Tanzania Foreign Investment News (Page 5)

TANZANIAN cancer patients stand to benefit from a new partnership between Hosplan and India’s Apollo Cancer Centre which aims to bring advanced treatments to the country.

Through a recent symposium held at Muhimbili National Hospital, medical professionals were introduced to new medications for treating blood and solid tumours.

Speaking at the symposium, Hematologist at Apollo Cancer Centre Mumbai, India, Dr Punit Jain, said that these new medications for treating blood cancers are primarily aimed at empowering local healthcare professionals to provide better care.

“We want to empower Tanzanian healthcare providers with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver world-class cancer care. By sharing expertise and introducing advanced treatment protocols, the partnership aims to bridge the gap in cancer care and improve patient outcomes,” said Dr Jain.

He added, “Our presence in Tanzania is a testament to our commitment to global health, through knowledge exchange and collaboration, we aim to establish Tanzania as a centre of excellence for cancer care in the region.”

ALSO READ: Govt commits more funds for cancer

Solid tumour is an abnormal mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas they may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer).

Coordinator of Healthcare Services at Hosplan-Tanzania, Dr Nimrod Mtangwa, said that to ensure the provision of quality care to cancer patients.

“Hosplan has organised various symposia and health camps to facilitate knowledge exchange between Tanzanian and Indian cancer experts,” he said.

Dr Heri Tungaraza, a Tanzanian oncologist, expressed enthusiasm about the new medications.

“These drugs represent a significant leap forward in cancer therapy,” he said. “Their efficacy and reduced side effects offer hope to countless patients and have fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy,”

Scientists worldwide, including those at Apollo Cancer Centre, have made significant progress in developing innovative cancer treatments. Immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell therapy, have shown promise in targeting and eliminating cancer cells.

Source: allafrica.com

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TANZANIA and Russia are contemplating on joint projects in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.

This transpired during a meeting between Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, on Monday in Dar es Salaam.

Russian delegation led by Reshetnikov arrived in the country on Monday to take part in the first meeting of the Russian-Tanzanian Intergovernmental Commission on trade and Economic Cooperation, set for today.

Prime Minister Majaliwa said their talks centered on strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

During their talks, PM Majaliwa assured Minister Reshetnikov that Tanzania is an ideal place to do business due to its stable environment and strategic location for trade.

“The Tanzanian government under Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan is committed to improving trade relations between Tanzania and friendly nations, including Russia. Through this visit, I am confident you will receive valuable insights to encourage trust in Tanzania as a prime destination for business,” he told the visiting Russian minister.

Highlighting Tanzania’s opportunities, the Prime Minister noted that the country has a coastline with ports in Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga, and it borders major lakes like Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa, each with several ports.

Lake Victoria has ports in Kagera, Mwanza and Musoma. Lake Tanganyika has ports in Kigoma, Kabwe and Kasanga, while Lake Nyasa has ports in Mbamba Bay, Ndumbi and Kyela.

He explained that these ports are connected by roads, the central railway, TAZARA and the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), all facilitating efficient transportation of goods both within and beyond Tanzania.

ALSO READ: Russia to offer 90 scholarships for Tanzanians

“We have reliable transport from Dar es Salaam to Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, enabling goods to reach other countries. When the SGR is completed, it will allow for freight transport to Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo.”

Prime Minister Majaliwa also invited Russian investors to explore opportunities in Tanzania’s vast and fertile land suitable for agricultural production.

“Tanzania aims to become a hub for food production in Africa,” he said.

PM Majaliwa highlighted the advantages of investing in Tanzania, primarily the assurance of a large customer base, saying with a population of over 61 million, Tanzania provides access to the East African market of over 300 million people and to the SADC region, also with a market of over 300 million.

“Tanzania serves as a gateway to eight neighbouring countries, with two others on the verge of joining. These include Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. Comoros and South Sudan have also expressed interest and discussions are ongoing with Somalia,” noted Premier Majaliwa.

Earlier, Minister Reshetnikov explained that the two countries have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, trade and investment.

As part of this, they will hold the first meeting of the Russia-Tanzania Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation today to solidify this relationship.

He stated that the meeting results from an agreement signed on December 29, 2022, to enhance economic and trade cooperation.

“We stand ready to help the Tanzanian economy maintain the high pace that has been achieved in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and tourism sectors,” Reshetnikov said, adding that around 50 Russian companies are taking part in a Russia-Tanzania business forum these days.

“Mutual political and diplomatic understanding between our countries provides good preconditions for stepping up trade and economic interaction. There is considerable unused potential. According to our estimates, trade between our countries could double,” Mr Reshetnikov said.

He mentioned reliable historical relations between the Russian and Tanzanian governments, business communities and individuals.

Tanzanian businesses have displayed a huge interest in Russia and Russian businesses are willing to enter new markets, invest in joint projects and share technology, the Russian Minister said.

Source: allafrica.com

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UNESCO has launched the Alwaleed Philanthropies project aimed at empowering communities and enhancing culture and arts while strengthening technical and vocational skills for sustainable development in Tanzania.

Led by HRH Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud, Alwaleed Philanthropies works globally to combat poverty, empower women and youth and foster intercultural understanding.

Titled “Crafting Change: Fostering Community-Based Development through Culture-Related Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Employment,” the project seeks to create economic opportunities for youth and women while preserving Tanzania’s rich cultural heritage.

This initiative is part of a three-year partnership between UNESCO and Alwaleed Philanthropies, aligned with the recently adopted global Framework for Culture and Arts Education, which emphasises local cultures, teacher training and recognition of artistic skills.

During the kick-off hybrid meeting in Dar es Salaam, Michel Toto, Head of Office and Representative to Tanzania, shared that the project aims to create lasting community impacts through financial and technical support for five selected projects.

UNESCO Programme Coordinator Ke Leng noted that the focus on community-based development will enhance the capacities of local cultural institutions as knowledge hubs and skill incubators.

Boniface Kadili, Director of Culture in Tanzania, described the project as a milestone in harnessing the role of culture and arts through TVET and community-based development approaches. He emphasised that this education will help preserve Tanzania’s unique cultural heritage and promote cultural entrepreneurs as agents of economic transformation.

ALSO READ: EAC, UNESCO renew commitment to enhance collaboration

In June 2024, UNESCO called for project proposals, receiving 38 applications from local civil society organisations. After a thorough evaluation, five outstanding projects were selected to receive funding: Mwanyanya Green Society, Tanzania Media for Community Development (TAMCODE), Youth Alliance for Progress Organisation (YAPO), Readership for Learning and Development (SOMA) and the Centre for African Development through Economics and the Arts (ADEA).

The joint UNESCO-Alwaleed Philanthropies project aims to strengthen the role of culture and arts through TVET, promoting the economic and social importance of cultural heritage in Tanzania.

The kick-off meeting included officials from various ministries, UNESCO staff from Dar es Salaam and Paris, grantees and social media influencers.

Source: allafrica.com

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Dar es Salaam — At a rally to mark International Youth Day on August 12 in Tanzania’s southern Mbeya region, John Mnyika stood with a determined expression, addressing his supporters. The air was charged with anticipation. Mnyika, the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s opposition party, Chadema, was preparing to speak about the upcoming elections when the chaos erupted. Without warning, heavily armed police officers stormed the event, grabbed Mnyika, and dragged him away.

Amid the fracas, an officer ripped the rimless eyeglasses from Mnyika’s face and callously crushed them underfoot. “They beat me with clubs and the barrels of their guns,” Mnyika would later recount. “It was a calculated move to humiliate and silence us.” His voice trembled with anger, but he remained resolute. The brutality of that day was not an isolated event–it was a sign of a deeper malaise in Tanzania’s political landscape.

Tanzania’s promised reforms

When Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed the presidency in 2021, following the death of John Magufuli, there was hope for a new dawn. Samia, the first female leader of Tanzania, had promised to usher in a new era of democratic reform. She lifted bans on political rallies, allowed media outlets to reopen, and signaled a commitment to freedom of speech.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though Tanzania was emerging from the shadow of autocracy. Opposition parties, long suppressed under Magufuli’s rule, were allowed to hold rallies once more. Political discourse blossomed, and for the first time in years, the country appeared to be on the path toward genuine democracy.

But as the 2024 local elections approached, those hopes began to fade. The government’s promises of reform gave way to a resurgence of authoritarian tactics. The optimism that had accompanied Samia’s ascent to power was slowly being replaced by fear and uncertainty. Political violence was on the rise, opposition leaders were being silenced, and dissent was once again being met with brutal repression.

The return of repression

Mnyika’s ordeal was just one of many incidents that signaled a return to the heavy-handed tactics of the Magufuli era. On the same day as his arrest, Chadema Vice-Chairperson Tundu Lissu, along with over 500 supporters, was detained in what appeared to be a coordinated crackdown on the opposition. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, has long been a vocal critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

“We are witnessing the death of democracy in real-time,” Lissu told reporters after his release. “The government wants to crush any form of opposition, and they are willing to use violence to achieve that goal.”

The Tanzanian government’s crackdown on opposition figures has not gone unnoticed. International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised alarms about the escalating violence. In a joint statement, the United States and European Union called for an independent investigation into the growing number of politically motivated arrests and disappearances. But President Samia has remained defiant, asserting Tanzania’s sovereignty and dismissing foreign interference.

“We do not need outsiders to tell us how to run our country,” she said in a televised address, marking the 60th anniversary of the Tanzania Police Force. “We will investigate these incidents ourselves.”

The price of dissent

The crackdown on opposition parties is not only limited to arrests. In recent months, Tanzania has seen a sharp increase in politically motivated abductions and murders. One such case is the abduction and brutal killing of Ali Mohamed Kibao, a senior Chadema member. Witnesses described how Kibao was forcibly removed from a bus by armed men, only for his body to be found a day later, bearing the unmistakable signs of torture and acid burns.

“We are living in fear,” said Freeman Mbowe, Chadema’s leader. “If they can do this to someone like Kibao, what’s to stop them from coming for any one of us?”

The government’s response has been dismissive. Despite promises of investigations, no meaningful actions have been taken to hold the perpetrators accountable. Many suspect that the state security forces are behind the violence, though officials continue to deny any involvement.

A nation at the crossroads

As Tanzania approaches its 2025 general elections, the country finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. The political violence of the past year has raised fears that the country may be sliding back into authoritarianism. Samia, who once positioned herself as a reformer, now faces accusations of using the same repressive tactics as her predecessor.

“The optics are troubling. When opposition figures are targeted under the guise of legal procedures, it sends a message that political dissent will not be tolerated,” says Michael Bante, a political commentator based in Dar es Salaam It’s a significant setback for the progress we thought we were making under her leadership.”

While some may argue that these actions are necessary for stability, Bante believes it’s a dangerous precedent. “Tanzania’s democracy will only thrive if we can guarantee the space for all political voices to be heard–whether they align with the government or not.”

For many Tanzanians, the future seems grim. The escalating political violence has fostered an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, leaving many feeling helpless. “These are troubling times,” remarked Juma Mwinyi, a street vendor who saw the abduction of Kibao. “If they can snatch someone in the middle of the day, what’s to stop them from targeting the rest of us?”

The International Response

Internationally, Tanzania’s political situation has drawn widespread condemnation. Foreign governments have called on Samia to reverse course and restore the democratic freedoms that were promised when she took office. But so far, those calls have gone unanswered.

“President Samia has a choice to make,” says Halima Mheta, a Tanzanian social justice activist. “She can be the leader who restores Tanzania’s democracy or the one who destroys it.”

As the nation waits for the upcoming elections, one thing is clear: the stakes have never been higher. For opposition leaders like John Mnyika and Tundu Lissu, the fight for democracy has never been more dangerous. But despite the risks, they remain determined.

“We will not be silenced,” Mnyika said defiantly. “Tanzania belongs to all of us, and we will fight for our right to be heard.”

For now, the future of Tanzania remains uncertain. But in the face of mounting repression, the country’s opposition leaders are determined to keep fighting, no matter the cost. As the political violence escalates and the government tightens its grip, the question remains: will Tanzania’s fragile democracy survive?

Source: allafrica.com

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PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has recognised a veteran musician Mzee Steve Hiza with a 50m/- award during the Tanzania Music Awards (TMA), where Naseeb Abdul alias ‘Diamond Platnumz’ dominated the night with five accolades.

The colourful event took place in Dar es Salaam on Saturday evening and icing on the cake of the evening was Mzee Hiza receiving the newly introduced Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring song, “Tanzania ndio nchi ya Furaha,” by Atomic Jazz Band which has resonated through generations.

Originally produced in 1967, the song has been a staple since the era of the country’s first President, Julius Nyerere and is frequently played at official events. It celebrates the joy and unity found in Tanzania while honouring Nyerere’s role in the country’s independence.

“I am grateful that this song is played at various events, both within and outside the country. Special thanks to President Samia for her generous support,” Hiza expressed.

He also mentioned that despite his age, he continues to compose and plans to release a new song dedicated to President Samia.

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The award was presented to Hiza by Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Damas Ndumbaro, who praised the TMA organisers for introducing the Lifetime Achievement category.

Meanwhile, it was a triumphant night for Diamond Platnumz, who secured the titles of Best Male Artiste of the Year, Best Male Performer of the Year, Best Dance Music of the Year ( “Awii”), Best Video of the Year (also “Awii”) and Best Collaboration of the Year ( “Enjoy”).

Faustina Mfinanga, known as Nandy, was awarded Best Female Artiste of the Year, while Zuhura Othman or Zuchu and took home the titles of Best Female Music Performer and Best Female Bongo Flava Singer.

Veteran artist Ali Kiba won Best Bongo Flava Song of the Year for “Mahaba,” and Salmin Maengo (s2Kizzy), was recognised as Best Music Producer of the Year. Omary Mwanga or Mario, clinched both Best Songwriter of the Year and Best Male Bongo Flava Artiste of the Year. Dulla Makabila was awarded Best Singeli Artiste of the Year.

The hip-hop community shone through with Young Lunya winning Best Hip-hop Artiste of the Year and Best Hip-hop Song of the Year. Rajab Kahali, known as Harmonize, also excelled, winning Best Album of the Year for “Visit Bongo” and Best Song of the Year for “Single Again.”

The evening was a vibrant celebration of Tanzania’s musical talent and legacy.

Source: allafrica.com

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Arusha — TANZANIA intends to spearhead horticulture as the country’s reliable vehicle for achieving future agricultural development goals.

Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Mr Stanislaus Nyong’o, revealed that since horticulture predominantly employs women and youth, it is a key sector for job creation, boosting exports and ensuring food security.

“Horticulture grows at an annual rate of 11 per cent, while the entire agricultural sector grows at 12 per cent, highlighting the potential of the former,” he said.

Mr Nyong’o spoke at Nduruma Ward, Meru District, during the inauguration of the expansion project for Enza Zaden, an organic seeds growing farm in Arusha that develops high-quality kernels for export.

It was revealed that the horticulture sector in Tanzania has an export value of 668.7bn/- from a total production of 175,000 tonnes of produce shipped overseas in the current fiscal year.

ALSO READ: Tanzania horticultural exports company wins global accolade

The Director of Crop Development in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Enock Chimagu, pointed out that Tanzania’s reliance on imported seeds has been decreasing year by year.

“We now produce 78.6 per cent of the kernels used in the country, having produced 71,356 tonnes of agricultural seeds in the fiscal year 2023/2024,” he said, praising the Dutch company for further contributions to horticultural seed production.

Mr Chimagu noted that the horticulture sector has an export value of 668.7bn/-, a significant increase from the 340bn/- recorded in 2021.

Ambassador Wiebe de Boer, envoy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tanzania, stated that Enza Zaden is an exemplary Dutch company, employing over 3,000 people with more than 45 subsidiaries and three joint ventures across 26 countries.

“We are pleased that this Dutch company is collaborating with Tanzanians to achieve the goal of feeding the world healthily,” said the Ambassador.

Jaap Mazereew, Chief Executive Officer of Enza Zaden, revealed that the vegetable seeds produced by the establishment provide meals for over 100 million people.

“Today, we operate in 26 countries, employing over 3,000 people, with 1,000 involved in research projects. Developing a new vegetable variety takes about seven to ten years,” he explained.

Operations Manager at Enza Zaden, Mr Gerald Matowo stated that their products adhere to Good Seed and Plant Practices (GSPP), ensuring quality management, work methods and information supply comply with international standards.

Source: allafrica.com

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Tundu Lissu has become the face of opposition in Tanzania following his defiant and unrelenting criticism of the government. Since he came into the national limelight in 1995 when running for a parliamentary seat, Lissu has been a champion of democracy and human rights. He has taken on the ruling elite, exposing corruption and demanding accountability. This almost cost him his life in 2017.

In September 2024, new evidence presented at a London tribunal revealed that the telecommunications company Tigo had shared Lissu’s mobile phone data – including his location – with the Tanzanian government. The implication was that the company was assisting the government in its harassment of the politician. Tigo’s owners have distanced themselves from these reports.

The revelations coincided with a resurgence in government crackdowns on opposition figures.

In the most recent developments, leaders of the country’s main opposition party Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) – including Lissu, who is the party’s vice-chairperson, and chairman Freeman Mbowe – were arrested in September 2024. This followed their attempt to organise mass protests, which were foiled by the police. The protests had been organised to demand government accountability after the killing of a senior Chadema official and the disappearance of other party members believed to have been abducted by state operatives.

I have studied Tanzania’s political party dynamics for a decade and interviewed Lissu as part of my PhD research on the country’s democracy. Lissu’s persistence in tackling democratic backsliding in Tanzania has made him a formidable force, challenging the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.

Lissu spent about three years in exile in Belgium after the 2017 shooting. He staged a comeback as a presidential candidate in the 2020 elections. He lost to John Magufuli in a poll marred by violence and allegations of rigging.

There have been changes in the country since Magufuli’s death in March 2021 and a string of political reforms under President Samia Suluhu. This has created the space for Lissu and his party Chadema to establish an opposition that now threatens the ruling party’s six-decade hold on power. Presidential elections are due to be held in 2025.

So who is Lissu? What’s his history and how did he became involved in politics?

Early years

Lissu’s political activism began during his university years in the early 1990s. This marked the start of a career that would later shape Tanzania’s political landscape. Lissu studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam before going to the UK for a master’s degree in law.

His first foray into national politics came in 1995, when he vied for a parliamentary seat. He was 27. The election was Tanzania’s first under a multiparty system. It introduced Lissu to the arena of opposition politics following his defeat.

A year later, Lissu was one of the lead investigative lawyers for a public interest environmental law organisation investigating abuses and irregularities at a World Bank-backed gold mine in northern Tanzania. His early work focused on environmental and human rights.

Lissu and his colleague Rugemeleza Nshala were investigating the killing of 62 small-scale miners and the evictions of thousands at the mine in 1996. They were charged with sedition over these investigations. The government eventually stopped following up on the case.

Lissu thereafter worked on community land rights at the World Resources Institute, a global organisation focusing on policy research.

Parliamentary years

In 2010, Lissu won the parliamentary seat for Singida East under the opposition party Chadema. As a first-term member of parliament, he gained prominence by exposing significant state corruption scandals, particularly in the energy sector.

Lissu and other Chadema opposition figures became a formidable force, openly naming corrupt government officials and exposing grand theft.

They also began making calls for constitutional reform. These were aimed at addressing excessive presidential powers and the power imbalances of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. This push culminated in then president Jakaya Kikwete initiating a constitutional review process in 2010.

Lissu’s legal acumen played out in the constituent assembly, the body convened to deliberate on constitutional reforms. However, the assembly, dominated by members of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, rejected many of the key provisions of the draft constitution. It had been widely regarded as the “people’s draft” because it included citizen participation. Its key provisions included reduced presidential powers and the establishment of independent state institutions.

The process was to culminate in a referendum in 2014. This prematurely aborted and Tanzania went into the 2015 election without a new constitution.

In these elections, Lissu successfully defended his parliamentary seat. As a second-term legislator, he focused on strengthening Chadema’s presence. This included door-to-door conversations with the public and grassroots mobilisation to build the party.

The party’s momentum, however, was halted by a repressive regime under Magufuli, who became president in 2015. He cracked down on critics and instituted a partial ban on political rallies.

Lissu became very critical of Magufuli’s economic policies. In a public address in 2017, Magufuli admitted to the government’s tapping of Lissu’s phone and described those who opposed his own economic reforms as traitors. Soon after this, Lissu was shot 16 times after leaving parliament buildings in the capital, Dodoma.

Exile

Lissu officially went into exile in Belgium after the shooting. In 2020, he published Remaining in the Shadows: Parliament and Accountability in East Africa, a critical examination of the presidentialist systems in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which he argued had undermined democratic consolidation in the region.

Through this publication, Lissu continued his activism, challenging political structures.

His brief return to Tanzania to contest the presidency in 2020 was marked by repeated arrests and intimidation during the electoral campaign. After his loss to Magufuli, Lissu went back to Belgium.

He announced his return home in 2023.

Tanzania today

It’s important to understand why Lissu and Chadema are viewed as a current threat in Tanzania.

The country is entering an election period. Local government elections are scheduled for November 2024 ahead of general elections in 2025.

The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has in the recent past relied on state violence to secure electoral victories. The last general election in 2020 was marred by violence, as well as intimidation of the opposition and censorship.

It looks likely that Chadema will once again nominate Lissu to contest the presidency in the 2025 general election against president Samia. Lissu’s fearlessness and defiance make him the best candidate to take on the ruling party. Samia has already described Lissu as a troublesome character.

With the ongoing opposition clampdown, it looks clear that the ruling party is once again willing to do whatever it will take to hold on to power. Even if Tanzania’s democracy suffers.

Nicodemus Minde, Researcher, United States International University

Source: allafrica.com

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