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

Govt declines requests to have specimens for ‘unknown disease’ tested outside of Tanzania

Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu revealed on Saturday that the government declined requests from foreign governments and organisations to have the specimens for the “unknown disease” tested outside of Tanzania, saying the East African nation was capable of undertaking the investigation.

At least 13 people have contracted the disease, with three reported to have died of the illness involving nosebleeding and falling down.

“There have been reports requesting our specimens and want them to be tested outside the country,” Mwalimu said in Kilimanjaro. “We have the equipment and experts  to detect communicable diseases  in our country.”

She was speaking during a function to inaugurate a state-of-the-art laboratory at Kibong’oto Specialised Infectious Diseases Hospital in the district of Siha, Kilimanjaro region.

The disease that remains mysterious has affected the southern regions of Tanzania, particularly the Lindi region, with Ms Mwalimu saying that she will be travelling to Lindi today to see what the team of experts to investigate the disease is up to.

“I believe that  we will have answers on the disease affecting our people in the region,” said Ms Mwalimu who doubles as Tanga Urban MP (Chama cha Mapinduzi – CCM).

Mwalimu also revealed that the government was closely working with experts from the World Health  Organisation  (WHO)  and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the efforts to get the truth about the disease and keep people safe from it.

Govt takes measures to end shortage of pasture for livestock

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Mashimba Ndaki said on Saturday that the government has started taking measures aimed at ending the shortage of pasture that sparks conflicts between livestock keepers and farmers.

Ndaki said his ministry has started earmarking land in all the country’s districts to be specifically used for pasture, especially during dry seasons.

The minister was addressing the annual livestock show and auction organized by the Tanzania Commercial Cattle Society (TCCS) in Chalinze, Pwani.

“Earmarking land for pasture will help in ending conflicts between livestock keepers and farmers that have been occurring in different parts of the country causing loss to lives, farm crops and livestock in some cases,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ndaki as saying.

He urged organizers of the annual livestock show to educate livestock keepers on the best ways of raising animals that will produce quality meat and hides.

Naweed Mulla, TCCS chairman, said the show brought together beef and dairy producers, as well as suppliers of equipment and other inputs.

This is it for today and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see below) or following us on Twitter (here) as that is the best way to make sure you do not miss any of these briefings.  And in case you have any questions or comments, please consider dropping a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.