ULANGUZI NYAMA YA NGOMBE

Na Kenneth Mwazembe
Mbozi

Walaji wa nyama ya ng’ombe katika miji ya Vwawa, Mlowo na Tunduma wilayani Mbozi wamewalalamikia wauza nyama kwa kuwauzia bei kubwa na kupima chini ya vipimo vilivyo idhinishwa na serikali.

Wakizungumza na Tanzania Daima kwa nyakati tofauti wateja hao wamedai kuwa wanapokwenda buchani kununua nyama hupimiwa robo tatu ya kilo kama kilo moja.

Jackson Mwamlima alieleza kuwa bei ya nyama imepanda kutoka sh 2000 hadi 2400 kwa kilo wakati huohuo hupimwa ¾ ya kilo na kumfanya mlaji kuibiwa sh 750 kwa kila kilo inayonunuliwa.

Aidha walaji hao wamedai kuwa ujanja mwingine unaotumiwa na wauza nyama ni kuongeza uzito wa ziada kwenye bakuli la mizani kwa kuweka chuma au sumaku au jiwe la kupimia ili kwamba nyama inapowekwa ndani ya bakuli hilo mizani husoma uzito wa nyama na uzito wa kitu kilichoongezwa.

Kwa upande wa wauza nyama hao walipohojiwa na gazeti hili kwa nyakati tofauti, walikanusha kuwapo kwa hujuma hizo na kwamba inatokea baadhi ya wateja wanakuwa na fedha pungufu ya bei iliyopangwa, hivyo wanakadiriwa kiasi kinacholingana na fedha yao waliyolipa pasipo kufuata kipimo cha mzani.

Queen Chaula mmoja wa wamiliki wa mabucha katika mji wa Vwawa alipohojiwa alisema kuwa yeye akiwepo katika biashara yake haruhusu mchezo huo kufanyika, lakini hata hivyo hawezi kuwakatalia vijana wake ambao huwaachia kuuza anapokuwa na dharula ya kutoka kidogo, kwani alishapokea malalamiko kadhaa yanayohusiana na suala hilo.

Naye Kamjanja Nzunda alipohojiwa kuhusu malalamiko hayo alijibu kuwa yeye akiwa mfanyabiashara wa nyama ameyasikia malalamiko mengi kutoka kwa wateja wao lakini yeye ameilinda biahsara yake kwa kuhakikisha anatoa huduma ya haki na kwamba ameshawafukuza vijana wake watatu waliobainika kuwaibia wateja.

Bei ya kununua ng’ombe mwenye uzito unaokadiriwa kuwa kilo 150 ni kati ya sh. 250,000 na 300,000/=, wakati bei ya kilo moja ya nyama ni kati ya sh. 2200 na 2400, ambayo hata hivyo kipimo chake ni cha ujanja ujanja.

Aidha wenye mabucha hao wamepata fursa ya kufanya watakavyo kutokana na hali ya upatikanaji wa vitoweo mbadala kama samaki, wilayani hapa ambao umekuwa mgumu kutokana na barabara iendeyo ziwa Rukwa (Mlowo – Kamsamba) kuwa mbovu isiyopitika hasa wakati wa masika, pia upungufu wa samaki katika ziwa hilo, kwani hata wale wanaojaribu kusafirisha samaki hao kwa punda na baiskeli huleta samaki wadogo na ambao huuzwa kwa bei ghali.

Soko la samaki katika nchi za Zambia na Kongo nalo limeongeza uhaba wa samaki baada ya wafanyabiashara wa nchi hizo kutoa malipo mapema kwa mawakala na wakati mwingine huenda wenyewe ziwani ambapo huwasafirisha samaki hao bila kulipa ushuru wakitumia njia za panya.

Faiton Silon, mkazi wa mji wa Tunduma ameeleza kuwa wafanyabishara wa Kongo na Zambia wanayo nafasi ya kununua samaki wote kwa kuwa wanao uwezo wa kukodi magari ya kuwafikisha ziwani mara hali ya hewa inaporuhusu tofauti na wenyeji ambao wanategemea usafiri wa jumuia kutokana na mitaji yao kuwa midogo.

Uchunguzi uliofanywa kufuatia tatizo hilo umebaini kuwa hata vitoweo kama kuku na mbuzi vimeadimika kutokana na ufugaji duni ambao mazao yake hayatoshelezi walaji, ambapo kitoweo pekee chenye bei nafuu na kinachopatikana kirahisi ni kitimoto, ingawa kutokana na imani mbalimbali za dini baadhi yao ni haramu kukitumia, kwani hata bei yake ni nafuu zaidi ambayo ni kati ya sh. 1500 na 2000 kwa kilo moja.

Kaimu Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mbozi Zaraf Yango alipotakiwa kuzungumzia suala hili alikiri kupokea malalamiko hayo kupitia kwa Ofisa wake wa Idara ya Biashara kwamba kuna malalamiko yaliyotolewa na wananchi juu ya suala la upunjaji linalofanywa na wafanyabiashara hao.

Meneja na wakala wa vipimo Mkoani Mbeya Willy Mbise alipohojiwa kwa simu kuhusu kero hilo alikiri kupelekewa malalamiko hayo na Afisa Biashara Saleh Ibrahim na kwamba ofisi yake imejipanga kufanya ukaguzi wiki ijayo .

Aliongeza kuwa mara ya mwisho kukagua mizani za wilaya ya Mbozi ilikuwa ni Agosti 27 mwaka jana, na kwamba idara yake haina ofisi wilayani hapa.

MWISHO

MBOZI METEORITE

THE MBOZI METEORITE
By Kenneth Mwazembe
Mob No. 0754 538920, 0762246322
Email : kmwazembe@yahoo.com, Kennethmwazembe@gmail.com
Website: www.maishanivita.blogspot.com

GENERAL OVERVIEW
A meteorite is defined as a piece of rock that has fallen from space and landed on the ground.

The fall of a meteorite is said to be a most spectacular event. At night it seen as a flaming mass flying through the sky, accompanied by a loud roaring noise. But, very surprisingly, meteorites picked up within minutes of falling as flaming objects are found to be extremely cold, and may become covered in frost under the warmest conditions. This is because the temperature in outer space is many degrees below freezing, and although the surface of the meteorite burns, the duration of its fall is so short that the inside of the meteorite remains very cold. As soon as it comes to rest on the ground, the internal cold asserts itself, until the whole object becomes adjusted to the atmospheric temperature.

Mbozi Meteorite
A meteorite having more than 12 tons fell at Marengi hill, Ndolezi village in Mbozi district, Mbeya region, Tanzania. It is bearing special characters different from other meteorite found in the world as to its composition.

The Mbozi Meteorite is about 70km from Mbeya city, the turn off from the Great North Road onto the Mbozi circle road is 53 km from Mbeya; the circle road rejoins the Great North Road at Vwawa town.

Scientist have classified meteorite in three groups namely; Aerolites (Stones), Siderolites (Stony-irons) and Siderites (Iron). The Mbozi meteorite is Siderites or Iron.

It was given the name Mbozi Meteorite bearing the name of the district where it fell. As explained before, Mbozi is the name of district found in Mbeya region in Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania.

It lies on southwest slope of Marengi hill, Lat. 90 6’ 25” S. Lon. 330 2’ 00” E.
Its dimensions are:
Height approximately 1m 22cm
Maximum width 1m 63cm
Length 3m 30cm
Estimated weight 12 tons



Oates analyzed the composition which indicates iron as follows:
Iron 90.45%
Nickel 8.69%
Copper 0.66%
Sulphur 0.01%
Phosphorus 0.11%

No body knows the exactly date of falling event, but its existence came to be known worldwide in 1930 when Mr. W. H. Nott, a private surveyor reported it. He was informed its existence by indigenous people who were used to worship there and when he went there he found its top was only just visible above the ground, later, a trench was dug round it in order to find out how large it was.

It is believed that the meteorite fell many thousands of years ago, if it had been in the last thousand years, it is almost certain that there would still be signs of the large crater which it must have made when it fell.

These people of Nyiha tribe regarded the meteorite as gift from God, local legends shows that long long time ago, God sent this meteorite to their land as sign of blessing, the spiritualism made them to believe that the land was blessed and they were encouraged to work intensively in farm works provided the weather was fair to grow food crops in fertile land.

The story of special blessings from God attracted Mr. Nott who by that time was surveying the land under German colonialism. Is the one who reported about Mbozi Meteorite in October 1930 and the government legally protected it by Government Notice No. 41 of 1931.

The benefits of heritage Mbozi Meteorite
The Mbozi Meteorite was declared a protected monument by Government Notice No. 90 of 3rd March 1967 (Antiquities Act, 1964). It was not lifted in order to mount it on its plinth; a trench was dug underneath its central part and a concrete bench was built to hold it. The trench was then enlarged on both side and the concrete bench extended until the meteorite was resting on the plinth. The hill side was dug away all round it so that it could be seen more easily.

Mbozi Meteorite is tourism attract in the Southern Highland zone although the government has not paid enough attention in preserving, publishing and advertising to the outer world.

Tourists have been coming, visiting, taking photos freely, no proper record kept. It is not well developed to the point of imposing something as the government ignores its importance. There are no essential facilities like toilets, rest rooms and water.

To the local people, this monument is regarded as dead capital, useless, meaningless, this is because the government has put itself aside, observing situation from 900 to the subject.

I call initiative from activists, civil societies and other interested parties to interact and tell the GIANT to participate fully in order to raise money from tourism sector which can help people of the said area.

If we are serious with the matter! Then we have to start it now! Let us awake the GIANT, take its responsibilities, publicities and publishing so as to invite tourists to immerse the existence of the said meteorite.

It is shame to say our GIANT (Government) has paid heavy force/invested in tourism to the Northern Region especially, Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks.
End

MBEYA REGION TOURISM ATTRACTIONS
Apart from Mbozi Meteorite, there are also other tourism attractions which have not been publicities and declared as tourism attractions.

I have summarized these attractions as follows:
i) Human foot print found at Nkangamo Mbozi district (rock)
ii) Carving (rock paint) found at Nkangamo Mbozi district painted 3000 years ago.
iii) Crocodile attraction of lake Rukwa Mbozi district
iv) Lake Rukwa to Geographers – has inward drainage
v) To Historians – Mbozi was the first place of White settlement who established coffee farms (plantations)
vi) Kiwira Natural Bridge (daraja la Mungu) – Rungwe district
vii) Lake Ngozi Crater found at Number 1 village of Mbeya Rural district
viii) Lake Kisiba Crater found at Masoko Rungwe district
ix) Lake Nyasa beach (very attracting) especially Matema Beach run by Lutheran Mission and Delta of Kiwira river
x) Mount Rungwe – having Natural cave, pure water springs, plant species which can not be found at any other place worldwide.
xi) Mbeya as a head of Rift Valley (Eastern and Western Rift Valley is divided in Mbeya region) – for Geographers.
xii) Hot water spring- Songwe, Mbozi district
xiii) Kaporogwe water falls- Rungwe district
xiv) Nsala and Mfuto water falls – Mbozi district (the place has wonders of doves and rich of gemstones )
xv) Biggest tree found at Masoko Rungwe having 250 years old
xvi) Kinyungu – underground lake at Kiwira river near to the Natural bridge

MSONGAMANO WA MAGARI TUNDUMA

Na Kenneth Mwazembe
Tunduma

Msongamano wa magari makubwa ya mizigo yanayokwenda katika nchi za kusini mwa Afrika umeendelea kuwa kero kwa wakazi wa mji wa Tunduma wilayani Mbozi licha ya jitihada za serikali kwa kutumia askari wa usalama barabarani ambazo hazijasaidia chochote.

Wakazi wa mji huo (wameomba majina yao yahifadhiwe) wameitaka serikali kujenga maegesho nje ya mji haraka ili kuondoa kero linalowakabiri.

Mwenyekiti wa Halmashauri ya Mbozi Aden Mwakyonde alipotakiwa na mwandishi wa habari hizi kueleza kuhusu kero hiyo alisema kuwa serikali ina mpango wa kujenga maegesho yenye kuweza kupokea magari 2000 katika eneo la Chapwa mara watakapopata fedha.

Hali hii inatoa mwanya kwa wahalifu kufanya vitendo viovu kama mauaji, wizi na unyang'anyi kama ilivyotokea mwezi uliopita. ambapo watu wanaodhaniwa kuwa majambazi waliwaua watu wanne na kujeruhi wawili walipovamia majumba ya starehe .

WANAHABARI WANOLEWA

UBOVU WA BARABARA YA MBEYA-TUNDUMA

Na Kenneth Mwazembe
Mbeya

Barabara ya Mbeya -Tunduma iliyokarabatiwa miaka minne iliyopita na kampuni ya ukandarasi ya kichina ya China Road & Bridge Corporation
ikisimamiwa na NorConsult As iliyogharimu zaidi ya shilingi bilioni 11 imeanza kuharibika na kwamba hatua za haraka zisipochukuliwa za kudhibiti
uharibifu huo katika maeneo mengi ambayo ni korofi yatalazimika kukarabatiwa upya kwa gharama kubwa.

Ukarabati wa barabara hiyo yenye urefu wa kilomita 70 ni miongoni mwa miradi iliyojengwa katika kipindi cha awamu ya tatu chini ya Rais mstaafu
Benjamin Mkapa ambao ulianza mwaka 2002 na kukamilika 2005 kiwango cha lami ikianzia kijiji cha Nanyala hadi Tunduma ambako ni mpakani mwa
Tanzania na Zambia.

Uchunguzi uliofanywa na waandishi wa habari umebaini kuwa barabara hiyo imeharibiwa na watu ambao wamekuwa wakilazimisha kupita kwa kukatiza
kwenye barabara hiyo na kusababisha maeneo mengi ya barabara kuharibika kingo na mabega (shoulders) na kuchimbika kiasi cha kumeguka.

Maeneo ya barabara ya lami yaliyoonekana kumeguka ni Mlowo, Ivwanga, Nselewa, Hanseketwa, Chimbuya, Mpemba, Chapwa na Tunduma ambapo
juhudi za serikali kupitia Wakala wa Barabara (Tanroads) mkoa wa Mbeya zinahitajika kufanywa haraka iwezekanavyo ili kuilinda barabara isiharibike zaidi.

Hata hivyo imebainika kuwa maeneo mengine uharibifu umefanywa makusudi na wananchi ili kupata urahisi wa kuingia barabara kuu kwa kuwa maeneo husika
hayana mchepuo wa barabara (Access road).

Meneja wa Kampuni ya Ujenzi wa barabara ya China Road & Bridge Corporation Guo Bingfeng alipohojiwa na waandishi wa habari kuhusu uharibifu wa barabara
hiyo alisema kuwa kampuni yake ilishakabidhi kwa serikali barabara hiyo miaka mitatu iliyopita hivyo hawezi kusema lolote juu ya uharibifu wa barabara hiyo
ambayo ni tegemeo kubwa kwa kusafirishia mizigo kutoka bandari ya Dar es Salaam kwenda katika nchi za Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kongo na Afrika ya Kusini.


Baadhi ya madereva wa magari makubwa ya mizigo yanayosafirisha mizigo kwenda nchi jirani ambao wameomba majina yao yahifadhiwe wameeleza kuwa
uwezekano wa kutokea ajali hasa kuwagonga watembea kwa miguu na waendesha baiskeli ni mkubwa kwa kuwa eneo la kupita magari nao wanalazimika kupita
humo baada ya kingo na mabega ya barabara kuharibika.

Wananchi wa kawaida wameeleza masikitiko yao kuona Mamlaka yenye majukumu ya kuangalia usalama wa barabara (Tanroads) wamekaa kimya ilihali barabara
iliyoigharimu serikali mabilioni ya shilingi ikiharibika.

Aidha Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mbeya John Mwakipesile ambaye pia ndiye mwenyekiti wa Bodi ya barabara ya mkoa alipohojiwa na waandishi wa habari kuhusiana na uharibifu
huo wa barabara alimtafuta meneja wa Tanroad Lucian Kilewo ili aweze kutoa ufafanuzi zaidi ambapo alifika ofisini kwa Mkuu wa Mkoa ambako waandishi walikuwa
wakimsubiri.

Kilewo alikiri kuwepo kwa uharibifu huo na kwamba ofisi yake inaandaa bajeti ya ukarabati na kwa kuanzia wameanza kujaza kokoto (base materials) maeneo yenye
mashimo na kwamba ataanza kujenga kingo zilizoharibika kwa mawe ili kuilinda barabara.

aliongeza kuwa kilomita sita kutoka Songwe viwandani hadi Nanyala eneo korofi katika barabara hiyo ukarabati wa muda umeanza lakini wanatarajia kufumua kipande hicho
ili kijengwe upya.

MWISHO