Author: Aly Ramji

Tanzania is on the right track in implementing the Africa Mining Vision (AMV)-a continental initiative aimed at seeing minerals drive development of endowed countries, it has been observed. Speaking in Dar es Salaam on 9th May, 2019 during the regional dialogue on `Enhancing National Ownership in the mining sector, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative Natalie Boucly said that Tanzanian government has undertaken key reforms which are constituent with the AMV principles. The Africa Mining Vision was adopted by Heads of State at the February 2009 AU summit following the October 2008 meeting of African Ministers responsible for…

The East and Southern Africa Breeding Network (ESABN) on 4th May, 2018 launched the accelerated genetic gain in rice (AGGRI) project aiming at the empowering women involved in rice value chain in the region. The launch of the project was on the sideline of the just- concluded three-day 11th East and Southern Africa Breeding Network meeting held in Dar es Salaam. Speaking soon after launching the initiative, representative of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for Eastern and Southern Africa, Abdelbagi Ismail said that the beneficiaries will be unified by a set of standards developed to make breeding decisions consistent with…

The Tanzanian shilling is expected to hold steady against the United States dollar in the second quarter of 2019 due to increased inflows of the greenback from tourism,  agriculture exports and demand from corporate to meet the 2018 dividend obligations. The National Microfinance Bank (NMB) Market Digest said in its report that the second quarter will witness increase of inflows from tourism and agriculture thus bolstering the local unit. The report stated that with traditional inflows mostly from tourism and agriculture expected to increase by June, the local unit is to hold steady with minimal volatility as the central bank…

Tanzania is set to test its first, maiden, cheaper and very superior own funded electric train. The train is tipped to be one of Africa`s high speed trains with projected speeds of up to 160 mph. Speaking at a historic event to launch the flash butt welding of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) exercise that took place at Soga in Coastal region outside Dar es Salaam, the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Eng. Isaac Kamwele said first trials for speedy electric train will be conducted in July this year to cover a section of the SGR. The first 300…

East African countries are set to attend the ninth East African Petroleum Conference and exhibition to discuss investment opportunities to enhance socio-economic transformation. This year`s conference is themed:` East African Region – the destination of choice for Oil and Gas Investment Opportunities to enhance Socioeconomic Transformation.` Chairperson of the organizing committee, Marin Heya said over the weekend that over 1,000 local, regional and international delegates will be attending the three-day conference that will be in Mombasa from May 8. `The conference will help attract investors on oil and gas into the region given the potential in the region, ` Heya…

The World Bank has increased emergency support for the three Southern African countries affected by a devastating cyclone that killed hundreds in March to Tshs.1.6 trillion ($700 million), the lender said on 3rd May, 2019. More than 1,000 people were killed across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi after Cyclone Idai, the worst cyclone in decades, lashed the Eastern Indian Ocean coast bringing heavy winds and rains. New World Bank President David Malpass, who is in Africa for his first foreign trip, toured the affected areas in Mozambican port city of Beira on 3rd May, 2019. The bank said it was activating…

Permanent Secretaries responsible for social, economic, environment, foreign affairs and international cooperation from Tanzania and Uganda have signed agreement to strengthen ties in the specific areas and for the protection of boundaries. The agreement was signed in Dar es Salaam on 2nd May 2019 after a two days meeting attended. Tanzania was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr. Faraji Mnyepe while Alfred Ollot, His Ugandan counterpart, led the other delegation. Officials who participated in the meeting included permanent secretaries for ministries of livestock and fisheries, housing and settlements development, energy and water.…

Commissioning of an Agricultural Trade Information System (ATMIS) in the country will spur rapid growth of the economy as farmers, agro-dealers, regulators and consumers interact easily online. TradeMark East Africa`s (TMEA) Country Director, John Ulanga said ATMIS is a powerful digital platform that brings together all agriculture stakeholders including experts in the field and markets for commodities. `Digitization of the agriculture sector will contribute towards rapid economic growth in the East African region because it will provide access of our commodities to the regional market,` Ulanga said while opening training of stakeholders on the how to use ATMIS in Dar…

President John Magufuli on 1st May said there would be no pay rise for civil servants this year – the fourth time he addressed Workers` Day without salary increment – defending the position as meant to avoid inflation. Addressing at the International Labour Day which was observed at the national level in Mbeya city in the Mbeya Region, the Head of State said his first priority is to build the economy, expressing optimism that development projects being implemented now shall warrant increments in future. `I know you expected to hear me announce a pay rise. If I do that today,…

An uptick in diplomatic ties between Tanzania and Israel has started to bear socio-economic fruits, the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said. The premier who saw off 274 tourists on the Israeli Airlines plane at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) over the weekend, pleaded  with the visitors to serve as Tanzania`s ambassadors back home. Over 1,000 tourists from Israel were since April 20, this year, in the northern tourism circuit to sample various attractions in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The first group of the tourists left on Friday night, the second, which was seen off by the Premier,…