Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
Oman, Zanzibar ink 4 pacts in research, digital empowerment
Oman and Zanzibar signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) and an executive programme in the fields of research, innovation and digital empowerment following a four-day state visit by President Hussein Mwinyi to the Middle Eastern nation which concluded on Friday.
According to a report by Muscat Daily, the first MoU was signed between the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation and Zanzibar’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training aimed at cooperation in the fields of higher education, research, innovation, vocational training, knowledge and technology transfer, and establishing a knowledge-based economy.
It was signed by Dr Rahma Ibrahim al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and Saada Mkuya, Zanzibar’s Minister of Finance and Planning.
The second MoU was signed between Oman Data Park and Zanzibar’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport. It deals with establishing, managing and operating a data centre in Zanzibar. This comes within the framework of Zanzibar’s plans of automating tendering systems, transforming into an e-government, storing data and information for the public and private sectors, as well as enhancing data security in Zanzibar.
The MoU was signed by Maqbool Salim al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park, and Dr Khalid Salum Mohammed, Zanzibar’s Minister of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Target Information Solutions and Zanzibar’s Ministry of Finance and Planning. This MoU deals with automation and digital empowerment by providing new programmes that contribute to expanding revenue sources. It will also develop the digital infrastructure in Zanzibar.
The MoU was signed by Ali Ahmed al Mujaini, CEO of Target Information Solutions, and Saada Mkuya, Zanzibar’s Minister of Finance and Planning.
An executive programme was also signed between the National Records and Archives Authority and Zanzibar’s National Archives. This programme is in the field of historic documentation and managing documents with the aim of exchanging copies of documents, research and scientific studies. Additionally, it targets exchanging expertise and training in the field of repairing documents and scientific periodicals.
The programme was signed by Dr Hamad Mohammed al Dhoyani, Chairman of NRAA, and Zanzibar’s Saada Mkuya, Minister of Finance and Planning.
Airtel Africa buys additional spectrum in Tanzania
Airtel Tanzania has purchased 140MHz of additional spectrum spread across the 2600MHz and 3500MHz bands from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for a cash sum of US$60.1 million, according to a report by Capacity Media.
The additional spectrum will support Airtel Africa’s expansion in the Tanzanian market for mobile data and fixed wireless broadband capabilities.
This includes its 5G rollout and the operator aims to provide significant capacity to accommodate the strong data growth in the country.
“The investment reflects our continued confidence in the opportunity inherent in the Tanzanian market, supporting the local communities and economy through furthering digital inclusion and connectivity,” Capacity Media reported, quoting an announcement by Airtel Africa.
Airtel Africa already has a presence in 14 countries across the continent, according to the website. Earlier this year, the company acquired an additional US$42 million worth of spectrum in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The company said today that it would also buy an additional 60MHz of spectrum in Zambia for US$29 million.
Chinese company exports largest railway flat wagon to Tanzania
A railway flat wagon, with a maximum capacity of 200 tons, which will be exported by CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co has been loaded for shipment to Tanzania at Tianjin port, North China, on Saturday, reports China’s Global Times.
This is the company’s largest heavy-duty railway product being exported overseas, according to an article published on the company’s WeChat account.
The DA20 flat wagon is the largest exported flat wagon produced by CRRC Qiqihar, and is specially designed for the 1,067 millimetres gauged railway used for the Tazara Railway.
Constructed in May, DA20’s strength of the structure, brake system and weld connections are all complying with Chinese standards, media reports said.
Boosted by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), CRRC Qiqihar has exported more than 40,000 railway wagons to 37 countries and regions, including 28 countries along the BRI, the company said.
Govt moves to control poaching
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Pindi Chana said on Friday that wildlife experts have embarked on a project aimed at controlling poaching and the growing trend of wildlife-human conflicts.
Chana said wildlife experts have launched a collaring of wild animals in Mikumi, Ruaha and Julius Nyerere national parks to protect them from poachers and to trace them before they raided farms and residential areas in villages adjacent to the parks.
Speaking at the project launch in Mikumi National Park, Chana said the collaring will target elephants, lions, leopards, wild dogs and giraffes with the aim of providing early warnings in case the wild animals were hunted by poachers or they strayed from the national parks.
She said the collaring of the wild animals will also help boost the conservation of the animals that are on the brink of extinction, adding it will also help in controlling poaching, illegal hunting, and the identification of available pastures for the animals.
The collars include Global Positioning System and Global System for Mobile Communications tracking devices that are placed around the animals’ necks to monitor their movements and behaviour as well as to assist with conservation actions.
She said experts have been drawn from the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute and the Tanzania National Parks.
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