Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Over two million people in northern Tanzania suffers drought-related impacts
Over two million people from the northern regions of Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga in Tanzania are said to be experiencing livelihood impacts caused by drought that has lasted for more than four months now, Tanzania Red Cross Society (TCRS) said in a statement.
The TCRS’ situational analysis report comes hot on the heels of media reports that reveal the death of over 62,000 animals due to drought, drawing attention to the humanitarian actors and government.
“As of January 18, 2022,” the TRCS said in its situation report. “[We have] received calls from local government councillors requesting immediate support.”
According to the TRCS, the ongoing drought in Tanzania has affected crop growth, reduced the availability of water and pasture for livestock. Some pastoralists coped with the situation and tried to migrate to other areas looking for water and pasture, it added, but still unsustainable as most of the areas are facing the same challenge.
“Food insecurity has been observed in all regions with below normal rainfall,” the TRCS said. “People are selling their food stocks to carter for family needs.”
Animals’ health has deteriorated with increasing deaths as a result of the drought, many people have been impoverished due to the death of their livestock, TCRS added.
“The prices of food commodities have increased due to high local demand and reduced supply,” it noted.
Minister: New Selander Bridge is 100 per cent complete
Works and Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa said on Sunday that the construction of the Dar es Salaam-located New Selander Bridge is 100 per cent complete.
Named Tanzanite Bridge, the Sh240 billion state-of-art infrastructure has been under construction by South Korean builder GS E&C and it was expected to be inaugurated in December 2021.
Prof Mbarawa told reporters that now the largest development project funded by the South Korean government in Africa will be open for use on February 1, 2022.
“Members of the public are allowed to use the bridge from February 1 pending its official opening on a later date,” he said. “We will invite President Samia Suluhu Hassan to officiate the opening.”
He added that the bridge will be open 24 hours and road users will not be charged. The 670-meters long New Selander Bridge is also the first bridge project GS E&C has worked on in Tanzania.
It is a new type of bridge that has combined the characteristics of a girder bridge and a cable-stayed bridge to make it lighter. The technique enhances construction and economic feasibility, according to the builder.
This project was part of South Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund project, which provided $107 million for the construction.
Juma Duni Haji elected as ACT-Wazalendo’s new national chairperson
Opposition ACT-Wazalendo party over the weekend elected veteran politician and one of the founders of multiparty democracy in Tanzania Mr Juma Duni Haji as the party’s new national chairperson, filling a vacant position left by Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad who died on February 17, 2021, of COVID-19.
The election was conducted during the party’s special congress called to fill the position of the party’s chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and one position of the party’s national executive council.
Mr Duni, who has served in the ministerial positions during the sixth-phase government of national unity in Zanzibar under President Amani Abeid Karume emerged a winner after defeating his opponent Mr Hamad Masoud Hamad.
The two were only party members who picked and duly returned the nomination forms. Mr Duni got 339 votes out of the 464 valid votes – equivalent to 73.06 per cent while Mr Hamad collected 125 votes.
The congress, which attracted participation from ACT-Wazalendo’s friend parties across the African continent, including Zimbabwean politician and the current President of the Movement for Democratic Change Nelson Chamisa, took place at the Mlimani City Hall on Saturday.
Zanzibar’s first Vice President Mr Othman Masoud Othman was unanimously elected the party’s Vice-Chairperson. He was also in the battle against Juma Said Sanani.
The congress also endorsed Msafiri Mtemelwa, to become a member of the party’s national executive council.
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