Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania over the weekend.
PR Gone Wrong or Too Early to Call a Deal? Tanzania Debunks Claims That Saudi Firm Won Concession For Bagamoyo Port
The Tanzanian government has found itself in a defensive position, clarifying to skeptical citizens that reports claiming a Saudi Arabian firm has secured a concession to operate the Bagamoyo Port do not reflect the reality on the ground. This follows multiple reports in Saudi Arabian media suggesting that the Kingdom had acquired the port.
“The information circulating on social media claiming that a company from Saudi Arabia has secured a contract to operate the Bagamoyo port is not true,” said Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, the Minister of State, President’s Office, Planning, and Investment, during a parliamentary session on February 14, 2025.
Read the full article here.
President Samia Presents Dar es Salaam Declaration to AU Climate Change Committee
President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania has presented the Dar es Salaam Declaration to the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). The declaration, adopted during the Africa Heads of State Summit in Dar es Salaam on January 27-28, 2025, focuses on providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Addressing CAHOSCC members, President Samia emphasized the importance of Africa’s active participation in climate change discussions, defending the continent’s interests, and ensuring that African nations can use their resources to combat climate change effectively.
The CAHOSCC meeting, held on the sidelines of the 38th Ordinary Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was chaired by Kenyan President William Ruto. He praised President Samia and Tanzania for hosting the Mission 300 Africa Summit. The committee officially endorsed the Dar es Salaam Declaration for presentation to the AU Assembly.
In addition, President Samia introduced Tanzania’s Clean Cooking Agenda, a proposal to the AU Assembly aimed at addressing energy challenges. She stressed that this initiative is crucial in helping 900 million Africans who currently lack access to clean cooking energy.
Lissu Stresses ‘No Reforms, No Election’ as He Returns to Hometown Ikungi
CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Antipas Lissu received a warm welcome in his hometown of Ikungi, Singida, central Tanzania, marking his first visit since being elected party chairman. Addressing a rally during the homecoming event, Lissu reaffirmed CHADEMA’s stance on blocking the upcoming general election until major electoral reforms are implemented.
Lissu clarified that the ‘No Reforms, No Election’ movement is not an attempt to bypass democracy, but rather a stand against an electoral system that, he argues, violates political rights.
“We know, and God knows, that we will not be treated fairly in the coming election,” Lissu stated. “After what happened in last year’s local government elections, we convened a Central Committee meeting on December 2 to 3, 2025, and it was decided that our top priority should be to push for electoral reforms.”
His statement follows a nationally televised address on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, from CHADEMA’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam, where he outlined the party’s political direction.
Lissu emphasized that CHADEMA’s strategy to ensure reforms before the next election will be based on Gandhian principles of non-violent resistance rather than an outright boycott of the October, 2025 general election.
Parliament Approves TZS 945.7 Billion Budget Increase for 2024/25 Following AfDB and IMF Support
The Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania, on Friday, February 14, 2025, approved an increase of TZS 945.7 billion in the 2024/25 budget, raising it from TZS 49.346 trillion, which was approved last year, to TZS 50.291 trillion.
Presenting the budget increase in Parliament, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, stated that the additional funds, allocated to sectors such as education, health, tourism, and various programs aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change, were obtained from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Of the total amount, TZS 325.9 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Finance to cover payments for government employee debts, contractors, and local suppliers, as well as ongoing infrastructure construction in the Government City of Mtumba in Dodoma.
A sum of TZS 131.4 billion has been set aside for the Ministry of Education to fund the requirements of the new education curriculum, including the construction of vocational secondary schools, procurement of teaching materials, and hiring teachers.
“These funds will also support the completion of VETA colleges, the construction of a library at Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), infrastructure development at Nelson Mandela University in Arusha, the construction of buildings for the Institute of Adult Education, and the Mwanza Library building,” Dr. Nchemba explained.
Other sectors benefiting from this budget increase include the Ministry of State, President Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, which has been allocated TZS 173.7 billion, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, which has been allocated TZS 260.7 billion.
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