Dar es Salaam. The Sh10,000 banknote has emerged as the most widely used currency denomination in Tanzania, accounting for over 85 percent of all cash circulating outside the banking system, a recent Bank of Tanzania (BoT) report reveals.
According to the BoT, more than Sh7.1 trillion in Sh10,000 notes is in circulation for day-to-day transactions across the country. In comparison, Sh5,000 notes make up Sh674 billion, Sh2,000 notes Sh279 billion, Sh1,000 notes Sh199 billion, and Sh500 notes only Sh60 billion.
Coins are even less prevalent, with Sh200 coins in circulation valued at Sh50 billion, Sh100 coins at Sh34 billion, and Sh50 coins at Sh16 billion.
Experts attribute the dominance of the Sh10,000 note to several factors including seasonal agricultural income, the cost of living, and Tanzania’s predominantly cash-based economy.
BoT Governor Emmanuel Tutuba noted that following the harvest season, particularly between August and September, farmers often receive large sums of cash when selling produce such as maize and rice. In such cases, the Sh10,000 note is preferred for ease of handling.
“After selling crops worth Sh100,000, it is more convenient for a farmer to receive 10 notes of Sh10,000 than a large bundle of smaller denominations,” Mr Tutuba said.
He added that during the planting season, from January to April, smaller denominations are more common as people tend to purchase low-value items like tomatoes or onions.
Economist Oscar Mkude echoed these sentiments, highlighting that Tanzania’s reliance on cash transactions makes higher-value notes more practical.
“In a country where digital payment adoption is still growing, cash remains king. For a payment of Sh1 million, it is far more manageable to use 100 notes of Sh10,000 rather than 1,000 notes of Sh1,000,” he said.
Mr Mkude pointed out that in many European countries, high-denomination notes such as the €500 are rarely used due to the widespread adoption of cards and digital payments—unlike in Tanzania, where cash remains the preferred mode of payment.
He clarified that the dominance of the Sh10,000 note is not driven by inflation, but by convenience and prevailing transaction patterns.
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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.
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“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
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