Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Monday, March 28, 2022
Tony Blair is back in Tanzania
President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday met and held talks with former UK Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair with the State House not revealing what dominated the two leaders’ discussion that took place in the capital Dodoma.
Monday’s visit is the third that Mr Blair who doubles as Executive Chairman of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change since President Samia came to power on March 19, 2021. The first visit took place on July 22, 2021, while the second one took place on September 29, 2021.
Founded in 2016 by Mr Blair the London-based non-profit Tony Blair Institute for Global Change’s mission is to “support political leaders and governments to build open, inclusive and prosperous societies in a globalised world” by “developing policy and advising governments,” according to the think-tank’s website.
It is not clear whether Tanzania has contracted Mr Blair for these services although some reports indicate that to be the case. Some analysts have raised questions over Mr Blair’s true intentions in Tanzania, sounding suspicious of his true motives given his previous clients.
While less is known about Mr Blair’s business with the Tanzanian government that is not the case with Blair’s engagement with the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar where its president Hussein Mwinyi has contracted the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change to ensure effective governance within his administration.
On March 27, 2022, Dr Mwinyi hosted Mr Blair who paid the former a courtesy visit where the Zanzibari leader commended his guest for his “commitment to continue supporting Zanzibar,” especially in capacity building of executives in public offices to better plan strategic priorities of the government.
“We are happy and appreciate your timely and important support,” Dr Mwinyi was quoted as telling his guest. “[Your institute] has been making efforts to train senior executives on better planning and implementation of strategic priorities of the government- a step that is of great importance to Zanzibar’s development programmes.”
Mr Blair, in his turn, is reported to have informed President Mwinyi about the ongoing plans and measures being taken by his institution in supporting Zanzibar to realise the dream of having a better economy and essential social services.
Court orders release of suspected drug baron
The Court of Appeal has on Monday ordered the release from prison of businessman Ayubu Kiboko and his wife Pilly Kiboko who were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for trafficking 251.25 grammes of heroin hydrochloride, which are narcotic drugs, the government-owned Daily News newspaper reported.
Justices Gerald Ndika, Ignas Kitusi and Sam Rumanyika ruled in favour of the couple, the appellants, after allowing the appeal the two had lodged to oppose the findings of the High Court’s Corruption and Economic Crime Division in Dar es Salaam.
“We allow the appeal and proceed to quash the convictions and set aside the sentences against the appellants,” the paper quoted the justices as saying. “Accordingly, we order that the appellants be released from prison unless they are held there for any other lawful cause.”
The justices granted one ground of appeal among seven the appellants had advanced, which challenged the decision of the High Court with effects that the search into their home which was conducted by a team of police officers from the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) was illegal.
“We are constrained to expunge the illegally obtained evidence, which, apart from the alleged prohibited substance and the certificate of seizure, included the other seized substances and the three motor vehicles,” the Daily News quoted the justice as saying.
The justices pointed out that the remaining evidence on record after discounting such evidence, including the seized alleged drugs, was too thin on its own to support the charge the appellants faced.
They pointed out that the police powers of search and seizure are governed by section 38 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) with Subsection (1) empowering police officer in charge of a police station (“OCS”) to search or to issue a written authority to any police officer under him to carry out the search.
The justices said that Subsection (2) comes in force when a search is executed upon written authority and the police officer who executed the search is required to report, as soon as practicable, the issue of the authority on the grounds on which it was issued and the result of the search to a magistrate.
“This binding obligation is followed up by another imperious requirement under subsection (3) imposed on the officer in charge of the search, upon seizure of a thing, to issue a receipt acknowledging the (such) seizure, bearing the signature of the owner or occupier of the premises or relative,” they said.
Drought kills 92,000 livestock in Simanjiro
Simanjiro Agriculture and Livestock Officer Dr Swaleeh Masaza said on Monday that a total of 92,047 livestock have died due to climate change that has led to drought in the district of the Manyara region.
The situation that has also led to the drying up of water sources has claimed the lives of 46, 028 cows, 21,046 sheep, 21,070 goats and 2003 donkeys, he said.
Dr Masaza made the revelation during the launch of a new study on the ability of pastoralist communities to respond to disasters.
He said the indigenous education provided in those communities has helped to reduce further impacts.
For his part, environmental researcher, Mr Enock Changula said a study conducted in five villages in Simanjiro district found that indigenous education has helped the pastoralist community to cope with disasters such as diseases and floods.
“It has also helped to spread information among these communities,” he said.
However, the climate change and environment officer from PINGOS Forum, Gidion Sanago said the study has described the importance of recognizing, protecting and promoting indigenous education in response to disasters.
“We urge policymakers to begin valuing, recognizing and incorporating such education into the country’s policymaking,” he said.
The biggest victims of climate change are women and children, according to the Forum’s gender and community development officer, Nailejileji Tipap.
Tanzania loses cherished scholar Honest Ngowi to road accident
Tanzania on Monday lost one of its most cherished economists and public intellectuals Prof Honest Ngowi who together with his driver died in the early hours of Monday, March 28, 2022, in Mlandizi, Coast Region, when a container fell off a lorry and landed on their car.
Before the untimely death found him, Ngowi, 54, was serving as an associate professor of economics, researcher and consultant in economics and business at Mzumbe University.
According to reports, Ngowi and his driver were travelling to Mzumbe University’s main campus in Morogoro.
The head of Mzumbe University’s public relations unit, Ms Rose Mdame, was quoted by media on Monday as saying: “Prof Kusiluka is on his way to Tumbi Hospital, where the two were rushed after the accident, and will issue an update later.”
Prof Ngowi’s younger brother Mr Juvenalis Ngowi confirmed to The Citizen newspaper that he was also on his way to Tumbi Hospital in Kibaha, where his late brother’s body was being preserved, adding that Mzumbe University would issue a statement with regard to funeral arrangements.
Born on September 15, 1967, Prof Ngowi has worked in various other countries, including Burundi, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Norway, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zambia.
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