Nawatakia wadau wote Heri ya Mwaka Mpya 2013!
Happy New Year Everyone!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Rais Kikwete Amjulia Hali Father Mkenda Aliyepigwa Risasi Zanzibar
Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akimjulia hali Padri Ambros Mkenda wa Kanisa Katoliki la Mpendae mjini Zanzibar anayeuguza majeraha katika taasisi ya mifupa ya Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili (Moi) jijijini Dar es salaam leo Jumamosi Dsemba 29, 2012 kufuatia kupigwa risasi sehemu za mdomoni na watu wasiojulikana mapema wiki hii wakati akisubiri kufunguliwa geti la nyumbani kwake maeneo Kitomondo Mjini Zanzibar akiwa ndani ya gari aliyokuwa akiendesha akiwa pekee yake. Rais Kikwete amempa Padri Mkenda pole nyingi na kumuombea apate nafuu haraka.
PICHA NA IKULU
Friday, December 28, 2012
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Natumaini mmesherekea vizuri Krimasi. Nawatakia pia Heri ya Mwaka Mpya!
Friday, December 21, 2012
Rais Kikwete Apongezwa na Wasanii Wakongwe Kwa Kuwajali
PICHA NA IKULU
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Miss Tanzania Vazi la Taifa Katika Mashindano ya Miss Universe 2012
Wadau, hebu cheki hii Vazi la Taifa aliyovaa Miss Tanzania 2012, Winifrida Dominic, katika Mashindano ya Miss Universe. Samahani lakini sioni UTanzania!
Wadau, hebu cheki hii Vazi la Taifa aliyovaa Miss Tanzania 2012, Winifrida Dominic, katika Mashindano ya Miss Universe. Samahani lakini sioni UTanzania!
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| Miss Tanzania Winfrida Dominic performs onstage at the 2012 Miss Universe National Costume Show at PH Live in Las Vegas, Nevada December 14, 2012. The 89 Miss Universe Contestants will compete for the Diamond Nexus Crown on December 19, 2012. REUTERS/Darren Decker/Miss Universe Organization/Handout |
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| Miss Bostwana 2012 |
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| Miss Ethiopia 2012 |
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Tanzia - Angela Hiza Bavu
UPDATE 12/19/12 - Mwili wa marehemu Mrs. Angela Hiza Bavu, utawasili Dar es Salaam kutoka India na Qatar Airways kesho 12/12/12. Mazishi yatakuwa Jumamosi 12/22/12, shambani kwa Prof. Bavu huko Kimara Stopover.
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Wadau, nimepokea kwa majonzi habari ya kifo cha Mrs. Angela Bavu (nee Angela Hiza), mtoto wa Prof. Hiza. Tulikaa na familia ya Hiza Simba Road, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (Mlimani) miaka mingi tangua 1970's hadi 1990's. Wao walikuwa 3 Simba Road, sisi namba 13 Simba Road. Watoto wa Chuo!
Sina details zaidi ya kuwa alikuwa amekwenda India kwenye matibabu.
Natoa pole kwa familia ya Prof. Hiza na Mrs. Hiza, Carolyne, Mary, Msaka, Mpindu, Mhaiyo, Robert na wengine.
Mungu ailaze roho ya Angela mahala pema mbinguni. Amen.
Nitabandika updates nikizipata.
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| The Late Mrs. Angela Hiza Bavu |
UPDATE 12/19/12 - Mwili wa marehemu Mrs. Angela Hiza Bavu, utawasili Dar es Salaam kutoka India na Qatar Airways kesho 12/12/12. Mazishi yatakuwa Jumamosi 12/22/12, shambani kwa Prof. Bavu huko Kimara Stopover.
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Wadau, nimepokea kwa majonzi habari ya kifo cha Mrs. Angela Bavu (nee Angela Hiza), mtoto wa Prof. Hiza. Tulikaa na familia ya Hiza Simba Road, Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (Mlimani) miaka mingi tangua 1970's hadi 1990's. Wao walikuwa 3 Simba Road, sisi namba 13 Simba Road. Watoto wa Chuo!
Sina details zaidi ya kuwa alikuwa amekwenda India kwenye matibabu.
Natoa pole kwa familia ya Prof. Hiza na Mrs. Hiza, Carolyne, Mary, Msaka, Mpindu, Mhaiyo, Robert na wengine.
Mungu ailaze roho ya Angela mahala pema mbinguni. Amen.
Nitabandika updates nikizipata.
Athari za Sindano kama Njia ya Uzazi wa Majira
Hii ilichapishwa kwenye Gazeti la Mwananchi, mwezi uliopita (Novemba 2012). Kwa wanawake wanaotumia sindano kama njia ya uzazi wa majira naona hii ni habari ya kutisha.!
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UTAFITI WABAINI ZINACHANGIA MAAMBUKIZI YA UKIMWI, ZACHOCHEA HAMU YA MAPENZI, UMATI WAUPONDA, WASEMA HAUJAJITOSHELEZA
UTAFITI umebaini kuwa sindano za uzazi wa mpango zinachangia kasi ya maambukizi ya virusi vya Ukimwi kwa kuwa zina vichocheo vingi ambavyo vinahuisha virusi vya Ukimwi katika nyumba ya uzazi na kuvipa nguvu ya kusambaa.
Inaelezwa kuwa walio katika hatari zaidi ya maambukizi hayo ni wanawake walioko katika ndoa kwa kuwa ndiyo wanaotumia zaidi sindano hizo.
Utafiti huo uliofanywa na wanasayansi wa Marekani na kuripotiwa na gazeti la The Guardian la Uingereza, umebaini kuwa wanawake wanaotumia sindano za uzazi wa mpango wapo katika hatari mara mbili ya kupata maambukizi ya Ukimwi au kuwaambukiza wenzi wao, kuliko wengine.
Katika utafiti huo uliofanywa katika nchi saba zinazoendelea barani Afrika ikiwamo Tanzania, wanasayansi hao kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Washington, walipendekeza ushauri zaidi utolewe kwa wanandoa kabla mtu hajajiingiza kwenye matumizi ya sindano kama njia ya kupanga uzazi.
Utafiti huo ulifanyika kwa wanandoa 3,790 kutoka nchi za Tanzania, Afrika Kusini, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda na Botswana, ulichapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika Jarida la Afya la Lancet kabla ya kunukuliwa na gazeti la The Guardian.
Utafiti umebaini pia kuwa zaidi ya wanawake 140 milioni duniani wanatumia njia mbalimbali za uzazi wa mpango, huku wanandoa wengi katika nchi za Kusini mwa Jangwa la Sahara, wanaoishi na VVU wakichagua kutumia sindano kama njia ya kuzuia mimba zisizotarajiwa.
Wanasayansi hao walikusanya taarifa kati ya wanandoa 3,790 ambao mmoja wao anaishi na VVU na mwenza wake akiwa hana maambukizo.
Aidha, wanawake ambao wanaishi na VVU na wanatumia sindano hizo pia walikuwa katika hatari zaidi ya kuwaambukiza wenzi wao.
Vipimo vilionyesha kuwa sindano hizo ambazo zina vichocheo ambavyo vinavipa nguvu virusi ndani ya nyumba ya uzazi (cervix).
Imeelezwa kuwa njia za uzazi wa mpango zinazohamasishwa zaidi na kupendwa zaidi na wanawake ni sindano, ambazo wanawake wanasema kuwa zinadumu kwa muda mrefu na zinaweza kutumika bila ya ruhusa au mume kufahamu.
Kiongozi mkuu wa utafiti huo, Renee Heffron wa Chuo Kikuu cha Washington alisema sindano za uzazi wa mpango zina vichocheo vingi ambavyo huvihuisha vijidudu vya Ukimwi katika nyumba ya uzazi na kuvipa nguvu ya kusambaa.
“Ni vyema sasa kama tutasisitiza njia za uzazi wa mpango ambazo ni salama zaidi kama vile mipira ya kiume au njia nyingine ambazo hazina vichocheo (hormones) au zina kiasi kidogo cha vichocheo,” alisema Dk Heffron.
Mwanasayansi mwingine, Charles Morrison wa Kituo cha Afya cha Durham, nchini Marekani alisema uhamasishaji wa matumizi ya sindano za uzazi wa mpango unachochea maambukizi zaidi katika nchi za Jangwa la Sahara.
“Ushauri wangu kwa nchi zinazoendelea ni kuacha matumizi ya njia za uzazi wa mpango zenye vichocheo, ili tupunguze maambukizi, jibu la tatizo hili linatakiwa litafutwe sasa, nchi zinazohusika zinatakiwa zishiriki katika hili,” alisema.
Alivitaka vituo vya afya vitoe ushauri kwa wanawake kutumia kondomu badala ya sindano au vidonge.
Mara nyingi watu wanaotumia vidonge, wengi si wanandoa, mtu anayemeza vidonge vya kuzuia mimba anaogopa zaidi mimba, si Ukimwi.
Huchochea Hamu ya Mapenzi
Mfamasia katika Kitengo cha Dawa kwa watu wanaoishina VVU katika Hospitali ya Amana, Christopher Masika alisema anaafiki kuwa sindano na hata vidonge vinaweza kuwa ni sababu inayochochea maambukizi kwa sababu ya uhuru.
“Ninachokiona mimi katika hilo ni uhuru. Mtu anapotumia sindano huwa huru kufanya ngono kwa kuwa hana hofu ya mimba, hicho kinaweza kumfanya apate maambukizi kwa urahisi, tofauti na anapotumia kondomu,” alisema.
Alisema wapo baadhi ambao wakitumia sindano hizo vichocheo vinawafanya wapate hamu zaidi ya kufanya mapenzi, hivyo huanza kutembea na wanaume wengine.
Aliongeza kuwa mtu anayeishi na VVU akizuia mimba kwa njia ya sindano, ni rahisi kupata maambukizi mapya kutoka kwa mwenza wake.
Masika alisema wanawake wapewe elimu zaidi kwani wapo ambao wanadanganywa kuwa njia za uzazi wa mpango kama sindano, povu zinaweza kuzuia maambukizi, jambo ambalo si la kweli.
Wakati huohuo baadhi ya wanandoa wanaoishi na VVU wanaopata matibabu katika Hospitali ya Amana wamesema kuwa tangu waanze kutumia dawa za kupunguza makali ya Ukimwi (ARVs) hamu ya kufanya mapenzi imeongezeka kwa kasi kubwa.
Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Utafiti cha Tume ya Taifa ya Kudhibiti Ukimwi (Tacaids), Dk Arodia Mulokozi, alisema taasisi yake haiwezi kuzungumza lolote kuhusu utafiti huo, badala yake alilitaka Mwananchi kuzungumza na Kitengo cha Afya ya Uzazi wa Mpango cha Muhimbili.
“Hatuhusiki na masuala ya uzazi wa mpango, nafikiri unaweza kuzungumza na Kitengo cha ‘Reproductive Health’ cha Muhimbili,” alisema Dk Mulokozi.
Waziri wa Afya hakupatika, lakini msemaji wa wizara hiyo, Nsachris Mwamwaja alisema ni mapema mno kuchangia kuhusu utafiti huo, atafanya hivyo pindi atakapopata taarifa zaidi.
Mratibu wa Mpango wa Uzazi wa Mpango Tanzania (Umati), Dk Morris Hiza amekiri kuufahamu utafiti huo, lakini akaeleza kuwa haujajitosheleza na bado una maswali mengi.
“Nilikuwapo wakati Heffron anawasilisha utafiti wake mjini Geneva, lakini nakumbuka mkutano ule wa WHO (Shirika la Afya Duniani) uliukataa,” alisema.
Alieleza kuwa Heffton alifanya utafiti huo kwa nyani na wanawake makahaba pekee.
CHANZO: GAZETI LA MWANANCHI
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UTAFITI umebaini kuwa sindano za uzazi wa mpango zinachangia kasi ya maambukizi ya virusi vya Ukimwi kwa kuwa zina vichocheo vingi ambavyo vinahuisha virusi vya Ukimwi katika nyumba ya uzazi na kuvipa nguvu ya kusambaa.
Inaelezwa kuwa walio katika hatari zaidi ya maambukizi hayo ni wanawake walioko katika ndoa kwa kuwa ndiyo wanaotumia zaidi sindano hizo.
Utafiti huo uliofanywa na wanasayansi wa Marekani na kuripotiwa na gazeti la The Guardian la Uingereza, umebaini kuwa wanawake wanaotumia sindano za uzazi wa mpango wapo katika hatari mara mbili ya kupata maambukizi ya Ukimwi au kuwaambukiza wenzi wao, kuliko wengine.
Katika utafiti huo uliofanywa katika nchi saba zinazoendelea barani Afrika ikiwamo Tanzania, wanasayansi hao kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Washington, walipendekeza ushauri zaidi utolewe kwa wanandoa kabla mtu hajajiingiza kwenye matumizi ya sindano kama njia ya kupanga uzazi.
Utafiti huo ulifanyika kwa wanandoa 3,790 kutoka nchi za Tanzania, Afrika Kusini, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda na Botswana, ulichapishwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika Jarida la Afya la Lancet kabla ya kunukuliwa na gazeti la The Guardian.
Utafiti umebaini pia kuwa zaidi ya wanawake 140 milioni duniani wanatumia njia mbalimbali za uzazi wa mpango, huku wanandoa wengi katika nchi za Kusini mwa Jangwa la Sahara, wanaoishi na VVU wakichagua kutumia sindano kama njia ya kuzuia mimba zisizotarajiwa.
Wanasayansi hao walikusanya taarifa kati ya wanandoa 3,790 ambao mmoja wao anaishi na VVU na mwenza wake akiwa hana maambukizo.
Aidha, wanawake ambao wanaishi na VVU na wanatumia sindano hizo pia walikuwa katika hatari zaidi ya kuwaambukiza wenzi wao.
Vipimo vilionyesha kuwa sindano hizo ambazo zina vichocheo ambavyo vinavipa nguvu virusi ndani ya nyumba ya uzazi (cervix).
Imeelezwa kuwa njia za uzazi wa mpango zinazohamasishwa zaidi na kupendwa zaidi na wanawake ni sindano, ambazo wanawake wanasema kuwa zinadumu kwa muda mrefu na zinaweza kutumika bila ya ruhusa au mume kufahamu.
Kiongozi mkuu wa utafiti huo, Renee Heffron wa Chuo Kikuu cha Washington alisema sindano za uzazi wa mpango zina vichocheo vingi ambavyo huvihuisha vijidudu vya Ukimwi katika nyumba ya uzazi na kuvipa nguvu ya kusambaa.
“Ni vyema sasa kama tutasisitiza njia za uzazi wa mpango ambazo ni salama zaidi kama vile mipira ya kiume au njia nyingine ambazo hazina vichocheo (hormones) au zina kiasi kidogo cha vichocheo,” alisema Dk Heffron.
Mwanasayansi mwingine, Charles Morrison wa Kituo cha Afya cha Durham, nchini Marekani alisema uhamasishaji wa matumizi ya sindano za uzazi wa mpango unachochea maambukizi zaidi katika nchi za Jangwa la Sahara.
“Ushauri wangu kwa nchi zinazoendelea ni kuacha matumizi ya njia za uzazi wa mpango zenye vichocheo, ili tupunguze maambukizi, jibu la tatizo hili linatakiwa litafutwe sasa, nchi zinazohusika zinatakiwa zishiriki katika hili,” alisema.
Alivitaka vituo vya afya vitoe ushauri kwa wanawake kutumia kondomu badala ya sindano au vidonge.
Mara nyingi watu wanaotumia vidonge, wengi si wanandoa, mtu anayemeza vidonge vya kuzuia mimba anaogopa zaidi mimba, si Ukimwi.
Huchochea Hamu ya Mapenzi
Mfamasia katika Kitengo cha Dawa kwa watu wanaoishina VVU katika Hospitali ya Amana, Christopher Masika alisema anaafiki kuwa sindano na hata vidonge vinaweza kuwa ni sababu inayochochea maambukizi kwa sababu ya uhuru.
“Ninachokiona mimi katika hilo ni uhuru. Mtu anapotumia sindano huwa huru kufanya ngono kwa kuwa hana hofu ya mimba, hicho kinaweza kumfanya apate maambukizi kwa urahisi, tofauti na anapotumia kondomu,” alisema.
Alisema wapo baadhi ambao wakitumia sindano hizo vichocheo vinawafanya wapate hamu zaidi ya kufanya mapenzi, hivyo huanza kutembea na wanaume wengine.
Aliongeza kuwa mtu anayeishi na VVU akizuia mimba kwa njia ya sindano, ni rahisi kupata maambukizi mapya kutoka kwa mwenza wake.
Masika alisema wanawake wapewe elimu zaidi kwani wapo ambao wanadanganywa kuwa njia za uzazi wa mpango kama sindano, povu zinaweza kuzuia maambukizi, jambo ambalo si la kweli.
Wakati huohuo baadhi ya wanandoa wanaoishi na VVU wanaopata matibabu katika Hospitali ya Amana wamesema kuwa tangu waanze kutumia dawa za kupunguza makali ya Ukimwi (ARVs) hamu ya kufanya mapenzi imeongezeka kwa kasi kubwa.
Mkuu wa Kitengo cha Utafiti cha Tume ya Taifa ya Kudhibiti Ukimwi (Tacaids), Dk Arodia Mulokozi, alisema taasisi yake haiwezi kuzungumza lolote kuhusu utafiti huo, badala yake alilitaka Mwananchi kuzungumza na Kitengo cha Afya ya Uzazi wa Mpango cha Muhimbili.
“Hatuhusiki na masuala ya uzazi wa mpango, nafikiri unaweza kuzungumza na Kitengo cha ‘Reproductive Health’ cha Muhimbili,” alisema Dk Mulokozi.
Waziri wa Afya hakupatika, lakini msemaji wa wizara hiyo, Nsachris Mwamwaja alisema ni mapema mno kuchangia kuhusu utafiti huo, atafanya hivyo pindi atakapopata taarifa zaidi.
Mratibu wa Mpango wa Uzazi wa Mpango Tanzania (Umati), Dk Morris Hiza amekiri kuufahamu utafiti huo, lakini akaeleza kuwa haujajitosheleza na bado una maswali mengi.
“Nilikuwapo wakati Heffron anawasilisha utafiti wake mjini Geneva, lakini nakumbuka mkutano ule wa WHO (Shirika la Afya Duniani) uliukataa,” alisema.
Alieleza kuwa Heffton alifanya utafiti huo kwa nyani na wanawake makahaba pekee.
CHANZO: GAZETI LA MWANANCHI
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Tanzania Madagascar Talks
The visit comes days after deposed Madagascar leader Marc Ravalomanana said in Tanzania he won't try to stand in next year's elections. Ravalomanana was ousted in a coup in March 2009.
Tanzania's Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said he is optimistic the Friday and Saturday talks between Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete and Rajoelina will lead to a "positive settlement." Kikwete heads a southern block of African nations known as the SADC and has been tasked with finding a solution to Madagascar's political troubles.
Membe said any political agreements should include a general amnesty for domestic and external opponents of Rajoelina.
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| President Jakaya Kikwete and Transitional President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina |
COMMUNIQUE
OF THE MEETING BETWEEN H.E. DR. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND H.E. ANDRY RAJOELINA, TRANSITIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR
14TH
DECEMBER 2012
1.
At the invitation of H.E. Jakaya
Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and the current
Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation,
H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Transitional Government of the Republic
of Madagascar paid a two-day working visit to Tanzania from 14th to
15th December 2012.
2.
The invitation was in response to the
conclusions of the SADC Extra-Ordinary Summit held on 8th December
2012 in Dar es Salaam, which mandated the Organ Chairperson to brief and hold
consultations with H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Transitional
Government and H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, former President of Madagascar with regards
to the political situation in Madagascar.
3.
It should be recalled that on 10th
December 2012, President Kikwete in his capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC
Organ met in Dar es Salaam with former President Marc Ravalomanana to discuss decisions
of the SADC Summit.
4.
On 11th December 2012, H,E.
Ravalomanana and his host, President Kikwete held a joint Press Conference
where he officially announced his decision not to contest in the forthcoming
Presidential Elections.
5.
On 14th December 2012, President
Kikwete and H.E. Rajoelina held in-depth discussions on the conclusions of the
Dar es Salaam SADC Summit. The talks were held in a cordial and friendly
atmosphere and significant progress has been made. The two leaders agreed to
have further consultations with relevant stakeholders prior to meeting again
before the end of the month to conclude on the matter.
6.
President Rajoelina thanked his host
President Kikwete for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
He further congratulated the SADC Summit for re-affirming the dates for the
elections and for calling the respective parties to respect the same. He also
expressed appreciation for SADC’s commitment to mobilize financial resources
and logistical support from the International Community.
……………………………………….. …………………………………
Amb. Liberata Mulamula Ms. Annick Rajoana
Senior Personal Assistant to the
President Spokesperson the Transitional
United Republic of Tanzania President of
the Republic of Madagascar
Done
at Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
14th
December 2012.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Rais Kikwete Akabidhi Nyumba Mpya 35 za Walioathirika na Mlipuko ya Mabomu Gongo la Mboto
Bila kujali mvua kubwa inayonyesha, Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiakata utepe kuashiria uzinduzi rasmi wa nyumba mpya 35 ambazo serikali imewajengea waathirika wa mabomu Gongo la Mboto katika eneo la Msogole, Toangoma, Wilaya ya Ilala leo Desemba 13, 2012
Bila kujali mvua kubwa inayonyesha, Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akifunua kitambaa kuashiria uzinduzi rasmi wa nyumba mpya 35 ambazo serikali imewajengea waathirika wa mabomu Gongo la Mboto katika eneo la Msogole, Toangoma, Wilaya ya Ilala leo Desemba 13, 2012
Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete akiwa na mmoja wa walionufaika na hatua ya serikali ya kujenga nyumba mpya 35 kwa ajili ya waathirika wa mabomu Gongo la Mboto katika eneo la Msogole, Toangoma, Wilaya ya Ilala leo Desemba 13, 2012. Mama huyu ambaye alipoteza mume, amejengewa nyumba ya vyumba vitano pamoja na fremu ya duka.
Baadhi ya nyumba mpya 35 ambazo serikali imewajengea waathirika wa mabomu Gongo la Mboto katika eneo la Msogole, Toangoma, Wilaya ya Ilala kama zinavyoonekqana leo Desemba 13, 2012 baada ya kuzinduliwa na Rais Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
PICHA NA IKULU
Saturday, December 08, 2012
Kahawa ya Mavi ya Tembo!
Jamani waBongo! Changamkeni! Kuna kahawa inauzwa bei mbaya mno inayotokana na mavi ya tembo. Yaani tembo analishwa mbegu za kahawa. Halafu kesho yake hiyo kahawa inachambuliwa kutoka kwenye mavi ya tembo na kusagwa. Wanasema kuwa hiyo kahawa ni tamu mno kwa vile mbegu zinapikwa taratibu ndani ya tumbo ya tembo. Kikombe kimoja kinauzwa kwa dola $50 yaani shs. 60,000/-!
Tuna tembo kibao na kahawa tele Tanzania. Changamkeni!
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http://news.yahoo.com/coffee-elephants-gut-fills-50-cup-145400810.html
Tuna tembo kibao na kahawa tele Tanzania. Changamkeni!
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http://news.yahoo.com/coffee-elephants-gut-fills-50-cup-145400810.html
GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Thailand (AP) — In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of 20 elephants is excreting some of the world's most expensive coffee.
Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants
and plucked a day later from their dung. A gut reaction inside the
elephant creates what its founder calls the coffee's unique taste.
Stomach turning or oddly
alluring, this is not just one of the world's most unusual specialty
coffees. At $1,100 per kilogram ($500 per pound), it's also among the
world's priciest.
For now, only the wealthy or well-traveled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee.
It was launched last month at a few luxury hotels in remote corners of
the world — first in northern Thailand, then the Maldives and now Abu
Dhabi — with the price tag of about $50 a serving.
The Associated Press traveled to the coffee's production site in the Golden Triangle,
an area historically known for producing drugs more potent than coffee,
to see the jumbo baristas at work. And to sip the finished product from
a dainty demitasse.
In the misty mountains where
Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar, the coffee's creator cites biology and
scientific research to answer the basic question: Why elephants?
"When an elephant eats coffee,
its stomach acid breaks down the protein found in coffee, which is a key
factor in bitterness," said Blake Dinkin,
who has spent $300,000 developing the coffee. "You end up with a cup
that's very smooth without the bitterness of regular coffee."
The result is similar in civet coffee,
or kopi luwak, another exorbitantly expensive variety extracted from
the excrement of the weasel-like civet. But the elephants' massive
stomach provides a bonus.
Think of the elephant as the
animal kingdom's equivalent of a slow cooker. It takes between 15-30
hours to digest the beans, which stew together with bananas, sugar cane
and other ingredients in the elephant's vegetarian diet to infuse unique
earthy and fruity flavors, said the 42-year-old Canadian, who has a
background in civet coffee.
"My theory is that a natural
fermentation process takes place in the elephant's gut," said Dinkin.
"That fermentation imparts flavors you wouldn't get from other coffees."
At the jungle retreat that is home to the herd, conservationists were initially skeptical about the idea.
"My initial thought was about
caffeine — won't the elephants get wired on it or addicted to coffee?"
said John Roberts, director of elephants at the Golden Triangle Asian
Elephant Foundation, a refuge for rescued elephants. It now earns 8
percent of the coffee's total sales, which go toward the herd's health
care. "As far as we can tell there is definitely no harm to the
elephants."
Before presenting his proposal to
the foundation, Dinkin said he worked with a Canadian-based
veterinarian that ran blood tests on zoo elephants showing they don't
absorb any caffeine from eating raw coffee cherries.
"I thought it was well worth a
try because we're looking for anything that can help elephants to make a
living," said Roberts, who estimates the cost of keeping each elephant
is about $1,000 a month.
As for the coffee's inflated
price, Dinkin half-joked that elephants are highly inefficient workers.
It takes 33 kilograms (72 pounds) of raw coffee cherries to produce 1
kilogram of (2 pounds) Black Ivory coffee. The majority of beans get
chewed up, broken or lost in tall grass after being excreted.
And, his artisanal process is
labor-intensive. He uses pure Arabica beans hand-picked by hill-tribe
women from a small mountain estate. Once the elephants do their
business, the wives of elephant mahouts collect the dung, break it open
and pick out the coffee. After a thorough washing, the coffee cherries
are processed to extract the beans, which are then brought to a gourmet
roaster in Bangkok.
Inevitably, the elephant coffee
has become the butt of jokes. Dinkin shared his favorites: Crap-accino.
Good to the last dropping. Elephant poop coffee.
As far away as Hollywood, even Jay Leno has taken cracks.
"Here's my question," Leno quipped recently. "Who is the first person that saw a bunch of coffee beans and a pile of elephant dung and said, 'You know, if I ground those up and drank it, I'll bet that would be delicious.'"
Jokes aside, people are drinking it. Black Ivory's
maiden batch of 70 kilograms (150 pounds) has sold out. Dinkin hopes to
crank out six times that amount in 2013, catering to customers he sees
as relatively affluent, open-minded and adventurous with a desire to
tell a good story.
For now, the only places to get
it are a few Anantara luxury resorts, including one at the Golden
Triangle beside the elephant foundation.
At sunset one recent evening in
the hotel's hilltop bar, an American couple sampled the brew. They said
it surpassed their expectations.
"I thought it would be
repulsive," said Ryan Nelson, 31, of Tampa, Florida. "But I loved it. It
was something different. There's definitely something wild about it
that I can't put a name on."
His wife Asleigh, a biologist and
coffee lover, called it a "fantastic product for an eco-conscious
consumer," since the coffee helps fund elephant conservation.
But how does it taste?
"Very interesting," she said, choosing her words carefully. "Very novel."
"I don't think I could afford it
every day on my zookeeper's salary," she said. "But I'm certainly
enjoying it sitting here overlooking the elephants, on vacation."
 |
| Mavi ya Tembo yachumbuliwa huko Thailand |
Bomu Imelipuka Nairobi!
Duh! Kwa mara nyingine bomu imelipuka mjini Nairobi, Kenya. Habari zinasema kuwa watu wawili wamekufa na wanane wamejuruhiwa leo asubuhi. Bomu ililipuka eneo ambao wanakaa waKenya wengi wenye asili ya Somalia.
**********************************************
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The Kenyan Red Cross says two people have been killed and eight wounded after a blast in downtown Nairobi.
Friday evening's blast was the second in three days. A blast Wednesday near a military base wounded eight people.
Both explosions went off in a Somali neighborhood of Nairobi known as Little Mogadishu. Kenya has seen a series of small-scale explosions over the last year, many from grenades. Kenyan media reported that a member of parliament was wounded in Friday's attack.
Kenyan troops moved into Somalia in late 2011, prompting al-Shabab militants in Somalia to vow revenge attacks inside Kenya. Al-Shabab sympathizers are suspected in many of the blast attacks, though authorities have not clearly linked all the attacks to al-Shabab or its sympathizers.
**********************************************
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The Kenyan Red Cross says two people have been killed and eight wounded after a blast in downtown Nairobi.
Friday evening's blast was the second in three days. A blast Wednesday near a military base wounded eight people.
Both explosions went off in a Somali neighborhood of Nairobi known as Little Mogadishu. Kenya has seen a series of small-scale explosions over the last year, many from grenades. Kenyan media reported that a member of parliament was wounded in Friday's attack.
Kenyan troops moved into Somalia in late 2011, prompting al-Shabab militants in Somalia to vow revenge attacks inside Kenya. Al-Shabab sympathizers are suspected in many of the blast attacks, though authorities have not clearly linked all the attacks to al-Shabab or its sympathizers.
Mh. Zitto Kabwe Ziarani Ulaya
PRESS RELEASE
Ndugu
Zitto ziarani Ulaya
Waziri Kivuli wa Fedha na Uchumi, Naibu Kiongozi wa
Upinzani Bungeni na Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini ndugu Zitto Zuberi Kabwe ameanza
ziara ya kikazi nchini Ujerumani ambapo atahudhuria na kuhutubia Mkutano mkubwa
wa masuala ya ushirikiano wa kiuchumi kati ya Ujerumani na Africa. Mkutano huo
“Economic Conference: Commitment to Africa Initiative” utafanyika Jijini Berlin
kuanzia tarehe 9 – 11 Desemba 2012 na umeandaliwa na Wizara ya Ushirikiano wa
Kimaendeleo ya Serikali ya Ujerumani.
Katika ufunguzi wa Mkutano huo ndugu Zitto atatoa
mada kuhusu mgongano wa maslahi kati ya Kampuni binafsi na Jamii ambapo
ataongelea suala zima la makampuni makubwa ya kimataifa yanavyonyonya
rasilimali za Afrika bila kuwajibika kulipa kodi na kuendeleza jamii
zinazozunguka shughuli zao. Atazungumzia pia mitaji kiduchu inayokuja Afrika na
fedha nyingi inayotoroshwa Afrika kupitia rushwa, ukwepaji kodi na wizi wa
rasilimali. Afrika inapoteza zaidi ya dola za kimarekani 583 bilioni kila mwaka
kutokana na utoroshaji wa fedha unaofanywa na makampuni ya kimataifa kwa
kushirikiana na baadhi ya viongozi wa Afrika. Hata hivyo Afrika inapokea
takribani dola za Kimarekani 80 bilioni tu kwa mwaka kutokana na Uwekezaji
(FDI) na Misaada (foreign Aid). Tanzania ni moja ya nchi inayopokea misaada
mingi kutoka nje na moja ya nchi ambayo rasilimali zake zinatoroshwa na baadhi
ya viongozi wake kutorosha fedha na kuzihifadhi kwenye mabenki ya Ulaya kama
Uswiss.
Mnamo tarehe 11 Desemba ndugu Zitto atakuwa kwenye
jukwaa moja na Waziri wa Maendeleo wa Ujerumani kuzungumzia namna bora ya
kushirikiana kati ya Ujerumani na nchi za Kiafrika. Miongoni mwa mapendekezo ya
Zitto ni kuondokana na mfumo wa sasa wa ushirikiano wa misaada na badala yake
kuwe na ushirikiano wa kujengeana uwezo ili kila nchi iweze kuhimili maendeleo
yake yenyewe.
Katika ziara hii Zitto atakutana na Mawaziri Wakuu
wa majimbo ya Nord Rhein Westphalen jimbo ambalo limefanikiwa sana katika vita
dhidi ya ukwepaji kodi unaotokana na raia wa Ujerumani kuficha fedha kwenye
mabenki ya Uswiss na wa jimbo la Lower Saxony kwa ajili ya mazungumzo kuhusu
ukarabati wa Meli ya Liemba na kujenga mahusiano kati ya Mkoa huu na Mkoa wa
Kigoma pia kati ya mji wa PapenBurg na Manispaa ya Kigoma.
Zitto anatarajiwa kutembelea baadhi ya nchi
nyingine za Ulaya na kukutana na watu mbalimbali katika kuimarisha mtandao wa
kimataifa dhidi ya utoroshaji wa fedha kutoka Afrika (illicit money transfer).
Pia atakutana na watu binafsi wenye ujuzi na weledi katika masuala haya ya
kupambana na watoroshaji wa fedha. Zitto anataraji kurudi nchini mnamo tarehe
16 Desemba 2012. Kwa namna itaakavyowezekana umma utapewa taarifa kuhusu ziara
hii kupitia akaunti ya twitter na facebook ya ndugu Zitto. Pia mada zote
atakazowasilisha zitawekwa kwenye blogu ya zittokabwe.com
kila itakapowezekana.
Waziri Kivuli wa Fedha na Naibu Kiongozi wa
Upinzani Bungeni anawatakia Watanzania wote kila la kheri katika Sikukuu ya
Uhuru wa Tanzania Bara. Utu, Uzalendo, Uadilifu na Uwajibikaji ni silaha muhimu
sana za kujenga Taifa lenye heshima na jamii ya watu wenye fursa za kuendeleza
maisha yao kwa haki na amani. Tutimize wajibu wetu katika kuijenga Tanzania
tuitakayo kwa ajili yetu na kwa ajili ya vizazi vijavyo.
Imetolewa na Ofisi ya Mbunge wa Kigoma Kaskazini
8 Desemba 2012, Dar es Salaam Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Warsha Kwa Vyombo Vya Habari London 6/12/12
WARSHA FUPI YA VYOMBO VYA HABARI KESHO ALHAMISI LONDON
Na Michael Zetulla
Jumuiya ya Urafiki kati ya UIngereza na Tanzania (Britain –Tanzania Society) itaendesha warsha juu ya vyombo vya habari Tanzania, kesho Alhamisi.
Semina hiyo itafanyika chumba namba 4421 katika chuo kikuu cha lugha SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) kilichoko Russell Square, katikati ya London, saa kumi na moja hadi saa moja jioni.
Mtu yeyote anaweza kuhudhuria na hakuna malipo yeyote yanayotakiwa.
Mzungumzaji mkuu atakuwa Ben Taylor wa Daraja ambalo linasimamia magazeti kadhaa mjini Njombe na Iringa ikiwemo Kwanza Jamii. Mwenyekiti wa warsha atakuwa Freddy Macha mwandishi na mwanasafu mkazi London.
Kufuatana maelezo yaliyotolea na jumuiya ya BTS, mada ya warsha itakuwa : “Habari na demokrasia Tanzania”. Shughuli hii ni sehemu ya warsha mbalimbali zilizofanywa na jumuiya ya BTS toka mwezi Oktoba kuzungumzia na kuangalia mada mbalimbali za Tanzania. Mwezi jana Waziri wa Uchukuzi , Dk Harrison Mwakyembe alialikwa kuzungumzia suala la katiba na usafiri katika ukumbi wa Central Hall, mjini London.
Habari zaidi tembelea:
http://www.btsociety.org/events-and-announcements
Au piga simu
+44-20-7727-1755
+44-7721-869-215
Na Michael Zetulla
Jumuiya ya Urafiki kati ya UIngereza na Tanzania (Britain –Tanzania Society) itaendesha warsha juu ya vyombo vya habari Tanzania, kesho Alhamisi.
Semina hiyo itafanyika chumba namba 4421 katika chuo kikuu cha lugha SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) kilichoko Russell Square, katikati ya London, saa kumi na moja hadi saa moja jioni.
Mtu yeyote anaweza kuhudhuria na hakuna malipo yeyote yanayotakiwa.
Mzungumzaji mkuu atakuwa Ben Taylor wa Daraja ambalo linasimamia magazeti kadhaa mjini Njombe na Iringa ikiwemo Kwanza Jamii. Mwenyekiti wa warsha atakuwa Freddy Macha mwandishi na mwanasafu mkazi London.
Kufuatana maelezo yaliyotolea na jumuiya ya BTS, mada ya warsha itakuwa : “Habari na demokrasia Tanzania”. Shughuli hii ni sehemu ya warsha mbalimbali zilizofanywa na jumuiya ya BTS toka mwezi Oktoba kuzungumzia na kuangalia mada mbalimbali za Tanzania. Mwezi jana Waziri wa Uchukuzi , Dk Harrison Mwakyembe alialikwa kuzungumzia suala la katiba na usafiri katika ukumbi wa Central Hall, mjini London.
Habari zaidi tembelea:
http://www.btsociety.org/events-and-announcements
Au piga simu
+44-20-7727-1755
+44-7721-869-215
Monday, December 03, 2012
Mh. Shy-Rose Bhanji Akutana na Aga Khan
Kiongozi Mtukufu Aga Khan ambaye ndiye Mwenyekiti wa Mtandao wa Maendeleo wa Aga Khan (AKDN) na Kiongozi wa Waislamu wa Ismailia akizungumza mawili matatu ya kimaendeleo na Mbunge wa Bunge la Afrika Mashariki kutoka Tanzania Mh. Shy-Rose Bhanji wakati wa ufunguzi wa Makao Makuu ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki mkoni Arusha. Kushoto ni Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Masuala ya Kidiplomasia ya AKDN Dkt. Shafik Sachedina. ( Picha kwa Hisani ya Ikulu)