IGIHE

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  • EAC Railway Network Underway

    EAC Railway Network Underway

    {{The East African Community (EAC) is undertaking a study on the EAC Railway Sector Enhancement Project.}}

    The study, among other things, will propose rehabilitation of the existing railways, construction of new lines and possible sources of financing the projects as directed by the heads of state.

    Moreover, the study will make proposals on the modalities of cooperation in the railway sector among the partner states, involvement of the private sector and development partners.

    Presenting the 2014/2015 budget estimates, East African Cooperation minister Samuel Sitta, told the National Assembly that during the financial year 2013/2014, detailed feasibility studies for the Dar es Salaam–Isaka–Kigali and Keza–Gitega–Musongati lines were completed.

    “This railway links Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Evaluation of the bidding documents for the transaction adviser of the project has been completed but is awaiting a no objection from the African Development Bank (AfDB),’’ he said.

    Mr Sitta said as part of the EAC Railway Master Plan, the governments of Tanzania and Burundi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a railway line from Uvinza, Tanzania to Musongati Burundi (200 kilometres).

    According to him, the next step would be to conduct a feasibility study and the design of this project.

    Once completed, this railway line will facilitate the smooth movement of goods between Dar es Salaam Port and Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    {{Tanzania’s Minister for East African Co-operation, Samuel Sitta speaks at press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday on ongoing operation to repatriate peoples who live illegal in Country. With hem is permanent secretary to the ministry Grace Mapunjo.}}
    NMG

  • Report Says Tanzanians Drinking Into Early Death

    Report Says Tanzanians Drinking Into Early Death

    {{A rising number of Tanzanians are drinking themselves into an early grave, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report. }}

    The 2014 Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health suggests that thousands of young Tanzanians will die if the government does not step in.

    The harmful use of alcohol is a factor in more than 200 diseases and injury conditions, according to the report that provides country profiles for the 194 WHO member states.

    “More needs to be done to protect populations from the negative health consequences of alcohol consumption,” says Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO assistant director-general for non-communicable Diseases and Mental Health.

    “The report clearly shows that there is no room for complacency when it comes to reducing the harmful use of alcohol.”

    Men suffer the most from the negative consequences of drinking in Tanzania. Some 67.4% of men and 65.1% of women in every 100,000 alcohol users aged 15 and older are prone to death caused by liver cancer as a direct consequence of heavy drinking.

    According to 2012 figures, road traffic accidents attributed to alcohol claim the lives of 19% of males and 6.8% of females in every 100,000 people aged 15+ in the country.

    The average number of years of potential life lost (YPLL) by alcohol consumers here, the report notes, is three but climbs to as high as five among some drinkers.

    YPLL is an estimate of the average years a person would have lived if he or she had not died prematurely.

    Globally, a total of 3.3 million people died in 2012 due to harmful use of alcohol. Alcohol consumption, the report notes, raises the risk of developing some cancers. In addition, harmful drinking can lead to violence and injuries.

    The report also finds that harmful use of alcohol makes people more susceptible to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia. In Africa, excessive drinking has also been known to fuel HIV infections.

    A higher percentage of deaths worldwide among men than women are from alcohol-related causes–7.6% of men’s deaths and 4% of women’s deaths–the report points out.

    However, there is evidence that women may be more vulnerable to some alcohol-related health conditions.

    In addition, there is concern about the steady rise in alcohol use among women.

    “We found that worldwide about 16% of drinkers engage in heavy episodic drinking–often referred to as binge-drinking–which is the most harmful to health,” says Dr Shekhar Saxena, director for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO.

    “Lower-income groups are more affected by the social and health consequences of alcohol. They often lack quality healthcare and are less protected by functional family or community networks.”

    A whopping 34% of Tanzanians who drink indulge in binge drinking, according to the report.

    More shockingly, 40.6% of Tanzanian men engage in heavy episodic drinking among those who could drink at least 60 grammes or more of pure alcohol on at least one occasion in 30 days.

    The harmful use of alcohol impacts on people and societies in many ways and it is determined by the volume consumed, the pattern of drinking and the quality of alcohol.

    Drinking alcohol is also associated with the risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, including alcohol dependence, major non-communicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, some cancers and cardiovascular diseases, injuries resulting from violence and road crashes.

    The latest causal relationships are those between alcohol consumption and incidence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis as well as the cause of HIV/AIDS.

    Expectant mothers who drink may trigger foetal alcohol syndrome and pre-term birth complications.

    A significant proportion of the disease burden that can be attributed to harmful drinking arises from injuries, including those due to road traffic crashes, violence and suicide.

    Fatal injuries attributable to alcohol consumption tend to occur in relatively younger age groups.

    NMG

  • Kenya Govt Gives Workers Free Holidays to Revive Tourism

    Kenya Govt Gives Workers Free Holidays to Revive Tourism

    {{Kenyans working in the private sector will from next month enjoy paid-up holidays anywhere in the country, as the government seeks to revive the tourism industry reeling from insecurity. }}

    In a statement released from State House, Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that from June 12, companies would be allowed to pay for their employees going on their annual leave and deduct such expenditure in their taxes.

    “Through this measure, we shall directly give at least 25,000 Kenyans a chance to go for a week’s holiday every month at the expense of their employers, bringing over 300,000 additional Kenyan guests in our hotels throughout the country,” Mr Kenyatta said.

    This is part of a new raft of policy measures taken by the government to revamp tourism, which is on its knees following the issuance of travel advisories by major source markets due to high insecurity.

    The steps were agreed upon during a crisis meeting held at State House, Nairobi, between the President and stakeholders to look into new ways of reviving a sector that is a key pillar to the economy.

    The initiative is meant to reduce the impact of the travel advisories, while in the long run boosting local tourism.

    Last week, British tour companies evacuated more than 300 visitors from Kenya following a warning by the UK Government of impending terrorist attacks.

    The government has also agreed to exempt all air-ticketing services by travel agents from Value Added Tax (VAT) to boost the country’s competitiveness as a preferred tourist destination in the region. The exemption takes effect from May 29.

    And the Kenya Revenue Authority was instructed to clear all outstanding income tax-related refunds owed to the tourism industry, also by May 29.

    “We expect this measure to improve sector liquidity and cash-flow,” Mr Kenyatta said.

    The President also directed that all budgetary resources earmarked for foreign visits at the National Government level be reallocated to domestic travel to further boost tourism sector recovery.

    “Similarly, we urge Parliament and the Judiciary to do the same. We also urge the county governments to do the same,” said Mr Kenyatta.

    The proposed changes will be factored into the Budget for the 2014/15 financial year set to be tabled in Parliament next month.

    A decision was also reached to lift the ban restricting the public service from holding conferences and meetings in private hotels.

    The industry has also agreed to give Kenyans better vacation packages than those offered to international visitors. Under the preferential treatment, Kenyans will pay about Sh5,200 daily per person on full-board.

    Nation

  • Malawi President Orders Forced Leave of State TV Director

    Malawi President Orders Forced Leave of State TV Director

    {{Malawi President Joyce Banda has suspended the country state television, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television (MBCtv) Director General, Mr Benson Tembo, on the allegation that he had defied orders from the authorities.}}

    A letter to Mr Tembo, signed by MBCtv board Chairman Evan Namanja said the TV boss was to proceed on forced leave for failure to take instructions.

    President Banda had instructed MBC to stop airing the partial results of the election.

    However, MBCtv–the officially appointed station by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)–continued airing the results.

    A letter that was issued on May 23, to Mr Tembo reads: “I am directed by government that you should proceed on leave with immediate effect until further notice for failure to take lawful instructions from authorities.”

    Mr Tembo said he was aware of the development.

    Tabulations of votes was going on following the elections that took place on May 20, and according to unofficial reports that MEC-accredited media houses have been airing, President Banda was trailing.

    The results indicated a neck and neck between Dr Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Mr Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party.

    The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter condemned the government for the suspension, saying it was unfortunate that President Banda issued the directive.

    “Mr Tembo was only doing a service to the nation, there is nothing wrong in what he did,” it said.

    Mr Tembo is a career broadcaster who worked with MBC for years before his redeployment to Kenya as a High Commissioner in 2004.

    He was later sent to represent the country in Zimbabwe before being assigned again as the Director General of MBC soon after the demise of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

  • New Conference Focuses on Development in East Africa

    New Conference Focuses on Development in East Africa

    {{A new conference focused on innovation and development in the aid sector, AidEx Africa, is set to take place in Nairobi on 5 and 6 June 2014

    The event will be held in partnership with Kenya Red Cross and is a satellite event of AidEx in Brussels, which has been held annually since 2011. {click for details www.aid-expo.com/africa}

    Taking place at The Boma Hotel in Nairobi, AidEx Africa is aimed at anyone interested in the continuing development in the East African region.

    High profile expert speakers at the event will include: Dr Abbas Gullet, secretary general of Kenya Red Cross Society; Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom; Aldo Biondi, head of the regional support office at the European Commission; Raouf Mazou, UNHCR representative, Kenya and ambassador Dennis Awori, chairman of Toyota Kenya Limited.
    }}

  • Iran Tycoon Executed Over $2.6bn Fraud

    Iran Tycoon Executed Over $2.6bn Fraud

    {{Iranian state television says a billionaire businessman at the heart of a $2.6bn state bank scam, the largest fraud case since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, has been executed.}}

    The TV report Saturday said authorities put Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, also known as Amir Mansour Aria, to death at Evin prison, just north of the capital, Tehran.

    The report said the execution came after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld his death sentence.

    Three others also face death sentences in the case, which involved using forged documents to get credit at one of Iran’s top banks to purchase assets including major state-owned companies.

    The trial raised questions about corruption at senior levels in Iran’s tightly controlled economy during the administration of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    – AP

  • RENAMO Rebel Leader to Run for President

    RENAMO Rebel Leader to Run for President

    {{Mozambique’s Renamo opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama said on Friday he intended to run as a candidate in an October 15 presidential election, but he demanded safety guarantees from the government to be able to leave his bush hideout.}}

    Dhlakama, who led the former Renamo rebel movement in Mozambique’s 1975-1992 civil war and has been repeatedly defeated by the ruling Frelimo party in subsequent elections, has lived in the central Mozambican bush for more than a year to escape what he says is government persecution.

    “I am interested in coming out of the bush to start my party work for the presidential election,” Dhlakama told reporters in a conference call made from his base in central Sofala province, well north of the capital of Maputo.

    But he demanded guarantees from the government of President Armando Guebuza that his safety would be respected, and an agreement for military members of his Renamo party to be integrated into the national army and police.

    Since April last year, Renamo partisans have carried out sporadic raids on police and military posts in parts of central and southern Mozambique.

    They have also ambushed vehicles on the N1 highway, killing several dozen people, disrupting traffic and causing cancellations in the tourism industry.

    Earlier this month, Dhlakama registered to vote in the October elections, which allows him to run as a candidate.

    Renamo spokesman Antonio Muchanga told reporters the party’s National Council backed Dhlakama as its presidential contender.

  • Jacob Zuma to Be Inaugurated in South Africa

    Jacob Zuma to Be Inaugurated in South Africa

    South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma will be sworn into office on Saturday for a second term, following his party’s victory at the polls.

    The African National Congress (ANC) won a commanding victory in the country’s general election on 7 May.

    More than 4,000 guests are expected at the ceremony in Pretoria, including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

    Neither the US or UK are sending a representative but officials from Russia, China and India are attending.

    President Zuma was officially elected for a second five-year term on Wednesday by the ANC-dominated parliament.

    The expected formality of the re-election was disturbed only by MPs from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who turned up at parliament in red overalls and hardhats.

    The EFF, led by former ANC member Julius Malema, said they dressed as maids and miners to show they intend to represent the interest of workers.

    wirestory

  • Mali Tuareg Accept Ceasefire Agreement

    Mali Tuareg Accept Ceasefire Agreement

    {Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz (left) earlier urged the Malian authorities to enter into dialogue with the rebels}

    {{Tuareg separatist groups in Mali on Friday accepted a ceasefire agreement with the government following clashes this week that threatened to plunged the country back into war.}}

    The agreement was reached following a meeting between the chairman of the African Union and separatist groups in northern Mali to discuss a permanent truce and the resumption of talks between the rebels and the government in Bamako.

    Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz and United Nations special representative in Mali Albert Koenders held talks for more than four hours with the three main rebel groups and local Tuareg traditional leaders in an effort to also revive peace negotiations between the two sides.

    In 2012 a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali triggered a military coup in the capital, Bamako and an Islamist takeover of the north.

    Civilian rule was re-established in 2013, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas.

    Mr Abdelaziz, the president of Mauritania, flew to Kidal on Friday to meet rebel groups including the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).

    A rebel spokesman confirmed the ceasefire to the BBC. He said the rebels would remain in their positions.

    The ceasefire agreement includes a pledge to revive talks and the release of 300 Tuareg prisoners held in the capital, our correspondent says.

    Violence broke out in Kidal on Saturday when Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara visited the town to show support for government forces based there.

    The rebels seized government buildings, killed at least eight civilians and took around 30 hostages, who were later released.

    The separatists said they defeated government forces the town on Wednesday.

  • Pope Francis Starts Middle East Visit

    Pope Francis Starts Middle East Visit

    {{The Pope is due to arrive in Jordan at the start of a three-day visit to the Middle East which will also take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories.}}

    Pope Francis will first travel to Amman, where he will celebrate Mass in a stadium, and later meet Syrian refugees.

    The official purpose of the visit is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church.

    But correspondents say many will expect Pope Francis to use his influence to try to ease tensions in the region.

    {{Restraining orders}}

    The Pope will be accompanied by a rabbi and an imam – friends from his native Argentina – and hopes to improve relations between Christians, Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land.

    His journey comes only a few weeks after the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed.

    Israel has issued restraining orders against several Jewish right-wing activists this week over concerns that they could try to disrupt the visit.

    Police said offensive “anti-Christian graffiti” was discovered on the wall of a church in the southern city of Beersheba on Friday.

    The Pope’s journey marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul VI and the head of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Athenagoras.

    The meeting ended 900 years of separation and enduring antagonism between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity.

    On Sunday, Pope Francis will travel to Bethlehem in the West Bank and preside over Mass in Manger Square, near the site where Jesus is believed to have been born.

    He will also meet the current Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch, Bartholomew, and they will sign a declaration of friendship.

    His schedule on Monday is set to include a visit to the al-Aqsa mosque complex in Jerusalem’s Old City followed by the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall.

    Pope Francis will be the fourth leader of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Jerusalem, after Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, who went there in 2009.

    BBC