Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.
Samia explains govt plan to solve women’s problems in Tanzania
President Samia Suluhu Hassan said Tuesday that her government was working round the clock to make sure that some of the long-standing challenges that have been limiting women’s developments are dealt with.
The Head of State shared her administration’s strategies to solving challenges facing women while speaking at the commemoration of the International Women’s Day that at the national level took place in Unguja, Zanzibar.
One such plan was the government’s push to ensure that more and more women in Tanzania have access to land ownership. The Head of State said the group has been adversely affected by the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic hence the state was implementing various interventions aimed at elevating the women from abject poverty.
To achieve the goal, she added, the government intends to formalize informal businesses, the majority run by women.
“Most women are involved in this kind of business which has not been guided by laws, no policy…just nothing. We are going to formalize this sector,” President Samia promised.
President Samia also mentioned the government’s plan of building more centres that will be used to impart various life skills to the citizens in order to improve their products to the level of competing in the market.
She also said the government is in discussion with major two banks in the country namely NMB and CRDB to establish special windows which will provide interest-free loans to women from all regions.
Another step to be taken by the government, as mentioned by the President, is to give more platforms for women to participate in various decision-making bodies.
Mbowe defends his decision to meet Samia for talks
It seems like some CHADEMA members were not happy with the decision by their national chairperson Freeman Mbowe to go and meet with President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House on the evening of his release from jail.
Mbowe, who was released from jail on March 4, 2022, after authorities withdrew the terrorism and economic sabotage case that faced him and three other co-defendants, was the guest speaker at Tuesday’s function to commemorate the International Women’s Day organised by CHADEMA Women Wing BAWACHA.
But Mr Mbowe spent a significant part of his speech defending his decision to hold talks with President Samia while assuring his fellow party members that that does not mean he is about to urge them to abandon the fight for political reforms in Tanzania, like the movement to demand the New Constitution.
“The president [of Tanzania] is the one who holds the key to almost all problems that cause long-lasting and deep sorrow in our nation,” explained Mr Mbowe in his first public address since he became a free man. “Truth, however bitter, is an important tool that will help us build the future that we want.”
Mr Mbowe was brought before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court for the first time on July 26, 2021, before his case was forwarded to the High Court of Tanzania (Corruption and Economic Crimes Division).
Together with Halfan Hassan, Adam Kasekwa and Mohamed Lingwenya, he was accused of taking part in conspiracies to blow up fueling stations and other public gatherings as well as funding terrorist acts before his case was transferred to the High Court, charges that he has denied.
In his address on Tuesday, Mr Mbowe said that he is carrying a huge debt of gratitude to all people who in one way or another fought to secure his release from prison, which include people from political parties, activists as well as the international community.
“I’m going to pay back this debt by standing firm as a credible leader in fighting for the rights of every Tanzanian within our party [CHADEMA] but also within our communities,” promised the former Hai MP (CHADEMA). “[The release from jail] has not only returned our freedom but it has also put smiles on the faces of our families once again.”
Mr Mbowe told his fellow party members that it was important for CHADEMA as the leading opposition party in Tanzania to base its politics on influencing and convincing instead of resorting to force, ruling out the possibility of CHADEMA becoming a party of revenge.
He made it clear that for any political dialogue to produce its intended results it must be grounded on an unshakable willingness to see the sought-after changes happen and that he was glad President Samia expressed willingness to him and that he was optimistic that the needed changes might come sooner to Tanzania than earlier thought.
“Reconciliation is a process; it is not a one-day event,” Mr Mbowe pleaded with his fellow party members. “People should dialogue. Always. I cannot personally decline an opportunity for dialogue. It is through these moments that we can present our arguments for Tanzania we want: a democratic Tanzania based on fairness and justice.”
Mbowe said that CHADEMA’s Central Committee will sit in the coming few days to deliberate on ways through which the party can follow up on what Mr Mbowe and President Samia has agreed on, saying he expects more actions on the part of the Head of State than mere rhetoric.
Mwinyi announces restructuring of ministry of health
Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi has disintegrated the Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, the Elderly, Gender and Children into two ministries that will deal with health and Social Welfare respectively.
Dr Mwinyi announced the decision on Tuesday during the commemoration of International Womens’ Day that was held at Maisara grounds, Zanzibar
President Mwinyi declared that the incumbent Minister Nassor Ahmed Mazrui will oversee the health docket.
According to him, the move was amongst strategies geared towards empowering women and broadening opportunities for them in the political arena.
He promised that the new Gender and Social Welfare Ministry will be led by a woman.
On January 8, 2022, President Samia Suluhu Hassan took the same measure by splitting the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDEC) into two ministries responsible for health and Gender and Social Welfare respectively.
TTCL, Huawei ink deal to promote communications technologies
TTCL Corporation and Huawei Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enable the parties to cooperate in the deployment and improvement of communication technologies, the government-owned Daily News newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The improvement centred on deployment of Fiber To The Home solution (FTTH), Fixed Wireless Network (4G), and countryside disposition and expansion of mobile network and the fixed network.
The signing ceremony took place recently in the UAE on the occasion of the Tanzania day at the Dubai Expo 2020 and was accompanied by several meetings and business seminars with companies investing in Tanzania. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was the guest of honor.
TTCL Director-General Waziri Kindamba said the partnership is aimed at enabling both parties to work together in various areas of improvement, a step that would help the telco build capacity, based on a well-founded fact that the country is undergoing a digital transformation reflected by an increase in a number of people connected to communication and internet services.
“This cooperation with Huawei comes at the right time, as it will to a large extent contribute to the digitalisation of the country,” the paper quoted Mr Kindamba as saying. “Our goal is to ensure that every person is connected with speedy and quality internet services.”
Huawei Tanzania Managing Director, Mr Damon Zhang said that the firm’s commitment to partnering with TTCL is a result of their realisation of the fact that infrastructure is of paramount significance in the development of the communication sector in the country.
“We assure our commitment to further cooperate with the government and its agencies to ensure a fully connected Tanzania,” the Daily News quoted Mr Zhang as saying.
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