President J. Kikwete sitting with DR. Joseph mbatia, the Husband of the Late Salome Mbatia, together with all Leaders from Tanzania Government paying there last respects
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Friday, October 26, 2007
Tanzania One at The Funeral
President J. Kikwete sitting with DR. Joseph mbatia, the Husband of the Late Salome Mbatia, together with all Leaders from Tanzania Government paying there last respects
Citi Group!
Citi Group (Africa Division) CEO Zdenek Turek shares a light moment with members of Dar`s Mwamko Women Group shortly after he had handed over a cheque for 24m/- to BARAC.The city-based NGO has been lending money to small and medium enterprises.
Mbatia`s body received in Dar
Husband of the late Salome Mbatia Deputy Minister for Community Development Gender and Children Dr Joseph and Children Charles, Yolanda, Philip and Joseph Jr. during the last respect in Dar es Salaam today
The body of Deputy Minister for Community Development had landed at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam.
PRESIDENT Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete yesterday led thousands of mourners who flocked the airport to receive the body of Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children Salome Mbatia (55), who died in a ghastly road accident in Njombe on Wednesday.
Mourners could not help but to shed tears when they saw the plane which ferried the body land at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam.
Cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament were also at the airport to receive the body, which arrived at around 14:15 pm in a Fokker plane.
Aboard the aircraft was the husband, Dr Joseph Mbatia, Vice President Mohamed Shein, Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and Speaker of the National Assembly Samuel Sitta.
No sooner had the plane landed when a group of six deputy ministers entered the airplane and came out with the casket bearing the body.
The coffin was then placed inside a military ambulance, and the motorcade then sped to Lugalo Military Hospital, where the body was preserved.
According to the Chairman of Funeral Committee, Andrew Chenge, the body will remain at Lugalo Military Hospital until this morning and would later be taken to her residence at Oyster Bay, House Number 120, Uganda Avenue in the city.
At around 2:00 pm, the body will be flown to Kilimanjaro for a funeral set to take place at Kirua.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Paul Eranga, an assistant to the departed minister, said he had received reports of her death with great shock.
`I have worked with her for almost a year now. I was shocked to hear that she was dead. Salome was a hard working person who did not allow any negligence,` he said.
He said he had worked closely with the deputy minister, especially on parliamentary matters, adding that it was hard to believe that Salome Mbatia was no longer in this world.
For her part, the minister for Finance, Zakhia Meghji, said Salome Mbatia`s death was rather shocking in view of a flurry of road accidents taking place nowadays.
She said much as the occurrence was tragic, it was God`s plan and no human being could have prevented it.
The deceased minister was once the CCM national treasurer.
She also served as the CCM special seats MP. She was awarded a degree in Personnel Administration in Netherlands in 1982 and later undertook her MA in Management in the United States. She also held the post of deputy minister for Finance and Planning before she was transferred to another ministry, a post she held until her death.
Salome Mbatia and three others died on Wednesday in a road accident at Kibena in Njombe District, Iringa Region after their car was hit head-on by a lorry which was overloaded with timber.
Dar police seize 65 fake satellite dishes
Police yesterday seized 65 fake Eurostar satellite dishes
Police yesterday seized 65 fake Eurostar satellite dishes with an estimated street value of 9.7m/- at different spots along Msimbazi Street in Dar es Salaam`s bustling Kariakoo area.
Police sources said the seizure followed months of complaints from the manufacturer of the original dishes, whom they identified as Eurostar Communications LLC of Dubai.
The firm`s senior sales manager, Aloysius Sujet, intimated to The Guardian that they sought legal help from Patent and Trademark Attorney after they had realised that there was `dubious business` going on in Dar es Salaam where some crafty traders were importing fake Eurostar dishes from China and parading them as genuine ones.
Sujet said they became suspicious after the volume of their imports of the dishes dropped inexplicably from the previous 15 containers a month to zero at the moment.
Until we went to press yesterday, six people were being questioned at the Central Police Station in connection with the fake dishes that were on sale at the respective locations.
Investigations by The Guardian show that Kariakoo is flooded with all manner of fake imports, mainly electronic goods.
On Wednesday the Confederation of Tanzania Industries appealed to India and Far Eastern countries to institute restrictive measures to prevent the massive flow of fake products into Tanzania.
The confederation said it has launched an anti-counterfeit campaign in the wake of reports that most such products originate from China and India.
A combined force of police and Fair Competition Commission officers swung into action some two months ago in the city, impounding hundreds of millions of shillings` worth of counterfeit television sets, other electronic appliances and shoe polish.
House reps query government decision to appoint...
Zanzibar House of Representatives here, yesterday queried the government decision to form a commission to probe on the alleged rice import scandal without involving legislators.
MPs` concerns come after the government probe team implicated one businessman and two government officials in the importation of rice, widely condemned to be unfit for human consumption.
The Minister of State in the Chief Minister Office, Machuno Othman, unveiled investigation report in the house recently but some legislators have begun to question the rationale behind the government decision to commission investigation without involving legislators.
The legislator for Muyuni (CCM), Ramadhan Nyonje Pandu said:`It`s surprising to see that the investigation commission did not consult any member of the House committee.`
`The government had made positive decision but we feel they should have involved a least one member from the House,` he said.
The six-man investigation commission members came from police and national intelligence unit, according to the MP.
The legislators are furious because the idea of forming the investigation commission came out of past and traditional house debates.
They questioned the bizarre government`s decision to secretly set up the commission to investigate controversial rice import, which had recently attracted public and legislators debates.
The MP for Kwahani (CCM), Ali Suleiman Ali, asked what actions the government took to halt importation of unfit products for people`s consumption.
The Opposition legislator, Haji Faki (Mkanyageni, CUF), criticized the government investigative report findings because it announced measures against officials implicated in the scandal, but remained mum on the businessman who imported the consignment.
`The government needs to take action against the businessman. In any case, the government blocked opposition MPs to participate in the investigation,` said the legislator.
Responding to legislators` queries, the Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, said the government involved security and intelligence organs only because they were the ones with investigative expertise and skills.
`In most cases, such organs are not mixed with ordinary people in the investigation of sensitive issues. I am personally ready to accept additional evidence from anybody on the issue and work on it for the benefit of Zanzibaris,` he said.
The government probe commission implicated one prominent businessman, Said Nassir Bopar, for allegedly importing 2,900 tones of rice alleged to be unfit for consumption from Pakistan; and two government officials for unlawfully clearing the consignment at the port.
MPs` concerns come after the government probe team implicated one businessman and two government officials in the importation of rice, widely condemned to be unfit for human consumption.
The Minister of State in the Chief Minister Office, Machuno Othman, unveiled investigation report in the house recently but some legislators have begun to question the rationale behind the government decision to commission investigation without involving legislators.
The legislator for Muyuni (CCM), Ramadhan Nyonje Pandu said:`It`s surprising to see that the investigation commission did not consult any member of the House committee.`
`The government had made positive decision but we feel they should have involved a least one member from the House,` he said.
The six-man investigation commission members came from police and national intelligence unit, according to the MP.
The legislators are furious because the idea of forming the investigation commission came out of past and traditional house debates.
They questioned the bizarre government`s decision to secretly set up the commission to investigate controversial rice import, which had recently attracted public and legislators debates.
The MP for Kwahani (CCM), Ali Suleiman Ali, asked what actions the government took to halt importation of unfit products for people`s consumption.
The Opposition legislator, Haji Faki (Mkanyageni, CUF), criticized the government investigative report findings because it announced measures against officials implicated in the scandal, but remained mum on the businessman who imported the consignment.
`The government needs to take action against the businessman. In any case, the government blocked opposition MPs to participate in the investigation,` said the legislator.
Responding to legislators` queries, the Chief Minister, Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, said the government involved security and intelligence organs only because they were the ones with investigative expertise and skills.
`In most cases, such organs are not mixed with ordinary people in the investigation of sensitive issues. I am personally ready to accept additional evidence from anybody on the issue and work on it for the benefit of Zanzibaris,` he said.
The government probe commission implicated one prominent businessman, Said Nassir Bopar, for allegedly importing 2,900 tones of rice alleged to be unfit for consumption from Pakistan; and two government officials for unlawfully clearing the consignment at the port.
TUCTA: Refrain from unnecessary expenditure and pay 150,000/- a month
The Tanzania Trade Union Congress (TUCTA) yesterday challenged the government to reduce unnecessary expenditures in order to pay public servants at least 150,000/- a month as minimum wage.
In an interview with The Guardian, TUCTA Deputy Secretary General Nicolas Mugaya said the move would enable the government raise minimum wage for public servants, to reduce unnecessary complaints and outcries.
`I am quite sure that the government can improve the welfare of its employees if there is commitment and deliberate efforts to reduce unnecessary expenditures, and also adhere to strict tax collection base,` he said.
He noted that there are loopholes in taxation systems, which some unscrupulously use to evade paying taxes.
Reduction of unnecessary government expenditures and plugging existing loopholes in the tax collection structure would enhance government financial strength and enable it pay a 150,000/- monthly salary for its public servants.
`The 100,000/- recommended by the Public Service Commission is `peanut` as employees can hardly survive with such an amount,` he said.
He said negotiations are still going on with the government to raise the minimum wage to at least 315, 000/-,which he considers reasonable for minimum salary-scale.
Mugaya criticised recent tours by ministers as unnecessary expenditures, as the officials spent taxpayers� money for no good cause.
`This is extravagant expenditure of public funds. The money could have done wonders if it was spent in other social or economic development purposes,` he noted.
`We don`t see the reason for ministers to visit all the regions to clarify the budget which was discussed through the marathon budget session and covered by all sections of the media. This new move is a costly undertaking for the government, and a burden to the people,` he said.
He challenged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to ensure that all eligible pay taxes.
The Public Service Joint Council yesterday recommended to the government to raise civil servants wage to 100,000/- from the current 84,000/-.
The recommendations, according to council chairperson, Anastasia Mmuni, result from the fact that the government`s financial position does not allow making bigger commitments.
The council is composed of workers` and employers` representatives and government officials.
She said some of the items in the salary package would not be taxed to allow the low income workers attend to their basic needs.
Recently, trade unions had organised demonstrations to pressurise the government to increase civil servants` wages, but the government played down their demands.
In an interview with The Guardian, TUCTA Deputy Secretary General Nicolas Mugaya said the move would enable the government raise minimum wage for public servants, to reduce unnecessary complaints and outcries.
`I am quite sure that the government can improve the welfare of its employees if there is commitment and deliberate efforts to reduce unnecessary expenditures, and also adhere to strict tax collection base,` he said.
He noted that there are loopholes in taxation systems, which some unscrupulously use to evade paying taxes.
Reduction of unnecessary government expenditures and plugging existing loopholes in the tax collection structure would enhance government financial strength and enable it pay a 150,000/- monthly salary for its public servants.
`The 100,000/- recommended by the Public Service Commission is `peanut` as employees can hardly survive with such an amount,` he said.
He said negotiations are still going on with the government to raise the minimum wage to at least 315, 000/-,which he considers reasonable for minimum salary-scale.
Mugaya criticised recent tours by ministers as unnecessary expenditures, as the officials spent taxpayers� money for no good cause.
`This is extravagant expenditure of public funds. The money could have done wonders if it was spent in other social or economic development purposes,` he noted.
`We don`t see the reason for ministers to visit all the regions to clarify the budget which was discussed through the marathon budget session and covered by all sections of the media. This new move is a costly undertaking for the government, and a burden to the people,` he said.
He challenged the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to ensure that all eligible pay taxes.
The Public Service Joint Council yesterday recommended to the government to raise civil servants wage to 100,000/- from the current 84,000/-.
The recommendations, according to council chairperson, Anastasia Mmuni, result from the fact that the government`s financial position does not allow making bigger commitments.
The council is composed of workers` and employers` representatives and government officials.
She said some of the items in the salary package would not be taxed to allow the low income workers attend to their basic needs.
Recently, trade unions had organised demonstrations to pressurise the government to increase civil servants` wages, but the government played down their demands.
Govt says national environmental action plan in final stages
The government is on its final stage in reviewing the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) to meet the current environmental needs of the country.
Speaking during a stockholder`s consultative meeting here yesterday, the Director of Environment in the Prime Minister`s Office, Environment, Erick Mugurusi, said that the review is in line with the changes in environment and climate.
According to Mugurusi, a lot has happened ever since the country`s last environment meeting and there is a need for changes to take place every five years.
`We need support from sectors and stakeholders including government departments to implement the NEAP. There is need to establish and promote appropriate, education and awareness programmes to facilitate proper community participation in conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources,` said Mugurusi.
He said that the action plan will improve availability, accessibility and exchange of information pertaining to sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources.
`NEAP will be the basis of the framework for the preparation of environmental action plans for all sectors in the country. The National Environmental Action Plan will also look at the ways to promote socioeconomic development while maintaining environmental quality and resource productivity,` he added.
Contributing to the topic, the Director General of Capital Development Authority, Martin Kitilla who had been consulted to review the NEAP, emphasized the need for the same to be appraised to meet changes happening now and then in the world.
`We can not stay behind as the world is now changing, we have to also find ways to enable us to stay in line with globalisation,` he said.
He cited livestock sector as one of the areas to be looked at as it contributes to land degradation through overgrazing.
According to Kitilla, the current interventions are directed in implementing the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, Biodiversity Conservation, environmental friendly production practice, sand abatement of pollution and strengthening of both human resources and institution.
The government in collaboration with different stakeholders has put emphasis on the need to promote, strengthen and sensitize communities and individual participation as a strategy to invigorate environmental conservation and management.
Speaking during a stockholder`s consultative meeting here yesterday, the Director of Environment in the Prime Minister`s Office, Environment, Erick Mugurusi, said that the review is in line with the changes in environment and climate.
According to Mugurusi, a lot has happened ever since the country`s last environment meeting and there is a need for changes to take place every five years.
`We need support from sectors and stakeholders including government departments to implement the NEAP. There is need to establish and promote appropriate, education and awareness programmes to facilitate proper community participation in conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources,` said Mugurusi.
He said that the action plan will improve availability, accessibility and exchange of information pertaining to sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources.
`NEAP will be the basis of the framework for the preparation of environmental action plans for all sectors in the country. The National Environmental Action Plan will also look at the ways to promote socioeconomic development while maintaining environmental quality and resource productivity,` he added.
Contributing to the topic, the Director General of Capital Development Authority, Martin Kitilla who had been consulted to review the NEAP, emphasized the need for the same to be appraised to meet changes happening now and then in the world.
`We can not stay behind as the world is now changing, we have to also find ways to enable us to stay in line with globalisation,` he said.
He cited livestock sector as one of the areas to be looked at as it contributes to land degradation through overgrazing.
According to Kitilla, the current interventions are directed in implementing the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, Biodiversity Conservation, environmental friendly production practice, sand abatement of pollution and strengthening of both human resources and institution.
The government in collaboration with different stakeholders has put emphasis on the need to promote, strengthen and sensitize communities and individual participation as a strategy to invigorate environmental conservation and management.
Blair`s wife arrives today for three-day visit
Cherie Blair, wife of Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, will arrive in Dar es Salaam for a three-day visit beginning today.
Blair's visit follows her tour last February when she launched the book about street children, according to the official statement released yesterday.
With the First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete, Cherie will be guest of honour at the launch of `Dogodogo`, a book about street children by Kasia Parham, wife of the British High Commissioner.
The book contains stories of eight boys from the Dogodogo Centre for street children in Dar es Salaam, told as closely as possible in the boys` own words, but in English.
According to the statement, they are illustrated by some of the boys themselves.
`Plans are afoot to translate the book into Kiswahili after which copies will be distributed to all primary schools in Tanzania,` noted the statement.
Creative Eye designed the book for free, and Macmillan Aidan Tanzania published it with financial support for the first print out of 5,000 from UNICEF.
The purpose of the book, according to the statement, is to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by street children, to educate the public about those challenges and to encourage support for Dogodogo Centre and other similar projects.
Any royalties from sales of the book will go to the Dogodogo Centre, says the satement.
Kasia Parham has been teaching English to the boys at the Centre. Cherie Blair, who taught a lesson with Parham`s wife at the centre in February, has written the book`s foreword.
The launch, which is supported by British Airways, will take place at the British High Commissioner�s residence today evening.
Other lined-up activities for Cherie include visiting two UNICEF projects � one on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/Aids and reproductive and child health clinic as well as a labour ward at the Temeke District Hospital.
She will visit a cholera prevention project in Vingunguti Miembeni Ward, Ilala Municipality project.
She is also expected to visit the CCBRT Hospital with its Board Chairman, Samuel Sitta, who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Basically, she would particularly get first-hand information on the performance of maternal health.
While at the hospital, Blair will also meet a group of single mothers who run a small enterprise co-operative, embroidering and selling cloth.
They are assisted with finance by the Chair of the Dogodogo Centre Board, Bernhard Staub and his wife, Christa.
Tomorrow, Blair will meet Tanzanian women entrepreneurs at lunch at the British High Commissioner�s residence. The women are receiving finance from Exim Bank (Tanzania) Ltd under a scheme funded by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank.
The First Lady and Cherie launched the scheme in Dar es Salaam in February.
Japan extends USD153,570 grant for girls` hostels
The Government of Japan has extended a USD 153,570 grant to Tanzania for the construction of a girls` hostel at Karema Secondary Schools in Mpanda, Rukwa and the expansion of the Rusesa Health Care in Kasulu, Kigoma.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, Mkoto Ito, said the grant will be in a two project scheme through Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP).
`The first project will be a USD71,257 grant for the construction of the hostel and purchase of beds for Karema Secondary School. The amount will be channeled through to Mpanda District Council,` said the envoy.
Ito emphasized on the importance of girls` hostels in secondary schools especially in rural areas, recognizing that some district councils and communities know the importance of improving schoolgirls` learning environment.
The ambassador said the hostels will help improve performance in the national exams as they will be spending most of their time in studies.
`I am very encouraged by efforts of Mpanda District Council to drill a borehole for reliable water supply in the school acquire. This will improve the learning environment of students at the school` he added.
The second project will be the expansion of the Rusesa Health Care in Kasulu, Kigoma who will receive a grant worth USD82,313 to save for development and relief association.
According to Ito the amount will facilitate the construction of maternity wards and staff house, purchase of medical equipment and solar power installation in the health center.
`Health and Medical care is one of the essential sectors in need of improvement, for the 65,000 resident in Buyoga Division. We will support the construction of a maternity ward to reduce congestion of pregnant women and infants,` he added
Ito said the new facilities will provide better and more reliable medical services to communities around the area.
`I am pleased to learn that in both projects, communities willy fully participate in the implementation through labor and some local materials` he said
Speaking at the ceremony, Save for Development and Relief Association (SADERA), Executive Secretary Gerald Nkona, said that the construction of the maternity ward will greatly assist the provision of health services to Buyoga Division inhabitants.
Nkona said that the construction will enable the center function better in its role as a referral unit for Bugaga, Muzye, Kasangezi, Zeze Kwaga, Kalela, Kigogwe and Munzaze dispensaries.
According to Nkona, majority of patients from those dispensaries are referred to Kasulu District Hospital 40 kilometer away from the area.
Statistics indicate that infant mortality is high in the area and many babies are born at home because of distance and expenses involved in taking the expectant mother to and from the district hospital.
In his comments, Mpanda District Council representative, Othman Magehema said students in the region are forced to travel more than 36 kilometers to and from schools every day for lack of hostels.
`Many students therefore rent houses in the nearby villages, under conditions that are not conducive for studies, with the end results of serious problems like absenteeism and pregnancies for school girls` he said
Magehema said that the new hostel is planned to accommodate 128 students
`In future, we plan to extend the school facilities up to six hostels to accommodate a total of 640 students in order to provide good learning environment,` he said
GGHSP is a Japanese Government financial assistance facility for projects designed to meet the needs of the development countries
The scheme supports community-participatory projects proposed by such bodies as nongovernmental organization, local government authorities.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, Mkoto Ito, said the grant will be in a two project scheme through Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP).
`The first project will be a USD71,257 grant for the construction of the hostel and purchase of beds for Karema Secondary School. The amount will be channeled through to Mpanda District Council,` said the envoy.
Ito emphasized on the importance of girls` hostels in secondary schools especially in rural areas, recognizing that some district councils and communities know the importance of improving schoolgirls` learning environment.
The ambassador said the hostels will help improve performance in the national exams as they will be spending most of their time in studies.
`I am very encouraged by efforts of Mpanda District Council to drill a borehole for reliable water supply in the school acquire. This will improve the learning environment of students at the school` he added.
The second project will be the expansion of the Rusesa Health Care in Kasulu, Kigoma who will receive a grant worth USD82,313 to save for development and relief association.
According to Ito the amount will facilitate the construction of maternity wards and staff house, purchase of medical equipment and solar power installation in the health center.
`Health and Medical care is one of the essential sectors in need of improvement, for the 65,000 resident in Buyoga Division. We will support the construction of a maternity ward to reduce congestion of pregnant women and infants,` he added
Ito said the new facilities will provide better and more reliable medical services to communities around the area.
`I am pleased to learn that in both projects, communities willy fully participate in the implementation through labor and some local materials` he said
Speaking at the ceremony, Save for Development and Relief Association (SADERA), Executive Secretary Gerald Nkona, said that the construction of the maternity ward will greatly assist the provision of health services to Buyoga Division inhabitants.
Nkona said that the construction will enable the center function better in its role as a referral unit for Bugaga, Muzye, Kasangezi, Zeze Kwaga, Kalela, Kigogwe and Munzaze dispensaries.
According to Nkona, majority of patients from those dispensaries are referred to Kasulu District Hospital 40 kilometer away from the area.
Statistics indicate that infant mortality is high in the area and many babies are born at home because of distance and expenses involved in taking the expectant mother to and from the district hospital.
In his comments, Mpanda District Council representative, Othman Magehema said students in the region are forced to travel more than 36 kilometers to and from schools every day for lack of hostels.
`Many students therefore rent houses in the nearby villages, under conditions that are not conducive for studies, with the end results of serious problems like absenteeism and pregnancies for school girls` he said
Magehema said that the new hostel is planned to accommodate 128 students
`In future, we plan to extend the school facilities up to six hostels to accommodate a total of 640 students in order to provide good learning environment,` he said
GGHSP is a Japanese Government financial assistance facility for projects designed to meet the needs of the development countries
The scheme supports community-participatory projects proposed by such bodies as nongovernmental organization, local government authorities.
Parties send condolences to JK and Mbatia`s family
The Late Hon. Salome Mbatia, Deputy Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Secretary General, Yusuph Makamba, yesterday sent condolence message to President Jakaya Kikwete and his cabinet following the death of Salome Mbatia, deputy minister for Community Development, Gender and Children.
The late Mbatia was killed on Wednesday evening in a car accident at Kibena in Njombe District while heading to Songea from Iringa after the vehicle she was traveling in was involved in a head-on-collision.
In a statement he issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday, he said the death of Mbatia had left a gap not only in the government, but also in the party and the community at large.
Makamba said the deceased would be remembered for her contribution to the party`s prosperity, hard work and the love she showed to all people.
Apart from being a Special Seats legislator, the late Mbatia served as the party`s Economic and Finance Secretary and National Executive Committee member. Mbatia was also to contest for a NEC seat in the next month party polls in Dodoma.
The deceased was awarded a Degree in Personnel Administration in the Netherlands in 1982. In between 1982 and 1983 she undertook an M.A. in Management in the US.
She also once worked as Finance and Planning deputy minister before she was transferred to the Gender ministry as deputy minister, the position she held until her death.
Meanwhile the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) sent a message of condolence to President Kikwete, Speaker of the National Assembly Samwel Sitta, ministers and the deceased�s family.
The statement issued by the party Vice Chairperson Machano Hamis Ally says, `CUF join hands to mourn the death of the leader who was in the forefront in championing for the rights of women, children and the community.`
Kenya polls set for 27 December
Mr Kibaki (r) took over from Mr Moi in 2002
Kenya's electoral commission has named 27 December as the date for elections.
Presidential, parliamentary and civic polls will be held simultaneously and are expected to be closely contested.
President Mwai Kibaki is running for a second five-year term, having won an election in 2002 to replace former long-time leader Daniel arap Moi.
Political deals are expected to be struck in the next few days as candidates forge new alliances, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from Kenya.
President Kibaki's biggest challenge is likely to come from the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement, former cabinet minister Raila Odinga, who is making a second attempt at securing the presidency.
Recent opinion polls put Mr Odinga more than 10 points ahead with 43-52% compared to 31-38% for Mr Kibaki.
Another former cabinet minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, is also to take part in the contest, as well as a former televangelist turned politician Pastor Pius Muiru.
President Kibaki, 75, will be seeking re-election on the basis of Kenya's strong economic record.
However, the key issues in the elections are likely to be his track record, trust and tribe, in a country where politics continue to be polarised along ethnic lines.
Kabila seeks US help for DRC army
DR Congo's army is trying to contain a rebellion in the east
A possible role for US military trainers in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to discussed at a meeting in the White House on Friday.
The military situation in DR Congo will be a key topic of discussion at talks between US President George W Bush and Congolese President Joseph Kabila.
US officials said Mr Kabila is due in the US with a large delegation.
The Congolese president is also expected to visit the headquarters of a big US mining company in Arizona.
The US sees DR Congo as an important ally in Africa.
A senior US diplomat, William Swing, has headed the big United Nations peacekeeping force there for several years, and the US has made large financial contributions to the UN force.
Libya seals peace deal for Chad
President Deby (left) attended the talks hosted by President Gaddafi
Four Chadian rebel groups have sealed a peace agreement with the government, three weeks after negotiating the preliminary deal.
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi hosted the talks alongside the presidents of Chad and Sudan.
The insurgent groups have waged an on-off rebellion against Chadian President Idriss Deby for years.
The fighting was linked to the conflict plaguing the neighbouring Sudanese region of Darfur.
The UN says there are 240,000 refugees from Sudan's Darfur region in eastern Chad and 173,000 internally displaced people.
Oil growth stokes Angola's boom
New oil finds have driven growth
The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Angola will achieve a 23% growth rate this year as new deep-water oil fields come on stream.
But the IMF criticises a continued lack of transparency in Angolan businesses.
It says no progress has been made towards publishing the accounts of the state oil and diamond companies.
Campaigners have previously identified a lack of transparency in state oil company Sonangol as allowing the large-scale funnelling off of funds.
French held over Chad 'adoptions'
Nine French citizens have been arrested in Chad, accused of making an unauthorised attempt to fly more than 100 children out of the country.
They include the head of a group called Arche de Zoe (Zoe's Ark) that had said it wanted to bring children from Sudan's Darfur region to France.
The nine were arrested at Abeche, near the Chad-Darfur border. A Paris court has launched a criminal investigation.
The French foreign ministry has condemned the incident.
France's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Rama Yade, who had travelled to Darfur earlier this week, said the government had warned Zoe's Ark that it could be breaking the law.
"We know absolutely nothing about how these children were gathered. We don't know their origins, their nationality or the reality of their family situation. Taking them like this is in my view illegal and irresponsible," she told the AFP news agency.
Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno described the operation as "inhumane" and "unacceptable" and said those responsible would be "severely punished".
They include the head of a group called Arche de Zoe (Zoe's Ark) that had said it wanted to bring children from Sudan's Darfur region to France.
The nine were arrested at Abeche, near the Chad-Darfur border. A Paris court has launched a criminal investigation.
The French foreign ministry has condemned the incident.
France's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Rama Yade, who had travelled to Darfur earlier this week, said the government had warned Zoe's Ark that it could be breaking the law.
"We know absolutely nothing about how these children were gathered. We don't know their origins, their nationality or the reality of their family situation. Taking them like this is in my view illegal and irresponsible," she told the AFP news agency.
Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno described the operation as "inhumane" and "unacceptable" and said those responsible would be "severely punished".
Ex-Philippine leader Estrada free
Estrada was convicted of corruption just six weeks ago
Ex-Philippine President Joseph Estrada is a free man for the first time in six and a half years, after being pardoned by his successor Gloria Arroyo.
Estrada was convicted of corruption last month, and given a life sentence.
But on Thursday he was officially pardoned by President Arroyo, leading a court to order his release.
Mrs Arroyo said she had issued the pardon to end political divisions, but correspondents say her move was at least partly self-motivated.
She needs to gain public support amid mounting calls for her resignation, and in pardoning her predecessor, she managed to extract a guarantee that he would not seek office again himself.
Putin gives stark missile warning
Mr Putin has pledged to boost Russia's defences
Russian President Vladimir Putin says US plans for a missile shield could precipitate a situation similar to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s.
Mr Putin was speaking after a summit with EU leaders in Portugal. The US said there was no comparison "in any way, shape or form".
Russia has long opposed US plans to build missile bases in European states once in the Soviet sphere of influence.
The Cuba crisis saw the US and Soviet Union go to the brink of nuclear war.
The 1962 stand-off was triggered when US spy planes discovered Soviet missile bases in Cuba, within striking distance of the American mainland.
Moscow's decision to deploy these weapons in Cuba was at the time seen as a response to the build-up of powerful US missiles in Europe.
Tensions were only defused when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the bases in return for guarantees that Washington would not attack communist Cuba.
Pakistani militant base attacked
Troops have been airlifted to positions on the hilltops
Troops have surrounded and attacked a stronghold of a leading militant in the district of Swat in northern Pakistan, local police say.
The pro-Taleban militant, Maulana Fazlullah, said earlier this week that he was leaving the area.
On Thursday an attack in the main town of Swat left at least 17 soldiers and a number of civilians dead.
Swat is one of a number of areas near the Afghan border where militants have been gaining control in recent months.
Jury sees 'terror training' video
The footage showed men holding sticks and doing forward rolls
Footage that allegedly shows a group of men practising military-style techniques in a New Forest terror training camp has been seen by a jury.
A British Army officer told Woolwich Crown Court that the drills were similar to those of al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He said the mobile phone footage, shot in Hampshire, was also reminiscent of basic Army training.
Five men all deny charges of being involved in setting up training camps.
Among them is Mohammed Hamid, 50, who prosecutors say set up camps attended by the 21 July bomb plotters.
The other men are Mousa Brown, Kibley da Costa, Mohammed Al-Figari and Kader Ahmed.
The trial heard that Mr da Costa, Mr Hamid and Mr Ahmed all took part in the New Forest camp, but the other two defendants did not.
Schoolgirls to get 'cancer jab'
HPV causes most cases of cervical cancer
Schoolgirls in Britain will be vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer from September 2008, ministers have announced.
This goes further than recommended by experts, with all aged 12-13 eligible, and a catch-up campaign up to 18.
It is thought that vaccinating against human papilloma virus (HPV) could save hundreds of lives in the UK each year.
The vaccine is given in three injections over six months at a cost of around £300 a course.
Earlier this year the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended routine vaccination for 11 to 12-year olds, including the possibility of a catch-up campaign - but only up to the age of 16.
Dodoma men out of Barrick Gold Cup
Dodoma men`s basketball team yesterday bowed out of the ongoing Barrick Gold Cup after losing two games.
Ruvuma hit them 57-56 in the match played at the Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday morning.
Top scorers for Ruvuma, who were nailed by Dar es Salaam 80-30 on Sunday, were Himid Choka who scored 20 points and Mkumbo Mgendi (23).
Dar es Salaam hit Dodoma 78-27 in the opening match on Sunday. Dodoma had won one match only, against Morogoro.
Shinyanga hit Ruvuma 42-34 in the women`s game played yesterday. Wema Martin and Tina Kabanda scored 17 and 10 points respectively for Shinyanga.
Morogoro hammered Mwanza 32-25 in another women`s match. Top scorers for the winners were Sajda Ahmeid who scored 16 points andNina Mlinga (6).
Mwanza men`s crashed Tanga 63-43 and Dodoma won 75-51 against Morogoro after the end of Monday matches.
The championships continue today when Morogoro play Ruvuma, Dar es Salaam vs Mwanza, Tabora vs Tanga, Kilimanjaro vs Shinyanga, Coast Region vs Mbeya and Arusha vs Mwanza. Ruvuma and Coast Region will meet in the women�s duel.
Ruvuma hit them 57-56 in the match played at the Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday morning.
Top scorers for Ruvuma, who were nailed by Dar es Salaam 80-30 on Sunday, were Himid Choka who scored 20 points and Mkumbo Mgendi (23).
Dar es Salaam hit Dodoma 78-27 in the opening match on Sunday. Dodoma had won one match only, against Morogoro.
Shinyanga hit Ruvuma 42-34 in the women`s game played yesterday. Wema Martin and Tina Kabanda scored 17 and 10 points respectively for Shinyanga.
Morogoro hammered Mwanza 32-25 in another women`s match. Top scorers for the winners were Sajda Ahmeid who scored 16 points andNina Mlinga (6).
Mwanza men`s crashed Tanga 63-43 and Dodoma won 75-51 against Morogoro after the end of Monday matches.
The championships continue today when Morogoro play Ruvuma, Dar es Salaam vs Mwanza, Tabora vs Tanga, Kilimanjaro vs Shinyanga, Coast Region vs Mbeya and Arusha vs Mwanza. Ruvuma and Coast Region will meet in the women�s duel.
10 aspirants assemble to vie for Queen of Ngwasuma title
Ten female dancers who will vie for the Queen of Sebene Ngwasuma 2007 title have assembled in Dar es Salaam to start preparations for the event set for next month.
The co-coordinator of the dancing competition, Justine Jones of the Tanvision Limited, named the contestants as Melisa Ekimana, Mamy Omary, Suzana Ligunda, Pili Mohamed, Fadhila Hassan, Lightness Gerald, Jenipher Gabriel, Ketura Kihongosi, Ney Mwagiro and Lilian Oscar.
He said FM Academia, Zanzibar Stars and Global Group would entertain at the event to be held on November 9 at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam.
The winner of the contest will be awarded a Toyota Mark II worth 10m/-.
The event is organized by Tanvision Limited and sponsored by Tigo, Ndovu Lager, Modern Commercial Institute, Golden Touch Beauty School and Peman General Trading Co.
The co-coordinator of the dancing competition, Justine Jones of the Tanvision Limited, named the contestants as Melisa Ekimana, Mamy Omary, Suzana Ligunda, Pili Mohamed, Fadhila Hassan, Lightness Gerald, Jenipher Gabriel, Ketura Kihongosi, Ney Mwagiro and Lilian Oscar.
He said FM Academia, Zanzibar Stars and Global Group would entertain at the event to be held on November 9 at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam.
The winner of the contest will be awarded a Toyota Mark II worth 10m/-.
The event is organized by Tanvision Limited and sponsored by Tigo, Ndovu Lager, Modern Commercial Institute, Golden Touch Beauty School and Peman General Trading Co.
Football results
Thursday, 25 October 2007
UEFA Cup
Anderlecht 2-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Basle 1-0 Rennes
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Toulouse
Bolton 1-1 Braga
Bordeaux 2-1 Galatasaray
Crvena Zvezda 2-3 Bayern Munich
Everton 3-1 Larissa
Helsingborgs IF 1-1 Panionios
IF Elfsborg 1-1 AEK Athens
Lokomotiv Moscow 3-3 Atletico Madrid
Panathinaikos 3-0 Aberdeen
SK Brann 0-1 Hamburg
Sparta Prague 1-2 FC Zurich
Tottenham 1-2 Getafe
Villarreal 1-1 Fiorentina
Zenit St Petersburg 1-1 AZ
UEFA Cup
Anderlecht 2-0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Basle 1-0 Rennes
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Toulouse
Bolton 1-1 Braga
Bordeaux 2-1 Galatasaray
Crvena Zvezda 2-3 Bayern Munich
Everton 3-1 Larissa
Helsingborgs IF 1-1 Panionios
IF Elfsborg 1-1 AEK Athens
Lokomotiv Moscow 3-3 Atletico Madrid
Panathinaikos 3-0 Aberdeen
SK Brann 0-1 Hamburg
Sparta Prague 1-2 FC Zurich
Tottenham 1-2 Getafe
Villarreal 1-1 Fiorentina
Zenit St Petersburg 1-1 AZ
Ramos favourite for Tottenham job
It is believed Tottenham have made an offer to Ramos
Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is being tipped to take over as Tottenham manager after Martin Jol's sacking.
Spanish football journalist Graham Hunter told BBC Radio 5 Live that Spurs had made a "take-it-or-leave-it" offer to Ramos to become manager immediately.
Sevilla director of football Ramon Rodriguez was in London on Thursday and it is thought he has begun negotiations with Spurs over compensation for Ramos.
Spurs reportedly want Leeds assistant boss Gus Poyet to assist Ramos.
Federer brushes aside Del Potro
Federe won the Basle title for the first time last year
Roger Federer coasted into the last eight of the Swiss Indoors with a 6-1 6-4 win over Juan Martin del Potro.
The world number one took a 5-0 lead before the 49th-ranked Argentine was able to win his only game of the set.
Del Potro broke Federer to level at 1-1 in the second, but the Swiss cruised to victory to the Basle crowd's delight.
American James Blake lost 4-6 7-6 6-4 to Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, a defeat that gives Andy Murray renewed hope of reaching the season-ending Masters Cup.
Davydenko fined for poor effort
Davydenko had been the top seed in St Petersburg
World number four Nikolay Davydenko has been fined $2,000 (£976) for not trying hard enough during his defeat by Marin Cilic at the St Petersburg Open.
The ATP said he had been guilty of "lack of best effort".
The umpire warned Davydenko about his conduct in the final set of his 1-6 7-5 6-1 defeat. The Russian later claimed his "legs were dead".
Davydenko is being investigated by the ATP over a match in August that featured irregular betting patterns.
Online betting exchange Betfair voided bets on that match, in Poland, between Davydenko and the 87th-ranked Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello.
It finished when the Russian withdrew with a foot injury having easily won the first set.
But on Thursday night, Davydenko protested his innocence over the match in St Petersburg, which Cilic won 1-6 7-5 6-1.
The Russian was warned by Belgian umpire Jean-Philippe Dercq in the final set for not trying hard enough.
Pair lead in storm-hit Mallorca
Derksen leads in storm-hit Mallorca
Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen and Jean-Francois Lucquin of France emerged at the top of the leaderboard on the second day at the Mallorca Classic.
The pair finished their storm-hit first rounds on Friday before building a three-shot lead at nine under.
Ireland's Peter Lawrie and Dane Mads Vibe-Hastrup were six under, while Spain's Sergio Garcia was three under after 27 holes.
Half the field must return on Saturday to complete their second rounds.
The 33-year-old Derksen, lying 42nd on the money-list, added a 65 to his opening 66 but despite three-putting twice he was happy to have come through a gruelling day.
"We used to play 36 holes as amateurs with no problem but it seems when you get to the pro level it's a lot harder," he said Derksen.
"It would be nice to get close to a top-20 spot (this week) because a lot goes with it including (a place in) the British Open."
While Derksen is assured of a spot in next week's season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama, the 88th-placed Lucquin needs to finish in the top two here to qualify.
The 28-year-old Frenchman said his rounds of 66 and 65 were down to a new coach.
"One and a half months ago I changed my coach to Richard Gillot, who used to play with me on the Challenge Tour and is my son's godfather," he said.
"He knows my game and last week in Portugal everything started to take shape. I finished with a 64 there and felt I could carry it on to this week."
Gronholm crash boosts Loeb hopes
Gronholm driving in Japan shortly before his crash
Frenchman Sebastian Loeb boosted his hopes of a fourth straight world rally title after championship leader Marcus Gronholm crashed out in Japan.
Loeb can overtake Gronholm in the drivers' standings if he finishes fourth or higher in Japan.
And he ended a wet opening day second behind Finn Mikko Hirvonen's Ford.
Gronholm's hopes suffered when he lost control of his Ford at a fast left turn during the fourth stage, sliding down a bank before crashing into a tree stump.
Even if mechanics can repair the damage to the roll-cage inside the driver's door before Saturday's second leg, the time penalties for missing six stages would leave the Finn way back.
"I slid wide and my right rear wheel hit some straw bales," Gronholm said.
"The stage was covered with loose gravel and it was slippery throughout. It will be hard to repair."
Loeb had reduced the gap in the Championship race to four points with back-to-back wins in Catalunya and Corsica and the Citroen driver set the pace in the morning in Hokkaido.
But Hirvonen will take a significant lead of 10.3 seconds over the triple world champion into leg two with Finland's Jari-Matti Latvala third for Ford a further 3.4 seconds back.
Victory for Loeb in Japan would give him a six-point advantage over Gronholm heading to the penultimate round in Ireland next month.
Joke of The Day!
My KINDA WOMAN....
I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.
I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years ago", the homeless woman told me.
"Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?" I asked.
"No, I don't waste time shopping," the homeless woman said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive."
Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?" I asked.
"Are you NUTS !" replied the homeless woman. "I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!"
"Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight."
The homeless Woman was shocked. "Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting." I said, "That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine."
I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for dinner.
I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, "If I give you this money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?"
"No, I had to stop drinking years ago", the homeless woman told me.
"Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?" I asked.
"No, I don't waste time shopping," the homeless woman said. "I need to spend all my time trying to stay alive."
Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?" I asked.
"Are you NUTS !" replied the homeless woman. "I haven't had my hair done in 20 years!"
"Well," I said, "I'm not going to give you the money. Instead, I'm going to take you out for dinner with my husband and me tonight."
The homeless Woman was shocked. "Won't your husband be furious with you for doing that? I know I'm dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting." I said, "That's okay. It's important for him to see what a woman looks like after she has given up shopping, hair appointments, and wine."
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