what a tragged, when will these innocent lives be resqued

Limbless and lifeless bodies, pieces of strewed human flesh, twisted metal, torn pieces of mini-bus body, grief, silence. This was the scene at Kibamba Darajani, Kinondoni district in Dar es Salaam this morning where ten people including a pregnant woman died in a grisly road accident.
 The accident involved a Toyota Hiace with registration numbers T 615 AJW traveling to Ubungo from Kibamba and another truck with registration number T 192 ABP Fiat Iveco and its semi-trailer with registration number T 189 ABP.
The ‘Daily News’ witnessed the rescue exercise where ten bodies were salvaged from the Toyota Hiace which had been crushed flat by the semi-trailer. The cause of the accident was alleged to be failure of breaks of the semi trailer whose driver lost control and swerved to the other side of the road where it overran the commuter mini-bus.  According to an eye witness, Mr John Mrisho, the driver of the mini-bus and all the passengers who were in the Hiace died on the spot, but the driver of the truck who was identified as Kudra Adam disappeared soon after the accident.
Mr Mrisho claimed that some lives might have been saved had the breakdown arrived at the scene early to remove the trailer of the crushed mini-bus.
“The accident took place early in the morning but the breakdown vehicle came very late, I think the government needs to work on this,” he said.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the scene of the incident until 11.00 a.m when a breakdown truck from BMK Company was brought at the scene to do the work. Some of the salvaged remains were sickeningly horrifying to look at and some were limbless.
Two of the bodies were taken to Tumbi hospital in Kibaha for preservation while the rest were taken to Mwananyamala hospital in the city. Head of the Police traffic unit Mohammed Mpinga said preliminary investigations showed that the accident occurred at 5.30 in the morning. According to him, the semi-trailer was carrying 30,000 litres of kerosene.
He said that only five bodies had been identified and named them as Zainab Alli, Esther Paulo (who was pregnant), Abdul Twalib, Shukuru Hussein and Faraj Ngalamba. He said police were investigating the incident and urged the people to cooperate with them so that the driver who caused the accident could be found.
“He might have gone to hide in the village or anywhere else where he thinks he might not be found but if the people cooperate with us, we will get him,” he said.

Taifa stars yafanya mauaji leo yainyuka somalia mabao 6-0

Mshambuliaji wa Taifa Stars, Mrisho Ngasa akiwatoka mabeki wa timu ya Somalia, Mohamed Hassan Ali (kushoto) na Hussein Ali Robile wakati wa mchezo wa kusaka tiketi ya kucheza fainali za Afrika kwa wachezaji wanocheza ligi za ndani (CHAN) uliofanyika leo kwenye Uwanja wa Uhuru, Dar es Salaam. Stars imeshinda 6-0.

Kilimanjaro tops in financial sector countrywide

THE latest released survey conducted by FinScope Tanzania has ranked Kilimanjaro region number one in terms of number of people formally included in the financial sector countrywide.

The region has also the lowest proportion of totally excluded people who have no access to formal and informal financial services.

According to the survey, Kigoma has a higher proportion of formally included people in the financial sector than either Iringa or Tanga.

Financial Sector Deepening Trust Technical Manager, Mr Sosthenes Kewe said that Kilimanjaro's low percentage of totally excluded is partly the product of relatively high levels of semi-formal and informal financial access.

He said that FinScope surveys have helped to make policies that have been designed to improve financial services and encourage more people to use them to greater effects.

Regions with more than 14 per cent of their population formally included in financial services include Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mjini Magharibi, Ruvuma, Kigoma, Iringa and Tanga.

The survey further revealed regions with 70 per cent or more of its population financially excluded as Kaskazini Pemba as the leading region followed by Manyara, Lindi, Dodoma, Tabora, Singida and Mtwara.

Mr Kewe said that these regions are the worst in terms of the percentage of people exluded from financial services and also may have very poor access to formal financial services.

He said that the survey has also revealed that the number of people excluded from financial services by age group have risen from 16 per cent in 2006 to 34 per cent last year and that young people are particularly vulnerable.

He called upon public and private sector to focus much of their efforts on the youth segment in order to enable them access formal or informal financial services.

Mr Kewe further said that there is a 22 per cent increase in number of people who used to use a bank but do not use banking services now and that this is more worrying and a lost opportunity for banks.

The survey further reveals that the number of people who are using formal financial services from banks and insurance companies have risen from 3 per cent to 12 per cent of the population.

He said that many more people are now taking out medical insurance than they were in 2006 and the number of people using mobile phones has soared by 130 per cent.

Train your brain

Keeping your brain healthy isn't simply about having good genes. A healthy lifestyle, optimistic outlook and enquiring mind have all been found to play a part. Find out what changes you need to make.

Brain food

What we eat and drink is vital in keeping our brains in tip-top condition.
'The nutrients in what we eat work together to nourish and protect the cells in our brain as well as our body,' says Catherine Collins, dietician at St George's Hospital in London.
Variety is essential: 'Eat a matrix of different nutrients that complement each other to promote good health.'

Mediterranean meals

Following a Mediterranean-style diet could be a good place to start.
Rich in colourful fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, olive oil and a smattering of red wine, this sun-soaked diet is packed with just about every nutrient you need.
A recent study from Columbia University found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet were less likely to develop Alzheimer's, while those with the disease who stuck to the diet tended to have a longer lifespan.
Tomatoes, one of the mainstays of the diet, are rich in lycopene.
Lycopene is an antioxidant that mops up the damaging free radicals that are thought to be a possible trigger for Alzheimer's.

Go low GI

Another much talked about diet is the low GI (glycaemic index) diet. This means sticking to foods that release their energy slowly to help maintain a stable blood sugar (glucose) level.
'The fuel of the brain is glucose and it needs a steady supply all the time - the body will sacrifice every other organ to make sure the brain gets enough,' says Ursula Arens of the British Dietetic Association.
'If blood sugar levels fall, the effects on the brain are obvious: you start to feel less alert, fuzzy, lethargic and even depressed.'
Low GI foods include complex carbohydrates such as wholewheat pasta, bread and brown rice.
White bread and sugary foods and drinks have a high GI, which means it can be difficult to avoid high GI foods altogether.
However, if you restrict sugary foods to mealtimes, you can lessen their impact on the body's blood sugar level.
This is because a balanced lunch or dinner typically includes wholegrains and vegetables that have a low GI. These cause blood sugar to rise more slowly and will help the body manage sugars from foods that have a high GI.
So if you fancy a fizzy drink or piece of cake, have it immediately after a meal rather than as a snack.

Up your omega-3

A number of studies have suggested that omega-3 can improve mental function.
A recent French study published in the journal Neurology found that people who regularly ate omega-3 rich oils such as flaxseed reduced their risk of dementia by 60 per cent.
These vital fats are also found in plentiful supply in oily fish like mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines.
Most tinned oily fish is still a good source of omega-3, with tuna being the exception - the canning process reduces the levels of omega 3.

Keep hydrated

It may sound obvious, but drinking enough water can make a huge difference to our mental agility.
Every cell and organ in the body needs water to function and that includes brain cells.
As we get older, we tend to drink less as our thirst sensation diminishes. This can mean we become dehydrated.
The symptoms of severe dehydration include confusion, poor balance and memory loss.
'The amount of water that we need to drink every day varies from person to person and for most people taking fluid when thirsty is sufficient,' says dietician Catherine Collins.
'However as we get older we are more prone to dehydration - so if you find you are passing small amounts of concentrated urine and are drinking less than three or four cups a day, then you should think about increasing your fluid intake.'

Supplements

If you eat a healthy balanced diet there is no need to take supplements.
Otherwise, brain-boosting nutrients include the B-complex vitamins - particularly folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6. Research has found that people who are low in these nutrients are more prone to developing dementia.
However, there are some concerns that folic acid supplements can trigger symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. People over 50 should have their B12 status checked before taking the supplement.
Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E are important for brain function too. Antioxidants mop up free radicals - the damaging compounds that are thought to trigger diseases like cancer and dementia.
Ginkgo biloba has been linked to improving brain power, yet a recent study funded by the Alzheimer's Society found it didn't have any significant effect on dementia, cognitive function or quality of life.
If you are concerned about your diet, dietician Catherine Collins recommends taking a simple one-a-day multivitamin.
'This will have 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of all the most important vitamins and minerals and will act as a kind of health insurance without the risk of overdosing on any particular nutrient.'

Exercise

Keeping physically active is vital for a healthy brain. Australian scientists have found that just an extra 20 minutes of moderate exercise a day could significantly improve mental functioning in people over 50.
And you don't have to start pounding the pavements or working out in the gym. Moderate activity includes anything from ballroom dancing to tennis or swimming. The simplest option is to take a brisk walk in your local park.
'If you have a spare 30 minutes, the best way to spend it is to get active,' says Neil Hunt, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Society.
'Regular exercise has an enormous impact on your general wellbeing and helps to ensure you have a healthy cardiovascular system. This helps maintain a good flow of blood to the brain that will nourish the cells and remove toxic substances that may cause damage.'
The Alzheimer's Society recommends taking 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week.

Brain games

Like any muscle, the brain needs regular exercise. Sudoko and crosswords in your local paper are a good place to start, but you could try the more high-tech computer programmes that will assess your level and track your progress.
Leading Japanese brain expert Dr Kawashima's 'How Old is Your Brain?' series for Nintendo is one of the most popular.
The games are designed to hone concentration, memory and maths skills, and the small size of the kit means you can train your brain on the move.
Cheaper alternatives include web-based brain training games such as Lumosity or Happy Neuron. A number of websites offer free interactive brain games like the Brainwaves Centre (www.brainwaves.com) and Braingle (www.braingle.com).
'Brain games are a relatively new development so, as far as clinical trials go, the jury is still out as to whether they can help stave off dementia,' says Neil Hunt from the Alzheimer's Society.
'However, if you enjoy mind games and puzzles, it isn't going to do you any harm and it could well do you some good.'

Social interaction

Good conversation and sharing a joke with friends isn't just good fun - regular interaction is good for the brain, too.
A Swedish study of more than 1200 people over the age of 75 found that having a strong social support network lowered the risk of developing dementia by as much as 60 per cent.
The study concluded that friends and family provided emotional and intellectual stimulation that helped keep the mind sharp.
'Maintaining a positive outlook is important for overall general health,' adds Neil Hunt. 'We want people to realise that there are reasons to be optimistic - there are many things that people can do to reduce their risk of developing dementia and it is never too late to start.'

1. Quit smoking: smoking not only damages the heart, lungs and blood system, it dramatically increases your risk of developing dementia too.
2. Keep blood pressure in check: one in three adults are at an increased risk of developing dementia because they have high blood pressure, according to the Alzheimer's Society. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked by your GP so you know where you stand.
3. Slim down: if you are overweight at 60, you are twice as likely to get dementia by the time you turn 75.
4. Go easy on alcohol: the odd glass of wine is not going to do you any harm. However, heavy drinking is a sure-fire way to damage your brain cells and can lead to a rare form of dementia called Korsakoff's dementia.
5. Stay positive: a recent study from the Netherlands found that people with depression were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than those who had never been depressed

Park Ji-sung gives Manchester United the edge over Liverpool

Park Ji-sung

Park Ji-sung, left, scores Manchester United's second goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford. Photograph: Martin Rickett/AP

It is exacting to pursue a national prize in the midst of a domestic feud. Liverpool could scarcely have known whether they were attempting to land a blow in the fight for the last Champions League place or daze opponents aiming to retain the Premier League title. All Manchester United would have known is that they were taken to the limits while seeing out a win that puts them back at the top of the table.

The stress and uncertainty was embodied in the 90th-minute incident when, after Fernando Torres had sliced his effort, the ball went to the Liverpool substitute Yossi Benayoun, who headed weakly into the hands of Edwin van  der  Sar. He should instead have deprived United of two of these three points. Sir Alex Ferguson's players felt the tension as they strove to call a halt to the sequences of three losses against Rafael Benítez's side.

Judgments get delicate at this stage of the campaign. In the previous weekend, the United manager had extolled the impact of Dimitar Berbatov in the 3-0 win against Fulham. The compliments sounded even then as they would have to double as consolations for the Bulgarian, who was indeed left on the sidelines against Liverpool. Ferguson would not countenance an extra centre-forward beside Wayne Rooney when so much depends on midfield in these confrontations.

 Darren Fletcher of Manchester United, right, praised their battling display to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted Liverpool's Javier Mascherano should have been sent off in the pivotal moment of Manchester United's comeback win.

Fernando Torres gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, only for Wayne Rooney to equalise in controversial fashion. He tucked home the rebound from a penalty given for a Mascherano foul on Antonio Valencia which had started outside the area.

Ferguson said the foul warranted more than a booking: "I thought the penalty kick decision was a red card, because I do not see how anyone could have stopped Valencia from shooting. That is a goalscoring opportunity as far as I am concerned."

Regarding a tight battle for the title between United, Chelsea and Arsenal Ferguson said: "We have a very experienced back four, a very experienced goalkeeper and that gives us a real outstanding chance, albeit with seven difficult matches – but we have all got difficult matches, so what does it matter? It could very well go to the wire, if you look at the run-ins for the teams."

The Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez felt there was not much between the two sides. "It was very tight, they did not have too many chances, and neither did we," he said. "With two top sides, it is always the little things which are the difference, and they were the better in these.

"After the goal, I always said it is about how you can control the game, and we could not, as we conceded early. In the second half, you could see Manchester United are a good team, but they did not have too many options and with a bit of luck, it could have been a draw."

On the penalty incident, Benítez did not feel his player had merited a red card. "I have not seen the replay, but talking to people who have said it was inside and was a penalty, but Jamie Carragher was also there, so it was only a yellow card," the Spaniard said.

Liverpool are now well behind in the battle for fourth place, but Benítez insisted the battle goes on. "It will be difficult, but we still have to fight," he said. "You can see we can win against anyone. You have to improve when you play against a top side, but we created chances."

Ferguson said: "It was very tight today and Liverpool are good at stopping you playing. But you have got to be patient and we scored a tremendous goal from Park Ji-sung, who played another vital role for us today."

Ferguson accepted the match had not been a classic. "I am sure it wasn't, but it was so intense and you could not take your eyes off it – there was no one watching on television who went for a cup of tea, that is for sure."

United's midfielder Darren Fletcher praised the way they were able to grind out victory. In a second half of few clear-cut chances, Park Ji-sung headed home the winner after an hour when he came through a crowd of bodies to finish Fletcher's superb cross.

The Scotland international hailed the character of Ferguson's side, who are chasing a record fourth successive championship. "It was a difficult game, with not much football played," Fletcher told Sky Sports 1. "You want to win the title with flowing football, but sometimes you have to grind out results and show character – that is what we did."

Fletcher maintained that the referee Howard Webb was right to give the penalty. "I definitely thought it was a foul," said the United midfielder. "He was pulling Valencia and the contact with his legs was right on the edge of the box. The keeper saved it, but Wazza is so composed that he was able to tap it in afterwards."

"The team which puts the most consistent run together will probably be champions, and we are making a good fist of it," Fletcher added.

Dar presses for uniform varsity fees

Education and Vocational Training minister Prof Jumanne Maghembe, yesterday criticised East African Community (EAC) partner states over university tuition fees.

He said although the five countries in the regional bloc, had agreed to have uniform university entrance fees, only Tanzania has implemented the directive.

“We (Tanzania) have facilitated this, but the agreement has not been reciprocated by the other four partner states,“ he said when he opened the ninth annual general meeting of the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).

He said having uniform fees for all universities in the region, would increase mobility of students seeking education across the borders and hence foster the EA cooperation spirit.

Prof Maghembe, however, could not clarify what is the agreed standard fees for university students in the region and whether they covered both public and private universities.

Reliable sources close to IUCEA, an intergovernmental mandated institution to enhance collaboration among universities in EA, said higher education was more expensive in Kenya than in the other four partner states. For instance, out of the total student population of 36,000 at the Makerere University in Uganda, at least 25 per cent are from Kenya, while those from Tanzania are estimated to be about 200.

Currently, there are over 75 universities in the entire EA region from hardly 10 some 20 years ago and only three -Makerere, University of Dar es Salaam and University of Nairobi in 1970 when IUCEA was set up.

Prof Maghembe said student mobility within the region has increased tremendously in recent years “hence creating the need to institute mechanisms for comparability of the quality of education in EA universities.“ The target, he argued, should be to ensure academic programmes offered in the higher institutions of learning were of “international standards“ since education has become a tradable commodity across the borders.

He called on the universities to strike a strategic partnership with industry as well as invest heavily in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for better performance.

“Failure to embrace ICT will lead to increased exclusion from global education forums, thereby widening further the gap that exists between our region and the developed world,“ he pointed out. He also expressed concern on the inadequate infrastructure and research tools in most of the university campuses in the region, calling on policy makers in ministries responsible for higher education, to address the anomaly.

Earlier, Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, the IUCEA executive secretary, said efforts were underway to harmonise university education in the region to enable students to move to other university with their credits.

He added that the council was striving hard to ensure that academic staffs were highly motivated so that they are retained to serve in the region rather than absconding to work elsewhere.

By Zephania Ubwani, Arusha

Kakobe church billboards removed

By Alex Bitekeye and Beldina Nyakeke
The two huge billboards in front of the Full Gospel Bible Fellowship (FGBF) church, were removed yesterday by Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) technicians.

The move came after the church ignored a notice issued by the Tanzania Roads Agency (Tanroads) Dar es Salaam office to the church, institutions and individuals to remove all structures erected on the road reserve to pave the way for construction of high tension power line from Ubungo to Makumbusho.

Tanesco technicians yesterdaay met no resistance from church followers who had earlier this year blocked Tanesco from erecting electricity poles in the vicinity of the church premises.

The operation started at around 11am when two Tanesco lorries carrying technicians accompanied by four armed policemen and a crane from Ravji Construction Limited arrived at the church premises.

According to eye witnesses, a person with loud speaker warned that anyone who would attempt to block them, would be acting against the law. The technicians went to work and within minutes the two billboards were pulled down.

Few church followers who had started to converge at the site shortly after Tanesco technicians arrived, stood at a safe distance, looking at what was going on without commenting or protesting. A witness, Mr Juma Khamis, told this newspaper later that it was a peaceful exercise and none of FGBF members interfered with the exercise.

Bishop Zacharia Kakobe himself was not around and attempts to reach him through his phone failed. His cell phone was unanswered for long time before it was switched off.

Mid last week, the Dar es Salaam Tanroads regional manager, Mr James Nyabakari, told this newspaper that his office had issued a one-week notice to FGBF and other people to remove their objects in the road reserve.

He said the authorities might be forced to intervene and remove all objects interfering with the project, if owners will fail to heed the notice within the specified time.

He added that Tanesco has been given the go ahead to uproot the billboards on the expiry of the seven-day notice, warning that the owners of the structures would bear the cost of their demolition. He clarified that they had instructed Tanesco to uproot the billboards and take them to Tanroads office and send demolition cost bill to FGBF who should refund Tanesco.

For better part of this year, Bishop Kakobe followers took turns to guard the church premises to prevent Tanesco from constructing a power line near the church.

Bishop Kakobe argued that the high tension electricity routed through the area would pose danger to thousands of believers who gather outside the church everyday.

I'm running again for presidency, says Seif

                                                                                                              

[Maalim Seif] 'This year's election will be one of hope and peace...under unity government no political party will be sidelined'

The Civic United Front (CUF) secretary-general, Mr Seif Sharif Hamad, has declared his intention to contest the Zanzibar presidency in the October elections.

 He broke the news during an exclusive interview with The Citizen in a Dar es Salaam hotel yesterday, where he is recuperating following his discharge from hospital on Thursday last week. He assured the public that he was now in good health and that he was ready to resume his daily activities.

 He said he would dully present his name as the CUF flag bearer for the Isle's presidency when the party launches its nomination process slated for April.

 He said he was optimistic he would clinch his party's ticket for the highest political office in the Isles. If he were nominated, this would be his fourth attempt the presidency that CCM has held since the re-introduction of multiparty elections in 1995.

 “I am confirming that I will offer myself

to run for the post...I am ready for the party's endorsement," said Mr Hamad, who once served as chief minister before falling out with CCM.

he becomes the first person to declare his intention to run for the Zanzibari presidency in the election slated for October.

He said this would be the best opportunity yet for his party's participation in the General Election. He pointed out that the reconciliation between him and President Amani Abeid Karume would ensure both parties go into the elections with renewed confidence and optimism for a better outcome.

Mr Karume will not be eligible for re-election after the expiry of his two-term tenure.

 "This year's election will be one of hope and peace. The passing of the Act to facilitate formation of a government of national unity means all parties participating in the elections will be accommodated in the final analysis," he said.

 Commenting on political troubles that continue to haunt governments of national unity in Africa, Mr Hamad said the Zanzibar situation would be quite different.

 He said unlike Kenya or Zimbabwe, the Zanzibar unity government would not be one resulting from a disputed election outcome, but one formed out of a pre-planned and mutual agreement borne of recognition of national interest.

"You cannot compare our planned type of unity government with that of Kenya and Zimbabwe which resulted from immense pressure from outside ...we are not being pressured from any quarter," Mr Hamad declared.

 He added: "For many years since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1956, our country has been marred by political violence that impeded prosperity for our people; time has come that we forego that dark past."

 "Because there were forces between reconciliations in the other countries, then it's very obvious that quarrels are still rife in their governments, but that will not happen in Zanzibar because ours is going to involve wananchi who will give their consent through a referendum."

 On the recently formed opposition party, Chama Cha Jamii (CCJ), he described it as "a passing cloud" that he said rode on claims of big wigs in politics behind it to gain popularity. 

like his peers in the Opposition, he said CCJ does not bother him or threaten CUF.

 On the Isles' economy, he said: "To be honest, the Zanzibar political impasse has affected our economy...but Zanzibar has talents that would bring tremendous changes in a very short period as long as we are committed," he said.

 He said the Isles government has not done enough to improve their agriculture and fishing, adding that if these sectors are fully modernized, then wananchi would benefit from their resources.

 Zanzibar's major economic sectors include agriculture, trade, industries, and tourism.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy largely due to the clove industry, which is the main foreign currency earner.

 Mr Hamad said some Zanzibaris in the Diaspora have pledged full support in the effort to revive the Isles' economy. "We are going to fully utilize their skills and talents," he said.

New password-stealing virus targets Facebook

Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information

The emails tell recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset, urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials, according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.

If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said on Wednesday.

Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious software.

A Facebook spokesman said the company could not comment on the specific case, but pointed to a status update the company posted on its web site earlier on Wednesday warning users about the spoofed email and advising users to delete the email and to warn their friends.

McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on Tuesday.

Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications, said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers.

"With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that's 40 million," he said.

The email's subject line says "Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to Marcus.

(Additional reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Bernard Orr)