President Kikwete did not cross the Ruvuma River bordering Tanzania and Mozambique to accept the invitation he had received to join celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Frelimo, the ruling party in Mozambique. The president was offered the use of a small boat with a sail to cross because the Mkenda Kivukoni Bridge was still under construction. Jokingly, he said: “I gazed at that small boat and said to myself, mhh, I am a Mkwere without swimming skills. Better for Membe to do it because he has married an Mbambabay. He can swim.” The president was therefore represented at the anniversary celebrations by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Membe – Sunday Observer.

The Infrastructure Development Ministry has directed upcountry bus operators and drivers to discontinue their tendency to stop anywhere on the highway to let passengers alight for short or long calls in adjacent bushes – Guardian.

The government is in the process of drafting a new law that would allow Tanzanians to have dual citizenship. When the process has been completed a Bill will be presented to both parliaments.
The government has plans to raise the number of agricultural extension officers so as to be able to post one officer in each village in the country by the year 2011. The Minister of Agriculture said that a number of training centres for the officers had been revived and that, by the end of this year, 1,200 officers would be available, while from next year the centres were expected to churn out 3,000 officers annually in a move to usher in an agricultural revolution in the country.

MICROSOFT and the Aga Khan Foundation are planning to establish 13 Community Technology Centres in Tanzania. ‘‘This project will characteristically focus on training unemployed and under-served youth in ICT skills to enhance their opportunities for employment and income generation,’’ said Mr Louis Otieno, the Microsoft East and Southern Africa, General Manager. He said the project will first be implemented in Arusha and Songea regions before moving to other regions. To promote rural economic development, the two organizations plan to help expand access to information and technology through the Aga Khan Foundation’s existing Rural Support Programmes.

Tanzanian fashion designer Ally Rhemtullah has been invited to take part in the London Fashion Week scheduled for September 14-19. It is the first time a Tanzanian has been invited to the London Fashion week, which allows fashion designers or “houses” to display their latest collections. An excited Rhemtullah said he will showcase the modern Khanga because it will be a way of promoting Tanzanian culture “I am delighted because it is an honour to go and represent East Africa in one of the best fashion finale in the world,” he said – Daily News