Good morning!The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 16, 2024. 

Government announces 12,333 villages, 4,269 streets for 2024 local government election, revises decision to delist Ngorongoro villages

Speaking on Monday, September 16, 2024, in Arusha, the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohamed Mchengerwa, announced the boundaries of villages, streets, and hamlets that will participate in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 27, 2024. This was detailed under Government Notice number 769 of 2024.

The notice also reinstated the villages in Ngorongoro that had been dissolved under Government Notice number 673 of August 2, 2024.

“In these orders and notices, the total number of areas outlined includes 12,333 villages, 4,269 streets, and 64,274 hamlets. These areas are located within your administrative boundaries,” said Mchengerwa during a press conference.

“These areas, including those dissolved under Government Notices 673 and 674, such as Ngorongoro Division, are being reinstated to ensure proper administrative representation and access to social and economic services that meet the needs of residents,” Mchengerwa added.

Accompanied by Arusha Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda, Mchengerwa urged Tanzanians to register on the voter list between October 11 and October 20, 2024, and to prepare to contest various positions in the election on November 27, 2024.

“The President’s Office, TAMISEMI, is well-prepared to ensure that this election is free and fair, following the 4R principles, as the President continues to emphasize. This process provides citizens an opportunity to directly participate in shaping the future development of their areas,” argued Mchengerwa.

The announcement follows a recent High Court ruling approving the application of three citizens to file a judicial review challenging the 2024 local government election process. The applicants argue that PO-RALG should leave election supervision to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Several stakeholders, particularly those monitoring developments in the contested Ngorongoro area, welcomed the news of reinstating the delisted villages.

On August 18, 2024, hundreds of Maasai community members protested against the denial of basic services and land rights in Ngorongoro, calling for the reinstatement of their villages, which had been dissolved under Government Notice No. 673. After the protests, the government agreed to restore social services to the affected residents.

 BAKWATA condemns abductions, government responds

The Supreme Council of Muslims in Tanzania (BAKWATA), through its Secretary-General Alhaji Nuhu Mruma, condemned human rights violations, including abductions and killings in various parts of the country.

Mruma made the remarks on September 16, 2024, during a National Maulid event held at Nyankumbu Girls Secondary School in Geita town, attended by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa. He called on law enforcement to investigate and arrest those responsible, regardless of their affiliations.

“Security agencies must conduct an independent investigation to uncover the motives behind these incidents and take appropriate legal action,” he said.

Prime Minister Majaliwa, representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan, addressed the event, urging citizens to reflect on why such incidents often occur near election periods, instead of blaming the police.

“It’s easy to point fingers at the police, but we must ask ourselves why these incidents happen at this time and who is behind them?” Majaliwa questioned.

He stressed that national security cannot solely rely on the police and called on all citizens to take responsibility in safeguarding the nation. The Prime Minister warned that the government will take strict action against those inciting unrest, while urging citizens to maintain trust in the authorities.

The recent abduction that sparked public outcry involved CHADEMA official Ali Kibao, who was kidnapped on September 6, 2024, and found dead a day later in Dar es Salaam. Kibao had been abducted by armed men while traveling on a public bus in Tegeta, Dar es Salaam. His body was later discovered at Ununio, bearing signs of acid burns.

President Samia has ordered a swift investigation into the incident, with a full report to be provided. In response, CHADEMA has demanded the government account for all missing persons by September 21, threatening to begin protests on September 23 if no action is taken. However, the police have already banned these demonstrations.

Five feared missing after boat tragedy on lake Victoria

Five individuals are feared drowned in Lake Victoria after the boat they were traveling in sank while they were returning from a wedding in Mwiruruma village, heading to Igundu village in Bunda District, Mara region.

Speaking at the scene on Monday, September 16, 2024, the Acting Commander of the Fire and Rescue Force in Mara, Agostino Magere, stated that rescue operations at the site had been unsuccessful due to heavy fog and thick mud in the water. He called for additional rescue personnel from Mwanza to assist.

“One body, that of Hadija Maregesi (20), has been retrieved. The others feared dead include Machumu Machumu (32), Maregesi Robert (30), Nyanjiga Lazaro (39), Mashauri Richard (25), and one unidentified individual. The boat had 20 people onboard, 14 of whom have been rescued alive,” said Magere.

Magere also mentioned that seven rescue officers from Mwanza, equipped with additional resources, are on their way to join eight others from Mara to continue the search for the missing bodies.

“There is a lot of black mud, and we encountered fog, which hindered the search efforts. We have temporarily halted the operations while awaiting more equipment, which is expected to arrive at any moment,” the acting commander added.

The cause of the accident is believed to be overloading, as the boat had a capacity of only five people. The overload caused the boat’s structure to break apart, worsened by bad weather during the incident on September 15, 2024. So far, 14 people have been rescued alive, with one confirmed dead.

This is not the first time boats used for fishing have been involved in accidents while transporting passengers. On July 30, 2023, 14 children, including 13 students from Bulomba Primary School in Igundu village, Bunda District, died after two boats they were traveling in from a church service at the Holy Spiritual Church (KTMK) capsized in Lake Victoria near Mchigondo village. In that incident, 14 people were rescued alive, with the cause being attributed to overloading.

 President Samia appoints new National Assembly Clerk

The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed  Baraka Ildenphoce Leonard  as the new National Assembly Clerk, replacing Nenelwa Mwihambi, who has been appointed as a High Court Judge.

The appointments were announced today, Monday, September 16, 2024, by the Presidential Communication Directorate-Ikulu, quoting Chief Secretary Ambassador Moses Kusiluka, who stated that the two leaders will be sworn in on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

The announcement did not provide details on Leonard’s previous role before his appointment. Nenelwa takes up her new role as Judge after serving as Secretary of Parliament for approximately 1,220 days, equivalent to three years and four months. Before her role as Secretary of Parliament, Nenelwa was the Director of Parliamentary Affairs.

Nenelwa was appointed to the position after Stephen Kagaigai was made Regional Commissioner of Kilimanjaro. The appointment by President Samia on May 15, 2021, made her the first woman to hold that position.

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