Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Friday, January 28, 2022.

Samia, Nyusi discuss Cabo Delgado situation

President Samia Suluhu Hassan met and held talks on Friday with her Mozambican counterpart Filipe Nyusi to discuss the security situation in the Cabo Delgado province of the southern African nation that continues to face a terrorist insurgency from ISIS-linked terror group.

The fighting in the northern part of Mozambique has split across the border with Tanzania, which is contributing troops in the country under the umbrella of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The meeting comes hardly four days since the Chief of Staff of Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) Lieutenant General Matthew Edward Mkingule visited SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) forces on January 24, 2022.

“Tanzania has always been on our side, has always offered to help Mozambique within the scope of SAMIM,” Nyusi was quoted as saying. “In our talks, we looked at how our cooperation is evolving, because we are two countries that  have a common problem.”

The meeting between the two Head of States took place in the northern town of Pemba, the provincial capital of Cabo Delgado, which SADC and Rwandan forces helped Mozambique reclaim from the insurgents in August.

“The terrorists cross the common border between Mozambique and Tanzania,” Nyusi said. “We are interested in a more dedicated approach to the problem. We have seen that the enemy is improving its techniques. We want to study how our forces can deal with the enemy, with terrorism. We will soon improve our combat forces.”

On her part, President Samia said that she came “to reaffirm our commitment to Mozambique.” She added: “Tanzania is here to work together with Mozambique in our developmental and our peace and security affairs.”

The unrest in Mozambique erupted in 2017, leaving at least 3,500 dead and around 820,000 homeless.

High Court: Mbatia’s petition over Ndugai’s resignation ‘baseless’

The High Court in Dar es Salaam yesterday dismissed a petition filed by NCCR-Mageuzi national chairperson Mr James Mbatia that sought to challenge the manners with which Job Ndugai resigned as Speaker of Parliament.

Mr Mbatia was in the opinion that Ndugai was still a legitimate Speaker of Parliament, arguing that the procedures through which the Kongwa MP (Chama cha Mapinduzi – CCM) used to step down from the position were unconstitutional.

Mbatia’s main argument was that according to the constitution, Mr Ndugai should have tendered his resignation letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly and to the CCM Secretary-General like what Ndugai did.

But a team of three High Court judges led by Judge John Mgeta ruled that all the necessary procedures, including tendering a resignation letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly were followed in Ndugai’s resignation.

“I have come to realize that Mr Mbatia’s petition is baseless, therefore, it is dropped by the court,” Judge Mgeta ruled. “Following this decision, both sides involved in the case should bear their own costs.”

He said that Article 149 (2) of the constitution provides that resignation notice should be tendered to the Clerk of the National Assembly. But he questioned if Mr Ndugai had such an intention and there were no parliamentary sessions going on at that time then to whom was he supposed to submit the letter?

He said the Parliament was an institution with responsibilities to fulfill daily activities under the clerk of the National Assembly.

Judge Mgeta said Mr Ndugai tendered his resignation letter according to provisions and demands of the constitution, therefore paving way for the Clerk of the National Assembly to call for resumption of Parliament.

Mr Ndugai, who first became the Speaker of the National Assembly in 2015, stepped down on January 6, 2021, following pressure from senior government and party officials who called on him to resign following an apparent spat with President Samia Suluhu Hassan that concerned borrowing from international lenders.

Ndugai, who served as Deputy Speaker during the 10th Parliament, expressed his concern at the speed with which the government was borrowing to fund its development initiatives, warning against Tanzania being auctioned off, something which Samia dismissed as “2025 general election fever.”

Former PM Lowassa admitted to MNH for treatment 

Former Prime Minister and 2015 Presidential candidate Edward Lowassa has been admitted to the Muhimbili National Hospital where he is undergoing treatment, his family said on Friday.

Fred Lowassa was quoted as saying that his father was taken ill at the hospital five days ago where he was operated on but unfortunately he developed complications.

“He was operated in the abdomen,”said Fred. “Unfortunately it caused some complications but as we speak he is in stable condition and continuing to recover.”

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