Dr Bilal in Stockholm

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Mama Asha Bilal, Waziri wa Mazingira Huvisa, wakimsikiliza Mkurugenzi wa Taasisi ya Mazingira ya Stockholm, John Kuylenstierna, wakati wakiwa katika semina ya kubadilishana uzoefu kati ya taasisi hiyo na Wizara ya Mazingira iliyo chini ya Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais. Semina hiyo ilifanyika jana septemba 27 katika ofisi za taasisi hizo zilizopo Stockholm nchini Sweden. Picha na Muhidin Sufiani-OMR

Panic as shilling hits lowest level

The shilling on Monday fell to the lowest level, exchanging at Sh102 to the dollar.
This plunged markets into uncertainty. As a result, it is now difficult for businesses to either predict or plan their activities.
“If you took your child for further education abroad, you don’t know how much you will pay in shillings. You cannot even plan how much you will save because you don’t know how much you will spend in a month because prices keep on changing,” said Ms Eunice Wamaitha, a commentator on monetary policy issues.


The situation shows that efforts by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to stabilise the exchange rate are yet to yield results.
Market players said CBK came into the market selling an unspecified amount of dollars but this has not brought respite in the fall. CBK sold the dollars to individual banks on the basis of their demand.
Since January, the Monetary Policy Committee and the CBK have made several material changes to the monetary policy mainly by increasing interest rates.


They hoped that holders of foreign exchange would be attracted by the high rates to release the dollars in the market.


The shilling has fallen by about 24 per cent since the beginning of the year, from Sh80.8 to the dollar on January 3 to Sh102 to the dollar on Monday.
The currency has lost 43 per cent of its value since March 4, 2007, when the current CBK governor, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, took over the reins of power.


With the government rolling out several infrastructure projects, including roads and expansion of the port and airports, there are fears that some of them may become more expensive to implement.


The free fall of the shilling is the latest sign of worsening macro-economic conditions. Inflation is currently at the rate of over 16 per cent.


In August, the poor in Nairobi were experiencing an inflation rate of 17.1 per cent, while the middle and upper classes were facing an inflation rate of 11.3 and 12.9 per cent respectively. Source: Daily Nation, Posted on September 26, 2011, Reported by Joseph Bonyo

Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai dies in Nairobi

Prof Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace laureate and conservation heroine, has died in Nairobi after a long battle with cancer.


The environmentalist and politician died at the Nairobi Hospital at around 10pm on Sunday (September 25,2011), according to officials at her Greenbelt Movement organisation. 
Prof Wangari Muta Maathai was born on 1 April 1940 in Ihithe village, Tetu division, Nyeri District in Kenya. She was an environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya.


In the 1970s, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. In 1984, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, and in 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for “her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”
Maathai was an elected member of Parliament and served as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in the government of President Mwai Kibaki between January 2003 and November 2005.

Over 20 injured after an oil tanker exploded in Busia, Kenya

A tanker in flames in Ugunja along Busia-Kisumu highway on August 25, 2010. File Photo/DAILY NATION

More than 20 people were injured on Tuesday evening after a fuel tanker burst into flames in Busia. The injured were siphoning fuel from the tanker which had overturned near Suwo River Bridge.

Busia police boss Erasthus Muthamia said most of the victims were rushed to Busia District Hospital with burns.

The incident happens barely a week after more than 100 people lost their lives at Sinai slums in Nairobi while scooping fuel from a Kenya Pipeline Corporation depot at Lunga Lunga terminal. Source: Daily Nation, Posted September 20,  2011/ Reported by PETER NG'ETICH/Nation

An unexploded grenade found near Kenyan PM's office

Police officers with sniffer dogs enter Prime Minister Raila Odinga's office September 20, 2011 as massive police operation was launched after an unexploded grenade was found nearby. Photo/WILLIAM OERI/DAILY NATION  

A massive police operation was launched on Tuesday after an unexploded grenade was found near Prime Minister Raila Odinga's office.

Police cordoned off the area and swept the Shell and BP House including the basement with the help of sniffer dogs. Mr Odinga and staff members were evacuated after the alarm was raised.

A plumber doing repairs on the drainage system of the building found the object, a hand grenade, in the rubble yard. The yard is at the rear entrance, southern side of the building and usually collects construction debris from the building.

Police deputy spokesman Charles Owino later told reporters that the object had been taken to the Defence headquarters for examination.

Mr Odinga's office on Harambee Avenue, is located across a busy street from that of President Kibaki. Source: Daily Nation/ Posted September 20, 2011/ Reported by Aggrey Mutambo

South Sudan delays membership in regional bloc

South Sudan's President Salvar Kiir greets his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete recently. File Photo/State House

South Sudan may not be joining the East African Community (EAC) anytime soon, it has now emerged.

The EAC leadership has been waiting for Africa’s newest country to re-apply to join the regional bloc after becoming independent on July 9 and even went an extra mile to put on hold Khartoum’s application pending Juba’s acceptance.

Even though Juba is eager to sign on, a string of challenges associated with the country’s infancy have overshadowed the process.

The country is struggling to improve its fledgling economy that relies heavily on imports from Uganda and Kenya, raising fears that it could turn into a dumping ground for products from the two countries once it joins the regional bloc.

“Our economy is still weak, and for the time being we don’t have products for export,” Mr Lual, the chairperson of the country’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs and International Relations committee, said.

“But countries like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are ahead of us. Their products will flood our market,” he said.

But the new government, challenged by institutionalised corruption and ethnic rivalries, is struggling to provide basic services to a people who have waited for so long for them and whose expectations exceed the ability of the government to deliver.

“As people of Africa — and we consider the people of EAC as our brothers in Africa — I believe any decision our government is going to take will put the priority on our people getting benefits,” he said. Source: Daily Nation, posted September 17, 2011/ Reported by MACHEL AMOS, Nation Correspondent in Juba

Rais Jakaya Kikwete afanya mabadiliko ya wakuu wa mikoa

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<>RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amefanya mabadiliko ya Wakuu wa Mikoa nchini. 

Katika mabadiliko hayo, amewateua Wakuu wa Mikoa wapya 15, kuwabadilisha vituo vya kazi Wakuu wa Mikoa watano na wengine saba wamestaafu kwa mujibu wa taratibu. Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Singida amebaki kwenye kituo chake cha kazi wakati Wakuu wa Mikoa wengine wanne watapangiwa kazi nyingine.

Aidha, Wakuu wa Mikoa mipya minne ya Simiyu, Geita, Katavi na Njombe itakayoundwa baada ya taratibu kukamilika watatangazwa baadaye.

Kwa mujibu wa mabadiliko hayo, Wakuu wa Wilaya 11 wamepandishwa Vyeo na kuwa Wakuu wa Mikoa kama ifuatavyo: Bw. John Gabriel Tupa ambaye anakuwa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mara; Bw. Saidi Thabit Mwambungu (Ruvuma); Bi. Chiku S. Gallawa (Tanga); Bw. Leonidas T. Gama (Kilimanjaro); Dk. Rehema Nchimbi (Dodoma); Bw. Elaston Mbwillo (Manyara); Kanali Fabian Massawe (Kagera); na Bibi. Fatma Abubakar Mwassa (Tabora). Wakuu wa Wilaya wengine walioteuliwa ni Bw. Ali Nassoro Rufunga, (Lindi); Eng. Ernest Welle Ndikillo, (Mwanza); na Bw. Magesa Stanslaus Mulongo Mkuu wa Mkoa (Arusha).

Walioteuliwa nje ya nafasi hizo ni Eng. Stella Manyanya (Rukwa); Bibi Mwantumu Mahiza, (Pwani); Bw. Joel Nkaya Bendera (Morogoro) na Bw. Ludovick Mwananzila (Shinyanga).

Waliobadilishwa vituo vya kazi ni Bw. Abbas Kandoro anayekwenda Mbeya akitokea Mwanza; Bw. Said Mecki Sadiki anayekwenda Dar es Salaam akitokea Lindi; Bibi Christine Ishengoma anayekwenda Iringa akitokea Ruvuma; Lt. Kanali Issa Machibya anayekwenda Kigoma akitokea Morogoro; na Kanali Joseph Simbakalia anayekwenda Mtwara akitokea Kigoma. Dk. Parseko Ole Kone ataendelea kuwa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Singida.

Waliostaafu ni Bw. Mohammed Babu, aliyekuwa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kagera; Bw. Isidore Shirima aliyekuwa Arusha; Kanali (mst.) Anatory Tarimo aliyekuwa Mtwara; Bw. John Mwakipesile, aliyekuwa Mbeya. Wengine ni Kanali Enos Mfuru aliyekuwa Mara; Brig. Jen. Dk. Johanes Balele aliyekuwa Shinyanga; na Meja Jen. Mst. Said S. Kalembo aliyekuwa Tanga.

Wakuu wa Mikoa wanne waliostaafu ambao watapangiwa vituo vingine vya kazi ni Bibi Amina Mrisho aliyekuwa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Pwani; Dk. James Msekela aliyekuwa Dodoma; Bw. Abeid Mwinyimusa aliyekuwa Tabora na Bw. Daniel Ole Njoolay aliyekuwa Rukwa.

Wakuu wote wa Mikoa waliopo sasa wameagizwa kuandaa Hati za Makabidhiano (Handing Over Notes) katika muda wa siku 14 kuanzia siku ya kuapishwa kwa Wakuu wapya wa Mikoa. Aidha Wakuu wa Wilaya ambao wamepandishwa vyeo kuwa Wakuu wa Mikoa nao wanapaswa kufanya hivyo hivyo kwa ajili ya Wakuu wa Wilaya watakaopangiwa vituo vitakavyokuwa vimeachwa wazi kutokana na uteuzi wao.

Wakuu wa Mikoa ile minne mipya na Wakuu wa Wilaya watakaoteuliwa hapo baadaye nao watatakiwa kuandaa Hati za Makabidhiano ndani ya siku 14 tangu kuapishwa.

Makabidhiano hayo lazima yahusishe pia kutembelea kwa pamoja baadhi ya maeneo na miradi ambayo ni muhimu kama sehemu ya makabidhiano yao.

Wakuu wote wa Mikoa walioteuliwa na Wakuu wa Mikoa minne mipya wakaoteuliwa pamoja na Wakuu wote wa Wilaya watakaoteuliwa baada ya zoezi kukamilika watatakiwa kuhudhuria mafunzo ya wiki tatu kwenye Chuo cha Serikali za Mitaa Hombolo, Dodoma kwa lengo la kuwajengea uwezo zaidi wa kiuongozi na kiutendaji.

Wakuu hao wapya wa mikoa wataapishwa siku ya Ijumaa, Septemba 16, 2011 saa 4.00 asubuhi kwenye viwanja vya Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam.

Wakuu hao wapya wa mikoa; vituo wanavyokwenda na vituo walivyotoka ni kama ifuatavyo:

Na.	JINA LA MKUU WA MKOA	KITUO AENDAKO	KITUO ATOKAKO
1.	Bw. Saidi Mecki Sadiki	DAR ES SALAAM	RC - Lindi
2.	Bw. John Gabriel Tupa	MARA	DC - Dodoma
3.	Bw. Saidi Thabit Mwambungu	RUVUMA	DC - Morogoro
4.	Kanali Joseph Simbakalia	MTWARA	RC Kigoma
5.	Bi. Chiku S. Gallawa	TANGA	DC - Temeke
6.	Bw. Abbas Kandoro	MBEYA	RC Mwanza
7.	Bw. Leonidas T. Gama	KILIMANJARO	DC – Ilala
8.	Dkt. Parseko Ole Kone	SINGIDA	RC Singida
9.	Eng. Stella Manyanya	RUKWA	Mbunge V/Maalum
10.	Bibi Christine Ishengoma	IRINGA	RC Ruvuma
11.	Dk. Rehema Nchimbi	DODOMA	DC - Newala
12.	Bw. Elaston John Mbwillo	MANYARA	DC – Mtwara
13.	Col. Fabian I. Massawe	KAGERA	DC - Karagwe
14.	Bibi. Mwantumu Mahiza	PWANI	Mbunge/NW Mstaafu
15.	Bibi. Fatma A. Mwassa	TABORA	DC - Mvomero
16.	Bw. Ali Nassoro Rufunga	LINDI	DC - Manyoni
17.	Eng. Ernest Welle Ndikillo	MWANZA	DC - Kilombero
18.	Lt. Col. Issa Machibya	KIGOMA	RC Morogoro
19.	Bw. Magesa S. Mulongo	ARUSHA	DC - Bagamoyo
20.	Bw. Joel Nkaya Bendera	MOROGORO	Mbunge/NW Mstaafu
21.	Bw. Ludovick Mwananzila	SHINYANGA	Mbunge/NW Mstaafu

IMETOLEWA NA:

OFISI YA WAZIRI MKUU,

S. L. P. 3021,

DAR ES SALAAM

JUMATANO, SEPTEMBA 14, 2011. 

Ajali ya moto kitongoji cha Sinai katika eneo la viwanda jijini Nairobi....

 

 Mmoja wa majeruhi akiwasili hospitali...photo/deccanchronicle.com

 Watu wakikimbia baada ya moto kulipuka..photo/dawn.com

 Majeruhi mwingine akifikishwa hospitali..photo/AP

 Vikosi vya zimamoto vikiendelea na kazi ya kuzima moto...Photo/carbonated.tv

Breaking news:---Over 100 dead in Nairobi slum fire

Nation reporters have counted 73 badly burnt bodies at the scene of a huge fire at a slum in Nairobi's industrial area.

Police sources say the toll of the dead is likely to breach 100 following fire triggered after a oil leaking from a pipeline spilled into the Sinai slum.

"We are putting the number of dead at over 100, we are waiting for body bags to put the victims into," said Thomas Atuti, area police commander.

The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) confirmed that 112 people were admitted there with third degree burns as of 1.30pm.

The Sinai slums sit on top of a pipeline that feeds a fuel depot off Lunga Lunga road in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.

"There had been a leak in the fuel pipeline earlier, and people were going to collect the fuel that was coming out," said Joseph Mwego, a resident.

"Then there was a loud bang, a big explosion, and smoke and fire burst up high."

NTV reporter Kaara Wainaina told Nation.co.ke that the fire covered a wide area in the slum. A detachment from the paramilitary General Service Unit (GSU) have cordoned off huge area affected by the fire and nearby roads have been closed to traffic.

Nearby buildings were evacuated and office workers asked to move away from the area.

Several ambulances were seen leaving the area ferrying away victims. They were taken to Mater Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Many residents were caught up in the blaze, and an AFP reporter at the scene counted scores of charred bodies around the fire.

"People were trying to scoop fuel from the pipeline," a Red Cross official told AFP by telephone, adding that the organisation had sent a team to the scene of the fire.

Firefighters sprayed chemical foam to try to contain the fire, while both police and GSU officers roped off the area and pushed people back from the area.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi later visited the scene.

In 2009, 122 people were killed after a fire erupted while they were drawing fuel from an overturned tanker in western Kenya.SOURCE: NATION MEDIA Posted  Monday, September 12  2011

Meli ya MV Spice Islander yazama

Meli ya MV Spice Islander iliyozama usiku wa kuamkia leo katika eneo la Nungwi kati ya visiwa vya Unguja na Pemba.  

Ikulu refutes WikiLeaks claims on JK

Dar es Salaam. State House has categorically refuted claims by leaked US embassy confidential diplomatic communication indicating that President Jakaya Kikwete accepted gifts from the owner of the Kempinski Hotel chain, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates.



The US confidential diplomatic communication alleges that, the hotel owner, Mr Ali Albwardy, flew President Kikwete to London when he was the minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for a “subsidised shopping expedition”.The communication further alleges that Mr Albwardy made a $1 million (about Sh1.5 billion) contribution to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).


This, however, the cable appreciates is a “legal contribution under current Tanzanian law”. In addition, so claim the leaks, the President authorised Albwardy to construct two new hotels on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and another on the Serengeti Plains, overlooking the main animal migration routes, purports the communication seen by The Citizen yesterday.


The confidential information was allegedly filed in 2006 by the then US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Michael Retzer, and was published at the weekend through WikiLeaks, a web-based organisation that has released in the Internet over 300,000 secret diplomatic files from US missions around the world.


WikiLeaks was founded by Australian national, Mr Julian Assange, at the end of 2010.


But the Director of State House Communication, Mr Salva Rweyemamu, yesterday denied the allegations, dismissing them as outright lies.


He also produced an e-mail message from a woman who is quoted by the former US ambassador denying to have told him so.The US diplomatic cable quoted the Kilimanjaro-Kempinski Hotel publicity director Lisa Pile as telling the ambassador that Albwardy had flown Mr Kikwete to London for a subsidised shopping.


Among other things, on the trip Mr Albwardy, claims the cable, bought Kikwete Saville Row suits.


The cable further claims Ms Pile had it that Mr Albwardy was about to receive the rights to construct two new hotels on the Mainland: one on the edge of Ngorongoro Crater and another on the Serengeti Plains overlooking the main animal migration routes.


Mr Rweyemamu, however, said the cable, “is full of lies and innuendoes seeking to tarnish the good image and name of the President. It is unfortunate and highly disappointing that an ambassador worth his name could engage in this kind of lazy gossip.”


He categorically stated that there has never been a time when the President received gifts from Mr Albwardy.


“This is definitely an outrageous claim and if there is evidence to the contrary, we would like to challenge Mr Albwardy to produce it for the public to satisfy itself that what he is claiming are mere lies,” he said.


He added that there has never been a time, ever, when President Kikwete, during his time as Foreign Minister or currently as President, was flown by anybody to London on a subsidised shopping trip to buy suits.


It said all his travels to London or any other places in the world have been duty assignments paid for by the government of Tanzania, adding: “The matter of him being flown to London for subsidised shopping of five suits is outrageous.”


According to Mr Rweyemamu, President Kikwete was neither responsible for raising, nor receiving, campaign funds for CCM during the 2005 General Election.


“He was simply the flag bearer of the party. However, he is privy to information that Kempinski Kilimanjaro Hotel was never asked nor contributed a single cent towards CCM campaigns,” noted Mr Rweyemamu.


He added: “Therefore, the allegations that Kempinski Kilimanjaro Hotel contributed one million ($1,000,000) toward CCM campaign sare baseless and unfounded.”
On the reported authorisation to construct hotels on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains, the State House Communications director said the government permission for the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotels and the subsequent permission to build two new hotels - one on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater and another on the Serengeti plains overlooking the main animal migration routes were issued by the third phase Tanzanian government and not by Mr Kikwete’s administration.


It said President Kikwete declined to grant permission to Kempinski Hotels to build on the Ngorongoro Crater on the strength of environmental concerns.


“How come then that the President who has been offered so many favours such as suits and election money, took this principled position? This therefore testifies to the fact that, claims that the President has received favours bear malicious intentions from the authors,” he said.


“The President is a modest man. He wears very simple suits. And the government has an adequate clothing budget for the minister for Foreign Affairs and the President,” Mr Rweyemamu told a news conference.


He said after the cable was leaked, the State House contacted Ms Pile in Australia by email and she expressed concern over the cable saying: “It was absolutely not true, a complete load of rubbish and an absolute defamation of my personal character.”


Mr Rweyemamu quoted the email sent by Ms Pile as saying: “I believe I am owed an apology for this misrepresentation of both my personal name and my professionalism.”


Asked whether there was an intention to protest to the American embassy, Mr Rweyemamu said the government has high respect for Ambassador Reitzer, adding that relevant measures would be taken by the relevant institutions.


The assistant press secretary to the President, Ms Premmy Kibanga, said the cables were being filed without giving persons accused of wrongdoing the right of reply.


However, the Kempinski management has since left with the Kilimanjaro Hotel now trading as Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam .

The hotel facility recently raised questions in the concluded Parliament session after it emerged that the government was in talks with the UAE investor to hand over the building housing the Tanzania Court of Appeal for its expansion. Source:The Citizen, Monday, 05 September 2011

Dog at peak of K’manjaro baffles many

A dog has been found alive at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain that towers over 5,800 metres above sea level. The spotting of the dog on top of Africa’s rooftop last week has baffled animal scientists, who have raised more questions than answers, including how the animal reached there and how it has been surviving.
 The weather at the top of the mountain is very hostile with freezing temperatures and desert-like stony plains. Four tourists who climbed the mountain courtesy of Moshi-based Ahsante Tours spotted the dog at Uhuru peak.


The area situated between 5,730 and 5,895 metres above sea level measures between minus 4 and 15 degrees centigrade. One of the tourists, Antoine le Galloudec, who was accompanied by his three colleagues Kristina Meese, Irina Manoliv and Monique Indino, took a picture of the dog using his mobile phone.


In an email to this newspaper yesterday, Galloudec said he spotted the dog when he went for a call of nature. “As I was responding to the call of nature, I saw the dog lying one metre away from where I stood on a rock,” he said. He added that he was puzzled and later took his phone and photographed the dog.


The marketing officer for Ahsante Tours, Mr Abel Edward, told The Citizen that a dog was spotted at Baranco Camp (3,960 metres above sea level) on the mountain 10 years ago.“When the tourists showed us the picture of the dog we could not believe our eyes. How it survived in such freezing conditions and what it ate during that time remained a mystery to us,” said Mr Edward.


A veterinarian, Dr Wilfred Marealle, said it was common for a dog to live in cold weather but it was uncommon for the animal to climb to the top of such a mountain.


“A dog climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro is not something common,” said Dr Marealle, cautioning people to stay away from it in case the animal turned out to be a rabid dog. The Tanzania National Parks public relations manager, Mr Paschal Shelutete, said he would not believe the incident unless he saw pictures of the dog. Reported by Daniel Mjema/ Source:The Citizen Wednesday, 31 August 2011