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.

Govt to revive production of coal at Kiwira mine

The ministry of Mining is currently working in collaboration with the ministry of trade and industry in order to sort out problems which made the production of coal which had stalled in Kiwira mine in southern highland region. The deputy minister of Mining Stanslaus Nyongo said today in parliament that, the aim of the government is to revive the production of coal which is precious in industrial processing in the country. The Kiwira coal mine is a small coal mine which is operational near the city of Mbeya with an annual installed capacity of 150,000 tonnes. The Kiwira Coal & Power Company owns the licence to mine at the Ivogo Ridge. The company is wholly owned by the State Mining Corporation that is 100 percent owned by the government. The production of coal in the country has largely been underdeveloped for many years. Tanzania has an estimated 1.5 billion tones of reserves and is believed to have the largest reserves of coal in East Africa. 

The minister made a clarification in response to various questions which were raised by different legislators in parliament who wanted to know the fate of a number of natural resources which are not explored in some parts in the country. The legislators from Ndanda constituency Cecil David Mwambe (Chadema) raised a question with a view to know how the environmental impact assessment is going on in his constituency about the granite gemstones. A special seat legislator Fatma Hassan Toufiq (CCM) queried about 700 mining slots at various mining sites in the country and wanted to know how the government is handling the fate of small scale miners in those areas. In response, the deputy minister said that, the report of environmental impact assessment is not yet in place and once it will be out, the government is going to permit mining activity to take place. On the issue of 700 mining slots, the government is looking for the appropriate technology which it would give to small scale miners into making them develop their skills.

Govt is optimistic with the current rate of investments in mining sector

High influx of the number of mineral license applicants who are eager to invest in mining and gas sectors is a sufficient indication which shows that the sector is growing with high speed and thus is recording a tremendous increase of mineral production in the country. The deputy minister of Mining Stanslaus Haroon Nyongo said today in parliament that, Tanzania is receiving more prospective investors who regularly are eager to invest in mining sector. He said that currently his ministry has received the number of applicants which has pegged to 800 who need to have licenses that would allow them to invest in prospective mining activities whereas, they have received 26 applications of those who wants to invest in special mining activities. 

Dr. Peter Dalali Kafumu 

The minister further noted that, from the statistics given, it instinctively shows that, there is a tremendous development in mining sector since the government reviewed the Mining Act in 2017 with a view to protect the natural resources for the benefits of the country. The deputy minister was responding to the question earlier raised by Igunga legislator Dr. Peter Dalali Kafumu (CCM) who wanted to know why has there been a decrease of investments in mining sector in the country since the review of the Mining Act 2017. In responding, the deputy minister refuted his allegations and listed down the demographic figures which highlighted the tremendous increase which has attracted many investors for the exploration of mines and gas in different areas in the country. He said, the high statistics is due to the firm commitment of the fifth phase government which it has come up in line with the ruling CCM manifesto which is aimed at developing the sector for the country’s economic development. He also noted that, the government has been creating conducive environment for investors and do the resource location that does not only give opportunity to investors to rely only on exploration alone, but also engage actively in mining activities.

TARURA operates with less money to cater for rural needs, says minister

The government has admitted the fact that, most dilapidated roads in rural areas takes long time to be repaired due primarily to less money which has been invested in the recently established Tanzania Rural Roads Agency (TARURA) an aspect that makes it impossible to execute duties within set timeframe. The government established the agency purposely to help speed up rural road construction activities in collaboration with district council’s authorities countrywide whereby 90 percent of its work execution is targeted to road repair while 10 percent is for the construction of new roads. The deputy minister of State in President’s office George Kakunda said in parliament today that, from the 90 percent of the workload in road repair works which are intended to be done by the agency, only 57 percent is accomplished. The minister was responding to the question which was earlier raised by Mbulu urban legislator Zacharia Paulo Isaay (CCM) who wanted to know why the rural road agency is slacking in executing its duties as intended an aspect that most roads remains unattended for longer. 

 Andrew Chenge

 

Andrew Chenge

The legislator raised a complaint and cited a 40 km stretch of a road in his constituency which is not yet repaired for long time even before the starting of long rains, leave alone by now whereby it is in bad shape after the rains. In responding to this query, the Chairman of the National Assembly Andrew Chenge directed the question to the deputy minister for Works, Transport and Communication Elias Kwandikwa who said that about Tshs. 814 m/- has been set aside for the road which will be repaired soon. The minister also noted that, the government had undertaken the task of valuing the damages caused by the recent rains and that is another aspect that an effective work has not yet been taken to repair roads in the country. He answered a supplementary question which was raised by Mbulu rural legislator Fratay Gregory Massey (CCM ) who wanted to know steps taken so far by the government of valuing  the damaged roads in rural areas which needs urgent attention. In addition to this question, another supplementary question was raised by Mpwapwa legislator Malima Lubeleje (CCM) who wanted to know plans by the government of increasing the budget fund allocated for the TARURA agency so that it effectively works as required. The minister noted that, the reports of the damaged road infrastructures would be released tomorrow by the Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) whereas plans by the government to increase the budget fund for the rural road agency will be considered as in accordance with the availability of fund.

NATIONAL PARLIAMENT CLOSES ITS SESSIONS TODAY:

 



Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa



The National Parliament has closed its sessions today until 4th September this year when it will resume again. The Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa winded up the debate which was preceded by his long interesting speech that summed up what parliamentarians discussed in the house for a couple of two months and eight days. This is the budget session which among others is a most important assembly in this supreme legislative house in the country. It is the session which approves what the government will forecast for the coming 2018/19 financial year. A total of over 600 questions were raised by law makers and directed to the government which had time to be answered or clarified by the Ministers in different respective portfolios. Some had direct answers given on the spot while some were promised to be worked upon as days moves on. In his message, the Premier thanked his fellow parliamentarians and wished them good journey back to their respective constituencies.