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Minerals ministry says $1.3 million worth of gemstones were sold at the auction.Continue Reading

The bold venture not only represents a major investment in Zanzibar’s infrastructure but also marks a shift towards more responsible, eco-friendly, technologically self-sustaining and robust building practices that prioritize long-term value and the world’s top branded materials quality.Continue Reading

Regional financiers are already using AI mostly to combat fraud in payments, boost customer experience, and enhance efficiency and speed of settlements.Continue Reading

The five key areas for a thriving economy are: sound policies and laws, visionary leadership, effective performance, the adoption of appropriate production technologies, and a robust tax system.Continue Reading

After weeks of struggling with a government-imposed ban on loud music, Zanzibar’s bar and hotel owners have been granted a six-day exemption, allowing them to play music during the festive season.Continue Reading

Unguja. The chairperson of the National Advisory Committee for the Gender Equality Platform (GEF), has urged the private sector to create comprehensive databases of qualified female professionals.

This, she said, will facilitate their recruitment, promotion, and placement into leadership roles.

Kairuki made the call on Saturday, December 14, 2024, during a national gender equality platform meeting with private sector leaders in Zanzibar.

She emphasised that achieving gender equality is not only a matter of social justice but also a driver of economic growth.

“Given the momentum we are building, I encourage every business and institution to adopt gender-sensitive criteria for leadership, ensuring that we build inclusive workplaces,” she said.

Ms Kairuki, who also serves as an advisor to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, urged organisations to implement policies that promote equal pay, flexible working hours, and a zero-tolerance approach to harassment.

She also highlighted the unique economic and social context of Zanzibar, pointing out that the region has an invaluable opportunity to integrate gender equality into its broader development agenda.

“This platform serves as a reminder that the private sector can spearhead significant changes in gender equality, and leaders can play a crucial role by being proactive employers, investors, and innovators,” she stated.

However, Ms Kairuki was clear that gender equality should not come at the expense of ignoring the challenges faced by men.

“It is important to create opportunities for both men and women to succeed, ensuring an inclusive environment where everyone thrives. Our goal is to build a society where no one is left behind,” she added.

UN Women Deputy Resident Representative, Ms Katherine Gifford, supported Ms Kairuki’s remarks, emphasising that the private sector has the potential to address key issues such as pay disparities, inequality, and gender-based violence.

She also noted that businesses can promote women’s education, training, and professional development while adapting their procurement practices to be more inclusive.

“As we move forward, we need to strengthen partnerships between the private sector, the government, civil society, academia, and international organizations. These collaborations will enhance the sharing of resources and expertise, accelerating efforts to achieve gender equality,” said Ms Gifford.

The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Ms Riziki Pembe Juma, underscored that gender equality is attainable with commitment.

“This effort should go beyond institutions and extend to our homes, ensuring equal opportunities for both girls and boys,” she said.

The Zanzibar’s House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Ms Mgeni Hassan Juma also emphasized the importance of empowering women across all sectors.

“Each institution has a responsibility to ensure women are given the opportunities to lead and succeed. We must address policy challenges that could act as barriers to this progress,” she said.

Zanzibar National Chamber Of Commerce (ZNCC) chief executive officer Hamad Hamad, revealed that women make up 40 percent of the chamber’s members.

“We are seeing a growing number of female entrepreneurs, but more needs to be done to create equal standards that attract more women into business and leadership roles,” he stated.

The Jumbi Market secretary Faki Suleiman Khatib, called for more training and guidelines, recognizing that societal norms can be difficult to change.

“Not all challenges will be easy to solve, but we must come together to decide what is possible and educate the community on the changes needed,” he said.

The Zanzibar Day Care director, Ms Happiness Johnson, also spoke about discrimination against people with disabilities, stressing the need for equal opportunities for all.

“Many institutions exclude people with disabilities, and this must change. They should be given the same opportunities as others, based on their abilities,” she said.Continue Reading

Mirerani. Precious minerals worth Sh3.1 billion are set to be auctioned in Mirerani Ward, Simanjiro District, on December 14, 2024.

The auction will feature 184.06 grams of gemstones and minerals, including Tanzanite.

The government has pledged to return any unsold minerals to respective dealers, a reversal of the policy from the 2017 mineral auction, when unsold stones were confiscated by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).

The decision follows widespread complaints from miners and dealers after the 2017 auction.

Minerals minister Anthony Mavunde, officially launched the auction in Manyara Region, emphasizing that the government was committed to enhancing the value of locally sourced minerals.

He assured participants that unsold items would not be confiscated, as had occurred in 2017.

“Miners should not worry if their minerals do not sell; the government will return them,” said Mr Mavunde.

He also reiterated that the government was working to improve the mining investment climate and curb illegal activities such as smuggling, which undermined the sector’s potential.

The minister outlined ambitious revenue goals, including generating over Sh1 trillion for the national fund by June 2025, an increase from the Sh753 billion raised during the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

He reported that the sector had already raised Sh434 billion this year, with a target of Sh500 billion by the end of December.

The auction will feature 195 participants, including 59 major buyers, 120 small-scale buyers, nine miners, and seven value-added product experts.

Manyara Regional Commissioner Queen Sendiga highlighted that the auction would boost the local economy and enhance the value of Mirerani’s minerals.

“The ongoing construction of a new mineral market in Mirerani will also support both small and large-scale dealers once completed,” Ms Sendiga added.

Simanjiro Member of Parliament Christopher Ole Sendeka commended the government for bringing the auction to Mirerani, but criticised the stringent security checks that caused delays for participants.

Lucid Dream Ltd Managing Director Upendo Kibona expressed optimism about the auction’s potential, noting it would bring together a wide range of sellers and buyers.

Ms Kibona also called for more international auctions, as a long hiatus has hurt mineral trade value.

The Tanzania Mineral Traders Association (Chamata) chairman, Mr Jeremiah Kituyo, welcomed the return of the auction, saying it would help raise the profile of Tanzanian minerals on the global stage.

“This will not only increase the value of our minerals, but also will promote Tanzania as the exceptional home of Tanzanite, attracting international tourists and investors,” Mr Kituyo added.Continue Reading

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian government has distributed Sh20.8 billion to maize farmers across three key agricultural regions, addressing part of the Sh52.4 billion debt owed to them as of December 2024.

The payments were effected to farmers on Friday, December 13, 2024, as the government disclosed its goal to clear all outstanding balances by January 10, 2025.

Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe disclosed the move in a public statement issued on Friday, December 13, 2024, emphasising that the government is committed to making all payments promptly.

Bashe stated that as of December 11, 2024, the government, through the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA), had purchased maize and other grains worth Sh334.22 billion.

He said Sh52.4 billion was the debt owed to farmers in Songwe, Rukwa, and Ruvuma regions, hinting that the amount will be settled in phases, starting with the current disbursement.

“As of December 13, Songwe has received Sh6.8 billion, while Sh7 billion has been allocated for Rukwa and Ruvuma regions respectively,” he said.

Furthermore, he said these payments follow a First In, First Out (FIFO) method, ensuring that earlier deliveries are compensated first.

“We are working to ensure that all debts to farmers are fully cleared before January 10, 2025,” Bashe said, highlighting the government’s focus on improving its payment system to avoid delays in future procurement seasons.

According to him, the government plans to purchase an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of maize during the 2025/26 season, which begins in June-July, next year.

In his statement, Minister Bashe also underscored that Tanzania’s food reserves will exceed 700,000 tonnes, a milestone for the country.

This is particularly significant as the government continues fulfilling contracts with international clients such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the government of Zambia.

“This is a historic moment for our country as we have never purchased such a large quantity of grain in our history,” noted Mr Bashe.

However, despite the large-scale purchases, Mr Bashe acknowledged that the procurement process has faced challenges, particularly with payment delays.

These issues were attributed to the payment systems including interconnection problems with commercial banks that assist in financing maize purchases.

“We are aware of these problems and are working to improve the systems for improved efficiency in the upcoming season,” said the minister.

The payments come after months of frustration for maize farmers across the country.

Many have not received the full amount for maize sold to the NFRA between July and November 2024, with Sh63 billion still outstanding as of November this year.

Farmers in regions like Ruvuma, who delivered large quantities of maize earlier in the year, have faced severe financial strain as they wait for compensation.

“I haven’t been paid for the maize I sold in September. This delay has left me struggling to prepare for the next farming season,” said one farmer from Songea, Ruvuma Region.

NFRA Executive Director, Dr Andrew Komba, admitted to the payment delays, attributing the issue to liquidity constraints faced by their financing partners.

“We are working with several lenders, but their financial challenges have delayed payments. We pay farmers as soon as we receive the necessary funds,” explained Dr Komba.

Despite the ongoing delays, Dr Komba assured that payments would be timelier in Phase II of procurement, which begins in February 2025.

“By the time Phase II starts, we will have received sufficient funds from our clients, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the WFP, to ensure smooth and timely payments to farmers,” he said.

However, sources within the banking sector suggest that NFRA could have been more proactive in requesting funding, which may have contributed to the delays.

“As far as I know, there have been no pending applications from NFRA. We process the requests as soon as they are submitted,” said one banker familiar with the matter.

Looking ahead, the NFRA is committed to fulfilling its major export contracts.

For the 2024/25 season, the agency has agreed to supply 1.25 million tonnes of maize to Zambia, the DRC, and the WFP, valued at approximately $450 million (Sh1.17 trillion).

As of now, Zambia has made payments for 195,000 tonnes, with 40,000 tonnes already delivered.

However, the DRC has not yet made any payments for its 500,000-tonne order, while the WFP has received 5,000 tonnes of its 35,000-tonne order.

Despite the challenges, Dr Komba remains optimistic, stating that 74 percent of the procurement process for these contracts has been completed successfully.

He also noted that the agency is addressing logistical issues, such as a shortage of storage facilities and delays in sorting maize damaged by rains.

In response, the NFRA has built temporary shelters, increased its digital weighing stations, and plans to introduce modern cleaning technology in the next procurement season.

By November 2024, the NFRA had procured 429,000 tonnes of maize, 30,000 tonnes of rice, and zero tonnes of millet, due to insufficient local production in targeted areas.

As the government works to resolve the outstanding issues, Tanzanian maize farmers are hopeful that the upcoming payments and reforms will restore confidence in the sector.Continue Reading

Mombasa and Dar es Salaam ports have registered an influx of ships in the past one week due to longer routes and end year cargo deliveries.

Mombasa recorded 21 ships waiting at convenience compared to 38 ships at Dar es Salaam port.

The influx has resulted in Mombasa port cancelling scheduled leave days for staff working in operation and cargo handling departments.

“There’s no congestion as most of the ships were in the schedule, but because most vessels had longer routes occasioned by attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea, majority have opted to wait and load more cargo hence it is at their convenience. The influx of ships is also as a result of many traders importing merchandise for the holiday and festivities but delayed,” said John Karissa, a Mombasa clearing agent.

Shippers Council of Eastern Africa chief executive George Ogambi said they had expected the situation, which is why they had asked Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to maintain a normal work schedule to avoid delay in delivering the cargo.

“KPA is doing a good job. What we are asking them is to ensure services continue as scheduled during festivities to maintain efficiency as December and November are peak importing months as retailers replenish inventories and stock up for the holiday season,” said Mr Ogambi.

According to shippers, vessels are waiting at convenience to pick and drop cargo as they head to the Port of Salalah, which is the biggest in the Arabian Peninsula, and most ships in Eastern Africa use it for transshipment.

The East African coastline, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, compete as regional transshipment points, but both face severe capacity constraints.

Christmas is a season when imports hit all-time highs and it is a time when traffic by land, sea and air increases due to the high number of purchases and the exponential requests for products.Continue Reading