President Samia Suluhu Hassan has issued key directives to the police force aimed at strengthening public safety and addressing the growing crime rates in Tanzania.
To combat the growing threat of financial fraud, particularly online scams, President Samia pointed to the increase in digital transactions as a key driver for new criminal methods.
She revealed that in 2023 alone, over 5bn/- was lost to fraud, with the police recovering only 288m/-.
President Samia urged the police force to develop a comprehensive strategy to tackle cyber fraud as the government shifts towards a cashless economy.
“It is essential for the police to have a strategy to combat online fraud and we must collaborate with the relevant ministries to equip our police force with the tools needed to address this issue,” she said.
President Samia also urged the police to enhance road safety measures, following alarming statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that show a rise in road fatalities between 2022 and 2023.
According to the NBS, road accidents increased slightly from 1,720 in 2022, which claimed 1,545 lives, to 1,733 in 2023, resulting in 1,645 deaths. This brings the total number of fatalities over the past two years to 3,190.
“The rise in road accidents is largely attributed to human error, poor vehicle conditions and inadequate infrastructure. These issues must be addressed urgently,” President Samia said.
She noted that 37.9 per cent of last year’s accidents were caused by drivers’ negligence, 21.2 per cent by speeding and 13 per cent by careless motorcycle riders–all factors within the police’s control to rectify.
The president also said there is a need for the police to shift their focus on criminal investigations and control mechanisms and adapt to technological advancements.
She cited the NBS report on cybercrime, which saw a 36.1 per cent increase from 1,006 cases in 2022 to 1,369 by December 2023. Crimes such as spreading false information, distributing pornography images and online harassment were on the rise.
“With the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital platforms, the police must be well-prepared to tackle crimes related to misinformation, especially as we approach local and general elections,” President Samia said.
She highlighted the potential rise in politically motivated cybercrime, including defamation, hate speech and false allegations.
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“We are not advocating for the shutdown of social media or silencing citizens’ opinions. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to crimes committed online. Crime is crime, whether it happens online or offline and the same legal measures should be applied,” she added.
As Tanzania gears up for the upcoming local government and general elections, President Samia stressed the importance of maintaining national unity and security throughout the election periods. She urged the police to remain vigilant before, during and after the elections to ensure peace and stability.
In her directives to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police, the president called for the continued implementation of recommendations to strengthen the criminal justice system, particularly those that do not require legislative changes or significant budget increases.
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She further urged the police to utilise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve efficiency and crime control.
Among the initiatives she highlighted were the “safer city” projects, mandatory vehicle inspections to reduce road accidents and highway patrols. She stressed the importance of building the capacity of officers to implement these projects effectively.
Minister for Home Affairs, Hamad Masauni, expressed satisfaction with the police force’s progress, noting that many of the directives given by President Samia in the previous year’s meeting had been successfully implemented.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
