TANZANIA IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Posted on October 1, 2024 by editor

by Donovan McGrath

Rapidly urbanising Africa to have six cities with populations above 10m by 2035
(Guardian online – UK) Extract: … Angola’s capital, Luanda, and Tanzania’s commercial hub, Dar es Salaam, will join the metropolises of Cairo, Kinshasa, Lagos and Greater Johannesburg with populations of more than 10 million, the Economist Intelligence Unit said in a report on African cities… This fast-paced urbanisation, which will result in more than half of Africans living in towns and cities by 2035, is expected to create wealth, dynamism and business opportunities, the report says. But, it adds: “Overcrowding, informal settlements, high unemployment, poor public services, stretched utility services and exposure to climate change are just some of the major challenges that city planners will have to grapple with.” By 2035, on top of the six megacities, the continent will have 17 urban areas with more than 5 million people and about another 100 with more than 1 million. Of the largest cities by 2035, Addis Ababa is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 10.6%, followed by Kampala, Dar es Salaam and Abidjan at above or near 9%… (22 August 2024)

I spent three days with one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer tribes where they stalk squirrels and baboons with bows and arrows

Ruhi Çenet and Hadza hunters

(Daily Mail online – UK) Extract: An intrepid filmmaker has revealed how he spent three days living with one of the world’s last hunter-gatherer tribes in a bid to document their stripped-back existence. Ruhi Çenet ventured to near Lake Eyasi in Northern Tanzania with a guide and translator where he met with members of the Hadza tribe. He explains in a YouTube documentary detailing his trip, that the Hadza people ‘survive by hunting their food with bows and arrows just like our ancestors did thousands of years ago deep into the wild savannah.’ Some of the animals they hunt for food, Ruhi says, include rock hyrax, squirrels, antelopes, and baboons, and to wash it down, they drink ‘muddy water,’ as their ‘immune system is strong enough to deal with the bacteria and parasites.’ Along with a unique diet, Ruhi reveals that the Hadza people speak a complex language called Hadzane which combines spoken words with clicking noises. After being introduced to the tribe’s chief, Sakoro, Ruhi prepares to go on a hunt with the male tribe members. They wake up very early in the morning in the darkness with around 10 hunting dogs in tow. Their weapons of choice include knives and arrows, with some rubbed in poison. As a form of camouflage, the men wear baboon furs and other animal skins on their head as well as around their torsos. The main portion of Ruhi’s short film then focuses on the arduous and tiring task of hunting for food. The dogs help sniff out rock hyrax and mongoose in their underground dwellings, before the tribesmen go in and spear the animals… During their breaks, the men eat from honeycombs and Ruhi explains that honey is the tribe’s ‘liquid gold’ and is ‘packed with energy and vital nutrients to keep them going strong in the wild.’ … Ruhi reveals that there has been a drop in animal population in the region where the Hadza people live due to ‘neighbouring tribes cutting down trees and driving away wildlife for crops and livestock.’ … (7 June 2024)

‘I am their voice now’: the Tanzanian rapper with a mission to spread pride in his own colour

Singeli artist K-Zungu at Sisso Records, Dar es Salaam. Guardian

(Guardian online – UK) K-Zungu, an up and coming singeli artist with albinism, says he was lucky to have a protective family because so many with the condition in Africa have not been so fortunate. Extract continues: Every day during school break, Ramadhani Idrisa Muhando and his friends would turn on their radio to listen to 20 Percent or Jose Chameleone, stars of bongo flava, a Tanzanian music genre influenced by hip-hop and R&B. So his love of music, he says, “has its roots in that schoolyard” in Tanga, on Tanzania’s east coast, but it was singeli, a style developed 125 miles away in Dar es Salaam, that changed the course of his life. “Boda boda [motorcycle] drivers played singeli on loudspeakers. Those new rhythms flooded our neighbourhoods and I couldn’t help but fall into its nets,” he says. Muhando – know as K-Zungu – is a singeli artist, the first the country has known with albinism. “Zungu means ‘white’ in Swahili, and K is the first letter of my grandfather’s name, Kaniki. That’s why I chose that name,” he says. Albinism, a hereditary condition that results in a lack of pigmentation in skin, hair and eyes, affecting one in 1,400 Tanzanians, is bound up with superstition. Some people believe myths that the body parts of people with the condition can bring wealth or cure illness, which has led to attacks and killings. UN statistics show 75 people with albinism were murdered in Tanzania between 2000 and 2016… K-Zungu … is using his music to challenge the fears around albinism… His song, Albino, describes someone returning home to find a gang of boys threatening to cut off his hands and sell them. “We deserve peace and happiness. I’m proud of my colour, this is me,” he raps in the song, appealing to the government to take action against those “who brutally attack and kill us”… (17 June 2024)

Idris Elba’s studio plan sparks dreams of ‘Zollywood’
(BBC News online – UK) Extract: Hollywood star Idris Elba has been allocated land in Zanzibar … to launch a film studio. The British actor, who has roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, has previously voiced his ambitions to develop Africa’s expanding film industry. Roughly a year and-a-half after discussing his plans with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the authorities in the East African nation have given Elba the green light. The studio would be similar to any in “Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood” – and may give rise to “Zollywood”, Zanzibar’s investment minister is quoted by local media as saying. “I’m not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zollywood or Zawood,” Shariff Ali Shariff joked as he addressed industry figures at the Zanzibar International Film Festival … President Samia spoke with Elba, best known for his roles in Luther and the Wire, about the studio in January 2023 at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Following discussions, the president’s spokesperson said “if successful, the project will help not only Tanzania but also eastern and central Africa”… (2 August 2024)

Tanzanian artist who burnt president’s picture freed
(BBC News online – UK) Extract: A young Tanzanian portrait artist who was convicted … of cybercrimes has been released from prison after social media users raised more than $2,000 (£1,600) to pay his fine. Shadrack Chaula was ordered by a court to pay the fine or face two years in prison after he admitted recording a video that went viral on social media, showing him burning a picture of President Samia Suluhu Hassan while insulting her. “Thank you very much fellow Tanzanians for coming to my rescue,” Mr Chaula told journalists shortly after his release … The case sparked an uproar in the country, with some lawyers saying the 24-year-old painter did not break any law by burning the picture. Police said they arrested him for using “strong words” against President Samia in the TikTok video he recorded in Ntokela village near the south-western city of Mbeya. When he appeared in court … Mr Chaula was charged with spreading false information about the president, contravening the country’s cybercrime laws. The court ruled that his actions constituted cyber-harassment and incitement. Mr Chaula said the sentence was too harsh but the prosecution had pushed for a more severe penalty, saying this was necessary to deter others from “disrespecting” the president… (9 July 2024)

Tanzania police commander transferred over sex work comment
(BBC News online – UK) Extract: A police commander in Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma, has been removed from her post following controversial comments in which she linked an alleged gang-rape victim to sex work… [A] video appearing to show a young woman being assaulted went viral, prompting an outcry in the East African nation. Four men … denied charges over the alleged attack… [The] police commander in … Dodoma, was quoted in a Tanzanian newspaper as saying the “woman in question appeared to be engaged in sex work”. Following a backlash and accusations that the comment minimised the woman’s ordeal, Tanzania’s national police force apologised and said the commander had been transferred. “The police force would like to apologise to everyone who was touched and offended by the statement circulating in the media while monitoring is being done to find its accuracy,” national police spokesperson David Misime said … Mr Msime added that in her comments to local newspaper Mwananchi, Dodoma Regional Commander Theopista Mallya had said that even if the woman was a sex worker, “she did not deserve to be treated that way”. These words did not appear in Mwananchi’s report – the BBC has contacted the newspaper for comment. In response to Mwananchi’s report, lawyer Peter Madeleka said on social media platform X that Ms Mallya’s comments were “proof of police cruelty to women’s rights”. Fatma Karume, a lawyer and prominent activist, also expressed outrage on X, writing: “Those who sell themselves can not be raped in this country?” In the video that appeared to show the woman being raped, the suspects reportedly interrogated her, forcing her to apologise to someone referred to as “afande”. In Tanzania “afande” is often used to refer to a soldier or police officer, so many activists and social media users expressed outrage that a sexual assault could have been carried out on the orders of a member of the security forces… (19 August 2024)

‘We don’t need more concrete’: A new village in Tanzania will use 3D printer and soil to build its community
(CNN online – USA) Extract: Building with 3D printers has matured rapidly in recent years, as advances in technology and material science allow for grander and more ambitious designs. The potential uses are also increasingly varied, from affordable housing to a planned NASA base on the Moon. Most 3D-printed structures are built using concrete or other pourable, cementitious substances that are cheap, reliable and durable – although, almost invariably, with a hefty carbon footprint attached. But a nascent development in the field may offer a more sustainable approach: 3D printing with earth. In Kibaha, Tanzania, just west of the capital Dar es Salaam, a group of pioneering architects are set to build a new village with “earth printing” at its heart. Created by architecture firms Hassell and ClarkeHopkinsClarke, alongside charity foundation One Heart Hope Village has been designed to help and house children from across the country who have experienced hardship or unsafe home environments… Nearly 50 buildings are planned for the site… The landmark building for Hope Village is its community center, a 3D-printed design that will serve as a school hall and cafeteria during the week and open to the wider community for events at weekends. The architects knew they wanted to use locally sourced earth for the community center, but were wary of the limitations of rammed earth, which is typically compacted into thick, flat walls. “We wanted to make sure that we’re able to create walls that could ventilate the building, but at the same time also bring in light,” said Hassell’s head of design and innovation, Xavier De Kestelier, in a video call with CNN… Building with earth dates back to prehistory and has taken many forms, including mudbricks, adobe and rammed earth. 3D printing with soil was first attempted in 2018, and the first 3D printed home made from entirely from earth, called TECLA, was designed by Mario Cucinella Architects and constructed near Ravenna, Italy in 2021… In Tanzania, the printer will build up layers of compacted soil in interconnected curved columns that leaves negative space for light and air to filter through. Beyond shape, engineering durability is a key challenge when working with earth. Concrete is a resilient material that can endure the elements; earth less so. But De Kestelier insists that when it comes to 3D-printed architecture, “we don’t need to use more concrete,” and that more sustainable options are the future – when used correctly… (1 August 2024)

Chilli bombs and honeybees: Weapons in Tanzania’s human-elephant conflict
(Aljazeera online – Qatar) Extract: Mwana Athumani Msemo’s homestead sits encased in the undulating grasslands that surround Mount Kilimanjaro, an area so quiet and remote that clucking and bleating from her chicken and goat farm are the only sounds to be heard for kilometres. The landscape, with its crisp air and lush greens, holds glorious beauty. But for Msemo, it also holds ever-present anguish. It was somewhere in this wilderness that her husband took their cattle out to graze one afternoon two years ago and never returned. By the time the village search team found him at the end of a long trail of elephant footprints, it was dark and he had been dead for hours – a gaping hole where his stomach once was… “He left me with five kids,” the 55-year-old said in Swahili, sitting in her living room, her hands over face. A sob escaped her pursed lips … Across Tanzania … expanding human populations are encroaching more and more on wildlife spaces, putting people on a collision course with roaming animals in increasingly fatal events. In many rural communities like Ngulu Kwakoa, which sits near a wildlife corridor, the most common are clashes with elephants – animals that must migrate in search of food and that can turn from gently giants to charging aggressors in an instant. The giant mammals are a massive pain for farmers, too… Finding solutions to elephant-human conflicts must focus on expanding and freeing up wildlife corridors, so the animals can roam more freely without encountering humans, analysts say… In Tanzania, some have taken to filling up rubber condoms with chilli powder – a spice the elephants hate – and hauling it at raiding invaders like bombs. Others use sound as a means of distraction, beating loudly on steel buckets at intervals to scare elephants away. Six hours west of the Kilimanjaro region, communities are scaling another method pioneered by [Lucy] King herself [a researcher with Save the Elephants, a non-profit based in southern Kenya], with the help of an unlikely character – tiny honeybees. In her research, King found that elephants are mightily scared of bees. Stings on the sensitive insides of their trunks, the sides of their mouths, and behind their ears are so painful, that the intelligent animals know to scram when they hear the buzz of a hive. Playing on that fear, King came up with the idea to position bees strategically around farms and realised that it could deter elephants from going ahead with raids. After testing the method in Kenya, the researcher created a manual and published it so that conservationists from Tanzania to India are now making use of it… (11 June 2024)

‘Women have always been sidelined. So we’re radical’: the Zawose Queens go from Tanzania to Glastonbury

Leah and Pendo Zawose – the Zawose Queens – Photo Michael Mbwambo

(Guardian online – UK) The multi-talented musicians were held back in their home country where even certain instruments were off limits … Extract continues: Walking into an industrial estate in Peckham, I can hear impassioned cries coming out of a rehearsal space located here. Soaring vocals are punctuated by the gentle strum of a thumb piano along with bells that are strapped to the shaking ankles of Pendo and Leah Zawose, who make up the Zawose Queens. It’s their first time playing this music outside Tanzania … The remarkable singing that fills the room has a long history in the Zawose family, with Pendo’s father and Leah’s grandfather Hukwe being a pioneer of Gogo music, which is specific to the tribe they belong to… Pendo sang and performed with her father, who died in 2003, since she was a child. However, for years her role was limited. “The women were always in the background,” she says… “This is an opportunity to be at the forefront, prove myself, and shine.” Now singing and playing a range of instruments, the Zawose Queens came to be after a British Council-funded project connecting Tanzanian and British artists put Leah and Pendo together with UK producers Tome Excell and Oli Barton-Wood. They have made an album together, the recently released Maisha. “This record has been something I’ve been dreaming of doing since I was 12,” says Barton-Wood. “I moved to Tanzania for two years, and went to school there, so I’ve always wanted to come back to do a project like this.” Maisha is rooted in traditional singing and instrumentation, featuring chizeze fiddle along with muheme and ngoma drums but it’s also embellished with more contemporary electronic touches… The Zawose Queens … also have a special show at Womad festival, where Hukwe used to perform as a trailblazing, yet rare, Tanzanian artist … (25 June 2024)

REVIEWS

Posted on October 1, 2024 by editor

by Martin Walsh

ETHNICITY, IDENTITY, AND CONCEPTUALIZING COMMUNITY IN INDIAN OCEAN EAST AFRICA. Daren E. Ray. Ohio University Press, Athens, Ohio, 2023. 329 pp. ISBN: 9780821426135 (paperback). USD $36.95.

From the cover of the book under review. Daren Ray/Ohio University Press

For more than half a century, “ethnicity” and “community” as concepts have been at the centre of scholarship in eastern and southern Africa. More recently, academics have sought to understand the underlying cultural, historical, and political circumstances that (re)made social groups. In this volume from the Indian Ocean Studies Series at Ohio University Press, Darren Ray draws cases from southeastern Kenya to address how societies imagined themselves in contexts at the intersection of Africa and the Indian Ocean during the last two thousand years. The author emphasises the last two to five hundred years to avoid the typical foreshortening of history that often enables mummified social categories, such as “tribe”, in the region’s scholarship. Ray recounts developments internal to Kenya, but also social outcomes impacted by transoceanic commerce and the effects of disproportionate power in the postcolonial setting of an independent state.

In scholarship about Africa, it is now common to recognise that cultural communities were not absolutes; they varied somewhat from location to location, shifted through time, and existed with permeable boundaries. Practices influence group relations. Difference is meaningfully constituted but did not neatly predetermine monolithic ethnic identities. Although these generalisations are well understood, authors rarely detail such cases in ways that crosscut deep precolonial and postcolonial contexts. Ray’s work is a positive treatment in that it sheds the typical straitjackets of discipline, geography, and chronology to address social mosaics and change. His nuanced analysis – which also ranges beyond the “coast” and “hinterland” as exclusive geographies and beyond Africa and the Indian Ocean as separate domains of influence – highlights intersections: frontiers and cross-cultural interfaces that complicate the “local” and “global” via the region. In this volume, interdisciplinary evidence, from linguistics, material culture, oral traditions and histories, documents, and other sources, provides the substance that exposes relational dynamics within and among communities in Kenya. As the author demonstrates well, practices and expressions linked to language, kinship, and religion have ideological and ontological implications for concepts such as ethnicity and for interpretations of society.

Divided into three sections and eight substantive chapters, Ray’s text shows that societies tend to categorise members using cultural characteristics and charters as they integrate historically distinct groups into a single political economy. The Comaroffs, Igor Kopytoff, and, in southeastern Kenya, Chapurukha Kusimba, among others, have engaged the topic of social and commercial networks with sophistication. In these cases, ethnicity is a “set of relations” and a “mode of consciousness”, a fact that pushes back against earlier, often colonial, representations that immutable African societies occupied specific areas. Precolonial African people, of course, had long engaged other people on the continent and beyond it through collaboration and competition. Ray emphasises the “littoral” as a domain of both the Swahili and Mijikenda peoples. The volume outlines changes to lineages and religious sects, among other social identities. Thus, kinship, Islam, and urban invention are treated as integral to shifts in identity and in place-making practice. This approach and the overall narrative address the ways speakers of Sabaki languages reconceived identities under changed regional circumstances and politics through time.

By examining multiple groups in the same speech community – the Swahili and Mijikenda are both members of the Sabaki language family in the littoral – Ray subverts the past practice of anthropologists and historians who reiterated single ethnicities through their research and writing. The author examines the ancestry of ethnicity from deep time up to the contemporary moment to challenge the assumption that ethnicity is a colonial derivation. Ray notes, “…even at their greatest strain, relationships among Mijikenda and Swahili communities tended to be more amicable than those with Kamba or Oromo communities, whom they excluded as perpetual immigrants to the coast” (p. 242). The speakers of Sabaki languages, he stresses, “identify more as members of clan confederations that were founded as long ago as the sixteenth century (e.g., Rabai or Jomvu) than as members of the Mijikenda or Swahili ethnic group. …they [also] employ religious practice as a key criterion for determining ethnic belonging” (p. 242). Ray employs a “cis-oceanic approach” (à la David Armitage in the Atlantic world), to study the movement and consequences of the intersection of people, products, and ideas in a specific coastal region. In such approaches, the ocean is treated as the link among parts but not the subject of analysis.

Ray’s volume and its contributions are a welcome addition to the scholarship of eastern Africa. His writing is clear and engaging. However, there are concerning absences in citation. A lapse, Ray does not cite Chapurukha Kusimba’s decades-long interdisciplinary scholarship on social mosaics and coast-hinterland entanglement in southeastern Kenya. In addition, after making robust arguments that scholars should work across spatial and social boundaries, the author closely follows nation-state borders to procure cases and sources. Research in Tanzania previously examined in detail topics closely aligned to Ray’s text, including in areas of northeastern parts of the country which also are home to Swahili and Mijikenda communities. The works of Rhonda Gonzales and Geoffrey Owens are demonstrative of research in Tanzania that partially parallels Ray’s narrative. They detail changes to societies’ expressions and practices across time in a holistic regional manner (among communities) that consciously entangles the coast and hinterland. It might then be asked why nation-state boundaries are maintained as a frame of research practice by Ray when other boundaries are treated as permeable or unjustly limiting to debates about ethnicity and community in eastern Africa at large, especially for widespread groups self-identified as “littoral” along a lengthy coastline.

This volume makes an important contribution to history and social science in southeastern Kenya while challenging problematic dichotomies and mummified identities on the continent. Ray’s text will interest anthropologists, historians, political scientists, and Africanists in general, as well as those who want to learn more about similar dynamics and related communities in Tanzania.
Jonathan R. Walz

Jonathan R. Walz, PhD, is Associate Professor and Graduate Program Chair at the SIT-Graduate Institute in Vermont, USA. His scholarly interests include the history and anthropology of eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean. He is currently stationed in Zanzibar, where he leads graduate and undergraduate programmes on human livelihoods, coastal ecology, and climate change.

HISTORIC MOSQUES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FROM TIMBUKTU TO ZANZIBAR (Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1 The Near and Middle East, Vol. 163). Stéphane Pradines. Brill, Leiden and Boston, 2022. xviii + 350, with 213 colour illustrations. ISBN: 978-90-04-44554-3 (hardback) EUR 149.00; ISBN: 978-90-04-47261-7 EUR 149.00.

Historic Mosques

This compendious and well-illustrated volume, written by Stéphane Pradines, Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the Aga Khan University in London, is advertised as “the first comprehensive synthesis on mosques in sub-Saharan Africa, bringing together sites from more than twenty states from sub-Saharan Africa; and more than 285 monuments, from the IXth to the XIXth centuries.” In his relatively brief introduction, Pradines tells us that in addition to its broad scope, the “originality of this book resides in the presentation of African monuments in their historical, political and economic context”. This is facilitated by its division into three main geographical areas, each characterised by different religious and architectural traditions. Chapter 1, “The Mosques of the Niger Valleys”, is more than 100 pages long and focuses on the mud brick mosques of West Africa, the “Sudanese” mosques as they were once called. The second chapter has the longest title (“The Mosques from the Horn of Africa to the Valleys of the Nile”) but at 30 pages is by far the shortest of the three, reflecting the lack of research in this strife-torn region.

Chapter 3, “The Mosques of the Indian Ocean Coast”, is longer than the other two chapters combined, and will no doubt be of most interest to the readers of Tanzanian Affairs.
This last chapter is in turn divided into twelve sections, the headings of which will give some idea of its contents:
3.1 The Swahilis [sic], a Cultural Model of Multiple Origins
3.2 Historiography of Research on the Swahili Mosques
3.3 The History of the East Coast of Africa
3.4 Trade and Islam in the Indian Ocean
3.5 Technology and Construction of the Swahili Mosques
3.6 Morphology of the Swahili Mosques
3.7 The Decorative Programme of the Swahili Mosques
3.8 Regional Groups and the Chronology of the Swahili Mosques
3.9 The Swahili Mosques of the Thirteenth Century
3.10 The Swahili Mosques of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries
3.11 Portuguese Domination and the Style of Lamu, Sixteenth to Seventeenth Centuries
3.12 The Swahili Mosques of the Nineteenth Century

The full list including subheadings can be downloaded from the publication webpage (https://brill.com/display/title/59360). This provides much more detail than can be included in a short review and is well worth perusing. Along with a good index, it is very helpful to have such a breakdown in a book that is likely to be most used as a work of reference. This is certainly one of the ways in which I will use it; I’ve also enjoyed reading about architectural and other aspects of the Swahili mosques and their history from the regional and wider perspectives that Pradines provides. There are still many lacunae in that history, and surveys of this kind are useful for drawing attention to them, whether intentionally or not. In addition to the obvious gaps in the archaeological record, it is frustrating to see so little attention being paid to linguistic evidence, though I was no more surprised by this than by the author’s intemperate criticism of “Africanist researchers” and their alleged efforts to “obliterate exogenous influences” (p. 157) in their reconstructions of coastal history.

Pradines concludes the text with an epilogue that is even shorter than his introduction. It is followed by a couple of annexes and other supporting matter, including glossaries. Given the high cost of this volume, it’s a pity that more effort was not put into proof-reading and smoothing out the translation from the author’s original French. That said, it is a very welcome addition to the literature on the heritage of Islam and Islamic architecture in Africa that will hopefully contribute positively to both understanding and conservation. And with any luck, it will also encourage other researchers to fill in some of those gaps and move beyond those contested historiographies.
Martin Walsh
Martin Walsh is the Book Reviews Editor of Tanzanian Affairs.

Also noticed:
MORE THAN A RESOURCE – THE SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL SEED SYSTEMS AND SEED EXCHANGE IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: THE EXAMPLE OF TANZANIA. Jonas Metzger. Springer VS, Wiesbaden, 2023. xv + 185 pp. ISBN: 978-3-658-40010-1 (paperback) EUR 74.99; ISBN: 978-3-658-40011-8 (eBook) EUR 64.19.
Here is the publisher’s blurb: “Seeds are at the heart of a transformation process that affects more than two billion people worldwide. This study on smallholder farmers in Tanzania examines how local seed systems are anchored in the sociocultural structures of smallholder life worlds. Using the example of seeds, the close interweaving of agricultural and social practice is traced and it is worked out how individual processes of modernisation brought in from outside have far-reaching consequences for smallholder coexistence. The study provides a concrete, detailed and differentiated account of everyday farming life and of how smallholder households deal with seeds. A particular focus is on seed exchange relationships and how these provide both social security and social cohesion in the study region. The study is based on extensive field research and intensive interviews with farmers, who also have their own say in the work.”

And, for the sake of transparency, here is the publisher’s declaration (confession?) on the copyright page: “This book is a translation of the original German edition “Mehr als eine Ressource – die soziale Bedeutung lokaler Saatgutsysteme und des Saatgutaustausches im Globalen Süden” by Metzger, Jonas, published by Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH in 2022. The translation was done with the help of artificial intelligence (machine translation by the service DeepL.com). A subsequent human revision was done primarily in terms of content, so that the book will read stylistically differently from a conventional translation. Springer Nature works continuously to further the development of tools for the production of books and on the related technologies to support the authors.” (!) They must have judged that this will not put off potential readers of such a seminal study.

A DESCRIPTION OF PIMBWE (BANTU, TANZANIA): PHONOLOGY, GRAMMAR, AND DISCOURSE. Jonathan Weiss. SIL e-Books 084, SIL International, 2023. vii + 97 pp. ISSN: 1934-2470 (eBook). Free to download from https://www.sil.org/resources/publications/entry/97737.

The Pimbwe are a relatively little known ethnic and linguistic group who live to the northwest of Lake Rukwa in what is now Katavi Region. Their Bantu language is one of many in southwestern Tanzania that is being documented by researchers working with SIL International, the evangelical organisation formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics. Jonathan Weiss’s recently published description of Pimbwe is based on a MA dissertation completed in 2020 at Trinity Western University (British Colombia, Canada) that is also free to read online. As his abstract makes clear, this is a technical work: “The present study is the first formal description of Pimbwe […]. After situating the Pimbwe language within the wider linguistic context, I describe Pimbwe phonology, tone, and grammar, with particular emphasis on the structure of the verb. Over 150 interlinear language examples are given. Finally, natural language use in extended discourse is described based on two running commentaries of the Pear Story film. The full text of the two Pear Stories is given in two appendices” (p. iii). (This refers to a “six-minute film made at the University of California at Berkeley in 1975 and shown to speakers of a number of languages, who were asked to tell what happened in it” (p. 5)). It’s good to see descriptive studies like this in print. As well as tracking down some of the references that Weiss gives, readers wanting to know more about the past and present of the Pimbwe might like to look up the work of the evolutionary anthropologist Monique Borgerhoff Mulder and her colleagues, including the interesting volume on The History and Traditions of the Pimbwe that was published by Mkuki na Nyota in 2014.
Martin Walsh

OBITUARIES

Posted on October 1, 2024 by editor

by Ben Taylor

Yusuf Manji pictured in 2015

Prominent businessman and former Yanga Africans Football Club sponsor, Yusuf Manji, has died at the age of 48. He passed away in June in Florida, USA, where he had been receiving treatment. The news of his death was confirmed by his son, Mehbub Manji.

Manji built a reputation for entrepreneurial success and business leadership. He is particularly noted for his role as the founder and chairman of Quality Group Limited, a USD $700m conglomerate with interests in manufacturing (including plastics and steel products), beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Under his stewardship, Quality Group grew to become one of Tanzania’s leading industrial groups, and in 2017 Manji was listed by Forbes magazine as being one of Tanzania’s richest men.

The football community had particular reason to mourn Manji’s passing. The president of Young Africans, Hersi Said, expressed deep sorrow over Manji’s death, describing it as a profound loss.

“He was a visionary leader who dedicated himself to laying a strong foundation for our team. His commitment to sports development in our country was unparalleled,” Hersi said in a statement.

Born into one of the richest families in Tanzania, with his father being a respected businessman, Manji received a high-quality education. He studied at the American College of Switzerland, Morehouse College in Atlanta, and Hofstra University in New York. He took over his father’s Dar-based motor works company in 1995 at the age of just 20. He diversified the company and turned it into a sprawling billion-dollar conglomerate. Over time, he became active in philanthropy and became close to various politicians, including both President Mkapa and President Kikwete.

The business magnate later drew unwanted attention from the government of President John Magufuli, which accused Manji of tax evasion and improper business practices, including a controversial tender to supply military uniforms. The government launched audits and investigations into the financial operations of several companies, and several of Manji’s companies were accused of wrongdoing following the audits. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) shut down one of his company’s farming outfits and demanded over TSh 12 billion in unpaid taxes.

Several economic and national security charges were brought against Manji, leading to his arrest. He had been a councillor in Temeke (Dar es Salaam) at the time, but ended up losing his seat after failing to attend six consecutive plenary council meetings while in detention. He was later released after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges against him.

The Quality Group empire suffered the brunt of his legal battles, undergoing restructuring and divestment as Manji struggled to put his life back together.

Manji had previously been considered untouchable, according to political analyst Buberwa Kaiza. “He wielded considerable influence as a prominent businessman with close ties to the state, especially during the administrations of Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete respectively.”

TA ISSUE 138

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

Issue 138 cover featured President Ali Hassan Mwinyi who died on 29th Feb 2024

Floods hit Tanzania
60th Anniversary of Union Day
Obituary – President Ali Hassan Mywinyi
Reviews

A pdf of the issue can be downloaded here

FLOODS HIT TANZANIA

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by Ben Taylor

President Samia at the rain affected Union Day celebrations in Dar-es-Salaam. Photo State House

A season of heavy rain has caused havoc – and over 150 deaths – across Tanzania. Speaking in late April, the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said around 200,000 people and 50,000 households had been badly affected by the heavy rainfall. He warned that the rain could continue well into May.

“The heavy El Niño rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods, and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage,” he told parliament. “These include loss of life, destruction of crops, homes, citizens’ property, and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways,” he added.

Similar devastation has been caused in Kenya as well, with 188 deaths reported.

To make matters worse, at the time of writing, a rare East African cyclone is anticipated for early May. “Hidaya Cyclone … is expected to dominate and affect the weather patterns in the country including heavy rain and strong winds in some regions near the Indian Ocean,” said the Tanzania Red Cross Society on X, formerly Twitter.

Hidaya, the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane, is the first of its kind to develop in eastern Africa, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Wind speeds of up to 100mph are expected, as well as coastal storm surges and heavy rain. Kenyan authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents near 178 dams and water reservoirs.

Chris Fawkes of BBC weather explained that one of the biggest drivers of the rains is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The IOD – sometimes called the “Indian Niño” because of its similarity to its Pacific equivalent – refers to the difference in sea-surface temperatures in opposite parts of the Indian Ocean. When waters in the western Indian Ocean are much warmer than normal, this can bring heavier rain regardless of El Niño. However, this happens at the same time as an El Niño event, as was the case last year, the rains in East Africa can become extreme.

UNION DAY ANNIVERSARY

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by Ben Taylor

The heavy rain affected celebrations marking 60 years since the union between Zanzibar and Tanganyika, held on April 26th at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Attendance was understandably low as the rain fell throughout the ceremony.

Military parades went ahead in the wet weather, while dignitaries sheltered in the covered sections of the stadium. Speaking at the event, President Samia Suluhu Hassan described how in 1964 the Presidents of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, Julius Nyerere and Abeid Karume respectively, were guided by wisdom, prudence, and courage in bringing Tanzanians together. She added that in was in this same spirit that leaders of all subsequent administrations have placed great importance on the Union.

On the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, she said that “The only gift we can give to the founders of this union is to protect and live up to their great vision. We are all witnesses to the significant progress we have made in the past 60 years.”

“We have every reason to continue to be proud of and protect this unique union that arose from our own decisions. In advancing it, we must implement the philosophy of reconciliation, tolerance, reform, and rebuilding our country to maintain peace and stability, essential pillars for the prosperity and resilience of our nation.”

Diplomatic messages of congratulations also flowed in. King Charles III sent a congratulatory message, which read: “Happy Union Day, Tanzania! Dear Madam President, on the special occasion of your national day, my wife and I would like to convey our warmest congratulations to your Excellency and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania, Charles R.”

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also congratulated Tanzania before adding: “We applaud Tanzania’s commitment to undertaking important reforms to strengthen democratic governance, increase transparency, and spur economic growth.”

The Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Chen Mingjian, said “May the friendship between China and Tanzania last forever.”

TRANSPORT

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by Ben Taylor

All aboard the electric train trials

New electric TRC locomotive is offloaded in Dar-es-Salaam port

The Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) commenced its inaugural trial journey of the electric Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro on February 26, 2024, as part of the implementation of an order by the President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She directed that by July this year, SGR train services from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma should have begun.

Chief Government Spokesperson Mr Mobhare Matinyi spearheaded a group of journalists and editors from various media houses as they boarded the coaches to enjoy and have firsthand information on the historic trial. Departing from the Tanzanite Station in Dar es Salaam promptly at 10:30 am, the train arrived in Morogoro at 12:50 pm amid a wave of enthusiasm.

The test marks a significant step forward in Tanzania’s efforts to modernize its transportation infrastructure and boost connectivity across the nation. The new line replaces the aged and less efficient meter-gauge railway system established during the colonial East African Railways.

The South Korean-made train, coupled with the Turkish/Chinese-built railway line, is poised to significantly reduce travel times and facilitate the efficient movement of goods and people. It is anticipated to be capable of reaching speeds of up to 160km per hour.

As trials for the standard gauge railway (SGR) electric train continue, TRC has said the process of setting fares for the service is still underway. “We at TRC have finished our part where we have submitted to the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA) everything that is needed,” said TRC Director General, Masanja Kadogosa. He said he understood that LATRA had already engaged in meetings with stakeholders in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.

The proposed fares by TRC from Dar es Salaam-Morogoro are for the third class TSh 24,794 per adult, and TSh 12,397 for kids between the ages of 4-12. For Economy Class fares, the same route was TSh 29,752 per adult and TSh 14,876 for kids. These fares are subject to approval by LATRA.

Later, in April, TRC announced the arrival of the first ever Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at the Dar es Salaam port, marking a significant leap forward for the project. This initial set consists of five electric locomotives and three passenger cars.

TRC said they expect to receive a total of 10 EMU sets, with the remaining units arriving monthly until October 2024. Additionally, they have already received 65 passenger cars and 9 electric locomotives, further bolstering their fleet.

Each EMU train can accommodate up to 589 passengers. The new units have prioritized passenger comfort with amenities such as Wi-Fi, designated seating for passengers with special needs, air conditioning, and CCTV cameras for enhanced security.

Once commissioned for service, the SGR trains will cut the time between Dar and Morogoro to around two hours, down from the current four-hour journey by buses and five hours by train on the old railway.

The 300km Dar-Morogoro line is the first phase of the SGR project, which is expected to run up to Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria and Kigoma on the northeastern shores of Lake Tanganyika in five phases. There are plans to add connections to Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of the East African Railway Master Plan.

Phase two of the SGR project runs from Morogoro to Makutupora, covering 422 kilometres. The line is being extended to Tabora, 294km away in phase three. The fourth phase will link Tabora to Isaka, a 130km line, where it will branch to Mwanza and Kigoma.

Brief dispute between air traffic authorities in Kenya and Tanzania
For a few days in late January, a spat between air traffic authorities in Kenya and Tanzania caused a minor diplomatic incident, and flights were suspended.

Kenya denied Tanzania’s request for cargo flights by its carrier, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), between Nairobi and third countries. In response the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) suspended all Kenya Airways (KQ) passenger flights between Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, effective January 22, 2024.

The TCAA cited the Kenyan authorities’ refusal as a breach of Section 4 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Air Services signed between the two nations in 2016. This section stipulates reciprocal treatment for airlines of both countries.

The TCAA suspension of KQ flights never came into force, however, as the situation was resolved by the intervention of government ministers, including Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, January Makamba.

“I spoke to my Kenyan colleague @MusaliaMudavadi. We agree that restrictions on air travel between our countries and from either of our countries to a third country shouldn’t stand. With the relevant authorities, we’ve resolved to settle this issue,” said Mr Makamba on X (formerly Twitter).

Zanzibar roll-on, roll-off ferries planned
Zanzibar port expects to develop a special berth for loading and unloading vehicles in what’s referred to as Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries. President Hussein Mwinyi in January witnessed the signing of an agreement for the project, which will be implemented through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Dr Mwinyi described the project as a landmark in marine transport under the blue economy, adding: “A major reform and development in transport is inevitable, especially to achieve our goals. Improved transportation systems in road, water, and air are required for our social and economic growth.”

The signing ceremony was also witnessed by several executives, Ministers, and The Netherlands Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Wiebe de Boer. The Ambassador said that relations between his country and Zanzibar have been growing stronger, where so far already there are 15 companies including KLM partnering in tourism and transport industries.

On his part, Zanzibar Minister for Infrastructure, Communication and Transport, Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed, noted the project will improve services at the current Ferry Terminal, and address passenger congestion and safety risks.

Air Tanzania fleet growth continues at pace
The government has continued with its efforts to uplift Tanzania’s aviation sector with the arrival of a brand-new aircraft for Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) in early March. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-9 Max with a capacity to carry 181 passengers, brings the number of the country’s airline fleet to 15. The airline is expected to add one more Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to its fleet before the end of the year.

Speaking during the reception to welcome the new plane, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa underlined the government’s commitment on continuing to strengthen ATCL and the aviation sector as key catalysts for economic growth. “The aviation sector is very important for development of our country, as it guarantees economic advancement. Globally, development of the economy has been influenced by the presence of a stable transport system, which boosts investment, protect capital and strengthen communication among traders and other service providers” Mr Majaliwa said.

Mr Majaliwa added that the government is undertaking major renovation of the JNIA Terminal 2 (the former international terminal), which upon completion will be destined as ATCL terminal, to cater for the Eastern and Southern Africa markets. Furthermore, he said the government is undertaking various airport construction projects in other regions, including Dodoma, Kigoma and Shinyanga, saying the plan is to ensure most parts of the country are accessible through air transport.

ATCL’s Managing Director, Engineer Ladislaus Matindi noted that the addition in the number of planes to the country’s airline has inspired many customers to prefer flying than ever before. He said that in the 2022/2023 financial year, the company’s planes carried over one million passengers, compared to only 160,000 in 2016/2017 when the government began engineering its revival. He said the airline currently serves 81 per cent of the local market.

Later, at the end of March, Air Tanzania launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). “Starting today, March 31, 2024, direct flights to Dubai will operate four times per week with the brand new and ultra-modern aircraft, the Boeing 737 MAX 9,” said Eng. Matindi.

The Dubai route will be the seventh international route to be launched by Air Tanzania. Other regional and international routes that have been inaugurated by the airline are Nairobi, Bujumbura, Lubumbashi, Entebbe, Ndola (Zambia), Johannesburg (launched in 2021, now suspended), Comoros, Harare, and Guangzhou.

Air Tanzania financial challenges continue at pace
Air Tanzania’s losses surged by 61% to TSh 56.64 billion in 2022/23 (USD $21m), compared to TSh 35.2 billion ($13.5m) in the previous year, according to Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Charles Kichere.

“The loss widened despite the fact that the company received government grants worth TSh 31.55 billion to boost its operations,” said Mr Kichere who handed the annual audit reports to President Samia Suluhu Hassan at State House.

According to the Transport ministry’s annual budgets passed by Parliament from the 2016/17 financial year to date, the government has spent at least TSh 3.63 trillion ($1.4bn) in reviving the airline during the last eight years.

TAZARA improvements planned
The World Bank has approved USD$ 270 million (approx. TSh 690bn) finance to support improvements in transport and trade connectivity between Zambia and Tanzania, including to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA). The money will be used to rehabilitate a portion of the TAZARA in Zambia, develop a modern border post between Zambia and Tanzania and introduce other supporting infrastructure.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr January Makamba, said that the project was one of the agenda when President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s visit to Zambia last year. “This is a much-needed boost to Tanzania-Zambia transport and trade connectivity, which was part of agenda of visit by President Samia to Zambia last year. Thank you, excellences, for your leadership on this important matter,” Mr Makamba wrote on his official X (formerly Twitter) platform.

ENERGY & MINERALS

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by Ben Taylor

Significant breakthrough in helium explorations
Helium One Global, the firm licensed for helium exploration in southwest Tanzania has discovered 4.7% helium concentrations at Rukwa Rift Basin. The company described the high concentrations as a big milestone towards achieving commerciality at the earliest opportunity.

“When performing the Basement Drilling Stem Testing (DST), high concentrations of helium began to flow to the surface,” read the statement from the company. The statement went on to add that the quantity of helium increases with depth.

Helium One Global’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lorna Blaisse said that she was delighted with the findings. She added that she appreciated all collaborators including the Ministry of Minerals and the Mining Commission of Tanzania among others involved in bringing the project to the point of success.

Commenting on the findings, Assistant Commission in the Ministry of Minerals, Mr Francis Mihayo said the positive results from the exploration strengthen hope for helium extraction in Tanzania. He said the discovery of helium stands as the basis for further exploration, which will lead into a feasibility study and finally exploitation.

University of Dar es Salaam’s Head of School of Mines and Geosciences, Dr Elisante Mshiu, also the President of the Tanzania Geological Society (TGS), noted that concentration of 4.7% helium signals existence of huge volumes of the gas. “Concentration of 4.7 per cent is massive”, he said. He said further exploration will be undertaken at the area to estimate the actual volume of helium available, and expressed his optimism that Tanzania can become the global leading supplier of helium upon effective exploitation of the deposits.

Today, helium is produced primarily in just four countries including in the USA, Qatar, Algeria and Russia. It has multiple essential uses including in manufacturing of medical equipment.

Helium One Global holds prospecting licences totalling more than 2,965 square km across three distinct project areas which are Rukwa, Balangida, and Eyasi located within rift basins in the north and southwest of Tanzania.

The Company’s flagship Rukwa Project is located within the Rukwa Rift Basin covering 1,900 square km in the south-west.

First turbine at Nyerere Hydropower Plant (Stiegler’s Gorge) switched on
In February, Tanzania switched on the first turbine of a new hydroelectric plant at Steigler’s Gorge on the Rufiji river. This was announced by Doto Biteko, energy minister and deputy prime minister, while visiting the 2,115 megawatt (MW) Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant (JNHPP). He said that the first turbine was now contributing up to 235 MW of power to the grid.

The project has been highly controversial. Before construction began in 2019, conservationists warned that building the dam could affect wildlife and their habitats as well as agricultural productivity. The site is located within the Selous Game Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Africa, harbouring one of the most significant concentrations of animals including elephant, black rhino and cheetah and a large variety of habitats, according to United Nations agency UNESCO.

On the positive side, the plant is expected to provide a major boost to the country’s electricity generation capacity. Many areas have recently been suffering from extended power shortages, and load shedding has been estimated as costing between 5-7% of Tanzania’s GDP. Further, it will achieve this at a much lower cost than existing sources: an estimated 4.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Nevertheless, in addition to critics of the project’s impact on the environment and livelihoods, analysts have suggested that had the same level of investment gone into alternatives such as geothermal, solar and wind, the country could have generated double the output of JNHPP. It is impossible to make these calculations with any certainty, however, as little reliable information has been made public about the construction cost. The official price tag is USD $2.9 billion, but experts claim this is unrealistic. Competing estimates range from $3.9 billion to $9.8 billion.

LNG project delayed further
Negotiations for the development of Tanzania’s $42 billion liquefied natural gas export plant have been delayed by proposed government changes to a financial agreement reached last year, according to a government spokesperson and sources within the companies involved in the project.

The government and investors announced in May 2023 that they had completed negotiations on the project to unlock Tanzania’s vast offshore gas resources. The government said at the time that the cabinet would review the agreements the following month.

Energy Minister Doto Biteko told parliament in April 2024 that the attorney general and other government institutions had provided feedback on the deals and negotiations were expected to conclude during the 2024/25 fiscal year.

A source from one of the investors told Reuters news agency that the delay related to changes that Biteko proposed to the host government agreement after he became energy minister last August. Biteko also serves as deputy prime minister.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said Biteko and his team came back to investors with a “rather interesting amendment to the HGA which completely blew the project economics out of the water”. The source did not provide details but said that progressing on the project would be “definitely not quick” and that the minister’s talk of completing negotiations in the coming fiscal year was “optimistic”.

Meanwhile, “a source privy to the matter” told The Citizen newspaper that the government had concerns about several aspects of the proposed agreement. The source said the government was weighing a proposal by the companies that proceeds from the planned $42 billion project be banked in foreign financial institutions, as well as a proposal that the companies should be compensated by the government in case that natural gas prices drop in the international market in the future.

Contacted for comment by The Citizen, Biteko said that the government and companies were “still negotiating to find common ground.”

In March, the United States government warned Tanzania of a likely exodus of investors if delays continue. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Joy Basu, told The EastAfrican newspaper that companies such as Exxon Mobil that have been pushing the deal with Tanzanian authorities had reached a point where they were now “willing to walk away.”

“There is LNG in lots of places around the world now, and for Tanzania the window for this particular investment is closing fast. Such windows do not remain open forever,” said Ms Basu whose portfolio in the Joe Biden administration includes overseeing economic and regional affairs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Exxon Mobil, based in Houston, Texas, is one of several multinational firms that have stakes in the LNG project. Britain’s Shell and Norway’s Equinor, have been earmarked as joint main operators of the project, with Exxon Mobil, Pavilion Energy (Singapore), Medco Energi (Indonesia) and the state-owned Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) as partners.

Barrick settles legal claims relating to North Mara gold mine
Barrick TZ Limited and North Mara Gold Mine Limited, local subsidiaries of Barrick Gold, announced in March that they have reached a settlement of the claims by Tanzanian residents against them in their UK legal action. They said that the settlement was reached “with no admission of liability on their part,” but provided no further details about the settlement’s content.

Fourteen Tanzanian citizens made claims against Barrick TZ and North Mara Gold Mine Limited for alleged human rights incidents between 2014 and September 2019. The Tanzanians alleged that the companies were legally responsible for deaths and injuries caused by the Tanzania police during security operations on or around the mine. The mine had a memorandum of understanding with the police for security under which it paid, housed and equipped the police.

Barrick TZ Limited and North Mara Gold Mine Limited denied the allegations.

The company’s decision to settle comes over four years after the proceedings were brought forward in the UK.

RAID, a UK-based NGO that exposes corporate wrongdoing, environmental harm, and human rights abuse, has repeatedly raised concerns about human rights violations at the North Mara mine.

In November 2022 it published findings showing the reported death toll at the North Mara mine had risen to at least 77, along with 304 wounded, by police responsible for mine security, most of which occurred after Barrick acquired the mine in 2006. This would rank the North Mara mine as one of the deadliest industrial mines in Africa in terms of security-related violence.

RAID Executive Director Anneke Van Woudenberg said after the settlement was announced that she “welcomes any settlement that brings relief to the claimants after so many years.”

Two further legal actions alleging killings and injuries by security forces at Barrick’s North Mara mine remain ongoing – one in the Canadian courts against Barrick Gold and one in the UK against London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). The latter case alleges that the LBMA is liable in respect of the deaths of two artisanal miners at the mine in July and December 2019 because it certifies gold from the mine as responsibly sourced and free from serious human rights abuses. The LBMA says the claim has no merit.

Zanzibar launches first oil and gas licensing round
The President of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, on March 20 commissioned the first round auction of oil and gas blocks to investors.

Dr Mwinyi said the government had reviewed the legal and contractual frameworks around oil and natural gas before launching the round, to attract investors into the hydrocarbon industry.

“We made the review to create a friendly investment environment in the oil and gas sector here in Zanzibar because companies need to invest in a safe place where they can be profitable,” he said.

The government of Zanzibar has embarked on the “blue economy” policy, which includes oil and gas among the main priority areas.

“The government believes that the blue economy has many opportunities to promote economic development plans that aim at reducing poverty and creating employment opportunities,” said President Mwinyi.

He said that the exploration activities for oil and gas in Zanzibar started in the 1950s with the British Petroleum (BP) Company, in collaboration with Shell, conducting detailed investigations and drilling two wells on both sides of Unguja and Pemba, which were completed in 1963. After the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964, oil and gas exploration activities were under the government of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Minister for Blue Economy and Fisheries in Zanzibar, Mr Shaaban Ali Othman, said the launch covered eight blocks out of the 12 existing blocks. “We are waiting for applications from investors for the eight blocks that are up for grabs in the next 10 years,” he said, welcoming investors.

He said both the laws governing the sector and the production sharing agreement (PSA) model were reviewed to facilitate investment.

The chief executive officer of the Zanzibar Petroleum Development Corporation (ZPDC), Mr Mikidadi Alli Rashid, said the investors will sign the PSA model with the minister and ZPDC to officially start oil and gas exploration and drilling.

He also urged residents to be patient, as oil and gas exploration and potential development take time. (The Citizen)

ECONOMICS

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by Dr Hildebrand Shayo

Key indicators show Tanzania’s economy to be in a good position
President Samia’s improved economic diplomacy has helped Tanzania expand economically, diversify economically, and become more resilient. This has improved Tanzania’s standing with her trading partners and, if it continues, has the potential to propel Tanzania’s economic growth to new heights. The economic indicators suggest that Tanzania is a favourable choice as an investment destination and allow many investors to come and invest, which will in turn provide sources of taxes and sources of employment to young Tanzanians.

For the first quarter of 2024, inflation stayed constant at 3%. This stability is caused by a plentiful domestic food supply and lower import inflation brought about by a slowdown in global market pricing. Notably, core inflation, a significant factor influencing total inflation dynamics, rose from 3.2% to 3.7%, the highest level since February 2023. The primary cause of this outturn is the pass-through impact of changes in domestic energy costs.

Additional data analysis indicates that the country’s current inflation rate is within the intended range and in line with the standards established by the Southern African Development Community and the East African Community. The reduction of food prices is expected to maintain monthly bulleting inflation, which, looking at the data, is expected to stay constant and within the target range of 3-5% in the near and medium term, according to data analysis derived from the National Bureau of Statistics and Bank of Tanzania. However, OPEC+ continues to restrict oil production, and upside risk is still present in the case of geopolitical unrest and disruptions to the Red Sea supply.

Tanzania’s food inflation rate is still relatively low; however, it slightly increased to 1.8% in February 2024 from 1.5% the month before. This result is linked to a sufficient supply of food in the home markets and a decline in demand from nearby nations. The cost of staple food crops is likewise trending to decrease. The energy, fuel, and utilities inflation sub-group, which comprises fuel, charcoal, firewood, electricity, and water charges, among other items, recorded an increase in inflation to 7.2% from 6.6% in the preceding month. This performance emphasises how stable the domestic food market is, which supports stability in the economy.

Regarding money and credit, the amount of money in circulation and credit extended to the private sector have both demonstrated steady growth, which has helped Tanzania’s economy as a whole. The extended broad money supply (M3) rise was slightly higher in March at 13.1% compared to 12.8% the previous month. At 16.8%, the increase in private sector lending is vital but just slower than in the prior period. With a growth rate of 49.6%, credit to agricultural activities continues to record the fastest, followed by mining and quarrying. In the meantime, personal loans, which are mainly given to small and medium-sized firms and single proprietorships, continued to account for the majority of outstanding credit at 37.2%. Trade and agriculture came in second and third, respectively, at 13.6% and 10.2%. The sustained demand for loans indicates ongoing expansion in economic activities driven by favourable business conditions and supportive policies.

Regarding interest rates, the central bank rate (CBR) of 5.5% is still within a 200 basis point range for the 7-day interbank cash market rate. As a result, there has been no movement in the 7-day interest rate, which is currently sitting at 7.28% in February 2024, a slight increase from the 7.25% recorded in the previous month. Bank lending rates decreased in the first quarter of 2024; in February 2024, they averaged 15.44%, down from 15.96% in the same month in 2023. An improvement in credit risk, as shown by a decline in the percentage of non-performing loans falling below the Bank’s 5% threshold, is partially responsible for this dip.

Furthermore, in February 2023, the negotiated lending rates dropped from 13.75% to 13.40%. The average deposit rate, however, was relatively steady at 7.39% overall. Negotiated deposit rates did, however, somewhat rise from 9.37% to 9.52%. Between February 2023 and February 2024, the difference in one-year interest rates shrank even more, going from 8.07% points to 7.04% points.

Regarding the market for government securities, there is still a lot of interest in the government securities auctions. Up to this point, every auction has seen oversubscriptions, consistent with the market’s sufficient supply of shilling liquidity and reopening the previously issued Treasury bonds. Two Treasury bill auctions with a total tender size of TSh 164.2 billion will take place in Q1 2024 to support government funding and aid in price discovery. From 11.76% the previous month to 12.21% this month was the weighted average yield. In the meantime, TSh 148.8 billion and TSh 137.5 billion worth of 15- and 20-year Treasury bonds are being offered to meet government funding needs.

The combined bids for both auctions, which attracted oversubscription, totalled TSh 644.6 billion. The weighted average yield to maturity reached 13.66% and 15.83% for the 15- and 20-year Treasury bonds, respectively, from the rates registered in the previous auctions, and only bids totalling TSh 385.0 billion were accepted.

According to BOT figures for February 2024, domestic revenue from collections by the central and municipal governments was TSh 2,214.8 billion, or 92.8% of the monthly target. TSh 2,123.8 billion was the total revenue collected by the central government, of which TSh 1,817.8 billion came from tax collections and TSh 305.9 billion from non-tax sources. All main tax categories had lower revenue than expected, except income taxes, driven mainly by PAYE collections.

The government kept cutting back on spending while maintaining available resources. Preliminarily speaking, government spending in February 2024 was TSh 3,203.8 billion, of which TSh 2,289.2 billion and TSh 914.6 billion were for ongoing and development expenses, respectively.

Regarding the national debt, the stock rose 0.8% to US$ 44,963.4 million from its level the previous month. Both internal and foreign borrowing was blamed for the rise. Remarkably, 72.7% of the total stock was made up of external debt. The external debt the central government due was US$ 23,164.3 million, followed by public businesses (US$ 11.8 million). In February 2024, the federal government was disbursed US$ 79.3 million of the US$ 110.2 million in external debt. The total amount paid towards servicing external debt was US$ 59.3 million.

Comparing exports of goods and services to the same time in 2023, they increased by 14.7% to reach US$ 14,274 million. The primary drivers were revenue from tourism, traditional items, and minerals, particularly gold. Exports of conventional commodities totalled US$ 1,022.7 million, up from US$ 748.7 million the year before. The goods and services imported decreased to US$ 16,087.2 million from US$ 16,928.3 million in the previous year. Fertilisers, plastic products, and refined white petroleum products were the leading causes of the decline. On the other hand, there was a rise in the importation of machinery, industrial transport equipment, and passenger cars.

Tanzania’s credit rating marked upwards
The credit rating agency, Moody’s announced in March that it was upgrading the Government of Tanzania’s long-term issuer ratings to B1 from B2 and changing the outlook to stable.

“The upgrade to B1 reflects Tanzania’s track record of economic resilience throughout multiple external shocks in recent years, providing confidence in its shock absorption capacity going forward,” read the announcement. Tanzania, Moody’s said, is specifically credited for a diversified economic base and exports, stable debt burden and limited contingent liabilities. As such, Moody’s expect that the country’s continuation of conservative fiscal policy supports the rating at the B1 level.

“Moody’s is sending a message to the international community – which includes the lenders – that Tanzania is financially disciplined,” said economics professor, Semboja Haji. “It means that since, as a country, we use development funds for the intended purpose, then lenders should have faith in us. This is a message to the international community that there is stability, sustainability and predictability in Tanzania’s development strategy,” he said.

In its statement, Moody’s said Tanzania was taking tangible steps to improve institutional strength and foster an improving business environment. Although progress remains gradual and in the early stages, Moody’s says, initial signs of improvements in the business environment were materialising as evidenced through an increase in private sector lending and increasing investment, both foreign and domestic.

Banking: CRDB posts record profit in 2023
CRDB Bank’s net profit grew by 21% last year to demonstrate another strong financial performance of one Tanzania’s leading financial institutions. Unaudited financial results released in January indicated that profit after tax increased to TSh 424bn in 2023 up from TSh 353bn in 2022.

The full-year results showed that total assets saw a notable 14 per cent increase from TSh 11.6tri to TSh 13tri.

CRDB Group CEO and Managing Director, Abdulmajid Nsekela, said “the impressive financial results reflect our commitment to delivering value to our stakeholders.” He explained that delivery of the bank’s new medium-term strategy (2023 – 2027) has been a key catalyst for achieving the record-breaking performance, highlighting strategic investments in digital transformation that are yielding significant returns.

In the past year, CRDB significantly broadened its horizons by extending its reach into new territories, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and venturing into the insurance sector with the establishment of CRDB Insurance Company.

“CRDB is well-positioned for the future, and we remain committed to delivering value to our customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve,” Mr Nsekela said. (Daily News)

Economy grows, poverty persists
Tanzania is facing the challenge that strong economic growth is failing to translate into poverty reduction while at the same time grappling with rapid population growth. This is according to the World Bank, which launched the 20th edition of the Tanzania Economic Update in Dar es Salaam in March.

The latest data shows that 3 million Tanzanians fell into poverty during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2018, around 14 million Tanzanians were living in poverty, but by December 2023, the number had risen to 17.3 million. Population projections suggest the number of people in Tanzania could reach around 140 million by 2050, driven by high birth rates. World Bank country director, Nathan Belete, said this surge could intensify demand for education and healthcare services beyond the economy’s capacity, and will lead to challenges in job creation.

Mr Belete added that Tanzania can nevertheless attain a demographic dividend, which is the potential economic growth that can take place when a country undergoes a rapid improvement in health outcomes accompanied by a decline in fertility.

This includes intensifying efforts to expand access and strengthen completion of secondary education for girls and scaling up family planning services.

“For Tanzania to benefit from demographic dividend, three preconditions need to be in place. The first is a rapid decline in mortality followed by a rapid decline in fertility. The second pre-condition is investment in human capital to create a healthy, well-educated and skilled labour force and lastly is the creation of good jobs and economic opportunities for this skilled labour force,” said World Bank human development leader Aneesa Arur.

Planning and Investment minister Kitila Mkumbo said at the launch that the government has prioritised youth-focused and rural-oriented policies, with human investment being at the centre of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s agenda.

“Education remains key in terms of going forward as it correlates with low fertility rates. This goes hand in hand with family planning and reproductive health education,” he said.

Prof Mkumbo added that the government has also made education and rural economic transformation a top priority through revision and repositioning of the education policy and curriculum.

The World Bank also noted that while the economic outlook for Tanzania was broadly positive, several significant threats remained on the horizon. This includes the possibility of a global recession, faltering domestic reforms, and the effects of global heating on key sectors such as agriculture and tourism. (The Citizen)

TOURISM & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Posted on May 1, 2024 by editor

by James L.Laizer

World Bank tourism funding suspended, affecting southern circuit

Elephants in Nyerere National Park (photo Discover Gorillas)

Many Tanzanians received with sadness the news that the World Bank has potentially suspended financing intended to develop tourism in southern Tanzania. In September 2017, the World Bank launched the Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) project through a US$ 150 million loan to Tanzania, with $ 100m already received. The objective of this project is to improve management of natural resources and tourism assets in priority areas of southern Tanzania and to increase access to livelihood activities for targeted communities. REGROW focuses on four national parks in southern Tanzania: Mikumi, Nyerere (formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve), Ruaha, and the Udzungwa Mountains.

The project has been helping the Tanzanian government develop these parks to increase tourism in the ‘Southern Circuit’ of the country, which is currently less visited compared to the world-famous safari attractions of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro in the north. A key objective of the project was to develop new and improved tourism products to expand the Circuit. Across these four priority parks, the project sought to increase the number of annual visitors from 98,504 in 2017 to 135,000 by 2025. It had four key components: first, strengthen management and improve infrastructure in priority Protected Areas; second, strengthen alternative livelihoods for targeted communities in proximity to the priority Protected Areas; third to strengthen landscape management and infrastructure investments in and upstream of the Ruaha national park; and fourth, on project management, institutional strengthening, quality assurance and control, and monitoring and evaluation.

The World Bank has suspended financing after allegations of human rights violations captured global and local headlines, including in the UK BBC and Guardian. These allegations stem from claims by the US-based Oakland Institute, which alleges documented abuses by Tanzanian rangers against villagers accused of encroaching in the Ruaha national park.

“The World Bank is deeply concerned about the allegations of abuse and injustice related to the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (Regrow) project in Tanzania,” said a World Bank spokesperson. “We have recently received information that suggests breaches of our policies in the implementation of the Regrow project. We have therefore decided to suspend further disbursement of funds with immediate effect.”

In response, the Tanzanian government spokesperson Mobhare Matinyi stated that the Government of Tanzania does not violate the rights of its citizens and such allegations are baseless. The government has further denied any abuses, including forced evictions, in connection with the national park expansion project. Matinyi asserts that anyone relocated because of the project would be accorded all their rights.

Tanzania was due to receive a further $50m of the REGROW funding, which is now in jeopardy. This funding is deemed important for tourism development not only in the southern part of the country, but in Tanzania in general. Whilst the allegations must be investigated and acted upon if they are proven, many view that suspending such a project will negatively impact the targeted population economically, restrict ongoing infrastructure development, affect conservation of biodiversity, and delay improvement of tourism assets in the Tanzania southern circuit – a region that is already underinvested in.

Drones to be used for forest conservation work in Tanzania
The Tanzania Forest Agency (TFA) is expanding its conservation toolkit with the addition of drones to protect its dwindling woodlands, which face pressure from various sources. “Drone technology is important because it will help us cover large areas more efficiently, allowing us to focus our vehicle and motorcycle patrols strategically,” said Dos Santos Salayo, TFA’s commissioner for conservation. The agency also announced the deployment of four new vehicles and nearly 40 motorcycles to further bolster its forest protection efforts.

“We are committed to enhancing the sector by equipping it with the necessary tools and expertise to drive positive outcomes in forest conservation,” said Angellah Kairuki, Tanzania’s minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, during the equipment unveiling ceremony.

Kairuki emphasized the importance of investing in various defense technologies due to the vastness of forest areas, noting that relying solely on traditional ground patrols won’t suffice in addressing illegal activities within the reserves. She highlighted the advantages of drones for surveillance and monitoring over large and sometimes inaccessible terrains, enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement efforts in protecting forest reserves. “The TFS should consider investing in technologies like satellite imagery to align with global standards,” she added.

Tanzania has 45.7 million hectares of forests, covering about 40% of the country. This represents a significant decline from 61% in 2000, according to the World Bank. Tanzania loses about 400,000 hectares of forest each year – twice the global average deforestation rate. The TFA drones will expand Tanzania’s capacity to track illegal activities in the forests and monitor less accessible areas, allowing for more effective patrol deployment, Kairuki said. This initiative builds on the country’s 2016 decision to use drones to monitor its Ngorogoro Conservation Area for poachers and to deter elephants from the protected area.

Tanzania joins other African nations like Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, and Namibia in utilizing drones for forest monitoring. Kenya and Madagascar also employ drones for reforestation efforts. Additionally, drones can deploy sensors within forests to help monitor tree health.

Tanzania collaborates with the environmental NGO Trees for the Future as part of a consortium of African countries, mostly in East Africa. This partnership utilizes drones to evaluate tree coverage, aiding farmers in protecting the health of their farmland and preventing erosion. According to Kairuki, illegal charcoal and firewood collection, illegal mining, livestock grazing, and agriculture are major threats to Tanzania’s forests.

Tanzania’s Tourism Sector Sets Records
Tanzania’s tourism industry experienced a significant rebound last year, with tourist arrivals increasing by 24.3% to a record high of 1.8 million visitors, according to the Bank of Tanzania. Tourism remains Tanzania’s top foreign exchange earner, generating $3.37 billion in revenue in 2023. This success was followed by gold exports, which increased by seven percent to $3 billion, and transportation earnings, which surged by almost 30 percent to $2.4 billion. The Bank of Tanzania’s (BoT) monthly economic review for January indicates that service receipts reached $6,281m up from $4,762m the year ending December 2022. This growth was primarily driven by travel and transport receipts.

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