Friday 25 September 2015

Mch. Mtikila na Maoni Yake Juu ya Tafiti zilizofanywa na Twaweza na Synovate...

MIJADALA - SEPT.25.2015 | STAR TV

Mwenyekiti wa DP azungumzia tafiti zilizofanywa na SYNOVATE pamoja na TWAWEZA juu ya nani ana nafasi ya kushinda uraisi katika uchaguzi mkuu.

Posted by Simu.TV on Friday, 25 September 2015

Saturday 19 September 2015

Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein...

Umoja ni Ushindi...

ILANI YA CCM KWA AJILI YA UCHAGUZI MKUU WA MWAKA 2015 - UTANGULIZI



Utangulizi

1. Ilani ya Uchaguzi ya Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) kwa ajili ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa mwaka 2015 wa kuwachagua Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Rais wa Zanzibar, Wabunge, Wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi na Madiwani imeandaliwa ikiwa ni mkataba kati ya CCM na wananchi. Ilani hii imeandikwa kwa kuzingatia Dira ya Maendeleo ya Taifa ya 2025 na Mwelekeo wa Sera za CCM zenye lengo na nia ya kuendelea kuwatumikia wananchi kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo (2015-2020).

2. Ilani hii ni tamko maalumu kwa wapiga kura kuhusu nia ya CCM ya kuendelea kushika dola na kuwaongoza Watanzania kwa njia ya kidemokrasia, na hasa kuendelea kudumisha amani, umoja wa Kitaifa, usawa, ustawi wa wananchi, Muungano wa Tanganyika na Zanzibar na Mapinduzi Matukufu ya Zanzibar kwa kipindi kingine cha miaka mitano.

3. Nia na uwezo wa CCM wa kuendelea kuongoza Taifa hili unajidhihirisha katika uzoefu ambao tumeupata kwa miaka 38 tangu kuanzishwa kwake na kuwa madarakani, ambapo katika kipindi chote hiki kimeiwezesha nchi yetu kupata mafanikio makubwa katika nyanja za kiuchumi, kisiasa na kijamii.

4. Katika miaka mitano ijayo (2015-2020), CCM ikiwa madarakani, itazielekeza Serikali zake kutumia nguvu zake zote kuendelea kupambana na changamoto kubwa nne:-
Kwanza kuondoa umaskini; pili kupunguza tatizo la ukosefu wa ajira hasa kwa vijana; tatu kuendeleza vita dhidi ya adui rushwa na ubadhirifu wa mali ya umma; na nne kuendelea kudumisha amani, ulinzi na usalama wa maisha ya wananchi na
mali zao.

Kupambana na Umasikini
5. Pamoja na mafanikio ya kukua kwa uchumi na ongezeko la huduma za kijamii yaliyopatikana katika kipindi hiki, bado ipo changamoto kubwa ya umasikini wa kipato na usio wa kipato. Takwimu zinaonesha kwamba asilimia 28.2 ya Watanzania ni masikini. Wengi wa wananchi hao wanaishi vijijini (asilimia 75) na wanategemea kilimo katika maisha yao. Wapo pia wananchi masikini wanaoishi mijini ambao wanaendesha maisha yao kupitia shughuli za biashara ndogo ndogo zisizo rasmi.

6. Katika kupambana na changamoto hii, CCM itazielekeza Serikali zake kuboresha
maisha ya wananchi wote na hususan wa vijijini, kwa kuchukua hatua zifuatazo:-
(a) Kuhamasisha kilimo kupitia kauli mbiu ya Kilimo Kwanza kwa kuwawezesha wakulima kupata mafunzo ya kilimo cha kisasa, pembejeo, zana za kisasa na wataalamu wa ugani pamoja na mbinu za kuyafikia masoko ya uhakika ya mazao yao;
(b) Kuongeza kasi ya kupima ardhi yao na kuwapatia hati miliki za kimila ambazo watazitumia kama dhamana ya kuwawezesha kupata mikopo ya kuendeleza shughuli zao za kilimo, ufugaji na uvuvi;
(c) Kuendeleza juhudi za kuimarisha huduma za kijamii ikiwemo elimu, afya, maji, umeme na ujenzi wa nyumba bora; na
(d) Kuongeza kasi ya kurasimisha biashara na kuwapatia wafanyabiashara wadogo maeneo ya kufanyia biashara, leseni na fursa za kupata mikopo yenye masharti
nafuu.

7. Mafanikio ya utekelezaji wa masuala haya yote kwa pamoja yanatarajiwa kuleta mabadiliko makubwa ya kimaendeleo mijini na vijinini, na hivyo kupunguza kwa kiwango kikubwa hali ya umasikini nchini.

Ajira kwa Vijana

8. Suala la ukosefu wa ajira kwa vijana ni moja ya changamoto zinazolikabili Taifa letu na dunia yote kwa ujumla. Katika kipindi cha miaka mitano iliyopita yapo mafanikio yaliyopatikana katika kuongeza ajira. Hata hivyo, mafanikio katika upanuzi wa elimu ya Sekondari na Vyuo yameongeza mahitaji ya ajira ya vijana wasomi kila mwaka ikilinganishwa na nafasi zinazokuwepo.

9. Katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo jitihada za kulipatia ufumbuzi tatizo la ajira nchini zitaendelezwa. Kipaumbele kitakuwa katika kukuza na kuanzisha viwanda vidogo, vya kati na vikubwa vilivyo na uwezo wa kuajiri watu wengi na vyenye kuzalisha bidhaa zinazotumiwa na watu wengi wa ndani ya nchi na zile za kuuza nchi za nje. Aidha, kwa upande wa Tanzania Zanzibar, mikakati ya kuongeza ajira kwa vijana itazingatia mazingira maalamu ya fursa za uchumi wa visiwa.

10. Katika kipindi cha 2015-2020, sekta za uzalishaji mali kama kilimo, ufugaji, uvuvi, viwanda vikubwa na vidogo na huduma za kiuchumi kama vile miundombinu ya nishati, uchukuzi na ujenzi zitaelekeza mipango yao katika kupunguza umasikini na kuanzisha ajira hususan kwa vijana. Aidha, huduma za jamii za elimu, afya na maji
zitajielekeza kusaidia kuondoa umasikini na kuongeza ajira.

Vita dhidi ya Rushwa

11. Jitihada za kuinua uchumi na kuongeza huduma za jamii hazitaleta manufaa kwa wananchi na kuondoa umasikini iwapo adui rushwa ataendelea kulitafuna Taifa letu.
Rushwa ni adui wa haki pia ni adui wa maendeleo na ustawi wa wananchi, hivyo ni moja ya changamoto kubwa inayoikabili nchi yetu na dunia kwa ujumla.
12. Katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo, CCM itazielekeza Serikali zake kuendeleza mapambano dhidi ya adui rushwa kwa nguvu zake zote na kuendelea kuziba mianya ya rushwa katika taasisi za umma; kuchukua hatua kali na za haraka kwa wale wote watakaobainika kuendeleza rushwa Serikalini na katika sekta binafsi; na kuimarisha
vyombo na taasisi zinazohusika na kuzuia na kupambana na rushwa; ikiwa ni pamoja na kuanzisha Mahakama Maalumu kwa ajili ya makosa ya rushwa na uhujumu uchumi.

13. Sambamba na kupambana na tatizo la rushwa, Serikali pia zitatakiwa kushughulikia kwa ukali zaidi tatizo la ubadhirifu na wizi wa mali ya umma, matumizi mabaya ya madaraka, ukiukwaji wa maadili ya uongozi na utumishi wa umma, kuchelewesha kutoa maamuzi yenye maslahi kwa umma na kusimamia uwajibikaji katika kutekeleza masuala yenye maslahi kwa umma.

Ulinzi na Usalama

14. Nchi yetu imepata mafanikio makubwa ya kuwa na amani na utulivu tangu tupate uhuru mwaka 1961 na Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar ya mwaka 1964. Imekuwa kimbilio la watu wa Mataifa ya jirani kila wapatapo matatizo ya uvunjifu wa amani katika nchi zao. Hata hivyo, siku za karibuni vimeanza kuonekana viashiria vinavyoleta hofu ya usalama wa wananchi, hasa vitendo vya mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi (Albino), kuuawa kwa vikongwe, ukatili dhidi ya wanawake na watoto na tishio la vitendo vyenye mwelekeo wa kigaidi.

15. Katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo, CCM itazielekeza Serikali zake kuendelea kuimarisha vyombo vyote vya ulinzi na usalama kwa kuviongezea raslimali fedha, raslimali watu, maslahi, zana za kisasa na mafunzo. Aidha, elimu kwa umma itatolewa ili kukomesha imani potofu za kishirikina zinazosababisha mauaji ya albino na vikongwe na hatua kali za kisheria zitachukuliwa dhidi ya wale wote watakaobainika kujihusisha na vitendo vya mauaji ya makundi hayo.

Utekelezaji wa Ilani

16. Kazi kubwa ya Serikali za CCM katika kipindi cha miaka mitano ijayo itakuwa ni kuendeleza mapambano dhidi ya umasikini, ukosefu wa ajira, rushwa; na kudumisha umoja, amani, ulinzi na usalama. Ili kutimiza azma hiyo, CCM itazielekeza Serikali zake zisiwe kubwa, zenye watumishi weledi, waadilifu na wawajibikaji. Serikali zisizo na urasimu unaokwamisha na kuchelewesha maamuzi na utekelezaji. Serikali zitakazongeza maradufu au hata zaidi ukusanyaji wa mapato yake ili zijitegemee kadri inavyowezekana kwenye bajeti zake.

17. Vile vile katika kipindi cha Ilani hii, Chama Cha Mapinduzi kitaziagiza Serikali zake kuendeleza na kuimarisha mfumo wa Matokeo Makubwa Sasa (BRN na BRP) katika kutekeleza Ilani na kusimamia utekelezaji wa miradi ya kimkakati na kipaumbele unaozingatia nidhamu ya utekelezaji katika muda uliopangwa, ufuatiliaji makini na wa kina, pamoja na kupata ufumbuzi wa vikwazo na changamoto za utekelezaji.

#HapaKaziTu

Tuesday 17 February 2015

Kendwa Rock Beach Hotel Yaungua Moto



Chanzo cha moto:Hitilafu ya umeme.

Jengo lilioungua ni la Jiko, Duka na Sehemu ya burudani.

Hasara iliyosababishwa na moto huo, inakisiwa kuwa ni Shilingi bilioni moja.



Picha na OMPR

Zanzibar Is Safe, German Leader Prove It.


Germans have had very interesting relations with Zanzibar. They were here on commercial terms and with counsellor representation before Berlin Conference and occupation of Tanganyika. Almost all their explorers took off for the interior Africa using Zanzibar as their launch pad and least one forget the issue of Heligoland Island that put the two sides on international level when the Sultanate was in control of the whole East African Coastal strip.

Also German soldiers are buried here after their war vessel Konisberg sunk in our territorial water. In all humility they are our family after a German business man eloped with Seyyida Salme, a princess and hence out there is our royal blood.

Zanzibaris would never forget the interest that East Germany took over Zanzibar soon after the 1964 Revolution in recognizing the nascent state and helping out as close friend. Hence it was befitting gesture and high note endorsement of Zanzibar made by the German President when he walked along the Forodhani Road on his arrival, something never done by any visiting leader. The visiting German President was at home.

I am sure President Gauck was thrilled as he was boisterously cheered by the friendliest people on earth chanted for him and Germany which they admire their football and hard work.


The Forodhani Road passes through many land mark buildings such as the Old Dispensary, the Big Tree, the Custom House, the Sultan Palace, The Forodhani Gardens, The Old Fort and the Tembo House. It always feels pleasure to walk the road. To me it was more than a walk surely to see the sea front which needs repair badly and which the German government would intervene to re-enact and strengthen, the same as it has done to pave the narrow streets in one of the biggest project it had undertaken in Zanzibar. Whoever planned for that walk must have thought very well for Zanzibar which for a long time now has been suffering heaps and heaps of blame on insecurity so much at times the exaggeration is beyond belief. The visit killed it all.

A Western Europe leader walking in the streets of Zanzibar, what a script to run for security endorsement in a place where the Western media bombard with stories on religious violence, extremism and connections made with Al Qaeda, Al Shabab and such groups mainly because certain individuals have collaborated with them.

The walk is big public relations to Zanzibar that tourists here are safe despite hiccups on mugging, acid attacks something that can happen anywhere and in fact such attacks are prone at any big city anywhere in the world.

The walk has sent good messages to potential German visitors to Zanzibar being the second biggest group after the Italians. But to the rest like the Britons, the Scandinavians, the Spanish, the Belgians and the Swiss who come to Zanzibar in their droves. Of course the endorsement by German President Gauck comes with very high price which the Zanzibar Government has to pay, as they say there is no free lunch.

It means it has to clear its house and put it into order to match the gesture. Granted there are religious frictions that can lead to extremism. Not refuted that tourists have been attacked and foreign residents have been targeted as criminality is a real threat. Drugs are galore.

Zanzibar cannot relax at all when tourism sector is being threatened because it now its heartbeat with 200,000 visitors per year channelling over 60 per cent in the Zanzibar Government financial machinery.

To me, the doors have been just opened for Zanzibar and it is for us to decide how to walk the distance.


By Ally Saleh

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Encourage Women participate in Politics, Scribes Urged


ACTIVISTS in Zanzibar have urged the media to encourage women participate in politics and get ready to be voted into government during the next general election.

Activists from Ulingo Platform, Jumuia ya Wanawake Wenye Ulemavu Zanzibar (JUWAUZA) -- an organization for disabled women of Zanzibar, Gender Coalition, and TAMWA said that low representation of women in all decision making groups at all levels frustrates them in fighting for their rights.

Dr Ave Maria Semakafu --Tanzania Women Cross Party (TWCP) -- Ulingo Platform, Ms Asha Aboud- Gender Coalition, Ms Mzuri Issa-TAMWA, and Ms Mwandawa Khamis-JUWAUZA joined together in asking media to help awaken women.

"Journalists and the media have a big role to play in educating and encouraging women to be active in their respective political parties, and contest for various positions," said Dr Semakafu.

She was speaking during a capacity building workshop organized by Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) with funding from UN-Women, for journalists in Zanzibar for the upcoming general election.

She said that despite efforts to get women into politics since 2010, low women representation still remains a challenge. The media have a critical role in getting more women into politics and leadership positions by promoting and protecting their interests.

Ms Aboud, Ms Khamis and Ms Issa informed journalists that most women including those with disabilities in the country are now educated and capable to lead, but they cannot withstand the pressure and acrimony in politics especially in positions that require campaigning and voting.

The activists said media have the power to protect and promote women empowerment for national development especially representation in decision making groups. Many women are planning to contest in the coming general elections.

Source: Daily News

Friday 6 February 2015

Wakifanya Yao...


Kobe (Aldabra giant tortoise) katika kisiwa cha Changuu(Prison Island) Zanzibar...

Thursday 5 February 2015

Muscat Festival 2015: Taste Zanzibari Snack at International Food Court



Zanzibar's culture is a remarkable fusion of African, Arab and Indian influences, all of which have helped shape an eclectic street cuisine that rivals anywhere else in Africa. This time in the Amerat venue of the Muscat Festival, cheap and scrumptious eats from Tanzania are available at the International Food Court. So keep your eyes peeled for these tasty treats if you are a foodie.

Haji Amour Haji, the energetic managing director of Hamoup Company Ltd, Tanzania, which is into food industry, is here for the first time to have a taste of Oman as well as to give a taste of Zanzibar to the festival folks. Haji and his three-member team from Tanzania are preparing some of the best Zanzibari evening snacks at the pavilion. Ali has brought some of the original Zanzibari ingredients which are not available in Muscat.

"But I purchase some common food stuff from the supermarket here to make the food," he said.




"Mainly people are coming here for mishkakI (beef or chicken kebabs) and mbatata Urojo. The festival is starting at noon time so we are concentrating on snacks. We are doing the recipes of Zanzibari cassava, banana and the mixed food. Owing to the limited space available we are preparing only snacks. People enjoy and are happy to taste our food here," Haji, who is visiting Oman for the first time, said.

The snack menu includes cassava crush mixed with beef, kachori, samboosa etc. The spice island's special blend, urojo soup tastes significantly better than it looks. The yellowish broth is a mouthwatering blend of mango and ginger (usually with tamarind, lime and hot peppers to taste) stuffed with your choice of potatoes, kachori, cassava chips, bread, eggs and salads.

The other item on the menu, Zanzibar Mix, is a homegrown Indian Zanzibari Tanzanian creation. Zanzibar Mix (known as Urojo in Zanzibar), is an Indian inspired Zanzibari Tanzanian bowl of curry soup with lots of toppings. Potatoes, chickpeas, fried bhajias, peanuts and an assortment of the crunchy things make the base.

They are then covered in a light creamy curry sauce and finally topped with a handful of cassava of potato chips, a spoon of fresh coconut chutney, and a pile of hot pili pili (chili) sauce. It's a Dar Es Salaam street food favorite – and it's packed with diverse flavors and textures. You will get to know how the different cultures have an impact on your taste buds!

"I brought Cassava from Zanzibar," said Haji. For many this is the real staple food of Zanzibar. It is produced locally and used as a main dish as 'muhogo wa nazi', which literally translates to 'coconut cassava', ugali, etc or crisped as a snack, or grilled.

A true food lover, Haji admits that these are not the real traditional Zanzibari food. "These are only snacks. Our kitchen here in this festival is very small. So we find it really difficult to make the real traditional food." The price ranges from 100 baiza to RO1 for a snack deal.



Apart from the Zanzibari snack stall some local franchisees have put up Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Iranian and Turkish stalls. "The food items are being prepared in traditional Chinese Dalian style," says Konj, the man behind the Chinese delicacies here. The menu offers Chinese noodles with vegetables, fried noodles, sauces beef, wonton, boiled dumpling, fried dumpling, fried squid, fried mutton and garlic broccoli among others.

At the Egyptian counter, you can have traditional Egyptian Koushari, fool (mashed fava beens), famous sweets such as kunafa, sweet omali and Mahalabiya (rice custard). The Iranian stall is full of sweets, candies and ice creams of different flavours plus chicken sandwich. "From 200 baiza to RO 1.300 traditional Iranian sweets and products such as dried pomegranates Marjoram extracts and saffron and saffron flavoured sweets are here," Shakiba, the manager of the Iranian stall said.

The Indian menu has the world's great street food snacks such as pani puri, pappi chat, gol geppe etc and dishes from the tandoori oven - . nan, roti chicken tikka and paneer tikka. "We also serve south Indian food like dosa, idli, oothappam, masala dosa etc. Our specialty is Mumbai special biryani and dosa items, oothappam, masla dosa," says cook Madan Singh adding that lot of foreigners have been coming and tasting the pani puri here." The Biryani combo has raita, salad, Indian pickels and biryani for RO 1.700.

The famous Turkish chicken shawarma is another attraction at the food court. You can sip traditional Turkish coffee and tea, and enjoy various flavours of cake - profiterole, orange, chocolate, lata - here.

Though there is a long way to go for a real international food fest, you can, still, have an interesting snack deal from here.


Source: Times of Oman

Bei ya Petroli Zanzibar...


Bei ya petroli kwa Zanzibar sasa ni Shilingi 1,920, huku upande wa pili wa Tanzania bei ikiwa kama inavyooneka kwenye picha hapa chini...

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Ukarabati wa Kanisa la Anglikan - Mkunazini Zanzibar

The Anglican Christ Church Cathedral linafanyiwa ukarabati mkubwa katika kipindi cha zaidi ya miaka 140. Kanisa hili lilijengwa mwaka 1873 katika ujenzi uliochukua takribani miaka 10.





Picha kwa hisani ya Kathryn Rossiter

Monday 2 February 2015

Zanzibar Has the Best Proximity to Maternity Care in Africa



Zanzibar — PROXIMITY to healthcare facilities is no longer a problem in Zanzibar, the Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has said.

Mr Kombo informed Members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives that the Islands have the best proximity to healthcare facilities compared with any nation in Africa.

"Pregnant mothers in Zanzibar, including in rural areas no longer live far away from healthcare facilities providing maternal services.

The longest distance to maternal care centre is 3.5 kilometres surpassing the five kilometre distance recommended by the WHO," said Mr Kombo.

The deputy minister was responding to the question from Ms Panya Ali Abdalla (Women-CCM) who asked as to why maternal mortality is on rise in Zanzibar. She asked whether poor access to health care, which results in delayed attendance, led to the increase.

Mr Kombo said that each health centre which provides maternal services has at least three trained staffs capable of attending 20 pregnancies, but women who visit health facilities to give birth is normally between three and five.

He said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners recommend Zanzibar's efforts in improving health services, and that the reasons behind the fluctuating maternal mortality include normal pregnancy complications and heavy reliance on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).

Statistics collected at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital shows 77, 62, 103 and 80 maternal deaths in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively.

The deputy minister urged leaders at all levels to encourage mothers to deliver at the official health centres instead of going to the untrained TBAs.


By Issa Yussuf,DN

Sunday 1 February 2015

Namba Mpya Za Magari Zanzibar

Namba binafsi kwa vyombo vya moto kuanza kutumika Zanzibar...





Picha kwa hisani ya Zanzinews

Saturday 31 January 2015

Friday 30 January 2015

Tourism Sector Job Cuts Rise As Kenya Loses Out To Zanzibar...



An estimated 21,000 jobs were lost at the Coast last year, while tourism sector earnings may have fallen by as much as 85 per cent, according to companies in the industry.

The sector’s misfortunes worsened after the September 2013 terrorist attack on the Westgate Shopping Mall, tour operators say, after which insecurity has continued unabated.

The decline in number of foreign tourists, traditionally a key source for foreign currency inflows, has sent ripples to other sectors in a contagion that “is beginning to be painful”.

Adam Jillo, a tour operator and Kenya Private Sector Alliance board member in charge of security and tourism, said sectors already feeling the contagion include air transport, agriculture and food distribution, auto industry, credit and construction.

“Zanzibar has today take away up to 90 per cent of what was the Kenyan Coast tourism market until three years ago,” Jillo said at a Kepsa briefing on Wednesday, without citing absolute numbers.

“Many hotels have been forced to close down and others will be closing down soon.”

Kenya earned $2 billion – Sh183.34 billion at the current exchange rate – in 2012 international tourism receipts, World Bank data show, but this has been on decline over the past two years owing to persistent insecurity.

Latest foreign visitors arrival data is expected this Friday from the government statistician, but seven-month numbers already showed a decline of 16.9 per cent to 514,889, from 619,472 foreign tourists in 2013.

Kenya Tourism Board figures show a total of 1.1 million visitors flew into the country in 2013 compared to 1.23 million in 2012, a 10.4 per cent decline.

Impact of the ailing tourism sector caught up with lenders in 2014 third quarter as borrowing slowed, according to Central Bank’s credit report.

Out of 11 cluster sectors, the hospitality industry was the only one that did not record growth in loans and advances in the three months to September 30 despite the country’s relative calm over the period.

The total loans and advances to the hospitality industry amounted to Sh33.9 billion at the end of September compared to Sh41.5 billion in June. The 18.3 per cent decline indicated that the sector was merely repaying old loans and not taking new credit.

“Tour operators are in the same situation as the hoteliers; there are no safari jobs and they have vehicles to maintain and loans owed to banks,” said Jillo, who is also the Kenya Tour Operators Association chairman.


- See more at: http://the-star.co.ke/news/tourism-sector-job-cuts-rise-kenya-loses-out-zanzibar#sthash.pAq6PZoN.dpuf

Wednesday 28 January 2015

It's Been A Hard 12-Step Road For Zanzibar's Heroin Addicts

Could a 12-step program, with its Christian roots, help addicts recover on a conservative Muslim island in the Indian Ocean?


Suleiman Mauly was desperate to find out. He'd been using heroin in his native Zanzibar since age 17. The island nation is a key stop for heroin smuggled from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Europe. An estimated 7 percent of the 1 million inhabitants are heroin addicts.

Mauly had tried to get clean a couple of times. It didn't work. Then he discovered a 12-step program in Mombasa, Kenya.

He not only stopped using drugs but also made amends to friends and family he'd harmed as an addict. "And before you make amends, you have to search yourself, your feelings of guilt and resentment," says Mauly, now 34 and in recovery for eight years. "It's a kind of Christian spiritual process." Indeed, the 12-step program, founded in Akron, Ohio, some 80 years ago, relies on Christian concepts: confession, redemption, submission to a higher power.

"People have different experiences with the higher power," he says. "Some of them say it's Allah. Some of them, Jesus. For me, the power greater than myself was a program, a group and my family. And then later, I've started to understand how to rely on God." He is largely responsible for introducing the program to his country.

But the program's Christian connection turned out to be a sensitive topic in Zanzibar, where the mostly Muslim population has long had a frictional relationship with the mostly Christian mainland.

For example, one of the core principles of 12-step is submission to a higher power, often shorthanded as "HP."

Abdulrahman Abdullah remembers the first time he told his mother about HP. "She said, 'Come here, talk about Allah. Don't give a [expletive] about your HP,' you know?" He laughs now at the memory, but he says his mother still worries that 12-step will be a gateway to conversion to Christianity.

Many islanders have been won over by the program's success. Six years after Mauly brought 12-step to Zanzibar, there are 11 recovery houses that have treated 3,000 addicts. He serves as head of Recovery Community Zanzibar, which is staffed by former addicts, and is also a community outreach officer with Tanzania Health Promotion Support.

But Zanzibar's traditional values could bend only so far. Mauly says that while he successfully introduced the concept of 12-step for men, he's been unable to get community support for a women's program.

"Because they give up hope with women," Mauly says. Women often turn to prostitution to support their drug habit. For traditional Muslims in Zanzibar, Mauly says, that is an act from which there can be no redemption.

Using funds he diverted from the men's clinic, Mauly opened a recovery house for women last month. He says he's not just trying to help women recover. He's trying to change local culture and make Zanzibaris see that women too can find redemption.

"You never know," he says with a smile, "when someone will be saved."

NPR's Frederica Boswell has reported on Mauly's story since he set up his first sober house. On a visit in January, she photographed him, staff members at the rehab centers and some of the recovering addicts, with their permission.



Abdulrahman "Mani" Abdullah was in and out of rehab and jail for 22 years in the United Kingdom. Since returning to Zanzibar, he's been clean for five years. He's the general secretary of Recovery Community Zanzibar.

"I sincerely had a desire to stop using and change my life because I was sick and tired, and I had lost everything that I've ever had in my life: my relationship with my God, with myself, with my family. I didn't have anybody, and I was so desperate. I would have done anything to get myself out, and with the help of the brothers, they've made my life better today."




Mwanahamisi Aysha
Divorced with two children, Mwanahamisi Aysha was only 18 days into recovery in this photo. She started using drugs at age 18 and admits to stealing and selling her body to support her habit. She's been jailed many times; this is her third attempt at sobriety.

"I have no religion. I was born Muslim. I was brought up as a Muslim. And I believe, but the things I have done in the course of my addiction have not been Islamic. They are wrong. I believe that one day I will repent and go back to my religion, but for now, what I am is a pagan."




Zuhura Khamisi
is a volunteer and mentor at Malaika Sober House. At 34, she's been in recovery for a year and nine months. She married a former addict, then left him when he relapsed. Her goal is to find a job to look after her five children.

"My boyfriend started me on drugs. By the time we left each other, I was very far gone. I had no job, no money, but I had to continue taking drugs. When he left me, I was just like in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video — you know the people who come out of the graves — because I was so, so tired of the drugs. I was told about the sober house from a friend. The first time, I relapsed. After a while, I came back, and now I am very happy because I've been here now one year and nine months, and I'm feeling human again."

Tatu Makame
Tatu Makame had been at the Malaika Sober House for 16 days. She's 31 and says she started off drinking, then smoked marijuana, then moved on to heroin. This is her second attempt at getting clean. Khadija Juma, 29, had come from Dar es Salaam and was two days into recovery.

Makame: "I want a child. My sister has got three children, and I've not been able to have one. I'm now very lucky. I'm pregnant, so my goal is to have this baby and stay clean to bring it up. It was the pregnancy that made me come to the sober house, because I can't be pregnant and doing drugs. And I want this baby."

Juma: "I'm here because I'm tired."

Seif Umche and Larry Isaac Lugombe
Seif Umche, 28, in the lilac shirt, had been in recovery for one month. He started using in 2003 and says he became a liar and a thief. Now he asks for help from God. Larry Isaac Lugombe, 21 and in the bright green shirt, had been at Detroit sober house for three months and six days, with 24 days to go. He hopes to move to Canada and start school.

Umche: "I failed at my life. I failed at school. My life was bad outside. When I got here, I couldn't hit the punching bag, because when I got here I was close to death. I had no strength, but now I'm in recovery. I want to now leave my life to God."

Lugombe: "I plummeted through life. I was born in South Africa. I lived a bit in Canada, then I moved to Dar es Salaam. Life kind of got hard. I didn't understand how life worked, so I started using drugs. Being here has opened my mind in ways I couldn't understand. I've learned things and experienced things that I didn't think I would. Because some of the people here come with really creepy stories, and I figured out that life could get a lot worse. And I'm proud of myself for making the step of understanding my problem and trying to solve it. I have a lot of hope that I'll be somebody. That's what I'm counting on, to be somebody."



Mosi Tamim Khalfani
Mosi Tamim Khalfani, 22, was 11 days into her recovery when this picture was taken. Two days later, she left the house and is believed to have relapsed.

"I've relapsed eight times. I'm back now, and when I get out of here, I certainly don't want a man for at least two or three years, because he might put me back into drugs. I also don't want to get a job, because I believe if I get a job and I have money to spend I'll buy drugs again. I have three brothers at home who are also on drugs, so I don't want to go and live at home. They say things like 'we're giving her two weeks and then she'll go back to using.' God will help me.' "


Source: NPR

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Zitto Ruyangwa Kabwe, Ndie Kinara Katika Twitter Tanzania




Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini Mhe. Zitto R. Kabwe 38 ndie mtanzania na mwanasiasa mwenye wapenzi wengi zaidi katika mtandao wa Twitter nchini Tanzania. Zitto ana zaidi ya wapenzi/wafuatialiaji 220K, hivyo kumweka katika nafasi ya kwanza kwa nchi ya Tanzania kwa mjibu wa mtandao wa Socialbakers.

Matumizi ya mtandao wa Twitter katika Tanzania umewaweka kando wanasiasa, ukimwondoa Mhe. Zitto ambae pia ni mwanasiasa toka Chama cha Upinzani. Wengi wenye wapenzi wengi katika Tanzania ni Wasanii kwenye fani za Muziki na Vichekesho. Hii ni tofauti kigodo na baadhi ya nchi zingine katika Afrika. Kwa mfano Afrika ya Magharibi, Wachezaji wa mpira wa miguu ndio wenye wapenzi wengi kama vile Didier Drogba wa Cote d'Ivoire mwenye wapenzi 520K, Mali ni Frederic Kanoute mwenye wafuatiliaji 213K na Togo, Emmanuel Adebayor ndie kinara akiwa na jumla ya wafuatiliaji 137K.

Kwa Afrika ya Mashariki,jirani zetu Kenya, Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ndie mwenye wapenzi wengi zaidi nchini humo kwa idadi ya 716K, hali Uganda nafasi ya juu ikishikwa na mfanyabiashara Ashish J. Thakkar mwenye wafuatiliaji 720K, huku Rwanda nafasi ya kwanza ikienda kwa Rais wa nchi hiyo Paul Kagame kwa kuwa na wafuatiliaji 786K.

Tukirudi hapa Tanzania Wasanii ndio wanao wafuatiliaji wengi, kama vile Masanja Mkandamizaji 181K, Millardayo 190K,Ambwene AY 164K, Diamond Platnumz 154K, Jokate Mwegelo 160K, MwanaFa 145K.

Mfanyabiashara mwenye wapenzi wengi hapa nyumbani ni Reginald Mengi akiwa na wafuatiliaji 130K.

Kwa upande wa Zanzibar, Zantel ndio yenye wafuatiliaji wengi wakiwa ni 7K

Monday 26 January 2015

Mawaziri wa Afya Zanzibar na wa Jamhuri ya Muungano Tanzania Wakutana na Watanzania - Ujerumani


Mhe. Seif Rashid, Waziri wa Afya Zanzibar.


Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman, Waziri wa Afya Tanzania.


Baadhi ya Watanzania (FFU-Ujerumani)katika picha ya pamoja na Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman


Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii wa Jamhuri ya Muungano Mhe.Seif Rashid na Waziri wa Afya wa Zanzibar Mhe. Rashid Seif Suleiman, Siku ya jumapili 25 Januari 2015, walikutana na kuongea na baadhi ya Watanzania waishio nchini Ujerumani katika Hoteli ya Martim, mjini Berlin.

Mawaziri hao kwa pamoja waliongozana na balozi Tanzania nchini Ujerumani mheshimiwa Bw.Philip Malmo,katika mkutano huo Mawaziri hao wote walielezea jinsi wizara zao zinavyofanya kazi kuhakikisha kuwa huduma za afya zinawafakia walio wengi na pia kuhakikisha siku za usoni kila mtanzania atanufahika na huduma hizo kwa kutumia bima ya afya bila kujali tofouti za uwezo wa vipato vyao.

Watanzania waishio ujerumani wamefarajika sana na mkutano huo, pia Mawaziri wamewataka Watanzania waishio ughaibuni kuchangia kuwekeza katika sekta ya huduma ya afya hata ikiwa ni sekta binafsi,

Mawaziri hao wamesema milango ya wizara zao hipo wazi kwa watanzania wanaotaka ushauri,ushirikiano au kuwekeza katika sekta hizo.



Source: Msema Kweli- Ujerumani

Friday 23 January 2015

Muscat Festival 2015: Tanzanian painter recreates the beauty of Zanzibar



They hail from the United Republic of Tanzania, but their works are as diverse as their country that comprises numerous ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. Fred Halla uses acrylic and canvas to send strong messages to the authorities to improve civic amenities, Salim Muchin recreates the beauty of Zanzibar, while Moosa Suleiman loves to depict the vibrant and striking appearance of animal kingdom.

One doesn't need to be an art wizard to enjoy their paintings on display at the international exhibition centre at the Muscat Festival venue in Amerat Park. Though the artists have given subtle touches to their works, the subjects are so familiar for people in any part of the world.

"I use the medium to urge authorities to improve civic amenities. It is quite natural for an artist to express anguish through his works," Fred points to one of his drawings that show people running helter skelter to board a city bus in Dar es Salaam. But being a versatile artist, he doesn't ignore the beauty of his country. "It took considerable time to finish the beautiful Tanzanian woman and her colourful clothing. Painting is my passion, and all my works have a story to tell," says Fred.

Hailing from Zanzibar, Salim Muchin's works shows the rich tradition of Zanzibar. Being a painter who pays close attention to detail, Salim has portrayed dhows of different size and shape, old streets and many landmarks from his province. His works also reveal Zanzibar's cultural links with the Sultanate of Oman. "Zanzibar has a rich cultural heritage. I travel to different parts of the region to understand the tradition and history. It gives me the inspiration and gives ideas. I am happy that people identify Oman's cultural links with Zanzibar through my works," says Salim.

When visitors step in to Moosa Suleiman's gallery, they feel as if they are entering into a zoo in Tanzania. All his 60 oil paintings on display show the vibrancy inside the animal kingdom. He shows giraffes, rhinos, zebras, elephants, deers, peacocks living peacefully in nature's lap. The wise selection of colours makes his works attractive, and many children have already taken the paintings to their homes. "I derive inspiration from nature, and I observe the intricate patterns of birds and animals before putting it to the canvas."

But what makes Moosa's paintings different is the use of bright colours. "Bright colours give a distinct look to the animals in a natural habitat. An artist should use his skills to think differently and make his works more attractive," said the diminutive artist, adding "I have to spend more than two days to complete one painting. So I never compromise on quality and try to make it more attractive," he says.



Source: Times of Oman

Thursday 22 January 2015

Women Earn a Living Amid Environmental Degradation.




Zanzibar — WOMEN have made vast progress in development activities including farming and fishing. However, they still get lower pay compared to men.

Their lives and interests are dominated by men. Fortunately, there have been vibrant struggle to combat this form of oppression in recent years.

Through struggle, women have been wining the right to work and equal wages, participation in elections, leadership and many more.

In Zanzibar, men have allowed their wives to leave them in bed early in the morning and go fishing and drying sardine fish daily.

Almost all adult women (including widows, divorcees, students, and married) in Mkokotoni-Tondoo village in North 'A' on Unguja Islands have never remained idle in the past 25 years, in search for money.

Despite little pay, the women are engaged in drying sardine fish at Fungurefu area, coastal strip of Mkokotoni, where they have set up a 'permanent' fishing camp popular as Dago.

The women camp for several days, staying away from their homes. Ms Mwanahawa Juma Haji is one of the women conducting fish activities in Mkokotoni. She says it is the only main economic activity they rely on and have to wake-up between 2.00am and 6.am every day, depending on the tides of the ocean or sea waves.

Tides (locally known in Kiswahili language as banvuwa) are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of gravitational forces exerted by the Moon, Sun, and rotation of the Earth. Sardines (also known pilchards) are common names used to refer to various small, oily fish within the herring family of Clupeidae.

"During low tide, normally for about a week in a month, we have to wake up at 2am or 3am at dawn to collect sardines from the fishermen returning from night fishing, and during high tides we have to wake up at 6am daily.

It is quite a challenging work," said Ms Haji. Flanked by several charming women, Ms Haji told the 'Daily News' that major duties in drying fish include unloading the sardines from the fishing boat using buckets, then cook/ or boil, before spreading on mats on the floor to dry, and each stage of drying they are paid 500/- per bucket.

She said drying, sorting or winnowing, and putting in bags fetches 300/- and 200/- respectively per bucket. "The payment is very low compared to the workload, but there is nothing we can do about it because it is our major income. Something is better than nothing," Ms Haji said.

She said they use large saucepans (dubbed kingamuzi) for cooking the sardines. The biggest kingamuzi is used to cook 14 buckets of sardine, while six buckets of sardines is placed in small saucepan for cooking.

Speaking enthusiastically about her life in sardine drying, Ms Haji said that some women come from neighbouring villages like Nungwi to work at the camp, "But the work remains tough. We use firewood to cook, fortunately to some extent we are environmentally conscious," she said.

She said that braving heat from burning wood and hot sardine during cooking and spreading on mats for drying is a big challenge and it has been affecting our health. We have also to bear the scorching sun, wind, and rain, she said.

Ms Haji, a widow and mother of nine children said they work for men who own fishing boats and manage all the work done by the majority women.

However, some few women have also upgraded in the business by buying sardine, dry it and sell directly to the buyers from the abroad. She said the price of a bucket of sardine has increased from 5,000/ to between 10,000/- and 13,000/- depending on the season/or weather, for example during windy season fish catch declines and price hikes.

"This business is good, but one needs to have enough money for investment. We sell dried sardines to buyers from DRC at the price of 4,000/= per kilogramme. We make a little profit, and some time a loss, because the buyers never want to increase buying price," she said.

She said that the demand for the sardines has always been very high, "the buyers want more than what we produce because the workload is big, yet we do not have facilities to deep fishing and drying the sardines."

The mother said that although the profit is small, it has enabled her to educate her nine children including the eldest daughter Ms Madina Mati Haji who has recently graduated in Human Resources from the Zanzibar University. Ms Mwanahawa Juma Haji said that she lost her first and second husband, a father to four children, before getting married to the second husband who also died after having five children.

"Both husbands were poor, and therefore I have been working all my life to run the family, clothing, hospital, and school requirements," she said.

"I am pleased that I have managed to care for my children until some are now grown seeking to be independent. Other Women in the sardine drying group have also benefited. Some women with fewer responsibilities have managed to build houses," Ms Haji said.

Ms Haji said that for all the past years they have been relying on men who go for fish catch and sale to women or hire women to do the processing of drying it for export abroad. "It is high time, we need our own fishing boat so that we can go out on our own to fish.

Political leaders in our constituency have not supported women enough. We want real economical empowerment," said the charming 46-year-old mother. Her University graduate daughter Ms Mati said, "I have been looking for employment since I graduated last year, but unfortunately no success. I need a job as soon as possible because I am eager to help my mother."

The community leader (Sheha) of Mkokotoni Mr Ame Haji Ame said that most of the women in the village are engaged in sardine drying, the only economical activity.

"The Women including young school students are engaged in sardines business mainly as labourers employed in the drying process. Unfortunately they are poorly paid, but it is the only sure employment for majority women," Sheha said. Mr Ame said the work contributes to environmental degradation but a group of environmentalists in the area have been raising awareness on conservation.

The awareness has helped to minimize cutting down of trees for firewood, and clearing land for drying sardines. "We also ask them not to deposit wastes recklessly," he said.

There has been mushrooming of sardines drying centres along the coastal areas of Zanzibar as environmentalists raise concern due to the consequences of the human activity on land.

Minister for Trade, Industries and Marketing Mr Nassor Mazrui, has for several times threatened to close the areas, but the decision was shelved due to the fact that sardines drying now employs many women from poor families in coastal areas.

Almost all the work is done by women, and men only go for fish catching, supervision and selling the dried sardines to buyers from DRC. The handling of money is done by men.

There are several uses of sardines, mainly for human consumption. But also fish meal made from sardines is used as animal feed, while sardine oil has many uses, including the manufacture of paint, varnish, and linoleum.

It is unclear where the business people from DRC take the sardine they buy from Zanzibar, it is assumed that they export and make more money.



Source: DN