ECOBANK OPENS THE MARKET AT LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE WITH $400M EUROBOND

London, UK, 20 November 2024 – Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent of the leading pan-African Ecobank Group, today opened the market at the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to celebrate the successful issuance of its US$400 million Senior Unsecured Eurobond on the London Stock Exchange main market.

Jeremy Awori, CEO, Ecobank Group, said: “Our successful Notes issuance demonstrates how Ecobank is blazing the trail for sub-Saharan African financial institutions and corporates in accessing the international capital markets. The Notes are ETI’s third issuance on the international bond markets and the first public Eurobond issuance by a financial institution in sub-Saharan Africa since 2021. With the bond more than 2.1 times oversubscribed, the strong demand demonstrates international and African investors approval and trust in the progress of our Growth, Transformation and Returns Strategy.”

The Notes, which mature in October 2029, pay interest of 10.125%, payable semi-annually in arrears.

Ayo Adepoju, Chief Financial Officer, Ecobank Group commented: “We really appreciate the support and partnership from Absa, Africa Finance Corporation, African Export-Import Bank, Mashreq, and Standard Chartered Bank, who acted as Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners, and Renaissance Capital Africa, who served as the Financial Adviser for the transaction. We deeply value and appreciate the strong support from our Development Finance Institution partners, including the Africa Finance Corporation, Proparco, and the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank, who helped anchor the transaction. We also thank our bond investors for their ongoing support of ETI and look forward to continuing our engagement and working together to successfully execute our business strategy.”

ETI will use the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes for general corporate purposes, including refinancing the US$350 million Senior Bridge-to-Bond Loan Facility entered into in March 2024.

Members of the ETI board and management attended the London Stock Exchange to celebrate the successful issuance of the bond.

COCA-COLA TO CELEBRATE TANZANIAN CULINARY HERITAGE WITH GRAND FOOD FESTIVAL

The Coca-Cola Food Fest, part of the "A Recipe for Magic" campaign, celebrates how shared meals unite people, making moments magical when enjoyed together with Coca-Cola beverages.

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania [November 14, 2024] - The Coca-Cola Food Festival is set to take place at St. Laurent Gardens in Kawe, Dar es Salaam, on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The event will bring together food lovers and entertainment enthusiasts for a day of exceptional culinary experiences, live music performances, and cultural celebrations.

Over 20 local vendors, celebrated for their culinary talent at Coke Kitaa Food mini-fests, will be joined by top chefs and food content creators from Tanzania and across East Africa. Featured chefs and influencers include local favorites Diko by Monalisa, and Dennis Ombachi, the Kenyan rugby sevens icon popularly known as 'The Roaming Chef’.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore Tanzania’s rich food heritage, prepared with creativity and flair.

Speaking at a press conference, Fatma Mnaro, Director of Sales and Marketing, Coca-Cola Kwanza Ltd said, “The grand festival marks the culmination of the Coca-Cola Food Fest Tanzania, a series of weekly Kitaa Fests over 80 activities held across various locations in Dar es Salaam and other major cities since the festival's launch in mid-September. These events have provided local vendors and chefs with a platform to showcase their culinary talents while driving engagement and boosting sales”.

“The Coca-Cola Food Festival promises more than just delicious Tanzanian delicacies; it’s about celebrating creativity and bringing people together through a shared experience. We are excited to present a platform where local flavors meet Coca-Cola’s beverages, offering a truly unique experience for all,” said Kabula Nshimo, Senior Marketing Manager, Coca-Cola Tanzania.

“The festival will feature ‘Tanzania on a Plate,’ with local vendors highlighting the best of Tanzanian cuisine, alongside fun and laughter from our favorite comedians, and lively music from Tanzania's top DJs.”

WAKULIMA WANUFAIKA NA BIMA YA KILIMO KUTOKA STRATEGIS INSURANCE

Wakulima wa zao la mpunga eneo la Kapunga 1, Mbarali Mkoani Mbeya wakipokea mfano wa hundi yenye thamani ya Shilingi Milioni 110.7 kama fidia ya hasara iliyotokana na janga la mvua kubwa iliyoleta mafuriko na kuathiri mashamba yao.

Kampuni ya Strategis kupitia Bima yake ya Kilimo "MTETEZI" imeshirikiana na Benki ya Selcom Microfinance Tanzania ambapo huikatia Bima Mikopo yote wanayochukua wakulima ili kujilinda na hasara za kilimo zinazoweza kuwafanya wakulima washindwe kurudisha mikopo hiyo waliokopa.

Tukio hili lilitokea siku ya Alhamisi, 14 November 2024 na lilihudhuriwa na Bwana Jabir Kigoda - Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa Strategis Insurance (Upande wa Bima Zisizo za Afya) pamoja na Afisa Mkuu wa Biashara wa Benki ya Selcom Microfinance - Isaya Mwenisongole.

Strategis inaendelea kutoa wito kwa wakulima kuhakikisha wanakatia bima miradi ya kilimo kuepuka hasara ziletwazo na majanga kama ukame, mafuriko na mvua za mawe.

KAMATI YA BUNGE YA UWEZESHAJI YARIDHISHWA NA UTENDAJI KAZI WA TCB

Kamati ya Kudumu ya Bunge ya Uwezeshaji Taasisi za Umma imeridhishwa na utendaji kazi wa Benki ya Biashara Tanzania - TCB, huku ikiielekeza benki hiyo kuendelea kutoa gawio kwa serikali kuu ili fedha hizo zitekeleze miradi mingine ya kimkakati.

Kauli hiyo imetolewa Jijini Dar es salaam hivi karibuni na Mwenyekiti wa Kamati hiyo, Augustino Vuma wakati Kamati hiyo ilipotembelea benki hiyo ili kufahamu mikakati, utendaji kazi pamoja na mwelekeo wake kwa mwaka 2025.

Amesema pamoja na mambo mengine ushirikiano wa benki hiyo na taasisi nyingine za serikali ikiwemo Shirika la Reli Tanzania - TRC, katika utoaji wa huduma imetajwa kuwa kichocheo muhimu cha ukuaji wa uchumi nchini.

Kwa upande wake Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa - TCB, Adam Mihayo amesema benki hiyo itaendelea kushirikiana na serikali katika nyanja zote ikiwa ni pamoja na Kijamii na kiuchumi.

Itakumbukwa kuwa Kamati hiyo imekua ikifanya ziara yake ya kutembelea taasisi mbalimbali za Serikali ili kusikiliza changamoto zao, kuona utendaji wao wa kazi na kuwasilisha ripoti kwa serikali kuu.

WAZIRI SILAA AWEKA BAYANA MIKAKATI YA KUBORESHA USHIRIKIANO NA WANAHABARI

Waziri wa Habari, Mawasiliano na Teknolojia ya Habari, Jerry Silaa, ameweka wazi mikakati yake ya kuboresha sekta ya habari kupitia ushirikiano wa karibu na wanahabari.

Akizungumza jijini Dar es Salaam katika mkutano wa wadau wa sekta ya habari kuelekea uchaguzi wa Serikali za Mitaa na Uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2025, Waziri Silaa amesema amejipanga kuhakikisha sekta ya habari inaimarika kwa kufanya marekebisho ya sera na sheria ili kuendana na mahitaji ya kisasa.

Waziri ameeleza kuwa sekta ya habari ni mhimili muhimu katika maendeleo ya kiuchumi, kijamii, na kiusalama, huku pia ikiwa nguzo ya utawala bora. Amesema serikali inatambua mchango wa vyombo vya habari katika kusimamia uwazi na uwajibikaji, na kwa sasa kuna vyombo 1,023 vya habari ambavyo vinatoa mchango mkubwa kwa taifa.

Akiwa na dhamira ya kuboresha sekta hiyo, Waziri Silaa amesema atatembelea wadau wote wa habari, akianza na makundi, na hatimaye vyombo vya habari binafsi, ili kujadiliana na kubadilishana mawazo. Pia ameongeza kuwa marekebisho yaliyofanywa kwenye sheria na kanuni yamewaondolea wanahabari adhabu za kijinai kwa makosa ya kashfa na yameimarisha uhuru wao wa maoni, upatikanaji wa habari, na uhariri wa maudhui bila hofu.

Waziri amepongeza wanahabari kwa kufanikisha mawasiliano kuhusu miradi ya maendeleo ya serikali na kuwahamasisha kuendelea kufuata sheria, kanuni, na maadili ya kazi hasa katika kipindi cha kampeni na uchaguzi. Amesisitiza kuwa historia ya tasnia ya habari nchini ni msingi wa umoja wa kitaifa, akirejelea mchango wa vyombo vya habari katika harakati za uhuru na ujenzi wa taifa ulioasisiwa na Hayati Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

Kwa ujumla, Waziri Silaa amesisitiza dhamira yake ya kushirikiana na wanahabari kuhakikisha sekta ya habari inatoa mchango mkubwa zaidi kwa maendeleo ya Tanzania.

FURAHIA TANZANIA vs GUINEA KWA MKAPA LEO SAA 10:00 JIONI NDANI YA DStv POA!!!

FURAHIA ETHIOPIA vs TANZANIA LEO SAA 1:00 USIKU NDANI YA DStv BOMBA

"LAWRENCE MAFURU WAS A SPECIAL GIFT" - PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN

• Samia aulogises him as true hero, champion of public sector reforms

Dar es Salaam: President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday led hundreds of Dar es Salaam residents to pay their last respects to the fallen Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Lawrence Mafuru (52), at Karimjee grounds, honouring his significant legacy in public sector reforms.

Mafuru, who passed away on November 9th, this year at Apollo Hospital in India where he was hospitalised, will be laid to rest today at Kwa Kondo Cemetery at Tegeta, Dar es Salaam.

Speaking during the national funeral service, the Head of State called on Tanzanians to emulate the late Mafuru by working hard, demonstrating professionalism and patriotism for the betterment of the citizens and the country’s growth.

In a heartfelt tribute, President Samia credited the ongoing reforms in the country’s public entities to the late Ma- furu’s contributions.

President Samia emphasised that the public sector reforms initiated during Mr Mafuru’s tenure as Treasury Registrar (TR) between 2014 and 2016 have had a lasting and positive impact on the nation.

“These reforms, which have been successfully carried forward by the current Trea- sury Registrar, Mr Nehemiah Mchechu, were first set in motion by Lawrence (Mafuru),” President Samia said.

The president further said that her decision to appoint Mr Mafuru as Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission in July last year was not coincidental, but a recognition of his exemplary professional history.

“Lawrence was a great gift to our nation. He was one of Tanzania’s true heroes,” President Samia remarked.

She added: “Whether in the private sector or later in the public sector, Lawrence worked with exceptional pro- fessionalism. Indeed, he leaves an indelible mark to this nation.” She highlighted the invaluable lessons and contributions Mafuru imparted to the nation during his lifetime.

“Despite the great loss he has left us with, Mafuru also imparted many lessons to all of us, one of the most important being that we should contribute to the society as much as we can, while we are alive,” President Samia remarked.

“Mafuru gave his all, adapting to different environ- ments with skills and grace. As, I have often said, this na- tion belongs to all of us and each of us has the right and duty to contribute to its devel- opment,” she said.

President Samia said the late Mafuru played a significant role to leveraging both public and private sector knowledge and expertise to build a stronger nation.

NMB YATENGA MIL. 450/- KUZAWADIA WATEJA KAMPENI YA MASTABATA "LA KIBABE"

Benki ya NMB imezindua msimu wa sita wa kampeni maalum ya kuhamasisha matumizi na malipo kwa njia ya kadi ‘NMB MastaBata - La Kibabe,’ ambayo kwa miezi mitatu mfululizo wateja wa benki hiyo watajishindia zawadi zenye thamani ya zaidi ya Sh. Mil. 300, pamoja na safari za utalii wa ndani na nje ya nchi.

NMB MastaBata ni kampeni iliyoanza mwaka 2018, kabla ya kuboreshwa zaidi mwaka 2019 ilipoitwa MastaBata ‘Sio Kawaida,’ ikafuata MastaBata ‘KivyakoVyako’ mwaka 2020, kabla ya mwaka 2021 kuitwa Mastabata ‘Kotekote,’ na mwaka jana 2023 kutambuliwa kama Mastabata ‘Halipoi.’

Uzinduzi huo uliosimamiwa na Afisa wa Bodi ya Michezo ya Kubahatisha Tanzania (GBT), Rasul Masoud, umefanyika Mlimani City Jijini Dar es Salaam leo Novemba 9, na itadumu hadi Februari 12 mwakani, siku ambayo washindi sita wa fainali na wenza wao watapatikana kwa safari ya Dubai kwa siku tano iliyogharamiwa na NMB.

Katika kipindi hicho, droo mbalimbali zitachezeshwa, ambako washindi 100 wa kila wiki watapokea Sh. 100,000 katika akauinti zao, huku washindi 30 wakijinyakulia Sh. 500,000 kila mwisho wa mwezi kwa miezi miwili na wengine 10 wakijishindia safari ya kwenda kutembelea Mbuga za Wanyama za Mikumi na Ngorongoro.

Kwa miaka sita, NMB imejikita katika kuhamasisha wateja wao wenye kadi za benki hiyo, kufanya malipo ya bidhaa, hotelini, migahawani, ‘supermarket,’ maeneo ya starehe na popote pale, huku ikitenga kitita cha pesa taslimu kama zawadi, bidhaa za zawadi na safari za kitalii ndani na nje ya nchi.

Mkuu wa Idara ya Kadi ya Benki ya NMB, Philbert Casmir, alisema kampeni hiyo itayofikia ukomo Februari 12 mwakani, ni kwa ajili ya wateja wenye kadi za NMB Mastercard, ama kadi ya aina yeyote inayotolewa na benki hiyo, huku akiwataka wasio na akaunti aka kadi za NMB, kufungua sasa kampeni inapoendelea.

“Washindi zaidi ya 2,000 watapata nafasi ya kujishindia zawadi mbalimbali zenye thamani ya zaidi ya Sh. Mil. 450, ambapo ili kushiriki kampeni hii utatakiwa kufanya manunuzi kwa kutumia kadi yako ya NMB Mastacard kwenye Mashine za POS, kwenye mitandao (online) na Lipa kwa QR link.

“Katika kuhitimisha kampeni hii, washindi sita watajishindia tiketi za kwenda Dubai pamoja na wenza wao kwa siku tano, safari itakayogharamiwa kila kitu na NMB,” alisema Casmir huku akibainsiha manunuzi hayo ni yatakayofanyika kwenye migahawa, ‘supermarket,’ vituo vya mafuta, maduka makubwa na sehemu za starehe.

“Faida za matumizi kwa njia ya kadi nyingi na tunamani kuona kila mteja wetu ananufaika nayo, ambazo ni pamoja na urahisi wa kutumia bila kuwa na pesa taslimu mkononi, ambazo ni hatari kutembea nazo. Lakini hii inakupa fursa ya kuweka rekodi za matumizi ya fedha zilizomo kwenye akaunti,” alibainisha Casmir.

Akizungumza katrika uzinduzi huo, Afisa Mkuu wa Wateja Binafsi na Biashara wa NMB, Filbert Mponzi, aliwataka Watanzania kujitokeza kwa wingi kufungua akaunti ili kunufaika na huduma za NMB ikiwemo promosheni mbalimbali zinazoendelea.

“NMB tunazo kampeni zinazowazawadia wateja wapya wanaofungua, kuna kampeni inayotoa zawadi kwa wateja wenye akiba isiyopungua Sh. 100,000, na leo tunakuletea kampeni hii ambayo inakuwazawadia unapotumia pesa zako kwa njia ya kadi tu, pale utapofanya manunuzi kwenye Mashine za PoS au NMB Pay by Link.

“Hii maana yake utafanya manunuzi ya bidhaa zako, na kukupeleka kwa safari za utalii wa ndani na nje ya nchi, na unaweza kujikuta ukishinda zawadi ya Ada ya Shule ya mtoto wako inayofikia kiasi cha Sh. Milioni 4, ambazo zitaenda kwa washindi wetu 10,” alibainisha Mponzi.

NMB MASTABATA 2024 REWARD CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC TOURISM

The 6th edition of the MastaBata reward campaigns, launched by NMB Bank to promote digital payments, kicked off late last week with a special focus on supporting the government's efforts to boost domestic tourism.

At the launch of the NMB MastaBata la Kibabe campaign on Saturday in Dar es Salaam, senior officials of the bank announced that this year's prizes will include trips to Mikumi and Ngorongoro game parks for select winners.

Mr Filbert Mponzi, Chief of Retail Banking, explained that the domestic tourism winners will be picked during monthly draws in the over TZS 300 million promotion, with about 2,000 customers set to win various prizes, including cash and school fees.

“There will be 10 winners in the domestic tourism category, with five lucky individuals earning the chance to visit Mikumi National Park and the other five set to explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area,” Mr Mponzi noted, when outlining the top prizes for the three-month campaign.

“In addition, 10 more winners will each receive school fees worth TZS 4 million, ensuring they have one less thing to worry about when schools reopen in January. And for the grand finale, six lucky customers will win an all-expenses-paid 5-day vacation to Dubai with their partners,” he added.

Mr Mponzi urged non-customers to open accounts with NMB to become eligible for the competition, highlighting that since 2018, the bank has been running the MastaBata campaigns to encourage the use of NMB Mastercard cards and NMB Mastercard QR for payments of goods and services.

In addition to promoting digital payments, NMB Bank has used the promotion as a way to reward loyal customers, sharing a portion of its earnings to help them manage the expenses of the festive season.

The Head of Card Business, Mr Philbert Casmir, explained that the campaign series began with MastaBata, followed by MastaBata Sio Kawaida in 2019. The next year, it evolved into MastaBata – KivyakoVyako, and in 2021, it was rebranded as MastaBata - Kotekote. In 2023, the campaign was named MastaBata Halipoi.

“This year, we have MastaBata La Kibabe, a name that reflects the substantial value of the fabulous prizes up for grabs. Additionally, we’ve increased the number of trips, with monthly winners set to enjoy tourism excursions to Mikumi and Ngorongoro. This initiative aligns with our commitment to supporting the government in promoting domestic tourism,” Mr Casmir stated.

According to him, the primary requirements for participating in the competition are, first, possessing an NMB Mastercard card, and second, using it for digital payments when purchasing goods and services.

The new campaign will run until February 12, 2025, with 100 weekly winners each receiving TZS 100,000. Additionally, 40 participants will win cash prizes and shopping vouchers by answering on-the-spot questions while making payments with their NMB Mastercard.

FURAHIA UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE, PORTUGAL vs POLAND NDANI YA DStv