Tanzanian Minister for Finance and Economy, Hon Mkullo, on Thursday 12Jun08 at 4 pm matched into the parliament hall with the familiar black attache that contained the budget for the coming FY. Presently it was read out. Predictable, I'd say. With fuel prices having almost doubled since the last budget speech, there was no question of squeezing more tax out of petrol without causing major uproar, so it was let to stay.
Road licences too were reviewed downward, the former lady minister banished an average-income person from owning even a motorbike by the high annual fees.
I would have liked to hear a word from him about the amount of money expected to be recovered from multi-million dollar string of fraudish deals now under investigation, but nothing of sorts.
Showing posts with label east africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label east africa. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Bye 2007 walcum 2008
At the time the year was coming ot a close, Tanzanians were keenly following the general elections in the neighbouring kenya, held on 29th. Things had started well enough, stations opening early on, some people queuing dutifully one hour before opening times. Voting took place during the day more or less without any alarming event. Stuff counted, returning officer filing in reports and all.
Early on the pattern started emerging with increasing clarity--the opposition were poised to win by landslide. So many famous politicians had lost their constituencies to the opposition.
Second day passed before the electoral commission made any announcement. And third. The delay started causing anxiety and suspicion: what is the eck up to? The world was soon to know, because the commission on sunday 31 dec 07 made an announcement that the incumbent has retained presidency.
The country then went bloody, houses torched, necks cut, tribal animosity always thinly veiled burst forth into a frenzy of crazed fighting. By the time things quietened down a bit after three days, more than 300 people were reported dead by news networks. As of now, there is a tense quiet as the opposing sides are holding on to terms that are insoluble.
And the world economy went on to indicate hard times ahead, what with oil hitting provebial USD 100 per barrel in the first week of the year.
Early on the pattern started emerging with increasing clarity--the opposition were poised to win by landslide. So many famous politicians had lost their constituencies to the opposition.
Second day passed before the electoral commission made any announcement. And third. The delay started causing anxiety and suspicion: what is the eck up to? The world was soon to know, because the commission on sunday 31 dec 07 made an announcement that the incumbent has retained presidency.
The country then went bloody, houses torched, necks cut, tribal animosity always thinly veiled burst forth into a frenzy of crazed fighting. By the time things quietened down a bit after three days, more than 300 people were reported dead by news networks. As of now, there is a tense quiet as the opposing sides are holding on to terms that are insoluble.
And the world economy went on to indicate hard times ahead, what with oil hitting provebial USD 100 per barrel in the first week of the year.
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