'State-run cooperative societies will bolster cotton production'

Shinyanga Regional Cooperative Union (SHIRECU) has called on the government to establish public cooperative societies if production of cotton is to improve.

Speaking over the weekend SHIRECU General Manager, Joseph Mihangwa said that some cotton farmers have abandoned cotton production and shifted to other crops as a result of exploitation by private buyers.

Mihangwa said having in place state-run cooperative societies will improve cotton farming which is now facing a lot of challenges.

Mihangwa who was releasing reports of closing cotton buying season, said farmers need to have a reliable market for their cotton if the production of the crop is to improve.

The cotton buying season was opened on June 16, this year and closed on November 13.

Cotton farmers have been complaining about the price of cotton saying that 750/- per kilogram is peanuts compared to the labour and other expenses incurred to produce a kg of cotton.

Mihangwa said in this year’s buying season, SHIRECU collected 5.1million kilograms worth 3.8bn/- against the target of 7.5 million kilograms.

He said the target was not reached because cotton production has plummeted after some farmers switched to other crops owing to the low prices of cotton.

Mihangwa said cotton farmers are also confused about the right types of seeds to use hence decide to abandon the crop.

“Politics is killing cotton farming, and unless the government intervenes by investing in cooperative unions, production of the crop will worsen,” he said.

He said cotton production in Shinyanga, Simiyu and Geita regions which used to produce massively has also decreased.

“For instance, in this buying season we got less from the three giant producing regions, we instead bought cotton from Kishapu, Meatu, Bariadi and Maswa districts only. We got nothing from Bukombe and Mbogwe. This is dangerous,” he said.

He mentioned some of the challenges facing cotton production as low prices and the tendency of some cotton farmers to add water or sand to increase weight.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Seven people die and 14 injured in road accident

At least seven people have died and 14 seriously injured after a car they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned at the weekend.
The accident occurred at Magundi village, Mbungu division in Korogwe district in Tanga region.

According to our sources, the deceased and the casualties were taken to Magunga district hospital.

Tanga Regional Police Commander, Frasser Kashai confirmed the accident, saying it happened at 17:00 hours yesterday and involved a Mitsubishi Canter with registration no T 783 BLM. The vehicle was en route from Ambangulu ward to Korogwe town.

“We have not yet established the cause of the accident but we have arrested the driver and the owner of the vehicle as the traffic police continue to investigate the matter. The law will have to take its course,” said the police commander.

The driver has been identified as Ramadhan Omar (32), a resident of Korogwe and the owner of the vehicle in question is Haji Hamza (47).

The Regional Police Commander mentioned the deceased as Alli Juma (47), Kihiyo Rutha, Merina Kiteleko, Asha Mussa, Stella Charles (32), Mama Kivula and Jane Mbajo, all residents of Korogwe district.

In a related incident, at least 14 people including a public prosecutor lost their lives with 25 others injured in a road accident involving a Coaster minibus and a Scania lorry on Thursday last week.

Acting Tanga Region Police Commander, Juma Ndaki said the accident took place at Darajani area, Mkanyageni village in Muheza district.

According to the acting RPC, the minibus with registration number T 410 BJD which was en route from Tanga city to Lushoto was involved in a head on collision with a lorry with registration number T 645 ABJ which was coming from the opposite direction.

Ndaki said both drivers survived the accident but incurred minor injuries.

The acting RPC told reporters that the accident occurred after the lorry which was being driven by Benjamin Abed left its lane.

The minibus was being driven by Bakari Mussa. Drivers of both vehicles were injured in the accident.

The acting Regional Police Commander said the casualties and the 14 bodies of the deceased were taken to Muheza designated district hospital.

Doctor in-charge at the hospital, Peter Ng’wamkai confirmed to reporters that they had received the 14 bodies of the deceased.

He mentioned the deceased already identified as Mud Mohamedi, Zawadi Juma, Ahamed Shedoe, Adamu Shomari and Salimu Hassani and Athumani Masanja who was a public prosecutor.

The doctor called on the public to visit the hospital to help identify the remaining bodies preserved at the hospital’s mortuary.

Ng’wamkai also confirmed to have had received the casualties who have since been admitted.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Seven people die and 14 injured in road accident

At least seven people have died and 14 seriously injured after a car they were traveling in veered off the road and overturned at the weekend.
The accident occurred at Magundi village, Mbungu division in Korogwe district in Tanga region.

According to our sources, the deceased and the casualties were taken to Magunga district hospital.

Tanga Regional Police Commander, Frasser Kashai confirmed the accident, saying it happened at 17:00 hours yesterday and involved a Mitsubishi Canter with registration no T 783 BLM. The vehicle was en route from Ambangulu ward to Korogwe town.

“We have not yet established the cause of the accident but we have arrested the driver and the owner of the vehicle as the traffic police continue to investigate the matter. The law will have to take its course,” said the police commander.

The driver has been identified as Ramadhan Omar (32), a resident of Korogwe and the owner of the vehicle in question is Haji Hamza (47).

The Regional Police Commander mentioned the deceased as Alli Juma (47), Kihiyo Rutha, Merina Kiteleko, Asha Mussa, Stella Charles (32), Mama Kivula and Jane Mbajo, all residents of Korogwe district.

In a related incident, at least 14 people including a public prosecutor lost their lives with 25 others injured in a road accident involving a Coaster minibus and a Scania lorry on Thursday last week.

Acting Tanga Region Police Commander, Juma Ndaki said the accident took place at Darajani area, Mkanyageni village in Muheza district.

According to the acting RPC, the minibus with registration number T 410 BJD which was en route from Tanga city to Lushoto was involved in a head on collision with a lorry with registration number T 645 ABJ which was coming from the opposite direction.

Ndaki said both drivers survived the accident but incurred minor injuries.

The acting RPC told reporters that the accident occurred after the lorry which was being driven by Benjamin Abed left its lane.

The minibus was being driven by Bakari Mussa. Drivers of both vehicles were injured in the accident.

The acting Regional Police Commander said the casualties and the 14 bodies of the deceased were taken to Muheza designated district hospital.

Doctor in-charge at the hospital, Peter Ng’wamkai confirmed to reporters that they had received the 14 bodies of the deceased.

He mentioned the deceased already identified as Mud Mohamedi, Zawadi Juma, Ahamed Shedoe, Adamu Shomari and Salimu Hassani and Athumani Masanja who was a public prosecutor.

The doctor called on the public to visit the hospital to help identify the remaining bodies preserved at the hospital’s mortuary.

Ng’wamkai also confirmed to have had received the casualties who have since been admitted.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Mwanza business college campus to receive infrastructure funding

The government plans to solicit funds to improve infrastructures of the Mwanza campus of the College of Business Education.

Speaking over the weekend, deputy minister for Trade and Industries, Janet Mbene said the government will purchase state of the art teaching tools and construct workers’ houses at Kiseke on the outskirts of Mwanza.

Mbene who was gracing the 49th graduation for the college said the government would raise funds from various sources to put in place a modern library, workers offices, hostels and lecture halls on the 4.2 hectare land acquired by the campus.

Earlier, CBE Board Chairman Prof Mathew Luhanga revealed that the campus management bought the land at 243m/- and plans to construct buildings that will accommodate 10,000 students, a development that will benefit many youth with the increased enrollment.

“We have a dire need to move to Kiseke because we use a lot of money to rent lecture halls at Nyanza Building,” he noted.

“We don't have enough offices for our staff… we therefore ask for government financial support," Luhanga added noting that the campus has only 18 lecturers but needs 40.

Mbene urged the 1,165 graduants to use the lessons learnt to employ themselves and start their own businesses rather than waiting for employment from the government institutions and private companies.

The graduands were awarded certificates and diplomas in Business Management, Procurement and Supplies, Accountancy and Marketing.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tanzania, Finland sign mineral research MoU

Minerals and Energy Minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo

 Goverments of Tanzania and Finland on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct researches to identify availability of minerals in the Southern parts of the country.


Under the agreement between the Geological Survey of Tanzania and a Finland based Geological Survey agency, it is expected that the sector in the country will be improved for socio-economic development.

Giving remarks after signing the MoU in Dar es Salaam, Minerals and Energy Minister, Prof Sospeter Muhongo said the government has entered the agreement with the Finnish agency so that it can learn from Finland and improve the geological sector in the country.

He said Finland has a lot of experience in the mineral sector and it is an opportunity for local experts to learn from them.

According to him, the country is still short of power but the government is aiming to migrate from the use of hydroelectric power to the use of natural gas, solar power and bio-energy.

He called on investors to invest in the energy sector in the country, saying it still needs more power to speed up economic growth.

Prof Muhongo added that investments in power transmission and distribution are also open for investors.

Earlier on, Prime Minister of Finland, Jyrki Katainen said that relations between the two countries have been good since 1960’s.That is why investors from Finland are operating in various sectors in the country.

The Finnish Premier said research and the use of technology are important aspects of industrial development.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Plans for education for sustainable development in school curriculum

The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) is working to incorporate education for sustainable development in the education curriculum for schools.

The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) is working to incorporate education for sustainable development in the education curriculum for schools, it has been learnt.

A participant in the stakeholders meeting on education for sustainable development held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Aisha Ghuyiya from TIE, said it was working to slot in such education from primary schools to higher learning institutions.

She said if the education is included in the education curriculum children will be made aware of the importance of proper utilization of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

“The process is at a good stage and once completed will help in creating awareness   among members of the public,’ she said.

Ghuhiya advised   stakeholders to use the social media like community radios, television and newspapers to disseminate education to the public. These can now be accessed by most people in contrast with previous years, she said.

For his part, the coordinator of WWF Lake Victoria Catchment Environment Education Program (LCVEEP), Kelvin Robert, said concerted efforts are required to ensure that the society is fully mobilized to know the importance of utilizing the resources for sustainable development.

“It is broadly understood that today’s generation of young adults, more than any proceeding one, is more interconnected and communicative than before.

“This is particularly through the electronic and social media as well as face to face communication. So it is now time to use the youth to spread the education for sustainable development. This is because they are very capable of doing  so,”  Robert noted.

He said the WWF, through youth groups, has changed attitudes of members of the public in the Lake Victoria zone. They are now aware of proper utilization of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

They know how to preserve the environment after getting education for sustainable development, he added.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Mwanza councillors approve 88bn/- for 2014/2015 budget

Mwanza city

Councilors here have endorsed 88bn/- budget for 2014/2015, few days after they rejected the earlier one tabled by the Mwanza City Council demanding for amendment.

Last week, the Mwanza City Council presented 87.3 bn/- budget but it was rejected by the councilors, claiming that it does not reflect the actual demands of the people.

The councilors, both from the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi and the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo instead ordered the city fathers to amend the budget and bring back a realistic one.

The amended budget of 88bn/- was endorsed late Tuesday after a long and heated debate which lasted  four hours, and this was after the city fathers promised to improve it for the betterment of Mwanza residents.

 The issue the construction of a clinic at Utemini took a centre stage at the Full Council meeting chaired by the Deputy Mayor John Minja.

The councilors demanded explanation from the City officials on how the money disbursed by the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) to build the clinic was spent.

Councilor for Igoma Adam Chagulani said unless the councilors get satisfactory explanation on how the money was spent, they would not endorse the budget.

 Chagulani said it would be unfair to milk wananchi to contribute towards the construction of the clinic yet the money was allocated for the purpose. He said all those involved in misappropriating the money should be dealt with accordingly. 

 For his part, councilor for Mirongo Ward Daud Mkama called on city fathers to explain as to why 800m/- was spent without the blessing of the full Council.
Responding to queries raised by the councilors, the City Council Human Resource Officer,

Francis Mkabenga said the council took 850m/- from BOT’s disbursed money and used the same as a guarantor to secure 800m/- from CRDB. He said the money was meant to run the council which was cash strapped.

Mkabenga however, said that they later failed to pay back the money to the CRDB forcing the bank to deduct its money from the 3.1bn/- disbursed by the BOT.

The budget was endorsed after collection from internal revenues was raised to 10bn/- from 9bn/- which was rejected in the earlier proposed budget.

The councilors agreed that the increased amount of 1bn/- from the internal revenue be directed to improve education and health services.

They also challenged the city fathers to increase the scope of revenue collection in order to raise sources of income.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN