Govt. ponders establishment of an agricultural bank through PPP
Tanzania students gain scholarships to top American Universities
Govt. ponders establishment of an agricultural bank through PPP
By Damas Makangale
The government has vowed to establish Agricultural and Savings Bank in the country through Public Private Partnership (PPP) that will give long and small term credit to farmers with affordable conditions.
Addressing a four day conference on Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-based Farming Systems in East and Southern Africa organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Monday this week, the Minister for Agriculture Food Security and Cooperatives Prof Jumanne Maghembe said that the farmer’s bank will address critically the problem of capital to majority of poor farmers in Tanzania.
He said that the government will use PPP as the best tool to establish the bank that will deal directly with farmers countrywide to foster social and economic development of farmers in the country.
"Tanzanian farmers continue to face difficulties in accessing loans from commercial banks which complicate procedures before the loans are offered," said Prof Maghembe
Minister added that overall investment in agriculture is still very low in Tanzania while poor physical infrastructure remains a critical challenge to players in the field.
Early September last year, the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) invited bidders to express interest for carrying out a feasibility study leading to the establishment of the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank.
According to Tanzania National Business Council's (TNBC) agriculture working group, an initial capital of $500 million (about Sh660 billion) is required to start the financial institution. It is expected that the private sector could be involved in providing additional funding of the project through government guaranteed long-term bonds.
The growth and development shortcomings of the agricultural sector in Tanzania are attributed to lack of cheap and long-term loans to peasants that make 80 per cent of the country's population.
Tanzanian students gain scholarships to top American Universities
By Timothy Kitundu
Three Tanzanian students, one living in Dar es Salaam and all studying at the International School Moshi (ISM) had the best Christmas presents of their lives last year after wining a $260,000 four scholarship package.
In August this year Kennedy Mmasi, a resident of Arusha will be flying to America to take up a full four-year scholarship to Harvard University to study Economics. He is among 35,000 applicants for a scholarship at the world famous University.
Kennedy says, “The IB Diploma provides a very broad curriculum with a great deal of emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, multiple perspectives, and research skills, as well as action through service in the community,” Kennedy says victoriously.
He has a dream, a big dream which is to study hard, do the best he can and come back to Tanzania to work in either the education or energy sectors. But whilst he has a big dream and the most amazing career mapped out ahead of him, Kennedy was very keen to emphasise thus, “I owe so much to my parents for believing in me and ensuring I went to the best school in Tanzania to do the IB Diploma. I can never thank them enough for sending me to International School Moshi,”
Wolfgang Seya of Moshi will be starting at Duke University to study Electrical or Mechanical Engineering. He attended a local school in Moshi and applied for the ISM scholarship to study the IB Diploma after being inspired by other ISM scholarship students.
When asked what he thought had contributed towards his success he said, “The IB Diploma at ISM was the best preparation I could have had. This combined with brilliant school counseling and the incredible support and guidance I received from the remarkable teachers at ISM who helped ensure my success,”
“The IB diploma is incredibly demanding and challenging and I’m working really hard so I can get the best possible result. One of the best things about my time at ISM has been the people, the amazing community and being a part of that,” he says.
According to him, everyone was so friendly; the teachers, the boarding parents and fellow students. When we found out we’d got our scholarships the whole community celebrated with us, they were so happy we had succeeded. “I hope to do really well at the University and thereafter want to return back and be a part in helping the country harness its great resources and potential” he adds.
The third successful student is Salome Kiduko a resident of Dar es Salaam who will be going to Colgate University to study either Biology or Biochemistry; she is similarly so excited she hasn’t been able to make up her mind for her future yet.
Salome who currently is gaining work experience with an NGO in translation says, “One of the best things about my time at ISM was the sheer diversity of people that comprised the school community.
“Before I attended the school I did not know anyone from outside Tanzania and my years at ISM have given me the confidence both academically and socially to feel very comfortable with people from all sorts of backgrounds and countries” she says.
All three scholarships are worth in the region of $260,000 over four years, and the offers were based on a combination of many different factors, including their SAT results but more specifically the IB education available at ISM.
Additionally ISM has a brilliant system for coaching and training their students for success in their SATs. ISM gives them a very big round of applause for these brilliant Tanzanian students and wishes all the best for their future.
A pioneering African business initiative launched by Tullow Oil
By Timothy Kitundu
Last week, Africa’s largest independent oil company, Tullow Oil plc (‘Tullow’), which has an exploration interest in Tanzania kicked off a new business initiative christened ‘Invest in Africa’ aimed at attracting and facilitating further investment in the continent.
‘Invest in Africa’ aims to encourage long-term investment across the continent to help build and develop local capacity, boost domestic job markets, develop skills and stimulate economic growth.
The programme’s call to action will be supported through a unique partnership with English Premier League football club, Sunderland AFC.
As the initial Founding Partner establishing Invest in Africa, Tullow plans to secure five further Founding Partners from the international businesses community focused on Africa. These Partners will help to evolve and shape the programme in years to come.
Speaking at the launch, Tullow Chief Executive Aidan Heavey said: “Tullow is investing in Africa for the long term and we want more businesses to do the same. Africa has been good to us, and we have been successful, but we want that success to bring growth for local people and economies too.
Africa’s a great place to invest and this partnership with Sunderland AFC will allow us to get the message to a global audience. There are some great opportunities out there and we want other companies who share our vision to join us.”
Niall Quinn, Director of International Development, Sunderland AFC said: “We are genuinely excited about this ground-breaking opportunity to bring Sunderland into new territories and the global appeal of the Premier League is something that we can harness as a powerful tool for change through our innovative partnership with Invest in Africa,”.
According to Quinn, Africa’s passion for football is both heart-warming and inspirational and as a football club with community, people and international aspirations firmly at its core, there is a natural synergy between us and this wonderful continent. We look forward to growing and developing the partnership in the coming months.
Ike Duker Executive Chairman of Tullow Ghana Ltd added: “While we are delighted to be at the forefront of this innovative and exciting new business programme, this is not just about Tullow.
This is an initiative that can help to build stable, investment friendly environments to allow businesses to grow across Africa, create jobs and enable Africa’s people to share in the wealth and prosperity that come with it.”
In Africa, Tullow has production in Ghana, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Congo (Brazzaville) and Equatorial Guinea with two large appraisal and development programmes in Ghana and Uganda. Tullow also has exploration interests in Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Madagascar, Namibia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
Executive Solutions hands over 3m/-for MCT Awards
By Damas Makangale
Executive Solutions Ltd, which is a PR and Events management company, has handed over Sh 3 million to the Media Council of Tanzania as sponsorship for this year’s Excellence in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT).
The sponsorship cheques was handed over by the company’s Chairman and CEO, Aggrey Marealle and received by the Council’s Manager for Regulation and Standards, Pili Mtambalike.
The sponsorship comes in the wake of a pledge that was made by Executive Solutions during last year’s awards in Dar es Salaam.
“We are an entity associated with media in many ways, it is with them that our work goes on smoothly and their excellence is prudent in such a process…we pledged Sh 3million to be given to winners in the following categories; Economic and Business Reporting, Sports and Culture, Health Reporting, Science and Technology Reporting, Education and Photojournalism,” said Marealle.
He said MCT will have the discretion to distribute the money among the winners in the selected categories.
“It is also important for me to point out that this is not the first time we are supporting MCT’s initiatives. We did so in the past where we supported various students in journalism colleges,” he said
He promised that his company would to continue supporting such initiatives to encourage journalists to work hard and also adhere to the ethics that govern their work as a way of promoting responsible journalism.
For her part, Ms. Mtambalike thanked Executive Solutions for appreciating the work one by journalists hence sponsoring the awards.
She said the awards have been improving every year not just by the number of entries but also the quality of work submitted by journalists.
This year’s awards are expected to take place in Dar es Salaam soon.
Executive Solutions is a PR and Events Management company that started operations nine years ago.
By Mary Wright
How long will disaster have to wait?, as it's been loitering there for some time......at the extension of Seaview, just past the AgaKhan hospital, the Jollies club and the Alliance Francaise, where there is a set of traffic lights which have been stuck at orange for the past couple of days. Now, Dar es Salaam drivers are not the most patient of mortals, indeed one of their favourite pastimes is playing "chicken" with other drivers. Perhaps the most hazardous of all hazards are the motorcyclists. If I still had a heart they would have given me heart failure sixteen times already over the past week. They love to overtake on the outside, on the inside or up the middle of any stream of traffic. They love to swing in and out, rev up with a great roar and give poor old ladies palpitations.
How is it that our traffic police and city authorities cannot find an electrician to put right the lighting, or could they not at least station a police person to control the constant duels? One of the residents of Seaview Road just rang me up to report the frightful risks that are being taken at that important junction.
It just happens that for a very long time this journalist has been keen to express admiration for the traffic police in this fair city: they are smart, they are brave, they are just and they are absolutely essential to the smooth running of the city. Come on city authorities, stop putting these courageous functionaries in danger, send somebody, even if you have to pay them mara moja, and get the perishing traffic lights repaired!
Crossing the channel, crossing the frontier
By Mary Wright
There's much more unity, it seems to me, between the countries of East Africa than between those of Western Europe, especially between those I know best, i.e. the U.K., France and Spain, whose cultures are sharply contrasted one from the other. The French and the British hate each other quite a lot, although most of them like the Spanish quite well. The speaking habits of the first two are sharply contrasting, where the French take the trouble to express themselves as fully and as picturesquely as possible the British will make do with verbal grunts if they can.
I give you an example:
French: "Il est alle voir le medecin a cause d'un ligament douleureux de sa jambe."
British: "He's gone to the doctor with his leg."
We have to notice that the English expressed isn't even logical, he couldn't very well go to the doc. without his leg! The British don't care tuppence about that normally, for them language is just a means of communication, apart from the few who are gifted linguistically and become poets or writers of some other kind.
Therefore, when you cross the Channel, known to the Brits with typical imperialism as "the English Channel", you are entering a different world, and theoretically it should do you a lot of good.
Now I would really like to find out what the citizens of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania find different about each others' countries from their own, and even what the citizens of Zanzibar and Tanganyika find distinguishes them one from the other. Of course this question ventures into various spheres: the citizen's relationship to central government, to local government, for example, or the citizen's opinion regarding the presence of corruption, e.g. graft, bribery, oppression by bureaucrats, threats from the police, the importance of religion in daily life....
Tanzania hasn't a good reputation in some ways. Forgive me if you've already heard this joke:
An aeroplane was going around the world. The pilot said: "Now we're over New York." "Oh, how do you know?" "I put my hand out and I touched the statue of Liberty" "OK".... Later:"Now we're over Paris". "How do you know?" "I put my hand out and I touched the Eiffel Tower. ""OK"....Later: "Now we're over Dar es Salaam." "Oh, how do you know?" "I put my hand out and somebody pinched my watch....".
Tanzania to benefit from massive investment via FtF against food insecurity
By Damas Makangale
USAID through its development arm, Feed the Future (FtF) is investing 80 percent of its resources in Tanzania to address global hunger and food security.
Speaking to participants at a four day conference on cereal on East and Southern Africa on Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tom Hogbood FtF Team Leader said that it supports Tanzanian government driven approaches to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.
He said that through this whole of government approach the US is helping Tanzania transform their agricultural sector to achieve food security and to increase the incomes of small farmers and processors.
“As most of you know that all developed countries, including our own, achieved the levels of development by first developing our agriculture sector,” he said.
He said that with the assistance of USAID the government has established agriculture as a priority which was reinforced in November by President Kikwete.
Hogbood further said that the FtF team here in Tanzania is working closely with the government and the private sector, which identified the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) to concentrate agricultural growth resources.
He noted that FtF efforts will assist nearly 1 million vulnerable women, children and family members consisting mostly of small-scale farmers in the corridor.
“The FtF team is achieving this goal by increasing their ability to grow, sell and consume the products that are most important to them such as maize, rice and horticulture,
“As a result of this program, by 2015, farmers will see a 50 percent increase in crop yields rice from 2 to 3 or 4 tons while maize from 1.5 to 2.5tons per hectare,” he added
The FtF research and training program, located in the heart of the agriculture growth corridor at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) has identified research and training priorities for both SUA and the National Agricultural Research System of Tanzania.
Business centre attendant scoops Airtel MZUKA roll-over prize draw
By Timothy Kitundu
The second winner of the Tshs. 50 million jackpot prize for Airtel Mzuka, which is run by Airtel Tanzania that was conducted this week aired and witnessed by Tanzanians live on ITV, has been identified as Halima Omary Issa, a resident of Magomeni Makanya, in Dar es Salaam.
The winner, 26 year-old business centre attendant was jubilant when he received a call from Airtel Public Relations Manager Jackson Mmbando who broke the good news to the winner.
In an interview that was aired live through ITV, Halima gleefully remarked that, “I thank the Almighty as I had participated several times in this draw in vain but now I have emerge winner …I can’t believe that I made it as the second winner of this Airtel bonanza conducted by Airtel Tanzania.
Speaking on behalf of Airtel Tanzania, Mmbando said, “Through this promotion we have now choose our second winner of this mega prize Tshs. 50 million for Mzuka promotion but we still have a lot more prizes such as Samsung tablets together with airtime as by the end of this month we will have another grand winner of this super bonanza”
Mmbando used that opportunity to show appreciation to all Tanzanians and to all Airtel subscribers for using consistently sticking to being their customers and also for using their services hence remain Airtel subscribers all through the period of the promotion.
Mzuka promotion conducted by Airtel Tanzania has been on for the last three consequent months which was officially launched in December last year which will run on to February 2012.
The prizes won include for daily winners who scoop Samsung handsets, airtime, whereby weekly winners scoop Samsung ipad and the monthly winners win the grand prize of Tshs. 50 million.
The promotion will extend to the end of this month whereas various prizes are been awarded. Joining the draw is free: simply send a word Mzuka, to number 15565 to enter the draw and be able to win up to the grand prize.
Think tanks see need to increase food production capacity amid changeable climate
By Damas Makangale
International and local agricultural experts, policymakers, and donors are converging in Dar es Salaam this week to discuss ways of increasing Tanzania’s food production capacity in the face of a changing climate, shrinking arable lands, and environmental concerns while in particular ensuring that the country’s poor farmers benefit more.
During the four day meeting, which runs from Monday until Thursday at the White Sands hotel, agricultural sector stakeholders will deliberate on and identify priority areas for a five year research initiative to be implemented in the country.
The goal of the initiative is to develop and promote improved integrated farming systems that will sustainably increase production and profitability while preserving the natural resource base.
The research project will focus on management practices that better integrate cereal, legumes, vegetables, livestock, and trees in mixed farming systems, and allow for more efficient use of resources, enhanced food production, and higher farm incomes.
It will also introduce innovations to more effectively link farmers to markets, thereby providing them with more revenue opportunities.
Experts say that results of the research will also be applicable to other East and Southern African countries that have similar agro-ecological conditions with Tanzania such as Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.
The research is one of three regional programs in Africa funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the US government’s Feed the Future initiative.
Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) that is leading the initiative says that the stakeholders’ meeting will ensure that the project is aligned to complement, and strengthen similar efforts by the Tanzanian government and other agricultural development partners and agencies in the country.
“Agriculture is an exit out of poverty. Our challenge today is to find ways to support our farmers with new knowledge and appropriate technologies to boost their production and improve farmers’ lives in ways that do not harm natural resources such as soil and water up on which farmers depend,” Sanginga said.
Decra roof tiles the best against rusting, fading or chipping – winners, supplier say
By Timothy Kitundu
The winners of a recent draw conducted by Nabaki Afrika, suppliers and distributors professional building products have thrown a challenge to Tanzanians to go for quality products particularly roofing materials that have ample guarantee period and are durable instead of cheap ones that need replacement from time to time.
This was revealed during an interview between Hassan Mamba and Geoffrey Kahwili, who were drawn as winners for in December 2011 and January 2012 for the win a roof competition at Nabaki Afrika.
They each won a Tshs. 150,000 gift vouchers to purchase any quality of Nabaki Afrika product of their choice. However, in four months time they could have even bigger smiles on their faces should one of them win their money back on their roof purchase up to Tshs. 15 million.
Geoffrey Kahwili told the Express in an interview that in terms of building materials, the cost dies not really count, but, according to him, what counts is the quality coupled with durability.
“I urge my fellow Tanzanians to think twice before they purchase construction materials particularly roofing materials to go for high quality products as opposed to low quality ones that need replacement after a short period of time,” Kahwili said.
According to him, the government should encourage and attract investors to engage in the industry manufacturing high quality, durable products so that the funds amassed could make the Tanzanian shilling stronger compared to its prevailing trend of depression against the dollar.
Jeff Kayton, Nabaki Afrika Sales Manager said in an interview that the firm, as the only importer of Decra genuine roofing material can greatly head the economy of the country as some of the roofing materials are of low quality and are prone to harsh weather conditions hence quickly decline.
“Decra genuine roofing materials have a guarantee of 50 years against rusting, chipping and fading and if the materials indicate such elements we take care of them through replacement,” he said.
According to Kayton, the competition has only four months left to run and so far 60 lucky customers have qualified to win the cost of their roof back and each of these customers has either purchased a Marley rainwater system or Sisalation thermal insulation with their Decra roof tiles.
According to him some have purchased both giving them the highest levels of comfort and appeal when one looks up at the roof. “However, all our clients who bought Decra metal roof tiles will be able to look up at their roofs for many years and see the beautiful difference that only a genuine Decra roof can provide.
“This is something all homeowners should do in their neighbourhoods: look up and compare the different roof systems; so many metal roof tiles rust, fade and chip soon after installation but not Decra roof tiles – as they look beautiful, for decades and the roof of your home will stay weatherproof,” he said.
Decra has a 50-year written warranty from AHI in New Zealand. AHI has been producing stone-coated metal roof tiles for more than 50 years so you can be sure that their warranty is honoured.
Why FNB came to Tanzania : Govt. reassurance; boost earnings and diversify its earnings base
By Timothy Kitundu
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has maintained that the recent investment by officially making its presence in Tanzania of the First National Bank, Tanzania, under the FirstRand Group is a cautious and beneficial move as it will greatly enhance the development of the country’s economy.
President Jakaya Kikwete said in his remarks during the official opening of the bank, an occasion that was held in Dar es Salaam recently. “I would like to assure you that you have made the right choice. Your investment is safe and will continue to be safe. This is a commitment we have made publicly in our pronouncements and in our Investment Law and other related legislation”.
He declared that besides the assurance for safety of investments, the investment climate is good and the government is determined to continue to improve it further. He urged them to encourage associates, partners, friends, and other investors in all fields they happen to meet wherever in the world, to come and invest in Tanzania .
Adding that the government was doing everything possible to reduce the cost of doing business in Tanzania . "We are making progress on many fronts, although there are still some challenges which we are determined to overcome. We are doing this because we are aware that there is no development without investments” he emphasized.
In his remarks, Sizwe Nxasana – CEO FirstRand Group, said that FNB is a bank with proud African roots, currently operating in seven African countries outside of South Africa ; namely Mozambique , Lesotho , Swaziland , Botswana , Namibia , and Zambia and that they are thrilled to include Tanzania on their list.
He said FNB’s vision is to be a great business, helping to create a better world. This vision provides direction for all its actions and interactions with stakeholders and provides valuable insight into where the bank needs to focus attention to move towards achieving its vision.
“The group sees the regions of East Africa , West Africa and Southern Africa as core to its expansion strategy, and has identified Africa as a key growth market for the group. FNB has recognized Tanzania as a country with sound economic growth prospects and we see a bright future for investment and expansion in the country,” he said.
Adding that since its operations commenced in July 2011, they have taken the time to intrinsically understand the requirements of the market in order to help them provide the ideal solution set suited to the environment.
"This has resulted in us tailoring some of our existing products, and indeed in the near future to assist in identifying the relevant products we will be launching aimed specifically at the Tanzanian market.
“We consider ourselves to be a market leader in introducing new and innovative products. These products will all be aimed at making the banking experience more efficient and more rewarding for our customers, and even more so for the unbanked market,” he added.
He said in essence, they are backing their entrepreneurial capability and the innovative products that have differentiated them in Southern Africa . They trust that they will be able to introduce more and more products such as their eWallet and Cellphone banking to the Tanzanian market in due course, with cell phone banking being expected to launch within the next few months.
"Mobile banking, in particular, has proven to be an extremely successful product for FNB in all of the jurisdictions where it has been launched and we see Tanzania as offering even greater potential for mobile banking products and services.
Even though the concept of mobile banking has made great strides over the last 3 years, there is still a vast number of Africans who do not have access to banking services. Mobile banking is slowly but surely making a difference in this regard.
This does not mean however that the unbanked in rural areas cannot be reached by more traditional banking services like branches, ATMs and mini ATMs.
At present FNB has three branches in Dar es Salaam and plans to open another branch in the city before the end of this year. “Our aim is to expand to other areas of Tanzania, initially to the larger economic hubs such as Mwanza, Mbeya and Arusha. This expansion will continue until we have true national representation,” he remarked.
"Even though there is still a lot to be done both in terms of new products and representation, we consider this to be an exciting journey and we embark on it with an open mind and a passion which we hope will translate into many satisfied customers and stakeholders and ultimately a sound business."
"Our research into Tanzania confirms that our long term positive view of the economy is not unfounded and we are certain that the economy will continue to make great strides'.
In his remarks, Richard Hudson, CEO of FNB Tanzania said the bank has launched a range of innovative products into the Southern African and African markets over the last few years, and they intend to do the same in Tanzania .
“We consider ourselves to be a market leader in introducing new and innovative products and will be tapping into the systems and expertise of the group to ensure the smooth roll-out of these products in Tanzania . These products are all aimed at making the banking experience more efficient and more rewarding for our customers, and even more so for the unbanked market.”
Hudson explains that the investment in Tanzania is aligned to the group’s strategy of being a significant player in the banking industry in Africa . He added that there were many compelling reasons for investing in Tanzania in its own right and these included, but were not limited to, the country’s large population, strong economic growth, a sizeable GDP , a well regulated banking industry and a stable political environment.
“We remain committed to our brand promise and we intend to continue to deliver on that promise. We look forward to partnering with the people of Tanzania by making a positive contribution to the economy and hope that the FNB experience will be a rewarding one, where customers truly experience the spirit of “helpfulness.”" Hudson remarked.
FNB shares a culture of innovation and an owner-manager ethos that can be found across the FirstRand Group. FNB has a strong and growing African footprint with subsidiary operations in Botswana , Namibia , Zambia , Mozambique , Swaziland , Lesotho and most recently Tanzania.