Tanzania Ready for Industrial Transformation - Zanzibar President

Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein said yesterday that Tanzania was now ready for industrial transformation, thanks to positive trends in technological innovation and expertise spearheaded by VETA and SIDO.   The Isles president made the comments at the ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) where he noted that new technologies showcased by Vocational Education and Training Authority and Small Industries Development Organisation indicate plans for an.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 7th July 2016

Kenya: Nairobi to Promote Urban Agriculture, Distribute Green Houses to Schools

The Nairobi County will spend Sh10.2 million to promote urban agriculture by distributing green houses to schools and rehabilitation homes.   The county will also spend Sh13.5 million on water harvesting facilities to sustain the green house project meant to enhance food security through agri-business and urban and peri-urban faming technologies, a county official said on Tuesday.   Speaking during the launch of the project at Baba Dogo Primary School, the executive.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 6th July 2016

Tanzania: Bakhresa Group to Build Zanzibar's Greenest Hotel

Bakhresa Group has appointed Verde Hotels from South Africa to develop and manage the total overhaul and upgrading of the old Mtoni Marine Hotel in Zanzibar, about two kilometres from Stone Town.   According to a statement, the brand new five star property will be known as Hotel Verde, Zanzibar's greenest hotel.   "We are serious about being the leaders of the Green Economy sector and therefore we approached the developers of Africa's Greenest Hotel, Verde Hotels to.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 6th July 2016

Tanzania: WWF-Tanzania Sponsors Solar Power for Institutions

SOLAR panels project sponsored by a non-governmental organisation known as World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Tanzania) has benefited various institutions including Msaranga Health Centre in Moshi Municipality.   The project is among the three projects sponsored by the same NGO. Such projects include renovation and construction of new standardised kitchens in 18 secondary and primary schools, planting of 2,000 trees in Rau river area and electrification in Msaranga through solar.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 6th July 2016

East Africa: Focus On Regional Geothermal Development at Power Forum in Nairobi

The upcoming East African Power Industry Convention (EAPIC) in Nairobi, Kenya will focus on how the region can harness the opportunities presented by geothermal power to enhance access to energy, especially among rural communities.   "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing geothermal. It's an amazing source of base load, renewable energy, but we have to take a realistic approach to how it's developed," said Amanda Lonsdale, the institutional and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Tanzania: BRT Buses to Run on Natural Gas In Next Phase

Buses to ply in the next phases of the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit (BRT) project will have their engines run using natural gas to save operational costs, the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has revealed.   "Plans were to use natural gas for buses currently operating in the first phase of the BRT but this was not possible due to some technicalities," a TPDC official, Mr Ismail Naleja, explained at the ongoing 40th Dar es Salaam International Trade.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Future Looks Bright for Motorcycle Assembly in East Africa

East African countries are closer to an agreement that could boost motorcycle assembly in the region.   The EAC Secretariat has appointed a team of experts from each member state to develop a proposal that will promote value addition and motorcycle assembly in the region.   The experts will identify imported motorbike parts that can be excluded from taxation in order to lower the cost of production and encourage industrialisation in the region.   The motorbike.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Kenya Seeks $5.5 billion IFC Funding for Road Construction

Kenya is looking for close to Ksh550 billion ($5.5 billion) to complete the construction of 10,000 kilometres of roads, after local banks refused to lend the money to the contractors after the botched annuity financing model.   The country is now negotiating for a line of credit of $1.5 billion from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), to finance part of the construction of 4,000 kilometres of urban roads; some 6,000 kilometres of rural roads are earmarked for funding.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th July 2016

Tanzania: Farming Sector to get Robust Insurance Strategy Boost

Dar es Salaam — Plans are underway to draw up an insurance strategy on agriculture in Tanzania.   According to the Commissioner of Insurance, Mr Israel Kamuzora, a meeting of insurance stakeholders was recently conducted to discuss the strategy.It is hoped that by having the strategy, agriculture will be stimulated.   Agriculture is Tanzania's economy mainstay, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the gross domestic product. Sixty-seven per cent of the workforce.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 2nd July 2016

Kenya: County Approves Sh170 Million for New Assembly & Governor's House

The County Assembly on Thursday approved Sh70 million for construction of a governor's residence in Likuyani Sub-County and another Sh100 million to build a modern County Assembly.   These were among the highlights of Sh13.2 billion budget that gave Health, Infrastructure and Agriculture departments the three-highest allocations.   Infrastructure development will consume Sh1.9 billion, health Sh1.2 billion and agriculture Sh575.9 million. Education and ICT got Sh646.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 2nd July 2016

Kenya: AfDB Approves Sh13 Billion Loan to Link more Households to National Grid

About 300,000 households and businesses will be linked to the national grid after the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a Sh13.5 billion loan for a low-cost connection project.   The project targets homes not connected to electricity and which are within a 600-metre radius to a transformer.   The loan, which was approved on Monday, is the second disbursement from AfDB under the Last Mile Connectivity project.   The first loan agreement of Sh12.2 billion was.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 30th June 2016

Tanzania: All Villages in Zanzibar to Have Power By 2020 - Minister

Zanzibar — All villages in Zanzibar will have access to reliable electricity supply by 2020, Members of the House of Representatives were informed.   Deputy Minister of Lands, Water, Energy and Environment, Juma Makungu Juma, said that the government has been working hard to ensure that houses in rural villages and inhabited small islands easily access power from the National Grid.   "We are on track to have our goal achieved; shortage of funds is to blame for.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 30th June 2016