100 tenants a day lose homes as rising rents and benefit freeze hit

Charities demand action to tackle toll of soaring housing costs, welfare cuts and ‘no fault’ evictions

Tracy Strassburg and her sons Sebastian, 7, and Charlie, 5, have been forced to move house six times in seven years. Photograph: Shelter

Michael Savage Policy Editor

A record number of renters are being evicted from their homes, with more than 100 tenants a day losing the roof over their head, according to a shocking analysis of the nation’s housing crisis. The spiralling costs of renting a property and a long-running freeze to housing benefit are being blamed for the rising number of evictions among Britain’s growing army of tenants.

More than 40,000 tenants in England were evicted in 2015, according to a study by the Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). It is an increase of a third since 2003 and the highest level recorded. The research appears to confirm fears that a mixture of rising costs and falling state support would lead to a rise in people being forced out of their homes. It will raise concerns that even those in work are struggling to pay their rent.

High numbers of “no-fault” evictions by private landlords is driving the increase. More than 80% of the extra evictions had occurred under a Section 21 notice, which gives a tenant two months to leave. The landlord does not have to give a reason and there does not need to be any wrongdoing on the part of the tenant.

The study found that changes in welfare benefits have combined to make rents unaffordable to claimants in many areas. Housing benefit was no longer covering the cost of renting in some cases, with average shortfalls ranging from £22 to £70 a month outside of London, and between £124 and £1,036 in inner London. Housing benefit has not risen in line with private rents since 2010, and a current freeze means the rates paid will not increase until 2020.

A series of interviews with private renters who are struggling to meet their bills exposed the pressure some low-paid tenants are now under. One man said that the £50 shortfall he had suffered was “almost a week’s money in itself”.

“And then you’ve got the other bills…I just couldn’t make it work. I had to choose, what do I pay this month – do I pay the rent? Do I pay the electricity? Do I buy some food? And it just snowballed.”

A single mother in her 20s said: “I paid it as much as I could, but my youngest child has been quite sickly … If my kids are sick, I don’t get paid.”

Number of homeless children in temporary accommodation rises 37%

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The problem is particularly acute in London and the south-east. Four out of every five repossessions using Section 21 orders are in London, the east of England and the south-east. Nearly two-thirds are in London. Within the city, Section 21 repossessions are concentrated in the boroughs of Newham, Enfield, Haringey, Brent and Croydon. Of the 40,000 evictions, there were 19,019 repossessions in the social housing sector, and 22,150 in the private rented sector.

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The number of private tenants forced out of their homes exceeded the number evicted by social landlords for the first time in 2014. Social housing tenants can usually only be evicted for rent arrears or a breach of tenancy. While tenants are given time to find a property, some reported that they could find nothing they could afford, so families were under extreme levels of stress. Others simply waited for help from their local council.

Letting agency fees, the need for a guarantor and finding the cash for a deposit were all major barriers to securing a new home. Most tenants said they would prefer social housing, but were either ineligible or not a sufficient priority to be allocated a home.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of JRF, said: “The stark figures and harrowing stories show the struggle people on low incomes face in the private rented sector.” He called for the freeze on housing benefit to be lifted. “With higher rents, a benefits freeze and impossible choices about what bills to pay, evictions have reached record levels and put families under enormous strain,” he said. “Tenants told us about the misery and insecurity they face.

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“The government has made welcome moves to offer renters more protection. But it is intolerable that more than 100 families a day are losing their homes. The government must take immediate action on housing costs. This means lifting the freeze on housing benefit.”

The housing charity Shelter warned last monththat more than a million households living in private rented accommodation were at risk of becoming homeless by 2020 because of rising rents, benefit freezes and a lack of social housing. The charity has calculated that if the housing benefit freeze remains in place as planned – until 2020 – more than a million households, including 375,000 with at least one person in work, could be forced out of their homes.

Anne Baxendale, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, said: “We are deeply concerned that the current freeze on housing benefit is piling a huge amount of pressure on to thousands of private renters who are already teetering on the brink of homelessness.”

The stark figures and harrowing stories show the struggle people on low incomes face in the private rented sectorCambell Robb, JRF

A spokesman for the Department for Communitiesand Local Government said: “This government is determined to make rental housing more affordable and secure for working people. We are investing a record £7.1bn to boost affordable housing, and our housing white paper sets out how we plan to help private sector tenants, including building more homes for rent and banning letting agent fees.

“We continue to spend around £24bn a year to support the most vulnerable through housing benefit and we are providing 30% of the savings from the local housing allowance freeze to those areas with high rents.

“We have also changed the law to stop revenge evictions [when a landlord evicts in response to a complaint], given councils £12m to tackle rogue landlords and will give councils stronger powers to ban and convict the worst offenders.”

A yoga teacher earning £30,000-£40,000 a year, with two sons, aged five and seven, single parent Tracy Strassburg has moved six times in the past seven years. On the last four occasions she was evicted at short notice by private landlords.

In 2014, after being evicted from a flat in Brighton she moved back to London into what she was assured was a long-term let. Within six months the landlady had a new kitchen fitted, turning the house into a building site. “It was awful. We just lived upstairs. My kids couldn’t go in the garden and were watching TV the whole time.”

“At the time I was just so grateful to have a place and so grateful that we were going to be there long term that I put up with it. Then in July she gave me notice to leave.”

She was told she could stay until November and then move out. She considered living in temporary accommodation. “But I just couldn’t go through with it, emotionally. So I did everything that I could not to.” She advertised for a long-term home and was told by an estate agent that they had found just the thing. She moved into this new, smaller place in November 2014, and was given notice to leave just two and a half years later.

“I had a verbal agreement with the guy that I was going be there long term. I even asked him, ‘Can I please have a five-year contract?’ And he said, ‘It’s totally fine, we are happy to have you.’ But the contract was for a year. Even now, my landlord will not give me a five-year contract.

“Do I have to prove myself to landlords, for ever and ever and ever? I’m in this situation where I’m paying a large sum of money every month that is going directly to them, and I have basically no security for it. The only reason that I want to own a place is so that I don’t have to move again. I don’t care about the investment. I just want to have a place to live that’s a home, so my kids can say, ‘This is my address’.”

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MAOFISA UGANI WATAKIWA KUTUMIA MAFUNZO WANAYOPATA KUWAELIMISHA WAKULIMA

Mtafiti, Bestina Daniel kutoka Tume ya Taifa ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH), akizungumza na maofisa ugani wakati wa ufunguzi wa mafunzo ya siku moja kwa maofisa hao kutoka kata zote na vijiji vya wilaya hiyo Mkoani Tabora leo. 

Ofisa Kilimo wa wilaya hiyo ya Uyui, Deogratius Mwampinzi, akizungumza katika mafunzo hayo. Kushoto ni Ofisa Kilimo kutoka Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa Tabora, Said Babu.

Ofisa Kilimo kutoka Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa Tabora, Said Babu akizungumza wakati wa ufunguzi wa mafunzo hayo.

Mshauri wa Jukwaa la Bioteknolojia (OFAB), Dk. Nicholaus Nyange akitoa mada kwenye mafunzo hayo.

Mtafiti wa mazao ya mizizi kutoka Kituo cha Utafiti wa Kilimo cha Ukiriguru, mkoani Mwanza, Bakar Japhet akitoa mada.

Mtafiti wa pamba kutoka Kituo cha Utafiti wa Kilimo cha Ukiriguru, mkoani Mwanza, Stellah Chilimi akitoa mada.

Maofisa Ugani wa wilaya hiyo wakiwa katika mafunzo.

Mafunzo yakiendelea.

Taswira ya chumba cha mafunzo.

Maofisa ugani wakiwa kwenye mafunzo hayo.

Maofisa Ugani ndani ya mafunzo.

Wanahabari waliopo kwenye ziara hiyo ya mafunzo wakiwa kazini.

Mtafiti, Bestina Daniel kutoka Tume ya Taifa ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH), akiteta jambo na ofisa mwenzake, Teddy Lyimo.

Na Dotto Mwaibale, Uyui

WATAALAMU wa kilimo wa Wilaya ya Uyui mkoani Tabora wametakiwa kupokea mafunzo na kuyapeleka wa wakulima ili kuwasaidia kupata mbinu mpya za uzalishaji na zinazotumia teknolojia katika kuongeza tija kwenye uzalishaji wa mazao mbalimbali yanayolimwa kwenye maeneo yao.

Kauli hiyo imetolewa wilayani hapa leo na Mtafiti Bestina Daniel kutoka Tume ya Taifa ya Sayansi na Teknolojia (COSTECH), wakati akizungumza kwenye ufunguzi wa mafunzo ya siku moja kwa maofisa ugani kutoka kata zote na vijiji vya wilaya hiyo.

Alisema ili mafunzo hayo yaweze kuleta maana kwa wakulima na Serikali hawana budi kuyafanyia kazi kwa kwenda kuwafundisha wakulima kwa vitendo mbinu hizo za uzalishaji kwa kuanzisha mashamba madogomadogo ili wakulima waweze kuona na kasha nao kufuata kwa vitendo mbinu hizo pale watakapoona matokeo mazuri kwenye mashamba hayo ya mfano.

“COSTECH kupitia Jukwaa la Bioteknolojia kwa maendeleo ya kilimo nchini (OFAB) wameona waendeshe mafunzo kwa wakagani ambao ndio injini ya kilimo ili kuwakumbusha majukumu yenu na kuwapatia mbinu malimbali ili muweze kukumbuka na kutekeleza majukumu yenu vizuri maana wakulima wanawategemea nyinyi ” alisisitiza Daniel.

Alisema kuwa mafunzo hayo yatalenga kuwapatia mbinu bora za uzalishaji wa mazao ya Pamba,Viazi lishe,Mihogo na nafasi ya matumizi ya bioteknolojia katika kusaidia kupunguza changamoto mbalimbali zinazowakabili wakulima wa sasa na kuongeza uzalishaji.

Kwa upande wake muwakilishi wa ofisa kilimo mkoa wa Tabora, Said Babu alisema Mkoa wao umepata bahati ya pekee kwa wataalamu wake kupata mafunzo hayo ambayo yanalenga kuwaongezea ujuzi na kuwakumbusha majukumu yao.

Aliongeza Mkoa unaamini mafunzo hayo hayatapotea bure na kuishia kwenye ukumbi huo bali wanategemea kuona kilimo cha kisasa kitafanywa na wakulima na kuongeza uzalishaji kwenye msimu ujao wa kilimo kitu ambacho ndicho shabaha ya mafunzo hayo.

Alisema mazao yote matatu ya chakula ya Mahindi,Mihogo na Viazi lishe ni mazao muhimu kwa chakula kwa wakazi wa Mkoa wa Geita hivyo mafunzo hayo yawe chachu mpya katika kufanya mapinduzi kwenye kilimo na kuwataka kutumia mbinu hizo kuzalisha zao la pamba kitaalmu kuwaandaa wakulima na mpango wa serikali ya viwada.

Ofisa Kilimo wa wilaya hiyo ya Uyui, Deogratius Mwampinzi ameipongeza COSTECH na OFAB kwa kuwapelekea mafunzo hayo wataalamu wake kwani mafunzo hayo yatasaidia kuwakumbusha wataalamu hao mbinu walizojifunza vyuoni na kuwapatia mbinu zingine mpya ambazo watafiti wanaendelea kuzigundua ili kuwasaidia wakulima kila siku.

“Tutahakikisha mafunzo haya yanawafikia wakulima kwa kumfuatilia kwenye kata yake kila afisa ugani anayepata mafunzo ili kuona kama mbinu mlizowafundisha zinafahamika na kutumiwa na wakulima”Alissisitiza Mwampinzi.

Hata hivyo amewataka maofisa ugani hao kuwa wasikivu na waulize maswali katika kila mbinu wanayoona inahitaji ufafanuzi ili waweze kuondoaka hapo wakiwa wameelewa vizuri ili wakawaeleweshe wakulima kwenye maeneo yao bila wasiwasi wala kigugumizi.

Mafunzo hayo baada ya kumalizika kwenye wilaya za mkoa wa Geita sasa yanaendelea kwenye Mkoa wa Tabora na wilaya zake ambapo mpaka sasa tayari yameshafanyika kwenye wilaya za Igunga,Nzega na sasa Uyui na yataendelea kwenye wilaya za Sikonge na Urambo

Heavy drinking will kill 63,000 people over next five years, doctors warn

Alcohol

Doctors urge government to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol as research reveals extent of liver disease

Medical professionals say cheap alcohol is a scourge that will cost the NHS £16.74bn over the next five years. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Almost 63,000 people in England will die over the next five years from liver problems linked to heavy drinking unless ministers tackle the scourge of cheap alcohol, doctors are warning.

Senior members of the medical profession and health charities are urging the government to bring in minimum unit pricing of alcohol and a crackdown on drink advertising to avert what they claim is the “public health crisis” of liver disease deaths.

Research from some of Britain’s leading academic experts on alcohol has found that alcohol misuse will lead to 62,905 deaths between 2017 and 2022 and cost the NHS £16.74bn to treat.

Analysis by Sheffield University’s influential Alcohol Research Group predicts that 32,475 of the deaths – the equivalent of 35 a day – will be the result of liver cancer and another 22,519 from alcoholic liver disease.

They have undertaken the study for the Foundation for Liver Research, an independent group of medical and public health experts who want much tougher measures to limit alcohol harm. Inaction by the government is leading to avoidable loss of life to liver disease, they claim.

Liver disease is one of Britain’s biggest killers, claiming about 12,000 lives a year in England alone. The number of deaths associated with it has risen by 400% since 1970. It is estimated that 62,000 years of working life are lost every year as a result of it. People who develop serious liver problems also suffer some of the worst health outcomes in western Europe.

“Liver disease is a public health crisis that has been steadily unfolding before our eyes for a number of years now and the government will have to take robust action if its main causes – alcohol misuse, obesity and viral hepatitis – are to be controlled,” said Prof Roger Williams, a liver specialist who helped to treat the Manchester United football legend George Best when his problems with alcohol led to him receiving a transplanted liver in 2002.

Williams added: “Our new report strengthens the argument for intervention by revealing the full and alarming extent of the financial costs associated with inaction in these areas and setting out the economic benefits of addressing these risk factors.”

Katherine Brown, director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, accused the government of not doing enough to limit alcohol-related harm, given that reducing avoidable deaths from a range of life-threatening conditions is a key target of government health policy.

“Whilst it is a key government priority to tackle avoidable mortality, we have seen very little action to prevent liver disease, one of the top causes of avoidable deaths. It is tragic that, at a time when there is strong evidence for policies that will reduce avoidable deaths and hospital admissions, especially those related to alcohol, so many families will continue to suffer due to the ill-health or loss of a loved one,” she said.

“This report shows the enormous financial burden alcohol places on our country. Billions of pounds are spent each year, which has a huge impact on our struggling NHS, police and public services. If this government is serious about tackling the biggest causes of ill-health, safeguarding the vulnerable and protecting public services, it simply has to take action. The evidence is clear: raise the price of the cheapest alcohol to save lives and save money,” she added.

The evidence is clear: raise the price of the cheapest alcohol to save lives and save moneyKatherine Brown, ​director of the Institute of Alcohol Studies

Andrew Langford, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said the big increase in obesity in recent years was also a key driver behind the rise in the number of liver disease deaths.

“At the moment, three out of four people with liver conditions are diagnosed as an emergency in a hospital setting. By this time the scope for intervention is both limited and costly. Unless we urgently address this and improve prevention and early detection, the financial burden of liver disease will continue to grow at an alarming rate and the human cost and numbers of deaths will escalate,” he said.

The Sheffield academics have also produced new calculations showing that, if a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol were introduced in England, within five years it would mean 1,150 fewer deaths due to drink, 74,500 fewer admissions to hospital because of alcohol, a £326m saving to the NHS and a £711m drop in the value of crime caused by alcohol consumption.

The new study comes as the supreme court, the UK’s highest court, on Monday and Tuesday holds the latest round in the long-running legal battle over the Scottish government’s determination to bring in a 50p minimum unit price for alcohol, as it has been trying to do since 2012. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and others are appealing against the Scottish court of session’s earlier ruling that the policy could be implemented as Holyrood ministers pledged. The SWA and other alcohol industry bodies have challenged the lawfulness of the 2012 legislation in Scotland, which paved the way for it to become the first of the four home nations to bring in minimum pricing. Wales is now following suit, and Northern Ireland has expressed interest in doing the same.

Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), welcomed the Sheffield report’s “clear and compelling new evidence ... on the effectiveness of minimum unit pricing [MUP].

“Previous estimates suggested that in the first year after the introduction of MUP in England, 192 lives would be saved. This latest research suggests that after five years of MUP in England, over 1,000 lives would be saved.

“As Scotland appears set to introduce minimum pricing, and with Wales on the verge of legislating for MUP, we urge the UK government to take note of this latest evidence, and to legislate for MUP now. Given what we know about the effectiveness of MUP, a failure to act on the part of the government will mean that some of the most vulnerable in society will die unnecessarily,” Gilmore added.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Liver disease can be incredibly damaging and we are committed to tackling the underlying causes. That’s why we moved to tax higher strength beer and cider more than the equivalent lower strength product. We also have a world-leading childhood obesity plan, new guidance on low-risk drinking and a comprehensive free screening programme.”

Since you’re here …

… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters – because it might well be your perspective, too.

I appreciate there not being a paywall: it is more democratic for the media to be available for all and not a commodity to be purchased by a few. I’m happy to make a contribution so others with less means still have access to information.Thomasine F-R.

PFP SUPPORTS MAKETE DISTICT WITH LAND USE PLANNING AND FOREST MAPPING

Mkuu wa Wilaya Makete, mkoani Njombe Veronica Kessy (katikati) akipata maelezo ya mashine ya kuchakata mbao kutoka kwa Mshauri wa Maendeleo ya Viwanda vya Misitu Nicholas Moore wa Program ya PandaMiti Kibiashara (PFP) kabla ya kuizindua rasmi kwa ajili ya kikundi cha kuchakata mazao ya misitu ya kupandwa kwa jina la UTII, kinachoundwa na vijiji vinne yaani (Usagatikwa, Tandala, Ihela na Ikonda) katika kijiji cha Tandala jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

By Friday Simbaya, Makete

PRIVATE Forestry Programme (PFP) is supporting Makete District in Njombe region with land use planning, tree planting through tree growers’ incentive scheme, human capacity development, forest mapping and primary wood processing enterprise development, the Guardian can establish.

The programme is also support with expert assessment of forest sector investment opportunities, participatory plantation mapping and tree growers association (TGA) formation.

Michael Hawkes, a Team Leader of Private Forestry Programme made the statement recently during the PFP activity plan for Makete District (July 2017- December 2018).

He said the programme will also supporting in financial capacity development, adding that southern highlands has substantial number of commercial and private forest plantations.

Despite this, it was unclear on the geographical extent of forest coverage, forest plantation coverage by district and proportion of private owned plantation coverage.

Hawkes said clearing of the challenges above will help in strategic forest management planning.

According to the Forest Industries Development Advisor Nicholas Moore, Makete District has potential forest resources with at least 27,696 hectares of private owned plantations.

“The plans are there to help private tree growers to establish plantations and management, business development and marketing...,” he said.

He said one the objectives of the forest industry development are to create an industrial node (sawmill) model by using local materials and local technology.

Other objectives include development of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) groups and strengthen individual SMEs to enable business investment and technology advancement, and integrate TGAs/tree growers with permanent sawmill industry.

“Sawmilling in Makete by using low quality ‘dingdong’ saws create more waste than marketable product that is 25-30% sawn timber and 70-75% waste…,” Moore elaborated.

He said improved sawing and drying of wood based products increase the value of timber and improved sawn timber can be used for production of value added products.

Moore further said Makete District forest Resource with 27,000 hectares mapped potential annual log harvest volume of 420,000 cubic metres, hence industrialization policy support in the country.

On her part, Makete District Commissioner Veronica Kessy, during the opening of the workshop of TGAs Business Development Macro Planning for Makete DC, said Makete residents should also consider growing food crops not only concentrating on tree planting, hence food security.

She said planting forests should go hand in hand with food crop production and PFP programme must consider participatory land use planning to local people is well implemented.

Kessy also inaugurated a wood processing sawmill  for local SME group called UTII, which consists of four villages (Usagatikwa, Tandala, Ihela and Ikonda) at Tandala village in Makete District, Njombe Region.

Nevertheless, Private Forestry Programme (PFP) is bilateral programme with Finland to run for January 2014 to December 2018 with Finnish funding of 19,150,000  pounds.

End

HATIMAYE LIPULI FC WAPATA VIONGOZI WAPYA

Askari wa kikosi cha kutuliza ghasia FFU mkoa wa Iringa wakiwa wameweka ulinzi mkali ukumbi wa Shule ya sekondari Mwembetogwa mjini Iringa unaotumika kufanya mkutano mkuu wa uchaguzi wa klabu ya Lipuli FC jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Mmoja ya viongozi wa Lipuli FC waliomaliza muda wao akitimiza haki yake yakuchagua viongozi wapya jana katika mkutano mkuu ya uchaguziwa klabu hiyo. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Baadhi ya wajumbe wa mkutano mkuu wa uchaguzi wa timu ya mpira ya Lipuli wakifuatilia hotuba ya mwakilishi wa mkuu wa mkoa wa Iringa Amina Masenza ambaye aliwakilishwa na mkuu wa wilaya ya Kilolo Asia Abdallah jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya

HATIMAYE Klabu ya soka ya Lipuli FC ya mkoani Iringa jana wamemchagua Ramadhan Mahano kuwa mwenyekiti mpya wa klabu hiyo baada ya kuwagalagaza wapinzani wake wawili. 

Katika uchaguzi huo uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa Shule ya sekondari Mwembetogwa mjini Iringa na kushuhudiwa na mwakilishi wa mkuu wa mkoa wa Iringa Amina Masenza ambae aliwakilishwa na mkuu wa wilaya ya Kilolo Asia Abdallah.

Jumla ya wajumbe na wananchama 171 walishiriki mkutano mkuu wa uchaguzi wa klabu hiyo kongwe nchini na kuapata viongozi wapya watakayedumu kwa miaka mine ijayao. 

Akitangaza matokeo hayo ya uchaguzi huo Wakili Jackson Abraham Chakula alisema kuwa Mahano ameshinda kwa kura 103.

Wakati mpinzani wake Nuhu Muyinga akimfuata kwa kura 60 wakati Abnery Mrema akiambulia kura nne (4)tu.

Huku makamu mwenyekiti ambaye aligombea nafasi hiyo pekee yake Ayubu Kihwele akishinda kwa kura 116 huku kura zaidi ya 50 zikiharibika. 

Wajumbe wote wanne waliyogombea wamepita katika nafasi ya ujumbe wa kamati tendaji ambao ni Renatus Kalinga, Sylvester kanyika, Shaban Lushino na Magid Matolla. 

Awali mgeni rasmi katika mkutano huo mkuu wa wilaya ya Kilolo Asia Abudallah aliwataka wajumbe wa mkutano huo kuchagua viongozi watakao ifanya Lipuli kusonga mbele na sio viongozi wa kuendekeza migogoro na kurudisha nyuma Lipuli. 

Alisema kwa kupitia Lipuli FC mkoa wa Iringa utaweza kupiga hatua ya kimaendeleo katika sekta mbalimbali ikiwemo sekta ya utalii katika hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha na maeneo mengine mengi ya utalii mkoani Iringa. 

Kwa upande wake aliyekuwa mwenyekiti wa Lipuli FC Abuu Changawa alisema amepisha uchaguzi huo yeye na wenzake ili timu hiyo kusonga mbele na iwapo watashindwa kufanya vema basi atafanya mapinduzi kuwaondoa viongozi hao.

Naye Mwenyekiti Mpya wa Lipuli Ramadhan Mahano aliwapongeza wanachama wa Liupuli kwa kutumia demokresia ya kuchagua viongozi wao.

“Tunaomba tupige kazi ya kuiletea Iringa heshima ya mpira kwa wanairinga wote wana kiu kubwa ya mpira…,” alisema Mahono.

Aidha mwenyekiti mpya huyo aliwataka wapinzani wake wazidi kushirikiana naye katika kuinua soka la Lipuli ili iwatangaze kitaifa na kimataifa.

Mahano waliwaomba wanachama na wadau wa soka ndani na nje ya Iringa kuungana kuisapoti timu na uongozi uliopo madarakani kwa kuwa wamechaguliwa kidemokrasia.

CHARGE D’AFFAIRES INMI PATTERSON VISITS U.S.-FUNDED PROGRAMMING IN IRINGA

(Photos Above) The U.S. Government is proud to work with Tanzanian partners in pursuit of a peaceful, prosperous, secure, and healthy Tanzania. From USAID Tanzania to Peace Corps Tanzania to The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), U.S. Government assistance in the Iringa region empowers local Tanzanians to develop healthy and educated communities, promote local and regional economies, and strengthen stable and democratic institutions.

Chargé d’Affaires Inmi Patterson meets with Government of Iringa officials as part of a trip to the region. Follow the trip and learn more about U.S. – Tanzanian development and cooperation. #USAinIringa

(Photos Above) At the Ilula Lutheran Hospital, U.S. health programs offer integrated care to improve health services and capacity, empowering Tanzanian health care providers to offer better and more efficient services. Across Iringa, U.S. Government health programs have raised awareness about maternal health, increased access to treatment for HIV cases, and strengthened local authorities’ capacity for coordination and monitoring of public health care facilities.

#USAinIringa

(Photo Above) Luganga Primary School is one of 114 public primary schools supported by the USAID Tanzania Tusome Pamoja (“Let’s Read Together”) program in Iringa. From working with the Government of Tanzania to develop early grade reading material to supporting educators through trainings and ongoing development opportunities, U.S. education and professional development programs have benefited over 25,000 Tanzanians in the past year alone.

#USAinIringa

(Photos Above) Since 2011, the USAID(@usaid.tanzania)-funded Mwanzo Bora (“A Good Start”) Nutrition Program has partnered with the Government of Tanzania to improve nutrition for mothers and small children. Not only has Mwanzo Bora resulted in improved health care, sanitation, and nutritional awareness for mothers and children, cases of maternal anemia and childhood stunting have dropped by more than 20% in some parts of Tanzania. #USAinIringa

IRINGA: From July 20 to 21, the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam Inmi Patterson traveled to Iringa, Tanzania to visit, and raise awareness of, U.S. efforts to empower local Tanzanians to develop healthy and educated communities, promote local and regional economies, strengthen stable and democratic institutions, and enable women and youth. 

“The broad scope of our commitment to Tanzania reflects the depth of the relationship between our two countries,” said Chargé d’Affaires Patterson during a visit to Luganga Primary School in Kilolo District, where the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded “TusomePamoja” project supports primary school education through new learning materials, training for teachers and administrators, and increased engagement among parents and communities. “Our partnership and cooperation with the Tanzanian people has been at the heart of our relationship over the last half century, and we are proud to be a partner for Tanzanians in their efforts to build a peaceful, prosperous, secure, and healthy Tanzania. I am confident that commitment will continue, and that relations between our countries will flourish.” 

A key region for U.S. Government partnership since 2010, Iringa hosts a wide range of U.S. Government training and development assistance, including USAID-funded programming and Peace Corps. Development cooperation with Tanzanian partners is part of the U.S. Government’s broader investment and cooperation with the Tanzanian people. 

Photos of the trip are available for media use with photo credit to U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam at: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm4Juf6P