Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, November 29, 2023.
CCM’s Secretary-General resigns after sexual WhatsApp message leaks
The national chairperson of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday accepted the resignation of the party’s Secretary-General Daniel Chongolo, who requested to step down after being “defamed” online.
Paul Makonda, CCM’s secretary for ideology and publicity, announced Wednesday that Samia, who doubles as the President of Tanzania, consented to Mr Chongolo’s resignation in the ongoing party meetings in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
CCM gave no reason for the resignation of Mr Chongolo, who was appointed the party’s Secretary-General on April 30, 2021. However, Wednesday’s announcement follows a letter that has been circulating on social media since Tuesday purported to be authored by Mr Chongolo.
Full story here.
Two police officers held in Dar after reportedly shooting dead a security guard
Police in Dar es Salaam said Wednesday that it is holding two members of the law enforcement agency after reports surfaced online alleging that they’re responsible for shooting dead a security guard at a popular pub in the city, Boardroom Bar.
The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Razaki Azan. The officers, whom police didn’t name in their statement, allegedly stormed the pub located in the suburban area of Sinza Mapambano around 2 AM as part of a crackdown against sex workers.
The incident comes almost a month since Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Albert Chalamila ordered pub owners in the city whose premises are used by sex workers in their activities, which are illegal in Tanzania, to get rid of them lest he shuts them down.
Full story here.
Titan Lithium to start drilling program at Titan 1 project in Tanzania
A Nevada-based lithium explorer and developer, Titan Lithium, announced Wednesday that it will start drilling at its lithium project in Tanzania after enlisting a new technical director to oversee the significant auger drilling program at Titan 1.
Dr Joas Kabete of Kilimanjaro Lithium Ltd will lead the program, according to a statement from the company. The drilling, set to commence this weekend, will delve to a depth of 100 feet across at least five drill holes, he added.
Titan Lithium hopes to enhance its understanding of the geology at Titan 1, a key site within its expansive lithium projects in Tanzania.
Titan 1 currently boasts the world’s largest lithium-in-soil anomaly, covering 40 square miles. The region exhibits continuous lithium values averaging over 4,000 ppm, with some high-grade areas showcasing lithium values soaring up to 4.82% Li2O (22,400 ppm Li).
The company selected targets based on robust Li2O values from earlier surface sampling.
On November 17, 2023, the company announced that it had fully transferred 100 per cent interest in the Titan 1 and Titan 2 Prospecting Licenses in Tanzania into its subsidiary, Kilimanjaro Lithium Ltd.
Tanzania is Africa’s fourth largest gold producer and home to advanced critical mineral projects such as graphite, lithium and the high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt Kabanga deposit.
Earlier this year, the government signed agreements worth US$667 million for graphite and rare earth projects with several Australian Mining firms. Also, in February 2023, EV maker Tesla signed an agreement to purchase between 17,500 and 35,000 tons per annum of Anode Active Material (AAM) from a producer in Tanzania.
13 killed, 25 injured in bus-train collision in Singida
At least 13 passengers were killed, and 25 others were seriously injured early Wednesday after a bus in which they were travelling collided with a train engine in the Singida region.
“The number of deaths could rise as most of the 25 injured passengers are in critical condition,” Stellah Mutahibirwa, Singida regional police commander, told journalists.
There were 57 passengers aboard the bus heading to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam. The bus hit the locomotive at a railway crossing at 5 a.m. local time, Mutahibirwa said, adding that the train engine was on its routine shunting.
“It seems the bus driver attempted to drive through the railway crossing without taking precautions,” Mutahibirwa added.
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