ANALYSTS have welcomed the constitutional amendments endorsed during the 10th National Congress of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) that sat for two days at the Jakaya kikwete Convention Centre in the country’s capital, Dodoma.
The endorsed amendments aim at improving efficiency and increasing members’ engagement in the party’s top level meetings.
Speaking while presiding over the meeting on Wednesday, CCM national chairperson President Samia Suluhu Hassan said the amendments aim to increase the number of National Executive Committee (NEC) members from the previous 15 seats in the mainland and Zanzibar to 20 for both sides.
Similarly, she indicated raising the number of Central Committee members from seven appointees to 10 as well as the inclusion of Heads of Units of various wings at national level in the meetings.
Elaborating, Dr Samia noted that the decision to create the position of Regional Secretary for Publicity and Ideology on employment basis was to promote accountability.
“Formerly the position focused on selecting people who would only sing in meetings instead of publicising the party agenda,” she said.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ in a telephone interview yesterday, analysts said the changes have come at the right time and would help the party in realising all its targets.
A lecturer at the Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College (Tudarco) Rachel Yusuph said the changes widen the member’s representation in the party’s decision making organs.
“The increase in number of members in NEC meetings assures effective representation of party members from both sides of the union, it also cements further the national union, peace and harmony,” she said.
According to her, the increased number of NEC members will also help in making rational decisions since there will be a room for more people to express their opinions that in the end will be used in making proper final decisions.
For his part, a political analyst Mr Vincent Ndunguru commended the move by the party to start employing its regional secretaries for ideology and publicity.
He said the decision also aims to enhance efficiency on the party’s operations from grassroots level as the positions will now be held by competent individuals.
“Having competent and qualified secretaries of ideology and publicity at regional level will help in reducing a workload of party’s top officials since their roles will be carried out by these employees who will now be working full time,” he said.
His views were in line with the opinion aired by the seasoned political analyst Goodluck Ng’ingo who said the constitutional amendment will bring changes within the party for future prosperity.
“It’s a good decision to level a number of NEC members from mainland and Zanzibar,” he said, noting that the decision has come at a right time when CCM has got new leaders who have been elected through democratic process.
Mr Ng’ingo also commended the decision of employing the party’s regional secretaries for ideology and publicity, saying this will make the party vibrant at all levels.
“Since these staff will be working full time, they will help in making the branches and party wings vibrant throughout the year,” he said.
Earlier, CCM Secretary General, Mr Daniel Chongolo noted that the amendment carried out emanated from recommendations made by the party’s Central Committee in its various meetings.
Mr Chongolo outlined the objectives of carrying out the Constitutional amendments as including renewing the structure of the party, extending the scope of engagement of its members as well as strengthening democracy within the party and its various wings.
Source: Original Media Source
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European Union Bans Air Tanzania Over Safety Concerns
Kampala — The European Commission added Air Tanzania to the EU Air Safety List, banning the airline from operating within European Union airspace. This decision follows the denial of Air Tanzania’s Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), citing significant safety deficiencies.
The EU Air Safety List includes airlines that fail to meet international safety standards. Commissioner Tzitzikostas emphasized the importance of passenger safety, stating: “The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards. We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift action to address these safety issues. The Commission has offered its assistance to Tanzanian authorities to enhance safety performance and achieve compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania joins several African airlines banned from EU airspace, including carriers from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Kenya. Notable names include Congo Airways, Sudan Airways, and Kenyan carriers Silverstone Air Services and Skyward Express. The ban reflects the EU’s strict approach to aviation safety worldwide.
Source: allafrica.com
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
