The Chanzo Morning Briefing Tanzania News – July 03, 2024
Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Tuesday July 02,2024
European Investment Bank Vice President Thomas Östros visits Tanzania for investment talks
European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Thomas Östros is in Tanzania leading the lending arm of the European Union’s high-level delegation to the East African nation aimed at improving the bank’s investment in the country.
A statement released Tuesday revealed that the visit provides an opportunity to assess EIB-supported projects, with a particular focus on the green private sector, public infrastructure, gender-lens investing, and boosting the blue economy.
Speaking during a briefing with journalists, Mr Östros lauded the government’s support to the country’s private sector, noting that the Tanzanian economy has shown remarkable resilience and growth over the past years.
“This has made Tanzania a key partner under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and, hence, a key partner for the EIB,” he said. “We are more than happy to work with our partners in Tanzania to strengthen the country further, both its public and private sector.”
Read the full article here
President Samia covers medical cost for kidnap victim, stakeholders urge independent investigation and end to abductions
President Samia has paid Tsh. 35 million to cover the medical expenses of Edgar Mwakabela popularly known as Sativa, a 27-year-old who was kidnapped, shot, and left for dead in Katavi.
Mwakabela, in his initial statement, reported that he was taken to a police workshop after his kidnapping and later moved to over 2,000 kilometers, only to be shot in the head and left for dead. Mwakabela was lucky that the bullet hit his jaw instead.
The ordeal mobilized X users, who coordinated the campaign #WhereIsSativa and later organized contributions for emergency medical needs and logistics from Katavi to Dar es Salaam.
At Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, it was noted that Mwakabela sustained a jaw fracture requiring surgery, costing Tsh. 33 million. Supporters, including X users, politician Zitto Kabwe, and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), came forward to cover the medical costs.
Read the full article here
Tanzania can transform into Africa’s premier trade hub. Here’s how
Imagine Tanzania as the beating heart of African trade, a bustling hub where commerce thrives and economies grow.
Picture Dar es Salaam as a vibrant epicentre, teeming with traders from all corners of Africa, drawn by the promise of a thriving marketplace where their needs are met efficiently and affordably. This vision is plausible; it’s a tangible reality that can be achieved with strategic planning, investment, and innovation.
In 2023, I embarked on a learning tour across the UAE and China, immersing myself in the bustling cities of Dubai, Guangzhou, Yiwu, and some 20 other Chinese cities. These cities stand as pinnacles of international trade, attracting millions of traders worldwide.
During my travels, I encountered many traders from African nations like Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Mozambique. These entrepreneurs spent thousands of dollars travelling and procuring products such as clothing, home appliances, and smart gadgets, not from factories but from local marketplaces in China.
Read the full analysis here
Tanzania’s foreign media ownership restrictions impact citizen’s freedom of speech
In Tanzania, foreign investment in the media sector is severely limited. According to section 4(1)(b) of the Media Services Regulation, 2017, foreign investors can own less than 50 per cent of the print media companies.
These regulatory constraints and government restrictions affect the economic development of the nation. Furthermore, the regulation has significant negative human rights implications as it stifles the diversity of voices within the media industry, violating citizens’ freedom of speech.
The Tanzanian government should allow unrestricted ownership and investment in the media industry. The government should promote public-private partnerships and establish media policies that adhere to the East African Community’s (EAC) competition principles.
Recently, there have been increased incidences of unethical journalism in Tanzania attributed to excessive government control and lack of independent resources. Journalists and media outlets reportedly receive tokens and write according to the source’s demands.
Foreign investment can erode such unethical practices. Media houses with independent investors are likelier to produce quality, unbiased output than government or state-owned media houses.
Read the full article here
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