LOWASSA AMPA TANO TRUMP WA MAREKANI...

WAZIRI Mkuu wa zamani, Edward Lowassa pichani akiwa na mke wake, amewapongeza raia wa Marekani kwa kumchagua Donald Trump kuwa rais mpya wa nchi hiyo.

Kwa mujibu wa Lowassa, Trump atakuwa rais mwenye kufanya uamuzi mgumu kwa kuwa ni shupavu na ana uwezo.

Trump ambaye ni Rais Mteule wa Marekani, alichaguliwa kuwa Rais mpya wa Marekani baada ya kumshinda mpinzani wake, Hillary Clinton, mwishoni mwa mwaka jana.

Lowassa aliyasema hayo jana katika misa maalumu ya shukrani ya mwaka mpya 2017 iliyoshirikisha madhehebu mawili ya Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT), Usharika wa Monduli na Kanisa Katoliki, wilayani Monduli, Mkoa wa Arusha.

Ibada hiyo, ilihudhuriwa na viongozi mbalimbali wakiwamo wa Serikali na wa vyama vya siasa, wakiwamo Meya wa Jiji la Arusha, Calist Lazaro ambaye pia ni Katibu wa Chadema, Mkoa wa Arusha.

“Wamarekani hawakufanya makosa kumchagua Trump kwani anaonekana kuwa na uwezo mkubwa wa kuongoza Taifa hilo tajiri duniani ambalo linategemewa na mataifa mengine.

“Dunia imebadilika, amechaguliwa rais mmoja huko Marekani ambaye ni mwamba kweli kweli.

“Hatuwezi kumtabiri mambo yake yatakavyokuwa, lakini inabidi kila mtu afanye kazi kwa bidii na kwa maarifa kwa sababu huyo hakubali upuuzi wowote,”alisema Lowassa.

Lowassa ambaye pia aliwahi kuwa Mbunge wa Monduli kwa miaka 20, aliwataka wananchi kufanya kazi kwa bidii na kuacha kulalamika kwani hiyo ndiyo njia iliyo sahihi ya kuweza kuondokana na umasikini.

“Mwaka jana, tarehe kama hii, tulimuaga Mbunge Julius Kalanga na Mwenyekiti wa Halmashauri ya Monduli, Isack Joseph, nikawaambia nawatakia heri wachape kazi vizuri, naona wamefanya vizuri au siyo?alihoji Lowassa.

Akizungumzia upande wake, Lowassa alisema hivi sasa anafanya siasa za kimataifa tofauti na siasa alizokuwa akifanya kipindi kilichopita.

“Mimi sitaki kusema sana maana watasema napiga siasa. Siku hizi napiga siasa za kimataifa, naomba niwatakie heri ya mwaka mpya na kila mtakachoshika, Mungu akibariki kiwe dhahabu,”alisema

ERB reduces the Price of fuel, attributes reduction to Kwacha strength and fall in oil price

ERB Board Chairman Francis Yamba

The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has reduced the pump price of all petroleum products effective Tuesday midnight tonight.

ERB Board Chairman Francis Yamba has announced that the price of petrol has been reduced by K1.20 and will now be selling at K12.50 from the K13.70

Professor Yamba further announced that diesel has seen a reduction and will be selling at K10.70 from K 11. 40.

He said the price of Kerosene has been reduced by K1.22 and will be selling at K6.81 from K8.03.

Low Sulphur Diesel has also seen a reduction of 68 ngwee and will be selling at 13.01 from 13 .69.

Professor Yamba attributed the price reduction of the petroleum products to fundamentals such as the exchange rate

He added that ERB will continue to monitor and review the pump prices according to the minimised consumer shocks.

Professor Yamba was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka.

Below is the full statement

CHAWABATA CHAPINGA MANISPAA YA ILALA KUKAGUA LESENI ZA WAUZA VILEO USIKU

Mwenyekiti wa Chama cha Wahudumu wa Baa Tanzania (Chawabata), Ali Hussein (kulia), akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam jana, wakati akipinga zoezi linalofanywa na Manispaa ya Ilala la kukagua leseni za wauza vileo usiku. Kushoto ni Katibu wa chama hicho, Boniface Lameck.

Katibu wa chama hicho, Boniface Lameck akitoa ufafanuzi katika mkutano huo.

Na Dotto Mwaibale

CHAMA cha Wahudumu wa Baa Tanzania (Chawabata) kimepinga zoezi linalofanywa na Manispaa ya Ilala la kukagua leseni za wauza vileo usiku.

Akizungumza Dar es Salaam jana Mwenyekiti wa chama hicho, Ali Hussein alisema zoezi hilo linawatisha wateja wanapokuwa wakipata vinywaji katika baa mbalimbali.

Hussein alisema chama hicho kimepokea malalamiko kutoka kwa wamiliki wa baa ambao ni wanachama wao.

Alisema wiki moja kabla ya kuanza kwa sikukuu za mwishoni mwaka maofisa biashara wa Manispaa ya Ilala walikuwa wakipita katika baa mbalimbali maeneo ya Ukonga na vitongoji vyake kuanzia saa mbili usiku kukagua leseni.

Alisema maofisa hao walikuwa wameongoza na askari polisi waliokuwa na bunduki jambo ambalo kiusalama sio zuri.

"Huu utaratibu wa kukagua leseni usiku na mtutu wa bunduki unaweza kutoa fursa kwa wahalifu nao kwenda kwenye mabaa na kujifanya ni maofisa biashara na kufanya uporaji tunaomba serikali kuliangalia jambo hili" alisema Hussein.

Alisema hali hiyo imejitokeza baada ya serikali kuzuia baa kufunguliwa asubuhi kama ilivyokuwa awali ambapo chama hicho oktoba mwaka jana kiliiomba serikali kupitia mtandao huu na katika vyombo vya habari kuruhusu kufunguliwa kwa baa wakati wote ili kutoa nafasi ya wauza vileo kufanya biashara na kuweza kukusanya fedha za kulipa kodi ya serikali.

Alisema kwa nyakati za mchana ni vigumu kukuta baa zikiwa wazi na ndio maana maofisa hao wameamua kwenda usiku kukagua leseni hizo jambo ambalo ni hatari kwa wateja na maofisa hao

"Muda wa kufungua baa kuanzia saa 10 jioni unawaathiri wateja wetu kwani kwa masaa matano ya kufanyabiashara ya vileo na vinywaji vingine ni mchache mno" alisema Hussein.

Alisema hatua hiyo ya serikali ya kuamuru baa kufunguliwa kuanzia saa 10 imeathiri wahudumu wa baa ambao wengi wao wamepunguzwa kazi ambapo wanaiomba serikali kuangalia jambo hilo.

Meneja wa Baa ya Serengeti iliyopo eneo la mabaa Banana katika manispaa hiyo aliyejitambulisha kwa jina moja la Emanuel alisema kitendo cha maofisa hao kukagua leseni za biashara usiku ni kigeni kwao na kinawatisha wateja wao ambapo ameomba manispaa kuangalia upya muda wa kufanya ukaguzi huo.

Ofisa Habari wa Manispaa ya Ilala, Neema Njau alisema zoezi hilo lipo kisheria na linafanywa na kamati maalumu iliundwa na manispaa hiyo ambayo ipo chini ya wakuu wa polisi wa wilaya hiyo.

"Ukaguzi wa leseni hizo hauwezi kufanyika mchana kwa kuwa baa nyingi zinakuwa zimefungwa lakini wasiliana na ofisa biashara wa manispaa atakupa maelezo mazuri zaidi" alisema Njau. 

MATERNAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR RURAL WOMEN STILL A FAR-FETCHED DREAM

Steven Mwakihoo, is struggling with preparation to ferry his pregnant wife to attend her monthly clinic to a dispensary some 18 kilometres away from the couple's village. Photo| Daniel Mbega of Maendeleo Vijijini blog.

STEVEN Mwakihoo (45), a resident of Makungu village, Ukwega ward in Kilolo district, Iringa region, is preparing to take his pregnant wife, Egla Kikoti (34) on a bicycle to attend her monthly clinic at Ipalamwa dispensary, about 18-kilometres away from the couple’s village.

It is very difficult to carry a pregnant woman like Egla on a bicycle from Makungu to Ipalamwa due to the long distance, dilapidated road and the scorching sun – these are just a few of the difficulties.

The environment of the area is a hilly and not friendly, but especially so when you are carrying someone in Egla’s condition, a situation which makes it hard for many villagers using bicycles as their main means of transport to access health services.

“Most of the time I have to get down and push my bicycles because I can’t paddle it on the mountainous way due to steep slopes. If it wasn’t my wife’s condition, I wouldn’t have toiled this much,” admits Mwakikoti, a father of three.

"I think this could be the last pregnancy for my wife. It is hard. I have endured this every time my wife gets pregnant but now I think it’s enough,” he adds.

But as hard as it is for Mwakikoti, the bicycle rides to and from Ipalamwa dispensary which is the nearest health centre have been somewhat harder for his wife and for their family as a whole.

Mwakikoti says, apart from being tired of carrying his wife on his bicycle, like most villagers, he is also facing another challenge which is the skyrocketing costs of hiring vehicles to ferry pregnant women from their village to Ilula designated district hospital which is located some 60 kilometres away from their village.

“Vehicle owners have been charging us up to TShs. 280,000 to ferry patients to Ilula designated district hospital, the cost which many poor villagers here cannot afford,” he says.

An investigation conducted by this reporter in the district revealed that more than 40,000 residents in the district are forced to walk over long distances carrying their patients on stretchers to reach the hospital.

It is, however, estimated that more than 12,000 residents of Makungu village in Ukwega ward walk with their patients for over 15 kilometres to reach the Ipalamwa dispensary. Unfortunately, this has led to pregnant mothers to deliver on their way while being taken to hospital.

“This has claimed some pregnant women’s lives and has forced some residents to move to areas that are near the dispensaries and health centres as delivery day approach,” says Brown Kikoti, a resident of Makungu village.

Makungu village executive officer, Japhet Mlwale, says that the area becomes worse during spring when the roads become very slippery and at times impassable.

“Our roads, as you can see them, are very dangerous. They are never repaired, if they were good, vehicles owners would have brought their vehicles and made transport easier especially during the rainy season,” he says.

A similar situation is experienced by residents of Kimala, Idete and Masisiwe wards.

A resident of Kimala, Eliya Nyamoga, complained that they are charged TShs. 70,000 to hire a government Ambulance to take a patient to Kidabaga health centre. The money is required to be paid first before getting service and they are never issued receipts.

“If you don’t pay you can’t get this service. So for most of us rural dwellers who depend on subsistence farming it is very difficult to get this service. Where does one get this money?” he asks.

The 2012 housing and population census show that Ukwega ward has a population of 12,195, Idete 8,059, Masisiwe 10,039 and Kimala 7,649, yet all these area lack reliable transport services as well as healthcare.

Unfortunately, the problem of poor maternal health services is not confined to Kilolo district only but the whole Iringa rural areas as Edna Harold Chelea, a resident of Mafinga in Mufindi district explains.

“Pregnant mothers experience a lot of problems such as being forced to walk over long distances to reach health centres because of inadequate of social and health services.

For us, the government health policy of giving free medical services to pregnant women is useless as health centres are very far from most villages,” she says.

Edna adds that, even at the district and regional hospitals, many pregnant mothers are not timely attended and some lose their lives at the hospital premises, leave alone the critical shortage of beds and bedding.

Childbirth continues to be dangerous for both mother and child in Tanzania and the country has recorded a dismal performance in reducing maternal mortality compared to children deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and the Aged, currently the number of maternal deaths has declined from 578 to 454 for every 100,000 live births as opposed to that of children which has dropped to 81 from 162 live births, making the country one of 49 nations in Africa that account for ninety eight per cent of women and children deaths in the world.

The National Health Policy of 1990 is aimed at improving the health status of all people wherever they are, in urban and rural areas, by reducing morbidity and mortality and raising life expectancy because physical, mental and social wellbeing is a major resource for economic development.

Specifically, the policy is aimed at reducing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality and increasing life expectancy through the provision of adequate and equitable maternal and child health services, promotion of adequate nutrition, control of communicable diseases and treatment of common conditions.

Women face many challenges during pregnancy and delivery, among them being inadequate health care, lack of faith in biomedicine, support from men and lack of access to hospitals, leading some of them to deliver at home.

“Many women in the village deliver at home because of lack of nearby health care facilities,” says Mariam Kaduma (58) a mother of four and resident of Masisiwe in Kilolo district, some 156 kilometres from Iringa town.

However, in regard to the revised health policy of June 2007, healthcare for pregnant women at dispensaries, health centres and hospitals are supposed to be adequately given on time. This policy also directs that all special groups should be given such services free of charge.

The government states in the policy that it recognizes the presence of some special groups such as pregnant women and children less than five years who cannot afford cost sharing of health services. 

The funds to cover these costs are supposed to come from the budget of the Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and the Aged and other stakeholders including development partners through Basket Funding.

“The infrastructures in many dispensaries, health centres and hospitals are very poor as they have not taken into consideration the population increase. The health policy which requires every village to have a dispensary and health centre for the ward is yet to be implemented,” says Edna Harold Chelea.

Kilolo district acting medical officer, Michael Simwanza, said the district has only 50 dispensaries for 106 villages and that there are only two health centres, one being the Ilula designated district hospital under the Rvangelistic Lutheran Church, Iringa Diocese, and the Kidabaga health centre.

He said many villages in the district face the problem of lack of health services compounded by the fact that there are only two ambulances for the whole district, one owned by Kidabaga health centre and the other by Ilula designated district hospital.

Kilolo district commissioner, Gerald Guninita, said that he had no information of residents having to hire ambulances and not being given receipts. He promised to work on the problem.

“The driver is paid a salary; the ambulance is fueled to provide public service, how come the ambulance is hired to the public for the public service it is supposed to render? Where in the district council does that money go? I must make follow up,” said the DC.

“If the government’s plan of constructing a dispensary for each village had been implemented, there wouldn’t have been transport problems,” he added.

Health Secretary for Iringa region, Adeodatus Mhagama, said according to the health policy, the services are supposed to be given free of charge.

On his part, the Chief Medical Officer of Iringa Municipality, Dr. May Alexander, said that the problem of shortage of drugs and medical equipments is caused by the government itself.

“The drugs and medical equipments are not delivered on time, as a result patients have to shoulder the burden of high health costs,” he said.

Currently, the government is trying to extend coverage of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), a compulsory health insurance scheme established by the Act of Parliament No. 8 of 1999 with the main objective of ensuring accessibility of health care services to all central government employees.

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, the Elderly and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, told the National Budget Assembly that the ministry would come with a bill for a review of the NHIF to make it mandatory for all Tanzanians to join the health insurance fund.

Presenting the budget estimates for her ministry for the 2016/2017 financial year, the minister said among other things, the bill would propose that all Tanzanians should join the health insurance fund.

The Act establishing the Fund was further amended to include private sector institutions, individual members and their respective legal dependants that joined the Fund on voluntary basis Enrolment in the NHIF is mandatory for formal sector employees and voluntary for all informal sector workers. 

The scheme offers a wide range of preventive and curative medical care benefits.

Ms Mwalimu said NHIF would in the forthcoming 2016/2017 financial year extend the beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme to all under-18 years old children irrespective of their relationship with the contributor.

She said extension of the range of beneficiaries of the health scheme would enable children in extended families or those under the care of guardians benefit from the health service.

According to Ms Mwalimu, NHIF would conduct an actuarial valuation to evaluate its ability to provide service for long time. Preparations for the actuarial have already started and one among the terms of reference is to look at the best way of joining the NHIF and the Community Health Fund (CHF), she said.

According to her, beneficiaries of NHIF and CHF reached 11,729,281 as at December, 2015, which is equivalent to 27 per cent of all Tanzanians, according to the 2012 census. NHIF beneficiaries were 3,338,755 while CHC beneficiaries reached 8,390,526, she told the House.

However, rural dwellers who are registered with the health insurance scheme do complain that they can’t get services due to the shortage of medicines in most health centres, something that the government must look at.

PUPILS IN IRINGA MUNICIPALITY DID POORLY IN ENGLISH AND MATHS IN PSLE EXAMS

THE Acting Education Officer for Iringa Municipality (Primary Schools) Salimin Mndeme, said lots of pupils did poorly in the subjects of English and Mathematics who completed primary education in 2016. 

He said Monday that the subjects that candidates did well are Kiswahili, social studies and science. 

However, the acting education officer said that the Municipality of Iringa has a shortage of specialist teachers in the subjects of English and Mathematics probably that is the reason many pupils did poorly in these subjects. 

Mndeme said order to increase operational efficiency for teachers in these subjects; the government should provide regular seminars (ie in-service training program) for teachers in the subjects of English and mathematics. 

"The pass rate of the candidates who did the exams to finish primary education (PSLE) 2016 in Iringa Municipal, Iringa Region has increased compared to last year, where performance for last year is the 87.43 percentage, while previous year (2015), it was 85 percent, an increase of percent 2.43., "he said. 

He said that the increase in performance last year in Iringa Municipality is due to the successful implementation of the program of major impact of big results now (BRN) initiated by the government recently. 

He said that students who passed in 2016 is 2,998 (1,414 boys and 1,584 girls), adding that all pupils who passed last year have been selected to join Form One in 2017. 

He said that the Municipality of Iringa has a total of 50 primary schools, but out of 48 schools, 42 are public schools and six (6) private ones, had the pupils who did the test to finish primary education. 

He said that students who join secondary education are those who succeed in division A, B and C whose total is 2,998 all will join secondary school this year. 

“The trend of performance has been increasing year after year, for example, in 2014 the pass rate was 82.49 percent, 2015 performance was 85 percent and last year was 87.43 percent,” he explained. 

In addition, acting education officer said that a total of 3,440 students (1,624 boys and 1,816 girls) registered to do the test but they did the only 3,429 (1,618 boys and 1,811 girls), equivalent to 99.7 percent did the exam. 

In that exam candidates were tested in five subjects which are Kiswahili, Social Studies, English, Mathematics and Science. 

End