Girl students speak out on new Constitution

Zanaki secondary school

Girl students in Dar es Salaam region have urged the constitutional review commission to make sure that the new constitution defends their rights to education and protects them from unconducive and vulnerable learning school environments.
Students from Jangwani, Zanaki and Kisutu secondary schools were contributing their views on the draft constitution during a meeting organized by Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE-Tanzania Chapter), in Dar es Salaam this week and attended by reporters and teachers.
A form four student from Zanaki secondary school, Lilian Baton said that some school girls have dropped out of school and others raped because of living far away from school, having no accommodation facilities such as hostels.
“Some students are poor. They live very far from their schools and wake up a few hours after midnight to prepare to go to school and while on the road, they can meet thugs waylaying unprotected girls. Therefore, this constitution must clearly state girls’ rights to education regardless of their parents’ economic status,” she said.
Contributing to discussion on Article 41 (a) on the rights to education without obstacles, Monica Mwaipopo from Jangwani Secondary School said that the article was silent on types of obstacles being referred. According to her such obstacles should be clearly named and explained.
“Girls are faced with many obstacles such as early pregnancies, transport problems, gender violence and sexual corruption among others. These should be clearly stated so that girls can be effectively protected from such vulnerability,” she said.
Clara Kabyemera from Kisutu Girls, said that Article 41(b) should include education for self-reliance to produce competent graduates who could create jobs and stand on their own feet instead of being job seekers and wait for government employment.
Apart from commending the students’ fruitful contribution on the draft constitution, FAWE-Tanzania national coordinator Neema Kitundu urged the students to work hard in their studies, saying education was the best weapon to emancipate themselves and others from male domination.
“I urge you students to aim high. It is your education that would determine your status in the community you live, therefore you should work very hard and prove that you can do better,” she said.
Commenting on the meeting, FAWE Tanzania Chairperson Winifrida Rutahindurwa said that the purpose of organizing the meeting was to give an opportunity for girls in schools to participate fully in giving out their views on the draft constitution like any other Tanzanian, considering that most African girls have no access to a wide range of opportunities like other groups, such as boys.
“We want them to air their views on what is in the draft, what is missing and what to add to come up with the best constitution that could develop, defend and enhance their talents and potentialities with a gender eye in all fronts of life,” she said.
The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a Pan African non governmental organization founded in 1992 to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa in line with the quest for Education for All.
Like in other countries where FAWE works, in Tanzania FAWE works together with its partners to create positive societal attitudes, policies and practices that promote equity for girls in terms of access, retention, performance and education quality, through influencing the transformation of education systems.
 

Drug authority bans local 'Netragen'

The food and drugs watchdog (TFDA)

The food and drugs watchdog (TFDA) in the Lake Zone has banned the manufacturing, distribution and advertisement of a traditional medicine selling as “Netragen” which is claimed to cure peptic ulcers.
The move comes as TFDA, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and other relevant government instruments tighten controls on manufacturing and distribution of substandard and unauthorized drugs in the domestic market.
Netragen is manufactured by Herboworkx, a Mwanza based firm, operated by a herbalist known simply as Mwita Marwa. Production of the drug is conducted at the company’s workshop located at Ilemela, and then distributed to various outlets operated by Herboworkx.
Speaking after a surprise inspection at the company’s production sites and clinics on Friday, TFDA Lake Zone inspector Aggrey Muhabuki told a handful of reporters that there is gross violation of laws and regulations governing the drug sector on the part of Herboworkx.
The entire chain of production, distribution and advertisement of Netragen and other traditional drugs of Herboworkx do not meet requirements as provided for in the Traditional Medicine Act and TFDA laws.
TFDA’s scrutiny has revealed that Herboworkx has no licenses and permits (allowing it to provide services) from authorities governing the drug sector—either TFDA or the Traditional Medicine Council.
Secondly, the company had been advertizing its products in the media, something which the zonal inspector said was wrong and contrary to the law governing traditional medicine, which allow the traditional doctor to personally administer concoctions to his/her patients, and not open distribution branches.
Even the production of Herboworx drugs were done in environment which does not meet drug standards and safety.
“The production site is not clean, packaging and labeling of their products do not meet the set quality and standards requirements,” he declared.
Earlier, Herboworx owner Mwita Marwa said that Netragen drug was approved by the Government Chemist and that he had permits from the Traditional Medicine Unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare at Mwanza, claims which TFDA inspectors said were not true and that he had no permits and licenses for the services.
“Because of these shortfalls, from today (Friday), the authority bans production, distribution and advertisements of Herboworx products, until the company complies with laid down procedures, rules, laws and regulations governing the drugs sector,” the inspector announced.
The authority also issued a stiff warning to traditional doctors to abide by the laws and regulations, failure of which stringent measures would be taken against them.
Meanwhile, the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) has begun a massive operation to curb fake drugs and cosmetics which the authority believes to be harmful.
The operation, according to TFDA Zonal manager Moses Mbamba, would also track down local manufacturers of the sub standard and unlicensed drugs and food products.
“Targeted in this operation include locally-made drugs and food which have not been certified, while foreign ones include cosmetics, animal and human medical drugs,” the manager elaborated.
 

JK to officiate SADC meeting on PACs

Zitto Kabwe, Chairperson of Tanzania's Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

President Jakaya Kikwete is expected to preside over the 10th Southern Development Community Organizations of Public Accounts Committees conference which starts here tomorrow.
Briefing reporters yesterday, Chairperson of Tanzania’s Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Zitto Kabwe, said the meeting will involve more than 300 participants from across SADC member countries and the rest of Africa.
Members of Parliament, Speakers, Controller Auditor Generals and high-ranking government officials from SADC member countries are expected to attend the meeting.
He said President Kikwete is also expected to launch the African Organization of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC).
“The meeting would mark the 10th anniversary of SADCOPAC and witness officials of the launch of the African Organization of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC).”
The Kigoma North MP added: “The aim of establishing AFROPAC is to improve cooperation among member countries in relation to parliamentary oversight, in spite of differing political, economic and social systems.”
This would create a structure where members could network with the view to sharing best practices, and where appropriate, harmonising and standardising the work of PAC in Africa.
The meeting is expected to discuss new ways of empowering the committees including the offices of Controller Auditor General (CAG), in SADC region Zitto said.
SADCOPAC Chairperson Sipho Makama said the meeting would play a crucial role in shaping public accounts committees across the region.

More people want three tier government

Chadema Secretary General Dr.Wilbrod Slaa shows copies of his party's proposals on improving the new draft constitution. Photo: Tryphone Mweji

The opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) yesterday submitted their views to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) for a new constitutional draft in which they included 66 matters for review, including supporting a three tier government.
Speaking after submitting their views, Chadema Secretary General Dr Willbroad Slaa told reporters that his party had submitted two documents that contain the opinions of more than 3.4 million people.
The views were obtained from the general public through open forums, council conferences and internal meetings totalling 3, 462, 805 million people in Tanzania, he said.
Dr Slaa added that the submitted documents cite 66 issues for review, explaining that there were other issues, namely those currently being supported by their party. Generally, he said, Chadema supported 80 per cent of the issues mentioned in the constitution draft.
He expressed concern about CRC’s lack of proper system to receive submitted opinions, referring to how the commission refused exhibits showing the way the people expressed their views at public rallies.
Meanwhile, Tanzania International Fellowship Programme Association (TIFPA) has said there should be a three tier government structure so as to give equal rights to both countries within the Union.
The NGO’s recommendation was presented in a 13-page report submitted to CRC on Wednesday this week, suggesting that there should be a Union President and a prime minister for each partner to head government activities in the respective parts of the nation.
TIFPA said a three government structure would consolidate the status of the union as each member state would have enough time to concentrate on their own economic matters without external interference.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, TIFPA Chairperson Charles Mkude, reminded that Zanzibar has always had its own government since the union came into being in 1964 but that has not been the case for the Mainland.
He said the current government structure system discriminates against people on the Mainland, for instance, in that they are not allowed to own land in the isles whereas Zanzibaris can easily be given land on the Mainland.

Why govt withdrew Bills

Mahmoud Mgimwa, Finance and Economic Affairs Standing Committee chairman

The Government today withdrew two of its Bills on statistics and retirement benefits from Parliament amid speculations that the duration of the current 12th Parliamentary session could be cut to two weeks from the original three.
The Guardian on Sunday has established that the Statistics Bill, 2013 that was originally scheduled for tabling and eventual debated last Friday and the GEPF Retirement Benefits Bill 2013, scheduled for this Thursday and Friday, had been shelved until the next Parliamentary session slated for next October.
Both Bills had two-day slots in the Parliamentary business schedule that was released early this week, but there hasn’t been any official announcement by either the House Speaker’s Office or the Clerk to the National Assembly’s Office.
The Guardian on Sunday has learnt from authoritative sources privy to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Finance and Economic Affairs that the Statistics Bill had been withdrawn due to major amendments, notably on the financial requirement of a new national statistics body, which under the proposed Bill should be autonomous from the Ministry of Finance.
A reliable source close to the Standing Committee for Finance noted that whereas the Bill, currently known as the National Bureau of Statistics to be governed by its own board, it lacks provisions for the body’s financial sustainability, a fact deemed as defeating the entire concept of autonomy.
Finance and Economic Affairs Standing Committee chairman Mahmoud Mgimwa confirmed that withdrawal of the Bill was made because his committee believed the government had run out of options.
Mgimwa also identified financial sustainability as a key area for the autonomy of the statistics body.
“There are good and useful proposals in the Bill but it is clear that absence of a section stipulating for financial sustainability would have adverse effects on the body’s operations,” Mgimwa, an MP for Mufindi North, noted.
He added: “In this modern era … statistics are a sensitive matter and key for development projects … the institution should be able to trade on those statistics within its mandate as stipulated in the law.”
When reached for comment, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Coordination and National Assembly, William Lukuvi ,confirmed the withdrawal of the two Bills, saying they would be tabled during the October meeting.
However, Lukuvi declined more comment on the Bill’s withdrawal, arguing it wasn’t necessary.
However, the Director of Parliamentary Business, John Joel, said he was informed verbally about the withdrawal of the Statistics Bill, but maintained that his office new nothing of the reasons behind such a decision.
Joel indicated also that the current 12th Parliamentary session could be cut to two weeks from the originally scheduled three weeks for reasons yet to be made public.
The official House business schedule released mid this week shows that the meeting could end on Friday, September 13.
However, The Guardian on Sunday has been reliably informed that the National Assembly had provided money for travelling allowances and for other requirements for just two weeks, an indication of a shortened meeting.
After the withdrawal of the two Bills (Statistics and GEPF Retirement Benefits) there are now just three Bills – the Cooperative Societies Bill, 2013, The Constitution Review (Amendment), 2013 and The Referendum Bill, 2013.
Each of the three Bills has been allocated two days for presentation and debate.