Dar es Salaam. Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Thursday, September 8, 2022.
Electronic levies continue to be a hard nut to crack in Tanzania
The issue of electronic levies has proved to be a hard nut to crack after Tanzanians from all walks of life continue to protest against their introduction at a time when the rising cost of living is at the top of the citizens’ concerns.
The government recently introduced a new levy imposed on all withdrawals done over the counter, ATMs and all transfers (TISS & SWIFT). This was on top of another controversial levy introduced in July 2021 on all mobile money transactions.
The opposition against these levies has been so intense that the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on Thursday came crawling out of the woodwork to demand the government work on raised concerns around the issue of electronic levies.
“[The party] has directed the government to assess the reality [around the levies] and take necessary measures based on citizens’ views on the levies,” CCM secretary of ideology and publicity Shaka Hamdu Shaka told journalists during a press conference which took place at the party’s mini-office in Lumumba, Dar es Salaam.
Full story here.
Qatar Chamber of Commerce hosts meeting with Tanzanian tourism officials
Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday hosted a meeting with a delegation from Tanzania led by Prof Eliamani Sedoyeka, permanent secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Qatari press reported Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Qatar Chamber assistant director general for Government Relations and Committees Affairs Ali Bu Sherbak al-Mansouri, alongside a variety of Qatari businessmen and representatives of Qatar Chamber’s Tourism Committee and travel agencies.
Also present at the meeting were Fatma M Khamis, principal secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Heritage Zanzibar, and a number of Tanzanian officials from the tourism sector.
The meeting touched on co-operation relations in the tourism sector and the means to enhance them, as well as the available opportunities available in this sector in both countries.
Al-Mansouri said Qatar and Tanzania enjoy close relations, noting that the two countries’ trade exchange grew by 66 per cent from QR169mn in 2020 to QR282mn last year.
He also stressed the common desire of both sides to further develop relations, especially in light of the tremendous potential both countries own. He also stressed that Qatari businessmen are interested to learn about investment opportunities in Tanzania in different sectors, such as tourism and agriculture.
On his part, Prof Sedoyeka assured that Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup represents a good opportunity for both countries to boost cooperation in tourism. He noted that the objective of the delegation’s visit is to promote Tanzanian tourism in Qatar, as well as the opportunities galore in this sector to attract Qatari investors.
He said the Tanzanian side is eager to develop economic relations and establish partnerships with Qatari counterparts and exchange expertise between the private sectors of both countries.
During the meeting, Sedoyeka delivered an overview of Tanzania’s investment environment and the incentives offered by the government to Qatari investors, stressing that Tanzania is rife with investment opportunities in various sectors and industries.
Eighty-two illegal Ethiopian immigrants detained in Iringa
Iringa regional assistant immigration officer Agnes Luziga said Wednesday that immigration authorities in the region have arrested 82 illegal Ethiopian immigrants, with two Tanzanian nationals who allegedly facilitated the transportation of the illegal immigrants also arrested.
Ms Luziga told a press conference that the illegal immigrants, who were arrested Tuesday at 6 PM, local time, were in transit to southern African countries to look for jobs.
“They were arrested at Tosamanga area along the Iringa-Mbeya highway while travelling in a truck,” Xinhua news agency quoted Luziga as saying, adding that the immigrants were arrested by a special night patrol immigration team.
“Preliminary investigations have shown that the immigrants travelled to Iringa from Kenya through the Holili border post and entered into Kilimanjaro region,” said the senior immigration official.
According to her, the illegal immigrants travelled from the Kilimanjaro region to Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania, on their way to Malawi through Mbeya but they were arrested in Iringa.
They will be charged in court for illegal entry into the country, she noted.
This is it for today and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see below) or following us on Twitter (here) as that is the best way to make sure you do not miss any of these briefings. And in case you have any questions or comments, please consider dropping a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
