Mysterious disappearence of people at in Mikumi national park

A Member of Parliament Joseph Haule (Chadema) has claimed that about 40 people have got lost in a mysterious condition and claimed that have been killed by game reserve soldiers at Mikumi National Park and in view of this, has forced the government to speak out the truth about the matter. Haule raised his voice in parliament today during question and answer session and said that, the government has been making wrong clarification full of uncertainty. “If it is a matter of human rights, then people from Iwembe, Kitete and Kielezo villages suffers the most with pangs of solitude after having lost their relatives as this is their denial of rights”, he said. The legislator wanted the deputy minister to listen these people otherwise it will make its work become so tough as there has been unusual acts of abduction and as up to now about 40 people have disappeared. Responding to this question, the deputy minister noted that, his ministry has yet received such shocking news of the people who have lost in a mysterious condition. Clarifying more, the deputy minister has instructed the legislator typo list down names of those alleged to have got lost so that, his ministry should start tracing of their whereabouts. However, he dismissed claims that there were conflict among the local people with the government over the demarcations with the national parks and noted that, the conflict which was there before had been solved by the Regional Commissioner of Morogoro region and the village authorities

Govt embarks on rampage killings of troublesome baboons

The government has confirmed today in parliament that, it had killed about 100 baboons that had been seen to be causing unnecessary inconveniences which ended up in massive losses to the people in Bukoba rural district. The deputy minister for Tourism and Natural Resources said when responding to the question raised by a special seat Alfredina Kahigi (CUF). The legislator wanted to know steps taken by the government of preventing wild animals such as baboons who have been reportedly to have been invading people’s settlements causing harassment and loss of people’s properties in Bukoba rural. 

Responding to the question, the deputy minister said that the government was aware of such incidences in over 80 districts in the country and mentioned other troublesome wild animals such as elephants and monkeys. Elaborating more, trhe deputy minister said that elephants have the habit of invading farms whereas crocodiles and monkeys cause grievous bodly harm to people whom they come across in areas such as Kemondo, Bujogo, Kizi, Katoma, Katangaraza and Kishonmgo. He said the ministry has been carrying out regular patrol in search of these animals in collaboration with game soldiers and through this operation, about 103 monkeys had been killed in different seven areas although he admitted the fact that his ministry has short of game warders but have tried to strengthened security to curb their influence.

No extra treatment of diabetic mellitus by local herbs

A special seat legislator Suzan Lyimo (Chadema) has decided to reveal in public her long illness saying that, she is suffering from diabetic mellitus. She had raised a supplementary question with a view to know from the government side if there are medical experts with extra treatment on the disease. She told parliamentarians that, she had been hearing that there are medical experts who advertise themselves that are able to cure the diseases and wanted to hear what the government is saying about their claims. Responding to the question, the Deputy Minister of Health, Community development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr. Faustine Ndugulile said that up to now, there is no local cure of the disease up to now which has been proved to be active. The deputy minister has called upon all registered medical experts if they think have correct cure should follow the right channels as laid down rules and regulations instead of advertising themselves. He said through the right channels is together with their herbal medicines to be researched well and later be given registration by the authorities concerned so as to please the government. 

Dr. Faustine Ndugulile

On Kidney victims, the deputy minister said that, about 240 patients have been operated at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). The deputy minister was responding to the supplementary question which was raised by a special seat legislator Farhia Shomari (CCM) who wanted to know how many patients who suffers kidney complications have been attended by the MNH. The minister noted that, in 2011 when the kidney treatments were introduced, there were 10 patients and now their number has shot up to 240 patients. He said at the moment, the kidney clinic at MNH receives an average of 60 patients per day and those attended for purification of kidneys are 80 per day. He said up to now about 10 patients have been given other kidneys at the hospital and according to him, the government is planning to give kidneys to at least five patients at the hospital every month. However, he noted that his ministry will continue working in close collaboration with other stakeholders to educate people so that they may know to protect themselves from being attacked by the kidney disease.

Selasini furious with government on reports

Joseph Selasini 

The government has been asked to take a keen interest and listen to various crisis raised by legislators and councilors and shouldn’t regard them as inciting. The legislator for Rombo constituency Joseph Selasini (Chadema) said today in parliament during question and answers session and wanted to know when the government will desist from ignoring such important issues. Responding to the question, the deputy minister of State in President’s Office for local government and regional administration George Kakunda said that, all issues related with social crisis in local communities are well attended by the government. The deputy minister countered by saying that, if such matters are related with violence, then the police firce have tactics of dealing with such criminal offenses and more often can get hold of the informers to get more information for investigations. He said the law which protects an informer is there and will continue serving the public and asked the police force in the country to honour it.

Issue of Property tax collections is still unabated

Property tax collection in the country accounts for 20 percent of local revenues and contributes to 0.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if compared in some developing countries whereby their collections accounts for 80 percent which stands at an average of about 3 percent of their GDP. This is lower by 60 percent at a global level despite efforts which were introduced by the government including recent reforms made of the property tax regime, the study report has said. The study titled, “Central-local government relations in property tax collection in Tanzania” which has highlighted the country’s property tax administration scheme between 2008 and 2016 shows that, property tax collections has been dwindling due to improper administrative structure. The study was presented today by the REPOA’s Director of Commissioned Works Dr. Lucas Katera at a breakfast talk which is organized by the policy forum at British Council hall in Dar es Salaam city. 

 

Dr. Lucas Katera

Dr. Katera said in his report which has a detailed summary of the recent reforms of the property tax regime since 2008 that, the property tax collection system in the country has been decentralized and centralized up to 2016 when the government transferred to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Dr. Katera outlined in his findings that, there has been poor revenue performances under decentralized system mainly due to corruption and political interference by local councilors at district and municipal levels. Poor performances had also continued when the government decided to transfer its collection bases and handed it to the TRA, the study has revealed that it was due primarily to inadequate preparation for centralized collection which has resulted into a major drop during 2016/17 financial year.  Dr. Kassera noted that, politicians reacted in desperation on realizing that, and convinced their people in constituencies not to engage in paying it directly to TRA. Another reason he outlined was due to poor coordination with real estate stakeholders an aspect that caused under rating of the property charges for various structures owned by the people in towns and even at district and municipal levels.

Mobile courts to quicken cases of drug traffickers is coming

The government has said that, it is planning to introduce mobile courts which would be stationed at the airports with a view to facilitate the impeding cases related with illegal drug trafficking and deal with the perpetrators once caught red handed with exhibits on the spot, the parliament has been informed. The deputy minister of labour, Youths, parliament and employment Antony Mavunde told law makers today that, the aim of the government is to quicken the pace of hearing of such cases which experience has shown that, they take long time to get finished. 

He said, during the court proceedings in other places in the country fir instance, culprits have been colluding with security agents and vanished the evidences an aspect that most of them ended up being freed by the courts for lack of enough evidences. So he explained that, by introducing such a mobile courts at the airports which is seen to be the main gateway used by the perpetrators, this will refrain them from indulging in such malpractices which are easily diverted by people due to long network of the people who involves in this illegal business. The deputy minister was responding to the question in parliament which was earlier raised by the special seat legislator Grace Victor Tendega (CCM) who wanted to know why the government should not introduce a mobile court at its airports to curb illegal drug trafficking just like what is happening in other countries. In another development Mavunde told the Parliament that, in line with the prospective plans, the government has processed 7,517 cases related with economic sabortage since the fifth government came in power in the country.

Govt to bring a relief to tobacco farmers in the country

The government has entered into the agreement with the government of Vietnam whereby the latter will come and buy 1,000 tones of cured tobacco leaves from farmers in the country. The deputy minister of agriculture Dr. Mary Mwanjelwa has said today in parliament that, this is an opportunity which opens the market potential for farmers in the country and has asked farmers from the 11 best tobacco producing regions in the country to make use of the opportunity. The minister was responding to the question which was earlier raised by Tabora North legislator Almasi Maige (CCM) who wanted to know how the government has prepared the markets fir the tobacco crop growers in the country. The deputy minister has also asked growers to follow the laid down procedures of crop growing and said that the government has its optimum spacing of about 250 trees to be planted in an acre of land with a view to protect environment according to the newly reviewed agricultural laws and that this should not be exceeded. 

Dr. Mary Mwanjelwa

She also urged farmers to use the modern technology of preserving the tobacco leaves and asks them to build modern curing burns so as to cope with the technological advancements of promoting the crop which is highly grown in Tabora region. The minister was responding to the question raised by a special seat legislator Rehema Juma Migila (CCM) who wanted to know the development of the tobacco crop and appropriate measures taken so far in order to promote farmers to ensure high productivity. In a supplementary question raised by Nape Nnauye (CCM) of Mtama constituency who wanted to know efforts by the government to avail tobacco seedlings in respective growing regions, the deputy minister said that her ministry has already prepared 13 million seedlings which have been distributed in various research centres for sale. Richard Mbogo (CCM) of Nsimbo constituency reminded the deputy minister of the controversial saga between TLTC Company which had bought cured tobacco leaves from the local farmers in southern highland regions. In responding to this, the deputy minister said that the company must honour the contracts as the tobacco crop is a seasonal crop and must be settled on time.