Tanzania in 2006: a land plunged into darkness. Generators roar from every corner, spewing black smoke as businesses struggle through endless power cuts. This energy crisis, fuelled by a brutal drought, exposed a harsh reality that Tanzania’s leaders had failed to prepare for. But amidst the blackouts, a daring solution emerged.
Enter China with a technological behemoth: the Three Gorges Dam in China’s Hubei province. This engineering marvel dwarfs anything Tanzania has seen – a 2.3-kilometre giant with a 660km long reservoir, all for a cool $22.5 billion. Being the largest dam in the world by installed capacity, and ten times bigger than the Nyerere Dam, the Three Gorges Dam isn’t just about showing off. It controls floods, generates massive amounts of power, and even has fancy ship elevators! While Tanzania battled blackouts, the main structure of China’s future-proofed solution was being completed. A huge window of opportunity opened to Tanzania.
And here’s where things get interesting.
A savvy Tanzanian entrepreneur saw the timing of the completion of the Three Gorges Dam structures as a godsend and hatched a plan. He approached the Chinese contractors with a proposition: build, own, and operate (BOO) a dam at Stiegler’s Gorge in Tanzania. The Chinese, needing to put their dam-building crews and assets to work after finishing the Three Gorges Dam, pounced on the idea. Tanzania was to get a brand new mega dam without spending a dime.
But our entrepreneur wasn’t just thinking about power. He envisioned a solution for the future: controlling floods downstream with a clever irrigation system. His plan? Channel water from the dam into reservoirs, creating a network that would irrigate a whopping 400,000 hectares of farmland. This wouldn’t just prevent floods, it would transform the Rufiji region into an agricultural powerhouse!
The scheme was a game-changer. Tanzania has a total of 29.4 million hectares suitable for irrigation, but only irrigates less than 1 million hectares currently. In the 2000s, the entrepreneur’s plan would have nearly tripled the total area under irrigation in Tanzania, potentially doubling or even tripling agricultural output in the region. The possibilities were endless. Unfortunately, this is one of the things that were never to be.
Many things went wrong.
Big mistake number one: Tanzania went it alone. The entrepreneur’s plan relied on a BOO model, where the private sector shoulders the risk and has a vested interest in success. This reduces corruption! But Tanzania opted to self-fund, sinking trillions into the project instead of letting the private sector take the lead. We have not heard the last thing about the cost overruns of the JNHPP project yet.
Big mistake number two: Ignoring the flood risks. Building a dam this size requires careful planning to avoid disaster downstream. Environmental assessments and flood control measures should have been top priorities, yet they were sidelined. No wonder flooding is ravaging Rufiji and Kibiti! This isn’t exactly a new surprise – the government has known about the need for flood control for years, even planning for additional dams for the very purpose. The construction of the JNHPP should have gone hand in hand with the work downstream, not leaving them as an afterthought.
Big mistake number three: Missing the golden opportunity. The entrepreneur’s irrigation scheme wasn’t just about flood control. It was a recipe for agricultural abundance. Irrigation can double or triple crop yields, and this 400,000-hectare plan could have transformed one of Tanzania’s poorest regions. Imagine it – enough productivity to pay for the entire dam possibly in ten years! But this potential bonanza was relegated to the back burner, a missed chance that stings even more considering the current struggles.
The Tanzanian entrepreneur’s proposal was optimistically presented to a government minister (name withheld) for the Cabinet’s consideration. However, when this same minister later held a meeting with Tanzanian businessmen to discuss power solutions, our entrepreneur saw his chance and publicly challenged the minister about his proposal. Awkward silence ensued. The meeting ended abruptly.
What happened afterwards is a matter of public record: Tanzania went ahead with dubious power generation projects such as Richmond and Symbion, which ended up costing the nation dearly. It took
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Tanzania Confirms Second Marburg Outbreak After WHO Chief Visit
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, confirming a single case in the northwestern region of Kagera after a meeting with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The confirmation follows days of speculation about a possible outbreak in the region, after the WHO reported a number of deaths suspected to be linked to the highly infectious disease.
While Tanzania’s Ministry of Health declared last week that all suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg, the WHO called for additional testing at international reference laboratories.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”Amelia Clemence, public health researcher
Subsequent laboratory tests conducted at Kagera’s Kabaile Mobile Laboratory and confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one positive case, while 25 other suspected cases tested negative, the president told a press conference in Dodoma, in the east of the country today (Monday).
“The epicentre has now shifted to Biharamulo district of Kagera,” she told the press conference, distinguishing this outbreak from the previous one centred in Bukoba district.
Tedros said the WHO would release US$3 million from its emergencies contingency fund to support efforts to contain the outbreak.
Health authorities stepped up surveillance and deployed emergency response teams after the WHO raised the alarm about nine suspected cases in the region, including eight deaths.
The suspected cases displayed symptoms consistent with Marburg infection, including headache, high fever, diarrhoea, and haemorrhagic complications, according to the WHO’s alert to member countries on 14 January. The organisation noted a case fatality rate of 89 per cent among the suspected cases.
“We appreciate the swift attention accorded by the WHO,” Hassan said.
She said her administration immediately investigated the WHO’s alert.
“The government took several measures, including the investigation of suspected individuals and the deployment of emergency response teams,” she added.
Cross-border transmission
The emergence of this case in a region that experienced Tanzania’s first-ever Marburg outbreak in March 2023 has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly following Rwanda’s recent outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 before being declared over in December 2024.
The situation is particularly critical given Kagera’s position as a transport hub connecting four East African nations.
Amelia Clemence, a public health researcher working in the region, says constant vigilance is required.
“We never know when an outbreak might occur in a neighbouring nation. So we ensure infection prevention control assessments at every point of care as routine as a morning greeting at our workplaces.”
The Kagera region’s ecosystem, home to fruit bats that serve as natural reservoirs for the Marburg virus, adds another layer of complexity to disease surveillance efforts.
The virus, closely related to Ebola, spreads through contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
Transparency urged
Elizabeth Sanga, shadow minister of health for Tanzania’s ACT Wazalendo opposition party, says greater transparency would help guide public health measures.
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“This could have helped to guide those who are traveling to the affected region to be more vigilant and prevent the risk of further spread,” she said.
WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says early notification of investigation outcomes is important.
“We stand ready to support the government in its efforts to investigate and ensure that measures are in place for an effective and rapid response,” she said, noting that existing national capacities built from previous health emergencies could be quickly mobilised.
The situation coincides with leadership changes in Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, with both the chief medical officer and permanent secretary being replaced.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
Source: allafrica.com
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
