Leaders advised to take a leaf from Mandela’s book

From left: Former Prime Minister, Frederick Sumaye, Prominent Politician, Ngombale Mwiru, Algeria Ambassador to Tanzania,  Djelloul Tabet and his colleague from Palestine,  Nasir Abujaish pay attention during a commemoration service of ex-president of South Africa the late Nelson Mandela who died  last week and  will be buried today

Tuesday’s memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg saw the world pay tribute to South Africa’s first democratically-elected president.
 

Mandela, who died last Thursday at 95, was hailed as an icon of the freedom struggle, peace, human rights and reconciliation. He will be buried today in his boyhood village of Qunu.

Those who spoke during the memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday praised the former leader and asked today’s leaders to emulate him and put the interests of the people before theirs.

TZ population rise ‘alarming’

Too many mouths to feed: Experts say unchecked population growth could rip apart Tanzania’s dwindling food reserves.

Tanzania’s population growth is among the highest in the East and central African region  and the world and could worsen food security which is already severe, a new book, published this week by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) says.

Released on Monday by three research organizations, the book says that arable areas in the region are under severe pressure to increase their productivity to feed a rapidly increasing human population.

Fate of inept ministers in Kikwete’s hands – CCM

Educational and Vocational Training minister Shukuru Kawambwa has come under a lot of fire recently over falling standards in Tanzania’s schooling system.

The fate of ministers viewed by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) as underperformers is in the hands of President Jakaya Kikwete, according to the party secretariat.

Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, CCM Secretary for Publicity and Ideology Nape Nnauye said the party’s Central Committee, meeting in Dodoma on Thursday and Friday, grilled seven ministers on why their dockets were under-performing.

World watches as Tanzanian twins undergo rare surgery

A medical illustration shows a fused lower spine in conjoined twins – which is quite common in recorded cases of pygopagus twins. PHOTO | FILE 

Indian doctors are on the brink of a major surgical milestone should they successfully separate a rare type of conjoined twins from Tanzania.

The 20-strong team of specialists and surgeons is lined up to carry out the 16-hour operation on the twin boys born to Tanzanian parents from Dodoma region. The operation will cost some Sh103 million.

The case has elicited considerable excitement not only in India, which is famous for its medical tourism, but also across the global medical fraternity--which will have an opportunity to watch the delicate surgical operation live on the Internet.

Simba, Yanga's 'Nani Mtani Jembe' match set for Dec 21

Kilimanjaro Premium Lager manager George Kavishe (centre) speaks during a press conference about the Simba and Yanga 'Nani Mtani Jembe' match

Archrivals Simba and Yanga will lock horns in their ‘Nani Mtani Mjembe’ campaign match on December 21 at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Speaking in a press conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the Kilimanjaro Premium Lager manager, George Kavishe, said the soccer giants have already signed agreements to play the ‘Nani Mtani Jembe’ match which will kick off at 16:00.

He said both teams are sponsored by the Kilimanjaro beer, have promised to play their first team players to entertain their fans. 

Rwanda meet Kenya, Zambia date Burundi

Haruna Niyonzima, Rwanda player

Hosts Kenya will meet Rwanda in the first quarter-final clash of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup championship match to be played at Mombasa’s Municipal Stadium tomorrow.

Rwanda secured the last eight place after breezing past Eritrea during the final Group C match played at the Kenyatta Stadium earlier in the afternoon yesterday.

 It was Michel Ndahinduka who powered Rwanda into the quarters in a closely contested encounter. Rwanda had lost two group stage games by a single goal to both Ethiopia and holders Uganda. 

Secret behind Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda deal

East African Community Secretary-General Richard Sezibera addresses a regional media conference in Kampala yesterday

The Coalition of the Willing, which rocked the East African Community in recent months, was triggered by fear over competition for economic dominance in the region, The Citizenhas learnt.

Reports from Kampala hint that Tanzania’s aggressive ambition to invest in infrastructure, especially the construction of a Chinese funded multibillion-dollar port project, caused panic, particularly in Kenya, which has dominated the region because of its Mombasa port.

The revelation comes as Kenya yesterday launched the construction of the Sh22 trillion 1,250-km Mombasa-Malaba railway line in a ceremony attended by four presidents from the East African region.