HOT NEWS

Suluhu Assembly Vice Chairperson

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WINNER AND LOSER HUG: Amina Abdallah Amour (R), who lost yesterday�s race for the position of Constituent Assembly Vice Chairperson, hugs winner Samiah Suluhu Hassan in a show of solidarity notwithstanding the way the election went. The winner, who is Minister of State in the Vice President�s Office (Union Matters), garnered 390 votes to the loser�s 126. Our photographer captured the scene at the entrance to the House debating chamber in Dodoma yesterday, shortly after the results of the election were announced.

The Constituent Assembly (CA) yesterday elected Samia Hassan Suluhu as the Vice Chairperson.

Dr Thomas Kashilila the Returning Officer announced Suluhu as the winner, saying she scooped 390 of the 523 votes cast during the elections conducted yesterday evening.

Her opponent Amina Abdallah Amour from the Civic United Front (CUF) scooped 126 votes which is equivalent to 24.1 percent of the ballots. Void ballots were seven, said Dr Kashilila.

According to the Constitution Review Act when the chairperson hails from one part of the Union, the vice chairperson shall come from the other part of the republic.

Before the elections, the interim chair, Pandu Ameir Kificho provided the candidates with three minutes each to campaign for the seat.

In her manifesto, Amina Abdallah Amour said she holds a Masters Degree for Finance and a Diploma in Law. She is a Member of Parliament and has worked with National Bank of Commerce (NBC) for 23 years.

Samia Hassan Suluhu said she is a graduate of MBA on Economic Community Development and has been a Member of Parliament for 14 years and throughout the period she has been serving as a minister in the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Suluhu promised to give chance to youths to contribute to constitution debates in order to ensure that their views are incorporated. “I have learned a lot from the outgoing chair. I will use his wisdom and my experience to ensure smooth writing of the Mother Law,” she said.

She however said that as the minister responsible for union affairs she has managed to reduce the union challenges from 13 to only one.

“I am now dealing with the remaining economic challenge after finding solution to the rest,” Suluhu insisted.

The chairperson and his vice will be sworn in today morning followed by other members of the assembly.

Meanwhile newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Samwel Sitta has pledged to give daily reports to the media and to also prepare special documentaries to be aired on radio and television to increase public awareness of the House proceedings.

The veteran politician and member of the ruling party Chamma cha Mapinduzi (CCM) mid this week defeated Hashimu Rungwe from opposition party Chama Cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMA) securing 487 votes over the contender who settled for 69 votes.

The new Chair also pledged to give more voice to the 201 members of the CA appointed by the President noting that those from the House of Representatives and MPs have so far dominated the House discussions.

Speaking outside the debate chambers after his outstanding win, Sitta also said that he would give more time to the members to further deliberate on what he described as ‘the tricky sections 37 and 38 of the endorsed regulations.’

"If we are to get a constitution that represents the collective will of the people then the voice of the 201 members must be also heard ", he noted.

Sitta made it clear that he is determined to ensure that the deliberations are transparent and again reinforced his commitment to make certain that the opinions of all groups of people are represented and heard.

In the wake of his election, Members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) have expressed unanimous overwhelming confidence in the newly elected Chairman, applauding the outgoing interim chair, Pandu Ameir Kificho for a job well done having managed to lead the house even before the Standing Orders were in place.

Hamuod Jumaa, a Member of Parliament for Kibaha Rural is of the opinion that Sitta will strengthen democracy in the House especially during debates by giving equal opportunity to the members without any biasness.

A representative of persons with disabilities, Amon Mpanju who is a member of the CA Technical committee seconded the view expressing confidence in the new Chair to give equal representation to all groups.

Monduli Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa cemented the confidence and trust in Sitta. He too is of the opinion that the new Chairman of the CA will spearhead the draft review in a fair and just manner.

"He is experienced and given his speed and standard philosophy, Tanzanians can rest assured he will guide the members to productive discussions that will see the country attain a fully inclusive Mother Law that will reflect the will of the people,” Lowassa said.

EAC moves to ease payments system

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EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera

Transactions within the East African Community states are set to become faster and easier following the launch of the EAC Payment and Settlement Systems Project (EAC-PSSIP).

The project was launched here yesterday by the EAC Secretariat and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The major objective of the project is to broaden and deepen the financial sector by the integration of the regional financial market infrastructure and facilitating cross border fund transfers.The project is also aimed at supporting the economies of the region and providing outreach to rural areas in order to encourage greater participation in the formal financial sector.

The five central banks of the EAC partner states will facilitate the implementation of the project, which is expected to speed up payment system in the region.

Speaking at the launch of the project Dr Natu el-Maamry Mwamba, who is the Bank of Tanzania’s deputy governor (In-charge of Economic and Financial Policies), said the project takes East Africans to the next level of regional integration.

She said from now on East African traders and ordinary citizens, will be required to use their local currencies when doing transactions within the region.

“This project gives room for traders and ordinary people to easily carry out business using currencies of their countries,” she elaborated.

For his part, EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sezibera said the project is a major factor in deepening the integration of the region’s financial sector.

“Functioning payment and settlement systems represent a basic infrastructure for the functioning of market economies. This is because they provide effective mechanisms for the exchange of money between transacting parties; ensure finality and irrevocability of both payment and settlement; enables management, reduction and containment of systemic and other payment related risks and facilitate implementation of monetary

policy,” he said.

In a speech, read on his behalf by EAC Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Infrastructure), Dr Enos Bukuku, the SG said the project is geared to see the development of sound payment and settlement systems within the region.

“This will also facilitate the integration of EAC economies into single monetary area through efficient means of understanding payments within the region,” he said.

Dr Sezibera further noted that the trading bloc envisages a wider outlook which will include achieving collaboration on addressing any existing infrastructure weaknesses within the region’s financial integration space.

AfDB representative, Jacob Mukete said the project is expected to facilitate the transition to a single integrated financial system and enable the processing and settlement of payment obligations in a timely manner, enhance accountability, minimise errors and facilitate the development of innovative financial products while better managing risks.

“This is an important project as it will support the development of central securities depositories and core banking platforms in the EAC Partner States,” he added.

According to Mukeke, the project also supports capacity building in specific areas of payment and settlement systems for relevant stakeholders in the region such as judges and judicial officers at the East African Court of Justice and relevant members of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in the legislative support required for payment and settlement systems, commercial law and enforcement of collateral.

Kenya’s Central Bank Governor, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u noted that the project will modernise, harmonise and create a regional integration of payments and settlement systems.

EA film makers to form alliance to support regional integration agenda

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Martin Mhando, the CEO and director of Zanzibar International Film Festival

East African film makers on Wednesday convened in Arusha in an effort to form an alliance of film festivals that will support the regional integration agenda.

The three-day first Preparatory Forum for Film Festivals and Film Makers was made possible by the East African Community (EAC) in collaboration with the German International Cooperation (GIZ).

The forum is meant to prepare ground work that will lead to the integration of all film festivals and film makers in the region into a regional body that will advocate for the film sector and also support the regional integration efforts through film in the overall context of culture and creative industries.

Addressing the forum, EAC head of the Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Owora Richard Othieno hailed East African Film Festival directors for coming up with such idea.

"The move is recommendable and will take the regional bloc into another stages, taking into account that the industry is very powerful, when it comes to taking message to the public," he said.

The official said the trading bloc's secretariat will fully support the initiative to further strengthen the already existing cooperation between the EAC, other state and non-state actors towards building a stronger East African Community through the arts and culture.

"Indeed this is a laudable initiative and is in line with Article 119 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, the Common Market Protocol and the Development Strategy (2010-2016), all of which provide for the fostering of public - private sector partnership towards the development of culture and creative industries in the EAC," Owora said.

"The Film industry is one of those culture and creative industries in the region with great potential to alleviate poverty and also to create employment for young people. The EAC is cognizant of the critical challenges facing the sectors such as the low capacity, infrastructure, financing and copyright among others. But these are not insurmountable," he said.

Martin Mhando, the CEO and director of Zanzibar International Film Festival, noted that culture has been used to shape and to govern identity and as festivals are perceived to be vehicles for "re-imaging" places, they also give communities a creative focus, helping to celebrate achievements, forge community identity, and of course in generating increased tourism.

He said the region was rich in talent but has no infrastructure to develop the talents and the formation of a festival network is a response to such a need.

The forum is being attended by film directors, cultural officers, and culture and creative industries stakeholders.

Ugandan activists challenge anti-gay law in court

♠ Posted by Unknown in INTERNATIONAL NEWS

KAMPALA, Uganda — Rights activists on Tuesday petitioned Uganda’s Constitutional Court to challenge the validity of an anti-gay measure that allows severe penalties against homosexuality.
The activists — under a group called Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law — hope the court will agree the new law violates Uganda’s constitution by encouraging discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The group has asked the judges to issue an interim order “stopping the police from implementing” the anti-gay law, said Nicholas Opiyo, a Ugandan lawyer who helped to draft the petition.
It also seeks an order barring local tabloid newspapers from printing the names and pictures of known or suspected homosexuals, a key concern for activists in a country where homosexuals report severe discrimination.
Opiyo said it will likely take several months, even years, before judges reach a final decision in the case challenging the anti-gay law, because the court has many other cases before it.
Uganda’s president enacted the law last month, strengthening criminal penalties against homosexuality. Some European countries and the World Bank have since withheld or delayed development assistance to Uganda. The United States has suggested it is considering similar action if the law is not repealed.
The legislation allows life imprisonment for those convicted of engaging in gay sex. It also creates the offenses of “conspiracy to commit homosexuality” and “aiding and abetting homosexuality,” both of which are punishable by seven years behind bars. Those convicted of “promoting homosexuality” face similar punishment.
Despite Western opposition to legislation widely described as draconian, the law is popular among many in this conservative East African country.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said he was enacting the law in order to deter Western homosexuals from promoting homosexuality in Africa. Evangelical Christian clerics who championed the law said it was necessary to protect Ugandan children from being “recruited” by wealthy homosexuals from the West.
But Ugandan gay activists insist they are the victims of a hate campaign orchestrated by U.S. evangelicals who wanted to spread their anti-gay agenda in Africa.
Activists say there have been some allegations of violence and retaliation against people known or suspected to be gay, including evictions by many landlords of their tenants, according to the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. At least 10 suspected homosexuals have been arrested and more than five evicted by landlords since the law was passed, the group said.
Fox Odoi, a Ugandan lawyer who is one of the petitioners in the case and the only lawmaker who publicly opposed the anti-gay measure, said the legislation is harmful to the lives of Uganda’s homosexuals. “Because a person is homosexual he should go to jail and because you are heterosexual you should walk the streets: What kind of nonsense is that?” he said.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

credt: the washington

Voting system still sticky for Assembly

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Prof Costa Mahalu, Chairman of the technical committee

The technical and consensus committees of the Constituent Assembly (CA) have again failed to resolve the tricky sections of the standing orders regarding the voting system in passing contentious provisions of the constitution.

Prof Costa Mahalu, Chairman of the technical committee and George Simbachawene yesterday told CA members that they had decided to add a sub-section on clause 38 of the rules which states that decisions on some contentious provisions will be passed by voting without specifying whether it will be open voting system or the ballot.

For almost three weeks now the CA has been working on section 37 and 38 of the regulations whereas on Friday last week the interim Chair, Ameir Pandu Kificho decided to form a consensus committee to work on the tricky sections that provide guidance on making decisions in passing the draft document and on the mode of voting.

“We have incorporated all the amendments...we will later on bring the document for approval but with slight changes on clause 38,” said Prof Mahalu.

Simbachawene insisted that amended rules must be endorsed today to pave way for other procedures to take place so that it doesn’t look like members are being paid allowances for merely staying in Dodoma.

Immediately after the announcements, a big number of CA members stood up to oppose the committee's decision to pass the rules without deciding on the voting system.

David Kafulila, Kigoma North legislator (NCCR-Mageuzi) requested the interim Chair to postpone CA meetings until the two committees come up with a decision on the voting mode, adding that the delegates have been receiving daily allowances without doing any job.

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“May be we should go back home and wait for the committees to reach a consensus,” suggested Kafulila.

Responding to Kafulila, the interim Chair said it is impossible to postpone CA meetings because the President was the one who convened the assembly hence he is the only one with powers to dissolve it.

Ezekiah Olouch from Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) advised that the matter itself should be resolved through votes to fasten the approval of the rules because advisory committees have failed to reach a common ground.

In his intervention, Minister of State (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs) William Lukuvi insisted that the standing orders should have been passed by yesterday evening.

He said since 95 percent of the job has been completed, there was nothing to wait for because the issue of section 37 and 38 will continue to be taken care of by CA's standing committee on regulations. He however said that members will still be allowed to submit their private motions to amend the two sections.

“We have passed 85 sections of the standing orders...I don't see the reason of wasting time on the two sections because this is not the end of approving CA rules. Doors will still be open for any member to submit private motions for amendments,” said Lukuvi.

He reminded members that the two clauses are of no importance at this stage as they will be needed later on when passing provisions. He said the 85 rules should be approved to end the seminar so that the CA can continue with its business.

In an interview outside the parliament, Civic United Front (CUF) national chairman, Prof Ibrahim Lipumba and Chadema national chairman, Freeman Mbowe claimed that CCM leaders are interfering in the discussions of the advisory committee hence affecting its decisions. They claimed that committee members from the ruling party cannot make decisions before consulting their leaders.

Ismail Jussa Ladhu who is also a member of the technical committee said members should endorse the rules because the tricky clauses have been partly handled. He said when time comes, members will decide on the specific voting system.

Gender equality merits special consideration

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Women celebrate their day

It is opportune to take stock of the situation with respect to women’s status and gender equality in the world of work.

According to a Statement by the International Labour Organization Director General Guy Ryder (ILO), delivered on the occasion of International Women’s Day, there has been notable progress in the area of national legislation with most countries having incorporated the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

Many governments have adopted active labour market policies to tackle discrimination against women and a growing number of employers’ and workers’ organizations are implementing initiatives on equal opportunity and treatment.

A number of individual women have managed to advance and to break through the glass ceiling.

At the same time, stubborn and often profound gaps persist. Progress in increasing women’s labour market participation has been uneven according to our 2014 Global Employment Trends Report.

In developed economies, women are expected to benefit less from the timid recovery projected in the medium-term – their unemployment rates will only gradually decline to 8.2 per cent in 2018, whereas for men it is projected to drop to 7.6 per cent.

In North Africa women’s labour market participation rates in 2013 were barely 25 per cent, and in the Middle East not even 20 per cent.

Occupational sex-segregation and gender pay gaps persist. Women are over-represented in the informal economy, precarious work, and in low-paid jobs.

For example in South-East Asia and the Pacific, vulnerable employment in 2013 affected women most (63.1 per cent as compared to 56 per cent for men). In the formal economy women’s share of decision-making posts remains low notwithstanding a pool of talent.

Services to assist women and men in balancing work and family responsibilities – particularly state-funded and quality childcare – are unavailable or inaccessible for many. Such care still largely falls on the shoulders of girls and women.

Moreover, a large majority of women lack access to quality maternal and infant health care and other maternity protection measures – effectively penalizing them for their reproductive role.

Risks and opportunities for women often vary depending on their colour, religion, social origin or skill levels. Women do not constitute a homogenous group.

Consequently it is also important to look both at how different groups fare in the labour market and how they and women generally fare relative to their male peers.

The rights of girls and women are often subordinated; their economic and social contribution often undervalued and their perceived inequality compared to men sometimes regarded as immutable.

Not surprisingly, their work is also simply invisible – physically as in the case of domestic workers for example working behind closed doors. Or they may simply be absent from the data – which perpetuates their inequality.

It is time to do better

Keeping on top of such issues is especially important in the context of an increasingly interconnected global economy, rapidly-changing labour markets, the impact of migration and challenges to the universality of rights and standards.

The ILO is renewing its own efforts to establish a solid information base that will be a shared resource to inform future action. With sound knowledge to back up evidence-based arguments, declarations and policies on gender equality will have far better prospects of translating into change for the better in the lives of many more working women. And this, we know, also means stronger families and communities and ultimately businesses and economies.

Today we recognize the valuable and indispensable contribution of women in the world of work. We join our efforts with all who are striving for gender equality: it is also our common challenge to ensure mutually reinforcing action to secure steady progress to this goal.

What is the International Women’s Day?

International Women's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women's full and equal participation.

International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.

1909: The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28 February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

The United Nations and Gender Equality

The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.

Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN's efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.

TFDA closes 34 illegal meat shops in Dar

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TFDA Public Relations Officer,Gaudensia Simwanza.

Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) this week ordered 34 meat shops in Dar es Salaam to stop business for operating contrary to rules and regulations.

Last month the authority conducted a survey and realised that most meat shops in the city were operated in poor environment, being a threat to the health of the public.

Gaudensia Simwanza, TFDA Public Relations Officer, said mid this week that in the operation 207 meat shops were inspected, adding that 100 butcheries were in Kinondoni Municipality. Twenty-eight and 79 butcheries were in Temeke and Ilala municipalities.

Speaking in a telephone interview Sinwanza said: “Meat should be sold in safe, quality and effective environments. But some of meat shops use pieces of timber on which to cut meat, which is not hyperemic enough.”

“We are still educating stakeholders in the eastern zone to abide by rules and regulations of distributing and selling meat to consumers. The inspection was aimed to improve the standards, though some owners are still cutting meat on timber.”

“I encourage the public to purchase meat from shops that cut meat using machines… they will be on the safe side compared to those using pieces of timber,” Simwanza added.

For their part, owners who did not reveal their names said they used timber because they lacked enough capital to purchase modern machines. “It is because we don’t have enough capital that’s why… in case we get such capital we will buy modern machines for cutting meat.”

Meanwhile, on February 20 this year TFDA also closed major market in Moshi after discovering that it operated below the required standards; mainly because it was dirty.

On March 1, the authority also closed 50 butcheries in Kilimanjaro Region for operating illegally; giving them 16 conditions, one of them being they should be use air conditioners in their premises.

“We are still planning to evaluate all meat shops in the eastern zone regions of Lindi, Mtwara, Morogoro and Coast since we want to strive for quality in the pursuit of protecting public health and environment, ” she said,