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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

 

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SEVEN LIONS KILLED IN TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK ECOSYSTEM

Seven lions from Tarangire National Park were yesterday killed by Maasai warriors in revenge for marauding livestock in a nearby Olasiti village in Babati District, Manyara Region

 

 

Narrating, Lang’asani Morwo said about twelve lions invaded his neighbour’s compound and started attacking livestock before the owner called for help.

 

He said a big number of young men traditionally known as Morans came and started chasing the lions before killing them with spears. He said the Morans managed to kill four of them.

“News had spread in the whole village that several lions had been spotted  near Zion tourists Campsite thus prompting Maasai warriors to fight them,” Morwo said.

 

  During the two-hour battle, two young  warriors were seriously injured.

 

He said the Morans decided to hunt other lions in  Tarangire National Park where they managed to kill four lions.

Commenting on the killings  , the Minister for Tourism and Natural Resources, Lazaro Nyalandu condemned the killings ,saying act would harm the tourism sector.  

 

“I condemn the act of people taking the law into their own hands and kill the most precious species of wild life  in our heritage ,we have special forces to respond  in cases of  wild animals invade human settlements. The residents were supposed to inform Tarangire National park officials about the presence of the lions in the village and not to kill them,” said Nyalandu.

 

He said even if there had been an attack, Tanapa rangers could have arrived in the area within less than five minutes because the area is a few kilometres from the headquarters of Tarangire National Park.

 

Nyalandu also asked the police force in Mnyara Region and Tarangire National Park to conduct proper investigations on the matter so that legal action can be taken.

 

“We must find out the motive behind. Preliminary investigation had established that two lions were killed by using gun…who owned the gun and why killing the animals,” Nyalandu querried.

 A recent survey showed that Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem, is home of many lions.    

 

Tarangire Lion Project shows a total of 226 lions had been killed between 2004-2013 in retaliation for marauding livestock.

Lions are Africa’s big five cats  that attract tourists each year.

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MAASAI COMMUNITIES IN NOTHERN TANZANIA DRY LANDS SAY CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT REAL

Maasai pastoralists in Arusha Region have a reason to smile, thanks Hakikazi Catalyst and the International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED), working to improve climate change adaptation planning.

Tina Timan ,a councilor from Ngorongoro

The pastoralists living in Monduli, Longido and Ngorongoro districts that are under threat of climate change impact are to benefit through establishment devolved district-level climate adaptation fund.
Development experts say current planning and governance methods are not adequate to address the impacts of climate change and support local resilience.

Speaking during a two-day workshop at Longido, Namanga, the community leaders said climate change impact is real and seriously putting their livelihoods in jeopardy.
Commenting during the workshop, also attended by members of parliament from the three districts, a prominent Maasai elder Saiteye Martalo said the weather is getting hotter and the rain more unpredictable.
He said: “This project will ultimately help us adapt to climate change through strategies for sustaining livestock production based on an understanding of the most important climate and social changes affecting our livestock management and the cultural, socio-economic, and physical impediments to climate change adaptation.” 
Martalo said the project has come at the right time because the knowledge they got will lead to pastoral transformation and to resilient futures by understanding climate from the ground up.
 ”I’m pleased with this programme and especially by involving women in pastoral communities; women in these communities are the most affected victims of climate change impact.
“They are the ones who travel long distances to find water, collect firewood and  I believe this programme will help bring mechanisms to give more  relief to them enormously, "said  Tina Timan a  councilor from Ngorongoro District.
Tina added that there is a need for government to review land use policies because currently pastoral communities are at greater risk of becoming landless because a lot of land has been turned into conservation areas or allocated to investors.
Dora Puyo from Monduli went further to say that pastoralists had become refugees in their home land.
 
 “I ask our politicians and the government to take action now; herders are at greater risk of becoming poor, it is important steps are taken to counter the ongoing situation,“ she stressed.  
Climate change impact is an issue of concern but according to her there is a problem of investors or some local individuals hardening large tracts of pastoralits’  areas, leaving them  without grazing pastures.
 
 ”Where I come from  in  Monduli, investors have big chunks of land  which is undeveloped; such land should be reallocated to local communities,”   said  Kipuyo,  vice-chairlady  women council, Monduli District.
Alais Morin at , Project Coordinator from the International Institute of Environment and Development said the project is funded by the UK Department for International Development/UK-AID.
Hakikazi Catalyst is implementing the project in partnership with the three districts.
He said climate change effects pose urgent and significant threats to livelihoods and economies in the dry lands, creating fundamental risks at national level.
“The project seeks to address this situation through improving planning and governance over resources so that local government interventions support dry lands livelihoods and economies to become more resilient while contributing to wider economic growth,” he said.
He noted that production in the dry lands can be resilient and contribute to food security, national economy and social economic stability.
“In this forum, apart from sharing of ideas and experiences, we had an opportunity to reflect on the collective existing policies and national development vision in eradicating poverty and national efforts in addressing climate change and climate.
The workshop brought various stakeholders including traditional elders both men and women with the aim to learn, discuss and develop strategies for recovery and disaster posed by the impact of climate change.
In addition to structural barriers to greater coordination between local and formal planning processes such as inadequate funds for consultation, different planning cycles, there are ideological barriers, for example, lack of value placed on traditional knowledge.

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Ugandan legislator Daniel Kidega has been named the new Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly

Ugandan legislator Daniel Kidega has been named the new Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, replacing Margaret Zziwa.    

Hon ,Daniel Kidega new EALA Speaker

The position fell vacant mid-this week after the regional parliament impeached  Zziwa  over alleged impunity, incompetence, intimidation of members, among other reasons.

Kidega, an NRM politician, had to beat off interests by three other hopefuls, who include Mike Kennedy Sebalu (NRM), Chris Okumu Opoka (UPC) and Suzan Nakawuki (Independent). He at the end of the process was nominated unopposed.

In his new post, Kidega will be responsible for directing all activities of the House and its Committees.

As Speaker, he will also preside over the proceedings of the regional legislative body under the EALA Rules of Procedure.
Following Wednesday's removal of Zziwa from office, Uganda was given 48 hours to fill the position, a demand that was duly fulfilled on Friday.

The former Speaker was in Uganda at the time of the censure, which saw 36 out of 39 members vote in favour of her impeachment. Two members voted against the move while one abstained. 

Zziwa had served in that postion for three-and-a-half years.
Her impeachment means she remains an ordinary MP until 2017, when the term of the current assembly expires. Despite this repercussion, one of her lawyers, Jet Tumwebaze, has said they will challenge the verdict.

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CHURCH DONATES DOZENS OF MOSQUITO NETS TO ARUSHA HEALTH FACILITIES

LONG-maintained good work relationship between religious denominations and the government has saved many lives and support mankind both physically and spiritually.

 Arusha Regional Commissioner, David Ntibenda made the remarks yesterday at the occasion to receive 2,700 mosquito nets worth 21m/- donated by the Tanzania Assemblies of God church in Arusha.

The regional leader (Ntibenda) said the value of services rendered to the community by religious denominations could not be overstated and the government would always appreciate and support the initiative.

"We (government) are sincerely grateful for the donation of bed nets by the Assemblies of God Church in Tanzania. The bed nets will be distributed to both private and public health facilities as directed by the benefactor Ntibenda,” explained

Adding; “The support has been received at the right time as the government intensifies the fight against malaria.

 The disease continues to threaten many lives especially among children under five years old and expecting mothers,” he said

Speaking after handing over the bed nets, the Vice Bishop of Tanzania Assemblies of God Church in Tanzania, Bishop Magnus Mhiche said the church has offered the bed nets being part of celebrations to mark the 75th Jubilee since its establishment in the country.

The cleric said the church had provided 2,6oo nets to match the number of patient beds in the region and the beds are destined for both public and private health facilities.

"We are doing this countrywide, will go to every region and provide nets according to the number of beds, our pastors and believers will also donate blood to bridge the gap in hospitals’ blood banks, “ Mheche clarified

He said the slogan for the donation campaign is “God loves your body and soul, make a good relationship with Him”

Holy Scriptures argue us, he added, to love each other unconditionally for extended support to all human beings irrespective of one’s faith, color, gender or any other affiliation

Arusha Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr Frida Mokiti thanked the church for the support and promised that the received consignment would be distributed to the intended health facilities in the region.

"Many thanks to the TAG church for the support extended to us. Bed nets have proved to be effective mechanism to fight malaria," She concluded
Ends

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SPEAKER FOR THE EAST AFRICAN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OUSTED

EALA SPEAKER Magreth Zziwa

 The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has ousted Speaker Margaret Zziwa, after an overwhelming vote of no confidence in an extra-ordinary sitting today. 

36 EALA MP’s voted to oust her with only two voting against the motion to remove her.  One MP abstained.  

Her removal from office came as a result of the impeachment motion moved by Peter Mathuki (Kenya) on grounds of gross abuse of office.

Zziwa had attempted to block the House from ousting her through an application to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) but the court binned her application a day before the voting. 

Prior to the voting, the Eala Committee of Legal, Rules and Privileges had also overwhelming approved the investigative report into Zziwa’s alleged abuse of office. The Assembly was due to vote for her replacement later in the day. 

SOURCE The new TIMES Rwanda

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