Tanzania, UNESCO put ink to 14bn/- deals to boost education

THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has signed two agreements with United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) worth 7,000 million US dollars, which is equivalent to over 14bn/- aimed at improving the education sector in the country.

The two agreements focus on girl education and the promotion of early learning in literacy and numeracy.

Addressing reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ms Maimuna Tarishi, said the first project is funded by the Republic of Korea through its government agency (KOICA) with a funding of 5 million US dollars.

“The project intends to support the efforts of the ministry to provide quality education to all and to empower and pay attention to those who are still lagging behind, especially girls and young women,” said Ms Tarishi.

It is going to be implemented jointly by UNESCO, UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UNWOMEN, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and UN partner agencies.

The PS noted that the second project entitled Global Learning XPRIZE for the “Promotion of Early Learning through the use of Innovative Technologies” with a funding of 2 million US dollars, aims to reinforce literacy and numeracy of pupils from the age of 7 to 10 years by exploring the benefits of the digital era.

“This project will enhance the learning capability of children in the 3Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic),” noted the PS.

Ms Tarishi also extended recognition to the project funders and called for more support from other stakeholders. KOICA Country Director, Mr Joosung Park, pointed out that the girls and women project was going to enhance the living standards of the two groups by fostering closer collaboration techniques between education and health at all levels.

The project will have the duration of five years and will be implemented in four districts, including Ngorongoro, Sengerema and Kasulu in the Mainland and Micheweni in Pemba Island.

UNESCO Representative, Ms Zulmira Rodriguez, noted that the project becomes a new solution to tackle early illiteracy in a setting that lacks enough human resources and infrastructure to provide quality education.

“After the testing period, the winning open source solution will have the potential to be adapted, translated and to address the needs of 263 million out of school children worldwide,” said Ms Rodriguez.

She further noted that the needs of out of school girls and mothers will be addressed, hence availing them of a second chance to further development through education.

Earlier this year, the EXPRIZE Foundation with UNESCO and the World Food Programme (WFP) announced a partnership for the Global Learning X-PRIZE competition to develop open-source software that will enable children with limited access to school to teach themselves basic reading, writing and arithmetic.

Zanzibar to host major tourism conference

IN a bid to boost tourism industry, Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) is organising a major private-lead tourism conference that aims at boosting tourism activities in the Isles.

According to a statement released yesterday by ZATI Chairman, Mr Seif Miskry the conference will be dominated by discussions on doing business and widen the sector’s benefits to reach more people in the Isles.

At least 12 government bodies and tourism stakeholders in the isles are expected to attend the conference. The conference is also expected to play a tourism mini-trade show and will enable stakeholders to network during a gala.

“We thank the government of Zanzibar for a healthy private and public partnership, we are looking forward to a useful and interesting event,” he said. According to Mr Miskry, the conference theme’s ‘doing business in Zanzibartourism for all’ is expected to draw attention and enable stakeholders to discuss various issues related to the sector.

“This event will feature a whole day of presentation and discussion pertinent to the Zanzibar tourism industry,” said Mr Miskry.

He said issues to be discussed would focus on taxation, law, environment, labour and immigration. Other issues in the list include skills development, utilities, sustainable tourism, and destination marketing.

He added that ease of doing business in Zanzibar and vision 2020 goals will be discussed, with a view to the private and public sectors working together on a range of actions resulting from the discussions.

The outcome of the conference is expected to be a list of advocacy issues that ZATI will take forward as its work agenda for the following 12 months.

“ZATI is committed to representing its membership’s needs and interests, and to helping tourism in Zanzibar to continue to thrive and prosper, for the benefit of the economy and the people of Zanzibar,” he noted.

Gas pipeline lifespan to cover 90 years

REGULAR and proper maintenance of the 542-kilometre gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam will extend the lifespan of the conduit from 30 to 90 years; an expatriate for Australia’s consulting firm Worley Parsons, Mr Allan Slowe, said yesterday.

Worley Parsons Resources and Energy was the consulting engineer for the mega US $1.22 billion dollars project which was undertaken by China Petroleum and Technology Development Company (CPTDC).

The pipeline was inaugurated last year. “The 30-year provision is a contractual obligation but this period can be extended to 90 years with proper and regular maintenance,” Mr Slowe said in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a meeting to brief stakeholders on implementation of the project.

The expatriate noted on the other hand that no incident had been recorded since the pipeline started transporting natural gas from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam for power generation last year.

“There hasn’t been any report of gas leaking or malfunctioning and this tells that the construction work was well implemented,” Mr Slowe, who worked as Project Manager for the consulting firm, remarked.

He noted further that it is the same contractor who implemented the project that will be conducting maintenance of the conduit, as per contract between the Chinese company and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC).

At the same occasion, the Acting Managing Director of TPDC, Engineer Kapuulya Musomba, said the corporation has been conducting weekly physical inspections along the pipeline.

“Maintenance and regular inspections are crucial to have the pipeline running; every week a team of experts from TPDC makes close inspections of the infrastructure,” he remarked.

Eng Musomba on the other hand took issues with long public procurement procedures which he said are not suitable for the project. “Something may happen along the pipeline which will require fast response including purchase of materials and equipment but this will be held back by the long procurement process,” the Acting TPDC boss stated. He noted that a total of 150 Tanzanians were part of the construction team and have since then amassed experience in operating the tube.

This was confirmed by Vice General Manager of CPTDC, Mr Zhang Hongwei, who explained that apart from on-job training, the Tanzanians received short courses on supervision and maintenance of the project in China.

“Our (Chinese) experts will remain in Tanzania for the next one year after which everything will be handed by Tanzanians,” Mr Hongwei explained.

The Mtwara-Dar es Salaam pipeline and gas processing plants at Madimba and Songo Songo Islands, largely financed by a Chinese loan, is part of a plan to add about 2,000 megawatts of new gasfired electricity generating power by 2018 to increase Tanzania’s generating capacity to 10,000 MW by 2025. Most new plants will be gas-fired but Tanzania also wants to use coal reserves and renewable resources such as wind and geothermal.

Tanzania estimates it has about 55 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas reserves off its southern coastline. Discoveries in Tanzanian and Mozambican waters have led to predictions the region could become the world’s third-largest exporter of natural gas.

The government said it hopes by switching to gasfired power plants to save around $1 billion (about 2.1trl-) a year in oil imports for electricity generation through diesel-fired power plants.

JPM wants central railway built fast

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday pushed for faster implementation of Tanzania-China joint projects in the country as he met the Chinese Vice-Minister for Commerce, Mr Qian Keming for talks.

The Central Railway construction project was at the centre of their discussion, with Dr Magufuli insisting that its construction should begin this year.

During the talks at the State House in Dar es Salaam, President Magufuli was keen on speedy execution of the projects, noting that his government entertains ‘acting than preaching’, according to a statement issued yesterday by the Presidential Directorate of Communications.

“My government wants to see things happening and bearing results without delay and we would like to see our development partners, particularly China which is the best friend to Tanzania to go with that speed,” he told Mr Qian.

He mentioned the Central Railway Line which connects Dar es Salaam to Mwanza, Kigoma and neighbouring countries of Rwanda and Burundi as one of the projects that China should implement at the same speed with his government.

The government had earmarked one trillion shillings from this year’s budget for construction of the railway. “Honourable Qian, we have decided to start the construction and 32 contractors have already applied for a tender to construct a 200 kilometre length of the railway from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro and we will use our own funds,” he said.

“We want this project to start this financial year because a feasibility study has already been conducted, so you just speed up and make the project complete. I want it complete before I step down,” he told Mr Qian.

He said the project was essential for Tanzania and other countries that depended on Dar es Salaam port and thus its completion would largely contribute to Tanzania’s economic growth, hence be in a good position to realise its vision of becoming industry-based economy country by 2025.

Mr Qian showered praise on President Magufuli for what he described as a great job that he has been doing to boost the country’s economic growth, fighting corruption and his outstanding will to strengthen relations between Tanzania and China.

He pledged that China would push for increased speed in the implementation of the development projects, including the Central Railway construction. “Honourable President, I have understood your intention and thirst.

I can even see enough political will inside you. Now what we are supposed to do is to push our experts to increase the speed. I promise you to move at 200 km per hour up from 100 km per hour,” he told Dr Magufuli.

In attendance during the talks were China Ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, Exim Bank Vice-President, Sun Ping, Tanzanian Minister for Industries, Trade and Investment, Mr Charles Mwijage and Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango.

Team Kenya calls for financial aid ahead of masters debut

Team Kenya for the 2016 World Masters Athletics Championships is urgently appealing for financial aid to help meet its costs for travel, accommodation and other logistics ahead of the global event set for Wednesday, 26 October to November 6 in Perth, Australia.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Wednesday, former two-time African Championships silver medalist and the team’s coach, Rose Tata-Muya appealed for sponsorship from well-wishers with the entire budget requirements including Visa, Accommodation, Team registration and insurance charges summing up to around Ksh2million.

The team, which features retired athletes aged above 40 years, is expected to travel to Australia on Sunday, 23.

“We have a team of 16 athletes who are training vigorously in Eldoret 64 stadium, Nyahururu and Kasabet for the Championships. We selected the athletes according to their performance at the Maasai Mara, Iten and Ndakaini local races. Joshua Pondo will double up in two field events; shot-put and the discus throw.

“We have done our best in training and despite training as individuals, we are a crew in heart. We wrote to the Masters organizers and they cleared the athletes according to their events,” the 1987 All-Africa Games 400m hurdles silver medalist asserted.

This is the third time Kenya will be sending a team for the championships and athletes are required to pay a registration fee depending with their event.

Athletes who are participating in the 21Km event are supposed to pay 80 USD (Ksh 8100.95) while those running below 21 need to pay 55 USD (Ksh 5569.41) while Pondo’s case where he participates in two competitions will see him pay 110 USD (Ksh 11138.81).

“The athletes have already paid for their own events, the Ministry of Sports Arts and Culture paid the air tickets amounting to Ksh 3.5m. If we get the Ksh 2m we shall be ready to go and fly the Kenyan flag high in Australia. It’s hard to prepare for an event that you are not sure of but we got faith although we have less than two weeks before the events starts.

“This is the largest number of athletes that we have ever sent for the event. Here we have former champions who ruled in there hey days. Athletics Kenya (AK) assisted us by writing a letter to Masters Athletics but on the financial level they told us to write to them and see how they can assist us,” the Kenyan 400m hurdles record holder appealed.

Truphoza Chemutai is the only female athlete in the team and will run in the women’s 8km race.

Dar mulls bulk procurement for fertiliser imports

THE government is planning for bulk procurement in fertiliser imports to regulate prices and boost agriculture production in the country.

The Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba told reporters at the ongoing second Africa fertiliser agribusiness conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the government was working on the idea and that probably it would be implemented in the near future.

According to Dr Tizeba, bulk procurement in the fertilizer sector will enable the government to set indicative price for fertilisers in the country and thus regulate unusual increase of prices from time to time.

“There are indicative prices for some crops in the country, we are also thinking of applying bulk procurement system in fertiliser businesses and this will help the government to come up with indicative prices,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister told more than 300 international fertiliser and agribusiness executives and regional government representatives from 45 different countries that many farmers fail to utilise fertilisers due to high prices.

He said that agribusiness is a critical pathway to empower smallholder farmers and enhance value addition and set to be worth over 1trl/-US dollars by 2030 according to the World Bank.

“I note that agribusiness is one of the global agribusiness pie. Let us put our ideas together and articulate how, as fertiliser key players, can help to achieve a green revolution in Africa,” he said.

According to Dr Tizeba, this year, African countries mark a decade since they committed to increase fertilizer usage from 8kg per hectare to 50kg per hectare by 2015 as a means of making Africa achieve its green revolution.

“Africa has made marked progress towards this goal but a lot of work still needs to be done,” he said. He added that though fertiliser access and use are critical to food security, smallholder farmers in Africa are still far less fertilisers than their counterparts in Asia and Latin America.

The minister added that as the government embarks on boosting agriculture production, three major fertiliser plants are being constructed in Kibaha, Kilwa and Mtwara.

“The government is doing everything in its capacity to increase fertiliser production in the country, so far three plants are being constructed in the country,” he said.

He added that the government is also working hard to improve transportation communication services,to facilitate ease of doing business in the country, boost infrastructure in terms of seaports, railways and roads that will ensure farmers have access to affordable and appropriate fertilisers.

Salome Kayombo Kiwaya: A golden voice gone suddenly silent

THE announcement on various radio and TV stations on that hot and sunny afternoon of Saturday, October 7, 2016, that a freak road accident at Emaus area on the outskirts of Dodoma had taken the life of one of Tanzania’s most decorated daughters, Salome Kiwaya, came as a rude shock to me and many people across the country.

Salome or Mama Kiwaya as she was popularly known due to her marriage to Mr Heri Kiwaya, one of the pioneer employees of Capital Development Authority (CDA), cut a figure as a secretary, public relations guru, musician (vocalist and stage performer), politician and renowned organizer of beauty pageants.

I had just switched on the TV set fixed on a wall of my living room when a footage on a news summary caught my immediate attention, with the terse statement that ‘’one person has been killed in a road accident involving a heavy-duty truck and two smaller cars’’.

It did not mention the name of the person in the footage’s first run. It was on the second run when it dawned on me that the ‘one person’ who had been killed in the crash was none other than the Dodoma Regional CCM-UWT Chairperson, Mrs Salome Kiwaya! While working in the Public Relations Office of CDA in Dodoma from the late 1970s up to the early 1990s, I had at one point suggested to management to transfer Mama Kiwaya to my office due to her talents as an organizer and speaker.

The request was promptly granted. She ably performed her duties as a publicist for the capital transfer and construction project, which she combined with her other talents as a musician and performer after office hours.

Born in 1957, Salome ‘Kayombo’ Kiwaya (Salome Kayombo was her maiden name), this charismatic lady from the Manda plains on the shores of Lake Nyasa, pursued her education both in Tanzania and Uganda where her father had an employment stint.

It explained her mastery of the English language. True to her ‘musical’ colours, Mama Kiwaya had formed her own band, which she named Saki Stars, instantly reinvigorating the Dodoma music scene, with her taped music also making inroads into local radio stations.

She did this with all the support and encouragement from her husband, Heri, a career administrator and theatre arts enthusiast who while with CDA helped form the authority’s cultural troupe in addition to carving a niche as an eloquent speaker and stage performer in his own right.

As a multi-talented woman, it was no wonder when she was voted as chairperson of the CCM’s women wing in Dodoma Region, which also portrayed her capabilities as a politician besides her other attributes.

She is on record (as organiser) producing Miss Dodoma 1995, Emily Adolph -- a Form Three Student at Central Secondary School in the new capital-designate then. Emily went on to win the Miss Tanzania beauty pageant and represented the country in the Miss World contest.

As it happened, she was expelled from school for participating in the contest. However, due to highlevel intervention, with Mama Kiwaya playing a key role, Emily was able to finish her secondary education.

As a PR expert, singer, dancer, beauty pageants’ organizer, politician and church leader, Mama Kiwaya had endeared herself to many in Dodoma and beyond, evidenced by the turnout at the requiem mass at the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Dodoma on Saturday, which was attended by high-ranking government and political party officials, including former Prime Minister Mr Mizengo Pinda, Speaker of Parliament Mr Job Ndugai, several cabinet ministers and MPs. Salome Kiwaya was expected to be laid to her final resting place at Mtila Village, Matola Ward in Njombe Region either on Monday or yesterday.

Mo Dewji scoops yet another African award on leadership

PARIS-based Institut Choiseul has ranked the CEO of Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL), Mr Mohammed Dewji, top of the ‘Choiseul 100 Africa 2016: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow’.

“Mr Dewji ’s recognition in this regard sends a great message of hope to Tanzania and Africa that we are increasingly involved in championing the growth of the continent and as its citizens, we too can play an active role in building the future we want,” reads a statement from Institut Choiseul. On his part, Mr Dewji said: “I am humbly honored and delighted to receive this recognition for the work that I have been undertaking across the African continent.

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I have continuously strived for excellence in the business arena. And through MeTL, I will continue my commitment to advancing Africa through private sector led development.”

Mr Dewji is responsible for increasing MeTL’s revenues from $30 million to over $1.3 billion between 1999 and 2014, and the journey of Africa’s youngest billionaire has only just begun.

The statement said that Mr Dewji was continuing to expand his regional footprint for the MeTL conglomerate with operations in over 11 countries and new business ventures, including the establishment of a commercial bank and a sugar manufacturing plant.

Others are garmenting division under his textile enterprise, and most recently a bid to acquire major stakes in one of Tanzania’s leading football clubs, Simba Sports Club (SSC).

For the third year in a row, the Paris-based Institut Choiseul has released its influential ranking of young African business leaders, the Choiseul 100 Africa: Economic Leaders of Tomorrow, dedicated to identifying those who carry the economic growth and development of Africa, and embody the renewal of the continent.

Eligible laureates for the Choiseul 100 Africa have to hold the nationality of one of the 54 African states, be 40 years old or below on the 1st of January 2016, and be an active contributor to the economic development of Africa.

Several weighted selection criteria were taken into account and the total scores obtained in the different categories determined the position of each laureate in the final ranking. This was not the first time Mr Dewji was featured. In 2015, the Choiseul 100 Africa ranked him second after Mr Igho Sanomii II of Nigeria.

Other Tanzanians featured in this year’s list included Ms. Elsie Kanza, Head of Africa, World Economic Forum (WEF), Mr Luca Neghesti, Founder of Bongo5 Media Group, Mr Edha Nahdi, CEO of Amsons Group, and Mr Moremi Marwa, CEO of Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE).

For several years, Institut Choiseul has been a pioneer in the anticipation of great changes, emerging opportunities and talents across the continent.

Headquartered in the heart of Paris, France, Institut Choiseul for International Politics and Geoeconomics is an independent research center that analyzes international relations, economic and political strategies as well as international cultures.

DRC hails ‘peaceful Tanzania’

PRESIDENT Joseph Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has expressed his admiration for the state of peace enjoyed by Tanzania and praised successive country’s presidents over the feat.

My country is very big and rich, but we lack peace in some parts; I wish that DRC will become peaceful like Tanzania one day,” President Kabila said on Tuesday at the state banquet hosted for him by President John Magufuli.

He went on to praise Tanzanians and their leaders for their efforts in preserving and maintaining peace and unity.

“However rich the country is in terms of natural resources, it can hardly prosper if there is instability. In DRC there are about 225 tribes. I wish they will one day enjoy peace and unity like Tanzanians,” President Kabila hoped.

The DRC leader, who left the country yesterday morning after a three-day state visit, was, however, glad that he had come to Tanzania this time around to discuss trade relations between the two countries.

“In the past, I used to come to Tanzania for discussions with leaders on solving conflicts in my country; but this time it is different. DRC is now focused on improving trade relations with Tanzania and other countries in the region,” Mr Kabila said in fluent Kiswahili.

President Kabila said he was happy with the cordial relations enjoyed between DRC and Tanzania in trade, defence and security. Speaking at the same occasion, President Magufuli praised the visiting leader for his commitment to improve economic relations between the two countries.

“Trade volume between Tanzania and DRC reached 393.6bn/- last year from just 23.1bn/- in 2009. I congratulate former President Jakaya Kikwete for spearheading the boost,” he stated.

Dr Magufuli was equally optimistic that trade volume between Tanzania and DRC will pick up even more during his term in office.

“Your visit to Tanzania and assurance that shipment from DRC, including copper, will pass through the Dar es Salaam port is very encouraging. Bilateral relations between Tanzania and DRC dates back to the 1960s and continues to be cemented,” President Magufuli remarked.

Earlier, Dr Magufuli assured his guest that the government was committed to improving efficiency at the Dar es Salaam Port and do away with difficulties, which were faced by importers and exporters in the past.

Dr Magufuli also pledged to dispatch foreign affairs ministers from three African countries to assess the political situation in DRC.

He made the pledge in Dar es Salaam at a press conference after his meeting with President Kabila, pledging to send foreign affairs ministers from Tanzania, Mozambique and Angola.

PWC Golf gathers storm at par-72 Lugalo Club course

BIG tournaments have continued to brighten the green course at Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Club, this time it’s PWC on limelight.

Already, the club’s golfers have been engaged in intensive training in readiness for the annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Golf tournament ahead of its tee off at the club’s par 72 course on October 22.

Joseph Masai, the Lugalo Club’s golf captain, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that preparations were going on as well as training on the golfers’ side. He said the tournament is being organised by the Lugalo club in collaboration with sponsors PWC and already a bumper entry has been confirmed.

The tournament, according to Masai, aims to bring PWC c l i e n t s together, build relationship among them and promote the game at the club and the national level as well. Adding, he said, the oneday event will cover 18 holes in a stroke-play nett format.

“Still, it is open for golfers from all clubs based in the country,” he said. Masai said that invitation has already been sent to other clubs in a move to lure more golfers to play on the club’s course.

“All preparations is going on well, so far we are looking for players to be registered as October 19 is set as a deadline for those wished to take place,” he said. He said that prizes await winners and runners up in men’s Division A, B and C, seniors, ladies, juniors and professional golfers. Masai added that the course has been in an excellent condition and its form will be maintained until the event’s tee off.

“We hope that many players will come in big number to support like it happened to other tournaments,” he said. But, according to him, the host golfers will have to pay 20,000/- each as an entry fee, but it will be free for juniors.

The tournament’s defending champion is Rick Park who claimed the throne after netting an impressive twounder par 70 strokes. Park who was playing off handicap-10 beat other 120 golfers who took part in the one- day’s 18-hole tournament.

Fastjet introduces first Embraer 190

FASTJET will today start flying an Embraer E190 on domestic routes as it begins transitioning its Airbus A319 fleet to Embraer airplanes in line with its long term operational and financial stability strategy.

The firm’s country General Manager, Mr John Corse, told reporters inDar es Salaam yesterday that switching to a small aircraft, which uses less fuel and has a better maintenance interval, was a key part of the airline’s turnaround strategy.

We’ve seen some exciting changes in our airline recently, all made to improve the service that we offer to our loyal customers. One of these changes includes choosing a different type of aircraft to service our routes in Tanzania and further afield on the African continent,” he said.

On Monday, the company announced to sell its whollyowned aircraft, Airbus A319 as part of important step in stabilisation plan and a move towards a more appropriate size of fleet.

“Its early days but the plan is progressing well and the money raised from this sale will be used to drive its continued implementation,” a statement issued on Monday quoted Fastjet Chief Executive Nico Bezuidenhout.

He added that the disposal of the Airbus A319 is part of a fleet reduction plan as it moves to smaller aircraft on short term leases. According to Mr Corse, the Embraer E190 jet is a modern aircraft which is able to fly at high altitude for greater efficiency and passenger comfort. He said Fastjet was committed to simplifying air travel by making it easy for customers to access low fares.

“We’re very proud and grateful for the support our customers have been giving us and we promise to continue offering our high quality services and listening to our customers’ demands,” said the Fastjet Tanzania General Manager.

Meanwhile, an aviation consumers’ rights body has ordered FastJet to compensate passengers for mishandling them after canceling flights without proper notifications. The airline canceled and rescheduled Dar-Mwanza and Dar-Mbeya flights on September 28 without notifying passengers.

The passengers later filed a complaint to Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Consumer Consultative Council (TCACCC) which investigated the matter and established that the passengers were mistreatment.

TCAA-CCC Deputy Executive Secretary Debora Mligo said in a statement yesterday that the airline is supposed to pay the passengers according to the law of the land. Also “FastJet ticket sales should go concurrent with the number of seats available and should inform passengers when there are flight changes because they have the right to be informed, she said.

The airline also was directed to educate their staff to use a customer-based language when addressing passengers during flight changes, delays and cancellations.

The body received complaints from stranded passengers on September 28 who were traveling between Dar- Mbeya and Dar-Mwanza that the airline rescheduled flight without notifying them.

Also the passengers complained on inappropriate language used by FastJet staff when addressing the issue and ignored them as though they have no right to know of what was going on.

In May this year, Kisutu Magistrate Court ordered the airline to pay a passenger 30m/- as compensation after failing to inform him following a flight rescheduled. The court also ordered the refund of customer’s fare 43,000/-plus extra 339,000/- he spent on purchasing a ticket from another airline.