Watanzania wapata fursa ya kushiriki mafunzo kuhusu Tsunami

Kutokana na kuwa na athari kubwa ambazo zimekuwa zikisababisha majanga makubwa, Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa linaloshughulikia Elimu, Sayansi na Utamaduni (UNESCO) limeandaa mafunzo ya siku tano ambayo yatashirikisha watu mbalimbali nchini ili kuwapa elimu kuhusiana na majanga.

Akizungumzia Mafunzo hayo, Mkuu wa Ofisi na Mwakilishi wa UNESCO nchini, Zulmira Rodrigues alisema kupitia mafunzo hayo yatawasaidia washiriki kupata elimu kuhusiana na Tsunami ikiwa ni pamoja na madhara ambayo yanasababishwa na hivyo ni matarajio yao watakuwa mawakala wazuri kwa kusambaza elimu hiyo kwa Watanzania wengine.

"Watu wengi wamepoteza maisha tukumbuke Tsunami la Japan zaidi ya watu 20,000 walipoteza maisha kwahiyo tunataka mafunzo haya yasaidie kufahamu ni kwa kiasi gani Tsunami linakuwa na madhara hata kama limetokea mbali na hapa," alisema Bi. Rodrigues.

Nae Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Ujenzi, Uchukuzi na Mawasiliano, Dk. Leonard Chamuriho alisema ni vyema kwa watanzania kupata elimu hiyo kutokana na madhara ambayo yamekuwa yakitokea ikiwemo Tsunami la mwaka 2004 ambalo lilitokea eneo lililombali na bahari ya Hindi lakini lilisababisha athari nchini na kusababisha vifo vya waogeleaji watano.

"Mafunzo haya yanatakiwa kufanyika kwa wananchi wote na mwezi Septemba yatafanyika mengine na yatahusisha watu wengi lengo kila Mtanzania ajue nini cha kufanya siku athari zikitokea wajue nini wanafanya ni muhimu kwa kila mtu kujua athari za Tsunami hata likitokea mbali," alisema Dk. Chamuriho.

Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa linaloshughulikia Elimu, Sayansi na Utamaduni (UNESCO) kitengo kinachoshughulikia Tsunami, Ardito Kodijat akifungua mafunzo hayo kwa kuwaeleza washiriki aina ya mafunzo ambayo watapatiwa. (Picha na Rabi Hume, MO Blog)

2. Mkuu wa Ofisi na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa linaloshughulikia Elimu, Sayansi na Utamaduni (UNESCO), Bi. Zulmira Rodrigues akitoa neno la ufunguzi kwa niaba ya UNESCO Tanzania na kueleza sababu ya kufanyika mafunzo hayo.

3. Mkuu wa Utafiti na Matumizi ya Hali ya Hewa kutoka Mamlaka ya Hewa nchini (TMA, Dk. Ladislauds Chang`a akizungumza jinsi TMA imejipanga kuendeleza kutoa elimu kwa wananchi kuhusu Tsunami na kuwataka Watanzania kuwa na utaratibu wa kufatilia hali ya hewa nchini hasa katika kipindi hiki ambacho ni kuna mabadiliko ya tabia ya nchi.

4. Baadhi ya washiriki ambao wameshiriki katika mafunzo hayo ambayo yanataraji kufanyika kwa siku tano.

5. Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Ujenzi, Uchukuzi na Mawasiliano, Dk. Leonard Chamuriho akizungumza katika ufunguzi wa mafunzo yanayohusu kuwapa elimu washiriki ya kuhusu Tsunami. (Picha na Rabi Hume, MO Blog)

6. Washiriki wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja. (Picha na Rabi Hume, MO Blog)

Tanzania yatajwa katika nchi zinazoongoza kwa unyanyasaji kwa watu wenye Ualbino

Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini (UN), Alvaro Rodriguez akielezea jinsi UN waevyojipanga kuwasaidia watu wenye ualbino. Kushoto ni Mtaalam Huru wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu Ulemavu wa Ngozi, Ikponwosa Ero.

Tanzania yatajwa katika nchi zinazoongoza kwa unyanyasaji kwa watu wenye Ualbino.

Pamoja na juhudi ambazo serikali imekuwa ikizifanya ili kuhakikisha Watanzania wenye ualbino wanakuwa salama na amani lakini bado Tanzania inaendelea kuwa nchi ya hatari kwa watu hao kwa kuwa katika orodha ya nchi ambazo zina kiwango kikubwa cha unyanyasaji.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari katika kilele cha kongamano la kikanda kwa ajili ya hatua kuhusu ulemavu wa ngozi Afrika lililofanyika Dar es Salaam, Mtaalam Huru wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu Ulemavu wa Ngozi, Ikponwosa Ero alisema kuwa kwa ripoti ambazo wamekuwa wakizipokea inaonyesha Tanzania ni moja ya nchi ambazo zina unyanyasaji kwa watu wenye ualbino.

"Tangu nimeingia sijawahi kufanya uchunguzi hata katika matokeo ya uchunguzi wa nchi 29 sijaujua sana lakini kwa taarifa ambazo nimekuwa nikipata kutoka kwa taasisi mbalimbali inaonyesha Tanzania ni unyanyasaji wa hali ya juu kwa watu walio na uablino," alisema Ero.

Mtaalam Huru wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu Ulemavu wa Ngozi, Ikponwosa Ero akizungumza na waandishi wa habari. Kushoto ni Shirika la Kimataifa la Under The Same Sun, Vicky Ntetema na kulia ni Mkuu wa Mawasiliano wa Shirika la Standing Voice, Sam Clarke.

Nae Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Haki za Binadamu na Utawala Bora, Bahame Nyanguga alisema katika kongamano hilo wametoka na maazimio ambayo wanaiomba serikali iweze kuyafanya ili kuwezesha watu wenye ualbino kuwa na usalama wa uhakika.

Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Taifa ya Haki za Binadamu na Utawala Bora, Bahame Nyanduga. Kushoto ni Mtaalam Huru wa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu Ulemavu wa Ngozi, Ikponwosa Ero na kulia ni Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini (UN), Alvaro Rodriguez.

"Tumejadili mambo mengi lakini tunaiomba serikali ihusike moja kwa moja kupinga unyanyasaji, ukatili na ubaguzi nia tunaiona kwahiyo tunaomba waendelee kuwa hivyo na pia waongeze bajeti na zaidi katika matibabu kwa watu wenye ualbino," alisema Nyanduga.

Kwa upande wa Shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa kupitia Mratibu Mkazi wa mashirika hayo, Alvaro Rodriguez alisema ni wataendelea kuwasaidia watu wenye ualbino ili kuwezesha kupunguza changamoto ambazo zinawakabili.

The African Union is introducing a single passport to make travel on the continent easier for Africans

BORDERLESS

WRITTEN BYLily Kuo

When heads of state from across Africa arrive in Kigali, Rwanda next month for the African Union (AU) Summit, they will be among the first Africans issued the new electronic African Union passport. The passport is meant to make travel on the continent much easier for Africans.

“The scene seems to be set to realize the dream of visa-free travel for African citizens within their own continent by 2020,” the AU said in a statement announcing the launch.

Travel in Africa is difficult for most Africans. They are required to have visas for over half of the countries on the continent. Only 13 African countries (pdf) allow other Africans to enter without a visa or give visas on arrival. In contrast, Americans can travel to 20 African countrieswithout visas or with visas on arrival.

African travelers say they feel the same suspicion at immigration counters within the continent as they do outside of it. Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian businessman and Africa’s wealthiest man, was himself onceturned away by South African immigration officials as he struggled to locate his passport. Meanwhile his American staff sailed through border control.

Intra-African trade also costs more than any other region—as much as 50% higher than East Asia, for example. A truck serving supermarkets in southern Africa needs to carry as many as 1,600 documents, including permits and licenses, in order to cross borders, according to Anabel Gonzalez, senior director of a World Bank group on trade and global competitiveness.

The goal of the African Union passport, which Dangote said he is applying for, is to help turn Africa into a “continent with seamless borders” modeled after the European Union’s Schengen Area. Giving the passports to state leaders is a “symbolic and significant” step, according to Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chair of the African Union Commission. The goal of the African Union passport is to help turn Africa into a “continent with seamless borders.” 

Officials have been pushing for increased freedom of movement ever since the Organization of African Unity, a precursor to the AU, was established in the 1960s. The idea has gained traction over the last few years, however, due to the continent’s improving economic fortunes and population growth. The AU wants to abolish visa requirements for all African citizens visiting African countries by 2018, and establish a free trade area across the continent by 2017.

Skeptics point out that creating a truly borderless Africa will likely be quite challenging. The continent hosts many refugees from conflict areas, not to mention militant groups like al-Shabaab or Boko Haram. Then there are public health crises like the Ebola outbreak, and questions posed by the nationality of those who have been deemed stateless.

The Seychelles, Rwanda, Mauritius, and most recently Ghana have all loosened travel restrictions on their fellow Africans, allowing visas on arrivals or entry without the permit. But the process remains slow. Currently, only AU heads of state and government, ministers of foreign affairs, and other AU officials can apply for the passport, which will be recognized in all 54 countries belonging to the organization.

“Countries have said that they are going back to look at the practicality of doing their immigration regulation,” says African Union Commission chair Dlamini-Zuma. “But there is a decision and it is up to all of us to hold our countries to that decision so that indeed Africans can move freely amongst other African countries.”

Senior politicians back EU membership: ‘We must reject division and isolation’

Tony Blair, Michael Heseltine and Nick Clegg among those signing joint letter calling for vote against Brexit in referendum

Michael Heseltine, Tony Blair and Nick Clegg are among signatories to the letter. Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose for the Observer; Features; Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Tony Blair and two former deputy prime ministers, Lord Heseltine and Nick Clegg, have launched a late plea to voters to reject “division, isolationism and blame” and vote on Thursday to stay in the EU.

After the tragic killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, they say the country is living in “worrying times” in which people must work together and unite, not pull each other apart.

Along with other senior politicians and figures from public life, they write that the country should seek unity, not division, remaining “a democracy where disagreements do not degenerate into incivility and where debate is not used to divide our communities”.

They add: “We have a chance as a country to reject division, isolationism and blame. To choose co-operation. For the future of our children, that is a chance we must take.”

EU referendum: reject division, isolation and blame. Choose co-operation

There is a fundamental principle to defend – a democracy where debate is not used to divide our communities

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Among other signatories to the open letter, published in the Observer on Sunday, are Doreen Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen; Caroline Lucas MP, former leader of the Green party; Sir Brendan Barber, former TUC general secretary; Shami Chakrabarti, former director of Liberty; Sir Richard Lambert, former CBI director general; and Craig Bennett, chief executive, Friends of the Earth.

In a reference to Nigel Farage and other Leave campaigners, they say that attempts to divide people into “us and them” have created the risk of a dangerously divided society. “That reached a new low last week when Nigel Farage posed in front of (and sought to make political capital from) a poster of desperate refugees, many of whom were children, stranded on the Slovenia-Croatia border,” the letter says. “But public life, whether in politics or elsewhere, should be about something else – something better.

“It should be driven by a desire to bring people together when it would be easier to tear them apart. A wish to build bridges rather than erect walls. A fundamental belief in the principle that we are stronger together than we are apart. This is the kind of Britain we all want to live in. Peaceful, tolerant, compassionate.” The cross party group says the country faces a “stark choice”, with Britain’s economy and place in the world at stake.

Yesterday France’s economy minister Emmanuel Macron said that Britain outside the EU would become “a little country on the world scale [that] would isolate itself ... at Europe’s border”. Macron told Le Monde: “Leaving the EU would mean the ‘Guernseyfication’ of the UK.”

But, the signatories write, the referendum will also publicise to the world what sort of country it has become: “There is something more fundamental at stake: the sort of country we are.”

Labour MP and Leave campaigner Gisela Stuart said a vote for Leave was not about dividing people but renewing the country’s democracy. In a statement on Facebook she writes that she too is determined to “eliminate extremism” but that this should not lead to the closing down of genuine debate.

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She writes: “We have to be scrupulous about how we treat each other. Politicians and voters must reflect on the hate-filled language that too often scars our debates and passes for discussion on social media. Short of this bile, we must take care before assuming that anger turned up to maximum volume should be the default way to hold a political discussion. It is a difficult balance to strike and we must be wary of retreating to the blandness and consensus that serve only to blur the outlines of the issues.

“For some time now voters have felt that there is little to choose between the parties. Since 1997, politicians have been tussling over the centre ground with often only nuances … to tell us apart. As someone put it to me: ‘There’s little change in the menu; they’re just arguing over who will be the cook.’ This referendum could not be more different.”

Stuart, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, adds: “For me, the underlying question is clear: are the people able to choose the governments that make their laws and to throw them out when they fail? I believe leaving the EU is the way to safeguard this precious right. At the same time, I respect those who take an opposing view.

“I will not be the only person thinking of Jo Cox on referendum day. She paid with her life, working for her constituents. Whatever the result on Thursday, we will have had the privilege of exercising a hard-fought-for right.”

MAALIM SEIF AKHITIMISHA ZIARA YAKE NCHINI MAREKANI

Na Mwandishi wetu Washington 

Makamo wa Kwanza Mstaafu wa Rais wa Zanzibar na Katibu mkuu wa Chama Cha Wananchi (CUF), maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, jana alimaliza ziara yake nchini Marekani iliyochukua muda wa wiki moja.

Makamo wa Kwanza Mstaafu wa Rais wa Zanzibar na Katibu mkuu wa Chama Cha Wananchi (CUF), maalim Seif Sharif Hamad (Picha na http://swahilivilla.blogspot.com/)

Maalim Seif alikhitimisha ziara yake hiyo kwa mkutano wa hadhara ambapo alipata nafasi ya kuongea na Watanzania waishio nchini humu. 

Katika Mkutano huo, mwanasiasa huyo gwiji nchini Tanzania alisema kuwa lengo la ziara yake ni kuuelezea ulimwengu kukhusu kile kilichotokea Zanzibar kufuatia uchaguzi wa Oktoba 25 na mwelekeo wa demokrasia nchini Tanzania kwa ujumla.

Aliielezea ziara yake hiyo nchini Marekani kuwa imezaa matrunda. “Sina budi kumshukuru Mwenyezi Mungu kuwa tumeeleweka na ziara yetu imezaa matunda” alisema Maalim Seif.

Sehemu ya hadhira wakimsikiliza kwa makini Maalim Seif

Kuhusiana na zoezi la uchaguzi wa mwaka jana Visiwani Zanzibar, Maalim Seif alisema kuwa, uchaguzi huo ulihudhuriwa na waangalizi wa Kimataifa na wa ndani kutoka pande zote za Muungano, Bara na Zanzibar, na wachunguzi wote hao walithibitisha kuwa uchaguzi ulikuwa huru na wa haki. “Waangalizi wote, wote kabisa, walikiri kuwa uchaguzi ulikuwa huru na wa haki”, alisisitiza kiongozi huyo na kuongeza kuwa “Ulikuwa uchaguzi bora kabisa kuliko chaguzi zote zilizotangulia Zanzibar”

Aliuulezea mchakato wa uchaguzi kuwa ulikwenda vizuri mpaka kufikia tarehe 27 Oktoba ambapo jumla ya Majimbo 34 ya uchaguzi yalikuwa tayari yameshatangazwa, na mengine 9 yakiwa yameshahakikiwa ikiwa bado kutangwazwa tu. Na kwa upande wa udiwani na Uwakilishi, uchaguzi ulikuwa umeshakamilika na washindi kupewa shada zao za ushindi.

“Kufika hapo vikashuhudiwa vituko vya Tume ya Uchaguzi hususan Mwenyekiti wake”, alisema Maalim Seif, na kufuatiwa na uamuzi wa Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Uchaguzi Bwana Jecha Salum Jecha kufuta uchaguzi wote kwa ujumla hapo tarehe 28 Oktoba 2015.

Katibu Mkuu huyo wa CUF na ambaye pia alikuwa mgombea urais wa Zanzibar katika uchaguzi huo, alikielezea kitendo cha Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya uchaguzi kuwa hakikuwa cha kisheria, kilichokiuka taratibu za Tume ya Uchaguzi, na kusisitiza “Kwa kitendo hicho, Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Uchaguzi aliingiza nchi katika mgogoro wa Kikatiba”.

Kufuatia mgogoro huo wa Kikatiba, Maalim Seif, mwenye uzoefu wa siasa za Zanzibar, alichukua hatua za kujaribu kutatua mgogoro huo, ambapo moja ya hatua hizo muhimu ni kuwasiliana na Rais wa Zanzibar Dkt Ali Mohammed Shein ambaye pia alikuwa akiwania kuchaguliwa kwa kipindi cha pili.

“Niliona mgogoro baada ya kufutwa kwa uchaguzi, na kwa hivyo nikachukua juhudi za kuwasiliana na kiongozi mwenzangu ili kuitoa nchi kutoka kwenye mgogoro”, alifafanua Maalim Seif, na kuendelea kuwa walikubaliana kukutana katika vikao vilivyowajumuisha viongiozi wa Serikali ya Zanzibar ya wakati huo, na wale waliopita.

Mazungumzo kati ya viongozi hao yaliendelea na kufikia jumla ya vikao 8 bila kuzaa matumda, ambapo mada kubwa iliyojadiliwa ilikuwa ni iwapo Mwenyekiti wa Tume alikuwa na haki ya kuufuta uchaguzi. “Kubwa tulilolijadili awali ilikuwa ni iwapo Mwenyekiti wa tume ana haki ya kuchukua uamuzi wa kuufuta uchaguzi”, alielezea Maalim Seif, na kuendelea kuwa “Pili ilikuwa ni kurudiwa kwa uchaguzi, jambo ambalo mimi nililipinga”

Hata hivyo, Maalim Seif alidokeza kuwa hatimaye alikubaliana na wazo la kurudiwa kwa uchaguzi lakini kwa sharti la kusimamiwa na Umoja wa Mataifa, wazo ambalo lilikataliwa. “Niliposhauri uchaguzi urudiwe chini ya usimamizi wa Umoja wa Mataifa, walikataa”, alisema Maalim Seif.

Katibu Mkuu huyo wa CUF, aliamua kujitoa kwenye mazungumzo ya kutafuta suluhu ya mgogoro wa kisiasa Zanzibar baada ya kutangazwa uchaguzi wa marudio bila kufikiwa mwafaka kwenye mazungumzo yaliyokuwa yakiendelea. “Tuliendelea na vikao mpaka walipoamuru Tume kutangaza marudio ya Uchaguzi”, alidokeza.

Chama cha CUF kiliamua kuususia uchaguzi wa Marudio wa Zanzibar uliofanyika tarehe 20 Machi 2016, uchaguzi ambao wataalamu wa mambo ya kisisasa pamoja na wachunguzi waliohudhuria waliuelezea kuwa haukuwa wa haki, hususan ikizingatiwa kiwango kidogo cha watu waliojitokeza kupiga kura ambacho hakikuzidi asilimia 12 ya watu wote wenye haki ya kupiga kura.

Maalim Seif aliyaelezea yale yaliyotokea baada ya Uchaguzi wa mwaka jana kuwa yameirudisha nyuma Zanzibar na Tanzania kidemokrasia, hususan ikizingatiwa kuwa kabla ya hapo palikuwa na serikali ya Umoja wa Kitaifa Visiwani Zanzibar, kufuatia mwafaka kati yake na Rais Mstaafu wa Zanzibar Dkt Amani Abeid Karume ya mwaka 2009.

Alitahadharisha dhidi ya kauli za Wahafidhina wanaodai kuwa Serikali haiwezi kutolewa kwa vikaratasi, na kuonya kuwa hali hiyo inatuma ujumbe mbaya kwa vijana. “Ikiwa utawanyima vijana nafasi ya kuleta mabadiliko kwa njia ya kura, unawaambia nini? Alihoji Maalim Seif na kuonya “Lazima hii isimame.”

“Haki ya Umma na sauti zao lazima zisikilizwe”, alisisitiza.

Mkutano huo wa Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad ulihudhuriwa pia na Mwenyekiti wa Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Tawi la Diaspora Bwana Kalley Pandukizi.

Maalim Seif yupo nchini Marekani kwa mwaliko wa Taasisi ya Mikakati na Tafiti za Kimataifa ambapo Jumatatu iliyopita alihutubia kwenye Taasisi hiyo. Aidha yeye na ujumbe wake wamepata nafasi ya kukutana na viongozi mbali mbali wa serikali ya Marekani.

Katika juhudi hizo za kutafuta uungaji mkono wa Kimataifa kwa madai ya demokrasia Zanzibar, na Tanzania kwa ujumla, Maalim Seif ambaye anafuatana na Mkurugenzi wa Mambo ya Nje na Uhusiano wa Kimataifa wa Chama cha CUF Bwana Ismail Jussa, pia alifika kwenye Makao Makuu ya Umoja wa Mataifa jijini New York, ambapo aliielezea ziara yake hiyo kuwa ilikuwa ya ufanisi.

Maalim Seif na ujumbe anaofuatana nao unaomjumuisha pia Mkuu wa Watumishi katika Ofisi ya Katibu Mkuu wa CUF, Bwana Issa Kheir Hussein wanatarajiwa kuondoka leo kuelekea nchini Canada.

WASANII PAYUS NA MECRAS WAWASHUKURU MASHABIKI ZAO WA KANDA YA ZIWA

Msanii Payus kutoka Jijini mwanza.

MAGAZETINI LEO JUMAPILI

Jo Cox murder suspect tells court his name is 'death to traitors, freedom for Britain'

Thomas Mair, 52, of Birstall, appears in Westminster magistrates court on multiple charges over killing of MP

Mair was charged by West Yorkshire police on Friday with the murder of the Labour MP. Photograph: SWNS TV

Thomas Mair has given his name as “death to traitors, freedom for Britain” during his appearance in court charged with the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

 

Jo Cox. Photograph: DDP USA/Rex/Shutterstock

Mair, 52, from Birstall, was formally charged at Westminster magistrates court on Saturday with the murder of Joanne Cox, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

Asked to confirm his name, Mair said: “My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain.” The judge then asked the defendant’s lawyers to confirm that his name was Thomas Mair, which they did.

Mair was not required to enter a plea and his lawyer Keith Allen said there was no indication of what plea would be given. He also told the court that legal aid had been applied for.

The deputy chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot ordered that Mair be remanded in custody until his next appearance, at the Old Bailey on Monday. He will be held at Belmarsh prison, and Arbuthnot suggested that a psychiatric report be prepared, saying: “Bearing in mind the name he has just given, he ought to be seen by a psychiatrist.

Cox was killed on Thursday lunchtime outside Birstall public library, where she had been planning to run a constituency surgery. The 41-year-old MP for Batley and Spen was declared dead at 1.48pm after being shot several times and stabbed.

Prosecutor David Cawthorne, from the counter-terrorism division of the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court that Cox had visited a primary school and care home on Thursday morning, before heading to the library with colleagues for a pre-arranged surgery with her constituents. She was stabbed and fell to the ground, where she was shot and stabbed further.

Bernard Kenny, 77, was waiting for his wife in his car outside the library, Cawthorne said. 

Kenny had recognised Cox and saw a man approach and stab her. He intervened and was stabbed in the abdomen and retreated into a nearby sandwich shop, the court heard.

No indication was given as to how Mair would plead and he was remanded in custody until a bail application hearing on Monday. The prosecution later confirmed that, because of the nature of the offence and the victim, the protocol was to hear the case in London.

FacebookTwitterPinterest A van believed to be carrying Thomas Mair arrives under police escort at Westminster magistrates court. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Vigils for Cox were held in her constituency and around the country on Friday as tributes were paid across the political spectrum.

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Her party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said the MP had been killed by a “well of hatred”, and the prime minister, David Cameron, insisted society must redouble its efforts to embrace the values of tolerance and community that Cox triumphed.

Parliament has been recalled on Monday to allow MPs to pay tribute, and the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Ukip have all said they would not contest Cox’s vacant seat of Batley and Spen at a byelection.

The EU referendum campaign was paused for a second day on Saturday, with both sides agreeing not to hold events until Sunday at the earliest.

An appeal in Cox’s name raised more than £260,000 in less than 24 hours to support charities working to counter loneliness, challenge extremism, and fund search and rescue workers in Syria. 

The US president, Barack Obama, phoned the late MP’s widower, Brendan, from Air Force One to offer his condolences. According to a White House spokesperson, Obama said: “The world is a better place because of her selfless service to others, and there can be no justification for this heinous crime, which robbed a family, a community, and a nation of a dedicated wife, mother and public servant.”

FacebookTwitterPinterest People and politicians gathered in Parliament Square stand in two minutes’ silence on Friday evening. Photograph: Natasha Quarmby/Rex/Shutterstock

Doreen Lawrence, the Labour peer whose son Stephen was killed in 1993, said there were no words that could express what it feels like to have a young person whose “life is still full of possibility, brutally snatched away from you”. Writing in the Guardian, she said the hopes and dreams of Cox’s family had been “shredded in one foul afternoon”.

Lady Lawrence warned that a message of hatred against foreigners or people with different religions had been getting louder in the UK and US, citing the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump. She criticised comments by Boris Johnson about Obama’s ancestry and said a poster unveiled by Nigel Farage on Thursday was reminiscent of Nazi propaganda.

The Vote Leave campaign has cancelled events, including a rally in Birmingham where Johnson was due to speak, while Britain Stronger In Europe said it was scrapping more than 2,000 events, including street stalls and a speech by Corbyn in Manchester. When the campaign did resume, it was unlikely to be fought at the same intensity as before, sources said.

In the light of the killing, some politicians have questioned the tone of the referendum debate. Writing in the Guardian, Gordon Brown said: “Unless we strive for a culture of respect to replace a culture which does too little to achallenge prejudice, we will be learning nothing from what happened to Jo.”

DC: DISTRICTS SHOULD SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE IN TERMS OF WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Participants doing group discussion during the second Mbarali Sub-catchment multi-stakeholders workshop held at Makambako in Njombe region. (Photo: Friday Simbaya)

WANGING’OMBE District Commissioner (DC), Asumpta Mshama said Wanging’ombe, Mbarali and Makete districts should have one voice in terms of water resources management, hence restoring the perennial flows of Great Ruaha River (GRR).

Mshama made the announcement in her closing remarks on Tuesday during the Second Mbarali Sub-catchment Multi-Stakeholders Workshop held at Makambako in Njombe region.

She said that in order to promote inclusive partnership and accountability in natural resources management, no partners or district should left behind in implementing the Sustainable Water Access Use and Management (SWAUM) in the Great Ruaha River Catchment (GRRC).

“May I give my sincere thanks to the Rufiji Basin Water Board (RBWB) and WWF Tanzania for facilitating this workshop of Working and Learning together, how we fulfill project activities over the past two years, achievements, challenges and opportunities for developing of the implementing of the Sustainable Water Access Use and Management (SWAUM) in Mbarali Sub-catchment,” DC said.

WWF Tanzania through Ruaha Water Programme (RWP) and the Office of the Rufiji Basin Water for the past two years has implemented the project in small river basin area of Mbarali. 

The aim of the project being to involve stakeholders in the acquisition, exploitation and management of shared water resources of small river basin of Mbarali, and restoring the flow of water in the Great Ruaha River. 

Through this project stakeholders participated visually operations management of water resources and implement them under the supervision of the Office of the Rufiji basin water and WWF.

“I would like to commend the Office of the Rufiji Basin Water and WWF Tanzania for the work they do in caring for the environment and water resources, using the concept of stakeholder participation. Should I use this opportunity to invite other partners to support these efforts to restore the life of the Great Ruaha River which is the lifeline of citizens and the economy of the nation at large,” DC Mshama elaborated.

On his part, Ruaha Water Program Coordinator, Mturi James said through this project (SWAUM), stakeholders were able to generate and implement the following projects: Agricultural conservation and reforestation inUdumuka and Lugodalutali villages, establishing of tree seedling garden / nursery at Ifunda, Isalavanu, Saadani and Igomaa villages, protecting of water-sources at Kibada, Mapogoro, Nyamakuyu, in Igima Ward, and the implementation of participatory village land use plans at Nyakadete, Miyombweni, Mbweleli and Makatapola villages.

James mentioned other activities implemented by stakeholders’ like construction of water trough for livestock at Mwakaganga, drilling of water-wells at Nyakadeteand Nyamakuyu villages, measuring of water levels in Mbarali and Ndembera rivers, Construction of the weather station (Mafinga) and river water measuring station (Warumba),to facilitate and provide intensive agricultural training- Pawaga and Measuring the quality and safety of water in Ihanzutwa, Nyamakuyu, Nyakadete and Mihango villages and so on.

He said that the objective of meeting was to bring together stakeholders to learn from shared experience to water and land governance in Mbarali River Sub-catchment and to the Great Ruaha River.

According to Principle Forest Assistance (PFA) Makete District, Pius Kessy the WWF gave education to a team of facilitators in the district to cooperate with the council and stakeholders have sought to do the following: create a water users association for Matamba Ward (JUWAMA) based on groups such as women, pastoralists, farmers and domestic water users , identifying available water resources that contribute its waters in the Great Ruaha River and 318 water sources have been identified in the Matamba and Kinyika wards. 

Kessy said that citizens were persuaded to establish tree nurseries which were environmentally friendly to water, where they have established nurseries in three villages Nhungu, Mahanji and Mpangala and a total of 4,118 seedlings were planted.

He said that other activities implemented include establishing of beekeeping groups in Nhungu (190 beehives), Ngoje (30 beehives) and Mpangala (30 beehives) villages.

He said the new initiative of SWAUM although it was new to them, meant to manage the river and its catchment managed to address water governance failures in the GRRC.

The biggest challenge for Makete was of geographical nature, which becomes difficult to enforce laws and regulations of the distance of 60 meters from the riverbank.

The conflict of laws from various sectors working in areas, for instance, land people were demarcating plots up the valley, environmentalists withheld build on valley at same time agriculturists promote irrigation agriculture and conservationists say it is not allowed any activities in the areas of water sources and rivers within 60 meters.

However, during the meeting of the multi-stakeholders at Makambako- participants were determined that there are stakeholders who have not participated in the workshop which includes police, anti-corruption unit, the courts, lawyers and religious leaders should be involved next time.

Stakeholders were also determined to be necessary to mark and put some beacons showing 60 meters from the banks of rivers and water sources with the poster prohibiting any unenvironmental friendly activities near the river banks and water sources.

They also concluded that environmental education should be continue to farmers, livestock keepers and all stakeholders who use water resources and rivers, hence sustainable environmental conservation.

Kenya: Children and pregnant women reported among 300 South Sudanese denied asylum at border

Randa, a 24-year-old asylum seeker from South Sudan, tries to cross the border into Kenya as she seeks refuge after fleeing insecurity in her countryElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK

It was the civil war in South Sudan that separated Randa from her family in 2013. While the 24-year-old stayed in the South Sudanese capital Juba during the fighting, her mother and six brothers and sisters sought asylum in neighbouring Kenya's second largest refugee camp, Kakuma, in 2014. Now, the young woman, who had no one left in South Sudan, decided to join her family.

With only a bag and a suitcase, she used the little money she had to pay for transport to reach the South Sudan-Kenya border, located two hours' drive from Kakuma on dusty roads. Assuming the Nadapal border – the only point of entry from South Sudan into Kenya – was open and officials would allow her free access to seek asylum, Randa arrived on Wednesday 15 June in the early hours.

After the disbanding of Kenya's Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA), there was a creation of a new entity – refugee Affairs Secretariat (RAS) – which filled the gap left by DRA. However, little did she know that the RASmay have issued an order from the Kenyan government to the immigration officers in the country's side of Nadapal.

IBTimes UK visited the border after UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) officials made the claim that Kenyan immigration was denying access to asylum seekers on the territory – which is against international law.

Speaking to IBTimes UK, one of the agency heads of sub-office in Kakuma said there were "concerns about an issue with asylum seekers reported at Nadapal". Kakuma is home to around 190,000 refugees.

According to the official, around 300 Sudanese fleeing instability, armed militias, drought and food insecurity arrive at Nadapal every week. That's 1,200 a month on average, most of them coming from Sudan's Eastern Equatorial province.

After leaving the South Sudanese checkpoint at the border, these people are registered as 'asylum seekers' by Kenyan immigration, enabling them to access a reception centre in Nadapal run by the Lutherian World Federation (LWF). There, they are treated, housed and fed until they are transported to the Kakuma camp. Many arrive at the border extenuated, hungry and traumatised, and these services may be the first they have received in a long time.

A Lutherian World Federation (LWF) social worker, who works at the Nadapal reception centre for asylum seekers, waits for people to arrive at the empty centreElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK. At least 300 asylum seekers turned back

Since 26 May, the official alleged that hundreds of asylum seekers had been denied access to the territory, and had been sent back to South Sudan, the country they were fleeing from. The official said the stream of asylum seekers arriving at Kakuma refugee camp has thinned drastically.

Totalling 73, the last group of asylum seekers was transported to Kakuma camp on 8 June after spending weeks at the reception centre. A UNHCR officer, who conducted a border monitoring and asked not to be named, said the issue "has been going on for two weeks".

In South Sudan, Augustino Atem Aner, chief of immigration, told IBTimes UK, "the issue of returning refugees is not on our side, but on the Kenyan side". The South Sudanese immigration office facilitates the issue of asylum seekers' documents for people who have no passports or documents from Juba.

However, following a "verbal order" issued by the Kenyan authorities, Atem Aner said he had been instructed by his Kenyan counterpart to tell asylum seekers to enter Kenya on a 'visitor' permit. Once they enter Kenya on this permit, they can not apply for refugee status and therefore cannot receive any support.

The 'visitor' visa costs US$50. Those who cannot pay $50 are sent back to Sudan, Atem Aner told IBTimes UK on the South Sudanese side of Nadapal border. "Those who come and can't pay are returned and have to find means to go back where they came from", he said, adding that a "formal order has never been handed over to us".

A South Sudanese border official, who has been working at Nadapal, says he has witnessed South Sudanese asylum seekers being turned back by Kenyan officialsElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK

Meanwhile, an unknown number of people – many believed o be asylum seekers – have crossed the border with a 'visitor' document. This makes them ineligible for asylum services in Kakuma camp, making them susceptible to deportation upon expiration of the 'visitor' status.

In the last week, Atem Aner said, he "regrettably" witnessed between 60 and 100 South Sudanese asylum seekers who had been denied access. "We don't know what happens to them once they are sent back," he added.

Pregnant women returned three times

Another immigration chief, Peter Deng, told IBTimes UK colleagues had decided to spend their own money on food for asylum seekers stranded at the border. In many cases, he said, they had spent their savings on transport to the border and had no means of buying food or transport back to the nearest town – around 20 minutes away. The head of immigration confirmed he had been waiting for an order from the Kenyan authorities to resume normal access and deliver asylum seekers' documents since 18 May.

The Nadapal reception centre for asylum seekers is empty as many have been denied entryElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK

Many asylum seekers are vulnerable – Atem Aner cited the example of a heavily pregnant woman "about to be due" who was turned back at the Kenyan border three times. Randa was in the same situation when IBTimes UK met her in South Sudan. After 36 hours spent alone at the border, she was tired, hungry and without money for a visa or transport. Her mother, she said, was expecting her in Kakuma camp. She didn't know how long she would stay stranded before being allowed into Kenya.

A LWF protection officer, working at Nadapal reception centre which was empty, told IBTimes UK that she was aware that unaccompanied minors had been sent back, and were taking dangerous routes to try to get through the border.

A minor, who had been separated from his family by the war and had been denied entry, was picked up by Atem Aner's team after walking 15km through the bush. "All his family is in Kakuma (located around 50km from the border), and he was trying to cross the border alone into Kenya through the bush," Atem Aner confirmed.

In other cases, South Sudanese officials said they have been forced to "attach" children to other groups of asylum seekers – they are not allowed to let minors go through without a relative or guardian. Deng added taxi drivers had been found transporting children in their boot through the border.

An unknown number of people – many believed to be asylum seekers - have crossed into Kenya with a ‘visitor’ document. This makes them ineligible for asylum services in Kakuma camp and susceptible to deportation upon expiration of ‘visitor’ statusElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK

'People need refuge, they are helpless'

A former DRA officer, now working for the newly founded RAS, told IBTimes he was aware of the fact that asylum seekers "have not been allowed to go through". In an informal meeting with LWF and South Sudan's Nadapal office, the RAS officer told participants that "as of tomorrow, we expect people to be crossing – especially those who seek asylum".

"It's a matter of urgency. We are still operational, and we were assured we'd get a letter today from the Director of Immigration, following a meeting with the District Commissioner", the RAS officer, who asked not to be named, said.

During IBTimes UK's visit at the border, a group of people – believed to be asylum seekers – who were able to pay for a 'visitor' visa, were asked to pay 2,000 South Sudan dollars, instead of the required 5,000.

"Why not the full fee?" enquired the RAS officer, who also witnessed the transaction and noted an official stamp had been put on the South Sudanese's documents. Speaking to the RAS officer, Deng added: "We hope to see some changes, these people need refuge, they are helpless."

Kenyan border officials have been denying asylum seekers entry into Kenya, according to the humanitarian agencies, the Kenyan Refugee Affairs Secretariat and South Sudanese officialsElsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK

Having heard about Randa's story, however, the RAS officer pressed the Kenyan head of immigration to allow her into Kenya and claim asylum. After the head of immigration accepted and stamped her documents, a doctor at the Kenya Immigration office saw Randa for an initial screening – the young woman said she was feeling unwell.

After around 30 minutes, she emerged, smiling, from the office with her documents – and boarded a UNHCR vehicle, which drove her to Kakuma camp where she knew her family was waiting for her. Upon arrival at the camp's reception centre, Randa underwent a thorough medical screening and processing of documents for asylum seekers, as well as received food as she waited to be reunited with her mother. Randa said she considered herself "lucky".

When asked to comment on claims that Kenyan government officials had been denying access to South Sudanese asylum seekers since the end of May, the head of immigration told IBTimes UK the confusion surrounding border access had followed the DRA disbanding. "There is no clear picture about the order. According to me, the border is open. If they want to come to seek asylum as usual, they can come." The Immigration Department has not provided reasons for not allowing South Sudanese asylum seekers to access the territory of the country.

A Kenyan security officer walks towards the Kenya and South Sudan border check point in Nadapal on 16 June Elsa Buchanan for IBTimes UK