Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Parliament debate intensifies over EPC+F contracts
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, a heated debate erupted in Parliament during the discussion of the Ministry of Work’s budget, as members queried the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction – Finance (EPC+F) projects the government entered on June 16, 2023.
The EPC+F contracts involved six Chinese companies: China Civil Engineering Construction (CCECC), Railway 19th Bureau Group Corporation Ltd (CR19), Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, China Overseas Engineering Group Co. Ltd (COVEC), China Railway No. 4 Engineering Group Co. Ltd (CREC4), and China Railway 15th Bureau Group (CR15G).
While passing the Ministry of Work’s 1.7 trillion TZS budget, MP Halima Mdee questioned the government’s statement that it would continue talks with financiers for the EPC+F projects. She pointed out that under EPC+F, the contractor is supposed to secure financing, asking the government to clarify its position. “What does it mean by saying, ‘It will continue talks with financiers for the EPC+F project,’ while the whole idea of EPC+F is that the contractor is supposed to also come up with mechanisms for financing the project?” Mdee asked.
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Nordic Week: Ambassadors share insights on sustainable blue economy practices
Ambassadors from Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden shared their experiences on sustainable blue economy practices, drawing from their efforts in the Baltic Sea.
This took place during a Zanzibar-Finland collaboration workshop on sustainable blue economy, held at the Secret Garden restaurant in Zanzibar. The event was part of the annual Nordic Week, which ran from May 27 to May 31, 2024, highlighting the collaboration between Nordic countries and Tanzania in sustainable development.
Speaking at the workshop, the Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania, Theresa Zitting, emphasized the importance of planning to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources.
“While Finland is popularly known as a land of a thousand lakes, we also have a coastal area through the Baltic Sea. Since the sixties, we have had plans for the coastal area; any new building needs to adhere to those plans,” explained Ambassador Zitting.
Several experts from Zanzibar’s blue economy sector discussed the challenges they face in ensuring sustainability, particularly due to competing interests in fishing, seaweed farming, and tourism along the coast.
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It’s time Tanzania removes taxes on sanitary pads
A lack of adequate guidance on menstrual management, water, disposal, private changing facilities and sanitary hygiene materials leaves schoolgirls in Tanzania with limited options for healthy personal hygiene during monthly menses.
When menstruating, schoolgirls would rather stay home than be uncomfortable, inactive and embarrassed due to inadequate menstrual hygiene management (MHM) facilities at schools.
A friendly and supportive MHM environment that provides education, absorbent sanitary materials and adequate water, sanitation, and health care waste management (WASH) facilities is essential to equal opportunity for all girls. As the world marks Menstrual Hygiene Day, celebrated on May 28th every year, some Tanzanian girls are still struggling to stay in school due to menstruation.
Tanzania is a country where the government has set up centres that distribute free condoms to promote safe sex. However, it is the same country that reintroduced a tax on sanitary pads and tampons, a significant barrier to quality menstrual hygiene management.
Read the full analysis here
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