Sunday 12 October 2014

Only God knows! A woman with disability speaks to unidentified person with her child at the back of the tricycle

A woman with disability speaks to unidentified person with her child at the back of the tricycle as captured along Agrey Street at Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam Tanzania . (Photo by Mohamed Mambo) This is how our mothers cared us no matter what you have to love your mother and your fellows mother.

Photo: A woman with disability speaks to unidentified person with her child at the back of the tricycle as captured along Agrey Street at Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo) www.dailynews.co.tz

Aga Khan hospital hosts free breast cancer screening in Dar

Aga Khan hospital hosts free breast cancer screening in Dar

By Henry Mwangonde ,The Citizen Correspondent
In Summary
According to World Health Organization, there are about 1.3 million new cancer cases and 458,000 deaths from breast cancer each year.
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Dar es Salaam. As part of events to commemorate the World’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week, The Aga Khan Hospital yesterday organised a free breast cancer screening and checkup for city residents.
The camp saw more than 200 individuals get screened for breast cancer as well as receive counseling and it is part of the of the hospital’s ‘don’t wait for October’ campaign aimed at encouraging the public to act on their health now rather wait for a specific time of the year.
Dr Amyn Alidina a breast cancer specialist at the hospital reiterated the importance of regular health checkups for good health.
“Most Tanzanians wait too long to care for their health when it is either too late or when to regain functionality costly treatment are needed” he said.
He said early detection of cancer can go a long way in curbing the spread and effects of breast cancer.
“It is very important to seek immediate treatment, as soon as you see any symptoms of breast cancer, do not wait until you are in a critical condition to go to the hospital because one you are diagnosed early it can be treated effectively” he said.
According to World Health Organization, there are about 1.3 million new cancer cases and 458,000 deaths from breast cancer each year.
The majority of deaths 269,000 occur in low-and middle-income countries where most women with breast cancer are diagnosed in the late stages due mainly to lack of awareness on early detection and barriers to health services.
Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide both in the developed and developing countries and the incidences has been increasing steadily in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increase urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.
World cancer awareness month is held in the countries across the world every October attention and support for the campaign.

Students to march for rhinos, elephants

Students to march for rhinos, elephants

By Patty Magubira,The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
“We have to educate these grassroots decision makers on the human-wildlife conflict which is equally a major threat to the natural resource treasure trove,” he said.
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Arusha. Over 200 students from at least 10 learning institutions surrounding the ecosystem of Tarangire and Manyara national parks will march to condemn elephant and rhino poaching in the country.
Organisers of the annual demonstrations believe the event would have impact as it coincides with Nyerere Day observed every October 14.
Arusha regional commissioner Magessa Mulongo will grace the march which is globally observed on October 4, to bring to light the impending extinction of jumbos and rhinos.
“The demonstration is aimed at instilling conservation culture among our students,” Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) chairman Willy Chambullo said.
He said the future conservationists need to know the value and threats facing wild animals and help conserve the legacy of Father of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
“Mwalimu Nyerere said the survival of our wildlife is a matter of great concern to all of us,” recalled the Tato chairman, explaining that about 50 traditional elders from the ecosystem in question would also take part in the march.
“We have to educate these grassroots decision makers on the human-wildlife conflict which is equally a major threat to the natural resource treasure trove,” he said.
The match is held on October 14, instead of October 4, in honour of Father of the Nation’s immense contribution to conservation in the country.
Addressing a symposium on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources just before independence in Arusha, Mwalimu Nyerere said wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabited were not only a source of wonder and inspiration, but also determined the future livelihood and well-being of the people.
Arusha hosted a number of activities last month to, among other things, take stock of the contribution of the emerging tourism industry to communities and chart out way forward in line with the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day observed globally on September 27.

Cyclone Hudhud pounds India's Andhra Pradesh and Orissa

Cyclone Hudhud pounds India's Andhra Pradesh and Orissa

The BBC's Sameer Hashmi reports from Mumbai
Cyclone Hudhud is pounding the eastern Indian coast, causing extensive damage and prompting the evacuation of some 350,000 people.
At least three people have been killed in Andhra Pradesh and three in Orissa.
The cyclone, classed "very severe", brought winds of 205km/h (127mph), as it passed over the coast near the city of Visakhapatnam.
The winds and heavy rains have brought down trees and power lines, and damaged crops and buildings in both states.
It is feared a storm surge of up to two metres could inundate low-lying areas and hundreds of relief centres have been opened in the two states. Disaster relief teams have also been sent.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababa Naidu said it was too early to assess the damage fully.
"We are unable to ascertain the situation; 70% of communication has totally collapsed," he said.
"We are asking people not to come out of their houses. We are mobilising men and materiel immediately."
Flooding fears The three deaths in Andhra Pradesh occurred in separate incidents in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao said.
Graphic showing path of Cyclone Hudhud
Two were killed by falling trees and one by a collapsing wall.
Anil Shekhawat, from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), told the BBC: "The cyclone has landed... The NDRF is there - we have sent around 42 teams, comprising more than 2,000 rescuers."
The streets of Visakhapatnam, one of the largest cities in south-east India and home to a major naval base, remain largely deserted.
N Yuvaraj, a senior district official in Visakhapatnam, told the BBC: "We had this cyclone hitting us at around 10:25 Indian Standard Time (04:55 GMT). And at that point we had a wind speed of more than 205km/h."
A view from the Park Hotel in Visakhapatnam as the cyclone passed over, 12 Oct A view from the Park Hotel in Visakhapatnam as the cyclone passed over
K Hymavathi, the special commissioner for disaster management for Andhra Pradesh state, said: "Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and power lines knocked down."
He added: "The situation is very severe. The national highway in the region has been shut."
Local journalist Hridayesh Joshi told the BBC from Visakhapatnam: "The situation is becoming increasingly bad. There is very strong wind and rain right now - objects are flying and smashing things.
"We are relatively safe in the centre of town, but the danger is for those in open areas. We are hoping it won't get much worse."
An elderly woman is carried to a relief camp in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh An elderly woman is carried to a relief camp in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, amid warnings over Hudhud
The effects of the strong winds are felt on a beach in Gopalpur in Orissa, 12 Oct The effects of the strong winds are felt on Sunday on a beach in Gopalpur in Orissa
In its latest report, the India Meteorological Department said sea conditions would become "phenomenal" off the north Andhra Pradesh and south Orissa coasts.
It also warned that a storm surge of up to two metres would "inundate low-lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam".
Peter Gibbs has the latest on this powerful storm as it hits India
The director of the Bhubaneswar centre of the IMD, Sarat Sahu, told the BBC that Hudhud was "likely to trigger heavy rains in most parts of south Orissa and the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Telengana", raising fears of heavy flooding.
India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.
A super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.
Last October as many as 500,000 people in India were evacuated when a severe cyclone called Phailin swept through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states.
Do you live in areas expected to be hit by Cyclone Hudhud? Send us your experiences by emailing to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Church donates special bed for women in labour

Church donates special bed for women in labour

By Saumu Mwalimu ,The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
“We are seeing an increase number of people in our wards that do not correspond to the level of the centre, the bed is now giving us a breath from that nightmare we were facing many times especially when we have more than two mothers in labour,” said Dr Mbao whose dispensary is in charge with serves more than 40000 in and outpatients every year.

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Dar es Salaam. Expectant mothers in Majohe Kichangani have finally get what for a long time forced them to deliver babies in condition that are not health friendly after their sole Majohe Dispensary received a delivery bed donation.
The bed which will be an additional to one that was available at the centre will serve 4 expectant mothers in labour who were earlier forced to deliver on the normal beds.
Speaking after receiving a donation from Calvary Assemblies of God (CAG) of Majohe Kichangani, the doctor in charge Dr Elias Mbao said that the bed will solve a challenge that was facing the hospital for the past 38 years.
“We are seeing an increase number of people in our wards that do not correspond to the level of the centre, the bed is now giving us a breath from that nightmare we were facing many times especially when we have more than two mothers in labour,” said Dr Mbao whose dispensary is in charge with serves more than 40000 in and outpatients every year.
On his side, the CAG Pastor Amos Lilai said that the church has been touched by the government efforts in reducing the maternal death and urges other institutions to continue with that effort.
“We are almost reaching the 2015 Millenium Development Goal that among other things aims at reducing birth related deaths, so by giving the small we have in the government effort we not only help the government but saving many lives of our mothers and children,” he said whose church has donated also donated some hospital bed sheets, the brob-babies weighing scale among other things.

Rebuilding Gaza: Donors pledge $5.4bn at Cairo summit

Rebuilding Gaza: Donors pledge $5.4bn at Cairo summit

Palestinians walk amid destroyed buildings in al-Tufah, east of Gaza City, 11 October 2014 The war in Gaza destroyed an estimated 18,000 homes and more than 100 schools
International donors have pledged $5.4bn (£3.4bn) to help rebuild Gaza at a conference in Cairo.
The total, announced by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Boerge Brende, exceeded the $4bn (£2.5bn) the Palestinian Authority had asked for.
Qatar alone promised $1bn (£622m).
At least 100,000 Gazans lost their homes in the 50-day conflict between Israel and Hamas, and much of the territory's infrastructure was damaged.
Earlier the Palestinian and Egyptian presidents called on Israel to commit to a long-term peace initiative.
Mahmoud Abbas and Abdul Fattah al-Sisi urged Israel to give up land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and accept a fair solution for Palestinian refugees in exchange for full recognition.
The seven-week Gaza conflict, which ended in a truce on 26 August, killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, the UN says, along with 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel.
'Major breakthrough' Speaking at a news conference, Mr Brende said half of the $5.4bn promised would be dedicated to reconstruction, and the assistance would be distributed in response to the daily needs of Palestinians.
"This is a major breakthrough, a very important signal of solidarity to the Palestinian people in general and not at least to the people that are suffering so badly in Gaza," he said.
Envoys from dozens of countries attended the Cairo conference, which was hosted by Egypt's President Sisi.
The US pledged $212m (£132m) in new aid, while the United Arab Emirates and Turkey both committed $200m (£124m).
Palestinian children sit on the window of a partially destroyed building in al-Tufah, east of Gaza City, 11 October  2014 The Palestinian Authority says it needs $4bn for reconstruction efforts in Gaza
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said donations from member states would reach $568m (£353m).
Cycle of conflict Earlier US Secretary of State John Kerry said that with winter approaching, the thousands of Palestinians displaced from their homes needed urgent help.
"The people of Gaza do need our help desperately, not tomorrow, not next week, but they need it now" he said at the conference.
He added that anything other than a long-term commitment to peace would be a "band-aid fix".
File photo: Rockets being fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel, 24 August 2014 Rockets fired from Gaza towards Israel during the recent conflict. The two sides have fought three wars in six years
At the opening of the conference, President Sisi urged "the Israelis, both the people and the government" to put an end to the conflict.
"We should turn this moment into a real starting point to achieve a peace that secures stability and flourishing and renders the dream of coexistence a reality," he said.
Correspondents say some neighbourhoods in Gaza resembled earthquake zones following intense bombardment from Israel during the war. The Israeli air strikes had sought to halt rocket-fire from Gaza.
The two sides have fought three wars in six years.
Contentious issue Israel was not invited to the conference but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman earlier said any rebuilding efforts would need his government's consent.
"You can't reconstruct Gaza without Israeli participation and without Israeli co-operation," he told news website Ynet ahead of the meeting on Sunday.
"In any case, we will try to be positive about the civil infrastructure and the rehabilitation of civilians."
Middle East envoy Tony Blair: Gaza needs "prospect of stability for the future"
Rebuilding depends on Israel allowing in enough construction materials, the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo reports.
This is a contentious issue because Hamas has used cement to build tunnels into Israeli territory in the past, our correspondent adds.
Hour of need Announcing the UK's $32m donation in Cairo, International Development Minister Desmond Swayne said the international community could not continue to pick up the pieces of the conflict indefinitely.
"It is critical that reconstruction efforts now form part of a process of meaningful political change," he said.
The Gaza Strip, sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, has been a recurring flashpoint in the Israel-Palestinian conflict for years.
Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005.
Israel considered this the end of the occupation, though the UN continues to regard Gaza as part of Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory.
Israel exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, waters and airspace, while Egypt controls Gaza's southern border.

Rooney scores 43rd international goal and every thing about this match are avairable here.


Wayne Rooney

  • Rooney scores 43rd international goal
  • England top Group E with three wins from three
  • England face Slovenia in next match in November
England laboured to victory over Estonia in Tallinn as Wayne Rooney's late free-kick made it three wins out of three in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Rooney curled his shot in from just outside the area 17 minutes from the end of a mediocre encounter to give England's captain his 43rd goal for his country - six behind all-time record holder Sir Bobby Charlton.
It rescued England as they struggled to break down the stubborn Estonians, who stood firm even after captain Ragnar Klavan had been sent off for a second yellow card three minutes into the second half.
And it spared manager Roy Hodgson some awkward questions over the omission of Raheem Sterling after Liverpool's teenager admitted he was tired following the 5-0 win against San Marino at Wembley.
England monopolised possession but the lack of end product was alarming against opponents who were dogged but hardly an upgrade into the European elite after the stroll against San Marino on Thursday.
Rooney's winner, a rare touch of class, also lifted his own performance after the 28-year-old struggled to apply his usual high standards. Indeed he was in danger of being replaced by Rickie Lambert just before his decisive contribution.
England coach Roy Hodgson
Hodgson was buoyant after his side maintained their 100% record against San Marino on Thursday
The Manchester United captain had opportunities before and after his goal to move closer to history but his display was in keeping with England's night - largely frustrating and salvaged only by a single moment.
Hodgson used the diamond formation, as he had in the opening 2-0 win against Switzerland in Basel, but whereas there - with Sterling at its point - it looked effective, here it left England lacking in pace, creation and width. It was only when Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the Liverpool youngster were introduced that England looked like getting behind the hosts.
They can justifiably point to a job done, and nine points out of nine, but this largely uninspired fare did little to warm fans who turned out in plummeting temperatures in Tallinn.
There should be few obstacles in England's way on the route to Euro 2016  - the possibility of 10 wins remains a strong one - but it is to be hoped the level of excitement is greater than that witnessed here in a group not exactly sprinkled with stardust.
After a minor scare in the opening seconds, England dominated the first period to such an extent that one point they enjoyed an 82% share of possession - the more telling statistic was that they did not muster a shot on target until the dying moments of the half.
This had much to do with Rooney's failure to accept chances, volleying over from Jack Wilshere's pass and showing an uncharacteristic lack of control and sharpness in the area when given other opportunities.
The visitors were looking for any advantage they could get and one arrived three minutes into the second half when Klavan departed after a cynical barge on Fabian Delph.
Hodgson made two changes in quick succession just after the hour as Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sterling replaced Delph and Jordan Henderson.
And Sterling was involved as England finally broke Estonia down after 73 minutes. He was fouled on the angle of the penalty area and Rooney weighed his options up carefully before curling in a low, right-foot effort from the set-piece.
England fans at A Le Coq Arena
England fans congregate at Tallinn's A Le Coq Arena
England and Estonia line up for the national anthems
England and Estonia line up for the national anthems
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney goes close for England in the first half with a volley
Ragnar Klavan (centre)
Estonia are reduced to 10 men when full-back Ragnar Klavan (centre) is shown a second yellow card
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney grabs the winner with 17 minutes remaining and should have scored a second in stoppage time

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

Estonia

  • 01 Pareiko
  • 17 Jääger
  • 04 Morozov
  • 15 Klavan Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 19 Pikk
  • 18 Mets
  • 16 Antonov
  • 14 Vassiljev (Lindpere - 45' )
  • 13 Vunk (Kruglov - 83' )
  • 10 Zenjov (Ojamaa - 80' )
  • 08 Anier

Substitutes

  • 02 Lindpere
  • 03 Bärengrub
  • 05 Kruglov
  • 06 Dmitrijev
  • 07 Saag
  • 09 Hunt
  • 11 Ojamaa
  • 12 Aksalu
  • 20 Kams
  • 21 Artjunin
  • 22 Londak
  • 23 Teniste

England

  • 01 Hart
  • 02 Chambers
  • 05 Cahill
  • 06 Jagielka
  • 03 Baines Booked
  • 07 Wilshere Booked
  • 04 Henderson Booked (Sterling - 64' )
  • 08 Delph (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 61' )
  • 11 Lallana
  • 09 Welbeck (Lambert - 80' )
  • 10 Rooney

Substitutes

  • 12 Clyne
  • 13 Foster
  • 14 Gibbs
  • 15 Shelvey
  • 16 Milner
  • 17 Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 18 Townsend
  • 19 Sterling
  • 20 Lambert
  • 21 Forster
Ref: Marijo Strahonja

Match Stats


Possession77%23%90minsEstoniaEngland

Shots

7 25

On target

1 6

Corners

1 5

Fouls

15 9

Live Text Commentary

Full time
Full Time Match ends, Estonia 0, England 1.
90:00 +4:02 Full time
Full Time Second Half ends, Estonia 0, England 1.
90:00 +3:39 Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
90:00 +2:43 Jack Wilshere (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +2:43 Foul by Igor Morozov (Estonia).
90:00 +2:07 Attempt saved. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a through ball.
89:18 Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (England) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
88:57 Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (England) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a cross.
87:56 Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Calum Chambers.
86:50 Attempt saved. Dmitri Kruglov (Estonia) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
86:03 Booking
Booking Jack Wilshere (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85:59 Foul by Jack Wilshere (England).
85:59 Ilja Antonov (Estonia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82:58 Raheem Sterling (England) wins a free kick on the right wing.
82:58 Foul by Dmitri Kruglov (Estonia).
82:44 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Estonia. Dmitri Kruglov replaces Martin Vunk.
80:54 Foul by Rickie Lambert (England).
80:54 Karol Mets (Estonia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79:47 Hand ball by Henri Anier (Estonia).
79:27 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, England. Rickie Lambert replaces Danny Welbeck.

Reese Witherspoon Celebrates Her 'Role Model' Malala Yousafzai

Reese Witherspoon Celebrates Her 'Role Model' Malala Yousafzai

Reese Witherspoon Calls Malala Yousafzai Her Role Model
Reese Witherspoon. Inset: Malala Yousafzai
Joe Scarnici/Getty; Sipa USA
On the day Malala Yousafzai made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Reese Witherspoon celebrated the activist's work while accepting an award for her own philanthropic efforts with the Malala Fund.

Noting that it was her own daughter, Ava, 15, who first brought Yousafzai to her attention, the Oscar winner shared with the audience – which included fellow honorees Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Jennifer Lopez and Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley – about her experience meeting her "role model."

"This summer, we got to meet Malala … Ava and I," she said Friday at Variety's Power of Women event, which was sponsored by Moroccanoil. "We got to have dinner with her at a friend's house, which was incredible. She sat next to Ava at dinner and they talked about schoolwork and homework and what their life goals were, and Ava was just in awe of this 17-year-old woman."

According to Witherspoon, 38, her daughter's interest in helping other women was first piqued at a young age, when like any other child, she had a day when she didn't want to go to school.

Keep up with Reese Witherspoon in the pages of PEOPLE Magazine by subscribing now.


"Instead of saying my usual, 'Mommy's not awake yet. We can talk about it after coffee,' I actually took the opportunity to explain to her that there are a lot of girls all over the world who don't even get the opportunity to even go to school," Witherspoon recalled about her conversation with Ava, then in the third grade.



"My daughter found that astounding, and from that point on, Ava became determined to help others understand the plight of women around the world."

Calling Yousafzai "amazing," the actress marveled at the teen's courage and strength.

"When I was 14, I was worried about learning my lines and impressing casting directors," she said. "When Malala Yousafzai was 14, she was speaking out against an oppressive regime and fighting for the rights for girls to be educated around the world."

Rights lobby, EU fault proposed Katiba over death penalty

Rights lobby, EU fault proposed Katiba over death penalty

 
European Union (EU) Delegation Head of Cooperation in Tanzania, Mr Eric Beaume (left), and Plan International Tanzania Country Director Mr Jorgen Haldorsen display a book entitled: ‘Because I am a Girl’ during its launch in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, as part of efforts geared to protect human rights. The EU wants capital punishment be deleted from Tanzanian law books. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN 
By Katare Mbashiru The Citizen Reporter

In Summary
The EU said, the constitutional review process was the right opportunity to abolish the death penalty and advised that the country should consider the issue further in the next steps.
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Dar es Salaam. The European Union and the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) have expressed dissatisfaction over the Proposed Constitution retaining provisions supporting death penalty.
The EU said, the constitutional review process was the right opportunity to abolish the death penalty and advised that the country should consider the issue further in the next steps.
“We call on Tanzania to support the Resolution on a moratorium on the use of death penalty which will be put to vote at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in December 2014,” said EU head of Political, Press and Information Section, Ms Luana Reale.
In her statement emailed to The Citizen, Ms Reale said the EU was happy with the Tanzanian civil society organisations working towards the abolition of death penalty in Tanzania for their relentless efforts of awareness raising and campaigning.
“Where death penalty still exists, it was important to make sure that it is applied only for the most serious crimes, with guarantees of fair trial and sparing at least the youth and the mentally disabled,” she said.
The EU welcomed Tanzania’s continued de facto moratorium since 1995 calling for the abolition of death penalty in Tanzania. “We also welcome recent steps taken by the African Union towards the adoption of an Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Abolition of Death Penalty,’’ added Ms Ruale.
The HLRC yesterday insisted yesterday that Article 33 and 95(1)(c) of the proposed constitution were against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that provides for the right to life.
LHRC director of Empowerment and Advocacy, Ms Imelda Urio said apart from the two articles of the proposed Mother Law, amendments should also be made in the penal code to protect human rights.
She was speaking on the World Day against Death Penalty that is marked every October 10. “Capital punishment does not provide for security in the society and studies show that it has never helped in reducing crime worldwide,’’ she said.
Ms Urio added that death penalty was one of the forms of violence, inequality and that it was inhuman, causing immense psychological torture to people who are on death row.
As of December 2013 according to her, 3892 people had been convicted with murder and put on death row. For more than 19 years now, people who were convicted are still languishing in prisons waiting to be hanged.
By: The Citizen

Let girls be girls, not brides

Let girls be girls, not brides

 
In Summary
At an age when she should have been in school learning and dreaming, Tecla became a child bride. She wanted to be like other children: playing games, listening to stories, and eventually achieving her goal of being a school teacher. But instead, her dreams were shattered by a marriage she didn’t choose and by sexual violence.
Dar es Salaam. Tecla, a young Zimbabwean girl, was sold for a few cows by her father to help alleviate the family’s poverty. She was raped by her husband, became pregnant and contracted HIV/Aids. Her baby died soon after birth. Tecla was only 12 years old.
At an age when she should have been in school learning and dreaming, Tecla became a child bride. She wanted to be like other children: playing games, listening to stories, and eventually achieving her goal of being a school teacher. But instead, her dreams were shattered by a marriage she didn’t choose and by sexual violence.
Every day, 39,000 girls like Tecla are forced into child marriage somewhere in the world. That’s 27 girls a minute. And every year, 16 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 -- 90 per cent of whom are married -- give birth to children, despite the fact that many are children themselves.
Child marriage is one of the most violent crimes against girls. It can rob them of their childhood, deny them of the chance to finish school and expose them to domestic and sexual violence. Child marriage can also jeopardize girls’ health, increasing both their risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases and their chances of dying in pregnancy and childbirth due to early pregnancies and poor access to family planning.
We know that putting an end to child marriage would have tremendous benefits – not only for the girls themselves, but also for their communities. When girls aren’t forced to marry, they can stay in school, will have healthier children and can meaningfully contribute to their families and economies. In fact, each additional year of education for a woman reduces infant mortality by up to 10 percent.
And by enrolling just 10 percent more girls in school, a countries can increase its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by approximately three percent. It is a virtuous circle and, as we say at Women Deliver, everybody wins.
It is undeniably difficult to change the cultural and social traditions and norms that make child marriage a common practice in parts of the world. But, it is not impossible. Around the world, passionate advocates, including several of the Women Deliver Young Leaders, are stepping up to demand change in their communities.
For example, in Zimbabwe, the Rising Birds Project is bringing young people together to increase community awareness about the harmful impact child marriage has on girls’ education and health. The project puts pressure on elders and decision-makers to outlaw customary child marriage practices, strengthen the enforcement of new laws and encourage male involvement to bring about change.
Around the world in Bangladesh, Women Deliver Young Leader S.M. Shaikat is also trying to put an end to child marriage. S.M.’s project, known as Jagoroni (Bengali for ‘rising’), has enlisted over 650 young people to help advocate to stop child marriage and dowry-related violence. Youth-led ‘watchdog’ groups use mobile phones and online networks to report dowry violence to authorities and hold local law enforcement agencies accountable.
Young people are also working to ensure that girls – both married and unmarried – are empowered with youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health information and services they need to protect their health and choose when and with whom to have a baby. Among other things, this includes sexuality education, as well as information about modern contraceptives and where to access them. For example, Maureen Odour is using mobile technologies to provide young people with information about sexual health in Tanzania, and Nargis Shirazi has created digital platforms to spark dialogues about typically taboo topics in Uganda.
Projects like these and others are helping to change the realities of millions of girls around the world. Young people – including young men – are taking matters into their own hands and telling their families, community leaders and policymakers that they will no longer stand for child marriage.
As the world marks International Day of the Girl Child (11 October), let’s join these young leaders in their calls and amplify their voices to put an end to this unacceptable form of violence. Together, we can build a world where 12 year-old girls like Tecla are preparing for school, not for marriage – and on their 18th birthdays, are planning for university or for job interviews, not for another pregnancy.
We cannot stop advocating until every girl, no matter where she is born, has the right to go to school, to choose who and when she marries, and to pursue her dreams. Let girls be girls, not brides.
Katja Iversen is the Chief Executive Office of a global advocacy organisation: Women Deliver. Yemurai Nyoni is the founder of the Rising Birds Project to combat child marriage in Zimbabwe and Women Deliver Young Leader.
By: The Citizen

Alarm over late cancer detection

Alarm over late cancer detection

Ocean Road Cancer Institute acting executive director Diwani Msemo speaks at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. He said, some 44,000 Tanzanians are diagnosed with cancer every year, but only 8,800 can be fully cured. PHOTO |  SALIM SHAO 
By Saumu Mwalimu, The Citizen Report
In Summary
Acting executive director of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Dr Diwani Msemo, said yesterday that the situation is highly attributed to late detection of the disease as many hospitals lack special scanning machines for detecting cancer.


Dar es Salaam. Some 44,000 Tanzanians are diagnosed with cancer every year, but only 8,800 can be fully cured, a cancer specialist has said.
Acting executive director of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), Dr Diwani Msemo, said yesterday that the situation is highly attributed to late detection of the disease as many hospitals lack special scanning machines for detecting cancer.
Dr Msemo said that myths that cancer is not a curable disease or operation related to cancer lead to the spread of the disease have also contributed to a tendency of people hiding their cancer condition until it gets out of control.
Briefing journalists on October 12th charity walk organised by his institute and its partners to raise fund for breast cancer awareness, Dr Msemo said that in developed countries 80 per cent of those diagnosed with cancer very early stand a good chance to survive while in Tanzania only 20 per cent survive.
He said that since the vast majority of those found with cancer didn’t go to hospital early, it became difficult to treat the disease. However, professionally, cancer is curable, said Dr Msemo.
Dr Msemo added, although Tanzania is among a few countries in the world to have free cancer treatment, it needs to conduct more campaigns and step up efforts geared to scale down cancer.
as those given the HIV/AIDs because the disease is growing and more people are dying.
“We have several challenges including the luck of funds to buy diagnosis machines, chemotherapy medicine and other medical staffs that force the patients to wait up to six weeks to being diagnosed of getting chemo,” he said.
He added although in Tanzania, cervical cancer claims more lives compared to other types, but 511 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and the number is rising.
The walk “Pink Sunday Funwalk” will be graced by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr Seif Rashid will start at that Kunduchi Beach Hotel aims at raising Sh130 million.
By citizen

Nyerere’s leadership sadly missed, opine Tanzanians

Nyerere’s leadership sadly missed, opine Tanzanians


 In this Bettmann/CORBIS image, President Julius Nyerere addresses a press conference at State House in
Posted  Saturday, October 11  2014 at  11:25
In Summary
His recorded speeches continue to reverberate as if he made them yesterday. Is Tanzania the way he would have wished it to be? What you do miss most about him?


This year, Tanzanians mark the 15th anniversary of the death of Founding Father of the Nation Julius Nyerere, who died on October 14, 1999. People in Tanzania, Africa and across the world remember him for various reasons.
His recorded speeches continue to reverberate as if he made them yesterday. Is Tanzania the way he would have wished it to be? What you do miss most about him?
07158352..
I miss his leadership as president. He was a man of action and true to his word. He dealt with criminals appropriately in order to protect interests of the country. He was very close to the people. He did not seek people’s sympathy but found solutions to people’s problems.
07844833..
What is happening now in Tanzania is not what Mwalimu Nyerere wished. I’m missing his leadership style. His gap is too obvious now. There is currently sort of a vacuum at the top. Leaders are not always not there.
06852944..
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was the only leader who worked for his nation. He couldn’t wait for his people to work for their nation. He helped people have self-esteem, so he led them to fight against tribalism, racism and religionalism.
He could stand strongly before big nations and make a case for the entire continent of Africa.
Currently there is no leader like him in the whole of Africa. His talent is nowhere to be seen.
Very OK
One time he wanted Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to unite and form one government. He really believed in unity.
Janeth K
He must be in deep sorrow right now if at all he is able to see what we’re doing to mother Tanzania. This is not what Mwl Julius Nyerere wanted.
Pritesh
We were suppressed in his time. Having toothpaste was regarded as a crime. Having an ordinary television was a sin. His policy of nationalisation put the entire country behind by a hundred years.
We look at Kenya and its progress which we were entitled to but we never got what we deserved due to such socialist policies which made an era of lazy people who expected to be fed for free if they did not have anything.
Now the times are becoming more realistic but there is a lot of space for improvement within our systems and approach in handling situations such as medicals, education and many more of such nature.
Harris L
We are far away from where he wished Tanzania to be.
corruption has been increasing rapidly, leaders don’t observe the code of conduct and ethics and most are hypocrites. We are not in well at all.
By: The citizen

Z’bar CA member collapses in shock

NCCR-Mageuzi vice chairman (Zanzibar) Haji Ambar Khamis (left) speaks to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Second left is party’s national chairman James Mbatia and vice chairperson (Mainland) Leticia Mosore. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT      
By The Citizen Correspondent
In Summary
He had a rough time of it trying to prove he had no hand in the inclusion of his name on the list of CA members who approved the document presented to President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday.

Dar es Salaam. A member of the disbanded Constituent Assembly from Zanzibar collapsed yesterday as he tried to explain how shocked he was to learn that his name was on the list of members who voted in favour of the proposed constitution. Mr Haji Ambar Khamis was taken to Amana Hospital.
He had a rough time of it trying to prove he had no hand in the inclusion of his name on the list of CA members who approved the document presented to President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday.
He told reporters he did not take part in either preparing or voting on the document. In fact, he added, he had nothing to do with the document from April after he boycotted sittings of the assembly together with other members who disputed the manner in which the assembly was conducted.
He returned to the CA in August but claims he had neither discussed the document nor voted on it.
Mr Hamis is a vice chairman of the opposition NCCR-Mageuzi in Zanzibar. “I have never participated in approving the proposed constitution,” he insisted. “The truth is that I have been pained so much because I don’t know what the future holds for me and my family.”
The politician, who was once a candidate for the Zanzibar presidency, broke down during the interview. NCCR-Mageuzi officials led him out of the office as he appeared to be losing consciousness.
The Citizen on Saturday’s correspondent in the company of the NCCR-Mageuzi leaders witnessed him being laid on a bed as doctors moved to examine him.
NCCR-Mageuzi Chairman James Mbatia, who was the first to speak at the press conference, said information put out by leaders of the disbanded CA that Mr Hamis voted for the document was wrong.
After thoroughly going through a copy of the proposed constitution, he added, they discovered that name of one-time party member Haji Ambar Hamis was on the list of those who approved the proposed Katiba.
Mr Mbatia explained: “On the list of members who took part in approving the proposed constitution, his (Ambar’s name) is on the list of CA members from Zanzibar.
But following a discussion with him, Mr Hamis sincerely assured us he had never participated in preparing or approving the proposed constitution.”
According to Mr Mbatia, putting the name of the party’s national leader on the list of those who endorsed the document without his consent amounts to gross fraud.
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“This is embarrassing for Mr Hamis, his family, his party, members of the Coalition of Defenders of Peoples’ Constitution (Ukawa) and Tanzanians in general,” he added.
Mr Mbatia believes CA leaders made the move deliberately to mislead the public and warned that it posed a big threat to the security of the nation, given the potential for violence.
CA Assistant Secretary Thomas Kashilila declined to respond to the claims, saying he was not the assembly’s spokesperson. “I haven’t heard such allegations and I am not the spokesperson,” said Dr Kashilila. He referred this reporter to the CA chairman.

The Hague court sets trial date for Congolese warlord Ntaganda

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The Hague court sets trial date for Congolese warlord Ntaganda



Rwandan-born Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda is seen during his first appearance before judges of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on March 26, 2013, since his surprise surrender to face charges including murder, rape pillaging and using child soldiers in eastern Congo. PHOTO | FILE      


In Summary
The Rwandan-born Ntaganda faces 13 war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity for his role in a brutal civil conflict in the DR Congo’s volatile northeast a decade ago.

The Hague, Friday. Former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda, nicknamed “The Terminator,” will face trial next year for war crimes including using child soldiers and sex slaves in his rebel army, the International Criminal Court said on Thursday.
The Rwandan-born Ntaganda faces 13 war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity for his role in a brutal civil conflict in the DR Congo’s volatile northeast a decade ago.
“The Trial Chamber scheduled the opening of the trial on June 2,” the Hague-based ICC said in a statement.
Prosecutors allege that Ntaganda, who surrendered to the court in a shock move last year, was allegedly involved in raping child and women soldiers and keeping them as sex slaves.
He is also accused of using child soldiers in his Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC) in attacks prosecutors say killed at least 800 people as warlords battled rival militias for control in the mineral-rich Ituri province.
Ntaganda, 40, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He is the founder of the M23 rebel group that was eventually defeated by the government late last year after an 18-month insurgency in the eastern DR Congo’s North Kivu region.
The first-ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC, Ntaganda walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali a year-and-a-half ago and asked to be sent to The Hague.
Observers said Ntaganda was possibly fearing for his life as a fugitive from a rival faction in the M23 movement, although his motives remain unclear.
The ICC had issued two arrest warrants against Ntaganda -- the first in 2006 and a second with additional charges in 2012. He was transferred to the ICC’s detention unit a few days later and judges confirmed the charges against him in June. (AFP)
Fighting in eastern DRC has left some 60,000 dead since 1999, exacerbated by the wealth of mineral resources in the region, notably gold and minerals used in electronic products.
Former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2012 for conscripting children under 15 and using them in hostilities.
By: The citizen

Syria: Kobane siege death toll 'passes 500'

Islamic State gunmen crouch during fighting in Kobane, 11 October (photo taken with long-range lens)  Quentin Sommerville says he can hear frequent explosions coming from the town
At least 553 people are said to have died in a month of fighting for Kobane, the Kurdish town just inside Syria under Islamic State (IS) attack.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based Syrian opposition body which monitors the conflict, counted 298 IS fighters among the dead.
US aircraft have bombed IS positions as Kurdish fighters cling on to the town's vital border crossing with Turkey.
But the defenders say they are outgunned on the ground.
"The supply of fighters is very good..." Kobane official Idris Nassan told Reuters news agency. "But fighters coming without arms, without weaponry, is not going to make a critical difference."
Islamic State gunmen crouch during fighting in Kobane, 11 October (photo taken with long-range lens)   
 Islamic State gunmen crouch during fighting in Kobane
Correspondents watched from just over the border in Turkey on Saturday as fighting raged for the town.
Turkey, wary of its recent long conflict with its own large Kurdish population, has ruled out any unilateral ground intervention.
Some 200,000 Syrian Kurdish refugees have crossed the border since the IS advance began nearly a month ago.
Meanwhile, fighting has continued in Iraq, where IS overran large parts of the north during the summer.
'More than 1,000' According to the Observatory, the true figure for deaths in the siege of Kobane could be more than 1,100 since the IS attack began on 16 September.
Of the deaths it has been able to document, 226 are of Kurdish fighters and nine are of other Syrian opposition fighters, who were fighting on their side.
Of the 20 civilian deaths recorded, 17 were victims of IS executions, it said.
Kobane resounded to small-arms fire and explosions on Saturday following the failure of a pre-dawn IS offensive to take more ground.
According to the Pentagon, US air strikes on IS targets at Kobane since Friday have hit an IS fighting position; damaged a command and control facility; destroyed a staging building; struck two small units of fighters; and destroyed three lorries.
Targets hit by US-led air strikes in Iraq and Syria
Mr Nassan said the air strikes had helped the Kurdish fighters regain some territory in the south of the city but they were not enough.
"A few days ago, [IS] attacked with a Humvee vehicle, they use mortars, cannons, tanks," he said. "We don't need just Kalashnikovs and bullets. We need something effective since they captured many tanks and military vehicles in Iraq."
Kurdish demonstrators in Duesseldorf, Germany, 11 October Kurdish demonstrators in Duesseldorf
Civilians watch the fighting in Kobane from the safety of the Turkish side of the border, 11 October Civilians watch the fighting in Kobane from the safety of the Turkish side of the border
A Syrian Kurdish refugee and her child at a camp in Suruc, Turkey, 11 October A Syrian Kurdish refugee and her child at a camp in Suruc, Turkey
In Europe, at least 20,000 Kurds living in Germany marched in the city of Duesseldorf on Saturday to highlight the threat to Kurds in Kobane.
At a smaller rally in the Austrian town of Bregenz, two people were stabbed and seriously wounded when Kurdish protesters clashed with a rival demonstration, said to involve Turks and Chechens.
Pro-Kurdish rallies were held in other European cities including Paris, Basel and Barcelona.
Car bombs At least 38 people were killed and many more injured in three bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Elsewhere in Iraq, at least 14 people were killed: four injured soldiers died when their ambulance was attacked in a "friendly fire" incident near Baquba while a suicide bomber killed at least seven people in a market in Meshahda, near Baghdad.
US and other aircraft from the international coalition carried out air strikes on IS targets inside Iraq as well as dropping supplies to Iraqi government forces at Baiji, where Iraq's biggest oil refinery is located.
IS fighters control large stretches of territory in Syria and Iraq. The group is known for its brutal tactics, including mass killings, abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, and the beheadings of soldiers and journalists.
Map showing air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq since 8 Aug 2014