MISCELLANY

TANZANIA MEDIA COUNCIL
The announcement by the Government that it is to introduce a Bill in Parliament to establish a Tanzania Media Council which would license journalists to practice their profession and regulate their standards of conduct has met with fierce opposition in the media and in Parliament. The Bill would also deal with what it termed ‘concentration of the media in a few hands’. The Council would be empowered to cancel or suspend the licence of a newspaper, television or radio station.

SOUTH AFRICAN LUXURY TRAIN IN DAR ES SALAAM
The maiden ‘ Edwardian Train Safari’ from Capetown arrived in Dar es Salaam, after a 10-day journey, on time at lOam on July 25th. The head of the Moshi-based Alpine Tours Limited said that the trip had been organised in order to promote Tanzania as an important tourist destination in sub-Saharan Africa. Forty tourists later flew onto Dar es Salaam to join the train for the return journey which was likely to cost each of them US$ 6,000.

COTTON OUTPUT TO DROP
The General Manager of the Tanzania cotton Marketing Board has said that he expected cotton output to decline by half this season to 289,000 bales compared with 570,000 last year. The main cause was the country’s low ginning capacity. Up to 40% of the 1992/93 crop was yet to be ginned. Although the country had more than 30 ginneries most of them were operating below capacity because of old age – Daily News.

DECLINE IN CRIME
Comparing rates of crime in Dar es Salaam between January and May last year and the same period this year, The Ministry of Home Affairs has given the following figures:
– offences against property: 35,904 last year; 22,521 this year;
– offences against persons: 10,108 compared with 10,552;
– armed robbery: 48 last year; 32 this year;
– robbery with violence: 292 compared with 231;
– house-breaking: 2,461 compared with 2,298;
– killings: 45 last year; 55 this year – Daily News.

RAILWAYS IN PROFIT
The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) realised a pre-tax profit of Shs 2 billion in the 1992/93 financial year, 70% above the profit recorded in 1991/92 signalling a remarkable recovery after years of slump said Minister of Transport and Communications Philemon Sarungi on July 26th. The EC’s aid was beginning to payoff. Six engines, 315 cargo and 19 passenger wagons had been rehabilitated – Daily News ..

WANTED – LINKS WITH ZANZIBAR
There are many links between communities and schools in Britain and mainland Tanzania but, as yet, few with Zanzibar. ‘One World Linking’ the Newsletter of the UK One World Linking Association UKOWLA (The Old Rectory, Newbiggin, Temple Sowerby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 ITB) reports in its latest issue on links between Hereford and Muheza, Reddich and Mtwara and Leominster and Tengeru. Those interested in a possible link with Zanzibar might like to get in touch with UKOWLA or wi th Ms Fatima Abdullah at the Tanzania High Commission – Tel No: 071 499 8951.

NEW ANNUAL SCHOOL FEES
Forms I – IV Shs 30,000 (£43) day and Shs 40,000 boarding Forms V – VI Shs 35,000 day and Shs 46,000 boarding.

TANZANIA GETS A GOOD MARK
The bulky 1993 Annual Report of the Human Rights organisation I Amnesty International’ covers Tanzania in less than half a page and mentions only the one-day detention of 15 people in Zanzibar, the court case against the Rev Mtikila and the lack of a decision on the charges facing former Zanzibar Chief Minister Seif Shariff Hamad.

MWINYI PRAISED
The leaders of the Rwanda Government and the rebel Rwanda Patriotic Front paid glowing tributes to President Mwinyi, the official facilitator, at the signing in Arusha on August 4 1993 of a peace agreement after the two-year civil war.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO HELP DAILY NEWS
The former Managing Editor of Tanzania Standard Newspapers which publishes the Daily and Sunday News said recently that the company was near bankruptcy and it needed material and financial support from government to enable it to survive competition from the emerging private press.

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