Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

Samia, CJ Juma promote uses of alternative ways of resolving legal disputes

President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday urged Tanzanians to make use of the Tanzania Arbitration Centre in resolving their legal disputes, noting that not every case should be sent to courts.

The Head of State made the suggestion while speaking during the celebration to mark the climax of the 2023 Law Week in Tanzania.

This year’s theme for Law Week is the Importance of Dispute Resolution through Arbitration in Promoting a Sustainable Economy: The Role of Courts and Stakeholders.

Speaking during the celebration that took place at the Chinangali grounds in the capital Dodoma, President Samia said: 

“My hope is that, as Tanzanians, it reaches a stage where bringing each other to court is not a must unless extremely necessary and instead we use the available arbitration mechanisms in resolving our cases.”

According to figures she shared during the event, a total of 64 disputes among the 354 disputes filed at the Tanzania Arbitration Centre in 2022 were resolved, a step the Head of State described as “commendable.”

“It is an encouraging development,” she noted. “It is a work in progress and I believe if we continue making use of those mechanisms many more people will have their justice accessed through the arbitration system.”

Full story here.

Barrick hosts UK-based corporate watchdog RAID at North Mara mine

Barrick Gold has hosted the UK-based corporate watchdog Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) at a two-day open-door visit to its North Mara gold mine at the former’s North Mara mine in Mara.

According to a statement by Barrick, the intention of the visit was for RAID to assess the impact Barrick has had since assuming operational control of the mine in September 2019. RAID has been criticizing the mining giant for alleged human rights violations at its mines, particularly the North Mara mine.

In a statement, Barrick said that RAID, represented primarily by its executive director Anneke van Woudenberg, was given a comprehensive presentation on the mine’s operations and operating environment and was able to witness how the mine’s sustainability strategy has affected its host communities.

The NGO observed one of the community engagement meetings between North Mara, village chairpersons, ward and village executive officials of the 11 host villages, as well as their member of parliament, the mine said. 

At this meeting, the village leadership afforded RAID the opportunity to raise any human rights issues they felt were of concern.

According to Barrick, the village leadership did not corroborate allegations that had been made by Raid and reaffirmed that there had been no previous engagement with Raid on the concerns raised.

Barrick also said that RAID had the opportunity to see community projects, including the mine-sponsored agribusiness which helps to support 100 youths, the potable tap water supply which will supply more than 30 000 community members, new schools and medical facilities. 

These projects were all funded by the mine through a community development committee, which enables the community to be part of the decision-making process.

Barrick also introduced RAID to key local authorities and held tripartite meetings, which included the regional police commander and the district commissioner.

Barrick said it does not tolerate human rights abuses in any of its operations and that the North Mara gold mine would continue to implement its sustainability strategy. This includes engaging and working closely with more than 20 regional and national NGOs that understand the challenges in their host communities and who partner with the mine to implement socio-economic development projects.

“We encourage RAID to join these NGOs and collaborate with us on upliftment initiatives,” Mark Bristow, Barrick president and CEO, said in a statement. 

“I hope that the site visit has been informative for RAID and that they will leave Tanzania with a fresh perspective on the numerous benefits the mine brings to its host communities and its respect for the human rights of those influenced by its operations,” he added.

Zimbabwe’s VP in Tanzania for UNAIDS conference

Zimbabwe’s Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga visited Tanzania on Wednesday to lead Zimbabwe’s participation at the Political Launch of the Global Alliance to end AIDS in children by 2030 hosted by the UNAIDS, UNICEF, World Health Organisation (WHO) and their partners.

According to a report by The Herald, Chiwengwa was received by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Tanzania Lieutenant General (Retired) Anselem Sanyatwe and Tanzania’s Deputy Permanent Secretary of Health Dr Seif Shekalaghe.

Speaking on arrival, Vice President Chiwenga told journalists that the alliance will seek to aggregate efforts to end HIV/AIDS in children by 2030 and share experiences with other countries.

VP Chiwenga is also scheduled to meet his counterpart, Tanzanian Vice President Dr Philip Mpango, with the need to boost economic corporation and trade between the two countries high on the agenda.

“We have come for this launch and declaration of our commitments to end HIV in children, more specifically, by 2030,” said VP Chiwenga.

“So, this global alliance has to tackle (ways of ending AIDS in children by 2030) and countries making commitments, so we can work together and learn from each other’s experiences and then chart a way forward on our objective.”

VP Chiwenga noted that HIV/AIDS is still a challenge that needs to be addressed, but sadly people had forgotten about it with much emphasis being directed towards a global response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As they congregate, he emphasised that those living with HIV, both children and adults, should be initiated on treatment.

“I will be able to meet with my counterpart the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania and also meet my counterpart the Minister of Health in Tanzania, and we will also be able to share with other Ministers who have come,” said VP Chiwenga.

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