Saturday 6 February 2021 3

NATIONAL.NEWS

By Guardian Reporter WHO urges African states, donors THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Member to invest more in combating FGM States and donors to invest more Reports show that globally one in reduced access to prevention in combating Female Genital in three girls aged 15 to 19 years messages and services. Families Mutilation (FGM) and to include has undergone FGM. facing financial crisis may also be the management of health “The short-term health risks under more pressure to have their complications from female of FGM include severe pain, daughters get married, and FGM genital mutilation in the list of infection, haemorrhaging and is often a precursor to marriage,” essential health services for both may lead to death. The long- she noted. development and humanitarian term risks include chronic The United Nations programmes. genital, reproductive health and International Children’s Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO urinary infections, menstrual Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director for problems, infertility, and obstetric and the UN Population Fund made the call in her message to complications. In countries (UNFPA) estimate that two million commemorate the International affected by this practice, seven additional cases of FGM may Day of Zero Tolerance for Female out of ten girls and women feel occur in the next 10 years in the Genital Mutilation which is that FGM should be abandoned,” wake of the COVID-19 crisis. observed today. she said. Dr Moeti noted that some Morogoro regional commissioner Loata ole Sanare opens a three-day workshop for rice processors. It She said: “In this way, we In the WHO African Region, countries are making good was held at Ifakara town in Kilombero District on Thursday. Others are Kilombero district commissioner can protect girls, women, and FGM is practiced in 26 countries. progress in ending FGM. “For Ismail Mlawa (L), Rice Council of executive director Winnie Bashagi (2nd-R) and Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) programme senior communication officer, Godfrey Kalagho. Photo: Guardian communities from the dangers of FGM has been banned in 22 example, Burkina Faso has Correspondent female genital mutilation.” of these countries. However, incorporated prevention of FGM This year’s theme is “No Time in Cameroon, the Democratic and care for women and girls By Guardian Correspondent, Ifaraka Morogoro sees rice business for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund, Republic of the Congo, Mali and affected by it, into the midwifery and Act to end FGM.” The theme Sierra Leone FGM has yet to be curriculum. They have developed businessmen will highlights that accelerated action banned. an FGM surveillance model based no longer have to spend much to opportunity from Zanzibar is needed to save girls from this “Unfortunately, the COVID-19 around documenting FGM in the import rice from Asia and other Regional Commissioner to address within and outside the country. intentional disfigurement that crisis has increased the risk of this context of antenatal care. This countries after being assured of the challenge of power cuts and The programme is funded violates their human rights and harmful practice. School closures experience shows it is possible to steady supply of the produce from power rationing which is rampart by the European Union under adversely affects their health and and stay-at-home orders have measure FGM prevalence through Morogoro Region. in almost all districts in the region. Secretariat of the organization well-being. disrupted programmes resulting the health sector.” Loata Ole Sanare, Morogoro The other challenge includes of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific Regional Commissioner (RC) said poor roads to which the RC (OACPS). It is implemented by this at the opening of a three-day promised to meet with both REPOA in collaboration with the workshop for rice processors Tanzania Rural roads Agency University of Erasmus Rotterdam held at Ifakara town in Kilombero (TARURA) and the Tanzania (ISS). District. National Roads Agency Morogoro is among the two He said the move would also (TANROADS) to address it. major regions for rice cultivation. boost income for local rice Earlier, the Kilombero District Recently, the government decided processors as well as save costs Commissioner Ismail Mlawa to convene the task force for for the traders. “I recently met urged participants to share the the National Rice Development with the Zanzibar’s Second Vice- knowledge they got from the Strategy II (NRDS II) in Morogoro, President Hemed Suleiman workshop with their fellow rice which aimed at scaling up the rice Abdallah and requested him to processors who were not able to production to such an extent that ask rice businessmen in Zanzibar attend so that all of them should it meets the growing regional and to stop importing rice from other benefit from the experience. even continental demand for rice countries because the produce is Winnie Bashagi, the executive and double the production from available in Morogoro,” he said. director of the Rice Council of two tonnes per hectare to four In response, he said the Second Tanzania said that the Morogoro tonnes per hectare. Vice President would encourage Region is contributing immensely The workshop was organised buyers to come to Morogoro to the national tonnage of rice. by REPOA in collaboration with Region to meet with rice On behalf of REPOA’s executive the Rice Council of Tanzania. It processors and establish business director, the organisation’s senior brought together rice processors ties between them. communication officer, Godfrey from Malinyi, Ulanga, Mvomero, Regional Commissioner asked Kalagho the training was part of and Kilombero districts. It was rice processors to also list down the research programme which also attended by representatives challenges facing them so that he aimed at building the capacity from Tanzania Revenue Authority can make a follow up and address of policy makers, producers and (TRA) from Ifakara District, them to improve the quality of the processors to assess policy and Tanzania Bureau of Standards rice produced in the region. contribute towards achieving (TBS) and Weights and Measures Participants requested the competitiveness of local products Agency (WMA).

By Correspondent Marc Nkwame, Former RAS Kwitega to Arusha be buried in Sengerema today FORMER Arusha regional administrative secretary Richard Kwitega has left behind a mass here, the Chairperson of Kwitega will be buried today in widow, Janet Kwitega and four Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Sengerema District, Mwanza children. The former Regional party in Arusha, Zelothe Stephen, Regional, today after a farewell Administrative Secretary was said shortly before the accident, mass held here. killed in a tragic highway accident, he had waved to the late Kwitega The deceased body was flown which occurred last Wednesday when their vehicles passed each from Arusha Airport at 3.00 pm evening at Mdori section of Babati- other along the road that evening. yesterday aboard a government Rural District of Manyara region. The Morogoro Regional plane, Fokker Friendship F50, The government official was Commissioner, Loata Ole Sanare with the Regional Commissioner, traveling from Arusha, heading to and Kilimanjaro RC Anna Idd Hassan Kimanta heading the where he was to attend Mughwira were among the delegation of various other state an official meeting, when his car, a government officials who paid last officials to Mwanza. Toyota Land-Cruiser VX, collided respects to the late Kwitega during “The late Richard Kwitega head-on with an oncoming the farewell mass in Arusha. had built himself a home in passenger vehicle, a ‘Makara Bus’ Others were the representative Buswelo, Mwanza where his which was traveling from Singida of the Arusha Business body is to spend a night before to Arusha via Babati. Community, Walter Maeda, being taken to Sengerema for It was reported that five other Chairperson of Parastatals in burial ceremony,” stated the people were badly injured during Arusha, Elishilia Kaaya, religious Arusha Regional Commissioner, the tragic accident, including the leaders, and representatives of Idd Kimanta whose tears-jerking drivers of the two vehicles as well non-government organisations. earlier speech sent stabs of painful as three passengers that were The Arusha Regional memories among majority of traveling in the Mitsubishi Fuso Commissioner closed with these people who attended the public Bus christened ‘Makara.’ words; “Richard Kwitega; I will funeral mass. Speaking during the funeral never forget you!”

the department was Immigration in Morogoro detains 46 working day and night illegal immigrants enroute to S. Africa to fight the crimes. Angela said that the By Guardian Correspondent, Mvomero In the exercise, three Tanzanians suspects will be brought including the truck’s driver escaped before the court to face IMMIGRATION officials in Morogoro but efforts to find them are ongoing in their charges. Region have arrested 46 Ethiopian close cooperation with other security nationals who have entered the organs. country illegally on their way to South She applauded the citizens for their Africa. cooperation to facilitate the arrest of The immigrants were caught at the immigrants calling upon members Bwage village in Mvomero District on of the public to continue unearthing February 4, this year travelling in a immigrants who enter or live in the fuso truck together with cement and country against the law warning that empty gallons. stern measures will be taken against Angela Shija, regional immigration those who will be caught. officer said that the Ethiopian nationals “We should all as members of the were coming from Mombasa, Kenya public create a culture of reporting to enroute to South Africa. security bodies whenever we notice “Our immigration officers were on a something unusual in our areas for the special patrol when they caught these country’s peace,” she added. suspects; they were informed by a The official further sent a stern good samaritan about the presence of warning to all people engaging in the immigrants who entered Tanzania human trafficking business and through Tanga Region and set a trap to those taking illegal immigrants into catch them,” Angela said. their homes to stop doing so as