Understanding President Kikwete’s ‘sympathy’ for FDLR rebels

His critics in Tanzania allege President Kikwete used “udini” (religious fundamentalism) to win power, a seat he has maintained for 8years now. Could it be President Kikwete’s wish that Rwanda goes the same route of divisionist politics?Back in Tanzania, President Jakaya Kikwete is under immense pressure for ‘fanning religious insecurity’, a policy he used to bring him to power, and keep him there. It indeed worked; as President Kikwete is currently serving out a second term. It is this...

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What Rwandans say about Tanzanian President’s comments on FDLR suggesting Peace talks

                                                Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania  Rwandans across the country and Diaspora have angrily reacted to Tanzania’s President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete’s comments suggesting that the...

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Energy and Minerals budget to resume today

 Prof Sospeter Muhongo, Minister of Energy and Minerals Debate over the Ministry of Energy and Mineral estimates is to resume today after it was put on hold yesterday following gas production violence in Mtwara that erupted as the Minister tabled his budget estimates.At least 90 percent of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral’s financial estimates for fiscal year 2013/2014 will be injected into development projects aimed at the provision of reliable energy supply.Presenting his Ministry’s...

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Chaos hits Mtwara after gas project confirmation

 The main bus terminal in Mtwara is deserted before the Ministry of Energy and Minerals’ 2013/14 budget estimates were tabled in Parliament yesterday. Chaos erupted in the town after the government said a gas pipeline will be built between Mtwara and Dar es Salaam as planned In Summary Witnesses said 31 soldiers were in the convoy when the accident happened at Kilimanihewa. The driver of the truck that was ferrying the solders lost control. Mr Kapambara Mgawe, the TPDF spokesperson,...

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1 dead, 44 injured in blast in Tanzania church

 Wounded churchgoers lie on the ground as Roman Catholic nuns run for cover after a blast at the St. Joseph Mfanyakazi Roman Catholic Church in Arusha, Tanzania Sunday, May 5, 2013. A Tanzanian police official says a woman died and over 40 people were seriously injured when a bomb exploded in the Roman Catholic Church in northern Tanzania, with eyewitnesses reporting that the bomb was thrown from a motorcycle A woman died and 44 people were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded...

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State Out to Combat Poaching

DESPITE poaching posing serious challenges, the government has assured that it is determined to see growth in the population of wild animals.This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Lazaro Nyalandu, just a day after it was reported that a Parliamentary Committee plans to ask the National Assembly to form a special committee to probe poaching."The situation is tense but we are determined not to allow any reverse in the population of wild animals. We will do it the best way we know how," Mr Nyalandu told the 'Daily News' over the phone.Given its complexity,...

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Serengeti Receives Few Local Tourists

THE number of Tanzanians visiting the world famous Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) for tourism purpose is less than 10 per cent, according to Park's Tourism Department.People seem to have failed to utilise the advantage of low fees charged by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) for the locals visiting the park, blessed with a variety of beautiful fauna and flora."Entry fees for any Tanzanian visiting SENAPA is 1,500/-(about one dollar), but still the number of locals visiting the park stands at seven per cent," said Mr Godson Kimaro, in charge of the Park's Tourism Department.Among other attractions,...

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Tanzania Strikes Another Offshore Gas Field

BG Tanzania announced that it had completed another successful drill stem test in offshore Tanzania about 45-kms from Mtwara, with tests on the Mzia-2 well flowing at a maximum rate of 57 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of natural gas per day."This is more gas than was expected to flow from this well and therefore a positive development. A drill stem test is a standard procedure within gas exploration activities and helps to determine the properties of the gas reservoir," BG Group Chief Executive Chris Finlayson, said in a statement.He added: "The successful Mzia-2 drill stem test follows completion...

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