Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on June 20,  2024.

Journalist Dinna Maningo released on bail after eight days; two other journalists also freed

Dinna Maningo was released yesterday, June 20, 2024, alongside her colleagues Samweli Mwanga and Constantine Mathias, who were also arrested on June 16 and June 17, respectively.

Maningo was detained on June 13, 2024, in her hometown of Tarime and subsequently transferred to Mwanza. According to her lawyer, Ms. Maningo was held for allegedly publicizing confidential investigation documents. Her arrest is linked to her reporting on her blog, Dima Online, about allegations against the former Simiyu Regional Commissioner, Dr. Yahya Nawanda, who is accused of sexually assaulting a university student in Mwanza City.

The subsequent arrest of the other two journalists is also linked to the case. Due to challenges in securing Maningo’s bail, her lawyer filed a habeas corpus petition on June 19, 2024. According to her lawyer, they will be in court today for the conclusion of this petition

Government highlights strategies to protect people with albinism

Tanzania’s Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, has announced a series of strategies aimed at strengthening the protection and safety of people with albinism in the country. These measures include raising awareness and implementing new policies and directives within the police force.

This announcement came during a parliamentary session on June 20, 2024, amid national grief over the recent abduction and murder of a two-year-old child with albinism. The child’s body, discovered on June 17, 2024, was found missing several parts.

Majaliwa has directed the police to launch a sustained operation against individuals or networks targeting people with albinism. He stated: “In addressing incidents of this kind to prevent them from continuing to occur, I direct the Police Force to do the following: Take immediate action upon receiving any hint of a plot to abduct or kill people with albinism. [Also] continue to conduct operations to arrest all those named and those who will be named as involved in such incidents, to dismantle the entire network of these criminals. These operations should be ongoing.”

The Prime Minister also revealed that the government is preparing a National Action Plan (NAP) to Prevent Violence Against People with Albinism, in collaboration with the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) and other stakeholders. Furthermore, a meeting with all Regional Commissioners of mainland Tanzania is scheduled for July 3, 2024, to establish unified strategies for the protection of people with albinism.

Majaliwa urged traditional healers to register and to eliminate those among them who instigate these barbaric killings. He said, “The Traditional and Alternative Medicine Council should register traditional healers and their centers, along with the types of services they provide to their clients. This is to control the unregulated services that do not adhere to the principles of humanity and human rights.”

The government also plans to continue educating the public about violence against people with disabilities, including those with albinism, through Social Welfare Officers, Community Development Officers, and Special Education Officers across all regions.

Majaliwa announced a review of the National Policy on Development and Services for People with Disabilities of 2004. The government will prepare a Five-Year Implementation Strategy (2024/2025-2029/2030) and a Five-Year Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy, set to launch in the next financial year, 2024/2025.

Additionally, the government will complete and launch the 2024-2027 Three-Year Strategy for Access to Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities, including those with albinism, in July 2024.

Majaliwa also outlined the preparation and finalization of the National Plan to Eliminate Violence Against People with Disabilities for 2024/2025 – 2026/2027. This plan involves the ongoing identification and registration of people with disabilities at the village and street levels, utilizing an electronic system and a comprehensive database.

President of Guinea Bissau to undertake three-day visit to Tanzania

The President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, who is also the Chairman of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), Umaro Sissoco Embaló, is scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to Tanzania from June 21 to June 23, 2024.

Speaking to the press in Dar es Salaam, June 20, 2024, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Samweli Shelukindo, stated that the visit aims to enhance and strengthen diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Guinea Bissau. It will also identify areas of cooperation in various strategic sectors, including cashew nut production, malaria control initiatives through the ALMA organization, and the fight against drug trafficking.

However, the Secretary noted that through this visit, Tanzania and Guinea Bissau are committed to strengthening and elevating the level of trade and investment, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which both countries have endorsed.

“This visit will provide an opportunity for the two countries to thoroughly discuss how to continue combating and controlling the deadly disease of malaria, considering that President Umaro Sissoco Embaló is the Chairman of ALMA, an organization established in 2009 by the leaders of all 55 African countries with the aim of eradicating the disease by 2030,” said Ambassador Dr. Shelukindo.

Ambassador Shelukindo mentioned that since Guinea Bissau is focused on cashew production, with most of its exports going to India, the visit is expected to include in-depth discussions on cashew production, which is also a significant crop in Tanzania, particularly in the southern regions including Mtwara and Lindi.

President Embaló and his delegation will arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport on June 21, 2024 and will be received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba.

This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see left), following us on X (Twitter) (here), or joining us on Telegram (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com