Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Tuesday.

Samia holds talks with IMF Africa boss

President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday met and held talks with Mr Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) African Department, whereby the Bretton Wood institution assured Tanzania of its commitments to support the East African’s development efforts as well as its war against the global coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesday’s meeting, which took place at State House in the capital Dodoma, followed an application that Tanzania made to the IMF for a $571 million emergency loan that would help the country deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. But IMF officials told Bloomberg on June 9 this year that for Tanzania to qualify for the loan it must publish COVID-19 data, with Jens Reinke, the IMF’s resident representative in Tanzania, emphasizing that for the international lender to justify emergency financing in the context of the pandemic, Tanzania will need to publish relevant public-health data.

On Monday, during a meeting with editors of Tanzania’s media outlets in Dar es Salaam, President Samia for the first time revealed the number of COVID-19 patients in the country. The Head of State said that there were more than 100 COVID-19 patients  in the country, adding that 70 of them were on oxygen therapy. President Samia had also revealed that the country is expecting to receive $477 million support from partners which will be used to secure COVID-19  vaccine as well as bailing out sectors which have been hit hard by the pandemic. Actors are still waiting to learn more from the government about the partners who have provided the $477 million support.

Govt launches new five years development plan

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa yesterday launched Tanzania’s Five Years Development Plan III (2021/2022–2025/2026), which stakeholders have described as a continuation of the government’s efforts in achieving the goals set in the National Development Vision 2025 to further improve the standard of living for all Tanzanians. The plan is estimated to cost Sh114.8 trillion, which will be contributed both by the public (Sh74.2 trillion) and the private sector (Sh40.6 trillion).

Among other things, the FYDP III aims at building a competitive, sustainable and inclusive industrial economy that will benefit all people. Some of the key areas of the plan include improving industrial production and the service sector as well as boosting trade and investments and developing competent human resources.

Speaking during the launching ceremony which took place at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in the capital Dodoma yesterday, Mr Majaliwa said that the money to fund the plan include loans and grants from Tanzania’s development partners, assuring Tanzanians that the money will be obtained.

“We’ll never allow tax evasion or any form of mismanagement of public funds,” a statement released yesterday by the Prime Minister Office quoted Mr Majaliwa as saying. “We will continue being creative as well as receiving alternative ideas which aim at facilitating the implementation of the plan” that stakeholders, including the government, the private sector and development partners are expected to use as an important tool through which Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2025 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be realized.

TANROADS’ Mfugale passes away

Tanzania Roads Agency (TANROADS) Chief Executive Officer Patrick Mfugale died yesterday at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, in the capital Dodoma, where he was rushed after feeling unwell during an internal meeting, the Permanent Secretary with Ministry of Works and Transport Joseph Malongo confirmed the news yesterday to Mwananchi Digital. Malongo added that the public would be updated on Mfugale’s burial arrangements later.

Mr Mfugale, whom the flyover at the junction of Nelson Mandela Expressway and Nyerere Road was named after, has taken part in almost all major construction projects involving roads and bridges in Tanzania, which some estimates put them at 1,000. These include Mfugale Flyover, Nyerere Bridge, Umoja Bridge, Kikwete Bridge, Mkapa Bridge as well as Rusumo and Magufuli Bridge.

In her condolences message yesterday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she was “shocked” by the news on the passing of Mr Mfugale, adding that: “I’ll remember the significant contribution he made in the construction of our infrastructures, including roads, bridges, railways and electricity.”

Mfugale was born in Ifunda, Iringa, where he obtained his primary education and later proceeded to Moshi Technical School where he completed his studies in 1975. He went on to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering at Roorkee University in India where he graduated in 1983 and later pursued Masters Degree in Engineering at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom where he graduated in 1995.

Mr Mfugale won two distinguished awards during his life. In 2003, he won the Distinguished Engineering Accomplishment Award issued by Engineers Registration Board (ERB) and in 2018 he won the Excellence in Engineering Award from ERB also.

Dar police seize four pistols, other stolen properties

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police commander Jumanne Muliro told journalists yesterday that the law enforcement agency was able to seize two semi-automatic pistols, saying that the weapons were among those used in armed robberies events that have taken place in Tanzania’s commercial capital in the period of four weeks.

The guns, which include Glock 17 with registration number DUT 604 and Glock 17 with registration number AMP 409, were seized in the area of Chanika Nguvu Kazi and Kariakoo in the Ilala district. Two stolen vehicles – Toyota RAV4 and Toyota IST – were also recovered during an intensive operation launched by the police. Other items recovered include mobile phones and laptops.

“The Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police would like to reiterate its call to all criminals, particularly those involved in armed robberies, that their days are numbered,” said Muliro. “And just like how we announced earlier, any citizen who’ll tip the police that would enable the arrest of armed robbers will be rewarded.”

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