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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MAASAI ELDERS ASK PRESIDENT KIKWETE TO END LOLIONDO LAND SAGA

Traditional elders from the Maasai community in Loliondo area of Ngorongoro district have urged the government to put in writing its position on the ongoing land crisis that has created fear of forty thousand people to become land less. 

ELders isssuing statement

It was earlier alleged that Tanzania Government was planning to evict the Maasai from Loliondo and turn their ancestral land into a reserve for the royal family of Dubai to hunt big game.

Speaking during a community meeting held   in Kertalo village, Maasai elders thanked President Jakaya Kikwete for his quick reaction to dismiss the rumor and clearly stated in his tweet that his government was not in plan to evict Loliondo residents from their mother land.

“Much as we hail our president for his good comments we would like also to ask him to formalize his government stand on the issue in writing for records purposes. Said Kinyanjui Kimeriai a prominent traditional leader in Loliondo.
Kimeriai  went on to say that hunting tourism should be banned in the area because they see it as the source of the land conflict.

Another Elder   Mesiaya Ole Tome also asked the President to direct the ministry of tourism and natural resources to retract written statements it issued on March 21, and April 7, last year, on turning their ancestral land into wildlife management area.
Tome  insisted that if their land is taken it would rob them of their heritage and directly or indirectly affect the livelihoods of 80,000 people as the area is crucial for the grazing of livestock on which the nomadic Maasai depend
These statements are the source of fear gripping Maasai communities in Loliondo ,Once retracted in  a written  statement form ,Loliondo resident will believe the government had listened to their concerns
Commenting on the issue the director for Tanzania Pastoralist Community Forum (TPCF) Joseph Parsambei has insisted that it was a high time the governments ends a two decade land conflict in Loliondo and allow pastoralists to enjoys their citizenry rights.
He said Loiliondo land should be surveyed and villagers given ownership titles deeds to end the Loliondo land saga once and for all.
“The source of fear and confusion in the area is the uncertainty of who owns Loliondo land, is it the government or villagers, there are also laws conflicting the land status ,this needs government taught decision ,the best solution is to declare the land is for the Maasai” Said Parsambei.
For her part, special seats councilors for Ngorongoro District, Tina Timan said due to such displacement of pastoralists, almost 75 percent of Ngorongoro territory will be reallocated exclusively for wildlife tourism management leaving out the pastoralists without necessary resources like land, pasture and water.

She said the situation is chiefly caused by the lack of clarity about the legal status of the land and the relative powers and responsibilities of the central government and village authorities regarding the management of accessibility to the land for purposes of conservation related investments.

“A key example is OBC in 1992, it was granted the land without people’s consultation and the district council signed on behalf of the villages something that is a violation of constitutional rights. The situation is further complicated by the multiplicity of policy, legal and institutional mandates surrounding the Loliondo Game Controlled Area,” she said.

Ngorongoro District Commissioner Elias Wawa Lali said that the government have already given its stance on the issue and asked villagers to be patient and allow the government which is now in top gear to end the land crisis in the area..

"The position of the government is clear and no doubt this time round we are determined to end  these false lies which are propagated by  some individual using  both local and international media ”Lali said when he was asked to comment on the issue.
END

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TANZANIA HOSTS STATUE OF VATICAN'S APPOINTED FOOTBALLERS PATRON

Tanzania has been selected in Africa to host statue of footballers patron, Saint Luigi Scrosoppi, whom sportsmen can pass over their prayers to win instead of witchcraft.

In 2010, Vatican nominated Luigi Scrosoppi as the worldwide Saint that protects al

l Footballers and fans in all games as a way to restore moral in sports.

Arumeru district commissioner Nyirembe Munasa over the weekend led hundreds of people in Momela villager to receive St Luigi’s statue during a mass presided over by Fr. Patrick Kagua from Usa River Parish.

Two Tanzanian sports children under Africa Amin Alama charity organization based in Momella village in Arumeru, on their sponsored trip to Austria brought the original Statue of St. Luigi on 7th of October 2014 to Tanzania.

This statue enters Africa for the very first time, one being kept in Italy, home country of Luigi Scrosoppi, one in South America and this third one brought to one of the main project of Luigi Scrosoppi foundation: to Momella, Ngare Nanuki ward, Arumeru district: the Africa Amini Football Academy.

Faith has become key component in the lives of footballers worldwide lately with players vividly seen making the sign of the cross on the pitch when a match is about to kick off or a goal is scored.

With their patron saint in place, clubs can now go a step further and set aside their own chaplains for saying special masses ahead of and throughout tournaments.  

They can also earmark particular places of devotion for their fans to pray for their teams, says the vice president of Africa Amini Alama, Dr. Cornelia Wallner-Frisee.

“Footballers’ prayers through St Luigi can go a long way in toning down a growing enmity among soccer players and fans,” adds Dr Frisee.   

Africa Amini Alama qualified to be one of the cooperation partners of the Luigi Scrosoppi Foundation that unifies a number of special projects around the world that follow the ideas of St. Luigi.

The Non-for-profit organization is taking care of more than 750 children every day, providing education, medical care, social support, football training in its sports academy, a home and therefore works according to the ideas of St. Luigi Scrosoppi.


The football academy is supported by the foundation as it helps talented, needy children to find a new structure, education and hope in their most important years of childhood.

The academy is registered at the Tanzanian football association, has 25 boarding children, and provides free education, home and football training for talented boys of Arumeru district.

It has won the district league championship in 2014, and got the 1st price for the most disciplined and fairest team of the tournament.

“A small trophy that we are particularly proud because it shows that we teach the boys much more than only football. We are trying hard to follow the spirit of Luigi Scrosoppi” says Dr. Wallner-Frisee.

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ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT DIES IN LONDON

 Zambian President Michael Sata has died in London, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness, a government source in Africa's second-largest copper producer said on Wednesday.

The private Muzi television station and the Zambia Reports and Zambian Watchdog websites said the southern African nation's 77-year-old leader died on Tuesday evening at London's King Edward VII hospital.

"It is true. We lost the President. The acting president will make a statement soon," the source told Reuters.

Sata is likely to be succeeded on an interim basis by defence minister Edgar Lungu, who stood in recently as acting president, or vice-president Guy Scott, who would become Africa's first white head of state since South Africa's FW de Klerk in 1994.

The constitution says a new presidential election must be held within 90 days, with most analysts saying Scott is unlikely to run because of citizenship restrictions.

The Zambian kwacha was largely unchanged.

"Obviously there will be a sentimental temptation to go long dollars, but I'm also quite confident the central bank will do everything it can to protect the currency," one Lusaka-based trader said. "In terms of the economy, everything should still be on track."

Sata left Zambia for medical treatment abroad on Oct. 19 accompanied by his wife and family members, according to a brief government statement at the time that gave no further details.

There was no official update on his condition and Lungu, secretary general of Sata's Patriotic Front party, had to lead celebrations last week to mark the landlocked nation's 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Concern over Sata's health had been mounting since June when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was then reported to be getting medical treatment in Israel.

He missed a scheduled speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September amid reports that he had fallen ill in his New York hotel. A few days before that, he had attended the opening of parliament in Lusaka, joking: "I am not dead."

Sata has not been seen in public since he returned to Zambia from New York in late September.

(Reporting(Reuters)  by Chris Mfula and Ed Cropley; Writing by Ed Cropley; Editing by Joe Brock)

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INVOLVE COMMUNITY IF THE WAR AGAINST POACHING IS TO BE WON - TOUR OPERATORS

Community in and around wildlife-protected areas could fight poaching effectively, if they are meaningfully benefiting from the resources, tour operators say.

MINISTER  FOR TOURISM AND NATURAL RESOURCES  ,LAZARO NYALANDU LEADING  ANTI-POACHING   ELEPHANT AND RHINO MARCH IN ARUSHA 

Chairman of Tanzania Association of Tour operators (TATO) Willy Chambullo said that the government has no option rather than to embrace the community if the war against poaching is to be won.

Addressing hundreds of people who took part in an annual March for elephants and rhino event in Arusha, Chambullo made a passionate call upon the government to review its policy to enable residents around the national parks to benefit more.

“The communities in and around the wildlife protected areas feel that the animals and other flora and fauna are government properties and that they have nothing to do with their lives” Chambullo stressed.

According to him, this perceived perception need to be corrected by availing more opportunities to the communities in and around national parks to make them feel ownership of the wildlife resources.

TATO also highlighted several measures, including a major operation to stop poaching and deal with criminal intermediaries that are involved in the chain from national parks and protected areas, to the ports.

In the list of proposal tour operators demanded a total ban on ivory trade now than latter.

“We need our government to put pressure on CITES and the United Nations to impose a total international ban on all ivory and rhino products trade - horn and ivory” says Chambullo.
TATO also demanded the government to engage China and United States of America directly using Tanzania’s much wanted mineral resources such as oil and gas and uranium as leverage to force china to close of its ivory carving factories.
Chambullo further wanted the government to seek more support from the international community to help fund anti-poaching and to conduct regular wildlife census counts of all wildlife.

“We are of the view that the government needs support from development partners, for a more all inclusive approach to improve development in areas outside national parks serving as migratory corridors and wildlife dispersal zones in improving community based tourism based on nature based & cultural tourism activities” he stressed.

Natural resources and tourism Minister, Lazaro Nyalandu said the government would ensure that the communities are the number one beneficiaries of their own resources than ever before.

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NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE VOTED AS THE WORLD'S BEST HOTEL

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge in the rim of the scenic Ngorongoro crater has won the most prestigious global quality award for this year, raisingthe Tanzania tourism flag high.

The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge was declared by the influential Travel +leisure Magazine as the World’s Best Hotel Service Award Winner for  2014, thanks for the consumer votes.

The Magazine’s world annual award event serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence of hotels and lodges across the globe.

A statement issued by the Magazine publisher, Jay Meyer says: Our readers – the ultimate global citizens – have spoken.

 Now its your turn to share this news with the world”.

He applauded Ngorongoro Sopa lodge management, saying that the lodge represents one of the greatest travel experiences around the globe.

Perched on the rim of a collapsed volcano, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge takes living on the edge to an ultra-luxurious level.

Perks include the resort’s fresh-squeezed juice, performances by the staff choir, and nightly turndown service with a hot water bottle.

“So while guests come to the lodge for its prime wildlife viewing and remote locale, they stay for its impeccable service” says Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge General Manager, Hashim Mohamed.

According to him the award was basically derived from the quality services provided by the Sopa lodge staff to the visitors of the Ngorongoro crater.

“I’m very much proud of my staff for hard working and their team work spirit.

 This is what makes the difference when it comes to provide exceptional services to our customers” Mr Mohamed noted.

The lodge has also won several other international awards such as Certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor for the last consecutive three years, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

In additional, the lodge also has been recognized by the studiosus Quality award 2011 for outstanding level of customers satisfaction, zoover awards 2013, for being one of the highly recommended hotel by

Zoovers visitors, Holidaycheck Quality award 2014 for one of the best rated hotels in the world.

“This is as a result of concerted efforts by all staff in providing exceptional hospitality that compliments our great location,” Mr. Mohamed explained.

According to him, the greatest secret behind the success story is regular staff trainings, employee recognition programs, empowerment and working as a team.

“Its our responsibility to provide our guests with the exception experience that is memorable and as a result share their positive experience with the world” he noted.

Commenting, the CEO of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, Sirili Akko said that Ngorongoro sopa lodge has confirmed to the world that Tanzania is a prime tourism and hospitality destination.

“Quality service is the most important area in tourism industry and honestly Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge has successfully managed to maintain it’s outstanding service provision and this should be emulated by other hospitality service providers” Mr akko stressed.

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EAC PREPARES A MEETING TO ADDRESS EBOLA VIRUS THREAT

 The East African Community (EAC) is preparing a meeting to address the emerging global threat of Ebola virus, the EAC deputy secretary general (Planning and Investments), Dr Enos Bukuku, said yesterday.

The deadly communicable disease with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent has so far reportedly claimed 1,000-plus lives in West African countries.

Dr Bukuku told the visiting Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohammed Shein, that the extraordinary meeting would involve officials from ministries of Health and Social Welfare as well as Transport and Aviation from across the EAC partner states.

Dr Shein was in Arusha yesterday morning to open the 12th Scientific Congress of the Association of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa which the EAC is hosting at its headquarters.

Dr Bukuku said Article 118 of the Treaty establishing the EAC provided for cooperation in health, social and cultural activities in the region.

He said EAC partner states, as a result, cooperated in taking joint action towards management, prevention and control of communicable diseases, development of a common drug policy, and harmonisation of drug procedures in a bid to achieve good control of pharmaceutical standards.

He added that the bloc was also cooperating in the harmonisation of health policies and regulations, the exchange of information on health issues, and in the cooperation and promotion of research.

“Laboratories are workplaces of pathologists and scientists; it is as a kitchen is to a hotel or food industry, for without a laboratory there is no correct treatment and the result is either death or continuous suffering,” Dr Bukuku said.

Meanwhile, SD Africa Limited donated Sh30 million worth of 360 Hepatitis B and C kits to Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar governments during the conference.

Dr Shein received the kits on behalf of both governments shortly before officiating at the congress.

The gadgets, according to the Health and Social welfare minister, Dr Seif Rashid, are essential in the testing of increasing cases of cancer in the country.

The SD Africa Standard Diagnostic Africa representative, Mr Phillip Sawe, said the rapid test kits manufactured in South Korea were effective in high risk areas such as Tanzania. 

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POLICE NET ARUSHA MOST WANTED BOMBING SUSPECTS

POLI CE in Arusha  yesterday named a “most wanted” suspect said to be behind a wave of terrorist attacks in Arusha and Zanzibar.

ARUSHA REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDER L.SABAS

Arusha Regional Police Commander Liberatus Sabas said thorough investigations had established that Mr Yahya Hassan Hella, alias Sensei, was the mastermind behind the terror network responsible for several deadly attacks.

“We have established that he is not only behind the grenade and acid attacks in Arusha,  but is the chief coordinator of this terror network,” he said, adding that the suspect hailed from Kondoa District in Dodoma Region.

Mr Sabas named the suspect as two people appeared in court in Dar es Salaam on terrorism charges.

He said police were also looking for Mr Hella’s accomplices, adding that some of them could have fled the country.

“We have the names of key suspects who have fled Arusha and gone into hiding in other parts of Tanzania and outside the country,” Mr Sabas said.

Nineteen more suspects have been arrested in recent days, taking the number of those in custody to more than two dozen.

Mr Sabas said more people were due to appear in court in Arusha today in connection with attacks which have rocked the northern city in recent months.

Police sources said those arrested in recent days include suspects linked with the grenade attack at a Chadema campaign rally in Arusha on June 15, last year.  The blast killed four people.

The opposition party said it had a video implicating police in the incident.  The Police Force has strongly denied involvement in the attack at Soweto grounds.

Sources also said the suspects in custody included 12 people who were allegedly involved in the  May 5, 2013 grenade attack at a church in Olasiti, Arusha.

 Three people were killed and 60 others wounded when the grenade was hurled into the congregation as the Vatican envoy to Tanzania, Francisco Padilla, was about to grace the official inauguration of the church building.

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