Author: Padili Mikomangwa

• A survey shows that school students in Tanzania face shame, and fear when speaking in English.
• Unlike in many parts of neighbouring Kenya or Uganda, English is not used as a language of instruction in schools in Tanzania until the learners join secondary schools at the age of 14
• How can Tanzania’s young people compete favourably with peers for global work opportunities?

A startling finding in Tanzania could see policymakers in the education sector go back to the drawing board after a survey revealed that school students face shame, and fear when speaking in English.

Unlike in many parts of neighbouring Kenya or Uganda, English is not used as a language of instruction in schools in Tanzania until the learners join secondary schools at the age of 14.

With most teachers translating many lessons into the national language Swahili, English is not used as a language of instruction in Tanzania’s …

• In May, Tanzania took a bold but risky step by banning fishing on Lake Tanganyika for three months.
• In the Lake Victoria fishing zone, a new challenge, the smuggling of fish maws, is denying the government revenues.
• Statistics show that Tanzania is also experiencing reduced volumes of Nile Perch caught in Lake Victoria.

Tanzania’s water bodies alone hold plenty of economic activity potential, including the opportunity to harness the country’s billion-dollar fishing industry.

Records from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries show that the industry employs nearly 200,000 people directly. Another 4.5 million individuals benefit from the fishing industry’s value chain in Tanzania.

Tanzania’s fishing industry share of GDP

Tanzania’s fisheries contributed 1.8 per cent to the GDP last year and expanded by at least 2.5 per cent. The sector, despite displaying plenty of potential for creating jobs and powering the economy is facing a myriad of challenges. From Tanzania’s …

Therefore, carbon trading—producing and selling carbon offsets is becoming a new, lucrative, and transformative business in Tanzania. At least 20 companies are venturing into climate action-inspired business, pouring over $20 billion worth of investment.…

• Tanzania is using Sabasaba trade expo to foster the country’s industrial might.
• This year, over 180 foreign companies including some from China took part in the exhibition.
• Overall, Tanzania’s trade with the outside world is marked by export of minerals and agricultural produce.

Across Tanzania, no exhibition can outmatch the Sabasaba trade expo, a platform that the East African country is using every year to showcase investment potential.

“Sabasaba” which translates to “seventh day” in Swahili, denotes Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) tradition of going down during the first week of July, typically starting on the 7th of the month. The expo serves as a platform for local and international businesses to showcase their products and services, fostering trade and economic development in the region.

Sabasaba trade expo promoting industries

It attracts a diverse range of exhibitors and visitors from various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, technology, tourism, and …

Despite enormous opportunities, Africa’s supply chains remain inadequate in supporting regional economies. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of existing African supply chains, sending shock waves across markets. With proper optimization, Africa’s supply chains hold transformative economic potential for the continent.…

• Tanzania will start purchasing gold through the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) with a view to establishing a National Gold Reserve.
• This initiative will significantly drive gold mining activities across the nation.
• Tanzania exports gold mainly to South Africa, India, and Switzerland

A plan to re-stablish Tanzania’s gold reserves is promising to hand a lifeline to thousands of small-scale gold miners in Tanzania’s mining industry.

Tanzania has several significant gold mining projects and operations, offering job opportunities to thousands of people. At the moment, Tanzania is one of the top producers of gold across Africa. Consider the Mwakitolwo gold mine in Shinyanga, which employs over 10,000 people despite using an artisanal approach.

Mines to build Tanzania gold reserves

Numerous large-scale gold mines are present in Tanzania and are run by both local and international mining firms. Some of the leading gold mines are Geita Gold, Bulyanhulu, North Mara and Golden Pride.…

• Ongoing wars in Africa are bleeding billions from poor economies as investors flee the region.
• Sudan army is spending about $1.5 million per day fighting the Rapid Support Forces.
• IMF says Ethiopia’s GDP contracted from 9 percent in 2019 to 6.1 percent in 2020 as Tigray war intensified.

Wars in Africa are costing an arm and a leg, and throwing an awful wrench on poor economies that are hardly providing the bare minimum to their citizens. Take for instance the latest ongoing war in Sudan. Sudan Tribune notes that it is costing roughly $1.5 million every day for the Sudanese army to fight the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

For Sudan, a country whose poverty rate rose from 64.6 percent in 2021 to 66.1 percent last year, $1.5 million is a huge sum of money to be wasted on senseless fighting.

Wars in Africa yielding economic crisis

Sudan is one of …