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Thursday, October 4, 2007
Debt conversion to finance health programmes
Tanzania is likely to benefit from a new health financing mechanism designed by the government of Germany for its poor countries` debtors.
It is a debt conversion initiative that would see freed debt resources being channeled into the fight against tuberculosis, malaria and Aids.
The Tanzania NGO Alliance Against Malaria (TaNAAM) Coordinator Beatrice Minja recently said in an interview that the debt conversion plan was launched during the Global Fund meeting in Berlin last week in the quest of mobilizing funding for health programs in Africa.
She said Tanzania and other African countries would benefit during the Second Debt 2 Health Initiative expected to roll over next four years, whereby Germany has pledged 200 million Euros for Global Fund health programs for poor countries.
The first Debt 2 Health agreement signed converted 50 million Euros last week for Indonesia on condition that Indonesia invests half of the free-up money into national health programs through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
`Germany is the first donor country to support programs of the global fund through debt conversion and has worked alongside the Fund to develop the concept and modalities of the Debt2 Health Initiative, Indonesia being programme`s pilot country,` she added.
In April this year, the Board of the Global Fund approved a two-year pilot phase for Debt2Health four countries.
While Indonesia is the first country to have completed the deal, Kenya, Pakistan and Peru are lined up to benefit from this new financing initiative during its pilot phase, she pointed out.
On top of that, the co-ordinator added that with adequate financing the Global Fund could help malaria endemic countries control spread of the diseases.
This is due to the fact that, testing and accurate diagnosis for Aids and TB has improved considerably in the past decade, though malaria continues to be over-diagnosed.
According to her, more funding is surely needed to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment, monitor parasitic resistance to anti-malaria drugs, scale-up in-door anti-mosquito spraying, and ensure people are consistently using the long-lasting insecticidal nets provides.
`Mosquito nets are not used nearly enough across Africa. The Global Fund and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) have demonstrated that we can work strategically together towards scaling up efforts to control malaria.
But if resources are not available to build on successes and sustain the current momentum, African countries will lose even more people to this preventable and treatable disease,` she insisted.
Global Fund needs at least USD18 billion over the next three years by 2010 to fight the diseases.
About USD 1.7 billion has so far been spent to control the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, the hardest hit region, accounting for two-thirds of all resources available to control the disease worldwide.
At the annual summit this year, G8 leaders reaffirmed their 2005 commitment fighting AIDS, TB and Malaria, universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
They promised to triple contributions to the Global Fund and provide predictable, long-term additional funding for Aids, TB and malaria to the tune of USD60 billion.
It is a debt conversion initiative that would see freed debt resources being channeled into the fight against tuberculosis, malaria and Aids.
The Tanzania NGO Alliance Against Malaria (TaNAAM) Coordinator Beatrice Minja recently said in an interview that the debt conversion plan was launched during the Global Fund meeting in Berlin last week in the quest of mobilizing funding for health programs in Africa.
She said Tanzania and other African countries would benefit during the Second Debt 2 Health Initiative expected to roll over next four years, whereby Germany has pledged 200 million Euros for Global Fund health programs for poor countries.
The first Debt 2 Health agreement signed converted 50 million Euros last week for Indonesia on condition that Indonesia invests half of the free-up money into national health programs through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.
`Germany is the first donor country to support programs of the global fund through debt conversion and has worked alongside the Fund to develop the concept and modalities of the Debt2 Health Initiative, Indonesia being programme`s pilot country,` she added.
In April this year, the Board of the Global Fund approved a two-year pilot phase for Debt2Health four countries.
While Indonesia is the first country to have completed the deal, Kenya, Pakistan and Peru are lined up to benefit from this new financing initiative during its pilot phase, she pointed out.
On top of that, the co-ordinator added that with adequate financing the Global Fund could help malaria endemic countries control spread of the diseases.
This is due to the fact that, testing and accurate diagnosis for Aids and TB has improved considerably in the past decade, though malaria continues to be over-diagnosed.
According to her, more funding is surely needed to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment, monitor parasitic resistance to anti-malaria drugs, scale-up in-door anti-mosquito spraying, and ensure people are consistently using the long-lasting insecticidal nets provides.
`Mosquito nets are not used nearly enough across Africa. The Global Fund and Roll Back Malaria (RBM) have demonstrated that we can work strategically together towards scaling up efforts to control malaria.
But if resources are not available to build on successes and sustain the current momentum, African countries will lose even more people to this preventable and treatable disease,` she insisted.
Global Fund needs at least USD18 billion over the next three years by 2010 to fight the diseases.
About USD 1.7 billion has so far been spent to control the disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, the hardest hit region, accounting for two-thirds of all resources available to control the disease worldwide.
At the annual summit this year, G8 leaders reaffirmed their 2005 commitment fighting AIDS, TB and Malaria, universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
They promised to triple contributions to the Global Fund and provide predictable, long-term additional funding for Aids, TB and malaria to the tune of USD60 billion.
Chissano stresses quality for Africa to win international markets
Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano says that Africa and other developing countries need to enhance the quality of their products to earn a place in the international market.
Speaking exclusively with The Guardian Tuesday in Dar es Salaam after a two-day high-level dialogue of mobilizing aid for trade, Chissano said low quality products were one of the reasons that barred African countries from shining in the world market.
``Trade can propel economic growth and make millions of people step up from the poverty line.
However, African countries are going through a formidable range of external and domestic barriers that hinder their efforts to reap benefits from the global trading system,`` he said.
He said external barriers such as tariffs and non-tariffs were under negotiations within the framework of the Doha Round. ``African people hope that barriers would either be eliminated altogether or significantly reduced to give them access to world markets.
Countries must enhance the quality of their products, strengthen infrastructure, improve market access and establish market channels for their products to reap the benefits of trade and development,`` said Chissano.
He called upon African countries to focus not only on international business but also to boost trade within African countries themselves.
``African countries can easily benefit people of other nations. They can also boost their own economies, and for this to happen it is important that both the recipient and donor countries build mutual agreement and agenda to ensure that aid for trade dialogue benefits both parties,`` he said.
For his part, Chinese Vice-Minister for Commerce Yi Xiaozhun said the multilateral trading system that existed in the past few decades was unbalanced and favoured the interests of developed over those of developing countries.
``This fact resulted in the marginalization of some developing countries, especially the least developed ones, in the course of globalization,`` he said.
He said the Doha Round launched in 2001 had given prominence to development as its core issue and ultimate goal which was unprecedented in the 60 years of the history of the multilateral trading system.
However, the Chinese added that since the commencement of the WTO Doha Round of negations, there had been only modest increase in trade-related technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries.
He said at this time African countries did not enjoy neither a reasonable share of world trade or benefit sufficiently from globalization.
He said developed countries were in a better position to shoulder greater responsibilities to overcome difficulties.
They have the capacity and obligation to do more to help developing countries. They should increase official development aid and the flow of FDI to African countries, alleviate their debt burden and fight against protectionism,? he said.
In addition he said there was a need to give an active role to multilateral aid programmes initiated by international organisations such as WTO, the World Bank, UNDP and regional development banks.
The two-day meeting endeavored to highlight the importance of African countries to integrate in the global trading system and benefit from it in order to achieve economic well-being and uplift the standard of life on the continent.
The meeting attracted participants from Africa and donor countries from Europe and Asia.
Speaking exclusively with The Guardian Tuesday in Dar es Salaam after a two-day high-level dialogue of mobilizing aid for trade, Chissano said low quality products were one of the reasons that barred African countries from shining in the world market.
``Trade can propel economic growth and make millions of people step up from the poverty line.
However, African countries are going through a formidable range of external and domestic barriers that hinder their efforts to reap benefits from the global trading system,`` he said.
He said external barriers such as tariffs and non-tariffs were under negotiations within the framework of the Doha Round. ``African people hope that barriers would either be eliminated altogether or significantly reduced to give them access to world markets.
Countries must enhance the quality of their products, strengthen infrastructure, improve market access and establish market channels for their products to reap the benefits of trade and development,`` said Chissano.
He called upon African countries to focus not only on international business but also to boost trade within African countries themselves.
``African countries can easily benefit people of other nations. They can also boost their own economies, and for this to happen it is important that both the recipient and donor countries build mutual agreement and agenda to ensure that aid for trade dialogue benefits both parties,`` he said.
For his part, Chinese Vice-Minister for Commerce Yi Xiaozhun said the multilateral trading system that existed in the past few decades was unbalanced and favoured the interests of developed over those of developing countries.
``This fact resulted in the marginalization of some developing countries, especially the least developed ones, in the course of globalization,`` he said.
He said the Doha Round launched in 2001 had given prominence to development as its core issue and ultimate goal which was unprecedented in the 60 years of the history of the multilateral trading system.
However, the Chinese added that since the commencement of the WTO Doha Round of negations, there had been only modest increase in trade-related technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries.
He said at this time African countries did not enjoy neither a reasonable share of world trade or benefit sufficiently from globalization.
He said developed countries were in a better position to shoulder greater responsibilities to overcome difficulties.
They have the capacity and obligation to do more to help developing countries. They should increase official development aid and the flow of FDI to African countries, alleviate their debt burden and fight against protectionism,? he said.
In addition he said there was a need to give an active role to multilateral aid programmes initiated by international organisations such as WTO, the World Bank, UNDP and regional development banks.
The two-day meeting endeavored to highlight the importance of African countries to integrate in the global trading system and benefit from it in order to achieve economic well-being and uplift the standard of life on the continent.
The meeting attracted participants from Africa and donor countries from Europe and Asia.
African leaders fond of `phone justice`
African leaders fond of using phone calls to dictate to judges and magistrates on the handling of court cases have come under scathing attack for blatantly interfering with the independence of the judiciary.
Joaquine De Mello, President of the Bar Association of Tanzania, led the attack in Dar es Salaam yesterday when presenting a paper on the realities of judicial independence in East Africa on the last day of the conference for the region?s association for magistrates and judges.
She charged that ``telephone law`` has become part of the legal framework of many African countries, with many leaders and the affluent making it a habit to contact judges and directing them on what to do with court cases.
She acknowledged the fact that the concept of judicial independence was foreign but explained that there was every need for Africa to observe, safeguard and practise it.
``Africa is replete with stories of abuse of both the rule of law and historical interference of the independence of the judiciary,`` observed De Mello, accusing East African States of having been found wanting in many respects on that score.
``The three EA states (Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda) and their common law system have enshrined in their Constitutions the notion of judicial independence and separation of powers.
It is not however entirely without its criticisms,`` she stated, adding that judicial independence demands that judges be sincere and truthful to the oath they have taken upon their appointment.
She called upon judges throughout the world to administer justice without fear, favour, affection or will and to be true to their oath for the sake of fair access to justice by all.
``The two doctrines of rule of law and judicial independence are intricately intertwined in such a manner that one cannot separate them. They should jointly be promoted and protected,`` emphasized the BAT president.
She described the rule of law was a cornerstone of democracy, saying it was impossible to develop a rule of law culture or system without a fair and efficient independent judiciary accountable to and supported by the citizenry.
Uganda`s Justice Mary Maitum, meanwhile, defined judicial independence as the freedom of judicial officers to go about their duties and responsibilities without external influence.
She said that judicial independence was not a privilege enjoyed by judges but rather a matter of life and death that hinged on the people`s constitutional right to equality before the law.
Maitum explained that judicial independence was especially at risk, and therefore of fundamental importance and relevance, in developing countries where cases of abuse were rampant.
``It is only when judicial officers are left to do their job without interference even from the judicial system itself that both litigants and criminal offenders can be confident of getting justice,`` she added.
Prof Sifuni Mchome, Dean at the Faculty of Law at the University of Dar es Salaam, said in a presentation on the East African Community Treaty that leaders in the region had good ideas and aspirations but significant amendments to the treaty were necessary to make it legitimate and more effective, democratic and transparent.
``The challenges that the EAC is going through suggest that, to ensure success in the endeavour to form a political union, the respective leaders should view the whole process primarily as an approximation to the establishment of a single State and within the premises of constitutionalism,`` he said.
The three-day conference, whose theme was `Constitutionalism: East African Experience`, brought together judges and magistrates from East African countries and a number of other stakeholders.
Joaquine De Mello, President of the Bar Association of Tanzania, led the attack in Dar es Salaam yesterday when presenting a paper on the realities of judicial independence in East Africa on the last day of the conference for the region?s association for magistrates and judges.
She charged that ``telephone law`` has become part of the legal framework of many African countries, with many leaders and the affluent making it a habit to contact judges and directing them on what to do with court cases.
She acknowledged the fact that the concept of judicial independence was foreign but explained that there was every need for Africa to observe, safeguard and practise it.
``Africa is replete with stories of abuse of both the rule of law and historical interference of the independence of the judiciary,`` observed De Mello, accusing East African States of having been found wanting in many respects on that score.
``The three EA states (Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda) and their common law system have enshrined in their Constitutions the notion of judicial independence and separation of powers.
It is not however entirely without its criticisms,`` she stated, adding that judicial independence demands that judges be sincere and truthful to the oath they have taken upon their appointment.
She called upon judges throughout the world to administer justice without fear, favour, affection or will and to be true to their oath for the sake of fair access to justice by all.
``The two doctrines of rule of law and judicial independence are intricately intertwined in such a manner that one cannot separate them. They should jointly be promoted and protected,`` emphasized the BAT president.
She described the rule of law was a cornerstone of democracy, saying it was impossible to develop a rule of law culture or system without a fair and efficient independent judiciary accountable to and supported by the citizenry.
Uganda`s Justice Mary Maitum, meanwhile, defined judicial independence as the freedom of judicial officers to go about their duties and responsibilities without external influence.
She said that judicial independence was not a privilege enjoyed by judges but rather a matter of life and death that hinged on the people`s constitutional right to equality before the law.
Maitum explained that judicial independence was especially at risk, and therefore of fundamental importance and relevance, in developing countries where cases of abuse were rampant.
``It is only when judicial officers are left to do their job without interference even from the judicial system itself that both litigants and criminal offenders can be confident of getting justice,`` she added.
Prof Sifuni Mchome, Dean at the Faculty of Law at the University of Dar es Salaam, said in a presentation on the East African Community Treaty that leaders in the region had good ideas and aspirations but significant amendments to the treaty were necessary to make it legitimate and more effective, democratic and transparent.
``The challenges that the EAC is going through suggest that, to ensure success in the endeavour to form a political union, the respective leaders should view the whole process primarily as an approximation to the establishment of a single State and within the premises of constitutionalism,`` he said.
The three-day conference, whose theme was `Constitutionalism: East African Experience`, brought together judges and magistrates from East African countries and a number of other stakeholders.
By-elections will go on as planned - NEC
The National Election Commission (NEC) has said local government by-elections slated for this month in 16 wards will go on as planned. It has also called on the Opposition to go to court if they wish.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, NEC Director Rajabu Kiravu said he was sure the electoral body had not breached any elections laws.
Kiravu was referring to a statement issued on Tuesday by a coalition of opposition parties, which threatened to go to court if NEC would not update the voter register.
``What we are doing is to do the rectifications according to law. We cannot stop the opposition parties from doing whatever they plan.
We will just wait for them to take us to court and receive the outcome. It all depends on how they file their case,`` he said.
He said the opposition parties had sent a number of letters calling on NEC to update the permanent voter register.
``I told them that the by-election would go on and things would not change. We held a meeting to discuss the issue. It was resolved that the by-election should go on, ``Kiravu said.
He said: ``The local authority election law says that NEC should plan and conduct local government elections within 90 days soon after they have been ordered to do so by the Prime Minister.
`` Kiravu however, admitted that the law required them to set the time frame and update the permanent voter register in every ward.
But he said it would be impossible to update the register every time there was a by-election as the exercise was simply too costly.
He said they would be updating the register twice in between the elections.
``The first exercise will take place in 2008, while the second will be in 2009/10,`` Kiravu said.
He said they had already registered all youths who reached the age of 18 starting October 30, 2005 to date, adding, ``We shall allow those who had been registered but not to stop the election.
`` Kiravu said failure to conduct the by-election would amount to breaching the law, and amount to denying the people their constitutional right of electing their representatives.
``It would also be a danger if we would conduct a partial registration as this would allow other unqualified persons to take part in the by-elections,`` he said.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Tanzania Labour Party Publicity Secretary Benedicto Mutungireli said they would file a case against NEC tomorrow so that the by-elections were halted.
``The coalition is determined to sue NEC for refusing to enlist new voters. NEC might tamper with the election exercise,`` Mutungireli said.
He added: ``NEC gave us a timetable, saying the by-election process would start on October 2 and effective campaigns were slated to take-off starting October 3 up to 27th October. 28th October is Election Day.
The coalition comprises Chama cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo, Civil United Front (CUF), NCCR-Mageuzi and TLP.
Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, NEC Director Rajabu Kiravu said he was sure the electoral body had not breached any elections laws.
Kiravu was referring to a statement issued on Tuesday by a coalition of opposition parties, which threatened to go to court if NEC would not update the voter register.
``What we are doing is to do the rectifications according to law. We cannot stop the opposition parties from doing whatever they plan.
We will just wait for them to take us to court and receive the outcome. It all depends on how they file their case,`` he said.
He said the opposition parties had sent a number of letters calling on NEC to update the permanent voter register.
``I told them that the by-election would go on and things would not change. We held a meeting to discuss the issue. It was resolved that the by-election should go on, ``Kiravu said.
He said: ``The local authority election law says that NEC should plan and conduct local government elections within 90 days soon after they have been ordered to do so by the Prime Minister.
`` Kiravu however, admitted that the law required them to set the time frame and update the permanent voter register in every ward.
But he said it would be impossible to update the register every time there was a by-election as the exercise was simply too costly.
He said they would be updating the register twice in between the elections.
``The first exercise will take place in 2008, while the second will be in 2009/10,`` Kiravu said.
He said they had already registered all youths who reached the age of 18 starting October 30, 2005 to date, adding, ``We shall allow those who had been registered but not to stop the election.
`` Kiravu said failure to conduct the by-election would amount to breaching the law, and amount to denying the people their constitutional right of electing their representatives.
``It would also be a danger if we would conduct a partial registration as this would allow other unqualified persons to take part in the by-elections,`` he said.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Tanzania Labour Party Publicity Secretary Benedicto Mutungireli said they would file a case against NEC tomorrow so that the by-elections were halted.
``The coalition is determined to sue NEC for refusing to enlist new voters. NEC might tamper with the election exercise,`` Mutungireli said.
He added: ``NEC gave us a timetable, saying the by-election process would start on October 2 and effective campaigns were slated to take-off starting October 3 up to 27th October. 28th October is Election Day.
The coalition comprises Chama cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo, Civil United Front (CUF), NCCR-Mageuzi and TLP.
`Ring leaders` of inmates boycott identified
Police in Dar es Salaam say they have identified the four ring leaders of an inmates strike, who allegedly spearheaded the Tuesday court boycott by scores of remandees from Keko Prison, who refused to alight from a truck.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Alfred Tibaigana, said the four would appear in court once investigations had been completed.
He said two of the suspects were facing manslaughter charges while the other pair was charged with armed robbery.
Tibaigana mentioned those facing manslaughter charges as Anthony Angelus (50) and Ramadan Rajabu Mbano (30), while those who are charged with armed robbery are James Juma (28) and Omary Rashidi (21).
``The police spoke to the Head of Prison immediately after receiving reports that the remandees had refused to alight from the truck,`` said Tibaigana.
He said they interrogated the remandees who allegedly had no intention to strike, but were ordered to do so by the four suspects.
``I ordered the four ringleaders to alight from the truck and told the rest to proceed to court for their hearings,`` he said.
The police commander directed the two suspects facing armed robbery charges to be sent to court in a different car while those facing manslaughter charges went in another.
``We are conducting an investigation to establish whether all the 65 remandees refused to alight from the truck or if they only did so after being threatened,`` said Tibaigana.
Speaking to journalists yesterday, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Alfred Tibaigana, said the four would appear in court once investigations had been completed.
He said two of the suspects were facing manslaughter charges while the other pair was charged with armed robbery.
Tibaigana mentioned those facing manslaughter charges as Anthony Angelus (50) and Ramadan Rajabu Mbano (30), while those who are charged with armed robbery are James Juma (28) and Omary Rashidi (21).
``The police spoke to the Head of Prison immediately after receiving reports that the remandees had refused to alight from the truck,`` said Tibaigana.
He said they interrogated the remandees who allegedly had no intention to strike, but were ordered to do so by the four suspects.
``I ordered the four ringleaders to alight from the truck and told the rest to proceed to court for their hearings,`` he said.
The police commander directed the two suspects facing armed robbery charges to be sent to court in a different car while those facing manslaughter charges went in another.
``We are conducting an investigation to establish whether all the 65 remandees refused to alight from the truck or if they only did so after being threatened,`` said Tibaigana.
Telemedicine high on govt`s agenda
Tanzania could soon join those parts of the world now enjoying the benefits of telemedicine technology, which enables doctors to attend to patients electronically.
The advanced use of information and communication technology makes it possible for a single doctor to attend to more patients than by depending on conventional methods while also making prescriptions on-line.
The good news was the gist of remarks by Wilson Mkama, Permanent Secretary in the Health and Social Welfare ministry, when he opened a three-day Cross Country Learning Event in Health in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Among the delegates to the function are health experts from Ghana, Mali, Uganda and Tanzania.
Mkama would not say exactly when Tanzania would begin enjoying the benefits brought about by the technology but was optimistic that the development would make the expenses patients usually incur visiting referral hospitals no longer necessary.
That would also enable the government to make more effective use of the few doctors available in the country, he added.
One doctor in Tanzania currently serves more than 23,000 patients on average, while the recommended World Health Organisation ratio is 1:7500.
The permanent secretary said that, thanks to the wonders of ICT, a network of medical experts would be co-ordinating the relevant operations at regional and referral hospitals across the country.
``The health sector touches on very important aspects of human life but has always found it hard to have all the resources it needs to function properly.
ICT has great potential for leveraging and bridging the gap between the demand for and availability of those resources,`` he pointed out.
He said the Government recognised the importance of ICT as an enabling tool for effective delivery of health and other services and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
``That was why the Government adopted the National Information and Communication Technology Policy, which aims at developing and harnessing the use of ICT in the country?s social and economic development,`` he added.
Mkama said the Government had detailed health and other experts to study how best the telemedicine option could be implemented while taking into close account the realities of the country's social, economic and geographical setting.
Team Manager Deem Vermeulen from the Netherlands-based International Institute for Communication and Development noted at the event that health services in Tanzania are vastly better than they were in the 1990s when he worked with different health centres in the country.
He said when he was here during those years decent health services were available only in a few special, mainly private, hospitals but now even Government hospitals at the regional and district level offered good services.
The expert expressed hope that the application of ICT in the health sector in Tanzania would make the quality of services improve, adding that his institute would facilitate distance learning in ICT for health practitioners in the country.
He commended the ICT industry in Tanzania for what he called playing a monumental role in serving as a catalyst for positive developments in different sectors.
For years the institute has engaged in an array of activities and implemented different projects aimed at enhancing the advancement of professionals, implementing pilot projects on the management of health information systems and others directly supporting the health sector.
The advanced use of information and communication technology makes it possible for a single doctor to attend to more patients than by depending on conventional methods while also making prescriptions on-line.
The good news was the gist of remarks by Wilson Mkama, Permanent Secretary in the Health and Social Welfare ministry, when he opened a three-day Cross Country Learning Event in Health in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Among the delegates to the function are health experts from Ghana, Mali, Uganda and Tanzania.
Mkama would not say exactly when Tanzania would begin enjoying the benefits brought about by the technology but was optimistic that the development would make the expenses patients usually incur visiting referral hospitals no longer necessary.
That would also enable the government to make more effective use of the few doctors available in the country, he added.
One doctor in Tanzania currently serves more than 23,000 patients on average, while the recommended World Health Organisation ratio is 1:7500.
The permanent secretary said that, thanks to the wonders of ICT, a network of medical experts would be co-ordinating the relevant operations at regional and referral hospitals across the country.
``The health sector touches on very important aspects of human life but has always found it hard to have all the resources it needs to function properly.
ICT has great potential for leveraging and bridging the gap between the demand for and availability of those resources,`` he pointed out.
He said the Government recognised the importance of ICT as an enabling tool for effective delivery of health and other services and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
``That was why the Government adopted the National Information and Communication Technology Policy, which aims at developing and harnessing the use of ICT in the country?s social and economic development,`` he added.
Mkama said the Government had detailed health and other experts to study how best the telemedicine option could be implemented while taking into close account the realities of the country's social, economic and geographical setting.
Team Manager Deem Vermeulen from the Netherlands-based International Institute for Communication and Development noted at the event that health services in Tanzania are vastly better than they were in the 1990s when he worked with different health centres in the country.
He said when he was here during those years decent health services were available only in a few special, mainly private, hospitals but now even Government hospitals at the regional and district level offered good services.
The expert expressed hope that the application of ICT in the health sector in Tanzania would make the quality of services improve, adding that his institute would facilitate distance learning in ICT for health practitioners in the country.
He commended the ICT industry in Tanzania for what he called playing a monumental role in serving as a catalyst for positive developments in different sectors.
For years the institute has engaged in an array of activities and implemented different projects aimed at enhancing the advancement of professionals, implementing pilot projects on the management of health information systems and others directly supporting the health sector.
Wananchi tell visiting ministers: Leaders are no longer with us
Recent visit by three ministers in Dodoma unearthed the alleged bottlenecks in the leadership framework at ward and district levels, the weaknesses that the opposition parties happen to take advantage of to gain popularity.
Addressing government officials and political party leaders in the region to sum up the six-day tour yesterday, the three, Anthony Diallo (Livestock Development), Omary Yusuf Mzee (deputy minister Defence and National Service) and Christopher Chiza (deputy minister Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives) warned irresponsible leaders against their unwillingness to work closely with the people.
In their travel around to educate the public on budgetary overheads, the ministers had the opportunity to listen to complaints registered by members of the public.
One of the issues raised was the alleged disengagement of leaders in people`s development projects coupled with frequent visits to urban centres for personal duties.
The real drama started when the ministers allowed questions from the floor. Lucy Rutta CCM publicity secretary, Uhuru ward in Dodoma highlighted the growing split between the leaders and villagers.
``Some of the leaders fear the electorate such that they only find comfort when keeping away from them. The reason behind could be inefficiency among leaders giving room to the opposition to penetrate their influence among the villagers,`` Lucy explained.
For his part, Peter Chiwanga, CCM political committee member, Kikombo Ward said it was surprising to learn that some of the ward executives were totally unaware of what was happening in terms of community development projects in their respective areas.
``Worse still when a resident inquires about anything regarding underdeveloped project in the presence of a national leader, the person is put in trouble, intimidated and receive all sorts of threats from the leadership. This is absolutely wrong. We cannot build democracy that way,`` Chiwanga remarked.
Abdu Kajamkama and Idrissa Mgaza, both CCM leaders requested the government to respond quickly to claims by the opposition to rule out the possibility of the camp to spread out unfounded allegations.
They also spoke of the need for the government to intervene on the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities such as cement currently selling at 20,000/- a bag in the designated capital.
Responding to the issues raised, Diallo said the issue of inflation and the subsequent increase of commodity prices would not be resolved overnight.
``There are various mechanisms to cut down the cost and reduce the deficit in commodity prices.
One of the solutions is the formation or creation of voluntary consumer alliances to help control the prices,`` Diallo explained.
For his part, Mzee urged the leaders to respond swiftly to problems facing the people, instead of waiting for the arrival of national leaders.
``I don`t mean that you respond to every single claim by the opposition, but rather those arguments that will require proper clarification.
You need to work closely with the people and discuss issues not individuals when you meet,`` Mzee insisted.
Addressing government officials and political party leaders in the region to sum up the six-day tour yesterday, the three, Anthony Diallo (Livestock Development), Omary Yusuf Mzee (deputy minister Defence and National Service) and Christopher Chiza (deputy minister Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives) warned irresponsible leaders against their unwillingness to work closely with the people.
In their travel around to educate the public on budgetary overheads, the ministers had the opportunity to listen to complaints registered by members of the public.
One of the issues raised was the alleged disengagement of leaders in people`s development projects coupled with frequent visits to urban centres for personal duties.
The real drama started when the ministers allowed questions from the floor. Lucy Rutta CCM publicity secretary, Uhuru ward in Dodoma highlighted the growing split between the leaders and villagers.
``Some of the leaders fear the electorate such that they only find comfort when keeping away from them. The reason behind could be inefficiency among leaders giving room to the opposition to penetrate their influence among the villagers,`` Lucy explained.
For his part, Peter Chiwanga, CCM political committee member, Kikombo Ward said it was surprising to learn that some of the ward executives were totally unaware of what was happening in terms of community development projects in their respective areas.
``Worse still when a resident inquires about anything regarding underdeveloped project in the presence of a national leader, the person is put in trouble, intimidated and receive all sorts of threats from the leadership. This is absolutely wrong. We cannot build democracy that way,`` Chiwanga remarked.
Abdu Kajamkama and Idrissa Mgaza, both CCM leaders requested the government to respond quickly to claims by the opposition to rule out the possibility of the camp to spread out unfounded allegations.
They also spoke of the need for the government to intervene on the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities such as cement currently selling at 20,000/- a bag in the designated capital.
Responding to the issues raised, Diallo said the issue of inflation and the subsequent increase of commodity prices would not be resolved overnight.
``There are various mechanisms to cut down the cost and reduce the deficit in commodity prices.
One of the solutions is the formation or creation of voluntary consumer alliances to help control the prices,`` Diallo explained.
For his part, Mzee urged the leaders to respond swiftly to problems facing the people, instead of waiting for the arrival of national leaders.
``I don`t mean that you respond to every single claim by the opposition, but rather those arguments that will require proper clarification.
You need to work closely with the people and discuss issues not individuals when you meet,`` Mzee insisted.
Sato keen to see `One Stop Border Post` is introduced in Africa
Japanese Ambassador in Charge of peace building in Africa, Keitaro Sato has said his country will help African countries to set up ?One Stop Border Post? concept that would standardize custom procedures at the border.
Speaking at the Aid for Trade (AFT) meeting in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Sato, who once served as Japan Ambassador to Tanzania, said that to leap the benefits of the trade, developing countries need to enhance the productivity of their products and strengthen its infrastructure.
He said that infrastructure is the basis of active trade and that it is important to ensure the economic growth of entire Africa by developing regional infrastructure.
He said that Japan, in cooperation with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), engages in identification of regional road network projects of urgent needs.
``While Japan continues to aim at a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda, we will make out steady efforts to realize ``vibrant Africa`` by providing Aid for Trade,`` he said.
He said that international trade plays a pivotal role in contributing to the economic growth of African countries and other developing countries.
He said that donors should give due consideration to the ownership of the recipient country, and provide assistance in a tailored-made manner reflecting the actual needs of each recipient country.
He said that Japan will also help recipient countries to increase their trade and investment in order to support their sustainable development.
``Japan will place emphasis on providing assistance for crucial sectors and infrastructure which is essential for recipient countries to enjoy the benefits of international trade,`` he noted.
Sato said Japan will also actively help developing countries build up institutional capacity to formulate policies and improve regulatory frameworks, and foster their human resources.
More concretely, we will actively contribute to Aid for Trade by steadily implementing our ``Development Initiative for Trade`` launched in December 2005, said Sato.
He said that Japan?s Development Initiative for Trade is a comprehensive package to assist developing countries, which reflects the real needs of their people.
Japan will make ``boosting economic growth in Africa`` as one of the prioritised targets for the country`s focus on African trade development, he said.
Speaking at the Aid for Trade (AFT) meeting in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Sato, who once served as Japan Ambassador to Tanzania, said that to leap the benefits of the trade, developing countries need to enhance the productivity of their products and strengthen its infrastructure.
He said that infrastructure is the basis of active trade and that it is important to ensure the economic growth of entire Africa by developing regional infrastructure.
He said that Japan, in cooperation with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and JBIC (Japan Bank for International Cooperation), engages in identification of regional road network projects of urgent needs.
``While Japan continues to aim at a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda, we will make out steady efforts to realize ``vibrant Africa`` by providing Aid for Trade,`` he said.
He said that international trade plays a pivotal role in contributing to the economic growth of African countries and other developing countries.
He said that donors should give due consideration to the ownership of the recipient country, and provide assistance in a tailored-made manner reflecting the actual needs of each recipient country.
He said that Japan will also help recipient countries to increase their trade and investment in order to support their sustainable development.
``Japan will place emphasis on providing assistance for crucial sectors and infrastructure which is essential for recipient countries to enjoy the benefits of international trade,`` he noted.
Sato said Japan will also actively help developing countries build up institutional capacity to formulate policies and improve regulatory frameworks, and foster their human resources.
More concretely, we will actively contribute to Aid for Trade by steadily implementing our ``Development Initiative for Trade`` launched in December 2005, said Sato.
He said that Japan?s Development Initiative for Trade is a comprehensive package to assist developing countries, which reflects the real needs of their people.
Japan will make ``boosting economic growth in Africa`` as one of the prioritised targets for the country`s focus on African trade development, he said.
East African judicial officers counselled to apply law fairly
Vice-President Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein has challenged judges and magistrates in East Africa to apply the law fairly without regard to contingency and political pressure to ensure proper functioning of constitutionalism in a democratic society.
Dr. Shein made the remarks on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam at the opening of the sixth conference of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA).
``Justice in decision-making by judicial officers will make people more often focus attention on the integrity of judges and magistrates,`` Dr. Shein said.
He said constitutionalism was a topical theme the world over because the majority of people did not enforce many of their rights entrenched in their national constitutions due to poverty and ignorance.
``People have no access to courts because they can not afford the costs of enforcing the rights. Access to justice is one of the most basic human rights,`` he said.
He emphasised that justice was an essential component for any democratic state which relies on constitutionalism.
He said courts should be accepted by the public as the proper forum for the ascertainment of legal rights, obligations and settlement of disputes.
Dr. Shein noted that the independence of the judicial system was one of the most important elements of constitutionalism in a functioning democracy.
``It should not be taken to mean authorising judges to operate without laid down guidelines and laws,`` he added For his part, EAMJA president David Wangutusi said the association was concerned with the rights of accused persons, especially with the problem of congestion.
He said congestion in prisons was caused by a number of reasons, some of which were within and outside the judicial system.
``The current congestion of prisoners in courts has led to untold suffering because the majority inevitably lead to delayed disposal and therefore longer periods in remand,`` he said.
He said the association did not advocate freeing of the accused but expeditious hearing.
The conference, whose theme was `Constitutionalism: East African Experience`, brought together judges and magistrates from East African countries as well as other stakeholders.
Dr. Shein made the remarks on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam at the opening of the sixth conference of the East African Magistrates and Judges Association (EAMJA).
``Justice in decision-making by judicial officers will make people more often focus attention on the integrity of judges and magistrates,`` Dr. Shein said.
He said constitutionalism was a topical theme the world over because the majority of people did not enforce many of their rights entrenched in their national constitutions due to poverty and ignorance.
``People have no access to courts because they can not afford the costs of enforcing the rights. Access to justice is one of the most basic human rights,`` he said.
He emphasised that justice was an essential component for any democratic state which relies on constitutionalism.
He said courts should be accepted by the public as the proper forum for the ascertainment of legal rights, obligations and settlement of disputes.
Dr. Shein noted that the independence of the judicial system was one of the most important elements of constitutionalism in a functioning democracy.
``It should not be taken to mean authorising judges to operate without laid down guidelines and laws,`` he added For his part, EAMJA president David Wangutusi said the association was concerned with the rights of accused persons, especially with the problem of congestion.
He said congestion in prisons was caused by a number of reasons, some of which were within and outside the judicial system.
``The current congestion of prisoners in courts has led to untold suffering because the majority inevitably lead to delayed disposal and therefore longer periods in remand,`` he said.
He said the association did not advocate freeing of the accused but expeditious hearing.
The conference, whose theme was `Constitutionalism: East African Experience`, brought together judges and magistrates from East African countries as well as other stakeholders.
D`salaam court drops murder charge against five accused
Five accused persons out of seven, who were charged with murder, were set free by a Dar es Salaam court last week after the State formally expressed its intention not to prosecute them any longer.
However, the other two were returned to remand custody and would stand trial upon completion of proceedings.
The release of the accused came in the wake of information by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asking the court to drop prosecution of the five accused persons.
In a communiqué ´o Resident Magistrate Adolf Mahay, the DPP said the state was no longer interested in prosecuting Zawadi Nguvumali, Yahaya Issa, Moshu Namis, Chefasi Mpozi, Juma Chande and Nyamhanga Moremi for murder as per the Nolle prosequi entered.
However, the dual who are Gentric Mturi Moremi and Othman Ramadhan Dillusungu would continue to be prosecuted for the alleged murder of Herman Banzil.
It was alleged the accused committed the offence on March 15, 2006 at Ali Maua in Kinondoni. The case was adjourned to October 5, this year when hearing resumes.
However, the other two were returned to remand custody and would stand trial upon completion of proceedings.
The release of the accused came in the wake of information by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) asking the court to drop prosecution of the five accused persons.
In a communiqué ´o Resident Magistrate Adolf Mahay, the DPP said the state was no longer interested in prosecuting Zawadi Nguvumali, Yahaya Issa, Moshu Namis, Chefasi Mpozi, Juma Chande and Nyamhanga Moremi for murder as per the Nolle prosequi entered.
However, the dual who are Gentric Mturi Moremi and Othman Ramadhan Dillusungu would continue to be prosecuted for the alleged murder of Herman Banzil.
It was alleged the accused committed the offence on March 15, 2006 at Ali Maua in Kinondoni. The case was adjourned to October 5, this year when hearing resumes.
Zimbabwean inflation under 7,000%
President Mugabe has imposed a price-control programme Zimbabwe's annual inflation rate slowed in August to 6,592.8% from July's record of 7,634.8%, according to the Central Statistical Office (CSO).
The slowdown came in the midst of a price-control programme imposed by President Robert Mugabe in June.
Businesses were ordered to cut or freeze prices for items such as bread and milk.
But critics say the measures have just deepened the chronic food shortages suffered by Zimbabweans.
At the end of August, President Mugabe introduced jail terms of up to six months for anyone caught trying to raise prices or wages.
The CSO said the decline in inflation was due to a slowdown in prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Despite the fall, Zimbabwe's inflation remains by far the highest in the world.
Does older mean wiser?
Do older people have too much influence?
Older people from across Africa are meeting government representatives as part of a global campaign to demand improvements in ageing policies and practices in their countries.
The campaign in Africa is being supported by politicians, celebrities, artists and musicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
Older people from across Africa are meeting government representatives as part of a global campaign to demand improvements in ageing policies and practices in their countries.
The campaign in Africa is being supported by politicians, celebrities, artists and musicians including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.
But do older people impose outdated values on the younger generation? Should they try to learn from young people? Do Africans give their elders too much respect?
If you would like to share your comments, please do not hesitate, just click at comments below.
Thanks in advance
Paris bomb trial upsets families
Ramda has already been convicted on a lesser chargeAn Algerian man facing charges over the 1995 Paris Metro bombings has upset victims' families by declaring his sympathy for them in court.
Rachid Ramda was jailed last year for associating with terrorists in connection with the attacks but is now back on trial for conspiracy to murder.
Ramda, who says he is innocent, voiced "spiritual" support for the families of the eight dead and 87 injured.
His remark caused a sensation with one woman running out of the court.
Ramda, who is currently serving 10 years, faces life in jail if convicted.
Two other men, said to be the mastermind and the bomb expert of the attacks, are serving life sentences handed down by a French court in 2002 for their role in the bombings.
Prosecutors say Ramda was the financier of several of the attacks.
'If it had been my father...'
Ramda made the comment on the second day of his trial at Paris Assizes Court on charges of complicity to murder, and attempted murder, over the blasts at the St Michel and Musee d'Orsay railway stations, and the Maison Blanche metro station.
Referring to a victim of the St Michel attack, he said:
"If it had been my father, I think my reaction would have been a little extreme, I would have demanded the death penalty for the people who did that."
France abolished the death penalty in 1981.
One woman ran from the court in tears as he spoke, while another person shouted: "We don't need your support".
Ramda was extradited from the UK in December after a 10-year legal battle - he was the UK's longest-serving extradition prisoner.
The bombings were blamed on militants from Algeria's Armed Islamic Group (GIA), who accused France of supporting the Algerian government, which they were fighting at the time.
A verdict is expected around 30 October.
Merkel will attend Africa summit
Brown and Merkel are not united over Mugabe German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to attend a summit of European Union and African leaders, even if Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is there.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said last month he would not attend the summit if Mr Mugabe attended.
Mrs Merkel is starting her first African tour since becoming chancellor, heading first for Ethiopia.
A German official said relations with Africa "should not be hostage to developments in Zimbabwe".
"The chancellor will take part in the summit," the official said, quoted by Reuters.
"It is in our interests to go through with the summit."
The EU-Africa summit is to take place in Lisbon in December.
The official said however that developments in Zimbabwe are "massively problematic", and would be raised by Mrs Merkel when she visits South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Australia in African refugee ban
John Howard has benefited from immigration concernsA freeze on the settlement of refugees from Africa - including those from Sudan's Darfur region - has been announced by the Australian government.
Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said the refugees had trouble integrating, and other parts of the world such as Iraq and Burma were greater priorities.
The freeze will last until mid-2008, and there are no guarantees that Africans will be admitted after then.
Critics say it is a pre-election pitch to immigration-wary voters.
Mr Andrews said refugees from Sudan and conflict-torn Darfur were having problems integrating into Australian communities, and that trouble spots closer to home should take priority.
To that end, Africans are being replaced in the humanitarian refugee programme by people fleeing Iraq and Burma.
Trapped SA miners emerge slowly
The miners can only be brought to the surface in small groupsRescuers are slowly bringing to the surface thousands of workers trapped for hours in a South African gold mine.
More than 3,000 men became trapped 2.2km (1.4 miles) underground when a broken pipe severed power cables to a lift early on Wednesday.
By midday (1000GMT) some 2,000 had been freed from the Elandsrand mine, 80km (50 miles) west of Johannesburg.
Some workers have been underground for 36 hours, since starting night shifts on Tuesday evening.
The miners are being brought out through a small shaft normally used for mining equipment, and only 75 can be hauled clear at a time: no more than 300 in an hour.
Each group of miners was greeted with shouts of joy and whistling, the South African Press Association (Sapa) reports.
Plane crashes in DR Congo capital
A plane has crashed in the east of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials say.
The Antonov 26 cargo plane owned by the Congolese airline, Africa 1, came down in the Kingasani residential area near Ndili airport around 1030 (0930 GMT).
An airport official, Jean-Claude Bakongo, told the Reuters news agency that 17 people had been on board.
Correspondents say air accidents are frequent in DR Congo, where many airlines fly ageing planes.
According to the African Airlines Association, the country has accounted for well over half of all the air crashes in Africa over the last decade.
A resident of Kingasani, Papy Kangufu, said the plane had crashed into a market in that had been full of people at the time. The area was full of smoke, he said.
The Russian ITAR-Tass news agency has reported that the plane had a Russian crew and had been flying from Kinshasa to Chicapa.
The Antonov 26 cargo plane owned by the Congolese airline, Africa 1, came down in the Kingasani residential area near Ndili airport around 1030 (0930 GMT).
An airport official, Jean-Claude Bakongo, told the Reuters news agency that 17 people had been on board.
Correspondents say air accidents are frequent in DR Congo, where many airlines fly ageing planes.
According to the African Airlines Association, the country has accounted for well over half of all the air crashes in Africa over the last decade.
A resident of Kingasani, Papy Kangufu, said the plane had crashed into a market in that had been full of people at the time. The area was full of smoke, he said.
The Russian ITAR-Tass news agency has reported that the plane had a Russian crew and had been flying from Kinshasa to Chicapa.
Korean leaders issue peace call
The two leaders reached agreement on a number of issuesThe leaders of North and South Korea have signed a joint declaration calling for a permanent peace deal on the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and the North's Kim Jong-il issued the declaration after a three-day historic summit in Pyongyang.
They called for international talks on a treaty to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
The agreement came a day after the North agreed to end its nuclear plans.
Officials involved in separate, international talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme confirmed that Pyongyang had committed to a timetable to disable its nuclear facilities.
'Permanent peace'
Mr Roh and Mr Kim shook hands and drank a toast after they signed the eight-point declaration.
And the North Korean leader used the occasion to quash speculation that he was suffering from ill health.
"South Korean media reported that I have diabetes and even heart disease, but the fact is that is not the case at all," he told delegates at the farewell luncheon.
The joint declaration said: "The South and North share the view that they should end the current armistice system and build up a permanent peace system."
It called for leaders of nations concerned to meet on the Korean Peninsula and agree an end to the 1950-1953 war.
THE TWO KOREAS
1910: Korean Peninsula colonised by Japan
1945: Divided into US-backed South and Soviet-backed North
1950-1953: Korean War, no peace deal signed
1987: North Korea bombs a South airliner, killing 115
1990s: South Korea introduces conciliatory Sunshine Policy
2000: Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung hold first leaders' summit
2007: Kim Jong-il and Roh Moo-hyun hold second leaders' summit
Any such talks would probably involve the US and China which, along with North Korea, signed the armistice that ended the war.
South Korea did not sign and remains technically at war with the North.
The two sides also agreed to resume freight rail services across the heavily fortified border for the first time in more than five decades.
Agreements were also reached on establishing a joint fishing zone in the disputed western sea border and on holding regular summits, although no timetable was given for these.
More reunions between families divided by the partitioning of the Korean Peninsula would be held, the declaration said.
The summit is only the second between leaders of the two nations.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says that, while there is a sense that history is being made, the detail of the declaration will be important.
A similar optimism surrounded the first summit seven years ago, attended by former South Korean leader Kim Dae-jung, but many people feel very little has really changed, our correspondent adds.
Nuclear deal
On Wednesday, officials involved in six-party talks on the North's nuclear ambitions revealed that Pyongyang had formally committed to disabling its Yongbyon reactor and related sites, and fully disclosing all aspects of its nuclear programme by the end of the year.
Yongbyon, the North's main reactor, was closed earlier this year in return for aid, as part of the first phase of the deal.
A US-led team of experts is to go to North Korea in the next two weeks to begin the process.
The final crucial phase of the deal - where North Korea surrenders its existing nuclear stockpile - is due to be implemented next year.
US President George W Bush has welcomed the agreement, but Japan - one of the six countries involved in the talks - remained cautious.
On Thursday its ruling party backed extending sanctions against North Korea, citing a lack of progress in a row over Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang.
North Korea carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006.
When Bongo Flava peters out quickly
`Mnanionesha njia ya kwetu` was a hit by the then prolific DDC Mlimani Park Orchestra which was released more than a quarter of a century ago.
But it stays put in the hearts and souls of music lovers, both the young and the elderly.
Talk about `Georgina` by the then Safari Trippers Group which unleashed the piece more than 30 years ago, and the then obtaining appreciation and love for the track remains intact today.
That was the works of the legendary Marijani Rajab, one of the everlasting stalwarts of Tanzania`s music.
For local music lovers still harbour undying and everlasting appreciation for music legends which included Joseph Mulenga, a canny guitarist who could not register his voice behind microphones.
So was the celebrated Fred Ndala Kasheba who made his debut on Tanzania`s music scene in the late 60s with the then Orchestre Fauvette.
His compositions remain unchallenged and appreciated in the local music world despite being launched on the scene more than 20 years ago.
Now enter the current music generation. The whole story seems to be laden with cons more than pros. This article does not intend to belittle what the young girls and boys of this country are catering for music lovers countrywide.
But, it needs to point out the fact that the youthful music needs much to command appreciation of music lovers from people who can play pianos to sugar mummies preparing cheap dinners in the hinterlands of Tanzania.
On a frank note, tracks by musicians reputed to be on the top charts of the country`s music artistry, such as Feruzi, Afande Sele, Professor J, TID, Lady Jay Dee - just to mention a few - have fast run out of favour for music pundits a few months and years after they ascended on the music fora.
To cement claims to this reality, one of the music producers in the country made pronunciations to this effect, that compositions by Bongo Flava artistes were bound for doom as they did not carry with them the needed artistic paraphernalia.
A good example of the good compositions which have stayed on the music scene for decades include the `twist` tracks by Kenyan musicians who included Peter Tsotsi, Daudi Kabaka, David Amunga and others.
Their everlasting tracks include `Nakumbuka Adija Wangu`, ?Nilikutana na Mlofa Moja`, `Wale Vijana`, etc, which are still hot cakes as the world marks dates and weeks in the year 2007.
The same applies to compositions with Congolese musicians such as Franco Luambo, Nicholas Kasanda, Tabu Ley, Joseph Kabassele, etc, whose compositions landed on the music scene years when millions of music lovers were not yet born, but their music`s impact is noticed and recorded on the almanacs of Africa`s music artistry hitherto.
The trouble with Bongo Flava artistes is that they have all along indulged in cheap business whereby people who regard themselves as musicians simply pick up microphones and wail into them with compositions lacking in lyrics and melodies.
In doing so, the end product ends up on a dry plain with most music lovers shunning and ignoring such cheap products revolving on a few repetitive lines of lyrics completely lacking in the widely publicized flavour.
A good, living example is tracks unleashed by the Msondo Ngoma Music Band. The products remain on every music lover`s lip and ear as people who composed them threw everything at their disposal toward making the said tracks real hits.
The said tracks are those unleashed by the band when their legendary singer and composer, Moshi William, was still around.
The ageing composers and singers seem to have stolen all the `golds` in the field as the contemporary generation seems to lack the expertise which would guide them towards the needed artistry which could make them heroes with the needed dexterity in respect of respected music.
On the international scene, our Bongo Flava musicians have to reckon with former and current international artistes such as Michael Jackson, Jim Reeves, Lionel Richie, Abba Group, The Beatles, etc, whose works are still revered by a wide cross section of people for their artistic adroitness which has made their ?pieces? remain on the scene for ever.
As the days go on, the young boys and girls of this country, who are the main grafters of the mode of their music quality and standards, have to come of age and reckon with the needs of their fans and their markets within and outside the country.
Indeed, they have to reckon with the fact that, their counterparts in Uganda and Kenya, for example, could readily `steal` what would have been their markets in this part of the world. What has to be taken into consideration is quality and not quantity.
But it stays put in the hearts and souls of music lovers, both the young and the elderly.
Talk about `Georgina` by the then Safari Trippers Group which unleashed the piece more than 30 years ago, and the then obtaining appreciation and love for the track remains intact today.
That was the works of the legendary Marijani Rajab, one of the everlasting stalwarts of Tanzania`s music.
For local music lovers still harbour undying and everlasting appreciation for music legends which included Joseph Mulenga, a canny guitarist who could not register his voice behind microphones.
So was the celebrated Fred Ndala Kasheba who made his debut on Tanzania`s music scene in the late 60s with the then Orchestre Fauvette.
His compositions remain unchallenged and appreciated in the local music world despite being launched on the scene more than 20 years ago.
Now enter the current music generation. The whole story seems to be laden with cons more than pros. This article does not intend to belittle what the young girls and boys of this country are catering for music lovers countrywide.
But, it needs to point out the fact that the youthful music needs much to command appreciation of music lovers from people who can play pianos to sugar mummies preparing cheap dinners in the hinterlands of Tanzania.
On a frank note, tracks by musicians reputed to be on the top charts of the country`s music artistry, such as Feruzi, Afande Sele, Professor J, TID, Lady Jay Dee - just to mention a few - have fast run out of favour for music pundits a few months and years after they ascended on the music fora.
To cement claims to this reality, one of the music producers in the country made pronunciations to this effect, that compositions by Bongo Flava artistes were bound for doom as they did not carry with them the needed artistic paraphernalia.
A good example of the good compositions which have stayed on the music scene for decades include the `twist` tracks by Kenyan musicians who included Peter Tsotsi, Daudi Kabaka, David Amunga and others.
Their everlasting tracks include `Nakumbuka Adija Wangu`, ?Nilikutana na Mlofa Moja`, `Wale Vijana`, etc, which are still hot cakes as the world marks dates and weeks in the year 2007.
The same applies to compositions with Congolese musicians such as Franco Luambo, Nicholas Kasanda, Tabu Ley, Joseph Kabassele, etc, whose compositions landed on the music scene years when millions of music lovers were not yet born, but their music`s impact is noticed and recorded on the almanacs of Africa`s music artistry hitherto.
The trouble with Bongo Flava artistes is that they have all along indulged in cheap business whereby people who regard themselves as musicians simply pick up microphones and wail into them with compositions lacking in lyrics and melodies.
In doing so, the end product ends up on a dry plain with most music lovers shunning and ignoring such cheap products revolving on a few repetitive lines of lyrics completely lacking in the widely publicized flavour.
A good, living example is tracks unleashed by the Msondo Ngoma Music Band. The products remain on every music lover`s lip and ear as people who composed them threw everything at their disposal toward making the said tracks real hits.
The said tracks are those unleashed by the band when their legendary singer and composer, Moshi William, was still around.
The ageing composers and singers seem to have stolen all the `golds` in the field as the contemporary generation seems to lack the expertise which would guide them towards the needed artistry which could make them heroes with the needed dexterity in respect of respected music.
On the international scene, our Bongo Flava musicians have to reckon with former and current international artistes such as Michael Jackson, Jim Reeves, Lionel Richie, Abba Group, The Beatles, etc, whose works are still revered by a wide cross section of people for their artistic adroitness which has made their ?pieces? remain on the scene for ever.
As the days go on, the young boys and girls of this country, who are the main grafters of the mode of their music quality and standards, have to come of age and reckon with the needs of their fans and their markets within and outside the country.
Indeed, they have to reckon with the fact that, their counterparts in Uganda and Kenya, for example, could readily `steal` what would have been their markets in this part of the world. What has to be taken into consideration is quality and not quantity.
National sports associations yet to set proper goals
It is most unfortunate that, when you mention the term `sport` in Tanzania, most people will believe you mean soccer.
This has made it become common practice that soccer is often the main focus when there is any kind of discussion about the development of sports.
Mainly because of this, the development or growth of sports other than soccer has been maginalised or sidelined from the grassroots right to the national level.
Almost without exception, primary and secondary schools as well as colleges around the country place greater emphasis on soccer for their various communities than on most other sports.
To make it worse, even the mushrooming and fast-growing so-called veterans? clubs in many urban areas in the country have soccer as their main physical activity.
Poor goal setting in most national sports associations can safely be given as the main reason behind this lopsided, if not dreadful, situation that places the development of sports in Tanzania at great risk.
A large proportion of Tanzanians love sport and cherish seeing their teams and sportsmen and women winning.
But what some may not appreciate is the fact that the most important ingredient of establishing a winning outfit is proper goal setting in terms of spotting talent and preparing the players passing muster progressively into good competitors at different competitive levels or stages locally and internationally.
Most of our national sports associations are managed through auto pilot programmes, if you pardon the use of the phrase, which bank heavily on the traditional mode of administering physical activity.
This is what has caused the present state of affairs in national teams where most sports are full of incidental players who are in business by virtue of their being talented in their respective sports.
Many Tanzanian sportsmen and women are without even the very basic knowledge of skills related to the sports they are engaged and this is simply because the associations lack programmes that would have ensured a proper progression of training in preparing players to sparkle in particular sports.
But now there appears to be enough political will to improve sports throughout the country, national sports associations such as the Tanzania Netball Association, Tanzania Basketball Federation, Tanzania Volleyball Association, and Tanzania Football Federation, to mention but a few.
All these should sit down and draw up sound programmes for developing their respective sport of choice so that, at the end of the day, the country boasts a good number of properly groomed athletes in all sports.
Enthusiastic sports leaders and coaches in Tanzania have always looked for ways to improve motivation among players, officials, spectators and all other stakeholders.
A great deal has been done about it but much of that has been overly theoretical and descriptive, offering little practical advice. In contrast, the process of goal setting would have helped a lot more in translating vague theories into actions.
This is an effective method of increasing motivation, productivity and performance which also provides a basis for sound planning.
Research has shown that goal setting serves as an effective performance enhancement technique in a variety of activities, ranging from mundane ones like cutting trees to sophisticated ones like engineering.
I know some national associations find goal setting stress-provoking because it presents standards for determining success and failure and can reinforce success alongside confirming and highlighting failure.
One result of this is that sports organisation leaders too faint-hearted to take a risk may be intimidated by the possibility of failing to achieve certain planned goals.
For such people, failing to reach only one range of goals reaffirms the feelings of inadequacy.
However, goal setting may actually have a negative effect on the performance of the low-ability individuals since little attention is given to the possibility of goal setting leading to negative pressure.
Sportspeople harbouring reservations about the process of goal setting usually argue that it takes the enjoyment and spontaneity out of sport.
In fact, the contrary usually applies in that goal setting increases the enjoyment and satisfaction of the players involved since it gives them ample time to learn and practise different skills in line with their age and level of performance.
Tanzania`s national sports organisations should be encouraged to have goal setting as an integral part of their development plans so that they can overcome the initial inertia that makes many teams fail to flourish.
Big competitions are not won on the day of the game but during preparations - and no preparation can be effective without proper goal setting.
The roads to the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and the likes are so rough that they call for proper goal setting and deliberate resolve to strive to achieve them.
This being the case, all our national sports associations should learn the importance of being flexible enough to develop appropriate and sound goal setting programmes for the better future of Tanzania?s sports development and achievements.
This has made it become common practice that soccer is often the main focus when there is any kind of discussion about the development of sports.
Mainly because of this, the development or growth of sports other than soccer has been maginalised or sidelined from the grassroots right to the national level.
Almost without exception, primary and secondary schools as well as colleges around the country place greater emphasis on soccer for their various communities than on most other sports.
To make it worse, even the mushrooming and fast-growing so-called veterans? clubs in many urban areas in the country have soccer as their main physical activity.
Poor goal setting in most national sports associations can safely be given as the main reason behind this lopsided, if not dreadful, situation that places the development of sports in Tanzania at great risk.
A large proportion of Tanzanians love sport and cherish seeing their teams and sportsmen and women winning.
But what some may not appreciate is the fact that the most important ingredient of establishing a winning outfit is proper goal setting in terms of spotting talent and preparing the players passing muster progressively into good competitors at different competitive levels or stages locally and internationally.
Most of our national sports associations are managed through auto pilot programmes, if you pardon the use of the phrase, which bank heavily on the traditional mode of administering physical activity.
This is what has caused the present state of affairs in national teams where most sports are full of incidental players who are in business by virtue of their being talented in their respective sports.
Many Tanzanian sportsmen and women are without even the very basic knowledge of skills related to the sports they are engaged and this is simply because the associations lack programmes that would have ensured a proper progression of training in preparing players to sparkle in particular sports.
But now there appears to be enough political will to improve sports throughout the country, national sports associations such as the Tanzania Netball Association, Tanzania Basketball Federation, Tanzania Volleyball Association, and Tanzania Football Federation, to mention but a few.
All these should sit down and draw up sound programmes for developing their respective sport of choice so that, at the end of the day, the country boasts a good number of properly groomed athletes in all sports.
Enthusiastic sports leaders and coaches in Tanzania have always looked for ways to improve motivation among players, officials, spectators and all other stakeholders.
A great deal has been done about it but much of that has been overly theoretical and descriptive, offering little practical advice. In contrast, the process of goal setting would have helped a lot more in translating vague theories into actions.
This is an effective method of increasing motivation, productivity and performance which also provides a basis for sound planning.
Research has shown that goal setting serves as an effective performance enhancement technique in a variety of activities, ranging from mundane ones like cutting trees to sophisticated ones like engineering.
I know some national associations find goal setting stress-provoking because it presents standards for determining success and failure and can reinforce success alongside confirming and highlighting failure.
One result of this is that sports organisation leaders too faint-hearted to take a risk may be intimidated by the possibility of failing to achieve certain planned goals.
For such people, failing to reach only one range of goals reaffirms the feelings of inadequacy.
However, goal setting may actually have a negative effect on the performance of the low-ability individuals since little attention is given to the possibility of goal setting leading to negative pressure.
Sportspeople harbouring reservations about the process of goal setting usually argue that it takes the enjoyment and spontaneity out of sport.
In fact, the contrary usually applies in that goal setting increases the enjoyment and satisfaction of the players involved since it gives them ample time to learn and practise different skills in line with their age and level of performance.
Tanzania`s national sports organisations should be encouraged to have goal setting as an integral part of their development plans so that they can overcome the initial inertia that makes many teams fail to flourish.
Big competitions are not won on the day of the game but during preparations - and no preparation can be effective without proper goal setting.
The roads to the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup and the likes are so rough that they call for proper goal setting and deliberate resolve to strive to achieve them.
This being the case, all our national sports associations should learn the importance of being flexible enough to develop appropriate and sound goal setting programmes for the better future of Tanzania?s sports development and achievements.
Government to keep at bay five disciplines
Five national sports associations will likely miss the government?s support. The National Sports Council (NSC) official, Andrew Ame, said yesterday that the five associations were yet to submit their annual sports? calendars to the body.
Ami named the associations as Tanzania Golf Union (TGU), inter-ministry games (Shimiwi), Tanzania Table Tennis Association (TTTA), Tanzania Lawn Tennis Association (TLTA) and Tanzania Football Coaches` Association (Tafca).
He said that the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports would not involve their activities in its budget if the bodies would not present their calendars at NSC.
``The submission deadline was last December but up to now none of them has given us calendar which shows its sports activities,? he said. ``The government will not support them in any way at all unless we get their calendars,`` said Ami.
He named some of the associations who met the deadline as Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF), Cycling Association of Tanzania (CAT), Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) and Tanzania Handball Association (Taha).
In another development, Cycling Association of Tanzania said yesterday that it is planning to stage East Africa Inter-city championship in the country in December.
Ami named the associations as Tanzania Golf Union (TGU), inter-ministry games (Shimiwi), Tanzania Table Tennis Association (TTTA), Tanzania Lawn Tennis Association (TLTA) and Tanzania Football Coaches` Association (Tafca).
He said that the Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports would not involve their activities in its budget if the bodies would not present their calendars at NSC.
``The submission deadline was last December but up to now none of them has given us calendar which shows its sports activities,? he said. ``The government will not support them in any way at all unless we get their calendars,`` said Ami.
He named some of the associations who met the deadline as Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF), Cycling Association of Tanzania (CAT), Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) and Tanzania Handball Association (Taha).
In another development, Cycling Association of Tanzania said yesterday that it is planning to stage East Africa Inter-city championship in the country in December.
NSC puts off sports dialogue
The national dialogue on improving the sports status in the country which was to be held this month has been postponed until further notice.
The National Sports Council (NSC) Secretary General, Leonard Thadeo, said yesterday that all important preparations were already done but the dialogue was postponed because some government officials who are the prime panellists were busy attending other important duties.
``We have already received all required reports from all regions but some government officials who are supposed to take part in the dialogue are busy, so we have decided to postpone it,`` added Thadeo.
However, Thadeo stressed the dialogue aim at highlighting all problems facing the sports sector in the country, including clubs, availability of sports gear as well as raising young talent.
The National Sports Council (NSC) Secretary General, Leonard Thadeo, said yesterday that all important preparations were already done but the dialogue was postponed because some government officials who are the prime panellists were busy attending other important duties.
``We have already received all required reports from all regions but some government officials who are supposed to take part in the dialogue are busy, so we have decided to postpone it,`` added Thadeo.
However, Thadeo stressed the dialogue aim at highlighting all problems facing the sports sector in the country, including clubs, availability of sports gear as well as raising young talent.
Lone goal drowns Yanga, Simba held
A 51st minute Fikiri Daima goal saw Police Moro hit Yanga 1-0 in a Vodacom Premier League match played at the Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro yesterday.
The scorer shot in the all-important goal against the struggling Dar es Salaam giants after latching onto a fast ball from the right flank. He caught goalie Ivo Mapunda flat-footed.
Yanga dominated the game throughout but would just not get the ball behind their opponents? net. Even maximum substitutions bore no fruits.
Stand-in coach Razak Siwa brought in Mrisho Ngassa for Abdi Kassim and Aime Lukunku for Gulla Joshua in the 54th minute but they still could not cope with the rhythm of the Morogoro side - not even after the 70th minute when Kenyan Maurice Sunguti was brought in for Gaudence Mwaikimba.
``Yanga should look for a head coach so that I remain assistant coach,`` said Siwa soon after the match, haltingly adding: ``We played very well but I do not know what is wrong with us. Police Moro are good but surely not as good as we are,`` he claimed.
Police Moro have now moved from fourth to second spot on the 14-team league table.
They boast eight points, one adrift of leaders Prisons, as Yanga remain with a lowly three points after losing to Ashanti United and Coastal Union and getting three points after clobbering Police Dodoma.
Simba were held to a barren draw by Manyema in another league match, played at Tanga?s Mkwakwani Stadium, reports Dennis Fussi.
This is the third draw for Simba. The team, now under coach Jamhuri Kihwelu ?Julio?, earlier drew with Police Moro and Pan Africans and lost 1-0 to Coastal Union in their first outing.
Like Yanga, they have managed a mere three points.
Line-ups: Yanga: Ivo Mapunda, Shadrack Nsajigwa, Amir Maftah, Lulanga Mapunda, Wisdom Ndlovu, Credo Mwaipopo, Laurent Kabanda, Athmani Iddi, Gaudence Mwaikimba/Maurice Sunguti, Gulla Joshua/Aime Lukunku, Abdi Kassim/Mrisho Ngassa.
Police: Amani Simba, Issa Ally, Juma Mteketa, Fred Mwamwenda, Juma Ally, Deta Thomas, Omary Mswaki, Nasoro Dabi, Fikiri Daima, Imani Mapunda, Nicolas Kabipe.
The scorer shot in the all-important goal against the struggling Dar es Salaam giants after latching onto a fast ball from the right flank. He caught goalie Ivo Mapunda flat-footed.
Yanga dominated the game throughout but would just not get the ball behind their opponents? net. Even maximum substitutions bore no fruits.
Stand-in coach Razak Siwa brought in Mrisho Ngassa for Abdi Kassim and Aime Lukunku for Gulla Joshua in the 54th minute but they still could not cope with the rhythm of the Morogoro side - not even after the 70th minute when Kenyan Maurice Sunguti was brought in for Gaudence Mwaikimba.
``Yanga should look for a head coach so that I remain assistant coach,`` said Siwa soon after the match, haltingly adding: ``We played very well but I do not know what is wrong with us. Police Moro are good but surely not as good as we are,`` he claimed.
Police Moro have now moved from fourth to second spot on the 14-team league table.
They boast eight points, one adrift of leaders Prisons, as Yanga remain with a lowly three points after losing to Ashanti United and Coastal Union and getting three points after clobbering Police Dodoma.
Simba were held to a barren draw by Manyema in another league match, played at Tanga?s Mkwakwani Stadium, reports Dennis Fussi.
This is the third draw for Simba. The team, now under coach Jamhuri Kihwelu ?Julio?, earlier drew with Police Moro and Pan Africans and lost 1-0 to Coastal Union in their first outing.
Like Yanga, they have managed a mere three points.
Line-ups: Yanga: Ivo Mapunda, Shadrack Nsajigwa, Amir Maftah, Lulanga Mapunda, Wisdom Ndlovu, Credo Mwaipopo, Laurent Kabanda, Athmani Iddi, Gaudence Mwaikimba/Maurice Sunguti, Gulla Joshua/Aime Lukunku, Abdi Kassim/Mrisho Ngassa.
Police: Amani Simba, Issa Ally, Juma Mteketa, Fred Mwamwenda, Juma Ally, Deta Thomas, Omary Mswaki, Nasoro Dabi, Fikiri Daima, Imani Mapunda, Nicolas Kabipe.
Federer pulls out of Japan Open
Federer has won his fourth successive US Open titleWorld number one Roger Federer has pulled out of the Japan Open.
Federer, who beat Tim Henman to win the Tokyo title in 2006, cited fatigue after winning his fourth consecutive US Open title earlier this month.
"I have not physically recovered 100% from the US Open and Davis Cup," said Federer, who has been ordered by doctors not to play for 10 days.
Spain's David Ferrer and France's Richard Gasquet will both play in the event, which starts on 1 October.
World number eight Ferrer is the tournament's highest seed following his late entry.
American Venus Williams, currently playing in South Korea, has been added to the women's draw.
Sharapova to miss Stuttgart event
Sharapova has been plagued by shoulder problemsMaria Sharapova has been ruled out of the Stuttgart Grand Prix after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
Sharapova, 20, has been hampered by shoulder problems since March and has not played in a tournament since the US Open earlier this month.
She is now expected to make a comeback at the WTA event in Madrid in November.
"I was really looking forward to the Stuttgart tournament and I'm very sorry my injury hasn't cleared up in time," said the 2004 Wimbledon champion.
"I'll do everything I can to return to the tour as quickly as possible."
Sharapova, the world number four, was forced to miss Russia's recent Fed Cup final victory over Italy because of the injury.
The Stuttgart line-up still contains nine of the world's top 10 players, including defending champion Nadia Petrova.
Mauresmo crashes out in Stuttgart
Amelie Mauresmo is 12th in the WTA rankingsFrance's Amelie Mauresmo became the first big-name casualty at the Stuttgart Grand Prix by losing 6-2, 7-5 to Russian Elena Dementieva.
Mauresmo, ranked 12th in the world, said: "I just didn't play well in the first set and playing someone like Elena you need rhythm from the start."
Meanwhile Serena Williams opened her campaign with an easy 6-0, 6-0 win over the Czech Republic's Zuzana Ondraskova.
And defending champion Nadia Petrova also progressed to the second round.
Nigeria back on top in Africa
Nigeria have leapfrogged over Cameroon to return to the top of the African football rankings according to Fifa's world rankings for September.
The Super Eagles moved up three places on the overall rankings from 26 to 23, while the Indomitable Lions fell nine slots from 16 to 25.
The biggest movers in Africa were Equatorial Guinea leaping 33 places on the world list and become the number 14 side on the continent.
1. Nigeria (23) 2. Cameroon (25) 3. Ivory Coast (27) 4. Guinea (30) 5. Tunisia (37) 6. Morocco (38) 7. Senegal (40) 8. Egypt (43) 9. Ghana (45) 10. Mali (49)11. Zambia (61) 12. Togo (63) 13. Angola (69) 14. Equatorial Guinea (72) 15. South Africa (73) 16. Mozambique (74) 17. Cape Verde Islands (76) 18. DR Congo (77) 19. Benin (82) 20. Algeria (85) 21. Libya (92) 22. Zimbabwe (93) 23. Botswana (95) 24. Uganda (100) 25. Congo (101) 26. Tanzania (106) 26. Burkina Faso (106) 28. Namibia (108) 29. Gabon (110) 30. Burundi (110) 31. Sudan (112) 32. Ethiopia (113) 33. Gambia (114) 34. Kenya (115) 35. Rwanda (118) 36. Malawi (121) 37. Eritrea (128) 38. Liberia (129) 39. Chad (136) 40. Mauritania (140)41. Swaziland (149) 42. Niger (152) 43. Lesotho (153) 44. Seychelles (154) 45. Mauritius (155) 46. Madagascar (164) 47. Sierra Leone (172) 48. Comoros (184) 49. Central African Republic (188)50. Guinea-Bissau (191) 51. Somalia (194) 52. Djibouti (200) 52. São Tomé e PrÃncipe (200)
The Super Eagles moved up three places on the overall rankings from 26 to 23, while the Indomitable Lions fell nine slots from 16 to 25.
The biggest movers in Africa were Equatorial Guinea leaping 33 places on the world list and become the number 14 side on the continent.
1. Nigeria (23) 2. Cameroon (25) 3. Ivory Coast (27) 4. Guinea (30) 5. Tunisia (37) 6. Morocco (38) 7. Senegal (40) 8. Egypt (43) 9. Ghana (45) 10. Mali (49)11. Zambia (61) 12. Togo (63) 13. Angola (69) 14. Equatorial Guinea (72) 15. South Africa (73) 16. Mozambique (74) 17. Cape Verde Islands (76) 18. DR Congo (77) 19. Benin (82) 20. Algeria (85) 21. Libya (92) 22. Zimbabwe (93) 23. Botswana (95) 24. Uganda (100) 25. Congo (101) 26. Tanzania (106) 26. Burkina Faso (106) 28. Namibia (108) 29. Gabon (110) 30. Burundi (110) 31. Sudan (112) 32. Ethiopia (113) 33. Gambia (114) 34. Kenya (115) 35. Rwanda (118) 36. Malawi (121) 37. Eritrea (128) 38. Liberia (129) 39. Chad (136) 40. Mauritania (140)41. Swaziland (149) 42. Niger (152) 43. Lesotho (153) 44. Seychelles (154) 45. Mauritius (155) 46. Madagascar (164) 47. Sierra Leone (172) 48. Comoros (184) 49. Central African Republic (188)50. Guinea-Bissau (191) 51. Somalia (194) 52. Djibouti (200) 52. São Tomé e PrÃncipe (200)
African football dates
Please note that all dates are subject to change.
November:
2-4 November: Confederation Cup final, first leg9-11 November: African Champions League final, second leg16-18 November: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches25: World Cup qualifying draw, Durban23-25 November: Confederation Cup final, second leg
December:
7-9 December: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches
2008:
20 January-10 February: African Cup of Nations finals, Ghana15-17 February: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches14-16 March: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches26 March: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches
2009:
14-27 June: Confederations Cup, South Africa
2010:
11 June-11July: World Cup finals, South Africa
October:
5-7 October: Champions League semi-finals, second legs5-7 October: Confederation Cup group phase, sixth round12-14: World Cup qualifiers preliminary round12-13 October: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches19: Draw for the African Cup of Nations finals, Accra, Ghana20-21: Cosafa Cup final, venue TBA26-28 October: African Champions League final, first leg
5-7 October: Champions League semi-finals, second legs5-7 October: Confederation Cup group phase, sixth round12-14: World Cup qualifiers preliminary round12-13 October: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches19: Draw for the African Cup of Nations finals, Accra, Ghana20-21: Cosafa Cup final, venue TBA26-28 October: African Champions League final, first leg
November:
2-4 November: Confederation Cup final, first leg9-11 November: African Champions League final, second leg16-18 November: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches25: World Cup qualifying draw, Durban23-25 November: Confederation Cup final, second leg
December:
7-9 December: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches
2008:
20 January-10 February: African Cup of Nations finals, Ghana15-17 February: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches14-16 March: Olympic Games qualifiers women's group matches26 March: Olympic Games qualifiers men's group matches
2009:
14-27 June: Confederations Cup, South Africa
2010:
11 June-11July: World Cup finals, South Africa
Sono's son in South Africa squad
Bamuza Sono, son of South African legend Jomo Sono, is named in Carlos Alberto Parreira's line up.The son of South African football legend Jomo Sono has been included in the national squad for an international friendly against Italy on 17 October.
Bamuza Sono, a midfielder with Johannesburg club Jomo Cosmos, made his debut for Bafana Bafana in a Cosafa Cup semi-final against Botswana last month.
Cosmos are owned and coached by Jomo Sono, a star with Orlando Pirates three decades ago.
He was denied wider exposure because South Africa were barred from international competition owing to racist government policies.
Sweden-based Lance Davids, a key figure in the national under-23 squad, is back in favour with his first call-up since Carlos Alberto Parreira took charge the team in March.
The rest of the 22-strong squad is predictable, with injured Germany-based striker Sibusiso Zuma the only notable absentee.
Parreira hopes his South Africa team, 72 places below top-ranked Italy in the world standings, will not be intimidated.
"I want my players to take advantage of the occasion and play with freedom and maybe give our much-vaunted opponents something to think about," he said after naming his squad.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Vuyo Mere and Benson Mhlongo (Sundowns), Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany), Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Lance Davids (Djurgardens, Sweden), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Bamuza Sono (Jomo Cosmos), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs)
Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn, England), Thembinkosi 'Terror' Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town), Siyabonga Nomvete (Aalborg, Denmark)
FOOTBALL RESULTS
Wednesday, 03 October 2007
UEFA Champions League
Benfica 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Besiktas 0-1 FC Porto
Celtic 2-1 AC Milan
Lazio 2-2 Real Madrid
Liverpool 0-1 Marseille
Rosenborg 0-2 Schalke 04
Valencia 1-2 Chelsea
Werder Bremen 1-3 Olympiakos
FA Cup Qualifying
Herne Bay 0-3 Hayes & Yeading United Yth
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Colchester 4-2 QPR
West Brom 1-1 Stoke
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
UEFA Champions League
CSKA Moscow 2-2 Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Sporting
Inter Milan 2-0 PSV
Lyon 0-3 Rangers
Man Utd 1-0 Roma
Sevilla 4-2 Slavia Prague
Steaua Bucharest 0-1 Arsenal
VfB Stuttgart 0-2 Barcelona
UEFA Cup
Panathinaikos 3-0 Artmedia Bratislava (agg 5-1)
FA Cup Qualifying
AFC Hornchurch 2-1 Hendon
AFC Totton 0-0 Merthyr (Merthyr win 4-3 on penalties)
Alfreton Town 1-2 Hednesford
Bedford Town 2-3 Boreham Wood
Bromley 4-2 Aylesbury
Chasetown 2-1 Cambridge City (AET)
Guiseley 1-0 Prescot Cables
Hillingdon Borough 2-1 Enfield Town
Hitchin 5-0 Haverhill Rovers
Maldon 0-2 Tonbridge Angels (AET)
Market Drayton Town 1-2 Glapwell
Nantwich Town 1-2 Harrogate Town
Nuneaton 2-0 Bromsgrove
Rainworth MW 2-0 Kidsgrove Ath
Stotfold 2-1 Chesham
Windsor & Eton 0-1 Folkestone Invicta
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Barnsley 3-0 Bristol City
Burnley 2-2 Ipswich
Coventry 3-1 Blackpool
Hull 1-2 Charlton
Leicester 0-0 Wolverhampton
Norwich 0-0 Scunthorpe
Plymouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Preston 5-1 Southampton
Sheff Utd 3-3 Cardiff
Watford 2-1 Sheff Wed
Coca-Cola Football League One
Bournemouth 0-2 Brighton
Bristol Rovers 1-1 Southend
Doncaster 2-3 Walsall
Gillingham 3-1 Leyton Orient
Hartlepool 2-2 Carlisle
Huddersfield 1-1 Nottm Forest
Millwall 2-0 Northampton
Oldham 0-1 Leeds
Port Vale 3-0 Cheltenham
Swansea 2-1 Swindon
Tranmere 1-1 Crewe
Yeovil 0-0 Luton
Coca-Cola Football League Two
Barnet 2-1 Wycombe
Bradford 0-3 Accrington Stanley
Brentford 2-3 Dag & Red
Bury 1-1 Lincoln City
Darlington 1-1 Rochdale
Grimsby 1-2 Chester
Macclesfield 1-1 Rotherham
Mansfield 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons
Morecambe 2-0 Stockport
Notts County 2-3 Hereford
Shrewsbury 0-2 Peterborough
Wrexham 0-4 Chesterfield
Blue Square Premier
Aldershot 2-0 Exeter
Halifax 2-2 Burton Albion
Northwich 1-1 Kidderminster
Scottish League Challenge Cup
Dunfermline 1-0 Ayr
Morton 1-3 St Johnstone
Eircom League Premier Division
Bray 3-0 Shamrock
Monday, 01 October 2007
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham 4-4 Aston Villa
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Barclays Premier League
Everton 2-0 Middlesbrough
FA Cup Qualifying
Aylesbury 1-1 Bromley
Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 Chalfont St Peter
Erith Town 0-3 Heybridge Swifts
Gloucester 0-2 Shortwood Utd
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
West Brom 5-1 QPR
Blue Square Premier
Oxford Utd 1-1 York
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
St Mirren 1-3 Hearts
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Llangefni Town 2-1 Haverfordwest
FA Tesco Women's Premier League
Liverpool Ladies 1-4 Arsenal Ladies
FIFA Women's World Cup
Germany Women 2-0 Brazil Women
Norway Women 1-4 USA Women
Saturday, 29 September 2007
International Match
South Africa 1-0 Botswana
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham 0-1 Man Utd
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Derby 1-1 Bolton
Man City 3-1 Newcastle
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
Wigan 0-1 Liverpool
FA Cup Qualifying
Bamber Bridge 2-1 Burscough
Barrow 5-0 Colwyn Bay
Basingstoke 0-1 Newport County
Belper Town 2-1 Hucknall
Billericay 2-0 Maidstone
Billingham Town 0-4 Fleetwood Town
Blyth Spartans 2-1 Radcliffe Borough
Bognor Regis 1-2 Havant & Waterlooville
Boreham Wood 3-3 Bedford Town
Boston Utd 4-1 Buxton
Bradford P A 4-0 Whitby
Brockenhurst 0-6 Maidenhead Utd
Bromsgrove 1-1 Nuneaton
Cambridge City 1-1 Chasetown
Carshalton Ath 0-1 Wealdstone
Chesham 1-1 Stotfold
Chippenham 2-0 Hallen
Cirencester 0-1 Clevedon Town
Clitheroe 8-2 Spennymoor
Consett 0-2 Workington
Corsham Town 1-2 Bashley
Crowborough Athletic 1-5 Staines Town
Dartford 2-2 Camberley Town
Debenham LC 1-5 AFC Wimbledon
Dinnington Town 2-1 Cheadle Town
Dorchester Town 1-1 Paulton
Dunstable 0-2 Lewes
Eastbourne Borough 2-0 Edgware Town
Enfield 2-2 Hillingdon Borough
Fisher Athletic 3-4 Margate
Fleet Town 2-0 Mangotsfield
Folkestone Invicta 0-0 Windsor & Eton
Gainsborough 6-1 Stocksbridge P S
Gateshead 1-3 Vauxhall Motors
Glapwell 4-4 Market Drayton Town
Halesowen 2-1 Bedworth
Hampton & Richmond 3-1 Braintree Tn
Hamworthy Utd 1-3 Eastleigh
Harrogate Railway 4-1 Leigh RMI
Harrogate Town 2-2 Nantwich Town
Haverhill Rovers 1-1 Hitchin
Hayes 2-2 Herne Bay
Hednesford 0-0 Alfreton Town
Hemel Hempstead 0-2 Chelmsford
Hendon 1-1 AFC Hornchurch
Horden CW 0-5 Woodley Sports
Horsham 3-2 Bury Town
Hythe Town 2-1 Dover
Kettering 3-1 Redditch
Kirkley & Pakefield 1-2 Leighton
Liversedge 2-1 Kendal Town
Matlock 3-1 AFC Telford
Merthyr 2-2 AFC Totton
Oxford City 3-4 Weston-S-Mare
Prescot Cables 1-1 Guiseley
Quorn 1-3 Evesham
Ramsgate 0-1 Corby
Rushall Olympic 2-0 Sutton Coldfield Tn
Skelmersdale Utd 0-1 Southport
Soham Town Rangers 0-3 Solihull
St Albans 1-2 Bishops Stortford
Stalybridge 1-0 Hyde
Stamford 3-1 Gedling Town
Stourbridge 0-5 King's Lynn
Sutton Utd 1-1 Woodford Utd
Tamworth 1-0 Worcester
Tonbridge Angels 2-2 Maldon
Truro City 0-1 Bath City
Ware 3-2 Thurrock
Welling 2-1 Barkingside
West Auckland 1-0 Newcastle B'field B.P.
Worthing 3-0 Walton & Hersham
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Barnsley 1-1 Cardiff
Burnley 1-1 Crystal Palace
Colchester 0-1 Scunthorpe
Coventry 1-1 Charlton
Hull 3-1 Ipswich
Leicester 1-1 Stoke
Norwich 0-1 Sheff Wed
Plymouth 1-1 Wolverhampton
Preston 0-0 Bristol City
Sheff Utd 1-2 Southampton
Watford 1-1 Blackpool
Coca-Cola Football League One
Bournemouth 1-3 Carlisle
Bristol Rovers 2-3 Leyton Orient
Doncaster 2-0 Cheltenham
Gillingham 1-1 Leeds
Hartlepool 0-1 Walsall
Huddersfield 2-0 Luton
Millwall 1-2 Swindon
Oldham 3-2 Crewe
Port Vale 1-2 Southend
Swansea 0-0 Brighton
Tranmere 2-2 Northampton
Yeovil 0-3 Nottm Forest
Coca-Cola Football League Two
Barnet 2-0 Rotherham
Bradford 0-1 Wycombe
Brentford 1-3 Stockport
Bury 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Darlington 1-1 Peterborough
Grimsby 2-1 Hereford
Macclesfield 1-2 Chester
Mansfield 0-1 Dag & Red
Morecambe 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Notts County 1-0 Chesterfield
Shrewsbury 3-4 Rochdale
Wrexham 1-0 Lincoln City
Blue Square Premier
Crawley Town 0-1 Altrincham
Farsley Celtic 1-1 Ebbsfleet United
Forest Green 3-1 Cambridge Utd
Grays Athletic 0-2 Stevenage
Histon 2-2 Weymouth
Northwich 1-3 Woking
Rushden & D'monds 1-1 Stafford Rangers
Salisbury 0-1 Kidderminster
Torquay 2-1 Droylsden
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Aberdeen 2-0 Gretna
Celtic 3-0 Dundee Utd
Hibernian 4-1 Kilmarnock
Inverness CT 4-2 Falkirk
Motherwell 1-1 Rangers
Scottish Cup
Brora 0-5 Cove Rangers
Civil Service Strollers 1-2 Selkirk
Clachnacuddin 2-2 Edinburgh City
Coldstream 0-4 Dalbeattie Star
Culter 7-0 Hawick Royal Albert
Fort William 0-6 Spartans
Fraserburgh 1-1 Huntly
Girvan 2-0 Forres Mechanics
Glasgow Univ 0-2 Buckie Thistle
Golspie Sutherland 3-1 Preston Ath
Lossiemouth 1-3 Whitehill Welfare
Newton Stewart 0-4 Linlithgow Rose
Rothes 1-4 Nairn County
Vale Of Leithen 3-1 Gala Fairydean
Wick Academy 0-5 Deveronvale
Wigtown & Bladnoch 3-5 Burntisland Shipyard
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship First Division
Dundee 2-1 Morton
Dunfermline 1-0 Partick
Livingston 4-2 Clyde
Queen of South 2-2 Stirling
St Johnstone 4-1 Hamilton
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Second Division
Ayr 1-2 Peterhead
Brechin 0-1 Raith
Cowdenbeath 1-1 Airdrie Utd
Queens Park 1-0 Berwick
Ross County 2-2 Alloa
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Third Division
East Fife 7-0 Stenhousemuir
East Stirling 2-3 Arbroath
Montrose 0-1 Dumbarton
Stranraer 3-3 Elgin
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Bangor City 1-1 Caersws
Caernarfon 3-4 Llanelli
Carmarthen 0-3 The New Saints FC
Newtown 3-0 Neath
Porthmadog 1-2 Newi Cefn Druids
Carnegie Irish Premier Division
Armagh City 2-2 Crusaders
Ballymena 0-4 Glentoran
Donegal Celtic 0-1 Institute
Larne 1-2 Coleraine
Linfield 3-0 Limavady
Lisburn Distillery 1-0 Newry
Portadown 0-2 Cliftonville
Friday, 28 September 2007
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Connah's Quay 3-3 Welshpool Town
Port Talbot 2-1 Aberystwyth
Rhyl 2-1 Airbus UK
Carnegie Irish Premier Division
Dungannon Swifts 1-4 Glenavon
Eircom League Premier Division
Bohemians 3-0 Sligo
Derry City 1-2 Cork
Galway Utd 0-1 St Patricks
Longford Town 1-2 Drogheda Utd
UCD 2-1 Waterford
UEFA Champions League
Benfica 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Besiktas 0-1 FC Porto
Celtic 2-1 AC Milan
Lazio 2-2 Real Madrid
Liverpool 0-1 Marseille
Rosenborg 0-2 Schalke 04
Valencia 1-2 Chelsea
Werder Bremen 1-3 Olympiakos
FA Cup Qualifying
Herne Bay 0-3 Hayes & Yeading United Yth
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Colchester 4-2 QPR
West Brom 1-1 Stoke
Tuesday, 02 October 2007
UEFA Champions League
CSKA Moscow 2-2 Fenerbahce
Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Sporting
Inter Milan 2-0 PSV
Lyon 0-3 Rangers
Man Utd 1-0 Roma
Sevilla 4-2 Slavia Prague
Steaua Bucharest 0-1 Arsenal
VfB Stuttgart 0-2 Barcelona
UEFA Cup
Panathinaikos 3-0 Artmedia Bratislava (agg 5-1)
FA Cup Qualifying
AFC Hornchurch 2-1 Hendon
AFC Totton 0-0 Merthyr (Merthyr win 4-3 on penalties)
Alfreton Town 1-2 Hednesford
Bedford Town 2-3 Boreham Wood
Bromley 4-2 Aylesbury
Chasetown 2-1 Cambridge City (AET)
Guiseley 1-0 Prescot Cables
Hillingdon Borough 2-1 Enfield Town
Hitchin 5-0 Haverhill Rovers
Maldon 0-2 Tonbridge Angels (AET)
Market Drayton Town 1-2 Glapwell
Nantwich Town 1-2 Harrogate Town
Nuneaton 2-0 Bromsgrove
Rainworth MW 2-0 Kidsgrove Ath
Stotfold 2-1 Chesham
Windsor & Eton 0-1 Folkestone Invicta
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Barnsley 3-0 Bristol City
Burnley 2-2 Ipswich
Coventry 3-1 Blackpool
Hull 1-2 Charlton
Leicester 0-0 Wolverhampton
Norwich 0-0 Scunthorpe
Plymouth 1-0 Crystal Palace
Preston 5-1 Southampton
Sheff Utd 3-3 Cardiff
Watford 2-1 Sheff Wed
Coca-Cola Football League One
Bournemouth 0-2 Brighton
Bristol Rovers 1-1 Southend
Doncaster 2-3 Walsall
Gillingham 3-1 Leyton Orient
Hartlepool 2-2 Carlisle
Huddersfield 1-1 Nottm Forest
Millwall 2-0 Northampton
Oldham 0-1 Leeds
Port Vale 3-0 Cheltenham
Swansea 2-1 Swindon
Tranmere 1-1 Crewe
Yeovil 0-0 Luton
Coca-Cola Football League Two
Barnet 2-1 Wycombe
Bradford 0-3 Accrington Stanley
Brentford 2-3 Dag & Red
Bury 1-1 Lincoln City
Darlington 1-1 Rochdale
Grimsby 1-2 Chester
Macclesfield 1-1 Rotherham
Mansfield 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons
Morecambe 2-0 Stockport
Notts County 2-3 Hereford
Shrewsbury 0-2 Peterborough
Wrexham 0-4 Chesterfield
Blue Square Premier
Aldershot 2-0 Exeter
Halifax 2-2 Burton Albion
Northwich 1-1 Kidderminster
Scottish League Challenge Cup
Dunfermline 1-0 Ayr
Morton 1-3 St Johnstone
Eircom League Premier Division
Bray 3-0 Shamrock
Monday, 01 October 2007
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham 4-4 Aston Villa
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Barclays Premier League
Everton 2-0 Middlesbrough
FA Cup Qualifying
Aylesbury 1-1 Bromley
Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 Chalfont St Peter
Erith Town 0-3 Heybridge Swifts
Gloucester 0-2 Shortwood Utd
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
West Brom 5-1 QPR
Blue Square Premier
Oxford Utd 1-1 York
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
St Mirren 1-3 Hearts
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Llangefni Town 2-1 Haverfordwest
FA Tesco Women's Premier League
Liverpool Ladies 1-4 Arsenal Ladies
FIFA Women's World Cup
Germany Women 2-0 Brazil Women
Norway Women 1-4 USA Women
Saturday, 29 September 2007
International Match
South Africa 1-0 Botswana
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham 0-1 Man Utd
Chelsea 0-0 Fulham
Derby 1-1 Bolton
Man City 3-1 Newcastle
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading
Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
Wigan 0-1 Liverpool
FA Cup Qualifying
Bamber Bridge 2-1 Burscough
Barrow 5-0 Colwyn Bay
Basingstoke 0-1 Newport County
Belper Town 2-1 Hucknall
Billericay 2-0 Maidstone
Billingham Town 0-4 Fleetwood Town
Blyth Spartans 2-1 Radcliffe Borough
Bognor Regis 1-2 Havant & Waterlooville
Boreham Wood 3-3 Bedford Town
Boston Utd 4-1 Buxton
Bradford P A 4-0 Whitby
Brockenhurst 0-6 Maidenhead Utd
Bromsgrove 1-1 Nuneaton
Cambridge City 1-1 Chasetown
Carshalton Ath 0-1 Wealdstone
Chesham 1-1 Stotfold
Chippenham 2-0 Hallen
Cirencester 0-1 Clevedon Town
Clitheroe 8-2 Spennymoor
Consett 0-2 Workington
Corsham Town 1-2 Bashley
Crowborough Athletic 1-5 Staines Town
Dartford 2-2 Camberley Town
Debenham LC 1-5 AFC Wimbledon
Dinnington Town 2-1 Cheadle Town
Dorchester Town 1-1 Paulton
Dunstable 0-2 Lewes
Eastbourne Borough 2-0 Edgware Town
Enfield 2-2 Hillingdon Borough
Fisher Athletic 3-4 Margate
Fleet Town 2-0 Mangotsfield
Folkestone Invicta 0-0 Windsor & Eton
Gainsborough 6-1 Stocksbridge P S
Gateshead 1-3 Vauxhall Motors
Glapwell 4-4 Market Drayton Town
Halesowen 2-1 Bedworth
Hampton & Richmond 3-1 Braintree Tn
Hamworthy Utd 1-3 Eastleigh
Harrogate Railway 4-1 Leigh RMI
Harrogate Town 2-2 Nantwich Town
Haverhill Rovers 1-1 Hitchin
Hayes 2-2 Herne Bay
Hednesford 0-0 Alfreton Town
Hemel Hempstead 0-2 Chelmsford
Hendon 1-1 AFC Hornchurch
Horden CW 0-5 Woodley Sports
Horsham 3-2 Bury Town
Hythe Town 2-1 Dover
Kettering 3-1 Redditch
Kirkley & Pakefield 1-2 Leighton
Liversedge 2-1 Kendal Town
Matlock 3-1 AFC Telford
Merthyr 2-2 AFC Totton
Oxford City 3-4 Weston-S-Mare
Prescot Cables 1-1 Guiseley
Quorn 1-3 Evesham
Ramsgate 0-1 Corby
Rushall Olympic 2-0 Sutton Coldfield Tn
Skelmersdale Utd 0-1 Southport
Soham Town Rangers 0-3 Solihull
St Albans 1-2 Bishops Stortford
Stalybridge 1-0 Hyde
Stamford 3-1 Gedling Town
Stourbridge 0-5 King's Lynn
Sutton Utd 1-1 Woodford Utd
Tamworth 1-0 Worcester
Tonbridge Angels 2-2 Maldon
Truro City 0-1 Bath City
Ware 3-2 Thurrock
Welling 2-1 Barkingside
West Auckland 1-0 Newcastle B'field B.P.
Worthing 3-0 Walton & Hersham
The Coca-Cola Football League Championship
Barnsley 1-1 Cardiff
Burnley 1-1 Crystal Palace
Colchester 0-1 Scunthorpe
Coventry 1-1 Charlton
Hull 3-1 Ipswich
Leicester 1-1 Stoke
Norwich 0-1 Sheff Wed
Plymouth 1-1 Wolverhampton
Preston 0-0 Bristol City
Sheff Utd 1-2 Southampton
Watford 1-1 Blackpool
Coca-Cola Football League One
Bournemouth 1-3 Carlisle
Bristol Rovers 2-3 Leyton Orient
Doncaster 2-0 Cheltenham
Gillingham 1-1 Leeds
Hartlepool 0-1 Walsall
Huddersfield 2-0 Luton
Millwall 1-2 Swindon
Oldham 3-2 Crewe
Port Vale 1-2 Southend
Swansea 0-0 Brighton
Tranmere 2-2 Northampton
Yeovil 0-3 Nottm Forest
Coca-Cola Football League Two
Barnet 2-0 Rotherham
Bradford 0-1 Wycombe
Brentford 1-3 Stockport
Bury 2-1 Accrington Stanley
Darlington 1-1 Peterborough
Grimsby 2-1 Hereford
Macclesfield 1-2 Chester
Mansfield 0-1 Dag & Red
Morecambe 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons
Notts County 1-0 Chesterfield
Shrewsbury 3-4 Rochdale
Wrexham 1-0 Lincoln City
Blue Square Premier
Crawley Town 0-1 Altrincham
Farsley Celtic 1-1 Ebbsfleet United
Forest Green 3-1 Cambridge Utd
Grays Athletic 0-2 Stevenage
Histon 2-2 Weymouth
Northwich 1-3 Woking
Rushden & D'monds 1-1 Stafford Rangers
Salisbury 0-1 Kidderminster
Torquay 2-1 Droylsden
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Aberdeen 2-0 Gretna
Celtic 3-0 Dundee Utd
Hibernian 4-1 Kilmarnock
Inverness CT 4-2 Falkirk
Motherwell 1-1 Rangers
Scottish Cup
Brora 0-5 Cove Rangers
Civil Service Strollers 1-2 Selkirk
Clachnacuddin 2-2 Edinburgh City
Coldstream 0-4 Dalbeattie Star
Culter 7-0 Hawick Royal Albert
Fort William 0-6 Spartans
Fraserburgh 1-1 Huntly
Girvan 2-0 Forres Mechanics
Glasgow Univ 0-2 Buckie Thistle
Golspie Sutherland 3-1 Preston Ath
Lossiemouth 1-3 Whitehill Welfare
Newton Stewart 0-4 Linlithgow Rose
Rothes 1-4 Nairn County
Vale Of Leithen 3-1 Gala Fairydean
Wick Academy 0-5 Deveronvale
Wigtown & Bladnoch 3-5 Burntisland Shipyard
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship First Division
Dundee 2-1 Morton
Dunfermline 1-0 Partick
Livingston 4-2 Clyde
Queen of South 2-2 Stirling
St Johnstone 4-1 Hamilton
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Second Division
Ayr 1-2 Peterhead
Brechin 0-1 Raith
Cowdenbeath 1-1 Airdrie Utd
Queens Park 1-0 Berwick
Ross County 2-2 Alloa
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Third Division
East Fife 7-0 Stenhousemuir
East Stirling 2-3 Arbroath
Montrose 0-1 Dumbarton
Stranraer 3-3 Elgin
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Bangor City 1-1 Caersws
Caernarfon 3-4 Llanelli
Carmarthen 0-3 The New Saints FC
Newtown 3-0 Neath
Porthmadog 1-2 Newi Cefn Druids
Carnegie Irish Premier Division
Armagh City 2-2 Crusaders
Ballymena 0-4 Glentoran
Donegal Celtic 0-1 Institute
Larne 1-2 Coleraine
Linfield 3-0 Limavady
Lisburn Distillery 1-0 Newry
Portadown 0-2 Cliftonville
Friday, 28 September 2007
Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League
Connah's Quay 3-3 Welshpool Town
Port Talbot 2-1 Aberystwyth
Rhyl 2-1 Airbus UK
Carnegie Irish Premier Division
Dungannon Swifts 1-4 Glenavon
Eircom League Premier Division
Bohemians 3-0 Sligo
Derry City 1-2 Cork
Galway Utd 0-1 St Patricks
Longford Town 1-2 Drogheda Utd
UCD 2-1 Waterford
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