Dodoma. President Samia Suluhu Hassan is set to officially launch the National Cooperative Bank (NCB), a new financial institution aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, especially the lack of access to capital and financial services that are tailored to the specific needs of the market and agricultural behavior in Tanzania.
Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe announced the launch on Thursday, April 10, 2025, highlighting that one of the major issues plaguing the sector is the unavailability of capital.
He further revealed that President Hassan had prioritised ensuring that capital is made readily available to the agricultural sector.
Mr Bashe referred to the former Cooperative Bank, which was rebranded as CRDB after ceasing operations due to various challenges, including the failure of cooperatives.
He pointed out that, in recent years, many banks, including cooperative ones, have collapsed.
However, following President Hassan’s directives, efforts were initiated to establish the National Cooperative Bank.
“This initiative will succeed. On April 28, 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan will officially launch the bank, which will start with four branches, and all major cooperative societies will serve as agents of the bank,” said Mr Bashe.
He further elaborated that these cooperative societies will assist in banking activities such as opening accounts, and processing deposits and withdrawals, all in line with the regulations set by the central bank.
Mr Bashe emphasized the need for a financial institution that understands the agricultural market and the behavior of farmers, stating that while farmers generate substantial income for the country, the financial systems have often failed to meet their unique needs.
“The financial system must understand the farmers. This bank is here to address that gap,” stated Mr Bashe.
Regarding the ownership structure of the bank, Mr Bashe noted that 51 percent of the shares will be owned by major cooperative societies, Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs), and Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOs). The remaining 49 percent will be owned by other stakeholders.
The bank’s headquarters will be located in Dodoma, and the first phase will include branches in Mtwara, Kilimanjaro, and Tabora.
The second phase of expansion will cover the Kagera, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Katavi regions.
“This was President Hassan’s dream – to see empowerment grow. The bank will not be established to harm commercial banks. It will be launched with a capital of Sh55 billion,” Bashe added.
In a significant move, Bashe announced that all major crop buyers, including those dealing with coffee, tobacco, and cashew, will be required to open accounts with the NCB to obtain operational licenses.
A farmer from Kongwa, Arodia Azack, expressed support for the government’s decision, highlighting that the bank is particularly beneficial for small-scale farmers who have previously struggled to access loans from financial institutions due to the lack of collateral.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
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