Magufuli to sell ministries’ buildings once in Dodoma

IN a bid to ensure that all government servants move to Dodoma, President John Magufuli yesterday said he will sell the ministerial buildings in Dar es Salaam so that there could be no office for them to stay.

He said those who intend to challenge the idea must count themselves non-government officials because there will be no mercy to defiant staff.

The Head of State was speaking to Singida residents during his first official tour of the region.

“Once I move to Dodoma, I will sell ministerial buildings in Dar es Salaam.

Those who will refuse to move to Dodoma will be fired. We cannot continue singing the same song for more than 50 years.

Some of those who proposed the idea are already dead and we are still singing the same verses,” he said.

He also warned members of the opposition who are planning to conduct demonstrations on September 1, this year, saying they should avoid trifling with him.

“I am warning politicians to stop trying me. Those who are planning countrywide demonstration should stop.

And if they demonstrate, let the leaders be in front and allow children and youth to stay at their back,” he said.

The head of state said political leaders give ‘alcoholic sachets’ to youth and encourage them to demonstrate.

He said the politicians remain in hotels waiting to see what will happen.

“We were elected to lead and deliver. I will not allow anybody to stop me or delay me from serving Tanzanians,” said Dr Magufuli.

He added that those who are planning to take to the streets on September 1, must understand the consequences of their actions.

“Those who will dare to demonstrate will never forget what will happen to them. I am quite different from others.

They should not trifle with me,” warned President Magufuli.

However, the head of state said politicians are free to conduct meetings which aim at influencing Tanzanians to participate in development activities in their areas.

“If you are the MP for Hai, just conduct development meetings in your constituency.

There is no need for you to travel all the way to Shinyanga to convince people to participate in the demonstration,” he said.

He added: “I have not stopped elected leaders from conducting activities in their areas.

I am against those who intend to move and cause chaos in other areas.”

President Magufuli asked Tanzanians to continue siding with him especially during this time of war against graft within the government.

He asked for prayers so that he can continue serving people especially the poor ones.

Today, the head of state is expected to end his two-day tour in the region by addressing a rally at Misigiri in Iramba District.

DR Congo wants link on Uganda, Tanzania pipeline

THE government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has shown willingness to use the Uganda-Tanzania Oil Pipeline set to be constructed in the country to transport crude oil from Kabale in Uganda to Tanga Port.

The Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, made the revelation in Dar es Salaam yesterday when opening a one-day meeting of ministerial Permanent Secretaries and Regional Commissioners from regions set to be involved in the course of the construction of the pipeline. Prof Muhongo said he was today expected to meet with the responsible minister from Congo to discuss how they would be involved in the project.

According to Mr Muhongo, Burundi is also expected to use the pipeline. He noted that the move by the government of DR Congo and Burundi to use the pipeline would be proper as the two countries would continue using the pipeline once Uganda Oil transport deal comes to an end.

He said the pipeline would also be used to transport oil from South Sudan. “The pipeline would be useful in the course of transporting oil from Lake Tanganyika if the search for oil in the lake is successful,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister sounded a strong warning to residents against invading the lands that would be involved in the course of the construction of the pipeline. He said those who have invaded and others intending to do so should immediately pave the way as the government would not entertain anybody once construction starts.

“Those intending to invade should immediately stop as they would lose their money putting up houses and other infrastructure on land that would be used to construct the pipeline,” he said, tasking the RCs of the concerned regions to monitor the invaders.

He said research satellites would be used to establish those who would have invaded the construction lane land ahead of August, last year. “Those who will be found to have invaded the areas after August, last year - the start of the pipeline construction deal - will not be compensated,” he said.

He asked the RCs from the regions to be involved to provide the construction map of the pipeline in order to help abstain from unnecessary losses that they may incur in future. The pipeline to be constructed would pass through Kagera, Geita, Shinyanga, Dodoma, Manyara to Tanga.

He tasked the RCs to conduct awareness over the construction of the pipeline. In another development, Ugandans have started construction part of the project where they have provided 40 per cent shares of the project to five East African countries with each country holding eight per cent of the shares (150 million US-dollars).

Prof Muhongo said that plans were underway to involve private sectors to hold some shares (the eight per cent share for Tanzania) to supplement the government’s efforts in construction of the pipeline. Construction of the pipeline is scheduled to start in August, this year. It is expected to be completed before 2020.

Shortage of dentists worries experts

AT least 60 per cent of Tanzanians experience dental pains due to shortage of dentists and living far from health centres, the Bridge2Aid Chief Executive Officer, Mark Topley has said. Bridge2Aid is a dental charity that is working towards a world free from dental pain.

Bridge2Aid empowers health workers who are already established and well respected members of rural communities. The NGO provides them with skills, experience and equipment to help those in need. In Tanzania, at least 11 regions have been covered; they include Mwanza, Kagera and Mara.

Others are Dodoma, Shinyanga, Geita, Dodoma, Manyara, Morogoro, Lindi and Coast region. Mr Topley told the ‘Daily News’ that trainings are carried out by volunteer dentists and dental nurses who spend approximately two weeks in the country with Bridge2Aid participating in a Dental Volunteer Programme. He added that there are big dental related problems in all regions in the country, and that there is a need of continuing with training for health workers across the country.

According to Mr Topley, Bridge2Aid decided to focus on dental related problems because it is an area that has been overlooked by many governments all over the world. He said the organisation is currently focusing on rural areas since most of the people are incapable of travelling to urban areas to access dental services. He said many people suffer from dental related pains and that the NGO’s programmes helps to bring relief to victims who mostly come from poor families.

Three quarters of the world’s population has no access to the most simple dental pain relief, leaving billions to face a daily battle with pain in the toughest of life circumstances. “Bridge2Aid believes the impact of untreated caries on people’s lives is huge and demands attention.

There is a simple, affordable and effective way to make access to pain relief possible, train rural health workers to safely extract infected teeth and relieve pain,” he said. He said 98 per cent of dental related problems can be treated and 94 per cent of patients recover from dental related problems.

According to Mr Topley, with proper programmes and trained health workers across the country, majority of Tanzanians could get rid of dental related pains. He said so far 38,000 people have been treated, 420 health workers have been trained and 75 training programmes have been conducted in the country. “Our focus is on offering training and providing knowledge on how to prevent the problem.

We are also treating those who are already affected,” he said. Since 2004, 3.1 million people in East Africa have been given access to safe emergency dental care because of Bridge2Aid’s training programmes.

According to the 2014 World Dental Federation report, almost 100 percent of adults and 60-90 percent of schoolchildren worldwide suffer from dental caries. Also, 30 percent of adults aged 65-74 years have lost all their natural teeth

Instanbul tips Dar on ‘terrorist organisation’

FOLLOWING an assessment by the Turkish government over the failed coup attempt, the Turkish Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Yasemin Eralp, has said that there is every indication that those behind the coup belong to an organization, which operates in many countries, including Tanzania.

She asked the government of Tanzania to scrutinise and keep an eye on the organisation, insisting that it is carrying out dangerous activities in the country. Ms Eralp was briefing the media on the situation in Turkey after the July 15 military coup attempt, which illegally aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected Turkish government.

She said the failed coup attempt was carried out by a cowardly terrorist group. She added that it was understood in a short time that the action was more than a treacherous plot. She said it was a terrorist campaign since the perpetrators shot at their own people, stabbed commanders in the back and bombed the national parliament as well as the office of the president.

Last week, international media reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused a US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, of plotting the overthrow of the democratically elected government. Mr Gulen has been living in self-imposed exile in rural Pennsylvania in the US since 1999.

President Erdogan has repeatedly accused Mr Gulen of trying to foment an uprising in the military, media and judiciary. Fethullah Gulen's organisation runs various activities across the world. There are more than 100 primary, middle and secondary schools in Africa that belong to Gulen.

Yesterday, Ms Eralp told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ that she had a meeting with Chief Secretary (CS), Ambassador John Kijazi, on Thursday regarding the organisation’s activities in the country. “I visited the CS yesterday. I told him about the organisation and the situation in Turkey.

Generally, the government of Tanzania is with us,” she said. She added: “I asked the government of Tanzania to make a serious follow up to that particular organisation in the country. I am sure Tanzania officials are aware of the organisation’s activities.”

Ms Eralp asked the government to track down the organisation’s financial transactions and always investigate its movements. On Tuesday, the Turkish community living in the country gathered at the Turkish Embassy in Tanzania to condemn the failed coup attempt.

They called on the government of Tanzania to close down all schools and other activities, which are linked to the organisation, that is accused of masterminding the coup plot in Turkey. On the state of security in Turkey, the ambassador assured Tanzanians that the country is safe and that everything is under control.

“The coup attempt has been foiled and everything is going on like before. I would like to use this opportunity to assure travellers that everything is under control and Turkey is safe,” she said. She said more than 10,000 people were detained and 4,000 arrested in connection with the July 15 attempted coup. She said among the detained and arrested are judges, police officers, military personnel and prosecutors.

According to Ms Eralp, all legal procedures and principles of human rights will be observed during the prosecution of the suspects. She said those who will be found guilty will be punished according to the existing Turkish laws.

On the three months state of emergency, Ms Eralp said the decision is in line with requirement of the constitution. “State of emergency has been declared. The decision involves the Security Council, government and it is ratified by the parliament, therefore it was necessary to declare the state of emergency,” she said.

However, the Ambassador said the declaration does not stop foreigners or Turkish people from continuing with normal activities including doing businesses. “Turkish airline is continuing with its schedule from Dar es Salaam to Istanbul as usual, therefore there is no restriction, there is no problem at all,” said Ms Eralp. On the US support, Ms Eralp said the two countries are progressing with talks on the extradition of Mr Gulan, who is accused of plotting the failed attempt coup.

“Extradition is a process, so Turkey is following legal procedures,” she said. She added that the US has so far shown support to Turkey and that it has expressed its readiness to assist in interrogating the suspects.

On the war against terrorism, the ambassador said Turkey is a strong country and that the failed coup will never weaken its war against terrorism. “Turkey has been fighting the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane (PKK) and the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), therefore Turkey’s government will not stop this war against terrorist groups,” she said.

Tanzania authorities could not be reached immediately to comment on the Turkish ambassador’s plea on investigating the Turkish’s based organisation.

When we tried to get a comment from the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Commissioner of Police, Diwani Athuman, he asked for an excuse saying he was in the middle of a sensitive meeting. Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Advera Bulimba, could not be reached as her mobile phone was switched off.

CCM picks Magufuli for chairmanship

CHAMA Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Executive Committee (NEC) has unanimously endorsed President John Magufuli to become the 5th chairman of the ruling party.

Yesterday, the party's chairman and former president Jakaya Kikwete whose chairmanship ends today, chaired his last NEC meeting that saw Dr Magufuli receiving support from all members. CCM will get its new chairman after the party's National Congress convenes here today, the spokesperson of the party, Christopher Ole Sendeka, said at a press briefing yesterday.

In what appears to be yet another milestone in the circles of politics in the country, Tanzanians will be glued to their Television sets to witness the two leaders handing over leadership to each other. According to Mr Ole Sendeka, all local television stations and more than 50 radio stations had by yesterday confirmed to broadcast live the CCM National Congress.

As per the party's constitution, for a person to be confirmed by delegates of the national congress, he or she must garner more than half of the total vote casts. According to Mr Ole Sendeka, there was no doubt whatsoever, Dr Magufuli will get a landslide victory from the party members because of his flawless record in leadership.

According to him, after his name was endorsed by NEC members, Dr Magufuli was given time to thank the NEC members where he pledged to collaborate with every member in ensuring that the party remained strong. Usually, before voting for the new chairperson of the party, two influential people within the party ought to be given time to request for votes for the proposed name.

A person who is vying for that position is not supposed to request for votes due to the fact that he or she did not ask to be elected. It is only the party's Central Committee (CC) and later the National Executive Committee (NEC) that proposes the name of a person to be elected by delegates at the party's National Congress that meets today at the Dodoma Convention Centre.

As per the party's constitution, Mr Kikwete who is the current chairperson was supposed to continue with his leadership until 2017, but he decided to relinguish his position to allow Dr Magufuli to take over. President Magufuli will become the fifth chairperson of the party after Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamini Mkapa and Mr Kikwete who is handing over the leadership to Dr Magufuli later today.

Earlier yesterday, when opening the NEC meeting, the outgoing chairman thanked the party members for their support during his leadership, saying he would attend the NEC meetings only on official invitation from his immediate successor.

"This is a historic meeting because it is my last meeting with you as the party's chairman. We decided that after accomplishing our duties we stay aside in our elders council and we can only attend meetings when need arises.

He said he had faced challenges in leadership especially towards the end of last year when there were factions within the party during the presidential nomination. Mr Kikwete said if CCM did not collapse last year, it will never do so.

"Whether you like it or not, CCM will continue to be strong not because of force but it is because of the important things that we have been doing for our people. We have been putting things in order for our people, that is why we have continued to win their trust,'' said Mr Kikwete.

He challenged Dr Magufuli to remain firm in leadership telling him that there are times where as the top leader of the party he will face problems and challenges.

"I remember last year when I chaired a meeting members started singing songs in protest of the meeting, but later because of my wisdom things came back in order.”

He was alluding to an incident when the party members started chanting songs when the name of the now Chadema member Edward Lowassa was axed from the presidential nomination within the ruling party. Mr Kikwete, who was in a jovial mood, took a swipe at some newspapers that were publishing imaginary stories against the ruling party.

"I read one of the local newspapers that published a story with a headline 'Magufuli's appointment to be quashed by NEC. These were mere rumours because there are people with their own industries that have been manufacturing lies,'' he said.

Meanwhile, preparations for the first historic Heroes Day have been finalised and after politics within CCM, President Magufuli is expected to officiate at the function tomorrow in Dodoma.

Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Jordan Rugimbana, told reporters yesterday that the Heroes Day would kick off from 6:00 am to 10:00 am, thanking the government for choosing Dodoma as the first region to mark the event in the country. The RC was speaking during a rehearsal of the military parade mounted in honour of Dr Magufuli at Mashujaa Grounds in Dodoma.