Author: Padili Mikomangwa

The anticipated East African Crude Pipeline project (EACOP) involving Tanzania and Uganda, has just been postponed by oil-goliath Total SA until further notice.

The reason given for the shelving of the project is due to a broken deal pertaining Tullow Oil Company failure to sell its stakes to Total SA and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), which occurred last week.

According to Reuters, a Ugandan official cited the project halt of the costly $3.5 billion with 1445km long, featured some marred issues, involving a taxing dispute with Uganda authorities.

“All East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) activities including tenders have been suspended until further notice because of the collapse of the deal” the official commented, under conditions of anonymity adhered.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Tullow Oil forcibly abandoned plans to sell a stake in Ugandan project and resume the deal afresh after-tax negotiations foundered the deal.

“The …

Charity is yet another effective measure against poverty across the globe.

It provides communities with compelling abilities to exercise their socio-economic activities within inclusivity parameters and resilience, alleviating worst humanitarian conditions that affect populations over time and space.

As we are marking the international day of charity, today 5^th September. It is crucial to acknowledge the role taken by the charity organizations worldwide, in their quest for harmonizing livelihood in disease-ravaged communities, while appending public services such as health care, education, housing, and child protection.

For over 20 years, United Nations has designated this very day, to execute vital objectives; sensitizing and mobilizing people, NGO’s and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic actions.

Eradicating poverty in its all forms is inevitable, alleviating extreme poverty and the worst humanitarian crisis is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

READ: How Africa can create jobs, conquer

Vodacom Tanzania, in a bid to increase its visibility has boosted its support for the premier league.

The sponsorship that $3.91 million over the period of 3 years has seen an agreement signed on August 23, before all premier league’s parties; Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Premier League Committee and Vodacom-Tanzania, witnessed by Minister of Information, Sports and Culture, Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe.

“Vodacom Premier League” (VPL), is an ebullient league widely known for attracting a diverse range of fans over the past 9 years.

According to Vodacom Tanzania Plc Managing Director, Hisham Hendi, noted the company’s efforts to be at the forefront of supporting development initiatives as well as sports activities in Tanzania.

“We have been sponsoring the premier league for 9 years and have seen the growth of upcoming talent as well as the league itself which commands a following of millions of fans both locally and in neighboring countries,” …

Farmers in Tanzania can now access cheaper fertilizer for farm-production as Ministry of Agriculture reduces fertilizer costs.

In a press conference, on August 28^th, the sector Minister Hon. Japhet Hasunga, highlighted the Tanzanian Bulk Procurement System (BPS) which he said operates on a competitive basis, said that the adjustment of the prices formula serves farmers’ interests.

Currently, fertilizer pricing will be based on a different formula, triggered by 12 percent decrease of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer (a favorable input in maize production in Tanzania) to the source, the government also revised pricing formulas within farming year 2017/2018 and 2019/2020 respectively.

Across regions in Tanzania, 3.4 to $ 4 are the prices per 50 kg DAP-fertilizer bag, equivalent to 13 to 17 percent decrease. A 25kg fertilizer bag is now selling at $2.17 to $2.61 equal to 14 to 19 percent decrease respectively.

A 15 DAP fertilizer bag is …

There has been a recorded steady growth in the gaming industry in Tanzania, since the 2000s.

In a country that collects approximately US$ 6 billion in tax revenue per year, the gaming industry(casino gambling, sports betting, lottery, and slot machines) might come in handy to Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) when seeking taxes, even the Gaming Board of Tanzania, Director General, James Mbalwe affirms the sectors stake into the economy, during an interview with a local media outlet.

“We took a look into the industry, and its contribution to the GDP is around 3 percent” Director-General added

“Biko”,” Tatu Mzuka”, “Moja Spesho”- these popular money making numbers-gaming spheres have contributed immensely in stimulating the sports industry and gaming at large, as more people get attracted into the industry expecting an extra incentive apart from the leisure itself.

Read: Want to invest in the gaming industry in East Africa? Here’s what you

For the past six years the number of people going online has doubled in Tanzania, from 9 million in 2013 to over 23 million people in 2019, TCRA reports indicates.

Mobile Networks Services providers have also taken a bite in the success by offering the best communications technological capabilities, such as the 4G LTE data network that improved tremendously connectivity in Tanzania.

Earlier this year, President John Magufuli witnessed the official ownership of the Telecom Traffic Monitoring System (TTMS) to TCRA, being one of the powerful tools in TCRA arsenal that properly oversee, protect and promote the telecom industry in Tanzania that generates billions for revenue.

Available data indicate TCRA had garner over US $ 41.7 million as revenue via the effective application of the TTMS.

Read: Experts predict growth in technology, media and telecommunications in 2019

Mobile Network Operators have also taken a bite out of the communications sphere …

Tanzanian government has put in place measures to stop use of any Tanzanian, without paying for it.

This pledge was made by the Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hon. Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe in a public meeting with entertainment industry stakeholders in Dar es Salaam, to discuss merging of three bodies: COSOTA (Copyright Society of Tanzania), BASATA (Arts Council of Tanzania) and the Tanzanian Film Board for better sectorial operations.

“No more using artists properties without paying, in wedding ceremonies halls or kitchen parties, all of them must contribute. How comes master of ceremonies (MC) get paid and use artists music freely” Minister said.

The statement, though it came quite rather late, but still at a convenient move to rejuvenate the lucrative sector, proving to standout amidst competitive entertainment industries form South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.

Just last year two Tanzanian prominent talents and multiple awardees music-artists Hamis …

For the second time, TEDX Oysterbay brought together a diverse range of experts, practitioners, artists, thinkers, visionaries and educators before an idea-thirsty community to the Little Theatre in Dar es Salaam.  12 TEDx speakers with interesting ideas challenging social norms and practices, shared their ideas before an audience of 100 people and many more via social media.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED is the convergence of Technology, Entertainment and Design, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

In urban Tanzania, youth now perceive ideas as the new  “social currency” for human development. Being the 7^th largest economy in Africa and most populous nation in East Africa, human capital development is a vital …

The 39^th Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, which was hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for two days saw the participation of 16- member states, delegates, and other invited guests.

The summit which took place on August 17^th and 18^th saw the Tanzanian President, Hon. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli assuming Chairmanship of SADC for one year till August 2020, indicating another signal of faith to the president and his regime in steering the bloc to the right socio-economic and political direction.

As one of the largest economies in Africa, prior to the summit Tanzania via its Ministry of Industry and Trade hosted the 4^th SADC Industrialization week, whereby more than 2000 people registered for the exhibitions.

Noted by a local media outlet, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Eng. Stella Manyanya said that almost 1,766 of the participants were Tanzanians and 938 were exhibitors. Participants …

For over 20 years, Acacia and its forerunner mining companies including African Barrick Gold, Barrick Gold, Placer Dome, Pangea Minerals and Afrika Mashariki have been operating in Tanzania in three gold mines, Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi and North Mara, found in the north-west region of Tanzania.

Acacia-Tanzania’s largest gold producer was recently cleared by the Magufuli government and resumed its metal concentrates exportation after a series of regulations led by The Mining Commission of Tanzania Ministry of Minerals that impeded the export of the mineral.

In a press release published by Acacia on 15^th August, export permits are now received by Acacia that noted to have missed 30 percent of sales since the ban went live.

Despite the latter, Acacia and Tanzania could mutually benefit form the mining industry which has grown by 10 percent in the first quarter, according to Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2019 first quarter highlights.…