Tanzania Foreign Investment News (Page 18)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday he is looking forward to boosting relations between Egypt and Tanzania, scaling up the volume of trade exchange and promoting joint investments.

The foreign minister’s remarks came at a meeting with his Tanzanian counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo on the sidelines of his current visit to the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid said that the meeting discussed bilateral ties between the two sides.

Abdelatty was keen on conveying the greeting of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the Tanzanian leader, added Abu Zeid.

The spokesman noted that the foreign minister tackled cooperation projects between Egypt and Tanzania, topped by the Egypt-Built Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam in Tanzania.

Abdelatty said Egypt is very interested in removing any obstacles to the completion of the project for the sake of the Tanzanian people, said Abu Zeid.

The foreign minister invited his Tanzanian counterpart to visit Egypt soon.

MENA

Source: allafrica.com

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By REUTERS

Police arrested senior leaders of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema and hundreds of its supporters ahead of a meeting in the southwest of the country, the party said on Monday.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe and the leader of its youth wing John Pambalu were arrested at a regional airport on Monday, the party said on social media platform X.

A day earlier, the party’s Vice-Chairman Tundu Lissu and Secretary-General John Mnyika were arrested, party spokesperson John Mrema told Reuters.

Since coming to power in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has lifted a ban on political rallies and relaxed restrictions on media.

However, she has faced criticism from opposition parties and rights groups for arrests last year of those planning protests against a port management deal.

The latest arrests came hours after police banned a conference planned by Chadema’s youth wing Bavicha, saying the event was likely to breach the peace.

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Police said the party’s youth leaders planned to influence young people across the country to meet and demonstrate in Mbeya, a city in southwest Tanzania, which a party spokesperson denied.

Mrema said the conference was to celebrate International Youth Day, where top party officials, including Mbowe, were set to address the youth.

“There are more than 400 people who have been arrested by the police,” the spokesperson added.

Police spokesperson David Misime did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all our leaders, members and loved ones who were arrested in various parts of the country,” Mbowe had said late on Sunday on X.

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By ANTHONY KITIMO

Cross border trade between Kenya and Tanzania at Lunga-Lunga One Stop Border Post (OSBP) will increase, after connection with the port of Mombasa was opened after completion of Dongo Kundu bypass.

The completion and opening of the $307,106 infrastructure this week within Mombasa port road network, will enable movement of goods to the second busiest border between Kenya and Tanzania after Namanga, without using the Likoni ferry.

The project will later connect with the 460-kilometre East African Coastal Corridor development project between Malindi and Bagamoyo, which is being funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a grant from the European Union.

According to latest data from the two trading countries at the border, Tanzania exports majorly agricultural products through the border whereas Kenya exports manufacturing goods and raw materials.

The contract was awarded to the Fujita Corporation-Mitsubishi Corporation consortium on February 20, 2019, with the signing taking place on April 18, 2019 and was expected to end March 2024 but it was completed earlier according to Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha).

The construction, undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, commenced in 2018 and has now reached a pivotal phase with the partial opening of the roadway.

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With a total length of about 17.5 kilometres, the bypass is set to revolutionise the region’s connectivity with the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and Mombasa International Airport benefiting a lot.

Kenha Deputy Director Samuel Ogege, the project’s lead manager, confirmed the project’s successful handover to the client.

“An internal committee has been appointed to oversee the handover process, ensuring that the bypass meets all safety and operational standards before full-scale utilisation. Although the bypass is currently in use, an official ceremonial opening will follow, celebrating the completion of this landmark project,” said Mr Ogege.

The contract was awarded to the Fujita Corporation-Mitsubishi Corporation consortium on February 20, 2019.

The Coastline Transnational Highway project, conceived more than two decades ago, covers Bagamoyo-Tanga-Horohoro on the Tanzania side and Lunga Lunga-Mombasa-Mtwapa-Malindi on the Kenyan side, and is expected to cost $751 million.

According to a financing agreement, AfDB will finance 70 percent of the highway and the governments of Kenya and Tanzania will cover 30 per cent. On the Kenyan side, already two phases between Mombasa and Kilifi are at 85 percent complete.

Kenya National Highways Authority (Kenha) Deputy Director Samuel Ogege, the project’s lead manager, confirmed the project’s successful handover to the client.

“An internal committee has been appointed to oversee the handover process, ensuring that the bypass meets all safety and operational standards before full-scale utilisation. Although the bypass is currently in use, an official ceremonial opening will follow, celebrating the completion of this landmark project,” said Mr Ogege.

The road which is toll free, as it was built using Japanese loan with support from government of Kenya becomes a huge relief with Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) expected to incur losses as the tourism sector registering a boom.

The project, a monumental feat of engineering, includes the construction of the Peninsula.

With a total length of approximately 17.5 kilometers the bypass is set to revolutionize the region’s connectivity with SGR and Mombasa International Airport benefiting a lot.

The three bridges which are Mwache bridge spanning 660 metres and the other two bridges are Tsunza Viaduct (690m) and the Mteza Bridge, which is expected to be the longest bridge over water in the country and region straddling 1,440 metres will also play as key tourism sector as it has special scenic views for road users.

KeNHA Deputy Director Engineer Samuel Ogege, the project’s lead manager, confirmed the project’s successful handover to the client, underscoring that the road is ready for public use.

“An internal committee has been appointed to oversee the handover process, ensuring that the bypass meets all safety and operational standards before full-scale utilization. Although the bypass is currently in use, an official ceremonial opening will follow, celebrating the completion of this landmark project,” said Mr Ogege.

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The European Union (EU) has announced a substantial financial payment of TZS 97 billion (EUR 33.12 million) as a grant to support the Government of Tanzania’s ongoing sectorial reforms.

This disbursement is aimed at fostering socio-economic development and enhancing the resilience of Tanzanian citizens.

The funding is allocated across five key sectors, each of which is crucial for the country’s growth and stability.

These are:

Blue Economy: Developing a climate-resilient blue economy along Tanzania’s coastal regions, including Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean.

The funds will support governance reforms, capacity building, and enhance inter-ministerial coordination. The Ministry of Finance and the Vice President’s Office for Environment will lead this effort.

Green and Smart Cities: Focused on promoting sustainable urban development in Mwanza, Tanga and Pemba, this support aims to improve living standards by enhancing environmental sustainability, creating economic opportunities, and improving public services, especially for women and youth.

Gender: Dedicated to advance gender equality and empowering women and girls, the funding will seek to address gender-based violence, promote economic empowerment, and support women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes.

Digital4Tanzania: Aiming to leverage digitalisation for economic growth and improved public services, it includes expanding the Tanzania Government Communications Network and enhancing cybersecurity measures, in line with the Personal Data Protection Act.

Finance for Growth: It has a focus on improving fiscal governance and access to finance.

It will enhance domestic resource mobilisation, support financial market infrastructure, and promote public-private dialogue, particularly benefiting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, notably in favour of women and youth.

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This financial assistance, called “budget support”, is part of the EU’s ongoing partnership with Tanzania, aligning with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to bolster infrastructure and development through public and private sector investments.

“We are pleased to continue our support for Tanzania’s growth and development.

These funds are not just an investment in the present but a commitment to the country’s future,” said Christine Grau, EU Ambassador to Tanzania, adding, “By focusing on areas such as the Blue Economy, urban development, gender equality, digitalisation, and financial growth, we are helping to build a more resilient and prosperous Tanzania.”

The EU’s budget support is considered as an impactful financing tool as it allows for direct support to national policy reforms, making use of the country’s financial systems.

This approach reduces transaction costs for the government and increases mutual accountability and transparency.

The main objective is to contribute to a climate resilient Blue Economy on the Tanzanian coastal area, Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean (within Tanzania Exclusive Economic Zone).

Through budget support, the grant will contribute to transformative governance systems and policy reforms in specific public sectors, including capacity building for inter-ministerial coordination and governance.

Budget support and technical assistance will support key institutions to implement Tanzania ambitious goals in Blue Economy.

Ministry of Finance and Planning, as chair of the Blue economy Task force, Vice President’s Office for Environment, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and Ministry for Natural Resources and Tourism will be at the forefront of the implementation.

Many other agencies or institutions such as the Zanzibar Fisheries and Marine Resources Research Institute, the National Environment Management.

Council and the National Carbon Monitoring Centre will be empowered and capacitated to deliver on the blue economy agenda.

Concerning Zanzibar a dialogue is established with the Ministry of Blue Economy and with the President Office Finance and Planning and the future cooperation will be made through technical assistance and through project activities.

The Delegation of the European Union to Tanzania and the East African Community is a key actor in the relations between the European Union and Tanzania as well as the East African Community.

The EU has set out the Global Gateway, a new European strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world.

Global gateway is implemented jointly under the Team Europe banner, meaning the EU institutions and EU Member States

Source: allafrica.com

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Since 2009, private businesses have been complicit in forced evictions of Maasai Indigenous communities from their ancestral lands in Loliondo by Tanzanian authorities, Amnesty International said today in a new report.

The new report, ‘Business as usual in bloodied land? The role of businesses in forced evictions in Loliondo, Tanzania’, details how Ortello Business Corporation (OBC), a trophy hunting company linked to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE and a member of the ruling royal family, has participated in forcibly evicting Maasai Indigenous communities by, among other things, accompanying Tanzanian security forces and allowing the authorities to set up camps on OBC property during all forced evictions. At the very least this indicates that OBC was aware that security forces were involved in these operations. At most, it means that the company was not only aware, but also facilitated the security forces’ involvement in the forced evictions.

It is particularly disturbing that they have carried out these evictions under the pretext of ‘conservation’, while in reality, they have allowed Ortello Business Corporation to do improper or illegal trophy hunting activities, in clear violation of Tanzania’s Wildlife Conservation lawsTigere Chagutah, Regional Director, Amnesty International, East and Southern Africa

Other tourism companies, including the TAASA Lodge and &BEYOND, are also operating in the area where Maasai have been forcibly evicted.

“Since 2009, the Tanzanian authorities have resorted to ill-treatment, excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and detentions to forcibly evict the Maasai while leasing their land to private companies. It is particularly disturbing that they have carried out these evictions under the pretext of ‘conservation’, while in reality, they have allowed OBC to do improper or illegal trophy hunting activities, in clear violation of Tanzania’s Wildlife Conservation laws,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

The Tanzanian authorities must conduct a prompt, impartial, independent, effective and transparent investigation into corporate complicity in the forced evictions of Maasai communities in Loliondo — and the suspected perpetrators of these human rights violations must be brought to justice in fair trials.Tigere Chagutah

“The Tanzanian authorities must conduct a prompt, impartial, independent, effective and transparent investigation into corporate complicity in the forced evictions of Maasai communities in Loliondo — and the suspected perpetrators of these human rights violations must be brought to justice in fair trials. The authorities should also investigate reported wildlife crimes committed by trophy hunting businesses in the region. Victims must be provided with access to justice and effective remedies.”

Amnesty International conducted research into forced evictions of the Maasai Indigenous People of Loliondo between June 2022 and May 2024, with a particular focus on the role of businesses operating in the traditional lands owned and used by the Maasai. In April 2024, the organisation visited Arusha region on a fact-finding mission and interviewed nine people, including one current employee and four former employees of the private companies in Loliondo, all residents of Loliondo, and one lawyer, who were all privy to internal operations of the companies and sometimes involved in conversations on and implementation of the companies’ plans.

The organization’s Evidence Lab examined 23 images and seven videos, conducted an open-source investigation and analysed recent changes in locations of businesses operating in Loliondo, which were visible on satellite imagery.

The organization also reviewed media reports, official documents, relevant legislation, company disclosures, and scientific studies. With the support of advocates in Tanzania, Amnesty International was also able to obtain company incorporation details for the companies under investigation.

Stifled protests and forced evictions

On 10 June 2022, Tanzanian security forces resorted to the use of excessive force, including using live ammunition and tear gas, to stifle peaceful protests by Maasai residents of Ololosokwan village in Loliondo. The demonstrators had gathered to resist a demarcation exercise by the security forces, who were trying to displace them from their ancestral lands in the name of so-called “conservation”. More than 40 people were wounded, others were left homeless, and many were forced to flee the country. Those who sought shelter in Kenya with their relatives and friends were living without means of earning a livelihood. The eviction marked the fourth time the Maasai have been forcibly expelled from their land, following previous evictions in 2009, 2013, and 2017.

Community members from villages in Loliondo that were impacted by forced evictions, as well as current and former OBC staff, said that OBC had participated in all forced evictions in Loliondo. They told Amnesty International that OBC representatives known to them and OBC branded vehicles were present during the forced evictions. They also said that, during every eviction, Tanzania’s security forces set up camp in OBC properties and were accompanied by OBC staff and vehicles as they moved into Loliondo villages.

On 12 July 2024, Amnesty International wrote to &BEYOND, OBC and TAASA Lodge to inform them of the relevant allegations and findings contained in the report and to give them the opportunity to respond. Only &BEYOND and TAASA Lodge responded.

&BEYOND responded saying, “… that the land in question, albeit in dispute, is no longer under the control of the Ololosokwan Village Council, but the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (“the Lessors”).” &BEYOND further mentioned that they “cannot disclose the terms of [their] lease agreement with the Lessors.” The company also acknowledged that there is an ongoing litigation over the land in question and claimed that as a lessee, they have no influence over the Lessors, further adding that they can only await the outcome of the court’s ruling before they determine their position in the land question. TAASA Lodge said that they “… were never consulted on any of the planned actions around the time of the evictions, and remain committed to [their] staff and communities, as [they] are to following the rule of law.”

Four former and one current OBC staff members also told Amnesty International that they were working with the company when members of the UAE royal family that are associated with the OBC ownership visited the country for hunting and other tourism activities between 1996 and 2016. In June 2024, the Arusha Regional Commissioner served as a chaperone for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE, as he inspected water projects in Loliondo.

“It is deeply troubling that Ortello Business Corporation’s role in the evictions likely contributed to the harm caused by Tanzania’s security forces. This company appears to not only have been aware that state security forces were involved in the forced evictions, but to have actively facilitated the forced evictions,” said Tigere Chagutah.

“While they were not implicated in eyewitness testimonies, TAASA Lodge and &BEYOND’s Klein’s Camp should also carry out ongoing due diligence to identify whether their operations are linked to any negative human rights impacts or environmental harms. Businesses operating in Loliondo must commit to respecting in their operations the rights of the Maasai Indigenous People, and to providing appropriate remedies if they cause or contribute to acts that harm the community.

The state must reverse its land acquisition decision in Loliondo and ensure that no land acquisition or evictions proceed unless the Maasai People give their free, prior, and informed consent through a process of genuine consultations.Tigere Chagutah

“The state must reverse its land acquisition decision in Loliondo and ensure that no land acquisition or evictions proceed unless the Maasai People give their free, prior, and informed consent through a process of genuine consultations.”

Background

This research builds on Amnesty International’s previous investigations into how the Tanzanian authorities have forcibly evicted the Maasai Indigenous people of Loliondo.

Source: allafrica.com

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Maputo — Military forces from Mozambique, China and Tanzania are currently holding a joint exercise, named “Peace Unity 2024′ in Tanzania, focusing on counter-terror military operations.

This military exercise may strengthen the capacities of the Mozambican Defence and Security Forces (FDS) in the fight against Islamist terrorists in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.

According to Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence, cited by the South Africa Defense Web portal, the exercise will be carried out on land and at sea and aims to enhance the participating troops’ capabilities in joint counter-terrorism operations, and deepen military mutual trust and practical cooperation.

“Sea drills concluded on 5 August and land drills will close on the 11th’, he said.

The Chinese forces in the Peace Unity 2024 exercise consist of two groups: ground units sent by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Central Theatre Command and a naval flotilla sent by the PLA Southern Theatre Command.

Ground units consist of troops from the 82nd Group Army, information and communication regiment, and a military hospital. The troops specialize in assault, reconnaissance, intelligence, special operations, information support and logistics. They bring with them armored vehicles, self-propelled guns and other heavy equipment.

Peace Unity 2024 marks the fourth joint military exercise between Tanzania and China, after exercises in 2014, 2019/20, and September 2023.

As for Mozambique, in 2016, China and Mozambique signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Co-operation Agreement, aimed at strengthening contacts between the two countries’ army, police and intelligence services. China also agreed to strengthen Mozambique’s defence capacity.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian, said, “the Peace Ark has so far visited 46 countries and regions, providing medical services to over 290 000 people, explicitly demonstrating China’s foreign policy in promoting peace and economic development.’

“We anticipate that these exercises will strengthen our military capabilities and foster closer ties with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Our cooperation has expanded from military training to equipment sharing. The three naval ship missions in Tanzania are a testament to it. We will always work together as we set out new heights’ he said.

Source: allafrica.com

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