AMBASSADOR MIGIRO: CALM, ARTICULATE AND TO THE POINT

Tanzanian High Commissioner’s talk to BTS AGM, Saturday 19th November Westminster Central Hall A Report and photos by Freddy Macha H. E. Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro would brief us on “current developments in Tanzania”, this as British Tanzania Society chair Dr Andrew Coulson warned his audience, was a gigantic task. It is one year into the new Presidency, and “whatever you say will be of interest...you cannot go wrong,” he said amidst laughter. Dr Migiro was introduced with adjectives. Academic. Law. Ministerial positions. Diplomacy. Seen it all, at various levels. First female foreign minister, first African United Nations female assistant secretary general, etc, etc. The newly appointed high commissioner was gracious i.e. she said all the accolades are about serving her “country, not about me,” - which summed up her visit. Instead of a long, mundane speech - she was as brief and concise as she was detailed. She managed to give us a facsimile of what is happening after the 2015 Presidential elections. The rest of the time (and this was long) questions were shot like water pistols. Hands were raised. Busy time. The relaxed lady grabbed three questions at a time. Dealt with each, separately. Calm and articulate. How is Zanzibar? What about the new cyber laws? And the rise of inequalities in Tanzania? Land rights for foreign based citizens. Dual citizenship. Constitutional crisis. Nonstop tirade. I am certain readers would like to know what was actually said. We can divide answers into two sections. One part was dealt with efficiently. Take Mr Aseri Katanga, an unsung hero who works with Computers 4 Africa, sending used laptops and PCs to children in Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Gambia and Tanzania. Why are high fees charged for visas to volunteers travelling to deliver these computers in rural Tanzania? BTS members never get salaries. Their work is voluntary. Dr Migiro assured she would look into the matter. The second type of answers was current affairs. The slogan “Sasa Hapa Kazi tu”...why such a slogan? An example? Cut unnecessary spending. Prioritise education. We all know the stats. Abolishment of school fees. Enrolment of pupils in standard one in the

past year has swollen from 1,282,000 in 2015 to 1,896,584 in 2016. Or the clamping down on freedom of movement and association. Media freedom. Zanzibar 2015 election. Such stuff. How did she answer? A lawyer and experienced politician. She dissected the original meaning , pointed out what CCM has done - why and finally what the future promises. Belief in the party and the President. The land issue for overseas based citizens is a perfect example. Dr Migiro: “I believe the government of Dr John Magufuli will take up this matter when things are in place...” Even after the talks was over and everyone mingled with a cup of tea (“cuppa” as the English say), Dr Migiro was relentlessly hunted. I did not see the experienced envoy pause to sit or be quiet or yawn. Thus is public service.

BTS NEWSLETTER

www.btsociety.org www.tanzdevtrust.org

January 2017

Volume 15 Issue No 1

BRITAIN – TANZANIA SOCIETY AGM, Saturday, 19th November.

Almost 80 members assembled in Central Hall, Westminster for the 41st Annual General Meeting of the Society on Saturday, 19th November. The Society now has a membership in excess of 600; clearly many value the opportunities which the Society affords to keep in touch with Tanzania.

The Annual Report of BTS was presented by our chairman, Andrew Coulson, whilst Jonathan Pace, Chairman of the Tanzania Development Trust since 2015, presented the Annual Report of TDT. These reports are still available on the website or paper copies can be requested from Dr Elizabeth Taylor, Executive Secretary of BTS and TDT.

At this meeting several members stepped down – see ‘Note from Chair’ - opposite page. Petronilla Mwakatuma also stood down from her post of Membership Secretary. She continues to be a member of the Executive Committee where she makes a valuable contribution to links with the Tanzanian diaspora. She recently received a certificate of Recognition and Appreciation - see below.

As reported by Freddy Macha on the front page, the true highlight of the AGM was the speech given by H.E. Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, Tanzania High Commissioner to the UK who spoke on ‘Current Developments in Tanzania’ and responded fully to questions from the floor.

At the end of the meeting, members had the opportunity to network and visit the tables set up by various organisations which work with Tanzania. There was also a presentation of slides showing aspects of the many projects which TDT has supported in Tanzania.

Award to BTS executive member Petronilla Mlowe BTS Executive member, Petronilla Mlowe is a Food Lead auditor with vast experience in Food Safety in the UK spanning over 15 years. Based on her experience in food safety industry regulatory role she decided to utilise the skills she gained in the UK to help her fellow Tanzanians. Petronilla joined TDT 3 years ago and straight away got involved with a project helping women in Singida. “Since joining I have learnt a lot from other BTS members. I often travel back and forth to Tanzania to help farmers, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and businesses engaged in food, or interested in food export, particularly to EU countries. I also run webinars and WhatsApp courses to agricultural and manufacturers in Tanzania.” Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation Petronilla was in Tanzania in early August this year when she received a phone call from former Prime Minister Hon. Pinda, wanting to support her work. “ It was nice to know I had taught a Bee keeping Tanzania WhatsApp group in which he took part” said Petronilla. She was also invited to the 3rd Diaspora conference in Zanzibar after receiving a phone call from the Tanzanian ambassador in South Africa, Hon Rose Jairo and Minister for Diaspora in Tanzania Hon Ms Anisa Mbega. Whilst in Zanzibar Petronilla met some highly reputable top government officials who appreciated and recognised her work and efforts and promised to work closely with her. She had an opportunity to say a vote of thanks to a guest of honour Hon January Makamba, on behalf of Hon President Dr Magufuli. “I was so pleased to receive an accolade appreciating and acknowledging my work. ‘The Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation’ was awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of East Africa and the Minister of State President's Office and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, the organiser of the conference, and presented by Hon. January Makamba, Minister of State in the Vice President's Office, at a dinner event. After the conference, Petronilla taught a ‘Good Agricultural Course’ to the former Minister of Commerce and Industries, Mama Rita Mlaiki and her family. “It was a wonderful time”. Petronilla is currently preparing for an international conference in Tanzania, with the theme ‘Integrating Globalisation with Food Safety and Security’ which is scheduled for August 2017. “I require lots of help with preparations for this and therefore I would really welcome support from anyone with experience in preparing such big events.”

Page 2 BTS AGM/Award to Petronilla Mlowe BTS Newsletter January 2017

A note from BTS Chair: The recent AGM was a very friendly occasion, with the best attendance for several years. We got through the business quickly in order to free up time for a presentation by Her Excellency Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, the recently appointed Tanzanian High Commissioner in London (See Freddy Macha’s report). We also said thank you to Jill Bowden and David Brewin. David is still on the committee but has stood down as editor of Tanzanian Affairs after 30 years. Jill has stood down after (I think) even longer, and after doing a whole range of jobs, including Secretary but most recently Treasurer. We are incredibly grateful for their contributions over the years.

Three Important Vacancies But there is one very dark cloud. We failed to fill 3 important vacancies on the Committee – for Treasurer, Membership Officer, and Website Manager. None of the 3 jobs are onerous.

Treasurer: The Treasurer job is probably the least.

There are perhaps 30 transactions out of the bank account each year, such as bills for printing and payments of rail tickets to speakers at seminars. The subs almost all come into the account through direct debits. So the task involves watching over the bank account, and producing simple summaries of where we stand,for meetings and the AGM. We are not a company or a charity, so there are no legal reporting requirements. You certainly do not need to be an accountant to do this job.

Membership Officer: The membership officer

keeps our list of members up to date, and in a form that emails can be taken off it for mailing out to members, and address labels printed for the mailings of the Newsletter etc. And sends welcome packs to new members.

Website Manager: The website is as simple as we can make it, and very effective, but it does need to be kept up to date, for example by putting on information about forthcoming seminars and events and then replacing that information with reports about those events after they have taken place.

Can you help? So could you all give this very serious consideration? Please email it to any friends or others who might be interested or know of people who might be - young or old, In work or retired, with experience of Tanzania or just with interest in it. Even a short period of time – up till the next AGM in October –

would be helpful. If anyone would like to discuss it, in the first instance email me on a.c.coulson@bham.ac.uk or Elizabeth Taylor on etaylorsjut@gmail.com . Or ring us on 0121 475 4615 or 01869 243479 respectively.

Tanzanian Affairs - A New Editor after 30 Years. There have only been four editors of Tanzanian Affairs. Professor Terrance Ranger did it for the first three years, starting in 1975. Terry, one of the most distinguished historians of Africa, sadly died in 2015. After being expelled from Zimbabwe he moved to Dar es Salaam University where he created the History Department and with it a whole new and much needed approach – “putting the African back into African History”. John Arnold, who is still a very welcome participant at many of our current seminars and events, took over in 1978. David Brewin became editor in 1986 and continued till the recent AGM. The baton has now passed to Ben Taylor, but David continues an active member of the BTS committee and a member of the newly formed Editorial Advisory Committee of the journal.

Thank you David David was well qualified for the task. In Tanzania he had been editor of Ukulima wa Kisasa [Modern Farming] which

gave him plenty of experience of sensitive topics and late arriving copy. He was fluent in Swahili and devoured the Tanzanian newspapers whenever he could get hold of them (he still does!). He has a huge range of friends and contacts and encyclopaedic knowledge of Tanzania acquired over the years. In its early days the journal was a little quirky and full of interesting reminiscences. David wanted it to be a journal of record, and so gradually recruited writers who had current information about what was happening in Tanzania, and could provide updates about particular areas of specialisation. The result is clear to anyone who reads the back issues on the excellent website

https://www.tzaffairs.org – a record of important events, and a commentary on the issues they raise, always

expressed in the most loyal and diplomatic terms.

So a job well done over a very long period of time. We all wish David well. Andrew Coulson

BTS Newsletter January 2017 BTS Chair Page 3

Promoting the social inclusion of people with albinism in Tanzania

Albinism is a genetic condition reducing or eliminating melanin pigment in the skin, eyes and hair and is poorly

understood across much of Tanzanian society. Dehumanising myths and superstitions surround the condition, with

misconceptions breaking up families and leading to mockery, abandonment and violence. Seen as ghosts or ‘zeru

zeru’ (‘sub-human’ in Swahili), people with albinism are often construed as curses on their families and communities

and are segregated as a result. Some are even targeted for their body parts, used in witchcraft charms thought to bring

wealth and fortune. Since 2006, 76 have been murdered and 69 more attacked.

On the 24th

of October, in partnership with

Standing Voice, an international NGO based in

Tanzania which creates programmes for

disempowered individuals with albinism to speak

back to their societies and reassert their presence

and equality, and SOAS; the Britain-Tanzania

Society hosted a seminar to explore discrimination

and ostracism faced by people with albinism.

Jamie Walling of Standing Voice facilitated an

engaging presentation exploring challenges facing

individuals with albinism in Tanzania and gave an

overview of the work Standing Voice is

undertaking to help bring about positive change

promoting the social inclusion and wellbeing of

this marginalised group.

Within Tanzania, people with albinism are unable

to access vital services as they are not built to

meet their needs. Their marginalisation impedes

access to education and health services, restricts

the delivery of health education, and isolates

individuals with albinism from their families,

communities and caregivers. Whilst globally it is

estimated that 1 in 18,000 people have albinism

this prevalence increases to 1 in 1,400 in sub

Saharan Africa due to the genetic link with

leprosy which also has high prevalence rates in

this region. Tanzania has approximately 16,477

people living with albinism.

Within the presentation we saw first-hand the

harrowing impact of this marginalization though a

number of interviews that were undertaken in the

scoping for the film ‘In the Shadow of the Sun’,

that sparked Harry Freeland to found the charity.

Through these interviews, individuals relayed

their isolation, the ostracized life they were forced

to live, a life of fear, a life subject to unprovoked

violence and a life where they felt worthless.

Many of the individuals interviewed talked of

their attempts to commit suicide, how they dreamt

of a different life, a life of acceptance and of

value.

One of the key themes within the presentation was

the cyclical nature of disadvantage where the

challenges individuals face are interlinked

meaning that interventions must be multifaceted.

However, Standing Voice is bringing positive

change to Tanzania by working with local

stakeholders to provide appropriate healthcare,

educational, livelihood and advocacy

programmes. These empower people with

albinism to challenge the stigma that they face and

to reintegrate and participate within their

communities, re-asserting their independence and

self-sufficiency.

For more information on the work of Standing

Voice please see the website

www.standingvoice.org.

Globally albinism is gaining more exposure, recognition and awareness as an issue. In 2014, the

United Nations established an international albinism awareness day with Ban Ki-Moon (UN

Secretary General) communicating that the ‘2030 Sustainable Development Agenda pledges to

leave no one behind. That includes people with albinism. The cycle of attacks, discrimination and

poverty must be broken’. This day is celebrated on the 13th

of June annually. Standing Voice,

which works closely with the UN independent expert on albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, is currently

part of the UN think tank task force that is drafting an albinism best practice policy

recommendation for African governments.

Page 4 Seminar Reports BTS Newsletter January 2017

This was an event about tax justice in the world as a whole and in developing countries in particular. It was arranged in partnership with the Redditch One World Link, and took place in Redditch Town Hall, Saturday 8th October, with the Mayor of Redditch, Councillor Joe Baker, joining us after lunch. Matthew Jones and David Haslam of the Methodist Tax Justice Network used the occasion to launch the pamphlet A New Earth: Taking the Tax Justice Debate Forward (available at http://www.taxjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NewEarthText_FINAL.pdf ). Sol Picciotto, the author of the pamphlet, was the third speaker at the event. He was a lecturer in the Dar es Salaam Law Faculty in the 1960s, and is a specialist on tax justice. He demonstrated how international companies avoid tax, for example by charging licence fees to use their trademarks (Starbucks, Coca Cola, Microsoft) and so reducing the profits they report in a high tax location. Or by over-charging for imported goods, and taking money out of that country. Or by making maximum use of regulations that allow a company not to pay tax if it shows accumulated losses in its accounts. Or borrowing money from a company

in a low tax regime, and paying excessive interest on the loans. His basic proposal is that when companies control many subsidiaries – such as Cadburys, which has 230 subsidiaries in the world, 56 in the UK and pays very little tax on its profits – all the subsidiaries should be added together and the total tax they pay worked out as if they were a single company. This would then be divided between the countries in which they trade by a measure which reflects how much they sell and how much they pay in wages in each country. A system like this is already used to allocate tax between different states in America. It would require more transparency, but that is desirable anyway, to reveal dubious owners or transactions. A tax framework set up on this basis would make the large companies pay more tax, and benefit governments around the world, but especially in countries such as Tanzania which are in weak positions when they negotiate with large companies. This led to lively discussion, rounded up with a role play in which different characters explored whether what at first sight seemed a very desirable investment was really as good as it

appeared. Andrew Coulson

Are the rivers in Tanzania at risk of drying up? The contested causes of environmental change For a full report of this seminar hosted by BTS in association with the SOAS , Monday 10 October 2016, see current (January2017) issue of Tanzanian Affairs.

‘The Arusha Declaration @ 50’ one-day workshop

Friday 24 February 2017

To mark the 50th anniversary of Tanzania's Arusha Declaration in February 1967, the Centre of

African Studies and the Global and Transnational History Research Group at the University of

Edinburgh are hosting a one-day workshop on the theme ‘The Arusha Declaration @50’ on Friday

24 February 2017. BTS is a co-sponsor so members and friends will be most welcome.

The aim of the workshop is to bring together researchers from across the Humanities and Social

Sciences, to provide an interdisciplinary forum for discussion on the broad theme of ‘The Arusha

Declaration @50’.

The day will consist of panels and a roundtable, ending with a public talk. We also hope to

organise a guided walk around Nyerere’s Edinburgh, led by Tom Molony, author of the book

Nyerere: The early years. – see page 14

Emma.Hunter@ed.ac.uk http://www.ed.ac.uk/history-classics-archaeology/news-

events/events/events-archive/events-2016/arusha-declaration

Hazel Gray, Emma Hunter and Tom Molony

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Seminar Reports/Forthcoming Events Page 5

Screenings of ‘Zanzibar Soccer Dreams’ – An opportunity for greater engagement of Tanzanian diaspora within BTS - report by Fadhili Maghiya. Nassra Juma Mohammed, head coach of Twiga Stars, Tanzania’s women national football team, was in the UK from October 25th to November 9th to be present at showings of Florence Ayisi’s new film “Zanzibar Soccer Dreams” . [See front page of September Newsletter- Ed]. Watch-Africa received some funding support from the Britain-Tanzania Society to bring Nassra to the UK and to attend 5 different screenings across the UK, thus providing opportunities for greater engagement of the Tanzanian diaspora within BTS.

Cambridge Having arrived on the 21st October, Nassra stayed with her relatives before going to Cambridge for a screening on the 25th October. During her 2 days stay in Cambridge, Nassra was hosted by the Cambridge African Film Festival (CAFF) who organised the screenings. The screening went well with 15 people attending followed by a question and answer session. There was also a 30 minute football taster for girls in the local area - organised in conjunction with Cambridge City Council, Living Sport charity, and the Cambridge United Football Club. Cardiff This trip was followed by Nassra visiting Cardiff on the 29th October where she met members of the Tanzania diaspora in Wales. The Wales and West England Tanzania Association hosted a ‘Tanzanian Night’ where there were over 70 members of the diaspora community. This was followed by a training session with Cardiff City Ladies on the 30th where Nassra spent an evening taking part in their training drills as well as learning how they prepare for the big games. Having taken part at the training session, Nassra was given a Cardiff City signed jersey from the women’s team. She was also invited to watch a local derby between Cardiff and Swansea City ladies. Swansea On the 1st of November, Nassra attended the Wales International Development Summit where she was one of 2 guest speakers at a packed conference in Swansea. With over 200 delegates Nassra was able to address the audience surrounding many successes and challenges facing women in Tanzania and Africa as whole. She used her own experience as a mother, as a recognised member of the community and as one of the leading women in sports in Tanzania to highlight the importance of women’s empowerment whether through sport or education. Her speech was followed by her taking part in a women and girls’ workshop entitled ‘Effectively Reaching Women and Girls’. During the workshop Nassra was able to explore further the issue of women and sport and how women and girls can be supported. Bristol Following the summit, Nassra visited Bristol where there was a screening at the Pickle Factory with members of Cowboys and Cowgirls Football Club. This event was attended by 25 people and there were many interesting discussions including the possibility of Cowgirls and boys visiting Zanzibar and hosting friendly games with local teams. Both teams have had a long partnership and relations with men’s and women’s teams in Palestine using football and sports in general to break barriers and bring communities together.

International Development Summit

- Swansea

Screening in Bristol

Screening at the Cambridge

African Film Festival

Page 6 Nassra’s Visit BTS Newsletter January 2017

Cardiff Following the screening in Bristol, Nassra went back to Cardiff where we hosted a screening at the University of South Wales where Professor Florence Ayisi (Director of the film Zanzibar Soccer Dreams) lectures. The screening was attended by 31 people with most of them coming from the Tanzanian and BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) community in Cardiff. There were a number of film students from the University and development workers from various NGOs in Wales. As per other screenings, the film was followed by an engaging panel discussion with Florence and Nassra taking part. From aspiring women footballers in the community to young people who want to get into sports, a range of audiences were in attendance to ask various questions related to the current state of women’s football in Tanzania/Zanzibar to the role of sports in development and women’s empowerment to how BAME in Cardiff can get involved in sports. Glasgow

Nassra then went to Glasgow in Scotland as part of the Africa In Motion Film Festival where she took part on the screening on the 5th November with 16 people taking part on the screening and discussion. The screening was hosted by Africa In Motion, one of the leading African film festivals in the UK. Prior to heading to London, Nassra took part in a training session with United Glasgow FC on the 6th November as well as joining the Africa in Motion programming team and festival guests for a networking lunch during her stay. During her time in Scotland, Nassra took part in various

press events, including one radio and one print interview. London Finally, Nassra attended the screening in London along with Florence and a number of BTS members were able to take part at the screening. Andrew Coulson, Chair of BTS, gave a welcoming speech, introduced audience members to BTS and encouraged people to be involved. A thank you note to BTS for supporting Nassra’s visit was given by Florence as well as Nassra herself and with about 15 audience members, the screening took the same format as at other venues: a screening followed by a panel discussion.

List of organisations working in Tanzania

Janet Chapman has started updating this list on the BTS website. Organisations who were already on the

list should have had an email asking them to confirm or update their information. If you have not had this and would like your organisation to feature in the list please fill out the form on the BTS website.

Update from BTS Education Group We had a very informative meeting in September with a

focus on Teacher Training, with presentations from 5

different organisations working in this field in Tanzania,

including 2 Tanzanian teachers on a visit to Warwick in

Africa, and a presentation from Camara via Skype from Dar

es Salaam. We also managed to live stream it so that people

unable to attend in person, including teachers in Tanzania

were able to participate and ask questions. We intend to do this in all future meetings.

You can watch the video and see the presentations on the Facebook Group.

The next meeting will be on January 23rd with a focus on Maths – everyone

welcome. 5.00pm, School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square WC1H 0XG.

Screening with Africa In

Motion (Glasgow)

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Nassra’s Visit/BTS Education Group Page 7

TDT Local Reps conference in Mwanza We had a very successful conference with 6 of our local reps in Mwanza in December. There were wide

ranging discussions on features of a successful application, monitoring and evaluation, and working with

local officials. Each local rep shared aspects of their work including working with vulnerable girls, income

generating activities, drilling for water and water harvesting schemes,

using social media, and

microfinance. All participants

found the conference very useful

and thanked TDT for its support.

Report by Janet Chapman

BENEDICTO, TDT LOCAL REP FOR KIGOMA RURAL, ELECTED CHAIR OF

TANZANIAN YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS GROUP

Benedicto is well known in Kigoma region for supporting his community to raise itself from absolute poverty and so was appointed to be one of three Kigoma Young entrepreneurs to represent the Kigoma region at the “Tanzanian Young Entrepreneurs Training on The East Africa Community Market Regulations and Procedures for Businesses Opportunities” held in Dar

Es Salaam from 21st – 25th November 2016. The training involved three young entrepreneurs from each region of Tanzania and it was aimed at enlightening youth to use the available resources in Tanzania to create employment. At the end of the training, the attendees with the support of Tanzania Women Chambers of Commerce (TWCC) and The Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) founded Tanzania Young Entrepreneurs Network (TYEN). The network’s aims are networking, engaging governmental officials and promoting youth organisations, products and services to support the Government of Tanzania in its efforts in industrial and employment creation. TYEN then elected Benedicto as its Network chairman. Hongera Benedicto and we wish this new group well in its important work!

Mapping Update - from Janet Chapman

The Crowd2Map project to map rural Tanzania in Openstreetmap, an open source map accessible to all is going well. I delivered mapping workshops in Bukoba, Kasulu, Tabora, Shinyanga, Mwanza and Mugumu to introduce more people to the project. The first project to map the area around the Safe House in Mugumu

from satellite images is now 99% complete and I presented Rhobi with the first version of a printed map. While in Mugumu I will work with staff and girls there to identify more missing villages from this map in order to produce an updated map. We have also set up projects to map the area around Bunda and around Tabora from satellite images. Anyone with an internet connection can help. The monthly competition where the local mapper who adds the most

mapping points in rural Tanzania wins 100,000 Tz each month is ongoing.

For more information please go to crowd2map.org or email Janet j.chapman@tanzdevtrust.org

TDT: TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT TRUST

EVERY POUND GIVEN TO TDT

GOES DIRECTLY TO PROJECTS IN TANZANIA

Page 8 TDT News /Mapping Update BTS Newsletter January 2017

Thanks to so many of you who have already donated to the cause. Buildings are being reconstructed after donations from TDT and other sources.

We also received a single donation of £15,000. We thank the donor for this generous and unexpected addition to our fund.

KAGERA EARTHQUAKE – Report by Aseri Katanga and Jonathan Pace

It was on the 10th September 2016 when the Earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale struck many places in Bukoba. It was unheard of; many people have never witnessed anything like it. But the consequences of that Quake were far reaching and left so many institutions desperate for help and others will not recover for a very long time. This was an unprecedented event and extraordinary measures were

required so that people could be helped in that hour of need. Yes, our appeal to BTS & TDT was answered with generosity. Through My Donate on its website and subsequently through Global Giving’s matched donation appeal, a generous and immediate response from donors in UK and USA resulted in funds of over £7,000 being available.

TDT’s Earthquake programme Below are 2 examples of how money has already helped as part of TDT’s broader Earthquake Programme. Kikukwe Dispensary Responding to appeals from Kikukwe Dispensary, previously funded for a number of community projects, we were able to send £1500 to Kikukwe to replace the badly damaged water tank stand and cracked dispensary buildings, especially in the maternity rooms to enable the dispensary to continue its vital work in saving lives and delivering safely babies and mothers from the villages in the surrounding area. This donation was negotiated through the supportive liaison of our local representative Mzee Elias Mashasi with the Regional Commissioner’s office to enable us to fund Kikukwe quickly and directly, rather than having to go through the Bukoba Earthquake Relief fund set up by the District Officials. Tweyambe secondary school –The school with 543 students, which is located 15 miles from Bukoba town, was one of those schools which were affected the most. TDT donated £2000.00 to help in rebuilding the school. The money donated was used to quickly repair some classrooms which had been affected. This was in time because within a month these classrooms were being used for exams. The dormitories were also repaired which allowed those students who went home after the quake to come back to school to continue with their studies with a roof over their heads. Some buildings had to be demolished since they were deemed unfit for human habitation and beyond repair. This has put much strain on parents and school management to spend the money they don’t have, or encroach on the money which is budgeted for school food and academics. Tweyambe secondary school heaved a sigh of relief after getting help from various sources. Second Tragedy But on 26th November 2016 another tragedy struck. What had been small cracks in the boys’ dormitory suddenly became bigger; this pulled and broke the electrical wires causing a terrible fire. There was nothing to be salvaged; the entire building with students’ beds, bedding, stationeries, etc were all destroyed. Luckily, there was no loss of life. As a result of the generous response to our appeals we are in the process of considering further funding to Kikukwe to build a dispensary staff house to replace the poor quality village staff housing, much of which was destroyed in the earthquake. In addition to Kikukwe, TDT is pleased to have been able to respond further to Tweyambe’s appeal and another £5,000 has been sent to re-build teachers’ housing to enable the staff to return to their posts for the new term in January. But of course much more money is still needed, so if you can please do donate via TDT.

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Kagera Earthquake Page 9

TDT is now considering more broadly how we may use the funds to support a number of schools, their teachers and students’ studies in these difficult circumstances. These plans are being discussed with Janet Chapman following her visits in December and we will be reporting more fully on our earthquake programme in the next edition of the Newsletter.

WATU Secondary School, Shiri Mgungani, Kilimanjaro: ten years on.

When I first got to know him in the mid 1990s Josiah Mchome would surprise me on the first day of a new term by addressing students and asking them why they were walking away from school. He knew the answer of course: they had been sent home to collect various small fees which were obligatory but which they were hard-pressed to pay. This predicament was the seed of my friend Josiah’s ambition to provide top quality education for able and highly-motivated students from financially challenged backgrounds. When he and I retired from our respective teaching commitments in Moshi and Geneva, I agreed to facilitate him in this ambition. We created the NGO People’s Participation in Education (WATU) in 2006 and with the generous support of foreign donors we bought land in the village of Shiri Mgungani about seven kilometres outside Moshi. Three years later we had our first building which opened immediately as a kindergarten for the children of the villagers. During that time we were also supporting more than a hundred students in local schools. However, there were difficulties monitoring these students, so many, in fact, that Josiah decided we needed our own school. By 2012 we had extended our original building to add essential toilet and washing facilities, a new classroom, a hostel and a kitchen and we opened a very small senior class, to be followed in 2013 with a second, larger class. They finished 2014 with excellent A Level results. We had already opened a Form 1 in 2014, and two further classes as the students moved up the school. The physical infrastructure expanded and in January 2017 the school will have its full complement of 150 students, 25 in each year. Results have been extraordinary at every level; for example, Form 4 “retake” students from public schools, vastly

improved their scores after six months attending the school.

WATU Secondary School now offers a full academic curriculum together with extra-curricular sports, music, dressmaking, community service and a global outreach programme. The learning environment is tranquil, beautiful, safe and clean.

Our extraordinary results have been the consequence of a number of factors. Classes are small, thereby optimizing close individual attention. The teachers are dedicated and willing to try student-centred methodologies and all the students board. Josiah Mchome’s management is efficient, imaginative and, very importantly, inclusive.

The challenge now is to move to a position of secure financial stability whilst maintaining the very highest standards of learning and teaching. This will be obtained partly by offering a proportion of places to students who can afford to pay full(ish) fees (at the moment virtually no one does) and partly by stabilizing the contributions from our major donors. Whilst there is economy in numbers we also believe that WATU Secondary must remain small. For more information please visit www.watusecondaryschool.com, or even better visit the school: Josiah, the staff and students are always eager to welcome guests.

Richard and Katherine Heery

Page 10 WATU Secondary School BTS Newsletter January 2017

Update 0n Ntimbanjayo School of Excellence - Report by Louise Johnstone

The main construction project continues at the NMSE school in Namanditi, with the most recent addition of three classroom spaces, an office and a library. We are waiting for the library room to be built and then the whole building will be roofed. Ntimba Millinga, the project manager, is also very busy with the farming and planting of maize and peas at this time of year, to help feed the children at the school next year while working to improve the fertility and condition of the soil. We are hoping to be able to better control the beetle which eats the flowers of the pea plants and so reduces the crop. Cow byre There are some additional mini-projects underway including the building of a cow byre to house a milking cow which will be bought with funds raised by Gartmore Primary School. The money was raised in June through a bring and buy sale and bake sale. With the help and generosity of the whole village, the children and teachers raised the £400 required to buy a cow and we have waited until the rainy season began to make the purchase. As the cow will be pregnant it was important to have a shelter ready for her and so we have been selling exclusive raffle tickets to raise the necessary funds. As with previous raffles there were only 100 tickets for sale at £10 each and the combined value of the 4 original works of art that make up the prizes is £1000 which is the amount we wish to raise. The tickets have nearly all been sold by various friends and volunteers and the winning tickets will be drawn just after this news letter goes for printing The project manager Ntimba has a very nice design for the cow byre which will take two weeks to build and the work will begin in December so that the cow can be purchased while our volunteer teacher, Valerie Anderson is visiting the school during January. Valerie forged our contact with the teacher, Pauline Lowell, at Gartmore Primary School and she will take lots of photographs while at the project, so the children back in Scotland can see the cow they helped to buy in its new home.

Reusable sanitary towels Valerie will teach in the classrooms and will be showing the girls how to sew sanitary towels. She is taking some packs she has designed herself over with her. The older sponsored girls, some of whom are 14 years old, will be given packs of reusable protection and also be shown along with the sisters how to make their own in future, using the school sewing machine. This is a very important issue for the older girls, many of whom miss up to five days schooling every month. These packs will ensure that they can attend school every day and be confident in their protection. Water Collection and Storage Project Valerie has also raised substantial funds in Ibiza towards a water collection and storage project which she will discuss with the project manager while she is there and hopefully two underground tanks will be constructed later next year starting in April at the end of the rainy season when the soil is still soft. The newest building under construction will have gutters and downpipes so that rainwater can be fed into these tanks. The water can be used for washing and for watering the vegetable garden. Scottish Potters Scottish potters are also fundraising through an Every click page in memory of the potter Anne Lightwood who died earlier this year. They also plan to hold an auction of ceramics in March at their spring gathering. The intention is to raise enough to create a fenced flower garden for Anne in the school grounds, a quiet space with a round house in the centre to be enjoyed by everyone at the school. Anne was a great supporter of the school project and was also a keen gardener. Readers can follow the progress of these projects on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rudatanzania

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Ntimbanjayo School of Excellence Page 11

Ntimbajayo Memorial School of Excellence , 7km from Songea in southern Tanzania is the second major project to be supported by RUDA (Ruvuma Development Aid) since the charity was founded by Ralph Ibbott, Chair of the BTS Scottish Group. The school is named after Ntimbanjayo Millinga a local man who worked tirelessly for the people of the region and wanted to give the villagers the means to lift themselves out of poverty.

Here’s the Link for Giselle’s film. Watch the

trailer. It’s very moving! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/in-the-name-of-your-daughter#/

Keep up to date with life at the Safe

House on its Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/MugumuSafeHouse/

By the time you read this, Christmas will be over. There could have been a nasty surprise for one girl.

WHAT WILL YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS, TRIZA?….

Triza Thomas is a 15 year old girl from Tarime in North Mara Region, Tanzania. She tells

her story:

“One day last month my mother went to the market and came back with 4 pieces of

material. When I asked her why she had bought so much she said it was for a Christmas

outfit. After a week, she still hadn’t taken them to the tailor… On Saturday 5th

November,

I overheard my mother asking my father for some money to buy a hat and a mat. I kept

quiet. On the way to the shop I met my friend Mary who told me that her parents had

already prepared her for the cut and she told me that my parents were also planning to

have me cut. I pretended that I was happy with the information. Later at home I decided

to ask my parents about it. My mother denied it but my father got very angry and told me

that Yes it was true and that I must undergo the cut. I refused. He said he would kill me if

I didn’t agree to be cut. I then decided to go to my Aunt for help. My Aunt advised me to

stay with her and promised to help me. After a week, my Aunt brought me here to the Safe

House.”

Triza is just one of the 230 girls who arrived at the Safe House this ‘Cutting Season’ before Christmas. All the girls show the courage of Triza, defying threats and violence to stand up for their rights as young women and against illegal FGM. Conditions are going to get very cramped. Helen Carey, one of our Project Officers is at the Safe House now, and writes that sometimes 4 girls are sharing a mattress. But don’t think that results in doom and gloom - far from it. Please go to the Safe House Facebook page and scroll down to the 2ndDecember and watch the happy singing.

FILM STARS: And there’s more to be happy about: also on that Facebook page and in the picture left you will see a white woman with the girls - that’s Giselle Portenier, a multi-award winning Canadian human rights journalist and film-maker. Giselle is at the Safe House to make a documentary film ‘In the Name of Your Daughter’, which will certainly be shown on the BBC and other major channels. You can find a link to the Indiegogo site above where money is being raised to make the film. If the film is anything like the trailer, it will be very moving and influential. Giselle is making a Swahili version also which Rhobi, the Safe House Director, will be able to show in the villages, campaigning against FGM, using a generator and portable screen and equipment. I’m sometimes asked: ‘Is it right that you people (mostly white) in the rich countries should be interfering with the ancient customs of black Africans?’. Of course, the answer is that this is a Tanzanian campaign, led by Tanzanians with the support of

their Government, Health and Education Departments, churches and mosques, against a custom regarded by all authorities as illegal and severely detrimental to women. We are just helping.

Page 12 Safe House and VTC BTS Newsletter January 2017

SAFE HOUSE and VTC at Mugumu – providing a refuge and schooling for girls fleeing FGM

IN THE NICK OF TIME: We can also be very happy that although it has been delayed by rains and the need to dig a great Septic tank, the Dining Hall to which BTS and TDT members have contributed so generously, now

has a roof to provide shade from the burning sun and it’s a very large space in which girls can sit. OK - no windows yet, and the kitchen isn’t finished - hence the big piles of firewood. There are a lot of mouths to feed and there will be more. We have now raised all the money necessary to

complete the building. In total, over the last three years, we have so far sent from our special Appeal £134, 512 to the Safe House for the buildings and the new 10 seater Toyota Land-Cruiser. (In the same period, we have invested a further £324,503 in TDT’s other projects). By the time

we have finished, we shall have built and equipped three very large buildings, provided a huge highly engineered underground septic tank, and installed rainwater harvesting and back up solar power. Just to build a 2 bedroom house in a low cost part of the UK, without buying the land/

would cost a minimum of £200,000, so it is very good value for money.

KEEPING GOING: In a way, we have done the easy bit, raising money for buildings and we have been lucky that FGM is a high-profile issue. But Trusts and Charities shy away from anything that involves on-

going expenditure like food, materials, repairs, bills, pay, and certainly they don’t like bras and pants! So now all donations are going into an Endowment Fund to ensure the stable running of the Safe House and so that, as far as possible, Rhobi and her team can concentrate on caring for

the girls and educating them, and carrying the fight against FGM into more and more villages. This should also free TDT from any ‘moral obligation’ to provide funds for future running costs.

My wife Ann and I will be at the Safe House in late January, and we’ll be conscious that we

represent so many of you who believe as we do in NO to FGM! Thank you all, and I wish you

a fulfilling NEW YEAR! Julian Marcus

Kate Dyer runs the Scottish Half Marathon in aid of the Safe House “Well, I’d lived in Tanzania for many years and knew very well what an issue forced marriage and FGM is; I’d also managed a £30 million pound aid programme, and know how hard it is for small NGOs to access the funding they need; lastly because the Tanzania Development Trust passes the funds straight on to where they are used, every penny goes directly to the beneficiaries not in administration costs. I’m already in my mid-50s and I’d never run a half marathon before, and I’d certainly never thought of asking friends and family to sponsor me to do it. Having done it, I’d recommend anyone to give it a go. They say that you run these long races in three stages: the first on muscle because you’ve done the training and your legs know what to do; then when your muscles get tired you run with your brain as you’ve run the distance in training and you know you can do it; then when your brain gets tired you run it on heart. In the last kilometre I did feel like I was running with those determined young women leaving their homes in fear of violence and in hope of a better future. Definitely a wonderful cause to support”

Kate raised over £725 with more once gift aid is taken into account. – Many congratulations!!

TDT is still taking contributions, so please add some more if you can

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Safe House contd. Page 13

This is a brief extract of the cover story published by the New African magazine in 2011. I enjoyed the

challenge of translating this into Swahili as sections of it could not be translated literally; and so I had to

find ways of capturing the author's intended meaning into Swahili that would be understood by the language

speaker - Donovan McGrath

Kugundua jinsi ya kufumbua siri: Kugeuza kanuni za Afrika ili ipate mali

Historia inaonyesha kwamba hakuna nchi ambayo imekuwa tajiri wakati wowote kwa

kusafirisha vyakula na malighafi nje ya nchi hiyo bila ya kuwa na sekta ya viwanda pia na

kwa istilahi za kisasa, sekta ya huduma ya juu. Nchi inayozidi kubobea katika uzalishaji wa

malighafi, inazidi kuwa maskini. Lakini hili ndilo somo Afrika haijalijifunza bado. Katika

karne ya kumi na tisa, msemo huko Marekani ulikuwa: "Usifanye kama Waingereza

wanavyokwagiza ufanye, fanya kama Waingereza walivyofanya." Shauri yetu kwa Afrika na

nchi nyingine zinazoendelea ni: "Msifanye kama Wamerikani na Waingereza

wanavyokwagizeni mfanye, fanyeni kama Wamerikani na Waingereza walivyofanya." Kwa

Afrika, hii ndiyo njia pekee kutoka katika umaskini na kuingia usitawini. Na wakati wa

kuchukua njia hiyo ni sasa hivi!

Cracking the Code: Unlocking Africa's secret to wealth History shows that no country has ever become rich by exporting foodstuffs and raw

materials without also having an industrial sector and in modern terms, an advanced service

sector. The more a country specialises in the production of raw materials, the poorer it

becomes. But this is a lesson Africa has still not learned. In the 19th century, the saying in

the USA was: "Don't do as the English tell you to do, do as the English did." Our advice to

Africa and other developing countries is: "Don't do as the Americans and the British tell you

to do, do as the Americans and the British did." For Africa, this is the only way out of

poverty and into prosperity. And the time to take that route is now! (Osei Boateng, New

African, April 2011)

New in Paperback: Nyerere The Early Years by Thomas Molony

“I write to you from the marketing department of James Currey, the African Studies imprint, as we have

recently published a paperback edition of a book which might be of interest to you.

The book is Nyerere, The Early Years. The author, Thomas Molony, is a Senior Lecturer

in African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. It is a unique portrayal of one of the

most celebrated African leaders in the twentieth century. The early life of Julius

Nyerere, Tanzania's first president, from his birth in 1922 to his graduation from

Edinburgh in 1952 is revealed by in personal letters and interviews with his political

contemporaries.

We would be happy to offer the members of the Britain-Tanzania Society a 25%

discount off the full price of the paperback, making the price £14.99 (instead of

£19.99 RRP).” Catherine Watts, Marketing Assistant, Boydell & Brewer Ltd, Bridge Farm

Business Park, Top Street, Martlesham, Suffolk IP12 4RB, UK Tel: +44 (0)1394 610602

cwatts@boydell.co.uk

You can see a fuller description on the book’s webpage: https://boydellandbrewer.com/nyerere.html

Please note the book previously in hardback was reviewed in Tanz Affairs Jan 2015

https://www.tzaffairs.org/2015/01/reviews-71

Page 14 Swahili Matters/Book offer BTS Newsletter January 2017

The President of the Britain Tanzania Society, in both the UK and Tanzania, Mheshimiwa Ali Hassan Mwinyi, was 90 last year.

In 1984 Mwinyi became President of Zanzibar and Vice-President of the United Republic of

Tanzania. In 1985 he succeeded Mwalimu Julius Nyerere as President, in the first election in which more than one political party was

permitted to take part. And in 1988, after the death of our first President, Bishop Trevor Huddleston, he became President of the Britain-

Tanzania Society. He has held the office ever since. The picture below shows Rais Mwinyi and

Mrs Mwinyi with BTS members at lunch at Westminster Central Hall, in 2009.

The 1980s were very difficult years for Tanzania. The economy was in disarray. There were shortages of goods, smuggling across borders, and many civil servants and teachers found it

impossible to live on their salaries and had to find other sources of income. Inflation was in double digits. Nyerere had held out for as long as he could against the demands of the IMF to devalue the currency and cut the government budget. Mwinyi realised that there was no alternative, and

quickly came to an agreement with the IMF and major donors. There were big devaluations of the currency and the economic situation started to improve.

Mwinyi was born on the Mainland but his family moved to Zanzibar when he was a child – making him the first President of the

United Republic to come from Zanzibar, and the first Muslim. He had trained as a teacher

and risen to be principal of a teachers’ training college. He was a good friend of Nyerere,

who appointed him to his cabinet, where he held many different posts before standing

for the Presidency. He was always gentle and liberal, in his beliefs and in his actions,

and clear that people of different beliefs and religions should be allowed to practice

what they believed.

When I met him a few weeks ago at his house in Dar es Salaam, with his old friend Eliapenda Chuwa, another stalwart of the Society in Tanzania, he was remarkably fit and active and thoughtful as he surveyed current

policies - a quiet force for good and common sense behind the scenes. Andrew Coulson, Chair BTS We congratulate him on his 90 years and more, and more than 60 years of public

service, and wish him good health and happiness

as he watches his successors carry on the work which he pioneered.

BTS Newsletter January 2017 H.E. Mwinyi Page 15

would be greatly appreciated.” Andrew Coulson

BTS Who’s Who & Contacts

BTS Newsletter January 2017 Volume 15, Issue 1 Back Page

BTS CHAIR Andrew Coulson 0121 475 4615

a.c.coulson@bham.ac.uk BTS MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY All enquiries to BTS Executive Secretary

BTS TREASURER All enquiries to BTS Executive Secretary BTS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Dr Elizabeth Taylor 01869 243479 etaylorsjut@gmail.com

TDT CHAIR: Jonathan Pace o7901563322 J.pace@tanzdevtrust.org TDT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Dr Elizabeth Taylor 01869 243479 etaylorsjut@gmail.com

TDT TREASURER: Robert Gibson treasurer@tanzdevtrust.org

TDT card sales: ann@marcuses.co.uk

EDITOR TANZANIAN AFFAIRS Ben Taylor ben.d.taylor@gmail.com WEB EDITOR Ben Taylor ben.d.taylor@gmail.com

BTS NEWSLETTER EDITOR Sue Mitchell 020 3665 1144 33 Viola Ave, London SE2 0TQ suemitchell1953@hotmail.co.uk

BTS President: HE Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania BTS Vice-Presidents: Sir Andy Chande, Derek Ingram, Esther Mwaikambo, Ron and Liz Fennell, Trevor Jaggar

BTS Tanzania Chapter contacts: Chairman: Ambassador Paul Rupia chairman@bts.or.tz +255 713 605 151

Enquiries: info@bts.or.tz

Membership: membership@bts.or.tz Hon Secretary: Ms Rita Mkama honsec@bts.or.tz

BTS Scottish Group contacts: Ann Burgess 07858 481038 annpatriciaburgess@yahoo.co.uk

NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

1st

April 2017. Tel 02036651144 but email preferred

BTS Committee 3 important vacancies

Can you help? Treasurer

Membership Officer

Website Manager

Contact Andrew Coulson 0121 475 4615

a.c.coulson@bham.ac.uk

Karibuni

We welcome the following new members: Dr Susan Janet Stuart , Burgess Hill, West

Sussex

Mrs C E D Marsh, Taunton, Somerset

Mr & Mrs Pallangyo, London

Mr V H Doshi, Pinner, Middlesex

Mr Robin Jarman, Alton, Hamps

Mrs Eugene Teasley, Brighton, East Sussex

Mrs Lynn Thackway, Eastbourne, East

Sussex

Mr. Hussein Fazal, London

‘The Arusha Declaration @ 50’ one-day workshop

Friday 24 February 2017 Edinburgh University

Hosted by

Centre of African Studies and

the Global and Transnational History Research Group

Emma.Hunter@ed.ac.uk

Congratulations

to Liz and Ron Fennell

on their Diamond

Wedding Anniversary