Mambo muhimu ya kuhakikisha usalama wako mvua inaponyesha.

  Maafisa wa Mamlaka ya Taifa ya Usalama Barabarani (NTSA) pamoja na Shirika la Msalaba Mwekundu Kenya wametoa ushauri ambao unaweza kukufaa sana wakati huu wa mvua.

1. Fahamu kwamba wakati wa kiangazi, vumbi, mchanga na taka za aina mbalimbali hurundikana barabarani. Mvua inaponyesha, husababisha barabara kuwa telezi na kwa hivyo ukiwa na gari ni muhimu kutoendesha gari lako kwa mwendo wa kasi kupindukia kwani gari likiteleza utashindwa kulidhibiti gari lako kwa urahisi.
2. Kwa sababu ya maji, huwa vigumu sana kupiga breki wakati wa mvua na hivyo hatari ya mwenye gari kumgonga anayetembea barabarani huwa juu. Unashauriwa kutoendesha gari kwa mwendo wa kasi.
3. Kwa sababu ya mvua, wapita njia mara nyingi hutembea wakiwa wameinamisha vichwa chini na huenda wasilione gari linapokaribia. Wenye magari wanashauriwa kuwa makini zaidi wanapofika kwenye vivuko barabarani au wanapomuona mtu akivuka barabara. Kwa wanaotembea kwa miguu, wanashauriwa kutumia vivuko vilivyotengwa na kuchukua tahadhari zaidi pia.
4. Kwa wenye magari, iwapo barabara imefurika maji, ni vyema kutafuta barabara nyingine ya kupitia badala ya kujaribu kupitia ndani ya maji. Huwa vigumu kukadiria kina cha maji barabara inapofurika.
5. Wakati mvua inaponyesha, wenye magari wanatakiwa kuwasha taa kuwawezesha kuona mbele na pia kutokaribia sana magari yaliyo mbele yao. Maji yanayorushwa na gari lililo mbele yanaweza kutatiza mwenye gari iwapo atakuwa karibu sana. Ushauriwa kufuata kanuni ya sekunde 3, hicho ndicho kipindi kinachochukuliwa na binadamu kuona jambo na kuchukua hatua. Usipofanya hivi, kufikia wakati unapoona aliye mbele yako amesimama na kuchukua hatua utakuwa tayari umesababisha ajali.
6. Breki za gari huathiriwa na maji, kwa hivyo unapoendesha gari eneo lenye maji, ni vyema kuendesha gari kwa mwendo wa polepole. Hii itaziwezesha breki kukauka.
7. Madereva wanashauriwa pia kutumia mikono yao miwili kudhibiti mwelekeo wa gari kuhakikisha wanadhibiti vyema gari.
8. Wapita njia, waendesha baiskeli na waendeshaji pikipiki wanashauriwa kuvalia mavazi yanayoweza kuonekana vyema au mavazi yanayoweza kuakisi mwanga. Haya yatamuwezesha mtu kuonekana na madereva na kumpungushia mtu hatari ya kugongwa.
9. Usiendeshe gari lako ndani ya maji yanayosonga, yawe kwenye mifereji au kwenye mto. Huwa vigumu sana kukadiria nguvu ya maji. Magari mengi husombwa na maji madereva wakijaribu kuvuka mito au wakitumia madaraja yaliyofurika maji. Mvua pia hudhoofisha madaraja, jambo ambalo huenda usifahamu. Daraja linaweza kubomolewa bila ufahamu wake wewe nawe ukaingia mtoni ukitarajia daraja bado lipo. Maji ya kina ya futi moja yanaweza kusomba gari lako. Kwa binadamu anayetembea, inchi sita za maji zinaweza kukusomba.
10. Ukiwa na gari lako, hakikisha vipangusia kioo vya gari lako vinafanya kazi. Hili litakuwezesha kupangusa kioo na kuona mbele unapokuwa barabarani.
11. Iwapo una gari na limeanza kuteleza, achilia mafuta na kulielekeza gari upande ambao unateleza. Ukianfanikiwa kudhibiti gari, anza kulainisha magurudumu tena na kurejea barabarani. Hakikisha kwamba unabaki kuwa tulivu na usichukue hatua yoyote ghafla.
12. Usiende kwa mwendo wa kasi. Iwapo una safari ya mbali, anza mapema kuhakikisha kwamba haukumbwi na shinikizo la kutaka kwenda kwa kasi ndipo ufike.
13. Unapokuwa unaendesha gari, usishawishike kutumia simu yako au kufanya jambo lolote ambalo litakuzuia kuwa makini ukiliendesha gari.
14. Iwapo utakuwa safarini, usiegeshe gari lako au kuanza kufanya shughuli zako karibu na mto wakati wa mvua.
15. Ni vyema kusikiliza vituo vya redio na runinga kujifahamisha kuhusu yanayojiri na ni wapi mvua kubwaimenyesha au mafuriko kutokea.
16. Usitembee kwenye maji au maeneo yenye matope ambayo kuna uwezekano kwamba kuna nyaya za umeme ambazo zimeanguka. Nyumba yako ikifurika maji pia, hakikisha umezima stima.
17. Iwapo unatembea kwa miguu, tumia fimbo au kijiti kukadiria kina cha maji.
18. Mafuriko yakitokea eneo ulipo, mara moja kimbilia maeneo yaliyo juu na salama. @BBC

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MAKAMU WA RAIS AHUDHURIA MAHAFALI YA 34 YA CHUO KIKUU HURIA.

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Samia Suluhu Hassan amewakumbusha wahitimu wa Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania kuwa Vyeti walivyotunukiwa ni tuzo halali kwa juhudi na jitihada walizoonesha darasani.

Makamu wa Rais aliyasema hayo wakati wa sherehe za mahafali ya 34 ya Chuo Kikuu Huria yaliyofanyika kwenye uwanja wa Halmashauri Bariadi mkoani Simiyu.

Makamu wa Rais alisema “ Jamii inategemea mtaipatia tuzo ya utendaji bora na ufanisi katika fani zenu utakao akisi viwango vilivyoainishwa kwenye vyeti vyenu”.

Makamu wa Rais aliupongeza uongozi wa chuo kwa jitihada zake katika kutekeleza maelekezo ya Mhe. Rais hasa katika sula la Uchumi wa Viwanda ambapo chuo hicho kimefanya Kongamano kubwa la Elimu ya Juu na Uchumi wa Viwanda mjini Bariadi lakini pia chuo hicho kipo kwenye mchakato wa Kigoda cha kiprofesa cha Viwanda na Maendeleo.

Makamu wa Rais aliwakumbusha uongozi wa chuo katika jitihada zake za kutekeleza majukumu ya chuo , uendelee kujikita kwenye kauli mbiu yake Elimu Bora na Nafuu kwa Wote .

Katika Mahafali hayo ambayo zaidi ya wanafunzi 941 wamehitimu kutoka mikoa yote ya Tanzania Bara na Zanzibar pamoja na nchi za jirani ambapo wanafunzi saba (7) walihitimu Shahada ya Uzamivu ya Udaktari wa Falsafa ya Chuo Kikuu Huria.

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TANZANIA YAZIDI KUNAWILI KIUTALII KENYA YAKIRI.

Kenya imekiri kuwa imekuwa ikipoteza watalii kwenda Tanzania miaka ya hivi karibuni.

Akizungumza kwenye kituo cha runinga ya Citizen nchini Kenya, waziri wa utalii nchini Kenya, Najib Balala, aliezea wasi wasi kuhusu hali ya mahoteli nchini Kenya, akisema kuwa ukosefu wa hoteli za viwango vya kimataifa nchini Kenya imechangia Tanzania kuwa chaguo la watalii kanda hii ya Afrika Mashariki.

"Sababu ambayo ilichangia Tanzania kufanya vyema kutuliko mwaka 2017 ni kwa sababu hoteli zao ni mpya na za kisasa wakati hoteli zetu zikiwa ni za miaka 40 iliyopita," alisema Balala.

Balala alisema kuwa licha ya idadi ya watalii wanaowasili Kenya kuongezeka kutoka 1,342,899 mwaka 2016 hadi 1,474,671 mwaka 2017, Kenya ina uwezo wa kuwavutia watalii zaidi ikiwa hoteli na huduma kwa wateja zitaboreshwa.

"Changamoto kubwa tuliyo nayo sasa ni usalama. Mpaka wetu na Somalia pia unaleta wasiwasi na hofu kwa wageni wetu," alisema Balala.

Balala alisema kuwa Kenya inalenga kuwavutia watalii milioni 2.5 kila mwaka ifikapo mwaka 2022, akiongeza kuwa serikali imefanya mazungumzo na wamiliki wa hoteli kuhusu viwango ambavyo hoteli zinastahili kuwa navyo.

Idadi ya watalii wa kigeni wanaozuru Tanzania imekuwa ikipanda tangu ivuke watalii milioni moja kwa mwaka kwa mara ya kwanza mwaka 2012.

Kulingana na wizara ya utalii, watalii 1,137,182 waliingia nchini Tanzania mwaka 2015 na idadi hiyo ikapanda hadi watalii 1,284,279 mwaka 2016.

Utalii uliiletea Tanzania dola bilioni 2.3 mwaka uliopita kutoka dola bilioni 2 mwaka 2016. Mapato ya mwaka 2015 yalikuwa ni dola bilioni 1.9.

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FAO launches guide to tackle Fall Armyworm in Africa head-on Fighting FAW in an integrated, ecological and sustainable way

Rome - Faced with the infestation of millions of hectares of maize, most in the hands of smallholder farmers, and the relentless spread of Fall Armyworm (FAW) across most of Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched today a comprehensive guide on the integrated pest management of the FAW on maize.

The guide was developed with a host of partners: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Lancaster University, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

It will help smallholder farmers and frontline agricultural staff to manage FAW more effectively amidst fears that FAW may push more people into hunger. Central and Southern Africa are particularly on high alert, as the main maize growing season is currently underway in these regions.

Based on a learning-by-doing approach and designed for Farmers Field Schools, the guide is packed with hands-on advice. It provides support for a correct identification of this new foe for African farmers, and offers options to manage it in an integrated, ecological and sustainable way.

"We know that farmer education and community action are critical in best managing FAW, and curbing its spread as much as possible," said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General.

"The guide builds on the experiences of farmers and researchers from the Americas who have been dealing with the pest for centuries as well on new technology and lessons learnt so far in Africa. It gives African farmers and frontline agricultural workers the practical advice they need to tackle FAW head-on," added Semedo.

FAO also calls on those African countries likely to be affected soon, given the current distribution of FAW in Africa, to get prepared by: re-enforcing early warning systems at community level, raising awareness among farmers, and using available materials, such as the guide.

By early 2018, only 10 (mostly in the north of the continent) out of the 54 African states and territories have not reported infestations by the invasive pest.

The Guide on Integrated Management of the FAW on maize up close

"As FAW is new to Africa, farmers' and crop protection and extension workers' good understanding of the pest's behavior and management practices are crucial in effectively managing it without damaging human health and the environment," said Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa.

Key guidelines and advice on effectively and sustainably managing FAW include:

Visit the field and look at the status of the crop: its health and signs of presence of the FAW. Farmers can take direct action by crushing egg masses and young larvae.
FAW damage can look alarming, but maize plants have a good capacity to compensate for that damage and often little yield is lost.
Learn about FAW behaviour. For example: understanding how and where the adult female moth lays her eggs can help determine where to plant mixed crops to prevent further spread of FAW.
Understand the important role of natural biological control in managing FAW. Studies have shown that FAW suffers up to 56 percent mortality from parasitoids (beneficial insects such as tiny wasps killing eggs or larvae of the FAW) alone.
Farmers must be able to recognize the FAW natural enemies and learn how to conserve and enhance them. Ants have already shown to be important FAW predators.
Fields in Nigeria have already shown high levels of natural FAW mortality due to fungal and viral entomopathogens (pathogenic organisms killing FAW larvae). Farmers can ‘recycle' these naturally-occurring pathogens.
Farmers can try "local remedies", including application of ash, lime, sand, or soil directly into infested whorls, already successfully used by some African farmers against FAW.
Pesticides versus bio-pesticides: what should be used to fight FAW?

The guide recommends that at a national policy level, information and recommendations regarding the role of pesticides in FAW management are urgently needed.

The guide warns that insecticide applications are costly, may not work because of resistance, poor application techniques, or low-quality pesticides, and will negatively affect FAW's natural enemies.

Although farmers may receive insecticides free this year, and maybe next, it is doubtful if they will still be receiving them in the longer-term. Alternative and sustainable solutions must be found as FAW is in Africa to stay and will be infesting maize fields for many years.

The actions taken to date in most countries have been limited to the use of synthetic pesticides (especially organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, a few neonicotinoids, and in some cases cocktails of pesticides). In some countries, the pesticide applications were mainly emergency responses, not based on a cost-benefit evaluation.

Older pesticide molecules, recognized as hazardous and banned in industrialized countries, are often still readily available and widely used in African countries. These products put farmers' health and their environments at risk. Their use may also result in pesticide residue levels that could jeopardize the marketability of crops both on domestic and export markets.

Bio-pesticides, including those based on bacteria, virus, and fungus have been tested, developed, registered and used successfully in the Americas.

The use of botanical and biological insecticides (certain strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), fungi and virus) to manage FAW has been reported to be effective in several sources, but bio-pesticides are not always locally available in the affected countries.

Tackling FAW

Farmer Field Schools have been supported by FAO for over twenty-five years and have proven an effective approach to reaching millions of smallholder farmers and successfully engage them in a learning process resulting in better management of their crops and natural resources.

FAO has been already rolling out Training of Trainers on how to manage FAW for frontline crop protection and extension in countries most affected by FAW.

"With this guide, FAO will begin a continent-wide program of training master trainers to initiate an All-Africa Programme of Farmer Field Schools for the sustainable management of FAW. Over the next five years, FAO and partners aim to reach 10 million farmers through 40,000 Farmer Field Schools across Africa," said Allan Hruska, FAO Principal Technical Coordinator on Fall Armyworm.   

Work is also underway to launch a FAW Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) app in Madagascar, Zambia, and South Africa, and then gradually roll-it out across the continent. Already tested, the FAO app will enable farmers to send vital info about their crops' health, helping to generate detailed and reliable knowledge on FAW infestation levels, FAW adult population levels, and on the outcomes of actions taken against FAW.

FAO and its partners have been at the forefront in tackling FAW, and continue to support prevention, early warning and effective response.

In addition to the FFS guide and its roll-out across Africa, FAO took immediate steps as soon as FAW was detected in Africa by: bringing together experts to share knowledge and experiences on sustainable FAW management; giving farmers and frontline agricultural workers the understanding, experience and confidence to tackle FAW; supporting countries to mitigate pest damage, develop action plans, and train extension workers and farmers.

FAO also developed a Framework for Partnership for sustainable management of FAW to provide guidance for the development of FAW-related projects and programmes and ensure synergies and complementarities among the different development partners.

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Tanzania sets record in potato research, to release improved varieties.

By Zephania Ubwani @ubwanizg3

Tanzania has excelled in experimental trials of high yielding and disease resistant potato varieties under a climate smart agriculture programme aimed to improve food security.

Three of 14 varieties brought into the country by the International Potato Centre (CIP) for field trials in Lushoto district did well and two of them will soon be released toThese are Unica, locally known as Mkanano, and Shangii which will be released to farmers for cultivation after proving resilience to climate vagaries.

The third variety, Mvono, is now with the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (Tosci) for national performance trials in the southern highlands regions.

"Mvono is being tested for the first time in the world. Its first field trials are taking place in Tanzania", said Dr Stephano Sebastian, the principal agricultural research officer with HORTI-Tengeru.

Experimental trials and promotion of potato is one of the projects implemented within the East African region under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) research programme on climate change, agriculture and food security (CCAFS).

Within the region, the global programme, launched in 2010, encompasses Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

In Tanzania, the focus is to develop more resilient potato varieties with higher yields.

Dr Sebastian said the project involving 600 families in five villages in Lushoto district, will ultimately phase out 'Kidinya', a low yielding local potato variety which is susceptible to blight disease.

"To address these issues, the CGIAR research programme on climate change, agriculture and food security initiated a study aimed at developing more resilient potato varieties that can give higher yields", he said.

Besides the Peru-based CIP, other partners in the project include the Selian Agricultural Research Institute (Sari), Lushoto district council, YARA Tanzania Limited, NGOs and the Lushoto farmers.

Based on demand by Lushoto farmers, the project also sought to develop potato varieties with better culinary traits, the expert explained in an interview.

The trials were carried out at Kwesine, Boheloi, Maringo, Kwekitui and Milungui villages with experimental materials comprising of six advanced and heat tolerant clones from CIP.

"The origin of the project stemmed from addressing the vagaries of weather. One of the challenges facing the farmers is unpredictability of rains, viral diseases and knowledge deficiency", says CCAFS project leader, Dawit Solomon.

Under the programme, in Rwanda farmers are turning to locally-tailored climate forecasts to help them make farming and investment decisions, he said.

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Dk.Mwigulu aiagiza Polisi Pangani kudhibiti wahamiaji Haramu.

Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani, Dk Mwigulu Nchemba amelitaka jeshi la polisi kufanya kazi kwa uadilifu mkubwa na kwamba taasisi hiyo ndiyo inayoshughulika na haki za watu na wasipofanya kwa uadilifu yapo madhara makubwa kwa jamii na kutoka kwa wahalifu. 

Akizungumza  katika uzinduzi wa ujenzi wa Kituo cha polisi Wilaya ya Pangani, Dk Mwigulu amesema kuwa wilaya ya Pangani ni lango ambalo wahalifu hasa wahamiaji haramu hupitia kwenda kusini mwa Tanzania. 

‘’Kamateni wahalifu wote wanaoingia kimagendo au wanaoingiza mizigo kimagendo hakuna mjadala kamateni na wafikisheni katika vyombo vya sheria ,’’amesema Dk Mwigulu.

Kwa mujibu wa Dk Mwigulu, Mikoa ya kaskazini mwa Tanzania inaongoza kwa kuingiza wahamiaji haramu na bidhaa kwa magendo kwasababu ipo mipakani hivyo kuamua kuchangia vifaa vya ujenzi ili kuunga mkono juhudi hizo.

‘’Ujenzi huu wa kituo cha polisi utasaidia kuimarisha ulinzi na usalama zaidi hivyo mimi nitachangia nondo 150 baada ya mifuko 450 ya cement kupatikana basi ujenzi uanze haraka iwezekanavyo na kituo kiwe cha hali ya juu kikubwa.’’ amesisitiza

Kwa upande wake, Mkuu wa Polisi wilaya hiyo, Mrakibu Mwandamizi wa polisi Christina Musyani amesema kuwa wilaya hiyo ina vituo vitatu pekee vya polisi ambavyo havitoshi na mazingira yake hayaridhishi.

Amesema wameamua kuanza ujenzi wa kituo hicho ili kurahisisha utoaji wa huduma kwa wakazi wa eneo hilo ambao kwa sasa hulazimika kusafiri umbali mrefu kutafuta vituo vya polisi.

"Kwa kushirikiana na wananchi, Mbunge na halmashauri tumeamua kuanza ujenzi wa kituo cha kisasa ,’’ amesema Christina.

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Ajali ya Basi Yaua Wawili na Kujeruhi 8 Jijini Mwanza

Watu  wawili wamefariki dunia papo hapo na wengine wanane kujeruhiwa vibaya katika ajali ya mabasi mawili yakugongana uso kwa uso katika kijiji cha Kamanga, Sengerema mkoani Mwanza saa nne asubuhi jana.

Akizungumzia ajali hiyo, shuhuda aliyekuwa katika pikipiki na kunusurika kugongwa na mabasi hayo, Philipo Budeba, alisema chanzo cha ajali hiyo ni mwendo kasi wa mabasi yote mawili.

“Mimi nilikuwa naendesha pikipiki, mbele yangu kulikuwa na basi la Mkombozi Trans lenye namba T540 DLF na nyuma kulikuwa na Basi la Walawi Express lenye namba T167 CSN yote yalikuwa na mwendokasi," alisema Budeba.

"Dereva wa Mkombozi ndiye aliyetaka kupita gari lingine, lakini ilishindikana na kusababisha magari hayo kuvaana... mimi nilijirusha kwenye kilima cha pembeni mwa barabara."

Naye abiria wa Mkombozi Trans iliyokuwa ikitokea Kanyara Buchosa, Sengerema, Fransisco Kansola alisema tabia ya madereva kushindwa kuchukua tahadhari na kujali kuwahi abiria ndiyo chanzo cha ajali hiyo.

Walawi Express lilikuwa likitoka Mwanza kwenda Nemba wilayani Biharamulo.

Akithibitisha kutokea kwa ajali hiyo, Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Mwanza, Ahmed Msangi alisema dereva wa basi la Walawi, Frank Kimboka ni miongoni mwa majeruhi wanane wa ajali hiyo baada ya kujeruhiwa miguu yote.

“Waliofariki ni dereva wa basi la Mkombozi Trans aliyefahamika kwa jina la Simon Mdalesalamu na mwanamke aliyekadiriwa kuwa na umri wa miaka 18 hadi 20," alisema Kamanda Msangi.

Majeruhi watatu wametajwa kuwa ni Frank Mushi aliyevunjika miguu yote miwili, Isaack Hamisi (22) mkazi wa Nyasaka wilayani Ilemela na Mwinyi Ismail (50) aliyevunjika miguu yote miwili, alisema Kamanda Msangi.

"Chanzo cha ajali hiyo ni mwendo kasi wa mabasi hayo.”

Aidha, ajali hiyo ilitokea wakati mkoa wa Mwanza ukizindua maadhimisho ya wiki ya Nenda kwa Usalama Barabarani, yenye kaulimbiu inayosema ‘Zuia ajali, tii sheria, okoa maisha'.

Majeruhi walikimbizwa katika Hospitali ya Rufani ya Bugando jijini Mwanza kwa ajili ya matibabu.

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Zitto Kabwe ahoji Gawio la TZS 300 bilioni kutoka Benki Kuu limetoka wapi?

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RAIS MAGUFULI AWAONYA WATUMISHI WA UMMA KUHUSU TAMKO LA MALI.

Rais John Magufuli amewasilisha fomu ya tamko kuhusu rasilimali na madeni katika ofisi ya Sekretarieti ya Maadili ya Viongozi wa Umma iliyopo Mtaa wa Ohio wilayani Ilala jijini Dar es Salaam.

Baada ya kuwasilisha fomu leo Alhamisi Desemba 28,2017 ikiwa ni siku moja baada ya Sekretarieti ya Maadili ya Viongozi wa Umma kuwataka viongozi kuziwasilisha, ameipongeza sekretarieti kwa kazi inazofanya.

Pia, amemtaka Kamishna wa Maadili, Jaji mstaafu Harold Nsekela kutopokea fomu ya kiongozi yeyote ambaye atakuwa hajawasilisha tamko lake ifikapo Desemba 31,2017.

“Ikifika Desemba 31, ambayo ni siku ya mwisho kwa mujibu wa sheria, weka mstari na usipokee fomu zingine, halafu tuone sheria itafanyaje, nakutakia kazi njema,” amesisitiza Rais Magufuli katika taarifa iliyotolewa na Ikulu.

Jaji mstaafu Nsekela amemshukuru na kumpongeza Rais Magufuli kwa kutekeleza matakwa ya kisheria yanayomlazimu kujaza fomu hizo.

Amesisitiza kuwa ujazaji wa fomu hizo kwa viongozi wa umma si ombi.

“Viongozi hawaombwi kujaza fomu hizi, kuna baadhi wanadhani labda kutuletea hilo tamko ni fadhila, hapana, sheria ya nchi inahitaji hivyo na kuna sababu zake za msingi,” amesema.

Jaji Nsekela amempongeza Rais Magufuli kwa kuwasilisha taarifa ya akaunti yake ya benki na tamko hilo, na amekiri kuwa ameonyesha mfano wa kuigwa na viongozi wengine.

Tamko la viongozi wa umma kuhusu rasilimali na madeni linatolewa kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 9 na cha 11 cha sheria ya maadili ya viongozi wa umma namba 13 ya mwaka 1995.
Rais Magufuli awasilisha Fomu zake A Rasirimali na Madeni kwa Kamishna wa Maadili, Sekretarieti ya Maadili wa Viongozi wa Umma Jaji Mstaafu Harold Nsekela Makao makuu ya ofisi hizo Mtaa wa Ohio Dar

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CCM YAMJIBU ASKOFU KAKOBE

Askofu Zakary Kakobe

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Tundu Lissu asimama kwa mara ya kwanza akiwa hospitalini Nairobi.

Mwanasheria mkuu wa chama upinzani Chadema nchini Tanzania Tundu Lissu, ameweza kusimama kwa mara ya kwanza baada ya kushambuliwa.

Tundu Lissu amekuwa akipokea matibabu Nairobi tangu alipopigwa risasi na watu wasiojulikana jijini Dodoma mwezi Septemba.

Katika picha iliowekwa katika ukurasa wa Facebook wa CHADEMA, mbunge huyo anaonekena akisimama akisaidiwa na wahudumu wawili wa hospitali.

Ujumbe ulioambatana na picha ukisema "Wiki iliyopita niliwataarifu kwamba madaktari wangu wamesema 'nitasimama, nitatembea na nitarudi Tanzania.Leo Boxing Day (Tarehe 26 Disemba) nimeweza kusimama kwa mguu mmoja kwa msaada wa 'Mababa Cheza' wangu. Hatua inayofuata ni magongo kesho na nitawajulisheni hatua nyingine katika matibabu yangu."

Bwana Lissu ambaye pia ni mkuu wa chama cha mawakili nchini Tanzania amekuwa akizozana na serikali ya Rais Magufuli na alikamatwa mara sita mwaka huu pekee, akishtumiwa kwa kumtusi kiongozi huyo wa taifa mbali kuharibu usalama wa umma, miongoni mwa mashtaka mengine.amesema anaamini kushambuliwa kwake kulihusiana na siasa nchini humo.

Akizungumza na BBC hivi karibuni mbunge huyo wa Singida Mashariki amelilaumu Bunge la nchi hiyo akisema halijachukua hatua zozote kumsaidia tangu kulazwa kwake hospitalini.

Makamu wa Rais wa Tanzania Bi Samia Suluhu alimtembelea hospitalini mwezi Novemba.

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WB:Uchumi Rwanda kukua kwa 17% kila mwaka.

RIPOTI ya Benki ya Dunia kuhusu uchumi wa Rwanda, inakadiria kuwa hadi mwishoni mwa mwaka huu, ukuaji utaongezeka hadi asilimia 5.2. Kwa mujibu wa ripoti hiyo, katika nusu ya kwanza ya mwaka huu, uchumi wa nchi hiyo ulikua kwa asilimia 3.4.

Wakati huohuo, Waziri Mkuu wa Rwanda, Edouard Ngirente amesema kuwa katika miaka saba ijayo, uchumi wa nchi hiyo unakadiriwa kukua kwa asilimia 17 kila mwaka. Inakisiwa kuwa kasi ya ukuaji itaongezeka mwakani na mwaka 2019 kwa kuwa, uwekezaji katikasekta ya umma na ya binafsi unaongezeka na tija kwenye kilimo inaongezeka.

Kwa mujibu wa takwimu za Shirika la Fedha la Kimataifa (IMF), uchumi wa Nauru, Ethiopia, Turkmenistan, Qatar, China na Uzbekistan ndiyo uliokua kwa kasi zaidi mwaka huu. Pia uchumi wa Rwanda unakua kwa kasi, na kwa miaka kadhaa sasa umekuwa ukikua kwa wastani wa asilimia nane kwa mwaka. Mwaka jana uchumi huo ulikua kwa asilimia 5.9 na inakisiwa kuwa mwaka huu utakua kwa asilimia 6.2.

Kasi ya ukuaji uchumi Rwanda inachangiwa na mambo kadhaa ukiwemo uimara wa sera na taasisi. Kwa mujibu wa ripoti ya Benki ya Dunia kuhusu ushindani, uchumi wa Rwanda ndiyo wenye ushindani zaidi kwenye Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki na ni miongoni mwa nchi tatu za juu kwa ushindani wa uchumi Afrika Kusini ya Jangwa la Sahara.

Ngirente pia alisema katika miaka saba ijayo, Serikali itaongeza kasi ya maendeleo ya majiji madogo ili kuhakikisha asilimia 35 ya Wanyarwanda wanaishi huko ifikapo mwaka 2024. Kwa sasa asilimia 17.5 ya wananchi hao, wanaishi kwenye maeneo hayo.

Ngirente alisema hayo kwenye Baraza la Majadiliano la Taifa, wakati akiwasilisha Mkakati wa Taifa kutoka kwenye mabadiliko. Wajumbe 2000 walihudhuria baraza hilo akiwemo Rais Paul Kagame. Mkakati huo unaanza kutekelezwa mwaka huu hadi mwaka 2024.

Ngirente alisema, majadiliano hayo ni muhimu ili kutathmini nchi imetoka wapi na isonge mbele vipi na kila mtu atambue nafasi yake kwenye safari hiyo. “Ajenda ya Serikali inalenga maendeleo endelevu na mabadiliko ya watu wetu kwenye maeneo makubwa matatu; uchumi, jamii na uongozi. Rwanda imedhamiria kuendeleza sekta binafsi na kuwa na uchumi wenye ufahamu,” alisema.

Ngirente alisema, pamoja motisha kuvutia watu kwenye majiji, Serikali itaongeza viwanda na huduma nyingine nchini kote, hivyo kuongeza uwezo wa nchi kuuza nje. Serikali ya Rwanda pia ilisema katika miaka saba ijayo, vijana watapewa kipaumbele na itaongeza kiwango cha ujuzi kwenye sekta zote ili kundi hilo liandaliwe zaidi kwa soko la ajira. Kwa mujibu wa Ngirente, mkakati wa taifa pia unazingatia ukuaji wa kilimo na kwamba, jambo hilo litajumuishwa na mikakati ya kulinda mazingira.

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EAC KUFANYA MABADILIKO MAKUBWA MWAKA UJAO.

Wakuu wa nchi na Serikali za Afrika, wakiwemo wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC), mapema mwakani wanatarajiwa kusaini makubaliano ya kuanzishwa kwa eneo huru la biashara la bara hilo (CFTA).

Wanatarajiwa kuwa na mkutano wa 30 wa kawaida Januari 28 na 29 mwakani katika ukumbi wa Nelson Mandela uliopo kwenye Kituo kipya cha Mikutano (AUC) jijini Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mkutano huo utakaokuwa nakaulimbiu; “Kushinda Vita Dhidi ya Rushwa: Mwelekeo Endelevu wa Mabadiliko Afrika,” utatanguliwa na mkutano wa 35 wa Kamati ya Wawakilishi wa Kudumu (Januari 22-23) na mkutano wa 32 wa kawaida wa Baraza la Utendaji (Januari 25-26).

CFTA itakuwa soko la zaidi ya watu bilioni 1.3 na wanatarajiwa kufika takribani bilioni mbili ifikapo mwaka 2025. Yatakaposainiwa, makubaliano hayo ya kibiashara yatakuwa makubwa zaidi barani humo yakizihusu nchi zote 54 za Afrika, na yatakuwa ya pili kwa ukubwa duniani. Makubaliano makubwa zaidi duniani ni ya Shirika la Biashara la Dunia (WTO) yaliyosainiwa mwaka 1994.

Kwa sasa Afrika ina masoko mawili makubwa yanayozihusu baadhi ya nchi, ikiwemo Soko la Pamoja la Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC) na Soko la Pamoja la Mashariki na Kusini mwa Afrika (COMESA).

EAC yenye nchi sita wanachama za Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan Kusini, Tanzania na Kenya, ina zaidi ya watu milioni 170. Mkutano wa 18 wa kawaida wa wakuu wa nchi na Serikali wa Umoja wa Afrika (AU) uliofanyika Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Januari 2012, uliamua kuwa hadi mwaka 2017 CFTA iwe imeanzishwa. Majadiliano kuhusu uanzishwaji huo yalianza rasmi Juni 2015.

Juni mwaka huohuo, wakati wa mkutano wa 25 wa wakuu wa nchi za AU uliofanyika Afrika Kusini, viongozi hao walikubaliana lianzishwe eneo huru la biashara ifikapo mwaka 2017 kupitia makubaliano na biashara huria za bidhaa na huduma.

Kwenye mkutano wa nne wa mawaziri wa biashara kutoka nchi za Afrika, uliofanyika hivi karibuni Niamey, Niger viongozi hao waliidhinisha muundo wa makubaliano na kuzingatia maendeleo, yaliyofikiwa kwenye majadiliano ikiwa ni sehemu ya maandalizi ya mkutano ujao wa wakuu wa nchi na serikali. CFTA itatoa uhakika wa mazingira ya uwekezaji, maendeleo ya viwanda na ongezeko la thamani ya bidhaa na huduma, hivyo kutengeneza fursa za ajira na vipato vya familia.

Hivi karibuni, wakati anafungua mkutano wa mawaziri mjini Niamey, Rais wa Jamhuri ya Niger Issoufou Mahamadou alipongeza maendeleo yaliyofikiwa katika majadiliano kuhusu makubaliano hayo.

CFTA na makubaliano mengine yakiwemo ya Kuharakisha Maendeleo ya Viwanda Afrika (AIDA), Programu ya Maendeleo ya Kilimo Afrika (CAADP), Mpango wa Programu ya Maendeleo ya Miundombinu Afrika (PIDA) vitaiwezesha Afrika kufanikiwa katika malengo ya mabadiliko.

Makubaliano ya kuanzisha eneo huru la biashara Afrika, yanaweka ajenda kwa ajili ya mijadala kuhusu biashara ya bidhaa, biashara ya huduma na utatuzi wa migogoro. CFTA itashughulikia itifaki mbili, ikiwemo ya biashara ya bidhaa na itifaki ya biashara ya huduma. Makubaliano hayo yanatarajiwa kuboresha biashara baina ya nchi za Afrika.

Malengo makuu ya CFTA ni kuiwezesha Afrika kuwa na soko moja la bidhaa na huduma, litakalotoa uhuru kwa wafanyabiashara na uwekezaji na hivyo kutoa fursa ya kuongeza kasi ya kuanzisha umoja wa forodha barani humu.

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Tigo mtandao gharama zaidi zaidi kupiga, kutuma sms kuliko yote Tanzania.

Wateja wa Tigo ndio wanaolipa fedha nyingi zaidi kupiga simu au kutuma ujumbe mfupi wa maneno (sms), ripoti ya Mamlaka ya Mawasiliano Tanzania (TCRA) inaonyesha.

Ripoti ya robo ya tatu ya mwaka huu ya TCRA inabainisha kuwa wateja wa mtandao huo hulipa zaidi kufanya mawasiliano kwa namna zote; iwe kupiga au kutuma sms ndani au nje ya mtandao au kufanya hivyo nje ya nchi.

Ripoti ya TCRA kwa robo iliyoishia Septemba inaonyesha wateja wa Tigo hutozwa Sh360 kupiga simu kwenda kwa wenzao wanaotumia mtandao huo kwa dakika moja, hivyo kuufanya kuwa ghali zaidi ikilinganishwa na mitandao mingine nchini.

Tozo hiyo ipo juu ya wastani wa gharama za kupiga simu ambazo ni Sh278 kwa dakika.

Kampuni inayofuata ni Vodacom ambayo wateja wake wanalipa Sh270 kwa dakika; ikifuata Halotel kwa gharama ya Sh228 na Airtel wakilipa Sh219.

Ripoti ya TCRA inaonyesha, wateja wa TTCL, Zantel na Benson (Smart) ndio wanaolipa gharama ndogo zaidi kuwasiliana.

Wateja wa TTCL wanatozwa Sh154 kwa kila dakika; Zantel (Sh157) na Benson (Sh60) kupiga simu kwa muda huo.

Tigo pia ni ghali kwa kupiga simu kwenda mitandao mingine. Ripoti inaonyesha kampuni hiyo hutoza Sh480 kwa dakika - kiwango ambacho ni kikubwa kuliko wastani uliopo.

Takwimu zinaonyesha wastani wa gharama za kupiga simu kwenda mtandao mwingine ni Sh365 kwa kila dakika.

Kama ilivyo kwa gharama za ndani ya mtandao, kampuni nyingine hutoza chini ya wastani. Ripoti inaonyesha wateja wa Airtel hulipa Sh361 ilhali wa Vodacom wakilipa Sh330 na TTCL Sh274.

Wanaotumia mtandao wa Benson hulipa kidogo zaidi kama ilivyo kupiga ndani ya mtandao. Wao hutozwa Sh150 wakifuatiwa na Halotel wanaolipa Sh228 na Zantel Sh249.


Afrika Mashariki

Kwa nchi za Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki (EAC), kiwango kinachotozwa na Tigo kipo chini kidogo kwa kuwa hutoza Sh1,022 kwa dakika kulinganisha na Halotel wanaotoza Sh1,033 na Zantel Sh1,020.

Kampuni hizo tatu zinatoza gharama kubwa kuliko wastani wa kupiga simu katika nchi za EAC ambao ni Sh795.

Zinazotoza chini ya wastani huo ni Airtel inayotoza Sh750; Vodacom (Sh719); TTCL (Sh650) na Benson (Sh198).

Kwa watumiaji wanaopiga simu nje ya Afrika Mashariki, wateja wa Tigo hutozwa gharama kubwa ya Sh1,737 kulinganisha na Airtel (Sh1,520), Halotel (Sh1,330), Vodacom (Sh1,090), Benson (Sh868) na TTCL (Sh600). TCRA inaonyesha wastani wa gharama hizo ni Sh1,355. Ripoti ya TCRA inaonyesha wastani wa gharama za kutuma sms ni Sh59 lakini Tigo inaongoza kwa kutoza Sh70 ikifuata Zantel Sh65.

Mitandao inayotoza gharama ndogo chini ya wastani ni Vodacom (Sh51), Airtel (Sh50), TTCL (Sh47), Benson (Sh40) na Halotel (Sh30). Hata kutuma sms kimataifa, Tigo inaongoza kwa gharama ikitoza Sh215 ikifuatiwa na Airtel (Sh156), Vodacom (Sh153), Benson (Sh145), Zantel (Sh138) na TTCL (Sh117). Halotel ndiyo yenye gharama ndogo zaidi, hutoza Sh95.

Mpaka Septemba, Vodacom inaongoza kwa wingi wa wateja ikiwa nao 12.8 milioni (sawa na asilimia 32) ikifuatiwa na Tigo yenye wateja 11 milioni (sawa na asilimia 28)na Airtel yenye wateja 10.6 milioni (sawa na asilimia 27).

Halotel inashika nafasi ya nne ikiwa na wateja 3.7 milioni ikifuatiwa na Zantel yenye wateja 900,000; Benson (Smart) yenye 500,000 na TTCL 300,000.

By Alfred Zacharia, Mwananchi azacharia@tz.nationmedia.com

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Taasisi ya kifedha ya Pride taabani kifedha

Taasisi ya mikopo ya Pride Tanzania ipo taabani kifedha ikidaiwa kushindwa kujiendesha.

Licha ya hilo, taasisi hiyo inadaiwa kuwa imeshindwa kutoa mikopo kwa wateja wake na kulipa stahili za wafanyakazi ikiwa pamoja na michango ya pensheni na kodi ya Serikali.

Pride ilianzishwa Mei 5, 1993 chini ya Sheria ya Kampuni (CAP 212) kwa lengo la kutoa mikopo midogomidogo kwa wajasiriamali. Hata hivyo, utendaji wake umekuwa ukishuka siku hadi siku.

Mkurugenzi mkuu wa Pride yenye makao makuu jijini Arusha, Rashid Malima alipoulizwa kwa simu kuhusu hali ya taasisi hiyo kifedha, alisita kuzungumza akisema ametingwa na mambo mengi.

Taarifa kutoka kwa baadhi ya wafanyakazi wa makao makuu jijini Arusha zilisema tangu Desemba 2016, uongozi wa Pride umeshindwa kuwasilisha michango ya pensheni kwenye Mfuko wa Taifa wa Hifadhi ya Jamii (NSSF) inayofikia Sh1.8 bilioni jambo lililosababisha wafungue kesi.

“Huo ni ukweli mtupu, ndiyo maana tumefungua kesi, lakini kinachotukatisha tamaa ni kuona kesi hiyo imekuwa ikipigwa kalenda na inaweza kuahirishwa hata kwa miezi sita,” alisema mtoa taarifa ambaye hakutaka kutajwa jina lake gazetini. Mbali na pensheni, mtoa taarifa huyo alidai kuwa Pride imeshindwa kupeleka kodi ya mishahara (Paye) kwa zaidi ya mwaka mmoja, huku pia ikishindwa kuhudumia wateja wake.

Mfanyakazi mwingine wa taasisi hiyo aliiambia Mwananchi kuwa kila tawi limeagizwa kupeleka makao makuu Sh40 milioni kila mwezi kama fedha za matumizi ya ofisi.

“Pamoja na matatizo yote ya kushindwa kutoa mikopo kwa wateja wetu, tunatakiwa kupeleka Sh40 milioni za obligation (lazima) kila mwezi,” alisema.

Mwandishi wetu alizungumza na wateja wa Pride Tanzania katika tawi la Kariakoo jijini Dar es Salaam waliothibitisha kuwapo kwa hali mbaya ya mikopo.

Khalfan Bakari, ambaye ni mteja wa tawi hilo alisema hali ya taasisi hiyo ilianza kuwa mbaya baada ya mwaka 2016 huku akihusisha na mikakati ya Serikali kutilia mkazo ukusanyaji wa kodi.

“Hali mbaya ilianza tangu utawala wa awamu hii ulipoanza mwaka 2016 kwa kudai kodi. Kwanza kulikuwa na utata wa umiliki wa Pride...,” alisema Bakari.

Akizungumzia madhara yaliyojitokeza kwao, alisema awali mtu akiomba mkopo anajadiliwa wiki ya kwanza na wiki ya pili anapewa, lakini kwa sasa inakwenda hadi miezi sita bila kupata.

“Kuna watu hapa hawajapata mikopo tangu walipoomba Juni mwaka huu. Wengine wamekata tamaa wamejitoa, lakini nao wameshindwa kupewa akiba zao,” alisema.

Christina Alex, ambaye pia ni mteja alisema alishamaliza deni na kujitoa uanachama, lakini hajapewa akiba yake aliyoichanga miaka sita iliyopita. “Hali ni mbaya sana Pride, zamani kila siku kuna makundi ya watu 50 waliokuwa wakihudumiwa kila baada ya saa moja tangu saa tatu asubuhi hadi saa 10 jioni, lakini siku hizi, watu wamepungua hadi 15 kwa saa moja na muda wa kuwahudumia umepunguzwa hadi saa 7:30 mchana,” alisema Christina.

Maelezo ya wateja hao yaliungwa mkono na ofisa mikopo wa Pride ambaye pia hakutaka jina lake litajwe gazetini, akisema hata ulipwaji wa mishahara umekuwa wa kusuasua. “Kimsingi hali mbaya, ila wamekuwa wakificha, kwa sababu hawawezi kuwaambia waziwazi wafanyakazi na wateja,” alisema na kuongeza:

“Siku hizi hata mishahara tunalipwa kwa kusuasua, hata baada ya miezi miwili na wakati mwingine tunalipwa kidogokidogo. Hata makato ya wafanyakazi wanaolipa mikopo ya Bodi ya Mikopo ya Elimu ya Juu (HELSB) haipelekwi siku hizi,” alisema mfanyakazi huyo.

Taarifa za kusuasua kwa Pride zimekuja huku pia kukiwa na utata wa umiliki wake kwani licha ya Ofisi ya Msajili wa Hazina kusema siyo shirika la umma, Mkaguzi na Mdhibiti wa Hesabu za Serikali (CAG) katika taarifa yake ya mwaka 2015/16 alihoji uhamishwaji wa hisa za Pride Tanzania kutoka serikalini kwenda kwa watu binafsi.

“Taarifa ya Msajili wa Hazina ilionyesha hisa zote za Pride zinamilikiwa na Serikali mpaka Juni 30, 2008. Hata hivyo, Juni 30, 2012, Pride iliondolewa kwenye orodha ya mashirika ya umma. Uhalali na sababu ya kuondolewa kwa Pride katika orodha ya mashirika ya umma haikubainika,” inasema taarifa ya CAG. Taarifa hiyo inataja kifungu cha 31 cha Sheria ya Ukaguzi wa Umma Na.11 ya mwaka 2008 kinachotaka kila shirika la umma kupeleka hesabu kwa CAG kukaguliwa katika kipindi cha miezi mitatu baada ya kumalizika kwa mwaka wa fedha.

“Hata hivyo, hesabu za Pride Tanzania hazijawahi kuwasilishwa kwenye ofisi yangu kama inavyotakiwa na sheria. Pamoja na majibu ya Serikali kuwa kampuni imeacha kupata fedha kutoka kwa Serikali ya Kifalme ya Norway na Tanzania mwaka 2005, haijawekwa wazi jinsi hisa za kampuni hii zilivyohamishwa kwenda kwa wamiliki binafsi,” alisema CAG.

“Hivyo basi, ninaendelea kusisitiza kuwa Msajili wa Hazina anapaswa kufuatilia kwa karibu juu ya umiliki wa kisheria wa hisa za Pride Tanzania zilizokuwa zinamilikiwa na Serikali na baadaye kuhamishiwa kwa wamiliki binafsi,” inaeleza taarifa ya CAG.

Taarifa ya CAG pia inataja deni la Pride Tanzania la Sh5.3 bilioni la mwaka 2014 ambalo ni mkopo uliotolewa na Benki ya Uwekezaji Tanzania (TIB).

“Hadi kufikia Desemba 2014, Pride ilikuwa ikidaiwa Sh5.3 bilioni ambao ni mkopo uliotolewa na Benki ya Uwekezaji (TIB),” inasema taarifa hiyo.

“Mkopo huo umedhaminiwa na wadaiwa wa Pride, ikimaanisha wakati kampuni ikishindwa kulipa madeni, madeni hayo yatalipwa kwa kutumiwa wadaiwa wa Pride. Dhamana ya aina hii haina uhakika na inaweza kusababishia benki hasara.”

CAG aliishauri menejimenti ya Pride kuongeza nguvu ili kuhakikisha mkopo huo unalipwa na kutoa mikopo kwa kwa wakopaji wenye dhamana ya kueleweka. @mcl

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Kinana kuendelea kuwa katibu mkuu wa CCM.

Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) nchini Tanzania Abdurahman Kinana ataendelea kuwa katibu mkuu wa chama hicho.

Taarifa kwamba ataendelea kuhudumu zimepokelewa kwa shangwe na vigelegele na wajumbe wanaohudhuria mkutano mkuu wa tisa wa chama hicho mjini Dodoma.

Rais Magufuli ambae ndiye mwenyekiti wa sasa, alitangaza uamuzi huo wa Bw Kinana kwa wajumbe hao takriban 1,900.

Katika hotuba yake ya ufunguzi, Dkt Magufuli alimshukuru katibu mkuu wake na kusema ana imani naye katika utendaji wake wa kazi.

Punde tu baada ya kauli hiyo kutolewa, wajumbe takriban wote walisimama huku wakipiga makofi na wengine wakisema, "Jembe, Jembe."

Bw Kinana ambaye amekuwa akishikilia wadhifa huko tangu serikali ya awamu ya nne, na wachambuzi wamekuwa wakimuona kama kiungo muhimu sana katika kuleta mabadiliko ndani ya Chama.

Awali kulikuwa na tetesi kwamba Kinana angeachia nafasi hiyo kwa lengo la kutaka kustaafu.

Kinana, mbali ya kuwa mwanajeshi mstaafu, ana uzoefu mkubwa katika masuala ya utawala na siasa.

Mambo muhimu mkutano Mkuu wa 9 wa CCM

Unahudhuriwa na wajumbe 1856 sawa na asimilia 99.1

Huu ni mkutano mkuu wa taifa wa kwanza kwa Rais Magufuli tangu kuwa rais.

Uchaguzi wa viongozi unafanyika kila baada ya miaka mitano.

Ni katika uchaguzi huu ambapo viongozi wakuu wa Chama wanachaguliwa, nao ni, mwenyekiti, na makamu wake 2 kutoka bara na Zanzibar.

Aidhaa kunafanyika uchaguzi wa wajumbe wa Halmashauri kuu ya taifa ambapo wajumbe 30 wanatakiwa kuchaguliwa kutoka bara na Zanzibar kati ya makada 690 waliojitokeza kuwania nafasi hizo.

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Waziri SMZ alalamika sukari ya Zanzibar kuzuiwa kuuzwa Bara.

Waziri wa Biashara, Viwanda na Masoko wa Zanzibar, Balozi Amina Salum Ali amelalamikia katazo la Serikali ya Muungano kuzuia sukari inayozalishwa Zanzibar kuuzwa Bara akisema ni kinyume na matakwa ya Muungano na matakwa ya soko.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi ofisini kwake mjini Zanzibar hivi karibuni, Balozi Amina alisema wamekuwa na majadiliano na Serikali ya Muungano kuhusu kadhia hiyo ambayo pia yataendelea mwisho wa mwezi huu.

Hata hivyo, Waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara, Charles Mwijage alipoulizwa kuhusu malalamiko hayo alisema hana taarifa hadi awaulize wasaidizi wake.

“Mimi ni waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara, nina manaibu waziri wawili, makatibu wakuu, manaibu katibu na nina wakurugenzi na mashirika 19 chini yangu. Ninasikia mambo mengi, nikikwambia nina majibu vidoleni nitakudanganya, hadi niwasikilize wasaidizi wangu,” alisema Mwijage kwa njia ya simu.

Akizungumzia kadhia hiyo, Balozi Amina alisema licha ya ukweli kwamba sukari inayozalishwa na kiwanda pekee cha Zanzibar Sugar Factory Ltd haitoshelezi mahitaji ya Wazanzibari bado wana haki ya kuuza popote wanapotaka.


“Mimi kama waziri wa Biashara na Viwanda niliona tuwe na ‘combination’ (muunganiko) kwamba sehemu wauze Zanzibar na nyingine wauze Bara, lakini Serikali ya Muungano haitaki kununua sukari kutoka Zanzibar. Sasa hilo nilitaka tuzungumze, kwa sababu siyo fair (haki),” alisema Balozi Amina na kuongeza:

“Arguments’ (hoja) kwamba haitoshelezi soko la Zanzibar si sahihi. Kwa sababu kama kiwanda kipo na kinazalisha, wana right (haki) ya kuuza Zanzibar au wakauza Bara. Kwa sababu kama ni hivyo kuna viwanda vya Bara vinauza Zanzibar lakini havijatosheleza soko la Bara, kwa sababu hili soko liko ‘free’ (huru) mtu anatakiwa ku ‘access’ soko kama anavyoona ni sawa.”

Waziri Amina aliyewahi kuwa Balozi wa Umoja wa Afrika nchini Marekani alisema madai kuwa Zanzibar haina kiwanda cha sukari na kwamba sukari hiyo inaagizwa kutoka nje ya nchi hayana msingi kwa kuwa kiwanda kipo na kimeshatembelewa na viongozi wakiwemo wa Serikali ya Muungano.

“Kwa hiyo wanapotuambia haiwezi kuuzwa Bara kwa sababu haitoshelezi Zanzibar, ‘that’s not right’ (siyo haki). Kwa sababu ‘fundamentally’ (kimsingi) huko ni kwenda kinyume na misingi ya soko na misingi ya huu Muungano wetu,” alisema.

“Sisi kama Serikali tunauza sukari ya Mahonda (ZSFL), mimi nilitoa kibali. Kipindi kile mgogoro wa sukari ulipoanza tulitoa barua rasmi nilimwandikia barua mpaka Waziri Mkuu nikimwambia sukari tunayowauzia ni ya Mahonda ambayo imekuwa certified (imethibitishwa) na ZBS na TBS na vyote.

“Wamekuja hadi watu wa Sugar Board (Bodi ya Sukari) wameona. Wanasema sukari yenu kidogo haitoshi Zanzibar, that’s not right, hiyo si sawa sawa, wapewe ‘access’ wauze, kama wanataka Bara wauze. Inakuwaje uruhusu sukari kutoka nchi za Sadc iingie Bara kwa nini wasiruhusu sukari ya Zanzibar iingie Bara?” aliendelea kuhoji.

Akizungumzia mahitaji ya sukari visiwani Zanzibar, Balozi Amina alisema kwa mwaka mzima hutumia kati ya tani 17,000 mpaka 20,000 za sukari huku kiwanda cha ZSFL kikizalisha zaidi ya tani 8,000.

Alisema kuna wafanyabiashara wanaoingiza sukari kutoka nje ya nchi ili kuziba pengo linalobaki ambao hata hivyo wamegoma kununua sukari ya kiwanda hicho wakidai ni bei ghali.

“Zanzibar maisha yako chini ndiyo maana Serikali iliamua ku ‘subsidize’ sukari, mchele na unga wa ngano. Hata hivyo wafanyabiashara wanaleta sukari inayofurika kwenye soko. Tukawaambia hao waagizaji kwanza wanunue sukari yote ya Mahonda, lakini ikaonekana kuwa wanauza sukari yao bei ghali kulinganisha na inayoagizwa,” alisema Balozi Amina.

Mwandishi wa gazeti hili alifika katika kiwanda cha ZSFL kilichopo Mahonda Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja ambako Meneja mkuu, Rajesh Kumar alisema licha ya kuzalisha sukari kwa gharama kubwa wanapata hasara kwa kulikosa soko la Bara.

“Tunahitaji kuuza sukari yetu Bara ambako ni Sh95,000 hadi Sh100,000 kwa mfuko wa kilo 50, lakini hapa ni Sh60,000 hadi Sh70,000. Tumekuwa tukijadiliana na waziri wa biashara ili kutusaidia kupata soko la Bara. Tunajiuliza kama hii ni Tanzania moja na hata baadhi ya vifaa tunavyotumia kama mifuko ya sukari inatoka Dar es Salaam, lakini haturuhusiwi kuuza sukari tu Bara,” alisema Kumar.

Alisema kiwanda hicho kimeajiri rasmi watu 235 mbali na ajira zisizo rasmi na kina mitambo ya kisasa hivyo wanahitaji masoko ya uhakika hasa Bara.

“Kwa hiyo ni lazima tuuze sukari ili kiwanda kiendelee. Hiki ni kiwanda pekee na kikubwa Zanzibar cha sukari, tumeajiri wafanyakazi zaidi ya 235 hivyo tunahitaji msaada wa Serikali ili tuendelee,” alisema.

Kaimu Mkurugenzi wa Bodi ya Sukari Tanzania (SBT), Miraji Kipande alisema hana taarifa ya katazo la sukari ya Zanzibar kuingia Bara, huku akisema kuna taratibu za kufuata ikiwa pamoja na kukata leseni.

“Kwa mujibu wa sheria ya Sukari ya mwaka 2001 na kanuni zake za mwaka 2010, zinaelekeza kuwa kampuni yoyote au mtu yeyote anayetaka kuingiza sukari nchini (Tanzania Bara) ni sharti apate leseni ya kuingiza bidhaa hiyo,” alisema Kipande.

Alisema bidhaa hiyo huingizwa baada ya kuidhinishwa na Serikali katika kipindi maalumu cha upungufu wa sukari nchini ambapo viwanda vya ndani vinasitisha uzalishaji kwa ajili ya matengenezo ya mitambo yao.

“Hata hivyo, Bodi ya Sukari haina taarifa kuhusu zuio hilo la sukari kwa kuwa mwaka 2016 kampuni hiyo iliruhusiwa na Serikali kuingiza sukari yao Bara,” alisema.

Kipande alikiri kuwepo kwa upungufu wa sukari akisema hadi Desemba 5, 2017 jumla ya tani 209,782.26 wakati lengo ni kuzalisha tani 308,558 kwa mwaka 2017/18.

Alisema bei ya sukari hupatikana kwa nguvu ya soko ambapo kwa sasa inauzwa kati ya Sh2,500 hadi 2,800 kwa kilo.

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Zitto gives three reasons for boycotting January by-elections in three constituencies, six wards

ACT Wazalendo has given three reasons for boycotting the January parliamentary by-elections in three constituencies and civic polls in six wards.

A statement issued on Sunday, December 17, by ACT Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe mentions the reasons as the country’s unfair democratic space, little time available for mobilisation of financial resources and a need to concentrate on January parliamentary sessions.

Mr Kabwe said democratic freedom and processes in the country were not protected by the state and that the principles of democracy were consistently violated, both openly and secretly, noting that the previous by-elections in 43 wards demonstrated how democracy was in jeopardy.

“As the opposition party, we cannot knowingly participate in such a suspicious process, knowing that it will lead to flawed results. Therefore, as a matter of principle, we feel we have to refrain from participating in such a process and from legitimising it,” reads part of a statement availed to The Citizen.

According to him, apart from limited time for mobilising financial resources, the number of members and party supporters, who were harassed, arrested and assaulted during the November by-elections was alarmingly high and kept growing.

“The media rarely reports such ugly incidents and are not discussed adequately either. But, the truth is that we are under attack and being leaders of the opposition we cannot continue putting our people at risk for participating in the by-elections in which we will not be allowed to win in anyway,” reads part of the statement.


He said their decision was also prompted by their focus on scrutiny and mobilisation of members of the public against amendments to the Political Parties Act and the pension law to be tabled in Parliament in January.

“So, we have decided to boycott the January by-elections to focus on upcoming parliamentary sessions and aforementioned pieces of legislation,” reads the statement, adding: “We will utilise our time to mobilise workers through their trade unions for a just pension law and other opposition parties to reject the amendments that are meant to endorse a perpetual monolithic party system.”

ACT Wazalendo joins Ukawa, who last week announced to boycott the January by-elections to press for taking steps to rectify the irregularities that occurred in November 26, 2017 by-elections first.

The political parties forming Ukawa are Chadema, NCCR-Mageuzi, the Civic United Front (CUF), the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma (Chaumma).

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