MINISTER of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Dr Ashatu Kijaji has announced that the government plans to conduct a comprehensive assessment across various regions to evaluate the impacts of flooding caused by climate change.
Dr Kijaji made this statement while presenting a report on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the El Niño rains of 2023/24 and detailing how the office has addressed the challenges.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Water and Environment in Dodoma on Tuesday, she explained that the Vice-President’s Office has begun preparing the necessary documentation for this assessment.
“We will enlist experts in the field to inform the Tanzanian public about the impacts of climate change and the government’s measures to address them,” Dr Kijaji said.
She outlined that the Vice-President’s Office, in collaboration with stakeholders, is focused on providing information to communities, particularly at the village and ward levels, regarding the effects of the El Niño rains.
Additionally, the office has developed initial response plans and strategies for emergency measures, especially in flood-prone areas.
Dr Kijaji also highlighted ongoing efforts to prevent human activities within 60 metres of water sources to minimise the impact on citizens and property affected by rainfall.
ALSO READ: Scientists: El Nino not responsible for East Africa floods
Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office, Engineer Cyprian Luhemeja said that the office is preparing a guide on resource management for water bodies.
Furthermore, an institutional framework for implementing the blue economy policy is being developed, along with educational programmes to enhance public understanding.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Earlier, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Water and Environment, Mr Jackson Kiswaga underlined the need for research centres to regularly assess and report on the effects of climate change, noting the enduring nature of these issues.
The report aims to provide an overview of the environmental impacts caused by the rains between November 2023 and April 2024 and the responses implemented to address these impacts.
The assessment covered several areas: in the Eastern Zone, including Rufiji, Kibiti, Kisarawe, Kinondoni, Temeke, Kigamboni and Mlimba; the Northern Zone including Kisongo Ward in Arusha Region, Arumeru District Wards of Suye and Mianzini, Mto wa Mbu in Monduli District, Ngaramtoni in Arusha District Council-Arumeru District and Karatu District.
Additionally, the assessment included the Western regions of Kigoma and Katavi and the Southern Highlands of Rukwa, Mbeya, Njombe and Songwe.
Source: allafrica.com
Share this news
This Year's Most Read News Stories
High Court rejects Transworld’s application
The High Court in Dar es Salaam has struck out an application in which Transworld Aviation, a ground handler at the Abeid Aman Karume International Airport (AAKIA) was seeking permission to sue the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).Continue Reading
Britam half-year net profit hits Sh2bn on higher investment income
Insurer and financial services provider Britam posted a 22.5 percent jump in net earnings for the half-year ended June 2024, to Sh2 billion, buoyed by increased investment income.
The rise in half-year net profit from Sh1.64 billion posted in a similar period last year came on the back of net investment income rising 2.5 times to Sh13.27 billion from Sh5.3 billion.
“We are confident in the growth and performance trend that Britam has achieved, supported by its subsidiaries in Kenya and the region. Our business is expanding its revenue base while effectively managing costs,” Britam Chief Executive Officer Tom Gitogo said.
“Our customer-centric approach is fueling growth in our customer base and product uptake, particularly through micro-insurance, partnerships, and digital channels.”
The investment income growth was fueled by interest and dividend income rising 34 percent to Sh9.1 billion, which the insurer attributed to growth in revenue and the gains from the realignment of the group’s investment portfolio.
Britam also booked a Sh3.79 billion gain on financial assets at a fair value, compared with a Sh1.8 billion loss posted in a similar period last year.
The increased investment income helped offset the 12.7 percent decline in net insurance service result to Sh2.13 billion in the wake of claims paid out rising at a faster pace than that of premiums received.
Britam said insurance revenue, which is money from written premiums, increased to Sh17.8 billion from Sh16.6 billion, primarily driven by growth in the Kenya insurance business and regional general insurance businesses, which contributed 30 percent of the revenue.
The group has a presence in seven countries in Africa namely Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Britam’s insurance service expense hit Sh13.6 billion from Sh11.3 billion, while net insurance finance expenses rose 2.6 times to Sh12.3 billion during the same period.
“Net insurance finance expenses increased mainly due to growth in interest cost for the deposit administration business driven by better investment performance. This has also been impacted by a decline in the yield curve, which has led to an increase in the insurance contract liabilities. The increase has been offset by a matching increase in fair value gain on assets,” said Britam.
Britam’s growth in profit is in line with that of other Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed insurers, which have seen a rise in profits.
Jubilee Holdings net profit in the six months increased by 22.7 percent to Sh2.5 billion on increased income from insurance, helping the insurer maintain Sh2 per share interim dividend.
CIC Insurance Group posted a 0.64 percent rise in net profit to Sh709.99 million in the same period as net earnings of Liberty Kenya nearly tripled to Sh632 million from Sh213 million, while Sanlam Kenya emerged from a loss to post a Sh282.2 million net profit.
Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Former President of Tanzania, Dies at 98
Ali Hassan Mwinyi, a schoolteacher turned politician who led Tanzania as its second post-independence president and helped dismantle the doctrinaire socialism of his predecessor, Julius K. Nyerere, died on Thursday in Dar es Salaam, the country’s former capital. He was 98.Continue Reading
