On September 24 the Africa-America Institute Annual Awards Gala in New York raised nearly $900,000 for educational and training programs in Africa. Tribute was paid to the people of Tanzania for the country’s significant progress in education, environmental conservation, and in creating a business-friendly environment for entrepreneurs and investment. Tanzanian President Kikwete accepted the ‘African National Achievement Award’ on behalf of the people of Tanzania. Nearly 500 distinguished U.S. and African leaders and top diplomats attended the function.
The founder of ‘The Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund in Tanzania,’ announced the creation of 20 Kikwete Scholarships to support tertiary level training for Tanzanian students to pursue studies in the field of environmental conservation at U.S. universities. In his remarks, President Kikwete personally thanked Tudor Jones for the scholarships, saying it would help further study on environmental conservation in Tanzania.
In the area of business and investment, Tanzania was recently cited by The World Bank as one of Africa’s top two reformers. During the Gala, Reginald Mengi, Tanzanian businessman and media mogul, recognized Tanzania’s recent business success and challenged the Western media to show the thriving side of Africa to encourage business and foreign investment.
Former President Alhaji Hassan Mwinyi has been appointed Chancellor of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and former Prime Minister Cleopa Msuya Chancellor of Ardhi University (AU).
The population of Tanzania is now reported to have reached 39 million. It was about nine million in 1950.
Tanzania’s Big Brother II winner Richard
Tanzania’s Richard Bezuidenhout has won the Big Brother Africa II competition. The “reality” television show lasted three months, following 12 housemates all from different African countries as they lived together and gradually nominated each other for eviction by public vote. The 24 year-old film student had a tumultuous time in the House – falling in love, having more than a few tantrums and surviving nomination five times on his road to the $100 000 prize. Nigeria’s Ofunneka Molokwu took second place, with Tatiana Durao of Angola coming in third.
Some donors have threatened to stop supporting orphan school girls after learning that many of them end up becoming pregnant. This was said by Ms Mary Mbura, coordinator of an NGO AFRIWAG which assists orphans and children with HIV in Tanga region. Talking to the Muheza district consultative committee she said that donors were annoyed seeing the girls put in a family way, and so they were now thinking of supporting boys only. AFRIWAG is supporting 205 primary and 55 secondary pupils in Muheza – Majira.
IPP Media Group and Mwananchi Communications Limited have agreed to provide an award with lucrative incentives to aggressive journalists who volunteer to uncover corruption scandals. IPP Executive Chairman, Reginald Mengi and MCL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sam Shollei, speaking during a special forum for editors and reporters in Dar es Salaam said the award initiative had been designed to support journalists who were committed to fighting graft.
In a move aimed at cutting down the cost of official transportation, in future Vx model Land Cruisers will be supplied only to ministers and their deputies, while permanent secretaries and their deputies will be entitled to Gx models – Mwananchi.