Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
Tanzania celebrates Farmers’ Day. But Why Does It Matter?
Tanzania Tuesday celebrated Farmers’ Day, a yearly celebration happening every August 8 to honour the cultivators who keep society nourished and functioning. This year’s celebration, at the national level, occurred in Mbeya.
A holiday in the East African nation, the day honours farmers and recognise their contribution to the country, similar to other African nations that rely on agriculture and farming.
It is an opportunity to share new agricultural technologies and innovations, enhance education, and highlight best practices. The day’s commemoration begins on August 1, reaching a climax on August 8, when a national celebration is organised.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan graced the celebration in Mbeya, describing agriculture as key to the country’s development.
“One of the main reasons for this exhibition is for us to acknowledge and appreciate various efforts done by the agriculture sector in the country, and as we understand, some neighbouring countries are very dependent on food from Tanzania,” the Head of State remarked. “So, I congratulate all the farmers, fishermen and livestock keepers.”
Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania’s economy, contributing 26 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector also employs 65 per cent of Tanzanians, making it the biggest employer in the country.
Agriculture also contributes up to 65 per cent of industrial raw materials and 100 per cent of food consumed in the country and surplus for export.
“These exhibitions promote various production activities conducted in the country and give room to sharing experiences to allow more Tanzanians to see and grasp opportunities available in the sector,” President Samia said of the day, locally known as ‘Nane Nane.’
This year’s Farmers’ Day, which took place under the theme ‘Youths and Women Are Strong Foundations for Sustainable Food Systems,’ occurred at a time when Tanzania is preparing to assume the chairmanship of the Africa Food Systems Forum, whose conference will take place in Dar es Salaam from September 5 to September 8, 2023.
Over 3000 delegates are expected to participate in the conference, which will take place under the theme ‘Recover, Regenerate, Act: Africa’s Solutions to Food Systems Transformation.’
Former charge d’affaires recounts US Embassy bombings in Dar: ‘Unforgettable’
August 7 marked the 25th anniversary of the US Embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, leading to the deaths of over 224 people, which included 12 Americans, 34 Kenyans and 10 Tanzanians. The attacks were attributed to the global terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda.
In commemorating the anniversary, the US State Department, responsible for the North American nation’s foreign affairs, organised an event to remember those who lost their lives in the tragic incident, which occurred on August 7, 1998.
Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, addressed those who attended the commemoration, which included Tanzania’s Ambassador to the United States, Elsie Kanza. The commemoration was followed by a panel discussion on lessons learned from the incident.
John Lange, who served as the charge d’affaires at the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam when the bombings happened, was among those who recounted the attack, highlighting some key lessons he learned from it.
Read Mr Lange’s recollection in full here.
Farm to Market Alliance: Cultivating success for Tanzania’s smallholder farmers
Smallholder farmers are potential engines for economic growth – they are key to building sustainable food systems, advancing food security, and achieving Zero Hunger. Agriculture remains one of the most vital sectors of Tanzania’s economy, responsible for approximately 29 per cent of the GDP.
With the demand for food growing rapidly in Tanzania, smallholder farmers play a pivotal role in meeting this demand by producing 70 per cent of the food that feeds 61.74 million Tanzanians.
That is why the Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) focuses on making markets work better for African smallholder farmers (women, men and youth) and helping them transition to commercial agriculture by providing adequate information, investment, and support at all stages of the process – from seed to market.
In April 2022, FtMA revitalised its operations in the 14 districts of Southern Highlands, Central Zone, and Northern Highlands of Tanzania, covering Morogoro, Njombe, Iringa, Mbeya, Singida, and Manyara regions.
Read more about FtMA’s works in Tanzania’s agriculture sector here.
Marula Mining appoints consultants to commence exploration at Nyorinyori graphite project
Marula Mining Plc, a London-based and Africa-focused mining and exploration company, announced Tuesday the appointment of exploration and mining service company Geofields Tanzania Limited as its independent geological consultants to commence exploration work at the Nyorinyori Graphite Project.
Marula has a 75 per cent commercial interest in the project located in the Simanjiro district, Manyara region.
In a statement, the company said the appointment of Geofields follows the visits in Q2 2023 by its representatives to the 10 granted graphite mining licenses, during which time high-grade graphite mineralisation and the presence of jumbo graphite flakes were observed on the granted mining licenses.
Marula Mining CEO Jason Brewer said the company is keen to get Geofields on site at the Nyorinyori Graphite Project “as quickly as possible.”
“Our initial impression of the potential at Nyorinyori was very positive,” he explained. “To personally be able to see the high-grade graphite mineralisation and hold multiple samples with observed jumbo graphite flakes revealed to me immediately the potential that this project holds.”
Geofields was engaged as Marula’s independent consultant to commence an initial Phase 1 Program of exploration work. The company will commence work in August 2023, having recently completed exploration work for the Company at the Kinusi Copper Mine and the Bagamoyo Graphite Project in Tanzania.
“Geofields have very quickly demonstrated what a capable and experienced geological team they have and who we can work with very effectively,” Mr Brewer added. “We look forward to seeing Geofields on site at Nyorinyori soon and commencing the Phase I Program of exploration activities.”
Tanzania shows interest in adopting Azerbaijan’s model of service delivery
Tanzania and Azerbaijan have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would see the former adopting the latter’s approaches in making services more easily accessible to citizens using modern technologies.
The MoU between the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technologies and ASAN Service, Azerbaijan’s state agency for public services to citizens, was part of the activities carried out by the agency’s chairman, Ulvi Mehdiyev, during his recent visit to Tanzania.
ASAN, a short form of Azerbaijani Service and Assessment Network, was launched on July 13, 2012, as the country wanted to make its administrative services, such as issuing passports and driving licences, more transparent.
The initiative is credited for improving service provision efficiency and curbing corruption as it redefined relations between state agencies and citizens, eradicating or minimising direct contact between them and, as a result, enhancing transparency and eliminating opportunities for corruption.
The government of Azerbaijan achieved this by creating a one-stop shop for a wide range of state services, winning the country the 2015 United Nations Public Service Awards and improving its status in global corruption and transparency indexes.
According to reports, Mr Mehdiyev visited Tanzania between August 3 and August 5, 2023, where he held meetings with the Minister for Information, Communication and Technology Nape Nnauye and the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Public Service Management, and Good Governance, George Simbachawene.
During his meeting with Mr Nnauye, Mehdiyev gave details of the digital solutions used in ASAN Service’s operations, the delivery of public services, support for start-ups, and the work carried out in social innovation.
According to reports, Mr Nnauye expressed an interest in applying modern technology and innovative solutions in ASAN service, describing them as “unique.” This led to the signing of the MoU and other preliminary agreements.
An agreement was also reached to organise a visit of the Tanzanian delegation to Azerbaijan to learn more about the operations.
The development comes five months since Vice President Philip Mpango visited Azerbaijan, a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. While there, Mr Mpango acquainted himself with the ASAN service, inviting the agency to visit Tanzania.
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