When a cheaper diploma pays more than a costly degree

Results. The A-Level results show that 76, 151 obtained at least two principal passes, which ideally qualifies them to enlist for post-secondary education.

Kampala.

Three years ago, Samuel Imbadi eyed an under-graduate course in Electrical Engineering. Kyambogo University was his choice institution.

An Advanced-Level subject combination of Physics, Economic and Mathematics (PEM) theoretically placed him in good stead to achieve his dream.
When results of the 2010 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) were released in early 2011, Mr Imbadi garnered 8 points, significantly lower than what is required for admission for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree course. He was dejected.
His colleague and alumni of Old Kampala SS opted to repeat, enlist as private students on other university course(s) or drop out altogether – and many of last year’s A-Level students, whose resulted were released yesterday, face similar choices.

Uganda’s largely theoretical education focused on literacy, numeracy and the learning has encouraged recitation and memorisation, but not practical skills crucial for innovations, production and wealth creation. Yet the country has chosen sciences over humanities, which President Museveni preaches as the right medicine to transform Uganda.
But what does his government do to realise this vision?
The A-Level results show some 76, 151 obtained at least two principal passes, which ideally qualifies them to enlist for post-secondary education.

Government sponsors only some 4, 000 students at the five public universities; Makerere, Kyambogo, Mbarara, Gulu and Busitema. Others with handsome financing will enroll and pay for – perhaps buy – degree courses at these public and the other 27 private universities.
However, several thousand will miss out either because they lack money for tuition or have significantly lower scores than the threshold admission requirement.
So what are the alternatives, or should they even be second-rate options?

“Successful candidates”, Education Minister Jessica Alupo said while releasing the results on Tuesday; will get university slots.
She added: “I must (however) encourage A-Level leavers to seriously consider enrolling for technical, vocational and other courses at diploma level that lead to employment opportunities at the middle-level in the economy in both formal and non-formal sectors.”
Experts criticise such casual – almost derogatory - manner in which bureaucrats rate technical and vocational training as an anathema.

According to Fagil Mandy, an education consultant who chairs the country’s examinations body, “people managing education don’t understand and articulate the critical role vocational and technical skills play in a nation’s transformation”.
This skewed view is premised on the “deceptive” notion that tertiary institutions are for ‘failed students’, who in turn pity instead of asserting themselves, the former commissioner in the Ministry of Education said.

Self-pity is what Imbadi felt before he found himself offering a diploma in Automobile Maintenance and Repair at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, a few kilometres from Kyambogo University where he originally intended to enroll.
“At first I didn’t like [the idea of joining a technical institute],” he said a matter-of-factly, before an exposure to vehicle handling at a garage during his vacation changed things.

Now he relishes the sight of vehicles he has helped fix wheeze out of the Nakawa workshop – a fulfillment that only a hand-on involvement can bring. “You get the real feel of doing something, not just the theory,” he said. Besides, there is money to make for upkeep and Imbadi, 22, just started his 2nd year at the institute.
More, university students doing the related courses come for practicals at Nakawa Vocational Training centre where Imbadi says he has on occasions shown them “how to do mechanical and electrical things”.

“People should stop looking at Business, Technical, Vocational education and training as a last resort,” said Paul Amoru, spokesman of the statutory entity that examines these courses. “We are looking for the best brains, not failures.”

A person who learns automobile servicing like Imbadi will become a mechanic, another one smart in wood work can own or be employed at a workshop making fine furniture and diploma-level masonry training produces a fine builder – all job creators of sorts.

And there are at least 10 public institutions offering diplomas in diverse fields such as cooperatives and business administration, boat building and marine mechanics, fisheries management and technologies, cartography, physical planning, land management and valuation, surveying, meteorology as well as wild life and allied natural resources management.

So, why are these courses that give practical skills often shunned by students and parents?
The problem, Mr Mandy says, is negative perception. To surmount it, he proposes that institutions (see list in table) should be well managed, financed and the theme of apprenticeship and vocational training articulated and popularised by all education stakeholders.
That tosses the ball back to government’s court. Primary and secondary schools offering practical subjects such as metal or wood works and technical drawing are an exception, rather than the rule, and persuading uninitiated students after A-Level becomes an albatross.

Mr Amoru says Parliament’s enactment of the Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) Act, establishing Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), means the country is on course to streamline and exercise control in technical education. That would entail deeper reforms in the education sector.

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Barclays Bank’s Adan Mohamed. Analysts cite the bank’s ‘Hello Money’ service as one way of reducing costs instead of laying off workers. le="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">

Uganda to spend $377,000 on MPs’ iPads

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The Ugandan Parliament is to spend about $377,000 on iPad tablet computers for MPs.

Parliamentary officials say apart from bringing MPs up to speed with evolution in technology, they hope to save money in the long run by cutting on printing and other stationery expenses.

“They (iPads) would be Parliament property but when someone uses one for five years you don’t expect it to be in shape for use by another legislator for another five years,” commissioner Elijah Okupa told the Daily Monitor.

“They will indirectly become their personal property because of depreciation,” he added.

Figures from Parliament show that the government spent at least $12.1 million over the last two financial years on computer supplies, printing, stationery, photocopying, binding, postage, courier and other communication costs.

They hope to save money by moving to paper-less operations in the House. For instance, any document from the Finance ministry has to be photocopied into almost 400 copies for each MP and other Parliament officials. These will now be e-mailed to the MPs instead. “It is a necessary tool of work, and we need them as MPs so that we avoid the amount of paper work which is always put in our pigeon holes,” Busiro East MP Medard Segona (DP) told the Daily Monitor.

Many MPs are not familiar with the gadgets, sources said, and the firm that will be contracted to supply them is expected to receive a training contract as well. “We can mitigate these costs and the only way is to use iPads now which are cheaper by the way if only members are trained on how to use them.

PSI: Tumezuia mimba milioni 1.2 zisizotarajiwa

Mtung’e alisema kifurushi hicho kitakuwa na vifaa vyote vitakavyohitajika kwa mjamzito kujifungua salama ambavyo alivitaja baadhi kuwa ni jozi mbili za glovu, nyuzi mbili, pamba, shuka kwa ajili ya matumizi ya mara moja, kitambaa cha joto cha mtoto, dawa ya kusafishia mikono, vidonge vitatu vya kuzuia mama kutokwa na damu nyingi.


SHIRIKA lisilo la kiserikali la PSI limesema kwamba limefanikiwa kuzuia mimba zisizotarajiwa 1.2 milioni mwaka uliopita.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari Dar es Salaam juzi, Mkurugenzi wa Afya ya Uzazi wa shirika hilo, Dk Nguke Mwakatundu alisema hiyo ilitokana na kufanikiwa kwa kiwango kikubwa kwa mkakati wake wa kutoa huduma za uzazi wa mpango nchini.

“Tumefanikiwa kutokana na kutoa huduma za uzazi zaidi ya matumizi ya kondomu. Ukiangalia tangu shirika lilipoanzishwa miaka 20 iliyopita, matumizi ya kondomu yalikuwa yakitumika zaidi. Lakini sasa njia hiyo imepita na nyingine kama lupu, vipandikizi, vidonge na sindano ambazo matumizi yake yameongezeka maradufu,” alisema.

Alisema katika mwaka wa jana, njia za muda mrefu za uzazi wa mpango zilitolewa kwa watu 102,772 ikilinganishwa na watu 48,518 mwaka uliotangulia ikiwa ni ongezeko la asilimia 92.
Alisema mafanikio hayo yametokana na mkakati wa shirika hilo kupanua wigo wake wa kusambaza huduma za afya katika maeneo ya mbali...

“Tumeongeza utoaji wa huduma katika sekta ya umma kwa asilimia 145. Kitu kikubwa tulichofanya ni kuongeza timu ya watoa huduma katika maeneo hayo kutoka tano hadi 10 na kila timu ina wauguzi wawili.”

Awali, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa PSI Tanzania, Romanus Mtung’e alisema katika kuhakikisha kwamba utoaji huo wa huduma unakuwa salama, shirika lake linaandaa Kifurushi Salama kwa ajili ya Kujifungua (Clean Delivery Pack), kitakachoanza kusambazwa Aprili mwaka huu.

Mtung’e alisema kifurushi hicho kitakuwa na vifaa vyote vitakavyohitajika kwa mjamzito kujifungua salama ambavyo alivitaja baadhi kuwa ni jozi mbili za glovu, nyuzi mbili, pamba, shuka kwa ajili ya matumizi ya mara moja, kitambaa cha joto cha mtoto, dawa ya kusafishia mikono, vidonge vitatu vya kuzuia mama kutokwa na damu nyingi.

Alisema lengo la shirika lake siyo kupunguza idadi ya watu kama ambavyo imekuwa ikitafsiriwa na wengi, bali kushirikiana na Wizara ya Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii ili watu wapate watoto kwa mpangilio utakaowawezesha kuwatunza na kuwahudumia vyema na wao kupata fursa ya kushiriki katika masuala ya kiuchumi.

Ole Sendeka ahojiwa na timu ya Mangula

MBUNGE wa Simanjiro, Christopher Ole Sendeka na vigogo kadhaa wa CCM Wilaya ya Simanjiro Mkoa wa Manyara, wamehojiwa na maofisa wa CCM, kuhusiana na malalamiko ya ukiukwaji wa taratibu katika uchaguzi wa Mjumbe wa Halmashauri Kuu Taifa ya chama hicho (Nec) wa wilaya hiyo.


Hatua hiyo ni utekelezaji wa mikakati ya Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM (Tanzania Bara), Phillip Mangula, ambaye aliahidi kushughulikia malalamiko yote ya chaguzi zilizopita na kuyatolea uamuzi. Mangula ndiye Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ndogo ya Maadili ya CCM.


Kuhojiwa kwa Sendeka na viongozi wengine wa Simanjiro, kumekuja siku chache baada ya kuhojiwa kwa Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Uwekezaji na Uwezeshaji), Dk Mary Nagu ambaye pia ushindi wake wa Nec Wilaya ya Hanang, ulilalamikiwa na Waziri Mkuu Mstaafu, Frederick Sumaye akisema kulikuwa na ukiukwaji wa taratibu na kanuni za uchaguzi wakati wa kinyang’anyiro hicho.


Katika uchaguzi wa Simanjiro, Sendeka alishinda kwa kupata kura 471 dhidi ya Diwani wa CCM Kata ya Mirerani, Justin Nyari ambaye alipata kura 126.


Maofisa hao kutoka Makao Makuu ya CCM, wakiongozwa na Mwanasheria wa CCM, Glorius Luoga waliwahoji Sendeka na Katibu wa CCM Wilaya ya Simanjiro, Jamillah Mujungu, Nyari na viongozi wengine wa chama hicho.


Habari za uhakika kutoka ndani ya kikao hicho kilichofanyika wikiendi iliyopita, zimebainisha kuwa Nyari na makada kadhaa wa CCM, wanalalamikia ukiukwaji wa taratibu za uchaguzi huo, ikiwamo kufanyika kwa kampeni kinyume cha taratibu kama kutawaliwa na ukabila, pia baadhi ya wapigakura kutokuwa halali.


Hata hivyo, Luoga ambaye pia ni Mjumbe wa Nec anayetoka Songea Vijijini, alipotakiwa kuelezea hatma ya malalamiko hayo, hakutaka kufafanua kwa maelezo kuwa yupo Zanzibar.
Katibu wa CCM wa Mkoa wa Manyara, Ndekubali Ndeng’aso alikiri kufika kwa maofisa wa makao makuu ya chama hicho mkoani hapo na kuhojiana na walalamikaji na walilalamikiwa.


“Nadhani hizi ni taratibu za kawaida tu ndani ya chama, kuna ambao wamelalamika sasa chama kimeona ni busara kuwafuata na kujua malalamiko yao,” alisema Ndeng’aso.
Sendeka na Nyari hawakupatikana jana kuelezea kilichojiri katika mahojiano hayo kwani simu zao za mkononi ziliita bila ya kupokewa.


Hata hivyo, Mujungu licha ya kukiri kuhojiwa alisema wenye mamlaka ya kuzungumza ni maofisa hao wa makao makuu... “Hili jambo lipo ngazi za juu nadhani wao ndiyo wana majibu ya maswali yenu.”

Papa wawili katika mgongano wa kimadaraka

YAMETIMIA. Safari ya miaka saba ya Baba Mtakatifu Benedict XVI inakamilika leo pale atakapong’atuka rasmi katika uongozi wa Kanisa Katoliki, ifikapo saa 2:00 usiku kwa saa za Italia (saa 4:00 usiku kwa saa za Tanzania).


Kwa siku mbili, Papa amekuwa na shughuli nyingi katika makao yake, Gandolfo Castel, Vatican akijiandaa kimwili kuondoka, akiweka sawa nyaraka zake binafsi na zile za kanisa ambazo zitawekwa katika kumbukumbu.


Kwa upande mwingine Vatican, nchi ambayo ipo ndani ya Jiji la Rome iliyozungukwa na ukuta, ikiwa na ukubwa wa hekta 44 na wakazi 832 pekee, imekuwa katika hekaheka nyingi.
Jana, waumini zaidi ya 50,000 na wengine wengi kutoka sehemu mbalimbali duniani wakiwamo makardinali, maaskofu, mapadri na walei walialikwa kwa shughuli rasmi ya kumuaga kiongozi huyo.


Tofauti na kanuni yake, leo Benedict hatavaa viatu vyekundu kama ilivyozoeleka na badala yake amechagua viatu rahisi vya ngozi vilivyobuniwa Mexico. Alipewa viatu hivyo ikiwa ni zawadi wakati wa ziara nchini humo 2012.


Tangu alipotangaza uamuzi wake wa kung’atuka Februari 11, mwaka huu, utata umegubika nafasi yake katika maisha mapya ndani ya Vatican, akiitwa Papa Mstaafu.


Waumini, wataalamu na hata viongozi mbalimbali wa Kikatoliki wameanza kuhoji ni jinsi gani viongozi wawili (Papa) wataishi, huku wote wakivaa mavazi meupe wakiitwa Papa, wakiishi umbali mdogo kati yao, wakiwa na wasaidizi wengi wanaowahudumia.

Vatican
Nje ya Gandolfo Castel, ulinzi umeimarishwa na vibali vya kuingia Vatican vimesitishwa.
Juzi, Vatican ilitangaza kwamba Papa Benedict XVI atajulikana kama ‘Emeritus Pope’, yaani Papa Mstaafu mwenye cheo cha heshima, akiendelea kuitwa, ‘mtakatifu’ na ambaye ataendelea kuvaa nguo nyeupe.


Mavazi na hata jina lake jipya ni masuala ambayo yamezua uvumi mwingi, huku suala la mrithi wake mpya pia likiwa gumzo, kwani tukio kama hilo lilitokea miaka 600 iliyopita.
Ni uamuzi uliolishtua kanisa hilo lenye waumini 1.2 bilioni duniani na wengi wanasema awali, haikushauriwa Papa kustaafu kwani kwa kufanya hivyo kunaacha mizozo na minong’ono ya kuwania madaraka.


Hata hivyo, uongozi wa Vatican umesisitiza kuwa uamuzi huo wa Papa Benedict XVI ni wa kipekee na hakuna mzozo ambao utatokea baina yake na mrithi wake ambaye mchakato wa kumpata unatarajiwa kuanza ndani ya wiki mbili zijazo.


“Kulingana na mabadiliko katika kanisa letu, kuna Papa mmoja. Ni dhahiri kwamba katika hali ya sasa hakutakuwa na tatizo,” anasema Mhariri wa Gazeti la L’Oservatore Romano linalomilikiwa na Vatican, Giovanni Maria Vian.

Hofu iliyopo
Hata hivyo, wakosoaji wa mambo hawakubaliani na hoja hiyo na baadhi ya makardinali walioko Vatican kwa usiri mwingi, wanazungumzia suala hilo wakieleza kwamba litazua tatizo kubwa kwa Papa ajaye, hasa ikiwa mtangulizi wake, Benedict akiwa bado hai.


Mtaalamu wa tauhidi (theolojia), raia wa Uswisi, Hans Kueng ambaye amekuwa mtu wa karibu wa Papa Benedict XVI, ingawa kwa sasa ni mkosoaji wake amesema:
“Kwa sasa, Benedict XVI akiwa bado hai, kuna hatari ya kuwa na Papa kivuli, mwenye mamlaka kamili ambaye kwa chinichini anaweza kumshinikiza mrithi wake kufikia uamuzi.”
Hans Kueng alisema hayo alipozungumza na Gazeti la Der Spiegel la Ujerumani.


Msemaji wa Vatican, Padri Federico Lombardi alisema Papa Benedict XVI kwa upande wake aliamua aitwe Papa Mstaafu au ‘kiongozi mstaafu wa Roma.’ Anasema haelewi ni kwa nini ameamua kuacha jina lake la sasa la Askofu wa Rome.


Kwa wiki mbili zilizopita, maofisa mbalimbali wa Vatican wamekuwa wakifikiri kwamba Papa angeanza kuvaa mavazi meusi na kutumia jina la Askofu Mstaafu wa Rome ili kuepuka mkanganyiko na mrithi wake.
Mwingine ambaye amekuwa akizusha mkanganyiko ni Katibu wa Papa, Askofu Mkuu, George Gaenswein ambaye ataendelea kuwatumikia Papa wote wawili, yaani Benedict XVI kwenye Monasteri ndani ya Vatican na kazi yake ya kawaida ya kuwa kiranja katika nyumba ya Papa mpya.


Kwa upande wake, Papa Benedict XVI anasema anastaafu na sasa ataishi maisha ya sala na tafakuri ya kina, mbali na majukumu mengine ya kidunia.
Hata hivyo, bado atakuwapo kwenye nchi ndogo ya Vatican, mahali ambako makazi yake yatakuwa jirani na mnara wa kurushia matangazo wa Kituo cha Redio cha Vatican, akiliangalia vizuri Kanisa Kuu la Mtakatifu Petro.


Kwa upande wake, Kueng anasema ni kosa kwa Askofu Gaenswein kuwatumikia Papa wawili kwa wakati mmoja na pia Benedict XVI kubakia jirani na mahali hapo.
“Hakuna padri ambaye anapenda mtangulizi wake kuishi karibu naye na kufuatilia anayoyafanya.


Hata kama Askofu wa Rome, haipendezi kutenda kazi huku mtangulizi wako akiona na kufuatilia.”
Mbali na mitazamo hiyo, wengine wamedhani kuwa uamuzi wa Papa Benedict XVI unalenga kudumisha utamaduni wa watangulizi wake.


“Ninashangazwa kuona Papa Benedict XVI akiendelea kuitwa mbarikiwa na kuvaa nguo nyeupe,” anasema Padri James Martin, Mtawa wa Jesuit pia mwandishi na mhariri, lakini baadaye anajirudi na kusema:
“Lakini sioni ajabu, mbona marais wastaafu wa Marekani, bado wanaitwa Rais? ni alama ya heshima kwake.”


Katika mkanganyiko huo, wapo wanaoamini kwamba yanayotokea yanatokana na nguvu ya roho mtakatifu, huku wengine wakipiga upatu kwamba ni zamu ya Afrika kutoa Papa na wanatajwa Makardinali Peter Turkson wa Ghana na Francis Arinze wa Nigeria.

Mtanzania apewa uwaziri Rwanda

Sura nyingine mpya katika Baraza hilo ambalo liliapishwa juzi Ikulu ya Rwanda ni pamoja na Seraphine Mukantabana (Wakimbizi na

RAIS Paul Kagame wa Rwanda amemteua Mtanzania, Profesa Silas Rwakabamba kuwa Waziri wa Miundombinu wa nchi hiyo katika mabadiliko ya Baraza la Mawaziri yaliyofanyika Jumatatu iliyopita.


Kabla ya uteuzi huo, Profesa Rwakabamba alikuwa Mkuu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Taifa cha Rwanda. Ni mmoja wa mawaziri wanaoingiza sura mpya katika Baraza la Rais Kagame ambalo amelifanyia mabadiliko kwa kuunda wizara nyingine mpya.


Sura nyingine mpya katika Baraza hilo ambalo liliapishwa juzi Ikulu ya Rwanda ni pamoja na Seraphine Mukantabana (Wakimbizi na Menejimenti ya Maafa) na Oda Gasinzigwa (Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu- Familia na Jinsia).


Akizungumza kwa simu na mwandishi wetu jana, mdogo wa Profesa Rwakabamba, Timothy Rwamushaija anayeishi Dar es Salaam, alisema ndugu yake alizaliwa katika Kijiji cha Bushagara, Wilaya ya Muleba mkoani Kagera.


Alisema Profesa Rwakabamba alikuwa Mtanzania aliyeamua kuchukua uraia wa Rwanda na wote baba yao ni Mzee Titus Rwamushaija... “Huyu ni kaka yangu wa tumbo moja na kwa kweli tumefurahi sana kwa mafanikio yake sisi kama wanafamilia.”


Naibu Makamu Mkuu - Taaluma wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam(UDSM), Profesa Makenya Maboko alisema Profesa Rwakabamba alifanya kazi katika chuo hicho na aliondoka akiwa Mkuu wa Kitivo cha Uhandisi.


“Aliondoka wakati Kagame alipoingia madarakani na alikwenda kuongoza Taasisi ya Teknolojia ya Kigali (KIST) kabla ya kwenda katika Chuo Kikuu cha Kigali,” alisema Profesa Maboko.


Msomi huyo alikwenda Rwanda mwaka 1997, baada ya kuombwa na Rais Kagame ambaye alikwenda UDSM kuwaomba baadhi ya wahadhiri kwenda Kigali kufungua chuo kikuu katika taifa lake baada ya kumalizika vita ya wenyewe kwa wenyewe mwaka 1994.


Profesa Rwakabamba alikuwa Mkuu wa kwanza wa KIST na kukifanya kuwa miongoni mwa vyuo bora barani Afrika kwa masuala ya teknolojia jambo lililomfurahisha Rais Kagame.


Baada ya mafanikio hayo, Rais Kagame alimteua kuwa Mkuu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Taifa cha Rwanda, Butare ambako pia alijizolea sifa baada ya kusimamia vyema ujenzi wa mabweni kwa wingi na kiongozi huyo alimtunukia uraia wa nchi hiyo kama zawadi.


Hata hivyo, Profesa Rwakabamba atakuwa amelazimika kuukana uraia wa Tanzania kwa kuwa katiba ya nchi hairuhusu uraia wa nchi mbili.
Profesa Rwakabamba alipata elimu ya msingi huko Muleba na akajiunga na Shule ya Sekondari ya Ihungo.


Baada ya hapo, alijiunga na Chuo Kikuu cha Leeds, Uingereza na kupata Shahada ya Uhandisi mwaka 1971 na 1975 alipata Shahada ya Uzamivu katika fani hiyohiyo.

Pinda: Hatukukosea kuunda tume *Asema lengo ni kubaini kiini cha tatizo

WAZIRI Mkuu, Bw. Mizengo Pinda, amesema tume iliyoiunda ili kuchunguza matokeo ya kidato cha nne yaliyotangazwa Februari 18 mwaka huu, itaanza kazi siku mbili au tatu zijazo.


Bw. Pinda aliyasema hayo Dar es salaam jana wakati akijibu maswali ya waandishi wa habari waliotaka kujua ni lini
tume hiyo itaanza kazi na kuongeza kuwa, pamoja na watu
kuipinga, Serikali haikukosea kuiunda ili ifanye uchunguzi
wa kina kubaini kiini cha tatizo.

“Yanayosemwa ni mengi...wapo wanaosema tatizo linajulikana, jambo ambalo si kweli hivyo lazima tume ichunguze ili kujua mkweli na muongo,” alisema Bw. Pinda.

Aliongeza kuwa, tume hiyo pia itachunguza maeneo mengine
yenye utata mkubwa ili kuona jambo hilo halitokei tena.

Hivi karibuni, Bw. Pinda aliunda tume itakayochunguza sababu
ya matokeo mabaya kwa wanafunzi wengi waliofanya mtihani
wa kidato cha nne mwaka 2012.

Asilimia 60 ya wanafunzi waliofanya mtihani huo walipata sifuri ambapo tume hiyo itajumuisha Chama cha Wamiliki wa Shule na Vyuo Binafsi, Chama cha Walimu nchini (CWT), Kamati ya Bunge ya Huduma za Jamii na Umoja wa Wakuu wa Shule za Sekondari nchin

Waziri Muhongo akataa chakula hotelini aenda kwa mamalishe

Nipelekeni mahali nitakapopata chakula cha Kitanzania, ili tuwe sawa na Watanzania wenye hali ya chini kwani hizi fedha tunazokwenda kula huko ni jasho lao.”

Arusha
WAZIRI wa Nishati na Madini, Profesa Sospeter Muhongo amekataa chakula Hoteli ya Mount Meru na kwenda kula chakula cha Mamalishe.
Tukio hilo lililowashangaza watu 13 waliokuwa katika msafara wake lilitokea hivi karibu wakati

Profesa Muhongo alipokwenda Arusha kwenye mkutano wa wataalamu wa umeme wa nchi 11 za Afrika Mashariki, Kati na Kaskazini.

Waziri Muhongo aliandaliwa chakula hotelini hapo, lakini aliwashangaza wenyeji wake ambao ni Shirika la Umeme Tanzania (Tanesco) na uongozi wa wizara yake.

Baada ya kufika katika mgahawa wa Pizza Point uliopo katikati ya mji wa Arusha, Waziri Muhongo aliagiza ugali na samaki kwa bei ya Sh7,000.

Tukio la waziri huyo kukataa kula chakula cha usiku katika hoteli hiyo ya kifahari, iliwashangaza hata wafanyakazi wa mgahawa huo baada ya kupata taarifa hiyo.
Ingawa haikufahamika mara moja sababu za waziri huyo kukataa kula katika hoteli hiyo kutokana na kuchukua uamuzi ghafla, lakini taarifa za ndani zinadai hakutaka kutumia fedha za walipa kodi kwa matumizi binafsi.

“Waziri aliandaliwa chakula katika Hoteli ya Mount Meru Arusha na mpaka tunatoka Uwanja wa Ndege wa Kimataifa wa Kilimanjaro (Kia), ilijulikana tunakwenda kwenye hoteli hiyo lakini chakushangaza alipofika karibu na geti la kuingia hapo, akabadili uamuzi na kuamuru apelekwe mahali atakapopata chakula cha Kitanzania, huku akisema haoni sababu ya kula vyakula vya bei mbaya wakati kuna Watanzania hawana umeme,” alisema ofisa mmoja wa wizara hiyo ambaye hakutaka kutajwa na kumkariri Waziri Muhongo:

“Nipelekeni mahali nitakapopata chakula cha Kitanzania, ili tuwe sawa na Watanzania wenye hali ya chini kwani hizi fedha tunazokwenda kula huko ni jasho lao.”

Hata hivyo, Profesa Muhongo anadaiwa kuruhusu maofisa waliokuwa kwenye msafara wake ambao wangependa kula Mount Meru kuwashusha, ili akitoka kwa mamalishe awapitie kwa sababu kila mtu ana uamuzi wake.

Msafara wa waziri huyo ulikuwa na watu 13 akiwamo Msaidizi wake na Meneja Mawasiliano wa Tanesco, Badra Masoud ambao wote walilazimika kula chakula katika banda la Pizza Point.

Mmiliki wa mgahawa huo, Grace Lyatuu alisema hakutarajia ujio wa waziri huyo na msafara wake, lakini baada ya kutambua kuwa ni Profesa Muhongo akamshukuru Mungu kwa kumfikisha hapo.

“Kwakweli ilikuwa ni usiku mgumu kwangu, kwani msafara ulikuwa mkubwa na wagafla, sikuwa na uhakika wa kupata vyakula vya kuwatosha lakini baada ya chakula kupatikana nikamshukuru Mungu kwani ilikuwa ni usiku na tulikuwa na maandalizi ya kufunga mgahawa,” alisema Lyatuu.

Profesa Muhongo alitumia Sh100,000 kwa chakula cha watu 13 na vinywaji na kuokoa zaidi ya Sh344,500.

Vigogo 10 wahusishwa mabilioni ya Uswisi

ZITTO ASISITIZA NYARAKA ZIPO, DK HOSEAH NDIYE ANAYEZIZUIA

VIGOGO 10 wametajwa kuhusika katika kashfa ya kuficha Sh303.7 bilioni katika benki mbalimbali nchini Uswisi.
Katika orodha hiyo inadaiwa kuwa yupo kiongozi mmoja mwandamizi mstaafu, maofisa watatu wastaafu wa Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ), mawaziri wastaafu ambao baadhi yao bado ni wabunge na aliyewahi kuwa kiongozi mwandamizi wa Benki Kuu Tanzania (BoT).
Majina hayo ambayo mwandishi wetu amefanikiwa kuyaona, yamo katika orodha ya mchunguzi mmoja wa kimataifa wa masuala ya ufisadi (jina tunalo).
Juzi, Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini, Zitto Kabwe alimshukia Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru), Dk Edward Hoseah akimtuhumu kuandika barua Uswisi akisema Tanzania haina masilahi na mabilioni ya fedha yaliyofichwa katika benki zilizopo nchini humo. Hata hivyo, Dk Hoseah alikanusha madai hayo akisema hajawahi kufanya hivyo.
Akizungumza jana Zitto alisisitiza kauli yake akisema: “Sijawahi kumsema Dk Hoseah kwa lolote, kwa nini leo nimsingizie? Yeye mwenyewe anajua ushirikiano niliompa wakati wabunge wanapinga yeye asichunguze malipo ya posho mara mbili kwa wabunge.”
“Nilisimama kidete kusema Takukuru wapo sahihi na mimi nilikwenda mwenyewe kwao kuhojiwa na kuagiza wajumbe wa kamati yangu (Kamati ya Bunge ya Mashirika ya Umma), waende kuhojiwa. Spika aliyestaafu (Samuel Sitta) akaizima kashfa ya wabunge kupokea posho mara mbilimbili. Mwulizeni amesahau? Sasa leo nimzushie ili iwe nini?.”
Alisema orodha ya Watanzania wenye fedha huko Uswisi, ipo na ameiona na nyaraka zinaweza kutolewa kwa taasisi za Serikali tu.
“Dk Hoseah kazuia nyaraka hizo. Akitaka nimwonyeshe mtu anayeweza kutoa nyaraka hizo, nipo tayari isipokuwa aahidi kuiweka wazi,” alisema Zitto.
Alisema katika orodha ambayo Waziri wa Fedha wa Ufaransa anayo, kuna Watanzania lakini akaituhumu Serikali akisema haitaki kufuata njia halali za kupata orodha hiyo kwa kuwa viongozi wengi na wafanyabiashara wakubwa wana akaunti katika benki za Uswisi.
Juni 26, mwaka huu gazeti hili lilichapisha habari kuhusu utoroshwaji wa fedha hizo na kueleza kuwa Polisi wa Kimataifa (Interpol) nchini kwa kushirikiana na Takukuru inachunguza suala hilo.
Kiasi hicho cha fedha kimedaiwa kuingizwa katika akaunti za Watanzania na kampuni moja ya uchimbaji mafuta na kampuni kadhaa za uchimbaji madini ambazo zinafanya kazi Tanzania.
Chanzo hicho kiliongeza kwamba kiasi hicho cha fedha kipo katika akaunti sita tofauti zinazomilikiwa na Watanzania wakiwamo wanasiasa wakubwa.
Hata hivyo, chanzo hicho kilieleza kuwa tangu akaunti hizo zifunguliwe, wamiliki wake halali hawajawahi kuingiza hata shilingi.
“Uchunguzi wetu unaonyesha kuwa fedha hizo zipo katika akaunti sita tofauti ambazo zinamilikiwa na wanasiasa wakubwa nchini na wenzetu wa Uswisi wameeleza fedha hizo zimeingizwa na kampuni kadhaa ambazo zinahusika na mafuta pamoja na madini hapa nchini,” kilidokeza chanzo hicho.
Kugundulika kwa kiasi hicho cha fedha katika benki za Uswisi ni kutokana na ripoti ya Benki ya Taifa ya Uswisi (SNB) iliyotolewa mwaka huu.