Tanzania

Great is a woman

Kamala — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:21:09 +0200

It was in July when my wife had to give birth of a new creature, a new human being from her own womb. I had to accompany her to a far hospital from our home where I was with her for the all 24hrs when she was in the pains of becoming a parent

In the next morning, I heard a child crying from a labor ward, later nurses came out congratulating me for a new baby boy! I never believed what was going on but that was a fact, I later saw my wife coming my way, she is now in a new look, she has already forgotten all pains she endured, now she is happy, she has received a child, she has added a number of people in this world.

So great is a women. God's ability to create is witnessed through a woman body, woman has a body that creates and feeds other bodies! How good. So I became a father just through a woman body, in fact, great is a woman.

Where should citizens go for safety?

Kamala — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:42:27 +0200

Army offficers from the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) are accused of hitting to death a son of the late chief, Fundikira. According to the local media, three TPDF officers punched Swetu Fundikira to death after he overtook the car they were driving, and he refused to give them the right of way.

In Tanzania now it has been the song of a day because armed forces who have the responsibility of protecting citizens, are instead injuring and even killing them regularly. Other brutal forces include the Police Force, Auxiliary Police and security guards.

Various cases are reported from these fellows who are recruited specifically for maintaining peace, ensuring the security of people and their property, and protecting national boundaries.

The question here, is where should Tanzanians go, who should they rely upon for their safety if the concerned bodies are turning into hostiles and killers of good citizens?

Young graduates are always looking for new jobs, further studies.

Kamala — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:39:56 +0200

What a kind of life do young people in Tanzania have -- and maybe in East Africa if not Africa at large? Maybe Tanzanian youth a symbolises all of them, in life styles and systems. Uneducated young people are looking for opportunities to study, and those who totally fail to get the chance for schooling are sick and worried about why they lacked a golden chance to go for further studies.

The educated at certificate or diploma level want to pursue a degree, worried and always crying for a chance. The degree graduates are looking for a job that pays well, while those who are already working are not satisfied with the work they do or the little payment they receive monthly, so they are working while hoping for a new job. Those who have already changed jobs, are now thinking of going for postgraduate studies!

We are brought up by greedy parents who always tell us that we have to study hard for a better paying job; others tells us that there is no security in this world, "so study hard so that you can get a safe, secure job".

The tediousness facing young workers from the brutal bosses in offices today is also worrying them and life becomes tough. They wish to study more so that they can also become brutal bosses. New young and educated graduates face harder situations than expected when told to work under the supervision of less-educated but more experienced old workers.

Most youth have no choice over what to study -- it is always dictated to them by their parents, who go for a certain course because that career pays well. Some parents will tell their children to study accounts-related courses because when one is in the accounts office he/she always touches money and plays with it!

This leads to miserable living since one is doing the job he/she doesn’t like or neglects inborn talents or the vocation they were born to follow, in order to start chasing money. But no amount of money is ever enough, so they end up in corrupt behaviour, overeating, laziness and so on.

Look at how our politicians, CEOs and even religious leaders are very big and fat because of overeating, for our life has been turned into eat, drink and be merry. Young people are trying to make themselves fit for any job by studying more than one profession. You will find one with a diploma in teaching, a first degree in economics and a master’s degree in environmental studies, all trying to make him or herself fit for any advertised vacancies.

That’s why today everything seems not to go well because we have employees who are not willing to do what they do -- no life purpose, but working for high pay. They wish to own a beautiful car with little or no travel, a big house with a very small family to live in it. And with all these dramas still life is miserable and their is no quality in the work they do.

However, the situations seem to have aggravated by employers, who lo longer offer long work contracts. In the past, when a graduate got into an office, he or she was assured of working all his/her life until he decided otherwise, or until reaching retirement age. They were also assured of fringe benefits in terms of insurance or some social security. But nowadays, things are different. You have to work on short renewable (though this is not certain) contracts so that when you are old and can't cope with new technologies, you perish, giving way to other workers.

This reminds me of what the American writer and businessman Robert Kiyosaki calls a rat race. In his book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Kiyosaki warns against studying for a well paying job. He says; “going to school, getting good grades, no longer ensures success.” He encourages self employment by owning a corporation or living on natural talents.

Hence, my advice to young graduates in Tanzania is not to change jobs, but either to be satisfied with their jobs by loving them and trying to love their unlovable brutal bosses, or to follow Kiyosaki’s advice on how to retire young, retire rich. But don't wander between two jobs.

Kamala Lutatinisibwa
jlkamala@yahoo.com

TaTEDO installs Energy Platform in Rukwa Region

edithm — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:06:51 +0200

The Tanzanian development NGO TaTEDO implemented a number of projects in Sumbawanga District, Rukwa region, over the two weeks from from 27th November to 16th December 2009. This included the installation of a Multifunctional Platform/ Energy Service Platform (MFP/ ESP) at Laela Village, located at Laela ward in Sumbawanga District Council. This represents the continuation of a series of installation of MFPs for better access to energy and rural electrification systems in Arumeru, Monduli and Kinondoni Districts.

The installed MFP is the combination of a Chinese diesel engine Fiadong type with 26HP, 20Kw alternator, milling machine and a battery charger (booster) machine.

Laela is a village along Tunduma- Sumbawanga main road. Among the businesses in Laela are are beauty salons, barbershops, video show centres, restaurants, retail shops and welding workshops. All of these businesses need better energy services in order for them to prosper. But the village is not connected to the national electricity grid, and all business centres and some households use generators as their source of electricity.

Candles, car batteries or wicked lamps are also used as alternative sources of light. These services are obtained at the village or nearby towns of Tunduma and Sumbawanga, but at a very high cost. Currently a litre of kerosene is sold at Tshs. 1050 at Laela. Villagers have always travelled up to 95km to charge batteries at a cost of Tshs 5000/. According to the villagers, charging services are not consistent due to power rations at Sumbawanga, and the type of charging machines used, most of which are locally made.

Installation of this ESP is the result of major efforts made by TaTEDO, the district energy team and the village energy team in finding tangible and stable solutions towards energy problems at Laela.

Because of the problems entrepreneurs faced in accessing better energy services and opportunities in the village, some formed a group named Juhudi Electrical Dealers. The members are Mr. Alfred Msumeno, Mohamed Mohamoud, and Fred and Abel Kauzeni.

This group of entrepreneurs asked for technical assistance from TaTEDO. Their request was accepted and installation activities started with the designing and sizing ta suitable the system which would meet the demand.

During installation at the village TaTEDO’s team, led by Mr. Shukuru Meena and Tegemea Enock, worked hand-in-hand with the village energy team and DISEDC. The entrepreneurs had also appointed an operator who was keen to learning how to work the system, to ensure its sustainability.

The majority of the villagers thought that it would be good to establish a small mini-grid at the centre, but due to limited funds it was not possible. An alternative source of electricity -- battery electricity -- was provided. About ten households were connected to this type of electricity. Each house was connected with 2 bulbs of 7W each, 1 switch socket for radio and charging phones, and one battery of 70Ah. All connected customers were also provided with follow-up training in how to operate the system, undertake minor maintenance, and selection of correct appliances for the system. The project had prepared for 10 battery customers only, but due to awareness raised at the village more than 15 customers were interested in that type of simple but very efficient mode of electricity.

The system will be under the close supervision of an electricity board at the village level. With the assistance of the Sumbawanga DiSEDC member, TaTEDO organized a meeting between the entrepreneurs, electricity users, the village energy team and village government representatives.

At the meeting the management structure of the system and the roles of the board were elaborated and Electricity Board was established. The Board has five members. Each member is a representative of a key group, such as entrepreneurs, users, DiSEDC, the village energy team and village government. One of the main responsibilities of the Board is to ensure implementation of all agreements aimed at making the project sustainable.

Community News

This is how we used to celebrate Christmas!

Kamala — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:15:37 +0200

Since in the early 80s, the 25th of December has been a great day. It was Nweli day, my tribal pronunciation to mean Noel -- another name for Christmas.

We actually didn’t care much to know what Christmas meant, but what we knew, is that it's just a great day (sikukuu). So we prepared our cerebrations, not caring about our ethnic groups. Here Christians and non-Christians joined their efforts for the celebrations. It took some years for the citizens of my village to realize that this day was meant for followers of Christianity only!

We just thought that it’s a day of cerebration for each and everyone, since we had obtained our local name, Nweli day, or the big day (sikukuu).

I eventually began to doubt this day which people started to prepare themselves for, for a whole year, from January up to December. Preparations started among different socio-economic groups. Members of the groups did anything they could to raise as much cash as possible so that, at the end of the year they could execute a cow or goat, or smack a pig.

Men always collected money for as much local brew as possible. What gave me a hard time was the great preparations for just a single day of a year. We youngsters always met with injuries by working as much as possible for the day. Even when the day finally arrived, we still had to face blue collar jobs for the family.

Youngsters had to wake up very early in the morning to milk the cows. Then our mothers had to prepare a hot tea for our-soon-to-wake-up fathers. Cooking of food started early in the morning. Meat had to be prepared as early as possible. Christians had to go to church where all prayers and worship had to be short, since people wanted to hurry for the beautiful meal being prepared at home. We could invite any guest, but don’t let any madman cross nearby your house especially during lunch time! He/she might be stoned to death or have all the abuses of this world thrown at them.

It was the only day when youngsters could wear a necktie, no matter what shirt was covering your body. Remember we used to buy big clothes so that we could grow up with them. Sometimes your big brother decided to give you some of his shirts and shoes for Christmas Day! Obviously they are too big for you. Imagine a boy who can dress in a small size shirt, being awarded an extra large size! Oops!

Don’t remind me about shoes. During Christmas day, our beloved ones living abroad used to send us some pair of shoes no matter what size fits you. It was like a comedy show as we walked to church. Everybody had a new walking style. Some would limp; some would walk as if they were preventing their shoes from leaving their legs. Some of us wore sandals for the first time. If you looked at someone who was pretending to be happy, you couldn’t fail to realize that there was something which was not okay (shoes are too thin for his legs).

As young boys, we did anything to prove our superiority in order to attract girls. I remember one Christmas day when I with my three other friends, happened to have a few coins. We bought one bottle of soda, we carried the bottle through all the houses that had girls of our age while holding it, one after another. In fact it added our names into the number of the village’s superstars since not many young people knew the taste of the soda.

At around 5pm, we started drinking that soda, one at a time. Our teeth were strong enough to open the bottle, so no opening machine was needed. Each could take one swallow and hand the bottle to his neighbour. We did do this repeatedly especially when we saw girls passing in front of us. We ended up fighting, since the bottle seemed to dry before thirst ended. The last person to take a swallow was always blamed for having abig mouth -- otherwise the soda couldn’t finish so easily. History was made -- that these guys drank soda during Christmas Day!

Don’t ask about our fathers and brothers! These were now in the local bar, taking the local brew. They always shouted since everybody knew that only a few of them could manage to stand on their own feet! Our moms and sisters stayed at home cleaning dishes. People passing by congratulated you for seeing such a great day. Our fathers remained in bars until the next day -- remember that drink didn't allow them to walk on their own feet.

The next day was referred to as a second Christmas day, many villagers were injured as a result of figthts here and there. Above all, many of us ended up with stomach aches since we used to over-eat on Christmas Day and some could ate raw meats and foods.

During lunch time, there was a problem. Our eating place had no chairs, and we had to sit down on glasses with neckties and with our oversized new clothes. At the end of the day, we washed our clothes and shoes, ready for for the next great day! Everybody had to put on new clothes even if it’s a jacket in sunshine, coat or shoes, no matter if its over size or undersize, what matters, is it's new!

A great day ended with many misunderstandings which had to be solved by village elders. Nowadays things are different, knowledge has spread and therefore Christmas Day is cerebrated only by Christians.

Do people still drink like crazy? I don’t know, but something good is that, when it comes to celebrations, especially when you don’t know what and why are you celebrating, things prove great, well and good.

by Kamala Lutatinisibwa
jlkamala@yahoo.com

Community News

Need for internet connection as Kashasha VTTC get computers.

Kamala — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:58:35 +0200

 The Kashasha Vocational Training Centre (KVTTC) is in need of an Internet connection, as it has received a donation of 30 used computers from a Danish woman and a Tanzanian fellow living and working in the United Kingdom.

Talking to the citizen journalist who visited the Centre the principal, Mr Jasson BM, expressed his happiness: ”We are grateful to receive these computers, and we are now still faced with the challenge of assembling them and getting connected to the internet,” he said.

Mr Jasson said that the centre had sent one of its staff to attend a short course on computer application programs, but they are still lacking more skilled manpower. Villagers who live near the KVTTC are very interested in learning and accesing several computer services.

KVTTC got connected to Tanzanian national electric supply company (TANESCO) in 2007, which gave the centre access to power for 24 hours – far better than the previous power sourc,e which was from a generator which supplied unstable power for only five hours a day.

The need for and Internet connection is vital, as KVTTC is in Missenye district in Kagera region, an isolated area with no immediate means of accessing information. The residents get newspapers late (three days or more after the papers are printed), and transportation to any part of Tanzania takes a long time. An Internet connection will enable them to get news, to communicate with loved ones and to facilitate learning for the secondary school students and vocational training centres in the area.

Other benefits will be information sharing, market prices and social networking issues.

KVTTC is surrounded by numerous wards and has trained a great number of people in masonry, plumbing and carpentry, and now wishes to add computer and internet services.

Mr. Jason complained about the high Internet costs, but the main stumbling block may involve limited personnel. The Seacom fibre-optic cable is being laid down to reach all Tanzania’s main districts.

Missenyi district is in Kagera region, in the north-western part of Tanzania and far from Tanzania’s main cities which makes the region seem forgotten in communication matters. Telecentres and one-stop centres would play a major role in connecting the area to the wider world.

General

My first experience with the Vuvuzela !

mariah — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:40:14 +0200

As we arrived at the MTN dinner for the opening of Highway Africa at the new Nelson Mandela stadium in Port Elizabeth, I was so excited about the opportunity to hear more about the 2010 FIFA world cup. Being a fan of soccer, I would not wish for more than the gift of a Vuvuzela, a South African plastic trumpet given to us by MTN to personify the first FIFA world cup on African soil.

My story is that of hundred of delegates of non governmental organisations and civil society coming from many African countries who had their first experience with the Digital Citizen Indaba and Highway Africa, making them aware of the importance of new media, networking and advocacy.

Overall I was touched by the warm welcome and greater hospitality from the organisers who allowed us to tour around Port Elizabeth, especially the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium. While this action may be taken for granted by residents of this country, for me, attending in behalf of a youth organisation from Tanzania, I can assure you that this is a dream of thousands of young boys and girls in my country.

It is sad that a World Cup organised in Africa may not be attended by many Africans, especially young ones, because of lack of information and means.
In Tanzania, information about the FIFA 2010 World Cup is not widely spread by the media. At the same time youth are interested in sport and have DSTV Supersports programs in order to watch the English Premier League.

Who is to blame? The technology is there but it seems for me people in Africa still need to think about the amazing opportunities associated with next year’s World Cup.

Speaking at the MTN dinner, the CEO of the 2010 Organising Committee, Dany Jordaan, emphasised the need for journalists attending Highway Africa to be ambassadors of this African first world class soccer event. He said, “take ownership as Africans to tell what you have seen here…do not be quiet when hostile overseas press media are talking of a plan B.”

He made a great speech at the right time. However, for myself and other members of the Citizen Journalism programme, it was the first time to hear about the countdown and especially the volunteer programme applications process. I am sure that if the youth in Tanzania had been informed in time about such an opportunity, they would have applied in huge numbers.

I have been working as communication officer for the Tanzanian Youth Coalition (TYC) for quite a while, and such an event is among the tools and means we are always looking for in order to give the youth a once-in-a-life-time experience, hoping to turn them out of crime, prostitution, drugs and inactivity.

There is no doubt that for some of them, it would take the opportunity to be in South Africa volunteering for the World Cup to realise that nothing is impossible in life, and that they should always keep hoping. As Jordaan said, “It took a hundred years for a FIFA world cup to be organised in Africa.”

Taking over after the Digital Citizens’ Indaba, Highway 2009 was both a celebration and an interrogation of journalism and Media, on how they are telling the story of FIFA 2010.

Overall, the conference was very fruitful to me as I learned how to empower youth and communities with the use of ICTs. As elsewhere in Africa, the youth in Tanzania are exposed to new media via cellular phones. Though Internet penetration is still weak compared to countries like South Africa and Uganda, cell phone applications can have great impact. I was amazed to learn about similar technologies utilised in rural Uganda and for HIV/AIDS advocacy and treatment.

I have no doubt that working together would help African countries with less advanced technology to use adequate means in order to tell Africans, and the youth especially, about 2010 possibilities. Africans need to take ownership and attend what needs to become the best FIFA world cup ever.

I praise the CJA for the opportunity given to us to attend this year’s conference. My interaction with peers from other organisations has raised in me curiosity about social media and cell phone applications -- free tools that I should use in my work.

Though my first encounter with the Vuvuzela was not successful as I failed to produce a sound during our two-hour drive back to Grahamstown, I am happy that I have brought it back home to Tanzania and will keep trying to blow this instrument which personifies this coming World Cup more than anything else. The experience was amazing and I will use what I have learnt to inform the youth and participate in the CJA programme.

Preparations are needed as the rain starts in Dar es Salaam

Kamala — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:38:40 +0200

This morning as I was walking from a commuter bus stop to my normal business place I encountered a shocking though normal condition – it was somehow heavily raining. I cared not, and kept on walking to the office before my shirt became totally wet. It is raining in Dar es Salaam and it has not rained for a long enough period of time compared to the normal rainy seasons here.

As the rains begin, the city of Dar es Salaam city and the nation of Tanzania at large needs some precautions. Tanzania’s weather authority has been warning of the possibility of flooding since the end of August this year. Ironically, food shortages due to lack of rains may be prolonged by flooding.

However Dar es Salaam’s city streets are not very ready to accommodate water flows. There are some reported cases of outbreaks of cholera, which might be aggravated by flooding waters. Traffic jams cannot be left aside either.

All of this shows the effect on Tanzania of global warming. When there’s no rain the country is in trouble, and when it is raining the country is in more trouble.

General

TaTEDO donated improved charcoal oven to Disability centre in Dar es Salaam

edithm — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:30:04 +0200

TaTEDO is a development NGO based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with more than seventeen years experience in facilitating access to sustainable modern energy services. TaTEDO undertakes activities in 10 regions and in more than 100 villages in Tanzania.

TaTEDO’s vision is to ensure Poverty free and self-reliant communities in Tanzania accessing sustainable modern energy services in Tanzania. While its mission is to advance popular access to sustainable modern energy technologies in marginalized communities in Tanzania through energy technological adaptations, community mobilization and advocacy for increased access to sustainable energy services, poverty reduction, environmental conservation and self-reliance.

In undertaking its activities to bring development in energy sector of Tanzania, TaTEDO also provide assistance to marginalized groups in Tanzania, whereby various donations are given to disabled groups and orphans.

Manzese Disability Centre is a centre managed by CCBRT Hospital whereby children with different disabilities have a proper managed place for their physical exercises. At this centre, children are being taken care of with their parents especially their mothers, having spending a lot of thime at the centre these women had not been able to do any income generating activities which make their lives more difficult.

To see this need TaTEDO donated an improved charcoal stove oven to a group of 20 women who are active members of the centre. These were trained on baking cake and breads using the oven and later being given the oven which they will use to start a small business on selling cakes and breads so that they can get extra income to support the centre ad well as themselves.

Global warming now set to affect production in the agricultural sector.

pmlay — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:21:15 +0200

Production in the agricultural sector will fall by 33 per cent in few years to come due to climate change, the Parliament heard yesterday.

The health sector, according to experts, has started experiencing the wrath of climate change which has increased temperature in areas that were known to be cold, thus increasing cases of malaria.

The Minister in the Vice President’s Office (Environment) Batilda Burian said increased amount of carbon generated in the developed world is likely to affect agriculture activities in the country and the world at large.

She said while Africa contributes three per cent of the total carbon generated, the United States contributes 26 per cent.

The minister was responding to a question from Ludewa MP, Prof. Raphael Mwalyosi (CCM) who had wanted to know how much Tanzania contributes to the climate change.

Prof. Mwalyosi also wanted the government to state the cost of destruction caused by global warming in the country.

Burian said Tanzanian contributes only 0.1 per cent in the areas of industries, deforestation and tree burning.

She said Tanzania has 33.3m hectares of forests which take a large amount of carbon generated in developed countries.

The minister said the government has prepared the National Adaptation Plan of Action to find areas which need quick interventions.

Zanzibar's President calls for use of traditional techniques to fight Malaria.

pmlay — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:14:21 +0200

Zanzibar’s President, Amani Abeid Karume, has asked African scientists and medical researchers to embark on traditional methods in the fight against mosquitoes that cause Malaria.

In a speech presented at the opening of a four-day Pan African Malaria Vector Control Conference, Karume said that it was prime time for researchers to carry out studies on how best traditional methods could be used to lessen malaria prevalence in Africa, and Tanzania in particular.

“Every country should make its own decisions as to best insecticides fit for its use,” remarked Karume in his speech, which was read on his behalf by the Zanzibar Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha.

Karume asked researchers in the sector to look into the use of traditional methods of curbing malaria as some of them were environmentally friendly and had been known to be used widely by communities who do not have access to insecticides. “I suggest that there should be a scientific way of determining the efficacy of these methods and their benefits,” he stressed.

According to Karume, pyrethroid resistance has been reported in some African countries, hence there was a need for scientists to develop other control options.

The Island’s President noted the withdrawal of Indoor Residual Spray should be done cautiously and carefully so as not to allow the resurgence of malaria. “This requires proper planning, good surveillance and well prepared and organised response teams for timely and effective response to possible outbreaks,” Karume said.*

Ealier, Zanzibar’s Health and Social Welfare minister, Sultan Mohammed Mugheiry, stressed the need for local authorities and public heath departments to initiate programmes to removing water pools and to educate the people on better ways of waste water management.

Mugheiry told the regional malaria meeting that Zanzibar has managed to lessen the prevalence of the killer disease due to effective cooperation with local communities.

Malaria remains the number one killer disease worldwide, and it is estimated that three million people (most of them infants) die of the disease every year. The majority of these deaths occur in tropical African countries. The conference, which was hosted by Research Triangle Institute (RTI-International), brought together 150 malaria control scientists and national malaria programme managers from more than 18 African countries.

RTI President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Victoria Haynes said the Pan African conference was meant to share knowledge and experiences among the leading malaria control scientists. “During the past several years, the world has witnessed tremendous progress in the fight against malaria, as governments, foundations and others have began to fund and implement a cohesive malaria-control strategy,” she said. “These efforts have provided the financial and technical resources vital to reducing malaria-related illness and death.”

Dr James Banda, leader and partnership facilitation team, commended Zanzibar for the success reached in reducing the prevalence of malaria prevalence in the isles, saying other countries should emulate the Zanzibar strategy, to make malaria history in their home countries.

The United States’ Malaria Initiative Coordinator, Admiral Timothy Ziemer, said that the US government was committed to ensuring that the world was free from the disease. Ziemer underscored the need for effective use of money poured into the sector so that it could bring positive impacts to people’s wellbeing.

Dr Oladapo Walker, WHO African Region representative, called for collective and concerted efforts among countries in order to win the war against the malaria parasites. “Collective efforts are the best way to address malaria in African continent,” said Dr Walker.

* Indoor residual spraying or IRS is the process of spraying the inside of dwellings with an insecticide to kill mosquitoes that spread malaria. A dilute solution of insecticide is sprayed on the inside walls of certain types of dwellings—those with walls made from porous materials such as mud or wood, but not plaster as in city dwellings. Mosquitoes are killed or repelled by the spray, preventing the transmission of the disease. Several pesticides have historically been used for IRS, the first and most well-known being DDT. It is being phased out because most of these insecticides are not environmentally friendly.

CELAC Mayuge Farmers Unveil The Untold Secrets About Sugarcane Growing

Omanyo — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:48:54 +0200

Amidist the openning of MAYUGE SUGAR INDUSTRIES LIMITED (MSIL) in Baitambogwe subcounty,The farmers in CELAC MAYUGE farmers association have come up boldly to challenge the venture and investment in sugarcane growing as abusiness.

In their debate on topic''SUGARCANE GROWING IN OUR AREA'',They called on fellow farmers to not ignorantly accept slaverly to the indians on our own Lands.Bitterly stressing poor economic benefit of sugarcane at harvest as one(1) tonne of cane is bought from the out grower on delivery to factory at 40000/-ug shs,Meaning a 40/- ug shs per kilogram of cane,Then less expenses, a farmer gains only 15/-ug shs per kilogram of cane for all the wasted 18-20months.Imagine.

Present were the out growers manager MSIL ,Area politicians and the Baitambogwe subcounty Agricultural Extension Officer.Mr Musingi james the agric offficer commented''Sincerely one ought to be bewitched to invest in cane growing if he/she discovers this Indian secret.Lamenting,that the indians have for long fooled our rural farmers by not informing farmers the prices of cane in terms of kilogrames and only put forward tonnes as a unit of payment.

He stressed that there is alot of enterprises that are of agreat financial benefit to to you our rural farmers which are worthy investing in and their establishment cost is low.Among others he qouted,Bananas,G/nuts,Fruits and Poultry farming.Further said these were good enterprises compared to sugarcane as they help fight famine in the community,balance our diets and are anutritional blesssing to our people.

Verymany adverse effects were raised in this debate.As farmers went ahead to encourage and advise fellow farmers who succumb to cane growing to diversify to the other enterprises given,which can bring in money seasonally even at at ahigh if not then amoderate pay.
In this very debate,Skills and Factors to consider when selecting the best enterprise to invest in were given to the farmers by the techinicals present.

Farmers also promised that this was not the end,they were to keep advocating until the fellow farmers learn.They also called on government,politicians and other potential bodies/organisations to join them in their struggle,ADVOCACY TO NO MORE CANE GROWING IN BAITAMBOGWE SUBCOUNTY.

General

Drought kills thousands of Cattle in Northern Tanzania.

pmlay — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:50:28 +0200

Tanzania recently lost between 3,000 and 4,000 cattle worth 1 billion in a decade’s worst drought, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Livestock Development and Fisheries Ministry Jonas Melewas has said. Most cattle died in the north of the country – the northern highlands – he told the media in Arusha this week.

Ngorongoro, Longido and Monduli Districts in Arusha are the hardest hit. “With livestock dying and water being scarce, pastoral way of life has been reduced to struggle for survival.

Now the government has announced to build several modern abattoirs as part of a plan to buy animals from herdsmen

The ravages of the drought are clear in areas around Lake Natron and Oldonyo Lengai, reduced to desolate stretches of bare land. “This is the worst drought in ten years,” said Ngorongoro herdsman Lazaro Saitoti.

“The weather is all wrong, he says: "Rain falls when it should not, and does not come when it should,” said Naini ole Sirya, a pastoralist woman from Engikaret Village, Longido District.

The old woman said: “In 1980s and 1990s we used to get heavy and reliable rainfall. We had three rainy seasons but today it is only one season, which is also unpredictable.”

Naini said they face acute shortage of water for humans and cattle.

Another villager, Saipi Kimesera said: “I had 600 heads of cattle in 1989, today I am left with only 30, the rest having mostly died.

The villagers are no longer noticing dew that in the past used to be common during the early hours of the day. Elderly Koto Laizer lives near Namanga Town. According to her, that dew was very favourable to cows, but of late it has disappeared.

The impact of climate change seems to be worst on the lives of pastoralist people, like the Maasai and Barbaig as well as the Hadzabe and Akiye, who are hunters and gatherers respectively.

The indigenous people depend on the land and its natural resource base.

As it stands now, the majority of pastoralists’ families do not have enough animals to support the households. The catastrophe has also prompted conflicts between pastoralists and other landowners, such as farmers and investors.

Lifuraha Laltaika, Lecturer in Environmental law at Makumira University College, Arusha, cited the on going land dispute in Loliondo as being a result of climate change:

Laltaika is also the elected representative of Indigenous peoples of Africa in the Policy Board of the UN-REDD--(a Collaborative Programme of the United Nations agencies aimed at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developed countries). Another major challenge facing indigenous peoples as a result of climate change, he says, is lack of medicine because herbs are no longer readily available.

Laltaika who attended the just ended climate change negotiations in Bangkok, Thailand said, indigenous peoples globally are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change due to fragile and harsh ecosystems.

However, he is optimistic that governments will take this fact into account when deliberating on an international agreement to curb Carbon emissions during the 15th Conference of Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Copenhagen-Denmark in December 2009. In the international negotiations, Indigenous Peoples are lobbying for

inclusion of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). They also envisage reference to 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)'.

“In brief this means that indigenous peoples must have free access to information on all projects planned on their land as well as the impact they have on their living conditions” he noted.

Laltaika is concerned that developing countries such as Tanzania should stand firm in the negotiations and ensure that developed countries commit themselves to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent in the next 25 years compared to the 1990s baseline levels.

No power in Tanzania’s main cities and towns

Kamala — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:21:52 +0200

Tanzania’s main cities are in dark, while no adequate production in industries and local ventures which rely on electric power to produce. Small scale traders have nothing to do during the day hence forced to stay idle and manual workers are almost jobless.

Many towns and trade centers are silent and dwellers have to search for alternative means of getting their daily bread. As usual politicians are in here and there disputes to assure their staying in power for those from the ruling political party while the opposition or out of power parties are busy showing the citizens on how they could solve the problem if they were in power.

The same tragedy took place in the year 2006 after which the current president Jakaya Kikwete appealed to eradicate it that this will never happen again in this country’s history and as if it is proving the deception in politicians words, the tragedy is here hitting Tanzanians to death. The consequences of the 2006s power shortage included inflation due to limited ability to produce, unemployment, insecurities due to night robbers to mention but a few.

The main reasons for electricity shortage includes lower water levels in Tanzania’s main water dams used to produce hydro electric power, for the country rely on water as a major source of its power. However the reason for lack of water are said to be poor methods of preserving water sources, environmental pollution and global warming effects

However Tanzania as a nation has other vital yet to be used sources to produce electric power. These include coal minerals, uranium, wind, biogas, natural gasses, not to mention solar energy due to higher effects of global warming.

Dwellers of kagera region found in north western part of the country or western part of Lake Victoria are with much all the time power with limited production due to the lack of industries and good small enterprises for the region is connected to the imported power from Uganda’s Owen falls. Politicians and politics need to stay aside in dealing with important matters and empty promises are to be shunned away.

Vaileth valentine an economist and a recent graduate from university of Dar es salaam suggests that if Tanzania as a nation don’t search and utilize other electric power sources, the problem of shortage will remain for age and ages for global warming effects due to environmental pollution is still here and leading to water shortage for human use and producing electric power.

General