Historic 2012 Biennial National Forum on Early Childhood Development Closes in Arusha

The Minister for Education and Vocational Training , Dr Shukuru Kawambwa, has officially closed the historic 2012 Biennial National Forum on Early Childhood Development Closes in Arusha, Thursday.


Mr Shukuru Kwambwa (center) exchanges the signed 2021 ECDF declaration with Marito Garcia of the World Bank, (left,) and Arcord Rutajwaha , who was representing CSOs, soon after signing the document, just before the closure of the biennial ECD forum, Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Kawambwa said that the government has articulated the country’s key development priorities and strategies in the poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, which places special emphasis on improvement in education, health, water and good governance; areas that are crucial to the wellbeing of the child.



Dr Haji Mponda left, speaks to Dr Shukuru Kawambwa moments before the official closong of the forum in Arusha Thursday.

“We have learnt from a number of presentations in this forum how integrated Early Childhood Development interventions could address challenges facing young children in their future life. These interventions include nutrition, early stimulation for brain development, early learning child protection, language development, and a host of other relevant interventions,” he said.




A drama group, Kesho Cafe, performs a drama on child abuse on the last day of the forum at Mount Meru Hotel, in Arusha.

He went on to thank all the organizers and sponsors of the event including the “ World Bank, INICEF, UNESCO, Children in Crossfire, The Aga Khan Foundation and Bernard van Leer Foundation. It certainly has been a successful forum. Thank you very much for funding and facilitating the running of the forum. This support is an assurance of your continued support to the Early Childhood Development in Tanzania.”

Watch this space for a detailed report and other events during the forum.







A drama group, Kesho Cafe, performs a drama on child abuse on the last day of the forum at Mount Meru Hotel, in Arusha.



A Maasai traditional dance group, entertains participants on the last day of the 2012 ECD forum in Arusha




Dr Kawambwa addresses journalists after officially the forum on ECD in Arusha. he is flanked by the Deputy Minister Community Development, Gender and Children, honourable Mwalimu.

First Biennial Tanzania National Forum on ECD in pictures

Professor Robert A. Levine (left) soon before presenting a topic on the imparatives for developing contextually relevant programmes for children in Tanzania and lessons learnt from international experience and case studies.




Dorothy Rozga an official from UNICEF presents on marginalised children and roles for municipal and central authorities


Lisa Jordan the Executive Director, Bernard van Leer Foundation (centre) leads a roundtable discussion on Monday. she is flanked by Elizabeth Missokia the Executive Director for HakiElimu (right) and Mary Kabati a Steering Committee Member, Tanzania Early Childhood Development Network.


Dr Lucy Nkya, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare contributes her views during a press conference held prior to the forum.



The Minister for Community Development Gender and Children, Sophia Simba, addresses a press conference held at Mount Meru Hotel.

Tanzania values importance of early childhood development: Iddi

Arusha
The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, officially opened Tanzania’s first historic biennial forum to address the needs of young children in Tanzania here yesterday.




The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, presents a keynote address to officially open the forum.

Honourable Iddi who was the guest of honour, said that the Government of the Republic of Tanzania recognizes and values the importance of the early years of children’s development, human capacity development, economic and social development.

” Tanzania has made a commitment not only to increasing investment for the improvement of the lives of children but also accepted to be the first country in the world to set up a pilot the first Early Childhood Indicators project.



The Second Vice President of Zanzibar, Honourable Balozi Seif Ali Iddi, receives a speech from Kelvin Joseph, the chairperson for the Junior Council of the Republic of Tanzania (Kilimanjaro Region). joseph presented the speech on behalf of children in this country outlining problems they are facing. Looking on is Minister for Community Development Gender and Children Sophia Simba.


“Being the first country in the world to pilot this project, it means that we have accepted to be a learning point by other countries and the international community. This calls for government commitment to reach the goals set by the World Summit in 1990, which considers the five rights of the child, that is survival, protection, development , participation and non discrimination,” he said.



An official from Aga Khan Foundation explains, to Honourable Iddi, what his organisation does in helping vulnerable children, during an exhibition held soon after the official opening.

He went on to point that though early childhood development is crucial in the development of a well-adjusted adult, Tanzania has not done enough to improve early childhood care and education especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
“Our government acknowledges with appreciation that the implementation of programmes for young children is currently in the hands of various Non Governmental partners, who over the years have been providing ECD services to young children especially those who are disadvantaged.
“These partners include Plan Tanzania, world Vision Tanzania, and faith-based organizations like the Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Lutheran, Pentecostal Churches, the Seventh Day Adventist Church as well as Muslim schools commonly known as Madrasa,” He said.



Meeting the Press. . . Hon Haji Mponda, Hon Iddi and Hon Sophia Simba, talks to journalists in the sidelines of the event.

Forum on Early Childhood Development opens in Arusha

ARUSHA- The first Biennial National Forum on Early Childhood Development, an initiative of the Government of Tanzania in support of the Early Childhood Development Policy opens here today,.



Mount Meru Hotel, Arusha is the venue for the forum on children

The event that will see ministers from the Ministry of Gender and Children, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, and local and international stakeholders attending, will be held at Mount Meru Hotel from the 20th up to the 23rd of February 2012.

The event will be sponsored by the Bernard van Leer Foundation together with the World Bank, Children in Crossfire and UNICEF.

Bongoblast will keep you posted.

Rapist arrested after falling asleep on top of his victim

A MAN who raped a 72-year-old woman and dozed off shortly after attaining his orgasm was arrested after he was caught by neighbours fast asleep and naked inside her house.

Zimbabwean Strive Vhune, 26, broke into the elderly woman's house in the south-eastern district of Chivi, raped her, then fell asleep.


The woman went out to alert neighbours who caught him on the scene naked and handed him to the police.


"The suspect fell asleep soon after raping the woman who then took advantage and alerted neighbours who managed to apprehend him after he fled from the bedroom hut while stark naked," police spokesman Tineyi Matake told the Herald newspaper.


"Vhune is in custody while police finalise investigations and he will appear in court soon," Matake said.

Chipolopolo players advised not to blow their millions

SOCCER fans Association of Zambia President Yotam Mwanza has advised the Chipolopolo boys who are renowned for their heavy drinking not to spend the more than K400 million they each have been awarded on alcohol.

Speaking to The Independent Post (TIP) shortly after President Michael Sata laid wreaths on the tombstones of the Chipolopolo team that perished in the 1993 Gabon air disaster; Mwanza advised the Zambia National Soccer team players to invest their monies wisely.

He appealed to the team to humble themselves and not try to ‘be seen’ in their respective communities.

“I think the boys should humble themselves. They shouldn’t make any attempt to be seen. Let them not spend all the money on alcohol especially the infamous Tujilijili,” Mwanza said.

Mulenga was chased from the afon tournament over his drinking habits
History has shown that most Chipolopolo players are not only stars on the soccer pitch but also in drinking places. Even during the Africa Cup tournament where they were forbidden from consuming alcohol, a number of them sneaked out of the camp and found themselves at one of Malabo’s (Equatorial Guinea capital) drinking spots. It is also alleged that the players got themselves some prostitutes.

Eventually, the sneaking out of the players led to the chasing of South African based winger Clifford Mulenga.

Mwanza’s appeal to the Chipolopolo players to invest their money wisely comes in the wake of an announcement by government that each player would be awarded US $59,000.

Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said on national radio that the government has given each of the players $59 000, and that is beside what the corporate organisations might decide to give the victorious team.

When totalled, all the money to be given to each player might exceed 1.2 billion Kwacha.

Zambia defeated hot favourites Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in Sunday’s final, which had emotional overtones for the Chipolopolo.

The final was staged in the Gabonese capital Libreville, off whose coast a military aircraft carrying the 1993 Zambian national squad plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 30 players, officials and crew on board.

Teenage lovers kill themselves on Valentine’s Day

Teenage lovers kill themselves in death pact leap after girl was forced into arranged marriage

Police say two teenagers jumped to their death from a mobile phone tower in Bangladesh after the girl was forced to marry another man.

Police officer Sharmin said the boy called his brother and said the two were dying on Valentine's Day to stay together forever. The teens tied their hands with a scarf before committing suicide today.

It happened in the town of Gopalganj, 104 kilometres (65 miles) southwest of the capital.

Bond: The two teens tied their hands together and leaped to their deaths (file picture)

Sharmin quoted the families as saying the girl was married two months ago and sent to her husband's home in Dhaka, the country’s capital.

Her husband was twice her age, according to reports.

Sixteen-year-old Mithu Mollah, however, secretly returned to meet 17-year-old Soud Sheikh. They were in 10th grade.

Love affairs are frowned upon but widespread among young people in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Happy Valentine's Day

The staff, management and the editorial team at BongoBlast wishes you all a loving Valentine's Day. Remember to keep yourselves safe. Drive safely, no love accidents please.

Of commercialization of love and Valentine’s Day becoming a formality

LOVE is in the air once again as many people will tomorrow get a chance to rekindle their love. The day has been reserved for love. It is that time of the year again when those in love, the Romeos and Juliets, try to prove to their loved ones that they do not only love with their hearts but with their pockets as well.

The traditional red colour, symbolizing love, will most likely dominant in the streets as all those who believe in the day try to show that at least they have someone to love or who loves them.

It is that day of the year once again when many people’s pockets are left perforated because they would have pumped out a lot of money in the name of Valentine's gift. It never ceases to amaze me how some people go to the extremes to show their love. In most cases, they want this day to be memorable, so to achieve that they have to do something beyond their ordinary lives.

Needless to mention that some of the antics backfire and instead of cementing the relationship, the day marks the end of it. In one of the past commemorations, an Austrian 'Romeo' burnt the house down after making a giant heart out of blazing candles.

Hannes Pisek, 20, from Hoenigsberg in the province of Styria, used 220 candles to make a huge heart on the floor of his flat. He then lit them and went to pick up his girlfriend from work - but the plan backfired when the flat caught fire.

Pisek was left out in the cold as firemen battled to bring the blaze under control. He has now lost his home and his girlfriend - she left him afterwards and has moved back with her parents.

Many other crazy stories and adventures are often heard especially on how people spend the day. Dubbed the biggest retail scam in history, it is a day the calendar says we have to show love as if we don't the rest of the year.

Valentine's Day generates an estimated $14.7bn (£9.2bn) in retail sales in the United States while an estimated 1 billion St Valentine's Day cards are sent worldwide, making it the second most card-heavy celebration after Christmas.

The day has been commercialized to an extent that many businessmen smile their way to the bank after lovebirds in the name of love, recklessly spend their hard earned cash to please one another. You needed to visit recreational facilities such as beaches, hotels, restaurants and so on to prove what I am talking about. If you missed it this year, then do not worry, you will have another chance to see it next time.

This is a day that is devoted to relationships and the love that is shared between two or more individuals. But, what the day usually ends up doing is forcing men and women to spend ridiculous amounts of time and money on getting the perfect gift for their partners. Many relationships have been strained because an expectant lover would have been left in the cold, after the expected Valentine’s gift remained just but a dream.

On the other hand it was a difficult day for those who are single, whether by design or default. I am referring to those who, during that day, had no lover, maybe after being dumped or after getting divorced.

I know seeing other people loving each other might have brought back painful memories to these people but I believe it was better off staying out of it rather than pretending. Today’s love has not only been commercialized but has been artificialised as well. What we referred to as true love sometime back is almost non existent as many people weigh gains against losses before embarking into a relationship.

This is the reason many relationships die a sudden death or end prematurely because the uniting factor is not love but something else. Today’s love is now fragile to such an extent that a small quarrel is blown out of proportion and is branded irreconcilable differences.

This year’s love celebrations come at a time when the institution of marriage is under siege. Marriage is fast becoming an endangered species not only in Bongoland but the world over. A lot of money is spent on marriages but most of them will be marriages of convenience. Someone will be having something to gain out of this marriage rendering the marriages fragile.

The “till death do us part” vows on the alter are fast becoming just but insincere formalities or just mere meaningless requirements of a wedding ceremony. What a shame!

Many children are left in the cold, to pay for the sins of their parents, who married for the wrong reasons only to realize that they don’t love each other when it is already too late. If today's rates of divorce are anything to go by, then this country will be reduced to a mere jungle as the institution of marriage is approaching extinction. Just imagine a world without marriages but cohabitation and prostitution.

It is vital for everyone to remember that love is not love until you give it away and that not even a single shilling or dollar can buy love. God bless you.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz

Normalcy in hospitals as doctors resume work

The situation is back to normal in most hospitals as doctors reported for work today after finding common ground with the government through the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda at Muhimbili National Hospital yesterday.

DONE DEAL!. . . Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda shakes hands with the cairman of the doctors’ committee, Stephene Ulimboka, after striking a deal to end the three-week job action by doctors that was threatening to paralyze the health sector.

A visit by Bongoblast at some hospitals revealed that doctors were back at work but patients for one reason or the other were few, especially in the outpatients department. Doctors could be seen attending to patients at Muhimbili, Ocean Road and Amana hospitals.

This comes after doctors had engaged in three-week strike, pressing the government to address their grievances. Meanwhile the 16 activists who were arrested at Muhimbili yesterday, were released the same day after doctors called for their release as part of their deal to return to work.

Lusaka Prostitutes celebrate Zambia’s win by offering free sex

PROSTITUTES in Lusaka’s Kanyama, John Laing, Chawama and Kalingalinga compounds last night offered themselves free of charge to every Jim and Jack as part of their celebration after Zambia beat Ghana 1-0.

A check by The Independent Post (TIP) at nightclubs such as Kanyama’s Kanchembele and Chine Chikayeba found long queues of men waiting to have sex with a limited number of prostitutes.

A single prostitute served nearly 11 men and there were more than 200 men wanting to celebrate Zambia’s first qualification to the Africa Cup final since 1994 in style.

The situation was the same at John Laing’s Corogo night Club which is situated just opposite John Laing Basic School. But at Corogo, a man in his mid twenties was beaten up after he took long to attain orgasm when his turn to have sex with the prostitute came.

“Yes, we beat him up because he took too long to ejaculate. We were too many of us on line and the guy kept on wasting time on top of the prostitute,” said an eye-witness, identified only as James.

And in Chawama as well as Kalingalinga, TIP correspondents say only a handful of prostitutes were made to serve tens of Chipolopolo fans.

But another soccer fan who claims not have taken part in the ‘mass servicing’ of prostitutes said the development was unfortunate. Mike Tembo suspected that many young people might have contracted the HIV virus and other STIs during the ‘sexual celebration.’

“I think when Zambia plays the final, free condoms need to be provided so that we can protect our young men. Many of them had sex with the prostitutes without condoms,” Tembo said.

Zambia’s win over Ghana sent the whole Zambia into wild celebration. Soccer fans celebrated the win in all manner of ways. Fortunately, no deaths were recorded at the time this story was published.

Coach Herve Renard said that he was happy that Zambia has told the world through the beating of the Black stars that Ghana are still toddlers.

“We’ve won and I am very happy. At least we’ve shown the world that Ghana are toddlers,” Renard said.

He added that Zambia will now be aiming at beating Ivory Coast on February 12.

Ghana paid the penalty as Asamoah Gyan saw a penalty saved before Zambia scored with their only attack of the second half in a 1-0 win in their African Cup of Nations semi-final in a sodden Bata.

Zambia substitute Emmanuel Mayuka completed a smash-and-grab victory for the Chipolopolo boys as he tucked the ball beyond Ghana keeper Adam Kwarasey from 22 yards on 79 minutes to complete a miserable day for the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists.

Zambia will return to the Gabon capital of Libreville for the final, 19 years after the fallen heroes were tragically wiped out when a plane crashed heading towards Dakar for a World Cup qualifier with Senegal in 1993.

Under coach Herve Renard, Zambia is certainly physically strong enough to provide a stern test for Ivory Coast.

[Source: The Independent Post]

Police arrest 16 activists over doctors’ strike

Police are still questioning 16 people believed to be activists who were arrested around 11 am today at Muhimbili National Hospital, the venue of the historic meeting that saw PM Pinda finding a breakthrough to the doctors’ saga.

The activists were arrested before they disembarked from their vehicles and are suspected of planning to stage a demonstration, pressing the PM and the doctors to find a lasting solution to the strike.

Talking to the media, the Kinondoni Regional Police Commander, Charles Kenyela, confirmed that they were still holding the activists and statements were still being taken. He said that after the statements then normal procedures will be followed and they will be placed on remand pending court hearing.

Commander Kenyela also said that the activists are likely to be charged for unlawful assembly, considering that the day before they were arrested they had staged a demonstration, blocking the road and causing commotion.

Among those who were arrested is the LHRC director Hellen Kijo Bisimba, Tamwa Director Ananilea Nkya and Sikika director Irenei Kiria. They are still being held at Osterbay Police Station.

Tanzania: Doctors end strike

Doctors in Tanzania have agreed to resume work after meeting the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda today. The doctors, as a condition for them to return to work, gave the government a month to attend to their grievances - ending a three-week old strike that had paralyzed the health sector.



EVERY REASON TO SMILE!. . . . PM Mizengo Pinda managed to find common ground with medical doctors to end the strike.

The situation in hospitals had become unbearable as ordinary citizens were suffering after failing to get medical attention. Meanwhile the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Blandina Nyoni and the government Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deo Mtasiwa, have been sacked as the government engaged in fire fighting tactics to end the strike.

The Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda announced the sacking during a meeting with doctors where they were mapping the way forward. The two have been accused of bungling the doctors’ case and are accused of failing to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Doctors’ strike claims two senior health officials as PM meets doctors for solution

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Blandina Nyoni and the government Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deo Mtasiwa, have been sacked as the government engaged in fire fighting tactics to end the three-week strike.



SACKED!. . . Ministry of Health's Permanant Secretary, Blandina Nyoni (above) and the government Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deo Mtasiwa, (below) have been relieved of their duties.




The Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda announced the sacking during a meeting with doctors where they were mapping the way forward. The two have been accused of bungling the doctors’ case and are accused of failing to find a lasting solution to the problem.

Activists arrested

Leaders of a group of activists who had gathered at Muhimbili National Hospital to press the government and doctors to find a lasting solution to the strike have been arrested. Among those who were arrested were the LHRC director Hellen Kijo Bisimba, Tamwa Director Ananilea Nkya and Sikika director Irenei Kiria. They are still being held at Osterbay Police Station.

ARRESTED! . . . Tamwa Director Ananilea Nkya (right) has been arrested and is still being detained by the police over a botched demo.

46 Zambian soccer fans injured in victory celebrations

Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent and unruly, hospital authorities said.



Emmanuel Mayuka's lone goal inspired and ignited the victory celebrations across Zambia. PHOTO: mtnfootball.com


UTH said it had treated 46 casualties who were injured after Zambia national soccer team – “Chipolopolo” – beat Ghana’s “Black Stars” to advance to the finals of the on-going African Nations Cup tournament co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

“Out of these 13 are assault cases while 33 are Road Traffic Accidents,” hospital officials said.

And residents of a high density suburb south west of the capital Lusaka torched a motor vehicle after it ran over a person celebrating Zambia’s 1:0 win over Ghana.

Three people have so far been killed in post-match celebrations that are mostly characterized by heavy alcohol intake, careless driving and loud blowing of South African popularized local trumpets – “Vuvuzelas”

Zambia will face Ivory Coast over the weekend for the top prize while Ghana and Mali will battle it out for third and fourth positions.

Mtahiniwa aliandika verse kwenye karatisa yake ya majibu ya mtihani

Baraza la mitihan la Taifa (NECTA)limewafutia matokeo yao watahiniwa
elfu 3,303 baada ya kugundulika kufanya udanganyifu na kutumia
lugha chafu kwenye mitihani yao ya kidato cha nne iliyofanyika oktoba 2011 ambapo katika hali isiyo ya kawaida mmoja wa watahiniwa hao aliamua kuandika katika karatasi yake wimbo wa bongo fleva.

Katibu mtendaji mkuu wa baraza hilo Dr Joyce Ndalichako amesema “nashukuru sana wote wanaosahihisha huu mtihani wangu, nitakapofeli nitaendelea na fani yangu ya bongo fleva, majita yangu yako levo za juu na sio East zuu, ukiona vyaelea ujue vimeundwa”

Joyce amesema mtahiniwa aliandika mistari katika kila sehemu alipotakiwa kujibu swali, swali la sita na la saba aliandika hiyo mistari hapo juu, swali la kumi na moja ameandika “acha utani my girl, unauja nyumbani umezizi, mwenzako huku naona sijiwezi, kazi hiyo ya kuzizi nakwambia ukweli mwanzo ulikua mzuri lakini mwisho ukawa mbaya”

kwenye sentensi nyingine Katibu huyo mkuu amesema “katika mtihani wa kidato cha nne uliofanyika mwaka jana watahiniwa laki mbili na elfu 25 sawa na asilimia 53.37 wamefaulu huku kati yao wasichana ni elfu 90 na 885 sawa na asilimia 48.25 na wavulana ni laki moja na elfu 34 sawa na asilimia 57.51.

Shule ya sekondari ya wasichana ya St. Francis Mbeya imeongoza kwa shule kumi zilizofanya vizuri, ambapo katika wanafunzi waliofaulu vizuri sana wameongozwa na Moses Andrew Swai kutoka shule ya sekondari ya Feza iliyopo jijini Dar es salaam.

Source: Bonyeza24 blog

Tanzanian government remains clueless as doctors’ strike bites

The situation continues to deteriorate as the government remains mum over the doctors’ strike. A visit by Bongoblast to many hospitals in Dar es Salaam revealed a sorry state of affairs of human suffering and neglect.

Tamwa Director Ananilea Nkya, (right), carries a placard during the demonstration yesterday.

Many patients continue to die for failing to access treatment while those with the means have no choice but to transfer their beloved ones from these killing grounds to private doctors, where they will be left without any choice but to dig beeper into their pockets.

As people continue to suffer, it seems the impasse has reached a dead end with the government seemingly running out of ideas on how to tackle it. The use of threats by the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda to force doctors to go back to work seems to have fueled the strike instead of being helpful. Dr Lucy Nkya, the Deputy Minister of health seems confused as she continues sticking to threats instead of finding a lasting solution.

Activists demonstrate

Some of the activists block the road while carrying placards in Dar es Salaam, yesterday.

A group of activists yesterday demonstrated, pressing the government to wake up and solve the crisis. The activists led by LHRC director Hellen Kijo Bisimba, Tamwa Director Ananilea Nkya and Sikika director Irenei Kiria blocked traffic at Salender Bridge for an hour singing and carrying placards with the message to the government. The following are some of the pictures.

Demonstrating in style. . . one of the activists lies on the road while holding a placard.



Activists called for the sacking and resignation of various ministry of health senior officials including the minister.



Singing and dancing characterised the peaceful demonstration.





Police officers monitor the situation as the demonstration continues.