Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Thursday, October 5, 2023.
US, EU-backed Lobito Corridor: A challenger to Tanzania’s SGR rail, port ambitions?
Tanzania risks facing stiffer competition from the Lobito Corridor, a transregional infrastructure project connecting southern DRC and northwestern Zambia to global trade markets via Angola’s port of Lobito, which has recently been garnering notable attention, analysts told The Chanzo.
Already, the European Union and the United States have enthusiastically endorsed the project, which leverages the existing Benguela rail network in Angola and connects the mineral-rich Congo Katanga province, hailing it as a strategic investment venture for both parties, with the US President Joe Biden describing it as a “game-changing regional investment.”
This development coincides with Tanzania’s ambitious US$10 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) initiative, which the East African nation banks on to help the country secure more business opportunities for its ports from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Reports on the development of the Lobito Corridor also come at a time when Tanzania is actively investing in its port operations to capture more market in areas where it has significant business, such as Zambia and Malawi, signified by the recent Tanzania-Dubai intergovernmental agreement that would allow an Emirati logistics company DP World to take over some operations at the Dar es Salaam port.
Full story here.
Samia to make ‘historic’ visit to India to boost relations
President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to make a “historic” visit to India at the invitation of the South Asian country to boost “excellent historical ties” that exist between the two countries, Foreign Minister January Makamba said Thursday.
During the visit, President Samia is expected to address the Tanzania-India Business and Investment Forum co-organised by three premier business associations in India – FICCI, CII, and ASSOCHAM – and Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) and the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF).
In his statement on Thursday, Mr Makamba said that a delegation of about 80 businesspeople from Tanzania will join India’s 130 top businesspeople for the forum. While in India, Samia is also expected to hold a CEO Roundtable with India’s top 15 CEOs and business leaders to discuss investment opportunities in key sectors in Tanzania.
While in the country, the Tanzanian leader will hold official bilateral talks with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the country’s President Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a State Banquet in Samia’s honour.
Full story here.
Police denies reports it blocked forum on New Constitution in Mwanza
Mwanza regional police commander Wilbroad Mutafungwa on Thursday denied reports circulating on social media alleging that the law enforcement agency blocked a forum to discuss the need for the New Constitution that was to take part in the city on October 4, 2023.
The forum, organised jointly by the Tanzania Constitution Forum, the Tanzania Transparency Forum (TRAFO), and Sauti ya Watanzania, also sought to raise issues with the intergovernmental agreement between Tanzania and Dubai on the operations of the country’s ports.
The three organisations organised the forum after the thirty-day ultimatum they gave the government to cancel the controversial agreement ended.
It was to feature prominent voices against the deal, including former ambassador Willibrod Slaa, advocates Boniface Mwabukusi and Peter Madeleka and activist-cum-politician Mdude Nyagali.
Full story here.
Medical team in Saudi Arabia undertakes operations on Tanzania’s conjoined twins
A team of 35 doctors, specialists, and technical and nursing staff on Thursday undertook a 16-hour operation to separate Tanzanian conjoined twins, Hassan and Hussain Omar, at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Headed by the Advisor at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the team kicked off the exercise at around 6 AM as it was live televised.
The two-year-old twins and their mother left Tanzania for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on August 23, 2023. Before being flown to Saudi Arabia, the conjoined twins were admitted to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) for about two years.
After their arrival, the twins were transferred to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital to carry out the necessary medical checkups and to examine the possibility of conducting their successful surgical separation.
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One Response
1. On the SGR. This is a continuation of thepure game of divide and rule! I wonder why we have these Regional Blocks for. There is a disconnect which causes rhe right hand not knowing what the left is doing. Those who nearly succeed to unite they perish in thin air. Our toughest negotiators suffer in the wilderness. I cry for my continent my mothetland! The weak link is the Traitos camouflaged asloving brothers and sisters.