Author: Giza Mdoe

Tanzania fishing industry earns 10% of national foreign exchange.  FAO conducting sustainable fishing initiative in Tanzania. More than 4 million people earn their livelihoods from the fisheries sector. With a stretch of coastline in excess of 1,400km and inland freshwater covering an estimated 54,300 square km, fishing is one of Tanzania’s major agricultural practices. According to the Tanzania National Statistics Bureau, the fisheries sector contributes an average of 1.4 per cent to the GDP and earns about 10 per cent of the national foreign exchange. To add on, more than four million people earn their livelihoods from the fisheries sector…

Zanzibar has an ambitious plan to become the leading hub for blue economy in the East African Community (EAC). However, adverse impact of climate change is affecting the establishment of blue economy systems in the Island. To counter the challenges, the AfDB is supporting human development in Zanzibar as basis to setting up blue economy. Zanzibar aims to be the leading hub for blue economy activities in the Western Indian Ocean region even as adverse impacts of climate change threaten to derail the island’s plan to tap into the emerging sector. At the moment, Zanzibar recognises the role of the…

Tanzania has food surplus and is now exporting to neighbours. This raises hope that the fight against hunger and malnutrition on the continent is achievable. AfDB is now calling for the implementation of Dakar 2 Food Summit commitments. Tanzania has been recognized for its steady steps to achieve food self-sufficiency attributable to its expanding agricultural industry. “Tanzania is setting new benchmarks in food self-sufficiency across Africa, raising hope that the fight against hunger and malnutrition on the continent is achievable,” notes the African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. Dr. Adesina made this observation during a high-level session at…

Egypt and Ethiopia have been onboarded into the BRICS bloc. BRICS has announced increased investment and trade with Africa. Africa stands to gain with increased representation in BRICS. The presence of BRICS in Africa has grown exponentially with the onboarding of two of the continent’s most populous economies, Egypt and Ethiopia. This move is poised to give Africa a much larger representation in the growing economic formation even as other economies, such as Kenya, express interest in joining the BRICS ecosystem. “The expansion of BRICS in 2024 has undoubtedly increased Africa’s weight in international affairs and contributed to the ongoing discussion on…

African countries lag in terms of clean water and sanitation for all investments. The World Bank warns that failure to achieve SDG 6 will affect the achievement of most other goals. Tanzania was recognized for achievements of the Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) phase three. Africa is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG 6), which advocates Clean Water and Sanitation for all, yet its achievement would lead to the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The assertion was made by the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina who noted that failure to achieve SDG…

Enza Zaden’s global subsidiaries hit 26 with a new venture in Tanzania. The seed company is a welcome boost to Tanzania’s horticulture sector whose exports clocked 175,000 tonnes in 2024 alone. Tanzania horticulture is projected to grow at an annual rate of 11 per cent. Enza Zaden, the Netherlands’ major seed grower, has announced the expansion of its venture in Tanzania, boasting 16,000 square meters of international vegetable breeding grounds and state-of-the-art facilities. The firm’s Chief Executive Officer made the announcement at the launch of Enza Zaden, Tanzania, in the country’s horticulture seat, Arusha City. “Today, we operate in 26…

Graphite mining firm Pula Group sues South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe for $195M. Motsepe’s ARM mining faces breach of non-complete contract by investing in Australian firm Evolution Energy Minerals near Pula’s graphite project. ARM denies all claims, maintaining that they ‘considered’ but did not breach contract. South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe is facing a $195 million lawsuit in Tanzania following allegations of a breach of contract by his mining companies in the East African country. The high profile case is being heard in Tanzania’s Commercial Court and is one of the biggest suits before the corridors of justice in recent years.…

Statistics show that the spread of mpox continues to worsen in Africa with over 2,500 new cases recorded in the last week alone. Epicentres the DRC and Burundi account for 86.7% of all new confirmed cases reported during the past week. To counter the disease spread, partners are supplying vaccines to nine hard-hit countries. Mpox outbreak is reportedly worsening in Africa as the number of cases crossed 50,000 mark, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has warned. The threat was announced at a media brief on Thursday by Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, who highlighted that…

More than 63.5 million people are facing food insecurity in East Africa. Over three million people have fled war-torn Sudan, while11 million remain internally displaced in the country. Double whammy of conflict, and bad weather crises are exasperating food insecurity in the region. The World Food Program (WFP) has raised concern that food security and poor nutrition in East Africa is taking an “alarming” tangent in a region where a double whammy of conflict and poor weather patterns are conspiring, pushing millions at risk. WFP says that as of October, more than 63.5 million people were under food insecurity in…

Bad weather is severely affecting Brazil, and Vietnam’s coffee output. Coffee prices are soaring as global supply decreases from the South American countries. As Brazil and Vietnam take a hit, East African coffee producers stand to gain as prices increase. Coffee output in Brazil and Vietnam has taken a hit owing to bad weather affecting global supply, a scenario that could turn the tide in favour of the bean producers from East Africa. At the moment, Brazil, which is the world’s largest coffee supplier, is facing worsening drought that is expected to further affect the optimum production of the crop…