Dodoma. The government has outlined the transformative economic benefits Tanzania has so far gained from the emerging Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which became operational this June, after investing $10 billion (approximately Sh23 trillion).
Tanzania government, through the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), is building a modern railway network spanning no less than 2,561 kilometres, which will connect the port city of Dar es Salaam, with Mwanza, Kigoma, Katavi, and neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the DRC.
A section between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma became operational since June this year and according to the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, the train services along the line have so far transported 645,421 passengers by September and generated Sh15.695 billion.
“This project is set to boost business and attract investment by cutting transport times and costs, driving growth in domestic and international trade,” he said during the presentation of the proposed Development Plan for 2025/26 to the Parliament on Friday November 1, 2024.
He said the project is also expected to position Tanzania as a leading transport and logistics hub in East and Southern Africa.
“From jobs to industrial growth, this project is reshaping our economy,” Prof Mkumbo stated, highlighting that the SGR has generated over 30,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs since construction began in May 2017.
With the Dar es Salaam – Dodoma section now fully operational, travel times have been significantly cut from approximately ten hours by bus to just three and a half hours by train, Prof Mkumbo reported, calling the change a “major boost for both personal and commercial transport.”
Powered by electricity, the SGR is expected to contribute to road safety and environmental sustainability.
The SGR has also spurred demand for local construction materials, notably cement and steel, stimulating the manufacturing sector.
“The railway isn’t just about transport—it’s driving industry,” Mkumbo said, adding that 2,460 companies are working on the project under contracts worth Sh3.69 trillion.
Designed to facilitate seamless cross-border cargo movement, the SGR is also supporting international trade.
Since 2023, some 519 investment projects have been registered along the SGR corridor through the Tanzania Investment Centre, with a capital inflow of $4.59 billion and an anticipated 115,566 new jobs, Prof Mkumbo revealed.
“This railway is not only a transport system; it’s our bridge to greater economic growth and Tanzania’s future as a regional trade hub,” Professor Mkumbo said, emphasising the government’s vision to transform Tanzania into a continental logistics powerhouse.
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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
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Tanzania air operators say over 600 workers are set to lose their jobs after the semi-autonomous government of Zanzibar awarded a Dubai-based company exclusive rights to handle ground services at a refurbished airport.
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