TANZANIAN EX-PRIME MINISTER JOINS OPPOSITION AHEAD OF POLL

Former Tanzanian prime minister Edward Lowassa  has officially  defected from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, accusing it of "oppressive leadership", less than three months ahead of a general election to be held on r October 25.

Edward Lowasa

Lowassa, 61, was the east African country's prime minister between 2005 and 2008.

He said he was now joining the opposition Chadema party.

"CCM leaders have of late turned to be undemocratic, oppressive and witch-hunting. I am no longer with them," Lowassa said, adding he had switched to Chadema "to bring positive and meaningful change in our society."

Lowassa had joined the race earlier this month to run as the CCM's presidential candidate, where he was seen as a frontrunner among 42 candidates, but lost out to government minister John Magufuli.

Following his defeat, Lowassa claimed the ruling party was "infested with leaders who are dictators, undemocratic and surrounded with greedy power mongers."

The ruling CCM party has dominated politics since modern Tanzania was formed in 1964, and currently has two-thirds of seats in parliament.

Tanzania, with over 50 million people, is east Africa's most populous country, with economic growth of more than seven percent, according to the World Bank.

Despite advances, the country remains very poor by regional and international standards, the World Bank says, with agriculture the key sector, providing a quarter of gross domestic product and employing three-quarters of the population.

The government has also been criticised for failing to stamp out rampant corruption

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FOOD AND DRUGS EXPERTS DISCUSS AFLATOXIN POISONOUS CHEMICAL

Food and drugs experts from in and outside the country recently converged at Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NMAIST) for two days workshop to chart out ways of suppressing one of the most deadly food poisons.

Aflatoxin is a poisonous chemical contaminating maize, groundnuts, and other key staple foods in the country, making them unfit for human and livestock consumption.

The chemical is secreted by a naturally occurring fungus Aspergillus flavus dubbed silent killer, as it causes liver cancer and suppresses the body’s immunity when the contamination reaches high levels.

“Studies also link aflatoxin to stunted growth among children,” Dr Martin Kimanya, a senior lecturer with the NMAIST, says.

Dr Kimanya is leading a three-man team tasked with analysing the gravity of the poison reported to have killed at least 125 people out of over 300 Kenyans found with the chemical in their blood. 

The team has devised an action plan that seeks to develop a safe and natural bio-control technology that can effectively reduce aflatoxin contamination of maize and groundnuts in the field and during storage. 

Dr Kimanya says the analysis had also revealed that maize, the country’s number one staple food, was way above the recommended maximum limits, citing Bukombe in Shinyanga Region, where the chemical was traced in 80 per cent of the maize sold in the district.

“Ninety nine per cent of the sampled children were found with aflatoxin in their blood,” says Dr Kimanya, adding that Tanzania was incurring an average of $332 million worth of loss in terms of health challenges arising from the chemical.

“This is besides the loss incurred in trade and food security,” he says. The three-man team has developed a five-year draft aflatoxin action plan for controlling aflatoxin in the country.

If stakeholders validate the plan today, it will go a long way in improving the health and livelihoods of millions of families in the country and reduce loss of income from banned trade of contaminated food. 

Ms Yokobety Malisa, the acting director of Coordination of Government Business in the Prime Minister’s Office, says tonnes of exported maize were once returned into the country after the grains were found to contain the poisonous chemical.

Tanzania is among five pilot countries in Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA), a flagship programme in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture in African Union Commission (AUC), is focusing aflatoxin mitigation efforts.

According to the PACA programme manager, Dr Amare Ayalew, the partnership works with governments to improve their effectiveness and efficiency in tackling the aflatoxin challenge in Africa.

PACA was created at the recommendations of the 7th Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform where the urgent need to control mycotoxin contamination was emphasized.

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EAST AFRICAN LEADERS URGE BURUNDI TO POSTPONE ELECTION

Elections in Burundi should be delayed by at least a month and a half and all violence must stop, East African leaders said Sunday after a regional summit on the crisis.

"The summit, concerned at the impasse in Burundi, strongly calls for a long postponement of the elections not less than a month and a half," the East African Community (EAC) said in a statement read out by its secretary general Richard Sezibera after the meeting of regional leaders in Tanzania.

The statement called "on all parties to stop violence," for the "disarmament of all armed youth groups" -- a clear reference to ruling party supporters accused of attacking opponents -- and for "the creation of conditions for the return of refugees" who have fled the turmoil.

The crisis in Burundi erupted after the ruling party designated Nkurunziza, in power for 10 years, as its candidate for upcoming elections.

The opposition and rights groups say this violates the constitution as well as a 2006 peace deal that ended a 13-year civil war.

The war left hundred of thousands dead, and there are widespread fears that the current crisis could push the impoverished, landlocked country back into conflict.

Burundi's government has insisted that parliamentary elections will take place on June 5 despite weeks of civil unrest that has left at least 30 people dead. The presidential election is scheduled for June 26.

The summit has been seen as an important opportunity to resolve the crisis, with talks between Nkurunziza's camp and the Burundian opposition deadlocked.

However the leaders stopped short of telling the president to back down, only calling for a "return to the constitutional order" in Burundi.

- Nkurunziza 'campaigning' -

The Burundian president, however, failed to turn up: his spokesman said he instead would be pushing ahead with his re-election campaign.

It was during a first crisis meeting on May 13 in Tanzania's economic capital, attended by Nkurunziza, that a top general launched an unsuccessful bid to oust him -- and the president was seen as being wary of again leaving the country. 

There was no immediate response from the Burundian government to the call for an election delay.

According to a diplomat close to the talks, Nkurunziza will also be expected to "give the opposition and independent media an opportunity to freely express themselves".

The EAC summit was attended by leaders from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, a key regional player and Burundi's neighbour, sent a minister to represent him, although South African President Jacob Zuma did join the talks.

Nkuruniza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu majority and a born-again Christian, insists he has every right to stand again, arguing that for his first term in office he was appointed by parliament and not after a general election.

Asked to rule on Nkurunziza's candidacy, Burundi's constitutional court found in favour of the president, but not before one of the judges also fled the country, claiming that its members were subject to death threats.

- Demonstrators disappointed -

Key international donors have withdrawn their support for the polls, as has the influential Catholic Church in Burundi, and on Saturday it emerged that a senior member of the election commission had fled the country -- further plunging preparations for the polls into disarray.

The country's main opposition leader, Agathon Rwasa, also said elections would be a "masquerade" if they go ahead.

UN special envoy Said Djinnit said on Friday that talks between the Burundian government and opposition had made progress on several issues -- including the reopening of independent media and the release of detainees -- but not on the key issue of a halt to protests in return for Nkurunziza's agreement not to stand again.

He said both sides "have agreed to resume their talks after the summit in Dar es Salaam".

But demonstrators on the streets of Bujumbura said they were disappointed by the outcome of the summit.

"It doesn't change anything. One month is not enough. there are lots of problems -- independent media has not reopened, the rights of protestors are violated. All of this needs to be resolved before elections can be held," said Antoine, an anti-Nkurunziza activist who asked that his full name not be published.

"It shows that the heads of state don't have the will to deal with Nkurunziza," said another demonstrator. "The crisis will continue, even get worse."

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AfRICA’S FOOD SECURITY THREATENED BY DEADLY MAIZE DESEASE

More than 150 participants are meeting  in Nairobi for an international conference to share knowledge on the latest diagnostics and screening methods for the maize lethal necrosis (MLN) disease, and assess ways of curbing its spread across Africa to help mitigate its effects, particularly large-scale crop losses for smallholders and seed companies.

The conference is timely because quality seed is the pillar of agriculture in Africa and the world. It is therefore important to protect the maize seed value chain from MLN through concerted action by both the public and private sectors.

“The maize lethal necrosis disease has caused losses worth millions of dollars for farmers and seed companies in the affected regions in sub-Saharan Africa, where maize is both a food and cash crop. It is also affects food consumers since farmers have no maize crop to release to the market. This therefore calls for urgent need to find a sustainable and widely applicable solution as key stakeholders,” said Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

To this end, AGRA, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in collaboration with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) have organized a conference on MLN Diagnostics and Management in Africa. The event will bring together scientists, policymakers, seed companies and regulators to take stock of current knowledge and best practice in managing MLN, and to build consensus on the actions needed to check its spread.

The situation is particularly critical as most of the maize varieties in East Africa’s seed market are vulnerable to MLN. In Kenya for example, the disease is widespread across most maize-growing areas causing an estimated loss of 10 per cent of national maize production per year (equivalent to USD 50 million).

This means that Kenya and neighboring countries (DR Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda) where the disease has been reported are on the verge of serious food insecurity, unless urgent and intensive action is taken.

“The profound implication of MLN for Africa’s most important grain – maize – is a reality that cannot be ignored. We have a responsibility to work together and control its spread, as

scientists continue to work hard in developing maize varieties that can effectively resist the MLN viruses,” said Dr. Prasanna Boddupalli, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program.

The rapid spread of the MLN disease is a major concern for scientists, regulators and maize seed companies. The conference will therefore focus on finding practical solutions to strengthen MLN diagnostics and surveillance capacity. Other solutions include MLN-free seed production and safe exchange to non-endemic areas, which is a key step in controlling further spread and impact of MLN in sub-Saharan Africa.

“At AGRA, we have years of experience in working with seed companies to produce quality, certified seed. We hope to draw on that experience as we collaborate with all stakeholders involved in the MLN mitigation effort to ensure that Africa’s farmers continue to access quality, MLN-free seed to safeguard their livelihoods and food security,” said Dr. George Bigirwa, AGRA’s Head of the Regional Team for East and Southern Africa.

Collaboration with national agricultural research bodies like KALRO has been instrumental in the ongoing efforts to identify and develop MLN-tolerant maize varieties. The establishment of the MLN screening facility in 2013 at Naivasha, Kenya, by CIMMYT and KALRO in response to the MLN outbreak in East Africa was a welcome and much-needed intervention. Recently, a few MLN-tolerant maize varieties have been released in East Africa, and several more are in the pipeline.

“This facility was a critical breakthrough in our efforts to manage MLN. So far, more than 40,000 maize accessions have been evaluated and promising lines with levels of resistance to MLN have been selected. Our collaboration with key partners will remain steadfast until we eliminate MLN in Kenya and Africa. This is a commitment that KALRO will faithfully uphold,” said Dr. Eliud Kireger, Director General of KALRO.

Dr. Anne Wangai, KALRO’s Chief Researcher, who played a key role in reporting the disease in Kenya in 2011, adds, “The occurrence of MLN in Kenya was a new phenomenon that meant scientists had to initiate basic research to understand this new disease and seek urgent measures to manage it both the short and long term. Research will remain a pillar of MLN management, integrating various technologies that our farmers must adopt at their level to control the disease.”

The decisions from the conference will be critical for seed companies in Africa to produce and exchange MLN-free seed, and for helping smallholder farmers to effectively tackle MLN to safeguard their subsistence and livelihoods

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NON GOVT ORGANISATION ON MOVE TO FIGHT GBV

A local NGO has embarked on movement against domestic gender based violence in its quest to address historical injustice in Kilimanjaro region.

Kilimanjaro HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention Program (MKUKI) says that domestic gender based violence (GBV) is a silent, but deadly social menace mostly affecting women and children.

To start with, Mkuki Executive Director, Linnah Mlay says they have resolved to carry out awareness campaign and so far about 50 the local and clan leaders from nearly 16 villages in Moshi rural district have been reached out.

“Why clan leaders, it is because they are dealing with GBV cases, so we believe if educated, they are better placed not only to decide fairly, but also to spread the message among their clan members” Ms Mlay explains during a workshop held in Himo small town.

She believes that awareness raising, advocacy, and community mobilization with clan as well as local government leaders would help them recognize their roles in responding to GBV and develop strategies to take action.

According to her GBV is a grave reality in the lives of many women in Tanzania. It results from gender norms, social and economic inequities that give privilege to men over women.

“We can no longer pretend that we don’t know that in Tanzania there’s a gender discrimination and gender equity in different facets of life” Ms Mlay says.

Mkuki campaign includes how prevalent gender-based violence is and the ways and extent to which it harms not only women and girls but also men and boys and, furthermore, the country’s developing economy and health and social welfare systems.

Aginatha Rutazaa, trainer says that in most incidents the chagga and Pare tribes handle GBV cases by using traditional systems where women are always the losers.

“By educating clan leaders, then the clan meetings can become the agents of change as far as GBV is concerned” Ms Rutazaa explains.

One of trained clan leader, Michael Shirima, from Kilema village commended MKUKI for coming up with such kind of training package for them because it gives them insights.

In their declaration after training, the clan leaders vowed to do utmost to eradicate not only GBV, but also other harmful traditions.

“We are going to break the silence and dare to be transparent on this issues to both men and women. We will also educate our members on how best can spend incomes to avoid GBV” reads the declaration presented by Ismail Sevuri.

The clan leaders promised to empower their members both men and women on importance of reporting the GBV when occur to them.

They also implored the government to enforce international and local human rights protocols such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948 in Paris.

The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.

 “The government needs to provide education on the harmful effects of GBV and review existing laws on gender violence in a bid to be effective” reads part of their declaration.

Mkuki, an NGO registered way back in 1994 with its catchment area in Kilimanjaro region, has its vision that desire community that is free of new HIV infections and vigilant in upholding equal rights for men and women, as well as those infected and affected by the scourge.

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KENYA AND TANZANIA ARE APPARENTLY ON THE WAR OF ECONOMY

 Kenya Airways stands to lose big time after the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority’s decision to cut the frequency of its flights from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro by over 60 per cent.

In what appears to be payback after Kenya banned Tanzanian vehicles from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the move comes in the wake of a deadlock on the Bilateral Air Services Agreements (Basa) between the two countries. Flights from Kenya to Tanzania are now down to 14 a week from 42, a 67 per cent reduction. The move took effect on Tuesday.

TCAA has written to the government of Kenya informing it of the decision, which took effect on Tuesday this week. The move is likely to affect tourism and trade between the two countries.

According to the TCAA letter, Kenya has maintained a hardline stance on resolving issues surrounding the Basa. The acting TCAA Director General, Mr Charles Chacha, told The Citizen yesterday that the two countries had gone for years without an aviation agreement. “It is quite clear that civil aviation is administered by laws and principles,” Mr Chacha said. “Each country is required to comply with the laws in a given country.” The Bilateral Air Services Agreements (Basa) has been stuck in a stalemate between the two countries.

There are issues to be considered in each agreement, Mr Chacha said, including the number and kind of flights, alongside identification of airport for international flights.

In Tanzania, most of international flights use Mwanza, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro airports. “When you sign an agreement,” Mr Chacha added, “you have an obligation to protect and guarantee the safety of all planes in your space.”

The TCAA boss said the measures spelled out in the letter will remain in place pending Kenya’s response.

The matter has seemingly been a burning issue for years and representatives of both countries have met to discuss it--with no success.

According to Mr Chacha, there have been meetings to sort out the matter for almost eight years, having started in 2007. There were further meetings in Nairobi in 2011 and in Indonesia in 2014. “We have considered the gravity of the non-acceptance by Kenya of the proposed criterion by Tanzania and the time taken and implementation of the actions seemed to be the option,” he said. “The United Republic of Tanzania regrets that the discussions could not come into consensus on the matter relating to principal place of business and effective regulatory control as a criterion for airline designation parallel to the majority ownership and effective control requirement,” reads part of the letter.

Asked about the economic outcome, the TCAA boss responded that there were advantages and disadvantages to everything.

Kenya Airways is the leading foreign airline in terms of flights operated per week between Kenya and Tanzania and it will now have to reschedule all flights to comply with the new schedule.

The Kenya Airways country manager in Tanzania, Ms Lucy Malu, told The Citizen that she and her team were doing everything they could to contain passengers within the given flights. “We have been affected by the TCAA’s decision but we have managed to fix our schedules and I can say things are in order,” she added.

SOURCE; THE CITIZEN

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WE WILL DIE FOR OUR ANCESTRAL LAND ,SAY LOLIONDO MAASAI

A pile of animal hides used as sleeping pads are the only few items that can be spotted around Arash, Loosoito and Maaaloni villages in Ngorongoro District following the recent eviction  that saw bomas burnt to ashes.

Homeless families living under the tree

From a distance one can only see a few sacks, sleeping mats and water buckets hanging from tree branches as you approach the area that has been dotted with ashes

Residents say the area is too moist to put their few belongings on ground and the condition gives children sleepless nights.

Though young children looked un- disturbed by the situation, one could paint a picture of how they endure the extremely cold Ngorongoro weather during the night.

Sleeping under tree or maybe on tall tree branches for elders as a way to protect their families from wild animals, could be the only imagination.

When this reporter visited the villages recently he found the hungry children, women and old men striving to meet their ends.

“We have no food, blankets, cooking utensils, cloths. Everything was burnt. The government has burned our homes, everything we owned and abandoned us” William Seyelek, a traditional Masaai elder said.

Seyelek said they have vowed not to leave their land despite the government directives because, the area belongs to them.

“We belong here, our forefathers lived and were buried here. We cannot forsake them this time that they are no longer with us. We will fight if not for us but for their sake” he said.

He said they will fight for their rights and set a history for their generation because their relocation from Serengeti National Park to the area was an agreement between them and the British government way back during colonialism.

 Some villagers who talked to The Guardian on Sunday said they live in horrible conditions especially after the brutal acts were carried out during the rainy seasons.

A Maaaloni villager who preferred anonymous said she has been left homeless with a family of eight. “My children cannot sleep at night and always complain of coldness because we do not have even bed sheets let alone blankets” she said.

The conflict area saw Tanzanian National Parks security rangers burning Masaai people’s bomas on February 12 this year has left more than three thousand residents homeless has been in dispute for over20 years.

  Government stand:

Ngorongoro District commissioner, Elias Wawa Lali earlier condemned the burning of Maasai homes and warned that the actions would escalate violence in the area. 

However, Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC)  Daudi Ntibenda who visited the Area on Thursday this week maintained that Maasai community have to vacate the area before the full wrath of the state fall on them.

 “I give you two more weeks to vacate the area and those who disobey the order will be forcefully evicted “the RC reportedly said.

However in a meeting with Masaai community at Imolelian area, the victims were not given a chance to speak or their fate so to say. 

Ntibenda instead told the community to vacate the area, claiming they were posing a threat to the famous Serengeti national park and the wildebeests’ ecosystem migration. He also accused the media for a biased coverage.

 Human rights activists:

A human rights defender from Tanzania Pastoralist community forum Joseph Parsambei has condemned the government for its actions its own citizens appeal for high consideration on the fate of the affected families.

He said such an act was against human rights, as the government has disregarded victims loses and denied assistance.

“We need to provide food for the starving population - especially children. Livestock have been removed from this area, this means children lack milk and from the look of things they are in terrible suffering,” he said.

Background 

Earlier the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu on different occasions explained to the local communities the value of the area for biodiversity conservation both nationally and internationally.  

He said the area was important for the nation and invited Masaai communities to be fully involved in managing it for a shared benefit.

 However, the Minister’s proposal was rejected by the community who insisted that the land belonged solely to them and they do not tolerate national or international interference.

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SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK WARDENS RAZE 114 MAASAI BOMAS ,HUNDREDS STRANDED

I  cant believe what Iam seeing 'Oleperes from Loosoito Village told the media showing his boma which has been torched to ashes

We have no homes Maasai women told journos





MORE than three thousand residents of Arash, Loosoito and Maaaloni   villages in Ngorongoro District have been left homeless after the Serengeti National Park security rangers burned 114 Maasai bomas leaving them without                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 necessary supplies.

Journalists visiting the area yesterday witnessed groups of women and children moaning and showing fear as fully armed park rangers continued burning other bomas in nearby villages.

Narrating the ordeal to the press, traditional elders said burning of their homes is outrageous, irreparable losses in their lives, and the government should intervene immediately to save the situation. 

 “This is our homeland. Our fathers were placed here after they were evicted from Serengeti in an agreement way back in 1959 between the colonial government and the community during the establishment of the Serengeti National Park. We have lost almost everything, ’’said Peter Meleton.

Meleton said the agreement stipulated clearly that the Maasai will not face any other evictions from their land and wondered why it is happening now.
 He blamed the park management for conducting the operation and treating common harmless citizens as criminals.

 “Those who showed signs of protest were forced to get out of their houses by force and at times pointing a gun and threatened to be killed if they refused to obey orders,” he elaborated.

 Another elder, Kantuli Lekakin said the exercise has been going on as a military operation, as we heard a lot of gunfire in the village for several hours yesterday.

Traditional leaders from three villages maintained that even though their homes have been turned into ashes, they will not leave the area because it is their heritage.

 “We will not leave, even by an inch. We are willing to die for our land; our community has lived in oppression, injustice and has continued to be poor. But enough is enough, no quitting,” insisted Kantuli.

 He said they are 5 to 10km away from the park border; however park authorities claim the villagers are living one kilometer into the park area.

For his part William Sayelek said his boma was torched with the entire food produce inside, and now his children have nothing to eat.

 “The operation was brutal. They sometimes shot into the air causing great confusion in the whole village. We need food, temporary shelters and medical services to survive,” he stated. 

Families are now living under trees and children have started getting sick due to cold weather, the villager noted.

Speaking on behalf of women, Noorki Saruni, a resident of Arash,   said women and children are starving and facing health complications resulting from food shortages.

 "I lost seventy kilograms of maize, milk and bread dough. The situation is getting worse every minute. Our government should help us,” she said. 

According to the Park rangers who could not avail their names to the media for fear of being victimised, the Serengeti National Park management is conducting the operation to remove villagers who have put permanent settlements near the border of the park.

However the Maasai were quick to refute the claims saying this is a government move to allocate their ancestral land to the Arab Emirate royal family for hunting.  

Serengeti chief park warden William Mwakilema told The Guardian on Sunday in brief responses by phone that the burned bomas were inside the Serengeti National Park.

“We have documentary evidence on what we did.  We are protecting the park; these pastoralists have been bringing large group of livestock to graze inside the park. We are clearing them out,” the warden affirmed

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KENYA BAN TANZANIA TOURIST VEHICLES TO ENTER ITS AIRPORTS AND NATIONAL PARKS

 Tourist vans registered in Tanzania will not be allowed into Kenya’s airport, airstrips and national parks and reserves starting Friday midnight.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie says Kenya has taken the move to ensure fair play in the sector since Kenya tour vans have not been allowed in Tanzania parks and airports for a long period.

“From today February 6, 2015, at midnight, Tanzania registered tour vans will not be allowed to pick, drop or exchange passengers at all tourism sites, airstrips and airports, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airports, JKIA,” Kandie announced during a media briefing.

On December 22 last year, Kenyan authorities put the ban on Tanzanian-registered vehicles from dropping off or picking up passengers at JKIA and other airports and tourism sites.

ut Tanzania requested for negotiations with Kenya to have the ban lifted for a period of three weeks.

However Kandie says there has been no dialogue between the two countries for within the given period pushing Kenya to get back to the full implementation of a 1985 bilateral agreement.

The agreement does not allow tour vans to access parks and airports in either of the countries and which Kenya has not been fully implementing unlike Tanzania.

“The Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources (Lazaro Nyalandu), of the United Republic of Tanzania came to Kenya and requested for a three-week window for talks. Those three weeks have now expired without Tanzania counterparts convening the meeting for negotiations. We have therefore resolved to move forward with the full implementation of the bilateral agreement,” the CS said.

However, Kandie however says in the spirit of East Africa integration, Tanzania vans will be allowed to drop and exchange tourists in all the towns in Kenya despite Kenya vans having limited entry in Tanzania.

Kenyan vans will continue to drop their tourists in Tanga, Moshi, Arusha and Musoma.

In March last year the two East African States reverted to their 1985 bilateral agreement as an interim measure to resolve their differences in efforts to protect the multi-million-dollar tourism industry.

It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of about one million tourists visiting Tanzania annually pass through JKIA before crossing overland into the Tanzania national parks.

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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.

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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

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