Raila promises to make things tough for Uhuru

- The National Resistance Movement wing in the National Super Alliance has promised to pile pressure on the Jubilee government to step aside

- NASA leader Raila Odinga said the opposition has several legal means to ensure President Uhuru will not have it easy to rule Kenya following the October 26 poll

- Raila clarified that he will lead a peaceful and not armed resistance as he urged President Uhuru to resign

National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga spoke tough in an interview on Friday, October 27, promising that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee Party will not have it easy ruling Kenya following the October 26 election.

Raila advised Uhuru to resign because the low voter turnout in the Thursday election was a vote of no confidence, and the new NASA wing, the National Resistance Movement will lead peaceful civil disobedience against the government.

“Our constitution in Article 1 says that if the government imposes itself on the people, the people have a right to self-determination. People also have a right to disobeying the orders coming from such a government. We’re going to do peaceful resistance, not through demonstrations, but through other methods we’re going to announce on Monday, October 30,

NASA leader Raila Odinga. Photo: Standard.

“NASA will announce a series of measure that we’ll take in order to bring pressure on this government to step aside. The NRM will basically be involved in civil disobedience, civil unrest and not an armed resistance. We’re going to use all the legal and constitutional means to put pressure on this government to do what we wanted to do,” said Raila as quoted on CNN.

The opposition leader further said that the Constitution allows for picketing, striking, peaceful processions, protesting, boycotting and so forth; and these were just some of the several means at their disposal that they will bring into play against the government.

President Uhuru Kenyatta at Mutomo Primary School when he cast his vote on October 26. Photo: TUKO.co.ke

Raila based this move on the belief that Kenyans are tired of the Jubilee regime, a government that discriminated against them based on their ethnicity; and a regime that practices corruption that has messed up the economy.

As he concluded, the opposition leader clarified that the only conversation he is willing to have with the President is how a fresh election will be held in 90 days and nothing else.

Raila Odinga came in a distant second to President Uhuru in the October 26 election despite him not participating in the ballot.

For weeks prior to the October 26 poll, NASA led supporters in anti-IEBC demos. Now, the opposition intends to lead civil unrest against the government. Photo: TUKO.co.ke

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission opted to leave his name on the ballot paper.

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How betting drives Tanzanians

Betting in Tanzania is a practice that existed since even before the establishment of formal betting stations. Fans usually placed informal bets whenever the fierce rivals, Yanga and Simba, played.

After the establishment of the formal betting stations especially in Dar es Salaam, as unbelievable as it may sound too many, sports betting became and still is a source of income for some Tanzanians. Only that today the most common bets and highest bids are placed on football (soccer).
Betting is not just for the young or the jobless but rather for people of all ages, professions, religions and financial status.

It has become such a common and addictive practice in Dar es Salaam such that a fan once lost his wife betting on a Simba & Yanga match. See video below;

Betting is a worldwide practice; it is a legal and growing industry that involves various stakeholders and players. It is estimated that in both legal and illegal markets, the game is worth between $700 billion and $1 trillion a year.

This booming business has been fueled by continuous advancements in technology that has made online football betting possible. The growth of the Internet and mobile devices has made betting generally much more accessible. The increase in use of satellite television has added to football fans' access to more live coverage of football matches around the world hence increasing interest and opportunity on betting.

Like in many other parts of the world, betting has captured the attention and the interest of many Tanzanians. It currently occupies a larger portion of individuals' daily activities, financial budgeting and pleasure. Current statistics by the Tanzania Gaming Board (TGB) show that there are 2,684 betting stations countrywide, with most of them, about 1,344, being in Dar es Salaam alone.

Betting is a major source of national revenue, hitting Sh1.4 billion a month.

In May, 2017 The Citizen revealed that the revenue that the government gains from sports betting industry has doubled in the past three years. The revenue has gone up from Sh6.2 billion in 2013/14 to Sh12.1 billion in the last financial year as analyzed from the industry regulator's financial data.

This puts betting among the biggest revenue generators to the national coffers from the gaming sector with casinos.

Data from the Gaming Board of Tanzania (GBT) shows that in the period of 2013/14 to 2015/16, sports betting has generated Sh30 billion in total taking over casino industry which has been a main player in the gaming sector for years in terms of revenue generation.

In that period casinos had generated only sh28 billion which is less by Sh2 billion that of fast-growing sports betting industry.

The revenue collected from sports betting in three years is enough to run the ministry of information, culture, arts and sports as in 2017/18 sought 28.2 billion for all the operations.

Tabling the Budget in Parliament on June 9, the Finance Minister, Dr Phillip Mpango, said the Tanzania Gaming Board is expected to collect revenues reaching Sh34.72 billion this year.

Dr Mpango added that the board would contribute Sh2.17 billion to the Treasury in the 2016/17 fiscal year marking the rise of 50 per cent compared to Sh1.44 billion of 2015/16.

Sports is deemed to have grown faster due to the increase of gaming shops across the country and online (financial) services.

But also in the beginning players were not paying taxes because the GBT was only charging Tax operators. So after they started deducting taxes from players, the revenue grew considerably too.

The government amended section 31A of the Gaming Act Cap 41 in 2015/16 financial year imposing 18% tax to all winnings.

The possibility of getting more money after predicting a sport match and availability of income is what makes more youth involved in.

Some of the most popular sport betting stations that you wouldn’t miss driving around Dar es Salaam are MeridianBet, Throne Bet, Princess Bet Tanzania, iPlay8casino, Premier Bet and 888 sports betting. Most common online betting sites in Tanzania are, the newcomer SportPesa and Mbet.
The business of football is proudly brought to you by Raha Broadband visit.www.raha.co.tz

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Why America Must Find a Diplomatic Solution to the North Korea Crisis

It should be painfully evident by now that the strategy the United States has pursued toward North Korea since the early 1990s regarding that country’s nuclear ambitionshas not worked, is not working, and is unlikely ever to work. Trying to isolate and punish the so-called Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has been futile and counterproductive. Despite rounds of ever-escalating economic sanctions (both unilaterally by the United States and multilaterally through the United Nations) over more than a quarter century, Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs have gone forward inexorably.

Matters have now reached the point that, by some estimates, the DPRK may possess a dozen or more small nuclear weapons, and given the regime’s surging number of missile tests, it may be close to having a reliable delivery system capable of devastating targets in East Asia and perhaps beyond. Concerns about the American homeland’s prospective vulnerability to a DPRK nuclear strike is the principal catalyst for the Trump administration’s hardline policy toward Pyongyang. Both the president and his national-security advisers emphasize that “all options”—implicitly including military force—are “on the table.” Not since Bill Clinton’s administration seriously considered launching preemptive air strikesto eliminate North Korea’s embryonic nuclear program in 1994 has the danger of war seemed so close.

If the calamity of a U.S.-North Korean armed conflict is to be avoided, U.S. diplomacy must become far more nimble and creative. Among other steps, that means conducting direct, serious negotiations with Pyongyang. U.S. policymakers also need to be more realistic about what results such diplomacy can achieve. Washington’s objective since the 1994 crisis and the subsequent onset of the intermittent six-party talks has been to compel Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear quest. That is a fanciful goal. North Korea’s desire for enhanced power and prestige probably would be sufficient by itself to preclude such a capitulation. With a dysfunctional economy, a bizarre, unappealing political and social system, and an increasingly antiquated conventional military, Pyongyang has almost nothing other than its blossoming nuclear capability that could give it a seat at the table of international affairs.

Worries about Washington’s record offorcible regime change against governments that U.S. leaders dislike undoubtedly add to the DPRK’s aversion to giving up its nukes. North Korea also hasseveral explicit goals and demands. In addition to insisting on full U.S. diplomatic recognition, Pyongyang wants a treaty formally ending the Korean War (replacing the 1953 armistice that merely suspended the fighting), the termination of U.S. and UN sanctions, the end to the annual military exercises between the United States and South Korea, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea.

It would not be easy for U.S. leaders to satisfy that laundry list of demands, but refusing even to discuss Pyongyang’s concerns and policy objectives has gotten Washington nowhere. A more flexible approach is essential, including a willingness to make significant concessions. In return for meeting most of Pyongyang’s demands, Washington would be justified in insisting that North Korea not only refrain from conducting additional nuclear and missile tests, but also accept strict limits on the size of any nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile capability. In addition, there should be a requirement for Pyongyang to pull back its conventional military forces from their current menacing positions near the so-called Demilitarized Zone with South Korea.

Such a diplomatic initiative would not only reduce the looming danger of a cataclysmic war in Northeast Asia, it would likely have a positive impact on China’s policy. Beijing might be willing to apply greater pressure on North Korea if Pyongyang spurned Washington’s conciliatory moves and continued its reckless, provocative conduct. There is little question that Beijing is increasingly displeased with the behavior of its ally. The notion circulating in some conservative U.S. political circles that the Chinese are playing a double game and really don’t mind a volatile, nuclear-armed North Korea causing problems for the United States and its East Asian allies is the stuff of paranoid fantasy. Beijing’s warnings to Pyongyang concerning its nuclear and missile tests have become ever more pointed in recent years. China has now even endorsed and begun to implement the most recent round of UN-mandated sanctions against the DPRK.

If a genuine attempt by Washington to negotiate a “grand bargain” with North Korea failed to produce results, Beijing’s annoyance with its North Korean client would likely intensify. Chinese leaders have been reluctant to put maximum pressure on Pyongyang for a variety of reasons. They worry that such coercion might cause Pyongyang to lash out and engage in even more risky military provocations, thereby triggering the very war that everyone wants to prevent. Even if that nightmare did not occur, cutting off food and energy aid might cause the North Korean state to unravel. Among many other potential problems, that development would lead to massive refugee flows into China.

But if it becomes clear to Chinese leaders that Kim Jong-un’s regime will not accept even the most reasonable compromise agreement, they may well be inclined to incur such risks to put a leash on their dangerously disruptive client. That step is even more likely if the Trump administration sweetens the incentives by offering explicit guarantees that Washington will not exploit a possible demise of the North Korean state to enhance U.S. power on the Korean Peninsula.

In any case, we have little to lose by offering to engage Pyongyang in serious negotiations. The alternatives to that approach are much worse. One would be to watch the DPRK soon become a full-fledged nuclear-weapons power akin to Pakistan, along with a fleet of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the American homeland. The other option would be to launch a perilous preemptive war to destroy those capabilities. Attempting to achieve a grand diplomatic bargain is far preferable to either of those scenarios.

Ted Galen Carpenter, a senior fellow in defense and foreign-policy studies at the Cato Institute and a contributing editor at the National Interest, is the author or coauthor of ten books, including The Korean Conundrum: America’s Troubled Relations with North and South Korea (Palgrave Macmillan, 2005), the contributing editor of ten books, and the author of more than 650 articles on international affairs.

Image: Missiles are driven past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founding father, Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj​

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Lissugate: Why we must call in foreign investigators

There are still cries for justice against the culprits in Tundu Lissu’s assassination attempt. Mr Lissu is suffering from the pains inflicted on him by these criminals, who may have been hired to finish him.

Since this sacrilegious act was committed over a month ago, he has been bedridden in Kenya. As a result, his constituency doesn’t have a representative in Parliament. His family is, as well, indescribably suffering. It is not easy to explain what Lissu and his family are going through.

Any human being created truly human will agree with me that the family does not deserve what they are going through, more so considering that their case is not being treated with the importance it deserves by those entrusted with the duty to provide security for every Tanzanian regardless of whether he is an opponent or otherwise.

As result, the hoodlums who freakishly attacked Lissu are yet to be nabbed. Why? This is the question that has led me to thinking about the need to bring in investigators from abroad.

Tanzania won’t be the first to bring in some foreign forensic experts. Kenya did the same when its former foreign minister Robert Ouko died mysteriously in 1990. However, Kenya abandoned the investigation after a British investigator John Troon neared cornering sacred cows behind Ouko’s murder.

Before the so-called ‘unknown’ outlaws attacked him, Lissu had reported his security concerns to the Police Force, which sadly did not take any substantive measures to prevent the attack. As a citizen who is constitutionally entitled to protection from the same police, Lissu didn’t only feel vulnerable but also betrayed. His trust in police has since evaporated.

This is why he’s being treated in Kenya instead of Tanzania. He no longer trusts the institutions of his own country. This is sad and surreal. Demonstrably, Lissu’s family and his party think that to do justice for Lissu and the likes, the police must concur that it is no longer credible to do the job. When it comes to who should investigate this scandal that I would like to call Lissugate, Tanzania’s Police Force has lost the believability since it failed or refused (as his family thinks) to work on the reports Lissu made before it.

I, for one, just like Lissu, his family and Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), would urge the police to do the right thing, namely to step aside and allow other international organs to conduct investigations in order to prove its innocence. First of all, why didn’t they take action after they were tipped off about the danger Lissu faced?

Why has it taken long time to, at least, nab even a single member of the gang of unknown crooks? One newspaper reported recently that even the CCTV cameras on the crime scene have been removed. Is this true? If it is, why are the police still mum knowing that tampering with evidence is in itself a crime?

The Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee also failed to table its report on the issue that was supposed to be out around mid-September.

Why? No one knows, except the committee and the authorities, which up to now have not done anything substantial as far as investigating the crime is concerned. Thanks to this laxity, some foreign countries such as the UK and the US offered to help in investigating this carnage. As it seems, the authorities are not only tightlipped but also have been dragging their feet. Why?

Due to the fact that the police have proven either they are unwilling or incompetent to look into the Lissugate, it is time for Tanzania to welcome foreign firms to help crack the puzzle behind this seeming criminality. There is no need to wait.

So, too, there is no need of keeping the cart before the horse. If police have proved they cannot nab unknown criminals that made attempt on Lissu’s life, why should the public keep on trusting them that they will apprehend the criminals while as time elapses evidence too fades away? Indeed, Lissugate needs to be looked into by a neutral and professional bodies such as FBI or Scotland Yard among others.

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Doctors in Tanzania call for centralisation of national health

Dar es Salaam. The Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT) has asked the government to put in place a central coordination system that would harmonise provision of healthcare services in the country.

MAT President, Dr Obadia Nyongole, said this on Wednesday October 25 during the 49th National Health Conference held in Dar es Salaam.

Dr Nyongole said the lack of a central coordination system makes it difficult for district and regional health authorities to ensure health provision is coordinated at national level.

"In other sectors, such as roads and other infrastructure, there is the National Roads Agency that ensures all road networks are monitored and taken care of.

“In the health sector, such a system is non-existent. If it existed, all problems related to poor coordination and untimely deployment of health workforce wouldn't have been a problem," he said.

The 3 day conference has been officiated by Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan who represented President John Magufuli.

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Why JPM picked non economist to head BoT

PRESIDENT John Magufuli yesterday appointed a new Central Bank governor in style, breaking a norm of choosing an economist; instead, he has opted for taxation law Professor Florens Luoga.

His appointment to replace Prof Benno Ndulu was a surprise -- emerging in the course of another event to reward the members of the three committees he formed to investigate the mining sector.

His unexpected naming of Prof Luoga as successor to Prof Ndulu is a move which made the participants in the event at the State House burst into cheers.

Expressing why he ditched appointing an economist, President Magufuli said being a professor in taxation, Luoga would help in strengthening checks on capital flight by some foreign firms that use tax havens. “… taxation law is very crucial …it’s one area where we have been highly deceived,” Dr Magufuli said.

Shortly after his appointment, Prof Luoga told the journalists that he would first have to learn how to cope with his new brief, admitting he was not familiar with central bank activities.

Thanking the head of state for his appointment, Prof Luoga pledged that he would ensure that he brought his law taxation experience to bear on the Bank of Tanzania operations. “The challenge here is to make every person perform effectively,” he said.

Luoga currently serves as deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam, the country’s premiere public university. In July, he was also appointed chairman of the board of directors of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Prof Ndulu’s tenure as the sixth BoT governor is about to end in line with the requirements of the Bank of Tanzania Act, 2006. Prof Luoga will take office as the seventh governor of Central Bank since 1966. Section 8 (1) of the Act gives powers to the president to appoint the governor of Central Bank.

It reads, in part: “There shall be appointed by the President a Governor who shall, unless he dies or resigns or vacates or is removed from his office for good cause or is disqualified, hold office for a period of five years and shall be eligible for a re- appointment.”

Two days ago, President Magufuli hinted on Prof Luoga’s appointment after handing certificates of appreciation to various officials who participated in investigating and preparing reports on mineral sands. The Head of State also handed certificates to a team of experts that was officially formed to engage in negotiations with Barrick Gold.

The team was headed by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi. President Magufuli said all experts who participated in the process did a good job and that the nation was proud of them.

“From these people, I have appointed one to head the Central Bank…Should I mention him now…he is Prof Luoga,” said President Magufuli. Economic and political analysts who spoke to The ‘Daily News’ described Prof Luoga as the “right person” to head the BoT.

University of Dar es Salaam Senior Lecturer Prof Haji Semboja also described Prof Luoga as a person “fit for the position” since he had a wide knowledge on taxation, procurement and commercial laws.

According to Prof Semboja, the Head of State had appointed Prof Luoga on account of his ability and patriotic spirit in serving the nation. “I am very confident that Prof Luoga fits to that position especially at this time when the fifth government is striving to make changes in various areas,” he noted.

He added: “Prof Luoga is smart and talented in analysing issues, he is an expert and keen on both economic and legal matters, I believe, he is going to do a good job,” Mzumbe University Senior Lecturer, Prof Honest Ngowi said traditionally most of BoT’s governors were economists or had economic related backgrounds.

He said the new appointed governor will need a strong economists team to support him since he is not an economist. “I believe Prof Luoga will deliver, but he needs a supporting team of economists to advise him,” he said.

According to Prof Ngowi, a Central Bank governor needs to understand various issues related to country’s economic stability, reaction of economic variables and many other of such nature. Dr Hildebrand Shayo, a banker and senior economist said President Magufuli had appointed Prof Luoga for good reasons.

He said many Tanzanians expected the Head of State to appoint an economist or someone from the circles of the World Bank. He added that the president had proved to the world that he appoints officials based on ability to perform.

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Barrick in $11m loss after securing money for Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. Barrick Gold Corporation has reported a net loss of $11 million in the third quarter after increasing a tax provision related to the “good will” payoff of $300 million agreed with Tanzania.

The mining giant made a net income of $175 million over the same period last year. Barrick produced 1.243 million ounces of gold in the third quarter, at a cost of sales of $820 per ounce compared to 1.381 million ounces, at a cost of sales of $766 per ounce in the prior-year period.

Barrick blamed the decrease in net earnings on the impact of the concentrate export ban by the government and also lower gold production and prices.

The company’s existing tax provision was $128 million but the financial results announced on Wednesday night indicated to have increased by $172 million to $300 million – the amount it agreed would be paid by its subsidiary Acacia to Tanzania as part of the proposed framework reached last week.

Barrick’s move is proof of securing the money due to the government and puts to rest any fear that the funds may not be released. However, the mining company appeared to place a catch on the release of the funds, tying it with Acacia’s business flow and the outcome of talks to lift the ban on concentrate export.

“Given Acacia’s current financial position, these payments would be made over time, using Acacia’s ongoing cash flows. As such, payment would be also conditional on Acacia’s ability to sell doré (gold bars) and concentrate,” Barrick said in its statement.

Shares in Acacia were up 3 per cent to 190.14p on Thursday morning, still down more than two thirds since 1 March when the concentrate ban was imposed by the government to push for negotiations of several tax income and other economic benefit issues.

Barrick’s tax provision announcement drew the now familiar wait and see approach from its subsidiary in London and who will be expected to shoulder part of the cost to pay Tanzania. Barrack owns 63.9 per cent stake in Acacia.

In its rejoinder, Acacia which operates Buzwagi, North Mara and Bulyankulu mines said it does not intend to make any changes to its own provision of $128 million in likely back tax charges as a result of Barrick’s own announcement.

“Once Acacia has received and had the opportunity to assess a detailed proposal, Acacia will also be able to assess the potential impact on Acacia’s historical uncertain tax positions,” the London Stock Exchange-listed company said in its market updates.

Barrack Gold was locked in negotiations with the government for about three months since two presidential committees accused Acacia of cheating in taxes and reportedly operating illegally in Tanzania.

In July this year, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) slapped Acacia with a jaw-dropping $190 billion (Sh418 trillion) in revised taxes, interests, and fines following the committees’ reports.

The two negotiating teams led by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Prof Palamagamba Kabudi on the side of Tanzania and Barrick executive chairman John Thornton on the other side, came out last week announcing to have struck a deal.

The Toronto-based company said it will pay the government $300 million as part of the deal, give the government a 16 per cent stake in its mines, and will equally split “economic benefits” from the mining operations.

Under the proposed 50/50 economic benefit sharing, the government’s portion will be delivered in the form of royalties, taxes, and a 16 per cent free carried interest in Acacia’s Tanzanian operations, in line with the country’s new mining law, Barrick noted in continuation of a line that is starkly different from that of the government. Prof Kabudi has proffered that Tanzania’s share will be received after all taxes, royalty and all other payments due are made.

The two parties have created a working group to resolve outstanding tax matters relating to Acacia’s operations even as the London-based firm says it will also push on with the arbitration case it has filed at the international court against Tanzania move to ban concentrate export.

“Barrick and the Government of Tanzania will now work to complete detailed documentation and final agreements for review and approval by Acacia. We expect this work to be completed in the first half of 2018. Barrick has engaged with independent directors of Acacia during this process, and will continue to do so,” Acacia said in the statement.

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Two police officers held over assaults on civilians in Dar’s Ukonga-Mazizini

Ilala Regional Police Commander Salum Hamduni 

In Summary

The officers were arrested following a directive by Ilala District Commissioner Sofia Mjema, who went to the scene to calm residents, who were protesting against police assaults.

Dar es Salaam. Two police officers from the Field Force Unit have been arrested for allegedly assaulting civilians in Ukonga-Mazizini, Ilala, in the city.

The officers were arrested following a directive by Ilala District Commissioner Sofia Mjema, who went to the scene to calm residents, who were protesting against police assaults.

This was revealed by Ilala Regional Police Commander Salum Hamduni, when he was speaking to The Citizen.

“Following the directive issued by the Ilala district commissioner we have arrested two policemen, who were among those, who were assaulting people,” he said.

For his part, Ukonga Ward executive officer Eligius Mlokozi said more than 40 people, who were allegedly assaulted by the police, had listed their names at his office as directed by Ms Mjema. According to him,the situation in Mombasa Mazizini has normalised.

Businesses came to a standstill for over six hours in Mombasa-Mazizini after the residents blocked the road to protest against the assaults on civilians.

Some of the residents told The Citizen that the fracasstarted three days ago, when law enforcers started assaulting the residents, believing they were behind the death of a police officer in Mombasa-Mazizini.

During the fracas, at least 20 people were wounded. The Citizen camped at the scene of the incident and witnessed people being arrested, some complaining of having lost their properties.

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No plan to sell Nakumatt TZ operations to Manji: official

The Nakumatt Tanzania saga took a new twist yesterday as the company’s management distanced itself from reported negotiations with tycoon, Yusuf Manji.

On Tuesday, the chairman of hundreds of suppliers, who are owed billions of shillings in arrears by Nakumatt, Mr Joseph Mlay, revealed that Mr Manji was in talks with the giant retailer to take over the business in the country.

A representative of Mr Manji’s Quality Group Limited (QGL), Mr Monish Mohandas, confirmed to The Citizen that there had been talks between the tycoon and the Nakumatt management over a possible buyout for the retailer’s Tanzania operations.

But in an interesting turn of events, the assistant country manager for Nakumatt Supermarket in Tanzania, Mr Alfrick Milimo, said yesterday that there was nothing to that goal.

“I don’t know of such talks. There are no discussions between Nakumatt and Mr Manji…All I know is that as Nakumatt, we have a lot of internal meetings to find a lasting solution to challenges that we are going through,” he told The Citizen.

He said internal meetings centred on how to pay rent and re-open the business at its Mlimani City and Arusha outlets.

“We have no plan to sell the supermarket to anyone because we still have muscles to run the company. We only need to settle our differences with landlords,” he said.

He noted that the retailer was currently struggling to regain trust of its suppliers and landlords due to ongoing financial challenges in the company.

“In fact, rumours of Mr Manji showing interest in buying out Nakumatt are not new. They started two years ago after the closure of Uchumi Supermarket…There was a time Nakumatt wanted to rent in Quality Group’s Quality Centre Mall and that was how all this started. Otherwise, there has been nothing with regard to buyout plans,” he insisted.

In November last year, when Nakumatt Tanzania sold its 51 per cent of the stake to grow capital base, the rumours started to resurface.

“With suppliers losing hope in our operations, they hurriedly thought the company had finally been sold and that is how these things are coming through,” he said.

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Tanzania’s new governor says appointment took him by surprise

Newly appointed Bank of Tanzania (BoT) governor Florens Luoga 

Dar es Salaam. Newly appointed Bank of Tanzania (BoT) governor Florens Luoga has said he was taken by surprise over President John Magufuli’s announcement allocating him the post.

Prof Luoga made this revelation when briefing journalists shortly after the announcement at a State House function Monday, October 23.

He will succeed Prof Benno Ndulu whose tenure comes to an end in January, 2018.

“The appointment came as a complete surprise to me. I never expected this nor am I certain someone else did. All in all, I’ve accepted this responsibility with all my heart. I’m fully aware that it is a highly demanding task,” said the BoT governor appointee.

“I will learn from the outgoing governor and other members of management and staff. I’m sure with their support and commitment, all will be fine,” he added.

Prof Luoga, who until his appointment was University of Dar es Salaam’s Vice Chancellor (Academic), asked cooperation from all stakeholders so that he would deliver and exceed expectations in his new responsibilities.

Announcing the appointment Dr Magufuli thanked Prof Ndulu for a job well done during all the years he held the governor’s office.

“I appreciate Prof Ndulu’s work very much. And, provided that his tenure will end next January, I’ve decided to pick the new governor from members of the negotiating teams. He is no other but Prof Florens Luoga,” said Dr Magufuli.

“Critics will challenge that the post should be held by an economist by profession. Let them be assured that my appointee is an expert in taxation law. As to economists, we have such experts as Dr Yamungu Kayandambila, the deputy governor responsible for Economic and Financial Policies (EFP), and Dr Benard Kibesse who is in charge of Financial Stability and Deepening (FSB),” the Head of State added.

On July 11, President Magufuli appointed Prof Luoga chairman of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) board to replace Mr Benard Mchomvu who was sacked and his board of directors dissolved in November last year.

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Russia test-launches 4 ballistic missiles from submarines and space centre

Russia launched four ballistic missiles on Thursday (26 October) as part of large-scale war games involving the country's strategic forces, the country's defence ministry said in a statement.

Three of the projectiles were fired from submarines and the fourth from the Plesetsk Space Center, located 800km north of Moscow.

In addition to firing missiles, the military exercise also involved Russian Tu-160, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers demonstrating their power by launching cruise missiles at dummy targets on ground, Tass news agency reported, citing the ministry's statement.

The defence ministry said that the long-range bombers took off from the main base in Ukrainka, Engels and Shaikovka and launched air-based cruise missiles at targets placed at Kura, Pemboi testing range in the northeastern region of Komi and Terekta in Kazakhstan.

About the missile launches, the ministry said that a squad of the Strategic Missile Force fired a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from Plesetsk towards the Kura test range in Kamchatka.

"A nuclear submarine of the Pacific Fleet carried out a salvo launch of two ballistic missiles from the Sea of Okhotsk towards the Chizha testing range in the Arkhangelsk region," the statement noted.

"A nuclear submarine of the North Fleet fired a ballistic missile from the Barents Sea towards Kura," it added.

Russia conducted large-scale war games on Thursday, 26 October firing four ballistic missiles from submarines and its space centre, and cruise missiles from long-range bombers (in picture) - File photo

The ministry said that all the launches were successful and the missiles hit the practice targets accurately.

It was not clear what prompted the large-scale military exercise, but the defence ministry said the drill was conducted in strict compliance with the Russian Armed Forces training schedule.

In September, Russia successfully tested a Topol missile equipped with a new advanced warhead, RT news reported. The country also tested two modern Yars ICBMs, which are modern variants of the Topol-M series, designed to replace the decades-old liquid-propellant UR-100N missiles.

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