TheNewsGuru

Tag: Tanzania

  • Tanzanian opposition kicks as President Magufuli wins re-election by landslide victory

    Tanzanian opposition kicks as President Magufuli wins re-election by landslide victory

    Tanzanian President John Magufuli claimed 84 percent of votes cast in Wednesday’s election, to post a resounding victory, which the opposition quickly denounced as fraudulent.

    His main challenger, the Chadema party candidate Tundu Lissu, 52, won only 13 % of the vote.

    The opposition complained the election was riddled with irregularities such as ballot box stuffing, intimidation and oppression of members.

    “The commission declares John Magufuli of CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) who garnered the majority of votes as the winner in the presidential seat…” said commission chairman Semistocles Kaijage.

    Voter turnout was 50.7% from more than 29 million voters, with over 260,000 votes declared invalid.

    No final results were given for the parliamentary results.

    Magufuli’s ruling CCM had earlier won all but two seats, with around 200 of 264 parliamentary seats announced.

    In 2015, Magufuli won with only 58% of the vote.

    Lissu, who returned to Tanzania in July after three years abroad recovering from 16 bullet wounds sustained in an assassination attempt, on Thursday declared that the results coming in were “illegitimate”.

    He urged his supporters to demonstrate peacefully, while asking the international community not to recognise the outcome.

    “Whatever happened yesterday was not an election, and thus we do not recognise it.

    “We do not accept the result,” Lissu told reporters, saying opposition election monitors had been barred from entering polling stations and faced other interference.

    “What is being presented to the world is a complete fraud. It is not an election.”

    The result of presidential elections cannot be contested in Tanzania, though the parliamentary outcome can be challenged.

    Several opposition MPs lost seats in long-held bastions, such as Chadema chairman and lawmaker Freeman Mbowe of Hai in the Kilimanjaro region, and ACT-Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe in Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.

    Halima Mdee, head of the Chadema woman’s wing, who was briefly arrested on election day after protesting the discovery of ballot boxes stuffed with “pre-marked votes”, lost her seat in Kawe in Dar es Salaam.

    “We are concerned by credible reports of election irregularities and the use of force against unarmed civilians, and will hold responsible individuals accountable,” said US state department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Twitter.

    “We urge Tanzanian authorities to take immediate steps to restore faith in the democratic process.”

    The election took place with little monitoring from foreign observers and most international media were unable to gain accreditation to cover voting on the mainland.

  • African President declares country COVID-19 free

    President John Magufuli of Tanzania has declared the East African country “coronavirus-free”.

    This is coming after the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over the government’s strategy on the pandemic. Tanzania refused to publish daily data on the number of coronavirus cases in the country.

    Magufuli, however, attributed the claimed success over the worldwide pandemic to prayers and fasting that the people of Tanzania offered to God.

    He also commended the priest and worshippers for not wearing gloves and masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

    Magufuli said; “It gives me joy to be the leader of a country that puts God first, God loves Tanzania.

    “The works of the devil will always be defeated in Tanzania because Tanzanians love God and that is why even the corona has been defeated by God.”

    BBC reported that Mr Magufuli had said last week that only four patients were receiving treatment in the largest city, Dar es Salaam.

    He also dismissed a US embassy warning that hospitals in Dar es Salaam were “overwhelmed” and that the chances of contracting the virus were “extremely high”

  • Two soldiers killed, 20 others injured in road accident

    Two soldiers killed, 20 others injured in road accident

    At least two Tanzanian soldiers were killed and 20 others injured on Thursday after their vehicle veered off the road and overturned in the East African nation’s Southern highland region of Katavi, said an official.

    The Katavi region acting medical officer, Lameck Mdengo, said the vehicle carrying army officers with the Tanzania People’s Defense Forces overturned in the Katavi National Park.

    Mdenga said most of the injured army officers suffered broken limbs and doctors were working round the clock to save their lives.

    “Some of the seriously injured victims have been transferred to Kigoma region hospital for specialised treatment.

    “The soldiers were on their routine duties when the horrible accident occurred,” Mdenga said.

  • Xenophobia: Gbajabiamila cancels Tanzania trip, House may reconvene

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, said that the green chamber may reconvene for one day to address the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.

    He said that he would be cutting short his trip to Tanzania, where he is attending the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) conference holding in Zanzibar.

    On his verified Twitter handle, he said that he would be meeting with the leadership of the House upon his return, where they would take the decision to reconvene the House to address the issue of xenophobic attacks.

    He said, “Will be cutting short my trip to Tanzania for the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference @CPA_Secretariat and will be leaving today, for the leadership of the @HouseNGR to consider cutting short the recess and reconvening for one day to address the killings of Nigerians in SA.”

    Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa have been the targets of attacks since last week when a taxi driver was killed by an alleged drug peddler in Pretoria.

    Foreign-owned businesses have been looted and burnt in different parts of the country.

    As of Monday, three persons had already been killed while one person was in the hospital being treated for smoke inhalation.

    The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, had been invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for a meeting over the attacks.

  • AFCON 2019: Amuneke confirms contract termination, says it’s great experience

    Emmanuel Amuneke, ex-Super Eagles winger, says his two-year contract with the Tanzanian Football Federation (TFF) has been terminated.
    Amuneke signed a two year contract with the TFF in 2018 and successfully qualified the country for the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after 39 years absence.
    Tanzania lost its matches in Group C to Algeria, Senegal and Kenya.
    Amuneke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Wednesday that he and the federation mutually agreed to terminate the contract when the team returned from Egypt.
    “The story is that we have mutually parted ways. After the AFCON, we came back, had a meeting with the federation and they said they want to continue with another coach.
    “I thank the federation and Tanzanian people for giving me the opportunity to coach their national team. In football, it’s one of those things that happen and you have to learn to forge ahead,’’ he said.
    Amuneke said working in Tanzania in the past year was a great experience and rewarding.
    According to him, of the two years contract he signed, he qualified the country to play in AFCON after 39 years absence.
    Tanzania’s AFCON appearance before the 2019 edition was in Nigeria in 1980.
    “For me, the experience was great. In every endeavour, you need challenges and the Tanzanian job is one of the challenges.
    “In the 80s, I was about eight years and can hardly remember if AFCON was played in Nigeria.
    “As destiny will have it, in 2018, I found myself in Tanzania and of the two years contract I signed, I qualified them for the 2019 AFCON,’’ he said.
    The former Nigeria U-17 and U-20 national team coach, said the 2019 AFCON was the first experience for the Tanzanian players.
    “You cannot do away with some mistakes and nervousness and I believe it is this process that will afford you the opportunity to mature and grow.
    “For me, it is an experience and I am happy that we came here and were able to position Tanzanian football to African level.
    “I am happy and grateful to Tanzanian people for giving me the opportunity to serve,’’ he said.
    Amuneke said for now, he will take out time to rest and be with his family.
    “But coach Amuneke will still be in football,’’ he said.

  • Tanzania sack Emmanuel Amuneke as head coach

    Tanzania have parted ways with their once cherished coach and former Nigeria international Emmanuel Amuneke after what the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) dubbed poor outing at the ongoing Nations Cup in Egypt.
    Amuneke who made history by qualifying the Taifa Stars of Tanzania for the Nations cup for the first time in 39 years failed to win a match in the group stage where the team was pitched against Algeria, Senegal and Kenya.
    The team lost 3-0 to Algeria, 3-2 to Kenya and 2-0 to Senegal to exit the competition conceding 8 goals and scoring just two against Kenya.
    TFF in a release on Monday said “The Tanzania Football Association and the national team coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, have reached a joint agreement to terminate the contract,” the TFF wrote on their website.
    The Federation said a temporary coach would be appointed after their emergency meeting on Thursday, and he would lead them for the upcoming qualifiers for the African Nations Championship (CHAN). Tanzania begin the regional CHAN qualifiers against neighbor’s Kenya later this month.
    Amuneke who coached Sudanese club Al Khartoum SC before taking over the Tanzanian national team won the Fifa U-17 World Cup trophy for a record fourth time in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 for Nigeria.
    The former Barcelona ace within the short period he was with Taifa Stars was hailed by many fans who noted that he had injected life into the Tanzanian national team despite the poor run in Egypt.

  • 2019 AFCON: Tanzania will keep coach Amunike, says TFF Director

    Ammy Ninje, the Technical Director of Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), says Emmanuel Amuneke will be retained as the coach of that country’s national team.
    Tanzania, staging a come back after 39 years absence from the competition, lost all matches in Group C to Algeria, Senegal and Kenya to crash out of the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament.
    Ninje told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Cairo, Egypt, that Amuneke would be retained to continue with the good work he started.
    “Coach Amunike has done a fantastic job. It was not easy because he transformed our football. After 39 years, he came in and changed things and always, when you change things, you change people`s mentality.
    “ It takes time. We will take care of him and keep him here to continue with the good work,” he said.
    Ninje said the tournament afforded Tanzania the experience to learn football at the highest level.
    “ So, I hope if we qualify for the next AFCON tournament, we will do better,” he said.
    The technical director said that the team would go back and evaluate its performance and put an action plan for improvement.
    “We have learnt that when you play at international level like AFCON, you have to be ruthless, when you get the opportunity use it, and adopt a disciplined approach when you don’t have the ball.
    According to him, the team will be evaluated and younger players will be encouraged to continue in the building of a new national team.
    “ For some players who have been in the national team for a while, this may be their last outing.
    In modern football, you need youth, energy and tenacity. So, we will evaluate our squad and give a lot of young players the opportunity to shine for the future,.
    “But time will tell what will be the fate of the old players,” he said.

  • 2019 AFCON: Tanzania lack experience, character – Amuneke

    Tanzania coach Emmanuel Amuneke was left frustrated after his side surrendered their lead twice in their 3-2 loss to Kenya in Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash.

    The Taifa Stars started the encounter with their East Africa neighbours brilliantly after Simon Msuwa opened the scoring, six minutes into the game.

    Michael Olunga brought the Harambee Stars back into contention with an improvised overhead kick in the 39th minute but captain Mbwana Samata restored Tanzania’s lead just before the half time break.

    However, the Taifa Stars lost momentum in the second half as Johanna Omolo equalised for Kenya before Michael Olunga sealed the victory with his second goal of the game.

    The defeat means Tanzania are eliminated from the competition after also losing their opening game to Senegal.

    Tanzania’s coach, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Nigeria and former Barcelona player, Emmanuel Amuneke expressed his disappointment with the attitudes of his players in the encounter.

    “The reality is in a game of football if you don’t know how to manage the game to your advantage, you pay for it,” Amuneke told Goal.

    “We started on a very good note, scoring first then leading the game towards half time, but there were a lot of crazy things. we committed a lot of mistakes, the second goal, the Kenya equaliser, this is what we have practised over and over, knowing they have dropped the ball in the first place.

    “As a coach you are helpless, you feel you want to help them, but you cannot turn it around. Most players play in the Tanzanian league, we lack experience, it’s a good thing we came to this Afcon, and it’s a good thing for Tanzanian football, to open their eyes. The truth is that at the moment we’re not in a position to compete.

    “Our target, we are privileged to have qualified for the Afcon, after so many years we’ve missed out and now we’re here after all these years. Every team wants to do well, every team wants to go far, but you could see, we’re still lacking a lot of experience, character, maturity.”

    With many of the players plying their trades in the Tanzania League, Amuneke believes his players need to play abroad for exposure and experience to help the national team grow.

    “The Tanzania league has two of the best teams in Tanzania – Simba and Yanga – they have 22 teams but the reality is not about the league, the truth is that the players need exposure, they need to play in places where they can grow and compete with the other players in Africa,” he continued.

    “We’re not being harsh with our players, just realistic. In football, if you are lovers of football, following football, you need a lot of experience, to be in a position to compete, and the reality is that we don’t have the ability to compete with the rest.

    “For us, being in the Afcon is an eye-opener for us, a big experience and a big achievement. You can fall in football, but if you believe in it and you stick to it, you can bounce back again. It’s not about how talented you are, players must know what to do when you have the ball, when you don’t have the ball. From the second goal, it was the wrong ball, the wrong moment, and in that second we lost the goal.”

    Amuneke wants his side, who are making their first appearance in the finals for 39 years, to learn from the mistakes that led to their early exit from the tournament.

    “Being here alone can inspire us. No one believed that Tan would qualify, and today we are here. Unfortunately for us we’re not in a position to win our games, but it’s an experience,” he added.

    “We go back and we look at our players, players we can bring in, players who can help the team. Players who can have some responsibility then you can say you are growing. I always say that what is good today in football is backdated tomorrow. If you never grow, you will never be in a position to correct it.”

    Tanzania will face already qualified group leaders Algeria in their final Group C match at the 30 June Stadium on Monday.

    Goal

  • U.S. warns citizens of ‘impending attacks’ in Uganda, Tanzania

    The United States embassies in Uganda and Tanzania have issued warnings about “rumours of impending attacks” in areas frequented by foreigners.

    According to the embassy in Kampala, “There are rumours of impending attacks in areas frequented by expats within East Africa, including Uganda.’’

    The warning was issued on Thursday, a day after the embassy in Dar es Salaam issued a similar security alert.

    Both alerts said the embassies had “no substantiating evidence of the threat or information on the timing,” but said people should avoid crowds and stay alert.

    While Uganda and Tanzania do not suffer regular attacks like Kenya, which is often subjected to deadly attacks by Somalia based militant group al-Shabaab because they have not been immune.

    “In 2010 there were bomb attacks in Kampala at venues screening the World Cup final killing over 70 people and injuring many more. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and threatened further attacks in the region,” Britain says on its official travel advice page.

    Britain says that “terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks,” on Tanzania, but adds that Tanzania hasn’t suffered a major terrorist incident since the bombing of the US embassy in 1998, dpa reports.

  • Amuneke unveils 23-man Tanzania squad for AFCON 2019

    Tanzania head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has unveiled his final 23-man squad for the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations coming up in Egypt.

    Headlining the list released by the Nigeria tactician is Genk forward, Mbwana Samatta, Farid Mussa of Tenerife in Spain and Erasto Nyoni of Simba Sporting Club.

    Other notable inclusions are Simba Sporting Club keeper, Aishi Manula, Simon Msuva of Difaä El Jadid, Morocco and John Bocco who plays for Simba Sporting Club.

    The Taifa Stars are drawn in Group C alongside Kenya, Algeria and Senegal.

    The East Africans will open their AFCON 2019 campaign against the Terenga Lions of Senegal on June 23.

    The team has lined up two international friendly games in preparation for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    They will lock horns with the tournament’s host nation, Egypt on Thursday before trying Zimbabwe for size on Saturday.

    Full Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Aishi Manula (Simba SC),Metacha Mhata (Mbao FC) and Aron Kalambo (TZ Prisons).

    Defenders: Hassan Ramadan (Nkana FC), Vincent Phillipo (Mbao FC), Gadiel Michael (Young Africans), Ally Mtoni (Lipuli FC), Mohammed Hussein (Simba SC), Kelvin Yondani (Young Africans), Erasto Nyoni (Simba SC) and Agrey Moris (Azam FC)

    Midfielders: Feisal Salum (Young Africans), Himid Mao (Petrojet FC), Mudathir Yahya (Azam FC), Frank Domayo (Azam FC), Farid Mussa (Tenerife) and Yahya Zayd (Ismailia).

    Forwards: Rashid Mandawa (BDF), Mbwana Samatta (Genk), Thomas Ulimwengu (JS Saoura), John Bocco (Simba SC), Abdillanie Mussa (Blackpool) and Simon Msuva (Difaä El Jadid).