Tanzania: New State of the Art Sickle Cell Testing Kit Unveiled

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — A new and state-of-the-art sickle cell-diagnostic technology, "Sickle-Scan test kit" was officially launched in Dar es Salaam last week - a big boost to the government's efforts aimed to reduce the number of people dying of sickle cell and related diseases in the country.   "With this technology, we can rescue millions of people, particularly children, dying of sickle cell diseases," said Dr. Khamis Kigwangwalla, Tanzania's.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

Africa: Ambitious Plan to Link Dar Power Grid With Cairo and Cape Town on the Cards

Arusha — An ambitious project to connect the North and the South points of Africa with a single power line through the Cairo-to- Cape Town grid is in the pipeline and may be functional within three years from now.   The Minister for Energy and Minerals Professor Sospeter Muhongo, revealed the proposed power project during the ongoing 24th Eastern Africa Power Pool Steering Committee Meeting taking place here, saying the special meeting to lay ground works for the Cairo to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

Tanzania Considers Tax On Charcoal in Bid to Save Forests

Dar es Salaam — Making the fuel more expensive could help cut surging demand, officials believe   Tanzania is considering putting a tax on charcoal with the aim of discouraging the use of the fuel, which is a big source of energy for cooking but also a major contributor to deforestation.   Officials say they believe making charcoal more expensive would significantly reduce demand for it and cut runaway tree felling in the east African nation.   Justus.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

East Africa: Investment in Irrigation Only Way to Ensure Food Security

Dar es Salaam — As Tanzania grapples with delayed rains that are certain to adversely affect agriculture, new analyses tout increased investment in irrigation as a solution to food insecurity.   Tanzania generates its food mostly through rain-fed agriculture which is currently being threatened by drought facing East African countries.   Agriculture accounts for about 25 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and the sector employs nearly 70 per cent of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

Tanzania: Chinese Bus Company Makes Emphatic Entry into Tanzania Market

Chinese vehicle manufacturer King Long has formally started importation of its buses in the Tanzanian market through an agent Pwani Motors Limited.   Speaking during the launch of the sales at the weekend which was attended by bus operators in Tanzania, the company's marketing manager for the Southern Africa region, Mr Danny Fu, said the entry in to the Tanzanian market followed an intensive market research.   "We conducted a study before bringing the vehicles so.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

Tanzania: Investors Urged to Setup Building Materials Factory In Zanzibar

Zanzibar Building Agency (ZBA) Director General (DG), Mr Ramadhani Mussa Bakari, has called upon investors to set up factories for building materials in Zanzibar to help citizens to have affordable houses.   Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Mr Bakari visited various projects carried by Tanzania Building Agency (TBA), Zanzibar Building Agency (ZBA) Director General (DG), Mr Ramadhani Mussa Bakari said the move would reduce cost of building.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 24th January 2017

Industry Experts, Top Professionals from Over 30 Countries to Convene at AUTOEXPO AFRICA 2017

Kenya’s GDP per capita is expected to grow at a remarkable compounded annual growth rate of 7.5% between 2000 and 2020 which is expected to drive an increase in personal consumption and sale of motor vehicles. The purchase of cars, motorbikes and other commercial vehicles accounted for 1.5% of total consumer expenditure last year and is expected to steadily grow till 2025 as incomes continue to rise. Supporting and engaging the East African automotive industry for the last two.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 23rd January 2017

East Africa: Fuel to Cost More as Crude Prices go up

Consumers in East Africa will pay more for refined petroleum products, as global crude oil prices rise.   Ecobank Research, an arm of Ecobank Group, said crude oil prices on the international market have rebounded upwards from $50 a barrel, following a decision by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other producers in early December 2016, to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day.   The decision became effective on January.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 21st January 2017

Kenya: As Hydroelectric Dams Dry Up, Thermal Power Takes Over

Kenya is injecting thermal electricity into the national grid to compensate for hydro generation -- which has affected by low water levels due to poor rainfall last year.   The government has ruled out loadshedding, but the use of electricity generated from plants that use expensive diesel and fuel oil sets the stage for higher bills.   In the late 1990s, Kenya started diversifying power sources to reduce dependence on hydroelectricity.   The Kenya Association of.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 21st January 2017

Tanzania: Govt Asks Mining Firm to Speed Up Uranium Extraction

Tanzania has moved to speed up uranium extraction in Mkuju River in the Selous Game Reserve, Africa's biggest wildlife conservancy area, amid protests from wildlife conservationists.   The government has directed Mantra Tanzania Ltd to start mining within two years for citizens to benefit from the project and the country to earn foreign currency from mineral exports.   Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Medard Kalemani said extraction of uranium should have begun.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 21st January 2017

Rwanda: Construction Boom to Continue in 2017

Players in Rwanda’s construction sector are upbeat about prospects for 2017, saying the gains of last year are likely to be replicated.   “We saw a boom in 2016. The momentum is going to continue even this year,” said Adeline Kajangwe, the industrial development analyst at RDB.   “Some big projects have kicked off well. For example, groundbreaking at the Bugesera airport project has been done. Others are in the pipeline,” he.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 21st January 2017

Kenya has Potential to Lead the Way to Universal Health Care in Africa

Nairobi — Consider this: every year, nearly one million Kenyans are pushed below the poverty line as a result of unaffordable health care expenses.   For many Kenyan families, the cost of health care is as distressing as the onset of illness and access to treatment. A majority of the population at risk can hardly afford the costs associated with basic health care and when faced with life threatening conditions, it is a double tragedy-inability to access health care and.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 21st January 2017