High-profile asylum seeker faces death threat

A Congolese man seeking  asylum in Tanzania has  revealed to The Guardian on Sunday that both unsuspected spies from the neighbouring war-wrecked country and assassins from the anti-government forces are in Dar es Salaam hunting for his blood.

Andema Makanio Prince, who also claims to be a Human Right Activist in his native Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but currently living at an undisclosed location in the city also alleges to have escaped assassination attempts in two countries at least thrice in the past two years.

He seeks asylum for himself and his family, for what he describes as constant death threats from members of both rivaling factions in his country, he said.

He told The Guardian on Sunday last week that he was concerned he might be assassinated and his family abducted following his revelation of the government military secrets and classified crimes committed by M23, a rebel movement he  said was supported by Rwandan and Ugandan governments.

 “There have been three assassination attempts on me… that’s why I appeal to the UN humanitarian agencies and Tanzanian government to come to my aide, because like everyone else, I don’t want to die,” he said.

He alleged to have escaped death when he was in Burundi, saying, “these rebels attacked me in a hotel I was sheltered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Burundi; but luckily I managed to escape unhurt.”

He said he was wanted on grounds of disclosing secrets over how security agencies from the neighbouring two countries killed the Congolese in the northern part of his country and had their remains sent to Kigali’s genocide memorial site.

“Rebels were targeting civilians for kidnapping, massacre and mass rapes in villages near the border with Rwanda and Uganda,” he said.

He alleged that the rebels systematically collected remains including bones and skulls of their victims in DRC for the Rwandan genocide museum site to exaggerate the magnitude of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide before the world community.

Andema, a father of three claimed to have fled DRC for Uganda in 2012 after sharing the classified information with the International Criminal Court (ICC), United Nations, and other related international organizations, about gross human rights abuse by the rebel forces operating in his country.

He alleged that the manhunt on his person was immediately launched by the “concerned authorities” in Uganda and Rwanda as the information about the war underworld went public.

He said he was traced for annihilation as means by the official authorities to conceal the reality he had witnessed after being forced into joining the M23 rebel group in Uganda. 

While in Uganda, he said he founded and co-led in absentia a non governmental refugee protection organization ‘Aide Rapide Aux Victimes Des Catastrophes’ in Bujumbura, Burundi. 

He also volunteered to provide information leading to apprehension of Jean Bosco Ntaganda, a leader of the M23 rebel group in DRC, following $5m reward promise by the US security authorities while in Uganda.

 “I took the challenge because I thought it was an opportunity to expose the crimes against humanity committed by M23 in the region,” he said.

He added, "It was also an opportunity for my going public on atrocities to which I had been a witness.

Simply there was no better way of telling the world about recruitment of child soldiers under 15 who were made to actively take part in hostilities involving murder, and rape and sex slavery.

Andema described his plight as having started with his encounter with a US student who had asked for his help as a translator in his research data gathering mission that led him to the M23 rebel-held territory in DRC.

“We went to as far as Bunagana military base and managed to cross the border and entered M23 territory where we had an interview with rebel leaders,” he said.

The rebel leader “asked” him to join the group that he could help preparation of  documents as he was fluent in English, French and fairly commanded Swahili.

Andema had no choice, but to accept the offer from a person whose life was in his command, but he managed to convince the rebel leader to go back to his family prior to joining the group.

“But as we were going back to Uganda, we were stopped by the Ugandan police who accused me of crossing the border without permit, and who later handed me over back to the rebels who in their turn severely tortured me while demanding   to establish the reason why I entered their territory,” he said.

After months of torture, the leader of the group came to his rescue, but only to force him work for one of the two M23 groups as they were now divided the DRC and Ugandan groups.

Andema remained in DRC to do the work he was initially assigned, thus getting an access to classified information about the group’s operation, activities and even personal whereabouts of individual rebels.

Last year, he managed to escape from the rebels group to Burundi where he was under custody of UNHCR, where  rebels and security agents from Rwanda and Uganda would go after him in attempts to kill before the secrets, he said.

The UNHCR officials later arranged his escape to a refugee camp in Kigoma saying it would be safe for him and his family, but the spies had been on his tail for a mission to kill even after moving to Dar es Salaam for.

 “We came to Dar es Salaam after my wife was sick and transferred to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), but I realized that there were security agents posing as refugees even in a camp where I was sheltered. I once again managed to escape,” he said.

A military police officer known by his first name as Salum involved in handling Andema’s case  confirmed to The Guardian on Sunday that he knew the asylum seeker and that his case was genuine.

“I know him; he told me about the story and I have already referred it to my seniors who also interrogated him for a while and they are still handling his case,” he said over the phone.

But an official at the UNHCR Kasuru refugees camp said she could not disclose the information because she was not a spokesperson for the organisation, but directed the reporter  to the Senior Protection Officer in charge of all refugees in Tanzania.

However, the Senior Officer refused to comment, saying it was against their ethical standards to disclose any information involving refugees.

2015: The year that was

  Tanzania gets dynamic, hands-on president

How can one describe the year 2015, which comes to an end next week? Well, in many different ways, depending on who you are and what etched on your mind during the 12 months.

But for most Tanzanians, the year 2015 was a milestone after the country got a dynamic, pro-change, no-nonsense and hands-on leader in the name of President John Pombe Magufuli.

With Magufuli in the driving seat, Tanzania will never be the same again. But before he came on the scene, many other things had happened during the year.

There were, for instance, many road accidents which resulted in huge losses of lives; corruption scandals in government ministries, some leading to cabinet reshuffles; the demise of some big shots such as ministers, members of parliament and political leaders....this is how 2015 will be remembered.

As the year quickly approaches its end, so are the memories of incredible news, remarkable people and events.

For the past one year, we have witnessed some shocking and sad stories emanating from among us while big shots involved themselves in corruption scandals, including at Dar es Salaam port, making the government to incur huge losses in revenue.

In 2015, stories such as the general election, Biometric Voter Registration (BVR), the deaths of prominent politicians and public officials captured headlines in most media outlets in the country. It was a year which saw a number of notable events.

The year started with the deaths of passengers in road accidents. At least 970 died and 2,470 were injured in road accidents in the four months from Jan-Apr this year, as 42 persons died on the spot after a bus they were travelling in collided with an oncoming lorry in Changarawe area, Mafinga district, in Iringa region.

This was the year in which the National Electoral Commission (NEC) started the registration of voters in the permanent voter registration. Over 24 million Tanzanians aged 18 years and above were registered using the BVR system.

Towards the end of the 20th parliament in July, National Assembly Speaker, Anna Makinda, threw out opposition legislators from parliament. More than 50 opposition MPs were blocked from participation in parliamentary proceedings after they expressed stiff opposition to three bills tabled by the government under certificate of urgency.

Soon after their suspension, the government tabled the three Bills which triggered chaos in the House, leaving Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) legislators present to debate and pass the bills.

The Bills were the Petroleum Bill 2015, Oil and Gas Revenue Management Bill 2015 and the Tanzania Extractive Industry (Transparency and Accountability) Bill 2015.

Around this time the Kisutu Resident Magistrates’ Court in Dar es Salaam handed down sentences against former ministers Basil Mramba (former minister for Finance,) and Daniel Yona (the former Energy and Minerals minister.

The two served under retired President Benjamin Mkapa and were found guilty of occasioning loss to the the government to the tune of 11,752,350,148/-  through unwarranted tax exemptions to the gold assayers firm, Alex Stewart Government Business. They were each sentenced to three years in jail for abuse of office and occasioning loss of 11.7bn/- to the government.

The year also witnessed a nationwide strike by the business community after their association’s national leader, John Minja, was arrested.

Members of Parliament also pressed for the release of Minja so as to end the boycott by the traders and pave the way for talks between the government and traders over Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) which are the bone of contention.

In most major urban areas around Tanzania, chiefly Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya and Songea, shoppers were stranded as traders closed their shops.

Mid this year Gunmen shoot dead seven in Dar attack by gunmen who ambushed and killed seven people including four policemen and injuring four others at Stakishari police post, in Dar es Salaam.

 On January this year, armed gangsters killed two officers during an attack at a police post in Rufiji District, Coast Region.

Also the  Chief Sheikh, Mufti Issa bin Shaaban bin Simba died this year ,Alhaj Simba died on at the TMJ Hospital in Dar es Salaam where he was undergoing treatment for kidney and bronchial complications. Dar es Salaam Chief.

Politics:Former Kigoma North MP, Kabwe Zuberi Zitto announced to have joined the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Tanzania), a new political party he has been linked with after he fell out with Chadema.

The former fourth phase President Jakaya Kikwete inaugurated a 1.33 billion US dollar project to pipe natural gas to Dar es Salaam, and help relieve chronic power shortages in the city.

The 532 km (330 mile) Mtwara-Dar es Salaam pipeline and gas processing plants, largely financed by a Chinese loan, is part of a plan to add about 2,000 megawatts of new gas-fired electricity generating power by 2018 to increase Tanzania’s generating capacity to 10,000 MW by 2025.

On September this year a stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca has killed more than 2000 people including Tanzanian and injured more than 1000 others in Saudi Arabia.

The stampede occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil" in a tent city in Mina, about two miles from the holy site in Mecca, Islam's holiest city.

Toward general election
End of August the Political parties in the country started election campaigns that define key national issues and sell the socio-economic political programmes they plan to implement in the next five years.

The parties and their respective candidates had 70 days of electioneering in efforts to secure the consent of voters .Unlikely previous elections, this year’s elections was more competitive especially for the two main rivalries CCM and UKAWA.

The opposition parties have grouped under the UKAWA coalition agreed to field a candidate for the country’s presidential election, slated for October.

August 4, 2015, Ukawa nominated former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa as its presidential candidate.

Anna Elisha Mghwira, was the only female presidential candidate under ACT Wazalendo. Eight presidential candidates are racing for the top job even though only two – Dr. John Magufuli (56) of CCM and Edward Lowassa (62) on UKAWA had hot contest.

Polls: the poll by Twaweza gave CCM presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli a big chance to win the election by 65 per cent .His closest challenger the Chadema flagbearer Edward Lowassa got 25 per cent.

As the election campaign goin on Fredrick Sumaye had officially quits CCM, Sumaye becomes the second former Premier to join the opposition following the earlier decamping of his successor and now leader, Edward Lowassa.

Was during the campaign period Dr Wilblod Slaa the former Chadema Chief Secretary quit the party announced that he would no longer take part in party politics.

Over the same time the former national chairman of Civic United Front (CUF)  Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, had quit his post. Prof. Lipumba, CUF chairman since 1995, quit in protest over the crossing-over of his deputy in Zanzibar, Juma Duni Haji, to CHADEMA in a calculated strategy to become presidential running mate of UKAWA presidential candidate Edward Lowassa.

Within days of election campaign, veteran ideologist, CCM cadre, leader and cabinet minister, Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru, announced he was quitting the party, he said that he was quitting the ruling party because it is no longer practicing its socialism and self reliance ideology, claiming that the party has even changed its rallying slogan.

One of the ruling CCM’s key strategists, Juma Volter Mwapachu had also announced to quit the party, joining other high-profile CCM members who have deserted the 54-year-old party.

As few days remain before millions of Tanzanians go to polls in one of the most competitive elections a several death occurred.

On September 13, a road tragedy claimed the life of Mohamed Mtoi, a parliamentary candidate for Chadema, the main opposition party in mainland Tanzania, in Lushoto constituency, Tanga region in northeastern Tanzania.

October 3, Tanzania lost one of its early-day opposition leaders, Reverend Christopher Mtikila. The leader and founder of the Democratic Party (DP) died in a car crash on his way to Dar es Salaam from election campaign meetings, also in Njombe region.

October 13) before the helicopter tragedy, the chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Emmanuel Makaidi died after falling ill in Mtwara.

He was contesting the Masasi parliamentary seat in the southern Mtwara region.Four days before the death of Mr Makaidi (October 9), an ACT-Wazalendo candidate for the Arusha Urban seat Estomih Mallah died after a short illness.

As if to add salt to injury, two cabinet ministers, who were defending their parliamentary seats on CCM ticket, lost their lives, making this year's election a campaign of tears.

The minister for industries and trade, Dr Abdallah Kigoda, and the minister of State in the president's office (public service management), Ms Celina Kombani, died in Indian hospitals on September 25 and October 12 respectively.

The latest was on October 16, Thursday evening when outspoken former MP, Deo Filikunjombe (43), died in a helicopter crash. The outgoing legislator for Ludewa constituency in Njombe region.

October 25, Tanzanian held general election peacefully of which Dr Magufuli was elected on a CCM ticket after garnering 8,882,935 votes against his closest challenger Edward Ngoyai Lowassa of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) who garnered 6,072,848.

October 28, Elections in Zanzibar have been annulled for not being free and fair, rows between rival electoral commissioners had led to physical fights, Jecha Salim Jecha, Zanzibar Electoral Commission Chairman said.

National Election Commission (NEC) announced Magufuli as the winner of President Post for the Fifth phase government.  November 5,  Magufuli swearing in as the president.

Few days after swearing in, President John Magufuli has cancelled Independence Day celebrations, and has ordered a clean-up campaign instead. It would be "shameful" to spend huge sums of money on the celebrations when "our people are dying of cholera.

November 20, Presdent John Magufuli deliver his first speech at the inauguration of the 11th Parliament in Dodoma on Friday has sparked positive response from various people irrespective of their political inclination.

The year ended by sacked of various government top officials due to various scandals, President John Magufuli suspended Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Commissioner General Rished Bade due to the loss of over 300 containers at Dar es Salaam port.

He suspended three other Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) staff.  The premier ordered the three TPA staff, namely Anangisye Mtafya, Nsajigwa Mwandengele and Robert Nyoni, to be relocated from Dar es Salaam to up-country regions. 

President John Magufuli has dissolved the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) over scandals.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has also sacked the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) Director General, Dr Edward Hosea. Dr Hosea was appointed by President Jakaya Kikwete in 2006
The Managing Director of Reli Assets Holding Company (RAHCO), Bernhard Tito, was also suspended over procurement irregularities.

TCAA to review landing fees next month

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) is set to call a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss its recommended reviewed current landing and parking fees for local and foreign aircraft in the country.

The move follows increased running costs and investment in the aviation industry, forcing the authority to review fees which have remained unchanged since 1991.

TCAA will early next month convene a meeting that will specifically discuss the proposed rates and later on go to other government organs for more recommendations, TCAA Acting Director General Charles Chacha said.

He was speaking at a consultative meeting in Dar es Salaam this week where he said the current parking fees were introduced 24 years ago.

However, he noted that TCAA proposed new rates to be $8 for paved aerodromes and $4.5 for unpaved aerodromes. Currently the rates stand at $5 and $3.5, respectively.

“We think there is a need to involve a wider section of the public who will make their recommendations on the proposed new rates,” he said.

Three authorities, namely TCAA, Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) and Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) provide aeronautical services to aircraft landing and taking off at various airports.

In order to provide aeronautical services to aircraft the authorities incur costs to meet minimum International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)  Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

According to him, the proposed new rates will be forwarded to the cabinet for further action before being enacted by Parliament.

In 2012 chief executive officers of the three sister authorities  revived the idea of reviewing user charges because they had been overtaken by time.

According to TCAA DG , the main objective of landing and parking charges was to enable the three authorities to cover the costs related to providing landing and parking service so they  could fulfill their mission and objectives.

The Executive Secretary of TCAA Consumer Consultative Council, Hamza Johari, welcomed the decision, urging the stakeholders to air their views on the proposed rates.

However, he said TCAA did not involve them during initial preparations of the proposed new fees which were not fair to the stakeholders.

“TCAA should first come up with a study which will explain the reasons for the increase, then bring them to the stakeholders for further comments,” he said.

Johari warned that any increase without involving the stakeholders would affect the final users of airports, hence government coffers.

Precision Air Managing Director Sauda Rajab said the hike would lead to increased air costs by 100 per cent, particularly for local operators.

Muhongo instils new hope among small scale miners

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo

The government has assured small scale miners of support so that they can benefit from the business and contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo made the assurance here this week during a meeting with artisanal miners from Simiyu and Mara Regions.

Small scale miners have a great contribution to make to the national economy and thus the government needs to make sure they benefit from their business, he said.

“We will invite large scale miners but we also want the small scale miners to contribute to the growth of the economy through job creation to majority of the population, namely the youth,” he said.

The minister however called on the artisanal miners to change and work diligently in ways that make it easier for the government to lend support to them.

The government was working to uncover more mining sites and reliable markets in order to increase income for artisanal miners and also earn the country more income.

"Stop being worried, work hard… your government is determined to help you in various ways including provision of subsidies, seeking markets and conducting training, as well as allocating more areas for conducting artisanal mining.

“You should not just look at the many challenges related to your activities. You should show faith in the nation by following rules and procedures of exporting the country’s minerals,” the minister emphasized.

He urged them to avoid smuggling the minerals outside the country, noting that the State Mining Corporation (Stamico) is tasked with ensuring that the country’s minerals fetch good prices.

Prof Muhongo however directed the Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Lake Zone manager Amos Maganga to visit the small scale miners’ sites to asses power needs and how they can be connected.

He directed the manager to work on issues within his capacity when touring the sites, and bigger problems requiring funds should be included in power distribution plans.

Speaking in separate interviews the small scale miners commended the minister for his good intention to address various challenges facing them.

John Bina, the President of the Small Scale Miners of Tanzania said that they believe that challenges facing them will be addressed.

ICT Broadband backbone set for expansion four-fold

The government is set to expand Information and  Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure capacity by improving access to the national and regional broadband.

Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) Chief Executive Officer Dr Kamugisha Kazaura said in Dar es Salaam this week that the plan will increase the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) capacity covering 7500km by four times to improve connectivity and accessibility.

Launched in 2012, NICTBB project has connected all local government authorities (districts and regions) across the country and neighbouring countries.

Kazaura was speaking at the launch of the 4th Generation Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) internet service, a first step towards adopting a regional network convergence for a vast internet infrastructure and reliable connectivity.

“We want to increase the capacity of NICTBB by four times to meet the demand,” he said.

TTCL, a state-owned firm, is the oldest communication operator in the country, having invested massively in data as it seeks to emulate the footsteps of other local mobile service providers, Tigo, Vodacom and Airtel.

The new (4G LTE) will give it the opportunity to tap into more than 34 million mobile subscribers in the country, with only 16 per cent of internet penetration, according to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reports.

TTCL Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Peter Ngota, said the firm was eyeing to attain at least 5 per cent of the subscriber base during the first phase of the 4G project.

He said the country’s internet penetration was below the ITU recommendation of 45 per cent, thereby requiring an increase in internet connections.

“We want the strongest technology to be able to increase internet penetration,” he stressed.

According to experts, a 10 per cent internet penetration accounts for at least 2 per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP).

At least $170mn being a Chinese concessional loan was provided for the construction of the NICTBB project, an additional $100mn was expected to be fetched from NICTBB operational revenues,  with the government providing Sh30bn.

The immediate communication minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa said private sectors were also expected to contribute $80mn for the project.

Meanwhile the local telecom firm working with the Tanzania’s Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) vowed to ensure all rural communities have access to telecommunication.

UCSAF has thus invested approximately Sh74billion in rural telecom improvement aimed at connecting 3.1million residents.

Dr Kazaura said a plan for the purpose was progressing very well, having connected over 165 wards with telecommunications services, with another 35 in progress.

Machinga Complex traders urged to pay rent for stalls

The Machinga Complex administration in Dar es Salaam has called for enforcement of rules and regulations which require petty traders to use their allotted stalls in order to pay back over Sh27bn being owed to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

They said by mandating petty traders to use the facility, it will also encourage easy collection of tax revenue from traders who do not pay tax due to their mobility.

The Complex General Manager, Nyamsukura Masondore, made the remarks yesterday when clarifying claims that there was a possibility for changing the use of the complex after there was a shortfall in the number of traders using the stalls.

“There is no such a plan to change the use of the building,” he said when asked by The Guardian on Sunday.

However, he urged the authorities to use force against petty traders, just as it was applying force against land enchroachers.

In the just-ended general election, most contesters had been heard promising to set up proper premises for petty traders without giving a hint about the underutilized facility in the area, he said.

He said there was no need to look for another place for petty traders while the facility at Mchikichini remained underutilized.

“The public should stop purchasing products which are randomly displayed on the streets,” he cautioned, adding:

“The fee rental at the complex is very friendly. Petty traders need to pay only Sh20, 000 per month unless there are extra services being used”.

He named  the services that would require petty traders to pay more cash as water and electricity.

Commenting on other benefits of using stalls at the complex, he said the administration made efforts to secure soft loans from financial institutions for the traders.

NSSF funded construction of the complex with a Sh12.5 billion loan in 2007 and the agreement was to annually receive 14.4 per cent as interest; but the loan has been accumulating up to over Sh27 billion to date due to poor business flow in the area.

Full occupation of the complex stalls is the only solution to the debt repayment,  according  to  the chairperson.

TBS specification standards mystery to legumes producers

Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has two technical standards specifications for stakeholders engaged in the production of legumes, but they are still a mystery to local producers and traders in legumes value chain.

A report from Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) made available to The Guardian on Sunday this week revealed that the unknown standards included those of  peas and beans with specification TZS 1084:2009(E) and TZS 875:2006(E) respectively.

The report said TBS has a role to play in raising awareness of the standards and in enforcing traders and as well as farmers to understand and use it to offer products of better quality and higher competitive edge at both the local and regional market levels.

Issued by the EAGC Country Programme Manager, Ikunda Terry the report suggests for the improvement of legumes  to enable farmers as well as traders raise their incomes.

“To ensure improvement in the quality of pulses from Tanzania, the roadmap that has been developed proposes to increase public and private dialogue with the TBS to agree on a model to ensure compliance with international standards, provide targeted trainings on Gap Good Agricultural practices.

Others includes establishment of a price differentiation mechanism based on grades and develop a pulse specific pest management plan.

It indicates that there is need for TBS to create awareness because currently Indian buyers were looking for pulses from Africa owing to the product’s quality and logistical convenience.

Currently pigeon peas, chickpeas and dry peas are some of the pulses grown in Tanzania and that the established pulses trade that Tanzania has enjoyed with India can be extended further in the context of branding, says the report.

Highlighting on low levels of quality assurance and disease control in the production of pulses, the report indicates that  quality issues need to be addressed along the entire pulses value chain from production, processing to exporting.

The production of pulses can be spoiled by crop diseases and pests while the promotion of good agricultural practices (GAP) through public and private extension services is critical to reducing incidents of contamination.

For certain pulses such as pigeon peas, there is a need to manage percentage of humidity in the drying process to ensure maximum value, suggests the report.

Since this mechanism of quality certification and standardization is not very common in Tanzania it makes the buyer apprehensive about the quality delivered that frequently leads to disputes.