Author: staff reporter

“This is an area where this cooperation between Africa and China can really be very useful … Especially at a time when the world is facing disruptions in terms of food distribution through supply chains,” said Monique Nsanzabaganwa, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission.

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — Fikiri Kisairo, a farmer from Kitete village of the Morogoro region, west of Tanzania’s economic capital Dar es Salaam, walks with pride as he looks after his thriving corn crop.

“The days of spending sleepless nights thinking about how to pay school fees for my two children are over,” said Kisairo, a beneficiary of the decade-long China-Tanzania agricultural cooperation.

SMALL TECHNOLOGY, BIG HARVEST

Kisairo joined a maize project in 2019 overseen by China Agricultural University (CAU) in collaboration with Tanzania’s Sokoine University of Agriculture in a few villages in the Morogoro region. This project, called “Small Technology, Big Harvest,” aims to reduce poverty in this rural region of Tanzania.

Today, with a family of five, Kisairo has managed to not only pay his children’s school fees, but also build a deep-water cellar to irrigate his about 1.21-hectare vegetable garden throughout the year, including the dry season.

Martine Shigela, regional commissioner of Morogoro, said that with the help of local authorities in collaboration with the CAU, farmers have boosted their maize yield significantly, and 1,667 demonstration farmers have grown at least one acre (about 0.4 hectares) of maize each.

Denis Nkala, regional coordinator for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Office of South-South Cooperation, said the project is a concrete example of China-Africa cooperation for resilience and food security, achieved through a demand-driven, multi-stakeholder approach.

“Through the sharing of good farming practices, the project aims to triple maize production and increase farmers’ incomes, thus contributing to poverty reduction, food security and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Tanzania,” Nkala said.

SMALL BEAN, GREAT NUTRITION

Soy milk, a traditional Chinese drink rich in flavors and nutrients, is gaining popularity among local villagers. “I love it and I hope my friends will like it too. It’s good for our health,” said Tatu Seif, a 62-year-old farmer from Kitete village.

Soybeans were first introduced to the Morogoro region through another China-Tanzania cooperation project, dubbed “Small Bean, Great Nutrition.”

According to Morogoro’s 1991-2018 Nutrition Report, local farmers long suffered from malnutrition due to limited protein, vitamins and minerals with their outdated farming techniques.

To effectively improve their nutritional structure by promoting inter-cropping soybeans, Chinese agronomist Li Xiaoyun and his team at the CAU decided to work with the local authorities to promote the project in four villages, and provided on-site and remote instructions on planting and management techniques.

“Soy milk is enjoyable, especially for children under five, pregnant and lactating women to improve their health, and the project should reach as many people as possible,” said Rozalia Grayson Rwegasira, deputy administrative secretary in charge of the economic and productive sector at the Morogoro regional police station.

Through this project, farmers “will get a substitute for cow’s milk, which is expensive and rarely available,” said Leah John Mwingira, another agricultural extension worker.

FINE EXAMPLE OF CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION

Poverty reduction and agricultural development are among the nine China-Africa cooperation programs announced last year at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The Morogoro region, one of Tanzania’s agricultural bases, is a miniature of such collaboration.

China and Tanzania are good partners in the agricultural sector, said Xu Chen, minister counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania. Through experience sharing and investments, bilateral agricultural cooperation projects have not only increased crop yields, but also improved the living conditions of many local farmers. Meanwhile, an increasing number of Tanzanian agricultural products are entering the Chinese market, Xu said.

China-Africa agricultural cooperation can help realize Africa’s aspiration for self-sufficiency by harnessing its own natural resources, said Monique Nsanzabaganwa, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission.

“This is an area where this cooperation between Africa and China can really be very useful … Especially at a time when the world is facing disruptions in terms of food distribution through supply chains,” she said.  ■

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — China’s top legislator Li Zhanshu Thursday met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Hailing Tanzania as a significant partner of China, Li, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that under the guidance of important consensus between the two heads of state, China would better synergize with Tanzania to implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests.

China will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries and other developing countries, Li said.

“By strengthening cooperation between China and Africa, we can safeguard the common interests of developing countries and safeguard international fairness and justice,” he noted.

The NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Tanzanian parliament at all levels, said Li.

Hassan congratulated on the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and said that Tanzania adheres to the one-China policy and is committed to further consolidating Tanzania-China relations and working with China to push bilateral cooperation to a higher level. ■

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Beijing on Thursday.

Commending the development of bilateral relations between China and Tanzania, Li said the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has made strategic plans for China’s development in the coming period, and China will continue to carry forward high-level opening-up.

Li said China stands ready to work with Tanzania to enhance the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in key areas such as economics and trade, energy, health, agriculture and fishery, and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

China is willing to expand imports of marketable Tanzanian products and encourage Chinese companies to increase investment in Tanzania, said Li, adding that the Chinese side hopes that Tanzania will provide necessary support.

On China-Africa relations, Li said China is willing to work with African countries on the basis of sincerity and equality, increase unity and mutual trust, and pursue inclusive and sustainable development.

Hassan thanked China for its support and assistance to Tanzania over the years, saying Tanzania firmly upholds the one-China policy and is committed to carrying forward its traditional friendship with China.

She said that Tanzania will implement the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, promote cooperation on trade, investment, agriculture, fishery, infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges.

Tanzania welcomes investment from Chinese companies, Hassan added. ■

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Beijing on Thursday. The two presidents announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Noting that President Hassan is the first African head of state China has received after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said it speaks volumes about the two countries’ close ties and the important position of China-Africa relations on China’s diplomatic agenda.

Xi recalled putting forth, while visiting Tanzania in 2013, the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith to guide China’s cooperation with African countries. It has now become the basic policy guiding China’s solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries.

Under the new circumstances, the sound growth of China-Tanzania relations not only advances the common and long-term interests of the two countries, but also carries great significance for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, said Xi.

Xi briefed President Hassan on the proceedings of the 20th CPC National Congress. He pointed out that starting from now, the central task of the CPC will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

“Modernization does not mean Westernization,” Xi said, adding China has already found a development path suited to its national conditions. Chinese modernization is grounded in China’s own realities, with features that are unique to the Chinese context, said Xi.

Xi pointed out both the CPC and the Tanzanian Revolutionary Party (CCM) shoulder the historical mission of strengthening themselves and the country they govern, adding the CPC will expand exchanges and cooperation with the CCM and support the curriculum and operation of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School.

Xi stressed that China views its relations with Tanzania from a strategic perspective and will always be a trustworthy friend of Tanzania. Moving forward, Xi said the two sides should advance friendship and cooperation across the board, in keeping with the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China firmly supports Tanzania in upholding its sovereignty, security and development interests, and in exploring a path of development that suits Tanzania’s conditions. China and Tanzania will continue to show firm support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, said Xi.

Xi also said China will further increase import of specialty products from Tanzania, and support Chinese companies in investing and operating in Tanzania, so as to contribute to the economic and social development of Tanzania. China is ready to exchange experience and best practices with Tanzania on rural revitalization, and support the betterment of livelihood there, added Xi.

Xi pointed out that the Tazara Railway marks a milestone in China-Tanzania and China-Africa friendship. Even when China was poor, it tightened its belt to help its African brothers build this railway. “Now that China is more developed, it is better placed to act on the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, help our African friends achieve common development, and build a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.”

In growing China-Africa relations, Xi said both sides need to remain committed to the overall direction of mutual trust, mutual benefit, mutual learning and mutual assistance. Both China and Africa need to build on their time-honored traditional friendship, carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and show greater historical initiative in advancing friendship between China and Africa, he added.

Xi went on to point out China’s continuous development will create new opportunities for Africa. China will speed up the implementation of the ongoing nine initiatives for cooperation with Africa. “With a particular focus on infrastructure, we will continue to nurture new drivers for China-Africa cooperation through trade, investment and financing.”

China stands ready to work with African countries to uphold the basic norms governing international relations including the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, actively operationalize the Global Development Initiative, increase the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance, and do more to bring about a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

Noting that she was excited and honored to be invited to visit China soon after the successful conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, Hassan said that the visit is a testament to the high level of Tanzania-China relations.

On behalf of the CCM and the Tanzanian government, Hassan once again extended warm congratulations on the success of the 20th CPC National Congress and Xi’s re-election as general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Tanzania views China as its top real friend and will always be a trustworthy partner for China, said Hassan, adding that with the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Tanzania will work with China to strengthen practical cooperation across the board, take the relationship to a new height, and turn it into an exemplar for Africa-China relations in the new era.

Hassan stressed that Tanzania will continue to firmly support China on issues relating to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and other core interests of China.

She expressed appreciation for China’s support in the development of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, and conveyed the hope of southern Africa’s six sister parties to step up experience sharing with China on national governance in order to achieve better development.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has not only boosted the development of African countries in various fields, but also had a demonstrative effect in driving other countries’ cooperation with Africa and helped enhance Africa’s international standing, the president said, adding that Tanzania will continue to take an active part in and support the development of FOCAC.

Noting that the Global Development Initiative put forth by Xi is very timely and conducive to addressing the global challenges of today, Hassan said Tanzania will work with China to operationalize this initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The two heads of state agreed to keep up the momentum of high-level exchanges and dialogue, and enhance exchanges and cooperation at all levels between the localities, legislatures and political parties of the two countries.

They agreed to expand the scale of bilateral trade, boost the level of trade and economic cooperation, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, advance cooperation projects on infrastructure, enhance industrial complementarity and production capacity cooperation, and expand mutually-beneficial cooperation in such areas as manufacturing and processing, green development and digital economy.

The two heads of state reached consensus on strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges, holding a China-Tanzania year of tourism and culture at an appropriate time, encouraging more exchanges between the academics and media organizations of the two countries, and carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples.

The two presidents agreed to enhance cooperation in international and multilateral settings, step up communication and cooperation on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and jointly uphold international fairness, justice and the common interests of both sides.

At the end of the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents covering trade, investment, development cooperation, digital economy, green development and blue economy. The two sides issued a Joint Statement on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcoming ceremony for Hassan in the Great Hall of the People.

Upon President Hassan’s arrival at the Great Hall of the People, a 21-gun salute was fired in Tiananmen Square to greet her. Seventeen honor guards lined up the steps on both sides of the red carpet to salute her and trumpeters blew horns to welcome her. The two presidents stepped onto the review stand, after which the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. Accompanied by Xi, Hassan then reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past.

After the talks, Xi held a welcoming banquet for Hassan at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi and He Lifeng, among others, were present at the events. ■

By Jeff Kizzilah and Nicholas Manduku

Adolescent teenage pregnancy is on the rise with peopleliving with HIV Aids.

Nairobi county Assembly leadership has accepted to implement the ‘Adolescent National County policy”the policy will be helpful to deal with issues facing young people including teenage pregnancy.

Speaking during Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Consultive stakeholders meeting forum, Hon.Mark Nugsmbi ,Minority Chief Whip said, we will ensure issues are solved at thr right time,”

Hon. Mugambi said young people are really having many challenges that needs an argent action.

“As county assembly we will do everything to provide platforms and legislation on issues touching on development for adolescent solutions.

According to the latest, Statistics say 1q0,000new adolescent new pregnancy prevalences in Nairobi with Embakasi south is leading at 28% highest pregnancy followed by kibra,Kamkunji and Mathare.

The rising statistics is as a result of lack of health informations and drug and substance.

by Maximilla Wafula

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES PRESIDENT’S LEADERS DEMANDS THE WITHDRAWAL REMARKS MADE BY CS EZEKIEL’S MACHOGU.

Today President of Nairobi University Melvine Thogo led other elected presidents from Public Universities, JKUAT, KU and Daystar in a press conference at Nairobi University demanding the withdrawal remarks made by C’s Ezekiel Machogu on the withdrawal of the public university funding within 48 hours .Failure to adhere to that , all president a cross agreed to call on the strike to all the public universities facilities untill their matters is heard .

The leaders condemned the remarks made by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon Ezekiel Machogu. While addressing the fraternity of Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology over the weekend, Mr. Machogu stated that the State is on the verge of withdrawing its financial support to public universities.

The same State that intends to allocate slightly over 1.4 Billion to political parties for the coming financial year based on the 2nd November, 2022 Gazette Notice by the Registrar of Political Parties. The same state whose Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Hon Aisha Jumwa hinted at increasing salaries for public servants. The remarks by the CS are unsettling considering that he has been appointed to serve in the Kenyan Government that promised to bridge the funding gap and even fund non-tuition needs for the students. Are Mr. Machogu’s remarks to be taken as part of the education agenda of the Kenya Kwanza government? Is that really what was included in their “PLAN”? Were they just campaigning in poetry but intend to govern in prose?

We have gone through the trouble of looking at our Constitution and the Universities Act on this issue that we address you on today. Article 43 on Economic and Social Rights provides for the right to education for all persons. The withdrawal of funding for public universities highly threatens this right. If the state claims it does not have the resources to implement the right to education, then it should seek more guidance from Article 20(5)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of Kenya. The Article states;

(5) In applying any right under Article 43, if the State claims that it does not have the resources to implement the right, a court, tribunal or other authority shall be guided by the following principles—
(a) It is the responsibility of the State to show that the resources are not available;
(b) In allocating resources, the State shall give priority to ensuring the widest possible enjoyment of the right or fundamental freedom having regard to prevailing circumstances, including the vulnerability of particular groups or individuals.

It is a no brainer that the youth are part of the vulnerable group who are specifically protected under the Bill of Rights. As per Article 55(a), the State is to take measures to ensure that the youth access relevant education and training. It is an open secret that the youth form the absolute majority in our institutions of higher learning.

Mr. Machogu should do the needful and retract his statement on withdrawal of university funding. Other than looking at the above constitutional provisions, we also invite him to look at Part VI of the Universities Act which provides in part for university funding by government. It mandates that the government will fund public universities. i
We want to believe that Mr. Machogu’s remarks were an inadvertent error and that his office will promptly issue a correction. Mr. Machogu should know that the funding of public universities is governed and protected by the rule of law but in case he is not aware, we will lead university students in reminding him that the best way we know how.
Ends ….

By Fred Maingi
A lobby youth group allied to Orange Democratic Movement(, ODM) has demanded for the appointment and recognition of Westlands Legislator Hon. Tim Wanyonyi in one of the Parliamentary committees.
The lobby group led by Embakasi East youth leader Stephen Abwao further demanded for the resignation of Suna East MP Junet Mohamed for being a stumbling block in party affairs.

They claimed Junet is a nuisance in the party and the best reward he can offer to the party is to resign.
“ODM party, Abwao added, must recognise those who stood, fought and sacrificed for the party like Hon. Tim Wanyonyi.He even surrendered his Gubernatorial seat for somebody else to pave way for peace in the party. ODM is as good as dead” Abwao noted.
Charles Ochieng, a youth leader who is the president of the Kenya sufferers reference movement urged party leader Hon. Raila Odinga to consider his decision and reward Hon. Wanyonyi for his great service to the party.

by Maximilla Wafula

Nairobi leading retailer chain, Naivas Supermarket today opens its doors to its
newest outlet at Kahawa Sukari .

The new store will be the retailers 10th store
in Nairobi . This new development comes barely a week after
the 86th store opening in Meru at Greenwood Mall, Meru Town.
This new store that covers 30,000 square feet of trading space now puts Naivas store tally at 87.

This is the 10th outlet in the greater Thika Road Region and a much-welcomed addition to the vast
neighbourhood of Kahawa Sukari which cuts across both Nairobi and Kiambu Counties.

This area which serves as a bedroom for thousand of Nairobi workers will finally get to experience world-class
shopping as only Naivas can provide served with authentic Kenyan hospitality.
The outlet promises a wholesome shopping experience, right from the excellent customer service
and the fresh offering which is a key focus that promises to satisfy the most sophisticated of palettes
to the fully stocked shelves with a mix of products that will abundantly meet customer needs from
everyday household items to crockery and even electronics.

“We are excited with this new development as it has been a long- standing order by our shoppers , they wanted a store that compliments their lifestyle and as a brand that is comitted to the promise of offering a worldclass shopping epreience, we are delighted that we are able to fulfil this.

We have
done our research and taken learnings to understand our shoppers and come up with a branch that
better fits the residents of Kahawa. We guarantee freshness , quality and affordability as we live up
to our mantra “Naivas saves you money”. As we enter the festive season, the we have our annual
Christam campaign dubbed Team Naivas, Supermarket Kikombe Kikwetu with the taggline Kila Mkenya ni
Mshindi. The campaign ensures that other than the sale promotions, our reward card shoppers
stand a chance of winning ksh. 2000 vouchers, our Iconic goat, 65’’ Tvs from coca cola and they are
awarded ksh.300 vouchers once they tap to pay over ksh. 3000 using their branded Visa card . Top management Naivas , Chief Commercial Officer
Willy Kimani, said

A busy festive season lies ahead for the retailer as it has its eyes set on the next store openings in Ruai.
Ends….

A global soft skills certification expert is rooting for the creation of strong partnerships between IT companies, business start-ups, industry and government agencies to expand the country’s ripe technology market.
PeopleCert Africa Business Development Manager, Romeo Mabasa is keen on Kenyan tech companies starting to groom the next pool of IT scientists from universities, pointing to a world now ready for local talent.
Speaking at a seminar for IT stakeholders in Nairobi yesterday, he gave an example of the Mpesa platform, which he said has already taken the world by storm, pointing out that with slight upgrades, it can monopolise the global mobile money banking business.
“However, to achieve this, we need to integrate universities as catalysts into business development programmes,” he said, asserting that he will not stop talking about integrating universities into these programmes.
The seminar brought together more than 20 companies and several IT students. Learnovate Technologies, a global training solution company hosted the half day meeting.
Mabasa explained that African kids are hungry to learn new ideas and to innovate them.
“It’s therefore very important that these programmes must include them,” he said.
From his LinkedIn profile, Mabasa is passionate about driving corporate Education development through technology. He has been part of the e-Learning Development project, Quality Assurance and Testing and even sold Education Software.
“Africa is in the global space, and important to leverage on what has worked in other countries to upgrade some of these products we are talking about,” he said.
Mabasa further said that Africa is educated and highly experienced but most of the continent’s skills are underutilised.
“Africa should start documenting her skills so that the outside world can come and buy them from us.
“Mpesa platform for instance, is one of the most innovative ideas that Kenya came up with even though there are others. But in terms of how now…it’s groundbreaking how they are able to transact,” he noted.
Mpesa, he noted, is now working hard to break into other countries. “The platform is robust, world tested and has gone to other countries and is now ready for world take off,” Mabasa added.
He advised the IT business developers to go to the university, and have the students start attending the training while they are at the university.
“What was once essentially just online communication now has multiple meanings, incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Who knows where this revolution will end? Simply this is Digital transformation, and the world is now ready for it,” he said.
However, for Kenya, Mabasa is crediting the government for being in the forefront advocating for digital economy and working together especially from the President’s office being key in championing for digital transformation.
He said this must challenge the private sector, or service providers to aggressively start working together with various government agencies to help them build capacity.
Vijay Kumar, the Managing Director Learnovate Technologies said collaboration is key, and therefore the need to create a linkage between academia and the job industry.
“Organizations need to speak to universities to know what to recalibrate because it influences the future which academia wouldn’t know how to teach if they don’t get feedback from the industries,” he said.
And subsequently, Kumar revealed that his company is supporting a few government initiatives through the ICT Authority’s digital programme. “This programme has actually been running for the last four years. We are also working with a few NGOs,” he said.
Mabasa also observed that when various models are integrated with government, industry, private, public and training providers like Learnovate, and bring on board universities, the outcomes will be tremendous.
“In other countries, universities are at the forefront in the digital transformation. Our children are ready to take the world by storm,” he asserted.
ENDS/

By Jeff kizzilah and Nicholas Manduku

Nairobi Deputy Governor Hon. Njoroge Muchiri has encouraged women to forn cooperative groups to help them with finance.

Speaking when he presided over the launch of Women Fundis in Construction conference the DP said the county government is ready to patner with all stakeholders that supports women in the construction industry so that we can create more opportunities for women who have talented artisans who wants to join the construction industry because this will help women be productive in our community.

“Women can do better and compete well ,its high time we support them and give them opportunitiesin the construction industry,”Muchiri said

He said that the county government is ready to support all women in the construction industry.

Mr. Muchiri has urged the more women to come forward and be supported.

“If you build a woman you build a society,”He says