Tag: GreatLakesNews

Guns to be given back to owners

{Firearms that were impounded during anti-poaching campaign dubbed as “operation tokomeza” would be returned after verification of their genuineness and legal ownership, the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, told the National Assembly here yesterday.}

He said that the police force was still going on with the verification exercise to identify a number of things, including genuineness; legal ownership and whether such arms were free from any involvement in crime.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question by Rashid Shangazi (Mlalo-CCM) in the impromptu session when he stressed that there was a problem over legal ownership of the firearms in the country and the increase of the people who own arms illegally.

“So we need to satisfy ourselves on the legal ownership of the weapons and whether such arms are free from being used in banditry as such incidences were on the increase. The arms will be returned to owners after verification is done,” he stressed.

In the question, the MP explained that the government launched the operation tokomeza to step up enforcement of a ban on elephant and rhinoceros poaching, which has been growing in recent years.

The legislator, however, expressed his concern that during the operation, several firearms belonging to the wananchi were seized, a situation that caused them to fail to chase wild animals that have been destroying their crops.

He, therefore, wanted to know when such arms would be returned to legal owners. The Prime minister agreed that indeed the government had launched the operation, where in due process several firearms were seized.

After suspension of the operation, the government, through the Police Force started verification and the process was still going on. He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and others to expedite the process.

In October 2013, former President Jakaya Kikwete ordered more than 2,300 security personnel from Tanzania’s People’s Defence Forces, police and special anti-poaching militias and wildlife rangers to step up enforcement of a ban on elephant and rhinoceros poaching.

But in November, the government was forced to end the campaign under heavy criticism by MPs and other people, though wildlife poaching had reached alarming dimensions in the country’s national parks.

April 29, 2016
UN rights chief condemns spate of assassinations in Burundi

{The United Nations human rights chief today condemned the increasing number of attacks against high-level officials in Burundi and called for proper investigations to be carried out.}

These attacks include the assassination of Brigadier General Athanase Kararuza and his wife on Monday, and the apparent assassination attempt against the Minister of Human Rights, Social Affairs and Gender, Martin Nivyabandi, on Sunday.

“I strongly condemn these attacks,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad, in a press release.

“They must be properly investigated and the killers must be arrested and brought before the law. Some 31 people have been killed in attacks so far in April, compared to a total of nine people in the last month. The great majority of these attacks were carried out by unidentified armed men. I fear that the increasing number of targeted assassinations will inevitably exacerbate the already extremely dangerous spiral of violence and unrest in Burundi,” he warned.

The High Commissioner also strongly encouraged all parties to seize the opportunity of the upcoming East African Community-led Burundian talks in Arusha to engage in a meaningful dialogue, with the aim of improving the human rights situation and finding a lasting solution to the ongoing political crisis.

It has been one year since the crisis in the country began; according to the UN, to date more than 400 people have been killed and almost 260,000 people have fled the country.

April 28, 2016
Uganda:Besigye defied orders, police officer tells court

{A Senior Superintendent of Police yesterday told Kasangati Magistrates Court that former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye defied police orders regarding which routes to use in order to access his party headquarters in Najjanakumbi without passing through the busy central district of Kampala.}

The officer, Mr David Ulama of the Field Force Unit, told court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Fredy Ashoka Egesa that on April 5 while he was on deployment with a platoon of 36 officers at Kalerwe roundabout in Kampala at around 9am, Dr Besigye came in his car Toyota TX UAW 616W and that he was proceeding to the city centre.

The 46-year old prosecution witness further told court that Dr Besigye had a procession and that he was standing atop the sun roof of his car with several boda boda following him before describing the atmosphere as being ‘chaotic’.

The police officer told court that he used the Bwaise roundabout along the Northern Bypass to drive towards Mulago, Kubbiri where he ordered another officer to block Besigye from proceeding to the Central Business District via Wandegeya.

The witness told court that it was dangerous to allow Dr Besigye to go through the busy city as his movement could lead to chaos in places like Kisekka, St Balikuddembe and Mini Price in the city centre .

He told court that Besigye then proceeded up to Mulago roundabout where the Wandegeya DPC ordered him to use Yusuf Lule road to Najjanankumbi where he was going but was admant.

“In response, Dr Besigye asked him (DPC) whether he knew where he was heading. His driver then parked in the middle of the road and as this was going on, his supporters were pelting stones at police,” Mr Ulama told court.

Prosecution alleges that Dr Besigye on April 5, defied orders of the Wandegeya DPC Bamuzibire when he refused to use Yusuf Lule road to the party headquarters but insisted on going via Wandegeya and the city centre.

During cross-examination that was led by Fredrick Mpanga, the police officer was asked whether it is one’s right not to obey unlawful orders and in response, he admitted that there is no law that bars anyone to move to any place in this country apart from the army barracks.

Further in the cross-examination, the witness who had earlier told court that Dr Besigye was flashing the party’s V- sign which was wrong as it was exciting the populace, however, changed his statement saying he would not arrest him for mere flashing the V-sign.

Magistrate Egesa then adjourned the hearing of the case to May 17 so that the prosecution brings more witnesses to testify against a top FDC leader.

{{Background}}

The case arose shortly after the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura ordered his men to leave Dr Besigye’s Kasangati residence after camping there for more than 40 days to restrict his movements following his defiance words after he lost the February 18 polls to incumbent President Museveni. Dr Besigye was arrested by the police on his first day out near Mulago Roundabout on grounds that he led a procession which was not cleared by the police. He was then whisked to Naggalama police station and released in the late hours of the night.

April 28, 2016
Kenya:Efforts to realise gender rule fail as MPs disagree

{Proponents of the Bill have a full week to do their lobbying.}

They had wined, dined and danced at the Hotel Intercontinental on Tuesday evening.

They had been sent messages, some stating clearly the fate that awaits Parliament if the gender principle outlined in the Constitution is not met.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga stepped in and urged their troops in the National Assembly to show up in their numbers and back the Bill sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Duale on behalf of the Executive.

There had also been an informal meeting – kamukunji – on Tuesday, that allows MPs a heart-to-heart talk away from the media.

But the proponents of the Bill to amend the Constitution to make it easy to fulfil the two-thirds gender rule could still not manage to convince 233 MPs – two thirds of the National Assembly’s membership – to vote for it.

It garnered 195 votes with 28 MPs voting Nay. At least 24 MPs refused to vote or indicate they had abstained. Alois Lentoimaga (Samburu North, TNA) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem, ODM) abstained from voting.

Speaker Justin Muturi went to great lengths to get MPs into the chambers and when their numbers could not meet the threshold to get the Bill subjected to a second vote, he invoked a rarely-used Standing Order that states when a Bill that requires a two-thirds majority is not opposed by a third of the MPs, it can be subjected to a sitting vote within five sitting days.

Mr Muturi used his powers to exclude Thursday’s morning sitting as a full day to give the Bill’s lobbyists and party Whips more time to convince MPs.

“I want to urge everyone, those that will attend or those who are not prevented from attending by any cause, including jail or hospitalization, to attend Thursday’s sitting. On that day, please vote,” said Mr Muturi.

LOBBYING

He added: “Be bold enough to express yourself. This is how we make decisions. Let us know what your vote is. If you are not, register your abstention.”

This means proponents of the Bill have a full week to do their lobbying.

To get MPs to the chambers, the House Business Committee sweetened the deal by placing the Bill sponsored by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma to protect Parliament’s processes from being interfered with by the courts before the one on the gender rule.

This was expected to draw them into the chambers but did not happen. When the numbers were called at the beginning of the voting on the Kaluma Bill, there were only 229 MPs present.

The Whips, Majority Leader Aden Duale and the women MPs then walked into the lobby, the restaurant and the members’ lounge and gathered their colleagues. The bell was rang for nearly 30 minutes, double the time stated in the Standing Orders, and they were cajoled to the chambers. The Kaluma Bill was then passed 242-5.

But when it came to voting, it could only garner 195 supporters, 38 less than the threshold.

But Mr Muturi refused to declare the Bill lost, which would have meant that it would wait six months before re-introduction and then 90 days before the First and the Second Reading, and allowed it’s proponents to rescue it.

Mr Duale described the occasion as unique. “This is historic because the Tenth Parliament could not do this under Mutula Kilonzo- may the Lord rest his soul rest in peace.”

But Suba MP and ODM chairman John Mbadi told the Bill’s proponents they are chasing the wind. “If we cannot do it this evening, we should tell Kenyans this House has failed. We should give it to Kenyans so they can go to court and we go home so they elect other members,” he said.

April 28, 2016
Transporters hail Uganda oil pipeline arrangement

{Transporters have applauded President John Magufuli for his efforts that won the Ugandan oil pipeline deal, challenging all Tanzanians to aggressively go for the business opportunities to be created.}

The Tanzania Truck Owners Association (TATOA) also paid special tribute to the negotiation team under Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo, for the job well done.

“The president has done a commendable job to win this giant project … it’s now upon us stakeholders to join hands and go for immense business opportunities that the project brings,” TATOA Chairperson, Ms Angelina Ngalula, said in Dar es Salaam.

She said the construction of the 1,400-kilometre pipeline that would transport crude oil from Hoima in Uganda to Tanga Port will create huge business opportunities, which will, however, require aggressiveness to grab them.

Ms Ngalula said all transport and port stakeholders were duty-bound to strategically and creatively work out plans to exploit maximum benefits out of the project.

“President Magufuli and his team in the government have indeed done a great thing for the development of the national economy, it’s now upon us to support this great feat,” she urged.

Through the multi-trillion project, the TATOA Chairperson said, Tanzania can easily use the opportunity to promote her ports and attract more investors and customers, thus strengthening the economy.

“This opportunity is huge. It will put our Tanga Port in the world map. It makes sense for all port stakeholders to join forces by grabbing this opportunity,” she stressed.

The transporters also commended Prof Muhongo for what they described as his patriotism during the execution of the Mtwara-Kinyerezi gas pipeline in which local companies were given priority in the project’s transport requirements.

“We have faith in Prof Muhongo, believing that under his leadership, indigenous people and local firms will get special preference in the execution of the oil pipeline project,” said Ms Ngalula.

TATOA Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Kakuyu said after winning the pipeline, it was now upon all stakeholders to ensure that construction materials for the project are shipped through the Dar es Salaam Port.

“We are duty bound to work hard in ensuring that our competitors are not taking this business … it’s our responsibility to cooperate and succeed,” said Mr Kakuyu.

Meanwhile, the truck owners have commended President Magufuli’s efforts to consolidate business relations between Tanzania and Rwanda, asking for similar initiatives for Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“President Magufuli’s tour of Rwanda has motivated more Rwandan traders to rethink using the Dar es Salaam Port. There is an increased interest among Rwandans to use the port after the president’s visit to Kigali,” noted Ms Ngalula.

April 28, 2016
President Magufuli swears-in new RASs into office

{President John Magufuli swore-in ten new Regional Administrative Secretaries (RASs), with Ethics Secretariat Commissioner Judge (rtd) Salome Kaganda urging them to adhere to integrity pledges and execute their duties effectively.}

“The violation of the pledge might result to loss of public confidence and trust of a business partner, lack of qualifications for doing business with the government and even faced with disciplinary or legal action,” she further cautioned.

On the other hand, Chief Secretary (CS) Ambassador John Kijazi congratulated the new appointees and urged them to work as a team with their colleagues and not limit themselves to their regional administration but also work closely with their districts.

“I urge you to hold first to the pledge you took today and more so to start with finding solutions to the existing problems under your respective authorities prior to any new plans you desire to achieve,” said Amb. Kijazi.

Those who were sworn in are Mr Richard Kwitega (Arusha), Mr Selestine Gesimba (Geita), Mr Armatus Msole (Kagera), Eng Aisha Amour (Kilimanjaro), Mr Zuberi Samataba (Coast), Mr Albert Msovela (Shinyanga).

Others are Dr Angeliana Lutambi (Singida), Mr Jumanne Sagini (Simiyu), Dr Thea Merdard Ntara (Tabora) and Eng Zena Said ( Tanga). President Magufuli released a line-up of RASs on Sunday which saw ten new faces.

In the appointment, two secretaries were transferred while other 13 retained their regions. Mr Charles Pallangya who was serving Geita Region in the same post was transferred to Kigoma while Dr John Ndunguru has been moved to Morogoro from Kigoma Region.

Those who retained their regions are Ms Theresia Mbando (Dar es Salaam), Ms Rehema Madenge (Dodoma), Ms Wamoja Dickolagwa (Iringa), Commissioner of Police Paul Chagonja (Katavi), Mr Ramadhani Kaswa (Lindi), Mr Benedict Ole Kuyan (Mara) and Mr Eliakim Maswi (Manyara).

Others are Ms Mariam Mtunguja (Mbeya), Mr Alfred Luanda (Mtwara), Commissioner of Police Clodwig Mtweve (Mwanza), Mr Jackson Saitabau (Njombe), Symthies Pangisa (Rukwa) and Mr Hassan Bendeyeko (Ruvuma).

April 28, 2016
Uhuru Kenyatta’s basket of goodies for Ukambani

{Title deeds will be issued in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui between May 2 and May 4.}

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday outlined a raft of development initiatives in Ukambani, a move intended to woo the opposition-leaning region to the Jubilee coalition.

The President hosted as many as 10,000 leaders and professionals from the region and listed the projects he intends to initiate or commission in the coming months.

As a sign of his commitment towards fulfilling his development pledges, President Kenyatta invited several Cabinet secretaries to address the delegation.

The CSs gave status reports of ongoing projects under their various ministries and specific timelines when they are expected to be completed.

Cabinet secretaries who were paraded before the delegation included James Macharia (Roads), Eugene Wamalwa (Water), Jacob Kaimenyi (Lands), Charles Keter (Energy) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).

Once the CSs were through, President Kenyatta promised that he would personally tour the region in early June to launch the projects.

“I will return to all the three Ukambani counties in the second week of June to launch the various road and energy projects,” he said.

He also promised to tour the region from June 19 to June 21 to inspect ongoing projects.

KONZA CITY

He also promised to bring a university charter to Machakos on May 19.

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua led the delegation which was drawn from all the three Ukambani counties of Machakos, Kitui and Makueni.

Mr Keter told the meeting that almost all schools in Mwingi North are now connected to electricity.

His ICT counterpart Mr Mucheru assured them that the construction of Konza City will commence by July including the digging of nine boreholes, power connections as well as fencing.

“24 different players already at Konza to deliver universities, assembly plants of different things and other investments,” he was quoted on State House’s official Twitter handle.

Mr Keter also announced that the Mui Basin coal programme had already started adding that the government was working on the resettlement of local communities.

He further announced that power transmission lines from Mwingi to Garissa have been installed.

Prof Kaimenyi on his part said the ministry will issue 74,564 title deeds in Machakos, 33,247 others in Makueni while 40,735 Kitui residents will get the land documents.

The title deeds will be issued in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui between May 2 and May 4.

April 27, 2016
Chinese govt extends more commitment to support Tanzania

{The government of China has commended President John Magufuli’s commitment in the development affairs for the benefit of all Tanzanians and pledged full support to development projects.}

China also commended Tanzania for conducting peaceful elections and continuing to uphold peace and harmony.

Addressing the press yesterday at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (NJIA) shortly after arriving from a working visit, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) chairman, former President Jakaya Kikwete said Chinese government leadership have extended an invitation to President John Magufuli.

During his working visit, former President Kikwete met with both government and ruling party leadership where they discussed issues of cooperation between the ruling party CCM and China’s Communist party and government.

Mr Kikwete said China has promised to support Tanzania in its development projects ranging from electricity, building the central railway line at standard gauge level, the Tazara railway line, boosting the Tanzania Investment Bank’s (TIB) capital, building investment infrastructures in areas highlighted for industrial investments.

“China is a true friend to Tanzania… we love them for that. Their development assistance does not come with condition as it is the case for others… their conditions is for the development projects to benefit all Tanzanians,” he explained adding that development projects presented to China received a nod.

On the political party front, Mr Kikwete said China’s ruling Communist Party has agreed to fund educational visits to China for about 40 CCM cadres.

“On the political party collaboration, we agreed on a number of issues, including education and China has accorded CCM an educational opportunity for its cadres to visit China and we agreed to start with 40 cadres,” he explained.

He added: “We want to invest in the cadres so that we can reap benefits… We will discuss with CCM leaders to see how we can make use of this educational opportunity.” Mr Kikwete added that China has also agreed to assist the union of six ruling political parties in Southern Africa whose chair is CCM to build a University that will provide education to the party cadres.

These political parties include; South Africa’s -African National Congress (ANC), Namibia’s South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), Angola’s – People’s Movement for the Liberation of HYPERLINK “http://www.theguardian. com/world/angola” Angola (MPLA). Mozambique’s – Frelimo, Zimbabwe’s – ZANUPF and CCM.

“The Union of the six ruling parties agreed that as the chair, Tanzania should host the University. China has agreed to assist us building the institution, what remains is for us to find the locations,” he explained.

Before going to China, Mr Kikwete was in the United States of America where he received an award for his leadership efforts in fighting Malaria and leading other African leaders to establish an alliance to fight Malaria

April 27, 2016
Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki passes on after a long illness

{Former First Lady Lucy Kibaki has passed on while undergoing treatment at Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London where she had been admitted after a long illness.}

Lucy was Saturday, April 23 transferred to the London hospital after a month-long stay at Nairobi Hospital.

Her admission to Nairobi Hospital in March this year was termed by family spokesperson Ngari Gituku as a ‘regular check-up due to her advanced age’.

The 75-year-old former First Lady has hardly been seen in public since her husband, Mwai Kibaki, left office.

During the 2010 promulgation of the new Constitution, Lucy attended the historic event that was also graced by local and foreign dignitaries.

She has since kept a low profile and was not even present when former President Kibaki handed over power to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.

Mama Lucy is known for being outspoken on family and national issues. Her close family, relatives and friends had maintained prolonged silence over her whereabouts.

April 26, 2016
Uganda:FDC to hold national demo ahead of swearing in

{Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) yesterday announced plans to hold country-wide demonstrations ahead of the May 12 presidential inauguration.}

President Museveni won a fifth-elective presidential term beating FDC’s Dr Kizza Besigye who came second in the February 18 presidential polls but FDC opposes the results and has called for an independent audit of the same.

FDC press secretary Ssemujju Nganda said at the party’s weekly press conference that the May 5 demonstration, which will involve a walk from the FDC party headquarters in Najjanakumbi to Nakivubo Blue Primary School is part of the wider “Free My Vote” campaign launched shortly after the February 18 polls.

FDC conducts weekly prayers as part of the campaign.

“As a party we have decided to hold a demonstration on May 5, 2016, a national demonstration to demand for an independent audit,” Mr Ssemujju said. In 2011, Dr Besigye’s return from Nairobi, Kenya, where he had sought treatment after sustaining injuries in an earlier protest, coincided with the presidential inauguration which hampered traffic on Entebbe Road.

While he did not give the specifics, Mr Ssemujju also hinted on more such activities in the coming days if government did not respond to their demands.

The party yesterday issued a letter signed by Harold Kaijja, the FDC Deputy Secretary General in charge of administration. By press time it was not clear if Police had received it.

However, Col (Rtd) Shaban Bantariza, the deputy executive director of the Uganda Media Centre, advised FDC to move on stating that the elections are over.

“They (FDC) will not be allowed to do anything that interferes with the swearingin, their motives for the demonstrations are wrong and the state will not allow this,” Mr Bantariza said.

On FDC’s call for an independent audit of election results, Mr Bantariza said it “has no legal basis,” adding that “apart from that, what will happen if NRM refutes these results from the independent audit, what then will happen?”

April 26, 2016