From Dar to Goma: How I met, and had lunch with rebels

It was seven days before Christmas eve, the period in which Christians all over the world are busy with shopping and planning for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but to me it was a scary and memorable day -- the day I chatted and lunched with M23 rebels’ top commander, General Sultan Emanuel Makenga, a 39-year-old soldier, who has fought three different wars in three different countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, but still willing to fight till his last blood.

It was frightening because as a journalist, I was risking my life to enter the war zone at my own peril. Courage and risk taking are some of the characteristics of a good journalist, but sometime, the fact that you are still a human being overrules them, allowing fear to conquer your mind and heart as you ponder the task ahead of you.

It was memorable because this was a rare opportunity for me as a journalist, and I needed to be fully prepared to get the story as soon as possible and get out quickly, or end up being a tourist in a foreign a country or a war victim. Earlier before leaving Kigali where I had been invited to attend the 25th anniversary of the ruling party, Rwandese Patriotic Front, I thought about my security and analysed any threats that I could face there, before deciding to travel to Goma.

I skipped the 25th RPF Anniversary because from my editorial judgment, the big story is not when a dog bites a man, but when a man bites the dog. Therefore to me securing interview with the M23 Commander was bigger than attending the celebration of the ruling party in Rwanda.

I made this assignment a top secret for security reasons, though at the last minute, I informed my news editor, Rodgers Luhwago, through the email so that if I don’t make it or if I faced any problems, he should be able to know what was really taking place and where necessary set the record straight . In investigative journalism, security protocols both for the assignment and for those involved in it matter a lot.

During my stay here, I also established that unlike many rebel factions the survival of M23 rebels was built on disciplined soldiers, trainings in Gorilla’ tactics and above all strong support from the indigenous in the Eastern part of Congo and geographical features of Goma. General Makenga is hailed by his soldiers as a brave fighter who leads the battle from the front line. To his soldiers he is their inspiration, and their role model.

This is why it may be tough for any African forces to win the war as they did in Somalia. Fighting rebels who have no permanent homes, but are strongly backed by the people you claim to protect has failed in Afghanistan.

“Our life has been in the bush, we know the area because we were born and raised here…AU forces may have succeeded in Somalia, but remember Kivu province alone is bigger than Somalia. If they engage us, we shall respond with full force because this is our home.” John tells me as he parks the car at the Rwandan border, the same place he picked me in the morning.

The Last day of analog uses

Dar es Salaam residents queue to purchase decoders at Mikocheni Startimes offices along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road yesterday, to meet the deadline announced by Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for official switching to digital broadcasting at the stroke of midnight on December 31

Happy birthday Tanzania, but..

Today is the 51st birthday of the United Republic of Tanzania. On December 9, 1961, a child called Tanganyika was born, before this child was baptized in 1964 and adopted the new name of Tanzania -- a result of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar islands.

This child has grown amid political, economic and social storms. At 51 year old, Tanzania has weathered many challenges. From building a nation from zero to a point where we almost ruined it due to mismanagement of the economy, Tanzania has certainly seen its days.

 As a young nation, having just recovered from the shackles of colonialism, Tanzania launched a war against poverty, diseases, illiteracy and hunger. On top of that the young Tanzania was forced to go to war with its neighbour to defend its borders as well as the security of our people. Not only that, the young Tanzania was also forced to fight the liberation war in Southern Africa---a war it fought bravely, but at great cost.

Back home, our four major enemies, namely, poverty, diseases, illiteracy and hunger continued to ravage our country. At the same time, another man-made enemy called corruption invaded our country, causing pain to millions but embarrassing wealth and other gains to a small group of greedy leaders and their allies.

As Tanzania celebrate its 51st birthday, it’s good to know that the very same major enemies it fought five decades ago are still alive and kicking -- with new vigour. The truth is that these enemies have also grown stronger than they once were fifty years ago -- reminding Tanzania that the war is still far from won.
That’s why the majority of Tanzanians are saying a skeptical “Happy Birthday Tanzania.”

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

Zanzibar Heroes

Zanzibar Heroes came from behind to beat their counterparts Kilimanjaro Stars on 6-5 penalty shootouts to finish third in the Senior Challenge Cup which ended in Kampala yesterday.

The Isles side won 10,000 dollars (about Sh15m).
The game had ended in 1-1 draw in the normal 90 minutes before the third place playoff was taken into penalty shootouts at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole.

The Mainland side scored first in the 19th minute through Mwinyi Kazimoto before Abdallah Othman Ali leveled for his side in the 85th minute.

This is the second time Zanzibar is overshadowing their compatriots in the Cecafa championship third place playoff.
In 2009, under Brazilian coach Marcio Maximo, they defeated Kilimanjaro Stars 1-0 in the third place playoff at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

Taifa Queens win inter-continental title

The national netball team, Taifa Queens, have won the IFNA Inter-Continental netball title after defeating Malaysia 45-38 in the final match played in Singapore yesterday.

The Tanzania Netball Association (Chaneta) chairperson, Anna Bayi, said yesterday that her team finished the intercontinental tourney with an unbeaten record.

Bayi said that her team led 25-16 until the breather, noting that the team will return home tomorrow with trophy and individual medals.
The Singapore championship attracted national teams from scores of netball-playing nations across the world.

Tanzania’s inclusion in the Singapore event follows Taifa Queens’ impressive show at the Africa championship recently, where they finished runners-up in the championship held at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam behind Malawi Queens.

They also won a silver medal at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY

Swimmers leave for world event

Three local swimmers will leave the country today for Turkey to compete at the World Championship that gets underway from Wednesday to Sunday at Sinam Erdem Arena, Istanbul. The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) secretary general, Noel Kiunsi, said yesterday the country will.

CCM candidate drops appeal on petition

The 2010 CCM parliamentary candidate for Ubungo, Hawa Ng’humbi has dropped the case filed with the Court of Appeal against the petition judgment in favor of Ubungo MP John Mnyika.

The petitioner and the MP yesterday agreed to settle the wrangle out of court, thus instructing their lawyers to seek termination of adjudication of the pending appeal at the highest court of the land without costs.

Ng'humbi had earlier appealed against the High Court ruling delivered on May 24 in which High Court Judge Upendo Msuya ruled in favour of the lawmaker.

A panel of three justices at the Court of Appeal formally dropped the case after due notification by lawyers of the two parties, in a ruling read out by Appeal Justice Nathalia Kimaro on behalf of the panelists, Appeal Justices Salum Massati and Catherine Oriyo.

The development confirms Mnyika as MP for Ubungo until he finishes his term mid-2015, a turn of events coming after principal state attorney Obadia Kameya had informed the parties that the hearing of the appeal would have begun yesterday.

However Ng’humbi’s advocate Issa Maige informed the court that the appellant and the MP as second defendant had agreed an out of court settlement to remove the case without costs.

Under section 102 (3) and (4), of Rules of the Court of Appeal, the appellant had asked the court to remove the appeal in the court at no cost, the advocated noted.

Fastjet shakes Dar`s aviation sector

The entry of a low cost airline into Tanzania’s skies is causing panic and uncertainty among local airlines with Precisionair and Air Tanzania facing a tough business future, The Guardian on Sunday can reveal today.

The low cost airline backed by Easy Jet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou hit Tanzania’s skies two weeks ago, bringing low-cost flights to thousands of people in the country.

Dubbed Fastjet, the no-frills carrier is expected to dent the profit margin of the country’s only big private airline, Precisionair as well as the struggling Air Tanzania, which resumed its services two months ago.

The move comes after Haji-Ioannou's EasyGroup teamed up earlier this month with pan-African conglomerate Lonrho to create the low-cost carrier. Lonhro, owner of budget airline Fly540, has agreed to sell its aviation business to investment firm Rubicon Diversified Investments, in which EasyGroup will hold a 5 percent stake.

Apart from Tanzania, the new airline would also start operations using the Lonrho existing network in Ghana, Kenya and Angola, before expanding to more markets in the future.

According to a survey conducted by The Guardian on Sunday, Precisionair has been affected by the new low cost airline, which charges $20(Sh32,000) excluding taxes and other airport charges.

Though Precisionair this week said it wasn’t threatened by the new low cost airline, the reality on the ground shows the opposite because the airline has been forced to review its fares immediately to cope with the growing competition

Museveni lectures SADC on DR Congo

Uganda president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday made a spirited plea to his colleagues in the southern African Development Community (SADC) to go back to the ‘basics’ in resolving a running political stalemate in the DR Congo

Zanzibaris call for ban on 1permanent1 presidency

If politicians running for Zanzibar president fail once, they have a second chance – after which they’re out. That’s the choice facing all candidates in Zanzibar seeking mandate to lead the people at the top.

At least that is what is going to happen if the people’s voices carry the day before the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) on a call of duty in the Isles right now.

Participants at yesterday’s session at the Ziwani police grounds within Mjini Magharibi region made an impassioned peal before the CRC to put a cap on the number of attempts candidates could make at assuming the isles presidency – and most agreed at most twice was good enough.

Soud Salum Soud, told the CRC meeting a chaired by Commissioner Prof Mwesiga Baregu that such a limit would eliminate unnecessary tension in the prevailing democratic politics in Zanzibar.

If an aspirant twice – and twice fails -- to win the presidency, it is a sign that he or she lacks public appeal for the position and allowing them to stand yet again would increase the likelihood of unwanted political stress and ultimately undermine the democratic process.

“A presidential candidate should not be allowed to contest more than twice. Such a stand will strengthen democratic principles and help do away with boycotting presidential election results,” Soud said. He said since this is a law applied in regard to the Union presidency, the same should prevail in Zanzibar as well – and should therefore be incorporated in the Isles Constitution.

There cannot be real democracy in a situation where some political parties have ‘permanent’ candidates whom they field every election time, and always boycott election results after realizing their defeat. In another development, the Union Minister for Health, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi cited five key public issues that should be removed from the list of Union affairs to get rid of uncalled for clashes among the Isles people.

Among others, he cited the following: access to loans, research and foreign trade, improved ports, industries and a reliable database on natural resources such as oil and gas.

“I don’t see any problem if these key issues were removed from the list to Union matters … the decision would resolve any potential conflicts over the exploitation of these resources,” Dr Mwinyi said

GUARDIAN

Heathrow flight death man 'possibly Angolan'

Police officers, the UK's Angolan community and residents of a west London street where a stowaway fell to his death from a plane are hoping a computerised image of the man's face and a photo of his tattoo will lead to his identification.

Shortly before midnight on Saturday, 8 September, an unknown man thought to be in his 20s prepared for a terrifying journey.
Under cover of darkness, and dressed in a thin grey hooded top, jeans and a pair of white trainers, he clambered into a tiny space inside the wheel housing of a passenger jet bound for London.
As protection against the extremes of temperature and pressure which were to come, he had taken just one precaution - he had stuffed bits of crumpled white tissue paper into his ears.
Eight hours later, as the aircraft's undercarriage was lowered over Mortlake, in south-west London on its approach to Heathrow Airport, the man plummeted to earth through a clear blue Sunday morning sky.
"It was 7.42. A massive, massive bang woke us up," says Lizzie Calfe.
The man was found dead with horrific injuries directly opposite her house in Portman Avenue. Three months on, like many of her neighbours, she still wants to discover the man's story - who he was, and what made him attempt such a desperate journey.

Living in fear: Tanzania's albinos

Twenty-five people with albinism have been murdered in Tanzania since March, a BBC investigation has found. Albinos are targeted for body parts that are used in witchcraft, and killings continue despite government efforts to stamp out the grisly practice, the BBC's Karen Allen says.

Winifrida Rutahiro (2nd left) says she is now scared even to leave her house

Once, albinos used to seek shelter from the sun. Now they have gone into hiding simply to survive, after a series of killings linked to witchcraft. In Tanzania, 25 albinos have been killed in the past year. The latest victim was a seven-month-old baby. He was mutilated on the orders of a witchdoctor peddling the belief that potions made from an albino's legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich. Sorcery and the occult maintain a strong foothold in this part of the world, especially in the remote rural areas around the fishing and mining regions of Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria. Nobody seems to know why the killings are happening now, but Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is now putting pressure on the police to identify where albinos live and offer them protection. This is not an easy task when BBC investigations suggest that some police are being "bought off" in order to look away when such appalling crimes are committed
BBC-NEWS

We want graduate MPs, say members of public

Tanzanians want the new constitution to demonstrate that members of parliament have a first degree as minimum qualification to join the House, saying this will allow them to effectively carry out their duties.

Commenting on the requirement, one Godfrey Karokora noted that some MPs do not have enough education to execute the tasks they are charged with.

“…we want legislators who are graduates…”he summed up his opinion.

He also suggested that MPs should not be paid salaries by the government since they are not civil servants but rather public representatives. According to him, giving salaries to them is akin to embezzlement of public funds.

Karokora said the government should stop providing subsidies to political parties but to instead direct them to find alternative revenue sources.

“We advise the government to remove special seats in parliament because they contribute to increasing the burden on taxpayers…” he suggested adding that the number of MPs should also reduced to one MP for each region.

A resident of Tabata in Ilala district, Dar es Salaam, Francis Kakoti was of the opinion that MPs should not be appointed to ministerial posts since it affects their performance in their constituencies.

Another contributor, Gordon Kiaro urged the government form an independent electoral commission to ensure fair elections. He said the commission members should come from different organisations and be placed under the Chief Judge.

The CRC started collecting opinions in Dar-es-Salaam on November 19, this year and continues to do so.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Tanzania's education drive

Tanzania's programme to provide free primary schooling for all has been hailed a success, but there are concerns over the quality of education many children receive.
Peter Greste reports

Morphine: The cheap, effective pain-relief drug denied to millions

It's cheap, effective and easy to administer - so why are millions of people around the world dying in pain, without access to morphine?

In an open ward at Mulago Hospital in Uganda's capital city, Kampala, an elderly woman named Joyce lies in the fifth bed on the left.
She has twisted the sheets around herself, her face contorted by pain. Joyce's husband, thin and birdlike, hovers over her.
Joyce has cancer - it has spread throughout her body - and until a few days ago, she was on morphine. Then it ran out.
"She's consistently had pain," says a nurse. "And she describes the pain to be deep - kind of into her bones."
The Ugandan government makes and distributes its own morphine for use in hospitals, but poor management means the supply is erratic.
"We're in a very difficult situation," says Lesley Henson, a British pain specialist on duty at Mulago Hospital. They have patients whose pain has been kept under control with morphine - but they are running out of it
BBC-NEWS

African viewpoint: Less is more

In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Elizabeth Ohene in Accra, Ghana, complains that people are too verbose when seeking a job.

It is a tricky thing, this business of CVs, or curriculum vitae or resumes as the Americans call them.
What are you really supposed to say about yourself that tells the truth and manages to present you in the best possible light?
The original meaning of CVs was restricted to the short written description of a university teacher's career which they send out when looking for a new job.
The meaning of the term has now stretched to cover the rest of us, that is, a short written document that lists your education and previous jobs which you send to employers when you are looking for a job
BBC-NEWS

Viewpoint: How tribalism stunts African democracy

Africa's democratic transition is back in the spotlight. The concern is no longer the stranglehold of autocrats, but the hijacking of the democratic process by tribal politics.

Kenya's 2007-08 post-election violence revealed the extent to which tribal forces could quickly bring a country to the brink of civil war.
The challenge to democracy in Africa is not the prevalence of ethnic diversity, but the use of identity politics to promote narrow tribal interests. It is tribalism.
There are those who argue that tribalism is a result of arbitrary post-colonial boundaries that force different communities to live within artificial borders.
This argument suggests that every ethnic community should have its own territory, which reinforces ethnic competition
BBC-NEWS

Ghana election: John Mahama faces Nana Akufo-Addo

Voting is drawing to a close in parliamentary and presidential elections in Ghana, which is seen as a model for democracy in Africa.

Polls closed at 17:00 GMT, but those still waiting would be allowed to vote after enduring long queues.
Counting has begun in those areas where voting has finished.
A tight race is expected between President John Mahama and Nana Akufo-Addo in the new oil producer - one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Mr Mahama took over as president after John Atta Mills died in July.
BBC-NEWS

Turkish Airline launches maiden flight to KIA

Turkish Airlines on Wednesday launched its maiden flight to Kilimanjaro from Istanbul via Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, bringing too much hope to Tanzania's booming tourist industry and horticultural sector.

The 200th Turkish flag carrier touched the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) in the morning and welcomed by Tanzanian high-ranking officials and business community.

Speaking soon after the launch, President and CEO of Turkish Airlines TemelKotil said Tanzania is one of the countries in Africa whose economies are growing steadily, boasting potential for the airline industry.

This is the second route for the Istanbul-based company to operate in the East African country, whose economy largely depends on agricultural, mining and tourism.
In June last year, the company opened the Dar es Salaam- Istanbul direct flight.

"We have been dreaming to fly to Tanzania and particularly Kilimanjaro…our dreams is about Africa and we have started fulfilling the dream," Kotil said, adding that his company is set to launch seven new routes in African countries next year.
"Our task right now is to see how we can link Africa with the outside world through our airlines," he said.

Egypt opposition rejects President Morsi's call for talks

The BBC's Jon Leyne says opposition leaders saw the president's speech as "positively inflammatory"

Egyptian opposition leaders have rejected calls by President Mohammed Morsi to enter a national dialogue.

Mr Morsi, under fire for issuing a decree that gives him sweeping new powers, had invited all major political factions to a meeting on Saturday.
But the opposition said the president had offered little in terms of concessions, criticising his refusal to delay a constitutional referendum.
The announcement comes as Egypt is braced for another day of protests.
Opposition demonstrators gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square, with some heading towards the presidential palace.
Meanwhile thousands of supporters of President Morsi marched during the funerals of two men killed in clashes on Wednesday

Mathias Rust: German teenager who flew to Red Square

In 1987 a West German teenager shocked the world, by flying through Soviet air defences to land a Cessna aeroplane in Red Square. He was jailed for more than a year - but a quarter of a century later, he has no regrets.

Exactly 25 years ago, the USSR Foreign Ministry announced that it had rejected an appeal by a German teenager against his prison sentence.
Mathias Rust, just 19, had single-handedly flown more than 500 miles (750km) through every Soviet defensive shield in a single-engine plane to land at the gates of the Kremlin.
The idea had come to him a year earlier while he was watching TV at his parents' home where he lived in Hamburg, West Germany.
A summit between the US and Russian presidents in Reykjavik had ended in a stalemate, and the teenager who had a passion for politics felt he wanted to do something to make a difference.

Rust was sentenced to four years in a labour camp

"I thought every human on this planet is responsible for some progress and I was looking for an opportunity to take my share in it," he says.
Rust already had a pilot's licence and had clocked up 50 hours in the air when it occurred to him to put his skill to use.
"I was thinking I could use the aircraft to build an imaginary bridge between West and East to show that a lot of people in Europe wanted to improve relations between our worlds."
Many idealistic teenagers may have had similar fantasies of bringing about

Palestinian Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal visits Gaza

The political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has called his first visit to the Gaza Strip his "third birth".

He said his previous two "births" were the day he survived an assassination attempt by Israeli agents in Jordan in 1997, and his actual birth in 1956.
Mr Meshaal had not set foot in the Palestinian territories for decades.
His visit follows a ceasefire that ended days of violence between Israel and Hamas. The Islamist militant group has governed Gaza since 2007.
Mr Meshaal entered Gaza from Egypt at the Rafah border crossing, kissing the ground in celebration. Officials there said his wife had arrived late on Thursday.
In a statement to the media, he said: "I consider this moment my third birth, and I pray to God that my fourth birth will be the moment when all of Palestine is liberated."
"Gaza is always in my heart," he said

Lulu back in custody as case is adjourned

The Kisutu Resident Magistrate court in Dar es Salaam yesterday adjourned the case facing actress Elizabeth Michael, popularly known as Lulu, who is charged with alleged murder over the death of a domestic film star, Steven Kanumba, until December 17, this year. Prosecution led.

Human rights week marked with free legal aid in Dar

Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Deputy Minister Angela Kairuki has again urged the public to exercise their human right to self expression and freedom of speech by participating in the ongoing constitutional review.

Kairuki made the remarks on Wednesday in Dar es Salaam during the opening of celebrations to mark the Human rights value week organised by the Tanzania Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance held at the Mnazi Mmoja grounds.

“I call upon the public to use this opportunity to give their views and opinion and in so doing bring about changes in the country’s constitution and governance…” said Kairuki.

She emphasised that this week in particular should be utilized given that there is free legal aid offered as part of the celebrations. Public can access these services by visiting the Human rights and values exhibitions availed at the fair grounds by the Ministry for Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

According to her, other government institutions including the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Commission for Constitution Reform, High Court of Tanzania, legal aid secretariat and all legal related organisations are at the grounds.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Govt out to harmonise cement price

The government has directed cement companies in the country to come up with an authentic production cost structure in order to harmonise the prices of the commodity.

Industry and Trade minister Dr Abdallah Kigoda said the move will help the government to know the reasons for price variation between locally produced cement and imported one, which is cheaper.

Dr Kigoda issued the directive yesterday in Dar es Salaam at the inauguration of Kiln 3 upgrading project at Tanzania Portland Cement Company (TPCC).

He said it was difficult for the government to advise on reduction of cement prices in the local market if it did not know the production costs.

“The government is working on modalities to harmonise cement prices in order to protect local industries and create a level playing field, but it should first know the structure of production costs,” Dr Kigoda said.

He said the government's intention was to see cement sold at a price which was affordable to the majority of wananchi, but that would not be possible if the costs of production were not disclosed.

According to cement producers high taxes, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity supply are among the factors contributing to high cost of production.

A study entitled: ‘Equity Research Cement Sector Local Listed Companies’ released mid this year indicates Tanzania cement production costs are projected to decline in the near future on the back of the falling energy costs and improved supply, hence pushing the country’s competitiveness edge in the region.

Dr Kigoda noted that the government could not put trade barriers on imported cement as had been requested by cement companies because local production was still insufficient.

He admitted that imported cement was sold at a lower price compared to the locally produced one, saying that was a challenge to ensure that local industries competed in the market.

“Currently we have three factories which are Tanga Cement, Mbeya Cement and Twiga Cement, all of which are operational, while four others are in the final construction stages,” he said.

He added that in order to control importation of more cement, local factories had to increase production to meet the demand as the country was surrounded by potential market opportunities such as Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East Africa Community (EAC).

Dr Kigoda clarified that the government was aware of the challenges facing local industries, such as unreliable power, but added that it was taking measures to stabilise the situation.

He mentioned another challenge as high distribution costs caused by poor infrastructure, noting that the government was working to improve railway transport.

For his part, chairperson of Heidelberg cement company board Jean Junon said the cement industry was still facing a number of challenges, including massive importation of subsidised cement.

He said the upgrading of kiln 3 would help to expand the factory's production capacity. “TPCC aims at joining a group of few cement factories in sub-Saharan Africa able to produce more than 2 million tonnes per year," he said.

He added that modernisation of the Kiln 3 will complement kiln 2 and kiln 4, which will allow full utilisation of the company's installed capacity of more than 1.3 million tonnes of cement.

Statistics indicate that the combined production of Tanzania’s three cement manufacturers - Tanzania Portland Cement Company, Mbeya Cement Company Limited and Tanga Cement Company – stands at 1.2 million tonnes against the domestic demand of 1.6 million tonnes a year.

Due to the shortfall, Tanzania has been relying on imports.

At the moment a bag of cement in Dar es Salaam sells at between 14,500/- and 15,500/-, while up-country it sells at 17,000/- and above, depending on transport costs.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Journalist survives police gunshot

Shaaban Matutu, a journalist with Free Media Limited - publishers of the Tanzania Daima newspaper - is recovering in hospital after being shot by police in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred at the victim’s residence in Kunduchi Machimbo where it is alleged he attacked the police with a machete. During the altercation with the police officer, who was accompanied by four others, a shot was fired hitting Mtutu in his left shoulder.

Kinondoni Regional Police Commander, Charles Kenyela confirmed the incident saying it was accidental and happened when police officer F.8991D/C Idirisa, and four others were conducting what they say was an ‘emergency patrol’.

According to Kenyela, both the police and the journalist were rushed to the Mwananyamala district hospital in Kinondoni. But while the police officer is reported to have sustained minor injuries and has fully recovered, Matutu had to be referred to MNH for further treatment.

Police say they received a tip from a Good Samaritan who reported there were armed bandits in the journalist’s house.

“During emergency patrols police can force their way into a house without permit…” explained the RPC, who went on to allege that as the police ‘forced’ their way into Matutu’s house, he apparently attacked them with a machete and in response an officer discharged fire but the officer and the weapon are yet to be identified.

A statement issued by the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF) Secretary Neville Meena said that after the incident, Mtutu was referred to Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute (MOI) for surgery where he was taken to theater yesterday morning around 8:30am.

The incident comes only months after Daudi Mwangosi, a TV reporter was killed by riot police Pasifious Cleophace Simon (23) who fired a gas canister at him on September 2, this year during a rally organised by Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) in Nyololo village in Iringa region.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Content concern in digital migration

As Tanzania approaches transition from analogue to digital transmission, broadcasting stakeholders have expressed concern that the system could lead to flood of undesirable content in television programmes.

The stakeholders feared that people could use the opportunity to watch more foreign programmes which have been prepared based on foreign ethics and content regulations.

The concern was raised yesterday in Dar es Salaam at the broadcasters’ workshop attended by more than 100 delegates comprising all licensed broadcasters operating in Tanzania.

The workshop is part of the Annual Broadcaster’s Conference (ABC) scheduled for today with the theme: ‘Beyond Analogue Switch-off: Challenges and Opportunities’.

A renowned journalist Ayub Rioba said there are still challenges in terms of time and technology required to oversee the digital system.

“How much is the government able to control the digital system… we can’t control it much but we should not leave it uncontrolled,” Rioba queried.

He said it is not bad to share content from other countries but broadcasters should have different programmes with local content to differentiate them from foreign programmes.

Rioba said adverts these days do not encourage people to work hard, but only promote short-cut means of acquiring valuable things through ‘scratch and win’.

He called on the government to empower local producers to produce useful programmes which will value “home content” because the issue of content can easily be overwhelmed by programmes from other countries.

“We need to strike a balance in allowing creativity which will help teach and enable producers to produce good programmes with the required content,” he said.

For his part, Prof John Nkoma the Director General of Tanzania Communication Authority (TCRA) said the authority has policies, laws and rules governing content.

“People should not worry about this new digital system especially in the case of paying for the services,” he said adding: “Things are not much different from the changes which occurred with the introduction of mobile phones. We all remember that during the introduction of mobile phones people were anxious, but now they are enjoying the services.”

H said on the side of TVs, the production of programmes will be done by the TV stations including ITV, TBC, Channel ten, Star TV and EATV which will be shown for free, but broadcasting will be done by three specified digital companies.

He said one of the reasons for migrating to digital system by December 31, is to avoid the cost of running both analog and digital systems simultaneously.

The Director of Broadcasting Affairs with TCRA Habbi Gunze assured people that TCRA has arranged two systems which will be used to regulate the programmes broadcast by TV stations to ensure that the content adhered to the specified ethics.

“We will have a special machine to record all programmes while TCRA’s Consumer Society will give us views…we have guidelines which will guide them in giving out the views,” he said.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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