Category: The Citizen

Tanzania and the United States have signed a five-year bilateral global health Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth $3.1 billion (about Sh8 trillion), marking a major shift towards a long-term partnership aimed at strengthening the country’s health system and improving preparedness for future public health challenges.

The agreement seeks to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen disease surveillance and response systems. It also seeks to enhance Tanzania’s ability to tackle infectious diseases and emerging health threats.

The deal forms part of the United States’ America First Global Health Strategy, which promotes sustainable and country-led health partnerships.

Building on decades of cooperation in the health sector, the agreement positions Tanzania and the US as co-investors rather than following a traditional donor-recipient model.

It aims to establish a resilient national network of hospitals, laboratories and healthcare workers capable of meeting current healthcare needs while improving the country’s readiness for future disease outbreaks and health emergencies.

The partnership is expected to have broader implications for Tanzania beyond healthcare delivery. Stronger health systems are considered critical for economic productivity, human capital development and national resilience, as healthier populations contribute to improved workforce participation and reduced healthcare burdens.

The agreement also comes as Tanzania seeks to reduce dependence on external financing while increasing domestic investment in critical sectors. Access to American expertise in pharmaceuticals, health innovation and medical technology is expected to support improvements in healthcare quality and efficiency while helping to build local capacity.

Under the arrangement, the US will align its assistance with Tanzania’s national health priorities, while Tanzania will progressively increase its own contribution to healthcare financing and management.

The MoU seeks to sustain gains in controlling major diseases, including HIV, malaria, polio and tuberculosis, while strengthening maternal and child healthcare services to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.

It also aims to improve Tanzania’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to infectious disease outbreaks more effectively and independently.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam on July 1, 2026, Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa said the agreement represented a significant shift towards equality, accountability and self-reliance.

‘This agreement is not a continuation of dependency but a roadmap to move us away from it. By 2030, Tanzania will shoulder a significant share of the costs of its health system,’ he said.

Financially, the United States, in collaboration with Congress, intends to provide more than $1.3 billion over the next five years, while Tanzania is expected to increase domestic health spending by approximately $1.8 billion during the same period.

The combined investment signals a transition towards a sustainable partnership model designed to strengthen national ownership of Tanzania’s health sector and reduce long-term dependence on donor funding.

Wednesday (July 1 2026), Mofat Company Limited, the contracted private operator for Phase II of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system was granted a monopoly on the Mbagala, Gerezani, Kivukoni route, on which the current transport service providers, mainly the minibus daladalas, bodabosas abd bajajis, will be unlicensed, giving the Company monopoly on that route.

Under a 12-year contract with the Dar Rapid Transit Agency (DART), the Company is responsible for managing daily passenger transport, fleet deployment, and station services along the Gerezani-Mbagala corridor via Kilwa Road.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has alleged that between 120 and 150 fraudulent call centres operating from Ukraine are targeting Russian citizens, using communications infrastructure located in Ukraine and what it described as “certain European Union member states.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, the FSB claimed the operations are coordinated from Ukraine and are responsible for a significant share of cyber-enabled financial fraud affecting Russian citizens.

According to the agency, more than 640,000 fraud cases were recorded in Russia during 2025, with reported losses exceeding 360 billion rubles.

The FSB said it had dismantled what it described as an illegal virtual communications network, seizing more than 1,200 SIM boxes, 1,000 modems and mobile phones, as well as 1.2 million SIM cards. Authorities also detained 208 people allegedly linked to the operation.

The agency added that more than 950 criminal investigations have been launched involving allegations of terrorism, fraud, illegal access to computer systems and violations of telecommunications regulations.

According to the FSB, criminal groups have increasingly adopted sophisticated technologies to avoid detection.

These include phone number spoofing, encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, fake electronic payment systems, artificial intelligence-generated audio, deepfake technology and fraudulent impersonation of government officials, law enforcement agencies and financial institutions.

The agency further alleged that recruiters use Russian-language online platforms to recruit accomplices inside Russia, paying them in cryptocurrency.

Those recruited are allegedly instructed to rent apartments for short periods, install SIM-box equipment connected to large numbers of Russian SIM cards obtained using false identities, and operate the systems through internet providers to facilitate fraudulent calls.

The FSB also claimed that some groups operate across multiple Russian regions using mobile equipment installed in rented vehicles to reduce the risk of detection.

In addition, the security agency alleged that some fraud proceeds are used to finance the Ukrainian Armed Forces, although it did not provide evidence to support the claim.

The FSB further accused Ukrainian intelligence services of targeting relatives of Russian military personnel through extortion and telephone scams, alleging that such activities are intended to undermine morale.

The agency also made a series of allegations linking some call centres to officials and institutions in Ukraine, including claims that operations in the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions receive support from local authorities. It also alleged that citizens of European Union countries are increasingly becoming victims of the fraud networks.

The Ukrainian government has not publicly responded to the latest allegations. Independent verification of the FSB’s claims was not immediately available.

Tanzania could be losing up to Sh15 trillion annually through the exclusion of people with disabilities from education and employment, according to analyses based on international research and economic projections.

Experts say the financial cost goes beyond social inequality, representing a major economic challenge that limits productivity, reduces tax revenue and slows the country’s development potential.

Buried inside Tanzania’s Finance Act 2026, approved by the Parliament recently, is a provision most readers will skip past entirely.

Mining counsel and serious investors should read it twice. The Bill amends four separate statutes, namely the Value Added Tax Act, the Income Tax Act, the Excise Duty Act, and the Road and Fuel Tolls Act, each time inserting near-identical language recognising ‘the tax exemption provisions stipulated in Framework Agreements signed between the Government and mining investors, as approved by the Cabinet.’

That repetition is the story. A government does not amend four laws to say the same thing unless the thing was not, in fact, being honoured under any one of them.

For years, the gap between what a Framework Agreement promised and what a mining company could actually claim at the border or against the Tanzania Revenue Authority has been a quiet source of friction.

Framework Agreements are negotiated, cabinet-approved instruments, but VAT and excise exemptions have routinely been refused on the basis that an agreement, however solemnly negotiated, is not itself a Government Notice or an express statutory provision.

The investor had a contract. The tax officer wanted a gazette entry. That is not a technicality, but the difference between a right and a request.

The Finance Act, 2026 closes that gap with unusual precision. A new section 146B of the Excise Duty Act, a parallel Income Tax Act amendment, statutory VAT Act recognition, and the Road and Fuel Tolls Act amendment together mean Framework Agreement exemptions no longer depend on a separate administrative act to take effect.

The contract and the statute now point the same way and that is the difference between an exemption that exists on paper and one that exists at customs.

I say this as someone who has sat on the negotiating side of these instruments. At Shikana, our experience negotiating Framework Agreements on behalf of investors shows precisely this pattern: the clause is rarely the weak point, but implementation is.

A well-drafted stabilisation provision is only as strong as the administrative machinery that honours it, and Tanzania has done something genuinely useful by moving that machinery into primary legislation rather than leaving it to discretionary notice.

Candour requires the other half of the picture. These exemptions apply only during the construction phase, end the moment mineral production begins, and exclude petroleum products entirely.

This is calibrated relief, aimed at the period when capital is being deployed and cash flow is negative: precisely when a stabilisation clause matters most and government revenue forgone is lowest. That is sound design, not generosity.

The day a mine reaches production, the ordinary tax regime resumes, and any commercial model built on extended relief will be wrong.

The Act also introduces a new section 94A of the Tax Administration Act, penalising mining companies that misuse exemptions, transfer exempted goods without the Commissioner’s permission, or use fraud to obtain or benefit from them.

Investors should welcome this rather than fear it. A regime that polices abuse of an exemption is a regime that intends the exemption to mean something.

Loosely administered, unpredictably revoked incentives are the pattern that has cost Tanzania credibility with sophisticated capital before.

Enforcement standing, paired with statutory certainty, is what separates a genuine stabilisation clause from a political promise that survives only until the next budget cycle.

What should sovereign funds, DFIs, and mining houses do with this? First, revisit any Framework Agreement in force or under negotiation and confirm which exemptions now rest on statute rather than administrative discretion; the answer is not uniform across instruments signed at different times.

Second, treat the construction-to-production transition as a contractual event requiring its own compliance plan, not an afterthought; the exemption’s expiry is now as legally precise as its existence.

Third, recognise that this reform is Tanzania signalling it wants Framework Agreements to function as genuine instruments of contractual sanctity, not gestures requiring perpetual re-litigation at the revenue authority’s discretion.

Tanzania has not solved every friction in its mining fiscal architecture with four amendments. It has, however, done something rarer than another incentive announcement: aligned the statute book with the contract.

For an asset class where investor confidence hinges on whether a promise survives contact with the bureaucracy that must implement it, that alignment is worth more than the headline incentive itself.

The next test is whether other sectors negotiating Government Notice-dependent arrangements receive the same legislative treatment, or whether mining remains the exception rather than the template.

A big congratulations to Honourable Minister Anthony Mavunde for bringing this home.

For the owners of some of Dar es Salaam’s most recognisable nightlife establishments, the past two weeks have been anything but entertaining. Element.

Big Joe. Otea Bar. Uncle’s. Tips. Babylon. One after another, 13 bars across Kinondoni District were ordered to close following a crackdown led by the Regional Commissioner and the Kinondoni Municipal Council over persistent noise pollution and licensing violations.

Mozambique President Daniel Chapo is expected to join President Samia Suluhu Hassan in officially opening the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) on June 3, marking the event’s golden jubilee and highlighting growing regional trade and investment cooperation.

The 16-day exhibition, running from June 28 to July 13, celebrates five decades of the DITF as Tanzania’s leading platform for trade promotion, investment, industrialisation and economic diplomacy.

Speaking after inspecting exhibition pavilions ahead of the official opening, Minister for Industry and Trade Judith Kapinga said this year’s fair has attracted about 3,722 exhibitors from 23 countries, making it one of the most internationally diverse editions in recent years.

She said the high level of participation reflects growing confidence in Tanzania’s economy, investment climate and business environment.

Exhibitors are showcasing products and services across manufacturing, agribusiness, technology and the services sector, with strong emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship and value addition.

Government empowerment programmes for women and youth are also prominently featured, with participants displaying value-added products developed through access to finance, training and business support initiatives.

Ms Kapinga said the fair continues to serve as both a business marketplace and a knowledge-sharing platform, strengthening value-chain linkages and creating new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

To accommodate rising participation, the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade) has upgraded infrastructure at the exhibition grounds, including expanded parking areas, improved internal roads and enhanced water and electricity services.

The authority has also introduced digital solutions to improve efficiency and visitor experience, including a mobile wayfinding system and the TanTrade Biashara App, which enables online ticket purchases and access to exhibitor and event information.

As part of the golden jubilee celebrations, TanTrade will host a special awards gala on July 6 to recognise individuals and institutions that have contributed to the growth of the trade fair over the past 50 years.

The gala will be officiated by Vice-President Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.

Google has exceeded a five-year target to invest $1 billion in Africa, it said on Wednesday, ?as it made public initiatives on infrastructure and development AI to accelerate the continent’s digital growth.

They follow on from Google’s launch of a cloud for the Johannesburg region in 2025.

Here are ?the details of the new initiatives that Google, ?owned by Alphabet, announced at the first Africa Cloud ?Summit in Johannesburg.

Google will establish a connectivity hub in South ?Africa’s Eastern Cape, the first of four planned connectivity hubs ?on the continent.

The facility will link Africa to Australia via the Umoja subsea cable and to India through a new route, strengthening internet ?resilience and capacity.

Africa’s first applied AI lab in Ghana will ?pair local startups with Google researchers and provide early access to its ?models.

A more than $1 million programme in partnership with UK actor Idris Elba’s Akuna Group will train underrepresented creators in AI-driven storytelling.

Google’s Economic and Community Development programme and WeThinkCode have committed ?to build a ?3 million ?rand ($183,468) digital innovation centre in Soweto, Johannesburg.

Google also said its startup accelerator programme will back ?15 South African firms as part of Google’s ?pledge ?to back 50 African ventures between 2024 and 2028.

“The AI opportunity for Africa is significant, and Google is committed to doing ?our ?part working with Africans to help Africa ?realise it,” James Manyika, Google’s senior vice president for research and technology, ?told reporters.

Energy Tanzania has been recognised as the country’s best taxpayer in the category of Best Wet Cargo Importer, after receiving the Presidential Best Taxpayer Award during celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).

The award was presented during the inaugural Presidential Awards ceremony for outstanding taxpayers, an event that brought together leading taxpayers from all 35 regions of Tanzania to promote tax compliance and recognise contributions to national development.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan officiated at the ceremony and presented awards to top-performing taxpayers through the TRA, while Puma Energy Tanzania’s award was handed over by Zanzibar President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi.

The recognition highlights Puma Energy Tanzania’s position as one of the country’s largest and most compliant taxpayers, reflecting its longstanding contribution to Tanzania’s economy through tax payments, government dividends and investments in the energy sector.

Speaking after receiving the award, Puma Energy Tanzania Managing Director Fatma Abdallah described the recognition as a testament to the company’s commitment to accountability, integrity and compliance with the country’s laws.

“This award is a great honour to us and gives us the strength to continue carrying out our responsibilities effectively. It is the result of our employees’ collective efforts, our strong collaboration with the Government, and our commitment to conducting business with transparency and in accordance with the country’s laws,” she said.

She added that the company views tax compliance as a critical contribution to building a strong economy and improving social services for Tanzanians.

“We believe that paying taxes is a vital contribution to building a strong economy and improving social services for Tanzanians. This award motivates us to continue being at the forefront of supporting Government efforts to increase domestic revenue through timely tax payment, sustainable investment and the expansion of energy services that drive economic growth and development across various productive sectors,” Ms Abdallah said.

According to the company, Puma Energy Tanzania has contributed more than Sh1.4 trillion in taxes and other government levies over the past three years, maintaining a strong record of compliance and earning continued recognition from the TRA for its contribution to domestic revenue collection.

The company said the recognition reflects its commitment to supporting national economic growth, promoting voluntary tax compliance and strengthening its partnership with the Government in implementing Tanzania’s development agenda.

Puma Energy Tanzania currently operates a network of more than 100 fuel service stations across the country, alongside a major fuel storage terminal and several fuel depots.

The company also supplies aviation fuel to eight airports, including all international airports in Tanzania, and has continued to expand its investments in cleaner energy solutions.

Among its key projects is Africa’s largest Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mother Station, as well as a growing network of CNG stations in Dar es Salaam and Morogoro.

In addition, Puma Energy Tanzania has expanded access to clean cooking energy through its Puma Gas business, while its lubricants division and Shop Express retail outlets continue to provide products and services to consumers nationwide.

The Presidential Best Taxpayer Awards were introduced to recognise taxpayers who have demonstrated exceptional compliance and made significant contributions to government revenue mobilisation and national development.

South African police have arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-immigrant protests that were largely peaceful but turned violent in some areas, authorities said.

Police said 108 of the 120 protests held across the country passed without incident, while 12 required intervention as isolated cases of violence and looting were reported.

Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said the arrests were linked to a range of offences, including immigration violations, public violence, harbouring undocumented migrants and robbery.

In Johannesburg’s Alexandra township, one person was shot dead during looting at informal shops known as spaza shops, which are often owned by foreign nationals.

Police also confirmed that reinforcements were deployed in five of South Africa’s nine provinces, while soldiers were sent to parts of Johannesburg, including Hillbrow, where two people were injured in a shooting.

In Durban, police opened an inquest after a foreign national reportedly died after falling from the eighth floor of a building on the eve of the protests. Authorities said he is believed to have jumped in fear during the unrest.

The demonstrations were organised to coincide with a deadline issued by an anti-immigrant movement calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country.

The protests come amid months of rising tensions, during which foreign nationals have faced attacks, including looting of businesses and destruction of property in several areas.