JK, Mbowe, Lipumba,Mbatia wakubaliana

Na Muhibu Said

16th October 2013

Rais Jakaya Kikwete, akiagana na Kiongozi wa Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni, Freeman Mbowe, Ikulu jijini Dar es Salaam jana baada ya mazungumzo na viongozi vyama vya upinzani. Nyuma kushoto ni Mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi, James Mbatia na Mwenyekiti wa Chama cha Wananchi (CUF), Professa Ibrahim Lipumba.

Rais Jakaya Kikwete jana alikutana na viongozi wa vyama sita vya siasa vyenye uwakilishi bungeni, Ikulu, jijini Dar es Salaam na kukubaliana mambo makuu mawili.

La kwanza, vyama vyote vya siasa vyenye mawazo, maoni na mapendekezo ya kuboresha Muswada wa Sheria ya Marekebisho ya Sheria ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba wa Mwaka 2013, kuyawasilisha haraka serikalini ili kutafuta namna ya kuyashirikisha katika marekebisho ya sheria hiyo.

La pili, vyama vya siasa nchini, kama wadau muhimu katika mchakato wa Katiba Mpya, viangalie namna ya kukutana na kujenga mfumo wa mawasiliano na maridhiano wa jinsi kwa pamoja vitakavyosukuma mbele mchakato mabadiliko ya katiba ya nchi kwa maslahi mapana ya nchi na mustakabali wa taifa.

Katika makubaliano hayo, Kituo cha Demokrasia Tanzania (TCD) kimepewa jukumu la kuratibu jambo hilo, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuandaa mkutano wa vyama hivyo na wadau wengine nchini.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa kwa vyombo vya habari iliyotolewa na Kurugenzi ya Mawasiliano ya Rais, Ikulu, mkutano kati ya Rais Kikwete na viongozi ulimalizika jana jioni na pande mbili hizo kukubaliana mambo hayo.

Viongozi wa ambao Rais Kikwete alikutana nao jana kwa mazungumzo hayo wanatoka vyama vya CCM, Chadema, CUF, NCCR-Mageuzi, TLP na UDP.

Viongozi hao walianza kuwasili kwa nyakati tofauti, kuanzia saa 6:00 mchana jana na kupokelewa na maofisa usalama wanaotoa huduma mapokezi, Ikulu, kabla ya kuelekezwa kwenye chumba maalumu kilichoandaliwa kwa ajili ya mazungumzo kati yao na Rais Kikwete.

Walioanza kuwasili Ikulu katika muda huo, ni Mwenyekiti wa NCCR-Mageuzi, ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Kuteuliwa na Rais, James Mbatia, akiongozana na Martin Mng’ong’o kutoka chama hicho.

Baada ya Mbatia kuwasili Ikulu muda mfupi, Mwenyekiti wa CUF, Profesa Ibrahim Lipumba, alifika ambaye ndiye msemaji wa viongozi hao.

Profesa Lipumba aliongozana na Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa chama hicho Tanzania Bara, Julius Mtatiro na Mbunge wa Mkanyageni (CUF), Mohammed Habib Mnyaa.

 Dakika chache baadaye, aliwasili Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, ambaye pia ni Kiongozi wa Kambi Rasmi ya Upinzani Bungeni na Mbunge wa Hai, Freeman Mbowe.

Mbowe aliongozana na Mkurugenzi wa Katiba na Sheria wa Chadema, ambaye pia ni Mnadhimu Mkuu wa Kambi hiyo na Mbunge wa Singida Mashariki (Chadema), Tundu Lissu, na Mbunge wa Ubungo (Chadema), John Mnyika.

Viongozi hao walifuatiwa na wenzao kutoka CCM, UDP na TLP kuwasili Ikulu muda mfupi baadaye.

Hao ni Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM Tanzania Bara, Philip Mangula; Isaack Cheyo, aliyemwakilisha Mwenyekiti wa UDP, ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Bariadi Mashariki (UDP), John Cheyo.

Wengine ni Nancy Mrikaria aliyemwakilisha Mwenyekiti wa TLP, ambaye pia ni Mbunge wa Vunjo (TLP), Augustine Mrema.

Ujumbe wa serikali pia iliwahusisha Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Rais (Mahusiano na Uratibu), Stephen Wassira; Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu (Sera, Uratibu na Bunge), William Lukuvi na Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria, Mathias Chikawe.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa kwa vyombo vya habari iliyotolewa na Kurugenzi ya Mawasiliano ya Rais, Ikulu, baadaye jana jioni, Cheyo na Mrema wako nje ya nchi.

Taarifa hiyo ilieleza kuwa viongozi hao walikutana na Rais Kikwete, Ikulu katika mazingira ya maelewano na mwafaka.

Katika mazungumzo hayo, vyama vitatu vya Chadema, CUF na NCCR-Mageuzi viliwasilisha waraka wa ushirikiano wa vyama vya upinzani kwa Rais Kikwete.

Waraka huo unamshauri Rais Kikwete kutumia mamlaka yake ya Kikatiba kukataa kuukubali muswada huo, ambao vyama hivyo viliulalamikia kuwa una kasoro.

Muswada huo uliopitishwa na Bunge Septemba 6, mwaka huu, unasubiri kusainiwa na Rais ili uanze kutumika kama sheria rasmi.

“Ushauri wetu unatokana na imani yetu kwamba endapo muswada huu utapata ridhaa yako na kuanza kutumika kama sheria utakuwa na madhara makubwa kwa mchakato mzima wa utungaji wa Katiba Mpya na kwa amani na utulivu wa nchi,” inaeleza sehemu ya waraka huo uliosainiwa na Mbowe, Profesa Lipumba na Mbatia.

USHIRIKISHWAJI HAFIFU WA WANANCHI
Waraka huo unataja sababu mbalimbali za tishio hilo kuwa ni pamoja na ushirikishwaji hafifu wa wananchi, hasa wadau wa kitaasisi au binafsi kutoka Zanzibar katika kuuchambua na kuutolea maoni muswada huo.

USHIRIKISHWAJI HAFIFU WA SMZ
Sababu nyingine ni ushirikishwaji hafifu wa Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar (SMZ).

Waziri wa Katiba na Sheria Zanzibar, Abubakar Khamis Bakari, aliwahi kukaririwa akisema hadharani kwamba ushirikishwaji wa SMZ ulihusu vifungu vinne tu vya muswada huo.

Lakini akasema vifungu vingine vyote vya muswada vilivyopitishwa na Bunge havikupelekwa Zanzibar na kwa hiyo, SMZ haikushirikishwa kwenye kuvitolea maoni na msimamo.

BUNGE MAALUMU LA KATIBA
Waraka huo unadai kuwa muswada huo umefanya mabadiliko makubwa kuhusu utaratibu wa kuunda Bunge Maalumu la Katiba, ikiwamo Rais kuwa na mamlaka kisheria ya kuteua wajumbe 166 wa Bunge hilo wasiokuwa wabunge wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano na wajumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi Zanzibar.

Pili, siyo lazima tena kwamba wajumbe hao 166 watokane na makundi ya kijamii.

“Mabadiliko haya hayakuwapo kwenye Muswada uliosomwa kwa mara ya kwanza Bungeni mwezi Mei mwaka huu, na wala hayakutolewa maoni na wadau walioalikwa mbele ya Kamati. Aidha, Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar haikujulishwa juu ya marekebisho haya na wala haikuyatolewa maoni na msimamo wake,” unaeleza waraka huo.

IDADI YA WAJUMBE WA BUNGE MAALUMU
Waraka huo unasema Bunge hilo litakuwa na wajumbe 604, yaani wabunge 357, wawakilishi wa Baraza la Wawakilishi Zanzibar 81 na wajumbe wengine 166.

“Hali hii isiporekebishwa itakuwa na maana kwamba Katiba Mpya itatokana na matakwa ya vyama vya siasa ambavyo idadi ya jumla ya wanachama wao haifiki milioni kumi kati ya Watanzania zaidi ya milioni 45 kwa mujibu wa sensa ya watu na makazi ya mwaka 2012,” unaeleza waraka huo.

Mengine yanahushu uwakilishi wa Zanzibar katika Bunge Maalumu la Katiba, utaratibu wa kupitisha Katiba Mpya kwenye Bunge Maalumu, ukomo wa Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba na kuingizwa kwenye muswada mambo ambayo hayakujadiliwa wala kupitishwa na Bunge.

“Kwa ajili hiyo, tunakuomba utumie mamlaka yako kama Rais na Mkuu wa Nchi yetu chini ya ibara ya 97(2) ya Katiba, ukatae kuukubali muswada huu na badala yake uelekeze urudishwe Bungeni kwa sababu ambazo tumezieleza katika maelezo yetu haya,” unaeleza waraka huo.

CHANZO: NIPASHE

Tusikubali `wauza unga` kuichafua Tanzania ughaibuni

Na Mhariri

18th October 2013

Katuni

Taarifa kwamba kuna Watanzania 175 wanaoshikiliwa katika magereza tofauti nchini China baada ya kukutwa na makosa mbalimbali yakiwamo ya kujihusisha na biashara ya dawa za kulevya si nzuri kwa taifa letu. Zinaichafua Tanzania.

Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda ndiye aliyepewa taarifa hiyo ya kustusha wakati alipotua China juzi kuanza ziara yake ya kikazi. Alihuzunishwa sana.

Kwa mujibu wa Balozi wa Tanzania nchini China, Watanzania hao wamefungwa katika maeneo mbalimbali ya China, yakiwamo ya Hong Kong, Macao na China Bara.

Mbaya zaidi, waliokamatwa wala si watu wa jinsia moja, siyo vijana wa kiume pekee kama ilivyozoeleka. Bali, wapo pia wanawake ambao idadi yao ni kubwa sana kiasi cha kumshangaza hata Waziri Mkuu Pinda.

Alipokuwa akielezea suala hilo, Pinda alisema idadi ya watuhumiwa hao kutoka katika nchi moja pekee, hasa yetu ya Tanzania, ni kubwa sana. Inalitia aibu taifa hili ambalo wasifu wake kimataifa umekuwa ni wa kupigiwa mfano kwa miaka mingi.

Sisi pia tunaamini kuwa idadi hiyo ni kubwa, hasa kwa kujua kuwa idadi hiyo ni ya nchi moja tu ya China na haihusishi Watanzania wengine wanaoshikiliwa katika mataifa kama ya India, Pakistani, Saudi Arabia na kwingineko duniani.

Ni taarifa zinazoiharibia Tanzania sifa yake ya miaka mingi mbele ya jumuiya za kimataifa, sifa ya  kuwa taifa lenye watu walioshiba maadili na hivyo kutohusika mara kwa mara na matukio ya uhalifu mkubwa kama wa biashara ya dawa za kulevya.

Hakika, taarifa hizi zinateteresha heshima ya Tanzania. Zinaharibu taswira nzuri mbele ya nchi rafiki kama ya China, ambayo ni miongoni mwa washirika wetu wakubwa wa maendeleo.

Hakuna asiyejua athari za taifa changa kiuchumi kama Tanzania kukumbwa na taarifa mbaya za uhalifu. Mojawapo ya athari hizi ni kushuka kwa kiwango cha uaminifu. Kwa mfano, ni wazi kwamba sasa, maafisa wa usalama katika viwanja mbalimbali vya ndege nchini China watakuwa na ukaguzi wa ziada dhidi ya raia watokao nchini mwetu.

Ni wazi vilevile kuwa hata wafanyabiashara wa Tanzania watakuwa na wakati mgumu China kwani watalazimika kuwashawishi washirika wao kibiashara kuwa wao ni watu safi na siyo miongoni mwa wauzao dawa za kulevya.

Jambo hili linadhihirisha kuwa sasa hali ni mbaya. Kuna kazi kubwa ya kufanya kuhakikisha kwamba aibu hii inakomeshwa na heshima yetu inalindwa kwa nguvu zote. 
Sisi tunatambua jitihada zinazochukuliwa na serikali katika mapambano dhidi ya dawa za kulevya. Tunatambua vilevile mpango wa serikali wa kutaka kuunda chombo maalum kitakachokuwa na nguvu zaidi kisheria, kifedha, kiteknolojia na hata rasilimali watu katika kukomesha janga hili. Ni hatua nzuri.

Hata hivyo, kama alivyosema Waziri Mkuu Pinda, tunadhani kwamba sasa kuna kila sababu ya kuongeza nguvu katika kukabiliana na tatizo hili.

Uzoefu unaonyesha kuwa wafanyabiashara wakubwa wa dawa za kulevya si watu wa kada ya chini. Wana ukwasi mkubwa na wamejipanga vya kutosha katika kufanikisha mipango yao mbalimbali, ikiwamo ya kusafirisha 'mizigo' kutoka eneo moja hadi jingine.

Umma unapaswa kuelimishwa kila uchao kuhusiana na madhara ya dawa za kulevya. Na hii inapaswa kuwa kampeni endelevu. Wananchi, hasa vijana waelimishwe vilevile juu ya hatari ya kujihusisha na biashara hii.
Kwa mfano, waambiwe kuwa wanapokamatwa katika baadhi ya nchi kama China, adhabu yake huwa kali ikiwa ni pamoja na vifungo virefu gerezani au hata kunyongwa.

Ulinzi katika maeneo ya viwanja vya ndege uimarishwe. Watumishi wanaohusika na ukaguzi katika maeneo hayo wapewe mafunzo zaidi ili kukabiliana na mbinu mpya zinazoibuka kila mara za kupitisha 'unga'; wapewe vitendea kazi vya kisasa na pia wafuatiliwe kwa karibu ili kuona kuwa hawapokei rushwa na kuwa sehemu ya mitandao hatari ya biashara za dawa ya kulevya.

NIPASHE tunaamini vilevile kuwa njia nyingine nzuri ya kukomesha biashara hii ni kuwafikisha mahakamani wale wote wanaokamatwa na pia kuendesha upelelezi makini utakaorahisisha mchakato wa kupatikana kwa haki mbele ya mkono wa sheria.

Shime, tukatae jina la Tanzania kuchafuliwa nje ya mipaka yetu kwa kuongeza kasi ya mapambano dhidi ya dawa za kulevya.

Askari JKT watembeza kichapo kwa raia

Na Mwandishi wetu

18th October 2013

Msemaji wa Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ), Erick Komba

Vurugu kubwa zilizopelekea mapambano makali kati ya wakazi wa kijiji cha Maramba wilayani Mkinga Mkoa wa Tanga na askari wa Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) kikosi cha Maramba  na kusababisha watu 15  wakazi wa kijiji kujeruhiwa vibaya baada ya kupewa kipigo kutoka kwa askari hao.
Msemaji wa Jeshi la Wananchi wa Tanzania (JWTZ), Erick Komba,  alithibitisha  kutokea kwa vurugu hizo ambazo zilianza baada ya kumalizika kwa mechi ya soka kati ya timu ya JKT Maramba na Maramba City inayoundwa na wakazi wa kijiji hicho.
Komba alisema viongozi wa JKT kikosi cha Maramba wapo katika harakati za kutafuta chanzo cha vurugu hizo na kwamba hakuna  athari iliyotokea wala wananchi kujeruhiwa katika mapambano hayo.
Hata hivyo, NIPASHE ambayo ilifika kijijini hapo ilipata taarifa kutoka kwa viongozi wa kata na kijiji kwamba wapo watu 15 waliojeruhiwa ambao baadhi yao wamelazwa katika Kituo cha Afya Maramba na wengine katika Hospitali ya Mkoa Bombo.
Uchunguzi wa gazeti hili kijijini hapo umebaini kuwa askari wa JKT waliamua kutembeza mkong’oto  baada ya mmoja wa askari hao kudaiwa  kuvunjwa mguu na lawama zikaelekezwa kwa wakazi wa kijiji hicho.
Mmoja wa wakazi wa kijiji hicho, Edu Steven (31) ambaye amelazwa katika kituo cha afya kutokana na kupigwa, alisema vurugu hizo zilianza baada ya kumalizika kwa mechi ambayo matokeo yake yalikwenda sare ya kutofungana.
Steven alisema baadaye wakazi wa kijiji hicho walikwenda katika baa moja ijulikanayo kama Obama kwa ajili ya kucheza disko na ndipo askari wa JKT walipokwenda eneo hilo na kuanza kutembeza mkong’oto ovyo kwa kila aliyekuwapo hapo.
Mganga Mfawidhi wa kituo cha Afya Maramba, Dk. Shughusha Mwambo, alisema alipokea majeruhi 15 ambao baadhi yao walitibiwa na kuruhusiwa na wawili wamelazwa katika kituo hicho na mwingine Hospitali ya Bombo.
Watu waliojeruhiwa ni Asha Mdoe, Fatuma Kassimu, Hassan Salimu, Mwajuma Rashid, Edward Mtumbatu, Mohamed Salim, Peter Samweli, Eddo Jumanne, Zephania Makaranga, Muhudi Daudi, Yahaya Said, Juma Msagati, Hussein Mgaya na Hadija Richard.
Diwani wa Kata ya Maramba, Said Mjasambu,  alisema alifika katika kituo cha afya saa 8:00 usiku na kukuta hali bado ni tete na askari hao walikuwa wakizingira kwenye eneo la kituo.
Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Mkinga, Mboni Mgaza,  aliwaomba wananchi kuwa watulivu wakati suala hilo linatafutiwa ufumbuzi na kuwaagiza polisi kuimarisha ulinzi katika kijiji hicho.

CHANZO: NIPASHE

UKATILI WA KIJINSIA:Mume amkata mkewe mkono Kisa: Wivu wa mapenzi

Na Renatus Masuguliko

18th October 2013

Majeruhi Leah Clement (24), akiuguza jeraha lake wodini katika Hospitali Teule ya Wilaya Geita kwa madai ya kukatwa mkono wake wa kushoto na mumewe.(PICHA:RENATUS MASUGULIKO)

Mwanamke mkazi wa kijiji cha Nyamikoma Kata ya Bugarama Wilaya ya Geita, Leah Clement (24), anadaiwa kukatwa mkono wake wa kushoto na mumewe kutokana na wivu wa mapenzi. Hivi sasa mwanamke huyo amelazwa katika Hospitali ya Wilaya ya Geita akiendelea kupatiwa matibabu. Aidha, mtuhumiwa wa ukatili huo, anadaiwa ametoroka na kwenda kujichimbia kwa `sangoma' kwa imani kwamba hatakamatwa. Tukio hilo lilitokea Oktoba 9, mwaka huu saa 1:30  usiku katika kijiji cha Chifufu kata ya Bugarama wilayani Geita. Imeelezwa kwamba mtuhumiwa huyo alikwenda jikoni kwa mkewe na kukuta akisonga ugali kisha akamvamia na kumshambulia kwa panga lengo likiwa ni kumkata shingo yake. Hata hivyo, mkewe aliwahi kujikinga shingoni kwa kutumia mkono wake wa kushoto na hivyo kusababisha ukatwe.

Akizungumza akiwa katika wodi alikolazwa majeruhi huyo, Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Geita, Manzie Mangochie, aliapa kuwa vitendo vya aina hiyo haviwezi kuvumiliwa katika ya jamii kwani licha ya kuwa vya unyanyasaiji wa kijinsia, pia vinakiuka haki za binadamu na sheria za nchi. Mangochie ameagiza mtuhumiwa huyo, Mussa Lutobeka (34), akamatwe mara moja na kufikishwa kwenye vyombo vya sheria.

Kadhalika, ameagiza mganga wa kienyeji anakodaiwa kukutwa mtuhumiwa amehifadhiwa, pia akamatwe. Ofisa Mtendaji wa kata ya Bugarama, Juma Choma, alisema walimkamata mtuhumiwa huyo nyumbani kwa mganga wa kienyeji, Mashindeke Mwanzalima (47), akiwa amejificha chini ya uvungu wa kitanda. Hata hivyo, Choma alisema walipokwenda nyumbani kwa mganga huyo wa kienyeji, alikana kuwapo kwa mtuhumiwa huyo.

Lakini alisema baada ya kumbana na kuipekua nyumba yake, walimkuta mtuhumiwa wa ukatili huo akiwa amejificha uvunguni mwa kitanda."Ndipo nilipoamuru mganga huyo naye akamatwe," alisema.

Watuhumiwa wote wawili wanashikiliwa na Polisi kuhusiana na tukio hilo.

Kamanda wa Polisi mkoani Geita, Leonard Paul, alithibitisha kuwapo kwa tukio hilo na watuhumiwa kukamatwa. Akizungumzia tukio hilo huku akibubujikwa machozi wodini likolazwa, Leah alisema kabla ya tukio hilo, mumewe ambaye ana wake wawili, alikuwa akimtishia kuwa siku moja atamuua kama hataondoka. Mke mwingine wa mtuhumiwa huyo anadaiwa alikimbia. Kutokana na vitisho hivyo, Leah alikwenda kutoa taarifa kwenye ofisi ya kijiji, lakini askari mgambo waliokwenda nyumbani, hawakumkuta mtuhumiwa baada ya kutoroka.

Leah alisema alilazimika kuondoka nyumbani kwa mumewe na kwenda wa baba yake mdogo hadi ufumbuzi utakapopatikana. Kwa mujibu wa Leah, aliolewa na mume huyo mwaka 2008 akiwa na umri wa miaka 19 baada ya wazazi wake kupokea mahari ya Sh. 400,000 kati ya 500,000  alizokuwa amepangiwa kutoa. Aidha, alisema wazazi wake (Leah), Clement Jading'wa na Rehema Rehema Kasabuku, walitengana tangu mwaka 1995.

Leah anasema wakiwa na mume wake, wamebahatika kupata watoto wawili, Happiness Mussa (5) na Merciana Mussa (3). Hata hivyo, alisema watoto hao kwa sasa wanaishi kwa baba yake mzazi tangu walipofarakana na mumewe.

Daktari wa zamu katika Hospitali ya Wilaya ya Geita, Dk. Leah Kusalula, alisema ulemavu alioupata majeruhi huyo, ni wa kudumu na ni kitendo cha ukatili wa kutisha wa kijinsia ambao haupaswi kuvumiliwa.

CHANZO: NIPASHE

`Ondoeni urasimu mikopo ya vijana`

Na John Ngunge

15th October 2013

Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo, Profesa Elisante Ole Gabriel.

Serikali imezitaka halmashauri za wilaya, manispaa na majiji, kuondoa urasimu katika kuwahudumia vijana wanapohitaji taarifa kuhusu upatikanaji wa mikopo na huduma nyingine.
Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Habari, Vijana, Utamaduni na Michezo, Profesa Elisante Ole Gabriel, alitaka halmashauri kutoa taarifa sahihi zitakazowasaidia vijana kupata mikopo kwa ajili ya kuimarisha shughuli zao za kiuchumi.
Alikuwa akizungumza na watendaji wa Sekretarieti ya Mkoa na wakuu wa idara za halmashauri za Mkoa wa Arusha, mwishoni mwa wiki.
Alisema katika  halmashauri nyingi, kuna urasimu wa kutoa huduma na taarifa mbalimbali kwa wananchi na urasimu huo umekuwa ni kikwazo kikubwa kwa  vijana kupata habari ili washiriki kikamilifu katika kuimarisha miradi yao ya kiuchumi.
Alisema wapo baadhi ya watendaji katika halmashauri ambao hawasikilizi na kuwapatia majawabu sahihi wananchi kutokana na urasimu uliokithiri na akawataka kubadilika.

Alisema urasimu huo umesababisha vijana wengi kutokuwa na elimu sahihi ya kupata mikopo ili kuharakisha maendeleo na mageuzi ya kiuchumi vijana wengi wanakosa mikopo kutokana na urasimu uliopo kwenye halmashauri.

Alisema serikali imetenga Sh. bilioni 6.2 kwa ajili ya Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Vijana hapa nchini ambapo Sh. bilioni 1.34 zimetengwa kwa ajili ya kuwakopesha vijana wanaohitimu vyuo vikuu kwa ajili ya kuwasaidia kuanzisha miradi ya kiuchumi.

Katika hatua nyingine, Profesa Gabriel pia ameziagiza serikali za mitaa kuhakikisha zinaunda vyama vya kuweka na kukopa (Saccos) kwa ajili ya vijana ambapo kupitia vikundi hivyo vijana watapata mikopo kwa urahisi kutoka kwenye Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Vijana.

Alisisitiza nidhamu ya matumizi ya fedha za mikopo na kusema kuwa mtaji mkubwa wa mafanikio ya maendeleo ya vijana, ni suala la uaminifu, uadilifu na uwajibikaji na kusisitiza kuwa hayo ni mambo ya msingi katika uendeshaji wa mfuko huo.

 

CHANZO: NIPASHE

Govt now ready to amend conflicting laws on marriage

By Waryoba Yankami

18th October 2013

On October, 11 this year, Tanzania joined other countries in cerebrating the International Day of the Girl Child, in Tanzania. The cerebration was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations in Tanzania in collaboration with Graca Machel Trust Fund, Children’s Dignity Forum and Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA). Our correspondent attended the meeting and reports…

The international Day of child Girl brought together panelists administrators and activists, the panelists were minister for constitution and legal affair Mathias Chikawe, Bishop Jacob Ole Paul Mameo for Morogoro Diocese of Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Bernard Orimbo of the Graca Machel Trust Fund, Justa Mwaituka Chairperson of Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network and Executive Director of Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) Valerie Msoka

The focus in the panel discussion was on the two laws that are contradicting each other; the Marriage Act ironically legalizes marriages of the girl at the age 14 and 15 with court and parents/ guardians consent, respectively while Sexual Offences Special Provision Act states that any person under the age of sixteen (16) years, is considered as a minor.

The contradiction in the two laws is seen when the law of marriage allows marrying the girl at the age of 14 and 15 while SOSPA law pronounce that any person conducting sexual intercourse with a girl below 16 is raping.

In the panel discussion, the dominant question is if the new constitution would accommodate the ending of child marriage and give girls opportunity to enjoy their rights to education, right to choice which they missed for years now by changing the two laws?

The question was directed to the minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mathias Chikawe, and he had this to say “it has reached a time for the two laws to be changed since complaints from all corners have been raised against them”.Chikawe said that the government hopes that the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) will change them, added that if the commission will not change them, the matter will be taken before the government again.

“The government recognizes the two laws, that they are contradicting each other but it was delaying to change them because more education was needed to people rather than immediate change” he said adding that some laws are formed by society consensus therefore current society has demanded the laws must be changed.

The minister however, ensured the panel that the two laws in three coming years will not exist; they will be changed by either the CRC or the government itself to make sure that girls are not married at young age.

He admitted that there are young girls who are married at the age of 12 and below whereas he stressed that it is an offence for the doing such behavior because the law stating the age of 15 for girls and 18 for boys but not otherwise although currently they should be changed.

Child marriage has identified as a thorn to girls prosperity as thousand of girls in Tanzania and Africa as well are found into child marriage without their will.

According to Graca Machel, 14 million girls are married yearly which has a very big impact to themslves as they are isolated from their families, parents and schools. About six million adolescence give birth every 90 percent of them are married.

“To be successful in eradicating child marriage by 2030, there is no village, no township, no corner of this great continent that should not hear the message that child marriage can end” said Graca Machel.

For her part, Justa Mwaituka the Chairperson of Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network, said that to end up child marriage multiple strategies are needed to be applied including investing in girl education.

Mwaituka noted that another strategy is to educate the community that practicing child marriage and that community should be able to enact its laws that will protect girls from the marriage and government also should be ready to change the country laws on marriage which look harassing girls and those that contradicting.

TAMWA Executive Director Valerie Msoka commented that if the government has agreed to change the laws, it should clearly define that who is a child and identify the age of the child person because without stating the age the contradiction will continue to be there which will give a chance some people to continue using that weakness to oppress girls.

Bishop Jacob Ole Paul Mameo for Morogoro Diocese of Lutheran Church of Tanzania says that his church is not tolerating child marriage and as the Bishop he has never conducted child marriage service or bless it at all.

The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children in 2013 has indicated that Tanzania has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. On average, almost two out of five girls will be married before their 18th birthday. About 37 percent of the women aged 20-24 were married or in union before age 18.

Child marriage in Tanzania mainly affects girls and women, Tanzanian women or average get married more than five years earlier than Tanzanian men.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in 2010, women aged 20-24 and living in rural areas were almost twice as likely to be married or in union before age 18 than in urban counterparts. The urban-rural divided has remained at roughly the same level since 2004.

UNFPA has indicated that child marriage in Tanzania occurs more frequently among girls who are the least educated, poorest and living in rural areas, 61 percent of women aged 20-24 with no education and 39 percent with primary education were married or in union at age 18, compared to five percent of women with secondary education or higher education.

However, the organization says, household wealth influences the prevalence of child marriage among all wealth quintiles. Girls from the poorest 20 percent of the households were more than twice as likely to be married or in union before age 18 than girls from the richest 20 percent of the households.

Commemorating International Day of Child Girl, international communities were not ready to be left behind, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said this “empowering girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and violence they face are essential to progress for the whole human family. He said that one of the best ways to achieve all of these goals is to provide girls with the education they deserve.

Mariam Khan from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that her organization is empowering both girls and boys to speak for themselves and working with other UN partners and the government to make sure that at least all groups are enjoying their rights and meet their goals.

UNFPA noted that expelling girls in school after becoming pregnant is against human right to education something taking place in Tanzania is that there are some girls who continuing with school after giving births in private schools while those in government schools are totally expelled.

THE Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mathias Chikawe says for long time Marriage Act of 1971 and that of Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (SOSPA) of 1998 have been criticized for contradicting each other and blamed for affecting girl’s rights, dignity and prosperity. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN