Charity begins at home.

Among the Tanzanian leaders mostly loved by the father of the nation was the current Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete who took this photograph with the father of the nation before his death in 1999. The photo was taken in 1993 when Mr. Kikwete (seated left) was the deputy minister for Energy and Minerals in the country.

What a hale is this? Who is to blame?

Among the promises given by our national legislators and our leaders in general during the campaigns for the general election is that, they would build infrastructures for their voters, seemingly most of them take the action as mere plays to lure the minds of their people into voting for them. Just look as Tanzania has just celebrated fifty years of the national independence, it seems that there are so many parts of the country which are not yet given special attention as it deserves. The above photo is very humiliating and most alarming to see as an example of repudiation to such important social development. It seems as if there are so many areas which are not yet linked with modern roads. It’s actually very shameful to see the situation like this in Tanzania which proud itself for having celebrated fifty years of national independence and yet its people suffers like this.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

It is a wonderful phenomenon as this photo above shows how cheetah, a fierce common predator and most vigorous carnivorous animal consoles down an antelope one of its loved preys.

Chaos at a commuter bus stand

Imagine that, this is Temeke Bus stand which has no plan at all, someone cannot believe to tolerate such a situation intentionally caused by the city’s authorities. The area is located within the residential areas an aspect that it becomes very difficult for commuters to board buses as motorists are not properly organized in the area.

Poor drainage systems in the city of Dar es Salaam

This situation is not caused by rains as recently experienced in the city of Dar es Salaam, except this is another phenomenon which is caused due to poor drainage system, a normal phenomenon in the city of Dar es Salaam mostly at Kariakoo area as captured recently. But the city engineers seems to have turned a blind eye to the long standing problem.

Housing investments an option to ease congestion in the city centre.

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority new headquarter building which is located at Ukonga on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city. Due to lack of office spaces at the city centre, most parastatal organizations have built their own investment houses outside the city as shown with the case of TCAA building.

Tanzania Railways Corporation, now TRC Limited is out of order

A man standing by the railway watching a passenger train as it moves to upcountry at the junction of Kawawa road near Ilala TRC depot.

The shining of Dar es Salaam city

Dar es Salaam main city centre is now built with the most finest structures that provides attractive outlook.

Acrobats in a concert

A young boy who calls himself a snake boy playing acrobatic games during a get together party between members of the press and the management of the Standard Chartered Bank. The occasion took place at JB Belmont Hotel located at Benjamin Mkapa’s Towers in Dar es Salaam. A young boy who calls himself a snake boy playing acrobatic games during a get together party between members of the press and the management of the Standard Chartered Bank. The occasion took place at JB Hotel located at Benjamin Mkapa’s Towers in Dar es Salaam.

Petty traders causing inconveniences at Ubungo Commuter Bus

It has now become a difficulty task indeed to remove the petty traders at Ubungo bound commuter bus stop. Petty traders do flock at the area during evening time mostly from 17:00 hours onwards till mid-night. The Kinondoni municipal council seems to have failed to remove them and for unknown reason. Their removal is to ensure the city’s development programs. The three pictures depicts the current situation which causes disturbances to commuters and sometimes speeds up the rate of theft due to congestion of the people around

Government bodies banned against buying Precision Air shares

THE Government has instructed its financial institutions such as pension funds and its related agencies not to buy the Precision Air shares currently being traded by the locally registered stock exchange brokers in the country. Impeccable sources says that, the government has circulated letters to respective registered brokers of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange {DSE} not to allow any purchase of the said shares of a privately owned airline and instead should direct their purchase to the ill fated Air Tanzania corporation which is about to be listed in DSE market. According to the sources, the move aims to save the national airline which is in danger of collapsing and probably loose the local market share which it had been dominating since the collapse of the East African Community in 1977. An economist who preferred anonymity said that, the banning is like the interaction of the free market economy under which the government is currently operating. Despite the government' decision, sources from within the company says that, the IPO earlier announced by the company in early October to the general public, has increased to over 6,000 from the minimum estimates of 1,000 of the first quarter of a trading period. Days after the Precision Air services limited floated its shares on the DSE in an initial public offer, the pace has finally quickened with more and more local investors getting in on the action. The Precision air company which began opPrecision Air at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es SAlaam.
eration in the country in early 2000 has of late become the leading and a sole airline service provider in the country. It is the first local private airline to be listed with DSE and it targets to net proceeds of Tsh. 26 million via the IPO route which will be used for further expansion, strengthening and diversifying of its equity base.

Precision Air at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam.

According to the company's Board Chairman Michael Shirima, a minimum of 51 percent of the shares offered to the public at Tsh 475 a piece is offered to Tanzanians. The remaining 49 percent has been allotted to both Tanzanians and non Tanzanians. He further stresses that, three percent of the shares on offer numbering 1,765,253 shares in all have been reserved for the company. Economic sources in the country maintains that, the listing of Precision Air services shares helps the firm to access a wider range of financing options for future growth such as issue of additional equity, enhanced credit rating with banks and other lending institutions, as well as the opportunity to issue corporate bonds through DSE and other capital market instruments. The airline is focused on developing a portfolio of routes which have the potential to deliver consistently high passenger load factors at attractive yields. The airline also wants to improve its competitive edge by being majority bowed Tanzanians nationals whom would enhance customer loyalty within the country and the East African region as a whole. With a focus on route profitability and commitment to a disciplined private business model, Precision Air Company aims to establish an airline in markets where it believes its expansion and majority ownership business model has exceptional potential for sustainable profitability. Based on other successful privately owned airlines operating in other countries, the Precision Air business models involves scrutinizing every single aspect of the business tPrecision Air at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es SAlaam.
o remove non essential costs.

Tanzania government to earn more revenues on uranium minerals deposits

AN estimated amount of 119 millions of British pounds which is equivalent to Ts. 297.5 billions worth of uranium mineral is expected to be extracted within 100 square km of the uranium mineral deposits which has so far been explored at Mkunju River project at Namtumbo district in Ruvuma region. Business Times has been informed. This is part of the total 3250 square km area already explored in the district within 10 years’ time by the Mantra Tanzania Ltd Company which has been given the exploration license by the government since 2005. Namtumbo District Commissioner Saveli Maketa said in an exclusive interview with Business Times during the workshop on development of uranium industry in Tanzania last week in Dar es Salaam that the exploration activities is still going on in his district. A feasibility study which was completed early this year shows that the Mkunju River project alone could produce 1900 tonnes of uranium per annum, thus placing Tanzania in the third position as the biggest producer in Africa after Namibia and Niger. “Just imagine how this small portion under the estimation if well mined, would give the government such a big sum of money as revenue” he said in a horrific wonder while insisting that he has assured safety of the people once mining activities starts. He said with the exploration work which is currently going on in his district, he is well prepared to create jobs both directly and indirectly to most youths within the district. He has however agreed with the Mantra company that unskilled labourers should be sourced within Ruvuma region.

Former Attorney General of the United Republic of Tanzania, retired Judge Mark Bomani is being interviewed by members of press during a one day workshop on the development of Uranium exploration in Tanzania which was organized by Institute of Engineers of Tanzania at Kilimanjaro Kempiski. On his views, Judge Bomani who was the guest of honour has advised the government not to rush quickly with the mining of Uranium in the country until it puts in place safety measures which would enable to control any hazards that might occur on the course of mining.
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The implementation of the project will place Tanzania in the top 10 uranium producing countries in the world. It will be the first major, mining development within south eastern Tanzania bringing jobs and prosperity to the currently underdeveloped region. Currently there are many uranium exploration activities in Tanzania which include those in Namtumbo, Manyoni, Bahi and Selous game reserve. Despite of the revenues expected to be collected in abundance, critics from the mining industry have cautioned the government not to rush with the project unless it put in place the necessary basic requirements on safety measures in order to protect its people. Judge Mark Bomani said in an interview that, precautionary measures are necessary rather than rushing to think of carrying out mining before weighing the benefits and dangers that the country might encounter in future. However, he has warned that the government leaders should look at the way especially on its sensitivity and the huge capital investment involved in its extraction, adding that, the government should not only think of the benefits accruing but also the dangers resulting from it before putting it into full running operation. An academician at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Dr. Yahya Kishashu put across his views during the workshop and noted that, Tanzania does not hive enough resources to control any hazards that might occur out of uranium mining.

An official from the Institute of Engineers of Tanzania, whose name was not yet immediately established, prepares himself for an interview with the ITV television during the workshop.

He says the Ministry of Health must have enough capacity to monitor uncontrolled mining activities that normally cause health hazards and in view of this, the government must pull up its socks on capacity development and monitoring of environmental health standards. He noted that, if Europeans now have been opposing them due to rising health risks citing the examples of India, Japan and Russia where uranium development at some point caused huge disasters. Can Tanzania manage? He queried. However, the National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) is still faced with a lot of challenges of low capacity in implementing its objectives. According to an official of the organization, Aziz Abu, the weak capacity of NEMC has stemmed from limited skilled human resources, lack of infrastructure as well as resource constraints.

Namtumbo District Commissioners Mr. Saveli Maketa seated right in white shirt, responds questions from journalists in a press conference during the seminar to deliberate the development of Uranium exploration in the country. The DC was invited as his district has a rich uranium mineral deposits.

The government had decided to allow uranium exploration in the country after it was satisfied that there are more benefits and the extraction could be done without harming people and the environment. But according to experts, raw uranium is not harmful to people’s health until it is enriched, a process that cannot be done here in Tanzania. In view of this, people should be educated to erase fear which has been propagated by some individuals with little knowledge of uranium. The last week’s workshop on uranium industry development was organized by Institution of Engineers Tanzania (IET) mining ad metallurgy division and which brought together uranium experts from Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, Ministry of Energy and Minerals, National Environmental Council, Mantra (T) Ltd and URANEX.

The importance of Mobile phones for global business transactions

INTERNATIONAL and Regional experts in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) including computer companies across Africa and abroad gathered in Dar es Salaam last week to deliberate the possibility on how to promote mobile money transfer technology. A two day summit which is the first ever to be held in Tanzania aimed to explore the possibility of using mobile money transfer technologies in settlement of Insurance, Banking, Health, Education and loans for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Various presentations were made about basic issues related with the mobile money inclusion. This is a concept which involves the usage of technological ICT products such as mobile phones used to provide financial services by way of transferring money. Mobile money transfer involves the use of mobile phone to transfer money between banks or accounts, deposit or withdraw funds or pay bills. The term is also used for the broader realm of electronic commerce. It can refer to the use of a mobile device to purchase items whether physical or electronic. “The integration of banking services through mobile phone platform is an appropriate way to get more unbanked people to access financial services in most rural areas and see how much more easier to expand banking services”, says Sam Omukoko of Metropol East Africa Ltd. Basing on East Africa context, Omukoko who presented his views through his paper entitled “The potential of mobile money in financial inclusion”, noted that there is a need to expand East African common market if mobile money transfer knowledge is made accessible to the most disadvantaged and low income people living in rural areas within the region.

The Managing Director Mr. Sam Omukoko of Metropol East Africa Ltd in an interview with a local Television media during the workshop which was held at Dar es Salaam based Royal Palm Hotel

According to him, an effective communication through mobile phones is the essential factor to cater for the need of mobile money inclusion. He says, the platform is enough for many things but the most important is that it lessens congestion and hence there is no need for bank queues at customers’ service counters. Apart from this it makes business transactions to move much faster and more easily accessible. The Bank of Tanzania which was represented at the summit by its Director of Payment Systems Mrs. Lucy Kinunda said that, mobile money platform is easier to communicate with small scale business people in the country and already according to the statistics made available about 17.7 million people are using mobile phones to access money transfer to their relatives, friends through M-Pesa services technology. Most of mobile money services require usage of agents who acts as cash in and cash outlets. These include small merchants who are maintaining retail shops at various places. Mobile financial services and financial inclusion are further complemented by the proliferation of payment cards (debit, credit, prepaid systems) particularly electronic money which enables banking and payment services to be conducted without a bank account or visits to traditional bank branches. Mobile money transfer is growing higher than mobile banking, this is because of the fact that money users are always demanding for the regular consumable products, but in remote areas it’s very difficult to get someone with money to deposit due to poverty therefore it’s very rare to get people with money to deposit. In Tanzania, studies by African Development Bank (AFDB) has indicated that the formal banking services have not penetrated to the wider segment in the society since financial mobile services started in 2008, particularly in rural areas. Statistics shows that only 15 percent have accessed financial services in most rural areas. According to the organizers of the summit, Nuebrand Ltd based in Dar es Salaam, the decision to host this event in Tanzania reflects the level of recognition for the active development of the cell phone companies operating in the country which engage in mobile money platform, says Omar Aziz the company’s Managing Director According to him the summit was attended by delegates from Africa and abroad in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Liberia, Egypt, .France, United States of America, and Tanzania who hosted the summit.

Wonderful, as the price of kerosene continues to bite in the country

KEROSENE oil users in the country continues to feel the pinch of the high price selling commodity which has gone up by 65 percent for the last 12 months consecutively from Tsh. 1,070 for a litre to currently Tsh. 1,970. The survey by Business Times can establish. Kerosene oil which currently is sold at a higher price than petrol by 0.5 percent, is a commodity which is used by most rural Tanzanians who hardly have access to the supply of electricity in their domicile. Statistics by National Power Utility firm (TANESCO) shows that electricity supply in rural Tanzanian communities covers only 2 percent. The rest of 98 percent of rural dwellers in the country remains without electricity supply and instead resort to the use of kerosene oil. Kereosene oil is currently fetched at Tsh. 1,958 a littre as per the previous bi-weekly indicative price tags issued by Energy ad Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA). The commodity was reduced from Tsh. 2,035 a littre as it was being sold a fortnight ago. Despite of this decrease in price, still kerosene oil is sold slightly higher than petrol a driving oil for motor vehicles which currently is fetched at Ts. 1,880. According to EWURA's indicative oil price tags, Kerosene oil has been sold slightly higher than petrol since early November this year. In 1970, over four decades ago, the price of a twenty littre full of a tin of kerosene was sold at Tsh. 21 only, recalls mzee Zablon Megwe (76), now a retired prisons officer. He says by then kerosene was being sold in special packed tins carrying 20 litres which nowadays these are not seen in petrol stations. Added that, the retail prices for the commodity could be sold by shopkeepers running a retail shop in special locally made measurements known as 'Kibaba'. He told the writer of this blog in an exclusive interview early this week in Dar es Salaam that, he could manage to survive with the little salary he earned of Tsh. 620 per month as a prison officer, that could cater for other household needs for the whole month. Now as a retired civil servant conducting his life in rural village where the majority of Tanzanians lives, hardly he can make his budget through if he dares to buy a 20 littre of kerosene for his home consumption and pays Tsh. 40,000. He says, the money is almost equivalent in total to the amount paid for his monthly pension as a government retiree, and which are due paid in total for six months amounting to Tsh. 240,000, the money being paid to him as a lumpsum.

An oil price tag at one of the petrol stations in Dar es Salaam indicating how Kerosene price is higher than petrol (supper). Oil prices in up-country regions are more worse that the currently selling price in Dar es Salaam city. To the great surprise, many rural Tanzanians wonders as to why the price of kerosene oil is up than that of a petrol? It has never occurred for the price of kerosene to go up in global market or sold much higher than petrol ever since Tanzania attained its independence 50 years ago.


He wonders how inflation has affected Tanzania's economy. Statistics by the Central Bank of Tanzania (BOT) shows that, in between 1970 and the last quarter of the country' financial trading period of 1972, one US Dollar was equivalent to Tsh. 16.7. Whereas one British Pound was equivalent to Tsh. 20. Economists says that, the gradual dropping of a shilling against dollar in the market has been hastened by the habit of transacting US Dollar in purchasing the commodity while abandoning the use of shilling from circulation, an aspect that causes gradual depreciation of a shilling. It is now very common in newspaper headlines about the impact of rise in oil price and the depreciation of Tanzanian shilling. As a result now pockets gets the pinch as the rise of oil prices has made many Tanzanians come across another word 'inflation' decreasing the buying power of money. World statistics shows that, it would be interesting to note that in the year 1999, the price per crude oil barrel was US Dollar 16 which rose to more than US Dollar 100 in the year 2008.

Other previous prices as indicated in their price tags at a petrol station.

This is an increase of more than 600 percent Reasons for oil rise is cited due to weak US Dollar which has an indirect impact, but since oil is priced in dollars, and as the value of dollars falls, the price of oil in dollars goes up. Over the last five years, the dollar has fallen by 33 percent against Euro. If that keeps up, the upward pressure on oil prices will remain. As the issue of oil in the country is tracking unavoidable circumstances, some members of Parliament could not hesitate to make a comment when cornered by the writer of this news. An MP for Ubungo constituency Hon. John Mnyika under CHADEMA ticket suggested that, in order to reduce the high rise price on oil products, the government should reduce tax on imported crude oil. John Nyika is on the view of the fact that, the move will be a relief to oil traders in the country who would willfully reduce the prices so that small users of this commodity especially rural people would get a relief on the purchase of the product. An MP for South Muleba constituency under CCM, ticket Charles Mwijage who is also a member of parliamentary committee on Energy and Water, has requested EWURA not to arrange the price tag for oil dealers in the country and instead he wanted EWURA to introduce a starting price for oil and not to direct indicative prices as it does now.

Christmas occasion triggered high food prices in Dar markets

SOME food commodities and other products were sold at high prices at most of the Dar es Salaam markets due to a high demand by customers who flocked in various markets during Christmas celebrations which ended last Monday, the survey by this writer has established. Food commodities mostly affected were those normally preferred during special religious occasions and big festivities such as rice, meat, beans and other consumables. The high prices of such foodstuffs are normally characterized by a high demand by potential customers. The survey can reveal that, there was a sudden increase of the retail price of rice, the most delicious and preferred cereal food by people which was fetched at between Tsh. 1,900 and Tsh. 2,600 a kilogram depending on the best quality type compared to the previous price of Tsh. 1,200 and Tsh. 1,600. Most traders at some the markets like Gongo la Mboto, Buguruni, Ilala and Tandika complained of the sudden rise as was due to the finished stock of the commodity from most of these markets which is sold in a wholesale price. However, the cause of this scarcity which comes from Mbeya was not yet immediately established. Other sources from the market said that, some unscrupulous traders bought rice in bulk one months ago and preserved it for hiking as they knew for sure the high demand of the commodity could come during Christmas occasion.


It is now upon the buyers to decide whether to buy these commodities or not. The habit of spreading down food commodities mostly condiments in pavements for sale at Kariakoo market has become the order of the day, despite of the authorities concerned to suppress the move, seemingly most petty traders have turned a blind eye and remain defiant to such orders, like these traders who were caught outside the market with their merchandise spread on the ground close to a sewer water trench which gives horrible smell in a situation that pose a health risk to consumers of their goods.


The survey last Saturday and Sunday has shown that, the price of beef at most butcheries in those city markets was so exorbitant and unaffordable to ordinary people of low income earners. A kilogram of ordinary meat was fetched at Tsh. 6,000 instead of Tsh. 4,500. Steak meet was fetched at Tsh. 7,000 instead of Tsh. 6,000. This is wonderful, “one buyer grimaced in disgust ” At Kariakoo meat butcheries, the prices of a kilogram of goat meat remained the same as that one of a steak meat at Tsh. Between Tsh. 6,500 and Tsh. 7,000 respectively. Meat sellers said during the interviews that, prices had risen because the supply of cows at Pugu auction mart had risen suddenly for the last five days prior to Christmas occasion, citing lack of reliable transportation from inland regions. Interviewed customers expressed their disappointment on the issue of high meat prices saying that, there has been a growing habit by few butchery owners who are fond of rising meat prices during religious festivities taking an advantage of the fact that, most people do like to eat meat during such occasions. 'This is a normal thing as they take the occasion as a lope hole to let their businesses move” said one lady who identified herself as mama Iddi. He told this paper at Gongo La Mboto market. However, she asked for the government's intervention to stop such a menace. Cornered by the writer of this news was the secretary of a market organization of Buguruni market, Said Habibu said in an interview that, the business trend at his market during the Christmas occasion had been influenced by supply and demand both of which have been increased simultaneously causing the prices to increase too high. He said the change in the market business trend had been basically affected due to Christmas occasion, but when the occasion is over, prices will go down in a normal trend. Some traders at Buguruni market cited the increased transportation costs from upcountry regions was another cause for price increase Fatuma Selemani, a customer who was at the market shopping for Christmas goods condemned the price hike saying the move would worsen the economic hardship now facing the people. Some businessmen at Ilala market said the slight change of the prices in this Christmas occasion was posing a danger to their undertakings. “If prices will continue to go up, I don't think people will afford to buy food” he said added that, this time around money is scarce, lamented one trader who identified himself by one name choma. Apart from food commodities, survey shows that, major shopping centres in the city found extensive displays of goods but with virtually isolated purchases done. In an exclusive interview with the Business Times most traders expressed their disappointment of their static stocks this year's Christmas occasion with others blaming the low purchases that are mainly due to financial squeeze. It is always a normal thing to hear traders complain that business is low and that they could hardly make a profit per day. This is a secret of every business persons as no one wants his/her revenues known by others. One shopkeeper maintained that, many customers were going for shopping in cheap selling items and to other shops which sells second hand materials that provides an alternative shopping mall. Another shop attendant who identified herself by only one name as Lukia, said that the business had resolved to lower prices and giving special discounts to bulk purchases in order to attract buyers but to no avail. A petty trader, Augustine Swai (20) who was selling Christmas cards and other decorations in a makeshift kiosk situated at Jangwani area in Kariakoo suburb, equally lamented saying he had lowered the price to sell off his cards to an affordable and give away price. He said he had to reduce the price of a bunch of cards of 4x6 inches from the original Tsh. 8,000 to Tsh. 5,000 and others with a relatively reasonable discount. However, a bunch of hawkers cornered by the writer refurbishing their stocks from the wholesalers and retailers at Kariakoo market said most buyers were shunning high prices in these shops and prefers to buy their items more cheaply from street vendors.

TANESCO’s application on power hike to be released by mid of January 2012

ELECTRICITY users from the National grid in the country should expect new tariff charges of electricity which is scheduled to be announced countrywide by mid of January 2012. The new tariff charges which are yet to be identified, is in response to the recent application by the National power utility firm (TANESCO) which it had filed to Energy and Water Utility Regulatory Authority (EWURA) seeking a 155 percent increase in electricity price. EWURA’s Corporate Communications Manager, Titus Kaguo said in an exclusive interview last week in Dar es Salaam that, “Despite of the proposed increase, a special committee consisting of economic experts has been selected by his organization to work on various opinions raised by stakeholders in a meeting it convened early this month. Kaguo is on the view of the fact that, EWURA would look at the magnitude of the problem and weigh stakeholders’ views over the matter prior to the official announcement of the new hike which is scheduled to start in January. However, he noted that, there are several issues that TANESCO raised in its application which he says are also going to be looked upon, added that, EWURA is going to evaluate their authenticity before giving out its final decision. He added that, as for now the time frame is shorter to make a quick decision. EWURA received the application from the State owned power supply company under the certification of urgency from the Minister for Energy and Minerals Hon. William Ngeleja. Sources maintain that, the application was precipitated by emergency power generating projects TANESCO had entered into contract namely Agrecco, Symbion and IPTL’s heavy fuel for power generation which has raised energy cost.

EWURA's Communications Officer Mr. Titus Kaguo elaborating a point to journalists (not in the picture) during a press conference in Dar es Salaam recently.


During the meeting, stakeholders came up in arms to contradict such a request and instead some requested TANESCO to issue a comprehensive report that shows the actual costs of hiring the three power plants contracted to generate electricity to national grid. The percentage rise requested by TANESCO will raise an average current selling price of Tsh. 141/- per unit to Tsh. 359/- per unit. This is equivalent to 155 percent increase. “This is so exorbitant says one Yusuf Mbwana, an entrepreneur managing a kiosk and a small restaurant at Sinza madukani in Dar es Salaam. The views presented by the TANESCO’s Managing Director William Mbando that necessitated reasons for power increase is to enable his organization to curb with the drastic increase on the operational costs, and its efforts to reduce power shedding a common phenomenon in the country. Other reasons he maintained is that, if there would be no power increase by March next year, TANESCO will fail to execute other its important schedules such as its power producing plants which depends largely on oil energy source an aspect if left without attention, the country will be plunged into a total darkness. Others he stated are failure of the TANESCO to implement its legal contracts it had signed with some financial institutions (eg Banks) for its failure to reimburse its long standing loans it had taken due to lack of money, an aspect that is likely to cause a mutual of misunderstanding. Lastly, he outlined failure of the company to get money to conduct regular repair works and maintenance electricity systems on its daily operational activities. In a series of three years ago, TANESCO has been hiking its electricity power tariff concurrently. In January 2011, the power supply company lodged an application for 38 percent hike but was only granted 18 percent, while in 2008 it sought for 40 percent increase and was allowed 21 percent. Now for how much percent rate is likely to be allowed this year?

Tanzania citizens in the diaspora to benefit from Vodacom mobile money transfer

TANZANIANS living in diaspora will now be able to send money to their friends or relatives with Vodacom M-PESA account in the country, following the launch of cross-border money transfer service program by Vodacom Tanzania in collaboration with Western Union. The launching ceremony took place last week in Dar es Salaam and was attended by officials of both organizations who have joined forces together in order to make the program successful in Tanzania. Elaborating on how the money transaction would be effected, the Regional Director of Western Union representing East and Southern Africa region Karen Jordaan noted that senders of money must be living or staying in one of the 65 (unnamed) countries out of the total 178 countries in the world. The interested citizens who wish to use this service program can visit one of the more than 108,000 participating registered Western Union agent locations in 65 selected countries worldwide and send money directly into the mobile wallets of any registered Vodacom M-PESA subscriber in the country. Once the money is sent, the prospective receivers will be sent for a short message by Vodacom company instructing them that they could withdraw their money from one of the 15,000 Vodacom registered M-PESA agents who are scattered all over the country. “The newly launched service will be easier and cost effective” says Vodacom Financial Service Manager Innocent Ephraim. Currently, Tanzanians studying or
The Regional Director of Western Union representing East and Southern Africa region Karen Jordaan talks to journalists (not in the picture) during the launching of the Cross Border Money Transfer Service Program which her organization in collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania has joined forces in order to make it successful in Tanzaniastaying outside the country are experiencing delays after sending money to their relatives back home especially those residing in rural areas.

The Regional Director of Western Union representing East and Southern Africa region Karen Jordaan talks to journalists (not in the picture) during the launching of the Cross Border Money Transfer Service Program which her organization in collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania has joined forces in order to make it successful in Tanzania

However, he said “Vodacom always seeks for new innovative solutions to help their customers’ needs through innovative services like this one which he described to be more cost effective and which will be potential for Diaspora”. According to him, the newly launched service has been guaranteed by the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) the regulator in the country, which he said did not permit them (Vodacom) to send money outside the country from the economic point of view. Commenting on the newly introduced move, an official from the Postal Bank services who spoke on condition of anonymity said that, the move will help ease unnecessary delays that had overwhelmed rural customers. He said that, “customers residing in rural areas experiences hardship when clearing their money sent to them most primarily due to poor road infrastructure and ineffective communication facilities an aspect that forces many to come to urban centre and spent days to get their money”. According to the Managing Director of Vodacom (Tanzania) Rene Meza, his company first launched M-PESA services in the country in 2008 and up to now, it has more than 9 million customers and handles a million transactions per day. Vodacom M-PESA provides its customers an affordable fast, convenient and safe way to pay for numerous services such as utility bills, airtime recharge for prepaid, tax payment, long distance bus fare payments and much more. Western Union has been present in Africa since 1995 and the organization continues to engage with its consumers in the various markets it serves to encourage closer ties between citizen in the diaspora and their home countries.

Open University of Tanzania confers Mwinyi with Doctorate Degree

The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) has conferred a Tanzanian retired President Ally Hassan Mwinyi with Honorary Degree of Letters during its 23rd Graduation ceremony which was held on 26th November 2011 at Bungo-Kibaha, 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city. The graduation was preceded by the convocation meeting which was took place on the previous day. The graduation day also witnessed over 2,500 grandaunts of Certificate, Diplomas, undergraduate, Post-graduate and Doctorate candidates who received their certificated and different awards including best performing students. Please follow the event in this pictorial scene.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania Professor Tolly Mbwette is welcoming the prospective graduate for honorary doctorate degree on letters, retired President Ally Hassan Mwinyi at newly constructed OUT Headquarter at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region. Ex-President was conferred with a honorary degree of Doctorate.

Professor Tolly Mbwette addresses a convocation meeting

The Vice-Chancellor of the Open University of Tanzania, Professor Tolly Mbwette is addressing a convocation meeting at Bungo-Kibaha at the newly constructed headquarter of the OUT University.


A cross section of the Open University students who attended a convocation meeting which was held at Bungo-Kibaha. The meeting had preceded the 23rd graduation ceremony.

Tshs. 400 billion needed to complete the construction of the new headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania

ABOUT Tshs. 400 billion is needed to complete the construction of the new headquarter campus of the Open University of Tanzania. The Vice-Chancellor Professor Tolly Mbwette said during the convocation meeting at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region that, already the designs of the architectural plan of the main campus is complete for the construction to take place in an area that covers about 40,000 acres of land.

This is the only administrative building which has been constructed within the new compound of the selected headquarter campus for the Open University. Other building is the store.


After the convocation meeting, refreshments followed. Students had to make a long chain of line in order to be served systematically.

Open University of Tanzania graduation ceremony

The above three candidates graduated with BA in Journalism. Standing from left to right are Mr. Andulile Mwailunga, Ikunda Erick and Emmanuel Onyango, the writer and owner of this blog. As the procedure for the graduation ceremony, candidates have to stand up and line in an extended line then orders follows that requires them to uncap their academic huts before conferred and after having been conferred have to put them in a normal way as directed during the rehearsal.


In joyful heart are candidates for BA General who returns back to their seats after being conferred with their degrees.


Some grandaunts and their few relatives outside the main campus at the entrance waiting for transport to take them back to their respective homes after the ceremony.