Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Monday, January 17, 2022.

Tanzania, Burundi sign agreement for construction of 282 km standard gauge railway

Tanzania said Sunday that it has signed an agreement with Burundi for the joint construction of a 282-kilometre standard gauge railway (SGR) that will start in Uvinza, in Kigoma to Gitega in Burundi.

The 156 km of the SGR will be built in Tanzania and 126 km will be built in Burundi, Tanzania’s Ministry of Finance and Planning said in a late Sunday statement.

The agreement was signed Sunday evening by Tanzanian Minister for Finance and Planning Mwigulu Nchemba, Minister for Works and Transport Makame Mbarawa on behalf of the government of Tanzania, and Burundian Minister for Infrastructures, Equipment and Social Housing Deogratius Nsanganiyumwami and Minister for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning Domitien Ndihokubwayo.

Nchemba said shortly after signing the agreement that both countries have started seeking finance for the implementation of the project, which is estimated to cost less than $900 million.

The Iramba West MP (CCM) added that the rail line will boost goods and passenger traffic between the two countries and the other four member states of the East African Community of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda.

Police use teargas to disperse demonstrating Karume traders 

Police had to use teargas on Monday to disperse demonstrating Karume Market traders who were protesting against the government’s directive that they should vacate the area for fourteen days to allow the investigation into the fire that gutted the market down over the weekend.

The fire whose source has so far not been identified destroyed the market, affecting about 3,500 small-scale traders who carry out their business there.

Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Amos Makalla had asked the traders to avoid the area for fourteen days as a task force he formed was investigating the incident but traders have remained adamant, saying they have nowhere to go.

On Monday, demonstrators blocked the Uhuru Road, burned tires, while chanting “we want our market back,” causing temporary disruption at the area, something that forced the police to fire teargas to try to bring things back to normalcy.

“We no longer trust our leaders,” one protestor told journalists who covered the demonstration. “We cannot heed their calls to stay home while our families are starving.”

“The days set out for investigation are too many to be tolerated,” said another protestor. “They should let us improvise our huts while the investigation is going on. What shall we eat if we choose to heed their call to vacate the area?”

Ilala district commissioner Ng’wilabuzu Ludigija who went to address the concerns of protesting traders told them to be patient and have faith in the government, saying the fourteen days set out for investigation aims to serve the interests of the traders themselves.

Drought kills 98,000 livestock in Tanzania

The government revealed Monday that a total of 98,000 livestock from different parts of the country have died due to prolonged droughts.

The government-owned Daily News newspaper quoted the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mashimba Ndaki as saying that out of the total number of deaths, 69, 751 are cattle, 11, 024 are goats,15, 742 are sheep and 1, 680 donkeys.

Mashimba said that the drought situation in the country resulted in a shortage in most grazing areas that subsequently led to the death

He however assured Tanzanians by saying that situation is under control, pointing out that the government has already discussed with the water basin authorities to allow livestock to access water in the basins.

He also mentioned their talks with various conservation authorities asking them to allow livestock to graze within the reserve area.

On October 27, 2021, Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) warned that Tanzania was likely to experience prolonged drought, with possible areas to be affected including trade, tourism and livestock keeping.

TMA predicted then that the drought would start biting from November 2021 to January this year, citing Mbeya, Mara, Songea, Rukwa, Iringa, Katavi, Dodoma and Songwe as among the regions that are likely to experience below-normal rains.

Fifty-seven-year old man arrested for allegedly raping his three daughters

Police in the Manyara region is holding a 57-year old man for allegedly raping his three daughters aged 15 years, 17 years, and 18 years.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups released on Monday the three girls are currently undergoing psychological counselling, adding that the perpetrator of the crime is already in custody.

Prudence Constantine, the head of the communication unit who signed the statement, said the incident took place at Ndaleta village, Kiteto district, in the Manyara region.

Constantine urged the public to quickly reveal gender-based violence incidents to nearby security organs in order to prevent more damages, especially to the victims.

“We also urge religious leaders to use their podium to help spread knowledge that will help end domestic violence,” she added.

This is not an isolated incident, there have been numerous reports recently implicating male parents in sexual abuse of both their sons and daughters, something that raises an alarm on the lack of safety of children even in the hands of their own parents.

Chamwino State House ready by May, says contractor

The new Chamwino State House in the capital Dodoma will be handed over to the government in May this year as the contractor points out that the work is complete by 91 per cent, the government was told on Sunday.

It follows a trip by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to the site where after inspecting the progress made he asked the contractor to fast-track the construction in order for President Samia Suluhu Hassan to have a proper office to work in.

Seating on the 9,340 square meters, the construction commenced in 2020 following the foundation stone that former President John Magufuli laid.

“I have been impressed with a report over the construction that has reached 91 per cent and the remaining part involves minor works such as installing doors, ventilation systems and electricity,” the Daily News quoted Mr Majaliwa as saying.

The government is building the Chamwino State House through its internally generated funds, with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) wing the National Service assigned the tender to carry out the construction.

Commending the contractors for “the great job” they have done, Mr Majaliwa said: “This proves that our country has enough experts to construct any type of buildings.”

Mwinyi in UAE for a three-day state visit

Zanzibar’s President Hussein Mwinyi left the country on Sunday for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a three-day working visit, as the leader of the semi-autonomous archipelago seeks to widen bilateral ties between the two countries.

The trip follows an invitation from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.

Dr Mwinyi’s being accompanied by his wife Mariam Mwinyi and some government officers.

A statement by the Zanzibar State House on Sunday said that while in Abu Dhabi, Dr Mwinyi will take part in the country’s special sensitisation week for ‘Sustainable Development’ held annually since 2008.

He will also attend a summit of Heads of State and Governments around the world to be held in Dubai.

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