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HOW NETWORKS COMPARE ON CALL CHARGES

Dar es Salaam. Tigo subscribers pay the most to make calls both locally and internationally within and outside the network, the latest quarterly report issued by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has revealed.

Tigo customers also pay the most to send text messages (SMS).

The report covering the July 1 to September 30 period says that Tigo subscribers pay Sh360 per minute, excluding tax, to make calls within the network, significantly higher than the quarterly weighted average tariff of Sh278.

RICE PRICES REMAIN FLAT ON CHRISTMAS DAY

In Summary

Last year, the highest rice price stood at Sh2,800 per kilogram, while this year, the highest is Sh2,300.

Dar es Salaam. Retail price of rice has remained flat at Kariakoo Market Corporation during Christmas, which is a relief for consumers who have already felt the pinch of rise in the prices of other products.

“Prices are relatively low this year compared to last year. Despite this not being the harvest season, prices are almost similar to last year,” said Mr Alfred Gabo, a retailer at Kariakoo market.

ZANTEL HOSTS STRATEGY MEETING IN ZANZIBAR

The Zantel Chief Executive Officer, Sherif El-Barbary addresses his staff during the Telecom’s strategy meeting held in Zanzibar recently. During the meeting, Mr. El-Barbary reminded his staff on the need to focus on the opportunities that are available in the mainland as well as continue to stay at the top in the Isles.

The Zantel Chief Executive Officer, Sherif El-Barbary addresses his staff during the Telecom’s strategy meeting held in Zanzibar recently. During the meeting, Mr. El-Barbary reminded his staff on the need to focus on the opportunities that are available in the mainland as well as continue to stay at the top in the Isles.

WAFANYAKAZI WA ZANTEL WASHIRIKI KUFANYA USAFI NA KUKABIDHI VIFAA KWA HOSPITALI YA MNAZI MMOJA, ZANZIBAR.

Mkuu wa Zantel, Zanzibar Mohamed Mussa Baucha (kulia) akikabidhi vifaa vya kufanyia usafi kwa Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa hospitali ya Mnazi Mmoja Zanzibar, Dk. Msafiri Marijani mara baada ya kumaliza zoezi la kufanya usafi katika eneo la hospitali hiyo iliyopo Zanzibar hivi karibuni. Zantel ilikabidhi vifaa vyenye jumala ya thamani ya Sh.400, 000 hospitalini hapo.

Mkuu wa Zantel, Zanzibar Mohamed Mussa Baucha akizungumza na Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa hospitali ya Mnazi Mmoja Zanzibar, Dk. Msafiri Marijani (Mwenye fulana ya bluu) wakati wa zoezi la kufanya usafi na kukabidhi vifaa hospitalini hapo hivi karibuni mjini Zanzibar. Mkurugenzi huyo ambaye aliambatana na baadhi ya wafanyakazi wa Zantel alikabidhi vifaa vya usafi ikiwemo mifagio, ndoo na mafyekeo vyenye jumla ya thamani ya Sh. 400,000/= kwa ajili ya kuimarisha mfumo wa usafi na kuzuia maambukizi kwa watu wanaofika hospitalini hapo.

QNET DONATES HOMEPURE NOVA WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM AND GROCERIES TO KHAYRAAT ORPHANS CENTRE IN DAR

QNET Tanzania Agent, Benjamin Mariki (right) hands over a HomePure Nova Water Filtration System and groceries worth more than Tsh 2 million to the Patron of Khayraat Orphans Centre, Khadija Hussein in Dar es Salaam recently.

Dar es Salaam, December 20th 2017 – One of Tanzania’s fastest growing online networking institutions, QNET, has donated a HomePure Nova Water Filtration System and groceries worth more than Tsh 2 million to Khayraat Orphans Centre in Dar es Salaam.

This gesture is a part of QNET’s social responsibility initiative – RYTHM (Raise Yourself To Help Mankind), which gears towards raising people’s life and making a lasting impact.

According to QNET Tanzania Agent, Benjamin Mariki, the direct selling company has a robust social responsibility policy that seeks to give back to the community in which it serves.

“At QNET, we believe that besides distributing high quality products to our customers, we have a social duty of supporting the community, government and other stakeholders in implementing activities that have a positive impact in the community, especially among the less privileged people in the community,” Mariki said.

PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL MARKET UPDATE AS AT 21 DEC. 2017

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES IN EAST AFRICA WITH US $ 15 MILLION

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved an equity investment of US $15 million in Catalyst Fund II, a second-generation private equity fund investing in mid-market companies in East Africa.

Building on its successful deployment of Catalyst Fund I, Catalyst Principal Partners, a prominent East African private equity fund, launched Catalyst Fund II with a target size of US $175 million in low-income countries, comprising four core East African countries (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda), together with Rwanda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As the anchor investor in Catalyst Fund I, the Bank is considering an equity participation of 8.6% of the second Fund’s capitalization and an Advisory Committee seat to ensure that transparency, social, environmental and corporate governance best practices are adhered to both at the Fund and portfolio company level.

FLYDUBAI INCREASES COMPETITION IN KILIMANJARO

Competition is set to increase for international flights bound for Kilimanjaro following the latest arrival of flydubai. Flydubai, the first international budget airline to serve Kilimanjaro is set to further challenge traditional carriers.

The Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai is set to challenge traditional airlines such as KLM, Ethiopian Airways, RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Turkish Air and Qatar Airways. Also Ethiopian operates two additional frequencies of United Airline and Lufthansa under a special agreement.

Though all airlines have their passenger niches but all in all the skyline competition of Kilimanjaro International Airport poise to change for the better of passengers.

Nevertheless, flydubai has an advantage since is the first United Arab Emirates airline to provide direct air links to Kilimanjaro. The KIA destination expanding the airline network to 12 destinations in Africa with 14 flights a week.

DCB BANK PROVIDES 12BN/- DIVIDENDS IN 10YRS

The DCB Commercial Bank (DCB) has provided 12.4bn/- dividends to its shareholders in the last 10 years. The bank’s outgoing Managing Director, Mr Edmund Mkwawa, told reporters on Wednesday that the bank has been recording good performance since its establishment in 2002.

He added that out of 12.4bn/- some 4.4bn/- was offered to Dar es Salaam City, which is the founder of the bank along with its district councils such as Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke who invested 1.3bn/-. Mr Mkwawa said so far the capital has increased from 1.3bn/- to 6.3bn/- through bonus issue and right issue.

The bank was established in 2002 following the third President Mr Benjamin Mkapa call for establishment of a financial institution that provides capital to ordinary ‘wananchi’ who wanted to establish and develop businesses.

“The bank continues to serve the public in a professional way, we have established various programmes that aim at supporting ‘wananchi’,” he said. On loaning women, youth and various groups, Mr Mkwawa said so far the bank has provided 123.8bn/- through the Kinondoni, Temeke and Ilala municipal councils. He said the money has been provided to 476,146 beneficiaries.

FURSA CAMPAIGN REACHES THOUSANDS

Letshego Bank Tanzania CEO, Yohane Kaduma.

The FURSA campaign has reached over 20,000 youth through fifteen seminars across fifteen regions in three months. The campaign, launched in September in Morogoro after running for 12 weeks, simplified transaction and established a centralised account at Letshego Bank.

Letshego Bank Tanzania CEO Yohane Kaduma said on Wednesday the bank saw a positive social impact in the communities they serve, which was important to them. “Through this campaign, we have managed to reach and empower a significant number of young people across Tanzania.

“We aim to keep Letshego on top of young entrepreneurs’ mind who need simple, appropriate and accessible financial solutions to improve their lives or kick-start businesses, in any sector they choose,” Mr Kaduma said.

To walk the talk, the bank after running the campaign for 12 weeks, opened LetsGo savings accounts with instant access to an ATM network and recruited a number of LetsGo Agents. The campaign concludes this month, envisaging conducting a total of 17 FURSA seminars across 15 regions.

FINANCE MINISTER MPANGO INVITES NORWAY INVESTORS IN INDUSTRIALISATION DRIVE

Dodoma - Finance and Planning Minister, Philip Mpango (pictured) has invited investors from Norway to support Tanzania in its industrialisation drive and make the country realise its dream of a middle income economy, adding that the private sector’s contribution is necessary in boosting the economy, stressing: “Tanzania is taking a number of measures to improve the economy through industrialisation and we believe investors from Norway have a great role to play in the plan,” Dr Mpango told the Norwegian Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Hanne-Marie Kaarstad, during a meeting here on Wednesday.

He cited agricultural and forestry products, livestock, fishery, energy and exploration of oil and gas, among others as the areas they require their support. “Such investments would contribute significantly in setting up new industries and improve our economy and incomes of many Tanzanians,” Dr Mpango further said, while meeting Ms Kaarstad in his office.

He told the envoy that as the country embarks on the ambitious Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) plan, it requires sufficient electricity for the project, pointing out that Norway should thus support them in the drive.

PRESIDENT MAGUFULI CRACKS WHIP ON DATA SPIN DOCTORS

President John Magufuli speaks during the laying of a foundation stone of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) head offices in Dodoma on Wednesday, where he tasked Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango, to investigate ownership of Airtel Tanzania Limited.

• Gives NBS orders to prosecute errant NGOs 

President John Magufuli on Wednesday instructed the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to take serious legal action against individuals, institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) accused of airing or publishing false statistics.

Publishing unofficial state data other than that produced by NBS is liable to jail terms of up three years or fines of up to 10m/- or both, according to the 2015 law on statistics. “Statistics are key to the country’s economic development … especially so when they’re correct,” president Magufuli said.

“This should be a warning to media houses and online platforms.” The Head of State explained that some institutions and individuals had been giving misleading statistics over the government’s performance contrary to the ones published by the state-run Bureau.

President Magufuli said the government proposed its enactment, and was duly passed by Parliament and subsequently sealed by the presidential signature. “Authorities should not hesitate to take action against those giving out false reports.”

The President said the least (minimum) penalty in keeping with current legal provisions was six months imprisonment or a million shillings in fines, but added, “… if I were the judge I would apply the last option,” which is three years imprisonment and 10m/- fines.

SPILLING THE AIRTEL BEANS...

TTCL Chief Executive Officer, Waziri Kindamba.

• The drama has been traced to a September 2005 board meeting

Fresh details have emerged over the controversial ownership of Airtel Tanzania Limited, with the Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL), revealing how an official within the TTCL board failed Tanzanians.

In what appears to be a shocking revelation, despite a joint venture between Celtel International, a company that is now trading as Airtel, took all shares of TTCL, a move that crippled operations of the state-owned telecom company.

Barely a day after President John Magufuli revealed that the deal was dubious and unfair, directing the Finance and Planning minister to investigate it, the TTCL Board and Management held a press conference in Dar es Salaam to spill the beans.

According to TTCL board chairman, Omar Nundu, it all began on September 5, 2005, a date he termed as dramatic when a series of unprecedented events unfolded. On that fateful date, a person whose identity he fell short of revealing, who initially, owned one per cent share that he was given by a person he named as David Damford, was simultaneously a TTCL and Celtel board member.

PRIME MINISTER LAUNCHES SECOND FINANCIAL INCLUSION BLUEPRINT

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has launched the second national financial inclusion framework on Thursday, saying the presence of a fast growing economy will boost the development of financial sector in the country.

Launching the blueprint at Central Bank of Tanzania (BOT) premises in Dar es Salaam, the Premier added that available infrastructures made by both private and public sectors and increased number of communication network users are good avenues of turning the idea into actuality.

The framework is expected to be implemented from next year, 2018 to 2022, according to PM Majaliwa. He tasked members of the council responsible for the financial inclusion framework to prepare special education which will raise awareness specifically to people living in the rural setting.

SECLOM JOINS HANDS WITH EXIM BANK TANZANIA TOWARDS FINANCIAL INCLUSION

Exim Bank Tanzania Chief Financial Officer, Selemani Ponda (right) and Selcom Tanzania Director of Strategy, Benjamin Mpamo (left) cut a ribbon to symbolise the launch of a cash point ATM network for card and cardless cash withdrawals for Selcom-managed bank customers, Exim Bank customers, mobile money customers and any other local or international Master Card or Visa cardholders.

21st December 2017, Dar es Salaam - In its ongoing efforts to improve access to financial services for Tanzanians at large, Exim Bank Tanzania and Selcom Tanzania have partnered to officially launch the Selcom Cashpoint ATM network for card and cardless cash withdrawals for Selcom-managed bank customers, Exim Bank customers, mobile money customers and any other local or international Master Card or Visa cardholders.

This service enables customers with Tigo Pesa, M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Halopesa, Selcom Card and customers who use mobile banking services to withdraw cash without the use of a card by requesting a secure one-time token through their mobile phone. Customers simply enter the token, their phone number and amount to withdraw at any Selcom Cashpoint ATM to withdraw their cash, anytime, anywhere. Visa and MasterCard customers can withdraw cash using their cards as they would at any other ATM in the world with their EMV card and PIN. The primary focus of launching the Selcom Cashpoint ATM model is to promote the easy availability of cash at all times through a shared infrastructure investment and leverages Selcom’s core value of collaboration and integration.

QNET YATOA ZAWADI YA SIKUKUU KWA WATOTO YATIMA

Mwakilishi wa QNET Tanzania, Benjamin Mariki (kulia) akikabidhi mashine ya kusafishia maji ya kunywa (water purifier) pamoja na mahitaji mengine ya kibinadamu kwa mlezi wa kituo cha kulelea watoto yatima cha Khayraat Orphans Centre kilichopo Kigogo jijini Dar es Salaam.

Mwakilishi wa QNET Tanzania, Benjamin Mariki akikabidhi misaada mbalimbali ikiwepo vyakula na mahitaji muhimu ya kibinadamu kwa mlezi wa kituo cha kulelea watoto yatima cha Khayraat Orphans Centre kilichopo Kigogo jijini Dar es Salaam.

Tarehe 20th Desemba, Dar es salaam – Moja kati ya taasisi inayokua kwa kasi sana Tanzania ya masoko ya mtandao QNET, leo imetoa msaada wa mashine yenye mfumo wa kusafisha maji ya Water purifier na chakula chenye thamani ya zaidi ya Tsh milioni 2 kwa kituo cha watoto yatima cha Khayraat jijini Dar es salaam.

Msaada wa QNET ni sehemu ya juhudi za kampuni hiyo za kuwajibika katika jamii, ambazo zimeelekezwa katika kutoa msaada wa upatikanaji wa maji safi na salama kwa zaidi ya watoto 500 wenye uhitaji katika kituo cha kulelea watoto yatima na kuwapatia chakula kwaajili ya kuwawezesha kufurahia sikukuu za krimasi katika kipindi hiki cha sikukuu kama watoto wengine.

SANLAM GENERAL INSURANCE EMPOWERS GENERAL INSURANCE AGENTS

Sanlam Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Manasseh Kawoloka opening the event.

Dar es Salaam 20th December 2017 - Sanlam General Insurance conducted a day long training session at Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam. The event was attended by over 45 agents from different firms and regions.

The training focused on different areas such as Use of Modern Technology on Premium Payments and Collections the insuring public, Finance management, Market Developments and new regulations.

The Chief executive Officer, Mr Manasseh Kawoloka, who officially opened this event shared with gathering new developments and regulations that have been recently introduced in insurance industry. He emphasized the requirement that all agents should understand and comply with the regulatory changes introduced in the market. The new law requires the client to pay premium before or on the date of commencement of the insurance cover.

BENKI YA AZANIA YAAZIMIA KUBORESHA SEKTA YA UMMA ILI KUKUZA UCHUMI

Dodoma - UONGOZI wa Benki ya Azania Limited umeridhika na namna serikali ilivyopokea mawazo ya wadau wa sekta binafsi katika mkutano walioshiriki kuuandaa mkoani Dodoma kwa lengo la kutoa fursa kwa wafanyabiashara kuishauri serikali katika masuala mbalimbali yahusuyo kodi.

Katika mkutano huo ulioongozwa na Waziri wa Fedha na Mipango, Dkt. Philip Mpango wafanyabiashara kutoka kampuni mbalimbali za binafsi walieleza changamoto wanazokumbana nazo na kushauri njia muafaka za kuondokana na changamoto hizo ili kuweka mazingira mazuri ya biashara nchini.

“Lengo letu la msingi kuwepo katika mkutano huu ni kutaka kuhakikisha sekta binafsi zinakuwa karibu na serikali ili kupatikane nafasi ya kuelezana yale yanayoonekana ni kikwazo katika uwekezaji, kama inavyofahamika kazi ya benki ni kutoa mikopo na kuwezesha kampuni kutimiza malengo yake na kumudu kulipa kodi,” alisema Bw Godwin Seiya.

Akizungumzia hali halisi ya kiuchumi nchini Bw Seiya alisema kodi ndiyo inayoendesha nchi hivyo hakuna namna ambayo serikali itaruhusu ukwepaji kodi lakini mbali ya hayo serikali imefungua milango ya majadiliano na kuwasikiliza wafanyabiashara mambo yanayowakwaza.

PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL MARKET UPDATE AS AT 20 DEC. 2017

KENYA AIRWAYS RETURNS TO DAR BOURSE WITH RECORD SHARE PRICE GAIN

After suspending trading at the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) on November 20 this year for shareholding restructuring, Kenya Airways returned to the Tanzanian market on Monday with a bang.

The company’s share price jumped 225 per cent to close at Tsh390 ($0.18) on Monday, higher than Tsh120 ($0.05) recorded on November 20 this year.

This is the highest point the airline's share price has hit since it cross-listed its shares on the DSE.

The price rise comes amid increased investor activity at the Dar bourse following consolidation of its shares that effectively increased units issued from from 1.49 billion to 5.82 billion.

Suspend trading

Last month, the management of Kenya Airways requested to close the register and suspend trading for a period of two weeks. The suspension facilitated the share split and simultaneous consolidation of its shares as 10 Kenyan banks converted Ksh22 billion ($213.4 million) debt to equity.

EAST AFRICA RECORDS DROP IN INFLATION

A vegetable vendor counting his takings at a market in Kampala. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics said the country’s inflation slowed from 4.8 per cent year-on-year in October, to 4.0 per cent in November, the lowest since 2015.

Uganda and Kenya recorded the largest drop in inflation in November, attributed to favourable weather conditions that led to a fall in prices of several food items.

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics said the country’s inflation slowed from 4.8 per cent year-on-year in October, to 4.0 per cent in November, the lowest since 2015.
In Kenya, inflation for November eased to 4.73 per cent from 5.72 per cent recorded in October, marking a 54-month low for the cost of living index, which last hit such lows in May 2013, when it stood at 4.05 per cent.

In August, Kenya’s inflation hit a high of 8.04 per cent, outside the Central Bank’s desired band of 2.5 per cent either side of the five per cent target, driven by an increase in food prices occasioned by delayed rains and low food supplies.

The decline in the cost of food comes as a relief to consumers who have been digging deeper into their pockets to meet high food costs attributed to prolonged drought.

COURT REINSTATES SACKED KENYA AIRWAYS ENGINEERS

A Labour court has directed Kenya Airways to immediately reinstate sacked engineers and technicians pending hearing and determination of the case.

Judge Hellen Wasilwa noted that it would be unsafe for the public to fly in unserviced aircraft, hence the order that they be reinstated as the case is litigated in court.

The engineers and technicians are challenging the airline's decision to sack them on claims they had engaged in unprotected strike.

The airline's lawyer on Monday requested the court to give them up to Tuesday to file a response in the case.

The request was granted by the court.

The national carrier was last Tuesday stopped from replacing the more than 130 technical staff.

VODACOM DISAPPOINTS AS ITS POST-IPO PROFITS PLUNGE IN SIX MONTHS

A Vodacom retail store. The telecommunications firm launched its IPO for its Tanzanian subsidiary in March.

Vodacom Tanzania’s net profit has plunged by almost half in the six months ending September, due to charges paid to an underwriter during its initial public offering.

Vodacom, which is the first telecommunications company to list on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, made a net profit of $8.5 million (Tsh18.89 billion) down from $14.7 million (Tsh32.68 billion) registered in the same period last year.

In a financial statement released two weeks ago, the firm said the drop in profit was due to “greater regulatory uncertainty” and “macroeconomic pressures” that led to the drop in earnings in the second half of the year.

“Increases to regulatory levies, enhancements made to our customer registration processes and mandatory capital expenditure as part of state-run projects placed greater pressure on margins,” said Vodacom in its interim results for the six months ended September.

Vodacom shares traded at $0.38 (Tsh850) last week, an increase from $0.35 (Tsh770) the previous week.

ETHIOPIA TOPS DANGOTE'S LIST AS MOST PROFITABLE CEMENT MARKET

Early this year, Dangote registered two companies in Kenya as an entry into the region’s largest cement market: Dangote Cement Kenya Ltd for cement production and Dangote Quarries Kenya Ltd for limestone mining.

Ethiopia has emerged as the most profitable market for Dangote Cement, which sold 1.7 million tonnes there, pushing its sales volume across Africa by 7.5 per cent to seven million tonnes.

And now, the firm has entered into an agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to finance the construction of two cement plants in Kenya, which should be operational by the end of 2021.

Early this year, Dangote registered two companies in Kenya as an entry into the region’s largest cement market: Dangote Cement Kenya Ltd for cement production and Dangote Quarries Kenya Ltd for limestone mining.

“Kenya is high on our list of priorities and we plan to build two plants of 1.5 million tonnes per annum each, near Nairobi and Mombasa, to serve the local market. We hope to be operational in Kenya by 2020/21,” the company said.

BANK OF TANZANIA CLARIFICATION ABOUT ADOPTION OF INTEREST RATE BASED MONETARY POLICY FRAMEWORK

CHINA YAUNGA MKONO JUHUDI ZA RAIS JOHN MAGUFULI

Mwekezaji aliyedhmiria kuwekeza Tanzania akisalimiana na Balozi Mahiga kabla ya kuanza kwa mazungumzo yao.

China imeahidi kushirikiana na Tanzania kikamilifu katika miradi ya kipaumbele ambayo Serikali ya AwamuyaTano imepanga kuitekeleza ili kufikia azma yake ya uchumi wa viwanda ifikapo 2020 na baadaye uchumi wa Kati ifikapo 2025.

Hayo yalibainishwa leo jijini Beijing na Naibu Waziri wa Biashara wa China, Mhe. Qian Keming na baadaye kukaririwa tena na Makamu Mwenyekiti wa Tume ya Mipango (NDRC), Bw. Ning Jizhe walipofanya mazungumzo kwa nyakati tofauti na Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki, Balozi Dkt. Augustine Mahiga.

Katika mazungumzo hayo, Balozi Mahiga aliainisha na kufafanua namna Serikali ya awamu ya tano inayoongozwa na Dkt. John Pombe Maguful iilivyokusudia kuwashirikisha wadau mbalimbali kwenye utekelezaji wa miradi ya kipaumbele ambayo inalenga kuchochea agenda ya uchumi wa viwanda.

Miradi hiyo ni pamoja na kuendeleza nishati ya umeme ambapo Serikali imedhamiria kuzalisha umeme wa megawatts 5000 ifikapo mwaka 2020 ili kuharakisha utekelezaji wa agenda ya uchumi wa viwanda ambayo haitaweza kufanikiwa kama hakutakuwa na umeme wa kutosha na wauhakika.
Kutokana na uhalisia huo, Serikali imepanga kujenga kituo cha kuzalisha umeme wa megawatts 2100 kwenye mto Rufiji na kujenga njia za kusambaza umeme huo kutoka Rufiji, Chalinze hadi Dodoma na nyingine kutokaChalinze, Kilimanjaro hadi Arusha.

Miradi mingine ni ujenzi wa mtandao wa usafiri wa reli na uboreshaji wa reli ya TAZARA, ujenzi wa bandari ya Bagamoyo na viwanja vya ndege ikiwa ni pamoja na kujenga jengo la abiria katika Kiwanja cha ndege cha Mwanza.
Waziri Mahiga alisisitiza umuhimu wa miundombinu hiyo kuunganishwa ili iweze kuleta tija iliyokusudiwa katika uchumi. Aliongeza kuwa uchumi wa Tanzania unakua kwa wastani wa asilimia 7 kwa mwaka na uchumi wa nchi za jirani ambazo zinategemea bandari za Tanzania pia unakua, hivyo kuendeleza na kuunganisha miundombinu ya usafiri ni muhimu kwa ustawi wa uchumi wa nchi hizo na uchumi wa Tanzania.

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MATUKIO YANAYOJIRI KATIKA ZIARA YA KIKAZI YA BALOZI MAHIGA NCHINI CHINA

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki Balozi Dkt. Augustine Mahiga akiongea jambo wakati alipokuwa katika mazungumzo rasmi na Naibu Waziri wa Biashara wa China, Mhe. Qian Keming jijini Beijing. 

Naibu Waziri wa Biashara wa China, Mhe. Qian Keming akisisitiza jambo alipokuwa kwenye mazungumzo na Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki, Balozi Dkt.Augustine Mahiga leo jijini Beijing. 

Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki, Balozi Dkt. Augustine Mahiga (kulia) akiwa na ujumbe wake aliongozana nao katika ziara ya kikazi nchini China. Kutoka kushoto ni Mwambata Jeshi wa Ubalozi wa Tanzania nchini China, Kanali Remigius Ng'umbi anayefuata ni Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Kilimo, Dkt. Thomas Kashililah na Balozi wa Tanzania nchini China, Mhe. Mbelwa Kairuki.

Wajumbe wa pande mbili za China na Tanzania wakiwa katika mazungumzo. 

Wajumbe wengine wa Tanzania wakifuatilia mazungumzo. Kutoka kulia ni Kamishna Msaidizi kutoka Wizara ya Fedha na Mipango, Bi. Malmeltha Mutagwaba, Naibu Katibu Mkuu wa Biashara na Uwekezaji kutoka Wizara ya Viwanda, Biashara na Uwekezaji, Prof. Joseph Buchweishaija na Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Fedha na Mipango kutoka Serikali ya Zanzibar, Bw. Khamis Omar .

Balozi Mahiga akitoa zawadi ya picha kwa Naibu Waziri wa Biashara wa China, Mhe. Qian Keming.

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MHE. BALOZI, DKT. RAMADHANI DAU AWASILISHA HATI ZA UTAMBULISHO KWA MTUKUFU MFALME WA CAMBODIA

Balozi wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania nchini Malaysia anayewakilisha pia nchini Cambodia, Mhe. Dkt. Ramadhani Kitwana Dau (kushoto) akiwasilisha Hati za Utambulisho kwa Mfalme wa Cambodia, Mtukufu Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath NORDOM SIHAMON. Makabidhiano hayo yalifanyika tarehe 28 Novemba 2017 Jijini Phnom Pen, Cambodia.

Mhe. Balozi Dkt. Dau (wa pili kushoto) akiwa katika mazungumzo na Mtukufu Mfalme mara baada ya kuwasilisha Hati za Utambulisho. Wanaoshuhudia kulia ni maafisa wa Serikali ya Cambodia na kushoto ni Afisa wa Ubalozi wa Tanzania.

Mazungumzo yao yalijikita katika kuendeleza na kuimarisha uhusiano wa Kidiplomasia uliopo baina ya mataifa hayo ambao ulianzishwa rasmi mwaka 1995. Pia kuimarisha ushirikiano katika masuala ya biashara na uwekezaji. Vilevile Mtukufu Mfalme aliahidi kumpa ushirikiano Mhe. Balozi Dkt. Dau katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yake.

Mhe. Balozi Dkt. Dau akimtambulisha Afisa wa Ubalozi wa Tanzania, Bw. Khatib Makenga aliyeambatana naye katika hafla ya makabidhiano ya Hati za Utambulisho. 

Mhe. Balozi Dkt. Dau akipokelewa mara baada ya kuwasili jijini Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Foreign Affairs Blog

TMRC FINANCES SURGERIES AT JAKAYA KIKWETE CARDIAC INSTITUTE

The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) Executive Director, Prof. Mohamed Janabi (third right) received a dummy cheque for TShs. 8m from TMRC Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Mgaya (second left). Looking on is TMRC Chief Finance Officer, Oswald Urassa (first left) and other JKCI staff.

The JKCI Executive Director, Prof Mohamed Janabi, said in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the support from the mortgage refinance firm and other donors has been channelled to children unable to pay for the surgeries.

“We thank TMRC for the support and urge other organisations to extend a helping hand to children from poor families in need of undergoing heart surgeries at the Heart Institute,” he said. He said the Heart Institute has conducted surgeries to 300 children this year.

The TMRC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oscar Mgaya, said the company offered 8m/- to finance the surgeries of four children from poor families that cannot pay for the medical expenses. “Restoring good health to these children through our support was of paramount importance,” he said while urging other organisations to support the Heart Institute to undertake more surgeries.

BANK OF TANZANIA: MARKET DETERMINED INTEREST RATES TO REMAIN

Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has no intention of capping interest rate on loans rather than shifting from reserve money to interest rate target policy. The bank said yesterday that interest rate on lending will continue to be determined by the market forces based on interbank cash market rate.

The BoT Deputy Governor Financial Stability and Deepening, Dr Bernard Kibesse, said the change of policy staged to start next March. “The interest rate to be targeted in the new framework will be the interbank cash market rate, which is the rate at which banks lend to each other.

“Under the new framework the BoT will set and announce a policy rate and take actions in the interbank cash market to keep the interbank cash market rate as close as possible to the policy rate,” Dr Kibesse said yesterday.

The central bank issue the clarification following a story on Monday that said BoT set to introduced a policy on interest rate capping by March next year. “Interest rate based monetary policy framework should not be confused with interest rate capping, which constitutes a mandatory requirement that interest rates should not exceed a certain limit,” Dr Kibesse said.

MAHIGA TOUR FRUITFUL, MEETS CHINESE POTENTIAL INVESTOR

Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga (pictured) continued with his four-day official visit to China by meeting a Chinese potential investor into various projects in the country.

According to the Tanzania Ambassador to China, Mr Mbelwa Kairuki, Dr Mahiga met and held talks with officials from Xian Qujiang, a potential investor who is planning to invest in the tourism industry and other strategic businesses.

In the tourism industry, the proposed investment projects that the investor eyes include the construction of a lodge in Serengeti, a resort at Mount Kilimanjaro and a resort in Zanzibar. Other proposed areas of investment include establishment of domestic airlines for sightseeing and charter service, a theme park at Mount Kilimanjaro and a luxury train service for tourists on Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

The investor is also planning to construct a tourist park at Bagamoyo Export Zone, record TV series and a documentary on TAZARA and also come up with a publication and copyright trading on Chinese books.

BANK OF TANZANIA MONTHLY ECONOMIC REVIEW, OCT. 2017

PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL MARKET UPDATE AS AT 19 DEC. 2017

DANGOTE CEMENT PARTNERS WITH ONLINE COMPANY TO EASE SELL OF CEMENT

Dangote Cement has come to an agreement with Jumia Nigeria to sell their cement to customers online. This initiative will eventually assist in the reduction of the cement price and ease logistics inherent in the purchase of products.

Interested buyers and corporate bodies can now easily order on Jumia to purchase a minimum of 300 bags of 50kg of Dangote Cement and above at a reasonable price of US $6.92 per bag. Jumia Nigeria is one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the country.

Chux Mogbolu, Account Director of Dangote Cement confirmed the reports and said that the new partnership is a great one and is now live in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

“For now, the pilot scheme is live in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, but we can extend to other cities depending on the level of demand and performance of the new deal,” he added.

JULIUS NYERERE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TERMINAL THREE 67% COMPLETE

Construction work on the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) Terminal 3 is currently 67% complete. This is according to Works, Transport and Communication Minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa. The minister made the disclosure in Dar es Salaam after touring the construction site to assess the progress.

The construction of terminal three, is estimated to cost US $250.7m. The project is scheduled for completion early next year.

Upon its completion, the airport will be capable of accommodating a total of 6.5 million passengers annually, more than twice the capacity of terminal two. The latter accommodates a paltry 2.5 million passengers.

The Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA) acting Director General, Mr Richard Mayongela said the Terminal Three will allow the landing of 11 large aircraft at once with a carrying capacity of between 300 and 400 passengers, well above terminal two’s six.

IMF STAFF CONCLUDE VISIT TO TANZANIA

December 12, 2017

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a Board discussion.

• Macroeconomic performance under the program has been satisfactory. 
• Discussions on key elements that could underpin a successor arrangement made progress. 
• GDP statistics show continued strong growth in the first half of 2017, but other economic indicators suggest the economy may be slowing down. 

A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mauricio Villafuerte, visited Tanzania from November 30 to December 12, 2017 and held discussions on the seventh review under the Policy Support Instrument (PSI) program that was approved on July 16, 2014 and on the macroeconomic policies and structural reforms that could underpin a successor arrangement. [1]

At the end of the mission Mr. Villafuerte issued the following statement:

“Preliminary data for the first half of 2017 released by the authorities indicate that the economy grew at a still strong 6.8 percent. A good harvest should help support growth, but other macroeconomic indicators—lower-than-anticipated government spending and tax revenue collections, weak private sector credit growth and rising non-performing loans—suggest that there are downward pressures on growth. The team notes that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is engaged in rebasing the GDP statistics, an exercise that is required of all EAC countries. In this context, the NBS will revisit its source data and compilation methodology, and the team looks forward to the revised data, which should help provide a clearer picture of economic growth.

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE US $777.8M MOMBASSA GATE BRIDGE PROJECT CONCLUDES

Feasibility study for the Mombasa Gate Bridge linking the island to South Coast has been completed. Michael Mwangi, the project consultant, who is also the environmental impact assessment team leader, said the US $777.8m bridge will be complete in 4 years. The environmental and social assessment, has begun, and it will take about three years and then pave way for actual construction works.

The Repcon Associates Managing Consultant also said that, during consultations in the first stage of the study, it was agreed that the bridge will start on Lumumba Road, near Jela Baridi Prison, Majengo. It will cross the railway station and Moi Avenue along Archbishop Makarios Road, cross the Likoni Channel at Mwenza Creek and then join the Southern By-pass at Ziwani through the Mtongwe road.

Displacement

He added that a lot of displacement is expected at the site of an interjection near Archbishop Makarios Road. The consultant, however, said that they were yet to establish the number of people who will be displaced.

According to the design, the cable-supported bridge will be 69m from the highest water level and 1.4km long.

TREASURY BILLS OVERSUBSCRIBED BY SH176BN

In Summary

The Treasury bill auction summary published by BoT has shown that a total of Sh345.9 billion was tendered on a Sh169 billion offered amount.

Dar es Salaam. Investors’ appetites on government securities are continuing to remain high after Treasury bills floated today by the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) ended up being oversubscribed by more than 100 per cent.

The Treasury bill auction summary published by BoT has shown that a total of Sh345.9 billion was tendered on a Sh169 billion offered amount.

Analysts say investors’ appetite for government debt instruments is due to the fact that it is the only investment portfolio where they get fixed incomes with zero risks.