Book ID 660
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Date: 12 January, 2002
A husband and wife, of Asian origin, were killed and three other persons of the same family seriously injured when a group of Kiru villagers in Babati district waged an attack on their farm house on January 9. Property worth million of shillings, including a sugar cane plantation, was set on fire. The victims who were slashed to death are Bhanuprad Patel (81) and his wife Dhiray Patel (71). Those critically injured (above from left) are Suchitaben Patel (46), Kavitha Patel (17) and Neha Mahesh Patel (20), all are admitted at Ithnaasher hospital in Arusha. Police are still investigating the matter. The Regional Police Commander, Placid Chaka and other senior police officers were at the scene of the crime on Thursday. (Pictures by Raymond John).
See also
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Staff Writer
Extract Date: 12 January, 2002
The Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO) Limited, has signed an agreement with a Dutch Consortium, led by the Paes Group, on the construction and operation of the soon to be established, Kilimanjaro Airport Hotel.
The official agreement was signed last week at the Moivaro Lodge situated in Moivaro village of Arumeru and was attended by among another guests, Board Director of KADCO, David Mosha, Vincent Paes, the Chairman of the Paes Group and Gijs Raadt, the General Manager of Moivaro Lodge.
According to KADCO's Managing Director, Godfrey M. Mbakilwa, Mr. Gijs Raadt is going to oversee the airport hotel project.
The hotel project, to be known as 'The KIA Hotel Ltd' will be constructed in three phases, the first which is starting immediately is the setting up of the main hotel building.
This phase will also include the construction of the initial first 40 rooms. The second and third phases will complete the remaining 80 rooms with the phasing set to be market driven.
During the last week's ceremony, KADCO's board director, David Mosha signed for his company while Vincent Paes signed for KIA Hotel Ltd.
Mr. Mbakilwa revealed in a recent press statement that both KADCO and KIA Hotel Ltd are very optimistic that the presence of a good hotel at Kilimanjaro Airport will stimulate greater use of the airport thus creating even more business.
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Kaaya Shilia
Extract Date: 1 May 2002
kaayashilia@hotmail.com
Arusha the hub of action
People in elegant suits and badges
People smiling and hurrying
Flycatchers abound
Shouting, Jambo, Jambo, Karibu
Within a stones throw
The roof of Africa towers
Snowy and beautiful
Despite the perceived scotching heat
Of the midday sun, along the equator
The relic of Arusha Declaration
A monument of fame and name
With Mwalimu stamp left vividly
Though in ashes of history
Arusha historical and memorable
The home of zinjanthropas
The mother of mankind
The foot of creation
Listed in the wonders of the world
The astounding Ngorongoro Crater
Amazing Serengeti migrations
Nature at its best
Arusha the boiling pot
Arusha home to the world
With peace sought by heart
Conventions and congress in progress
Here mankind converges
Praying for the injured world
That bleeds and smells of injustice
Hatched of greed and lust for power
Arusha of sirens for the powerful
Arusha of sirens for perpetrators
Of genocide and mass killing
Arusha the pride of Tanzania
And now crowned and indeed befitting
THE GENEVA OF AFRICA
By Kaaya Shilia
AICC-ARUSHA
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Mustafa Leu
Extract Date: July 27 2002
ISSN 0856-9135; No. 00230
A Pastoralists representative in Ngorongoro District has asked the Government to revoke the hunting concession granted to Ortello Business Corporation allegedly because the company has failed to fulfil its pledges to communities in the area.
Mr. Raphael Ole Leng'oi, Councillor for the Loliondo Ward expressed his concern over the implementation of what was earlier promised when the company started its hunting operations in Loliondo.
Ole Len�goi was speaking in an interview with this reporter after participating in a workshop on wildlife laws and policies. The workshop was organized under the auspices of Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET).
The Ortello Business Corporation, a firm owned by Major General Mohamed Abdulrahim Al Ali of United Arab Emirates, was granted a hunting concession for the Loliondo area early 1993. In the contract signed in November 1992 by Mr. Ahmed Saeed Abdulrahaman Al-Khateeb on behalf of the Major General, the firm's obligation was to construct primary schools, dispensaries, excavate boreholes, cattle troughs and build village road networks.
Mr. Leng'oi complained that since the promises were not fulfilled, the peasants and Pastoralists in the area were still compelled to travel long distances in search of water. He said water is sold at Shs. 300 per container of 20 litres.
The Councillor, who was with the Pastoralists disputed the move of the investor to construct another airstrip at Mambarashani, on the Serengeti Plains while it has ignored the implementation of the agreed community development projects.
The villagers have insisted that the government should rescind the contract with the Corporation Six villages in Nogorongoro namely Olorien Magaidum, Oloipir, Soiti Sambu, Ololosokwan, Maalon and Arash. have contracts with Ortello. Mr. Lengoi lamented that the Pastoralists have no area allocated for grazing their livestock. He, thus, implored the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to abstain from valuing wildlife more than human beings. He said that they were in the area even before the area was declared as a conserved area in 1928. " We are the real protectors of the wildlife", he said.
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Yannick Ndoinyo
Extract Date: 17 august 2002
ISSN 0856-9135; No. 00233
A rejoinder to the Ministry's press release on Loliondo and OBC
We are replying in a critical analysis to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Press Release in the East African paper of April 1-7 2002 regarding the "Game Carnage in Tanzania Alarms Kenya" in the same paper (East Africa February 4-10 2002). Special reference was given to Hunting activities by OBC and our analysis base to same Company.
As it appears in the Press Release, OBC is the property of the UAE, but in reality some top influential people in Tanzania have some shares in the company. The OBC has been in Loliondo since 1992, even though ever since the whole local community in Loliondo refused to accept its presence and goes to the present day. OBC, to us, is not a normal Hunting company. It seems as if the Company has the right of ownership over land and other natural resources like water and wildlife. OBC has constructed expensive and luxurious houses, airstrip and big godowns on water source without the local people's authority while they depend on such water for dry season grazing. Our surprise is that the government has always denied this fact and defended the Company. Why? The Company may be adhering to regulations and laws governing the tourist Hunting business in the books only and not practically. There are no monitoring schemes to make sure that the Company adheres to the said regulations.
It is true that OBC contributes 30 million to six villages, which is 5 million per village, and it was initially 2.5 million per village. The amount was raised two years ago. The issue here is that the amount was determined by OBC alone and therefore paid when they feel like doing, no binding mechanisms to endure payment on regular basis. The former OBC director was once quoted as saying, "I am paying this money as this money as a goodwill only because the government does not wish me to do so". The amount however does not compensate or match the resources extracted from the land of six villages. The implication is that OBC has entered into agreement with the government only and not with the villages. The provision of education to 21 children as indicated the Press release, is basically not true or correct.
The 30 million is the annual goodwill contribution from OBC to the six villages and not purposely meant for education only. The plan to utilize this money is upon the villages themselves.
It is also true that OBC has constructed Wasso secondary school but not Wasso primary school. The secondary school, which was built for the six villages in which OBC operated and the whole of Ngorongoro district has been taken by the government thus limiting the number of children hailing from these villages and Ngorongoro district an opportunity to obtain education from the same school.
In regard to bore holes, there are only four known boreholes and all these are built in Wasso and Loliondo townships. There are no any boreholes existing in any of the six villages, except only that a water pump machine, which currently does not work, was purchased for Mondorosi hamlet (Kitongoji) of Soit-Sambu village. Again, there is no virtually any cattle dip that OBC did dig or rehabilitated in six villages as mentioned in the Press Release from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The information that OBC purchased a generator and water pump worth 11million is to six villages for water provision is false and misleading. Most villages in Loliondo have water problems and it is impossible for a generator to sustain a single village leave alone six villages. No single village has received such service from OBC.
In regard to transport, the two buses were either bought or just brought as second hand vehicles. These buses are expensive to run and spares are not easily obtained. At present they are just grounded at Ngorongoro district workshop/garage. There was a time the councilors debated whether or not to sell because of difficult management. At present the people of Loliondo use an extremely old SM bus for transport.
Again in the aspect of transport, there are no all weather roads in Loliondo that OBC constructed as it was said the Press release. Roads in most parts of Loliondo are murramed roads and mostly were constructed by Ngongoro district council using money from TANROADS and not OBC.
It is indeed true that OBC Hunting period is very short. There is a lot that can happen in short period especially if the team of hunters is composed of professional hunters. Our concern here is the interference and interruptions that OBC causes to the life systems of the people in Loliondo. The Maasai cannot resume their grazing patterns and often are forced to move by OBC. Where should we graze our cattle while our grazing land is occupied and by the Hunting company and protected by the gun? In six villages of Loliondo, five operate non-consumptive tourism that gives them more earnings except one which is dominated by OBC. The villages can now send children to school, construct basic infrastructure like health centers, classrooms, teacher houses water supply and food security ultimately eradicating poverty. This is all done using the money from the non-consumptive tourism. The OBC constantly interrupts this system and agreement between in the villages saying that the villages have no right to operate such tourism on "his land". Is it his or our land? The other major problem besides the Arabs is the constant reprimand from the government, as it discourages this kind of tourism business that benefits the local people in the villages more. We favour this kind of tourism because it does not disturb our normal pattern of life system. At the same time it does not kill wild animals, they just camp and go to the Serengeti Park. The allegations that OBC airplanes fly directly from Loliondo to UAE without passing KIA and whether it exports live animals have existed and many people have spoken and written about it. However, we cannot confirm anything about without much scrutiny. We do not know much now.
Also in the Press Release the spray of salt to attract animals was referred to. The distribution of water in a certain site to attract animals was applied sometime ago. We are sure of this as it happened some years ago. What we are not exact is whether the practice continues to the present day.
In the Press Release, the records in the Ministry show that OBC pays annually 354,967,000/= for community development in Loliondo? We have some reservations in regard to such records. First of all they are just records and anything can be written. Secondly, how is it that the Ministry has such records while we in Loliondo, the base of OBC operation, do not have?
Thirdly, where is the provision in the agreement that forces OBC to annually pay to the district such amount of money? It may be that the amount is used to be paid annually but to individuals only and not to the district as it said.
In its conclusion the Ministry sees no reason to stop Hunting activities in Loliondo simply because the local community and Ngorongoro district council benefit from the Hunting business. We strongly feel that there is every reason to stop the Hunting activities in Loliondo for several reasons. First, the local community did not consent to the granting of their land to the Hunting company to the present day.
Secondly, the local community and Ngorongoro district council do not benefit in a way it should be from this Hunting business in Loliondo.
Thirdly, the presence of OBC has interrupted and interfered with our life systems including grazing, culture and other alternative means of business to the local community.
In our conclusion we feel that even though the government operates under the law set in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma without the involvement of the local people, it is very important to respect the localpeople.
Someone in the ministry who has never been to Loliondo, we firmly conclude, either wrote the Press Release, or the story was made. We suggest that the villagers or OBC people be contacted for more definite facts. Please feel free to contact us for any queries you might have regarding this article.
Yannick Ndoinyo
Dismas Meitaya.
Loliondo.
=====
Yannick Ndoinyo
P.O.Box 15111
Arusha Tanzania
E-mails: mukanick@yahoo.com
ndoinyoyannick@hotmail.com
landlife@uccmail.co.tz
Tel: 0744 390 626
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Arusha times Reporters
Extract Date: Aug 17 2002
ISSN 0856-9135; No. 00233
The Hunting plot controversy reigning within the Longido Game Controlled Area in Monduli district two weeks ago threatened the life of the American ambassador to Tanzania, Robert Royall who was Hunting in the block .
Riding in a Toyota Land Cruiser Station Wagon with registration numbers TZP 9016, owned by Bush Buck Safaris Limited, Ambassador Royall found himself being confronted by 16 armed men.
The incident took place on Saturday the 27th of July this year, at about 13.00 hours, in the Hunting block which is under the authority of Northern Hunting Enterprises Limited.
It is reported that, while Royall and his family were driving in the area, another vehicle, Land Cruiser with registration numbers TZP 3867, drove toward them and blocked them off.
Sixteen men, armed with traditional weapons including spears, machetes, doubled edged swords (simis) and clubs jumped out, ready for an attack.
However, both the ambassador, his team and driver Carlous Chalamila happened to be fully equipped and likewise drew their weapons.
Seeing modern weapons, the mob got frightened and decided to flee. But the ambassador's driver, Chalamila followed them to find out what they wanted. Contacts were subsequently made with the wildlife department of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources. Some wildlife officers were dispatched to the scene from Arusha and when they arrived, they found the attackers already gone.
Regional Police Commander for Arusha, James Kombe admitted that the incident did take place but declined comments on the issue. However, already five people have been arrested in connection with the incident, these are: Omar Mussa, David Bernard, Salimba Lekasaine, Kiruriti Ndaga and the only lady in the team, Nuria Panito Kennedy.
This week, Arusha Times learned that, the five suspects are out on bail.
Speaking by phone from Monduli, the Monduli District Commissioner (DC), Anthony Malle said there was indeed some controversy regarding the Hunting bloc of Longido Game Controlled Area (LGCA) in which two Hunting companies of Kibo Safaris and Northern Hunting Enterprises (T) Limited, were at logger heads.
Captain Malle added that, even the residents of the Singa village in the area, have been divided into two groups each supporting either companies.
The District Commissioner however, pointed out that only the Ministry will decide which of the two parties have the right to the 1,500 square kilometre Hunting bloc.
DC Malle also said that he and other district officials have already held various meetings to address the issue and together have signed an official letter which was sent to the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources in order for the office to settle the matter once and for all.
Efforts to contact both Kibo Safaris and Northern Hunting Enterprises ended in vain.
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Happy Lazaro
Extract Date: Sept 7 2002
ed 236
A peasant farmer from Oldeani - Mbulu has been sentenced to serve 30 years in prison after being found guilty of possessing a leopard skin against the law.
John Shauri (22) was arrested on the 6th of October last year in Mang�ola village of Mbulu with a Tsh.1 million worth of leopard skin, said to have been acquired illegally.
It was alleged in court that his arrest was a result of the reports given to wildlife officers at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) who together with the local police, later conducted an extensive search in the area.
Posing as potential customers ready to buy the skin which the accused had been trying to sell, the government officers made an appointment to meet with Mr. Shauri.
The accused, later arrived at the meeting place and after some bargaining he offered to sell them the leopard skin at Tsh.70,000 of which, the officers paid Tsh.40,000 promising to settle the remaining amount later.
It was after the transaction had taken place, that the accused was arrested and taken before the Anti Poaching Unit where his statement was recorded.
The prosecutor from the Anti Poaching Unit, Abubakar Mustapha asked the court to issue heavy penalty to the accused as cases of illegal possession of government trophies were becoming rampant.
The Resident Magistrate, Thomas Simba sentenced the accused, who had earlier pleaded not guilty, to serve 30 years in prison.
See also
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Date: Sept 7 2002
ed 236
A Ceremony of interment of ashes of the late Stewart Carlson will take place at Ilboru Secondary School on September 14th, 2002. The late Stewart Carlson served the school in various capacities between 1952 and 1970.
The Prime Minister Honourable Frederick T. Sumaye will officiate the event.
All ex-Ilborians who attended the school between 1952 and 1970 are cordially welcome to attend the function starting from 2.00 p.m.
See also
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Erasto Jones
Extract Date: Sept 7 2002
ed 236
The Government is planning to widen the scope of services offered at the Arusha Airport in view of its expanding traffic.
The Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Daniel Ole Njoolay made the remark during the inauguration of the Aeronautical Information Service Office under the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) at the Arusha Airport last week.
The Regional Commissioner said, the government recognized the importance and economic contribution of the airport thus, plans were underway to expand the airport's ground area and widen the scope of services at the airport located 8 kilometres west of Arusha.
He however cautioned that the implementation of the plan needed a lot of funds and therefore urged the airport authorities and its stakeholders in the country to devise a mechanism through which the private sector could be involved in making the whole plan a success.
Mr. Ole Njoolay also pointed out that, by involving the private sector, Arusha Airport would be expanded and become more business oriented thereby boost the country's economy.
Inviting the Regional Commissioner to officially inaugurate the centre, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Ms Margareth Munyagi said, the authority had established the centre for the sole purpose of supplying relevant information on the airways condition to pilots and other interested parties.
She said that, the establishment of the information centre was aimed at rendering better services to the growing number of people using the airport. last year, more than 77,000 travellers used the airport in business or pleasure engagements and more than 15,000 flights were made. This is an increase of about 9,000 travellers and 400 flights compared to 2000. This made Arusha Airport the second busiest after Mwanza Airport. This is apart from Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airports.
Not only is the airport being utilized by tourists destined to the national parks in the northern zone but is also used by people attending international conferences hosted in the country and also by those with other businesses to undertake.
According to the authority's civil aviation manager at the airport, Mr. John Keto Chambo, before the opening of the centre, pilots and other people had no other source of information apart from relying on the Airport's Control Tower.
The airport's Director General, Mr. Prosper Tesha and other stakeholders also attended the occasion.
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Staff writer
Extract Date: Sep 14 2002
ed 237
The Prime Minister, Honourable Frederick T. Sumaye will on Sunday, September 15th attend a memorial service at Ilboru Secondary School in Arusha for a former headmaster of the school, the late Stewart Carlson who left a Will that his ashes should be buried at the school's compound.
The memorial service will be conducted at the same time as the burial of the ashes of the late Carlson who served the school in various capacities between 1952 and 1970. Carlson died in Nebraska, USA on January 14, 2001 at the age of 82. He left a Will that among other things stated that after cremation his ashes should be buried at the Ilboru secondary school's compound.
The late Carlson, born on January 19, 1919 in Sweden and moved with his parents to USA at an early age, became a member of staff of Ilboru secondary school in 1950 and the school's headmaster from 1952 to 1960. Thereafter he served as the school's second master.
The late Carlson, the longest serving headmaster and teacher at the school, had also a reputation of being an ardent enforcer of discipline and a dedicated biology teacher. At times he conducted biology classes from Form One to Form Six. Among his former students is Honourable Frederick T. Sumaye.
When he returned to the United States, he joined the Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where he served in the congregation as an assistant to the pastor until he retired. After his retirement he continued teaching an adult Bible class in his congregation.
The late Carlson was dedicated to Ilboru school and the people living around it and that is why he left a Will that his ashes should be buried at the school.
A representative of the late Carlson's family arrived in Arusha with the ashes in July last year and after discussions with a committee of former Ilborians including Dr. Anza Amen Lema, also former headmaster of the school, it was proposed to bury the ashes at a location where the late Carlson nurtured plants for his botany classes and plant a tree on the spot to commemorate him.
The late Carlson left a widow, six children and 12 grand children. His wife Marilyn Carlson accompanied him during his stay at Ilboru and four out of his six children were born in Arusha.
Ilboru Lutheran Secondary School was opened in 1946 and was managed by the Lutheran Church until1969 when it became a government school.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Irene Mbakilwa
Page Number: 215
Extract Date: April 13, 2002
In a bid to promote local tourism, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) has launched a bus service that will provide members of the public direct transport to the Ngorongoro Crater to view wildlife.
A custom made Mercedes Benz bus worth about shs. 90 million and with a capacity to carry 40 passengers departs Arusha every Saturday and Sunday mornings . The fare has been set at shs 20,000 round trip which also includes a lunch box and cold drinks. Entrance fee to the Ngorongoro Crater is shs. 1,500 for local residents and 25 US dollars for tourists.
Speaking during the launching ceremony at the Ngorongoro information center in the Arusha municipality, the chairman of the NCAA Board , Mr. Sam Laiser, (rtd major general ) said that the bus would enable many Tanzanians to visit one of the world's wonders in affordable costs.
Laiser said that Tanzanians had the notion that tourism was meant for foreigners and that natural attractions had nothing to do with them.
"Time has come for residents to realise the importance of local tourism which will help to boost the country's revenue,"Laiser said.
He was surprised that efforts had been made to publicize the country's national parks and conservation areas abroad but very little has been made to promote the attractions among local residents.
Earlier the chief Conservator of Ngorongoro , Emanuel Chausi said that statistics show that a large number of visitors to the Crater are foreigners. A total of 562,205 people toured the crater in a period of three years from 1998 to 2000. Out of them only 202,957 were locals.
The NCAA covers an area of 8292 sq km and about 25,000 animals live in the Crater throughout the year.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Fiona Musana
Page Number: 225
Extract Date: June 22, 2002
Dear Editor,
Arusha school made our childhood worth it
Having been away from Arusha for sometime, I do often think of the school I attended in the 70's! Arusha school - as I wrote in an article in your paper two years ago - will always remain a special place in my heart.
I recall the Mrs. Walala's, Mr. N. Dalal, Mr. Y. Dalal, Mr. Lyimo, Miss Masinde, Miss Heddles, Miss Smith, Mr. Mkombo, Miss. Ngowi, Mrs. Omari, Mr. Kaale, Miss. Kimathi, Mrs. Ngaliyanguo, my late mother, Mrs. Musana...the list is endless. I must admit that each and everyone of the teachers in Arusha School (as we knew it then) made our lives what they are today.
I would like to propose that an alumni be formed...it helps to maintain touch with the past because it really helps the future. How about if we start thinking about that? How about Arusha School authorities, do you have any objection to this?
Once again, I would like to say thanks to the teachers and support staff who were in Arusha School in the 70's and 80's...you made our childhood worth it!
Thank you!
Fiona Musana ( Arusha School, 1977 - 1983)
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Sheila Speed
Page Number: 233
Extract Date: 17 Aug 2002
Dear Editor,
My Name is Sheila Speed. From 1948 to 1961 my Grand Father (William Angus Speed) worked in the colonial civil service - initially in the Enemy Property section and later in the Lands and Survey department in Tanga, Tanganyika.
He was much respected and admired for his honesty and integrity. When he died in 1961 the European Community raised funds for memorial gates at the Anglican Church in Arusha post his death. No one in my family has returned to Arusha since 1961 and my Father, also named William Angus Speed, has asked me if I could visit Arusha when I come to Africa for my next business trip in the near future.
I am looking for information of a contact person, preferably from the Anglican Church where the memorial gates are. Can you please help me?
In sincere appreciation for your assistance.
Sheila Speed
See also
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Kaaya Shilia
Page Number: 233
Extract Date: 17 August 2002
Going down to the bowels of the earth
Down to the alkaline Malakat lake
The depression, the caldera
Nearer the colourful flamingos
The "big five"
Rhinos and lioness, the hunter
The hunters and the hunted
The coward hyena with iron teeth
The fat hippos, fearful of the scotching sun
What a treasure
What a gift to mankind
The amazing fauna
The virgin flora
The deep forest of variety
The beaded trees!
With long faces like
Of hidden eyes of
The Creator, the Maker
The stupid Rhino
Of the erotic love fantasies in Oriental
Of the magical armoury value
For the rich Arabs of the Emirates
With sickly memory
The splashing urinator
The black rhino, what an awesome sight!
What a heap of life
For admiration and wonder
Ngorongoro amazing
May you live and flourish
Conquering eternity
Stirring humanity to sense
For respect and perfect harmony
The cloud , the mist
The singing thorn birds
The deafening silence
The chilly morning
Of fog and darkness
Ngorongoro a marvel
The unparalleled wonder
The" GARDEN OF EDEN"
The cradle of mankind
The stunning climax of creation
Where man and nature co-exist
With restrain and respect
The Maasai of flamboyant atire
Of relic, the jumping music and folklore
Ngorongoro unique
Ngorongoro amazing
-
By Kaaya Shilia
AICC-ARUSHA
kaayashilia@hotmail.com
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Valentine Marc Nkwame
Page Number: 239
Extract Date: 27 September 2002
ISSN 0856-9135; No. 00239
Welcome to Arusha! Lady-Deez and Gentle-Menus. Today, we are taking you on an exciting, historical trip around the town's one and only Museum.... Something like that anyway!
So. Fasten your seat belts (if any), because, as history would have it, this happens to be the place where local people used to get hanged to death, by those old, German colonialists.
That by the way, is a very serious allegation. In fact, I wonder why the Deutsche fellows haven�t thought of suing, or better still, hang those who are spreading the speculation right there at the museum.
Well, these thick-walled, white buildings are also known as the German Boma, while this road leading to the entrance is called Boma Road ... Whatever both terms means!
Unlike other museums elsewhere in the world, the Arusha National Museum is simply a shortcut route, connecting the town centre and the Arusha International (!) Conference Centre, alias AICC.
That is it. Nobody ever enters the museum buildings and neither shall we, Lay-deez and Gentle-menus. However, it is also suffice to add that, every "serious" activity is usually done outside the buildings .... Especially some rather weird fetes.
Mind you, the idea of passing through the museum to AICC or vice versa, is not a very good one either, because as one walks through there some fellows who like hanging around the museum, would always stare as if that person was President Saddam Hussein, taking a shower inside the White House's bathroom!
Oh! One good thing. If you have never seen a Mini-disc player, then this museum, or at least the Joker's caf" adjacent of it, has one ... Or at least, it used to have one before being stolen.
Now for the weird part of it! Every Saturday, some wedding ceremonies are usually conducted here at the alleged Natural History Museum .... God save the Zinjanthropus skulls.
Just imagine! A wedding at the museum ... Come to think of it. I suppose it is all right. After all, marriage is a very old profession, which certainly need to be in any Museum.
Besides, getting married nowadays is as good as getting hanged by those German colonialists ... Long live local bachelors (may be not)!
Still, It keeps haunting me as to why exactly should any sane person choose to get married inside a museum! Watch my lips .... "Inside a Museum!"
Also escaping me, is how comes the management (if any), of the Museum would allow such ceremonies to be taking place there.
I mean, everybody knows how Arusha weddings are usually conducted. This include nauseating, over fried dishes (Blieuugh!), Off key loud trumpets, Beer and more beer (Like in that Biblical wedding of Cana Galilee) ... All taking place at the Museum.
Recently there have been many complaints from people that most Arusha youths, behave like Dinosaurs. Well, what should you expect, from children whose parents got married in a Museum?
Anyway, while we are still on the Museum tour, maybe you would also like to visit another outfit in Kaloleni which has been forced into becoming a museum since 1968.
The place is none other, than the alleged; Arusha Declaration Museum, which is slowly but surely turning out to be a typical Chinese wall street ... or something.
Lay-deez and Gentle-Menus, our very educating, Historical, Museum tour is now OVER! .... But then, so shall be all the marriages, whose wedding ceremonies might have taken place in this so called; German Boma!
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: lute wa lutengano
Page Number: No. 00247a
Extract Date: November 23, 2002
When I first set foot in this northern Tanzania town, that is way back in the mid 80s, my favourite drinking joints were the Copper bar at the historical New Safari Hotel and The Tavern at the panoramic New Arusha Hotel.
The Copper Bar had a set up based on a theme of the famous John Wayne film, Hatari. It so happens that the famous film star once stayed at the Safari Hotel when making that movie. The Tavern, located on the basement overlooking the beautiful gardens, used to celebrate the old Arusha socialites. This you could tell by the names inscribed on the beer mugs hanging behind the bar man. They were a "who is who" list of the colonial and early independence history of Arusha.
By the time I arrived in Arusha the two bars were catering for different classes of people. The Copper was popular with the town's young professionals while the Tavern was patronised by the elderly and rich. It goes without saying that comparatively more cocktails and hard stuff were consumed at The Tavern. That was when Tony came into the picture. He was The Tavern bar's cocktail wizard. Always pleasant and advising the client accordingly what poison was good for him or her when feeling or in that mood or the other. Surely, Tony was the soul of the bar.
The Copper and The Tavern are no longer there. I am reliably informed though that a new pub, appropriately named Hatari is in the pipeline at the newly renovated New Arusha Hotel. I am told it will be a thematic bar, (based on the same Hatari film) and better organised than the Copper and The Tavern bars. But this is another story all together.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: lute wa lutengano
Page Number: No. 00247c
Extract Date: November 23, 2002
"This is my bible," said Mzee Tony adding that he has been with the book since 1966. It was given to him by one George Dove of George Dove Safaris, a company, which had employed him as a clerk and barman first at Kimba Lodge in Ngorongoro and later at Ndutu Safari Lodge between 1966 and 1969.
Following that stint Tony resigned and came back to Arusha town where two years later in 1971 New Arusha Hotels Ltd employed him. Mzee Tony, who was born in Kilema on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and reached 54 years on 2 October this year, is married (for the last 22 years) to Veneranda Lyimo with whom they have six children.
Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Staff Writer
Page Number: No. 00248
Extract Date: Nov 30, 2002
Special picture exhibitions and film shows in honour of the late Baron Hugo van Lawick will be held at the Arusha National Natural Historical Museum as from the 10th of December this year.
Organized by Baron's own brother, Godi van Lawick in conjunction with the National Museum, the exhibitions will go on to January next year before shifting venues to Dar es Salaam.
Baron, who died last June aged 65 years is still remembered as one of the most famous Tanzanian tourism potential in the field of wildlife.
The late Hugo van Lawick, with his wife Jane Goodall, together produced some of the most eye-catching wildlife films of all time including: "The People of the Forest" which was also dubbed in Kiswahili under the title: "Watu wa Msituni!"
Other Hugo and Goodall productions are the classic "Among the Wild Chimpanzees" and "The Baboons of Gombe!"
Hugo also produced: "Wings Over Serengeti", "Born to Run", "Climbing Kilimanjaro", "Serengeti My Backyard", "The Serengeti Sympathy (Walt Disney Pictures)" and "The Leopard Son!"
All his films based on tales of passion, love social integration, hunting, child-care and defense tactics among wild animals, will be shown at the museum event this month.
Also to be displayed will be hundreds of photographs taken by the late Hugo during his wildlife adventures and escapades.
Apart from being a film producer and expert photographer, Baron Hugo also wrote three books: The Bush Baby, Grub, and Innocent Killers, with his wife Jane and later wrote Savage Paradise, Solo Sand Rivers, Among Predators, Prey and Last Days in Eden.
The President of Tanzania, Benjamin William Mkapa bestowed the late Baron Hugo with a "Presidential Award" for his outstanding contribution to the nation.
However, Hugo also won The Brudgord Washburn Award of the Museum of Sciences - Boston (USA) and the "L�Ordre Du Meite" of the Republic of Senegal.
His full biography will appear in the next issue of the Arusha Times.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Erasto Jones
Page Number: No. 00249
Extract Date: December 7, 2002
The implementation of the proposed master plan for Arusha Airport will begin in the next financial year, it was announced here on Tuesday.
Briefing the Arumeru District Commissioner (DC), Elia Wawa Lali at a ceremony to mark the 3rd anniversary of the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), the Arusha Airport Manager, Thomas Haule said earmarked works would include a complete reconstruction of the airport to match with more modern times.
The airport manager, however, did not reveal the actual costs involved. He instead said that the master plan's implementation would involve a substantial amount of money and that initiatives were underway to look for financiers.
In the meantime, the authority is embarking on short term plans to have the status of the airport improved. He said so far bids have been invited for the rehabilitation of the runway and fencing the whole area.
The airport manager said, during the three years operations under the TAA the airport had undergone tremendous changes. They include the installation of apron security floodlights and the extension of the apron to accommodate 30 planes from only eight.
He added that water supply system had also been improved by rehabilitating the existing borehole and a water pump. The exercise has helped to increase the flow of water to the neighbouring Arusha region central prison and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda's detention facility.
The security check system has also been improved according to Haule following the installation of the walk through metal detector, which was launched by the DC during the ceremony. The gadget has cost over 20 million shillings.
Speaking at the occasion the DC challenged the TAA to improve the airport to reach international standards, he said: "The Arusha regional leadership would love to make a better use of Arusha airport unlike the present situation where it costs a lot in terms of time, financial and security simply because we can not meet and see them off at the Arusha airport.
He also advised the TAA to work closely with the communities around the airport so as to cooperate in providing security to the airport.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Iman Mani
Page Number: No. 00249
Extract Date: December 7, 2002
Hugo van Lawick: Left behind for humanity a long list of films and book on wildlife.
A special photo exhibition and film shows in honour of the late Hugo van Lawick will be held at the Arusha National Museum of Natural History from December 10 to January next year. The late Lawick with his wife Jane Goodall produced some of the greatest wildlife films of all time.
It is common knowledge to anyone who knew the late naturalist, Hugo van Lawick, that this man had an immense love, interest and concern for animals, together with a great fondness for taking pictures.
Therefore, it will come as no surprise to learn that when a 15-year-old, Hugo, as he preferred being called throughout his 65 years, had gone to Holland's largest national park with a school-debating club, just to take pictures of the animals there.
Concerning this occasion, Hugo, once told this writer in one of their many conversations: "I was the best at crawling on my stomach to snap the animals. Therefore, my other colleagues asked me to take their pictures for them with their cameras."
It was at this time he realized that he had unique ways with animals. This brought much comfort to the younger Hugo, who was very fond of watching programmes related to wild animals on the newly introduced television in the country.
Along with taking pictures, Hugo said that he always had a great interest in working with animals for as long as he could remember.
He suspected that this had something to do with his mother's habit of keeping domestic animals. When the family lived in Indonesia, where Hugo was born and lived until four years of age, his mother had many pets and in Holland, rather ideally for him, they lived in a small spread-out village on the edge of a forest.
Later on, when he began his lifetime work with animals he was often criticized for attributing animals with human feelings. However, at a later time he was very pleased to learn that scientists were saying that animals do have emotions like humans and were able to prove it.
Further, it should not come as any surprise to learn that upon completing his schooling and a two-year compulsory national service, the then 20-year old Hugo van Lawick joined a company in Holland as an apprentice assistant cameraman for two years.
On completion of this two-year stint, he felt that he had gained enough confidence so applied to the producers, Armand and Michaela Denis, of a popular television programme in Holland at the time called "On Safari�; for a job as a cameraman.
The application was successful so an overjoyed 22-year-old Hugo flew to Kenya where he worked for almost two years, which was followed by three months catching rhinoceroses for a project on a Kenyan game reserve.
When Hugo joined the Denis's in 1960, he only had one amateur camera but while there he was able to earn enough money to buy his first set of professional equipment.
While on the rhino project he earned enough to spend one month in Nairobi looking for work. During this time he became aquatinted with Louis and Mary Leakey's son, who remained a best friend throughout Hugo's life.
He met the Leakey's, who had heard of Hugo's skills with the camera, through this son. As a way of helping to reduce his expenses, while he was in the capital city, the family welcomed him to stay with them.
When the National Geographic Society phoned Louis Leakey a few days later and expressed the desire of making a film on the anthropologist at work, Hugo happened to be in the right place at the right time to be given the job of cameraman.
By filming how the Leakey's were evacuating fossils in 1962, Hugo van Lawick got his introduction to Olduvai Gorge and the Serengeti National Park at the same time.
This was an exciting time for him, as he later admitted to this writer, for when he was a teenager he liked collecting fossils. "Now I was filming the experts at work doing just that," he said.
National Geographic liked the film and invited him to Washington for discussions towards further work, which included filming Jane Goodall's work with chimpanzees.
These talks resulted in Hugo being kept busy for the next five years making films for National Geographic and taking still pictures for their magazine, until 1967 when he decided on a more independent working style.
By then he was married to Jane Goodall and a father, with his camp in the Serengeti National Park. For Hugo van Lawick home was now in the Ngorongoro Conservation area.
Together with Jane Goodall, Hugo embarked on a research project on hyenas, jackals and wild dogs, which resulted in them publishing a book in 1970 entitled "Innocent Killers".
He then made a film on African wild dogs, which was very successful and caused a stir amongst the general public plus won many awards.
Years later in reference to this period in time, Hugo said: "This was when my career took off as an independent film producer. Since then I have done over 40 films as producer/cameraman. I like photography most of all."
As a direct extension of Hugo's work in this area, in the mid eighties he started working with other cameramen as an executive producer.
Hugo van Lawick has left behind for humanity a long list of wild life films in which he has been involved as cameraman, producer, director, co-producer, chief cameraman, executive producer or a combination of any two.
The list of awards for these works is as numerous as his list of films to his credit. He has also left behind for prosperity an impressive collection of photographs to his name and has authored or co-authored a number of books concerning wild life.
After well over thirty years living in the Ngorongoro Conservation area, Hugo van Lawick's last film entitled "The Serengeti Symphony", which he said love pushed him into making, was given a special showing at the former Avalon cinema in Dar es Salaam on March 31, 1999.
"I love the Serengeti and felt a need of making a feature film, which captured the true feelings of the place for all people to share," Hugo replied when asked on the evening of the showing why he made the one and a half hour film that took him three years to complete.
Primarily, he wanted to call this acclaimed masterpiece, "The Savage Paradise", after the title of a book he had published much earlier but changed his mind after seeing the end product for the first time. "I realized that there was nothing savage in it," he admitted.
He finally settled for "The Serengeti Symphony" having come to the realization that the film is basically "images put to music". This pleased him very much because he wanted it to be suitable for entire families, including children.
When asked where he gets such patience form to film such time-consuming scenes as can be seen in his films and still pictures Hugo replied: "It is my determination to get on film the animals" natural actions and beauty that brings the patience. I am totally against staging anything because
I think it is morally wrong towards the animals."
The first out of two sons, Hugo van Lawick, was born in Surabaja, Indonesia, on April 10, 1937, where he only spent first four years of his life. He then spent the next year in Australia, then five in the UK, 12 in The Netherlands followed by two in Kenya.
The remainder of his 42 years were given to Tanzania, with over thirty of them living in the Ngorongoro Conservation area immortalizing the Serengeti on film for prosperity.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area had become Hugo van Lawick's home, until the late nineties.
Poor health had forced him to move out of the bush for a tamer environment in Arusha region.
Later he had to move to the Msasani section of Dar es Salaam, to be with his son, daughter in-law and their three children.
It is in the seaside city of Dar es Salaam that the naturalist, Hugo van Lawick, spent his last days surrounded by his son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, relations, colleagues and a large number of friends and admirers.
However, this is not the end of the story. When all preparations were made for his cremation at the Shree Hindu Crematorium, Dr es Salaam, word came from State House that the Government would cover all expenses to bury him at Ndutu Camp in the Serengeti.
A fitting end for the man who gave up living in the towns and cities to live in the bush, just to take pictures, write books and make films of the animals there.
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Arusha Times, 2002
Extract Author: Arusha Times Reporters
Page Number: No. 00250
Extract Date: December 14, 2002
A team comprising a popular British comedian, a professional chef and a film crew from a UK-based media corporation, has just completed a five day visit to Arusha and Moshi, pledging support to local street children.
The group consisted of Lenny Henry, a famous British comedian, Gordon Ramsey, a professional chef who runs his own restaurant in Britain and Kevin Cahill, the CEO of the UK based Comic Relief Charity.
The four were accompanied by a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) film crew which made a documentary film on the life and personal experience of local street children in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions.
The Arusha Times visited the team at their camp on the St. Theresa Catholic Parish grounds on Wednesday last week and found Gordon Ramsey displaying his cooking skills by preparing lunch to over 100 street children under the local Arusha Referral Service for Street Children Project.
The group's tour to the Tanzanian northern regions is part of the earlier efforts towards the grand Annual Red Nose Day to be observed on the 14th of March 2003 throughout the United Kingdom.
Organised by the UK Comic Relief Charity, the Red Nose Day is a carefree day aimed at encouraging people to raise money that will help some of the poorest and most vulnerable people of Africa and UK.
Hosting the charitable visit of the UK team in Arusha and Moshi are the two street children oriented organizations of Friends of Kids in Difficult Situations (FOKIDS) Of Arusha, under the coordination of Shermin Moledina and Mkombozi Street Children Centre of Moshi.
Kate McAlpine of Mkombozi told the Arusha Times that, the team interviewed the local street children in Moshi filmed around them and provided them with meals.
Ms Moledina said since they formed the voluntary service of providing daytime meals to street children many people have come forth to pledge their voluntary supports and that they currently feedover120 children, four times a week.
Both Ms Moledina and McAlpine however pointed out that, the feeding programme is only a small part of their mission intended to be a way of reaching out to the street children.
Afterwards, the children who are ready are sent to local centres such as CCF, Rollingstone and Mkombozi and so far about 20 children (one being blind and one deaf) have already been put in schools while five young men (ex street children) have been secured employment.
The Friends of Kids have also paid for the care of two orphans. One of whom severely handicapped and have been providing warm clothing and shoes to over 120 street children.
Twenty other street children have been referred to centre based care . FORKIDS also advocates street children's rights.