US envoy lauds government for promoting press freedom

Media Owners Association of Tanzania chairman Reginald Mengi chats with Ellen Otaru Okoedion after the latter`s graduation in journalism at Maarifa Media Trust in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Looking on (C) is the US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mark Green.

The US ambassador to Tanzania, Mark Green, has commended the government in its efforts towards promoting freedom of the press in the country saying the move has made the country rank among the top nations in the World Press Freedom index.

Ambassador Green made the revelation yesterday in Dar es Salaam during the Maarifa Media Trust (Mamet) graduation. He noted that a country can be judged on how much it supported press freedom, adding that the higher ranking was not only a credit to the current government and the President, but also a reflection of a strong media community that continues to report on corruption, good governance and democracy.

``We believe that you cannot have true democracy and true freedom unless you have freedom of the press, and journalists who know how to use that freedom.

A strong press fosters active debate, undertakes investigative reporting and provides a forum to express views. A strong press is a ?voice for the voiceless,? said the Ambassador.

Ambassador Mark said United States would continue to do whatever it could to promote and protect press freedom and support non-governmental organisations that promote free press worldwide, including training journalists, editors and media managers.

He said one of the key areas that the United States was proud of the institute was the training of 70 journalists in investigative reporting to help root out corruption and that they would also promote internet freedom because they believe it is a key component of press freedom.

The Chairman of the Media Owners Association (MOAT) Reginald Mengi speaking during the occasion said that journalists must consider and adhere to their professional ethics while practicing their daily activities.

He also stressed on the importance of doing enough research on issues before writing about them. ``No research no right to write,`` he cautioned.

The MOAT Chairman said even though journalists were tasked to educate and sometimes criticise the government, but when it did good things, it should be praised.

People tipping off TRA on corruption promised rewards

The Tanzania Revenue Authority has declared that it will give 3 per cent tax deductions to individuals who will report about corrupt servants once found that the said reports are true.

The declaration was made to journalists on Tuesday by the TRA Director of Internal Auditing, Salehe Mshoro during an open debate organised by the Prevention of Corruption and Combating Bureau (PCCB) meant to give the public the platform to air their grievances on corruption in the country.

Mshoro said TRA will form a committee which would investigate and write its report every four months to ensure that things are moving on well.

``Our goal is to work hand in hand with PCCB to fight corruption in the country. We want to improve services to our customers and people who need assistance from TRA,`` said Mushoro.

Contributing to the debate, the head of Prevention of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Sabina Seja told members of the public to name servants or institutions involved in corruption without fear.

She said the Bureau will be conducting a dialogue every month through out the country to give the public a chance to air their grievances about corruption in society and to enable them mention institutions they suspect practise graft.

Seja said: ``I call upon members of the public to fearlessly name corrupt elements to enable PCCB work efficiently because the bureau cannot succeed without the public.?

She however seemed surprised by the low turn out of the wananchi for the dialogue, calling for more people to show up in the next venue.

``PCCB is not the only responsible organ for curbing corruption. Every Tanzanian should fight it by making sure that they get the required services on first hand without having to pay for them,`` said Seja.

MP wants Tanesco mandated to import all electrical wares

A Member of Parliament has suggested that the power utility company (Tanesco) be given the sole mandate to import and sell electrical goods to curb rampant importation of such fake products.

Mohammed Sanya (Mji Mwema) told Parliament yesterday that if the government is not careful, Tanzania would soon become a dumping place for fake goods from China and elsewhere.

Sanya who was contributing to amendment of the Merchandise goods Act Cap. 85 said that it was high time Tanzanians were educated on how to detect fake goods and avoid them as one way of fighting against the trend.

There has been an increase of fire accidents in residential houses in most urban centres in the country due to electrical faults arising from fake electrical products.

The legislator wondered why local businessmen are importing fake electrical products while local industries are producing good ones in the country.

Sanya said, because Tanesco is the sole supplier of Electricity, it would only be fair to give the company sole mandate to supply electrical equipment too to ensure that whatever is installed is not fake.

He called on Tanesco to educate the people to buy electrical goods made in the country to avoid frequent fire accidents caused by fake products.

Sanya requested the Ambassador of China to Tanzania, where the bulk of fake goods come from, to advise Tanzanian businessmen on good companies they can buy standard goods to avoid bringing in fake products.

Commenting on drugs, the legislator said it was high time the government banned all imported drugs with Chinese prescriptions. ?The issue of fake drugs is also a problem.

We must fight this problem before our people are affected,? he said.

Fatuma Maghimbi (CUF), (ChakeChake), said that the government should register all manufacturers whose products are sold in the country to curb importation of fake goods.

She called on the government, through the Fair Competition Commission to educate the people to create a habit of rejecting fake goods.

Earlier while presenting the amendments, the Attorney General Johnson Mwanyika, said the amendment was geared at giving the law more teeth.

He said under the amendments, the minister for finance would have power to appoint Chief Inspector to coordinate issues relating to trade marks.

Mwanyika said the Chief Inspector would have powers to order that a certain person be investigated for violating the law.
The Chief Inspector would also have powers to institute cases against people violating the law.

Govt spends 4.5 billion/- for treatment of patients abroad

The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Aisha Kigoda

The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Aisha Kigoda, told the on- going Dodoma parliamentary session that the government has spent more than 4.5bn/- for the past three years for treatment of Tanzanian patients outside the country.

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Kigoda said that about 75 per cent of the patients were those experiencing heart problems.

She was answering a question on behalf of the Minister for Health and Social Welfare on how much had been spent for treatment abroad for the past three years which was asked by MP Siraju Kaboyonga (Tabora-Urban, CCM).

The MP had also wanted to know the countries where the patients had been referred to for treatment.

Giving details, the deputy minister said that in the year 2003/04, the government spent about 1.2bn/-, some 1.3bn/-, in 2004/05, and 1.9bn/- in the year 2005/06 for the treatment of patients oversees.

She said: ``The patients got treatment at Madras Medical Mission, Indraprastha, Appolo, Care and Mannipol Multispeciality in India; Millipar Hospital-South Africa, Kenya Hospital in Nairobi and London Medical
Diabetes based in UK.``

On how the government would reduce or eradicate the cost of sending the patients outside the country, Dr Kigoda said that her ministry was working on a plan to establish an open heart surgery hospital in the country.

She said that a team of surgery experts who had undergone training in India and Israel had already come back in the country, adding that at the moment the ministry was going on with the procedures of buying medical equipment for the service.
She said that the government would get the equipment before the end of the year.

Answering an additional question on why the government does not use the Tanzania Heart Institute that also can provide treatment for people facing heart problem, the deputy minister said the institute was facing the problem of staff shortage.

Defence ministry reassures Z`bar is secure from terrorist attacks

Zanzibar's narrow street
The Deputy Minister for Defense and National Service, Omar Yussuf Mzee

The government on Tuesday reassured that Zanzibar was not vulnerable to terrorist attacks compared to other countries in the world.

The Deputy Minister for Defense and National Service, Omar Yussuf Mzee, made the statement when responding to a question by the Singida North legislator, Lazaro Nyalandu (CCM).

Nyalandu had wanted to know if Zanzibar and Pemba were vulnerable to terrorists? attacks.

Responding on behalf of the Minister for Defense and National Services, the Deputy Minister said that the islands were not in any way under terrorist threat.

?Terrorism around the world seems to have no boundary because of its big network in a number of areas. Terrorist acts can take place any where including in the two islands.

However, Pemba and Unguja islands are not in danger of terrorism in comparison to other countries in the world,? he said.

Asked on plans by the country?s armed forces to improve and strengthen artillery to protect the country against both, nearby and distant enemies, including the purchase of attack helicopters; the deputy minister said that the defense force was very keen over the country?s security and was capable of engaging all enemies.

Mzee said that the defense forces had undergone modern military training, had adequate equipment and modern military arsenals to protect the country.

``In addition to that the Ministry of Defense and national Service has prepared short and long term development programmes on how to improve and strengthen the army. The plan also focuses on the purchase of modern military equipment,`` he said.

S Africans riot over bad services

Some 1.5m homes new homes have been built since 1994

Police have fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse hundreds of residents refusing to move from their shacks near South Africa's capital.
The resident of Diepsloot near Pretoria say they would prefer better houses and clean water where they already live.

In recent months, the country has been hit by a number of such demonstrations over a lack of new homes and services.

Next month, the governing African National Congress elects a new leader with poor service delivery a big issue.

The residents in Diepsloot, like in several other black townships across the country, are deeply unhappy with their living conditions.

Shack dwellers launched their protest by barricading roads and turning away motorists.

Heavily armed police officers in trucks then moved in and as tensions escalated officers fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to try to disperse the angry crowd.

The government has urged residents to protest peacefully against forced removals and poor living conditions.

Some 1.5m homes new homes have been built since 1994, but an estimated 7.5m lack access to adequate housing, according to South Africa's Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions.

But with the ANC preparing to elect a new president, the situation at grass roots level is slowly getting out of hand, our reporter says.

Former Deputy President Jacob Zuma has accused President Thabo Mbeki of failing millions of poor South Africans during his rule. Both are likely to be contenders.

Nigeria parliament elects speaker

Protesters marched outside parliament in Abuja this week

Nigeria's House of Representatives has elected a new speaker, Dimeji Bankole, after the resignation earlier this week of the former speaker, Patricia Etteh.
Mrs Etteh and her deputy resigned over a corruption scandal, involving $5m for home renovations and cars.

Her initial refusal to step aside held up parliamentary business, including a debate on Nigeria's federal budget.

The affair has been an embarrassment for President Umaru Yar'Adua, who promised zero tolerance on corruption.

Members of the house defied an order by the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) that the new speaker should come from the same state as Mrs Etteh, who was from Osun State.

Mr Bankole comes from Ogun State.

S Leone rape victims 'not helped'

The RUF rebels waged a campaign of rape and human rights abuse

Amnesty International has called on the government of Sierra Leone to do more for the victims of sexual abuse from the country's decade-long civil war.
During that war human rights abuses were carried out on the population and rape was used as a weapon.

Some estimate that one-third of the total female population suffered from rape and other sexual crimes.

But victims have received no help dealing with the long-term effects of rape, according to Amnesty's report.

It is widely known that Sierra Leone's civil war was one of the most brutal conflicts in recent history.

Although rape was committed by all sides, Amnesty International's report stresses the fact that rebel groups were dependent on thousands of women and girls who served as wives, cooks, labourers, fighters and sex slaves.

Pastor faces extradition hearing

Gilbert Deya runs a number of churches in UK cities

An extradition hearing has begun for a preacher who claimed he could create "miracle babies" for infertile couples, using the power of prayer.
The Kenyan government alleges Gilbert Deya stole five children between May 1999 and December 2004 and tried to pass them off as his own.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard Mr Deya is also accused of conspiracy to murder a police officer in Kenya.

Mr Deya's lawyers said their client was the victim of a political vendetta.

On the opening day of his extradition hearing Mr Deya's lawyer, Ben Cooper, told the court the circumstances surrounding his client's extradition were highly suspect.

Mr Cooper questioned why the Kenyan authorities chose not to use the conspiracy to commit murder charge as the basis for the request.

He also said his client was a target of the Kenyan government.

"The government has made clear its intention to punish Mr Deya for his political opinion and outspoken criticism of the government," Mr Cooper told the court.

Chad may release some Europeans

The French charity said they were trying to give the children a better life

Chad's president has indicated as many as 10 of the 16 Europeans held in the child abduction scandal may be freed.
President Idriss Deby told reporters he hoped "the journalists and also the (air) hostesses will be released".

The UN found most of the 103 children stopped from leaving Chad lived with a close relative and were not orphans.

Six workers for French NGO Zoe's Ark are charged with kidnapping. Three French journalists and seven Spanish air crew are charged as accomplices.

Mr Deby said justice would have to take its course.

"I can't force the hand of Chadian justice, there is a procedure," Mr Deby told reporters in the eastern town of Abeche.

Uganda rebels release peace dove

The LRA has fought a 21-year rebellion in the north

The Ugandan rebels' chief negotiator Martin Ojul has released a white dove in the capital, Kampala, as a symbol of the group's commitment to peace.
It is the Lord's Resistance Army's first official visit to the city as part of efforts to end their brutal two decade rebellion in the north.

"We're here, committed to make sure we get a final agreement," Mr Ojul said.

During the visit, the rebels hope to meet the president and go up north to discuss justice and reconciliation.

They are being accompanied by some of the mediators and observers from the talks taking place in southern Sudan, where LRA leaders signed a truce with the government in 2006.

They were greeted at Entebbe airport by the interior minister and the government's chief negotiator at peace talks, Dr Ruwakana Rugunda

LRA leader Joseph Kony remains at a rebel camp across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He has refused to take part in long-running but stalled talks unless the International Criminal Court lifts an arrest warrant against him and other top rebel leaders.

On Wednesday, the LRA once again dismissed reports of fighting between Mr Kony and his deputy, leading to mass desertions and a split in the movement.

The person making the accusations is the LRA's Opiyo Makasi who arrived at Entebbe airport on Thursday evening after surrendering last week in DR Congo.

Mugabe signs in a successor law

President Mugabe intends to run in elections next year

Zimbabwe's president has signed into law an amendment to the constitution that allows him to choose a successor if he decides to retire mid-term.
Robert Mugabe's choice would then be voted in by parliament which is dominated by his Zanu-PF party.

The constitutional amendment bill, which also allows presidential and parliamentary polls next March, had the backing of Zanu-PF and the opposition.

Mr Mugabe has said that he will seek another term in next year's elections.

Analysts say they expect Zanu-PF to dominate the joint elections in March 2008 and for Mr Mugabe to then put a hand-picked successor in place.

Floodwaters swamp Mexican state

Tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in Mexico where massive floods have swamped much of the south-eastern state of Tabasco.
"We have lost 100% of our crops and 70% of the state is under water," Tabasco's governor said.

Rescuers have been using boats and helicopters to try to reach people stranded on rooftops.

The heavy rains began at the weekend, forcing rivers to burst their banks in the largely low-lying state.

"We are just like New Orleans," Tabasco governor Andres Granier said. "All the water that comes in has to be pumped out."

Hiroshima bomb pilot dies aged 92

Gen Tibbets (centre) always said he had no regrets

The commander of the B-29 plane that dropped the first atomic bomb, on Hiroshima in Japan in World War II, has died at the age of 92.
Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr died at his home in Columbus, Ohio.

The five-ton "Little Boy" bomb was dropped on the morning of 6 August 1945, killing about 140,000 Japanese, with many of them dying later.

On the 60th anniversary of the bombing, the three surviving crew members of the Enola Gay said they had "no regrets".

Gulf states 'offer Iran uranium'

Prince Saud said the plan was meant to stop a nuclear arms race

Gulf states are willing to set up a body to provide enriched uranium to Iran, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister is reported to have said.
Prince Saud al-Faisal told the Middle East Economic Digest such an offer could defuse Tehran's stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.

The prince was quoted as proposing "a consortium for all users of enriched uranium in the Middle East".

The BBC's Paul Reynolds says it is doubtful the offer will go anywhere.

It is similar to one proposed by Russia in December 2005, which led to initially positive talks between Moscow and Tehran, but in the end led nowhere, says our world affairs correspondent.

Suicide bomb hits Pakistani bus

Those airmen killed were on their way to work

A suicide bomber has killed at least eight Pakistani air force personnel in an attack in central Punjab province.
About 40 others were wounded when the bomber rammed his motorcycle into a bus carrying air force staff near the city of Sargodha, the authorities said.

Meanwhile, there are reports of heavy casualties in more fighting between pro-Taleban militants and security forces in the north-west after a lull.

Violence has escalated since troops stormed a radical mosque in July.

More than 100 people died in the operation to oust militants from Islamabad's Red Mosque.

The attack enraged Islamist militants, who have been blamed for a wave of attacks since.

Police guilty over Menezes case

Jean Charles de Menezes: Followed to train, then shot

London's Metropolitan police force has been found guilty of endangering the public over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber.
The force broke health and safety laws when officers pursued Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes to a Tube station and shot him seven times, a jury found.

It was fined £175,000 with £385,000 costs over the 22 July 2005 shooting.

The Old Bailey jury said police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability".

Ms Dick, now deputy assistant commissioner of the force, had been accused by prosecutors of failing to keep control of her officers.

Despite calls for his resignation, Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said outside court that he was not resigning.

The unprecedented, highly controversial trial came after prosecutors said that no individual officer could be held responsible for the electrician's death at Stockwell Underground station.

Instead, they said the force, represented by the Met Commissioner's Office, should be tried for failing to protect the public from the risks posed by a suspected suicide bomber on the loose.

The Met vehemently denied the allegation during the trial, saying that there was no case for it to answer.

Extradition for Pc murder suspect

Mustaf Jama was extradited from Somalia, police say

A man wanted in connection with the murder of West Yorkshire police officer Sharon Beshenivsky has been extradited from Somalia.
Detectives from West Yorkshire flew back to the UK with Mustaf Jama, who is wanted over the shooting at a Bradford travel agents in November 2005.

The 27-year-old was being transferred to a police station in Leeds on Thursday, police said.

Five people have been jailed over the killing and bungled robbery.

Pc Beshenivsky, 38, was shot and killed on 18 November - her daughter's fourth birthday - as she arrived at the scene of a robbery at the Universal Express travel agency.

Her colleague, Pc Teresa Milburn, 37, was also shot but survived.

Following the shooting it was believed Mustaf Jama left the UK for Somalia through Heathrow Airport, dressed in a traditional veil and using his sister's passport.

Muzzaker Shah was jailed for a minimum of 35 years after admitting the murder at Newcastle Crown Court in December last year.

Yusuf Jama was found guilty of the murder and was also ordered to serve a minimum of 35 years.

Faisal Razzaq was found guilty of manslaughter, robbery and firearms offences and told he must serve a minimum of 11 years behind bars.

His brother, Hassan Razzaq, was later jailed for 20 years for manslaughter, robbery and firearms offences.

Earlier this year, Raza ul Haq Aslam was jailed for eight years for taking part in the robbery.

Another gang member believed to have been involved in the shooting, Piran Ditta Khan, has still not been traced.

Airline bans A380 mile-high club

The plane has 12 private first class suites

Singapore Airlines has taken the unusual step of publicly asking passengers on its new Airbus A380 plane not to engage in any sexual activities.
The potential problem has arisen because the first class area of its giant superjumbo contains 12 private suites complete with double beds.

Singapore, which is the first airline to start flying the A380, said the suites were not sound-proofed.

It said it did not want anyone to offend other travellers or crew.

Singapore added that while the suites were private, they were also not completely sealed.

Alzheimer's cold sore virus link

The cold sore virus has been linked to Alzheimer's disease

Evidence is building that the cold sore virus may be linked to Alzheimer's disease, an expert says.
In lab tests, Manchester University found brains infected with the herpes simplex virus, HSV-1, saw a rise in a protein linked to Alzheimer's.

Scientists believe the discovery could pave the way for a vaccine that may help prevent the brain disorder, New Scientist magazine reported.

But such a breakthrough was a long-time off, experts said.

The researchers infected cultures of human brain cells with the virus and found a "dramatic" increase in levels of the beta amyloid protein - the building blocks of deposits, or plaques, which form in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.

A similar increase was seen in the brains of mice infected with HSV-1.

In a separate experiment, the team stained brain slices taken from dead Alzheimer's patients and found DNA from HSV-1 attached to the plaques.

Cat joins exclusive genome club

Cinnamon lives in a cat colony at the University of Missouri-Columbia

A pedigree cat called Cinnamon has made scientific history by becoming the first feline to have its DNA decoded.
The domestic cat now joins the select club of mammals whose genome has been deciphered - including dogs, chimps, rats, mice, cows and people.

The genome map is expected to shed light on both feline and human disease.

Cats get hundreds of illnesses similar to human ones, including a feline version of HIV, known as SIV, and a hereditary form of blindness.

Cinnamon, a four-year-old Abyssinian cat, is descended from lab cats bred to develop retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease, also found in humans, which can lead to blindness.

Earlier this year, with the help of the sequence, scientists found the gene change, or mutation, that causes the condition in cats.

Analysis of the cat genome sequence could also shed light on everything from evolution to the origins of feline domestication, they say.

"We can start to interpret them in terms of one of evolution's special creations, which is also probably one of the greatest predators that ever lived," said Dr Stephen O'Brien of the US National Cancer Institute, who spearheaded the project.

Like other mammals, the cat has around 20,000 genes. By comparing its genome - the genes that build and maintain the body - to those of other mammals, researchers can study differences in biology, evolution and behaviour.

"One thing I'd like to discover is the genes for good behaviour in the cats - the genes for domestication, the things that make them not want to kill our children but play with them," he added.

Simba draw as JKT-Ruvu win

The Mainland defending champions Squad

The Mainland defending champions Simba yesterday forced a 1-1 draw with Moro United in one of the Vodacom Premier League match played at the Jamhuri Stadium, Morogoro.

The Msimbazi side goal was scored by Haruna Moshi in the 46th minute after using well a Joseph Kaniki`s pass.

Moro United got the equalizer in the 81st minute through Azizi Hunter.

Simba started the game attacking from the first whistle and in the first minute Mussa Hassan `Mgosi` wasted a good chance to score.

Simba, who were beaten 3-2 in their last game against Toto Africans, made another attack in the 20th minute but the Moro goalie Shaaban Kado managed to save the Ulimboka Mwakingwe`s shoot.

Two minutes later, Moro United made their first attack but Azizi Hunter failed to score.

In Arusha, JKT-Ruvu won 1-0 against Pan African in another match played in the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium.

Mtibwa were also forced to a 1-1 draw by their hosts Police Dodoma in their match staged at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma.

The matches set for today are Yanga against Prisons in Mbeya, Police Moro vs Kagera Sugar in Morogoro and Ashanti vs Toto Africans in Moshi.

Simba:Juma Kaseja, Salum Kanon/Nurdin Bakari (dk.46), Soud Abdallah, Kelvin Yondan, Henry Joseph, George Owino, Haruna Moshi, Nico Nyagawa, Joseph Kaniki/Nsa Job (dk.81), Mussa Hassan Mgosi/Julius Mrope (dk.56) and Ulimboka Mwakingwe.

Moro United:Shaaban Kado, Marwa Changarawe, Jumanne Ahmed, Chacha Marwa, John Njama, Faustine Lukoo, Issa Ismail/Patrick Mangunguru (74mnt), Hamisi Msafiri/Yusuf Mgwao (52mnt), Azizi Hunter, Ally Yussuf and Michael Mzeru/Selemani Batili (28mnt).

NMB injects 32m/- to sponsor youth coaches course

The NMB Chief Commercial Officer, Bas Nierop

The National Microfinance Bank (NMB) yesterday handed over a 32.5m/ cheque to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to sponsor a course of coaches who will train the youth teams.

The NMB Chief Commercial Officer, Bas Nierop, said the bank has decided to grant the help so as to boost the football standards in the country.

``If we want to have better footballers we should start from the roots, therefore by realizing this NMB is happy to sponsor the youth team?s coaches? course as we hope they will contribute a lot in generating the new talents,`` said Nierop.

On his side, the TFF president, Leodegar Tenga, thanked the bank for the support, saying that TFF will utilize it efficiently to assist many youths who are talented.

In another development, NMB has handed over sports gear worth 5.5m/- to TFF for supporting the youth teams while in training.

Kenya maul Zanzibar, Congo in Nyerere Cup

Kenyan teams yesterday hammered Zanzibar and Congo in the on-going Nyerere Cup handball tournament staged in the Indoor Stadium.

Kenya`s The Heritage hammered Nyuki of Zanzibar 45-17 in the first match played in the morning before another team from Kenya, Cereals, nailed TP-Mazembe of Congo 29-23 in the second match.

In the women category match played on Tuesday, Kenya`s Cereals won 23-21 against Ngome, while Dar Stars were whipped 42-25 by Mikish from Congo.

In the men`s match, JKT-Ruvu won 41-22 against Nyuki of Zanzibar.

Six foreign handball teams are competing in the tournament which aims at commemorating the 8th anniversary of the death of the late Father of Nation Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere.

The teams are The Heritage (men) and Cereals (men and women) from Kenya, and Police (women) from Kinshasa, TP Mazembe (men) and SCOMI -Mikish (women) from Lubumbashi, (DRC).

Zanzibar are represented by Matarumbeta (men and women) and Nyuki (men) while Tanzania Mainland are represented by JKT Ruvu, Dar Stars (women) and Ngome (men).
The Nyerere Handball Cup will now be held annually.

Maximo names 29 for Challenge Cup

Taifa stars coach Marcio Maximo

Taifa stars coach Marcio Maximo yesterday announced 29 players who will form the new Mainland team.

The coach said the team would soon start residential training to prepare for the Cecafa`s Challenge Cup to be held in Dar es Salaam from December 8-22.

The players are:
Goalkeepers: Ivo Mapunda (Yanga), Shaaban Dihile (JKT) and Frank Mutego (Prisons).

Defenders: Salum Sued (Mtibwa), Bakari Omary Nzige (Kagera), Aloyce Adam (Prisons), Meshack Abel (Mtibwa), Shadrack Nsajigwa (Yanga), Amir Maftah (Yanga), Said Sued (Simba), Stephan Mwasika (Prisons) and Juma Hamis (Ashanti).

Midfielders: Henry Joseph (Simba), Erasto Nyoni (Burundi), Shaaban Nditi (Mtibwa), Casthori Mumbala (Toto African), Haruna Moshi (Simba), Denis Mukebezi (Coastal), Nizar Khalfan (Kuwait), John Kanakamfumu (Police Dodoma), Samuel Ngasa (Pan African) and Misango Magae (Prisons).

Forwards: Mokili Lamboss (Police Moro), Vincent Barnabas (Kagera), Danny Mrwanda (Kuwait) Mike Chuma (Denmark) Uhuru Selemani (Coastal), Kigi Makasi (Mtibwa) and Suleiman Misenghi (Toto).

Maximo revealed that he had put much emphasis on the players` age, behaviour and on-pitch co-operation during the selection.

``I have used many factors to pick the players and I am sure the team will perform well in the coming Challenge Cup,`` added Maximo.

TFF needs Tenga`s services more than does CECAFA

Tanzania Football Federation President Leodegar Paul Chila Tenga

Reports that Tanzania Football Federation President Leodegar Paul Chila Tenga is aspiring for the topmost post in the Confederation of Eastern and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) is bad news.

I am compelled to say so because he would have to resign from his present post in case he becomes the Cecafa chairperson - and there is immense possibility of his sailing through.

My humble but considered submission is that TFF needs Tenga`s services more than does Cecafa because, for one thing, he is not yet through with the reforms set to stabilise the state of our country`s soccer. So, whoever advised Tenga to vie for the Cecafa post does not wish Tanzania`s soccer well.

Tenga`s short tenure in the TFF offices has brought about dramatic changes in the way soccer is, and ought to be, organised.

His imposing presence in the admittedly hot seat has enabled the germination of a sense of discipline and order in our soccer, including the way to handle even the trickiest of issues.

It is noteworthy that the quality of individuals` leadership has an important effect on the well-being and achievements of sports institutions or organisations.

Tenga has without doubt enabled Tanzania`s soccer to regain its respect and fame by strengthening interpersonal links among the prime actors, among them players, coaches, referees as well as regional and district football association leaderships.

One of the most important ingredients of sound leadership is the ability to win and retain the trust of all those people in one?s line of duty.

Tenga has made a splendid job by making many right decisions at the right time and especially by his ability to delegate powers and duties to the respective committees and individuals.

Even this early, this has culminated in enabling TFF?s affairs to be handled the way they are supposed to.

Anyone visiting the federation`s headquarters at the Karume Memorial Stadium in Dar es Salaam easily notices, smells and feels the many positive changes which have taken place under the Tenga presidency.

The famed former national star has succeeded in instilling discipline and order both at the TFF offices and in the way decent soccer is organised.

He has never allowed himself to be swayed from his good sense of judgment by influential individuals who would always like to see the teams they support given special favours.

Throughout his stay in the office, big clubs like Simba and Yanga (for which he featured in his heyday as a player) have not managed to dictate issues the way they used to do with great ease in the past.

It is partly this that makes me believe that TFF needs Tenga now more than ever before because he is many light years away from what he wants to achieve for the good of this country`s soccer.

Despite his critics? allegations that he is too lenient and poor in decision-making, the soft-spoken Tenga has shown creditable potential as a leader even in times of crisis and adversity.

His personality traits which have a direct bearing on leadership include emotional stability, creativity, assertiveness and intelligence have made him easily one of the most effective soccer leaders Tanzania has ever had.

It is quite possible that it is for this reason that some individuals thought it wise to advise him to aspire for the Cecafa chairpersonship.

In case Tenga gets elected to the position, he will thereafter be compelled to resign as TFF president and thus end his direct contribution to domestic soccer.

Lest I be misunderstood, I would like to stress that I do not mean to say that Tenga is perfect and irreplaceable. That would be a wild exaggeration.

However, I doubt if there is currently any strong enough personality out there who can really tread in his footsteps.

Meanwhile, there are two questions which keep lingering in my head and I which would like to share with my fellow Tanzanian soccer enthusiasts.

One relates to whether there is really anything for Tanzania to benefit from Tenga`s Cecafa chairpersonship or presidency that it does not benefit whilst he is TFF President.

The other question relates to how Tenga would contribute towards making Tanzania excel in soccer while he is outside a local soccer governing body.

Were I lucky enough to be consulted, I would have seriously advised those who advised Tenga to vie for the Cecafa post to feel ashamed and let him finish the tough and taxing TFF job he has just begun.
Charity begins at home.

Scan eases Richards injury fears

Richards has been a key figure for Man City this season

Manchester City defender Micah Richards could be fit for England's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia despite being stretchered off at Bolton.
The 19-year-old twisted his knee in Wednesday's 1-0 Carling Cup win.

But a scan on Thursday revealed the right back has bruised cartliage and has suffered no long-term damage.

A City spokesperson said: "Micah has bruised his medial meniscus cartilage in his right knee and he will continue to be assessed on a daily basis."

Ferguson doubts Mourinho return

Ferguson and Mourinho enjoy a healthy mutual respect

Sir Alex Ferguson has cast doubt on whether Jose Mourinho will return to management in England.
The Manchester United boss has been in touch with the Portuguese since his shock exit from Chelsea and believes his next job will be on the continent.

"I don't know if he will come back into the English game," he told the League Managers Association website.

"I think Jose will end up at a top team in Spain or Italy, I'm almost certain of that."

After admitting they had been in touch a "couple of times" since Mourinho's surprise departure in mid-September, the 65-year-old Scot speculated on his former rival's immediate future.

"There certainly is no-one on the radar at the moment obviously, he's taking a break and I think he's aiming to come back fresh," said Ferguson.

"I don't think there's any problem about him coming back into management, I think it's where he comes back in and I don't think anyone has any clues to that at this moment in time."

Ferguson and Mourinho first encountered each other when the latter masterminded Porto's surprise victory over Manchester United in the 2003/4 Champions League campaign.

There have been occasional moments of tension between the pair but they enjoyed a much closer relationship with each other than either did with the likes of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Liverpool manager Raphael Benitez.

Mourinho, who followed up his 2004 Champions League triumph with Porto with six trophies in three years at Chelsea, is believed to have turned down the newly-vacant manager's role at Valencia this week.

He has also dismissed speculation over the Tottenham and England national team jobs.

After leaving Stamford Bridge by "mutual consent", the 44-year-old said he wanted to learn another language as he considers his options.

"I have to choose between Italian and German," he said.

Ferguson also warned that managers cannot be out of the game too long because they will be forgotten - although he conceded that will not happen to Mourinho.

Mourinho himself has previously insisted he will return to work in English football one day.

"I will come back and manage here, but I don't want it as my next step - it must be another country, another experience, another football," he said in September.

Minister slams 'obscene' salaries

Terry (centre) is one of the Premier League's highest earners

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe has condemned Chelsea captain John Terry's salary as "obscene" while criticising Manchester United's ticket prices.
Sutcliffe believes the sky-high wages and ticket prices are alienating fans.

Speaking at a sports summit in London, Sutcliffe said: "Good luck to John, but it is obscene to be on £150,000 a week.

"And United season tickets went up by 13% - holders have to automatically buy European and Carling Cup games at £200, that takes it away from ordinary fans."

The MP for Bradford South is himself a United fan, but he contrasted the club's prices with those at Bradford City where season tickets were cut to £138 this season, equating to £6 per game.

The Bantams were relegated to League Two last season, but the club has 12,000 season-ticket holders - almost as many as when the club were in the Premier League six seasons ago.

Sutcliffe continued: "Ordinary working people who want go and see Manchester United face being priced out.

"There is a danger that there will be a move away from the game and we don't want to be in a position where people are alienated."

Sutcliffe said the Government would not interfere with the running of football, such as by trying to impose salary caps, but said he wanted to act as "a critical friend".

"People in the street cannot understand salaries like Terry's," he added.

"Chelsea are £250m in the red and they may be able to cope with that but it's not the real world.

"£250m in the red is not sustainable."

Chelsea are furious with some of the figures quoted by Sutcliffe and are understood to have complained to his department that they are inaccurate.

Sutcliffe will be raising his views with Premier League boss Richard Scudamore and Manchester United chief executive David Gill in meetings on Thursday.

England stars face burn-out risk

Wednesday's game against Cardiff was Gerrard's sixth in 18 days

Football players' chief Gordon Taylor has warned that Steven Gerrard and other England stars are facing burn-out because of the demands placed on them.

Gerrard has started six games in the last 18 days, including England's trip to Moscow and Liverpool's to Istanbul.

"If that was a racehorse you would say that was too much and have the RSPCA onto you," Taylor told BBC Sport.

"It is a good life and nobody's denying that, but we do have a duty to look after our sporting heroes."

Taylor believes the demands put on top players are damaging England's international chances.

"The biggest problem is probably with the elite, who need the most looking after," he said.

"Think of the number of international players who have had foot injuries, such as Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, or of John Terry playing with broken bones and having cortisone injections.

"It's up to the authorities and administrators to make it as safe as they can. Some players can clock up 50, 60 games a season and it's obviously going to take a toll.

"What's disappointed me for a long time is that while our club football is ruling the roost, international football is taking a backward step.

"A successful international team can have a really uplifting effect on the whole nation, as we've seen with rugby union.

"At the moment, we're turning up on crutches for major football tournaments."

Football results

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

Carling Cup
Bolton 0-1 Man City
Chelsea 4-3 Leicester
Liverpool 2-1 Cardiff
Luton 0-1 Everton (After Extra Time)
Portsmouth 1-2 Blackburn
Sheff Utd 0-3 Arsenal
Tottenham 2-0 Blackpool

FA Cup Qualifying
Lewes 2-0 Grays Athletic

CIS Insurance Cup
Aberdeen 4-1 Inverness CT
Celtic 0-2 Hearts
Dundee Utd 3-1 Hamilton
Motherwell 1-2 Rangers

Loosemores Welsh Premier League Cup
Caernarfon 2-3 Llangefni Town

FA Tesco Women's Premier League
Chelsea Ladies 4-0 Charlton Women

Australia name squad for new era

Jaques scored 66 in his last Test match appearance 18 months ago

Australia have announced their squad for the new era with Phil Jaques, Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg in a 13-man squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka.
It is Australia's first Test series since Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne retired after the Ashes.

Jaques opens with Matthew Hayden while spinner Hogg will vie with Stuart MacGill for Warne's place.

Brett Lee leads the pace attack as Tait and Mitchell Johnson compete for the place vacated by McGrath.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch admitted the experience of picking a Test side after the retirements of three great players was daunting.

"It's the first time any of us have sat down and named a side that doesn't include the greats like Warne and McGrath," he said.

"But we're confident about the new era of Australian cricket which starts at the Gabba on Thursday (8 November)."

MacGill, 36, is likely to get the nod over Hogg, but Hilditch wants to see all 13 players train before making a final decision.

"We are replacing someone who will never be replaced in Warne," he said.

"But in Stuart MacGill we're really confident, he's a class leg-spinner with a great Test record.

"Having both in the squad gives us the opportunity to assess the conditions and then decide which selection is best."

Left-handed Jaques, 28, is set for only his third Test appearance, and first for 18 months.

MacGill, who has played 40 Tests in a career spanning nine years, said: "I'm close to taking 200 Test wickets and that will be an interesting one for me because I know I've only got two wickets to get there.

"If I get a game, then two wickets isn't enough really. I think it'll be a case of 'yep that's good, got that - now move on', and look forward to taking more and more wickets."

Australia squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait.

Rugby mourns death of Ray Gravell

Friends and former team-mates say Gravell was one of a kind

Tributes from the world of rugby have been paid to former Wales centre Ray Gravell, who has died aged 56.
Wales great Gareth Edwards said: "It's a very sad day but when I look back and think of Ray Gravell I'll remember the joy and immense pleasure he gave us."

Former Wales and Llanelli team-mate JJ Williams added: "He was certainly one of the best centres I played with. Around 1975-76 no-one could handle him.

"He deserves all the accolades he'll get over the next few days."

Hingis set to announce retirement

Hingis has won five Grand Slam titles

Swiss star Martina Hingis is expected to retire for a second time on Thursday, TZNEWS Sport understands.
The former world number one, 27, has struggled to recover from a string of injuries and health-related problems.

She called an early end to her season last month because of hip problems but had vowed to return to action.

The five-time Grand Slam champion first retired in 2003 because of persistent ankle injuries before returning to top flight tennis at the start of 2006.

Following her return to the tour Hingis surprised her doubters by winning three more titles.

She ended 2006 ranked seventh in the world and is currently ranked 19th.

Murray storms into Paris quarters

Murray had to beat Santoro to maintain his Masters Cup challenge

British number one Andy Murray kept his Masters Cup hopes alive by beating Fabrice Santoro to reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals on Thursday.

Murray, 20, breezed past French veteran Santoro 6-4 6-2 and next faces either Richard Gasquet or James Blake.

Only the top eight players in the ATP Race qualify for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The young Scot, who began the week 11th in the standings, is chasing one of the two remaining places.

"Santoro is one of my favourite players to watch," he said afterwards. "I won't see a style like his for the rest of my career.

I don't feel like there's as much pressure on me as on the other guys

Andy Murray
"I felt like I was in a rhythm. I'd got used to Centre Court and played well."

Although Fernando Gonzalez is a long way ahead at seventh in the Race, Murray - who won his third career title in St Petersburg on Sunday - was only three points behind Tommy Haas in the eighth and last qualifying spot at the start of the week.

Gasquet, Blake, Mikhail Youzhny, Guillermo Canas, Fernando Gonzalez, Tomas Berdych and Marcos Baghdatis are also still in contention for the final two places.

Raikkonen 'is the right champion'

Raikkonen has the support of his fellow Finn Kovalainen

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen should retain his Formula One world title, despite McLaren's forthcoming appeal against the result of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
That is the view of Renault driver and TZNEWS Sport columnist Heikki Kovalainen.

"Kimi is the right champion. I don't think you can put it down to luck. He was the strongest driver over the year," Kovalainen said.

Lewis Hamilton could become champion if McLaren win their appeal against the BMW and Williams cars in Brazil.

English amateurs shine in Chicago

The highly-rated Gavin has strolled through three bouts in Chicago

England's amateur stars are chasing history on Thursday with guaranteed medals on the line at the 14th World Boxing Championships.
Only three Englishmen have won medals at this level before but now five stand one bout away from joining them.

Four of the five - Joe Murray, Bradley Saunders, Frankie Gavin and Tony Jeffries - have also secured berths at next summer's Beijing Olympics.

David Price goes too if he wins his super heavyweight quarter-final.

In addition, inexperienced Belfast light flyweight Patrick Barnes has claimed Ireland's first Olympic berth and will square off for a medal against Chinese star Zou Shiming.

Sunderland light heavyweight Jeffries completed his remarkable comeback from injuries and selection problems to defeat Ramazan Magomedov 18-6 and reach the last eight.

Jeffries admitted: "It hasn't sunk in yet. But now I want to win a medal."

Earlier, Birmingham's Commonwealth Games lightweight gold medallist Frankie Gavin ensured Great Britain their strongest Olympic boxing squad for 16 years with a 21-10 win over Ramal Amanov of Azerbaijan.

"After I got to him in the first round I really felt my power coming through. I have got to give a big thanks to all my funding and support which has really made the difference," said Gavin.

Liverpudlian Price produced another powerful performance to beat Macedonian Primislav Dimovski 20-4 and reach the last eight. Only the semi-finalists qualify for the Games from his category.

Price, who also claimed a Commonwealth gold last year, said: "I could have gone for the 20-point stoppage in the third but I settled for a nice work-out. It's been good to get some rounds in."

While there was considerable success for the English contingent on Wednesday, Irish duo Kenneth Egan and Eric Donovan failed to join their team-mate Barnes in the quarter-finals.

And late on Tuesday, Scotland's Stephen Simmons and Ireland's John Sweeney and Darren Sutherland were defeated.

Durham light-welterweight Saunders will get England's medal push underway when he faces Alexis Vastine of France in the first session on Thursday, while Murray, like Barnes, faces a tough Chinese challenge in the shape of Yu Gu.

Gavin hopes to make his skills count against Onur Sipal of Turkey, Jeffries meets tough Kazakh Yerkebuian Shynaliyev and Price will take on Italy's Roberto Cammarelle.

The AIBA World Boxing Championships are the first and main qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics.

The four Englishmen already qualified for Beijing is a huge improvement on 2004, when only Amir Khan secured an Olympic spot. And hopes remain high that the British team will win more spots at the two remaining European qualifiers in Italy in February and Greece in April.