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Rais wa Marekani Barack Obama kuibadili sura ya Marekani katika ulimwengu wa Kiarabu.

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Rais wa Marekani Barack Obama ana fursa nzuri kuibadili sura ya Marekani katika ulimwengu wa kiarabu, lakini hata hivyo ana muda mfupi wa kufanya hivyo kulingana na maoni kutoka kwa umma yaliyotokana na utafiti uliofanywa katika nchi za Misri, Jordan, Lebanon,Morocco, Saudi Arabia pamoja na miliki ya nchi za kiarabu.

Utafiti huo uliotolewa siku ya jumannne ulionyesha kuwa asilimia arobaini na tano ya waarabu wote elfu nne waliohojiwa katika mataifa matano, wana hisia nzuri juu ya rais Barack Obama kinyume na asilimia ishini na nne walio na hisia tofauti.

Hata hivyo hisia dhidi sera za marekani katika ulimwengu wa kiarabu zilionekana kubadilika kwa karibu mwaka mmoja uliopita, wakati hisia juu ya marekani na dhidi ya rais wa Zamani George Bush zikiwa mbaya zaidi.

Utafiti wa sasa ulionyesha uungwaji mkono kwa rais Barack Obama pamoja na Marekani huku asilimia sabini na nne ya nchi za kiarabu, zikiunga mkono kuundwa kwa taifa la palestina hali kadhalika zikionyesha huruma wao dhidi ya kundi la Hamas kuliko kundi la Fatah.

Watatu kati ya waarabu wanne wanaunga mkono kuundwa kwa mataifa mawili ya Israel na palestina, kama njia ya kumaliza mgogoro uliopo kati ya pande hizo mbili lakini hata hivyo kati ya walio hojiwa waanamini kuwa ni vigumu kufikiwa kwa makubaliano ya amani.

Utafiti huo pia uligundua kuongezeka kwa hisia dhidi ya mipango ya nuklia ya Iran na kupungua kwa umaarufu wa kiongozi wa Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah hasa nchini Misri na Morocco .

Rais Obama (kushoto) pamoja na rais wa Afghanistan Hamid Karzai. Rais Obama (kushoto) pamoja na rais wa Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.

Utafiti huo uanafanyika wakati kukiwa na shughuli nyingi za kidiplomasia zianazofanywa na utawala wa rais Obama, baada ya kumteua George Mitchel kama mjumbe wa amani katika ya ulimwengu wa kiarabu na Israel. Hadi sasa micthel ameshafanywa ziara tatu katika eneo hilo tangu ateuliwe na ana mipango ya kuweka ofisi yake mjini Jerusalem.

Wiki iliyopita rais Barack Obama alimualika katika ikulu ya Marekani mfalme Abdullah wa Jordan na pia kukutana na waziri mkuu wa Israel Benjamin Netanyahu siku ya Jumatatu. Wiki ijayo rais Obama anatarajiwa kukutana na rais wa mamlaka ya palestina mahmoud Abbas baada ya rais wa Misri Hosni Mubarak kuhairisha ziara yake nchini Marekani.

Juni nne mwaka huu rais Obama anatarajiwa kuhutubia ulimwengu wa kiarabu kutoka mji wa Cairo nchini Misri, katika kile kinachoonekana kama kinyume na sera za mtangulizi wake kuhusu vita dhidi ya ugaidi suala ambalo waislamu wengi waliliona kama vita dhidi ya uislamu.

Hotuba ya rais Obama pia inatarajiwa kuguzia lengo la utawala mpya nchini Marekani la kupatika kwa amani mashariki ya kati kama njia muhimu ya kuimarisha uhusiano katika ya marekani na ulimwengu wa kiarabu.

Utafiti wa hivi majuzi ulionyesha kuwa hata kama bado kuna shaka kuhusu mipango ya Marekani katika eneo la mashariki ya kati, kuchaguliwa kwa Obama na miezi ya kwanza uongozini huenda kukabadili mawazo mengi.

Wengi wa waliohojiwa, asilimia arobaini na sita walisema kuwa, wangependa wanajeshi wa Marekani waondoke nchini Iraq huku asilimia 26 wakitaka kusuluhishwa kwa mzozo uliopo katika ya Wasrael na wapalestina.

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Waziri mkuu wa Israel Benjamin Netanyahu asisitiza kuwa Jerusalem utasalia kuwa mji mkuu wa Israel.

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Waziri mkuu wa Israel Benjamin Netanyahu ameapa hii leo kuwa mji wa Jerusalem utasalia kuwa mji wa Israel milele huku Israel ikiadhimisha miaka arobaini na mbili baada ya kulichukua kwa nguvu eneo la mashariki la mji huo lenye wakaazi wengi wa kiarabu.

Jerusalem ni mji mkuu wa Israel, umekuwa tangu hapo na utasalia hivyo milele, na kamwe hautagawanwa, alisema waziri mkuu wa Israel Benjamin Netanyahu wakati wa sherehe za kuadhimisha kuchukuliwa kwa nguvu eneo lililo mashariki mwa Jerusalem, wakati wa vita vya siku sita vilivyo piganwa mwaka 1967.

Jamii ya kimataifa haiutambui mji wa Jerusam kama mji mkuu wa Israel na suala hili linaonekana kama kizingiti kwa mchakato wa amani kati ya Israel na Palestina inayotaka eneo la mashariki mwa Jerusalem kuwa mj wao mkuu baada ya kuundwa kwa taifa la Palestina.

Maelfu ya watu, wengi wao wakipeperusha bendera walijipanga katika mji wa Jerusalem wakati ambapo karibu wapalestina 200 pamoja na wanaharakati wa mrengo wa kushoto wa Israel walifanya maandamano katika mji wa zamani wa Damascus.

Uhusiano wa wayahudiu na mji wa Jerusalem ni wa tangu wa maelfu ya miaka iliyopita na mjii huu utasalia chini ya taifa letu,“ alisema Netanyahu katika mlima wa Ammunition kulikofanyika mapigano makali kati ya wanajeshi wa Israel na wa Jordan mwezi Juni mwaka 1967.

Maadhimisho hayo yanafanyika kila mwaka kuambatana na kalenda ya kiyahudi.

Rais wa mamlaka ya Palestina Mahmud Abbas. Rais wa mamlaka ya Palestina Mahmud Abbas.

Msemaji wa rais wa mamlaka ya palestina mahamoud Abbas, alisema kuwa eneo la mashariki mwa Mji wa Jerusalem linakaliwa la wapalestina kama vile Waisraeli wanavyoyakalia maeneo ya Palestina tangu Juni nne mwaka 1967.

Nabil Abu Rudeina alisema kuwa matamshi kama hayo yanavuruga mpango wa kuundwa kwa mataifa mawili na kumwomba rais wa Marekani Barack Obama kuingilia kati ili kukomesha sera za Israel, zinazohujumu juhudi za kupatikana kwa amani katika eneo hilo.

Siku ya Alhamisi wabunge wa Israel kutoka upande wa mrengo wa kulia unaotawala, waliwasilisha mswada bungeni ulio na lengo la kuzuia kugawanwa mwa mji wa Jerusalem kwa Wapalestna.

Mswada huo utahitaji mabadilo yoyote yatakayofanyiwa mipaka ya Jerusalem kupata uungwaji mkono wa asilimia 80 miongoni mwa wabunge mia na ishirini kinyume na asilimia sitini na moja iliyopo sasa.

Seriali iliyotanguliwa ilikuwa imeonyesha ishara kuwa Israel, huenda ikasalimisha eneo la masahariki mwa mji wa Jerusalam kwa waarabu.Hata hivyo serikali ya waziri mkuu Benjamin Netanyahu iliyoingia madarakani tarehe 31 mwezi machi mwaka huu, imelipinga suala hilo na hivyo kupata lawama kali za kimataifa kwa kuzuia kuidhinisha kuundwa kwa taifa la Palestina.

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Maadhimisho ya miaka 60 ya Shirikisho la Jamhuri ya Ujerumani

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Rais Horst Köhler wa Ujerumani amesema kwamba Ujerumani imestawi kuwa nchi yenye uwazi na ya kimataifa katika historia yake ya miaka 60.

Rais Köhler amesema hayo mjini Berlin leo katika maadhimisho ya miaka 60 tokea kuundwa kwa shirikisho la Jamhuri ya Ujermani.

Amesema katika miaka 60 iliyopita Ujerumani limekuwa taifa lenye uwazi kwa dunia .Ameeleza kuwa Ujerumani imeshiriki katika juhudi za kuunda jumuiya za Umoja wa Ulaya na pia imeshsiriki katika kuweka malengo ya kisiasa ya jumuiya hizo.

Amesema Ujerumani imekabiliana na uhalifu uliotendwa na mafashisti na imefikia maridhiano na taifa la kiyahudi.

Rais Köhler ameeleza kuwa wajerumani wamejifunza kutokana na historia na ndiyo sababu kwamba wakati wote itapinga maovu ya chuki dhidi ya wayahudi,ubaguzi ,na chuki dhidi ya wageni.

Juu ya katiba ya Ujerumani iliyoweka msingi wa demokrasia nchini, rais Köhler amesema kuwa hati hiyo ni mwenge wa wa uhuru.Ameeleza kuwa katiba hiyo iliwapa wajerumani wa upande wa mashariki, matumaini.

Kuhusu medani ya kimataifa rais Köhler amesema kuwa Ujerumani imeshirikiana na nchi inayofungamana nazo katika kuletekeleza majukumu ya ya kimataifa.

Imesaidia katika kutatua migogoro mbalimbali duniani na kwamba Ujerumani imetoa mchango wake katika kulinda amani na haki za binadamu duniani.




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Japan fetes Wangari Maathai

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai this week became the first Kenyan to receive the highest decoration from the Government of Japan for her campaign to protect the environment.

Prof Maathai, a former assistant minister for the Environment and the head of the Greenbelt Movement, was decorated with “the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun” in honour of her significant contribution in raising people’s awareness of environmental protection in Japan, and enhancing the country’s global status.

Cabinet ministers John Michuki (the Environment and Mineral Resources), Moses Wetang’ula (Foreign Affairs) and Noah Wekesa (Forestry and Wildlife) attended the ceremony at the Japan ambassador’s residence on Thursday night.

Prof Mathaai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, played an immense role in the promotion of Japans environmental diplomacy through various activities such as the implementation of grassroot programmes using her Greenbelt Movement and made a substantive contribution to the discussion at the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in May 2008.

“She is quite popular among the Japanese,” a statement from the Japanese Embassy in Nairobi said.

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Food crisis whets EA’s appetite for GM crops

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Rehema Mwinyi.

Worsening cereal production worldwide is swaying African countries to genetically modified crops.

Research concluded last December shows that in developing countries — excluding Brazil, China and India — cereal production has fallen by 1.6 per cent. This has worsened the global food prices and posted a deeper shock to world economies.

Many African countries are now switching from organic to GM crop production, which research says increases yields in a shorter period.

A survey by the International Food Policy Research Institute warns that prices of major cereals will increase significantly, possibly triggering a bigger food crisis.

Experts say in 2020, maize, wheat, and rice prices will be 27, 15 and 13 per cent higher, respectively. As a result of the recession, the poor are likely to have less food.

“In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, per capita calorie consumption will be 10 per cent lower in 2020. Globally, 16 million more children will be malnourished in 2020,” the survey says.

In East Africa, the Uganda government approved use of biotechnology in 2008. Laboratory trials on cotton are going on at a national research centre in Soroti to develop pest resistant varieties and increase cotton volumes.

Farmers have embraced the idea and shown willingness to adopt the techniques for commercial production.

A household survey conducted recently shows that 151 producers, 35 in Lira and 116 in Kasese, approved the use of biotechnology.

“The government approached this technology cautiously, despite appreciating that it increases productivity. We are very cautious not to compromise local production,” says Minister for Animal Industry Bright Rwamirama. He was addressing the press last week after the opening of a biotechnology conference in Entebbe.

The conference brought together scientists from all over the world to discuss the implications of GM crops on African farmers.

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Obama cuts HIV funding, risks 1m lives

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Rehema Mwinyi.


The lives of millions of Africans living with HIV/Aids are at risk following President Barack Obama’s underfunding of bilateral HIV/Aids programmes — among them the crucial President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) and the Global Fund to Fight HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The Obama administration’s $3.6 trillion budget, released on May 7, created a $3.3 billion hole in US bilateral support for global HIV/Aids funding, and global health activists are now pushing for a Pan African response to fix the funding gap in the US’s fiscal year 2010 budget, already submitted to Congress.

According to Dr Paul Zeitz, the executive director of the Global Aids Alliance, President Obama is sending the wrong message to world governments — that it is acceptable to underfund global health, in particular the Global Fund. The fund is already facing a financial gap and the US move will only make it worse.

On February 26, 2009, President Obama released part of his first budget request to Congress. For fiscal year 2010, he requested $51.7 billion for the 150 Account, which funds US foreign affairs priorities.

The foreign operations section funds most of the foreign assistance programmes of concern to the Global Alliance, including the global HIV/Aids Initiative, which supports US bilateral HIV/Aids programmes and a apportions US contribution to the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The fiscal year 2010 budget also makes it impossible for the president to meet his stated target of doubling foreign assistance by 2012.

In essence, President Obama’s request has broken four campaign promises he made to the people of Africa, putting his administration’s moral leadership to question, say the global activists. He has broken his commitment to double foreign assistance by 2012.

The proposed fiscal year 2010 funding ignores the president’s campaign promises by including only $5 billion for Pepfar, the successful US bilateral HIV/Aids programme ($1.5 billion shortfall); $900 million for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria ($1.8 billion shortfall); and $700 million for global basic education ($1.3 billion shortfall).

The Global Aids Alliance estimates that as a consequence, one million people around the world will not receive treatment for HIV/Aids, while 2.9 million women won’t receive services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

In addition, 27 million people will not access sexual disease transmission prevention programmes and 1.9 million orphans and other children affected by or vulnerable to /HIV/Aids will not receive care and support services.

“Underfunding these critical programmes will have grave consequences, especially during the current global economic crisis and at a point in time when the world may be in the early stages of a devastating flu pandemic,” said Dr Zeitz.

Although President Obama has promised to double US foreign assistance to $50 billion by 2012, his fiscal year 2010 budget request is well below what is required to keep this promise.

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NSSF undecided over return to bourse

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Indecision and fear have delayed the much awaited return of Uganda’s National Social Security Fund to the local bourse even after the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development allowed the Fund to resume investment activities in its real estate and equity business.

Market sources who spoke to The EastAfrican revealed that the NSSF board and senior management are apparently undecided on when to resume trading on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) citing increased nervousness within the Fund towards major investment transactions in the aftermath of the Temangalo scandal that involved an irregular purchase of 460 acres in Temangalo at a cost of Ush11 billion ($5.6 million).

The land was co-owned by Minister of Security Amama Mbabazi and his business partner, Amos Nzeyi — a scenario that raised eyebrows and led to a parliamentary inquiry that culminated in the suspension of the Fund’s managing director, David Jamwa and his deputy, Prof Mondo Kagonyera.

Though the parliamentary investigation was concluded last year, additional investigations being conducted by the Auditor General’s office and private audit firm KPMG have slowed down the decision making processes leading to a near paralysis in the Fund’s investment operations.

This is reflected in apparent reluctance and nervousness among top management to endorse key transactions, including some that were approved by the former board of directors.

Though the ban was lifted, the impact of the investigations has limited our ability to make investment decisions. The appointment of a new board has also affected us because of challenges faced in persuading its members on various investment matters that were not concluded by the previous board,” said a senior NSSF official who requested anonymity.

NSSF owns about 20 per cent of all the shares listed on the USE and usually accounts for about 50 per cent of trading volumes when active on the market.

Information obtained by The EastAfrican indicates that the Ministry of Finance ban against investment in equity and real estate activities was lifted in February this year following pressure from prominent market players.

Subsequently, NSSF’s investment committee sat in March and approved its return to the local bourse. However, the appointment of a new board of directors last month stalled the process on account of pending statutory approval.

Previous meetings held by the new board have reportedly yielded no results, thereby creating fresh uncertainty about the Fund’s participation on the USE this year.

Investors’ hopes are now pinned on the next board meeting scheduled for June 2009. Similar hesitation led to NSSF’s recent decision to withdraw from a $10 million financing agreement with the Uganda Revenue Authority meant for the construction of the latter’s headquarters.

The Fund’s delayed return to the USE has also led to a backlog of huge sale offers from stockbrokers serving smaller institutional and individual investors. Such offers, estimated in millions of shares, are attributed to desperate investors eager to quit the market on account of the sustained downturn felt since the second half of last year.

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Iran says foreign troops no help to region's security

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Rehema Mwinyi.


TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attacked the presence of foreign forces in the region at a summit with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts on Sunday aimed at tackling terrorism and other security problems.

In separate comments underscoring the Islamic Republic's deep mistrust of the United States, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari that America was hated among the region's people.

The three neighbors' first such meeting, which ended with pledges of cooperation but without any specific measures being announced, took place as Pakistan and Afghanistan are battling to stem the spread of Taliban insurgencies in their countries.

Iran and Pakistan border Afghanistan and have a large stake in its stability because of the impact of a flourishing drugs trade and because in decades of violence, millions of refugees have often spilled across borders.

Although it is a long-time foe of Iran, the United States is also pushing for a more regional approach against the growing strength of Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan, one of the areas where Washington is seeking to engage Tehran.

"If we can save Pakistan and Afghanistan from these problems, from extremism ... then such trilateral meetings are meaningful," Karzai, the Afghan president, told the summit in comments broadcast by Iran's English-language Press TV.

"The problems come from amongst ourselves," he said.

But Ahmadinejad, who often rails against the West, took aim at outside intervention in the region, "by others who are alien to the nations and culture of our nations."

Clearly referring to tens of thousands of U.S. and mostly NATO troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, he said they were pursuing their own interests.

The United States is pouring thousands more troops into Afghanistan this year to try to reverse gains by a resurgent Taliban, particularly in its southern heartland.

"Although the presence of foreign forces in our region was under the pretext of establishing security ... it has not been much of a help to the establishment of permanent security and political and economic growth," Ahmadinejad said.

Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, later told Karzai and Zardari in a meeting that foreign military interference was one of the region's main problems.

"America ... is very much hated among the people of the region," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.

At a U.N. meeting in The Hague in March, Iran offered to help Afghanistan combat the narcotics trade, which helps fund the Taliban, in a gesture that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called promising.

Speaking after Sunday's summit in Tehran, Ahmadinejad said the three presidents had signed a declaration of "paramount importance" to increase cooperation, without giving details. Zardari said they "reached broad consensus on giving further shape to our tripartite cooperation," including working toward free trade.
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11 wafariki katika tamasha Morocco

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Watu wasiopungua 11 wamefariki katika mji mkuu wa Morocco, Rabat, baada ya kukanyagana katika tamasha ya kimataifa ya muziki ya Mawazine.

Kulingana na waandishi habari, inadhaniwa kwamba watu wengine 40 walijeruhiwa baada ya uzio wa senyenge kuporomoka.

Tukio hilo lilifanyika usiku wa Jumamosi, wakati zaidi ya watu 70,000 walijaa pomoni katika uwanja wa michezo wa Hay Nahda, kumtizama mwanamuziki wa Morocco, Abdelaziz Stati.

Katika tamasha mwaka huu walioshiriki ni pamoja na Kylie Minogue, Khaled na Alicia Keyes.

Wadadisi wanasema kwamba tamasha hiyo ya wiki moja ya Mawazine ni kati ya mipango ya Morocco ya kuimarisha sifa nzuri za nchi hiyo ili taifa hilo lionekana ulimwenguni kwamba linakwenda sambamba na maendeleo ya kisasa.

Kulingana na maafisa wa polisi, wanawake watano, wanaume wanne, na watoto wawili, ndio waliofariki kati hali hiyo ya mkanyagano.

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Kashfa ya Richmond kuibuka tena bunge lijalo

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Rehema Mwinyi.

PAMOJA na macho na masikio ya Watanzania kuelekezwa bungeni kwa ajili ya bajeti ya serikali mapema mwezi ujao, kashfa ya Richmond iliyotikisa nchi mwaka jana itaibuka tena, safari hii serikali ikieleza ilipofikia katika utekelezaji wa maazimio 23 ya bunge.

Bunge lililotoa maazimio hayo na kuitaka serikali kuyatekeleza, lakini zoezi hilo limekuwa likisuasua na mara kwa mara kuibua maswali, hasa katika eneo la kuwawajibisha vigogo na watumishi wa umma waliotajwa na Kamati ya Dk Harrison Mwakyembe iliyochunguza kashfa hiyo kuwa walihusika kwa namna fulani katika kashfa hiyo.

Katibu wa Bunge, Dk Thomas Kashililah, alisema jana kuwa katika mkutano wa 16 wa bunge utakaoanza Juni 9, mwaka huu pamoja na taarifa hiyo ya Richmond, Waziri wa Fedha na Uchumi, Mustafa Mkulo atatangaza bajeti ya serikali kwa mwaka wa fedha 2009/2010.

Taarifa hiyo ya Richmond imekuwa ikisubiriwa kwa muda mrefu, kutokana na umuhimu wake kwa jamii, hasa baada ya kuwahusisha vigogo wa serikali na kusababisha aliyekuwa Waziri Mkuu, Edward Lowassa na mawaziri wengine wawili kujiuzulu.

Dk Kashililah alizitaja taarifa nyingine zitakazotolewa na serikali ni juu ya utendaji usioridhisha wa Kampuni ya Kupakua Makontena Bandarini (TICTS) pamoja na kuyumba kwa uendeshaji wa Kampuni ya Reli Tanzania (TRL), uuzwaji wa nyumba za serikali pamoja na utoaji wa vitalu vya kuwindia.

Dk Kashililah hakufafanua kwa undani kuhusu kauli hizo za serikali, lakini kumbukumbu za gazeti hili zinaonyesha kuwa suala la Richmond linatokana na maazimio 23 ya Mkutano wa 10 wa Bunge uliofanyika Februari mwaka jana.

Miongoni mwa maazinio hayo, serikali ilitangaza kwenye mkutano wa 14 wa bunge kuwa inaendelea kuyachunguza, likiwamo la uchunguzi wa tuhuma dhidi ya vigogo na watumishi wa umma ambao walitajwa kuhusika kwenye kashfa hiyo.

Vigogo wanaoendelea kuchunguzwa kuwa ni Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali, Johnson Mwanyika na Mkurugenzi wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru), Dk Edward Hoseah.

Serikali pia inatarajia kutoa kauli juu ya uchunguzi maalumu uliofanywa ili kubaini ukweli kama taarifa halisi ya Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru) kuhusu Richmond iliharibiwa ili kutoa nyingine inayowasafisha vigogo dhidi ya ufisadi.

Vile vile serikali inatarajiwa kutoa jibu juu ya madai kwamba jalada halisi la kampuni ya Richmond lililokuwa kwa Wakala wa Usajili wa Biashara na Leseni (Brela) nalo liliharibiwa na kuwekwa jingine kwa lengo la kuficha ukweli.

Kumekuwepo na hali ya ukosoaji juu ya serikali kuwaruhusu baadhi ya vigogo wanaotuhumiwa kwenye kashfa hiyo ya Richmond kuendelea na nyadhifa zao wakati kuna uchunguzi dhidi yao.

Hali hiyo pia ilijidhihirisha kwenye mkutano wa 14 wa Bunge, ambapo Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Bunge ya Nishati na Madini, William Shellukindo akisoma taarifa ya kamati, alisema hali hiyo inatia shaka.

“Kamati ina maoni kwamba uwajibishwaji wa watumishi hao upewe kipaumbele kwa kuwa wao binafsi na nafasi ambazo bado wanazishika huku wakiendelea kuchunguzwa zinatia shaka juu ya utendaji wao wakati huu wa kuchunguzwa,” alisema Shellukindo.

Bunge lilitoa maazimio 23 ya utekelezaji baada ya mjadala wa taarifa ya Kamati Teule ya Bunge iliyoundwa Novemba 2007 ili kuchunguza mchakato wa zabuni ulioipa ushindi Richmond ili kuzalisha umeme wa dharura nchini mwaka 2006.

Ripoti hiyo ya Kamati Teule ya Bunge juu ya Richmond ilisababisha pamoja na Lowassa kujiuzulu kwa mawaziri Dk Ibrahim Msabaha na Nazir Karamagi waliowahi kuwa mawaziri wa Nishati na Madini kwa nyakati tofauti.

Katika hatua za utekelezaji wa maazimio hayo, Agosti mwaka jana serikali ilivunja mkataba na Richmond ambao ulikuwa umerithiwa na kampuni ya Dowans.

Kuhusu kampuni ya TRL, Waziri wa Miundombinu, Dk Shukuru Kawamba anatarajia kutoa taarifa kuhusu kamati ya majadiliano iliyoundwa ili kurekebisha mkataba wa ukodishwaji baina ya serikali na Shirika la Reli la India (Rites).

Kumekuwepo na hali ya kutoridhishwa juu ya uendeshaji wa kampuni ya TRL ambapo baadhi ya shughuli zimesimamishwa na kumekuwepo na msuguano wa mara kwa mara juu ya maslahi ya wafanyakazi.

Kuhusu kampuni ya Ticts, Dk Kawambwa alikuwa ameliahidi bunge kuwa wizara yake itawasilisha mbele ya Baraza la Mawaziri waraka ambao utaainisha marekebisho ya mkataba wa kampuni hiyo na serikali, ili kupitishwa.

Awali, mkataba baina ya serikali na Ticts ulionekana kuwa na mapungufu kadhaa yakiwepo ya kutoruhusiwa kuwa na mshindani jambo ambalo liliibana serikali kuongeza nguvu baada ya uwezo wa kampuni hiyo kupungua na kusababisha msururu mrefu wa meli zinazosubiri kupakuliwa.

Hali hiyo licha ya kuwakatisha tamaa watumiaji wa bandari ya Dar es Salaam, iliisababishia serikali hasara ya mabilioni ya fedha kwa kuwa kila meli iliyocheleweshwa kupakuliwa ilikuwa inalipwa Sh20 milioni kila siku.

Wakati huo huo, Dk Kashililah alisema kuwa kuanzia kesho kamati mbalimbali za bunge zitaanza kufanya vikao vyake vya kujadili kuhusu mambo mbalimbali ya bajeti.

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AGNES; Alichemsha kidato cha nne na ‘kutingisha’ Taifa kidato cha sita

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Rehema Mwinyi.



Naamini yupo alivyo kwa sababu ya malezi aliyopata kwenye familia yake yaliyomsaidia msichana, Agnes Dominic (20), kufanya vizuri kwenye Mtihani wa Taifa wa Kidato cha Sita mwaka huu na kuwa mwanafunzi wa tano kitaifa. Licha ya msingi alioupata kutoka katika malezi ya wazazi wake, pia naamini kuwa juhudi binafsi na dhamira aliyoiweka ya kutorudia makosa aliyoyafanya kidato cha nne, vimechangia sehemu kubwa ya mafanikio hayo ya kitaifa.

Niliwasiliana naye kwa ujumbe mfupi wa simu ya mkononi (sms) Alhamisi iliyopita jioni na Ijumaa iliyopita asubuhi, alinipa majibu yake yaliyonipa mwanga wa awali kuhusu Agnes. Katika mawasiliano hayo ya awali kwa njia ya sms, nilitaka anieleze atakayekuja kunipokea kituoni wakati tulipokubaliana nifike kwao Mtoni kwa Dosa, wilayani Temeke, Dar es Salaam kwa ajili ya mahojiano naye ili wasomaji wa Jarida la Nyota la HabariLeo Jumapili wamfahamu na kujifunza kitu kutoka kwake. Alinieleza atakuja yeye na ningemtambua kwa kuwa yeye si mtu wa kujiremba awapo nyumbani.

Alipokuja kunipokea jirani na barabara ya Kilwa, nilikumbuka sms aliyonitumia, ‘hakupiga pamba’ za kupigia picha kama nilivyomtania kwenye ujumbe niliomtumia, alikuwa na nywele za rasta, alivaa sketi ndefu nyeupe, fulana nyeusi na kandambili. Saa mbili za kuzungumza na Agnes, zilinipa jibu ni kwa nini amekuwa mwanafunzi wa tano kati ya wasichana 10 bora waliofaulu mtihani huo na mwanafunzi namba moja kati ya 47 waliofanya Mtihani wa Taifa wa Kidato cha Sita katika Shule ya Sekondari ya Wasichana Kibosho mkoani Kilimanjaro.

Amekuwa namba moja katika shule hiyo iliyoongoza kitaifa mwaka huu ya mkoani Kilimanjaro ikifuatiwa na Shule ya wasichana ya Marian iliyokuwa ya pili na kufuatiwa na Kibaha zilizopo mkoani Pwani, Mzumbe ya Morogoro ilishika nafasi ya nne na Ilboru ya Arusha katika nafasi ya tano. Anajiheshimu, ni mchangamfu, mstaarabu na katika dhamira yake hiyo ya kufaulu, aliweka mikakati, alisoma kwa malengo na kumtanguliza Mungu. “Sikuiba, sikuibia mtihani, nilimtegemea sana Mungu na nilisoma kwa bidii… sio kwamba kufaulu ni juhudi zangu mimi, kuna watu wengi waliojitolea na walikuwa na dhamira ya kufaulu na walimu waliwategemea,” anasema msichana huyo aliyehitimu katika shule hiyo inayoongozwa na watawa wa Kanisa Katoliki.


“Haikuwa rahisi na wala siwezi kumkufuru Mungu kwamba ilikuwa migumu sana, ilikuwa kama mitihani mingine,” anasema msichana huyo aliyezaliwa Dar es Salaam Machi 30, 1989. Alisoma mchepuo wa Historia, Kiswahili na Fasihi (HKL), alisoma pia dini na kwa mtazamo wake, mitihani ya Kiswahili na Dini (Divinity) ilikuwa migumu zaidi ya Historia na Fasihi. Alitumia vizuri muda aliopewa kujiandaa na Mtihani wa Taifa na tangu walivyokwenda shule Januari 3 mwaka huu, hakuna mwalimu aliyeingia darasani kuwafundisha, walikuwa wakijisomea baada ya kumaliza ‘topics’ za darasani. “Kuna watu wanakesha, it happens (huwa inatokea), analala saa saba usiku, anaamka saa 10 usiku,” anasema na kubainisha kwamba yeye hajawahi ‘kukesha’.

Anasema alikuwa anasoma kuanzia saa moja usiku hadi saa nne na baada ya hapo aliacha kusoma na kuandaa sare kwa ajili ya kesho yake. Baada ya maandalizi ya siku inayofuata, alijikumbusha masomo yake kwa mara nyingine hadi saa sita ambapo alilala hadi asubuhi. “Ni kuijua tu akili yako, kama wewe ukisoma mchana unaelewa vizuri zaidi kuliko usiku, inabidi usome sana mchana na usiku unalala, kama unaelewa sana usiku, pumzika mchana kisha soma usiku. “Usisome kwa sababu fulani anasoma, soma kwa sababu unataka kuelewa, cha msingi ni kuitambua akili yako,” anasema.

Tangu ameanza kusoma darasa la kwanza, hajawahi kuwa namba moja darasani na hakutarajia kufaulu kwa kiwango alichofikia kitaifa. Anasema hakudhamiria kuwa miongoni mwa wanafunzi bora kitaifa kwani lengo lake lilikuwa ni kufaulu kwa kiwango cha daraja la kwanza kwa pointi zozote. Amepata daraja la kwanza pointi tatu. Ana alama ya ufaulu ya A katika Kiswahili, A katika Fasihi, A katika somo la Dini, na B katika Historia. Ni miongoni mwa wanafunzi 35 waliopata daraja la kwanza Shule ya Kibosho, saba wamepata daraja la pili, na watano wamepata daraja la tatu.

Ana malengo katika maisha yake na anatambua kuwa mchango wa wazazi wake ikiwamo nia na dhamira ya kumwezesha asome kidato cha tano na sita, vimemsaidia kupata sifa si tu kwa ndugu, jamaa, na marafiki bali Tanzania nzima. “Kingine ambacho kimenisaidia sana ni kupitia ‘past papers’ (mitihani iliyopita) na kusoma maswali kwa uangalifu… mimi nilikuwa nimezoea kufanya mitihani, nimefanya ‘a lot of papers’ (mitihani mingi),” anasema. Aliweka dhamira ya kufaulu mtihani wa kidato cha sita kwa kuwa alikuwa na mtazamo kwamba kufeli mtihani huo ni kupoteza mwelekeo wa maisha na fursa ya kuishi maisha mazuri.

“Kuna percentage (asilimia) kubwa sana ya kufaulu kama wewe mwenyewe utaijua akili yako ipo vipi,” anasema msichana huyo aliyewahi kusoma masomo ya ziada mara moja tu kwa wiki mbili. Ni mtoto wa kwanza kwa Dominic Benard na Joyce Dominic. Ana wadogo zake wawili, Happy ambaye anasoma Shule ya Sekondari ya Mtakatifu Joseph Ngarenaro iliyopo Arusha na Justine anayesoma katika Shule ya Sekondari ya Mtakatifu Anthony, Mbagala, Dar es Salaam.

“Sijui kama watakaonifuata wataiga mfano wangu, unajua kila mtu na future (maisha yake ya baadaye) yake,” anasema msichana huyo aliyependa kusoma masomo ya biashara kidato cha kwanza hadi cha nne na hakupenda masomo ya sayansi. Anawashukuru wazazi wake kwa kumpa nafasi ya kusoma kidato cha tano na sita na kumpa moyo. Anasema kwa namna alivyofeli kidato cha nne ingekuwa ni wazazi wengine isingekuwa rahisi kumpa nafasi ya kuendelea kusoma.

Baba mzazi wa Agnes ni mjasiriamali, anauza magazeti, vitabu na majarida katika barabara ya Samora jijini Dar es Salaam, mama Agnes pia anafanya biashara. Kwa kuwa Agnes alidhamiria kufaulu, ilimbidi pia asome vitu vingi kadri alivyoweza ili kujiongezea ufahamu zaidi wa yale waliyokuwa wakifundishwa darasani na anatoa changamoto kwa walimu kuwazoesha wanafunzi kufanya mitihani ili wajiamini. “Ujiamini wewe mwenyewe kwanza, ujiamini kwamba mimi nimesoma na ninaenda kufanya mtihani, uwe na hicho kitu kinasaidia,” anasema msichana huyo.

“Usitegemee vitu vya darasani tu, tafuta ‘other resources’ (vyanzo vingine zaidi ya vya darasani),” anasema msichana huyo aliyedhamiria kusoma sheria kuanzia mwaka huu wa masomo ya elimu ya juu. Kuhusu mtazamo wake kwenye masomo wakati akiwa kidato cha tano na sita, Agnes anasema umemwezesha kujiwekea historia ya maisha yake na kuipa sifa familia iliyosikitishwa na matokeo yake ya Mtihani wa Taifa wa Kidato cha Nne. Alihitimu kidato cha nne mwaka 2006 katika Shule ya Mtakatifu Anthony, Dar es Salaam, akapata daraja la 3 pointi 24.

Anasema baba yake alikasirika lakini mama yake na bibi yake mzaa mama aliyemtaja kwa jina moja la Matilda, walimfariji na kumpa moyo. Kwa mujibu wa msichana huyo, mama yake alimweleza kwamba hata angepata daraja la pili katika matokeo ya kidato cha sita, lingekuwa jambo zuri kwa kuwa matokeo hayo yangemsaidia apate chuo ambacho kingemsaidia awe na maisha mazuri baadaye. Anasema kwa namna alivyosoma kidato cha tano na sita na alivyofanya Mtihani wa Taifa, alifahamu kwamba hata kama angefeli asingekosa daraja la tatu.

Licha ya kuwa na uhakika huo, aliogopa kwenda kuangalia matokeo kwa kuwa alikumbuka namna alivyoumia wakati alipokwenda kuangalia matokeo ya kidato cha nne. “Form four’ (kidato cha nne) nilikwenda kuangalia mwenyewe na nilifeli vibaya sana,” anasema msichana huyo na kubainisha kwamba, miongoni mwa mambo yaliyosababisha afeli ni kutumia muda mrefu kuangalia sinema nyumbani. Anapenda uigizaji wa Michael Scolfild na kwa sasa anafuatilia mfululizo wa sinema za Prison Break.

Anaamini kwamba amefaulu sana masomo aliyoyaona ni magumu kwa kuwa anaamini mtihani ukiwa mgumu, mtahiniwa hulazimika kutumia uwezo wa ziada wa kufikiri ili kujibu maswali, na anahisi huenda ugumu wa mtihani huo ndio ulimsaidia. Anasema mwanafunzi anapaswa kufahamu ni mazingira gani akisoma atafaulu vizuri, mtazamo huo umemsaidia kwa kuwa alitambua kuwa hakufanya vizuri kidato cha nne kwa kuwa hakusoma shule ya bweni. Alisoma St Anthony kuanzia mwaka 2003 baada ya kuhitimu elimu ya msingi katika Shule ya Msingi Chang’ombe iliyopo Temeke, Dar es Salaam.

Anaamini kwamba asingesoma katika shule ya bweni asingefaulu vizuri kwa sababu kusoma huko kulimsaidia kujitambua vizuri kwa kuwa suala la kwenda shule, kula, kulala, na kupata kila unachotaka havikuwapo. Anasema, alivyokwenda shule ya bweni maisha yalikuwa magumu kwake, hakuwaona wazazi kama alivyokuwa amezoea kuwa nao, na hakuweza pia kuwasiliana nao hata kwa simu. “Hayo maisha ya ‘mshike mshike’ ndiyo yamenisaidia kusoma vizuri zaidi,” anasema na kueleza kuwa yeye alipokuwa shule ya bweni alikumbuka nyumbani lakini alijua kukumbuka nyumbani hakumpi msaada.

“You don’t go anywhere (huendi popote), yaani ukiingia ndiyo mpaka Juni, unajua watu wengine hawaamini… yaani yale ndiyo maisha yako ya miezi sita,” anasema msichana huyo anayependa kutazama kandanda. Agnes ambaye ni shabiki wa timu ya Manchester United ya Uingereza, alianza kuwapenda ‘Mashetani Wekundu’ kwa kuwa baba yake alikuwa akimnunulia zawadi timu hiyo ikishinda, mjasiriamali huyo sasa anaishabikia timu ya soka ya Liverpool ya huko huko Uingereza.

“Nampenda sana Christian Ronaldo, yaani akihama tena dah,” anasema msichana huyo. Kwa upande wa muziki anawazimia TID na Makamua, na nje ya Tanzania anampenda Akon. Anapenda kujifunza taaluma ya sheria, amewasilisha maombi katika Chuo Kikuu cha Dodoma (UDOM) na Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (UDSM). “Napenda kuona kila mtu anapata haki yake, hata mimi mwenyewe sipendi kunyanyaswa,” anasema na kuongeza kwamba, watu wengi wanasema masomo ya sheria ni magumu, anataka kusoma masomo hayo ili aone huo ugumu ni upi.

Anasema, miongoni mwa kazi ambazo hapendi kuzifanya ni kuwa mwalimu kwa kuwa, huwa anajisikia vibaya kuona mtu analia. “Nina moyo wa huruma, kuchapa kiboko mtu na kuona analia sipendi,” anasema. Anafuatilia maisha ya Dk. Asha-Rose Migiro, anapenda kuwa kama yeye na kufikia kiwango cha mafanikio alichofikia Mtanzania huyo ambaye sasa ni Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa (UN). Dk. Migiro pia aliwahi kuwa Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa kabla ya kuingia UN.

Anasema, akipata nafasi ya kuzungumza na Rais Jakaya Kikwete, atamshauri aimarishe mapambano dhidi ya rushwa ndogo kwa kuwa ni msingi wa kuimaliza rushwa kubwa. “Unajua huwezi ukafanya kitu cha ‘level’ kubwa wakati cha ‘level’ ndogo bado kinaendelea…mimi naamini kama ikiisha ya huku chini ya huko juu itaisha,” anasema. Msichana huyo anatumia muda mrefu kukaa nyumbani kutazama sinema na kusaidia kazi. Anafahamu kupika ugali, maharage, chapati, lakini anapenda kupika nyama. “Yaani nipike nyama nisionje hata vipande viwili jamani,” anasema. Anasema, ataolewa atakapokuwa tayari kuwa na familia na atapenda kupata watoto wawili.
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Busanda kukata mzizi wa fitina leo

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Rehema Mwinyi.

Uchanguzi mdogo wa ubunge katika Jimbo la Busanda, wilayani Geita, mkoani Mwanza, unafanyika leo baada ya hekaheka za kampeni za takribani siku 20 huku Tume ya Uchaguzi (NEC) ikiviasa vyama vinavyohusika kuheshimu kanuni na sheria kwa kuepuka vurugu. Mwenyekiti wa Tume, Jaji Lewis Makame, jana alisema kwamba NEC ilipata taarifa juu ya kuwapo mchezo mchafu wakati wa kampeni na alivitaka vyama vya siasa kutowashawishi wafuasi wao kwenda kinyume na taratibu na kusababisha vurugu katika uchaguzi wa leo.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari mjini hapa, Jaji Makame alisema, “tume imekuwa ikifuatilia kwa karibu sana wakati wote wa kampeni za uchaguzi na haikufurahishwa na matukio machache ya kuvuruga mchakato wa uchaguzi jimboni Busanda ambayo yameripotiwa katika vyombo vya habari.” Kwa mujibu wa Jaji Makame, matukio hayo ni pamoja na kutukanana, kukashifiana, mapigano, ununuzi wa shahada na utoaji wa chumvi kwa wapiga kura ambao aliutaja kwamba ni rushwa. Jaji Makame aliwataka wapiga kura kuhakikisha kwamba kila atakayeingia katika kituo cha kupigia kura anapewa karatasi iliyopigwa muhuri wa kituo nyuma yake na isiwe na alama zozote zisizohusika.

Wakati huo huo wiki hii HabariLeo Jumapili ilifuatilia habari zilizochapishwa katika magazeti yaliyo na waandishi katika kampeni hizo za Busanda na kubaini mgawanyiko mkubwa wa vyombo hivyo katika misingi ya vyama. Tathimini ya habari hizo ilionyesha kuwa vyombo hivyo vya habari viliripoti zaidi habari za kampeni za Chadema na CCM huku CUF na UDP ‘vikisuswa’ na kuonekana kama havipo katika kampeni hiyo.

Pia ilibainika kuwa viongozi wa kitaifa wa vyama hivyo vya Chadema na CCM na matukio yaliyohusu vyama hivyo viwili, yalipamba vichwa vya habari vya kurasa za mbele na picha na kuwafunika wagombea ambao ndio watakaopigiwa kura na leo na kutakiwa kuwajibika kwa wananchi. Kwa mujibu wa tathmini hiyo, licha ya habari za CCM na Chadema kuwa habari kubwa zilizotawala wiki hii, wagombea katika habari hizo walizibwa midomo kwa kutajwa majina bila kuwapo habari zao na pale walipopewa nafasi, walipewa aya zisizozidi mbili katika habari ambazo zingine zilifikia ukubwa wa aya zaidi ya 15.

Mmoja wa maofisa wa kitaifa wa CUF, Mbarara Maharagande, alipozungumza na HabariLeo Jumapili kuhusu mwenendo huo wa vyombo vya habari alisema chama hicho kimeliona na baada ya uchaguzi kitatoa tamko. Naye Mwenyekiti wa UDP, John Cheyo ambaye alikuwa Afrika Kusini, alisema kampeni za chama hicho hazikuonekana kuwa habari kwa kuwa hazikuwa na matusi na vurugu.

“Ni bahati mbaya sana tumerithi vyombo vya habari vya aina hii, tukielezea sera na amani si habari lakini matusi na vurugu kwao ndio habari,” alisema Cheyo. Katika uchaguzi huo ambao idadi ya wapiga kura waliojiandikisha ni 135, 168 na vituo vya kupigia kura ni 380, Msimamizi wa Uchaguzi, Dani Mollel alisema kuwa wamejiandaa vyema kuhakikisha kwamba unakwenda kama ulivyopangwa. Gazeti hili lilishuhudia magari yaliyokuwa yakipakia vifaa mbalimbali kutoka ofisi ya Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Geita, kwa ajili ya kuvisambaza kwenda katika maeneo ya uchaguzi.

Hata hivyo mwenendo wa kampeni unaonyesha kuwa wakati vyama vinavyoshiriki uchaguzi huo ni vinne, lakini CCM na Chadema ndivyo ambavyo vimekuwa vikiteka mijadala ya kisiasa na kuonyesha mwelekeo kwamba kimojawapo kitaibuka mshindi. Akizungumza na gazeti hili, mgombea wa CCM, Lolesia Bukwimba (38) alisema ana uhakika wa ushindi na kwamba atahakikisha anaendeleza shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo kama alivyoahidi kwa kuzingatia ilani ya uchaguzi ya chama hicho ya mwaka 2005. Hata hivyo, alikiri kwamba katika uchaguzi lolote laweza kutokea na akasema yuko tayari kupokea matokeo yoyote.

Alisema ikitokea akashindwa, ataendelea kuwa mwanachama wa kawaida na kujishughulisha na shughuli mbalimbali, ikiwa ni pamoja na kukijenga chama katika jimbo hilo. Naye mgombea wa CUF, Oscar Ndalahwa (52) alisema yuko tayari kwa matokeo yoyote ikizingatiwa kwamba yeye ni mwanamichezo anayeamini kwamba katika ushindani wowote lazima pawepo mshindi na atakayeshindwa. Kwa mujibu wa Ndalahwa, yeye ni Mwenyekiti wa Timu ya Mpira wa miguu wa Kijiji cha Nyarugusu ambayo imeifikisha timu hiyo katika Ligi Daraja la III ngazi ya mkoa.

Kwa upande wa Chama cha United Democratic (UDP), mgombea wake, Beatrice Lubambe ambaye ni mfanyabiashara, pia alisema yuko tayari kukubaliana na matokeo iwapo hapatakuwapo aina yoyote ya mizengwe katika uchaguzi. Ingawa gazeti hili halikumpata mgombea wa Chadema, Finias Magesa (52) kuzungumza naye moja kwa moja kuhusu msimamo wake, lakini kupitia majukwaa ya mikutano ya hadhara, alisema anajiamini na atakapochaguliwa atahakikisha kwamba anatumia fedha zake kuleta maendeleo ikiwemo kusomesha yatima.

Kuhusu mjadala juu ya nani atashinda katika uchaguzi huo, Chadema kimekuwa kikitajwa kutokana na vigezo vya namna ambavyo chama hicho kimekuwa kikiendesha kampeni zake na kuvuta hadhara hususan ya vijana na wakazi wa maeneo ya mjini. Ujio wa helikopta sambamba na ushawishi wa majukwaani na hata nje ya majukwaa unaofanywa na Chadema chenye vijana wengi, ni miongoni mwa hoja ambazo zinatumiwa kubashiri kwamba mgombea wake, Magesa atashinda.

Ingawa kumekuwapo na madai kwamba Chadema kinashabikiwa zaidi mijini na kwamba mashabiki wake wengi siyo wapiga kura, lakini Ofisa Habari wa chama hicho, David Kafulila aliliambia gazeti hili kwamba kimejiweka sawa hadi ngazi ya kituo “Sisi tunaongoza kwa kufanya kampeni ya kisayansi. CCM wao wanajivunia viongozi wa ngazi ya kijiji. Chadema tuna timu hadi ngazi ya kituo; tunafahamu ni nani atampigia Chadema na ni nani atampigia CCM,” alisema Kafulila na kusema tathmini waliyofanya, inaonyesha watashinda kwa asilimia 78. Kwa upande wa CCM ambacho mgombea wake ni Lolesia Bukwimba, kimekuwa kikitajwa na mashabiki wake kwamba kitashinda kutokana na madai kwamba kina wafuasi wengi vijijini ambao asilimia kubwa ni wapiga kura.

Wachambuzi wengine wanaoiunga mkono CCM, akiwemo Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho, George Mkuchika wanasema hisia kwamba Chadema itashinda inatokana na tathmini ambayo imekuwa ikifanyika kutokana na taarifa za baadhi ya vyombo vya habari. “Vipo vyombo vya habari ambavyo vimedhamiria kuibomoa CCM. Wana CCM wafahamu kwamba vipo vyombo vitasema wana CCM wanaiba kura. Wanabusanda wategemee ushindi mkubwa,” alisema Mkuchika hivi karibuni. Katika kuonyesha namna ambavyo CCM kimeweka msingi katika ngazi ya kijiji jimboni Busanda, Mkuchika alisema walikuwa na timu sita za kampeni zilizohakikisha kwamba zinazungukia vijiji vyote 70 vya jimbo hilo.
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feza students on study tour to TSN

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Rehema Mwinyi.

Feza Secondary school yesterday visited the Tanzania Standard Newspaper (TSN) offices, the publishers of Daily News, Sunday News, Habari Leo and Habari Leo Jumapili for a Form Four study tour.

The tour was organized by TSN as a program for the top ten schools in Dar es Salaam, a vision aimed at encouraging students to look at Journalism as a field to pursue and English as the medium of communication. Feza High School is ranked first in this year’s top ten schools in Dar es Salaam followed by Barbro Johansson High School, Shabaan Robert, Kunduchi girls, Almuntazir Islamic School, Saint Anthony, Airwing High, Mbezi beach, Ubungo Islamic and Loyola High School than came in last.

The students got the opportunity to see how planning of a publication is done, designing the layout of the publication, formatting of texts and graphics, to mention a few.
Speaking to the teacher who accompanied the students, Mr Bonnie Agea said that the students learned a lot from such tours as they get to see what they learn in class assomething that can be done, in the real world.

“Daily News is a well established newspaper, this is why this opportunity is a great honour for us and I am sure my students have got a glimpse on how this industry works,” he added.
Dennis Msemwa, one of the students present said that the tour was interesting and that other media houses should follow what TSN is doing in encouraging the youth to gain interest in this field. “Although I do not want to pursue journalism, I do think it is an important instrument for the public. I want to become a Graphic Designer because one gets to be creative at all times, its exciting!” he exclaime
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Dar set to ‘import’ its rhinos back from SA

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Rehema Mwinyi.

The process to ‘import’ back Tanzanian Rhinoceroses that were ‘exported’ to South Africa decades ago have once again resumed, but may take till December to be thoroughly accomplished. The Director of Wildlife, Mr Erasmus Tarimo, has said negotiations with the South African government were in the final stages, but the dealings had to be temporarily stalled following the recently held general elections in that country.

“There are still other factors that need to be taken into consideration, including costs of bringing the animals to Tanzania. I think the rhinos won’t be coming until at the end of this year,” said Mr Tarimo when speaking to the 'Sunday News'. It was previously expected that the first batch of five rhinoceroses that were ‘deported’ to South Africa in the eighties would be brought back into the country in June, this year.

Tanzania has been negotiating to bring back its rhinos reportedly taken to South Africa, in the eighties, in order to save the endangered ferocious mammals from poacher who targeted the species' horns. Mr Benard Murunya, the acting conservator of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority said that, while it had proved to be too expensive to bring back all the five rhinos at the same time, the country was prepared to fly back the animals on installments as freight costs permitted. The first Rhino therefore was expected to be flown back next month, according to Mr Murunya.

Experts estimate that it can cost at least US $100,000 to transport one rhino from South Africa to (possibly) Kilimanjaro International Airport. “There is another country which promised to assist Tanzania by meeting the cost of bringing back our rhinos from South Africa. At the moment, we can not disclose the name of the country yet,” Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Ezekiel Maige, said when he visited the Northern Zone Tourism Circuit recently.

Neither the conservator nor the Minister was in position to tell in which park the rhinos would be relocated once brought back, but reliable reports indicate that the animals had previously been taken from the Ngorongoro eco-system. Last year, the United States government has expressed interest to help Tanzania bring back the pack of rhinoceroses that had been taken to a South African animal sanctuary some years ago. This was said by the then Secretary of the American Department of Interior, Mr Dirk Kempthorne, who had represented the immediate former US President George Bush, at the Leon Sullivan Summit event in Arusha in June 2008.

Mr Kempthorne said this at the Ngorongoro area when he and other Summit delegates toured the conservation area, as part of the Sullivan Summit programme. He was responding to a question from the Director of Wildlife, Erasmus Tarimo, regarding the rare species of rhinoceroses that were reportedly been taken to South Africa for ‘safe-keeping’ and which Tanzania was now struggling to bring them back. Tanzania has been negotiating with the South African Government on how the animals could be brought back, in order to increase the number of rhinos in the national parks and game reserves.

Mr Tarimo admitted that the only problem so far was how to fly back animals, as each animal needed its own cargo plane. Currently, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has a total of 24 rhinos, residing in the crater equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to monitor and protect them from possible poachers who could be hunting them for their horns. In Asia, rhino horns are believed to have medicinal values, but elsewhere the horns are used to make varieties of expensive artifacts.

The rhinoceros consist of five species of odd-toed ungulates in the Rhinocerotidae family. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia. Three of the five species (Javan, Sumatran and Black Rhinoceros) are said to be critically endangered. The Indian Rhino is also on the verge of extinction, with less than 2,700 individuals left on earth, while the White Rhino is registered as Vulnerable, with roughly 14,500 remaining in the wild. The number of Black Rhinos had reportedly declined by 96 per cent worldwide between 1970 and 1992.

In 1980s, dedicated conservationists and wildlife policy advocates throughout Africa realised that a long-term strategy had to be developed, in order to save the African Black Rhino from complete extinction. By then there were less than 100 rhinos in Tanzania, in very widely dispersed small population groups. There were even fewer in Kenya, as well as most of Central Africa. There used to be 20,000 black rhinos as recently as in the 1960s in Tanzania alone, but poaching for the valued rhino horn and overgrazing of habitat shrunk the area and increased human population adversely affected the wildlife population.

To address the shrinking rhino populations, Tanzania, with the help of other African Parks, governments and conservationists, hatched a protected breeding programme that would boost the black rhino numbers. The project resulted into Mkomazi Game Reserve Rhino Sanctuary, occupying 43 square miles of the total 2,200 square miles of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, in Kilimanjaro region. The sanctuary has guards patrolling the electrified, alarmed fence around it.
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Guantanamo yamkuna kichwa Obama

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Rehema Mwinyi.


Rais Barack Obama anasema Marekani itatafuta njia muafaka za kuwadhibiti wafungwa hatari ambao wamezuiliwa kwenye kambi ya Guantanamo huku akisisitiza kwamba kuwepo kwa gereza hilo ni hatua isiyo na mwelekeo.

Lakini alikiri kwamba baadhi ya wafungwa hao bado ni tishio kwa usalama wa Marekani.

Alipendekeza kwamba baadhi ya wafungwa hao wanaweza kuhamishiwa kwenye magereza ya Marekani katika mfumo mpya wa sheria ambao utaiwezesha Marekani kufunga kambi ya Guantanamo ifikapo mwaka 2010.

Lakini bunge la Marekani limepinga ombi la fedha la Rais Obama kugharamia kufungwa kwa kambi hiyo.

Baadhi ya wabunge walielezea mashaka yao kuhusu kupelekwa kwa wafungwa hao nchini Marekani.

Makamu wa rais wa zamani, Dick Cheney, alimjibu Rais Obama huku akitetea vikali mikakati ya usalama ya rais wa zamani George Bush.

Rais Obama alisema serikali yake itatathmini kila kesi ya wafungwa 240 ambao bado wamezuiliwa Guantanamo na kisha kuamua hatua gani watakayochukua.

Alisema baadhi yao watafikishwa mbele ya mahakama za kiraia za Marekani, wale ambao wamekiuka sheria za kivita watafikishwa mbele ya tume ya kijeshi, kuna wale ambao walikuwa wameachiliwa huru na mahakama halafu waliobaki huenda wakahamishwa hadi nchi nyingine.
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