Tanzania celebrates 60 years of union

By Osoro Nyawangah,  MWANZA Tanzania 

Tanzania is celebrating today the 60th anniversary of the union of the former Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar, which is said to be a symbol of efforts to unite the African continent after the colonial period.

The celebrations officially presided over by the President, Samia Hassan,  at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium,  was witnessed with various leaders from eastern,  central and southern Africa. 

In her message to Tanzanians, the president noted that all six presidents who ruled the country since independence,  have contributed to the success achieved. 

"I wish you all the best as we celebrate 60 Years of our Union.  This is the value of all of us, the result of the work of every Tanzanian from our founders until now.  We have built a strong house of Tanzania on the basis of humanity, brotherhood and socialism of Africa step by step, under each phase of leadership." She said.

The President emphasized that only gift the country can give to the founders of this Union is to protect and live their great vision.  

"We are all witnesses to the great strides we have made in the past 60 years. We have every reason to continue to be proud of and protect this unique Union that was born of our own decision."  

In developing it, she said the country have to implement the philosophy of reconciliation, tolerance, reform and rebuilding the country in order to maintain peace and stability, an important pillar for the prosperity and strength of the Nation.

The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar occurred on April 26, 1964 and became the beginning of the United Republic of Tanzania.  

Until that date there were two independent states of the Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar which entered into a union agreement in 1964 and established the United Republic of Tanzania.

In recent years, politicians especially from the opposition side have been pushing for the reform of the structure of the union founded by the first leader of Tanganyika, Julius Nyerere and the first president of Zanzibar, Abeid Amani Karume

The Union Agreement was signed by the former President of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and the former President of Zanzibar, Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume, on April 22, 1964 in Zanzibar.  

The agreement was confirmed by the Tanganyika Parliament and the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar on April 26, 1964.

On April 27, 1964, the leaders of both countries met at the Karimjee Hall in Dar es Salaam and exchanged the Documents of Union.

The name "United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar" was later changed, on October 28, 1964, to the United Republic of Tanzania through the Law of the United Republic, Law number 61 of 1964.

The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar has existed due to various reasons such as the existence of close and historical relations between Tanganyika and Zanzibar in various fields such as blood relations, trade, culture, language and close political relations especially between TANU parties  and ASP.

Also, the desire to have an African Union, especially starting with the East African Federation.  

Even before the independence of Tanganyika, Mwalimu Nyerere along with other leaders who were fighting for freedom in the African region had the expectation of having an African Union; the dream is yet to be seen. 

Mwalimu Nyerere personally preferred the existence of the African Union starting with the regional federations.

Basically, there are various reasons that led to this union such as the histories of the two countries, the proximity of these two countries, social interaction, commercial cooperation, effective and long-term political cooperation between TANU and ASP.

Zimbabwe President reshuffles cabinet

HARARE, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday reshuffled his cabinet, eight months after he appointed a new cabinet following his re-election in August last year.

Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya announced the cabinet reshuffle in a statement on Wednesday and said the re-assignments and appointments took effect immediately.

Mnangagwa reassigned Winston Chitando as head of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, removing him from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works where he has been replaced by Daniel Garwe, the former minister of National Housing and Social Amenities.

Zhemu Soda, former Mines and Mining Development minister, is now the new minister for National Housing and Social Amenities.

Mnangagwa also appointed Musa Ncube as deputy minister of National Housing and Social Amenities and Headman Moyo as deputy minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs.

He moved Yeukai Simbanegavi from deputy minister of National Housing and Social Amenities to deputy minister of Energy and Power Development.

World Bank suspends Tanzania tourism funding after claims of killings and evictions

WASHINGTON, US

The World Bank has suspended financing intended to develop tourism in southern Tanzania after allegations of killings, rape and forced evictions.

The bank began investigating last year after being accused of enabling abuses around Ruaha national park, which was due to double in size as part of a World Bank-supported programme.

“The World Bank is deeply concerned about the allegations of abuse and injustice related to the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project in Tanzania,” said a World Bank spokesperson.

“We have recently received information that suggests breaches of our policies in the implementation of the Regrow project. We have therefore decided to suspend further disbursement of funds with immediate effect.”

Tanzania was due to receive a further $50m, having already received $100m of the funding. Developments include building roads, viewing areas and visitor centres, and investing in wildlife monitoring and increased security.

This blog reported in January 2023 that the US-based think-tank the Oakland Institute had documented a range of abuses by Tanzanian rangers against villagers accused of encroaching on the national park, including the killing of cattle herders and fishers, the confiscation of livestock and the rape of women.

The Oakland Institute welcomed the “long overdue” decision, which came a year after the World Bank was first informed of potential violations of its own policies on safeguarding in April 2023.

Anuradha Mittal, the thinktank’s executive director, said: “It sends a resounding message to the Tanzanian government that there are consequences for its rampant rights abuses taking place across the country to boost tourism. The days of impunity are finally coming to an end.”

The Oakland Institute said that despite the World Bank announcing an investigation, the Tanzanian government moved forward in October with plans to redraw the boundaries of the national park, which would result in 21,000 people facing eviction.

The institute said their research shows other abuses have also continued, including the killing of a 21-year-old cattle herder in October and seizure and sale of thousands of cattle this year.

“The government’s plan to expand the park cannot go forward against the will of local communities, who will lose everything from such an expansion,” said Mittal. “In addition to preventing forced evictions, the bank must focus on how to remedy the harms caused to the villagers who have lost loved ones to ranger violence or had their lives devastated by livelihood restrictions.”

The Tanzanian government had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Africa Union warns of rising terrorism threats in Africa

ABUJA, Nigeria

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has expressed serious concern about the escalating challenges of terrorism and violent extremism affecting the African continent.

"Terrorism and violent extremism are the biggest evils of our time -- spreading to all the five regions of Africa," the AU Commission chief told a high-level meeting on counter-terrorism in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on Monday, according to an AU statement.

Faki referred to the scourge of terrorism in Africa as "a form of metastasis", as he highlighted the concerning situations in the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes Region, the Sahel, and parts of Northern Africa.

Data from the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism at the AU indicated a substantial increase in both the frequency and lethal nature of terrorist attacks in 2023.

According to the center, an average of eight terrorism incidents and 44 fatalities occurred daily in Africa during the course of 2023, compared to a lower average of four attacks and 18 victims per day between 2017 and 2021.

Faki said the stark situation "underscores our collective and urgent need to re-evaluate our counter-terrorism strategies to effectively address our vulnerabilities and shortcomings in the face of this growing phenomenon."

He further stressed that AU members must translate their anti-terrorism commitments into actions so as to fully realize the continental vision articulated at the Malabo Summit on terrorism back in 2022.

Faki called on African countries to introduce innovative approaches and concerted efforts in the fight against terrorism.

"However, we cannot understand that elsewhere in the world, coalitions to fight against terrorism were established and that similar efforts are not made in, at least, one of the five regions in Africa, where the destructive phenomenon is ravaging human lives, infrastructures and institutions," he said. 

Arsenal blew Chelsea 5-0 to provide major statement about their title credentials

LONDON, England

Arsenal provided a major statement about their title credentials as they thrashed Chelsea 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Kai Havertz and Ben White scored twice each in a rampant second-half performance from Mikel Arteta's side after Leandro Trossard had struck an early opener in an end-to-end first period.

The emphatic victory, coming just three days after they bounced back from losses to Aston Villa and Bayern Munich with a 2-0 win at Wolves, gives Arsenal a three-point cushion on Liverpool in second and puts them four clear of champions Manchester City in third.

The title-race spotlight now turns to Liverpool, who face Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park, live on Sky Sports on Wednesday, before City play the first of their two games in hand away to Brighton, also live on Sky Sports on Thursday.

For Chelsea, meanwhile, the chastening defeat, the club's heaviest in a London derby since 1986, following an FA Cup semi-final loss to City at Wembley on Saturday, dents their hopes of salvaging a European spot from a bitterly disappointing season.

Before Arsenal's devastating second-half display, there was a more evenly-matched first period, despite Trossard converting a smart diagonal finish from Declan Rice's pass in the fourth minute for his 10th Premier League goal of the campaign.

The Gunners created a succession of chances to add to their lead, with Trossard seeing a deflected effort fortuitously hit Djordje Petrovic after the Chelsea goalkeeper had saved brilliantly from Havertz, but as the hosts spurned opportunities, Chelsea grew in confidence.

Mauricio Pochettino's side were able to find the gaps they needed to play through the uncharacteristically open hosts and had chances to equalise, hitting the post when Nicolas Jackson's cut-back bounced off Gabriel, almost outfoxing David Raya.

Arteta cut a frustrated figure on the touchline during that opening period but he was able to plug the holes in his midfield at half-time and Arsenal quickly took the game away from Chelsea, significantly boosting their already superior goal difference in the process.

White added the second only seven minutes after the break, finishing coolly following a corner after Rice's shot had bounced into his path off Thomas Partey, and the third arrived only five minutes after that as Havertz held off Marc Cucurella to lift a cool finish over Petrovic from the excellent Martin Odegaard's ball in behind.

A party atmosphere had gripped the Emirates Stadium at that point and Chelsea's collapse continued when Havertz collected a Bukayo Saka pass and capitalised on more passive defending from the visitors to send a low finish into the net off the post to compound the misery of his former side.

Arsenal continued to pour forward, with White further delighting the home fans when his first-time, volleyed cross sailed over Petrovic and into the net. His sheepish celebration suggested he did not mean it. Not that it really mattered to the hosts.

They could have added to their lead after that, amassing a total of 27 shots as Chelsea continued to wilt, powerless to stop an Arsenal machine which looks increasingly capable of securing the club's first Premier League title in two decades.

Philippines, US forces to take military drills into disputed South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines

Filipino and US forces began their annual joint military drills on Monday, segments of which will, for the first time, take place outside of the Philippines’ territorial waters following a string of maritime clashes between Manila and Beijing in the disputed South China Sea.

The exercises, known as Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — will run up until May 10 and involve over 16,000 military personnel, along with more than 250 Australian and French forces.

For the first time since the annual drills started over 30 years ago, the Philippines and the US will conduct joint naval drills beyond the 12 nautical miles (22.2 km) of the Philippines’ territorial waters, in parts of the open sea claimed by China.

“This exercise represents the essence of unity, collective responsibility, and enduring partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America and other partners,” Philippines’ military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during the opening ceremony.

“It is not a partnership of convenience but rather a clear reflection of our shared history, unwavering commitment to democracy and respect for international law in our pursuit of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Throughout the three-week exercise, soldiers from the two militaries will operate out of a joint command center to perform four major activities with a focus on countering maritime, air, land, and cyber attacks.

“It’s the first time that we are going beyond our (12) nautical miles,” Maj. Gen. Marvin Licudine, Philippines exercise director, told reporters.

The Balikatan training operations are not directed at a particular country, he said, but are more focused on the “development of interoperability,” with an increased complexity of the drills and scenarios to let soldiers learn more from one another.

The joint exercises take place as Philippine and Chinese coast guard and other vessels have featured in a series of increasingly tense territorial face-offs since last year, including Chinese use of water cannons against a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea last month, causing damage and injuries.

After the incident, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his government would take countermeasures against “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by the Chinese Coast Guard.

“We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends but we will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience,” Marcos had said in a statement.

The Philippines and China, along with several other countries, have overlapping claims in the resource-rich waterway, where a bulk of the world’s commerce and oil transits.

Beijing has been increasing its military activity over the past few years, with the Chinese Coast Guard regularly encroaching on the Philippine part of the waters, the West Philippine Sea, despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal in The Hague dismissing China’s expansive claims.

Don McLain Gill, an international studies lecturer at De La Salle University in Manila, said the scope of this year’s Balikatan is a “clear reflection of Manila’s commitment to exercise its sovereignty and sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.

“This year ’s exercise will also involve complex maritime security issues such as simulations of recovering islands from hostile forces, which add a practical dimension to collective self defense efforts by the like-minded partners,” he told Arab News.

“Clearly, securing the WPS based on international law will not bode well for China’s expansionist interests. While the Balikatan is aimed at improving joint preparedness amidst emerging challenges in the region, the challenge posed by China's expansionism is clearly one of the critical factors that provoke regional security.”

Africa summit calls for cooperation against terrorism

ABUJA, Nigeria

Africa leaders called for more regional cooperation in fighting terrorism on Monday at a summit to look for African-led solutions to the continent's security challenges, including creating a possible regional military force.

Starting in Mali, Islamist militants have gained ground in the Sahel, expanding further south to threaten West African coastal states while more groups are battling in the Horn of Africa, Lake Chad and Democratic Republic of Congo.

"The epicenter of terrorism has shifted from Middle East and North Africa into sub-Saharan Africa concentrated largely in the Sahel," UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed told the counter-terrorism summit in Abuja.

"The situation particularly in the Sahel is dire... the region now accounting for almost half of all deaths from terrorism globally."

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu joined his counterparts Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe to urge more regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and work to create a standby military force.

"Such a force can stand as a strong deterrent to large-scale and protracted terrorist operations," Tinubu said.

Several African countries already cooperate in a multi-national joint military task force in the Lake Chad border areas.

Togo's Gnassingbe also called on the international community to do a better job in helping African nations finance their counter-terrorism operations.

Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have been battered by years of conflict with Al-Qaeda- and Islamic State-allied jihadist groups but coups in all three have also hampered regional cooperation.

Last month, Niger said 23 of its troops had been killed in a "terrorist" ambush near the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali in an area where jihadist attacks are common.

But increasingly the violence has spread to the borders of coastal Gulf of Guinea countries, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.

The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel has heightened concern over the spread of violence.

One major concern is the millions of small arms in the hands of non-state groups in the continent, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said.

But he said African states also face new challenges in fighting jihadists such as the impact of the climate, the breakdown of cooperation with some nations, social media fake news and unregulated money transfers through crypto.

"Today the challenge of fighting terrorism is different in scale... We are fighting networks that know no boundaries or borders," he said.

"Africa finds itself on the front of everyone's war."

Sri Lanka: Seven killed as motorsports race car hits crowd

DIYATALAWA, Sri Lanka

Seven people have been killed and 21 injured after a race car ploughed into spectators at a motor event in Sri Lanka.

The crash occurred at the Fox Hill Supercross race on Sunday in Diyatalawa, an army base town.

Among the dead were four race officials as well as spectators, including an eight-year-old girl, the army said.

Police have arrested two drivers, though their condition remains unclear.

Authorities said a full police investigation was underway into the crash on the army-owned track. Diyatalawa, in central southern Sri Lanka, is a former garrison town and the military maintains an academy there.

"This accident happened when the car jumped out of the running lane," police spokesman Nihal Talduwa was quoted by BBC Sinhala as saying.

According to witnesses, the crash happened soon after another car had overturned on the track.

Officials tried to slow cars down around the scene by waving yellow lights, but as the cars sped past, one red car veered off course and crashed into spectators on the side of the unguarded track.

On social media, Sri Lankans have criticised the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track

Footage widely shared on social media showed the aftermath of the tragedy - screams in the crowd and people rushing to the scene.

Five people were killed at the scene while two later died in hospital. Others remain in a critical condition, officials said.

Elsewhere on social media, Sri Lankans have questioned why there were not greater protections, criticising the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track.

The event, run by the Sri Lankan Automobile Sports Association, has operated since 199 - but this was the first race in five years due to pandemic restrictions and issues resulting from the country's economic crisis.

Prior to the state time, organisers had opened up the event to spectators free of charge and claimed that about 100,000 people were present.

Deportation flights from UK to Rwanda will take off in summer - Government

LONDON, England

The first flights deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda will take off in 10 to 12 weeks Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has announced - missing his original spring target.

He said, his government has already prepared an airfield and secured charter plane slots to ensure flights take off.

Mr Sunak promised to keep MPs and Lords late into the night on Monday to pass his flagship Rwanda bill.

"No ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda," he said.

He told a Downing Street press conference: "The first flight will leave in 10 to 12 weeks.

"Of course that is later than we wanted but we have always been clear that processing will take time and if Labour peers had not spent weeks holding up the bill in the House of Lords to try to block these flights altogether we would have begin this process weeks ago."

Mr Sunak said he will work to "a drumbeat of multiple flights a month" throughout the summer, "because that's how you build a systematic deterrent and that's how you'll stop the boats," he said.

To smooth the approach to the first flights taking off, Mr Sunak said the Home Office had been building extra space in the asylum process, including:

• Additional detention spaces are available, and 200 case workers have been hired
• 25 courtrooms and 150 judges to hear asylum cases, offering 5,000 days in court
• Hardening rules around European Court of Human Rights injunction, making it difficult for the Strasbourg-based court to halt deportation flights
• A pre-booked airfield with slots for commercial charter flights to Rwanda booked
• 500 escorts for the flights, with 300 more in training.

The PM's comments come as a prolonged stand-off between the Lords and the Commons over the bill comes to a head - with both Houses of Parliament scheduled to sit late into the night to get the bill passed.

Peers have been pushing for a change to the bill that would establish a committee to monitor the safety of asylum seekers in Rwanda, operating outside the country's own judiciary

Under the amendment, the first flights could not take off until the committee had deemed Rwanda safe.

Mr Mitchell, the senior Foreign Office minister in the Commons, praised Rwanda's judicial independence, calling Chief Justice Judge Rugege "an enormously distinguished and respected international jurist".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "Some of the discussions that have gone on in the Lords about the judicial arrangements, the legal arrangements within Rwanda, have been patronising and in my view border on racism."

Last week, peers also backed an amendment that would exempt asylum seekers from Afghanistan, who had previously assisted British troops when the military was stationed there, from being among those forced to fly out to Rwanda.

Peers want their two amendments added to the bill before they will ratify it, which is required before the government can pass it into law.

MPs will vote on the bill and its amendments from the Lords on Monday afternoon.

This ping pong between the two Houses of Parliament could go on until either the government concedes and makes concessions, or peers give up on their suggested amendments.

Israel's military intelligence chief resigns over October 7 Hamas Attacks

Jerusalem, Israel 

The Israeli military said on Monday the chief of its intelligence directorate has resigned after taking responsibility for failures leading to the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas.

Major General Aharon Haliva is the first high-ranking official to step down for failing to prevent the attack that shocked Israel and the international community.

"Major General Aharon Haliva, in coordination with the chief of the general staff, has requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of October 7," the military said in a statement.

"It was decided that MG Aharon Haliva will end his position and retire from the IDF (army), once his successor is appointed in an orderly and professional process."

In his resignation letter, Haliva took responsibility for failing to prevent the attack.

"On Saturday, October 7th 2023, Hamas committed a deadly surprise attack against the state of Israel," he wrote in the letter, a copy of which was given to journalists by the military.

"The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with.

"I carry that black day with me ever since. Day after day, night after night. I will forever carry with me the terrible pain of the war."

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Since then, Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and is engaged in a blistering assault against the militant group which rules the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian territory's health ministry said 34,097 people have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza, most of them women and children.