01st Sep 2025
Source: Daily News
TANZANIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION EXPANDS RURAL CONNECTIVITY TO BOOST DIGITAL ECONOMY
The Director General of the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL), Mr. Moremi Marwa, has announced that the company has stepped up efforts to expand communication services across the country, with a strong focus on underserved rural areas.
Speaking recently in Arusha at the 2025 Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers Forum, officially opened by Vice President Hon. Dr. Philip Mpango on behalf of Her Excellency President Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, he highlighted TTCL’s key role in supporting the national digital transformation agenda. He noted that TTCL is actively working to enhance nationwide connectivity through the National ICT Broadband Backbone, a government initiative aimed at building a robust digital economy.
Mr. Marwa explained that the expansion is part of broader efforts to ensure that no region is left behind on the path towards a fully digital Tanzania. He stressed that reliable and widespread access to communication services is fundamental to the realisation of a digital economy.
He further stated that the government, through TTCL, has so far invested in the construction of 1,400 communication towers, of which services have already been activated on 626. By next year, an additional 850 towers will be installed, mainly in rural areas, all of which will be connected to the National Broadband Backbone to ensure the delivery of high-quality communication services. The rollout of the remaining towers is expected to be completed by the 2026/2027 financial year.
Aligning with the National Development Vision 2050, Mr. Marwa also emphasised that TTCL remains focused on enhancing service delivery while positioning itself as a key player in the East African region and within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Source: The Guardian
TANZANIA CUSTOMS AGENTS ASSOCIATION COMMENDS GOVERNMENT FOR MEASURES RESTRICTING FOREIGNERS FROM ENGAGING IN LOCAL CUSTOMS AGENCY ACTIVITIES
The government has been commended for taking decisive steps to restrict foreigners from engaging in customs agency activities at the Port of Dar es Salaam, in a move aimed at safeguarding employment opportunities for Tanzanians.
Speaking to journalists over the weekend following the annual general meeting of the Tanzania Customs Agents Association (TACAS), the association’s Executive Officer, Mr. Hussein Laki, said the measures addressed long-standing concerns that foreigners were increasingly encroaching on jobs meant for locals. He also expressed sincere gratitude to Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan for listening to the concerns about local jobs being taken by foreigners.
Acting on these concerns, Her Excellency directed the Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Dr. Selemani Jafo, to form a committee that recommended foreigners be barred from engaging in local business activities. Mr. Laki further commended the government for working closely with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to enforce the decision, noting that strong measures were already being implemented.
Dr. Jafo emphasised that even in countries such as China, customs agency work is reserved for indigenous citizens, while foreigners are only permitted access to warehouses when purchasing cargo. He stated that Tanzania should follow a similar model.
On his part, TACAS Chairman, Mr. Ephraem Mwankusi, said members had urged all authorities responsible for cargo clearance to strictly adhere to laws that ensure a conducive working environment for customs agents. He added that while the law currently requires cargo clearance not to exceed one day, the ambition is to reduce it to one hour to improve efficiency, a goal that can be achieved by strengthening digital systems.
02nd Sep 2025
Source: Daily News
GOVERNMENT OPENS AMNESTY WINDOW FOR ILLEGAL FIREARMS HOLDERS
The government has launched a two-month nationwide firearm amnesty campaign, giving individuals the opportunity to voluntarily surrender illegal or unlicensed firearms without facing legal consequences. The initiative, announced by the Minister for Home Affairs, Hon. Innocent Bashungwa, through the Tanzania Police Force, will run from 31 August to 31 October this year, according to Government Notice No. 537 issued last Friday.
Police Spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) David Misime, said in a press statement that the amnesty forms part of the government’s broader efforts to enhance internal security and support international initiatives to curb the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons.
He added that this is an important opportunity for citizens in possession of such firearms to take full advantage of the grace period and surrender them voluntarily, without fear of arrest or prosecution.
Source: The Citizen
MBEYA RC TIES BUILDING PERMITS TO TREE PLANTING IN NEW DIRECTIVES
Mbeya Regional Commissioner, Beno Malisa, has directed environment, land, and urban planning officers to ensure that no building permits are issued unless applicants plant at least 20 trees on their land. He further instructed officers to establish clear procedures to guarantee proper environmental management.
The directive, announced on 1 September 2025, forms part of efforts to encourage communities to take responsibility for environmental conservation. Mr Malisa emphasised that protecting the environment is a duty for every individual, not just government agencies or organised groups.
He made the announcement while handing over TZS 40.5 million to 18 community groups engaged in savings schemes and environmental protection projects. The event, organised by Likolto, was held at Beaco Hall in Mbeya City and attended by representatives from several local councils.
Mr. Malisa urged citizens to take environmental stewardship seriously, stressing that government officers must not issue permits unless applicants comply with this requirement, and that awareness campaigns should educate communities accordingly.
Likolto Project Coordinator, Mr. Shukuru Tweve, explained that the grants aim to promote conservation through planting fruit trees and vegetables, and rehabilitating river gullies affected by soil erosion. Beneficiary groups are located in Mbeya and Songwe regions, with 18 groups in Mbeya receiving TZS 40.2 million, while 10 groups in Songwe will benefit from TZS 22.5 million.
Source: The Citizen
COURT ORDERS EAST AFRICA FOSSILS TO PAY ECOBANK OVER TZS 14 BILLION IN LOAN DISPUTE
The High Court’s Commercial Division has ordered East African Fossils Company Limited and its guarantors to pay Ecobank Tanzania Limited more than TZS 14 billion in a long-running loan dispute.
In a judgment delivered on 18 August 2025 in Ecobank Tanzania Limited v. East African Fossils Company Limited and Others, Hon. Madam Judge Mwajuma Kadilu ruled that the defendants were jointly and severally liable for outstanding credit facilities, default interest, penalties, and charges amounting to TZS 14.03 billion.
The dispute stemmed from four credit facilities granted between 2014 and 2016, secured through mortgages over properties, vehicles, cotton ginning machines, and a ship named MV Saint Mathew. The loans were additionally guaranteed by Mathayo Sons Enterprises Limited and two individual guarantors, Vedastus Mathayo Manyinyi and Stephen Marwa Mathayo.
Ecobank argued that the defendants defaulted on repayments, prompting the bank to sell some secured assets including farms, petrol stations, trailers, and trucks but the proceeds, about TZS 1.3 billion, were insufficient to clear the debt. The defendants admitted receiving the facilities but claimed their petroleum business in the Democratic Republic of Congo was disrupted by civil unrest, frustrating performance. They further alleged Ecobank had mismanaged their accounts and benefited from a risk-sharing arrangement with Ecobank Paris.
Judge Kadilu dismissed these arguments, holding that the doctrine of frustration did not apply, since civil unrest in the DRC was foreseeable when the contracts were entered into in 2014. She observed that the situation amounted to hardship in performance, not impossibility. On allegations of fraudulent transactions, the court held that complaints should first have been raised under the Bank of Tanzania’s Financial Consumer Protection Regulations before being brought before the High Court. Consequently, the defendants’ counterclaim was struck out.
The court stressed that borrowers must honour their commitments, ruling: “If they borrow money, they must ultimately pay it back, in most cases with interest—there is no shortcut.”
However, Judge Kadilu reduced the contractual default interest rate from 19% to 10% per annum, effective from the filing of the suit to the date of judgment. She also awarded post-judgment interest at 2% per annum until full settlement, in addition to granting Ecobank costs of the suit. The court declined to immediately order attachment and sale of further assets, stating that such measures should be pursued at the execution stage.
03rd Sep 2025
Source: The Citizen
TANZANIA BETS BIG ON PORTS AND RAIL TO BECOME EAST AFRICA’S REGIONAL TRADE GATEWAY
Tanzania is intensifying its efforts to establish itself as East and Central Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub, leveraging modern ports, a new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), and inland dry ports to reshape regional commerce. This strategy, built on a decade of infrastructure investment, combines public financing of core projects with private sector management of key terminals. The overarching goal is to boost efficiency, lower transport costs, and position Tanzania as the natural entry point for land-linked countries across the region.
At the heart of this ambition is the modernisation and partial privatisation of the Dar es Salaam Port, where leading global operators such as DP World and India’s Adani Group have assumed control of strategic terminals. According to Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) Director General, Mr. Plasduce Mbossa, the reforms are already yielding results.
He noted that in the first year alone, government revenue from port operations rose by more than 17%, while over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs were created.
Source: The Citizen
TANZANIA DECLARES VICTORY OVER BLAST FISHING AS CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL PRACTICES DEEPENS
The Government of Tanzania has announced the elimination of blast fishing in its coastal waters, marking a significant milestone in the country’s battle against illegal fishing. According to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, dynamite and bomb fishing incidents, which averaged between 20 and 24 cases per day in 2023, have now fallen to zero.
The announcement was made during a regional forum on illegal fishing in East Africa, organised by the Jahazi Project. Speaking at the event, the Ministry’s Assistant Director of Fisheries, Dr. Baraka Sekadende, credited the success to modern tracking technologies, stricter enforcement, and stronger inter-agency coordination. He stressed that blast fishing has devastating consequences on marine ecosystems, indiscriminately killing fish—including immature species and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending all forms of illegal fishing.
Dr. Sekadende further noted that while illegal fishing in deep-sea areas persists, its prevalence has significantly declined. This progress is supported by government interventions such as the creation of special marine zones and the deployment of advanced monitoring systems.
Tanzania is estimated to lose between USD 42 million and USD 85 million annually to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In response, the government launched the Blue Economy Policy in 2024 to strengthen oversight, increase investment in sustainable fishing, and recover lost revenues.
Source: The Citizen
EWURA SLASHES FUEL PRICES ACROSS TANZANIA AS GLOBAL OIL COSTS EASE
Motorists across Tanzania will enjoy some relief at the pump this month after the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced new cap prices for petroleum products, effective Wednesday, 3 September 2025. The revised prices reflect a decline compared to August.
In Dar es Salaam, motorists will now pay TZS 2,807 per litre of petrol, down by TZS 98. Diesel has fallen to TZS 2,754, while kerosene is priced at TZS 2,774. In Tanga, petrol is now TZS 2,868, diesel TZS 2,816, and kerosene TZS 2,835. Meanwhile, in Mtwara, petrol is priced at TZS 2,899, diesel TZS 2,847, and kerosene TZS 2,866 a drop of TZS 93.
Wholesale prices have also been revised, with petrol in Dar es Salaam set at TZS 2,667.12 per litre, diesel at TZS 2,614.81, and kerosene at TZS 2,634.35. EWURA attributed the downward adjustments to changes in global oil markets. In September, Free on Board (FOB) prices in the Arab Gulf fell by 0.2% for petrol, 5.5% for diesel, and 3.5% for kerosene. The applicable exchange rate also dropped by 3.96%, easing import costs.
However, shipping premiums showed mixed movements. At Dar es Salaam Port, premiums rose by 20.73% for petrol, 7.75% for diesel, and 2.62% for kerosene. At Tanga Port, premiums dropped by 12.66% for both petrol and diesel, while at Mtwara Port no changes were recorded.
Source: Daily News
TANZANIA ASSURES WHO AFRICA FORUM ON CUTTING MEDICINE IMPORTS
Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the health sector and reducing reliance on imported medicines during the 75th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, held recently in Lusaka, Zambia.
The high-level meeting brought together health ministers and senior officials from across the continent to discuss regional health priorities, with a key focus on promoting and developing local pharmaceutical industries to boost self-sufficiency in essential medicines.
Representing Tanzania at the forum was Dr. Seif Shekalaghe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, who attended on behalf of the Minister for Health, Hon. Ms. Jenista Mhagama. Dr. Shekalaghe stressed that Tanzania’s participation reflects the country’s strong commitment to building a resilient, self-reliant health sector.
04th Sep 2025
Source: The Guardian
UN WOMEN DONATES 15 MOTORCYCLES TO BOOST SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMBAT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN KIGOMA
UN Women, in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania and development partners, has donated 15 motorcycles to Kigoma Region to strengthen access to social services, enhance women’s economic empowerment, and combat gender-based violence (GBV).
The motorcycles were provided under the UN Joint Programme in Kigoma, with the second phase funded by the Governments of Ireland and Norway. Of the total, nine motorcycles were allocated to community development departments in eight local government authorities to improve outreach and service delivery, particularly for women’s groups and entrepreneurs in hard-to-reach areas. The remaining six were handed to police gender and children’s desks in Kigoma, Kasulu, Kibondo, and Kakonko districts to bolster their capacity to respond swiftly and provide care to GBV survivors.
Kigoma Regional Commissioner, Mr. Simon Sirro, commended the strong collaboration between the Government, UN Women, and development partners. He said the motorcycles would enable police gender and children’s desks to act more effectively in responding to abuse cases, protecting survivors, and bringing justice closer to the people. “Every kilometre covered by these motorcycles should translate into stronger outreach, safer communities, and empowered women and children,” he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of the UN Women Tanzania Resident Representative, Ms. Ongagwa Gwambaye said the support forms part of a broader strategy to expand services and opportunities for women and girls in Kigoma. She emphasised that the initiative ensures even women in remote villages can access information, opportunities, and protection in a timely manner.
She also highlighted achievements under the second phase of the Kigoma Joint Programme, including expanding access to council loans, helping women’s groups enter formal markets, and enhancing digital and financial skills.
The Regional Commissioner and UN Women representative expressed special appreciation to the Governments of Ireland and Norway for their financial support and long-standing partnership, which they said has been crucial in addressing structural barriers to women’s empowerment, access to justice, and protective services.
Source: The Citizen
WHY THE LATEST GOLD RALLY IS GOOD NEWS FOR TANZANIA
Tanzania is well positioned to boost its foreign exchange earnings by maximising returns from gold exports, particularly through leveraging the higher valuation of monetary gold. Gold prices have shown an upward trend, rising from approximately USD 2,625 per troy ounce in January to around USD 3,391 per troy ounce in early June. This robust gain indicates sustained demand and market optimism.
The Bank of Tanzania (BOT) Director of Policy and Research, Dr. Suleiman Misango, noted that the country stands to benefit significantly from exporting gold reserves classified as monetary gold, a category that commands a premium value on international markets.
The price rise offers Tanzania a strategic opportunity to improve its balance of payments and strengthen its foreign exchange reserves. Unlike regular commercial gold, monetary gold is held by central banks and monetary authorities as part of official reserves, giving it enhanced liquidity and recognition in global financial markets.
Meanwhile, Zacharia Soko, a small-scale miner from the Ntababalale Mining Society, said the recent increase in gold prices has significantly improved their livelihoods, creating a more stable and promising environment for small-scale miners.
Prof Abel Kinyondo of the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE) highlighted that gold currently accounts for approximately 80% of the mining sector’s contribution to the economy, driving substantial overall economic growth. However, he cautioned that this trend may not continue indefinitely. Global gold prices are unlikely to rise continuously, and a downturn is inevitable. He emphasised the importance of using this period of high returns to prepare for the future by diversifying the economy.
Source: The Citizen
ROAMING GAINS SHOW EAC INTEGRATION IS FEASIBLE
The dramatic drop in the cost of phone calls from Tanzania to other East African Community (EAC) states marks a significant stride in dismantling barriers that have long hindered regional communication. A 61% fall, from TZS 627.80 per minute in March to TZS 247.52 in June, reflects regulatory success and signals a tangible shift towards a more connected East Africa.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) attributes these changes to the harmonised regional policy on roaming charges under the EAC One Network Area (ONA) framework. The impact has been immediate and profound. Cross-border call minutes have surged from just over nine million in the April–June quarter of 2021 to more than 156 million in the same period this year.
Affordable communication enables connections to flourish. Families stay closer, businesses expand their reach, and cross-border cooperation strengthens. This transformation underscores the economic and social benefits of policy alignment.
The ONA initiative, covering Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, aims to create a single telecommunications market in the region. The planned inclusion of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia will further enhance its impact.
As East Africa embraces the digital age, such reforms should become the norm, extending beyond voice communication to internet data and other digital services.
