FARMER OF THE MONTH

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Mikindani Gazette
OLD BOMA SUPPORTS MIKINDANI BUSINESSES Since the
start of 2008 Old Boma Hotel has been trying to
help businesses in Mikindani by doing as much of
the shopping as possible in the village. In the
first two months of the year Old Boma has spent
over 2 million TSH in shops, markets and with
traders in Mikindani. This represents over 30
of Old Boma shopping bill. In the coming months
Old Boma will increase this spending in Mikindani
to over 50 of the total shopping bill. Old Boma
cooks and store keeper, working with Trade Aid,
will be investigating ways to work with local
businesses to supply Old Boma with more of the
products that it needs.
FARMER OF THE MONTH Zani Masoud is not
sure how old she is but she knows about life.
Under her are three generations of family which
makes her approximately 85 years old. She is and
always has been a farmer. Now days she farms
peanuts and soya beans. Zani was born in
Mikindani during the British colonial rule.
March 2008 edition 17
LOOKING FOR CLUES  Mikindani is a historical
town that much is common knowledge but ask
most people for more details about this history
and few can give you much information. However,
for the past 5 months Mathew Pawlowicz (25) from
Virginia, America has been trying to piece
together the unknown details of Mikindanis
understudied history.  Mathew is a P.H.D student
at the University of Virginia and since arriving
in Mikindani in October last year, he and his
team of six helpers have dug, at various sites
around Mikindani, 700 holes in the ground. The
team carefully examine the contents of the soil
they remove from the holes using a big siv. Any
artefact that they find is kept and put into a
plastic bag and the depth and location of where
it was found is meticulously recorded in a book
and later onto computer.  The most fascinating
artefact that Mat and his team have discovered so
far is a piece of beautiful blue / green ceramic
jar that dates from the period 700 1000 A.D.
The jar originated from the Iran area.  Mat has
four workers that come from Mikindani and two
workers from D.S.M. The two D.S.M workers are
affiliated with the Tanzanian Department of
Antiquities. Part of their job is to monitor Mat
to see that he is exploring responsibly and not
exploiting the nations treasures.  
10 PEOPLE LOSE JOBS AT HOTEL In late February the
Old Boma Hotel in Mikindani had to retrench ten
Boma employees redundant. This unfortunate event
was part of a cost cutting exercise, due to the
Old Boma Hotel making a loss of 80 million TSH in
2007. The Old Boma would like to make it clear
that these ten individuals did not lose their
jobs for any bad behaviour at work.  These ten
individuals have been paid their severance
package in accordance with all laws of Tanzania,
which has been confirmed by TRA. All individuals
have been provided with references, and they have
also been offered business consultation with
Trade Aid to try and help them set up small
businesses of their own, using their retrenchment
money. If the Old Boma receives a large number
of guests in the future then it is expected that
some of these ten individuals may be re-employed
on a part-time basis.  
This is the fourth time Mat has visited Africa
and he reports that Africa is a continent that
really fascinates him. Mathew says, that the
Mtwara region is an unknown and understudied area
and it is for this reason that he chose to come
here. Mat hopes that the facts that he reveals
about Mikindanis history will be shared with not
only the worldwide community but also with the
people of Mikindani. In particular he is hopeful
that some of his finds will be put on display in
the soon to be renovated Livingstone House  Mats
exploration is financed by the U.S Govs National
Science Foundation The Explorers Club
Washington Group.
Boma staff return back to the hotel after
shopping locally in Mikindani.
Archaeologist Mathew Pawlowicz