Mzindakaya: Bunge losing direction

“We have many educated MPs now than ever before, but their conduct raises more questions than answers…Let our MPs act courteously and not thuggishly.” MR Chrisant mzindakaya, ex-lawmaker The Citizen Reporter Dar es Salaam. MPs should strive to strengthen national unity irrespectuve of political leanings, longtime CCM member Chrisant Mzindakaya said yesterday.  In so doing, the National Assembly will remain focused, he said, warning that Parliament had lost its authority. Mr Mzindakaya also urged CCM MPs to stop confrontational politics with opposition parties and instead concentrate on implementing their party’s election manifesto. Mr Mzindakaya, who served as a Kwela MP for decades, told a news conference that failure to implement the CCM Election Manifesto could make the MPs lose their seats in the 2015 polls.Apart from politics, Mr Mzindakaya also served as a minister and regional commissioner.  “Tanzania is now a leading country in the world when it comes to noisy politics while its economy is reeling,” noted Mr Mzindakaya, who is also the National Development Corporation (NDC) board chairman.“It’s a shame and annoying to see such antics taking place in the august House,” he said. Recently, four Chadema MPs were thrown out of the House for allegedly violating Parliamentary Standing Orders. Booing, heckling and talking back to the Speaker or session chairs have become commonplace in the House. “The integrity of a person is not about academic qualifications but his or her acts. We have many educated MPs now than ever before, but their conduct raises more questions than answers…Let our MPs act courteously and not thuggishly,” he cautioned. He called on poorly performing ministers to step down because they are accountable for their mistakes of those committed by their subordinates.  He also said CCM members who were habouring the ambition to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete in the 2015 General Election should hold their horses and concentrate on implementing their party’s manifesto first. He asked the government to heed advice of former leaders.  “It’s shocking to see a ward or district leader is opposing a statement by a former president or a prime minister. This is indiscipline.”He proposed that a body be set up to enable retired leaders to have a forum of advising the government.

VODACOM YAJA NA MUONEKANO MPYA WA HUDUMA YAKE YA M-PESA.

Afisa Mkuu wa Masoko na Mahusiano wa Vodacom Tanzania  Bi. Mwamvita Makamba akimsikiliza kwa umakini,Mkuu wa Kitengo cha huduma za kifedha wa Vodacom Tanzania Jacques Voogt akiongea wakati wa uzinduzi rasmi wa muonekano mpya wa huduma  ya Vodacom m-pesa kwa wateja wake wote nchini ambayo inaendana sambamba na kauli mbiu ya "Kazi ni Kwako" kwa kuihusisha huduma hiyo na kazi anazozifanya 'Superman' za uharaka, usalama, uhakika na utayari wake wa kusaidia jamii wakati wowote ule na mahali.

Afisa Mkuu wa Masoko na Mahusiano wa Vodacom Tanzania  Bi. Mwamvita Makamba wanne kutoka kushoto na Mkuu wa kitengo cha huduma za kifedha wa kampuni hiyo Bw. Jacques Voogt kushoto kwake,wakishikana mikono kuashiria uzinduzi rasmi wa muonekano mpya wa huduma  ya Vodacom m-pesa kwa wateja wake wote nchini ambayo inaendana sambamba na kauli mbiu ya "Kazi ni Kwako" kwa kuihusisha huduma hiyo na kazi anazozifanya 'Superman' za uharaka, usalama, uhakika na utayari wake wa kusaidia jamii wakati wowote ule na mahali popote pale.

Wafanyakazi mbalimbali wa Vodacom Tanzania wakiwa kwenye mfano wa vazi analovaa"Superman" wakati wa uzinduzi rasmi wa muonekano mpya wa huduma  ya Vodacom m-pesa kwa wateja wake wote nchini ambayo inaendana sambamba na kauli mbiu ya "Kazi ni Kwako" kwa kuihusisha huduma hiyo na kazi anazozifanya 'Superman' za uharaka, usalama, uhakika na utayari wake wa kusaidia jamii wakati wowote ule na mahali popote pale.

Baadhi ya waandishi wa habari wakiwa kazini wakati wa uzinduzi rasmi wa muonekano mpya wa huduma  ya Vodacom m-pesa kwa wateja wake wote nchini ambayo inaendana sambamba na kauli mbiu ya "Kazi ni Kwako" kwa kuihusisha huduma hiyo na kazi anazozifanya 'Superman' za uharaka, usalama, uhakika na utayari wake wa kusaidia jamii wakati wowote ule na mahali popote pale.

Obama announces historic debt deal

Congressional leaders reach agreement to raise the debt ceiling

 

 Jacquelyn Martin (AP)

Republican and Democratic leaders have agreed on a plan to raise the debt ceiling, President Obama announced Sunday night.

The announcement arrives after months of intense closed-door negotiations, and just two days before the deadline set by the Treasury Department.

According to the details available, the agreement would slow the growth of government spending over the next decade by $2-$3 trillion and allow enough borrowing to put off another vote to raise the ceiling to 2013. About $1 trillion will be cut immediately, and the details of the remaining spending reductions will be handled by a bipartisan committee of 12 lawmakers from both chambers, who will recommend cuts for Congress to vote on. To appease the GOP's conservative wing, the deal would also require a vote in both chambers on an amendment to the Constitution requiring the federal government to balance its budget each year.

"I want to announce that the leaders of both parties, in both chambers, have reached an agreement that will reduce the deficit and avoid default--a default that would have had a devastating effect on our economy," Obama said. "Now, is this the deal I would have preferred?  No. . . .  But this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year."

House Speaker John Boehner held a conference call Sunday evening with House Republicans in which he urged them to support the package, declaring that the deal in place "meets our principles of smaller government."

"There is a framework in place that would cut spending by a larger amount than we raise the debt limit, and cap future spending to limit the growth of government," he said, according to a transcript provided by Boehner's office. "Now listen, this isn't the greatest deal in the world. But it shows how much we've changed the terms of the debate in this town."

With the approval of leaders of the House and Senate, and Tuesday's deadline looming, Congress must act quickly to convince enough members to seal the deal with a vote on Monday. The deal will require bipartisan support due to the opposition within factions of both parties.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Harry Reid will both present the deal to their caucus Monday at 11 a.m. with a vote expected afterward.