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Mwandishi Wetu Daily News; Saturday,January 31, 2009 @21:15

Serikali imeahirisha ununuzi wa magari yake mwaka huu na badala yake itanunua matrekta kwa nia ya kuimarisha kilimo nchini. Sambamba na hilo, imezuia rasmi semina, warsha, makongamano na mikutano isiyo ya lazima ili fedha za shughuli hizo zitumike kununua matrekta hayo. Nia ni kutaka kuongeza idadi ya matrekta yaliyonunuliwa na halmashauri na yanayoletwa na sekta binafsi lakini pia kununulia pembejeo muhimu za kilimo na ufugaji. Hayo yalisemwa jana na Rais Jakaya Kikwete katika hotuba yake ya kila mwisho wa mwezi kwa taifa kwa mujibu wa utaratibu aliojiwekea ambapo alisema magari yatakayonunuliwa ni yale ya muhimu tu. "Lengo letu ni kuona wakulima wetu wengi zaidi wanatumia matrekta, hivyo kutoa fursa ya kupanua ukubwa wa mashamba yao na kuongeza tija. Pia kuona mimea na mifugo yetu inahudumiwa vizuri zaidi," alisema Rais ambaye yuko Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, kuhudhuria mkutano wa Umoja wa Afrika (AU). Alisema utaratibu mzima wa usambazaji na ugavi wa matreka hayo na pembejeo, utatolewa baadaye na serikali wakati wake ukifika. Hata hivyo muda ukifika alisema, matrekta hayo yatauzwa kwa vikundi vya wakulima kupitia vyama vyao vya kuweka na kukopa (SACCOS) au vyama vya ushirika. "Hii ni hatua ya mwanzo tu. Kuanzia mwakani tutatenga fungu maalumu katika bajeti la kununua matrekta kwa ajili ya wakulima wetu," aliongeza. Katika kuongeza kasi ya utekelezaji wa mipango ya kuleta usasa katika kilimo, alisema tayari kuna mipango ya kurahisisha upatikanaji wa mbolea, mbegu bora na dawa za mimea na mifugo; huduma za ugani, kuimarisha miundombinu ya umwagiliaji maji na kuhakikisha masoko na bei nzuri kwa mazao ya mkulima na mfugaji. "Tunapenda kuona kilimo chetu kinabadilika; tunajitosheleza kwa chakula na maisha ya wakulima wetu nayo yanabadilika na kuboreka. Naamini haya yanawezekana kabisa, iwapo tutafanikiwa kuyafanya haya na mengine tuliyoanza kuyafanya," alisema. Alisisitiza kuwa kwa taifa kama Tanzania linalotegemea kilimo, hapana budi kuongeza matumizi ya matrekta na matumizi ya wanyama-kazi kulimia badala ya kuendelea kutumia jembe la mkono. Alisema serikali imekuwa inachukua hatua kadhaa za kuhimiza uingizaji wa matrekta nchini. Miongoni mwa hatua hizo ni kufuta ushuru wa forodha na kodi za ongezeko la thamani kwa matrekta, plau kutoka nje ya nchi. Pia, baadhi ya halmashauri za wilaya nchini zimetumia sehemu ya pesa za ASDP kununua matrekta na kuyauza kwa vikundi vya wakulima na hata mkulima mmojammoja. "Lakini, ukweli ni kwamba kiasi cha matrekta yanayoingizwa nchini bado ni kidogo sana. Idadi hiyo haifanani na nchi ambayo kilimo ndio uti wa mgongo wa uchumi wake, na asilimia 80 ya watu wake wanaishi vijijini wakitegemea kilimo. Hali hii haikubaliki na lazima ibadilike," alisema. Kuhusu Umoja wa Afrika (AU) Rais Kikwete aliwashukuru viongozi wenzake wa nchi wanachama kwa heshima kubwa waliyoipa Tanzania kupitia kwake na kwamba anapata faraja kubwa, kuona kuwa imeitumikia vyema AU na kuna mafanikio mbalimbali yaliyopatikana katika kipindi cha uongozi wa Tanzania. "Lakini, pia yapo mambo kadhaa ambayo hatukuweza kuyamalizia ambayo tunamwachia kiongozi ajaye kuyashughulikia ... pengine jambo la faraja kubwa kwangu wakati huu ninapomaliza kipindi changu cha uongozi, ni ajenda ya msingi ya kikao chetu cha safari hii," alisema. Alisema aliwaomba wenzake na wakamkubalia, kuwa katika kikao hiki wazungumzie suala zima la kuendeleza miundombinu barani Afrika. "Nilifanya hivyo kwa kutambua kuwa Umoja wa Mataifa ya Afrika tunaoutaka, utafanikiwa na kustawi tu pale nchi zetu zitakapokuwa zimeunganishwa kwa njia za uhakika za usafiri na usafirishaji, yaani barabara, reli na usafiri wa anga na majini. Nafurahi hiyo ndiyo ajenda yetu kuu," alisema. Kuhusu mvua, Rais alisema hali ya upatikanaji wa mvua nchini inazidi kutia mashaka, kwani taarifa za mikoa yenye upungufu wa mvua zinaongezeka, hasa ukanda wa kati na kuashiria kwamba huenda kukawa na tatizo kubwa zaidi la upungufu wa chakula katika baadhi ya mikoa mwaka huu. "Wizara ya Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika wanaendelea na tathmini ya kina ya hali ya upatikanaji wa chakula nchini ilivyo sasa. Taarifa yao itatupa sura kamili ya hali ilivyo na hatua za kuchukua kukabiliana na tatizo. Naomba wananchi msiwe na hofu, tutalikabili tatizo hili kwa ukamilifu," aliasa.

JUSTIFYING THE USE OF ADULTERATED WATER

METRO - New York.Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A drink a day keeps erectile dysfuction at bay

London. The perils of brewer's Droop are well known, but now
scientists say men who drink moderately have fewer erectile problems
than teetotallers. The survey of nearly 1,600 Australian men by the
Keogh Institute for medical Research found men who had a regular, but
not excessive tipple, reported 30 percent fewer problems than those
who never imbibed. Men who drank an average of 20 units of alcohol a
week (a unit in a half pint of beer or a small glass of wine)
performed the best. Those at greatest risk of the dreaded Droop were
former heavy drinkers who had given up all together, and men who
smoke, the Institute said. Meanwhile another survey suggests men who
were sexually active in their 20s run a higher risk of developing
prostate cancer later in life. UK researchers blamed higher hormone
levels for the link.

CLOVES TRADE LOOKING FOR A FREE MARKET?

2009-01-27 10:29:10 By Anjali Nayar, PEMBA
It`s an idyllic sight: farmer Salim Juma yells at his agile sons as they clamber in high trees on Zanzibar`s northern island of Pemba, to harvest cloves whose spicy-sweet aroma floats on the breeze. But the scene belies the slow decline of the spice for Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago in the Indian Ocean off Tanzania that was once the world`s largest producer. With the islands` revenue from tourism hit by global recession, the spice`s potential as a foreign-exchange earner is sharpened, even as the trade has been declining. For that, farmers blame persistent government interference. Since the African majority overthrew a minority ruling Arab elite in a revolution in 1964, government monopoly Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC) has set the prices farmers are paid for cloves and tourism is now Zanzibar`s economic priority. Zanzibar once enjoyed a near-monopoly in world markets and its cloves still reputedly yield the highest-quality oil, flavour and aroma, but its production of the spice has slipped to less than 10 percent of the world market. Now it lags far behind Indonesia and Madagascar for the spice, used in cigarettes such as those known as kretek in Indonesia, perfume, cooking and herbal medicine. Juma instructs his sons Salim Mabrouk, 13, and Twahir Khamisi, 16, as they collect fresh green buds: ``If you come across dry stems, bring them down because they will weaken the trees.`` The farmer, whose five acres lie just outside Mchanga Kwale village in the rolling hills of central Pemba, says it has been another unproductive season for the family farm. Since the 1950s, clove production in Zanzibar has fallen to 10,000 tonnes per year from 24,000 and the number of clove trees has more than halved to about 2 million, said Abubakar Mohamed Ali, executive director of the Zanzibar Clove Producers Organization, ZACPO. ``Those which are still in existence are old and non-productive,`` he said. Cloves were first grown on the archipelago in the 18th century: at one point, cultivation in plantations used slave labour. They generated wealth and riches for rulers including Sultans of Oman. The government focus on tourism since the 1980s has been part of a drive to liberalise the economy, but the global economic slowdown has hit tourist numbers. Just under 128,500 holidaymakers visited the islands in 2008 compared with 143,300 in the previous year, according to the state-run Zanzibar Commission for Tourism. Maabad Muhiddin, the commission`s senior marketing officer, said arrivals began dropping in June. Tax collector Zanzibar Revenue Board says tourism accounts for about 44 per cent of Zanzibar`s gross domestic product. In the year ending October, the sector earned $41.2 million, down 48 percent compared with a similar period in 2007, according to the central Bank of Tanzania. By comparison in the year to October, clove exports fetched $6.3 million, down from $8.9 million in the same period in 2007. International clove prices have trended higher in recent years with sharp seasonal variations: those from Zanzibar hit a high of $5,800 per tonne excluding freight in 2008, according to the Public Ledger, a publication that tracks the prices of over 700 internationally traded commodities. But farmers say this has not translated into higher prices for them. In the 2008 season, they were paid between $2.15 and $2.69 per kg for their cloves -- about half the selling price. ``We ship, export our product mostly to the UK, to our agent there. We give all of our product and he sells to other countries there,`` said Ali Abeid, the ZSTC clove oil distillery`s assistant producer. Under Zanzibar law, farmers may only sell cloves to ZSTC. Many smuggle their crop to neighbouring Kenya in search of higher prices. Clove trees take at least five years before they start flowering, so poor prices have dissuaded farmers from replacing old or diseased trees, and some have abandoned their fields. The government of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party under the islands` President Amani Abeid Karume has for years vowed to liberalise the clove industry, and in 2003 hired the Economic Research Bureau at the University of Dar Es Salaam to formulate a development strategy to be in place by the end of 2007. But little has been done, prompting many of Zanzibar\'s farmers to turn to crops such as seaweed and coconuts, which are freely traded. ``We don`t know why the government is hesitating to liberalise the system,`` said ZACPO`s Ali.``We want to make the government leave this business, so people can benefit from cloves.\" The islands` main opposition party Civic United Front has also pledged to liberalise the industry. ``We like cloves even though they don`t give us much,`` Juma said. ``We have to struggle with it anyways because if we were to abandon this business, our situation would be worse.``
SOURCE: Guardian

TO THEM AGE IS AN ATTITUDE OF MIND NOT YEARS!

Lady LAKE, Fla. — It's 11 p.m. at the Bourbon Street Bar, and Roselyn's gyrating her hips to the blues band, Sue's sipping a cocktail and flirting with her new boyfriend, and Alan is scanning the crowd for cute girls.
"See those two?" a buxom blonde asks, pointing to an elegant couple at the bar. "They were caught having sex in their golf cart a few weeks ago. It happens a lot!"
Welcome to ground zero for geriatrics who are seriously getting it on.
It's a Thursday night at one of a half-dozen hot spots at the 20,000-acre Central Florida complex called The Villages, the largest gated retirement community in America — and one of the most popular destinations for New Yorkers in their golden years — where the female-to-male ratio runs 10 to 1.
It's a widower's paradise, and the word on the street is that there's a big black market for Viagra.
Though The Villages — which spans three counties with 40,000 homes and more than 70,000 residents — boasts 34 golf courses, nine country clubs, two downtown squares and a slew of restaurants and bars, getting lucky is one of the residents' primary pastimes.
The huge complex began growing rapidly in the mid-1990s, and reported cases of gonorrhea rocketed from 152 to 245, of syphilis rose from 17 to 33, and of chlamydia from 52 to 115 among those 55 and older in Florida from 1995 to 2005.
The state's sexually transmitted disease rate among those over 65 is one of the fastest growing in the country, one report claims.
In 2006, a local gynecologist reported that she treated more cases of herpes and human papillomavirus at The Villages than she did when she worked in Miami.
"I get offers for sex all the time," brags Dave, 70, who, like others who spoke about their sexually active set, asked that his real name not be used, "especially by women in their 70s. They say, 'Are you busy tonight? I'll show you a good time.' "
One overly charming lady-killer known as "Mr. Midnight" boasted of one of his conquests last year: "Absolutely beautiful. I've had her a few times. She comes over, takes a shower, jumps in bed, and then gets dressed and leaves. She's simply the best."
His story was told by Andrew Blechman, author of "Leisureville," about communities like The Villages.
"There is lots of romance around here," said Jean, a 63-year-old retired teacher. "But most of the men want a one-night meaningful relationship."
Her friend Louise agrees.
"A lot of the men down here are cheaper than heck," she says, "and a lot of the women are extremely brazen. Some girls will go into the parking lot with a man and come back a half-hour later like nothing happened!"
"We've had some of those complaints," said a laughing Lt. Laurie Davis of the Lady Lake Police Department, ticking off other offenses, like drunken driving in golf carts, illegal drug use, and bar fights.
"Whatever you know about 20-year-olds, it's the same with seniors," said Roselyn Shelley, 68, a divorced former dancer.
Sue Rice, a blonde who will only admit to being over 60 but who looks to be about 80 and dances like she's 14, has hooked up with Larry Tucker, an ex-banker about a decade her junior.
Tucker sports a gold charm around his neck that reads, "Bankers do it with interest."
"Feel this," Rice says, bouncing up from her bar stool and pinching her slim waist. "My body is the same as it was in high school! He can't keep up with me!"
According to Alan, a swarthy 62-year-old, there's a thriving black market for little blue Viagra pills.
"I did it once," he said. "I paid 12 bucks for a single pill."
Local cops just try to keep up.
"You see two 70-year-olds with canes fighting over a woman and you think, 'Oh, jeez,' " Lt. Davis said.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482785,00.html

ZERUZERU TANZANIA WACHUKUA HATUA KUJIOKOA

Na Eckland Mwaffisi, 26 Januari, 2009
*Waandaa kampeni ya kitaifa kutoa elimu nchi nzima *Milioni 300 zinahitajika kufanikisha mpango huo Na Eckland Mwaffisi KATIKA siku za hivi karibuni, kumezuka mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi (albino), yanayotokana na shinikizo la imani za kishirikina kwa lengo la kutaka utajiri wa haraka kupitia viungo vya watu wasiokuwa na hatia. Kufuatia hali hiyo, Serikali na wadau wengine hususan taasisi za haki za binadamu, zimekuwa zikilaani mauaji hayo pamoja na kuendesha kampeni mbalimbali zenye lengo la kutoa elimu kwa jamii ili kuhamasisha vita dhidi ya ukatili wa mauaji ya albino nchini. Kwa kutambua uzito wa suala hilo, Kampuni ya Follywood kwa kushirikiana na Chama cha Maalbino Tanzania (CCMT), wameandaa mkakati wa kitaifa wa kutoa elimu kwa jamii na kupinga ukatili na mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi 'albino', kwa njia ya sanaa, michezo na burudani. Mkakati huo, utahusisha mikoa yote ya Tanzania katika kipindi cha miezi 10 na siku 15 sawa na siku 315 ambapo uzinduzi wake, utafanyika Dar es Salaam Machi 27 mwaka huu na mgeni rasmi, anatazamiwa kuwa Rais Jakaya Kikwete. Akizungumza na gazeti hili, Mratibu wa kampeni hiyo Bw. Ahmad Mwita, anasema kiasi cha sh. milioni 300 zinahitajika kufanikisha kampeni hiyo ambayo itahusisha viongozi mbalimbali wa mikoa, wilaya na wadau wengine katika mikoa husika. Anasema uratibu wa kampeni hiyo, utafanyia kwa njia ya sanaa, michezo na burudani na umepangwa kufanyika kwa awamu tatu tofauti ambapo awamu ya kwanza inatarajiwa kuanza Machi 29 mpaka Mei 5 mwaka huu. Awamu ya kwanza ya kampeni hiyo, itahusisha mikoa ya Shinyanga, Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Kigoma, Morogoro, Rukwa na Mbeya. Awamu ya pili Tabora, Iringa, Ruvuma, Lindi, Mtwara, Pwani na Dar es Salaam ambapo awamu ya tatu ni Dodoma, Singida, Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro na Tanga. "Kampeni hii, itakwenda sambamba na maandalizi ya filamu ya mauaji ya albino ambapo washiriki wa kampeni hizo, watapata fulsa ya kupiga kura za siri ili kuwataja watu wanaojihusisha na uhalifu huu pamoja na kukusanya mawazo yao juu ya sababu zinazosababisha mauaji hayo," anasema Bw. Mwita. Anasema pamoja na mkakati mzuri walionayo katika kufanikisha kampeni hiyo, changamoto waliyonayo kwa sasa ni ukosefu wa wadhamini watakaofanikisha kampeni hiyo. Anasema tokea kuanza kwa mauaji hayo, zaidi ya albino 45 wamepoteza maisha yao na wengine zaidi ya nane, wamepoteza viungo mbalimbali vya miili yao ambapo zaidi ya watoto 300, wanakosa haki ya msingi ya kupata elimu ya awali, msingi na sekondari. Katika siku za hivi karibuni, Serikali kupitia Wizara ya Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi, ilisema zaidi ya watu 100 wanaotuhumiwa kuhusika na mauaji hayo, wamekmatwa na mashauri yao yapo katika hatua mbalimbali za kushughulikiwa kisheria. Akizungumzia aina ya uharifu huo dhidi ya watu wasiokuwa na hatia, Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi Bw. Laurence Masha, anasema Taifa linapata aibu kutokana na uharifu huo unaotokana na imani potofu zilizojengeka katika jamii. Anasema mauaji hayo, yameishitua Serikali ambayo imeandaa mkakati kabambe wa kuhakikisha kuwa, wahusika wa vitendo hivyo wanakamatwa na kufikishwa katika vyombo vya sheria. Bw. Masha anasema, tayari Wizaya yake imeziagiza Kamati za Ulinzi na Usalama katika ngazi zote za Mikoa, Wilaya, Tarafa, Kata na Vijiji, kuunda mkakati wa pamoja ili kupambana na uhalifu huo unaofanywa na watu wachache wasiozingatia misingi ya haki za binadamu. Kufanikiwa kwa kampeni hiyo, kutachochea ari na hamasa miongoni mwa Watanzania katika harakati za kutokomeza mauaji hayo na kuleta mabadiliko ya kweli miongoni mwa jamii husika. Bw. Mwita anasema, kampeni hiyo itabeba ujumbe unaosema 'Ni Mwenzetu', pamoja na kutoa elimu kwa njia ya vijarada, hotuba za viongozi wa Serikali, mikoa na vyama vya albino katika mikoa husika. Anasema kushamili kwa mauaji hayo nchini, kunaifanya jamii ya maalbino, kushindwa kushiriki katika shughuli mbalimbali za maendeleo, haki ya kuishi na kupata elimu hivyo kampeni hiyo, itawaletea mafanikio makubwa endapo itafanikiwa kwa malengo yaliyokusudiwa. Katibu wa (CCMT) Bi. Ziada Nsembo, anasema katika uzinduzi wa kampeni hiyo, Rais Kikwete atawasha tochi itayoangaza kwa kila mwananchi pamoja na kuifikisha katika vikao vya Bunge ili kuipa uzito kampeni hiyo. Anasema mauaji ya albino, yanamgusa kila mwanajamii ambapo mkakati huo ni utekelezwaji wa sera ya chama hicho katika kupiga vita vitendo vya ukatili wa mauaji ya watu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi wasiokuwa na hatia kwa shinikizo la imani za kishirikina. "Kilio hiki ni cha taifa zima, chama kama chama bila kuungwa mkono na jamii pamoja na wadau wengine, hatuwezi kufikia malengo yanayokusudiwa ikiwa mategemeo yetu baada ya kampeni hiii ni kuona mabadiliko yaliyotokana na elimu tuliyoitoa kwa jamii pamoja na kufanya tathimini ya kile tulichokifanya," anasema Bi. Nsembo. Anasema kampeni hiyo, itaendesha semina katika kila mkoa kwa viongozi wa Vyama vya Maalbino katika mikoa husika na kuwapa jukumu la kuendeleza elimu hiyo kwa lengo la kukomesha mauaji hayo. Anasema katika siku za hivi karibuni, mauaji hayo yameonekana kushamili mkoani Kagera pasipo wahalifu wa mauaji hayo, kutotambua kuwa albino ni sehemu ya Watanzania hivyo wana haki sawa na binadamu wengine. Anasema vyombo vya habari, vimefanya kazi kubwa ya kufichua uhalifu huo na kufafanua kuwa, ni vyema taarifa zinazohusiana na mauaji hayo, zisilenge kuhamasisha biashara hiyo kwa kutaja kiasi cha fedha ambacho wahusika wa mauaji hayo, wanakipata kutokana na viungo vya albino. Kampeni hiyo inasimamiwa na CCMT na kuratibiwa na Follywood kwa lengo la kufanikisha mchakato wa kampeni hiyo kwa malengo yanayokusudiwa. Maonesho yote yatakayohusihwa katika kapeni hiyo yatafanyika bure ili kutoa nafasi kwa jamii kubwa, hushiriki na kutoa maoni yao kwa lengo la kukomesha mauaji hayo.

MKAPA AJUTIA UWEKEZAJI KUGEUKA UGENISHAJI

Na. Mwandishi Maalum - 26 Januari, 2009.
RAIS mstaafu, Benjamin Mkapa, amesema anajutia kitendo chake cha kuliingiza taifa katika ubinafsishaji wa rasilimali bila ya kujiandaa kikamilifu na mabadiliko hayo.
Mkapa alitoa majuto hayo katika mkutano ulioandaliwa na Umoja wa Vijana wa Chama Cha Mapinduzi (UVCCM) uliofanyika Zanzibar wiki iliyopita katika Hoteli ya Zamani Kempinski na kuhudhuriwa na aliyekuwa Rais wa Afrika Kusini, Thabo Mbeki.
Mbali ya Mbeki, viongozi wengine waliohudhuria mkutano huo ni Makamu Mwenyekiti wa CCM (Bara), Pius Msekwa na mwanasiasa mkongwe nchini, Kingunge Ngombale - Mwiru.
Mmoja ya wajumbe waliohudhuria mkutano huo ambaye alizungumza na Tanzania Daima Jumapili kwa sharti la kutokutajwa jina lake, alisema Mkapa alikiri kuwa sera ya ubinafsishaji haijamsaidia kwa kiwango kilichotarajiwa Mtanzania na badala yake wamegeuka wageni katika rasilimali zao.
Chanzo hicho kilidokeza kuwa Mkapa alibainisha kuwa kukubali kwake sera hiyo kulikuwa na lengo zuri la kuwafanya Watanzania waondokane na lindi la umaskini kupitia uwekezaji utakaofanywa katika rasilimali zao.
“Alituambia sera ya ubinafsishaji inamuumiza mno, kwani alipoikubali hakutarajia kama ingeweza kuwafanya wageni wawe na sauti katika rasilimali za taifa kuliko wazawa kama ilivyo sasa,” kilisema chanzo hicho.
Chanzo hicho kilibainisha kuwa Mkapa alifikia hatua ya kudai kuwa kama angepata nafasi ya kuwa kiongozi tena wa taifa hili angerekebisha sera ya ubinafsishaji haraka ili walau Watanzania waanze kufaidi rasilimali za nchi yao, badala ya kuwa mashuhuda wa wageni wanaoendelea kuneemeka na rasilimali za nchi.
Alisema tatizo kubwa lililopo katika nchi za Afrika ni kutumia baadhi ya mambo wanayotakiwa kuyafanya na wafadhili au mifuko ya fedha, bila kuyafanyia tathmini ya kina ili kujua kama hayataleta madhara katika siku za usoni.
“Mkapa alionyesha kujutia uamuzi alioufanya kwenye uwekezaji na aliweka wazi kuwa kama angeruhusiwa kurudi katika nafasi hiyo, basi jambo la kwanza kulirekebisha ni ubinafsishaji,” kilisema chanzo hicho.
Mkapa katika utawala wake alibinafsisha mashirika mengi ya umma, ikiwemo Benki ya Taifa ya Biashara (NBC) kwa bei ya chini, kitendo ambacho kilizua malalamiko mengi kutoka kwa wananchi, pia alibinafsisha Shirika la Ndege Tanzania (ATC) na mengine mengi, kiasi cha kuzua malalamiko mbalimbali ndani na nje ya nchi.
Aidha, katika utawala wake pia alilalamikiwa kwa kuwapendelea wawekezaji wa kigeni kuliko wazalendo, hasa katika sekta ya madini na kuingia mikataba mibovu ambayo hadi sasa imekuwa mzigo mkubwa kwa taifa, sambamba na wawekezaji hao kupata misamaha ya kodi kwa kigezo cha kuwavutia.
Kuingia mikataba mibovu huku ndiko kulikomfanya Rais Jakaya Kikwete kuunda kamati ya kupitia mikataba ya madini na kutoa ushauri wa namna bora ya kushughulikia sekta hiyo.
Majuto hayo ya Mkapa yanakuja huku kukiwa na shinikizo kubwa kutoka kwa baadhi ya wabunge na wananchi wakitaka afutiwe kinga yake ili aweze kushitakiwa kwa matumizi mabaya ya madaraka yake akiwa ikulu.
Katika utawala wake, Mkapa anadaiwa kutumia madaraka yake kuanzisha miradi mbalimbali inayomhusu, ama kwa kupitia familia yake au ndugu zake, ukiwemo ule wa makaa ya mawe wa Kiwira, ambao hivi karibuni wamiliki wake wametajwa hadharani kwa mara ya kwanza.
Chagizo la kutaka kutolewa kinga limezidi kupata kasi baada ya waliokuwa mawaziri wake, Basil Mramba (Fedha) na Daniel Yona (Nishati na Madini) na aliyekuwa Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Fedha na Uchumi, Gray Mgonja, kufikishwa mahakamani kwa kosa la kulisababishia taifa hasara ya sh bilioni 11 kwa kutoa msamaha wa kodi kwa Kampuni ya M/S Stewart.
Kinga ya Mkapa inaweza kuondolewa kama Bunge litapiga kura ya kutaka kutengua kinga hiyo, lakini ni lazima hoja hiyo iungwe mkono na theluthi mbili ya wabunge wote.

Source: http://freemedia.com

HADITHI YA KIKONGWE KINACHOSINDIKIZWA KIKALELEWE SERIKALINI

A touching story.

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.. 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now' We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

UKATILI UNAOFANYWA KWA ZERUZERU NA VIKONGWE TANZANIA

Subject: [tanzanet] Serikali: 'Sangoma' Marufuku Nchi NzimaTo: list@tanzanet.orgDate: Monday, January 26, 2009, 12:52 AM

Imetolewa na Ofisi ya Waziri MkuuSERIKALI imetangaza kufuta leseni zote za waganga wa jadi kuanzia Ijumaa Jan. 23, 2009 ikiwa ni sehemu ya mapambano dhidi ya mauaji ya Albino na Vikongwe nchini.Amri hiyo ilitangazwa na Waziri Mkuu Mizengo Pinda katika mkutano wa hadhara mjini Shinyanga leo mwishoni mwa ziara yake ya mikoa ya Kanda ya Ziwa kuhamasisha mapambano ya Serikali dhidi ya mauaji hayo.Waziri Mkuu alisema kuwa aliwasiliana na Mwanasheria Mkuu kuhusu uamuzi wa kuchukua hatua hiyo ya kufuta leseni hizo na Mwanasheria Mkuu akasema jambo hilo linawezekana."Kuanzia leo leseni zote za waganga wa jadi futa… Mtu yeyote akiendelea na kazi hiyo mfuatilieni," aliwaagiza Wakuu wa Mikoa, Wilaya na Wakuu wa Halmashauri zote za Jiji, Miji na Wilaya nchini.Waganga wa jadi wamekuwa wakituhumiwa kuwa ndiyo chimbuko la mauaji hayo kwa vile wao ndiyo hupiga ramli za kuelekeza hivyo.Katika mikutano na viongozi wa mikoa ya Kagera, Mwanza, Mara, Tabora na Shinyanga, wachangiaji wengi waliitaka serikali kufuta leseni hizo. Hata baadhi ya waganga wa jadi waliochangia walikiri.Waganga wa jadi husajiliwa na kupewa leseni za kufanya kazi zao na Halmashari kwa utaratibu wa kiutawala. Ipo sheria ya mwaka 2002 kuhusu Tiba Asilia na Tiba Mbadala (Traditional and Alterntive Medicine Act), lakini Kanuni za utekelezaji wake zilikuwa hazijatengenezwa.Waziri Mkuu alisema mganga wa jadi ambaye anaweza kuruhusiwa baadaye ni yule ambaye dawa zake za mitishamba au za asili zitakuwa zimethibitishwa na Kitengo cha Uchunguzi wa Tiba Asili cha Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili kuwa kweli zinatibu.Mgonjwa naye atatakiwa awe na cheti kutoka hospitali kitakachothitisha maradhi yake na kuwa tiba yake hopitali imeshindikana."Waganga hawa ni waongo wakubwa…Siyo lazima kuwa nao.Wangekuwa waganga wa kweli magonjwa mengi yangepungua nchini, lakini magonjwa yapo na sasa wanapiga ramli na kuwa kichocheo cha mauaji. Mkoa wa Shinyanga unasemekana unaongoza kwa idadi ya waganga wa jadi waliosajiliwa na wako 1,104 na 94 ambao hawakusajiliwa.Wilaya ya Kahama peke yake ina 763. Waziri Mkuu aliuambia umati uliofurika kwenye uwanja wa Chuo cha Biahshara cha Shinyanga (Shycom) huku akishangiliwa kuwa mapambano dhidi ya mauaji ya Abino ni vita na ndiyo maana anataka ulinzi wa jadi wa Sungusungu urejeshwe kusaidiana na vyombo vya dola kukabiliana na hali hiyo.Aliwataka Wakuu wa Mikoa na Wilaya pamoja na Jeshi la Polisi na Idara ya Usalama wa Taifa kufnya kazi zao kwa ufanisi zaidi na "kujipanga upya na kuteremka hadi ngazi ya chini" kusimamia mapambano dhidi ya mauaji ya Albino na Vikongwe."Inapotokea kuwa Albino au Kikongwe anauawa katika eneo fulani, mimi nitamshukia Mkuu wa Mkoa na kumuuliza kwa nini aliacha hali itokee hivyo. Mkuu wa Mkoa naye atamshukia Mkuu wa Wilaya na vivyo hivyo," alisema.Aliongeza: "Tukijumuika wote kwa pamoja tutashinda vita hii kama tulivyoshinda vita dhidi ya nduli Idi Amin wa Uganda". Waziri Mkuu pia alisema atamwomba Jaji Mkuu kuwa zile kesi za mauaji ya Albino ambazo ziko tayari zinapangiwa majaji maalum ili zikamilike na hatima yake ijulikane haraka.Tangu Juni mwaka 2007 mpaka Novemba mwaka 2008 jumla ya Albino 34 wameuawa nchini kwa imani za ushirikina kuwa eti viungo vyao vinasaidia kupata utajiri.Idadi yao kimkoa kwenye mabano ni Mwanza (19) Mara (4) Kigoma (3) Shinyanga (4), Kagera (3) na Mbeya (1). Mwaka huu tayari wameuawa watatu.Jumla ya vikongwe waliouawa nao kwa kushukiwa wachawi ni 2583 ambapo idadi yao kimkoa kwenye mabano ni Mwanza (696), Shinaynga (522), Tabora (508), Iringa (256), Mbeya (192) Kagera (186), Singida (120) na Rukwa (103).Ziara ya Waziri Mkuu Pinda katika mikoa ya Kanda ya Ziwa inamalizika leo kwa majumuisho yatakayowahusisha viongozi wa mikoa hiyo. Alianzia Kagera na badaye kutembelea mikoa ya Mwanza, Tabora na Shinyanga.Mkoa wa Mara ulijumuishwa kwa viongozi wake kuhudhuria mkutano wa viongozi Mwanza._______________________________________________

WANAKIJIJI WALIOELIMIKA KUHUSU MALIASILI

Frank Leonard, IringaDaily News; Sunday,January 25, 2009 @21:15
Asasi ya Matumizi Bora ya Malihai Idodi na Pawaga (MBOMIPA), imekataa kuingia mkataba wa uwekezaji na Kampuni ya Tandala Tented Camp and Safaris iliyokuwa inataka kuwekeza katika eneo lake lenye ukubwa wa kilomita za mraba 73. Hatua hiyo imekuja baada ya Wakili wa kampuni hiyo, Basil Mkwata kutaka vipengele kadhaa vilivyopo katika mkataba ulioandaliwa na Mbomipa kwa msaada wa Shirika la Misaada la Marekani (USAID) kwa kupitia asasi ya Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), vifanyiwe marekebisho au kuondolewa kabisa. Kipengele kilichoombwa kuondolewa ni cha Dhamana ya Utekelezaji ambayo thamani yake ilielezwa na Mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya Mbomipa, Juma Kaundama kwamba ni Sh milioni 10 na kingine kilichotakiwa kufanyiwa marekebisho ni kile kinachohusu usuluhishi wa migogoro ambacho walitaka mahakama ndiyo itumike badala ya wasuluhishi na vikao vilivyopendekezwa katika mkataba. Hafla ya kutiliana saini makubaliano ya mkataba huo ilikuwa ifanyike Ijumaa iliyopita katika Kijiji cha Nzihi baina ya Bodi ya Mbomipa na Menejimenti ya kampuni hiyo mbele ya wawakilishi wa vijiji 21 vinavyounda asasi hiyo. Vijiji 21 vya Tarafa ya Idodi na Pawaga zilizoko Iringa Vijiji vinamiliki eneo la Hifadhi la Jumuiya ya Pawaga-Idodi (PI-WMA) lililoko Kusini mwa Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha na ambalo kwa upande wa Kaskazini kuna fukwe za mto Ruaha Mkuu. Pamoja na kuhifadhi wanyamapori wanaofurika kutoka Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Ruaha eneo hilo lenye ukubwa wa kilomita za mraba 776, lina rasilimali ya wanyamapori ya hali ya juu na mandhari ya kuvutia kiasi cha kuifanya PI-WMA kuwa moja ya maeneo ya Tanzania yanayovutia. Tembo, nyati, simba, chui, duma, mbwa mwitu na tamaduni nyingi katika vijiji vinavyozunguka eneo hilo na mambo ya kale yaliyoko ndani ya eneo hilo ni vivutio vikubwa kwa ajili ya utalii wa wanyamapori, utamaduni na mambo ya kale. Wawekezaji wengine walioingia mkataba na Mbomipa katika eneo hilo ni Kampuni ya Malela Safaris iliyopewa kilomita za mraba 169 mwaka 2007 kwa ajili ya uwindaji, na Kilombero North Safaris waliopewa kilomita za mraba nne ndani ya eneo lenye ukubwa wa kilomita za mraba 420 kwa ajili ya kujenga hoteli ya kitalii. Kukataliwa kwa Tandala Tented Camp and Safaris kumekuja baada ya Mkurugenzi wake Mkuu, John Fliakos katika vikao vya awali kudaiwa kwamba alikubali kutoa Sh milioni 10 kama dhamana ya utekelezaji, lakini juzi alikataa na hivyo kufanya hoja hiyo iwe na mjadala mkubwa na matumizi ya lugha kali. Kauli hizo ikiwamo ya mwekezaji huyo, ilichochea hasira kutoka kwa wanachama wa Mbomipa na ndipo Mwenyekiti wake, Leonard Chengula aliposimama na kutangaza kuvunjika rasmi kwa makubaliano yaliyokuwa yafikiwe na mwekezaji.

A READER ARRESTED FOR UNRETURNED LIBRARY BOOK

Unreturned library book leads to woman's arrest

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Sat Jan 24, 2:41 pm ET

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – An Iowa woman has been arrested because she failed to return a library book.

Thirty-nine-year-old Shelly Koontz was arrested Thursday night on a fifth-degree theft charge. She is accused of keeping "The Freedom Writers Diary," which she checked out from the public library in nearby Jesup in April.

Police say the book — which is about a high school teacher's effort to inspire students to write — is valued at $13.95.

Court records show library employees tried repeatedly to contact Koontz by phone and mail. A police officer even visited her home last September.

Officials at the Buchanan County jail say Koontz was released after posting $250 bond. No telephone listing for Koontz could be found in the Independence area.

___

DRINKING PROBLEM IN EAST AFRICA

Alcoholism threat to entire East African region
Ugandans 'drink like fish'

By Valentine Marc Nkwame

And finally, if it is of any consolation, Tanzania lags behind Uganda when it comes to alcohol consumption per capita in East Africa.

The per capita alcohol consumption in Uganda stands at 19.5 litres. The World Health Organization ranked Uganda the leading consumer of alcohol in the world closely followed by Luxembourg at 17.5 liters and Czech Republic which drowns 16.2 liters per capita.

Uganda not only leads the other five EA member states in the region, when it comes to the average individual rates of draining the 'one for the road' and many more thereafter, but the country is also reported to be producing even more underage drinkers in addition of being the most drunk nation on the globe.

But the 'one for the road' syndrome in the region, according to experts, is far from being fully documented to perfection. Tanzania for instance, is yet to conduct a thorough up-to-date study on her own people's drinking habits. This is according to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Population and Development Organization, Paul Kimiti (MP).

Arusha hosted a regional Eastern Africa Alcohol Conference last week. Speaking at the event the Ambassador of Sweden to Tanzania Staffa Herrstrom stated that the relation between alcoholism and crime in Tanzania stands at 63 percent according to views of people interviewed in 2007.

On the other hand Arusha consumes over 35 percent of the total beer being produced at the local TBL factory here which serves a total of five Northern Regions of Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Manyara, Singida and Arusha itself which seems to drink an elephant share of the brews.

The local plant of the Tanzania Breweries Limited produces 62 million liters per year, which means over 21 million liters of alcohol go down the throats of Arusha residents at the rate of 2 million liters per month or around 64,285 liters per day in total.

But factory brewed beer is not the only alcohol provider in the vicinity, Arusha is home to variety of traditional brews including the so-called 'Banana wine' made in Kijenge, Dadii and a number of illegal gins. Daddii is a major intoxicant in the slums and it sell at Tsh 300 a gallon. It is respected as a liquid bread as well as an intoxicant.

Late last year, this paper reported the alarming rate at which drinking pubs keep mushrooming in and around the town of Arusha.

Meanwhile if you are in Arusha and want a cold beer, follow the Coca-Cola and Pepsi-cola signs. Recent observations indicate that local drinking pubs use soft drink emblems as their signboards.

While it not known why, the trend is slowly but surely blurring the line between intoxicating alcohol drinks and ordinarily tames beverages such as sodas. While Tanzanian laws prohibit any person under the age of 18 to enter a bar, let alone drink alcohol, signs advertising soft drinks may serve as baits to lure youngsters into alcoholism.

Adam Ng'imba is the Secretary General for Sober-Tanzania an organization working to prevent teetotalers especially the youth from attempting alcohol consumption unfortunately, Sober is yet to establish a branch in Arusha.

"We are expanding slowly, right now we cover Dar-es-salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Morogoro and Coastal regions," explained Adam when being interviewed in Arusha early this week.

Dr. Bertha Maegga the Executive Secretary for Tanzania Public Health Association said there was a need to revive laws that ban early initiation of the youths into drinking. "We have the laws but they are now being enforced. once the youngsters get hooked it is difficult to rehabilitate them."

ENGLAND CHILDREN IN A DATA BASE DIRECTORY

From The Press Association: January 25, 2009.

A controversial database containing details of every child in England is to be rolled out to ensure "faster contact" between doctors, social workers and police if they suspect a child is at risk. Skip related content

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Have your say: Crime

ContactPoint, a £224 million directory, will contain the name, address, date of birth, GP and school of all under-18s - as well as the name and contact details of any professional working with that child.

The database was set up in response to a key recommendation of the Laming Inquiry into the tragic death of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000.

But the project has been subject to several delays due to concerns over data security and technical issues. It has also attracted controversy from the outset, with civil liberties groups, children's campaigners and the Office of the Information Commissioner expressing concerns about its scope and role.

The database has been devised to help professionals to share information on young people so that children do not fall into gaps between different services.

No case information will be held on ContactPoint and it will be impossible to download its contents.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said it would help those who work with children to "prevent problems escalating". He said recent cases had shown that a lack of "proper and timely information sharing" could have tragic consequences.

Under current arrangements, if a professional believes a child is at risk there is no immediate way of knowing whether other services are already in contact with that child.

Mr Balls said: "It is good news, that after very careful planning, we can now actively start to deliver Lord Laming's crucial recommendation from the Victoria Climbie Inquiry.

"ContactPoint will help those who work with children to intervene earlier and prevent problems escalating and will help make sure no child slips through the net of support services. This is how we can improve the well-being of all children, young people and families, and help protect children who may be at risk."

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Five Big Changes Coming to Air Travel in 2009

By Jessica Labrencis, SmarterTravel.com Staff

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

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Big changes in the world of air travel are coming in 2009. From merger mania to airport security adjustments, here's what's on our shortlist of important changes in the year ahead.

Airport Security Update

Travelers, say good-bye to your plastic baggies and tiny bottles of shampoo. The 3-1-1 rule may be discontinued in 2009 as new X-ray technology is introduced at airports around the country. The new technology can detect differences between benign liquids such as hair gel or juice boxes and potentially dangerous liquids used in bombs.

The TSA expects to have as many as 900 machines in place by the end of the year, so the 3-1-1 rule will be phased out and eventually halted altogether in the near future.

Merger Mania

Late in October, Delta's proposed merger with Northwest was approved by the Department of Justice, and the airlines will enter full-blown merger mode in early 2009. The tie-up may not be fully complete until 2010, but you can expect Northwest's name and brand to be phased out in 2009. The SkyMiles and WorldPerks frequent flyer programs will be merged towards the end of this year. For up-to-date information, visit Delta's FAQ page.

Of course, there's always the possibility that the Delta/Northwest merger will spark other mergers. As a recent Reuters report predicted, "The answer is likely to be yes in an industry that clearly has excess capacity, is adding surcharges despite a retreat in fuel prices, and is facing international competitors that are expected to consolidate in the coming year."

Airlines Introduce A-La-Carte Pricing

Despite protests from travelers, American and Frontier are set to introduce a-la-carte pricing in 2009. As of the time of this writing, American had not announced full details of its new fare structure, although it may use Air Canada as a model. Stay tuned to our Today in Travel blog for details on American's new system later this year.

In December, Frontier announced details of its new AirFairs fare structure. Economy fares are bare-bones, no-frills tickets; Classic fares include seat assignments, checked bags, DirecTV, and frequent flyer miles; and Classic Plus tickets are fully refundable and changeable with lots of extras.

If these new ventures from Frontier and American prove successful, other airlines may adopt similar fare structures, similar to the avalanche of new fees introduced in 2008. Whether that will be a good thing for travelers remains to be seen.

In-Flight Internet Service Expands

Expect Internet access to be available on many more flights in 2009. American, Delta, and Virgin America all introduced Internet service on some flights in 2008, and will likely expand the service to more planes this year. Delta plans to add service to a new plane every few days, with the goal of outfitting all its aircraft with Internet by the end of the year, and will also begin to add the service to Northwest's planes.

Other airlines, including Air Canada, Alaska, and Southwest plan to test Internet service this year as well.

Paperless Boarding Passes

Paperless boarding passes are the wave of the future, and will become more widespread this year. You'll soon be able to download a boarding pass to your PDA or cell phone, and scan the barcode at an airport security checkpoint scanner, eliminating the need for a physical printout.

Continental was the first U.S. airline to test paperless boarding passes in late 2007, and has since expanded its Mobile Boarding Pass option for departures from Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, New York's LaGuardia airport, Newark, San Antonio, and both Reagan and National airports in Washington, D.C.

Other carriers, including Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, and Northwest, are also beginning to introduce paperless boarding options for travelers.

MOTHER DEFENDS CHILD IN PYTHON ATTACK

In Las Vegas, python vs. angry

mom with a knife

Woman attacks python after it wraps itself around toddler

By Mary Manning

Published Thu, Jan 22, 2009 (12:12 p.m.)

Updated Thu, Jan 22, 2009 (12:21 p.m.)

A Las Vegas family taking care of an exotic snake avoided a tragedy Wednesday when an angry mother attacked an 18-foot reticulated python with a knife after the snake wrapped itself around her 3-year-old son.

Friends of the family had asked them to take care of the snake while they remodeled a business, where the python attracts plenty of attention, according to KTNV ABC-TV Channel 13, which first reported the incident.

Somehow the snake got loose in the family's home and it took six Metro Police officers, an animal control officer and an angry mother to pry the toddler away from the snake.

As the boy cried and began to turn blue, the mother attacked the snake with a knife. She was able to wrestle the child away from the snake's grip.

"It was gashes in that python beyond repair, so it was euthanized humanely," said Gordon Smith of the Lied Animal Shelter. One of the family's other snakes, a 14-foot-long python, was the next largest, he said. A snake the size of the one that attacked the boy can kill a full-grown human, he said.

Neither mother nor child were harmed. Police said no criminal charges will be filed since exotic snakes are allowed in private homes in Clark County, unless they are poisonous.

The snake's knife wounds were severe enough that the python had to be euthanized at the Lied Animal Shelter, where the family's five other -- and smaller -- snakes were also taken.

Reticulated pythons typically bite their prey first, then wrap themselves around and squeeze the life out of them.

One of the largest reticulated pythons in captivity was a 24-foot-long, 300-pound snake named Fluffy that once appeared on "The David Letterman Show."

The longest reticulated python, at 32 feet, 9.5 inches, was killed in Celebes, Indonesia, in 1912, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Source:

Newspaper - Las Vegas Sun

http://www.lasvegassun.com

THE EMINENT WAR BETWEEN INVETORS AND LAND OWNER VILLAGERS IN TANZANIA

Tanzanian Police Shoot Dead Intruder at Barrick Gold Mine
2009-01-23 08:08:37.260 GMT

By Sarah McGregor
Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Tanzanian police shot dead an
intruder at Barrick Gold Corp.’s North Mara mine yesterday after
a group of people broke into the mine site, the company said.


Production wasn’t affected, company spokesman Teweli K.
Teweli said in a phone interview today from the commercial
capital of Dar es Salaam.


Operations at the open-pit mine were suspended temporarily
in December after hundreds of people invaded the area and fought
with security personnel, leaving one person dead and $7 million
in damage.


Barrick is the world’s largest gold producer.


For Related News and Information:
Top regional news: {TOP AFRICA }
On gold mining in Tanzania: {TNI TANZANIA GLD }
--Editor: Athol Bolleurs, Dan Weeks.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Sarah McGregor in Dar es Salaam via Johannesburg at +27-11-286-
1933 or abolleurs@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Stuart Wallace at +44-20-7673-2166 or swallace6@bloomberg.net.

ELEPHANTS GALORE IN ZAMBIA, AFRICA

See what happens when we interfere with the domain of others, especially when they are as big and powerful as these guys.
Have fun,

Akwanza
Tallahassee, Florida

Elephants march through hotel lobby after it was built on their migration trail

These amazing pictures show why you shouldn't get between an African elephant and its favorite food.

Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia happens to have been built next to a mango tree that one family of pachyderms have always visited when the fruit ripens.

When they returned one year and found the luxury accommodation in the way, they simply walked through reception.

Enlarge

Let the porter grab your trunk: An elephant wanders through Mfuwe Lodge, in the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Enlarge

The animals came in two-by-two: Hotel staff and visitors have got used to the elephants' impromptu strolls through reception

Now the family group, headed by matriarch Wonky Tusk, return every November to gorge on mangos - up to four times a day.

Andy Hogg, 44, director at the Bushcamp Company that runs the Lodge, has lived in South Luangwa National Park since 1982.

But in all his years of dealing with wild animals he has never seen such intimate interaction between man and beast.

'This is the only place in the world where elephants freely get so close to humans,' says the 44-year-old.

'The elephants start coming through base camp in late November of each year to eat the mangos from our trees.

'When they are ripe they come through and they stand about for four to six weeks coming back each day or second day to eat the mangos.'

Living in the 5,000 square mile national park, the ten-strong elephant herd are led to the lodge each day by Wonky Tusk.

Enlarge

Migration route: The hotel was built directly in the path of the elephants' route to one of their favourite foods - mangos

Enlarge

'The most interesting thing about this is that they are wild animals and are certainly not tame,' explains Andy.

'They come through the lodge to eat the fruit.

'There are ten in that herd and it is only that herd that comes through. It is a strange thing.

'The matriarchal in the herd is Wonky Tusk, and she brings the nine others through and they come and go as they please.'

Mfuwe Lodge consists of seven camps and the base camp where the elephants come through.

Employing 150 staff, the management of the lodge are happy to report that there have been no incidents involving the elephants to date.

'The elephants do get reasonably close to the staff as you can see with the pictures of the elephants near the reception,' he explains.

'But we do not allow the guests to get too close.'

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Check-in: But it's unlikely the lodge has a room big enough for its elephant guests

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'Guests can stand in the lounge are but as long as there is a barrier between the elephants and the guests that is okay,' he added.

'The elephants are not aggressive but you don't want to tempt anything as they are wild animals.

'It is the elephants choice to come into base camp and they have been doing it for the last ten years.

'There are other wild mango trees around and they seem to prefer this one.'

And even thought the lodge was unwittingly built upon the path, Andy says they had no idea the elephants would insist on returning.

'It wasn't a design mistake. No one really knew they were going to come through,' he says.

'The lodge was built and then the elephants started coming through afterwards.

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Gentle giants: The leader of the ten-strong herd is matriarch Wonky Tusk

'We keep people at a safe distance. They are obviously close enough to see what is going on from pretty close quarters but we also make sure we have staff around to make sure the elephants don't get too close.

'But as I said they are still wild and still dangerous. They are huge beasts and untamed.

'We have bricks and walls between the elephants and the guests such as the counter and other barriers to stop them getting to people and if they try to there is enough time for people to get away.

Naturally, the lodge becomes a busier attraction for both elephants and guests during November time.

'We find that we get more people visiting us during the elephant migration because of the unique experience of being so close to wild animals in an unusual environment,' says Andy.

'But as I said this is a totally natural phenomenon, the elephants come here of their own accord and it is certainly a rare but magnificent sight.'

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Mfuwe Lodge: The hotel is set in an idyllic national parkland

THE SUDANESE MOTHER OF 5 CHILDREN STRUGGLES

Five Times the Fears

Husband Overseas, Quintuplets' Mother Overwhelmed by Demands, Expenses

GALLERY

Quintuple the Joy, Quintuple the Fatigue

When Adwai Malual, of Sudan, first learned she was pregnant with multiple children she thought it would be easy. She was in for a daunting surprise.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

By William Wan

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, January 23, 2009; Page B01

There are days when life for Adwai Malual looks like an endless wheel. Already she has lived through much: growing up in Sudan as war tore apart her homeland, discovering in the midst of it that she was pregnant, coming to this strange land of America.

Then, weeks later, she gave birth to quintuplets.

Now, in a small, crowded apartment in Laurel nearly two months after the babies' delivery, Malual's life is dominated by another kind of chaos. It begins every day at 3 a.m., as she wakes up to take over feeding duties from her mother, visiting from Sudan. One by one, she tends to her five babies in 40-minute shifts. By the time she has changed the last one's diaper, the first is crying for food again. And so it goes for 12 hours straight, until she hands them off to her mother so she can sleep for a little while before waking do it all again.

Life is now confined to this second-floor apartment and to the most basic of human needs: eating, peeing, pooping, burping and sleeping.

"I am grateful for the blessings in my life," the 28-year-old said recently during a rare break from her babies. "And I am tired."

All day long, her mind alternates between those two states. She thanks God for the people -- many of them complete strangers -- who donated diapers, time and money to help her through her grueling first few weeks out of the hospital. Then she prays for some way to survive the weeks ahead.

When Malual, who had been working as a branch inspector of a bank in southern Sudan, first learned that she was pregnant with multiple children -- three or four, her doctors in Sudan guessed -- she thought it would be easy. "It was my first time as mother," she laughed.

She traveled to Minnesota when she was 16 weeks pregnant to seek the blessing of her mother-in-law, a family figure who plays a large role in a Sudanese woman's pregnancy. When they met, her mother-in-law placed a hand upon Malual's head and then on her belly, anointing both with water.

Later, after she left to visit her sister in Prince George's County, she was rushed to the emergency room with complications. Over the next 11 weeks, a team including more than 30 doctors and nurses was put together to handle her case.

And last month, as her successful delivery of four girls and one boy was announced, television crews and newspaper reporters rushed to Anne Arundel Medical Center to cover the first quintuplets in the hospital's 106-year history and the first in Maryland in more than three years. Calls poured in to the hospital from people asking how they could help the children, Deng, the boy, and his sisters, Nyantweny, Nyandeng, Abyei and Athei.

In the days that followed, however, many of the offers faded away. The hospital has said it will work with the uninsured family to pay for the costs, but no avalanche of outside support has materialized, nor have companies like diaper manufacturers stepped in to help as sometimes happens in such births.

"I think part of it is the economy," said the Rev. Barbara Sands, a hospital chaplain who has been trying to coordinate help for the family. "It's just the times we're in right now."

In one day alone, the quintuplets go through 40 diapers and several bottles of formula. The biggest, Nyandeng, is now 6 pounds 5 ounces, and the smallest, Athei, is 4 pounds 7 ounces. Two need particularly close attention and are hooked up to machines that monitor their breathing. Malual and her mother have also struggled to find affordable transportation large enough to take all five babies to their doctor's appointments.

Volunteers from Grace Baptist Church in Bowie visit periodically to help feed the babies and to drive the family to get supplies and groceries. Relatives from Utah and Maine flew in during the first few weeks to take over feeding shifts.

In the long run, however, Malual knows that the situation is unsustainable. Her husband, who works in Tanzania as a liaison for the military in southern Sudan, has seen only pictures of the quintuplets and is unable to leave his post. Her mother, Anne Abyei, will eventually return home.

Malual could seek asylum and raise her children here. Life away from "the dust and war in Sudan," would be much better for the children, she said.

But during her short time here, she has also seen how costly things can be. She is living, for the most part, a borrowed life. Much of the babies' clothing is donated. The two cribs they sleep in -- three in one and two in the other -- are hand-me-downs, as is the changing table. Soon, the quintuplets -- already a handful -- will learn to crawl and then walk. Getting a babysitter to watch all five, let alone a job that would cover that cost as well as her children's growing needs, will be difficult.

Even before her babies were born, Malual had started worrying about these things. As she lay in the Annapolis hospital, her doctors warned her to focus on her health whenever her blood pressure and nausea started rising. And in recent weeks -- as she has fed, changed and rocked her babies -- she has found herself facing those worries again. The future looms ominously as she struggles each day to keep up with the present.

The difference now, she said, is that she faces such fears with the proof of miracles in her arms.

"These children are blessings from God," said Malual, who comes from a family of a devout Christian. "He brought them to me, protected them through all that time. So for the future, I think I must live day by day. God will provide."

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com