Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

A Tanzanian founder seeks to replace fuel-powered bodabodas with electric ones. Here’s why the shift matters

Over the past 10 years, the number of bodabodas has exploded across Tanzania. You can find a kijiwe – waiting stage – at nearly every major intersection in the country, and their two-wheeled bodies can be counted on to take you anywhere, at nearly any time of day.

However, bodabodas are not without problems. Their petrol engines produce air pollution which clogs the lungs of citizens and contributes to early deaths. And the petrol itself is expensive, consuming nearly a third of driver’s incomes.

In this story, freelance journalist Tom Courtright tells the story of Erick Mome Morro, a Tanzanian social worker based between Dar es Salaam and Nurnberg, Germany, who is determined to demonstrate the answer by introducing electric motorcycles in Tanzania.

Courtright, who also serves as an independent transportation consultant, argues that if successfully adopted by many bodaboda riders in Tanzania the electric motorcycles will go a long way not only in preserving the environment but also in improving the income of the riders.

Tanzania considers reversing withdrawal of individual rights to African Court

Constitutional and Legal Affairs Minister George Simbachawene said Tuesday that the government is rethinking its decision to withdraw the right of individuals and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to directly access the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR). 

Mr Simbachawene told the delegation of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) that paid a courtesy visit to his office that “discussions [to reverse the withdrawal] are at an advanced stage.”

Tanzania, which hosts the African Court whose seat is in Arusha, became the second country after Rwanda to withdraw the right of individuals and NGOs to directly access the African Court in 2019.

On November 14,2019, the government signed the notice of withdrawal of the declaration made under Article 34(6) of the African Court Protocol on the African Charter for the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR). This notification was sent to the African Union on November 21 of the same year.

But Mr Simbachawene told the THRDC’s team on Tuesday that there are currently ongoing discussions within the government on the matter and soon a decision will be reached and made public.

“The court is in Tanzania and it is not good that we do not fully put our support,” Mr Simbachawene was quoted by media as saying. “It is just a matter of time. A decision will be announced.”

Govt warns against yellow fever threat as Kenya registers three deaths

Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu warned on Wednesday against an outbreak of yellow fever in Tanzania following the eruption of the same in neighbouring Kenya.

Mwalimu said that her warning has been informed by a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) she received on March 3, 2022, informing the government of the eruption of the disease in Kenya.

According to her, as of March 3, there were a total of 15 yellow fever patients in Kenya plus three deaths. 

“So far, based on the information we have, no yellow fever incident has been reported in Tanzania,” said Ms Mwalimu.

Still, she urged people to take all necessary precautions against the disease and familiarise themselves with its symptoms, which include fever, chills, severe headache, back pain, general body aches, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and weakness.

“We will improve our systems used in providing yellow fever electronic certificates in our borders so as to combat fraud that can be committed by respective officers by providing people with fake certificates,” Ms Mwalimu added. 

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