Of accidents, recklessness and history repeating itself

When history continues repeating itself then in most cases circumstances that would have led to it will be the same. The recent MV Spice Islander 1 accident is a copycat of the MV Bukoba accident. The only difference is the place the two accidents occurred.

For a long time now, we have been battling road accidents and over and over again, we have many people perishing on our roads because of careless driving. The recent accident involving a Deluxe Luxury Coaches bus claimed 12 lives when it exploded into a ball of fire after it had overturned. But hardily a week after that incident had occurred, I witnessed an incident where the driver of a Dar es Salaam bound bus was driving recklessly. Besides speeding he was overtaking in places that were not safe.

As part of journalists coming from an assignment, we filed a complaint with one of the traffic police officers who stopped the bus and consulted the passengers over the driver’s performance. Surprisingly the passengers sided with the driver, who was later given a ticket for reckless driving. But while he was still being given the ticket, a group of passengers alighted and started shouting obscenities, defending the driver. They then attacked the journalists, who were trying to save their lives.

This then convinced me that we have a big problem in this country. We have a problem of forgetting too quickly. We have what we call short memory. I hadn't realised that we, as a nation, suffer from that problem until I came across that incident because people had been burnt beyond recognition a few days earlier but the passengers were defending a reckless driver who had not only admitted his fault but also apologised. And this quickly reminded me of a daladala plying the Mwembeyanga- Yombo-Kilakala route inscribed on its back window, “Tatizo mnajisahau.”

And, for those with eyes, our transport sector is rich when it comes to depicting our cultural values norms and beliefs. Different messages are written strategically on these vehicles so that other road users and the general public can see them. Though some of these messages act as a form of identity or trade mark, they carry important messages that usually provoke readers into thinking about a certain subject matter.

The only problem is that many people are allergic to reading; they simply don't want to read. These messages can bring change in people's lives. I remember coming across another interesting message, not on a daladala but on a guta, that read, “ Mimba utatoa, Ukimwi je?” The message was reminding people that they may have unprotected sex knowing that if they get pregnant they will abort but it posed a question as to what they will do when it comes to AIDS. Interesting isn't it? Let's all try to open our eyes, we deliberately closed, so that we can benefit from such messages. Just give yourself a day to check on these messages as you commute to and from your work place or home.

So, after coming across the message (the first one), I discovered that it rightly applies to us in this country who in most cases, because of our forgetfulness, we let history repeat itself. The major culprit when it comes to this forgetting game is the media. When an event occurs, they make a lot of noise but readers are shortchanged when no follow ups are made to that story. Most stories are not followed to their conclusions.

We have so many cases that have been left hanging because of one reason or the other. We have so many stories that took us by storm only to die natural deaths. The likes of the trawlers' case, the DECI saga and the EPA just but to mention these. The stories are now thinly covered or not covered at all. I know journalists will be quick to defend themselves in the name of news values but these are important stories people would like to know their progress or conclusions.

I believe that the failure to remind the army and the government about the Mbagala blasts issue might have caused some people to sit on their laurels thinking that the problem had gone for good, only to be shocked when Gongo La Mboto blasts occurred. I feel that we tend to relax and forget too soon about some problems that will be in need of solutions.

The problem of electricity we are facing today is a spillover not only from last year, but other (many) previous years. The issue is that whenever Tanesco comes up with temporary measures and power rationing becomes a thing of the past, we think that the problem is solved and no one bothers raising the need to invest in more permanent solutions, simply because we forget too soon.

When 10 infants were discovered in a shallow grave in Mwananyamala early this year, everybody went crazy, demanding to know why such an abomination had happened in our land. The media were awash with pictures and stories of the incident.

Various sectors of the society condemned the incident branding the hospital as unethical and all sort of names. But, all wananchi's concerns fell on deaf ears as nothing tangible came out of it. Now, life is back to normal and everyone seems to have forgotten all about it.

The media did a good job by covering the incident; even columnists had a field day, blasting the powers that be left, right and centre. But, they were also found wanting, just as expected, they failed to follow the story to its logical conclusion. Up to now, the public don't know the outcome of the investigations. The last time I ever saw a story covering that event was when the bogus committee formed to investigate the issue, issued their findings and recommendations.

It is pretty obvious that we have forgotten about the Mwananyamala madness and we are waiting for a similar incident to occur again so that we can complain again. That is the problem we are facing and as long as we continue to have such an attitude, then history will always repeat itself.

Not even one journalist bothered to make a follow up on the progress of investigations. It won't be surprised if the culprits have not been brought to book up to now. No one has bothered to tell us what steps the hospital took to address the problem. Tuna kwenda wapi with such an attitude?

As long as we continue adopting an I don't care attitude, deliberately having short memories and failing to get to the bottom of the problems affecting us, then problems such as the road accidents, Mwananyamala madness, the Mbagala bomb blasts, Gongo la Mboto blasts and DECI thievery will continue haunting us. History will always repeat itself and in most cases, wananchi are the most affected. God bless us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/ symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

Nine passengers nabbed for defending reckless driver

SIMBARASHE MSASANURI
Dar es Salaam

At a time when road accidents continue to claim innocent lives, mainly due to human error, police at Chalinze in Coast Region arrested nine passengers for defending a reckless driver and obstruction of justice.

The passengers who were in a bus christened Happy Nation that was traveling from Mbeya to Dar es Salaam, had to have their journeys cut short after allegedly verbally and physically attacking journalists who were coming from an assignment in Morogoro. The journalists, who were traveling in a separate bus, had alerted a traffic police officer that the driver of the Happy Nation bus had been driving recklessly, resulting in him being ticketed.

According to one of the journalists, Japhery Mjasiri, the Happy Nation bus overtook not only their bus but other vehicles at an undesignated place and, above all, the driver was speeding.

“As journalists, we know the impact of accidents and the efforts that are being put in place to curb them, so we approached a traffic police officer at Mikese along the Dar es Salaam- Morogoro road and told her to caution the driver of the bus.

“What surprised us, however, is that when the passengers in the bus were asked by the police officer whether the driver was driving recklessly, they all protected him. But, the officer went ahead to write a ticket and cautioned the driver. And, while she was still doing so, a group of passengers alighted from the bus and started shouting obscenities at us, complaining that we were delaying them unnecessarily,” he said.

He went on to point out that the impatient passengers became aggressive, shouting obscenities and threatened to beat the journalists together with their driver. “They ended up banging the windows of our bus with their fists. When the journalists realized that the situation was getting aggressive, they took their cameras and started filming and it is at that point that one camera man was beaten.”

This was also confirmed by the driver of the small bus carrying the journalists, Frank Pungu, who said he had to close his door very fast to avoid being beaten by the angry mob.

“I would like to commend the Happy Nation driver who calmed his passengers before apologizing to us for not only the reckless driving but also for the behaviour of his passengers,” he said.

When the bus left the passengers are said to have continued insulting the journalists who retaliated by calling one of the senior police officers who later on directed police officers at Chalinze to solve the case.

“When we arrived at Chalinze Police Station, we showed the police officers the video footage and still pictures of the aggressive passengers, who were nabbed and detained,” said Mjasiri before adding that this should be a lesson to other passengers that they don’t mistreat people who are trying to save their lives.

Another journalist who requested anonymity said that the attitude shown by the passengers was shocking to say the least, pointing out that their behaviour was unacceptable because “we were good Samaritans here. What we only wanted is to save their lives but what they were thinking was their destination. They thought we were delaying them while in the actual sense we were saving them.”

When teachers pass on their 'ignorance' to students, education becomes a formality

“EDUCATION is life” is the motto for a certain school in Yombo-Kilakala. But, what bothers me very much is the quality of education offered by the school. Judging from its infrastructure, number of teachers as compared to that of students, then a lot leaves to be desired.

Every time final results are released, be they Standard Seven, Form Four or A’ Level, we cry foul, blaming each other for the failure. Each and every sector of the society will be trying very hard to exonerate itself from blame to an extent that we turn a blind eye on reality.

Recent reports in the media of a Dar es Salaam school were shocking to say the least. I know many people are wondering why I am saying the story was shocking because to them it’s a tired story. It is now part of our culture. It’s true that not only are our media awash with such stories, but we have living examples of ramshackles we easily pass for schools.

About 720 pupils at a primary school in Kinondoni Municipality have no choice but to endure the pain of squatting on the floor for about eight hours of learning daily. This makes going to school a punishment to these innocent children whose hope for a better tomorrow is pinned on passing examinations.

As if this is not enough, the school faces an acute shortage of classrooms, with 1, 080 pupils sharing 10 classrooms. To add insult to an injury, the school has only two holes they share as toilets thereby putting their lives in danger as they risk contracting diseases such as cholera. What is more disturbing is that even teachers join their students in the scramble, pushing and shoving for a chance to use the facility.

The school also faces an acute shortage of both learning and teaching facilities. What is more painful is that this is not only confined to this school. This is just a tip of the iceberg as we have similar or even worse conditions in some urban and rural schools.

This is undoubtedly one of the reasons most our children fail to make it to the promised land after dismally failing their final exams. Judging by the time a student spends at school and the presence of many private colleges that purport to offer extra lessons for the students, then our pass rates should be higher than what they are today.

How can we expect our students to pass their examinations if they are learning under pathetic conditions? For students to queue up to relieve themselves is a mockery, not only of our education system, but to the country as a whole.

Our students, mostly those coming from the lower classes, have no option but to attend school under appalling conditions. We are sick and tired of our media being awash with news of schools operating either with one teacher, without enough classrooms and desks, without toilets or without even a single textbook.

The revelation then, saw the government, through the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, admitting that the situation is an embarrassment. “We are doing what we can to find a lasting solution to this problem,” the minister was quoted as saying.

I know this is a problem that cannot be solved overnight but there is need to set standards which each and every school should strive to adhere to. Failure to do that, the schools should be closed and the responsible authorities and societies forced to chip in and address the problems.

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare embarked on a crackdown on substandard and unlicenced health institutions, some of which were being operated by bogus doctors.

Many dispensaries were found wanting and were closed as they were a danger to the health of wananchi. The same can be done with schools, especially those backyard institutions operated by bogus teachers.

The proliferation of private colleges and those good-for-nothing money-generating projects called 'Tuition Centres' should be scrutinized. Such institutions, instead of adding value to our education system, seem to be adding confusion to it.

Most of them are manned by inexperienced and unqualified teachers. The owners of such institutions might be teachers themselves but they usually enroll unqualified teachers (school leavers) to come and teach so that they can underpay them and maximize profits.

To tell the truth, the primary motive for the establishment of these institutions is to make money. There is not much supervision and these people know that they won’t be held responsible for the failure of students because what they only do is to offer extra lessons. This, therefore, means that since they won’t be held accountable, then they can get away with it and make money.

What a shame. Many parents with the zeal to have their children get educated for them to have a better future, waste a lot of their hard-earned cash to pay for extra lessons that end up confusing their children.

The responsible authorities should borrow a leaf from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and visit these tuition centres and I bet my last cent that what they will come up with will be shocking. It won’t be surprising if some institutions are run by Form Four school leavers who do not have any training at all.

This, therefore, calls for guidelines, conditions and pre-requisites for the establishment of such centres. This will add value to our education system and improve our pass rates. Education will then truly become life.

I believe that the school I mentioned above and all others that share the same motto should change it from “Education is Life” to “Education is a Formality”. No one will fault them for doing that because that is the truth.

Enough is enough. Something must be done to improve our education. In fact we are tired of these so-called teachers passing on their ignorance to our children. In the end, the students will remain as ignorant as their teachers. God bless us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

Muammar Gaddafi afariki dunia

Kiongozi wa Zamani wa Libya, Muammar Gaddafi amekufa katika mateso ya majeraha baada ya kukamatwa karibu na Mji wake wa Sirte Juu imethibishwa na Afisa Mwandamizi wa Kijeshi wa Baraza la Taifa Mpito NTC leo.

Afisa huyo wa Baraza la Taifa Mpito, Abdel Majid Mlegta aliiambia Reuters awali kwamba Gaddafi alikamatwa na kujeruhiwa katika miguu yote kabla ya alfajiri leo wakati akijaribu kukimbia baada ya msafara wake kushambuliwa na ndege za kivita za NATO.

'Pia alipigwa risasi kichwani , `alisema kiongozi huyo.

'Gaddafi injured, captured, dies'

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered in his capture near his hometown of Sirte on Thursday, a senior NTC military official said.

National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked.

'He was also hit in his head,' the official said. 'There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.'

Col Gaddafi is said to be wounded. There is no independent confirmation of the reports.

The colonel was toppled in August after 42 years in power. The International Criminal Court is seeking his arrest.

"He's captured. He's wounded in both legs," National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid told Reuters news agency.

"He's been taken away by ambulance."

AFP news agency quoted another NTC official, Mohamed Leith, as saying that Col Gaddafi had been captured in Sirte and was "seriously wounded" but still breathing.

The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Tripoli says although the reports of the capture are unconfirmed, ships and cars have been sounding their horns in the capital and guns are being fired in celebration.

SOurce: BBC

WASANII MNAVYOKAA KWENYE VIKAO VYENU NA BASATA NA HILI PIA MNALIONGELEA?

Msanii wa maigizo ya vichekesho JOTI akitoa changamoto ambazo anakutana nazo katika sanaa yake hiyo ya maigizo.


Mzee Kipara hii ndio hali aliyofikia hivi sasa.
Mzee kipara ni msanii wa muda mrefu ambaye alikuwa katika sanaa ya maigizo kwa muda mrefu, kipindi cha hivi karibuni vyombo mbali mbali vya habari vilitoa hali ya afya yake.

Kwa sasa hali yake bado ni mbaya, napenda kuwakumbusha tena wasanii wote msimtupe mzee huyu na mnavyoendelea na vikao vyenu na BASATA pia muweze kumuongelea Mzee huyu, ili kwa pamoja na Serikali mumsaidie. Napenda kuwashukuru wale wote waliojitahidi kumsaidia kwa namna moja au nyingine ili kuweza kumfanya Mzee huyu ajisikie ana watu ambao wanamjali, Mungu atawarudishia.

Botswana call to change gay laws

Botswana should decriminalise homosexuality and prostitution to prevent the spread of HIV, ex-President Festus Mogae has said.

Mr Mogae, who heads the Botswana government-backed Aids Council, said it was difficult to promote safe sex when the two practices were illegal.

He also called for condoms to be distributed in prisons.

His views are controversial as many conservative Batswana frown upon homosexuality and prostitution.

Botswana has one of the highest HIV/Aids rates in the world - 17% of the population is HIV positive.

A government spokesman on HIV/Aids told the BBC homosexuality and prostitution would remain illlegal until the government concluded wide-ranging consultations to see whether there was a need to change the law.

Mr Mogae said Botswana could not regard homosexuals - a tiny minority in the country - as criminals.

Prison policy
"I don't understand it [homosexuality]. I am a heterosexual," he said.

"I look at women. I don't look at other men. But there are men who look at other men. These are citizens."

He said the government also needed to change its policy towards sex workers to help curb HIV/Aids.

"To protect them and their clients from being infected, you have to assist them to protect themselves. I don't think by arresting them you help them," Mr Mogae said.

He said the government's failure to give prisoners' condoms was worsening the HIV/Aids pandemic.

"If people can go to prison HIV negative and come out of it HIV positive, it means that prisons, whatever the law says, are one of the sources of infection," the former president told Network Africa.

Mr Mogae stepped down as president in 2008 at the end of his two terms in office.

In the same year, he was awarded the Mo Ibrahim prize for good governance in Africa.

When he announced the winner, ex-UN head Kofi Annan commended Mr Mogae for taking strong action to tackle HIV/Aids.

During his rule, Botswana became the first sub-Saharan African country where anti-retroviral drugs were widely available for free.

Source:BBC

AIBU GANI HII BADO INAENDELEA KULIKUMBA TAIFA LETU!

Jeshi la Polisi nchini (PT) kupitia Inspekta Generali wake Said Mwema(Pichani) imetangaza dau la Shilingi Milioni 5 kwa mtu yeyote atakaefanikisha kupatikana kwa mtu aliyemjeruhi mtoto Adam Robert (14) ambaye ni Albino huko Geita ambapo mtu asiyejulikana alimvamia mtoto huyo na kuanza kumkata kata mikono na kisha kutoweka na vidole vya Albino huyo.

Tukio hilo lilitokea usiku wa kuamkia mwishoni mwawiki katika Kijiji cha Nyaruguguna, Kata na Tarafa ya Nyang’hwale ambapo mlemavu huyo, Adam Robert (14), mwanafunzi wa darasa la nne, alivamiwa na kukatwa mkono wa kulia na kisha kunyofolewa vidole vitatu vya mkono wa kushoto.

Ni jambo la kusikitisha sana kuona vitendo hivi vinaendelea kutokea na mwisho wa siku jeshi linataka kutumia fedha za walipa kodi kwa ajili ya kuwapata wahalifu hao, mi nadhani hii njia sio sahihi, sidhani kama Jeshi la polisi wanashindwa kuwapata hawa wanaowatuma wahalifu kwenda kuwadhuru maalbino hawa. Jambo la msingi hapa sio kutangaza dau ni kuhakikisha wale wanaowatuma ndio wanakamatwa na ninaamini jeshi la polisi likishirikiana na usalama wa Taifa inawezekana kuwakamata hawa na kuwatokomeza kabisa, usalama wa Taifa wanafanya kazi gani kama sio pia na kuangalia usalama wa Watanzania hawa!
Ni aibu kubwa kwa Taifa letu vitendo hivi vinavyoendelea.

SAKATA LA MGOMO WA WANACHUO WA IMTU UNIVERSITY HATMA YAKE LINI?

Wanachuo hao hapa wakiwa katika moja ya maandamano ya mgomo huo.


Geti kuu la kuingia Chuo kikuu cha Afya IMTU kilichopo Mbezi Beach.

Sakata hili lilitolewa miezi michache iliyopita na vyombo mbali mbali vya habari kuhusu mgomo huu wa wanachuo hawa.

Ni jambo la kusikitisha sana kuona nchi ambayo ina upungufu mkubwa wa Madaktari, kushindwa kuumaliza mgomo wa Madaktari Wanafunzi ambao sasa umekamilisha miezi miwili, kundi hili la wanachuo limekuwa likikusanyika nje ya Makao Makuu ya Wizara ya Elimu kwa vipindi tofauti bila hitimisho la mgomo huu.

Kwa kutambua umuhimu wa wataalam hawa tunaziomba mamlaka zilizopewa dhamana ya kusimamia na kuongoza ziumalize mzozo huu ambao madai yao ya msingi ni kulipa Ada kwa Tshs na si US Dollar na pia kulipa ada kubwa tofauti na vyuo vingine vya binafsi (private).

Sisi kama wanafunzi ambao tunaathirika na mgomo huu Bado tuna imani na Serikali ya Mh.Jakaya kikwete na watendaji wake wote, Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya elimu,Tanzania Commision of Universties na Higher Education Student Loan Board tunawaomba waumalize mzozo huu.

Pesa nyingi zimetumika za walipa kodi kupitia loan board kuwakopesha wanafunzi hawa Tunahitaji sasa wote kwa pamoja kulishughulikia hili tatizo ili tuweze kuendelea na Masomo na mwisho tuende kujenga taifa letu changa lenye upungufu mkubwa wa Madaktari.

Of fake people, fake commodities and counterfeits becoming part of our lives

A story is told of a man who went window shopping downtown Kariakoo, came across a nice shirt in one of the shops manned by people of Asian origin. The guy is said to have been attracted by the shirt in such a way that he had to sacrifice the little money he had to buy it. Luckily the shirt wasn’t that expensive.

Everything was okay until he decided to wash it after wearing it on his way to church where many of his friends hailed him for putting on a nice shirt. You know how people in this country are generous with their comments as even strangers you meet on the streets can look at you and tell you “umependeza.”

I know it has been a trend for friends to pass this comment. I later discovered that most of the comments are not sincere. I have come across some women commenting on one of their own who would have just had her hair done. One thing for sure about the person getting the comment is that she will be having a new hairstyle, but in most cases the hairstyle will be making her look like a ghost. Sorry to say so but that is the truth. When you hear someone complimenting another person, take your time to check on the one getting the compliment and you will discover that this world is full of deception.

Many people say these comments to please their friends while at the same time there is no sincerity.
When the poor guy immersed the shirt into water, it began to bleach. When he applied soap hoping everything will go back to normal, the shirt was ruined. When he hung it on the washing line to dry it, the shirt had become a shadow of its former self.

He was left without a choice but to take the shirt back to the shop where he had bought it. He furiously threw the shirt hitting the shopkeeper in the face, shouting obscenities and at the same time demanding a refund. The Chinese man behind the counter was not amused at all, he took the shirt and told the man that there was nothing he could do as the shirt had outlived its purpose.

He showed the man a sticker attached to one of the seams of the shirt written in what seemed to be hieroglyphics to the man because they were just lines drawn as if it was a piece of art done by a kindergarten child. The shopkeeper further told his customer in broken English that the sticker was written “For wedding.”

This meant that the shirt was supposed to be used during a wedding ceremony and after that you throw it away. Accusations and counter accusations that followed after this statement and even flaring of tempers failed to change anything as the shopkeeper remained adamant that it wasn’t his fault as he was not the maker of the product.

He also said it wasn’t his fault either that the man couldn’t read the words on the shirt. The man had no choice but to return to his humble home empty handed as there was nothing he could do and nowhere to go for redress.

Consumers in this country are an unprotected lot. Despite grappling with the sad reality of ignorance on what to do when they are faced with such a situation, they are also forced to endure the quagmire of buying from a market invaded by fake goods, where chances of buying a counterfeit are high.

Though we have organizations such as the TFDA and TBS, consumers continue to be on the receiving end. Today I am not talking about what these organizations have done to address the situation as their efforts are tantamount to a drop in the ocean.

We know they have done something in an effort to address this problem but the question that remains is: Are they winning the war? I also have no answer to that question. What I am sure of is that as long as one is a consumer in this country then encountering counterfeit goods is a daily thing. Be they medicinal drugs, electrical gadgets and even people, counterfeits are slowly becoming part of our lives.

Everything is fast becoming fake to an extent of having fake people. Yes, you know them, those who live a lie by pretending to be what they are not. Some have even gone to the extent of questioning God's wisdom of creating them as they are. They go on to help God by trying to modify themselves as they undergo plastic surgeries or bleaching their skins. Needless to say that most of them pay the price of attaining a white skin when they end up with burnt skin or getting other skin diseases such as cancer.

The problem with most counterfeit commodities is that they look fancy but when it comes to performance then they are found wanting. Fake goods, that are usually cheaper, are in most cases end up being expensive as one is forced to waste a lot of money, replacing them or trying to redress damages.

It is vital that as consumers we open our eyes whenever we make a purchasing transaction. The better way of surviving in this jungle is self defence. It is important that whenever we come across any commodity that is sold cheaper than the normal price to first ask ourselves why it is cheap.

I know everyone likes to buy anything that is cheap as it ensures that he remains with some change in their pockets but it is better to save money by buying expensive but original commodities than to opt for cheaper and counterfeits.

What I have discovered is that most people buy goods knowing that they are counterfeit. They do not mind buying a counterfeit as long a it serves the same purpose as the original one. I have seen many people buying mobile phone handsets from Kariakoo, fully aware that they are counterfeits.

What most people do is to buy blindly and pray that the gadget be different from other counterfeits. They will be hoping that theirs will be one of those that will last them long before encountering any problem. This is the major reason most people in this country do not seek redress when they get a raw deal.

Some console themselves that they bought the commodity at a cheaper price so there is nothing to worry about. It is important for us dear reader to know that as consumers, we have our rights. We have the right to choose commodities we want to buy, we have the right to redress whenever we get a raw deal and it is our right to get the value for our money.

The time to grope in darkness is over. It is high time we , as consumers, empower ourselves and stand for our rights. Let us not wait for other people to do it for us. Together we can do it.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz /symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

SA begins deporting illegal Zimbabwean immigrants

SOUTH AFRICA has started deporting Zimbabweans who were living in that country illegally. About 261 were deported yesterday while 300 more such immigrants are expected to arrive at Beitbridge Border Post today.

The first batch of 261 Zimbabweans arrived at the Beitbridge Border Post around midday yesterday in a convoy of four buses under heavy security. This comes after the expiry of the July 31 deadline for them to regularise their papers.

The deportees underwent rigorous screening at Lindelani Holding Centre in Johannesburg. Over 275 000 applications for Zimbabweans wishing to regularise their stay in South Africa were processed while several others were turned down.
Some people are still waiting to have their permits processed.

South African Home Affairs officials accompanying the deportees said they will be deporting Zimbabweans two times per week - on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
"We are only deporting undocumented immigrants and those who are intercepted while trying to skip the border through illegal entry points.

"In the last two weeks we have rounded up a number of people of all nationalities whom we have been screening and repatriating back to their countries.

"The other challenge we have is that people lie about their citizenship. We will devise a way to handle this group of people," said an official who declined to be named.
The deportees were handed over to the International Organisation for Migration reception centre here where they were also vetted to verify their nationalities.
IOM will assist them with transport to their homes, food and overnight accommodation. The reception centre has capacity to hold at least 600 people at any given time.

South Africa indicated that it will thoroughly vet Zimbabwean illegal immigrants before deportation unlike in the past where they applied a wholesale approach and deported anyone from Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean police hold female rape suspects

Zimbabwean police may have found the missing link to a social anomaly that had instilled fear in many men as a group of women had opted to defy all the odds, raping men and collecting their semen, after three women were arrested early this week.

Scores of people on Tuesday besieged Gweru Central Police Station demanding to beat up the three women suspected of sexually abusing men. Police also said many complainants had visited the police station, but could not divulge the numbers.

The three youthful suspects - all aged 24 - were arrested last Sunday after their vehicle was involved in an accident along Lower Gweru Road.

Police say they recovered 31 used condoms - four of them with semen - from the vehicle, a Chevrolet, that was being driven by a boyfriend of one of the suspects. The three women, whose identities are being withheld as investigations continue and the driver, were arrested.

Gweru residents besieged the police station demanding to see the suspects.
They vowed not to leave until they had seen the suspects.

Mr Harry Mohammed Misi said the suspects were popular at nightclubs in the town.
"We are shocked with what is happening in our society where men are now being sexually-abused by women. It seems now that tables have turned," he said.
Mr Misi said the women led flashy lives and almost everyone in the city knew them.

"But how can they make a living through such acts? On this case, let the law take its course. "We used to drink with them at Uptown Nite Club and we didn't know that they were behind such cases," he said.

According to Mr Misi, the women had a fleet of cars including the Chevrolet which was involved in the accident giving them away, a Toyota Mark II and a Toyota Chaser among others. Mr Nkululeko Ndlovu said: "People should be given a chance to see these people and talk to them since we want to know what they were doing with the semen."

He said he believed that many men were sexually-abused, but did not report the cases.
Mrs Mary Mangoma expressed disgust that the women made a living through such acts.

"All along I was thinking that they had made it in life yet they were making money through such cases. "They would change their hairstyles in less than three days and I admired them but now I have realised that it was not clean money," she said.

Midlands provincial police spo-kesperson Inspector Patrick Chademana said they were still investigating the case.
"They are still in police custody assisting with investigations and once they (investigations) are complete they will appear in court soon," he said.

Inspector Chademana said several complainants had visited the police station.

HALI YA MTOTO CESILIA NI MBAYA ARUDI BILA KUFANYIWA OPERESHENI.

Mtoto Cecilia wakati akiwaomba wasamalia wema waweze kumsaidia.

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Hapa Mtoto Cecilia akitoka Hospital ya Regency Dar akiwa ameshikwa mkono na afisa mmoja wa Channel Ten tayari kwa kuelekea Airport kuanza safari ya kwenda India.


Mtoto Cecilia alitangazwa hivi karibuni na Vituo mbali mbali vya habari akiomba msaada wa kusaidiwa pesa za matibabu ambazo zingeweza kumwezesha kufanyiwa operesheni ya moyo ambao umempelekea mpaka Tumbo lake kuvimba kama unavyoliona.

Taarifa za Cecilia ziliweza kutolewa na Miss Tanzania wa mwaka 2006 Bi .Hoyce Temu pale alipoamua kujitokeza na kumtangaza Cecilia akiomba msaada huo. Wasamaria wema walijitokeza na kumsaidia Cecilia mpaka akaweza kwenda India kwa matibabu, cha kusikitisha sana ni kwamba matibabu yake kwa njia ya operesheni yameshindikana kutokana na moyo wake kwa upande mmoja kuathirika na sumu ambayo madaktari wa India wamesema inasababishwa na Sumu ambayo ipo kwenye Mihogo, sumu hiyo huwaathiri sana watoto wenye umri kama wake.

Kwa hiyo imekuwa ni vigumu kumfanyia operesheni hiyo, wakashauri atumie dawa tu ili kuweza kuitoa sumu hiyo, Mtoto Cecilia mpaka sasa hali yake sio nzuri anawaomba watanzania mumuombee ili aweze kupona na aweze kutimiza azma yake ya kuwa Mwalimu. Watanzania tunashauriwa tukiona hali ambayo ni tofauti kwa watoto wetu tuwawaishe Hospitali mapemakwa uchunguzi tunaweza tukawahepusha na hali kama hii aliyofikia Cecilia.

Decisively deal with ARVs side effects, Sikika urges govt

A man who is living with HIV & AIDS, in Mtwara Region, allegedly experienced a body transformation where he began developing breasts like a woman as a result of ARV use.


The discovery, at the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) on June 5, 1981, of pneumocysitis pneumonia, a very rare condition, in five gay men in Los Angeles, marked a turning point in the history of this world as it gave birth to a new disease that would be called AIDS.

But the 30-year story of HIV/AIDS remains severely truncated. The HIV story typically starts from the first diagnosis of AIDS but ignores where, when and how the virus originated. This might be attributed to scientists labouring in vain in search of a solution to the problem.

However, the introduction of antiretrovirals (ARVs) came as a relief as people living with the virus were given a shot in the arm as these medicines prolong lives. Though the drugs provided hope at a time humanity was facing extinction, the honeymoon became short-lived as thousands of ARV users are battling serious side effects.

In Tanzania, cases of people suffering serious side effects have been on the increase and it is against this background that Sikika, a non governmental organisation dealing with health issues recently urged the government to decisively tackle the problem.

Through a press release, Irenei Kiria, the organisation's executive director, urged the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) to identify and phase out all ARVs that are causing serious side effects to people living with HIV & AIDS in the country while adequate education should be provided for proper use of these drugs to patients to minimize the problem.

Cases of people suffering serious body deformities allegedly after using ARVs have been increasing in the country. Recently, the media reported a sad case, which occurred in Mtwara region whereby, a man who is living with HIV & AIDS experienced a body transformation where he began developing breasts like a woman as a result of ARV use. When he reported the case to the doctor, he was told that is a normal reaction to people who have been on ARV medication for a long period of time.

“Sikika discovered that although people living with HIV (PLHIV) have reported the side effects they get as a result of ARV use, still some of the health service providers have not taken any action, such as changing of the ARV’s for the PLHIV, or considering any other types of treatment,” said Kiria.

He went on to highlight that interviews (conducted by Sikika) with ARV users and healthcare providers revealed that some of the side effects encountered by patients as a result of ARV use include; loss of body weight, weariness of the body, numbness of the hands and legs, body rashes, nails becoming dark colored and even the transformation of body parts after the use of the drugs. It has also been noted that it may take up to six months before a new dosage is prescribed to them from the moment they report the side effects experienced as a result of ARV use. In most cases, when the PLHIV report the side effects they experience as a result of these drugs, and the answer they get is that, the side effects are a normal reaction and that they will disappear.

“Sikika has also discovered that most of the Care and Treatment Centers (CTCs) do not have CD4 count machines. This equipment is important as it makes it easy to know the health progress of a patient, what type of counseling needs to be done and the type of medication that needs to be prescribed to the PLHIV. This problem has been persistent especially in the rural areas where PLHIV are forced to walk long distances to get checked up for their CD4 count.

“This issue has been evident in the districts of Kondoa and Mpwapwa where some health care facilities do not have CD4 count machines. The facilities are Kisese, Hamai, Sondolo, Busi and Kwamtoro in Kondoa district and Kibwake, Rudi, Mima and Pwaga in Mpwapwa district. The absence of this equipment contributes to the PLHIV having to continue using medication which may not be proper considering the number of CD4s in their body,” he added.

Kiria went on to recommend that serious action be taken to persuade health service providers to adhere to their professional ethics and must swiftly address the problem of ARVs side effects as soon as they receive complaints. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should also be responsible and assist the victims to alleviate their suffering.

“PLHIV must follow doctors’ prescriptions without faltering to avoid such incidences. At the same time Sikika urges the government to make sure that ARVs are readily available to patients when needed as failure to access the drugs leads to faltering.

“Furthermore, the government should provide CD4 count machines to counseling and testing centres (CTCs) that are operating without the machines, and make sure that machines that are out of order are repaired to avoid and reduce such cases,” he said.

The problem of side effects is not a preserve of this country alone as the World Health Organisation revealed that it is a problem affecting the whole world.

It was discovered that certain antiretroviral (ARV) drugs commonly used in the developing world may be responsible for premature ageing, according to the authors of a new study published in the journal, Nature Genetics. Newer, less toxic but more expensive ARVs are more commonly used in the Western world.

Nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) - including Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Abacavir - have enabled millions of people living with HIV to prolong their lives. The UN World Health Organization has recommended that countries phase out Stavudine, an NRTI commonly used in Africa, due to long-term, irreversible side effects.

"We noticed that people in their 40s who had been on NRTIs for the past several years had signatures of ageing in their muscles commonly found in healthy people in their 70s and 80s," said Prof Patrick Chinnery of the University of Newcastle in the UK, one of the study's lead authors.

The researchers studied skeletal muscle from 33 HIV-infected adults, all aged 50 years or under, and 10 uninfected control subjects of comparable age. They found that in patients on NRTI treatment there was an expansion in mutations of mitochondrial DNA - the energy-producing part of the cell - similar to the mutations found in healthy older individuals.

"What we saw in our study is similar to patterns described by people who have been on ART [antiretroviral therapy] for a long time," said Chinnery.

Studies have found that despite a significant drop in mortality, people living with HIV are often affected by an increased risk of non-AIDS complications, including osteoporosis and heart attacks, which undermine their life-expectancy.

"The findings suggest that we need to look carefully at the effects of these drugs because some of the diseases caused by the abnormalities - diabetes, heart failure and so on - are serious and can cause progressive disability," Chinnery noted.

"But at the same time, clearly the patients need their drugs in order to keep them alive... but our study suggests that it may be beneficial to move to newer classes of drugs."

Chinnery said there was a need to conduct prospective studies on the likely effects of long-term use of different ARVs in order to catch and address potentially harmful side effects.

Public-private partnership improves health service delivery

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Mecky Sadik (right), shares a lighter moment with Archbishop Nobert Mtega of Songea Catholic Archdiocese shortly after inaugurating the Saint Benedict Health Centre in Kitunda Ward, Ilala District.


ALOYCE NDELEIO
Dar es Salaam

Private institutions, ranging from private companies to religious organizations, have contributed immensely by complementing government efforts directed at meeting the Millennium Development Goal on health by making sure their services are accessed by many people, mostly the low income group.
Recently, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes established a health centre christianed the St. Benedictine Health Center in Kitunda Ward, Ilala District in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam City with their motto highlighting that caring for the sick should be given first priority and surpass all other activities

The centre is wholly owned and run by Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes whose headquarters are in Chipole, Archdiocese of Songea Catholic Church.

The religious order's Superior Mother, Maria Shukrani Mkonde OSB said that the idea of establishing the centre came from the request by Kitunda residents via the Kitunda Sub-Parish executive committee then under Ukonga Parish led by Ukonga Parish Priest, Father Stephano Nyimwila.

Mkonde said, after considering the challenges and shortage of health services in Kitunda Ward, the committee discussed on how to resolve it. On April 28, 2008, they presented a request to change the proposed use of a building that had been earmarked to be a convent. In their letter they described the challenges the Kitunda society faced specifically in the health sector.

The Sisters also conducted surveys and several researches that convinced them before arriving at a reasonable conclusion of converting the building from a convent to a health center.

“As a religious order we are not only obliged to bring up people spiritually but also to care for them health wise,she said, adding that since they recognised efforts taken by the government in social services provision, among them health, it was difficult for them to go it alone.

From that point of view she said they saw it wise to join forces with the government in such efforts of making sure that Tanzanians are getting important health services.

Their willingness to convert the building so that it can serve others was a sacrifice of its kind, while putting Jesus first then other people and last theirs, hence can be abbreviated as J.O.Y (Jesus first Others then Yours).

On the other hand the Songea Archdiocese Archbishop Norbet Mtega noted that the state has an obligation to serve its people but it can't do it alone, without support from other institutions and among them religious institutions, adding that joining forces will enable reaching the majority in provision of important services.

The construction of the center and its infrastructure including hospital equipment, a standby generator and fence cost 474.54 m/-.

The centre boasts of various departments including dental, laboratory, Out Patient Department (OPD), wards, each with the capacity of accommodating 10 people, a medical room, injection room, dressing room, reception, two rooms for doctors and a modern incinerator.

Employment opportunities

With the establishment of the centre employment avenues were opened including those of an Assistant Medical Officer, four clinical officers, dental therapist, seven nurses, social nurse, two laboratory assistants and financial and administration four posts. Moreover, the centre has a Facility Management Committee which works under the center's health board of 12 members.

While launching the center, the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadiq, said that the private sector has contributed positively by opening employment opportunities, thereby complementing government efforts. ?hen we say the government will create one million job opportunities it includes the ones from private sector, therefore, private sector alleviates government's burden.

The centre has a capacity to serve 1,800 up to 2000 patients per month, meaning it has the capacity of attending to 60 to 67 patients a day.

Sadiq said, this has brought relief to the public and therefore, the government has to put in place measures to make sure that the centre can access medicines from the Medical Stores Department. On the other hand he said the Ward Councilor has a duty of making the road infrastructure to the centre accessible.

“The government appreciates the Catholic Church and other religious congregations for offering social development services especially in the health sector. This should be emulated by other private institutions through taking services closer to the people.”

Public-private partnership

Among challenges the centre faces is lack of an ambulance and absence of Mother and Child Health ward and for the time being its services are provided in the Out Patient Department.

Responding to this need, the National Bank of Commerce donated 10m/- for the purchase of an ambulance which was presented to the Regional Commissioner by the bank's Communications Adviser Redemptus Masanja.

Masanja said, we have to share with the society what we have gained from our business. Therefore, the bank contributes this amount so that people could get health services in a conducive environment and in addition the bank has also opened an account to help well wishers contribute towards the exercise. Meanwhile some well wishers can contribute direct to the centre.

The Mother Superior added that the Benedictine Sisters' focus is to elevate the centre to a hospital so that it will be able to provide other health services like obstetrics, surgeries, caring for the people living with HIV/Aids, modern laboratories services and many others.

Ends

Of bogus preachers and using dressing, nudity as fishing baits

THERE is growing trend of preachers who arm themselves with bibles and preach the word of God along the streets or busy areas such as bus stands and markets. As if this is a competition, I have seen some people from other religions walking the streets with loud speakers preaching their messages.

I can't really comment when it comes to other religions, but to those who follow the Bible, Christians were commissioned to preach the word through out the world, “Go ye therefore and preach... baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, goes one verse in the Bible.

Don't worry dear reader, I am not preaching but just highlighting the realities of life. I often come across such preachers in areas such as Posta where they know that many people use the place to get buses to their different destinations. I know so many things have been said about these people, but I am not here to judge them, whether they are genuine or fake that is their business.

I remember coming across such a preacher at Ubungo Bus Terminal last weekend. But, to my surprise, this one was different to the others. He left me wondering as to whether he was a preacher or a social commentator. He didn't have a Bible though he referred to it and to me he was more like a tout than a preacher.

“Mwanamke usivae nguo zinazoonyesha maziwa, ni dhambi,” he could be heard shouting. Many people who heard him laughed and he seemed to enjoy it. He also changed his statement a bit and admonished women over putting on trousers and miniskirts.

In a bid to drive the last nail into the coffin and make sure that his message sinks into people's heads, he composed a song where he included his messages, unfortunately I can't sing it to you on this paper dear reader, but believe you me, if you listen to this guy singing, then you will green with envy. For sure it's talent wasted, if he could utilize his talent, I think he will be a threat even to the likes of Banana Zoro, Diamond and Marlow just but to mention a few.

This guy was so good that travellers waiting for buses at the terminal got free entertainment and temporarily forgot about the long journeys awaiting them. For a moment, I think they forgot the uncertainty they were facing as travelling on our roads, especially long distances brings with it doubt due to road accidents.

People are perishing on our roads. Many people think twice before embarking onto the long journeys but because they have no option then they are forced to use these flying coffins. I just hope that one day we will find reason and become responsible citizens who drive to arrive alive. Enough about road accidents, and back to our story, I hope no one missed his or her bus because of this guy.

I am not here to criticize this self proclaimed preacher but the subject he was dealing with was interesting, given the manner in which our women dress on our streets. And, as if it was a coincidence, on my way home from the terminal, I got a daladala home but after travelling barely 500 metres from where I had boarded it, the driver of the bus applied emergency brakes at the same time honking.

Everyone got curious as to why that had happened, only to discover that a scantily dressed young lady who had been crossing the road lackadaisically, had to jump for dear life as she almost got herself killed. The bus missed her by some inches and were it not for the timely reaction by the driver, who managed to apply brakes on time and save this poor soul, we could have been talking of something else right now.

I don't even want to talk about the insults that came out of passengers' mouths. Even a beautiful lady seated next to me, I earlier on had thought to be a saint, shocked me when she shouted obscenities. This quickly reminded me that those people who coined the saying that, “don't judge a book by its cover'' were right. The moment of madness where people unite in, temporarily losing their senses, to shout obscenities has no status, even the most elegant are not spared.

To cut the story short, some people in the daladala shouted at the lady that she should go and get dressed as she was almost naked. This triggered a heated debate in the commuter bus as some people condemned dressing trends by some women which they described as too scanty for comfort.

The men cast the blame on women and especially mothers for failing to discipline their children in as far as dressing is concerned. But, women on the other side did not watch while they were attacked, they responded by blaming cultural invasion. To make sure that they cleared themselves from blame, one woman asked the men to answer what they could do if the children come out of their homes wrapping khangas or long dresses, while putting on mini skirts and tight trousers in side only to remove the decent clothing when they are far from home. In most cases, these children get away with it as the chances to meet their parents or relatives are slim.

Even me, who was a silent observer in this matter found sense in what the woman was saying. She actually gave an example of a family who had such a daughter. The parents tried every trick in the book to deter the girl from doing that but it didn't work. Even multiple beatings by the father could not force her to abandon her type of clothing. They ended up surrendering and accepting her as she was. In fact, they rested their case and said it was God's will.

Now the girl, given the freedom, is now the talk of the area as she walks along the streets almost naked. I really don't know what and where our world is leading to but judging the trends and what I come across in this city, then we are headed for a disaster.

And, by the rate at which women's clothes are getting skimpier by day, then it won't be surprising if one day we come across people walking stark naked on our streets. Some people have argued that our ancestors used to use animal skins only to cover the essentials and the issue of miniskirts and other weird dresses should not be an issue as this is not new.

I don't know whether you agree with that view or not dear reader, but, what I know is that culture is dynamic and it is time as Africans that we try to preserve the Africanness (sic) we have. It is the time we preserve our norms and values.

There is nothing wrong in having our women chasing after fashion, but, they can do it without exposing their bodies. There is no justification what so ever, not even fashion trends, should force our ladies to throw away reason and put on something that leaves nothing to the imagination.

To my dear sisters, mothers and grandmothers out there, nudity is not beauty. You don't need to be nude for you to be considered beautiful and attractive. If one becomes attractive because she has exposed some parts of her body, then know for sure that you are attracting men for wrong reasons. And, if marriage will be that person's reason for doing that, then the reality is that you will actually be doing the opposite.

When nudity is used as a fishing bait, because it lures men into action, then in most cases the fishing rod will catch crabs. Only the bad elements will be attracted and the results won't be good.

To sum it up jamani, our dressing trends are shocking and they are getting worse by day. Even some parents have given up. It is important for us to know that what you put on speaks volumes about you and other people will always judge you, treat you, respect you basing on what you will be putting on. May God help us.

bongoblast@thisday.co.tz/symeniah.blogspot.com/0657651300

WASIMAMIZI WA HAKI ZA WANYAMA MPO WAPI?

Mganga wa Kienyeji Maarufu kama Dr Manyaunyau.


Vijana hawa wakiwa Bara barani wakimzungusha huyu Mnyama aina ya Paka, kwa akili zao wakiamini wamemshika mchawi na wameamua kumsulubisha.
Vitendo hivi vya kikatili kwa wanyama vimekuwa vikiendelea mara kwa mara hasa katika maeneo ambayo yana mrundikano wa makazi ya watu, na hata vingine vikionyeshwa kwenye luninga zetu lakini wahusika wa haki za wanyama wakivitazama tu vikiendelea bila kuvikemea wala kuwachukulia hatua wale wote wanaoshiriki kufanya vitendo hivi.
Kwa mataifa ya wenzetu ni lazima upate hukumu ya kifungo kwa kufanya vitendo hivi.

KAPINGAZ Blog inawaomba wahusika waweze kutimiza majukumu yao na ikiwezekana wawachukulie hatua hawa wote wanaoshiriki kufanya vitendo hivi.

Employment opportunity: HOD Media

Re-advertised
Employment Opportunity

Join us in advocating for quality health services for all Tanzanians
Introduction

Sikika is a nongovernmental organization that advocates for quality health services for all Tanzanians. The organization works to ensure equitable and affordable quality health care services through social accountability monitoring of health systems at all government levels. For more information please visit us at www.sikika.or.tz. Sikika seeks to recruit Head of Media and Publishing Department with immediate effect.

Key roles and responsibilities:
• Co-ordinate Sikika’s communication activities and resources across a range of programmes and provide support to advocacy work.
• Coordinate and manage timely production of the organisation’s communication tools such as newsletters, website, press releases, radio programs, notice board, radio station etc. and provide technical advice in developing and managing these tools.
• Coordinate Sikika advocacy and knowledge sharing through TV and Radio stations
• Assist in the production and dissemination of publications, which include briefs, books, posters, etc.
• Oversee the documentation of all media work in both soft and hard copies.
• Produce quarterly, mid-year and annual media progress reports.
• Facilitate the engagement with media houses by making sure that press releases, articles and feature stories on Sikika's activities are published.
• Make sure that reports come out with high quality design and ensure that the organization is up to date with advanced technologies.
• Supervise department staff, set their performance standards, and appraise them according to these standards.
• Edit all Sikika work before sending them for publication
Re-advertised
• Over see all activities of Sikika’s Community Radio and guide the expansion process of radio coverage.
• Report to the Head of Programs and work as part of Sikika’s management team.

Desirable Skills and Competencies
• Masters in Mass Communication or Journalism.
• At least three years of proven experience in media work and experience in IT and designing.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong editing skills
• Proven leadership skills and team management experience
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation, and documentation as well as experience in social media is an added advantage.
• Produce evidence of various kinds of media work completed.

Send your application to: The Human Resources Manager Sikika BOX 12183 Dar es Salaam
You can also send your application via e-mail to jobs@sikika.or.tz
Qualified female candidates are strongly advised to apply for this post.

NB: those who previously applied are not eligible

Application Deadline: 18 October 2011.

Policy intervention key to fighting violence against old women

ALOYCE NDELEIO

Dar es Salaam

Following the adoption of a land mark resolution on the rights of the elderly at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, in October 2010, the UN Open-ended Working Group on Aging held the second session whereby government representatives, civil society organisations and UN agencies discussed violence and abuse against older people, social exclusion and right to health, social security and freedom from discrimination.

Presenting a paper prepared for the panel discussion: ?iolence and Abuse Against Older Persons,on August 2, 2011 at the United Nastions, Ms Teressa Minja from Tanzania Social Protection Network said that most older women in Tanzania live in poverty and face problems of age discrimination, low incomes, poor health, and limited access to healthcare services.

“Due to illiteracy, lack of awareness about their rights and available support systems, marginalisation, lack of voice and representation, and as a result of their already limited ability to take care of their daily needs, older women easily become vulnerable to rights violations and abuse,she said.

In addition she noted that widowhood profoundly changes the status of women in Tanzania and

undermines their security. Customary laws deny widows the right to inherit common matrimonial assets. For older widows, discrimination compounds the effects of a lifetime of poverty and gender discrimination. This can result in extreme impoverishment and isolation.

Minja said, with the loss of their loved ones and their property, most widowed older women have an added burden of caring for their orphaned grandchildren. This situation can push them and those they are caring for into absolute poverty

Violence related to witchcraft accusations

Older women are more likely than older men to suffer violations of their rights in the form of physical violence and abuse for example witchcraft accusations.

Among the extreme physical violence against older women are the killings of older women accused of witchcraft and widow? disinheritance. while belief in witchcraft is widespread in Tanzania, the situation in Sukumaland, located in the North Eastern part of the country, is particularly grave.

“Belief in witchcraft tends to result in isolation, rebuke, physical attack and killings of older women alleged to be witches in violation of their right to life, Minja said.

She added, Older women are targeted because of red eyes which are associated with a witch but are in fact the result of a lifetime of cooking in unventilated kitchens using smoky firewood and sometimes dry cow dung. Disputes over property ownership and inheritance have often led to accusations of witchcraft which in turn result in violence, abuse and killings of older women.”

Reliable data on the number of witchcraft accusations and physical attacks is hard to come by. However, according to the Legal and Human Rights Centre report (2009) there was a total of 2,585 killings of older women in 8 regions of Tanzania where the practice is predominant for the last five years prior to February 2009. This means an average of 517 killings per year.

For example, in Shinyanga region this year, a 72 year old woman narrowly escaped being buried alive after her grandchildren had tied her up and attempted to throw her in the grave in which her brother was to be buried, claiming that the old lady had bewitched their father (her son). It was the community members who attended the funeral who rescued her.

Another example falls on Nyamizi, who is 73, was also accused of witchcraft. This is what she had to say, ? received a threatening letter which said, you must leave this village, move 15 villages away from here. If not, the sungu-sungu [a group of men, given the role by their communities of guarding the people and their property] from this village will do something that you will never, ever forget.

“Sometime later I was returning home at night. Suddenly, someone came running towards me he struck me with a machete and chopped off my arm and slashed my head.”

Widows disinheritance

Widows disinheritance is another serious violation of women rights in Tanzania. Tanzania has three laws of inheritance: the Probate and administration of estate Act, the local Customary (Declaration Order) no 4, of 1963 and the Islamic (the statement Act) GN 222, 1967. This multiple system is by itself confusing as it is not clear to all which law applies where and when.

Qualification to any of the three laws of inheritance depends on the type of life the deceased lived. The majority of Tanzanians fall under the customary inheritance law of 1963. For a Tanzanian not to fall under the customary inheritance law it has to be proved beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased had completely abandoned his culture, traditions and practices.

This is in practice not possible and it has always been a barrier for widows who attempt to have the inheritance of their deceased husbands to be determined by the Probate and Administration of Estate Act which, though discriminatory, gives a meaningful share of the property to the widow.

Under the customary inheritance law widows lose their right to inherit homes, land and assets after their husbands' death. It is the sons of the deceased husband who take over the ownership of larger share of that property, leaving very little to the daughters.

In most circumstances the sons that inherit the bigger portion of the inherited property tend to neglect taking care of their widowed mothers and the law is silent on this.

Minja cited the tale of Mary Akyoo, who narrated her life saying, 澱efore my husband died we had bought a farm and decided that since it was not a clan land we would distribute it to all our five children (two sons and three daughters). My husband died in 2005 and our youngest son died two months after his father.

“Traditionally I was required to surrender all the property to my son, who would then take care of me. I refused because I was still strong and could work.

“The son took this land without my consent. Fortunately I had attended the community paralegals training hence I used the knowledge I had gained from that training to take the case to court claiming for my land rights and those of my daughters. In so doing the traditional leaders who had colluded with my son regarded me as a radical person.

“Despite the time the case took for the decision, 3 years, I won the case and the court ordered the traditional leaders to supervise the distribution of that land to all the children, leaving a portion for me where I am growing different crops. Though my winning of the case weakened my relationship with my son I am happy because my daughters and I got our right?.

Another story was of Mdila (60). Just a week after the death of her husband one of her brothers-in-law was chosen by his family to inherit her. 的 was totally against the idea for many reasons including the fact it seemed they didn't consider the grief I was in, I had not been consulted, I hated polygamy as the man was married, and also feared increasing the chances of contracting HIV/AIDS. Imagine at my age of 60 years dying of HIV/Aids.

“But nobody even paid attention to my reasons. Instead, and as a punishment, they decided to take away all the property/assets and distribute them among themselves leaving me with nothing except my poor life and an old leaking house

“That marked the end of my happy life and the beginning of a miserable life without support or means of earning income,she said.

Widespread gender inequality means that government decision making structures are dominated by men who support the present practice of denying widows the right to inherit. This sometimes leads to bias while dealing with inheritance related cases presented by widows.

Being disinherited also affects older women's ability to access their entitlements. For example, while older people are entitled to free medical services, most older women cannot afford to pay for transport to reach health posts nor any charges for services or prescriptions that may be demanded of them.

Different stakeholders including human rights and women organisations, faith based organisations, civil society organisations and sensitised community members are combining efforts in challenging the traditional beliefs and traditions that lead to the killings of old women accused of witchcraft, and also the practice of grabbing widows property when their husbands die.

Civil Society Organisations are advocating the enacting of supreme law of inheritance. Another intervention is the awareness creation about the importance of men writing wills which would spell out the distribution of property hence assuring the widow's share of the matrimonial property.

Minja urge the Open-ended Working Group to encourage governments in Africa, around the globe and in particular the Government of Tanzania to legislate the National Ageing Policy for it to be effective, ensure that killings related to witchcraft are investigated, prosecuted and punished as murder by the police and judiciary.

She further urged review of all the laws dealing with inheritance matters as all of them have elements of discrimination though at different levels and treat widow property grabbing as a criminal offence.

CCM retains Igunga parliamentary seat

CCM's Dr Kafumu is the new legislator for Igunga. The closely contested poll was conducted on Sunday bringing down the curtain on a historic campaigning period as all the political parties went out of their way in a bid to win the seat. A record three helicopters were used during the campaigns in the same constituency.


The results slip


Dr Kafumu proudly shows a certificate declaring him the winner.


CCM members celebrate their party's victory.


Protace Magayane announces the results

Pictures: http://johnbadi.blogspot.com/