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: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
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On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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