Nearly 200,000 people in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region, are facing acute shortage of food and require immediate relief supplies.
Same District Commissioner Ibrahim Marwa said that a government survey in the area last November showed that the number of people who needed immediate food relief was 200,000.
He said up to November 2009, the district had received a total of 4,588.8 tonnes of food relief from the Prime Minister’s Office (Disaster Management Department).
He added that about 4,262.2 tonnes of food were sold to people in the area at the price of 50/- per kg and 326.6 tonnes were distributed freely to vulnerable groups and needy people.
The DC said the amount of food supplied included assistance from other stakeholders such as the World Food Programme and religious organizations.
However, Marwa said that food shortages were caused by inadequate rains in almost the entire district, which led to very poor harvests for almost three consecutive years.
According to him, livestock were also affected for lack of grazing areas, forcing pastoralists to move their cattle to the neighbouring districts of Handeni, Korogwe and Lushoto in Tanga Region.
He said the district's strategies to curb food shortages included encouraging farmers to embark on planting drought-resistant crops, employ modern farming methods as well as engaging in mixed farming.
Others are irrigation farming, especially in wards such as Ruvu, Kisiwani, Maore, Hedaru, Kihurio and Ndungu.
The district chief said for the 2009/2010 farming season, the district was set to plant different food crops on about 112,319 hectares of land, adding that the district expected to harvest about 107,813.5 tonnes of food crops.
13 January 2010
floods leave thousands homeless
RAINS continue pounding most parts of the country leaving thousands homeless. In Kilimanjaro Region, Hedaru ward in Same Distric, about 40 houses were filled with mud, debris and water leaving more than 215 people without homes.
The rains also left the Dar es Salaam -Moshi-Arusha highway blocked for several hours by debris and mud after flood water flowed above culverts on River Wanchi.
Speaking to 'Daily News', Same District Commissioner Ibrahimu Marwa said Tanroads have removed all debris and mud to enable vehicles to pass.
The rains had also made it impossible for more than 2, 500 pupils from 19 primary schools to attend studies due to the floods caused by Wanchi River which burst its banks.
In Dodoma, the rains have continued to cause havoc in most parts of the region. In Kongwa District several houses have been destroyed in Sagara Ward according to the District Commissioner, Mr Lembris Kipuyo.
DC Kipuyo said that assessment of what had been destroyed by the rains was still continuing. In Mpwapwa District 14 wards have been affected by the rains and rain water coming in from neighbouring districts.
Mpwapwa District Commissioner Darry Rwegasira said that most of the flood waters flow to Mpwapwa from other districts in Dodoma and Singida regions.
''It is raining but most of the floods are coming in from neighbouring districts as well as Singida,'' DC Rwegasira said.
The District Commissioner said that the rains, which started since late December last year, left thousands homeless. So far the government has distributed 1, 000 tonnes of relief food to Mpwapwa District and other basic needs from the Red Cross.
The Chamwino District Commissioner, Mr Lephy Gembe, noted that the rains in the area had destroyed houses, especially those made of mud.
''So far we don't have major disasters in the area but mudhouses continue to crumble due to the rains,'' DC Gembe said.
Yesterday, three people lost their lives due to the rains in Chamwino, Kondoa and Dodoma municipality in Dodoma Region.
In Arusha, a standard four pupil died after a wet wall fell on him.
The rains also left the Dar es Salaam -Moshi-Arusha highway blocked for several hours by debris and mud after flood water flowed above culverts on River Wanchi.
Speaking to 'Daily News', Same District Commissioner Ibrahimu Marwa said Tanroads have removed all debris and mud to enable vehicles to pass.
The rains had also made it impossible for more than 2, 500 pupils from 19 primary schools to attend studies due to the floods caused by Wanchi River which burst its banks.
In Dodoma, the rains have continued to cause havoc in most parts of the region. In Kongwa District several houses have been destroyed in Sagara Ward according to the District Commissioner, Mr Lembris Kipuyo.
DC Kipuyo said that assessment of what had been destroyed by the rains was still continuing. In Mpwapwa District 14 wards have been affected by the rains and rain water coming in from neighbouring districts.
Mpwapwa District Commissioner Darry Rwegasira said that most of the flood waters flow to Mpwapwa from other districts in Dodoma and Singida regions.
''It is raining but most of the floods are coming in from neighbouring districts as well as Singida,'' DC Rwegasira said.
The District Commissioner said that the rains, which started since late December last year, left thousands homeless. So far the government has distributed 1, 000 tonnes of relief food to Mpwapwa District and other basic needs from the Red Cross.
The Chamwino District Commissioner, Mr Lephy Gembe, noted that the rains in the area had destroyed houses, especially those made of mud.
''So far we don't have major disasters in the area but mudhouses continue to crumble due to the rains,'' DC Gembe said.
Yesterday, three people lost their lives due to the rains in Chamwino, Kondoa and Dodoma municipality in Dodoma Region.
In Arusha, a standard four pupil died after a wet wall fell on him.
09 January 2010
Dar set to host world meet on climate change
The fourth international conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) to Climate Change will be held in Dar es Salaam next month.
A statement issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam said the conference, to be held between February 21 and 27, would attract a total of 100 participants from across the world.
The statement said the conference was aimed at sharing latest developments in adaptation, planning and practices and disseminating knowledge among stakeholders and actors.
Among core objectives included bringing different stakeholders and practitioners to share and discuss knowledge of CBA planning and practices from different parts of the developing world, particularly Africa.
“It is also geared to capturing the latest learning from CBA planning and practices around the developing world as well as enhancing capacity of the practitioners to help the most vulnerable groups and people in improving livelihoods in developing countries,” the statement read in part.
It added that the conference also intended to create a platform for stakeholders to share lessons learnt to facilitate integration of climate change into national and international development programmes as well as disseminate lessons learnt at the conference through proceedings and immediate conference summary.
Key activities during the international meeting included field visits to community-based adaptation projects in different ecosystems and interactive discussions on different thematic areas.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
A statement issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam said the conference, to be held between February 21 and 27, would attract a total of 100 participants from across the world.
The statement said the conference was aimed at sharing latest developments in adaptation, planning and practices and disseminating knowledge among stakeholders and actors.
Among core objectives included bringing different stakeholders and practitioners to share and discuss knowledge of CBA planning and practices from different parts of the developing world, particularly Africa.
“It is also geared to capturing the latest learning from CBA planning and practices around the developing world as well as enhancing capacity of the practitioners to help the most vulnerable groups and people in improving livelihoods in developing countries,” the statement read in part.
It added that the conference also intended to create a platform for stakeholders to share lessons learnt to facilitate integration of climate change into national and international development programmes as well as disseminate lessons learnt at the conference through proceedings and immediate conference summary.
Key activities during the international meeting included field visits to community-based adaptation projects in different ecosystems and interactive discussions on different thematic areas.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
07 January 2010
Exploit our local tourism potential
source;the guardian 7th jan 2010
The start of the New Year brought with it interesting developments for our country.
We read a very interesting report about hundreds of Kenyan tourists choosing the country's northern tourism circuit as their destination to celebrate the season’s holidays.
This is indeed a very interesting development considering that Kenya boasts a very well developed infrastructure of beach and wildlife tourism, attracting millions of tourists, both local and foreign.
The tourists were apparently attracted by the incentives announced by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) recently directing all Chief Park Wardens to treat equally all the East African Community residents intending to discover nature into the wild teeming with all sorts of animal and captivating scenery.
The offer allows Burundians, Kenyans, Rwandese, Ugandans and Tanzanians to enter any of the the country’s national parks after paying 1,500/- each for adults and 500/- each for a child per day at the gates.
Not only did the Kenyans take advantage of the offer, but were delighted by what they discovered and showered praise on Tanzania's wildlife attractions.
One of the Kenyan groups which visited Ngorongoro crater, admitted that the group had fallen in love with the crater and promised to market it to Kenyans.
And therein lies the secret key to success in boosting this sector, which has been hard hit by the global economic crunch because of its almost total reliance on tourists from outside Africa.
The park authorities must promote the attractions more vigorously, creating packages that will make it worth the time of local and regional tourists to visit and view animals and nature.
But most importantly, the park authorities must listen carefully to the feedback they get from our neighbours who have visited the parks.
For to be fair, not all have praises for Tanzania's tourist attractions. Indeed, there have been some observations, about deficiencies in the sector, which we believe mean well and should be acted upon by the authorities.
The authorities must be swift in taking corrective action where it is due as the way forward in improving their marketability.
One such call relates to too much bureaucracy at entry points, which may push away the ordinary tourist, who feels suffocated by the requirement to fill several forms.
Surely the authorities can find a way of simplifying the procedures given that we are now in the digital age.
This is one of the several challenges that the national park authorities must overcome this year if the industry is to recover from the effects of the crunch soon, but more importantly embark on nurturing its nascent local clients base.
For the industry is sitting in the middle of a robust and flamboyant East African market with nearly 130 million consumers and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly US$60bn.
All said however, the start has been positive and if well exploited, is set to change the way we view the potential, not only of East Africa, but the whole continent in making the travel and tourism industry one of its main engines of economic growth.
The start of the New Year brought with it interesting developments for our country.
We read a very interesting report about hundreds of Kenyan tourists choosing the country's northern tourism circuit as their destination to celebrate the season’s holidays.
This is indeed a very interesting development considering that Kenya boasts a very well developed infrastructure of beach and wildlife tourism, attracting millions of tourists, both local and foreign.
The tourists were apparently attracted by the incentives announced by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) recently directing all Chief Park Wardens to treat equally all the East African Community residents intending to discover nature into the wild teeming with all sorts of animal and captivating scenery.
The offer allows Burundians, Kenyans, Rwandese, Ugandans and Tanzanians to enter any of the the country’s national parks after paying 1,500/- each for adults and 500/- each for a child per day at the gates.
Not only did the Kenyans take advantage of the offer, but were delighted by what they discovered and showered praise on Tanzania's wildlife attractions.
One of the Kenyan groups which visited Ngorongoro crater, admitted that the group had fallen in love with the crater and promised to market it to Kenyans.
And therein lies the secret key to success in boosting this sector, which has been hard hit by the global economic crunch because of its almost total reliance on tourists from outside Africa.
The park authorities must promote the attractions more vigorously, creating packages that will make it worth the time of local and regional tourists to visit and view animals and nature.
But most importantly, the park authorities must listen carefully to the feedback they get from our neighbours who have visited the parks.
For to be fair, not all have praises for Tanzania's tourist attractions. Indeed, there have been some observations, about deficiencies in the sector, which we believe mean well and should be acted upon by the authorities.
The authorities must be swift in taking corrective action where it is due as the way forward in improving their marketability.
One such call relates to too much bureaucracy at entry points, which may push away the ordinary tourist, who feels suffocated by the requirement to fill several forms.
Surely the authorities can find a way of simplifying the procedures given that we are now in the digital age.
This is one of the several challenges that the national park authorities must overcome this year if the industry is to recover from the effects of the crunch soon, but more importantly embark on nurturing its nascent local clients base.
For the industry is sitting in the middle of a robust and flamboyant East African market with nearly 130 million consumers and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly US$60bn.
All said however, the start has been positive and if well exploited, is set to change the way we view the potential, not only of East Africa, but the whole continent in making the travel and tourism industry one of its main engines of economic growth.
04 January 2010
tourists from kenya chosen tanzania
4th January 2010
Comments
Wildebeest at Ngorongoro National park
Hundreds of tourists from Kenya have chosen Tanzania’s famous northern tourism circuit their most favourable destination for end of the year holidays, The Guardian can report.
For the last five days towards end of 2009, Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro which is the world’s highest free standing mountain were destinations of choice for the Kenyans, thanks to the Tanzania tourism agencies for reviewing and harmonizing tariffs for park entry for East Africans.
“We are proud of ‘Africa's Eden’ and the ‘Eighth Natural Wonder of the World,’ which is none other than the Ngorongoro Crater” Silas Kinoti remarked and pledged extensive publicity of the place to encourage more people to visit one of the wonders of the world.
For his part, Charles Kirima, one of the visitors in a group of Kenyans said the purpose of the visit was to expose their children to the natural beauty which would remain the inheritance of the people of East Africa and humanity as a whole.
The common park entry tariffs for EA residents into Tanzania’s National Parks, he says, was the secret behind their decision to travel all the way from Kenya to Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit.
Residents of East Africa are currently enjoying the universal National Park entry tariffs with their Tanzanian counterparts. Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) recently directed all Chief Park Wardens to treat equally all the EA residents intending to discover nature into public game sanctuary.
As it stands now, Burundians, Kenyans, Rwandese, Ugandans and Tanzanians are paying 1,500/- for adults and 500/- for the children to visit any National Park in Tanzania per day.
Analysts believe the decision will boost the industry in the robust and flamboyant EA-Common-Market, with nearly 130 million consumers and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly $60bn.
Way back in 2006, each of the pioneer three EAC partner states of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda were charging separately. In Uganda the entrance fee to any of the country's National Parks, for one-day was $20 for foreigners, East African residents had used to pay $10 and residents are charged Ush. 5,000.
In Tanzania the entry fees to its two hot-spot National Parks of Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti for foreign tourists was $60 and $50 respectively. In Kenya the average fee to National parks was set at $30 per adult and $10 per student or one child, per day.
One of the twelve groups divided into five people bringing to 60 the number of Kenyan visitors for the day led by Kinoti had an opportunity to come face-to-face with the natural sanctuary for thousands of birds, insects and wild animals such as lions, zebra, black rhino and wildebeest.
The excited group burst into celebration, ululation, singing and chanting slogans of praise and clapping, saying that the natural beauty of the caldera reminded them of the Biblical Garden of Eden.
“This is the best place one should not miss and it is more well conserved than any national park in Kenya” Kinoti said.
The group was particularly impressed by the success story of multiple land use where pastoralism, conservation and tourism co-exist in a carefully managed harmony.
Ngorongoro crater, the "eighth wonder of the world" stretching across some 8,300 sq km, boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites unsurpassed in Africa. The volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to the wildlife and the livestock keepers, the Maasai community.
It borders the Serengeti National Park to the north and west.
The NCAA was established in 1959 to protect an area covering 8,300 square kilometers. Olduvai Gorge ("The Cradle of Mankind"), Lake Ndutu and Masek are also within its borders. Lush highlands surround the Crater, falling away to tawny plains and alkaline lakes of the Great Rift Valley.
Attractions of the EAC region comprise wildlife sanctuaries, such as Ngongoro, the Serengeti and Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, in Tanzania; the Maasai Mara reserve, and 48 wildlife Parks and reserves, including the Tsavo and Amboseli, in Kenya; and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (famous for mountain gorillas), the Murchison Falls and Elizabeth Park in Uganda.
Famous beaches in the region include Dar es Salaam, Mombasa, Malindi and the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Lamu.
In addition, the world's second largest fresh water body, Lake Victoria, is shared by the three EAC countries. This is recognized as a world heritage Site, due to its rich Biodiversity.
The EAC trading bloc comprising Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania has a combined population of 120 plus million people, with a land area of 1.8 million sq. kilometers.
25 white lions killed
FINNIGAN WA SIMBEYE, 2nd January 2010
CLIMATE change is to blame for the recent killings of 25 white lions by pastoralists in the northern part of the country, as livestock keepers moved in to protect their cattle from wild animals.
Droughts have taken their toll on pastures and have dried water which is essential for the survival of both people and animals.
A conservation expert from University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. George Jambia recently warned that because of global warming, rainfall patterns have changed while droughts are regular, hence forcing pastoralists to move closer to conservation areas where the lions attack cattle.
"Why did the communities kill 25 rare lions last year alone? They do not do this for fun. The lions have been attacking their livestock much more frequently compared to the previous years," Dr Jambia pointed out.
He further noted that lion attacks were frequent because there is a large presence of domestic animals within the boundaries of the national park.
"Because of good land and park management and a lower carrying capacity, the parks have the last vestiges of grass and water. Communities from far and wide have converged towards the park, hoping to save the few remaining livestock by accessing grass and water,"” Dr Jambia argued.
Recent press reports said that 25 rare white lions have been killed by pastoralists adjacent to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Arusha National Park during the 12 months of last year.
Warning that failure by selfish global leaders to hammer a climate change deal in Copenhagen last month risks extreme weather changes within the next few years that will have serious repercussions on man and the environment.
There have been droughts in the past and people have devised ways and means of coping. This time around it has been extreme and traditional coping mechanisms have failed, and this is not a one off event. It will happen again and maybe in the opposite extreme, he warned.
"These are the subtle and not so subtle effects of climate change, and such extreme events quite often trigger domino effects. Has anyone thought of the effects of rotting livestock carcasses strewn near the national parks", he wondered.
Dismissing a call for communities living close to conservation areas to be moved away from such parameter, Dr Jambia argued that such simplistic solutions were not workable.
"How does one sensitise a community that is losing its main source of livelihood and convince them to move away from the parks? Where to? How does one convince such communities that they should do the most they can 'to help the animals, insects, reptiles and plants have an enjoyable time', whilst there is no fodder or water for their livestock?" he wondered.
A conflict pitting people against animlas is simmering as humans encroach and take over areas that have been traditional habitats for wildlife. It is little known that about 200 people are killed by wild animals every year and a third of this is attributed to lions alone.
CLIMATE change is to blame for the recent killings of 25 white lions by pastoralists in the northern part of the country, as livestock keepers moved in to protect their cattle from wild animals.
Droughts have taken their toll on pastures and have dried water which is essential for the survival of both people and animals.
A conservation expert from University of Dar es Salaam, Dr. George Jambia recently warned that because of global warming, rainfall patterns have changed while droughts are regular, hence forcing pastoralists to move closer to conservation areas where the lions attack cattle.
"Why did the communities kill 25 rare lions last year alone? They do not do this for fun. The lions have been attacking their livestock much more frequently compared to the previous years," Dr Jambia pointed out.
He further noted that lion attacks were frequent because there is a large presence of domestic animals within the boundaries of the national park.
"Because of good land and park management and a lower carrying capacity, the parks have the last vestiges of grass and water. Communities from far and wide have converged towards the park, hoping to save the few remaining livestock by accessing grass and water,"” Dr Jambia argued.
Recent press reports said that 25 rare white lions have been killed by pastoralists adjacent to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Arusha National Park during the 12 months of last year.
Warning that failure by selfish global leaders to hammer a climate change deal in Copenhagen last month risks extreme weather changes within the next few years that will have serious repercussions on man and the environment.
There have been droughts in the past and people have devised ways and means of coping. This time around it has been extreme and traditional coping mechanisms have failed, and this is not a one off event. It will happen again and maybe in the opposite extreme, he warned.
"These are the subtle and not so subtle effects of climate change, and such extreme events quite often trigger domino effects. Has anyone thought of the effects of rotting livestock carcasses strewn near the national parks", he wondered.
Dismissing a call for communities living close to conservation areas to be moved away from such parameter, Dr Jambia argued that such simplistic solutions were not workable.
"How does one sensitise a community that is losing its main source of livelihood and convince them to move away from the parks? Where to? How does one convince such communities that they should do the most they can 'to help the animals, insects, reptiles and plants have an enjoyable time', whilst there is no fodder or water for their livestock?" he wondered.
A conflict pitting people against animlas is simmering as humans encroach and take over areas that have been traditional habitats for wildlife. It is little known that about 200 people are killed by wild animals every year and a third of this is attributed to lions alone.
kilosa victims of floods rised to 9,300
DAILY NEWS Reporters, 3rd January 2010
AT least 9,338 people have been rendered homeless since floods started hitting Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, about a week ago.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Issa Machibya, said today the number had increased from 8,008 recorded four days ago and that all homeless people have been accommodated in 15 camps in the district.
He also noted that until yesterday, 4,819 households with 23,073 had been affected with floods, while 813 houses were damaged and 4,536 submerged in water.
Kilosa District Executive Director (DED), Ephraim Kalimwendo, said the district was in need of 600 tents to accommodated displaced people ahead of opening of schools this week.
"We have 76 out of 700 tents required to shift the victims from schools and we've planned to open to set up new nine camps," he said.
He named the areas anticipated for setting up the camps with their numbers in bracket as Kimamba A and B (1), Chanzulu (1), Kondoa (1), Magelegele Ward in Tindiga (1), Magelegele (1) and in Town area (4).
The DED observed that over 225,305 tonnes of food were needed to feed the flood victims.
Mr Kalimwendo appealed to different authorities to donate tents, drugs, food and other humanitarian supplies.
"The district also faces other challenges such as sharp increase in living costs, the floods has pushed costs of living significantly. Even costs of loading and offloading of humanitarian supplies are increasing everyday," explained the DED.
Mr Kalimwendo noted that the district was planning to develop temporary infrastructure, including toilets and construction of underground water systems.
The reason behind using the underground water was a way of cutting down cost, as water drawn from well does not need treatment, he said.
The DED also said that Kilosa District Council intended to survey 1,000 plots for Kondoa villagers and other flood hit wards.
The victims are currently camping at Usagala, Kimamba A and B, Magomeni, Kasiki primary schools. Others are at SIDO offices, Mkatani, Mazulia godown, Masanze primary court, Tindiga and Kilosa Club.
AT least 9,338 people have been rendered homeless since floods started hitting Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, about a week ago.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Issa Machibya, said today the number had increased from 8,008 recorded four days ago and that all homeless people have been accommodated in 15 camps in the district.
He also noted that until yesterday, 4,819 households with 23,073 had been affected with floods, while 813 houses were damaged and 4,536 submerged in water.
Kilosa District Executive Director (DED), Ephraim Kalimwendo, said the district was in need of 600 tents to accommodated displaced people ahead of opening of schools this week.
"We have 76 out of 700 tents required to shift the victims from schools and we've planned to open to set up new nine camps," he said.
He named the areas anticipated for setting up the camps with their numbers in bracket as Kimamba A and B (1), Chanzulu (1), Kondoa (1), Magelegele Ward in Tindiga (1), Magelegele (1) and in Town area (4).
The DED observed that over 225,305 tonnes of food were needed to feed the flood victims.
Mr Kalimwendo appealed to different authorities to donate tents, drugs, food and other humanitarian supplies.
"The district also faces other challenges such as sharp increase in living costs, the floods has pushed costs of living significantly. Even costs of loading and offloading of humanitarian supplies are increasing everyday," explained the DED.
Mr Kalimwendo noted that the district was planning to develop temporary infrastructure, including toilets and construction of underground water systems.
The reason behind using the underground water was a way of cutting down cost, as water drawn from well does not need treatment, he said.
The DED also said that Kilosa District Council intended to survey 1,000 plots for Kondoa villagers and other flood hit wards.
The victims are currently camping at Usagala, Kimamba A and B, Magomeni, Kasiki primary schools. Others are at SIDO offices, Mkatani, Mazulia godown, Masanze primary court, Tindiga and Kilosa Club.
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