Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.

Tanzania mourns Edward Lowassa

A nation is in mourning following the loss of its Former Prime Minister and 2015 presidential candidate Edward Ngoyai  Lowassa. Lowassa died on February 10, 2024, at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute where he was treated for various maladies including lung problems, stomach ulcers, and hypertension.

Several leaders have come forward with a condolence message, President Samia Suluhu said the country has lost a talented leader, dedicated and committed to the country. Opposition leader Freeman Mbowe described Lowassa as a courageous leader, a brilliant politician, and a firm activist, who was at the forefront in advocating for political and economic changes in our country.

ACT Wazalendo party leader Zitto Kabwe, describes Lowassa’s decision to leave the ruling party and contest in opposition as a crucial decision in the development of Tanzania’s democracy.

Lowassa is expected to be laid to rest at his home town Monduli in Arusha on February 17, 2024, morners will have an opportunity to say goodbye at Karimjee ground on February 13, 2024, and Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha on February 15, 2024.

Arrest made in the case of repeated rape of deaf-mute teen

It felt like the end of the world to her, a mother in pain and frustration her only plea was please help me. Her daughter was raped for a second time.The perpetrator took advantage of the fact that she is deaf and mute and also suffers from a mental disorder.

The incident happened in the small town of Magugu in the Babati district. Following the incident, the mother of a 19-year-old girl reached out to a local activist who connected her to The Chanzo.

Read the full story here

Tanzania seeks to raise $1 billion from carbon trading

Tanzania’s government through its Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President (Union and Environment), Selemani Jafo said that the country is on track to raise USD 1 Billion through carbon trading.

“Up to now, 39 carbon projects have been registered and 12 projects have already received no objection,” said Jafo in parliament on Friday, February 9, 2024.

“If things go well this year, we plan to raise about USD 1 billion from carbon trading,” added Jafo.

Minister Jafo went on to provide some of the recent gains from carbon trading including Sh. 14 Billion expected by the Tanganyika District Council and 4.8 Billion received by the Mbulu and Kiteto District Councils. Read the full story here

Dr. Mwele Ntuli Malecela: The woman, the myth, the legend

My earliest memory of our interaction was when I wrote a thread on Herd Immunity regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. For some time, I had been seeing her tweets on my timeline explaining herd immunity to the public and was intrigued by her ability to explain complex science concepts in simple terms.

I sent her my thread inbox and asked her opinion about it. And she was happy to give me feedback and share it on her timeline. Her last message to me said, “It’s excellent, maybe we should write a joint article”. Unfortunately, we never got a chance to make it true until she passed away two years later on the 10th of February, 2022.

I am glad that I got to have a discussion with her regarding healthcare and women in leadership. She was one of my biggest cheerleaders. Whenever I post my achievements, Dr. Mwele would cheer and send me congratulations.

It may seem to be something basic, but it meant the world to me. Ask any girl, there is no better feeling than a more experienced, older woman in the sector of your interest cheering for you. Dr. Mwele was a great inspirational role model to many girls and women, but who was she really?

Read the full article here

This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see below), following us on X (Twitter) (here), or joining us on Telegram (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.