economy was encouraging, but there were still-fragile signs of improvement in emerging and developing economies, while many advanced economies continue to face high or even rising unemployment and increasing inequalities.

As the global economy continues a slow recovery from the financial crisis, most emerging and developing countries are experiencing rising employment and narrowing income inequalities compared to their high-income counterparts.

Economic inequalities are also on the rise, as small firms lag behind their larger counterparts in terms of profits and productive investment.

While most large enterprises have regained access to capital markets, start-ups and small enterprises are disproportionately affected by bank credit conditions. This is a problem for job recovery now and affects economic prospects over the longer term.

“These figures present a positive development in many parts of the developing world, but paint a disturbing picture in many high income countries, despite the economic recovery.

The situation in some European countries in particular is beginning to strain their economic and social fabric. We need a global recovery focussed on jobs and productive investment, combined with better social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable groups.

And we need to pay serious attention to closing the inequality gap that is widening in so many parts of the world,” said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder.

The report shows that middle-income groups in many advanced economies are shrinking, fuelled in part, by long-term unemployment, weakening job quality and workers dropping out of the labour market altogether.

By contrast, the report provides evidence that pay of chief executive officers in many of those countries has once again soared, following a short pause in the immediate aftermath of the global crisis.

“The shrinking size of middle-income groups in advanced economies is a matter of concern, not only for the inclusiveness of those societies but also for economic reasons.

Long-term investment decisions by enterprises also depend on the proximity of large and stable middle-income groups which are in a position to consume,” said Raymond Torres, Director of the International Institute for Labour Studies, the research arm of the ILO.

In Spain, the size of middle-income group declined from 50 per cent in 2007, to 46 per cent by the end of 2010. In the United States, the richest seven per cent of the population saw their average net worth increase during the first two years of the recovery from 56 per cent in 2009 to 63 per cent in 2011. The remaining 93 per cent of Americans saw their net worth decline.

“More and better jobs are needed so there can be a more balanced distribution of income in both advanced and developing economies,” Torres stressed.
The size of the middle-income group in developing and emerging economies has increased from 263 million in 1999 to 694 million in 2010.

This is a major achievement of a growing number of Latin American and Asian countries, which spread more recently to some countries in Africa and the Arab region.