Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday
Tanzania, U.S. Discuss Graphite Exploration Partnership Amid Efforts to Ease Diplomatic Pressure After Election Crackdown
Tanzania’s Minister of Minerals, Antony Mavunde, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, held discussions with U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Andrew Lentz on graphite exploration partnership involving the U.S. Department of State’s Energy and Mineral Governance Program. The proposed partnership is expected to involve Tanzania’s state-owned mining company, STAMICO, and the Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST).
“There are licenses that are owned by the State Mining Corporation, STAMICO, and under these licenses, we are going to conduct joint exploration with our counterparts through the U.S. Department of Minerals, to identify areas that will attract major investment,” Mavunde told reporters.
He continued: “Therefore, we expect that through this arrangement of working together and especially carrying out in-depth exploration, it will help identify areas where our country has been endowed with resources. Ultimately, this will lead to the establishment of another major mine, particularly in the regions of Mtwara and Lindi, where this exercise has taken place.”
The meeting comes as Tanzania has set a target to complete high-resolution airborne geophysical surveys covering 50 percent of its territory by 2030, up from the current coverage of 16 percent. On March 3, 2025, China dispatched experts to assess Tanzania’s needs for the exercise, and China is expected to be one of the major partners in the initiative. Read the full article here.
Tanzania’s Commission for Labour Dispute Resolution Launches Online Platform, e-Utatuzi
The Commission for Mediation and Arbitration (CMA) has announced the launch of its online platform, e-Utatuzi, designed to streamline the resolution of labour disputes in Tanzania.
Speaking during the launch today, January 21, 2026, the CMA Director, Usekelege Mpulla, highlighted that the system was developed in collaboration with the e-Government Authority and internal ICT officials. The platform comprises five modules: the first is the registration module, the second is the dispute registration module, the third covers key services, the fourth is for minor disputes, and the fifth provides information.
“The system has also been integrated with various government systems, including our Ministry responsible for issuing work permits, NIDA, and RITA,” Mpulla explained. He added that the platform would help address delays in providing files to the High Court, which were previously caused by congestion of physical files at CMA offices.
“We integrated data withe the court, they will receive proceedings immediately when they need them through the system,” Mpulla said.
At the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Tanzania Employers, Suzanne Ndomba-Doran, noted that the platform would reduce costs and called for all steps, including the submission of reference attachments, to be completed online. Read the full article here.
CHADEMA Decries Police Disruption of Party Activities in Celebration of Its 33rd Anniversary
Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has reported police disruptions to some of its activities commemorating the party’s 33rd anniversary on January 21, 2026. These activities included tree-planting in Nkasi and branch-opening ceremonies in Mbeya.
“For our commemoration, we decided to celebrate by participating in community activities. We agreed to plant trees in areas that were affected by strong winds after heavy rains in our constituency, Namanyere Ward, Mabatini Village,” said Nkasi Kaskazini former member of parliament, Aida Khenani, who led the activity.
“In an unusual situation, this morning we received information that the OCD has stopped this activity and ordered that it should not take place. We had already incurred costs to purchase more than 1,600 tree seedlings to participate in these activities,” Khenani added.
In a statement, Rukwa region police denied the claims that party supporters were attacked, forcibly dispersed, or arrested while planting trees. “No such incident has occurred in Nkasi District or anywhere else in Rukwa Region,” the Rukwa Police said.
Meanwhile, in Mbeya, police intervened during the launch of a new CHADEMA branch in Inyala Ward. Authorities lowered the newly placed party flag and arrested CHADEMA’s Mbeya Chairperson, Masaga Karoli, along with the Chairperson of CHADEMA Youth in Mbeya, Elisha Chonya. Police stated that the arrests were made for inciting and organizing an unlawful assembly. Read the full article here.
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