Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.
TLS throws weight behind Nshala, demands ‘death threats’ reports investigated
Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the country’s bar society, said Wednesday that it has received “with great shock and deep concern” reports that its member, renowned lawyer and advocate Rugemeleza Nshala, has had his life threatened following his criticism of the inter-governmental agreement between Tanzania and Dubai.
The deal, which has continued to polarise the nation, would allow an Emirati multinational logistics company DP World to develop and improve operations of strategic infrastructures for sea and lake ports in areas such as special economic zones, logistic parks, and trade corridors.
Supporters have lauded the deal, which lawmakers approved on June 10, 2023, as a “game-changer” for the country’s development, particularly in its goal to become a regional business hub. Critics have interpreted it as an attempt to “sell off the country” to foreigners.
Full story here.
BoT gives Kenya’s DPO Pay greenlight to operate in Tanzania
The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) Wednesday issued Kenyan-based digital payments provider DPO Pay, approval to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) in the country, the company announced yesterday.
The National Payment System Act 2015 requires all PSPs to undergo a rigorous license application to provide payment services in Tanzania.
DPO Pay, registered under One Payment Tanzania Limited, has been operating successfully throughout Africa since 2006 and was recently acquired by Network International, a leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region.
It offers businesses the solution, the technology, the opportunity, and the support to make and receive online payments wherever and whenever they want.
Managing Director of DPO Pay, Ms Judy Waruiru, said the approval from the BoT highlights the company’s commitment to comply with regulatory standards.
“This milestone further demonstrates our dedication to driving financial inclusion and economic growth in Tanzania, empowering businesses of all sizes to thrive in the digital era,” Ms Waruiru said.
“We will continue to prioritise the security of transactions, adhering to stringent data protection protocols and industry best practices,” she added.
In January this year, DPO Pay won the Fintech Discovery of the Year Award in the 2022 Ghana Fintech awards. The awards acknowledge the fintech products and services, technologies, firms and dynamic doers in the fintech ecosystem.
Founded in 2006, DPO has developed integrated payments technology to support businesses of all sizes in over 20 countries and accepts payments securely and swiftly in all currencies and through many payment methods, including virtual cards, mobile money, and e-wallets.
Oil and gas company Aminex provides updates for its Ruvuma operations
Aminex, the oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Tanzania, announced Wednesday that operations on its Ruvuma projects have continued to progress under the direction of the operator, ARA Petroleum Tanzania Limited (APT).
The company said that following the initial 3D seismic processing and interpretation results in analysis, its partners have chosen a new optimal target location for the Chikumbi-1 well.
Tanzanian authorities have given provisional approval for the new well pad location, the company added, pointing out that the final written approval is expected imminently.
In an update, Charles Santos, Executive Chairman of Aminex, said Ruvuma is an important project for Tanzania requiring a broad technical engagement and multiple negotiations.
“We are very pleased that the Tanzanian authorities continue prioritising our project, including supporting accelerated gas production and building a pipeline.
“We are also pleased to report that APT is making great progress, including finalising the GSA, FDP and Development Licence and identifying a much-improved well location.
“We expect additional progress in the coming months on the well-testing of NT-2, the spudding of CH-1 and the workover of NT-1. We also look forward to completing the 3D seismic interpretation by the fourth quarter of 2023.”
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