Light entertainment amid global madness....

This is a little snapshot of where I live.... made me smile!

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Thick Smoke Clouds Arusha City Launch
Arusha Times
July 9, 2005


Elsewhere fireworks would have been lit to mark the occasion, but for the Arusha's city launching ceremony, a thick, dark and pungent smoke, clouded the entire affair. The fumes sent most of the people, who had turned up at the fete held at the Mbauda market area, into uncontrollable fits of coughs.

The new Arusha City status, which became effective on Friday, the 1st of July 2005 was celebrated with a low scale event at the open space in Mbauda area where market auctions normally take place. Arusha was declared a township in 1948.

The smoke which clouded the venue was coming from a giant vehicle tire, which had been set on fire at the venue so that the local fire brigade could put it off, during an orchestrated live demonstration, that was to be displayed at the arena, among other shows.

The Municipal Fire brigade, normally accused of being slow, was also noted to arrive late, even to their own demonstration, such that by the time their trucks arrived, the guest of honor, who happened to be the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mohamed Babu, had already taken onto the stage to deliver a speech, amid the smoke.

The fire brigade trucks, with sirens at full blast had therefore to be stopped before entering the venue, so that the speakers, including the Regional Commissioner, could continue with their speeches, without interference.

Meanwhile, the large tire continued to burn endlessly, emitting thick clouds of the dark carbon monoxide fumes.

When however the smoke got thicker and people started to vacate the market place, the firemen were finally allowed to put off the burning tire. The exercise again, proved to be not so easy either, since the water jets from the fire brigade trucks kept missing their target, ending up drenching unwitting spectators instead.

By the time the tire fire was quenched, confusion and chaos had reigned. Apparently, there were many people at the venue, who had shown up for various other reasons as well. The Mbauda Bi-

Weekly market is normally held every Mondays and Fridays, thus the attendance at the Arusha City launching fete also had a lot to do with ordinary traders and shoppers.

Most of the official speeches, including the Council's financial report being presented by the Municipal Director, Noah Mwaikuka, went unheard at the rather noisy gathering. It is not clear why local leaders decided to celebrate the city launch in Mbauda instead of the town stadium.

Friday, the 1st of July, was also the inaugural, 'Local Government Day!' which is set to be an annual national holiday to be marked countrywide on each first day of July.

Apart from the Regional Commissioner, other distinguished guests were the Arusha District Commissioner, Fulgence Saria, Municipal Mayor, Paul Lotta Laizer and Municipal Director, Noah Mwaikuka, including other local ward counselors.

On the same day, the Arumeru District Council was upgraded to attain municipal status, while other two municipal councils of Tanga and Mbeya were also transformed into cities. RC Babu said Arusha urban now stands to wield more local authority than it used to be in the past.

With a population of less than 300,000 Arusha is yet to meet the international requirement of 400,000 residents, necessary for a town to be accredited with such urban status. However, it is being speculated that, the fact that the area hosts a number of international institutions such as the UN- ICTR and the EAC, it was a politically correct reason to award it the status.