'No school in Arusha will be closed over food shortage'

Arusha.

Education authorities in Arusha yesterday confirmed that no secondary school will be closed because it is short of food.

Arusha Regional Educational Officer, Nestory Mroka, told ‘The Guardian’ here that boarding schools in the region have enough food.

 

His comment came barely a week after reports that a number of schools across Tanzania have indefinitely sent home their students after their food suppliers’ suspended services demanding payment of outstanding dues.

 

“I can confirm to you that there is no school that closed down because of the food shortage,” the REO maintained. He stressed that all students were in their schools.

 

 He said the government has released funds for students’ food and “schools are waiting for the money to be channelled into their accounts. This doesn’t mean that there is no food in schools; the food is there.”

 

The Head Master of Kisimiri Secondary School in Arumeru District, Emmanuel Kisongo, also attested that his school of 970 students had enough food.

 

He disclosed that his school spends eight bags of maize flour and two bags of beans per day “and we have enough stocks of food.”

For his part, the Head Master of Arusha Secondary School, Christopher Malamsha, said his school had received about 5,881,796.40/- from the Arusha City Council Director for boarding students.

 

“We receive this amount every month for similar purposes. This amount is not enough, but we are allowed to use 50 percent of students’ school fees,” he said, adding that his school had enough food.

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majanga: Abiria waharibu vifaa vya treni mpya

Waziri wa Uchukuzi, Samuel Sitta
SIKU chache baada ya kuzinduliwa kwa treni mpya ya abiria (Deluxe), abiria wa awali kutumia usafiri huo kutoka Dar es Salaam kwenda Kigoma, wamekosa ustaarabu na kufanya uharibifu katika baadhi ya mabehewa.
Akizungumza mjini Kigoma jana, Meneja wa treni hiyo, Jonas Afumwisye, alisema baada ya kufika Kigoma, waliifanyia ukaguzi, ndipo wakagundua kuwepo kwa uharibifu katika baadhi ya vyumba vya daraja la pili na sehemu ya daraja la tatu la treni hiyo.
Uharibifu Alitaja moja ya maeneo yaliyoharibiwa kuwa ni pamoja na kung’olewa kwa mkono wa kupandishia na kushusha kitanda cha kati katika chumba cha daraja la pili.
Mbali na kung’oa kabisa mkono huo wa kitanda, kwenye moja ya mabehewa ya daraja la tatu, abiria wameng’oa baadhi ya mapazia hatua iliyosikitisha uongozi wa Kampuni ya Reli (TRL), ambao umekusudia safari za treni hiyo ziongezeke kutoka mbili hadi tatu kwa wiki tofauti na ile ya zamani.
Kutokana na uharibifu huo, Ofisa Uhusiano wa Kampuni ya Reli Tanzani (TRL), Midraji Maez, amesema shirika hilo litachukulia hatua za kisheria kwa watu watakaobainika kufanya uharibifu huo na kutoa mwito kwa wananchi kutumia uzalendo kwa kuilinda na kuitunza treni hiyo.
Ufanisi, nauli Treni hiyo iliyozinduliwa Aprili mosi mwaka huu jijini Dar es Salaam na Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Uchukuzi, Shaban Mwinjaka, katika safari yake hiyo ikiongozwa na kichwa cha treni kilichoundwa upya kwenye karakana ya TRL iliyopo Morogoro, ilisimama katika vituo vikubwa 17, ambavyo vingi ni vile vya miji, wilaya na mikoa, na ikatumia chini ya saa 18 kutoka Dar es Saalm hadi Kigoma.
Katika safari hiyo ya kwanza iliyokuwa na mabehewa mapya 22 yaliyonunuliwa kutoka Korea Kusini kwa Sh bilioni 28.6, treni hiyo ilionesha ufanisi katika usafirishaji kwa kutumia muda mfupi, pungufu wa saa sita, ikilinganishwa na safari ya treni ya zamani.
Kutokana na tofauti hiyo ya muda, abiria walioanza safari Dar es Salaam saa tano asubuhi ya siku ya safari, watakuwa wakitarajiwa kufika Kigoma kesho yake saa 11 jioni, badala ya saa tano usiku ya treni ya zamani.
Hata hivyo, abiria hao watalazimika kuingiza zaidi mifukoni, kutokana na nyongeza ndogo ya nauli kuwa Sh 79,400 badala ya Sh 75,700 za awali kwa daraja la kwanza.
Lakini daraja la pili, pamoja na usafiri kuwa bora zaidi, nauli imeshuka kutoka Sh 55,400 hadi Sh 47,600 ila zile za daraja la tatu zimepanda kutoka Sh 27,700 hadi Sh 35,700. Uzuri wa mabehewa Mabehewa hayo yanavutia ikilinganishwa na yale ya awali yaliyokuwa na uchakavu uliokuwa ukionekana kwenye milango na madirisha.
Samani zake ni pamoja na viti vya kutosha, huduma ya intaneti, swichi za umeme za kuchajia simu na kuunganisha kompyuta. Kwa sasa abiria wote wanapata huduma safi na ya raha, kila msafiri anasafiri akiwa ameketi kwenye kiti chake, tofauti na zamani ambapo abiria walikuwa wakisimama.
Wananchi walaani Mmoja wa wananchi wa Mkoa Kigoma, Mussa Madua amelaani tabia ya baadhi ya watu kuharibu miundo mbinu mbalimbali ndani ya treni hiyo, kama ambavyo wamekuwa wakifanya kwenye treni ya kawaida.
Madua licha ya kulaani tabia hizo za uharibifu, lakini alipongeza kuanzishwa kwa treni hiyo na kutaka kuwepo kwa usimamizi makini, huku akieleza kuridhishwa na nauli inayotozwa kwa treni hiyo na huduma zinazotolewa.
Katika hatua nyingine, Maez amewataka abiria wanaotumia usafiri wa treni hiyo, kutokuwa na mizigo mingi kwani wanaweza kupata shida mizigo hiyo inapokataliwa kupakiwa kwenye treni na kuvuruga mpangilio wa safari zao.

Waziri wa Uchukuzi, Samuel Sitta
SIKU chache baada ya kuzinduliwa kwa treni mpya ya abiria (Deluxe), abiria wa awali kutumia usafiri huo kutoka Dar es Salaam kwenda Kigoma, wamekosa ustaarabu na kufanya uharibifu katika baadhi ya mabehewa.
Akizungumza mjini Kigoma jana, Meneja wa treni hiyo, Jonas Afumwisye, alisema baada ya kufika Kigoma, waliifanyia ukaguzi, ndipo wakagundua kuwepo kwa uharibifu katika baadhi ya vyumba vya daraja la pili na sehemu ya daraja la tatu la treni hiyo.
Uharibifu Alitaja moja ya maeneo yaliyoharibiwa kuwa ni pamoja na kung’olewa kwa mkono wa kupandishia na kushusha kitanda cha kati katika chumba cha daraja la pili.
Mbali na kung’oa kabisa mkono huo wa kitanda, kwenye moja ya mabehewa ya daraja la tatu, abiria wameng’oa baadhi ya mapazia hatua iliyosikitisha uongozi wa Kampuni ya Reli (TRL), ambao umekusudia safari za treni hiyo ziongezeke kutoka mbili hadi tatu kwa wiki tofauti na ile ya zamani.
Kutokana na uharibifu huo, Ofisa Uhusiano wa Kampuni ya Reli Tanzani (TRL), Midraji Maez, amesema shirika hilo litachukulia hatua za kisheria kwa watu watakaobainika kufanya uharibifu huo na kutoa mwito kwa wananchi kutumia uzalendo kwa kuilinda na kuitunza treni hiyo.
Ufanisi, nauli Treni hiyo iliyozinduliwa Aprili mosi mwaka huu jijini Dar es Salaam na Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Uchukuzi, Shaban Mwinjaka, katika safari yake hiyo ikiongozwa na kichwa cha treni kilichoundwa upya kwenye karakana ya TRL iliyopo Morogoro, ilisimama katika vituo vikubwa 17, ambavyo vingi ni vile vya miji, wilaya na mikoa, na ikatumia chini ya saa 18 kutoka Dar es Saalm hadi Kigoma.
Katika safari hiyo ya kwanza iliyokuwa na mabehewa mapya 22 yaliyonunuliwa kutoka Korea Kusini kwa Sh bilioni 28.6, treni hiyo ilionesha ufanisi katika usafirishaji kwa kutumia muda mfupi, pungufu wa saa sita, ikilinganishwa na safari ya treni ya zamani.
Kutokana na tofauti hiyo ya muda, abiria walioanza safari Dar es Salaam saa tano asubuhi ya siku ya safari, watakuwa wakitarajiwa kufika Kigoma kesho yake saa 11 jioni, badala ya saa tano usiku ya treni ya zamani.
Hata hivyo, abiria hao watalazimika kuingiza zaidi mifukoni, kutokana na nyongeza ndogo ya nauli kuwa Sh 79,400 badala ya Sh 75,700 za awali kwa daraja la kwanza.
Lakini daraja la pili, pamoja na usafiri kuwa bora zaidi, nauli imeshuka kutoka Sh 55,400 hadi Sh 47,600 ila zile za daraja la tatu zimepanda kutoka Sh 27,700 hadi Sh 35,700. Uzuri wa mabehewa Mabehewa hayo yanavutia ikilinganishwa na yale ya awali yaliyokuwa na uchakavu uliokuwa ukionekana kwenye milango na madirisha.
Samani zake ni pamoja na viti vya kutosha, huduma ya intaneti, swichi za umeme za kuchajia simu na kuunganisha kompyuta. Kwa sasa abiria wote wanapata huduma safi na ya raha, kila msafiri anasafiri akiwa ameketi kwenye kiti chake, tofauti na zamani ambapo abiria walikuwa wakisimama.
Wananchi walaani Mmoja wa wananchi wa Mkoa Kigoma, Mussa Madua amelaani tabia ya baadhi ya watu kuharibu miundo mbinu mbalimbali ndani ya treni hiyo, kama ambavyo wamekuwa wakifanya kwenye treni ya kawaida.
Madua licha ya kulaani tabia hizo za uharibifu, lakini alipongeza kuanzishwa kwa treni hiyo na kutaka kuwepo kwa usimamizi makini, huku akieleza kuridhishwa na nauli inayotozwa kwa treni hiyo na huduma zinazotolewa.
Katika hatua nyingine, Maez amewataka abiria wanaotumia usafiri wa treni hiyo, kutokuwa na mizigo mingi kwani wanaweza kupata shida mizigo hiyo inapokataliwa kupakiwa kwenye treni na kuvuruga mpangilio wa safari zao.

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Lindi's low freight, person movement does not merit demand for ferry - minister

Deputy Minister for Works, Gerson Lwenge

The government has no plans to construct a ferry at Kitunda Msinjahili ward in Lindi urban because the area does not meet required conditions, Deputy Minister for Works Gerson Lwenge told MPs yesterday.

 

He was responding to a question raised by the Lindi Urban Legislator, Salum Barwany who wanted to know when the government would construct a ferry in his constituency.

 

“Time has come for the government to construct a ferry because the population has increased,” the MP demanded.

MP Barwany argued that  in 2010 President Jakaya Kikwete promised Lindi residents that the government would build a new ferry but nothing has been done so far.

 

Responding, Deputy Minister Lwenge said in 2013 the government   sent a team of experts in Lindi Region to make an assessment in the area to see if it meets the requirements to build a new ferry but according to him, the experts’ report pointed out that there was no need for the government to build a ferry because there is no enough passengers and cargo to merit the construction.

 

“This means that the operation costs would be too high,” he said.

“There is no need at the moment to construct a new ferry in the area and we feel that a new engine boat will be enough to provide reliable means of transport from one island to another,” the Deputy Minister said.

 

He challenged the Lindi District Council to set aside funds from its budget to purchase the proposed new boat to serve the area.

 

In his supplementary question, the MP had argued that it was not true that the area lacked enough passengers and cargos, saying in fact, over 10,000 people are commute to the island but he failed to specify in what period of time. 

 

Nonetheless his concerns were shared by Fatuma Mikidadi (Special Seats—CCM), who said the experts’ assessment was outdated and the true picture is that the area has enough people and cargo to merit a new ferry.

However Deputy Minister said his ministry is ready to send experts for reassessment of the claims but did not specify whether he will do so or when.

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Probe report on former TPA boss submitted to Transport ministry

Transport minister, Samuel Sitta

A task force that was working into complaints, which saw the then Tanzania Ports Authority Acting Director General, Madeni Kipande, suspended, has presented its report to Transport minister Samuel Sitta.

 

The latter suspended Kipande last February 16 over alleged violation of procurement procedures.

 

The minister told a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the task force handed over the report to the ministry last Thursday, explaining:

“My ministry received the report on Thursday, it is long as it consists of three volumes.

 

“We shall read it through and sit with the TPA board of directors this week and later announce the decision made,” he told reporters.

According to Sitta, the ministry is involving the board to ensure that it comes up with an objective decision.

 

He said the decision would be made this week but after the current Parliament closes its session.

 

Sitta indefinitely suspended Kipande over allegations of violating the state-owned TPA’s procurement procedures. He then appointed former Dar es Salaam Port Manager Awadhi Massawe to be in-charge of TPA.

 

 At that time Sitta told journalists that Kipande’s suspension provided room for investigations into various allegations leveled against him. 

 He said there had been complaints about lack of transparency, inconsistency in procurement procedures, poor relationships with stakeholders and workers.

 

 “We decided to convene an emergency board meeting of TPA following complaints from various departments about its procurement system,” he said.

Sitta’s predecessor, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, had begun to tackle problems which had been facing the authority to no avail,

Sitta said TPA is the country’s core revenue earner with 87 per cent of its revenue coming from ports. He said that its employees must be diligent and faithful in their work.

 

 He noted that unnecessary delays in approving tenders which have been endorsed by the tender board tarnished the image of the government.

“I am suspending Eng Kipande until the probe team completes investigations on all the allegations,” he declared.

 

 Sitta mentioned members of the probe team as, retired Judge Augusta Bubeshi from his ministry who will be the chairperson. She is assisted by Deogratius Kasinda as secretary and other members are Ramadhan Mlingwa, Eng Samson Luhigo, Happiness Senkoro and Flavian Kinundo.

 

On August 24, 2012, Dr Mwakyembe suspended the then Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Ephraim Mgawe and five senior TPA officials pending investigations into various allegations at the Dar es Salaam Port, including corruption and theft,

The minister immediately appointed Eng  Kipande from the Ministry of Works as acting TPA Director General.

 

 Mwakyembe said the decision was reached at a meeting of the TPA board of directors held in his office.

 

He mentioned the positions of other TPA officials who were suspended as two deputy directors, Dar Port Manager, Kurasini Oil Jetty (KOJ) Manager and Oil Engineer.

 

 On January 22, 2013, Mgawe and four other senior officials were relieved of their duties as recommended by a board committee formed to probe abuse of official capacity.

 

Meanwhile, Sitta further said that the report on alleged fake coaches belonging to the Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) had also been submitted to the ministry last Thursday.

 

He said, like the TPA report, the ministry will involve the TRC board of directors before coming  up with a decision that would be announced together with that of TPA.

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