21/03/2014
War on poaching gains momentum
The Citizen - 21st March, 2014
In Summary
• Government dignitaries, diplomats and several conservationists are
scheduled to launch “Save the Elephant” campaign next week in Dar es Salaam, while a major international summit will be held in May, as part of separate initiatives to bolster the war against poaching.
Dar es Salaam. Campaigns to save Tanzania’s endangered elephants continue to gather steam with several activities lined up to support the government efforts to combat poaching that has recently soiled the country’s image internationally.
Government dignitaries, diplomats and several conservationists are scheduled to launch “Save the Elephant” campaign next week in Dar es Salaam, while a major international summit will be held in May, as part of separate initiatives to bolster the war against poaching.
The coordinator of Tembo Marathon Tanzania, Mr Robert Bob Zangi, who supports the campaign, told The Citizen yesterday in an interview in the city that the drive was aimed at taking public education to the communities around national parks and game reserves as key players in the war.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/War-on-poaching-gains-momentum/-/1840392/2252468/-/f8xvm1z/-/index.html
World biggest online ivory and whale meat retailer exposed
March 2014:
A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency and Humane Society International has exposed Japanese retail giant Rakuten as the world’s biggest online marketplace for elephant ivory and whale meat products.
The report “Blood e-Commerce: Rakuten’s profits from the slaughter of elephants and whales” –reveals that the company’s Japanese website carries more than 28,000 ads for elephant ivory products and some 1,200 whale meat products ads.
Ivory products for sale on their Japanese website EIA President Allan Thornton said: “Rakuten’s ads are effectively as deadly as giving bullets to elephant poachers and harpoons to whalers. Rakuten must act immediately to ban all ads selling elephant and whale products or its global brand will be irrevocably tainted with the ongoing mass slaughter of these species
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/Rakuten-014.html
Tanzania's campaign against poaching gets global backing The Guardin - 21st March, 2014
The Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu Tanzania has signed an agreement with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to curb the current wave of poaching.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) took place in Dar es Salaam yesterday, with the signatories being the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu, ICCF Vice Chairman, Dr Kaush Arta and UNDP Acting Resident Representative, Philippe Poinsot.
The two organisations promised to convince the world to assist the country against illegal smuggling of wildlife.
They said various international communities have been inspired and motivated to support Tanzania in fighting poaching, after the government introduced operation ‘Tokomeza’ and increased routine patrol to fight the illegal business.
Nyalandu said the government has sought the cooperation of the two parties in fighting poaching and international wildlife trafficking.
He said that the government has decided to seek support of international organisations so that they can convince the world to stop purchasing ivory and other wildlife products.
“Our aim is to ensure that the illegal business comes to an end…we want to save the elephants which are the most hunted”, noted the Minister, adding that poaching of wildlife resources, particularly of elephant tusks has increased tremendously.
He said with the international community’s intervention Tanzania is sure to win the fight, thus remove the current threat to elephant’s survival.
He also cautioned the public that the government will take stern legal measures against anyone found possessing or wearing anything related to wildlife.
In another development, Nyalandu said that Tanzania, ICCF in collaboration with UNDP expect to convene a meeting of key stakeholders to share expertise, create consensus and develop recommendations for an immediate, continuing and sustainable plan action for the government.
The summit which is expected to take place on May 9 and 10 in Dar es Salaam is to be attended by local and international stakeholders in the wildlife conservation sector.
“The summit will focus on synthesizing a set of recommendations and action plans,” he elaborated.
Seconding Nyalandu, ICCF Vice Chairman, Dr Kuash Arta promised to support Tanzania in its efforts to fight poaching.
“The world is already providing support to Tanzania on its efforts against poaching and smuggling of wildlife resources”, he said.
He added that the entire world is now focusing on how to back Tanzanian’s dramatic efforts in curbing such illegal activities which are increasing daily especially the killing of elephants.
Acting UNDP Country Resident Representative, Philippe Poinsot said they are committed to provide full support to Tanzania through various measures.
“We will scale up the efforts and call for action against such illegal activities at international level”, he promised.
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=66022
High Court blocks $75m IPTL pay as Malaysians speak out The Citizen - 21st March, 2014
The High Court yesterday granted an injunction barring the withdrawal of
$75 million (Sh121 billion) escrow monies paid to VIP Engineering and Marketing, a local company that had at one time owned 30 per cent of the Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL).
Liquidators of the IPTL’s majority shareholders, Mechmar of Malaysia, through their lawyers, IMMMA Advocates, have filed an application at the High Court seeking an injunction to stop the withdrawal and use of the $75 million paid to VIP Engineering and Marketing in January this year. High Court Judge Fauz Twaib gave the order after the plaintiff—Mechmar, currently in liquidation, filed a suit together with an application for injunction on March 17, 2014.
In the main suit, Mechmar is seeking orders against VIP Engineering and IPTL for payment of contractual and damages of $52.5 million which is 70 per cent of $75 million, the total value of the IPTL asset which has been extracted from the company in breach of the Articles of Association.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/High-Court-blocks--75m-IPTL--pay-as-Malaysians-speak-out/-/1840392/2252472/-/9ds31lz/-/index.html
Govt to conduct countrywide licence verification
The Citizen - Thursday, March 20, 2014
“The government introduced the annual licence subscription in a bid to determine active businesses operating in the country and collect government revenue which is crucial for running various development programmes,”
The two-month verification will start next month and end in June, according to the director of Business and Marketing Department in the ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr Christopher Mashingo.
The ministry and municipal councils which will be involved in the process to identify legal businesses.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/Business/Govt-to-conduct-countrywide-licence-verification/-/1840414/2251502/-/ydsa31/-/index.html
Change law on Bus insurance
The Guardian - 21st March 2014
Road accidents in Tanzania have in recent years increased to dangerous proportions. They have become a threat to life and limb of motorists, passengers and pedestrians alike.
They are now among the major causes of death in Tanzania, and according to the latest WHO data, deaths caused by road traffic accidents reached 9,029 or 2.05% of the total deaths in the country, making it rank 34th in the world.
Many of the victims of road accidents are passengers in buses, most of which only have third party insurance covers. These covers do not have room for passengers involved in accidents to get compensation.
This is an anomaly which the Surface and Marine Transport Authority- Consumer Consultative Council (SUMATRA-CCC) now wants changed.
It follows the concern of stakeholders who see the law as unfair to victims of road accidents. The stakeholders are therefore calling for a review of the Insurance Act of 2009 so that it may cater for the rights of accident victims.
Yes, indeed, time is now ripe for a review of the Act by the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania whose main duty is to review outdated laws such as this one.
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=66034
Tourism minister sacked by President
LUSAKA, Zambia ? President Michael Sata has sacked Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo for allegedly defaming the presidency.
"President Sata has, with immediate effect, relieved Masebo of her duties as minister of tourism and arts," George Chellah, the president's special assistant for press and public relations, said in a Thursday statement.
The statement gave no reason for the decision.
But the move is thought to be linked to recent court testimony by Masebo in which she said Sata had ordered her to dissolve the board of the Zambia Wildlife Authority and dismiss all its directors ? without following sstandard procedure.
Sata, for his part, had distanced himself from the allegations.
Executive officials and members of the ruling Patriotic Front party have reportedly accused Masebo of showing contempt for the president.
"I have nothing to say now," the sacked minister said when contacted by Anadolu Agency for comment.
"The only reasonable thing for me to do is thank the president for according me an opportunity to serve in his cabinet," Masebo added.
"Anything beyond this, no comment," she said.
http://www.eturbonews.com/43877/zambian-tourism-minister-sacked-president-sata
>Campaigns to save Tanzania’s endangered elephants continue to gather steam with several activities lined up to support the government efforts to combat poaching that has recently soiled the country’s image internationally.
