May 2018

Tanzania is the Most Peaceful Nation in East Africa - Report

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Tanzania is the Most Peaceful Nation in East Africa - Report

According to the recently released 2017 Global Peace Index Report Tanzania is most peaceful and calm nation in East Africa, it ranks number nine on the continent and number 54 in the global rankings. The report also reveals that Tanzania has less weapons imports, low levels of violent crime and a decline in external conflicts fought.

TANZANIA is the most peaceful and calm nation in East Africa and ninth in the continental ranking, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2017 report.

The recently released report by the Institute for Economic and Peace (IEP) ranks the country 54 out of 163 most peaceful nations on earth, with South Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Central African Republic (CAR) ranked as the least peaceful nations on earth.

According to the annual global ranking, Tanzania has climbed up by three places in the index, amassing 1.876 points. According to the Index, Tanzania has lesser weapons imports, low level of violent crimes, homicide rates, political terror scale and decline in external conflicts fought.

The institute conducted its report on peace index, covering 163 nations and using 23 criteria to analyse the state of peace based on various sources.

The main considerable variance in ranking the countries across the GPI domain is the societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflicts and militarisation.

According to the report, the state of peace in the previous year improved by 0.28, with 93 countries improving as 60 others dropped. Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the Index by New Zealand, Portugal, Austria and Denmark.

Syria is the least peaceful country on earth, preceded by Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and South Sudan. 93 countries recorded improvements in the GPI while 68 deteriorated.

As Tanzania tops the EAC, Uganda is ranked at 105, Rwanda 113, Kenya 125 as Burundi is ranked 141 out of 163 nations analysed. African countries in the top ten most peaceful nations are Sierra Leone at 39 position, Ghana (43), Malawi (48), Namibia (50), Senegal (60), Equatorial Guinea (61), Togo (63), Guinea (69), Morocco (75) and Swaziland (77).

According to the report, the main reason for the deterioration of peace in the countries ranked bottom is deteriorating social peace mostly in Sub-Saharan due to increasing political and terrorism acts.

Controversial Dam Contruction Threatens Tanzanian Game Reserve

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Controversial Dam Contruction Threatens Tanzanian Game Reserve

Over 2.6 million trees may be cut off in Selous Game Reserve when the Stiegler's Gorge hydroelectricity project takes off in July 2018. To meet the country's energy needs, the government is planning to build a huge hydropower dam in the heart of Selous Game Reserve. The plan is expected to provide the country with an additional 2,100 megawatts of electricity.

Despite major backlash from conservationists, the Tanzanian government plans to start building a hydropower dam inside a UNESCO-protected wildlife reserve this July. More than 2.6 million trees face the chop.

The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is one of the last major expanses of wilderness in Africa. It's a protectedUNESCO World Heritage Site about the size of Switzerland, and home to elephants, lions, giraffes, cheetahs and rhinos, as well as 12 percent of all endangered African wild dogs.

But the nature reserve is under threat.

Since 2014, it has been on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger, primarily because of elephant poaching. In less than 40 years, the park lost 90 percent of its elephants. But a planned hydropower dam could have an even more devastating impact.

Power generation vs. conservation

Tanzania has an electricity problem. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), only 10 percent of households in Tanzania have access to the national grid.

To meet the country's energy needs, the Tanzanian government is planning to build a huge hydropower dam on the Rufiji River, in the heart of the protected Selous Game Reserve. The plan is expected to provide the country with an additional 2,100 megawatts of electricity.

Reaching 130 meters (427 feet) in height and stretching 700 meters across the Stiegler Canyon, the dam is to create a 1,500 square kilometers (463 square mile) lake. An area roughly twice the size of Berlin would vanish under water.

Conservation organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) have raised concerns since plans for the dam were released in 2009, and have consistently called for the project to be abandoned.

The IUCN called the project "fatally flawed," while the WHC expressed its "utmost concern," saying the dam project has a "high likelihood of [causing] serious and irreversible damage."

A threat to wildlife and livelihoods

"It's a huge threat," Johannes Kirchgatter, officer for the Africa Program for WWF Germany, told DW.

"The dam would destroy one of the most important habitats for wildlife and the heart of the game reserve, where most of the animals roam, especially in the dry season. It would open up that whole area for industrialization, infrastructure and settlements."

"It's absolutely horrible to imagine that in the middle of this pristine wilderness a huge dam is being built," he added. "If you're standing in the middle of Selous now, it's a fantastic wilderness, there is wildlife all over, and all of that would be gone... It would be a great loss for us and the generations to come."

And it's not just Tanzania's wildlife and ecosystems that are at stake. Local livelihoods could suffer, too.

The Rufiji, Tanzania's largest river, crosses Selous for 600 kilometers (370 miles) and flows into the Indian Ocean.

According to a WWF report, the dam would trap most of an estimated 16.6 million tons of sediment and nutrients carried by the river every year, leading to soil erosion and cutting off lakes and farmland downstream.

The Rufiji delta, home to the largest mangrove forest in East Africa and fish, shrimp and prawn fisheries, would also be starved of water.

All in all, the construction of the dam could damage the livelihoods of over 200,000 farmers and fishermen, according to the WWF.

Tourism at stake

The proposed dam could also impact one of Tanzania's biggest sources of income: tourism.

The country's natural attractions - including the Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro - draw over a million tourists each year and generate 17 percent of its GDP. Selous alone generates more than 5 million euros ($6 million) a year.

Why e-Waste Recycling Is Important For Tanzania

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Why e-Waste Recycling Is Important For Tanzania

Despite the country having several legislative frameworks and institutions that somehow touch upon waste management, e-waste management remains a serious challenge in Tanzania. According to the controller and auditor general, e-waste collection, dismantling, transporting and disposal is still acutely problematic, threatening lives and the environment.

In this revolutionary day and age of electronics, disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) is highly problematic, especially in developing countries.

E-waste mainly consists of used/discarded electrical or electronic devices. These can then be salvaged for recycling and reuse, in landfills, or are left out in the open to pollute and otherwise degrade the environment every which way.

But whatever is the case, most e-waste poses real risks to the health and wellbeing of living organisms, including humans as individuals and as surrounding communities. Greatest care must be taken in handling the waste at all times from disposal to reprocessing and reuse thereof, as well as in incineration.

E-waste management remains a serious challenge in Tanzania, despite having several legislative frameworks and institutions that somehow touch upon waste management.

According to the controller and auditor general, e-waste collection, dismantling, transporting and disposal is still acutely problematic, threatening lives and the environment.

What is needed is for the government to update and strictly enforce the extant or improved regulatory frameworks, including those against fake, counterfeit and substandard electronic imports. In doing this, the government must enlist all stakeholders for maximum effect.

Tanzania Places Bus Order With Kenyan Firm

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Tanzania Places Bus Order With Kenyan Firm

The government has hired bus builder Labh Singh Harnam Singh - a company that has 70 years experience - to build high-capacity buses for the country's Bus Rapid Transit services. Tanzania initially imported buses from China.

Nairobi — Bus body-builder Labh Singh Harnam Singh (LSHS) has been hired to build high-capacity buses for Tanzania government's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services as Kenya prepares to import the same from South Africa next month.

LSHS managing director Mr Daniel Maundu said the firm was working on the first order after the Tanzania government contracted Isuzu Motors to build the first 80-person capacity buses for use under the BRT programme.

Meanwhile, Kenya is planning to import the high capacity buses yet Tanzania, which initially imported buses from China, has turned to us to use our 70-year plus experience to build the buses for them.

Mr Maundu who doubles as the Kenya Bus Body Builders Association chairman said Kenya's plan to import fully built units negated the Jubilee government's Big Four Agenda, especially the manufacturing pillar, where the government pledged to provide incentives to support local companies in a bid to generate jobs, revenue and hence higher taxes. Kenya will pay Sh500 million to import 30 buses, effectively exporting jobs to the more advanced economy.

"Our work benefits many companies that manufacture various products from batteries to springs, gaskets, lubricants, iron bars and sheets among other items.

"It is a vibrant supply chain that if activated could directly benefit 6,000 people employed across the industries," he said.

Mr Maundu observed that most auto-assemblers and body builders were cutting staff due to reduced business as a way of easing operational costs.

"We have capacity to meet any demand within Kenya and have built adequate factories and manpower over the past decades. Kenya has three motor vehicle assemblers and 12 body builders and the plan to import fully built buses will deny us the much-needed business especially after a tough 2017," he said.

Tanzanian High Court Rejects Review of Online Media Act

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Tanzanian High Court Rejects Review of Online Media Act

According to the judgment delivered by the High Court, media stakeholders who filed the case have failed to prove how the regulations would affect their rights. Following the decision, the government has urged operators of blogs, online radio and television to register the outlets at the industry regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), for formal recognition.

MTWARA Zone of the High Court has thrown out a case lodged by activists calling for a review of the Electronic and Postal Communication Act, along with its Online Content Regulations, 2018, which the government drafted to create 'sanity' in online platforms.

According to the judgment delivered by the High Court, media stakeholders who filed the case have failed to prove beyond doubt on how the regulations would affect their best (practices) rights.

Following the decision, the government has urged operators of blogs, online radio and television to register the outlets at the industry regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), for formal recognition.

"The regulations are meant to officially recognise providers of online content and also create sanity in new media," the Director General of Tanzania Information Services (Maelezo), Dr Hassan Abbas, who doubles as Chief Government Spokesperson, told the 'Daily News' in an exclusive interview.

He added: "Even developing countries in the European Union have such rules in place ... and the government is open to better and closer working relations with stakeholders to enforce the regulations."

Petitioners were asking the court to review the draft regulations from the Minister responsible for Information, Culture and Sports, whom they claimed had acted outside his authority and that the new rules violated principles of natural justice.

The High Court sitting in Mtwara on May 4, this year, issued a temporary injunction preventing implementation of the regulations, including registration of all online platforms whose deadline was set for May 5, this year.

The petitioners came from the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) Jamii Media, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders (THRD) and the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF).

The State was represented by advocates Alesia Mbuya, Ladislaus Komanya, Killey Mwitasi and Abubakar Mrisha from the Solicitor-General's Office who were also joined by lawyers from the TCRA, Dr Filipo Filikunjombe, John Daffa and Johannes Kalungula.

The petitioners were represented by advocates Fulgence Massawe, James Marrenga and Jeremiah Mtobesya. Earlier, they had presented an application asking the court to allow them to file the case that would grant them permission to review the regulations previously signed by the Minister responsible, which among other things, ensure there is registration and responsibility among media owners.

The government entered three injunctions and asked the court to dismiss the contending arguments - in a counter legal argument that they did not state categorically how the regulations would violate their constitutional rights.

Dr Abbas said all owners of online television, radio and blogs should instead proceed with registration processes as required by the law.

Uganda approves WhatsApp tax

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

Uganda approves WhatsApp tax

Ugandans who use the internet messaging service WhatsApp will be charged a daily tax of 200 shillings ($0.05; £0.04) after parliament approved a controversial new law on Wednesday.

It comes into force on 1 July, and will also apply to other social media apps like Facebook.

Mobile money transactions will also be taxed, with a 1% levy on the total value of each transaction.

President Yoweri Museveni was quoted in Ugandan media last month as saying social media platforms are used "mainly for gossip".

Human rights activists disagree. “It’s part of a wider attempt to curtail freedoms of expression,” blogger Rosebell Kagumire told Reuters.

At least three MPs have criticised the new rules as "double taxation", according to the privately-owned Daily Monitor newspaper.

Kyaddondo East MP Robert Kyaggulanyi, aka Bobi Wine - as well as Joshua Anywarach and Silas Aogon - said that because users access WhatsApp through taxed airtime, an additional tax would infringe their rights.

Another MP, Patrick Nsamba of the ruling party, said the tax will hurt the poorest most:

It is very easy for an MP to say that 1% is little money, but to people who earn less than a dollar a day, it is going to break their backs."

I'm Not Getting Back with Zari, Ever - Diamond Platnumz

By: JFTULAS on May 31, 2018 / comment : 0

I'm Not Getting Back with Zari, Ever - Diamond Platnumz

Bongo flava sensation Diamond Platnumz has denied rumors doing rounds that lately he has been flying to South Africa to try and work things out with his ex-lover Zari Hassan.

Tanzanian blogs have reported that the musician has been making numerous secret trips to Johannesburg to make up with Zari who dumped him on Valentine's Day.

The reports claim Diamond's efforts are yet to bear fruit because the Uganda-born socialite is not interested in giving him a third chance.

It is claimed that he tried to persuade Zari to let him back in her life, not for his sake, but for the sake of their two children.

But speaking for the first time about the breakup, Diamond confirmed making the numerous trips to South Africa, but denied making efforts to reconcile with Zari.

He said the visits are for the sake of his babies.

"Ni kweli ninaenda. Siyo mara moja au mara mbili nimeenda. Nakwenda kule si kwa maana ya kumuomba msamaha, hapana. Nakwenda kule kwa ajili ya kuwaona wanangu. Haiwezekani eti niwe natuma tu fedha kwa ajili ya matumizi halafu nimeenda Sauzi (South Africa), nisiende kuwaona wanangu, hilo litakuwa ni jambo la ajabu sana. Hao wanaosema kwamba sijui nimemuangukia, nafikiri itakuwa ni maoni yao tu na stori za kutunga, lakini kimsingi ni kwamba hayana ukweli wowote. Zari ni mama wa watoto wangu na itabaki kuwa hivyo," Diamond is quoted.

Shortage of Cooking Oil Looms in Tanzania

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Shortage of Cooking Oil Looms in Tanzania

Cooking oil prices have skyrocketed in some big cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha after authorities impounded two ships transporting 62,000 tonnes of vegetable oil.

Dar es Salaam — Consumers are facing trying times following increases in the retail prices of edible oil, which is becoming scarcer with the passage of time.

A random survey carried out by The Citizen has shown that the scarcity started late last month, and is being experienced in many parts of the country, including major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

The survey also established that the wholesale and retail prices for both locally manufactured and imported cooking oil increased by between 10 and 25 per cent in just two weeks.

Indeed, the retail price for one litre of cooking oil that is produced locally from home-grown oilseeds had increased by 25 per cent, rising to Sh5,000 a litre, up from Sh4, 000 a couple of weeks ago, and retailers are already warning of a possible upward price spiral.

In Arusha, the survey also showed that a ten-litre container of cooking oil is now sold at Sh35,000, compared to Sh31,000 recently - a nearly 13 per cent increase.

Times are bad mainly for consumers who can only afford to purchase small quantities of cooking oil from time to time, ranging from Sh200 to Sh500 per measure when the commodity is aplenty.

But that is not currently the case, as small-scale retailers in Dar es Salaam, for example, were found to have run out of stocks of cooking oil.

The sudden shortage of cooking oil in the country has reportedly been caused by the government's decision to detain for two weeks now two ships with an estimated 62,000 tonnes of crude vegetable oil consignments.

In the event, this has forced six cooking oil millers to suspend production for lack of crude vegetable oil as an input, even as thousands of tonnes of the commodity are held up at Dar es Salaam Port.

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) maintains that the held-up consignments are in fact of refined cooking oil, and not crude oil as earlier declared by the importers.

Cooking oil imports are subject to an import duty rate of 25 per cent ad valorem, while crude oil is subject to only 10 per cent import duty.

"It is true that we are holding two ships with cooking oil consignments on which they are required to pay taxes," said TRA director of taxpayer education Richard Kayombo.

The current annual demand for cooking oil in Tanzania is estimated at between 400,000 and 570,000 tonnes, while domestic production is only 210,000 tonnes, leaving a deficit of almost 360,000 tonnes which needs to be covered by imports, including crude for refining into the finished product.

Tanzania spends around Sh190 billion to import assorted cooking oil brands from some Asian and neighbouring countries.

A senior official with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mr Hussein Kamote, told The Citizen that the impasse regarding the two ships detained in port has emerged following a newly introduced tax regulatory framework which was introduced recently, but which the authorities want it to be effective retrospectively.

"TRA enacted regulations in February this year which they want to be applied to import consignments that were ordered since November last year. They also demand nonexistent imports documentations," Mr Kamote said.

"Importers are wondering why TRA is insisting that the (detained consignments) are of purified cooking oil, while the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority and the Tanzania Bureau of Standards, have declared them to be unrefined oil," he added.

Indeed, an unnamed TBS official who spoke to this paper confirmed that the held-up consignments are of unrefined cooking oil.

The consignments held up at the port were intended to be used by local manufacturers as raw materials for making cooking oil. These are Bidco, East Coast, Azania and Murza Oil Mills.

Where Are the Missing 380 People, Asks Tanzania Opposition

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Where Are the Missing 380 People, Asks Tanzania Opposition.

Opposition parties have said that in a government crackdown on suspected militant groups, 380 people were abducted and disappeared in 2017 in unlawful campaigns characterised by human-rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings. Suleiman Bungara of the Civic United Front said 10 people in his constituency were picked up from a mosque by police and some had not resurfaced, while others returned with their ears chopped off and their beards burnt.

Tanzania's opposition says that at least 380 people have been abducted and have disappeared in the past one year in a government crackdown against suspected Islamists on the Southern coastline.

The MPs say the campaigns are not conducted within the law and are characterised by human-rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings. They want parliament to form a team to investigate them.

ACT-Wazalendo party leader and MP for Kigoma Urban, Zitto Kabwe while contributing to the budget debate in parliament, cited a security crackdown conducted mainly in Mkiru (Mkuranga, Kibiti and Rufiji) about 140km from Dar es Salaam saying the manner in which it was conducted breached the country's laws and human rights.

"The campaign was marred by human-rights violations," he said. "Innocent citizens were killed by the police and many people have disappeared since they were taken in for questioning."

Mr Kabwe's sentiments came nearly two weeks after an MP for Kilwa South, Suleiman Bungara of the Civic United Front (CUF) said in parliament that at least 10 people in his constituency had been picked up from a mosque by the police but some had not reappeared while others returned with their ears chopped off and their beards burnt.

The affected areas are Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Southern Tanzania towns of Lindi and Mtwara.

The security operation in Kibiti area is understood to have been launched after the spate of killings involving at least 11 local government leaders in the Coast region over months, in what analysts said was strategic elimination of people believed to have disclosed information about the suspected Islamists or their accomplices to the police.

The killings were followed by an incident in which 12 police officers were attacked and killed in April 2017.

Join Adult School, Dar Administrative Official Urges Youth

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Join Adult School, Dar Administrative Official Urges Youth

Dar es Salaam — The Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) for Dar es Salaam, Ms Theresia Mbando, has called upon youth to enroll in institutions that provide adult education, stating that a majority of them were unable to read or write.

She said this yesterday during the ninth meeting of the adult Education Institution Council that aims to discuss the challenges, success and the way forward.

Ms Mbando, who was the guest of honor, said the response among youth towards attending adult education was low, calling on them to seize the opportunity to be able to change their lives for the better.

"Some visit the regional office seeking various assistance but when asked to sign or write their names they cannot do so," she said, calling upon the institution to join forces with the regional office to encourage citizens to enroll for adult education

Ms Mbando said she did not have the exact statistics of youth who could not read or write but urged them to enroll because in addition to reading and writing they would be able to acquire additional skills to boost their livelihoods.

The acting director of the Adult Education Institution, Dr Kassimu Nihuka, said by joining hands with the government to improve education. "Through the strategy the institution will open 21 education centers in the mainland to help youth and adult acquire knowledge and skills especially entrepreneurial skills," he said.

To implement the plan the institution will use students studying certificate and diploma courses.

in the institution who will be provided with special training.

Diploma Students to Start Accessing Heslb Loans

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 4

Diploma Students to Start Accessing Heslb Loans

Dar es Salaam — The Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) announced yesterday that it has widened opportunities for students pursuing diploma courses in various fields by allowing them to apply for loans during the 2018/19 academic year.

The HESLB executive director, Mr Abdurazaq Badru, told a press conference in Dar es Salaam that in the current year, the board had increased the number of beneficiaries -- from various fields -- to 40,000 new students, which is a rise of 7,000 students from the previous year.

Priority has been given to those pursuing higher education in fields with a shortage of experts but also those eyeing study courses that are in line with the country's industrialization policy.

In previous years, he said, when loans were issued to diploma students it was only for those pursuing education courses. "This year we are issuing loans to students pursuing diploma in various fields," he said.

Mr Badru said that a two-month special window had been set up for applications and processing since yesterday.

He revealed that a total of Sh437 billion has been set aside for disbursement of the loans, adding that the priority will be given to those pursuing courses with shortage of experts and those in line with the country's industrialisation policy.

Tanzania: Pemba Airport for Major Upgrade

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Tanzania: Pemba Airport for Major Upgrade

Zanzibar — The Pemba Airport will undergo a major facelift so it can handle bigger planes, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has said.The Second Vice President for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Mr Seif Ali Iddi told the ongoing budget sessions for the Zanzibar House of Representatives that the aim is to see the airport handling some international flights.

"Currently, experts from Egypt are undertaking various measurements on how the airport can be upgraded... .The African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding the project," he said, requesting the House to endorse the budget estimates for his office for the financial year 2018/19.

He did not reveal the actual amount to be spent on the project, noting however that after the ongoing measurement task, a feasibility study will be undertaken before actual construction starts.

He said it is the hope of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar that upon completion of the upgrade exercise, the airport will play an increasingly important role in the endeavor to grow the number of tourists visiting the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean archipelago.

Tourism accounts for 27 per cent of Zanzibar's gross domestic product.

Tanzania: African Court Starts Public Hearings

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Tanzania: African Court Starts Public Hearings

THE African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (AfCHPR) has initiated public hearings on three applications lodged before the court.In the first application, a Ghanaian Alfred Wayome is seeking redress from Ghana Government. He alleges to have provided engineering financial services to the respondent state, pursuant to an agreement for securing funds for the rehabilitation of the Accra and Kumasi Sports Stadia for the Confederation of the African Cup of Nations Tournament of 2008.

The Applicant alleges that, by not respecting the terms of the agreement, the respondent state violated the rights provided under the Charter. Mr Wayome alleges that the government wants to take over his properties after he refused to return some funds he was paid after he had won the tender.

In another matter, Mr Sebastian Ajavon alleges that Benin has violated his rights by withdrawing his customs license and disrupted his radio and television stations' signals.

The applicant is also alleging that the proceedings instituted against him by the Public Prosecutor and the Benin Customs Services in the cocaine trafficking case was not fair. The third application is between Mr Armand Guehi and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Mr Guehi, an Ivorian national, who has been convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his wife, is challenging the conviction on the ground that it violated his right to a fair trial.

Opposition MPs Jailed for Insulting Magufuli Released

By: JFTULAS on May 11, 2018 / comment : 0

Opposition MPs Jailed for Insulting Magufuli Released

Mbeya Urban Member of Parliament Joseph Mbilinyi 'Sugu' and regional secretary of opposition party Chadema, Emmanuel Masonga have been released from jail. The two were handed a five-month prison sentence in February for uttering 'bad words' against the Tanzania President John Magufuli during a political rally.

Although initially it was expected that Chadema national chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe and other party leaders would collect them at Ruanda prison, the two were released 'quietly'.Their wives, Happy Msonge (Mr Mbilinyi's wife) and Grace Mallya (Mr Masonga 's wife) were dressed in jeans and similar light blue T-Shirts, written "Free Sugu and Masonga" of the front and "Stand for democracy" on the back.

Narrating the ordeal, Mr Mbiinyi said that they didn't know that they were bing released today until this morning. They were simply told to get ready and leave, at around 7a.m.

Chadema national chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe and other party leaders also arrived at Mr Mbilinyi's residence where they held talks. Earlier, Mr Mbowe who arrived at 6:45a.m. at Ruanda prison, said that the first thing Mr Mbilinyi will do once out is head to Mbeya Referral Hospital to see his mother who has been admitted for three weeks. Her ailment was triggered following her son's unjust imprisonment, Mr Mbowe said.

Thereafter, they were to proceed to Chadema Nyasa Zonal office, in Forest ward, near Kadege bus stand where they will speak to party leaders and address wananchi. Mr Mbowe had explained that they would have then proceed to Mr Mbilinyi's residence through Mafiati road, passing through Mwanjelwa, Kabwe, Soweto, Ilomba and finally Sai.

However, while they were still at Ruanda prison, they were informed that the two men were already on their way home.

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Tanzania is the Most Peaceful Nation in East Africa - Report

Controversial Dam Contruction Threatens Tanzanian Game Reserve

Why e-Waste Recycling Is Important For Tanzania

Tanzania Places Bus Order With Kenyan Firm

Tanzanian High Court Rejects Review of Online Media Act

Uganda approves WhatsApp tax

I'm Not Getting Back with Zari, Ever - Diamond Platnumz

Shortage of Cooking Oil Looms in Tanzania

Cooking oil prices have skyrocketed in some big cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha after authorities impounded two ships transporting 62,000 tonnes of vegetable oil.

Dar es Salaam — Consumers are facing trying times following increases in the retail prices of edible oil, which is becoming scarcer with the passage of time.

A random survey carried out by The Citizen has shown that the scarcity started late last month, and is being experienced in many parts of the country, including major cities like Dar es Salaam and Arusha.

Where Are the Missing 380 People, Asks Tanzania Opposition.

Tanzania's opposition says that at least 380 people have been abducted and have disappeared in the past one year in a government crackdown against suspected Islamists on the Southern coastline.

Join Adult School, Dar Administrative Official Urges Youth

Diploma Students to Start Accessing Heslb Loans

Tanzania: Pemba Airport for Major Upgrade

Tanzania: African Court Starts Public Hearings

The Applicant alleges that, by not respecting the terms of the agreement, the respondent state violated the rights provided under the Charter. Mr Wayome alleges that the government wants to take over his properties after he refused to return some funds he was paid after he had won the tender.

Opposition MPs Jailed for Insulting Magufuli Released

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