Moshi. Kama unasubiri mabilioni ya fedha ndiyo yabadili hali yako ya maisha pengine unachelewa.
Wapo waliotumia Sh24,000 wanayoipata kila baada ya miezi miwili na sasa wameukacha ufukara.
Kwa mujibu wa baadhi ya wakazi wa Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro, maisha yao yamebebwa na uwezeshaji mdogo walioupata kupitia Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Jamii (Tasaf), uliowawezesha kuwa na miradi ya kujiingizia kipato.
Wakazi hao ni wachache kati ya wanufaika wengi wa mpango wa Tasaf tangu mwaka 2014.
Caroline Minja anayeishi katika Kijiji cha Kariwachini, Kata ya Rau mkoani Kilimanjaro ni miongoni mwao, anasema kwa sasa anamiliki genge la bidhaa za mbogamboga na anafuga nguruwe.
“Kabla ya hapo nilianza kwa kuajiriwa kama mama lishe, sikuwa napata fedha za kutosha lakini siku moja walipita watu wa Tasaf,” amesema.
Mwanzo wake wa kuingia Tasaf, amesema ilikuwa mwaka 2015, baada ya kuhojiwa maswali kadhaa na kuonekana amekidhi vigezo aliandikishwa na kuanza kunufaika na mpango huo.
Kwa mara ya kwanza, amesema alipewa Sh48,000, mara ya pili Sh36,000 na wakifanya kazi hulipwa Sh130,000, kisha alipewa Sh350,000 kwa awamu ya mwisho.
“Fedha hii nimechukua mifugo naendelea nayo, nimefungua genge na fedha hizi za Tasaf zimenisadia kwani nimejenga nyumba hii (anaonyesha nyumba ya vyumba viwili, ikiwa na umeme), awali nilikuwa naishi nyumba ya udongo,” amesema na kuongeza:
“Kwa kweli bila Tasaf sijui hali yangu ingekuwaje, kwa sababu sikuwa na kitu na mlo ulikuwa changamoto. Lakini kwa sasa napata mlo asubuhi chai, mchana na usiku na malengo yangu nifike mbali kibiashara.”
Shufaa Mfinanga mkazi wa Kata ya Kaloleni Mtaa wa Kalimani Moshi akiwa gengeni kwake.
Ngumu kuamini
Ni vigumu kuamini kama nyumba inayomilikiwa naye imetokana na kiasi hicho kidogo alichokuwa akidunduliza kutoka Tasaf, kwani imenakshiwa kwa rangi nzuri.
Fedha yake ya kwanza, amesema alianza kuiwekeza kwa kufuga kuku huku akiendelea na shughuli za ususi, baadaye alianza kufuga njiwa, taratibu maisha yake yalibadilika.
“Hii nyumba ambayo mnaiona nilikuwa najenga taratibu. Nikipata Tasaf nanunua mifuko ya saruji kidogo na tukawa tunajenga kidogo kidogo,” amesema.
Amesema njiwa hao wanauzwa kuanzia Sh200,000 hadi Sh300,000 wakiwa wawili.
“Bila Tasaf sijui kama ningekuwepo kwa sababu mtoto wangu aliachwa darasa la tano mpaka sasa yupo kidato cha nne. Nilikuwa na nyumba viwili vya kawaida mpaka sasa nia nyumba hii.
“Yaani nilikuwa nikipokea kama 40,000 nanunua saruji naweka, makaunta book ya watoto na hadi sasa unaniona nimefika hapa,” amesema.
Simulizi kama hiyo inatolewa pia na Elizabeth Shirima anayeishi Kiboriloni mkoani humo, anayesema aliingia Tasaf kwa kurithi nafasi ya mama yake mzazi, ambaye alifariki akiwa mnufaika.
Baada ya kifo cha mama yake, amesema alibaki na mdogo wake aliyekuwa mgonjwa wa moyo na alilazwa katika hospitali ya KCMC na baadaye alitakiwa kupelekwa Muhimbili.
“Katika huu mpango jina lilikuwa la mama na baada ya kufariki mwaka 2015 na wakati huo nikiwa na miaka 20. Alipofariki mama nikaingizwa mimi kwenye mpango.
“Nilipojifunza ufundi, mama akaninunulia cherehani ambayo sasa ni mbovu ila nilipoanza kushona nikanunua ya kwangu na kupitia Tasaf imeniwezesha kupata fedha za kujikimu mimi na fedha niliyopokea nilinunua vitenge,” amesema.
Valeria Teti mkazi wa Relini wilayani Moshi akizungumza na waandishi wa habari walioambatana na ujumbe wa Tasaf ambaye amefanikiwa kujenga nyumba kwa Sh56,000 ya Tasaf.
Kutoka kumiliki cherehani mbovu, amesema kwa sasa anamiliki nzima na amekuwa fundi maarufu katika eneo hilo na anawafundisha wengine, hivyo maisha yake yamebadilika.
Shufaa Mfinanga (56) ni mama wa watoto wanne na mkazi wa Kaloleni mkoani humo, anasema maisha yake kwa sasa yanaendeshwa na biashara ya genge analolimiliki.
“Hela ya kwanza Sh24,000 niliyokuwa nikipewa sikuitumia nikawa nanunua kitu kimoja kimoja hadi pale nilipopewa Sh350,000 ya ruzuku ya uzalishaji mali na sasa nimesimamisha biashara yangu,” amesema.
Ufugaji kuku, sungura, ng’ombe na bata ndiyo msingi wa maisha ya Federika Swai anayeishi katika mtaa wa Viwanda mkoani Kilimanjaro.
Kabla ya mifugo hiyo, maisha ya Federika hayakueleweka, kwani hata uhakika wa mlo mmoja ilikuwa changamoto.
Kwa mujibu wa Fererika, alikuwa akiomba nafasi kwa majirani kwa ajili ya wanawe kulala, lakini sasa yupo kwenye ujenzi wa nyumba yake.
Valeria Teti, anayeishi Relini, mkoani Kilimanjaro, alianza kwa Sh56,000 na sasa anamiliki nyumba yake.
Kauli ya Tasaf
Mratibu wa Tasaf, Halmashauri ya Manispaa ya Moshi, Denis Robert anasema mpango wa kuzinusuru kaya masikini unatekelezwa tangu 2014 ili kuwatoa watu kwenye umasikini uliokithiri.
Awamu ya kwanza ya kunusuru kaya masikini ilipokamilika mwaka 2019/20 Serikali ikaleta kipindi cha pili ambacho tunacho hadi sasa.
“Mpango ukaongeza miradi ya ajira za muda, walengwa wakapewa vifaa, miradi ya matofali madogo, miche ya miti, kukarabati barabara hivyo wamepata na ujuzi,”ameeleza.
Robert anaongeza walengwa wamenufaika kupitia mipango ya biashara na ikafanyiwa tathmini wakapata ruzuku 697 zenye thamani ya Sh243 milioni.
“Hii ni kwa maana wakapata Sh350,000 kila mmoja kutekeleza miradi yao wakiwemo hao waliotembelewa,” amesema.
Awali, Akizungumza kwenye kikao na waandishi na wahariri kikichofanyika Julai 15, mwaka huu jijini Arusha, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Tasaf, Shedrack Mziray alisema asilimia nane ya Watanzania wote wanakabiliwa na umasikini uliokithiri.
Lengo la Tasaf, amesema ni kuboresha maisha yao kwa kuwapa fedha, kisha kuwaingiza katika mfumo wa kujikwamua kiuchumi ikiwemo kuwapa fedha za ruzuku ya uzalishaji mali.
Source: mwananchi.co.tz
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).
“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.
Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
