Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
EAC bloc welcomes in a new member, the DRC
March 29, 2022, is going to be remembered by East Africans as one of the greatest days in the history of the East African Community (EAC) following the bloc’s decision to accept the application by the Democratic Republic of Congo to become part of the regional intergovernmental organisation.
The announcement was made yesterday during the 19th Extra-Ordinary Summit of EAC Heads of State under the chairmanship of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, bringing to an end the process that started in February 2018. DRC now officially becomes the 7th member of the bloc. Others are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.
“Today, four years on, the Democratic Republic of Congo has made the all set criteria for admission, and we are all proud to have concluded the regional processes for admitting new members as provided for in our rules of procedures,” President Kenyatta announced.
Located at the very centre of sub-Saharan Africa, bordering nine nations, DRC connects West Africa, South Africa, and East Africa. According to Dar es Salaam-based management consultant Charles Makakala, DRC’s size, resources, and position make it so strategic to the African continent that it is imperative for Africa to do everything it can to make sure that DRC prospers.
“Few nations have the potential to connect so many interests in one state and influence the whole continent as the DRC can,” Makakala wrote in a December 11, 2021, article for The Chanzo. “Economically, DRC’s vast natural resources – valued at trillions of dollars – can easily attract FDIs and sustain rapid economic growth for long enough to uplift its people out of poverty.”
Among the advantages that the DRC will harvest from its admission into the EAC are the integration of the east of the country into the common telecommunications space, which will reduce costs with neighbouring countries; several administrative facilities and a reduction in charges for the commercial and economic activities of Congolese citizens, as well as facilitating their mobility in the eastern countries, according to an analysis by Africanews.
The DRC is also expected to benefit from reduced tariffs for goods received at the ports of Mombassa (Kenya) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). Kinshasa could also benefit from the application of the EAC’s Collective Security Pact, with the assistance of countries such as Kenya and Tanzania, in the fight against several rebels in the central African country.
EAC Secretary-General Peter Mathuki said shortly after the announcement that upon ascension to the Treaty establishing the EAC and depositing of the instrument of acceptance with the Secretary-General, DRC will join EAC’s cooperation in all the sectors, programmes & activities that promote the pillars of EAC Integration.
“The EAC now spans from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean making the region competitive and easy to access the larger African Continental Free Trade Area,” said Dr Mathuki.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan welcomed the DRC into the EAC, saying the decision was not that surprising given the historical relationship that the country shares with all EAC members.
“I have been informed that during the verification process our team had time to engage with all key stakeholders and also we were part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) negotiation team,” President Samia said. “It is my optimism then [that], the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will ratify the treaty of accession within a specified time to allow citizens full integration into the community.”
Emirati company launches wholesale e-commerce platform in Tanzania
An Emirati multinational logistics company DP World has announced the launch of its wholesale e-commerce platform DUBUY.com in Tanzania, promising to offer Tanzanian businesses better access to international markets, an Emirati business website TradeArabia reported on Tuesday.
Tanzania became the latest point in the DUBUY.com expansion plan after launches in Kenya and Rwanda last year, which created an online business community of more than 1,500 active merchants, according to reports.
DUBUY.com offers users a unique combination of advanced technology and DP World physical infrastructure – which includes the Port of Berbera in Somaliland – to solve several key challenges facing the growth of e-commerce in Africa, which includes reliable fulfilment, secure financial transactions, and safe movement of goods.
“Dubuy.com presents an opportunity for homegrown businesses to transform into international enterprises by providing access to new markets in Africa, the Middle East and the rest of the world,” TradeArabia quoted Mahmood Al Bastaki, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Trade World, as saying during the launch.
He said the company was “thrilled to continue our expansion into East Africa” with the launch in Tanzania, “a key strategic market given its rapidly growing economy and under-served e-commerce marketplace. It is our hope that access to these new digital tools will enable local businesses to prosper.”
President of Tanzania Chambers of Commerce Paul Koyi said Tanzania’s Development Vision for 2025 is to have a strong, diversified, resilient and competitive economy, one which is easily and confidently able to adapt to the changing market and technological conditions of the regional and global economy.
“We know that exciting opportunities such as those provided by our strategic partnerships with DP World and DUBUY.com will help us drive this vision forward,” said Mr Koyi according to TradeArabia.
“Further, it will allow us to increase our country’s trading connectivity, build an easy access market for Tanzanian entrepreneurs, and help us secure long-term, sustainable growth,” he added. “With our local expertise, and DP World’s global footprint and influence, we have a bright and prosperous future as part of a global market ahead of us.”
Sirro recalls police commander who expressed ambition to become IGP
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Simon Sirro on Tuesday transferred the Kagera regional police commander Wankyo Nyigesa to police headquarters in Dodoma to pave way for an investigation into Nyigesa’s remarks that he wishes to become an IGP one day, asking President Samia Suluhu Hassan to entrust him with the role.
Police spokesperson David Misime said in a statement yesterday that the remarks that Nyigesa made during a farewell party and was widely reported in the media amounted to indiscipline that needs to be addressed.
“I prepared to become the [Director of Criminal Investigation] DCI but someone else took it,” Nyigesa said during a function. “I prepared to become [police] commissioner for Zanzibar but someone else took it. I’m now preparing myself to become an IGP.
“Our Commander-in-Chief Samia Suluhu Hassan hears my pleas. Please, one day appoints Wankyo Ramadhan Nyigesa as an IGP. I want to work with her. And I believe I’ll do wonders. I wonder if [President Samia] might be dreaming and mention my name as an IGP. I only need three years and hand over the position to [President Samia] and ask her, what do you think [of my service]?”
Misime said that Nyigesa’s statement, which was made on March 26, 2022, in the Pwani region, was contrary to the Police Force’s regulations and guidelines, without specifying which regulations and guidelines were actually breached.
Following Nyigesa’s recall to police headquarters, Rukwa regional police commander William Mwampagale has been assigned to go to Kagera to fill the vacant post left by Nyigesa.
IGP Sirro also promoted Rukwa Police official Theopista Mallya to become the Regional Police Commander of the region, replacing William Mwampagale who has been transferred to Kagera.
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