Iringa business community asked to embrace insurance covers

Speaking at an insurance seminar organised by Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) and the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) attended by hundreds of ‘wananchi’ and stakeholders, Commissioner General of TIRA, Mr Israel Kamuzora, said affordable insurance would protect those affected by emergencies by providing them with payments corresponding with their losses.

Mr Kamuzora said that following increase of human and economic activities, there was a greater potential for disasters such as fire breakouts, accidents and diseases, thus people and businesses should seek for various insurance covers to avoid facing immediate huge cash demands to solve emergencies when they occur.

Failure to have such, Kamuzora added, would also lead to permanent loss of property they had worked for all their lives. He noted with concern that for long, many people had neglected the insurance matter which has huge benefits for their future.

It was now time they came out as frontline stakeholders to give education to the community to spread the understanding and ultimate use of insurance across Iringa Region and the entire country.

“I ask you to join various organizations or community groupings so that you get various kinds of insurance cover to help you in life because financial capacities or incomes of people differ.

Some people’s income enables them to buy lots of house property, cars or seek high end medical treatment even abroad, while for others, even some cash to buy a painkiller such as panadol can be an issue,” he said.

The seminar in Iringa Region is a sub set of ongoing regional business case sessions which are part of market facilitation initiatives spearheaded by the Micro Insurance Technical Working Group (TWG) and supported by the Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) and Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA). This is part of the government’s strategy of 2014-2019 which states that 50 per cent of Tanzanians have at least one access to one of the existing insurance services by 2019, according to Mr Kamuzora.

The Executive Director for FSDT, Mr Sosthene Kewe, said that the seminar sought to mobilise easier and wider access to insurance in Iringa Region, which is an important region in national development efforts.

Mr Kewe noted that majority of the people have been using financial services through their mobile phone, but knowledge and use of insurance remained low. “Iringa is one of the leading regions in the use of financial services especially formal banks and mobile money, which help the region’s economy.

It is therefore an opportunity for Iringa people to liberate themselves in terms of economic growth through reliance on insurance,” he said. Through financial services, Mr Kewe added, there are underlined benefits such as increase in job opportunities for the youth.

The opportunities go hand in hand with national economic growth as a result of increased usage of financial services. One of the participants from a company known as Mama Bahati Foundation, Ms Husna Jafary said the seminar had first of all helped them understand the statistical context of Iringa Region in terms of financial services growth and particularly on insurance usage.

“We have noted that Iringa Region has grown big financial services, motivating people to seek insurance services to prevent financial calamities that come with accidents among other things,” she said.

The meeting for ordinary people and insurance stakeholders is part of the ongoing regional business case sessions countrywide by the FSDT. The Business Case Sessions are carried out countrywide, aiming at bridging the gap between the insurance industry and the rural informal segment of the country’s economy.

Through the provision of financial and technical assistance, the Bima Challenge supports product design, experimentation and roll out of innovative and customer centric insurance products that will make insurance services affordable, accessible and responsive to the risk management needs of Tanzanians;especially those in the low-income market segments.

The Bima Challenge is set to inspire innovation and game changing ideas that will drive and overhaul the way the Insurance business is done in the country.

The Regional Business Case sessions have been conceptualised to extend the sensitisation of the micro insurance business case beyond Dar es Salaam, but more importantly, to stimulate micro insurance demand as well as distribution partnerships in the regions.

The sessions were intended to create direct linkages with the rural informal sectors of the economy that are financially excluded, taking advantage of existing informal structures.

These include farmer groups, women groups and associations, cooperatives, youth enterprise development organisations, religious groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The sessions explored subjects such as Health and Hospitalisation insurance (families), agriculture insurance (weather and livestock), Life insurance (credit and noncredit) and property and travel insurance (micro-business).

Robbery cases drop as rape increases in 2016

Giving annual report in Dar es Salaam yesterday, The Police Zone Commander, Mr Simon Sirro said all the accused have appeared before the court serving various offences.

“Armed robbery cases have decreased from 204 last year to 127 this year, which is equal to 37.7 per cent,” he said.

On the side of rape and sodomy cases, Commander Sirro said such case increase may be the result of various awareness programmes and campaigns taken by the government and other stakeholders to end women and children violence, hence members of the public now report the cases compared to previous years.

Murder cases have decreased by 11 per cent this year. 327 murder cases were reported last year compared to 291 cases reported in 2016.

Expounding further, Mr Sirro said out of 13,626 suspects arrested, 52 were found possessing 67 military weapons and 1,076 ammunitions, while 126 suspects were found with 75kg and 254g of khat. 7,625 suspects were found with 2,843kg and 78g of bhang, while 269 suspects were found with 3kg of cocaine and 1kg of heroine.

“We were able to apprehend 5,627 suspects in illegal dealings with illicit brew commonly known as ‘gongo’ and 8,547 litres of the illicit brew was destroyed while the culprits were dragged to court,” he said. The Dar es Salaam Special Zone, however, netted 105 illegal migrants from different countries with no permits of working or living in the country.

On the side of car theft cases, Mr Sirro pinpointed that the cases have decreased by 18.1 per cent from 392 to 321 cases reported this year. Similarly, ‘bodaboda’ robbery cases also declined from 2,644 cases to 2,191 cases, equivalent to 17.1 per cent.

“All these achievements were made possible by the efforts of our police officers and cooperation from members of the public who have provided confidential information that led to the capture of law breakers,” he remarked.

Police in Zanzibar holds man after religious outburst

The police stepped up security almost in all key areas after there were reports that some Muslims would peacefully demonstrate after prayers following a man identified as Dr Abdalla Saleh Abdalla was heard in a recorded video clip insulting Muslim Leader, Prophet Muhammad and the Secretary General of the Civic United Front (CUF) Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad.

According to the Zanzibar’s police boss- Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr Hamdan Omar Makame, the Friday prayers ended peacefully as he appealed for calm. He assured them that the man and his colleague who posted the video clip were already in custody.“The suspects have been arrested and charged in court.

I urge people to refrain from getting involved in religious insults. It is a threat to peace. People should also avoid recording and posting video clips that can easily instigate violence,” CP Mr Makame said yesterday.

Dr Abdulla, a medical doctor who was working in a public hospital in Pemba was recorded attacking Mr Maalim Seif and Prophet Muhammad with insults. In a separate video, Abdalla blamed alcohol for ‘driving him into the bad behaviour.’

In reaction to the incident, Zanzibar Medical Doctors Council has suspended the suspect for at least three months from duty pending investigations into the “shameful conduct,” said the council’s Chairperson, Dr Jamala Taib.

“It was unacceptable, surprising and shameful conduct by a medical doctor. We ask all our members and medical practitioners to be responsible citizens,” Dr Taib said.

Battle on cybercrime makes good headway

The suspects include conmen, robbers, mobile phone grabbers and others who have been using internet systems to steal from innocent people.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Maj. General Projestus Rwegasira, said on Thursday evening that his office is seriously dealing with cyber crime and that all those involved in the illegal practices will be arrested.

The PS was speaking during an interview with a local television station on his ministry’s performance. He said his office in collaboration with other government bodies are preparing charges for the arrested suspects and that soon they will be arraigned. “We are doing everything in our power to stop cyber related illegal acts.

We have already arrested some of the suspects and they will face charges in courts of law,” he said. He said the government formed a special unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs to deal with fraud and cybercrimes in the country and that the outfit has been doing a good job.

“I would like to inform the public to always report such kinds of incidents to police as soon as possible. We are capable of tracing stolen mobile phones and arresting the suspects,” said Maj. General Rwegasira.

In January, this year, the Head of Legal Department in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications, Ms Veronica Sudayi, said since the Cyber Crime Act, 2015 was enacted in September 2015, the rate of thefts or fraud in the country has decreased by 60 per cent. She was addressing the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) staff and students on Cyber Crime and Electronic Transaction Act of 2015.

“We are always prepared for anything. We conduct frequent patrols in various areas. We search houses whenever we suspect something unusual. Our officers get training from time to time, therefore I would like to assure the public that peace and security is our top priority,” he said.

He said police officers have been receiving training that enables them to tackle crimes in a professional manner. Commenting on bus hijackings in some areas of the country, Maj. General Projestus said his ministry is aware of the situation and that such incident have been reduced to zero.

He said police conduct patrol in highways across the country. “I would like to assure passengers that they can travel without fear, the situation is always under control,” he noted. Commenting on the strengthening of prison’s tailoring workshops, the PS said there are a total of four workshops that could produce enough uniforms. He said the workshops are located in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha and Mbeya.

Moreover, Maj. General Rwegasira said his office has already identified four shops that were selling military uniforms and that they are continuing with investigation on the matter.

“We have identified two shops in Dar es Salaam, one in Arusha and another in Mwanza,” he said. On improving police performance, the PS said so far the government has already ordered 777 police vehicles from India and that 180 have already arrived.

Also the government is looking forward to purchasing two vehicles for fire and rescue department. In June, this year, President John Magufuli launched a new 27bn/- police plan that involves a call centre to enhance security surveillance. The Police Force’s technology-driven plan aims at scaling up rapid response to emergencies and tracking public reports about crime.

The call centre is equipped with computers from where police receive toll free calls from informers and relay the information to a team of officers for quick response to any developing situation. Yesterday, the PS said his ministry is doing everything in its power to face crime and ensure protection, peace and security for Tanzanians.

Yanga shift focus on Mapinduzi Cup

The tournament kicked off yesterday at the Amaan Stadium.

Yanga pooled in group B alongside Azam, Zimamoto and Jamhuri are expected to leave Dar es Salaam this afternoon by boat to Zanzibar ready for the opening game against Jamhuri on Monday.

However, the Mainland league defending champions will miss the service of the dependable central defender Togolese, Vicent Bossou, who travelled back to his native home to join his national side in preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals to be held in Gabon, next month.

“Bossou has gone to join his national side ready for AFCON finals in Gabon, we are going to miss his service in the Mapinduzi Cup, but all other players will travel with the team to Zanzibar,” said Team Manager, Hafidh Saleh.

According to the official, the squad which travel to Zanzibar will comprise, goalkeepers: Deogratius Munishi, Beno Kakolanya and Ally Mustafa, defenders: Nadir Haroub, Pato Ngonyani, Vicent Andrew, Hassan Kessy, Mwinyi Haji, Kelvin Yondani, Juma Abdul and Oscar Joshua.

Midfielders are: Haruna Niyonzima, Justin Zullu, Simon Msuva, Juma Mahadhi, Geoffrey Mwashuiya, Deus Kaseke, Said Juma, Thaban Kamusoko and Yusuph Mhilu Strikers are: Donald Ngoma, Amisi Tambwe, Emmanuel Martin, Obrey Chirwa, Mateo Anthony and Malimi Busungu.

Yanga arch-rivals Simba are pooled in group A alongside the tournament defending champions Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), KVZ, Taifa Jangombe and Jangombe Boys.

Simba and Azam are yet to disclose their departure date for Zanzibar. Simba are scheduled to commence their cup campaigns tomorrow at the Amaan Stadium against Taifa Jang’ombe, while Azam will face Zimamoto at the same venue on Monday.

Mapinduzi Cup will reach it climax on January 14, next year.

Taifa Stars glad to see back of 2016

Tanzania will end the year in 156th position following the final FIFA Rankings of 2016 released in Zurich, Switzerland on December 22nd this year. Taifa Stars climbed four places up in the latest the global rankings with 154 points and recorded their worst position at the end of the year in a decade.

The nation has enjoyed a bad spell this year after keeping on a downward spiral, moving from 132nd place last December to the current 156th spot. November’s 160th position was lowest point since December 2005, when the country finished in 165th position. It’s worst ever position was 172nd in 2004.

Taifa Stars, currently under the tutelage of Charles Boniface Mkwasa, finish the year in 48th spot on continental ranking. The country’s football again suffered owing to the inability of the Taifa Stars to garner positive results in African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualifiers.

It was a belated start to the year after Taifa Stars beat Chad 1-0 away in Ndjamena on March 23, this year in Group G of the 2017 AFCON qualifier. KRC Genk striker, Mbwana Samatta scored the lone goal, results which somewhat revived the team’s hope of making it into the finals after almost four decades.

Tanzania has not qualified for the continental showpiece since 1980. It followed a 3-0 loss to Egypt in the group’s opening match away in Cairo in June 2015, before Stars were held to barren draw by Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam in September 2015.

Then the worst came to haunt Stars after Chad withdrew from the qualifiers, citing financial constraints as their reason for pulling out. Former Cameroon captain Rigobert Song’s side were set to take on Taifa Stars in their return leg match on March 28 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

By this decision, Taifa Star’s chances of making it to the bi- annual competition was already complicated because all the points obtained against the West African country in an away win were cancelled.

However, there was still a glimpse of hope in its campaign because they had two matches to play, while Egypt and Nigeria had only a game to play each.

Taifa Stars with just one point then and Nigeria with two points had their backs against the wall even more after Chad pulled out of the qualifiers, while Egypt were in pole position having seven points at the top of the standings.

And on June 4th, this year, Taifa Stars was targeting nothing else but a sweet revenge over Egyptians’ Pharaohs, when they played them host in the return leg of the qualifier at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

In a do or die fixture, Taifa Stars needed a 4-0 win to keep their dream of reaching the first ever AFCON finals alive. Disappointingly, Taifa Stars’ dreams of making it into the finals were shattered following a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to group G leaders Egypt at home.

A brace from Egyptian professional Mohamed Salah guaranteed Egyptian Pharaohs a place to the 2017 AFCON Gabon finals next month. Egypt will return to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament for the first time since 2010.

The Pharaohs – who have won a record seven Nations Cup titles – only needed to avoid a heavy defeat in their final Group G clash, but they emphatically secured qualification with a clear win. Certainly, it was an ardous task for Stars against a team they have never beaten, let alone drawn against. The worst year for Stars was concluded by a defeat by Nigeria.

Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho’s brilliant strike handed Coach Gernot Rohr a winning start in charge of the Super Eagles against the Taifa Stars. Rohr claimed his first win as Nigeria coach as his men saw off Taifa Stars 1-0 on September 4th, this year, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.

Mandela, forgiving father of a Rainbow Nation DALALY PETER KAFUMU, MP

Three years ago on this day on 2013, he gracefully passed away. His legacy is ingrained in history books as one of the Greatest Leader of Africa and the World.

Mandela a forgiving Father of the Rainbow Nation -- multiracial South Africa, was laid to rest in his home village, the small, Eastern Cape village of Qunu where he spent much of his childhood herding animals as a five-year-old boy.

Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in the village of Mvezo in Umtatu, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa’s Cape Province and was given the forename of Rolihlahla. Later, he became known by his clan name Madiba.

The name Mandela was a King’s genealogy name of his family. Mandela was given the European name Nelson on the first day at school by his teacher.

Mandela was recognised as a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He is considered by many as the Father the South African Nation, the founding Father of South African democracy. Due to his unbending belief in racial reconciliation to overcome apartheid, he will always be revered by the whole world as a moral authority of Truth.

Three years down the memory lane as we celebrate the life of this extraordinary forgiving Father of a nation and a great son of Africa, in a “A Forgiving Father of a Rainbow Nation”poem with fellow South Africans; in a tribute to a fallen hero we can only cry with a lots of pain as Mandela or Madiba is no more: Praise the Lord of Creation.

A FORGIVING FATHER OF A RAINBOW NATION: A Tribute to Mandela Poem

1. CRY Mother Africa you lost a luminary star, a hero, your beloved son, NELSON the son, who youlost was brighter than a galactic sun, The son was a forgiving Fatherand healer of the racial separation, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with a lots of pain.

2. CRY Mother Africa you lost a precious son, that was the remaining lone icon, NELSON is no more and the United States of Africa seems to be out of gain, The candle light was blown by the wind of the dark sheol; the abode place of sin, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with lots of pain.

3. CRY Mother Africa you lost a Father, a forgiving Father of a Rainbow Nation, NELSON who made black and white young ones lie together in brotherly unison, Yes,because of Nelson,the hole of a white viper,in now a black children Playstation, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with lots of pain.

4. CRY Mother Africa the lions’ day was over and shall not descend back again, NELSON the son who made the apartheid wolf live with the black lambkin, No more Madiba who made the black calf play with a white bigoted cab of a lion, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with lots of pain.

5. CRY Mother Africa your son has closed his reign on earth and crossed to heaven, NELSON the son who made the oppressors and oppressed, embrace in love affection, Mother Africa cherish the son by walking the path of reconciliation and transformation, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with lots of pain.

6. CRY Mother Africa you will never again see Rolihlahla, your son forever again, NELSON swayed belligerent sons to turn their machetes into plowshares of unification, Like King David, Mandela created, nursed and nurtured a forgiving Rainbow Nation, Mandela of Madiba is no more, Africa will always cry with lots of pain.

Is there a person greater than Winston Churchill to the Brits? KARL LYIMO

Next, chronologically, was ‘Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill’ (1849-1895), ‘a British Statesman who ended up as ‘Right Honourable Lord Randolph Churchill!’ Apparently, he was ‘the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough.’ This Churchill was a cantankerous Parliamentarian who in 1878 excoriated fellow Conservative Party members – including three-time British Premier William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898) – as the ‘Old Gang’ that must be jettisoned!

After some brilliant performance as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons, our Randolph Churchill abruptly resigned in 1886 ‘on differences of opinion’ with is party colleagues! Perhaps fortunately for the Brits, though, Lord Randolph fathered a ‘future-tobe- prominent-Churchill’ in 1874: ‘Winston Leonard Spencer...’ (1874-1965).

That’s the ‘Churchill’ the subject-matter of this LUCUBRATION, who was birthed on today’s date, November 30… 142 years ago! [Never mind that another ‘Churchill’ was virtually thrown into the works much like the legendary spanner!

Born in 1871 and died in 1947, this particular ‘Churchill’ was in reality an American novelist who, for some reason or another, had the moniker ‘Winston Churchill’ bestowed upon him in the nomenclature stakes! But, never mind that – or him – for the here and now!]

The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill – born Nov. 30, 1874; died Jan. 24, 1965 – was ‘an English Colonel, Journalist and Politician who was twice Prime Minister of the UK – and a Nobel Prize Laureate…’

He was awarded a Nobel Literature Prize in 1953 “for his mastery of Historical and Biographical description, as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values…’

His compatriots laud Churchill especially for the way he ‘conducted’ World War-II (1939-45) as British Premier and Defence Minister from 1940 to 1945 – and Conservative Party leader! Thereafter, Churchill led the Political Opposition (1945- 51) before returning as Premier from 1951 to 1955 when he retired.

He also dabbled in mattersmilitary in the early years. For instance, he served in the 1898 Sudan Campaign in which Anglo-Egyptian forces crushed the Mahdi Dervishes; and the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902)… Apparently, Churchill didn’t particularly feature in the 1914-18 Great War, when he was Lord Rector of Aberdeen University (1914-1918)!

But, he played a pivotal role on the side of the British and its Allies in WW-II, giving invigorating speeches (‘This is the Finest Hour’) as well as not-so encouraging ones (‘Africans died like fish…’)! Churchill is famous (and ‘infamous,’ perhaps?) for a bazillion quotes. I reproduce herein-below a few self-explanatory ones…

• ‘If you are going through Hell, keep going!’

• ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat...’ • ‘... we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans…we shall never surrender!’

• ‘A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty!’ • ‘I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober – and you’ll still be ugly!’ • ‘Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen!’

• ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’

• ‘I’m ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker’s prepared for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter!’ Was ‘our’ Churchill Britain’s most illustrious personage? Reportedly, Churchill – a.k.a. known as the ‘British Bulldog’ – was voted ‘the Greatest-ever Briton’ in Year- 2002, trampling underfoot the likes of Dramatist/Poet Shakespeare (1564-1616), Naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882), and Engineer (Railways & Steamships) Isambard Brunel (1806-1859)… Sheesh!

This isn’t to say the fellow didn’t have bad/awkward moments. For instance, he’s considered ‘a racist and white supremacist’ who, in 1937, told the Palestine Royal Commission: “I don’t admit that a great wrong’s been done to the Red Indians of America or the Black people (Aborigines) of Australia.

I don’t admit that a wrong’s been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly-wise race, has come in and taken their place!’ [See Tom Heyden, ‘The 10 Greatest Controversies of Winston Churchill’s Career,’ BBC News Magazine: Jan. 26, 2015].

Churchill has also been criticised for advocating the use of chemical weapons, primarily against Kurds and Afghans! “I cannot understand this squeamishness about the use of gas,” he wrote in a Memo as War Minister in 1919. “I’m strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes,” he stressed…! [See ‘Churchill: The End of Glory,’ by John Charmley].

That’s Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill for you… Tears!

Yes, Dar deserves a waste water plant EDITOR

At the moment, the existing sewerage system serves only 13 per cent of Dar es Salaam residents. The plant will facilitate the recycling of waste water, mainly for industrial and irrigation purposes.

The government says funds for the project have already been obtained from the EXIM Bank of Korea.

A feasibility study for the project is already underway, the state says. Apart from the noble task of recycling waste water, the government should also push for control of the dangerous effluents that emanate from factories.

Most factories in Dar es Salaam spill their toxic effluents into residential areas causing a fearsome health risk. Perhaps the most dangerous garbage comes from hospitals, health centers, pharmacies and dispensaries. Normally hospital refuse must be incinerated under close supervision.

But somehow, some of the waste finds its way into the communal dumpsites. The items commonly found in hospital refuse include bottles, used syringes, various types of needles and blades, cotton swabs or absorbent pads used in surgery, empty medicine containers and used bandages.

Most of these items are health hazards. Highly dangerous waste also comes from factories in the form of garbage laced with toxic chemicals, acids and poisons. Industrial effluents often flow into dumpsites. Barefoot scavengers, for example, or those wearing sandals risk of treading on corrosive matter.

Scavengers are also exposed to infectious diseases, including hepatitis A and B, tetanus, coliform and even HIV/AIDS.

The government should correct this anomaly as well. In yesterday years, domestic garbage disposal units were considered an efficient way to get rid of food waste and other domestic rubbish in the homes, but in the current green living climate, the environmental impact of trash disposal has caused numerous problems. The Fifth Phase Government has seen this anomaly and has moved to stem the rot.

The rule of thumb at the moment is that there must be a nationwide environmental clean-up on the last Saturday of each month. A brilliant idea indeed. But there are stumbling blocks in this noble initiative. The nation has too few garbage collection trucks and too many dumpsites some of which are located in the middle of major cities, municipalities and towns.

This situation worries social welfare and health officers.

Dumpsites and heaps of uncollected rubbish are simply dangerous to health. Invariably, poor health is an impediment to economic, social, political, educational and other pursuits. Poor health frustrates everyone especially socially disadvantaged adults and vulnerable children.

Five TASAF officials suspended over ineligible households LUDOVICK KAZOKA

She also directed the suspension of 106 Community Based Conditional Cash Transfer (CBCCT) Monitoring and Consultative officials, who were responsible to register the ineligible beneficiaries of the TASAF-run CBCCT scheme in the municipalities.

Ms Kairuki told a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government had saved 6.4bn/- after scrapping 42,034 ineligible CBCCT households (beneficiaries) between January in 2014 and September in 2016.

“I also direct TASAF to conduct investigations on the officials to establish their involvement in the matter so that action will be taken against them. The investigations should be completed within one month from today,” said the minister.

Ms Kairuki noted that the fund’s senior officials including the Director of Coordination, Mr Alphonse Kyariga and Coordination Manager, Ms Tunu Munthali, who were responsible to supervise the CBCCT consultative and monitoring officials in municipalities while registering poor households for the scheme.

“I have consulted Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr George Simbachawene, who has already directed the suspension of TASAF district coordinators involved in the matter,” explained the minister.

Ms Kairuki pointed out that the verification, which started in January, this year, discovered that 13,898 households that benefited from the CBCCT scheme were no longer existing while households that were actually not poor numbered 13,468. Also, 17,746 households did not show up in the verification exercise.

She mentioned other ineligible beneficiaries removed after the verification as village CBCCT committees’ members (4,352), while households that moved to the project areas before the scheme commenced totalled 6,228.

Ms Kairuki pointed out that since the exercise to remove ineligible households in CBCCT scheme was sustainable, the government will announce again the amount saved from the exercise in January 2017.

“The actual amount saved from the exercise between October, 2016 and January 2017 might change after completion of the payment to the eligible households in the CBCCT scheme,” she said.

According to the minister, eligible households in the CBCCT scheme would from now have to submit two identification cards to get paid, pointing out the identification cards as voter card or citizen identification card.

“This is to ensure the payment is made to the right beneficiaries. District Executive Directors (DEDs) will supervise the exercise of paying the poor households,” she concluded.

Dream teams dominate Taifa Cup basketball tournament YASINTA AMOS IN ARUSHA

Dar es Salaam and Iringa have been the first to cruise into the men’s quarter finals of the national annual tournament that it’s throw off was hit by hiccups. In ladies discipline, which is conducted on league basis, Dar women currently stands top of the table after collecting six points.

In the games played early yesterday in men’s category, Kilimanjaro defeated Mara by 77-65 points, while Mwanza thrashed powerless Manyara by 60 -16 points and Mbeya popularly Arusha Queen whipped Shinyanga by 40-19 points in ladies category and Dodoma beat Iringa by 52-33 points.

High flying Dar ‘Dream Team’ Queens beat Dodoma 68-22 points, whereas Mbeya Queens humiliated the hosts Arusha Queens by 67-9 points. Other games in men’s discipline saw Dar Dream Team edging Iringa by 93 -39 points while; Unguja South beat Singida by 70-40 points.

The day also saw Kilimanjaro thrashing Manyara by 114-39 points and the hosts Arusha Combine lost 43-32 points to Mbeya. Speaking about the ongoing tournament, the event organising committee Chairman, Michael Mwita said the tournament is going on smoothly and all teams are in good shape despite facing some challenges.

Commenting on complaint raised by Mbeya regional team on ‘biased’ referees Mwita rubbished the claims, saying the match officials have demonstrated competence and observed professionalism.

Mbeya coach Kablo Shomari complained that the hosts are being favoured by referees.

The festive season – save rather than spend JAGJIT SINGH

This is where I have a role to play. If not checked, then I am sure some of you would financially break-down. So when I advocate to “save money rather than spend”, what are my Intensions...

Remember, if there is a will there is a way. Moreover, there are numerous ways through which one can pursue their savings pursuit in life. Although we need to accept that there is no single panacea by which you can achieve the goal of having accumulated enough savings to take care of your future needs.

This can be achieved not by a single action but with permutation and combination of various factors. So if you are looking for a solitary solution to address your savings need, then it is futile to search for it, as it does not exist.

So when I say “save money rather than spend”, I feel duty bound to present before you some effective ways to save and the list goes as follows: Know your expenses: Disposable saving for any person is arrived at when total expenses for a period [whether monthly or yearly] is subtracted from the corresponding total income attributed to that period.

Often it is observed that we focus too much on the income part and ignores the expenses side, without clearly understanding its importance.

If you know your expenses well, then you can easily identify which one is essential and which one falls in the category of luxurious or non-essential nature. You can enhance your disposal savings just by controlling expenses which are marked as “non-essential”.

Pay yourself first: In simple terms, “pay yourself first” means - before you pay any of your bills whether relating to grocery, entertainment, car loan, personal loan or making payment of any other nature, please pause for a moment and set aside a portion of your income to save.

The first bill you must pay each month should be to yourself alone and nobody else. This habit, if developed early, can help a person to build tremendous wealth during his/ her lifetime.

It is not as difficult as we think it to be. Remember; when you set down to pay your bills of different entities, the first cheque you must write should be to yourself only. Avoid impulse buying: Make a list before going for shopping.

They call it impulse buying for a reason. Humans simply have a very tough time resisting the temptation to purchase extras while shopping. Without a list you will buy items that you simply do not need.

Even worse is when you forget to purchase the actual item you came to the store in the first place. Getting all that you need in one trip can help avoid another unnecessary trip and further temptation to buy more.

Pay off your debts: World wide it is a universal practice that banks normally charge interest on borrowings at a higher rate than what they pay to the customers on their deposits.

So if you are servicing a debit which is inviting interest at the rate of 15%, then it makes lot of sense to utilize your entire disposal income on servicing of loan rather utilizing part of this money to put deposits which may earn interest at the rate of 10%.

Thus, your first priority should be to achieve a debt free lifestyle by paying off all your outstanding loans. Control the menace of plastic money: The mere presence of a “Credit Card” in our pocket tempts us to spend more, as we feel there is no requirement for upfront payment.

But at the end of the day this is in any case going to be the part of our expenses. Therefore when we wade around with a credit card in our pocket, we need to behave more responsibly so as to avoid any unnecessary buying through simple use of a credit card.

Invest in your career – improve your skills/ competence level: We know there are professionals who command a very high price in the job-market, while on other hand there are also people who struggle to earn a small fraction of what the so called highly paid professionals make. This wide gap represents their respective skills or competence level.

Thus one of the ways through which we can enhance our potential to earn more is by continuously improving our skills or competence level. Often we make the mistake of saving money at the cost of improving our skills. As learning is a continuous process, so never shy off to learn something new even at a cost, which is nothing but a long term investment on your part.

This list can go endlessly long but I need to conclude at some point. Remember, times are tough, money’s tight, and nobody should be spending more than they need. If you think you’ve exhausted all avenues for saving a buck, apply the above stated simple techniques and I am sure the end result would be different.

What basically required is a firm commitment on your part. Are you ready to pledge your commitment, if yes, the success is guaranteed.

Cheers and enjoy the festive season.

Five TASAF officials suspended over ineligible households LUDOVICK KAZOKA

She also directed the suspension of 106 Community Based Conditional Cash Transfer (CBCCT) Monitoring and Consultative officials, who were responsible to register the ineligible beneficiaries of the TASAF-run CBCCT scheme in the municipalities.

Ms Kairuki told a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government had saved 6.4bn/- after scrapping 42,034 ineligible CBCCT households (beneficiaries) between January in 2014 and September in 2016.

“I also direct TASAF to conduct investigations on the officials to establish their involvement in the matter so that action will be taken against them. The investigations should be completed within one month from today,” said the minister.

Ms Kairuki noted that the fund’s senior officials including the Director of Coordination, Mr Alphonse Kyariga and Coordination Manager, Ms Tunu Munthali, who were responsible to supervise the CBCCT consultative and monitoring officials in municipalities while registering poor households for the scheme.

“I have consulted Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr George Simbachawene, who has already directed the suspension of TASAF district coordinators involved in the matter,” explained the minister.

Ms Kairuki pointed out that the verification, which started in January, this year, discovered that 13,898 households that benefited from the CBCCT scheme were no longer existing while households that were actually not poor numbered 13,468. Also, 17,746 households did not show up in the verification exercise.

She mentioned other ineligible beneficiaries removed after the verification as village CBCCT committees’ members (4,352), while households that moved to the project areas before the scheme commenced totalled 6,228.

Ms Kairuki pointed out that since the exercise to remove ineligible households in CBCCT scheme was sustainable, the government will announce again the amount saved from the exercise in January 2017.

“The actual amount saved from the exercise between October, 2016 and January 2017 might change after completion of the payment to the eligible households in the CBCCT scheme,” she said.

According to the minister, eligible households in the CBCCT scheme would from now have to submit two identification cards to get paid, pointing out the identification cards as voter card or citizen identification card.

“This is to ensure the payment is made to the right beneficiaries. District Executive Directors (DEDs) will supervise the exercise of paying the poor households,” she concluded.

Role of local experts must be emphasized EDITOR

The call was made during graduation ceremony of nine students who were sponsored for Masters Programme in Geosciences and Engineering in Norway by Statoil Tanzania.

The graduates as well requested the government to consider them for employment b efore eyeing at experts from outside the country.

It is obvious that b oth Statoil Tanzania and the graduates have a point on this. As Tanzania opens a new chapter on exploiting gas and oil, it needs skilled, experienced and young experts to move things forward. With the support from both foreign and local companies, the gov ernment can now count some local experts in the area.

In order to strengthen the sector and encourage other youth to pursue studies in the area, the government needs to give priority to local ex perts. As the government embarks on building industrial driven economy, local experts are very crucial in v arious sectors including oil and sector.

Developed countries such as Japan, China, England and many others b anked on local experts in building up their industries. With discovery of gas and the ongoing oil exploration in v arious parts of the country, the government must set plans b y training local experts in various areas.

Statoil Tanzanian and other companies hav e already shown interests in supporting Tanzanians to attain ex pertise in gas and oil sector. To support their efforts, the government must respond by offering employment to the graduates so that they can practice and share their knowledge with other Tanzanians in the area.

According to Statoil’s Capacity Building leader, Prof. Richard Tib aijuka, the programme provides scholarship for 10 students ev ery year to pursue MSc degrees in Petroleum G eosciences and Petroleum Engineering at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The University works with the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). Statoil Tanzania signed a contract with NTNU and UDSM from 2012 and that the contract is set to end in 2019. Under this programme, a total of 32 Petroleum Engineers (production reservoir and Drilling Engineers), 15 Petroleum G eoscience (G eology Petrophysics) and 3 Project Management have b een admitted to date.

From 2010, Tanzania has witnessed further exploration and natural gas discoveries. In March, this year, the estimated natural gas reserv es reached 57 trillion cub ic feet (TCF). For Tanzania to b enefit from oil and gas b usiness, the government remains with no option but to train enough local experts in the area.

Role of local experts must be emphasized EDITOR

The call was made during graduation ceremony of nine students who were sponsored for Masters Programme in Geosciences and Engineering in Norway by Statoil Tanzania.

The graduates as well requested the government to consider them for employment b efore eyeing at experts from outside the country.

It is obvious that b oth Statoil Tanzania and the graduates have a point on this. As Tanzania opens a new chapter on exploiting gas and oil, it needs skilled, experienced and young experts to move things forward. With the support from both foreign and local companies, the gov ernment can now count some local experts in the area.

In order to strengthen the sector and encourage other youth to pursue studies in the area, the government needs to give priority to local ex perts. As the government embarks on building industrial driven economy, local experts are very crucial in v arious sectors including oil and sector.

Developed countries such as Japan, China, England and many others b anked on local experts in building up their industries. With discovery of gas and the ongoing oil exploration in v arious parts of the country, the government must set plans b y training local experts in various areas.

Statoil Tanzanian and other companies hav e already shown interests in supporting Tanzanians to attain ex pertise in gas and oil sector. To support their efforts, the government must respond by offering employment to the graduates so that they can practice and share their knowledge with other Tanzanians in the area.

According to Statoil’s Capacity Building leader, Prof. Richard Tib aijuka, the programme provides scholarship for 10 students ev ery year to pursue MSc degrees in Petroleum G eosciences and Petroleum Engineering at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The University works with the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM). Statoil Tanzania signed a contract with NTNU and UDSM from 2012 and that the contract is set to end in 2019. Under this programme, a total of 32 Petroleum Engineers (production reservoir and Drilling Engineers), 15 Petroleum G eoscience (G eology Petrophysics) and 3 Project Management have b een admitted to date.

From 2010, Tanzania has witnessed further exploration and natural gas discoveries. In March, this year, the estimated natural gas reserv es reached 57 trillion cub ic feet (TCF). For Tanzania to b enefit from oil and gas b usiness, the government remains with no option but to train enough local experts in the area.

Experts highlight Africa’s energy needs KATARE MBASHIRU

The experts met in Dar es Salaam for a two-day regional meeting on sustainable energy for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and suggested that access to finance was vital for Africa’s poorest countries to develop sustainable energy initiative and build renewable power capacity.

Speaking at the official launching of the meeting, Minister for Energy and Minerals, Professor Sospeter Muhongo expressed the government’s commitment to stamp out energy problem in the country, saying in the next five years the government would have made a considerable improvement on sustainable energy.

To achieve this, already the government allocated US Dollars 500 million (over 1bn/-) for rural electrification projects in the 2016/2017 financial year. He called upon participants at the meeting to spend more time to deliberate on energy demand.

“Sustainable Development Goal number 7 (SDG7) provides for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030, and my government has already embarked on implementation of various projects to attain this,’’ said Prof Muhongo.

According to Under-Secretary- General, UN Office of the High Representative for LDCs, Landlocked Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), Mr Gyan Chandra Acharya said two thirds of those living in Africa’s LDCs do not have access to electricity, yet the majority of those countries are endowed with vast reserves of renewable energy.

“These opportunities together with those technologies, offer many solutions for gaining energy access, therefore I hope this event will inspire new ideas on accelerating reliable access to energy and mobilizing finance bringing swift benefits to Africa’s poorest communities,’’ he said at the meeting.

The meeting was co-organised by (UN-OHRLLS), and the Government of Tanzania, with support from UNDP Tanzania. By the end of business today, it will consider many constraints to accessing finance for expanding modern energy.

According to UN Resident Coordinator Alvaro Rodriguez, sustainable energy is central to economic growth, social progress and environmental sustainability, as recognised in the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a standalone goal on energy (SDG7).

Mr Rodriguez who doubles as UNDP representative added: “Over the past two decades, UNDP has mobilized around US Dollars 2 billion in grant financing and for sustainable energy projects in more than 110 countries and territories worldwide.

Dar third expensive city to live in EAC, Nairobi leads ONLINE REPORTER

The 2016 City Rankings places Nairobi at position 116 on globe but is the highest rank comparing to its peers in the region. In EAC, the second on list is Kigali, Rwanda that falls on 139 on international position, then Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 174 slot.

The last on list for EAC member states is Kampala on globe position 187. Other two members Burundi and South Sudan are not featured at all on the list of 209 cities in the world. At the tail is Windhoek, Namibia.

“These rankings indicate differences in cost of living factors affecting expatriates in popular assignment destinations.

Because many complex and dynamic factors are involved in calculating an assignment pay package,” Mercer report indicates.

In Africa the most expensive city is Luanda, Angola. Luanda is the second globally before Honk Kong, China while Zurich, Switzerland is third.

The second most expensive city in Africa is Kinshasa, DRC (6th globally) followed by Ndjamena, Chad (9th) and Lagos, Nigeria (13th).

Say it loud! Yanga 1, Manchester City 1

It was in 1973 when Tanzanian football lovers watched their local stars playing against big names that dominated premier leagues in England, Brazil, Ukraine, Azerbaijan (when parts of Soviet Union) and Romania, all countries are today thousands of miles far ahead of retarded Tanzania

In the same year, Young Africans fought to 1-1 draw with other English Football giants Aston Villa and Norwich City while recording massive victory over Sao Paulo Youth team and Galicia, both from Brazil. Later came Fluminense, ABC and Colorado, also from Brazil.

But most notable one was Fluminense’s flying winger, Lula Diaz who was arguably the first player from 1970 World Cup winners Brazil to play in Dar es salaam. His brilliance upfront helped his team to hand Yanga their first defeat in their 3-2 victory.

It was very fascinating to watch a fierce battle between Lula Diaz and Ali Yusuf who was the then Young Africans’ right full back.

The list of players in the match had Elias Michael between the posts, assisted by defenders Ally Yusuf, Selemani Said, Hassan Gobbos and Omary Kapera while the midfield was manned by Adam Juma, Abdulrahaman Juma and Sunday Manara while strikers included Leonard Chitete, Kitwana Manara and Gibson Sembuli.

Aston Villa, who were in the country during the Easter Week of 1973, played against Young Africans on April 26 at the National Stadium Dar es salaam. Leonard Chitete and Kitwana Manara were the match’s most brilliant players. Less than two weeks later, Yanga played against the Saulo Paulo youth on May 10, 1973.

The Brazilian youth team with Ze Luis, Feitois and Ivan lost 3-1 to Yanga with then flying winger Chitete netting a brace. On December 3, 1973, Yanga hosted ABC from Brazil in a match that ended with a barren draw.

ABC was an acronym created from three Latin American countries of Argentina Brazil and Chile. Yanga drew 1-1 with Galicia in the first game, before they punished the Brazilians with 3-1 rout in their second encounter.

However, Galicia were punished 3-0 by Simba in their second match of their Tanzanian tour. What happened at the then National Stadium over 40 years, has remained a history that the present generation scarcely believe in.

It is beyond imagination that there would come again days when our local football giants, Simba, Yanga or Azam would face super giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United Liverpool, Arsenal or even the current Manchester City.

Yanga, who celebrated their 80th anniversary last year and their traditional rivals who celebrate this year, are still limping far behind four decades after weighing muscles with English or Brazilian football teams. Their cross-over appeal today has hardly gone beyond East African borders. The failed attempt to bring to Tanzania Tottenham in the mid 1970s probably remains the best lesson that we didn’t give much weight.

If we could manage to pay them 300,000/- per match, Tanzania football lovers could have seen Pat Jennings, one of the oldest World Cup Stars, Glen Hoddle or their later striking talisman Garth Crooks or Steve Archibald.

It was evident that Tanzanian soccer fans wanted to see more from English soccer after watching Norwich City’s Martin Peter, who played in English World Cup winning squad of 1966.

The English focus was evidently lured by the success of legendary players such as George Best, Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles. They inspired Tanzanians to see the English league stars playing friendly at their home grounds against their local stars Tottenham, who are still among the English football powerhouses, demanded 300,000/- per every match they play in Tanzania.

The demand was too big and unassailable for the country whose residents hardly afforded a 5/- gate fee. Mathematically, it was not possible in those days to raise such a figure. To get 300,000/- you need an attendance of 60,000 at 5/- gate fee.

The capacity of the stadium then was hardly 15,000  people. The gate fees in 1973-74 were 3/- as the lowest and 10/-was the highest entry fee, but only a few could afford in then. Compared to today when about 9bn/- has been injected in the Vodacom Premier League, the country’s league-less past was financially pathetic.

The national champions in 1973, Simba, won the title after beating Lake Stars in the competition that involved only regional champions in a knock out format.

Karume Cup, the competition to find the champion in the 1970s, involved 20 regional representatives who faced each to find the final two teams. Normally, the competition hardly lasted a month with only one venue for the entire competition.

How much was generated in those years was obvious meagre, unless it pit the traditional rivals Simba and Yanga.

But it is not the same today as the country has made notable achievement in terms of sponsorship, notably since the arrival of Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL), the present title sponsor, Vodacom Tanzania and other co-sponsors who back teams such as NMB, Azam TV, and Serengeti who once backed the national team, Taifa Stars.

The country’s failure to bring in Tottenham Hotspurs gave us a good lesson that football is , and Business we strongly believe, if it were today, the country could easily afford to pay Tottenham 300,000/- which was then equivalent to 60,000 US dollars.

The stable backing from sponsors has given our league good mileage at the continental level from where the local teams have managed to recruit their players from all over the continent.

On December 17 when the second round of the league start, the Premier League is likely to have players from Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Togo, Congo DRC, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya.

Vodacom Tanzania deserves accolades for backing the league, which has today become among the strongest in africa.

Let Vodacom continue backing it. Let other firms jump into the bandwagon as co-sponsors. Let TFF market league matches to give players and a sponsor a mileage, keep hoping, it won’t take us long to see our local stars playing with or against globe’s mega stars such as Christian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Suarez or Neymar.