Zanzibar. NMB Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Zaipuna has said that the Bank, in partnership with the government, has financed a number of strategic sectors, including putting Sh1.6 trillion into agriculture as of last year.
Out of the funds, Sh400 billion was in the form of soft loans extended at an interest rate of nine percent in the sector Ms Zaipuna told over 500 delegates at the three-day 38th annual meeting of the Association of Local Authorities Tanzania (Alat) on April 24.
Ms Zaipuna said NMB’s engagements in national development also include corporate social investment, with at least Sh8 billion set aside for 2024.
“Of the Sh8 billion, Sh2.5 billion will be spent on building a special school in Dodoma, while the remaining amount will be invested in the priority sectors of the bank’s corporate giving policy, notably education, health, and entrepreneurship,” she explained.
Through its recently launched Nuru Yangu Scholarship and Mentorship programme, the bank has provided scholarships to 130 bright college students hailing from poor families.
Its special village banking strategy seeks to bring the unbanked segment of the population into formal banking. Through the village banking scheme, NMB targets to cover more than 1,000 villages that do not have access to formal financial services. Implementation of the strategy has included the use of the NMB Pesa Account service.
The product allows one to open an account digitally for only Sh1,000.
The product attracts no monthly charges. The account is instantly connected to NMB Mkononi, thus enabling customers to access up to Sh500,000 unsecured Mshiko Fasta digital loans without visiting an NMB branch.
“Since we officially launched it about two months ago, we have managed to open over 100,000 NMB Pesa accounts, and the target is to open over 1.5 million new accounts by the end of this year,” Ms Zaipuna pointed out.
The number of NMB Bank’s agents has increased to 34,000 across the country, compared to only 10,000 in 2021, and the target is to raise it further to 50,000 by 2026.
Ms Zaipuna lauded the government for putting in place a supportive business environment that has enabled it to continue excelling in the market, paying the rightful taxes and making mouthwatering dividend payouts to shareholders that include the government.
“It is for that reason that the Tanzania Revenue Authority has, for the last two consecutive years, recognised NMB Bank as the largest and most compliant taxpayer in the country,” she stated.
In his remarks to officiate the opening of the congress, the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, called for stakeholders’ close collaboration in the fiscal space due to the pivotal role of taxes in financing development and delivering quality services.
The cabinet minister, who represented President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, challenged LGAs to set realistic revenue targets and employ creative measures in collecting tax income.
“Like the late Mwalimu Nyerere used to preach, revenues are the lifeblood of economies due to their decisive role in sustainable development and the delivery of services to the masses; therefore, you should ensure that they are not leaked or misused at all,” he emphasised.
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania readying to talk to British developer over Zanzibar land lease revocation
Dar es Salaam. British firm Pennyroyal Limited has said it will sue the Tanzanian government over leasehold revocation in Zanzibar, but the Attorney General has confirmed that they are preparing to meet with the investor.Continue Reading
Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
