The law firm successfully sought compensation for alleged human rights abuses from North Mara Gold Mine on behalf of 13 villagers.

Leigh Day is accused of doing injustice the London-based law firm claims to be against.

By Staff Writer, Tanzania

A London-based law firm is accused of shortchanging Tanzanian villagers a gold mine compensated for purpoted human rights abuses; , news sources within Tanzania learnt

Leigh Day, which deals in employment law, human rights, clinical negligence and personal injury, sought the compensation on behalf of 13 villagers at North Mara Gold Mine.

The litigation against Acacia Mining Plc. owning the mine was settled out of court in 2015, compelling the gold mine to pay staggering Sterling Pounds 143,501.

Leigh Day though refutes taking a lion’s share of the compensation paid, available evidence shows the firm pocketed over 61 per cent, leaving one of the victims with the remaining 38 per cent.

One of the represented villagers Charles Marwa (not his real name) admits signing the Leigh Day’s letter on January 16, 2015, detailing his payment after the case was settled.

Leigh Day spokesperson Caroline Ivison says the intensity at which African Barrick Gold defended itself in the litigation as well as the duration of the case led to significant legal case costs, denying the law firm benefiting from claimants.

Marwa was finally paid Sterling Pounds 55,500 while the firm took home Sterling Pounds 88,001.

Leigh Day spokesperson Caroline Ivison, nonetheless, denied the firm benefiting from claimants as was the case with Marwa saying the allegations were false.

“We strongly refute the allegations on inappropriate and excessive fees,” said Ivison, explaining that significant legal costs were compounded by the intensity at which African Barrick Gold defended itself in the litigation as well as the duration of the case.

“No money allocated to claimants’ compensation was deducted for legal costs, we explained everything clearly to every client,” said Ivison as she declined to divulge details of their clients’ payments saying they were confidential.

Marwa was shot and injured in 2008 when invading the mine. A politician and activists linked him up with Leigh Day which filed a law suit in the UK before it was settled out of court.

 

 

 

 

Intruders invade North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania. PHOTOS | FILE

Marwa, who is only one of the victims Leigh Day filed law suits against the gold mine on their behalf, said the politicians and activists told him the firm raised funds in support of claimants like him.

“So, all what we needed was giving full cooperation and following their instructions, assuring us that we would be compensated handsomely,” said Marwa as he recalled:

“I was happy when I received the Sterling Pounds 55,500 before my visiting cousin, who is a teacher at a neighboring village, clarified to me what exactly was in the agreement letter I signed.

His cousin wondered the firm, which pledged to assist the claimant free of charge, walked away with more than Sterling Pounds 88,001.

“It pained me a lot, I felt and still feel they used my problem for their own benefit,” Marwa lamented.

In its agreement letter, Leigh Day states: “Given the difficulties and risks of litigation, including extremely substantial risk of not being successful in the litigation, we consider that the total sum constitutes very good settlement of the claim.

“If you accept the settlement, the compensation paid in respect of the claim will be significantly more than you would have achieved if you had sought to resolve the claim without Leigh Day through the North Mara Gold Limited Grievance Mechanism.

“The amount that is proposed to be paid in settlement of a claim has been calculated by using the maximum total amount that could potentially have been awarded if your claim was successful.”

Marwa mulled resorting to court to seek assistance only to be discouraged by the politician he considered supporting him not picking calls after the payment was done.

Litigations and lawsuits on allegations on human rights abuse at North Mara Gold Mine is a climax of a well calculated syndicate.

Barrick president and Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow says he is proud of North Mara Gold Mine’s strong working relations with its host community. PHOTO | MINING GMX

A cartel comprising business persons, politicians and local and international human rights activists have for quite a long time been spoiling ties between the gold mine and the hosting community.

On the frontage, intrusions into North Mara appear as grievances against the mine, but a deep dive into the deadlock debunks the ugly organised criminal invasions.

Marwa admits some sponsors had organised the incident that led to his injuries, assuring him and his accomplices of their safety, as police officers on duty had agreed to cooperate with the intruders.

The intruders never noticed the law enforcers agreed with were not on guard at the area, they kept on moving forward even after several warnings.

 

“The police officers were resolute, making us angry, thinking they were betraying the deal into which they entered with our boss

We decided to fight and I got injured as we confronted the police officers, several law enforcers were injured as well,” Marwa explained.

A several months’ investigation by The Tranquility News reportersteam revealed that the so-called mining invasions are actually an organised crime.

Wealthier and influential business persons, politicians and civil servants run the cartel assisted by several unfaithful mine’s staffs.

The cartel has all along been enjoying the cover of human rights abuses once its invading squads clash with police officers guarding the mine.

The invasions are categorised in four classes, with the first one involving youth, women, and the elderly having little or no harm at all.

Allegations on human rights violation against North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania often call into question the credibility of activists.

All what the first unarmed category does is collecting few stones around the mine without intruding into the mine or causing any violence.

The second and notorious category comprises hired youth from different parts of the Lake Zone. The third category, which consists of direct beneficiaries of gold ores stolen from the mine includes influential and wealthier people who recruit the youth in the second category.

This is the violent category armed with machetes, daggers and other tradition weapons that invades the mine in a broad daylight, as they dare police officers in their large numbers.

“On the façade they look like just youths aggrieved by the presence of the mine, fooling some human rights outfits to regard them as victims.

“They are very good at playing the victims’ role, but in reality, they are the assaulters,” says Timasi Peter, the chairman of Mujata, an NGO that deals with welfare of the society.

Mara Regional Commissioner Col Evans Mtambi says a lot of disinformation surround regular invasions of North Mara Gold Mine and that the matter has been politicised for both political and financial gains.

The third category facilitates all activities, including bribing officials when the need arises, and hiring, paying and protecting the youth invading the mine to fetch them gold ores ready for processing and selling at gold markets within Tarime District.

“The invasionsare well focused and calculated to make them appear as just expressions of grievances against the mine,” former village leader said on condition of anonymity.

“The litigations and lawsuits are not against the mine, they are actually against Tanzanians owning the mine through Twiga Minerals Corporation,” Timasi said.

Barrick and the Tanzania Government had jointly set a model for the natural-resource rich country to benefit from the godsend and avert resource curse, Timasi, who resides at Nyakunguru Village situated a stone’s throw away from the mine, explainedΩ

 

Ends.

 

Na Mwandishi Wetu, Dar es Salaam,

WITO umetolewa kwa taasisi za serikali, mamlaka, wafanyabiashara na wadau wengine wa maendeleo kuwashirikisha watanzania kwenye miradi mikubwa kama moja ya hatua ya kuwakuza ili kuchochea mapato ya nchini kwa ujumla.

Akizungumza wakati akifunga kongamano la nne la Ushiriki wa watanzania kwenye uchumi na uwekezaji (Local Content) ambapo lilihudhuriwa na washirikia takribani 300 hivi karibuni jijini Dar es Salaam, Naibu Waziri Mkuu na Waziri wa Nishati , Dkt Dotto Biteko alisema kwamba ushirikishaji wananchi kuingia kwenye miradi mikubwa kutafungua milango ya ukuaji wao.

“Ushirikishaji wanachi kuingia katika miradi mikubwa ya kimkakati ya kitaifa ni moja ya hatua ya kuwakuza watanzania kushiriki katika uchumi wao na taifa kujiepusha na fedha zake kwenda nje nchi kwa vile kwa muda mrefu miradi mikubwa ilikuwa inatekelezwa na wageni ambao faida walikuwa wanazipeleka nchini kwao na kukuza uchumi wa mataifa yao,” alisisitiza Naibu Waziri Mkuu na Waziri wa Nishati

Aliongeza pia hii ni hatua muhimu kwa vile taifa letu katika kipindi hiki lipo katika hatua ya kujenga miradi mbalimbali ya kimkakati ambayo kimsingi lengo lake ni kuchochea uchumi na kukuza ustawi wa wananchi hivyo kupitia mkakati huo wananchi hawataachwa nyuma na uchumi utaimarika Zaidi.

Dkt Biteko alisema kwamba serikali ipo tayari kutoa fursa kwa watanzania kuweza kushiriki kwenye miradi hiyo na watanzania wajitokeze kuchangamkia fursa hizo na kwa sasa kuna mradi kama ya Bomba la mafuta kutoka Uganda kupitia Tanga, mradi mwingine wa bomba la mafuta Uganda kuja hapa nchini na muhimu watanzania wakapambana kupata kazi hizo.

“Mheshimiwa Rais Dkt Samia Suluhu Hassan pia alisema kuna upanuzi wa bomba la mafuta la Tazama , kuna mafuta mengi yanakwenda Zambia tunataka kufanya upanuzi mkubwa na kupunguza msongamano wa malori yanayoingia Dar es Salaam kuja kuchukua mafuta na hii miradi yote inataka ushiriki wa watanzania,” alisema Dkt Biteko.

Dkt Biteko pamoja na mambo mengine katika kuchangamkia hizi fursa aliwaasa taasisi za serikali na watanzania kuacha kuendekeza vitendo vya rushwa wakati wa kutoa au utafutaji na mchakato wa kupata tenda hizo za kazi hasa miradi hii ya kimkakati.

 

“Tuache vitendo vya kutoa rushwa ili kupata tenda za kiserikali hii muhimu katika kudumisha umuhimu wa kuzingatia ushiriki wa watanzania kwenye shughuli za uwekezaji na biashara, alisisitiza Dkt Biteko kwenye kongamano hilo ambapo lilihudhuriwa pia na wawekezaji kutoka nje,”

“Madhara ya kutoa fedha huku na kule ile kupata kazi matokeo yake ukipata kazi husika unashidwa kuikamilisha kwa sababu ya kutumia fedha nyingi na kukosa faida , matokeo namba zinagoma jamani tuache vitendo hivi vya rushwa,” alifafanua Dkt Biteko

Aliendelea tuache tabia pia za kusema bado hatujawa tayari kuendelea kujitafuta na hili jambo ndio linawarudisha nyuma watanzania kama kuamini kazi kubwa za miradi ya kimkakati hapa nchini.

Kwa upande wake, Waziri wa Nchini, Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu , Sera , Bunge na Uratibu, Bi Jenista Mhagama alisema kwamba serikali kupitia ofisi ya waziri mkuu itaendelea kuhakikisha watanzania wanpata fursa ya kushiriki kwenye uwekezaji na uchumi wa nchini yao.

“Mheshimiwa mgeni rasmi kwa upande serikali tutahakikisha kwamba tunakuwa na sera ya kitaifa ya ushirikia wa watanzania kwenye miradi hii na uchumi kwa ujumla kwa kutunga sheria na kanuni mbalimbali ili kupanua wigo wa watanzania kwenye biashara na uwekezaji,” aliongeza Bi Mhagama.

Akizungumza kwenye kongamano hilo la nne Katibu Mtendaji wa Baraza la Uwezeshaji Wananchi Kiuchumi (NEEC), Bi Beng’I Issa alisema kwamba kongamano hilo hufanyika kila baada ya miaka miwili na hutoa fursa kwa wadau, serikali na wafanyabiashara kufanya tathimini ya ushiriki wa watanzania kwenye uchumi wao.

 “tangu tumeanza na sera na kanuni hizi za kuwataka wawekezaji kutoka nje wanaoshika miradi mikubwa kutoa fursa kwa watanzania kushiriki kwenye shughuli zao za kiuchumi na tumepata mafanikio makubwa sana idadi ya watanzania inaongezeka kila siku,” alisema Bi Issa

Aliongeza kwamba baraza hilo litaendelea kujenga uwezo wa watanzania kushirki kwenye miradi hiyo ya kimkakati ili waendelee kupata ajira, kutengeneza bidhaa ambazo zitapata masoko ya uhakika na kuweza kuinua kipato cha mtu mmoja mmoja.

Bi Issa alifafanua kwamba kongamano hilo lilianza rasmi 2017 na lengo la kuwa nayo kila baada ya miaka miwili ni kuongeza uelewa wa watanzania umuhimu wa kushiriki kwenye uwekezaji unaofanyika hapa nchini na kuweza kuzitambua fursa huku serikali ikiendelea kutengeneza mazingira mazuri kw awatu wake kushiriki kimamilifu.

Naibu Waziri Mkuu na Waziri wa Nishati Dkt Dotto Biteko (Katikati) akimpa tuzo, Bw Waisile Bairi , Meneja Mahusiano wa AKO Group kwa kutambua mchango wao katika kutekeleza dhana ya ushiriki wa watanzania kwenye uchumi na uwekezaji (Local Content) , Kulia kwa Naibu Waziri Mkuu , Mwenyekiti wa Bodi wa (NEEC) Profesa Aulelia Kamuzora na mwanzo kulia ni Katibu Mtendaji wa (NEEC) Bi Beng’I Issa 

Naibu Waziri Mkuu na Waziri wa Nishati , Dkt Dotto Biteko (Katikati) akimpa tuzo , Bi Neema Kweka msimamizi wa Sheria za wazawa kwenye mradi wa Bomba la Mafuta , kulia kwa Naibu Waziri Mkuu , Mwenyekiti wa Bodi wa (NEEC) Profes Aulelia Kamuzora na mwanzo kulia ni katibu Mtendaji wa (NEEC0 Bi Beng;I Issa

Alisema kwamba baraza limefanikiwa kuunda mwongozo wa (Local content) na kutengeneza kamati za Taifa katika sekta zote

Aliongeza kwamba tangu kuanza kwa mfumo wa (Local content ) ajira 162,968 za moja kwa moja zimepatikana lenye ongezeko la 37.8% na vijana wenye umri kati ya miaka 18 hadi 35 walipata ajira 112,572 ambayo ni sawa na 69.1% ya ajira zote.

Alisema kwamba ajira za vijana 70% zilikuwa za ujuzi wa chini na 19% zilikuwa na ujuzi wa kati na 11% zilikuwa za ujuzi wa juu huku kampuni takaribani 3,360 za kitanzania zimepata fursa katika sekta za uziduaji (madini, mafuta na gesi) fedha, bima, uwekezaji, nishati, ujenzi, uchukuzi na ununuzi zimepiga hatua kubwa kwenye local content.

“Juhudi moja wapo za serikali ni kutungwa kwa sheria na kanuni zinazozingatia masuala ya ushirki wa watanzania , kwa mfano wakandarasi waliongia ubia ni 64 , haya ni mafanikio makubwa, “alisema Bi Issa

Alisema kwamba idadi ya miradi ya ujenzi iliyotekelezwa ni 4,539 yenye thamani ya Tsh 8.5 Trilioni na miradi iliyotekelezwa na wakandarasi wa ndani ilikuwa 4,404 yenye thamani ya Tsh 3.6 Trillioni.

“Kwa uhakika tumepiga hatua kubwa sana na miradi iliyotekelezwa na wakandarasi wa kigeni ilikuwa ni 135 yenye thamani ya Tsh 4.9 Trillioni na ushiriki wa wakandarasi wa ndani ulikuwa ni 97% na thamani ya mradi ni 42.4% na ushiriki wa wakandarasi wan je ulikuwa ni 3% na thamani ya miradi ilikuwa 57.6%,” alifafanua Katibu Mtendaji huyo

idadi ya watanzania kwenye ushiriki wa uwekezaji na biashara hapa nchini umeongezeka na upatikanaji wa ajira unaleta matumaini na  uwekezaji , masoko na kutengeneza bidhaa

Aliongeza kwamba kongamano hilo lilihudhuriwa na washiriki takribani 300 kutoka sekta mbalimbali binafsi , taasisi za umma na wawekezaji wa ndani na nje ya nchini chini wa uratibu wa  Baraza la Taifa la Uwezeshaji Wananchi Kiuchumi (NEEC).

Na katika kongamano hilo baadhi ya makampuni ya ndani na nje yalipata tuzo ya kutambua mchango wao na kufanikiwa kwa kutekeleza kwa vitendo dhana ya ushiriki wa watanzania kwenye uwekezaji na uchumi (Local Content)

Man Utd reject offer for Paul Pogba from Barcelona of £45m plus Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes

more details 

 

'DISAPPOINTED'

Tottenham star Harry Kane in a world of pain after claiming Golden Boot in Russia

 more details

 

 

 

Tangazo la kazi

fungua kwa maelezo

Legal Services Facility (LSF) imeyawezesha mashirika sita yasiyokuwa ya kiserikali kwa ajili ya utekelezaji wa mradi wa ‘Urban Legal Empowerment’ katika maeneo mbalimbali ya jiji la Dar es Salaam

Watu wengi wanaweza wasinielewe endapo jina la Mchezaji na  nahodha wa zamani wa klabu ya Manchester United kama halitakuwa la kwanza katika orodha hii.

1.Roy Kean- Republic of Ireland

The Irish midfielder even went to the extent of ending Alf Inge Haaland's career as a result of an ongoing altercation.

2. Pepe- Ureno

Pepe has a notorious name for himself in La Liga, having spent the last seven years kicking ankles whilst defending the Real Madrid goal.

3. Mario Balotelli- Italia

Mario Balotelli is simply failing to mature. The Italian striker continues to act like a petulant child when things don't go his way and that has seen him get into a lot of trouble both on and off the pitch.

4.Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane's headbutt to Marco Materazzi, which earned the Frenchman a red card in the 2006 World Cup final

5. Joey Barton- England

The notorious midfielder has played for four different Premier League clubs, as well as short stints in France and Scotland with Marseille and Rangers respectively, and he has managed to raise a storm at each and every team he's featured at.

6. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan is not one to be messed with, just ask Rafael van der Vaart, Mido, Antonio Cassano, Oguchi Onyewu, Pep Guardiola, Salvatore Aronica, Rodney Strasser, Stephane Ruffier, Andres Guardado and Christian Wilhelmsson.

7. El Hadji Diouf

Another one with an entire category on his Wikipedia page dedicated to "controversies", the former Senegalese international seemed to have an obsession with spitting after being caught doing so against opposing players and opposing fans!!

8. Patrick Vieria

Arsenal fans still miss Patrick Vieira. The former captain at Highbury was a ruthless midfielder and often dominated games due to his sheer physique, yet, he was also known for having a terribly short fuse which led to the Frenchman often having to explain his actions to the FA.

9.Gennaro Gattuso

Which club captain would dare to grab former hard man Joe Jordan by the throat? Gennaro Gattuso, that's who. The former AC Milan stalwart took on Spurs' assistant manager at the time after the Rossoneri were defeated 1-0 at home in the Champions League.

Fastjet yatoa ofa ya abiria kusafiri na kila mzigo kwa nusu bei, Shirika la ndege la kila mtanzania laendelea kutoa usafiri wa anga ambao kila mtu anaweza kuumudu. Nunua tiketi mapema na uokoe pesa.

Dar es salaam: Shirika la ndege la watanzania wote, Fastjet, kuanzia leo linarahisisha zaidi usafiri wa anga kwa kupunguza bei za mizigo kwa kuuza nusu bei. Kila begi la kuingia chini ya ndege sasa litauzwa tsh 22,000 unaweza kulipia mzigo wako wakati wa kununua tiketi na Tsh 44000 unapolipia uwanja wa ndege muda wa safari safari. Bei hii inapatikana kwa abiria wote wanaokata tiketi kuanzia leo hadi tarehe 30 Juni. Unaporuka na Fastjet daima unajihakikishia nauli utakayoimudu na kupaa na kutua kwa wakati, kwa punguzo hili la bei kwenye mizigo linafanya safari yako kuwa rahisi zaidi.

 “Upatikanaji wa huduma ya usafiri wa anga ambayo kila mtu anaweza kuimudu ni muhimu sana kwa shirika letu la fastjet” alisema msemaji wa Fastjet Lucy Mbogoro. “Bei hizi mpya zilizopunguzwa zinatoa pia unafuu kwa wafanyabiashara kubeba mizigo yao kwa  kwa bei nafuu zaidi, hivyo kutoa fursa za kimaendeleo kwa wote.” Mbogoro aliongeza kuwa shirika pia linafanya juhudi kuboresha huduma kwa wateja “Tunafanya kazi kwa juhudi sana kuhakikisha kila hatua anayopitia mteja wetu inampa tabasamu na hii tayari inaonekana katika Matokeo yetu ya kuondoka na kufika kwa wakati kwa mwezi Januari na Februari ambapo Fastjet ilizidi 90% kwa miezi yote”

Bei hii ya mizigo iliyopunguzwa inapatikana kwa safari za Fastjet kati ya Dar es Salaam na Mwanza, Dar es Salaam na Mbeya na Dar es Salaam na Kilimanjaro. Mbogoro aliongeza kwa kutoa dondoo ya safari “Ni rahisi kuokoa pesa unaposafir na Fastjet kwa kukata tiketi mapema.” Hivyo alisema  “Unapoandaa safari yako mapema na kukata tiket mapema unapata fursa ya kuokoa pesa.” Bei zetu za kila mzigo kwa tsh 22,000 zinaanza rasmi tarehe 2 Machi 2018.