TANZANIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY &MINERALS RESIGNS OVER ESCROW SCANDAL

Tanzanian Minister for Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo resigned from his post on Saturday over the fraudulent transfer of some $120 million of public funds to a private energy firm in a scandal known locally as the "Tegeta Escrow Account."

"I'm stepping down from my ministerial post right from today," Muhongo said in a statement.

"Before reaching the decision, I have contacted President Jakaya Kikwete on this issue and he agreed," he added.

Muhongo was one of four government officials, who the parliament asked President Kikwete to sack from their post over the scandal.

"I have done so much to my country. I'm wondering today people are looking [to me] as a thief who took billions of public money from escrow account," Muhongo told The Anadolu Agency.

"They have even forgotten that I was not in the position when the escrow account agreement was signed. But today people consider me as a thief because of something which came to implantation when I was not there in the office," he said.

Muhongo, a nominated member of parliament who was a lecturer to the University of Dar es Salaam before he was appointed a minister, insisted that he had no role in the escrow scandal.

"I still believe my hands are clean on escrow account scandal," he said.

Controversy gripped Tanzania for months after the Public Account Committee released a report accusing senior government officials of having fraudulently authorized the disbursement of at least $122 million of public funds from an escrow account to a private company.

It has since been shown that certain officials benefited from the escrow account money, receiving millions of dollars from James Rugemalila, a shareholder in the Independent Power Tanzania Limited company.

The National Assembly has asked President Kikwete to sack four top government officials with ties to the scandal: Muhongo, Attorney-General Frederick Werema; Energy and Minerals Permanent Secretary Eliachim Maswi; and Minister of Land, Housing and Human Settlement Anna Tibaijuka.

Since then, Werema has voluntarily resigned, while Kikwete sacked Tibaijuka after confirming that over $1.2 million from Rugemalila had been deposited into her personal bank account. Maswi, for his part, has been suspended from his post.

Read More

SOUTH SUDAN'S FRACTRURED SPLM PARTY REUNITE, PEACE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN ARUSHA TANZANIA

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.
The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.
The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.
Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.
Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.
SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.
The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.
The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.
The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.
The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.
The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.
The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.
Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.
In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.
The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.
The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.
The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.
Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.
Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.
SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.
The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.
The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.
The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.
The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.
The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.
The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.
Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.
In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.
The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

Different factions of South Sudan's SPLM party have signed  an agreement in Arusha, Tanzania  today  to reunite the party and put South Sudan back on the path of peace and development.

The signing was witnessed by Five head of state from Kenya, Repulic of South Africa, Uganda and the host Tanzania

President Salava Kiir, Riek Machar and former SPLM secretary general Pagan Amum, who is the leader of a group of politicians jailed in December 2013 and accused of plotting to oust the president, signed the peace agreement which Tanzania is a guarantor.

Among the issues agreed by both parties is to restore peace and stability in South Sudan,

SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan to all what happened and SPLM  leadership to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism,sectarianism and militarism.

They also agreed that all the people who have participated in atrocities of the war should not  be given a chance to hold  any  public office in South Sudan;

Intense efforts spearheaded by regional leaders – which saw the Arusha meeting get into late night hours – marks a turning point in the bloody conflict.

The signing ceremony at Ngurdoto Hotel in Arusha was witnessed by an array of regional leaders including host President Jakaya Kikwete, President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former vice President Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol signed the historic agreement.

The agreement which was signed during the SPLM Intra-Party Dialogue Summit puts the young African nation back on the path of peace and development.

Among the issues agreed by both parties is the restoration of peace and stability in South Sudan and, and the demand for SPLM leadership to make a public apology to the people of Sudan for all the atrocities.

Under the signed agreement, the SPLM party leadership is required to reform and transform the political party by formulating and embracing policies that allow the culture of tolerance and ideals of democracy to take root.

SPLM leadership is also urged to formulate and implement policies that will abolish tribalism, sectarianism and militarism in political life and open up space for achieving a political environment that promotes genuine political pluralism.

The agreement calls on those who may have participated in atrocities during the conflict not to be allowed to hold public offices in South Sudan.

The SPLM leaders agreed to implement and comply with all provisions of the cessation of hostilities and use the Arusha Intra-Party Dialogue and IGAD mediation process in Addis Ababa to expedite the conclusion of the peace agreement in order to end the war.

The South Sudan political party leadership is also required to develop and implement a comprehensive programme for national unity, peace, reconciliation, healing and to promote harmony amongst the people of South Sudan.

The three factional SPLM groups are demanded to embrace reunification and reconciliation of the party leadership and membership.

The SPLM general secretariat shall be structured and reorganized in order to streamline its offices and functions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness benefiting from experiences of sisterly parties and Liberation Movements.

The agreement also demands that the National Liberation Council (NLC) shall revisit and review the contentious provisions, in the draft SPLM constitution to ensure internal democracy within party structures, before its presentation to the National Convention.

Other recommendations of the agreement include a requirement for the Political Bureau to develop a party leadership code of ethics and disciplinary procedures to be applied and upheld by all members irrespective of their positions.

In the agreement the term-limit for the SPLM national and state chairpersons of the party shall be two terms of 5 years each only.

The reunified SPLM shall abide by the terms and spirit of the IGAD Peace Agreement and that it recognizes the need for the establishment of a transitional government in which all SPLM groups and other political parties shall participate proportionally so as to end the war and establish sustainable peace

President Uhuru Kenyatta witnesses the signing of the SPLM Reunification Agreement between South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Dr. Riek Machar and Mr. Deng Alor Kuol which was overseen by Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete in Arusha, Tanzania. Also present is Uganda's President Yoweri Museven - See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/south-sudan-rivals-sign-peace-deal-arusha#sthash.bPQkcJg7.dpuf

Read More

KENYA ALLOWS TANZANIA VEHICLES INTO JKIA ,AFTER 26 DAYS BAN

TANZANIA Vehicles are now allowed  to enter  to  Jomo Kenyata

                               
                                    Cabinet secretary  EAC affairs ,Commerce and  Tourism Kenya  Phyllis       Kandie               Lazaro  Nyalandu  Minister  of Tourism & Natural Resources Tanzania

International Airport (JKIA) to pick and drop tourists after twenty  six days ban by Kenya government

The move was seen by  analysts as a retaliation  of  Tanzania rejection  to allow Kenyan vehicles  with tourists  to  get to its National Parks.

The ban reportedly frustrated hundreds of tourists visiting the country, a move which was seen as an act that was putting the two neighboring countries into a dispute   that was likely to jeopardize the integration of the East African Community.

The decision was reached  in Nairobi on Thursday  after  several hours talks between the Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and tourism for Kenya Phyllis Kandie and Tanzanian minister of tourism and Natural Resources Lazaro Nyalandu.

In a joint press conference Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary told reporters that vehicle from Tanzania will now be allowed to enter to JKIA to pick and drop guests and the dispute will be solved within 21 days.

She said that the bilateral meeting will be held in Arusha Tanzania and it will involve Ministerial principal Secretaries and other professionals in the ministries from both countries.

Kandie said the last meeting will bring together   the ministers and later  and eventually remove confusions unfolding the tourism sector between the two neighboring countries.

Kandie insisted that the act of Kenya to prohibit vehicles from Tanzania to enter to JKIA was the implementation of a collective agreement between Kenya and Tanzania in a meeting held last year.

“Vehicle from Tanzania can now enter to the airport as usual and this problem will be sorted out once and for all in our scheduled meeting within 21 days. “She said

She went further to say that the issue on dispute was to do with Kenya domestic law on  transfer of  tourists from Nairobi  the airport and not buses from Tanzania to enter  JKIA .

"This  is a minor  issue its solution will be made within three weeks from today , we will involve the private sector at large and other players within the  tourism industry to find a lasting solution issues within the tourism sectore in the Region " said Kandie .

She noted that there is a confusion but  it was easy if  our counterparts would have followed our countries transport regulation  by acquiring licenses from the relevant authorities in Kenya or enter into partnership with a local  tour operator and do business smoothly.

On his part, the minister of tourism and natural resources of Tanzania Lazaro Nyalandu  said  the Kenyan government shouldn’t  have prohibited   vehicles entering to the airport because the countries have historical ties.

" Our neighboring Kenya have serious relationships with us , I am glad for them to accept that vehicle from my country are  to allowed  to enter the airport and  do  business as usual, I and my counterpart  will meet and hold talks to resolve all arising differences "Said Nyalandu .

On December 22 last year the government of Kenya barred vehicles with registration numbers from Tanzania to enter into JKIA and caused a lot of embarrassment to travelers and loses in transport business from Northern Tanzania Regions.

Read More

VEHICLE BAN A REPRISAL ACT - DAR TELL KENYA

TANZANIA,government has said the Kenya’s government act of banning Tanzania vehicles entering Jomo Kenyatta International airport (JKIA) to pick up tourists entering the country is seen as retaliation for its stand of refusing to open the northern Serengeti park border.
 

                        Hon lazaro Nyalandu(left) minister tourism &natural resources Add caption

 

“This act jeopardises the long-term bilateral relationship between the two countries and must be strongly condemned” Tanzania tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu said.

The minister was speaking in the region yesterday with the tour operators where he said such an act is unwelcomed and needed to be reviewed to allow tourist access to transportation.

He said the move by the Kenyan government has created inconvenience and frustration to hundreds of tour operators and travelers coming to the country through JKIA airport.

“We have made our position not to open up Bologonja border post in north Serengeti National Park to allow in vehicles with tourists from Kenya to enter our park. This action looks like retaliation on the Kenyan side” he said.

Sources points out that the Bolongoja border post between the Serengeti National Park and the Maasai-Mara Game Reserve in Kenya has remained closed since the late 1970s after the breakup of the former EAC.

According to the minister, he will be holding talks regarding the issue with the cabinet secretary for tourism in Kenya to help the country understand better and allow it take the right action.

“Our tour operators are making huge losses because of this untimely and ill decision. This is unacceptable and unjustifiable” he said.

A section of Tanzania media including the Guardian reported earlier this week that Kenya’s Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) had banned Tanzania’s tour operators and vehicles from taking visitors to Kenya’s game reserves and parks.

KRA acting Director General Korir Lagat said, during a stakeholders meeting in Kisumu that his country is not going to allow vehicles bearing Tanzanian number plates entry into their parks.

The media said such a move was in response to a similar action by Tanzanian tourism authorities, whom it accused of deliberately locking out Kenyan tour operators from key reserves and park of Serengeti. 

Tanzania government was however quick to act, by forming a task force involving four ministries - East African Cooperation, Tourism and Natural Resources, Transport and Industries and Trade to probe the factors behind Kenya’s move. 

The government earlier this week said  that it had already convened an emergency meeting involving experts to strategies on how to solve the problem and he wrote  a letter to the Chairman of the Non-tariff Barrier Committee in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) regarding the issue. He assured the country that the problem will soon be settled once the  cause on the transpired  ban comes to light.

Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) officials was quick to say that their move was in compliance with Tanzania’s regulations providing that such services be conducted within each country’s boundaries.

Read More

TANZANIA Govt probing reasons for barring TZ vehicles from Kenya's airport'

The government has formed a task force involving four ministries - East African Cooperation, Tourism and Natural Resources, Transport and Industries and Trade to probe the factors behind Kenya’s move to bar Tanzania-registered vehicles from entering Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyata International Airport (JKIA).

 

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, minister for the East African Cooperation, Samuel Sitta said on Monday this week that his ministry convened an emergency meeting involving experts to strategies on how to solve the problem.

 

Sitta said the government has formally sent a letter to the Chairman of the Non-tariff Barrier Committee in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) to officially report the matter and keep it on records. 

 

“We have heard that Kenyans want to enjoy the East African common market protocol which grants member states free movement of people, labour and goods… but last year we made our position very clear that foreign vehicles carrying tourists are not allowed to enter our country’s national parks,” he said. 

 

Sitta further insisted that there are no reports that Tanzanian officials have been harassing Kenyans nor preventing their vehicles from entering the country’s airports. 

 

“I don’t understand the motive behind this matter… I don’t know what Kenyans have in mind about our country. We are going to pursue this matter until we come up with the source of all these problems,” said the minister.

 

He said Tanzanians shouldn’t be worried because solution to the problem will be found very soon. He called on Tanzanians en route to and from Kenya to be patient as the government works tirelessly to put an end to the inconvenience.

 

Tourism and business stakeholders in northern Tanzania have termed the act as an economic warfare between the two countries

From late December last year, travelers reported to have been frustrated by Kenya’s move to bar Tanzania-registered motor vehicles from entering the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to drop or collect transit passengers to and from this country.

 

The travelers claimed that the order was issued on December 22 last year. The situation is said to have caused fear and uncertainty among tourists traveling to Tanzania via the airport.

 

Last year, tour operators from Kenya alleged that their vans carrying tourists were denied entry to Tanzania at the four main border posts of Namanga, Sirari, Horohoro and Holili something that forced them to hire Tanzanian-registered vehicles and drivers to take the visitors to the selected tourist spots in Tanzania.

 

On August 2014, the Kenyan government through its cabinet secretary for EAC Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Phyllis Kandie was quoted as saying that Kenya would lodge a formal complaint to the EAC Secretariat against Tanzania whose officials, it accuses of barring tour operators from the neighbouring country from entering its (Tanzania) territory with tourists.

Read More

KENYA PREVENTS TANZANIA MOTOR VEHICLES ENTERING JOMO KENYATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Travellers have been frustrated by Kenya’s barring of Tanzania-registered motor vehicles from entering the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to drop and pick transit passengers to and from this country.

 

The drivers in their hundreds both from private and public vehicles, said the order was issued on December 22.

 

Since then, they further said, it has caused fear and uncertainty among tourists traveling to Tanzania via the JKIA.

 

Speaking to The Guardian near the entrance gate to the JKIA, drivers from various tourist companies said the action has embarrassed their guests most of whom belonged to different nationalities.

 

Ruben Kiondo, a driver working with Rainbow Shuttle Company, said he was surprised by the directive. He further said that it had been in place for a week now and annoyed Tanzania travelers, but the Tanzania government has been quiet about it.

 

“We demand an explanation from our government; it should tell us about the whole fracas which threatens our economy. The government should come out and tell us what is going on here,” he said.

 

He noted that most tourists affected were worried about their security on exchanging from shuttle mini-buses to taxis at night. They were also not sure of the reliability of motor vehicles which might make them miss their flights that are strict on time, they said.

 

 "We have been harassed very much by security officials at the JKIA as they ask where our clients come from. When they say they hail from Tanzania they are harassed and asked why they  did not fly through the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA),” Kiondo lamented.

 

Another driver, Assey   Faustin, noted that there were times when security officials warned them that their vehicles would be stopped from entering Kenya.

 

“It’s very frustrating to hear these threats while Kenyan vehicles go everywhere in Tanzania as they move from airports to  small towns. Kenyans enjoy and do business without any problem,” he asserted.

 

A businessman from Arusha, Patel Bhatia, who also arrived at the JKIA entrance gate on Friday to collect his guests from London, some of who were his relatives, said he was shocked to be barred from picking them.

 

"This act is barbaric, happening in a country which is  civilized. My guests arrived by a Kenya Airways  flight, but  they stopped me  from picking them. I don’t understand this,” Bhatia said.

 

Speaking about the issue, the Director of River Side Shuttle, Moses Kingori, said the action affected his business beyond expectations. His clients from Europe and America cancelled their safaris because of the uncertainty of travelling through Kenya, he explained.

 

Commenting on the matter, the Tanzania minister for East Africa Community Affairs, Samwel Sitta, blamed the act saying it was unfriendly and jeopardized the East African integration.

 

Said he: “I cannot directly blame the government of Kenya. I personally understand President Kenyatta’s spirit towards the EA integration, but actions at the lower level undermine it. We are seeking for urgent and meaningful interventions against these unfriendly actions.”

 

Read More