HakiPensheni: October 2017

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Shilling cedes ground ahead of presidential poll reaction

The shilling was trading at 103.75/85 to the dollar at mid-day Tuesday. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The shilling slipped slightly against the dollar Tuesday as the markets awaited announcement from the main opposition leader, Raila Odinga. On Monday, the electoral body declared President Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of a rer-un election boycotted by Mr Odinga.

The personal accident cover compliments the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) insurance. file photo

SADC states agree on standard road, traffic signs

HAZLA OMAR in Arusha

SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) countries have agreed to standardise their national road networks to accommodate motorists crossing from one state to another.

East African Tea Traders Association managing director Edward Mudibo. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi addressing a Press conference at the Okoa Kenya Secretariat offices in Nairobi on October 31, 2017. photo | dennis onsongo | nmg

How Rwanda rose in 2018 WB Doing Business Report

By: Collins Mwai

(L-R): World Bank country manager Yasser-El-Gammar, Trade and Industry minister Vincent Munyeshyaka and Rwanda Development Board chief executive Clare Akamanzi during the launch of Doing Business Report in Kigali yesterday. (All photos by Sam Ngendahimana)

Implementing five reforms saw Rwanda rise 15 places in the 2018 World Bank Doing Business Report to feature in in position 41 globally.
Rwanda is 2nd on the continent behind Mauritius in the latest annual report released yesterday. The report examines the regulations and conditions that enhance or limit business conduciveness.
Last year, Rwanda was ranked 56th globally.
Kenya came third in Africa (80 globally) followed by Botswana (81st worldwide).
Over the course of the last one year, Rwanda implemented five reforms, making it easier to do business, especially impacting the small and medium enterprises.
Among the reforms include improving construction permit process by increasing quality control and risk-based inspections.
The process had previously been termed as lengthy and time consuming in the last edition of the report as additional requirements saw Rwanda drop from 37th to 159th position globally in dealing with construction permits.
By upgrading existing systems to roll out the Building Permitting Management Information System, the time taken and cost to obtain permits reduced by at least 10 per cent, the City of Kigali says.
The system allows applicants to track the progress of their applications online, through SMS and email.
Another major reform that helped improve Rwanda’s ranking was easing the payment of taxes by establishing an online payments system.

Minister Vincent Munyeshyaka consults Clare Akamanzi before briefing media about the report.

In the previous edition, Rwanda had slid 11 places largely due to a new law requiring businesses to make monthly declarations as opposed to quarterly, which was found to hold back businesses.
Improvement in registration of property by implementing online services also facilitated Rwanda’s progress. The country is currently the second in the world in property registration after New Zealand.
Grace Nishimwe, the deputy registrar of lands, said this was made possible by availing information on land, registration of plots across the country and using the Irembo platform for property transfer, among other improvements.
Reforms by the Rwanda Development Board also strengthened the protection of minority investors.
The new reforms improve conditions for minority investors by upholding shareholders’ governance and control structures as well as requiring more corporate transparency. With the new reforms, the shareholders can sue directors while the reforms also clarify ownership of corporations.
The enforcing contracts indicator was also made easier as judgements made at all levels in commercial cases are now made available to the general public via the Judiciary’s website.

The world bank country manager, Yasser-El-Gammar speaks to the media after the launch.

‘Satisfactory assessment’
Trade and Industry minister Vincent Munyeshyaka said the report assessment was “satisfactory.”
“Over time, we have found the report a useful tool as we seek to attract investments into the country. It will help us identify areas where we need to improve and inform policy,” he said.
He said, going forward, it might be beneficial to also factor in aspects related to reducing the cost of doing business, which is key for countries.
Previous reports have indicated a major challenge of a disconnect between the implementation of the reforms and the business community.
This presented instances whereby, when interviewed by the report’s authors, a number of business operators would be ignorant of reforms.
Clare Akamanzi, the chief executive of RDB, told The New Times that this has since been corrected by ensuring that stakeholders in a specific sector are always updated on reforms.
“What we have learnt is that, as government, we should communicate and ensure that people in that specific sector get to know about it so that they can experience the reforms,” she said.

Participants follow the proceeding of the launch through Video conference at World Bank office in Kigali.

Munyeshaka said the Government is also considering preferential rates for productive users.
“We still have issues related to electricity. We need to have preferential tariffs for productive use and to focus on that sector to ensure that they do not pay the same prices as other consumers,” he said.
Current electricity tariffs have consumers with large industries pay Rwf83 per kilowatt, those with medium industries Rwf90 per kilowatt, while the small industries pay Rwf126 per kilowatt.
World Bank country manager Yasser El Gammal noted that much of the progress was a result of consistency and being systematic.

And now, Uganda’s resourceful elites develop their own variation on land banks

The rich and mighty of Uganda have come up with an ingenious replacement for the Swiss account. And so instead of bothering with nosy global systems, they just put their money into square miles of land. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGAH | NMG

In Summary

New Swiss banking system of Uganda: After you embody your three million dollars in three square miles of land, you can take the title to the bank and borrow $6 million, because the land itself is worth $10 million on the market. Then you refuse to pay the bank, having converted the money into other assets. Then the bank sells it at a huge loss and the person who buys it has to deal with the so called squatters – the people who were born on it and whose ancestors have lived on it for generations.

Kenya built a leg of the SGR to Nairobi, but it will take a while, if ever, for it to make its way to Uganda. PHOTO | NMG

In Summary

Though the railway to Kigali was seen as an economic, not social engineering, project, it could have refashioned 21st century East Africa.

By CHARLES ONYANGO-OBBO
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About this time four years ago, Presidents Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame, and Uhuru Kenyatta, as the newest member of the East African Leaders Club then, had really got us excited.

The three East African Community states trailed the average tax to GDP ratio of the selected economies by close of 2015, an indicator of weak tax policies. FOTOSEARCH

In Summary

Findings from the report titled “Revenue Statistics in Africa: 1990-2015” show that the average tax to GDP ratio recorded by the 16 countries increased by 0.4 per cent to 19.1 per cent between 2014 and 2015.
The increase was attributed to the fairly strong economic growth posted by the economies, review of tax laws and gains realised from introduction of electronic revenue collection tools.
Digital transaction platforms such as the e-tax, Asycuda, electronic cargo tracking systems and the electronic fiscal devices helped revenue agencies collect more taxes, the report noted.

A mobile money transfer agent in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO FILE | NATION

In Summary

Telecoms with their networks allow banks to exploit their existing client base, and in turn, telecoms are able to offer banking products to their existing customers.
According to survey, access to bank accounts in Tanzania remained at eight per cent year-on-year.
The Bank of Tanzania aims to ensure that 80 per cent of Tanzanian adults use a financial access platform by the end of this year.

The business tendency index gives confidence that the economy will rebound to attain the five per cent growth target, anxiety remains high FOTOSEARCH

In Summary

Low revenue inflows resulting from weak exports and the adverse weather conditions that affected agricultural production caused collections in the quarter but procurements started to shrink in the past year and continuing into the quarter helped maintain some stability.
Finance Ministry data shows that economic performance did not achieve the five per cent rate; dropping 1.1 percentage points to 3.9 per cent.
Political uncertainty courtesy of the violent confrontations with police over the age limit debate in Uganda and Kenya’s election repeat could affect economic activity, further complicating matters.

The system will replace paper-based tax stamps initially attached to cigarettes, wines, and spirits. PHOTO FILE | NATION

In Summary

Manufacturers say the tender was not awarded competitively and that the terms inappropriately require them to pay for the installation of the stamp machines.
They are not only opposed to the introduction of the system due to the cost nature of the deal, but they are also uncomfortable with the contractor, who is accused of corrupt practices in Kenya, Brasil, Albania and Morocco.
Makers of beer, soda, juice and cigarettes want the contract nullified and a meeting convened involving the vendor, taxman and stakeholders.

An underground tunnel in Petra Diamonds’ mine in Cullinan, outside Pretoria. The mine is the world’s main source of the pricy blue diamonds. PHOTO | REUTERS

In Summary

Revenues fell from $94.8 million to $78.7 million as there were no sales from Williamson in Tanzania included in the revenue stream due to a parcel of diamonds from the mine being detained by Tanzania.
The Tanzanian government confiscated a consignment of diamonds from the Williamson mine, which is majority-owned by Petra, alleging that the company had underdeclared the value of the stones by about 50 per cent.
In September, the company suspended operations at one of its mines after a dispute with the government, becoming the second mining firm after Acacia to have its minerals seized.

A miner inside the Bulyanhulu gold mine in northern Tanzania. PHOTO | FILE

In Summary

Barrick says it could pay a $300 from Acacia’s cash flows, effectively pushing Tanzania to allow for gold exports.
The world’s largest gold miner said that it was optimistic that its negotiating team and that from the Tanzanian government would work to complete detailed documentation and final agreements for review and approval by Acacia in the first half of 2018.
Some shareholders have criticised the deal that Barrick struck with Tanzania, saying that it may have set the baseline for what nations will demand from global mining companies, possibly slowing mine development.

A maize farmer in western Kenya. A new project seeks to grow maize and soybean in Africa’s savannahs. PHOTO FILE | NMG

In Summary

The pilot phase of the programme dubbed “Transformation of the African Savannah Initiative” begins in November and targets some two million hectares of savannah.
AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina said the programme will leverage on the continent’s savannahs which remain largely underutilised and “are better than Brazil’s” where a similar programme has helped the country tap into its agricultural wealth.
According to the AfDB, Africa’s food imports stand at $35 billion with the figure expected to rise to $110 billion by 2025, if the continent fails to improve the productivity and global competitiveness of its agribusiness and agriculture sectors.

A busy Luwum street, one of the congested streets in Kampala, Uganda due to population increase. PHOTO FILE | NATION

In Summary

In its 2017 Economic Report on Africa launched in Kigali recently, UN commission notes that while rising urbanisation in Africa creates growing challenges in terms of infrastructure and services, it can also drive industrial development under the right policies.
To unlock the full potential of urbanisation for industrialisation, synergistic opportunities arising from the two need to be articulated in national development plans.
According to the African Development Bank, 40 per cent of Africans live in urban areas, up from 15 per cent in 1950, and the number is expected to rise to 56 per cent by 2050.

Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Mikosz. PHOTO COURTESY

By GEORGE KAMAU
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The new chief executive of Kenya Airways Sebastian Mikosz is known for turning around Poland’s national carrier. He spoke to The EastAfrican's George Ngigi about his strategy for the current assignment.

Firemen put out fires lit by striking workers of the Finlays Tea Estate on October 30, 2017. PHOTO | ANITA CHEPKOECH | NMG

In Summary

The company lost Sh6 million worth firewood to a fire started by unknown people on Sunday night.
Spokesman of the 15,000 employees, Dickson Sang, denied being involved.

By ANITA CHEPKOECH
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Agricultural multinational James Finlays has incurred losses running into millions of shillings following its workers’ strike that has brought its tea processing business to a halt and led to the destruction of its property.

The company lost Sh6 million worth firewood to a fire started by unknown people on Sunday night.

Mr Sammy Kurui, the company general manager for corporate affairs, said the incident at Kaproret estate under Ketumbe group in Bomet County was the latest in the series of attacks for weeks in a row.

“We are today counting losses amounting to about Sh6 million in terms of firewood. Within this strike period, we also have other damages to management houses including breakage of window panes, beating up employees suspected to turn up to work,” said Mr Kirui.

A man assesses damage caused by by striking workers of the Finlays Tea Estate in Kericho on October 30, 2017. PHOTO | ANITA CHEPKOECH | NMG

Spokesman of the 15,000 employees, Dickson Sang, denied being involved.

The workers are part of the 40,000 from various tea companies in Kericho, Nandi and Bomet who are pushing for the implementation of the 2015/16 collective bargaining agreement that seeks a 30 per cent salary increment.

“We have a right to protest and have the protection of the court,” said Mr Sang.

Safaricom share gains, shaking off Collymore sick leave

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore. FILE PHOTO | NMG

In Summary

Safaricom shares that accounted for nearly a fifth or 19 per cent of the total trading Tuesday closed at Sh25.50 a rise of 0.99 per cent from Sh25.25 at close of trading Monday.
The telecoms firm, which is Kenya’s biggest by market value, on Monday, disclosed Mr Collymore, 59, a Guyana-born British citizen had taken medical leave to receive specialised treatment for a “number of months”.

A senior Tanzanian politician, Lazaro Nyalandu, quit the ruling party CCM on October 30, 2017. PHOTO | CITIZEN | NMG

In Summary

On Monday, Lazaro Nyalandu, who once served as a cabinet minister and has been a member of parliament for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for 17 years, said he was “deeply concerned” by human rights abuses and the direction of the economy.

Kenyan journalists attacked at opposition Nasa meeting

In Summary

ODM director of communication Philip Etale apologised over the incident.
Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) Secretary General Erick Oduor also condemned the attack.
He warned that journalists would in future stay away from such events.

Kenya's opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga. PHOTO | NMG

In Summary

Nasa leader Raila Odinga dismisses re-election of Uhuru Kenyatta.
He says the coalition will push for the formation of the People's Assembly to run Kenya until a legitimate government is formed.
He says Nasa’s resistance wing (NRM) would embark on vigorous pro-democracy campaign through economic boycotts and picketing.

A deserted Nakumatt Supermarket in Nyali, Mombasa. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Nasa leader Raila Odinga addresses a press conference at Okoa Kenya office in Nairobi on October 31, 2017. He accused the Jubilee government of criminalising dissent since the nullification of the August 8 election by the Supreme Court. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

He said the coalition’s resistance wing will soon announce dates for peaceful protests and boycotts.
The scope of the task force will include looking at systemic continuing failure of electoral bodies.

By IBRAHIM ORUKO
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By SAMWEL OWINO
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The National Super Alliance on Tuesday declared it would not recognise President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election and announced the formation of a people’s assembly to start preparing for fresh polls.

RAIS MHE. DKT. MAGUFULI AHUTUBIA WAKAZI WA NYAKATO MKOANI MWANZA

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli akiwahutubia wakazi wa Nyakato nje kidogo ya jiji la Mwanza mara baada ya kufungua kiwandaa cha Sayona Drinks ltd kilichopo Nyakato.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli akiwasalimia wananchi wa Katikati ya jiji la Mwanza wakati akitokea Nyakato.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli akipiga makofi wakati mmiliki wa Kiwanda cha Sayona Drinks Subhas Patel alipokuwa akionesha bidhaa mojawapo ya kiwanda hicho.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Mhe. Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli akipiga makofi pamoja na Mke wake Mama Janeth Magufuli pamoja mbunge wa Ilemela Angelina Mabula wakati Kwaya ya Makongoro ilipokuwa ikitumbuza katika viwanja vya Mwatex Nyakato jijini Mwanza

WANAFUNZI 448 WANAFUNDISHWA NA WALIMU 6 KATIKA SHULE YA MSINGI MDEKE ILIYOPO WILAYA YA KILOLO

Afisa mtendaji wa kata ya Ng’ang’ange bwana Aron Mwenzegule akiwa mjumbe wa mkutano mkuu taifa wa chama cha mapinduzi (CCM) Gervas Kahemela wakibadilisha mawazo wakati wa ziara ya kutembelea shule ya msingi Mdeke
Mwalimu mkuu wa shule ya Mdeke Pascal Aloyce akizungumza mbele ya wajumbe wa chama cha mapinduzi wakati wa ziara ya kubaini changamoto za shule hiyo

Mjumbe wa mkutano mkuu taifa wa chama cha mapinduzi (CCM) Gervas Kahemela akiwa makini kusikiliza anachoambiwa na mwalimu wa shule ya msingi Mdeke wakati wa ziara yake katika shule hiyo.

Na Fredy Mgunda,Kilolo.

Shule ya msingi ya Mdeke iliyopo kata ya Ng’ang’ange wilayani kilolo ina walimu 6 wanaowafundisha zaidi ya wanafunzi 440 na kusababisha kutotolewa kwa elimu bora kwa wanafunzi wanaosoma katika shule hiyo.

Hayo yamebaini wakati wa ziara iliyofanywa na wajumbe wa kati za siasa wa chama cha mapinduzi (CCM) wilayani kilolo walipokuwa wameenda kwa lengo la kufanya usafi katika kata ya Ng’ang’ange

Akizungumza mara baada ya kumaliza kufanya usafi mwalimu mkuu wa shule ya Mdeke Pascal Aloyce alisema kuwa shule inajumla ya walimu 9 lakini walimu walimu watatu wameenda kusoma hivyo walimu waliopo shuleni ni walimu sita na kusababisha ugumu wa kuwafundisha

UBALOZI WA USWIDI (SWEDEN) WATOA DOLA ZA MAREKANI MILIONI 36 KWA UMOJA WA MATAIFA

Mratibu Mkazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa UNDP, Alvaro Rodriguez akizungumza na waandishi wa habari (hawapo pichani) wakati wa kutiliana saini makubaliano ya Dola za Marekani milioni 36 (takribani Shilingi bilioni 80.4) kwa shughuli za maendeleo katika miaka minne ijayo kupitia mashirika ya Umoja wa mataifa kwenye hafla fupi iliyofanyika kwenye ofisi za ubalozi huo jijini Dar es Salaam, Kushoto ni Balozi wa Uswidi nchini Tanzania, Mh. Katarina Rangnitt.

Kwa msaada huu, tunawezesha uchukuaji hatua unaoendana na sera ya nje inayozingatia haki za wanawake ya Uswidi na pia jitihada zinazolenga, miongoni mwa mambo mengine, ajira yenye hadhi na haki za watoto. Hii inadhihirisha mwendelezo wa uhusiano wa karibu na Umoja wa Mataifa na serikali ya Tanzania wenye lengo la kuleta maendeleo yenye usawa na jumuishi zaidi,” alisema Balozi.

Akisisitiza utayari wa kuendelea kuisaidia Tanzania na Umoja wa Mataifa, Balozi alitumia fursa hiyo kuthibitisha kuyapokea kwa moyo mmoja mageuzi ya Mfumo wa UN chini ya Mpango wa Kufanya Kazi Pamoja na kutambua njia fungamanifu zinazotumika na thamani inayopatikana kutokana na mchango wa mashirika ya UN katika lengo moja kwa kushirikiana na serikali ya Tanzania, washirika wa kijamii na vyama vya kiraia.
Balozi wa Uswidi nchini Tanzania, Mh. Katarina Rangnitt akizungumza na waandishi wa habari (hawapo pichani) katika hafla hiyo fupi ya kutiliana saini makubaliano ya ya Dola za Marekani milioni 36 (takribani Shilingi bilioni 80.4) kwa shughuli za maendeleo katika miaka minne ijayo kupitia mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini.

Akizungumza baada ya kutiliana saini makubaliano, Mratibu Mkazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa UNDP, Bw. Rodriguez alitoa shukrani kwa serikali na watu wa Uswidi kwa msaada wao endelevu akiipongeza Uswidi kwa kuwa mshirika wa maendeleo asiyeyumba katika shughuli za Umoja wa Mataifa Moja na pia kwa Tanzania.

“Uswidi imekuwa mshirika wa kuaminika wa Tanzania na Umoja wa Mataifa kwa miongo mingi. Kwa kulenga wale walio wanyonge kabisa katika jamii hii, rasilimali hii itatoa mchango muhimu sana katika kushughulikia mahitaji ya wale ‘walio chini sana’ kama inavyoelekezwa katika Malengo ya Ulimwengu,” alisema.“Mchango huu utauwezesha Umoja wa Mataifa kuweza kufanya kazi katika masuala mapana mengi kama vile kuhamasisha fursa za ajira zenye hadhi kwa Watanzania maskini, kuendeleza kanuni za utawala bora, na nafasi ya uongozi wa wanawake katika masuala ya siasa na vilevile kuzuia vitendo vya ukatili dhidi ya wanawake na watoto,” aliongeza.
Mtaalam wa Mawasiliano wa Umoja wa Mataifa nchini, Hoyce Temu akikabidhi hati za makubaliano kwa Mratibu Mkazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa UNDP, Alvaro Rodriguez na Balozi wa Uswidi nchini Tanzania, Mh. Katarina Rangnitt wakati wa hafla fupi ya kutiliana saini makubaliano ya dola za Marekani milioni 36 (takribani Shilingi bilioni 80.4) zilizotolewa na Serikali ya Uswidi kwa ajili ya shughuli za maendeleo katika miaka minne ijayo kupita mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini.
Balozi wa Uswidi nchini Tanzania, Mh. Katarina Rangnitt na Mratibu Mkazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa UNDP, Alvaro Rodriguez (kulia) wakitiliana saini makubaliano ya dola za Marekani milioni 36 (takribani Shilingi bilioni 80.4) kwa shughuli za maendeleo katika miaka minne ijayo kupitia mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini katika hafla fupi iliyofanyika kwenye ofisi za Ubalozi wa Uswidi jijini Dar es Salaam.
Picha juu na chini ni Mratibu Mkazi wa Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi Mkazi wa UNDP, Alvaro Rodriguez na Balozi wa Uswidi nchini Tanzania, Mh. Katarina Rangnitt wakibadilishana hati za akubaliano ya Dola za Marekani milioni 36 (takribani Shilingi bilioni 80.4) zilizotolewa na Serikali ya Uswidi kwa ajili ya shughuli za maendeleo katika miaka minne ijayo kupitia mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini.

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Zanzibar Social Security Fund

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Tuesday, October 31, 2017

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