By Richard Lamu
As the world marks the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a devastating conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, the story of Nemes Tarimo serves as a poignant reminder of the war’s far-reaching consequences. Tarimo, a 37-year-old Tanzanian student, was recruited by the Wagner Group, a Russian state-backed private military company, while imprisoned in Russia on drug charges. He was promised freedom in exchange for fighting in Ukraine, a decision that would ultimately cost him his life.
Tarimo’s story is not an isolated incident. Russia’s Wagner Group has been linked to the recruitment of African mercenaries, often through coercive means, to fight in Ukraine. This tactic is part of a broader pattern of Russian recruitment of vulnerable individuals for its war effort. Young African women have been deceitfully recruited to manufacture drones, while Nepali men have been forced to pay thousands of dollars to travel to Ukraine, only to be sent into battle with little chance of survival.
Shangwe Ayo, the Deputy Secretary for Publicity, Communication and Public Relations for the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party, says from a Tanzanian perspective, the tragic story of Nemes Tarimo underscores the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly through the Wagner Group’s coercive recruitment tactics targeting imprisoned or impoverished populations.
“These practices not only violate human rights but also destabilise African communities, undermining trust and fuelling insecurity. Furthermore, they create anxiety around pursuing opportunities abroad, which hinders soft diplomatic relations between African nations and the rest of the world,” she says in an interview.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not only had a profound impact on the country but also on global stability. Despite calls from international bodies, including the African Union, Russia has shown little interest in ceasefires or dialogue. Its demands for peace amount to calls for Ukraine’s capitulation, with Russia consistently pushing for territorial concessions, Ukrainian neutrality, and demilitarisation.
The war has heightened global insecurity, challenging a post-World War II order based on international laws and norms. The invasion violates the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force against sovereign states. Countries around the world are reassessing their foreign policy in response, with African countries, traditionally non-aligned, facing increased pressure to take sides.
“Geopolitically, Russia’s actions have intensified global tensions, pressuring African nations to take sides in a conflict many prefer to remain neutral on. Historically non-aligned, African nations now face scrutiny over their stance on global issues, necessitating a unified, peace-driven approach. However, some nations may choose divergent paths, complicating the continent’s collective neutrality,” Ayo adds.
“Africa must also contend with the destabilising role of groups like Wagner, which have entrenched themselves in countries such as Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic under the pretext of fighting insurgencies and terrorism. These activities bolster Russia’s influence in international affairs while leaving African nations politically insecure and dependent on external actors for security. This dependency undermines the capacity of African nations to independently manage their security and political stability.”
The negative impact of Russian aggression on Africa
The war in Ukraine has had far-reaching consequences for Africa, from food shortages to economic instability. Russia’s policy in Africa is one of expansionism, propping up unpopular and violent autocratic regimes in exchange for exploitation of their mineral wealth.
The Wagner Group’s activities in Africa have been linked to human rights abuses and destabilisation, including in Libya, Mali, and Sudan.
“Economically, the conflict’s disruption of global grain and energy supplies has exacerbated food insecurity and inflation across Africa. For African nations already grappling with development challenges, these ripple effects further weaken economic growth and stability,” Ayo noted.
The human cost of war: Nemes Tarimo’s story
Nemes Tarimo’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of war. His recruitment by the Wagner Group, while imprisoned in Russia, highlights the coercive tactics used by Russia to recruit vulnerable individuals for its war effort.
As Tanzania mourns the loss of Tarimo, the international community must come together to condemn Russia’s actions and demand accountability for the exploitation and deaths of African citizens. The world must also work towards promoting peace, stability, and respect for territorial integrity, ensuring that no other family has to suffer the loss of a loved one due to senseless conflict.
“In light of these challenges, African nations, including Tanzania, should advocate an end to exploitation and war while strengthening policies to protect vulnerable citizens from coercion abroad. Nemes Tarimo’s story should serve as a solemn reminder of the importance of peace, justice, and respect for sovereignty to prevent future tragedies. Tanzania, in particular, should work to restore its historical role as a leader in promoting African liberty through seasoned diplomacy, mediation, and arbitration,” said Ayo.
Richard Lamu is a seasoned political analyst/journalist with interest in investigative and feature reporting. He is based in Gaborone, Botswana
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Inside Tanzania’s Life-Saving Birthcare Model
Tanzania is winning the battle against maternal and newborn deaths, as the latest numbers reveal a significant decline.
“Tanzania is committed to reducing maternal and newborn mortality and ensuring safe deliveries as part of the national development plan. The Safer Births Bundle of Care is one of the key strategies supporting this effort,” said Dr. Benjamin Kamala, the Senior Research Scientist at Haydom Lutheran Hospital and Principal Investigator for the program, leading its implementation across five regions in Tanzania.
A groundbreaking study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the innovative health program in Tanzania – centered on regular, on-the-job training for healthcare workers – reduced maternal deaths by 75% and early newborn deaths by 40%. The three-year study, conducted across 30 high-burden healthcare facilities in Tanzania, tracked approximately 300,000 mother-baby pairs under the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme. The programme focuses on improving care for mothers and babies during the day of birth, the critical time when a woman goes into labor and delivers her baby.
Maternal health is a key focus of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Target 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Tanzania’s program combines continuous, simulation-based training for frontline healthcare workers alongside innovative clinical tools to improve labour monitoring (fetal heart rate monitoring) and newborn resuscitation.It also uses data to drive ongoing improvements, ensuring that healthcare workers have the skills, confidence, and competence to manage birth-related complications for both mothers and newborns.
“We work closely with healthcare workers, equipping them with the necessary tools to improve the quality of care, ensuring they can effectively manage both mothers and babies during and after childbirth,” Dr. Kamala said, which helps them build on over a decade of innovative research and collaboration to improve care during childbirth.
“To give you a sense of the scale of the burden of maternal and newborn mortality in Tanzania when the Safer Births Bundles of Care program was in early development in 2015/16, there were around 556 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 25 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births,” he said.
The published study demonstrates the “transformative impact” of the Safer Births Bundle of Care program conducted across 30 hospitals in five high-burden regions of Tanzania, where there were about 300,000 mother-baby pairs.
Maternal deaths at the start of the program were recorded at 240 per 100,000 live births, with postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders being the leading causes of death, he said. Over the 24-month study period, this number dropped to approximately 60 per 100,000 live births, representing a 75% reduction. The number of newborn deaths – which are primarily due to breathing difficulties and complications related to prematurity – declined by 40% – from 7 deaths per 1,000 live births to 4 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“These results are remarkable,” Dr. Kamala said.
According to Dr. Kamala, the 75% reduction in maternal deaths was not expected, and a key lesson was the important role of the in-situ team simulations – including for postpartum bleeding – with reflective debriefings that trained facilitators led.
“This seems to be a major part of the success of the program,” he said. “We are delighted by these results and hope that other countries adopt and scale the Safer Births Bundle of Care program… Beyond the numbers, the Safer Births Bundle of Care program has fostered a dramatic culture shift in our healthcare system,” he said. “Healthcare workers are now more confident and better equipped to handle birth-related complications for both mothers and babies.”
Maternal death drop
Dr. Kamala attributed the 60-70% reduction in newborn deaths in Geita and Manyara to several factors.
“Firstly, Manyara was the first site for implementation, giving the region more time to adapt and experience the impact of the program. Most importantly, both regions had a high burden of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, making them ideal targets for focused intervention. As a result, newborn deaths decreased by 60-70%, showcasing a clear positive impact on newborn survival,” he said.
Dr. Kamala said another possible explanation is the differences in the culture of practices, where some health facilities reported inaccurate data due to the fear of blame and shame. However, with the project’s implementation, reporting became more accurate after mplementation. Some regions, such as Tabora, reported an increase in the number of referrals to the study hospitals from other care centers after the program was implemented. These were more likely to be late admissions, which increase the likelihood of poor health outcomes, he said.
After the implementation of the program, there was a 40% decrease in newborn deaths within the first 24 hours after birth, according to the study.
Dr. Kamala said Tanzania’s remarkable progress in reducing maternal mortality by 80% is driven by strategic investments and innovative programs focused on improving maternal and child survival rates.
“Over 2,000 new healthcare facilities have been developed, free health services are being provided to expectant mothers and children under the age of five, and emergency obstetric care – including better transport to hospitals in rural areas are helping to ensure timely, life-saving interventions.
“Most importantly, the Ministry of Health works in collaboration with healthcare workers, hospitals, and development partners to strengthen the skills of frontline healthcare workers, which has been a key factor in driving this progress.
“Political leadership, alongside strategic partnerships and financing, has been crucial in driving progress in maternal and newborn health,” he said.
The program was made possible by the support of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents, Norad, UNICEF, and Laerdal Global Health, as well as the Ministry of Health and Haydom Lutheran Hospital. Their partnership and investment enabled the scaling of the Safer Births Bundle of Care to 30 hospitals and supported the research. “The government has now scaled the program to over 150 sites, and there are plans for further expansion to three regions this year and then nationally,” he said.
Dr. Kamala outlined key policy recommendations for other governments can adopt to prioritize maternal health.
“Firstly, it focuses on cost-effective and relatively simple interventions that are essential to preventing maternal and newborn deaths. For example, stronger primary healthcare that is delivered in the community and a well-trained healthcare workforce are also critical. Additionally, working in close collaboration with national, regional, and local health authorities is key.”
He said Tanzania’s approach, where the Safer Births Bundle of Care program was successfully scaled and sustained by aligning the initiative with national guidelines for obstetrical and newborn care. In addition, the creation of mentorship programs and regular supervision has helped to sustain the results.
Looking ahead
Tanzania now plans to expand to three new regions in 2025, followed by a nationwide rollout.
The success of the program has attracted interest from other countries, with Botswana, Ethiopia, Lesotho, and Namibia expressing interest in adapting the program to their healthcare system. In Nigeria, the program has already been launched in two states, Gombe and Borno, marking a significant step in its scaling.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania Declares End of Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak
Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.
In response to the latest outbreak, Tanzania’s health authorities set up coordination and response systems, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, at the national and regional levels and reinforced control measures to swiftly detect cases, enhance clinical care, infection prevention as well as strengthen collaboration with communities to raise awareness and help curb further spread of the virus.
Growing expertise in public health emergency response in the African region has been crucial in mounting effective outbreak control measures. Drawing on experience from the response to the 2023 Marburg virus disease outbreak, WHO worked closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly scale up key measures such as disease surveillance and trained more than 1000 frontline health workers in contact tracing, clinical care and public health risk communication. The Organization also delivered over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment.
“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” said Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. “While the outbreak has been declared over, we remain vigilant to respond swiftly if any cases are detected and are supporting ongoing efforts to provide psychosocial care to families affected by the outbreak.”
Building on the momentum during the acute phase of the outbreak response, measures have been put in place to reinforce the capacity of local health facilities to respond to potential future outbreaks. WHO and partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and other equipment for disease detection and surveillance and other critical services.
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.
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.
Source: allafrica.com
US taps Tanzania for infrastructure plan in battle with China for minerals
Washington wants to tap into the country’s minerals, particularly its nickel mines.Continue Reading
