Tanzania in 2013: The highs and lows….and the surprises too

Katiba review process

The Constitution Review Commission collected public views and produced the first draft of the proposed new supreme law. The second draft is due on Tuesday after which a Constituent Assembly will debate it and come up with the final draft to be subjected to a referendum later in 2014. 

Swiss billions

The Swiss Central Bank releases a report detailing countries whose nationals have stashed millions of dollars in the country considered a haven for such transactions. Tanzania was among African countries on the list with deposits totaling $196 million (Sh313.6bn).

The amount, according to Anti-Corruption Tracker System, could be used to build 44,857 classrooms at the cost of Sh7 million each. Alternatively, 15,000 primary school pupils could each receive a capitation grant of Sh200,000, or 84,000 primary school teachers paid their salaries for a whole year. The money could also be used to pay about 27,500 doctors a monthly salary of Sh950,000 for a year.

Mtwara gas

The discovery of the $500 billion worth natural gas brought about scuffles between the government and residents of Mtwara who opposed the ferrying of the ‘new gold’ from their region to Dar es Salaam. Ugly demonstrations which cost several lives and led to massive destruction of property soon rocked the area. A military operation was also mounted in the area to stifle dissenting voices.

Obama in Tanzania

US President Barack Obama made a historic visit that highlighted Tanzania’s growing international stature in the region. The only other countries Obama visited in his first major tour of the continent were Senegal and South Africa. His visit capped those of other influential world leaders such as China.

Cabinet reshuffle

Finance minister Mustafa Mkulo, Energy and Minerals minister William Ngeleja, Health and Social Welfare minister Dr Haji Mponda, Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige, Transport minister Omari Nundu, and Industry and Trade minister Cyril Chami, and Deputy ministers Athumani Mfutakamba , Transport and Dr Lucy Nkya, Health and Social Welfare were dropped from the Cabinet following negative reports on their dockets by the CAG. This month, ministers Khamis Kagasheki (Natural Resources and Tourism), Mr David Mathayo (Livestock and Fisheries), Mr Emmanuel Nchimbi (Home Affairs) and Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha (Defence and National Service) were also dropped over Operesheni Tokomeza Ujangili.

Mwakyembe train

The Dar es Salaam city’s ‘Iron Snake’ earns its name from Transport minister Dr Harrison Mwakyembe who spearheaded the operation of the commuter train that ferries 14,000 passengers daily between city centre and Ubungo via Buguruni and Tabata. The minister has so far won an award from the London-based Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) International for his initiative. However, the operator Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) recently reported that the project was running at a loss of Sh2 million daily.

JK vs Kagame

Relations between Tanzania and Rwanda were on an all-time low. The origin of the war of words between Kigali and Dar es Salaam appeared to be President Kikwete’s suggestion to Mr Kagame during the AU Summit in Addis Ababa that Rwanda should negotiate with the rebels fighting it from bases in the Democratic Republic of Congo but Kigali took offence. The differences were later ironed out at a meeting in Uganda.

Death of peacekeepers in Sudan

In July, seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 others wounded when they came under heavy fire from gunmen in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur region in what was described as the worst toll from a single incident since its deployment in 2008.

A large group of unknown gunmen reportedly attacked a patrol in an area in South Darfur. The bodies of soldiers who were part of the UN-Africa Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) were flown back and received in an emotional parade in Dar es Salaam and later, military send-off.

Operation Kimbunga

Thousands of immigrants declared illegal by the government were deported mostly to Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda in an operation ordered by President Kikwete to tame insecurity in the border areas in Kagera Region. In the operation more than 150,000 people are said to have been affected and the act was one of those believed to have raised friction with Rwanda at the time. Some of the immigrants who have established families and businesses over the years cried foul over the handling of the operation.

Acid attacks

 Acid attacks may have started with an assault on Journalist Saed Kubenea in 2008 and secretary to the Zanzibar Kadhi court, Sheikh Fadhili Soraga in 2012, but in 2013 alone, at least six acid attacks on religious leaders, businessmen and foreigners were reported. The attacks that took place both on the Mainland and Zanzibar shocked the nation. Victims on the Mainland included Mr Ally Ibrahim, a Lebanese citizen who is a resident of Upanga in Dar es Salaam and Mr Mohammed Saad who is the owner of Home Shopping Centre (HSC).

In Zanzibar, the victims included British girls, Katie Gee and Kirstie Trup, both aged 18, and Catholic priest, Fr Anselm Mwang’amba.

Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda

The secretary of the Council of Islamic Organisations in Tanzania has had a running in with the police for the better part of 2013. In August, he was whisked off from Muhimbili hospital to remand prison after being charged with sedition while recuperating after being shot while addressing a rally in Morogoro. In October, the High Court set free his 52 followers who were serving a one-year jail term for unlawful assembly and rioting. Sheikh Ponda Issa Ponda is currently facing sedition charges.

Arusha Bombs

The city of Arusha was subjected to shock and panic during two grenade attacks in the span of two month, which left at least seven people dead and scores injured, some critically. The first, attack took place at the Catholic Church building while the second involved an attack on opposition party Chadema rally.

Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFD)

The introduction of Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) by the taxman, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) which would automatically send sales reports to TRA did not sit well with businessmen. In November traders in the Dar es Salaam commercial hub of Kariakoo closed shops in protest, opposing EFDs which they claimed were too expensive for them.

War on narcotics

In 2013 stories of Tanzanians being netted with drugs in other countries and at our domestic ports were commonplace. In August, four officials suspected of aiding drug traffickers to smuggle drugs through the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) were fired.

The decision by JNIA management came a few days after Transport minister Harrison Mwakyembe ordered a probe and action on the drug trafficking network at the airport.

Fighting inside Parliament

In a major historic milestone, fighting broke out inside Parliament when some opposition MPs exchanged blows with members of the Bunge security team who had been summoned into the chamber to restore order. The fighting was the first in the august House that is radically being transformed since the introduction of multi-party politics in 1992.

Death of Constitution Commission member Dr Mvungi

The Constitution Review Commission (CRC) member Dr Sengondo Mvungi was attacked at his residence in Kibamba on the outskirts of the city. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute before he was flown to Millpak hospital in Johannesburg where he died a week later. Dr Mvungi taught at the University of Dar es Salaam before moving to the University of Bagamoyo where he was the deputy vice chancellor.

Coalition of the willing

‘Coalition of the Willing’ which began as a trilateral cooperation between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda dominated headlines in the EAC region. The arrangement left Tanzania and Burundi out in the cold. With long term complaints by other members of EAC that Tanzania was dragging its feet on the integration process, the isolation fears were however, addressed at the last Heads of State Summit in Uganda that underscored the importance of regional unity in diversity.