Tanzania: Microfinance Sector Vital for Growth

 The micro-finance industry in Tanzania plays a big role in bringing equality to all citizens especially the financially underserved population in the rural areas. There is a large group of dependents, particularly low income earners, on the services offered by micro-finance institutions that have transformed their lives into much better. Yetu Micro-finance, Managing Director, Altemius Millinga, said in an interview in Dar es Salaam at the weekend that many microfinance.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Kenya: Speaker Muturi Pledges Support for Potato Bill

 National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has promised to fast track a Bill which seeks to end exploitation of potato farmers by cartels.   The Potato Produce and Marketing Bill has been pending before Parliament for the last two years and farmers have raised concern.   It aims at establishing a National Potato Council to promote quality and quantity of production and to set standards to regulate the industry.   At least 24 counties stand to benefit if it.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Lagos Begins First Crude Oil Export August

 All is now set for the first crude oil lifting for export from the Aje field, offshore Lagos, Nigeria, by the end of August following the commissioning of a production and storage vessel for the crude.   The news follows the declaration by governor Akinwunmi Ambode in May, that Lagos has officially joined the League of Oil Producing States in Nigeria following the discovery of crude oil by Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited (YFP) in the state. Panoro Energy, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Kenya: Sh4 Billion Network Upgrade Planned As Power Lines Go Underground

Kenya Power is set to roll out a massive electricity grid modernisation plan in major towns to stabilise power supply as more customers are hooked to the main network.   An elaborate plan seen by the Nation will see the network within Nairobi and its outskirts taken underground.   The five year plan running until 2020, will cost Sh4 billion with Upper Hill and Westlands targeted as the city expands and overhead wires become hard to network.   The city, which is.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Tanzania: Govt Receives USD 200 Million World Bank Loan for Rural Electrification

Arusha — The Tanzania government has received a financial package of USD 200 million from the World Bank (WB) loan to boost rural electric connectivity.   The World Bank board of executive directors approved the financing for the Tanzania Rural Electrification Expansion Programme from the International Development Association (IDA). The new financing is a big boost to the project that is expected to connect up to 2.5 million households in rural areas to the national.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Tanzania: Tanesco Allocates 4.5 Billion For Electricity Distribution Infrastructure Upgrade

Mwanza — Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) here has set aside 4.5bn/- for the rehabilitation of electricity distribution infrastructure this fiscal year.   The office also plans to connect 14,000 new customers this financial year, the state-run power utility company's Regional Manager, Sarah Assey, said over the weekend while giving an evaluation of power availability and the utility firm's plans to expand the service in the region.   She said the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Tanzania: Three Ports to Undergo Major Expansion

Lindi — Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) has begun improving infrastructure at Mtwara, Lindi and Kilwa ports to prepare them for the emerging economic opportunities brought by oil and gas finds in southern regions.   Mtwara Port Manager, Stella Katondo, said the ports are also set to serve products manufactured in industries in the two sister regions of Mtwara and Lindi. "The improvement of these ports is expected to bring successes, including creating employment to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 2nd August 2016

Tanzania: UNDP Sponsors Sh221 Million Solar Power Project

 Kilombero — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has donated Sh221million to sponsor a solar energy project for Mofu Village in Kilombero District.   The Kilombero Valley and Development organisation (Kivedo) Director, Hamza Kaposa, told The Citizen the one-year solar energy project will also deal with irrigation and drilling deep wells to enable villagers' access clean and safe water.   He said at least 31 households will have access to.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 30th July 2016

Tanzania: Govt Seeks Social Security Funds Investment in Fishing Sector

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries yesterday held talks with social security funds in Dar es Salaam to consider diverting their investments into deep sea fishing.   "It is high time for social security funds to divert their investments in this important sector in the country," Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Charles Tizeba, said.   He said that the government has been struggling to improve the fishing industry by.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 28th July 2016

Tanzania: Smallholder Farmers Set to Benefit From $25 Million Scheme

Dar es Salaam — Smallholder farmers in Tanzania are set to benefit from a $25 million (about Sh55 billion) new Agriculture Finance (AgriFin) programme launched here yesterday.   The programme is a brainchild of Mercy Corps and the MasterCard Foundation.   It seeks to improve smallholder farmers' access to financial and information services.   The initiative will run for six years. It is expected to benefit at least one million smallholder farmers in three.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 28th July 2016

Tanzania: Major Flyover Construction to Begin This October

Actual construction of the longawaited flyover at the junction of the Nelson Mandela Expressway and Nyerere Road in Dar es Salaam is set to begin in October, this year, it was revealed yesterday.   The Resident Engineer from Oriental Consultants Global, Kiyokazu Tsuji, told this paper in Dar es Salaam that currently the contractor is preparing diversion roads before the actual construction begins.   He was speaking on the sideline of a tour by eight teachers from.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 28th July 2016

East Africa: EAC Governments Urged to Support Intra-Regional Trade in Staple Foods

The East African Community governments have been urged to support intra-regional trade in staple foods of which grain trade makes part. This is to help rise the citizens 'standards of living in the region.   This has been said in a meeting by Directors of Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) on Friday last week to deliberate on the challenges hampering cross border trade in staple foods within the Eastern Africa Region.   "By supporting intra-regional trade in staple.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 27th July 2016