Uingereza yapunguza gharama za viza

UBALOZI wa Uingereza nchini, umepunguza viwango vya gharama za kuomba viza kwa wasafiri wanaotaka kwenda nchini mwao kutokana na kuimarika kwa thamani ya Shilingi ya Tanzania. Ofisa Habari wa Ubalozi wa Uingereza John Bradshaw aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jana Dar es Salaam kuwa kuanzia mwanzoni mwa mwezi huu, Ubalozi huo umepunguza gharama za viza zote baada ya kuona Shilingi ya Tanzania imeimarika kiwango cha juu. Bradshaw alizitaja gharama zilizoshuka kuwa ni za viza za matembezi ya miezi sita kuwa ni Sh 157,000 (zamani Sh 176,000), viza ya matembezi ya muda mrefu Sh 500,000 (zamani Sh 560,000), viza kwa ajili ya matibabu Sh 157,000 (zamani Sh 176,000), viza ya wanafunzi Sh 225,000 (zamani Sh 277,000), viza ya kupitia Sh 110,000 (zamani Sh 123,000) na ya makazi na ndoa Sh milioni 1.25 (zamani Sh milioni 1.4). Thamani ya Shilingi imezidi kuimarika dhidi ya sarafu nyingine muhimu za dunia kama vile Dola ya Marekani, Euro na Pauni ya Uingereza. Hadi jana Dola ilikuwa ikinunuliwa kwa Sh 1,000, Pauni Sh 2,355 na Euro Sh 1,645, tofauti na hali ilivyokuwa miezi minne iliyopita. Ofisa huyo ubalozi pia aliwataka wanaotaka kuomba viza katika msimu huu wa sikukuu za Krismasi na Mwaka Mpya kupeleka maombi yao mwezi mmoja kabla washughulikiwe bila usumbufu kwa sababu wakati wa sikukuu wafanyakazi wengi wa ubalozi huo wanakwenda likizo. Alisema ili kurahisisha maombi ya viza wameanzisha utaratibu maalumu wa kujaza fomu za maombi bila kufanyiwa usaili wa uso kwa uso kwa sababu maswali yote yamewekwa kwenye fomu hizo. “Nawashauri waombaji wawahi kutuma maombi yao, tena ni vizuri wakijaza fomu hizo kupitia mtandao ambao unarahisisha na kupunguza foleni,” alisema Bradshaw. Bradshaw alisema kuwa katika uchunguzi uliofanywa Aprili mwaka huu, kati ya maombi 144, waombaji 32 sawa na asilimia 22 walipeleka vielelezo bandia. Alisema watu kati ya 50 na 60 huomba viza kila siku Ubalozini hapo na zaidi ya asilimia 80 ya waombaji hupata viza.

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Miundombinu Tanzania ni swali lisilo na jibu sasa!!

VROOOOOM!!! KP

Richard: Lazima nimrudishe mke wangu

RICHARD Bezuidenhout, ambaye ni mshindi wa shindano la Big Brother Africa II amesema changamoto kubwa analokabiliana nalo kwa sasa ni kurudiana na mkewe Ricky.
Alisema atahakikisha anaokoa ndoa yake. Richard, ambaye amejinyakulia kitita cha zaidi ya Sh milioni 130 kwa kuwa mtu wa mwisho kutoka kwenye jumba la Big Brother jijini Johannesburg, Afrika Kusini, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kwa masikitiko kuwa moja ya changamoto zinazomkabili kwa sasa ni suala la mkewe ambaye alilazimika kurejea kwao Canada baada ya kukerwa na vitendo vya mshiriki huyo Mtanzania.
Akiwa katika jumba hilo, Richard alikuwa na uhusiano mkubwa na mshiriki toka Angola, Tatianna, uhusiano uliovuka mipaka ya urafiki wa kawaida na wawili hao kujikuta wakidondoka kwenye penzi zito na matendo yao kuonyeshwa moja kwa moja na televisheni ya M-net kama ilivyo kanuni za shindano hilo.
"Kwa sasa watakaoniponda, ndio changamoto langu na hasa mke wangu ndio changamoto kubwa kwangu," alisema Richard katika mkutano na waandishi wa habari uliojaa mabishano kutokana na wenyeji wake, Multi Choice kushauri maswali juu ya maisha yake, mkewe na Tatianna yasiulizwe sana.
Hata hivyo Richard, hakuonekana kujutia kile alichokifanya wakati akiwa kwenye jumba hilo kwa siku 98 licha ya kujua kuwa alikuwa akiangaliwa na Afrika nzima, Tanzania, familia yake na mkewe Ricky kupitia kituo cha malipo cha M-Net.
"Mimi niliyeingia humo ndiye ninayejua hali ilivyo, si rahisi," alisema Richard. "Hata ingetokea kuwa narejeshwa kwenye jumba la Big Brother, ningefanya vile vile. Sio wengi ambao wanaweza kuelewa hali hiyo... mimi ndio naelewa na naweza kueleza hali inakuwaje... Yale niliyoyafanya, nilifanya kwa sababu ya mazingira ya kwenye jumba hilo.
"Lakini nasema kuwa nitajitahidi sana; nawaahidi katika mambo yatakayotokea kwa sasa ni kumrudisha mke wangu."
Akizungumzia uhusiano wake na Tatianna, Richard alisema tena kuwa ulitokana na maisha ya kwenye jumba hilo na wala si mkakati wake wa kushinda na kutwaa kitita hicho kikubwa na cha kwanza kikubwa kwa mshindani wa mashindano ya burudani kukinyakua nchini.
"Uhusiano wangu na Tatianna haukuwa mkakati wangu wa ushindi," alisema. "Kwanza sikujua kama ningekutana na Tatianna; wote tulikutana humo humo kwa hiyo isingekuwa rahisi kupanga naye.
Ushindi niliupata kutokana na jinsi nilivyo. "Mimi ni mtu huru, ni muwazi, na mtazamo wangu ni ule ule, freestyle ndio Richard... niliishi kama ninavyoishi."
Richard hakuonekana kuwa tofauti na jinsi alivyokuwa akionekana kwenye televisheni wakati wa shindano la Big Brother, lakini alifurahisha zaidi alipozungumza Kiswahili akirejea hali ilivyokuwa kwenye jumba la Big Brother.
"Kitu ambacho sikukipenda ni vile vikundi vikundi," alisema akizungumzia watu waliokuwa wakimteta.
"Wale watu walikuwa wanachonga sana; walikuwa wananiudhi sana. Walikuwa kama mademu (wanawake). Walikuwa wanaingilia sana maisha yangu; kila wakati walikuwa wanazungumzia uhusiano wangu na Tatiana, wakati wao nao walikuwa na videmu (wasichana wao) vyao.
"Tena ajabu, watu wengine walikuwa na midevu (ndevu), wana mimaso (macho), halafu eti wanakaa wananizungumzia mimi na Tatianna. Wao wana mademu zao, lakini ajabu wanakuwa wanazungumza zungumza pembeni... hata mademu zao walikuwa na wivu. Kwa kweli walikuwa wananiudhi sana."
Richard, ambaye baba wake ni chotara wa Kiholanzi na Kinyarwanda, alisema yeye ni Mtanzania halisi na si Mganda kama ambavyo imekuwa ikiandikwa na vyombo vya habari vya nchi hiyo.
"Mimi si Mganda," alisema. "Mama yangu ni Mzaramo na alizaliwa hapa hapa Dar es salaam. Lakini babu yangu, yaani baba wa baba yangu ni Mholanzi na alizaa na Mnyarwanda.
Baba na mama walikutana Uganda na baada ya matatizo ya (rais aliyepinduliwa wa Uganda) Iddi Amin, waliamua kurejea nyumbani na huku ndiko nilikozaliwa."
Richard alisomea shule ya Msingi Makumbusho na baadaye kujiunga na Mashujaa kabla ya kwenda Kampala, Uganda ambako alisoma darasa la tano hadi kidato cha sita na kurejea nchini ambako sasa anasomea utengenezaji wa filamu.

Vijana wa ze comedy

Rahaa utamu
Mwenye speed ya pilipili

Lamwai loses second appeal at High Court

By Bernard James

Prominent Dar es Salaam advocate, Dr Masumbuko Lamwai, has lost yet another appeal against conviction and one year suspension to practice for professional misconduct. This is the second appeal of similar nature the former law lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam lost in court. However, the High Court set aside the Sh20million payment to the complainant. In May this year, three judges of the High Court upheld the decision by Advocates Committee to suspend Dr Lamwai after he was convicted for negligence and professional misconduct that led to the dismissal of a suits by his two clients. In the first suit, Dr Lamwai was said to have failed to represent Mr Bernard Mrema against the Attorney General and the IGP without any due cause. This time, Justices Laurean Kalegeya, Amir Manento and Augustine Shangwa dismissed Lamwai's appeal against a second suspension by the committee in September 2004 as unjustified. Dr Lamwai was challenging the judgment of the committee which convicted him of dereliction of his duties as an advocate and sentenced him to one year suspension from practice. He was also ordered to pay compensation of Sh20 million to Mr Solomon Lufundo whose suit to demand Sh60 million from Hindu Mandal hospital over negligence that caused the death of his wife. Mr Lufundo's believed that his wife died after an operation due to negligence of an unqualified doctor who operated on his wife. The medic was also not a registered practitioner. Hindu Mandal hospital successful raised preliminary objections to the suit as limitation of time and the suit was dismissed in April 2007. In his 13 grounds of appeal which were reduced by the panel to four grounds, Dr Lamwai had argued that the committee members were wrong in entertaining the matter which was not properly filled before the court. "We have given due consideration to the proceedings, facts and findings of the committee and the law and we are of settled view that this complaint is without justification," said deputy registrar of the High Court, Mr P. Bampikya who last week read the judgment on behalf of the panel.
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Richmond under investigation

By Rodgers Luhwago, Dodoma and Pius Rugonzibwa, D'Salaam

D'Salaam The parliament yesterday unanimously endorsed a proposal by the Parliamentary Committee on Investment and Trade to form a committee to investigate the controversial gas to power generation contract awarded to Richmond Development Company. Immediately after the endorsement, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Samuel Sitta appointed five MPs to form the committee. They are Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, Stella Manyanya, Mohamed Mnyaa who is also the shadow minister for energy and minerals, Mr Lucas Seleli and Herbet Mtangi. The committee will strive to establish the legality of the contract Richmond Development Company had entered with Tanesco. According to Mr Sitta, the probe team will scrutinise the findings of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) which it conducted on the deal. The minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Karamagi promised government support and co-operation with the committee in a transparent manner its bid to establish the truth about the contract. Earlier, parliamentarians called for fresh investigations on the controversial power generation deal clinched by Richmond Development Company (RDC). The debate re-emerged after the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Investment and Trade handed its 2006/2007 report, tabled by committee chairman William Shelukindo (CCM-Bumbuli). The committee proposed that the House forms an independent committee to access the contract document between Richmond and the Government and scrutinise it, before issuing a clear report that will settle controversial issues on how the tender was awarded. The committee would be responsible for searching for answers on a number of questions in relation to the procedures of awarding the tender and the credibility of the company. Questions that are to be answered include reasons that made the Government fail to make a thorough inquiry into the Richmond firm to establish its due diligence. Another is why the Government failed to seek more information on the company from the Internet to establish its credibility. The committee also questions the Government decision to award the tender to Richmond for emergency power generation while aware of its small financial capacity. This datum was noted in 2005 after the same company failed to honor the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project of laying fuel pipes from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, the report noted. The Parliamentary Committee also wanted answers as to why the Government did not search for evidence after it was claimed that Richmond had close ties with Pratt and Whitney, a major firm in the sector, a point that gave confidence to the Government in awarding Richmond the tender. Other questions include the fact that Pratt and Whitney Co. was not mentioned in the final contract for emergency power generation, as well as establishing the amount of loss the nation incurred for the company�s failure to generate power during the time of power crisis as required. �Due to the difficulties in accessing the contract between Richmond and the Government, the Parliamentary Committee under Parliamentary rules No 104 and 105 of the Standing Orders, Edition 2004, wants Parliament to form a select committee that will have legal powers to access the document and scrutinise the whole process that led the company to be awarded the tender,� said Mr Shelukindo in his report. He said all these questions need to be answered clearly to satisfy the public, in which case the committee that would investigate the matter should go beyond criminal liability issues focused by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). Despite the fact that PCCB investigated the deal, he said, still there were questions that were yet to be answered since the anti-graft body focused on criminal elements in its investigation. Mr Shelukindo said the committee was also not satisfied with the performance of Dowans Holdings S.A from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after it failed to produce emergency power within the time stated in the contract. Dowans took over the power generation deal from Richmond. The committee also wanted to be told how much Dowans has so far paid the Government after breaching the contract. He said according to the contract the company was supposed to pay $10,000 everyday as fine for failure to install the gas-turbines within the agreed time frame. However, the Parliamentary Committee was satisfied with the performance of Agreeko Company that started generating emergency power without delay. Ms Beatrice Shelukindo (CCM- Kilindi) said there was pressing need to form a probe committee on the whole process of awarding the tender to Richmond Development Company. She said it was sad to learn that the Government awarded the tender to the company despite its obvious weaknesses in the first project in 2005. Mr Habib Mnyaa (CUF-Mkanyageni) said the contract had something fishy, as despite the reluctance of Tanesco to sign the deal the Government stuck to its guns. The opposition MP similarly noted that the contract was signed during the night. Reached for comment, Dr Sengondo Mvungi of the University of Dar es Salaam commended the report, saying MPs had done their job. Prof Issa Shivji on his side said the Parliament has been given teeth by the Constitution to bite, and it is the right time now for the issue to be thoroughly debated in the House. He said even if Richmond has been sold, yet the Government is now required to tell wananchi through their representatives what it knows about Richmond. Contacted for comment, environment lawyer Tundu Lissu said the Government must tell wananchi why it pressurised Tanesco to sign the contract with Richmond while Tanesco had already cautioned about it.
By Rodgers Luhwago, Dodoma and Pius Rugonzibwa, D'Salaam The parliament yesterday unanimously endorsed a proposal by the Parliamentary Committee on Investment and Trade to form a committee to investigate the controversial gas to power generation contract awarded to Richmond Development Company. Immediately after the endorsement, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Samuel Sitta appointed five MPs to form the committee. They are Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, Stella Manyanya, Mohamed Mnyaa who is also the shadow minister for energy and minerals, Mr Lucas Seleli and Herbet Mtangi. The committee will strive to establish the legality of the contract Richmond Development Company had entered with Tanesco. According to Mr Sitta, the probe team will scrutinise the findings of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) which it conducted on the deal. The minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Karamagi promised government support and co-operation with the committee in a transparent manner its bid to establish the truth about the contract. Earlier, parliamentarians called for fresh investigations on the controversial power generation deal clinched by Richmond Development Company (RDC). The debate re-emerged after the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Investment and Trade handed its 2006/2007 report, tabled by committee chairman William Shelukindo (CCM-Bumbuli). The committee proposed that the House forms an independent committee to access the contract document between Richmond and the Government and scrutinise it, before issuing a clear report that will settle controversial issues on how the tender was awarded. The committee would be responsible for searching for answers on a number of questions in relation to the procedures of awarding the tender and the credibility of the company. Questions that are to be answered include reasons that made the Government fail to make a thorough inquiry into the Richmond firm to establish its due diligence. Another is why the Government failed to seek more information on the company from the Internet to establish its credibility. The committee also questions the Government decision to award the tender to Richmond for emergency power generation while aware of its small financial capacity. This datum was noted in 2005 after the same company failed to honor the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the project of laying fuel pipes from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, the report noted. The Parliamentary Committee also wanted answers as to why the Government did not search for evidence after it was claimed that Richmond had close ties with Pratt and Whitney, a major firm in the sector, a point that gave confidence to the Government in awarding Richmond the tender. Other questions include the fact that Pratt and Whitney Co. was not mentioned in the final contract for emergency power generation, as well as establishing the amount of loss the nation incurred for the company�s failure to generate power during the time of power crisis as required. �Due to the difficulties in accessing the contract between Richmond and the Government, the Parliamentary Committee under Parliamentary rules No 104 and 105 of the Standing Orders, Edition 2004, wants Parliament to form a select committee that will have legal powers to access the document and scrutinise the whole process that led the company to be awarded the tender,� said Mr Shelukindo in his report. He said all these questions need to be answered clearly to satisfy the public, in which case the committee that would investigate the matter should go beyond criminal liability issues focused by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). Despite the fact that PCCB investigated the deal, he said, still there were questions that were yet to be answered since the anti-graft body focused on criminal elements in its investigation. Mr Shelukindo said the committee was also not satisfied with the performance of Dowans Holdings S.A from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after it failed to produce emergency power within the time stated in the contract. Dowans took over the power generation deal from Richmond. The committee also wanted to be told how much Dowans has so far paid the Government after breaching the contract. He said according to the contract the company was supposed to pay $10,000 everyday as fine for failure to install the gas-turbines within the agreed time frame. However, the Parliamentary Committee was satisfied with the performance of Agreeko Company that started generating emergency power without delay. Ms Beatrice Shelukindo (CCM- Kilindi) said there was pressing need to form a probe committee on the whole process of awarding the tender to Richmond Development Company. She said it was sad to learn that the Government awarded the tender to the company despite its obvious weaknesses in the first project in 2005. Mr Habib Mnyaa (CUF-Mkanyageni) said the contract had something fishy, as despite the reluctance of Tanesco to sign the deal the Government stuck to its guns. The opposition MP similarly noted that the contract was signed during the night. Reached for comment, Dr Sengondo Mvungi of the University of Dar es Salaam commended the report, saying MPs had done their job. Prof Issa Shivji on his side said the Parliament has been given teeth by the Constitution to bite, and it is the right time now for the issue to be thoroughly debated in the House. He said even if Richmond has been sold, yet the Government is now required to tell wananchi through their representatives what it knows about Richmond. Contacted for comment, environment lawyer Tundu Lissu said the Government must tell wananchi why it pressurised Tanesco to sign the contract with Richmond while Tanesco had already cautioned

Hipo siku Miss Dunia atatoka Tanzania . Sema wewe mdau

Kikwete amteua Zitto kwenye kamati ya mikataba ya madini

Richard ndani ya sky news

*Itaongozwa na Jaji Mark Bomani,

* Pia wamo Cheyo, Mwakyembe

* Yapewa miezi mitatu kumaliza kazi

* Zitto asema atafanya kazi kwa maslahi nchi

Na Tausi Mbowe

RAIS Jakaya Kikwete amemteua Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini (Chadema), Zitto Kabwe kuwa miongoni mwa wajumbe wa Kamati ya uangaliaji upya mikataba ya uchimbaji wa madini nchini.
Kamati hiyo yenye jumla ya wajumbe kumi na mmoja itakuwa chini ya uenyekiti wa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali Mstaafu, Jaji Mark Bomani.
Wengine katika Kamati hiyo ni Mbunge wa Bariadi Mashariki (UDP), John Cheyo, Mwanasheria wa Wizara ya Nishati na Madini, Salome Makange, Kamishina wa Sera Wizara ya Fedha, Mugisha Kamugisha, Mkurugenzi Msaidizi Idara ya Makazi Wizara ya Ardhi, Edward Kihundwa na Mbunge wa Kyela (CCM), Dk. Harrison Mwakyembe.
Wajumbe wengine ni Mbunge wa Msalala (CCM),Ezekiel Maige, Peter Machunde kutoka Soko la Hisa, Dar es Salaam (DSE), Mkaguzi wa Mahesabu kutoka Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya Ukaguzi wa Mahesabu, PriceWater Coopers, David Tarimo ambaye ni mtaalam wa masuala ya kodi na Mkurugenzi wa Madai na Sheria za Kimataifa, Wizara ya Katiba na Sheria, Maria Kejo.
Taarifa ya Ikulu iliyosainiwa na Katibu Mkuu Kiongozi, Philemon Luhanjo ilisema kuwa pamoja na mambo mengine, kamati hiyo pia itakuwa na kazi ya kuchambua mfumo wa kodi unaotumika katika sekta ya madini na kupitia mfumo wa usimamizi wa shughuli za uchimbaji mkubwa unaofanywa na serikali.
Kamati hiyo iliyopewa kipindi cha miezi mitatu kukamilisha kazi yake pia inajukumu la kukutana na taasisi zinazosimamia madini na wadau wengine na kutakiwa kutoa taarifa yenye mapendekezo.
Pia Kamati hiyo itakuwa na jukumu la kupitia mikataba ya madini na nyaraka nyingine zitakazohusu migodi ya mikubwa nchini.
Kuundwa kwa Kamati hiyo kunafuatia hoja binafsi ya Zitto Kabwe aliyoitoa bungeni kutaka kuundwa kwa Kamati Teule yakuchunguza mazingira ya kusainiwa kwa mkataba wa mgodi wa dhahabu wa Buzwagi huko Uingereza na Waziri wa Nishati na Madini, Nazir Karamagi Februari mwaka huu.
Baada ya kuwasilisha hoja hiyo, Kabwe alifungiwa kuhudhuria vikao vya Bunge hadi hapo Januari mwakani. Hatua hiyo ya Bunge iliibua mjadala mkubwa miongoni mwa makundi mbalimbali wakihoji sababu za kumfungia mbunge huyo kijana.
Hivi karibuni wakati Rais Kikwete akihutubia Mkutano Mkuu wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi katika Ukumbi wa Kizota , mjini Dodoma aliahidi kuunda kamati hiyo itakayojumuisha wadau mbalimbali kwa ajili ya kuangalia mikataba mipya ya madini.
Akizungumza na Mwananchi kuhusiana na uteuzi huo, Zitto Kabwe alisema kwamba amepokea uteuzi huo wa Rais Kikwete na atafanya kazi kwa maslahi ya Watanzania.
"Nimepokea kwa mikono miwili uteuzi, naahidi kufanya kwa umakini wa hali ya juu," alisema alisema Zitto na kuongeza kwamba uamuzi wa Rais unaonyesha jinsi alivyokomaa kidemokrasia tofauti na wabunge 274 wa Chama cha painduzi (CCM )walioko bungeni.
Tuma maoni kwa Mhariri

Misemo na nahau

"Bahati ni upepo sasa upo kwangu"

Kikwete: We took up Kadhi court agenda from Mrema

By Pius Rugonzibwa

President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday declared that the introduction of Kadhi courts was not a specific policy initiative of CCM, of which he is chairman. The idea of re-introducing the Kadhi court was not his personal agenda either, he declared before a major consecration ceremony for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT). The President made the declaration as he officiated at the consecration of Archbishop Dr Alex Gehaz Malasusa as the new presiding bishop of the ELCT, held at Azania Front Cathedral in Dar es Salaam. It is the President's first public position on the hotly disputed issue, where sections of the community are pitted in support and opposition of plans to take to Parliament a bill to re-introduce Kadhi courts and enshrining the parallel legal structure in the Constitution of the United Republic. "It was not my own agenda and the election manifesto is not prepared by presidential candidates. We adopted it from opposition parties (Augustine Mrema's TLP) and put it into our manifesto so that we can thoroughly carry it forward,"the President explained. "I urge the public to be patient because we've forwarded the matter to the Law Reform Commission so that we can get professional advice on the matter," he further stated. He said he had decided to fully utilise yesterday's opportunity to put the record straight as some politicians were deliberately misinterpreting it for their political interests. President Kikwete said it was unfortunate that the issue has become hot now but basically it was initiated far back in 1995 by opposition political leaders. He reminded religious leaders and other dignitaries present at the service that the initiator of the agenda was Mr Augustine Mrema, the national chairman of the opposition Tanzania Labour Party followed by Mr Thomas Ngawaiya, then Moshi Rural MP on a TLP ticket, seeking the issue to be debated in the National Assembly. "This issue was then brought to the National Assembly and had it not for the wisdom of the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Pius Msekwa , the story could have been different today," the President noted. According to him, Mr Msekwa directed the issue to a parliamentary committee chaired by Mr Athumani Janguo, which recommended that it be researched further. The Law Reform Commission was then asked to take it up and its report is expected in February. When reached for comment, Mr Mrema said that he had good intentions when he introduced the issue, "but now it has been mishandled." Addressing the gathering, outgoing ELCT presiding bishop Dr Samson Mushemba said that the country was saddled with excessive selfishness and corruption than any other time in its history. He challenged the government to review penalties imposed on corruption offences, calling for penalties to be raised ten times in order to redress the situation. The agenda on corruption was also mentioned by Thomas Skernes, guest bishop of the Northern Great Lakes diocese in Michigan State in the US, who urged Archbishop Malasusa to tell the Government the truth about various matters be it in economic areas, education and general welfare of the people. Archbishop Malasusa mentioned corruption, theft of natural resources, embezzlement, and all other related issues as the major challenges facing the country. He also turned on the current religious debate on kadhi courts, praying that God help Tanzania to keep away the simmering conflict. He said it will be a great shame if Tanzania will produce refugees who run out of the country because of newly created religious conflicts. At the current session of the legislature, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa was quoted saying that the government does not plan to table a bill on Kadhi courts during this session. His reaction came just a day after Democratic Party chairman Rev. Christopher Mtikila petitioned the High Court in Dar es Salaam to stop the legal process for setting up Kadhi courts.

© 2007-Mwananchi Communications LTD

Surgery mix up:Mwakyusa defends Muhimbili credibility

Picha ya ajari toka kwa http://haki-hakingowi.blogspot.com/

By Mkinga Mkinga and Faraja Jube

The minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof David Mwakyusa and specialists at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) yesterday refuted allegations raised in the newspapers over the on-going probe at the institute. The probe follows a horrendous mix up at MOI in which doctors performed wrong surgical operations on two patients, one of whom is now fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. Media reports claim that some specialist doctors at MOI want another independent probe committee formed into the surgical error committed by the two doctors. A statement issued yesterday in Dodoma by the minister said it was not true that doctors did not have confidence in the probe committee already formed as media reports stated. "I would like to inform the general public that the government has been deeply saddened by this incident. "Since the matter is technical and requires ethical handling, I appeal to the public to be patient until the truth is revealed before further steps are taken," the statement urged. At the same time, 35 senior and junior doctors at MOI have forwarded to the minister, the permanent secretary and board of trustees chairman Sir Andy Chande a letter refuting the claims of lack of confidence in the probe team. "We convened a meeting of about 35 doctors at the Institute today (Friday) morning and reached consensus to respond to those allegations in writing," said the medical director, Dr Abednego Kinasha. According to Dr Kinasha, the letter denies allegations directed to the institution, in which a group of medical specialists have been accused of lacking confidence in the probe committee, signaling afore-hand that they would not accept with its findings. "There is nobody among us who has ever spoken to the media, particularly the local tabloids, about anything reported yesterday. We have confidence in the probe committee," he affirmed. "The probe committee has been formed legally according to existing regulations, after directives from the board and not upon the wishes of the management. "The committee shall work under prescribed terms of reference, and thereafter submit its findings to the Ministry. There is no way that the management of the institution will act otherwise without directives from the Ministry," he elaborated. Dr Kinasha said some of the newspapers carried sensational stories to create shock and fear among the public and ministerial authorities regarding the sensitivity of the issues facing the institute. "There is nothing to doubt about the formation of the committee. It was the fairest way to act upon such a medical error. The board acted immediately and formed an independent probe committee which was given relatively short time to investigate the matter," Dr. Kinasha further noted. He said during their Friday internal meeting the doctors refuted and condemned what was reported in the local newspapers, adding that they all signed a document which shows their confidence in the institution's management and the probe committee. Commenting on the recent situation after the incident, the medical director said the work load is higher compared to a few days before the suspension of two medical doctors following the incident. The head of neuro-surgery, Prof Joseph Kahamba also confirmed that the workload has doubled compared to the capacity of the number of neuro-surgery specialists at work at the moment. "The atmosphere is completely normal. We proceed with operations as normal though we have a huge workload, taking into consideration that we have just a few specialists," he said. The institution has only one expert and three local neurosurgeons inclusive of the one suspended pending investigation into the matter, four anaesthetists and 13 orthopaedic surgeons. "It is not that some patients are not operated due to the suspension of our colleagues. The situation is that sometimes our intensive care unit is full of patients, and as medical specialists, we cannot conduct surgery while we do not have a bed to admit operated patients at ICU," explained Prof Kahamba. The incident in which two patients underswent wrong surgery is said to have created an unpleasant atmosphere among medical specialists, with depression among both patients and specialists. Additional reporting by Rodgers Luhwago in Dodoma. "We are depressed, and it is unfortunate that it happened. We hope that definitely it won't be repeated. "This is the general feeling among doctors, that our colleagues have become victims of unfortunate circumstances, but they still are very hardworking, committed and experienced professionals," said one of the specialists. Additional reporting by Rodgers Luhwago in Dodoma.
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