Darfur safety fears: Oversight by TFF?

Could one safely conclude that the Tanzania Football Federation did not see the need for concerns over the state of security in Darfur before the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry raised concern?

Couldn’t that sadly suggest that the federation is living in such confirmed isolation that there is no way it can know what is going on around it – outside its immediate “sphere of influence”?

TFF president Leodegar Tenga, who holds a similar position in Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), ought to have known the risk associated with staging a sub-continental regional soccer tournament in an area as prone to civil strife as Darfur.

Seriously, just how could he endorse CECAFA to go ahead and organise the tournament in the strife-torn region without making efforts to check with the relevant authorities?

Tenga must have known right from the beginning about initiatives taken by the regional body he presides over before endorsing the staging the regional of the club championship, popularly known as Kagame Cup, in a zone not totally free from violence.

It is the same TFF and CECAFA president who was involved in the decision by the regional association to shift the championship from Khartoum to Dar es Salaam in 2011.

If Khartoum was not safe enough to host a tournament in barely two years ago, how could Darfur become safe after almost a decade of war?

Despite being highly obsessed with soccer matters, Tenga and his lieutenants ought to have sensed the political instability in Sudan that led to the recent dismembering of the country.

We salute the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ministry for making highlighting the need for concerns over safety in Darfur, where CECAFA has nonetheless elected to stage its high-profile regional club championship.

Probably Tenga may have delegated his powers to his secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, and believes every word the latter says without taking trouble to digest what he is told – which would be most unfortunate.

Whoever decided on the 2011 shift should have been consulted before Darfur was picked as the venue for this year’s Kagame Cup.

However superbly CECAFA and TFF may have performed thus far, this recent oversight over safety considerations relating tom Darfur comes as a shock to most people in the CECAFA “bloc”.

We can bet that had the issue been public knowledge early enough, clubs would have spared themselves preparation costs in respect of a tournament still covered by smog.

CECAFA should have borrowed a leaf from the Confederation of African Football, which learnt a lot from what happened in Angola during last year’s Nations Cup finals.
Having secured independence after several decades, Angola still suffers from intermittent skirmishes caused by rebels who badly tainted the country’s image by after assaulting the Togo national team.

It will be recalled that CAF also replaced Libya as hosts of the Nations Cup championship that was supposed to be staged this year, with South Africa taking over the role. Reason? Security concerns.

Both TFF and CECAFA should stand reminded about the need to be especially keen on factors to be considered in the selection of countries to host crucial tournaments. Security should always come first.

Tanzania to host swimming course

Tanzania has been given an opportunity to host an international swimming course to be held in Dares Salaam for two days staring from June 29.

Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) secretary general Noel Kiunsi said the course has been sanctioned by the game’s world governing body FINA.

He said University of Dar es Salaam is the venue of the event as FINA has imposed the initiative aimed at empowering swimming officials from African countries with modern tactical and technical know-how of the sport.

He said 18 officials from different swimming clubs in the country have confirmed to attend the course and named Nigerian Olugbenga Lawal as one of the lecturers.

The TSA official expressed his delight for the course saying it will help to develop and improve swimming in the country. He urged swimming officials who have not confirmed to beat the June 6 deadline if they have the intention.

He also named other objectives of the course as to increase number of officials, enhance quality interpretation and application of swimming rules.

The course will be used as an instrument to develop and promote swimming worldwide.
This is the third course for year to be organised by FINA for Tanzania after the first one held under FINA instructor German Gerd Nottelmann at Tanganyika International School (ITS) and another in Zanzibar.

Poulsen awaits Mazembe pair

Taifa Stars coach, Kim Poulsen

Tanzania national soccer team (Taifa Stars) coach Kim Poulsen says all of his players are in sound health and only TP Mazembe striking duo of Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu are missing in his squad.

The duo were expected to arrive in Morocco yesterday to join their colleagues for ad hoc training sessions ahead of Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier tie against the host nation.

Taifa Stars players who arrived in Marrakech on Monday were expected to kick start the training session to gear up for the crucial encounter.

The TP Mazembe duo would not join their colleagues who took a brief training stint in Addis Ababa and played a friendly international against Sudan that ended in barren draw last Sunday.

The Mazembe strikers were rendering services to their team that was playing a CAF Confederation Cup against a Mozambican side over the weekend in Maputo. The qualifier match is expected to kick off close to midnight hours.

Both national teams need to win the encounter so as to keep their World cup qualification hopes on track for the global football championship in Brazil.

So far the reception has been cordial according to Boniface Wambura and the players are up beat. Depending on how the match between Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia will end, Taifa Stars are supposed to work hard and shock again the Moroccans to ease qualification prospects.

Stars are second from the top of the standings table currently dominated by Cote d’Ivoire with a difference of one point.
The Ivorians remain the only team with unbeaten run after three qualifier games and a loss to Gambia will be a blessing in disguise for the Tanzanians should they post a victory on Saturday.

Five top-placed teams from ten qualifier groups will be involved in playoff to determine qualifiers for the World Cup in Brazil.

Morocco are regular qualifiers for the World Cup finals having featured for the first time in 1970. Tanzania is still searching for maiden appearance in the championship. 

Conference: Contain corruption to realise faster development

George Mkuchika (L), has a word with Chief Justice Mohammed Chande Othman (C) and IPP Executive Chairman Dr Reginald Mengi during break at Fourth Pan African Anti-Corruption Conference in Dsm

Arresting corruption and capital flight will enable Tanzania to have more of the resources it needs to realise substantial reduction in poverty, a cabinet minister said yesterday.

Capt (rtd) George Mkuchika, Minister of State in the President’s Office overseeing the Good Governance portfolio, said that would be in line with the country’s objectives as outlined in the National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (NSGRP).

Opening the Fourth Pan Africa Anticorruption Conference in Dar es Salaam, the minister said the money leaving Tanzania illegally every year is ten times the total foreign aid the country receives and therefore constitutes an drain on resources that would gone into development projects.

He gave the goals the country would have achieved if there wasn’t such capital flight as including reduction of maternal mortality rate from 454 per 100,000 live births in 2010 to 265 per 100,000 live births by 2025 as well as boosting access to power supply from 14 per cent of the population in 2010 to 18 per cent in 2025.

Mkuchika explained that corruption by individuals accounted for the smallest amount part of the flight of capital from Tanzania and other developing countries – only 3 to 5 per cent, adding: “The main actors are the multinational companies evading taxes. This explains why resource rich countries are poor and associated with what is commonly referred to as a resource curse.”

He said the conspiracy of factors such as corruption and lack of accountability is facilitated by the secrecy often surrounding the operations of tax havens and the fact that some companies do not observe laid down accounting standards and procedures.

The minister called for sterner measures at all levels of governance to arrest capital flight and tame corruption, saying: “Corruption undermines economic growth in individual countries and the African continent generally and jeopardises the consolidation of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

He said history shows that strong democratic institutions with transparent and accountable governance structures were powerful tools in the war on corruption and other systemic abuses of power.

“Academic research shows how corruption can disrupt the economy and society at large. It erodes trust in public institutions and political processes and undermines the functioning of markets,” he noted.

He added that corruption has a direct impact on national budgets and helps groups behind organised crime groups conduct their activities faster and more viciously.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Prevention and Combating Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General Dr Edward Hosea said corruption was “a big issue not similar to normal offences”.

“Serious measures must be taken if the vice is to be tamed or arrested,” he noted, adding: “The World Bank says more than USD200 billion is lost each year through corruption and illicit capital flight.”

To make things worse, he said, “African Development Bank figures show that we have been losing about 50 per cent of our gross domestic product to corruption in terms of the revenue collected. If we were to collect all the revenue lost, there wouldn’t be much need for us to ask for much outside financial assistance.”

Without referring to any particular institution in Tanzania, Dr Hosea said time was ripe for the government to create stronger institutions to sweep the country clean of corruption and lack of accountability.

“This is because if we are to develop, if we are to eradicate poverty in the country, if we are to move from where we are and realise our development goals, then we need to consider corruption as an extremely serious matter,” he pointed out, adding: “Our institutions should be empowered to address the vices more appropriately and effectively.”

The PCCB chief said he would appreciate seeing corruption in fall in the category of Union matters under the envisaged Constitution for Tanzania, wondering why the Constitutional Review Commission headed by Judge (rtd) Joseph Warioba appears to have different ideas.

“The new constitution must deal with corruption and illicit capital flight squarely. We can’t afford to leave things as they are; something must be done. I will be amazed if the new constitution remains silent on the issue,” asserted Dr Hosea.

He told the journalists that unless the country responds to the matter urgently and appropriately, poverty will become endemic “because corruption is a killer and the nation must wake up and fearlessly combat it aware that it affects the nation’s entire fabric and not only politics or the economy”.

“Failure to do so will earn us understandable blame from posterity. So let us fight it, come what may,” he added.

John Jingu, director of Tanzanian civil society organisation Integrity Watch, meanwhile said corruption and capital flight was a problem in many developing and developed nations and seriously hampered efforts to eradicate poverty.

“We must join hands in this struggle as some of these tax havens we are talking about are disguised dens where corruption is rampant and deep-rooted,” he added.
The conference is organised by Germany’s Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaboration with PCCB and Integrity Watch.

'What about land ownership, Judge Warioba?'

Judge Joseph warioba

A Countrywide survey carried out by this paper has shown that many Tanzanians have received the proposed Constitution launched on Monday with mixed feelings, some saying the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has done a commendable job and others differing.

However, some remained pessimistic on the land ownership issue, which they said, does not feature anywhere in the draft.

Besides, those interviewed have warned politicians (power mongers) who might wish to interfere with the constitutional councils’ undertakings.

Other people expressed fear that the draft should not be endorsed by the Constitutional Assembly because some MPs are likely to suggest that some areas that they think will deny them positions should be removed from the suggested items.

Others have proposed Tanganyika to become the official name of the Mainland government instead of Tanzania Mainland.

Prince Mwaihojo, who is Mbeya chairman of Students’ Forum said that the committee had forgotten to highlight the issue of land ownership, saying that they will not remain silent on this.

He said land ownership was a sensitive matter that must be included in the Constitution, a move that would do away with the prevailing disputes and conflicts over land possession.

He added that land ownership has become a source of conflict and war in many countries in Africa.

So, the failure by CRC to include it the Constitutional draft has not answered some of the questions which the citizens aired when the Commission was collecting their views, he said.

“Chief Mirambo and Kinjektile Ngwale fought agisnt the colonialists so as to defend their ancestors’ land. Tanzanians must realize that the land issue is not an issue to ignore,” he said.

For his part, Boyid Mwabulanga said that the Constitutional draft was good because it had answered many of the people’s questions.
He said it has thrown out all the details available in the current constitution which were nuisance.

Interviewed Dar es Salaam residents for their part, said they were worried that the Parliament would not approve that Constitutional draft because some MPs would want some of the suggested aspects to be removed for their own interests.

Peter Mosha, who resides at Buguruni applauded the CRC for the wonderful job they have done for the benefit of the nation.

“It will be a wonderful Constitution if endorsed by the Parliament as it is,” he stressed.
Shabani Juma of Mwenge in Dar es Salaam said that he never imagined that it would come out that way as there were plenty of complaints at the time when the Commission was collecting the views.

“I traveled all the way from Kibaha to Dar es Salaam just to attend the launch of the draft at Karimjee grounds to see unveiling of a new era in Tanzanian history,” said Ali MOhammed, a resident of Maili Moja in Kibaha, Coast Region.

Ali said that there was no wisdom in advocating a breakup of the Union because “we will be disrespectful to the founders of our nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Abeid Karume who fought to unite.”

In Zanzibar, thiose interviewed warned politicians not interfere with the view of the wananchi when they discuss the draft in the councils saying issues of the Constitution are for the people and not for political parties, civil society and other institutions.

Zanzibar CCM deputy secretary Vuai Ali Vuai said the draft will help to eliminate the prevailing Union problems and improve the basis of peace and unity for the two countries.

In Arusha Senior lecturer at Mount Meru University Dr Simon Kadigumira proposed that Tanganyika should become the official name of Tanzania Mainland and not Tanzania Mainland as suggested.

The process of preparing the new constitution has just started after the Commission announced the draft on Monday.

The draft will now be sent to the Constitutional councils which will also discuss it before another draft is prepared by the Commission.

The second draft will be subjected to a people’s vote—referendum—before being submitted to the Constitutional Assembly for final endorsement.

Famous musician Ali Choki, who owns Extra Bongo Band, said the draft does not include matters pertaining to creativity, particularly the works of arts.

“I do not think that the Constitutional draft is in our favour as musicians because in the first place we are not mentioned and we were not invited to give our views,” he lamented.

Mohamed Khalfan who spoke on behalf of the Dar es Salaam Merchants’ Chamber said the most important constitutional issue and provision is the citizens’ basic rights and not anything else.

MPs express mixed feelings over proposed Constitution

Peter Serukamba

Mixed feelings arose in the House yesterday over Monday’s Constitutional draft launch some lauding the changes while others expressing their doubts.

On the side of those who oppose it, Member of Parliament for Kigoma-Urban Peter Serukamba (CCM) acknowledged that the draft contains a number of good aspects, saying that they are not practical and at best, difficult to implement.

For example, Serukamba does not support the three-tier government arguing that it is only going to break the federation.

“Accepting the three governments system is encouraging Union break up,” he claimed and further suggested that the three government structure will considerably increase administration costs to be covered by a coffers that is very limited and that being the case then according to him, it follows that other relevant and time sensitive areas will be sidelined or reduced.

Lawmaker for Urambo- West Prof Juma Kapuya (CCM) also cautioned over the three governments warning that the nation should tread softly since there is the risk of weakening the Union as Serukamba warned earlier.

Prof Kapuya is also against the reduction of presidential power but commended the restriction of ministers saying he supports their having no political affiliations noting that the effect will be increased efficiency and accountability as well as fair distribution of country’s resources.

Energy and Minerals Deputy Minister George Simbachawene, is also uncertain over the practicality of a three-tier government, he too fears that it will only lead to the breakup of the Union.

He said the system may be implemented to satisfy the Union stakeholders but basically it may lead to the breakup of the Union.

The Deputy Minister also said that the changes have taken away the expectations of some people especially politicians who want to become ministers.

Of those in favour of the draft, Stone Town lawmaker Ibrahim Sanya (CUF) called upon Tanzanians to welcome the draft calling it ‘good’ and ‘well intended’.

He too highlighted the fact that minister won’t have political association to be a commendable aspect and he too is in support of the three government structure saying ‘they’ have been waiting for it, for a long time. Mustafa Mkulo (Kilosa, CCM) praised the Commission for incorporating education qualifications for MPs saying to have efficient representation in Parliament the representatives must be educationally qualified.

Mkulo, who is a former Finance minister, supported the three government structure apparently because Zanzibar will now be more committed to the Union government.

Special Seats MP Mariam Msabaha (Chadema) supported the removal of the special seats but warned that female MPs must not be suppressed.

Martha Mlata (Special Seats, CCM), is also in favour of omitting the special seats MPs because according to her it imposes hardships to the legislators noting that the new system exerted in the draft is in favour of female who under the new draft will be assigned constituencies.

Tanzania reaches out to Japan for teachers, books

President Jakaya Kikwete with President of Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr. Akihiko Tanaka.

Tanzania has turned to Japan asking the latter to avail mathematics and science teachers in a bid to curb the country of its major shortage of teachers of these subjects.

In addition, Tanzania has Japan to step in the publication science and mathematics books on in order to ensure that each student has a copy of textbook as a way to increase the quality of education.

The request was made on Monday in Yokohama Japan when President, Jakaya Kikwete met and held talks with the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Akihiko Tanaka as released in a statement sent by Directorate of Presidential Communications.

President Kikwete is in Japan for a seven-day tour and he has so far attended the Fifth Tokyo Conference on African Development (TICAD) and is expected to leave Japan tomorrow morning for an official visit to Singapore for a two day visit before returning home.

The president told Dr Tanaka that one of the biggest challenges facing the education sector, which has expanded greatly in the last seven years, is the lack of mathematics and science teachers.

“There are two items I ask of JICA. We lack of teachers sufficient mathematics and science teachers and the deficit is over 26,000, our colleges can provide only 2,200 graduates per year, at that rate, it will take us 12 years to fill the gap, that is too long. So, we ask JICA and Japan in general, to step in and help us, “said President Kikwete
“A part from lack of teachers for these subjects, I would like to also call on Japan through JICA to help our country in publishing science and mathematics books as another contribution towards improving our education," he added.

President Kikwete admitted to receiving strong support from the US government in printing of textbooks for secondary schools but the need remains great if the country is to secure better quality of education.

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has already agreed to step up to the challenge and provide teachers to cover the said subjects.

Dr. Tanaka also answered to the affirmative stating that JICA is focusing on the development of the education sector in Tanzania and noted that so far, of 70 volunteers sent to Tanzania from Japan 20 are mathematics and science teachers.

“We will look into this area closely and take appropriate measures, we will look at how we can increase the number of teachers from our volunteers to teach in Tanzania every year” pledged Dr Tanaka.