Tanzania Foreign Investment News (Page 6)

Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR is significantly addressing the housing demands of its growing population, with a firm focus on affordability and sustainability, President Hussein Mwinyi said on Wednesday.

“Through the Zanzibar Housing Corporation (ZHC), the government spearheads key initiatives to expand access to affordable homes, especially for low- and middle-income families,” Dr Mwinyi told the African Union for Housing Finance and International Secondary Mortgage Market Association’s joint conference, yesterday.

He said provision of affordable, safe and sustainable homes that meet the needs of both present and future generations is the fundamental challenge faced across the African continent.

“It speaks to the fundamental challenge we face across the continent how to ensure that we provide affordable, safe and sustainable homes that will meet the needs of both present and future generations,” he said.

President Mwinyi said construction of large-scale housing projects designed to meet the demands of urbanisation while ensuring affordability through innovative financing models and public-private partnerships is critical.

He said the government has also prioritised development of sustainable communities, incorporating green building practices and ensuring access to essential services like water, sanitation and electricity.

“Zanzibar’s broader vision is to create well-planned, environmentally friendly and livable urban areas that can support long-term economic growth,” he said.

ALSO READ: Zanzibar unveils major plan to preserve Stone Town

The president cited for praise the crucial role that the International Secondary Mortgage Market Association (ISMMA) plays in the global housing finance ecosystem through connection of institutions that provide secondary market liquidity for mortgage lenders.

“This liquidity is essential in enabling lenders to offer long-term and affordable mortgage products to homebuyers, expanding access to housing finance.

“ISMMA’s expertise in secondary markets brings a wealth of experience and innovative financial models to the table, which is why their partnership in this conference is critical,” President Mwinyi told the meeting.

He further explained that co-hosting the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) and ISMMA is bridging the gap between global best practices and Africa’s unique housing market needs.

“Your involvement signals the increasing global recognition of Africa’s housing potential and underscores the importance of cross-border collaboration in building sustainable and resilient housing finance systems that will support affordable housing efforts not just in Africa, but around the world,” he said.

AUHF is celebrating its 40th anniversary through the conference whose theme is: ‘Building to Last: Realising a sustainable and affordable housing sector in Africa and beyond.’

Source: allafrica.com

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DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Dr Doto Biteko on Wednesday assured that Tanzania is fully committed to supporting realisation of universal electricity access in Africa by 2030.

Briefing journalists on the side-line of the 9th Africa Energy Market Place meeting in Dar es Salaam, Dr Biteko said the country will leverage on its excess power generation to complement neighbouring countries’ demand.

The government assurance echoes its on-going implementation of different major electricity projects including the Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Project (JNHPP), which upon completion will add 2115 Megawatts to the National Grid, significantly making the country attain energy self-sufficiency.

The 9th Africa Energy Market Place meeting which is co-organised by the government through the Ministry of Energy and the African Development Bank (AfDB) intends to boost the country’s effort to clean cooking and electricity access countrywide.

Dr Biteko said the meeting is part of the country’s preparation towards hosting the forthcoming Africa Heads of State Energy Compact Summit which will be held in the country in January, 2025 with the objective of raising about 190 billion US dollar (about 517.498tri/-) to provide electricity to 300 million people in the continent by 2030.

He said Tanzania has been picked by the AfDB to host the two-day 9th Africa Energy Market Place and the upcoming Africa Heads of State Energy Compact Summit due to the sixth-phase government’s strategy to rapidly extend electricity access to rural and peri-urban areas.

As a result, he said Tanzania offers best practice to other African countries when it comes to rural electrification by considering the fact that currently almost all villages are connected with electricity.

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“The country stands as the role model when it comes to rural electrification in the continent. As we embark on ensuring 300 million people in Africa have access to power by 2030, Tanzania is at the driving seat of transformation by ensuring first it gets connected with neighbouring countries’ electricity infrastructure,” he said.

To advance universal electricity access in the continent, he said the country has been entering into partnership with neighbouring countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Zambia to facilitate supply of electricity to them.

In another development, he said the government’s implementation of the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy is on track with 400,000 subsidised gas cylinders set aside to be distributed across the country.

Under the National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy, the country targets to ensure 80 per cent of households use clean cooking energy by 2034 from the current approximately 10 per cent.

The clean cooking initiative also seeks to prevent deforestation thereby cutting carbon emission and conserving the environment by switching to eco-friendly cooking energy including gases and electricity.

Dr Biteko requested the AfDB to support financially the Tanzania efforts to achieve its ambitious energy strategy.

For his part, the AfDB’s Vice-President of Energy, Power, Climate Change and Green Growth, Dr Kevin Kariuki assured Tanzania of the continental financial body’s back up to realise transition to clean cooking targets.

Dr Kariuki stated that the AfDB has selected Tanzania to host two energy events as a recognition of its ongoing efforts to modernise energy use, which positively impact not only the nation but the entire continent.

Earlier, during the panel discussion at the 9th Africa Energy Marketplace, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy, Eng Felchesmi Mramba asked participants to share experiences, explore opportunities and forge partnerships that aim at simplifying the affordability and availability of clean cooking technologies in the country.

The meeting which started yesterday will be concluded today.

Source: allafrica.com

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Tanzania is gearing up to become a leading player in Africa’s strategic mineral industry, as global demand for these critical resources is expected to massively increase by 2050.

The announcement was made the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, during a discussion with key stakeholders in the sector.

The minister emphasized Tanzania’s strategic advantage in this race, highlighting the country’s rich reserves of minerals essential for clean energy, such as nickel, lithium, and graphite.

ALSO READ: STAMICO hails State for revamps in mining sector

According to the minister, the global demand for graphite is 6.5 million tonnes per year, while the current global production stands at 1.2 million tonnes with China leading by contributing to 64 percent of the world’s graphite production.

Additionally, he said that in Africa, the leading country is Madagascar which contributes 13 percent followed by Mozambique (10 percent).

He stated that Tanzania holds the third position by contributing 0.6 percent..

Source: allafrica.com

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Nairobi — The Tanzanian government should take urgent steps to reverse the deteriorating human rights situation in the country ahead of forthcoming local elections in mainland Tanzania on November 27, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today.

Since June, the authorities have arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, imposed restrictions on social media access, banned independent media, and have been implicated in the abduction and extrajudicial killing of at least eight government critics.

“The Tanzanian authorities have shown increasing intolerance for free speech by clamping down on their critics and the political opposition,” said Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The government should urgently stem the tide of repression or risk escalating an already tense political environment.”

On June 23, four unidentified men in civilian clothes abducted Edgar Mwakabela, a social media commentator known as Sativa, in Dar es Salaam. Mwakabela said the abductors took him to Oysterbay Police Station in Dar es Salaam, where they interrogated him overnight while he was handcuffed about his role in mobilizing a traders’ boycott and his relationship with political opposition leaders.

The next day, the police drove Mwakabela to a police station in Arusha, where they beat him over several hours. Four days after abducting him, they shot him in the jaw and dumped him in a swamp in Katavi National Park, 1,000 kilometers away.

On July 15, police confirmed they had detained Kombo Mbwana, an official of the main opposition party, the Party for Democracy and Progress (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, Chadema), in Handeni district, Tanga region, after his disappearance on June 15. The authorities brought charges against him on July 16 for allegedly failing to provide sufficient information regarding his SIM card account, under section 126 of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act.

Mbwana’s detention without charge for 30 days after his family reported his disappearance far exceeds the 24-hour limit required by law, constituting an enforced disappearance. On September 5, a court denied Mbwana bail, and he remains in detention pending trial.

Chadema has reported the apparent enforced disappearance of at least two additional officials, including Dioniz Kipanya, an official in Sumbawanga district, Rukwa region, reported missing on July 26, and Deusdedith Soka, a youth leader whom a group of men reportedly abducted on August 18 alongside his secretary, Jacob Godwin Mlay, and Frank Mbise, a motorcycle taxi driver.

A week earlier, police had arrested and released Soka alongside hundreds of Chadema supporters and several journalists, ahead of an International Youth Day celebration organized by the party in Mbeya.

On August 2, Shadrack Chaula was reported missing by his family, one month after his conviction for “insulting” President Samia Suluhu Hassan and burning a photo of her in a video posted on his TikTok account. Chaula has been released on July 8 after paying the court-imposed fine.

On September 7, the body of Ali Mohamed Kibao, a Chadema party official who was reported missing a day earlier, was found beaten and doused with acid. President Suluhu Hassan ordered an investigation, but no arrests have been made.

The authorities have also cracked down on those raising concerns about these enforced disappearances, Human Rights Watch said.

In August, after Chadema announced a rally in Dar es Salaam to protest the government’s inaction following the abduction of its supporters, the police banned the demonstrations, threatening to “deal with” people who did not comply. On September 23, police arrested and later released on bail the party leaders Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu, as well as other party members, ahead of the planned rally.

In early September, the monitoring organization Netblocks confirmed that Tanzania had restricted access to the social media platform X. The site was blocked as Tanzanians engaged in social media discussions around the disappearances.

On October 2, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority suspended the online license of Mwananchi Communications Ltd, the publisher of Tanzania’s primary English and Swahili newspapers, after it published an animated video depicting President Suluhu Hassan watching news reports about the abductions. The authority claimed the video “threatens and is likely to affect and harm national unity and social peace” in Tanzania.

These oppressive measures mirror the pre-election climate ahead of the October 2020 general elections, when there was a marked deterioration in freedoms of expression and association and other human rights. The authorities arbitrarily arrested scores of opposition party leaders and supporters, suspended media outlets, censored mobile phone communications, and blocked social media.

On the eve of those elections, police fired live ammunition into crowds in Zanzibar, killing at least nine people, while security forces, alongside a government-aligned militia, beat and harassed residents and arbitrarily arrested opposition supporters, detaining and torturing them for weeks. The next general elections are scheduled for late 2025.

President Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office following the death of President John Magufuli in March 2021, took some initial measures to respond to rights concerns and to open up the space for the political opposition and media. The Tanzanian authorities, however, have yet to seriously investigate or prosecute anyone for those abuses, especially in Zanzibar.

“At this critical time, the Tanzanian authorities should take urgent steps to uphold human rights and ensure that the forthcoming elections are free and fair,” Nyeko said. “President Samia Suluhu Hassan should ensure a prompt and impartial investigation into the disappearances of her critics and put an end to the ongoing clampdowns on her political opponents and independent media.”

Source: allafrica.com

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Rwanda’s gospel star Israel Mbonyi is not planning to rest anytime soon this year as he already set Tanzania as his next stop for his East African music tour.

This comes weeks after the ‘Nina Siri’ hit maker put up big shows both in Kenya and Uganda that attracted tens of thousands of worshipers including top government officials and celebrities.

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This time around, the artiste has confirmed two major concerts in East Africa’s largest city, Dar es salaam, slated for November.

According to Mbonyi’s management, the first show of the tour will be held at Mlimani City on November 2, before staging another at the Leaders Club the following day.

Organized by Wakati wa Mungu society, one the biggest gospel events promoters in Tanzania, the events will also attract local musicians including the likes of Rehema Simfukwe, Halisi Ministry, Joel Lwanga, among many others.

Mbonyi’s decision to sing in other languages, especially Kiswahili, has expanded his ministry’s reach to other East African countries including Tanzania.

ALSO READ: Israel Mbonyi confirms concert in Kenya

He recently staged concerts in several countries including Belgium in western Europe where the demand for tickets surpassed expectations, forcing organisers to move the event from Birmingham Palace to a bigger venue, Dome Event Hall.

Admission to Mbonyi’s concert in Tanzania at Leaders Club is 20 Tsh (about Rwf10,000) and 50 Tsh (Rwf 24,000) for VIPs.

Tanzania becomes Mbonyi’s next stage in Africa after Burundi where he performed in Bujumbura in early 2023, Kenya in August 2024, and Uganda where he entertained big crowds in Kampala and Mbarara in the same month.

Apart from the East African tour, The New Times understands that the singer plans to perform in other African countries including South Africa.

Israel Mbonyi, 32, is arguably one of the best Rwandan artistes of his generation. His work has been recognised in the gospel music industry, following his nominations in the African Entertainment Awards USA besides winning various prizes at the Groove Awards Rwanda.

His music recently received nominations from African Entertainment Awards USA and recognition from the Groove Awards Rwanda and Isango Na Muzika Awards.

Source: allafrica.com

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Kampala — Instead of providing the latest news updates, the homepages of three leading Tanzanian newspapers are focused on their own suspension over a video seen as critical of the president, as concerns mount over deteriorating press freedom ahead of elections.

On October 2, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) issued a 30-day suspension order for Mwananchi Communications Limited’s (MCL) online publications affecting the websites of its newspapers — the English-language daily The Citizen, the Swahili-language Mwananchi and the sports-focused Mwanaspoti — and their social media pages. The TCRA accused MCL of publishing prohibited content on social media that “aimed to ridicule and harm the reputation, prestige and status” of the country. The three newspapers’ print editions continue to hit the newsstands.

The one-month ban is part of a series of recent press freedom violations in Tanzania, as human rights organizations have warned of narrowing civic space ahead of November’s local elections and next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan will stand.

The Citizen’s October 1 animated video showed a woman resembling the president flipping through television reports in which people complained about abductions and killings. Tanzanians have been shocked by September’s murder of opposition politician Ali Mohamed Kibao, after being taken off a bus, beaten, and doused in acid — the latest in a wave of high-profile opposition figures to “disappear.”

On October 2, MCL said it had removed the animation because “it depicted events that raised concerns regarding the safety and security of individuals in Tanzania.” However, the deleted video has been shared widely online.

Separately, on October 9, the TCRA accused the privately owned YouTube-based Jambo TV, of breaking the law in its broadcast of criticism of two telecoms companies.

The regulator objected to the news channel airing a claim by Tundu Lissu, vice chairperson of the opposition Chadema party, that Tigo shared his location data with the government prior to a 2017 attempt to assassinate him, as well as journalist Erick Kabendera’s claim that Vodacom Tanzania shared his data with security personnel who arrested him in 2019.

A British court heard this month from Tigo’s former parent company Millicom that it had concerns “about a local politician’s mobile phone data being passed to a government agency.” In court filings responding to a former Tigo employee’s claim that he was dismissed for raising concerns about surveillance, Millicom said the individuals involved had been disciplined.

The TCRA said that Jambo TV should “submit a written defense” and appear before its Content Committee on October 17 “to explain why legal action should not be taken against it.”

Kabendera had sued Vodacom, alleging that the company “facilitated” his arrest, but his case was dismissed in September. He intends to appeal.

Samia, who succeeded President John Pombe Magufuli after his death in 2021, initially lifted media bans and promised to improve conditions for the press. However, her government has fallen short of overhauling restrictive laws, such as the 2020 online content regulations cited in this month’s ban on MCL and the case against Jambo TV.

In violations reminiscent of the anti-press tactics used under Magufuli, at least eight journalists have been arrested while covering opposition events in recent weeks:

● August 11

Journalists Ramadhan Khamis and Fadhil Kirundwa of privately owned Jambo TV were arrested while covering a Chadema event in the southern city of Mbeya. Kirundwa and Khamis told CPJ they were released the following day on condition that they did not publish footage of the youth rally, in which more than 500 people were arrested.

● September 23

Police assaulted MCL journalists Lawrence Mnubi, Michael Matemanga, and Baraka Loshilaa and detained them for hours in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam while covering a banned Chadema protest over alleged killings and abductions.

Police also briefly detained reporter Mariam Shaban of privately owned East Africa TV, and privately owned Nipashe newspaper’s Jenifer Gilla and Jumanne Juma, Shaban and Gilla told CPJ.

On October 7, government spokesperson Thobias Makoba told CPJ by phone that he could not immediately respond to questions and did not answer subsequent calls and messages. Makoba previously told the U.S. Congress-funded Voice of America Africa that the Tanzanian government supports freedom of speech and encourages responsible journalism, while noting that freedom comes with responsibility.

TCRA spokesperson Rolf Kibaja told CPJ via email that the regulator had invited MCL to a hearing on October 10 “after which further regulatory actions would follow.” He did not respond to requests for clarification or subsequent queries about Jambo TV.

CPJ requested comment via email and messaging app from Vodacom Tanzania; and via email from its South Africa-based parent company Vodacom Group; Tigo Tanzania; and Luxembourg-based Millicom, which owned Tigo Tanzania in 2017, but did not receive any replies. Police spokesperson David Misime did not respond to CPJ’s requests for comment via messaging app.

Source: allafrica.com

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As Tanzania commemorates the 25th anniversary of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s passing, his contributions to the nation’s health sector remain a lasting legacy.

Nyerere, born on April 13, 1922, in Butiama, Mara Region, passed away on October 14, 1999, in a London hospital where he was receiving treatment.

After gaining independence in 1961, Nyerere declared a war against three major challenges: poverty, ignorance, and disease.

His government prioritized universal access to free healthcare, establishing numerous health facilities across the country through the Ujamaa policy, which aimed to ensure that all citizens could receive medical care close to home.

Prior to independence, health services were predominantly available in urban areas, leaving rural populations underserved. Recognizing the vital link between health and national development, Nyerere’s government worked to expand access to healthcare services.

Health initiatives became integral to national development plans, with the First Five-Year Development Plan (1964-1969) emphasizing the establishment of regional hospitals and enhancing specialist care.

Subsequent plans focused on preventive measures to combat communicable diseases and improve healthcare access in both urban and rural areas.

The Third Five-Year Development Plan (1976-1981) aligned with the global call for primary healthcare established at the Alma Ata conference in 1978, aiming for health for all by the year 2000.

The groundwork laid by Nyerere’s administration set the stage for ongoing improvements in Tanzania’s health sector.

ALSO READ: Mwalimu Nyerere, a rare visionary leader

Today, six decades post-independence, the country has witnessed significant advancements in primary healthcare, largely due to the stable foundation established by Nyerere, who recognized disease as a primary enemy.

Successive governments have continued this mission, implementing robust health policies in collaboration with religious institutions, private organizations, and community stakeholders.

The number of health facilities has soared from just 1,343 before independence to 11,040 by March 2023, including 430 hospitals and 1,030 health centers.

As of March 2023, Tanzania boasted 95,868 hospital beds, reflecting a growing capacity to meet the healthcare needs of the population.

Government efforts have ensured a steady supply of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies, while specialized services are increasingly accessible through various hospitals across the country.

Tanzanians no longer need to travel abroad for complex medical procedures like kidney transplants and cochlear implants, which are now available at Muhimbili National Hospital.

The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute has also made strides, performing over 1,190 closed-heart surgeries and 345 open-heart surgeries within three years.

Investments in the Ocean Road Cancer Institute have enhanced cancer care, allowing the facility to treat up to 300 patients daily and ensuring that essential cancer medications are fully stocked.

Meanwhile, the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute has conducted significant numbers of spine and brain surgeries, demonstrating advancements in specialized care.

The government’s initiatives have not only improved local healthcare but also strengthened medical tourism, attracting patients from neighboring countries seeking specialized services.

In conclusion, Nyerere’s vision for a healthier Tanzania continues to thrive, with his legacy shaping the country’s health sector and ensuring that all citizens can access the care they need.

Source: allafrica.com

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