Burundi not against peace talks, assures Dr Mahiga

The chairperson of the East African Community Council of Ministers, Dr Augustine Mahiga

 The chairperson of the East African Community Council of Ministers, Dr Augustine Mahiga, has denied allegations that Burundi boycotted a consultative meeting on the way forward to avert the crisis in the country.

 

Dr Mahiga, who is also Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, East Africa and International Cooperation minister, said the talks were up and running even though the dialogue on peace talks scheduled for Wednesday night failed to take place.

 

He further reiterated the need for parties in Burundi to embrace political dialogue as the only feasible way to end the crisis in the country.

The diplomat’s assurance follows a no show by Burundians in the consultative meeting held throughout Wednesday night and claims that resurfaced on the same day that the Burundi government had ruled out participating in peace talks at the East African Community headquarters arguing that it breached the agreement date for dialogue.

 

Joseph Bangurambona, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Burundi had earlier claimed that there was no set agreement on the new date for dialogue between Burundians. 

The official maintained that delegates from his country would not travel to the EAC headquarters in Arusha arguing that January 6 was not 'a valid date' for talks and said that they have to solve other irregularities before agreeing on a date to resume the talks.  

 

However, briefing reporters after a 5 hour long closed door intensive consultative meeting, Dr Mahiga said the dialogue scheduled for January 6 did not take place due to ‘ongoing consultations in Burundi’.

 

“It is not true that Burundi have snubbed the talks, they have notified us that they are still planning on whom to send for the talks,” noted the diplomat.

 

According to Dr Mahiga, the meeting had earlier committed to intensify consultations with the Burundi government and the opposition with a view of continuing the country’s political dialogue as soon as possible.

“But it was still important to convene the consultative meeting to deliberate on the way we could help our neighbours despite their absence,” he said.

 

In another development, Dr Mahiga cautioned that there is the possibility that Burundi clashes could spill over to the neighbouring countries and called for efforts to demilitarise and depoliticise refugee camps.

He said if there is a problem in one country and it is not well controlled, it might spill over to other countries as well.

 

The consultative meeting comes as a follow up on the re-launch of the dialogue convened in Kampala on December 28 last year by President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as the facilitator of the Burundi dialogue.

The meeting was also attended by the Angolan Minister for Foreign Affairs Georges Chikoti who doubles as the chairperson of the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

 

Others in attendance included Ugandan minister for Defense Crispus Kiyonga, EAC chief Dr Richard Sezibera and Kassimi Banda from the African Union Office in Burundi.

 

The talks in Arusha were announced last month as part of regional efforts to resolve the crisis. Meanwhile, on Monday, explosions hit the capital Bujumbura, injuring at least two people, police and civil society representatives said.

 

CHANZO: THE GUARDIAN

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Cardinal Pengo's health stabilises

The Archbishop of the Dar es Salaam Catholic Church Archdiocese of, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo

 The Archbishop of the Dar es Salaam Catholic Church Archdiocese of, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo’s health condition has improved and is expected to be discharged from the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute at anytime now.

The cleric was admitted last Friday due to cardiac related complications but the Director of (JKCI), Professor Mohamed Janabi told reporters yesterday that Cardinal Pengo will be discharged soon because his health has improved.

 

He attributed his miraculous recovery to modern technology at the facility and the competence of its staff.

 

He said Cardinal Pengo is no longer in need of an oxygen machine, drips and other ‘critical condition’ equipments; “but he is still in the hands of doctors...a few days from now he will be discharged,” the doctor reassured family, friends and congregation.

 

In her comments, Minister of Health ,Social Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ummy Mwalimu expressed her contentment   with the hospital’s  services and pledged financial support to JKCI.

 

“Cardinal Pengo told me that due to the good services he received from this institute he will no longer travel abroad for treatment,” she said.

 

Mwalimu said the government is committed to continue financing JKCI to make sure the Institute becomes regionally competitive .

 

She insisted that since JKCI started operations at least 3bn/- that would otherwise be used to take patients abroad for the heart surgery and other cardiac diseases has been saved.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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Dar–Mtwara bound passengers stranded as drivers down tools

 Dar es salaam  -  Mtwara bound passengers were stranded yesterday for three hours after the drivers went on strike to press Police in the region to release their three colleagues who were detained due to reckless driving.

Some passengers at Mtwara bus terminal blamed the drivers for going on strike while they had sold tickets to them, saying the strike has interfered with their plans.

 

“We are traveling for different reasons, some  of us  have problems while others want to arrive earlier so that they can  sort out  some business issues said Muhidini Chinenge who wanted to travel to Dar es Salaam and then connect a train to Shinyanga.

 

He said that he made efforts to consult ticket vendors but they only said that their drivers were on strike following the arrest of three drivers due to speeding.

 

Another passenger Iddi Selemani said that he was disappointed to see traffic police at the bus terminal who did not help to ensure that the matter was resolved to allow them to proceed with their journey.

One of the drivers Zungu, Abdul Mcharu said that they want to know the fate of three drivers who were arrested due to speeding. 

 

 “The arrest of our colleagues have raised  many questions because they were offended for speeding …how can a person be detained for  two days  just because of reckless driving …we went to police to see how the issue could be resolved but  no one was ready to cooperate with us.

Mtwara Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) Meloe Buzema said that police were working on the matter and the suspects were expected to be taken to court to answer their charges.

 

He said police  Traffic  were currently on  special  operation  to control  speeding  which has been cited as the main contributor  to traffic accidents  while  the drivers causing the accident were paying fine and repeat the offence … “the best way is to  prosecute them,” 

 

“Most of the accidents are due to speeding, we can not tolerate seeing people’s lives claimed by accidents …they have been paying fine but still they repeat the offense that’s why we have decided to take them to court,” 

However the buses resumed operations three hours later.

 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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Education minister seeks explanation for examination grading system shift

The Minister for Education, Science and Technology and Vocational Training, Prof Joyce Ndalichako

 The  Minister for Education, Science and Technology and Vocational Training, Prof Joyce Ndalichako, yesterday gave the National Examination Council of Tanzania (NECTA) seven days to furnish her with scientific explanation behind the shift of grading system from division to Grade Point Average (GPA).

 

The minister issued the directive  in Dar es Salaam during her meeting with National Examination Council  (NEC) of Tanzania executives following ‘cheap’ answers regarding the reason for changing examination grade from divisions to grade point average for secondary schools.

 

Prof Ndalichako had observed that since her appointment and subsequently taking oath of office in December 28 last year, she had endless received queries from parents and education experts on the system used to grade students’ examination results.

 

She maintained that she had to seek for scientific reasons especially on the effects of using the previous system and as well the benefits for adopting the GPA system which has been disputed by education experts.

 

Dr Charles Msonde, NECTA Executive Secretary defended that the new changes, saying was a result of policy demands with the adaptation of e-Government that requested all computerised system in all government departments to be changed.

 

“We reviewed the system to match with that of the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). All our graduates were also requested to submit their certificates … the system would enable TCU and Nacte easily to scrutinise applicants,” he said. Adding; “using division for instance A had 1 point in secondary while at university and college meant 5 points …we needed similarity and the system had not changed anything in terms of academic performance.”

 

The executive secretary went on to defend that the new system, adding it was very clear than the former system which had seriously confused teachers.

 

Dr Msonde told the Education, Science Technology and Vocational Training Minister who was also flanked by her Deputy Permanent Secretary Prof Simon Msanjila that the new system to be equivalent with that of high learning institutions.

 

The explanation by the NECTA executive secretary was ‘very cheap’ to the minister who sought explanation from her deputy Permanent Secretary Prof Msanjila. The deputy Permanent Secretary told the minister the system used by TCU to admit high learning students did not require GPA but student’s performance in subject relating to a specific course being applied for.

 

“If a student wants to pursue education course, then you will look at his performance in Biology for example B, C, or 0 … during this selection process we don’t consider GPA,” the Deputy Permanent Secretary said.

Prof Ndalichako insisted however Tanzanians wants to know what transpired for the council to change the system.

 

The minister further requested technical and scientific explanation as to  

why the council continues to assess  exams for repeaters.

 

 She was concerned why there was no other alternative methods to examine their capacity rather than doing two things at once. “All private candidates they only show up during final exams, is there no other way that the council can examine them instead of waiting during the final exam?” she quarreled.

 

She reminded that while she was the executive secretary she was also required to introduce the same thing but since it was not professional she rejected the idea.

 

The minister warned however failure to the council to institute scientific explanation all private candidates will now be sitting for a single exam.

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Promote efficiency, Tazara told

 

Prof Mbarawa said the Fifth Phase Government wants the railway authority to improve efficiency in transportation of passengers and cargo to uplift its financial position. “You should avoid favoritism and secrecy in your operations because these cause sabotage and embezzlement which eventually weakens the company,” he stressed.

He urged workers to adhere to ethics in bringing about positive results for Tazara and member countries of the authority. Prof Mbarawa also revealed that the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) was conducting investigations on reports of embezzlements and warned that legal actions will befall culprits behind the vice.

For his part, Deputy Managing Director, Mr Betram Kiswaga, told the minister that Tazara was facing a number of challenges including limited capital as well as shortage of locomotives and wagons.

He assured Prof Mbarawa that the company has secured reliable transporters, noting that increased capital will encourage more transporters to use Tazara services. The 1,860 kilometre railway line connects the Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania and copper-rich region of Kapirimposhi in Zambia.

It was constructed by the Chinese government in the 1970’s to ease transport between the two countries.

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Magufuli mourns Inspector Ryoba

In a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications, President Magufuli, asked the IGP to accept his sincere condolences saying that collectively they had lost a hardworking and competent person.

“I have received the news of the death of your aide and his family. It is a very painful incident. I am aware of the pain that you are going through from the loss of a hard working person,” read part of the statement. In the incident, eight people died.

Six of them were family members of the late Ryoba, who were in the motor vehicle. Two more bodies were recovered after the water level subdued. The passengers who perished in the car were Ryoba and his wife, Fidea Kondo and two children namely Gabriel and Godwin. Others were the driver of the ill-fated vehicle, Corporal Ramadhani and a housemaid identified by one name of Sara.

The family was travelling from Geita to Dar es Salaam on the fateful day. Apart from the six passengers in the vehicle; two more were also recovered from the stream during the rescue operation Dodoma Regional Police Commissioner (RPC), David Misime, said the late Inspector Ryoba was the bridge between low rank officers and the police leadership.

According to the Police force, Inspector Ryoba joined Moshi Police Academy in 2004. After graduating he was posted to Dar es Salaam. Later he joined University of Dar es Salaam and graduated with Bachelor degree of Education.

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Cyber crime case involving student adjourned

 

The case will come before Principal Resident Magistrate, Respicius Mwijage of the Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ court in Dar es Salaam. Earlier, State Attorney, Estazia Wilson had informed the court that the case had come up for hearing but the prosecution’s intended witness was on leave.

Magistrate Mwijage expressed his disappointment regarding the fact that the prosecution had not availed alternative witnesses to cover the position of the one who was absent.

“I dislike situations whereby people come up with this kind of excuse when hearing is supposed to be in good progress,” said the Magistrate. He urged the prosecutor to avail two or more witnesses on the specified dates for the hearing and cautioned them that he was going to issue a ruling if otherwise.

Ngonyani, who resides at Magomeni Mapipa, becomes the first person to face the new law since it was endorsed by President Jakaya Kikwete to operate in Tanzania last year.

The accused is charged under section 16 of the Cyber Crime Act, which prohibits people to publish materials which are false or not verified by relevant authorities. Under the provision, whoever is convicted of the offence is liable to serve three years imprisonment or pay 5m/- in fine or both sentences.

Ngonyani is alleged to have published information in the face book network that General Mwamunyange has been poisoned. According to the prosecution, the accused person did so while knowing that such information was false and it was intended to mislead the public.

Meanwhile, A Nigerian National, Ejiofor Henry Ohagwa (33) has been arraigned before the same court for trafficking 4,197.42 grams of narcotic drugs. Before Principal Resident Magistrate, Mwijage the accused, who is a businessman, was not allowed to enter any plea to the charge, because his case will be tried by the High Court after completion of investigation.

Senior State Attorney, Mtalemwa Kishenyi alleged that on January 1, this year, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Ilala District in the City, Ohagwa was found trafficking from the United Republic of Tanzania 4,197.42 grams of narcotic drugs namely, Heroin Hydrochloride.

Ohagwa told the court that he came in the country to run his cosmetics business. Magistrate Mwijage adjourned the case to January 18, 2016 when the case will come up for mention and ordered the accused to be remanded in custody.

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