Kusini Kwetu

By Vincent Mpepo, Karatu

The government has pledged continued collaboration with both local and international institutions to improve the environment for tourism activities, aiming to increase the number of visitors—particularly through the introduction of new tourism products and attractions.

This was stated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr. Hassan Abbasi, while opening a three-day training on astrotourism yesterday in Karatu, Arusha Region. He emphasized that the Sixth Phase Government is committed to advancing the tourism sector for the benefit of the nation.

Dr. Abbasi commended the partnership between the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), along with foreign institutions, which led to the development of this training initiative. The program focuses on a new tourism product and aims to diversify and increase the country’s tourist attractions through astrotourism.

Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic, Research and Consultancy, Professor Saganga Kapaya, said the university recognizes the value of the tourism sector and sees it as an opportunity to collaborate with other institutions to enhance its impact.

“We acknowledge that astrotourism is a new area and a unique attraction for tourism in the country, thus positioning Tanzania well on the global map,” said Professor Kapaya.

He noted that OUT’s participation is crucial in generating new knowledge, stimulating research, and providing expert consultancy in the field of astrotourism.

Presenting a lecture during the training, Senior Lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality from the Open University of Tanzania, Ladislaus Batinoluho, stated that the time is ripe for Tanzania to enter the global market with this new product—astrotourism—which is nature-based and requires no infrastructural development.

On his part, Professor John Hearnshaw from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand discussed the content of the training, explaining that it would cover both theory and practical components.

“Over the three days, participants would gain a comprehensive understanding of various concepts in astronomy and, more specifically, astrotourism”, noted Professor Hearnshaw.

The training, organized by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) in collaboration with the Open University of Tanzania (OUT), is being conducted by experts from institutions including Astrotourism Aotearoa (AAA) of New Zealand, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) of Harvard University, and the international organization Dark Sky International, headquartered in Arizona, USA.

Na Vincent Mpepo

Imeelezwa kuwa wanaume katika jamii wanapaswa kujitafutia furaha na kujifungamanisha na familia zao ili waishi maisha mazuri yatakayowaongezea maisha marefu na kuwapunguzia msongo wa mawazo na changamoto za afya ya akili na kupunguza vifo vyao ikilinganishwa na wanawake.

Hayo yamebainishwa na washiriki wa semina ya wanaume kwa njia ya mtandao iliyofanyika 16/09/2025 ikiratibiwa na Kitengo cha Jinsia cha Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania kwa kushirikiana na wadau.

Akiwasilisha mada katika mjadala huo, Makamu Mkuu wa Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania Mstaafu, Profesa Elifas Bisanda alielelezea dhana ya uhusiano uliopo kati ya mwanamke na mwanaume kibiblia na kihistoria akibanisha wazi kuwa mgawanyo wa majukumu kati ya mwanamke na mwanaume ulijulikana huku mwanaume akipewa nafasi ya maamuzi kwa masuala muhimu ya kifamilia tofauti na ilivyo sasa.

Alisema baadhi ya mila, desturi na tamaduni za kiafrika zinazohusisha mwanaume kutoa mahari wakati wa kuoa zinatajwa kuwa zilimpa nguvu na mamlaka mwanaume dhidi ya mwanamke huku matarajio ya jamii ni kuwa mwanaume ndiye chanzo cha mafanikio katika familia.

“Matarajio yaliyojengeka ilikuwa mwanaume ndiye anatarajiwa alete mafaniko katika nyumba, akifeli yeye basi nyumba yote imefeli”, alisema Profesa Bisanda.

Alisema wakati dunia imeingia katika maendeleo ya usasa masuala mengi yamebadilika na jambo muhimu la kuliangalia ni namna mtoto wa kiume anavyochukuliwa, kulelewa na anaandaliwaje kuja kuwa mume, mwanaume au mtu mwenye kufanya maamuzi.

“Tunamzungumzia mtoto wa kiume katika karne ya 21 na namna uwekezaji ulivyofanywa umejikita zaidi katika kumwezesha mtoto wa kike kuliko wa kiume”, alisema Profesa Bisanda.

Akizungumzia fursa ya elimu kwa mfano uwepo wa shule nyingi za michepuo mbalimbali za wasichana kuliko za wavulana na kubainisha kuwa hiyo ni dalili mbaya dhidi ya maandalizi ya mtoto wa kiume.

“Athari za kufanya hivyo ni kuwakatisha tamaa Watoto wa kiume na kujiona hakuna anayewajali na matokeo yake wengi huishia kwenye matumizi ya madawa ya kulevya, michezo ya kubahatisha na kamari”, alisema Profesa Bisanda.

Mhadhiri wa Sheria kutoka Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania, Ally Abdallah alizungumzia nadharia mbalimbali zilozoelezea nafasi ya mwanaume katika jamii huku zikionmesha wazi kuwa alipewa majukumu makubwa na mamlaka makubwa kutokana na uwezo wake mkubwa wa kutafuta rasimali za familia.

“Hakuna nadharia zinazoonesha ushahidi wa kisayansi zinazoonesha mwanaume kuwa mwenye nguvu na mamlaka katika familia”, alisema Dkt.Abdallah.

Alisema wakati huu wa karne ya sasa wanaume wanapaswa kubadilika kifikra kutokana na mabadiliko ya kimfumo ambayo yanatoa nafasi sawa kwa mwanamke na mwamanume huku wote wakiwa na uwezo kuzalisha na kutoa mchango katika familia tofauti na wakati uliopita ambapo mwanamke alipewa nafasi ya msaidizi au

“Nafasi ya mwanamke ambayo ilitazamwa hapo awali kama nmsaidizi, tegemezi kwa sasa haipo tena”, alisema Dkt. Abdallah

Alisema athari za mabadiliko hayo yaliyotokana na wanawake kupata fursa ya elimu, wakapata ajira na uwezo wa kiuchumi na nafasi mbalimbali ndiyo chanzo cha migogoro na wakati mwingine kuvunjika kwa ndoa nyingi kutokana na mtafaruku wa kimawazo.

“Majukumu ya ujinsia yataendelea kuwa kwa mujibu wa kibaiolojia ambayo yanampa mwanamke uwezo wa kubeba mimba, kuzaa na yanayofanana na hayo”, alisema Dkt.Abdallah.

Alisema majukumu ya kijamii kama kufua, kupika na shughuli mbalimbali ambayo kwa nyakati zilizopita yalionekana kuwa ni ya mwanamke kwa sasa yanapaswa na wote kwa kushirikiana kati ya mwanamke na mwanaume.

Kwa upande wake, Mshauri Mwandamizi wa Kiufundi wa Mpango katika Masuala ya Jinsia, Ngono, Ulinzi wa Mtgoto, Ndo na Masuala ya Afya Familia, Dkt.Katanta Simwanza alizungumzia umuhimu wa kuangalia masuala ya jinsia kwa umakini kwa sabau ndio yamekuwa ni chanzo cha changamoto nyingi katika maisha ya sasa.

“Hakika ya kweli iliyoko wanaume wengi hapa duniani wanatangulia mbele ya haki kwa sababu ya masuala ya kijinsia”, alisema Dkt.Katanta.

Alisema kuna faida kubwa sana ya kushirikiana kati ya mke na mume katika familia na faida zake ikiwemo kuwa na maono ya pamoja na wakati mwingine mwanamke kuwa msimamizi mkuu wa rasilimnali za familia.

“Kwenye familia nyingi ambazo wameweza kushikiana na kuheshimiana kwa kuwekeana kanuni wameweza kuona faida nyingi zaidi”, alisema Dkt.Katanta.

Alisema ni muhimu kwa kila familia kuwa na sera, mingozo na taratibu za kuzisimamia ambazo zinatoa nafasi ya wajibu na majukumu kwa kila mwanafamilia.

Semina maalumu kwa wanaume iliandaliwa na Kitengo cha Jinsia cha Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania kwa kushirikiana na Taasisi isiyo ya kiserikali ya MBS Trinity Care ikiwa na malengo ya kuchochea uelewa kuhusu nafasi ya wanaume katika uwezeshaji wanawake na kuvunja mitizamo hasi, kujenga ushirikiano wa kijinsia na kuhamasisha wanaume kuwa mabalozi wa mabadiliko chanya katika jamii.

Semina hiyo  ilioongozwa na Mtangazaji na Mwandishi wa Habari kutoka Shirika la Utangazaji Tanzania (TBC), Njwaba Mwaijibe ni miongoni mwa mojawapo iliyovuta makini ya washiriki na kuibua hisia tofauti miongoni mwa washiriki kitu kinachoonesha kuwepo kwa changamoto ambayo ihahitaji kuwepo kwa hatua za makusudi miongoni mwa na jamii hususani katika malezi na makuzi ya mtoto wa kiume.

Na Mwandishi wetu, Ruvuma

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Ruvuma Brigedia Jenerali Ahmed Abbas amemshukuru Rais wa Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Dkt Samia Suluhu Hassan kufuatia utoaji wa mgari 24 kwa Jeshi la Polisi ikiwa ni vitendea kazi muhimu vitakavyosaidia utekelezaji wa majukumu ya jeshi hilo.

Shukrani hizo alizitoa Septemba 16,2025 kwenye hafla fupi ya kukabidhi magari 24 iliyofanyika kwenye viunga vya Ofisi ya Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoani Ruvuma yaliyotolewa na Serikali kwa Jeshi la Polisi mkoani humo.

Alisema anatambua thamani ya mchango huo kwa jeshi hilo kuwa magari hayo yatawarahisishia katika utendaji wa kazi ndani ya jeshi hilo huku akiwataka madereva kuyatunza magari hayo ili yadumu na kuendelea kutumika katika utoaji wa huduma bora kwa wananchi.

“Magari haya ili yaendelee kufanya kazi kwa muda mrefu ni lazima yatunzwe kwa hali na mali”, alisema Brigedia Jenerali Ahmed

Aidha aliwataka aliwataka askari kufanya kazi  kwa weledi, utii na kufuata Sheria za nchi kwani ndio kiapo cha askari wanachopaswa kuishi nacho katika majukumu yao ya kila siku na si vinginevyo.

Kamanda wa Polisi Mkoa wa Ruvuma, Kamishna Msaidizi Mwandanizi wa Polisi, (SACP) Marco G.  Chilya ameishukuru serikali  na Mkuu wa Jeshi la Polisi nchini (CPF) Camillus Wambura kwa kuona umuhimu wa kutoa magari hayo ambayo katika kipindi hiki cha kuelekea uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2025.

Alaisema magari hayo pamoja na shughuli zingine yatasaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa katika shughuli za kulinda usalama wa raia na mali zao na kuhahidi  kuwa magari hayo yatatumika kikamilifu kuimarisha na kudumisha amani ya Nchi.

Aidha alibainisha kuwa magari hayo yamekabidhiwa kwa wakuu wa vitengo ikiwa ni jitihada za serikali katika kuliwezesha Jeshi la Polisi kupata vitendea kazi vitakavyorahisisha utendaji wa majukumu yake ikiwemo kufanikisha usafiri na kufika kwa haraka kwenye maeneo ya matukio hususan katika kipindi hiki cha uchaguzi.

Na Vincent Mpepo

Wakuu wa idara, wakurugenzi na maafisa udhibiti ubora katika taasisi za elimu ya juu nchini za umma na binafsi wameelezea fursa na changamoto za matumizi ya akili mnemba (AI) katika taaluma huku wito ukitolewa kwa serikali, vyuo vikuu na taasisi za elimu ya juu kuwekeza katika eneo hilo.

Hayo yamebainishwa na washiriki wa wa Mkutano Mkuu wa Mwaka wa Jukwaa la Wadhibiti Ubora wa Taasisi za Elimu ya juu nchini (TUQAF) uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa Chuo Kikuu Huria cha Tanzania jijini Dar es salaam.

Akiwasilisha mada katika mkutano huo, Profesa Justin Urassa wa Chuo Kikuu Cha Sokoine Cha Kilimo (SUA), alisema kutokana na maendeleo ya sayansi na teknnojia suala la udhibiti wa elimu kwa ngazi zote kuanzia ngazi ya awali hadi katika vyuo vikuu linapaswa kuzingatiwa.

Alibainisha baadhi ya namna za kudhibiti ubora wa elimu ikiwa ni pamoja na kuimarisha umahiri wa taasisi za elimu ya juu kwa kuwasomesha wahadhiri ili waendane na mabadiliko haya ya elimu ambayo yanabebwa na kasi ya maendeleo ya sayansi na teknolojia ikiwemo matumizi ya akili mnemba.

“Elimu ya juu ndiyo injini ya elimu katika ngazi zote, hivyo lazima iangaliwe kwa jicho la kipekee”, alisema Profesa Urassa.

Mkurugenzi wa Ubora wa Kurugenzi ya Uratibu Ubora Chuo Kikuu Kishiriki cha Jordan (JUCO), Dkt.Susan Kolimba alisema maendeleo ya sayansi na teknolojia hususani matumizi ya akili mnemba yana nafasi mbili katika jamii na katika taasisi za elimu ya juu.

Alisema uzoefu unaonesha kuwa matumizi ya akili mnemba kwa wanafunzi ni mabaya kutokana  na kukosa ufahamu wa namna ya kutumia licha ya kukiri kuwa uvivu, kutojiongeza na kutojituma kunakotokana na uelewa duni wa athari za kufanya hivyo.

“Matumizi ya akili mnemba yanaweza kuwa ni fursa nzuri iwapo itatumika na kuratibiwa vizuri kwa wanafunzi na wahadhiri”, alisema Dkt.Kolimba.

Aidha, alisema kuwa ujio wa teknnolojia ya akili mnemba umekuwa ni kitu ambacho kimetokea bila maandalizi kwa taasisi za elimu ya juu hususani barani Afrika na kwingineko duniani.

Mhadhiri wa Chuo Kikuu cha Kikatoliki Mwenge (MWECAU), Dkt Francis Bigambilana alisema umefika wakati ambapo matumizi ya teknolojia ya akili mnemba yanapaswa kuweklewa vigezo vya udhibiti ubora vya ndani na nje katika mitaala na nyanja zote za ufundishji, ujifunzaji na usomaji katika taasisi za elimu ya juu ili viweze kupimwa.

Mkutano huo wa wa siku mbili wa jukwaa la wadhibiti ubora wa taasisi za elimu ya nchini ulihudhuriwa na  wakurugenzi, wakuu wa idara na maafisa udhibiti ubora wa taasisi za elimu za juu za umma na binafsi nchini.

Na Vincent Mpepo, Dodoma

Wakristo wametakiwa kuendelea kumtolea Mungu kwa ukarimu, uaminifu na moyo wa kupenda kama sehemu ya wajibu wao kwani kila wanachokimilki ni mali yake na wamepewa ili kuvitunza kwa faida yao na kwa utukufu wake.

Hayo yamesemwa na Mtheolojia Neema Swai wakati akihubiri katika Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT), Usharika wa Iringa Road, jijini Dodoma leo huku akibainisha kwamba hata wakitoacho ni sehemu ya mali ya Mungu.

Alisema utoaji ni tendo la ibada na si suala la kiuchumi pekee hivyo ni wajibu wa kila mkristo kujitathimini katika utoaji wake.

“Katika utoaji hatupotezi wala kufirisika bali tunapanda mbegu itakayotoa tija zaidi”, alisema Mtheolojia Neema.

Akizungumzia faida za utoaji alisema kutoa kunasaidia wahitaji kupata mahitaji yao na hivyo kujenga jamii inayojaliana na kuthaminiana.

“Kupitia utoaji mahitaji ya ndugu zetu wahitaji yanatimizwa na hivyo kuwa na jamii bora yenye kupendana yenye baraka za Mungu”, alisema Mtheolojia Neema.

Aliongeza kuwa, utoaji ni njia ya kufungua milango ya baraka za Mungu katika maisha yao na kujiwekea akiba kwao wenyewe na wanaonufaika na utoaji huo kupitia programu mbalimbali ikiwemo udiakonia.

Aidha aliwataka wakristo kutoenda kinyonge wakati wa kumtolea Mungu kwa kuwa wanamjua wanayemtolea na kwamba wanajua wanachokifanya na faida zake kimwili na kiroho.

Katika ibada hiyo huduma mbalimbali zilifanyika ikiwemo mnada wa bidhaa na vitu mbalimbali kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa kanisa, maombi na maombezi kwa ajili ya washarika na hususani wanafunzi wanaojiandaa na mithani ya Taifa inayotarajia kufanyika siku chache zijazo.

By George Mwamba, Songea
Chipole Orphanage and Special Needs Center, located in Magagura Ward, Songea Rural District, Ruvuma Region, has received a donation of 1.2 million Tanzanian shillings in cash, along with food, clothing, and other essential supplies. The contribution came from the Open University of Tanzania (OUT) community, including staff, alumni, current students, and other stakeholders.
Handing over the donation yesterday at the center, OUT Assistant Lecturer Vincent Mpepo commended the caregivers for their dedication to the children’s welfare. He urged them to remain steadfast, saying their service is noble both in the eyes of people and of God.
Mpepo explained that he was personally moved after seeing photographs and video clips shared by Inspector Dominic Msangi of the Ruvuma Regional Police, who had previously served as the Ward Police Officer for Magagura village. Inspector Msangi had been appealing to institutions and well-wishers to visit the center and support the children.
“This is just the beginning. On behalf of the university and our partners, we will continue to visit and assist these children as much as we can,” said Mpepo.
He further called on the wider community to join hands in supporting vulnerable groups instead of leaving the responsibility solely to caregivers. He also expressed gratitude to the Ruvuma Regional Police for partnering with OUT to make the initiative possible.
In addition to the donation, Mpepo pledged, in collaboration with OUT management, to sponsor health insurance coverage for 50 children at the center, to ensure they can access medical care whenever health challenges arise.
For his part, Inspector Dominic Msangi noted that the initiative aligns with the Police Community Outreach Strategy, which emphasizes building partnerships with institutions and stakeholders to give back to society.
“The Tanzania Police Force works closely with educational institutions and others to strengthen social cohesion and support vulnerable groups, including children in care centers such as Chipole,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the center, Sister Maria Akwinata O.S.B of the Chipole Benedictine Sisters congregation explained that the facility cares for children of all ages—from newborns to secondary school students. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to OUT for their support, stressing that raising the children requires ongoing assistance to meet their diverse needs.
Richard Haule, representing the children, also thanked OUT and the Police for their generosity. He said the children felt encouraged and reassured that society had not forgotten them. He appealed to other institutions, both private and public, to continue extending support to help build brighter futures for the children.