Tanzania Roundup: Accessibility to local research, mining expertise, online fraud

A general picture shows the skyline of Tanzania's port cty of Dar es Salaam, July 12, 2013. Tanzania's commercial capital looks like a boom town even before cash rolls in from gas discoveries that in the next few years could make the east African nation a major energy exporter. Glass-clad tower blocks pierce Dar es Salaam's sky-line and more are emerging from noisy building sites. Billboards advertise high-definition televisions and other electronics to a new middle class, who crowd brand new shopping malls. REUTERS/Andrew Emmanuel (TANZANIA - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS ENERGY CITYSCAPE)

Source: X80002

Plans to make local research more accessible

Tanzania is advancing its research landscape by investing over Sh30 billion in the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) to enhance accessibility for the public and policymakers. Local researchers have historically conducted numerous studies across critical sectors such as health, agriculture, and education; however, the results have often remained obscure, reducing their potential impact. According to The Citizen, stakeholders are advocating for better dissemination of research findings and collaboration between educational institutions and industry to foster innovative solutions. Notable examples from India and South Africa underscore the effectiveness of improving accessibility strategies. To harness the full potential of research, researchers are urged to prioritise sharing their work, while ongoing efforts are focusing on promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education among the youth.

Prompt reporting of online fraud

Vodacom Tanzania is proactively encouraging its customers to report online fraud expediently. By collaborating with the Police Force, Vodacom aims to track down and apprehend scammers more effectively. Rona Katuma, a Fraud Analyst, has identified prevalent tactics employed by fraudsters—ranging from misleading device upgrade offers to SIM card transfers that compromise sensitive information. As reported by The Citizen, other scams are prevalent through social media payment schemes and romance ploys on dating applications. Assistant Inspector Waziri Makang’ila stresses that prompt public reporting is crucial for swift investigations and legal actions against offenders. Heightened public awareness regarding these fraudulent tactics is vital to mitigate future risks of scams.

Tanzania’s President takes on forced evictions of Maasai community

Addressing land disputes, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently instituted two committees to scrutinise grievances concerning the Indigenous Maasai pastoralists in the Ngorongoro district. Complaints regarding alleged forced relocations under the guise of conservation to Msomera village, over 600 kilometres away, will be scrutinised alongside resident issues. Since 2022, government actions have restricted public services for the Maasai, amplifying hardships and forced relocations, with reports of park rangers engaging in harassment, reports Human Rights Watch. President Hassan's comprehensive package of initiatives includes enhancing local services and ensuring voting access; however, advocates are calling for a cessation of relocations, the prevention of forced evictions, and necessitating governmental engagement with affected communities.

ClickPesa launches financial platform for microfinance institutions

Tanzanian startup ClickPesa has launched ClickPesa MFI, a revolutionary financial platform tailored for microfinance institutions (MFIs), aimed at bolstering support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses. According to Disrupt Africa, since its inception in 2016, ClickPesa has offered digital payment services, recently incorporating features for MFIs that facilitate digital loan disbursements, repayment collections, and real-time reconciliation. The platform is designed to streamline operational processes and offer integration with existing loan management systems, while simultaneously providing funding access to MFIs to expand their loan portfolios. COO Richard Lema underscores the necessity of addressing the unique challenges encountered by medium-sized MFIs to enhance customer service.

Tanzania shares mining expertise with Uganda

Tanzania is extending its mining expertise to Uganda as part of efforts to bolster regional development within the mining sector. A meeting, held on December 3, 2024, brought together Ugandan energy officials and Tanzanian mining specialists to discuss best practices in managing artisanal and small-scale mining. Yahya Samamba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals of Tanzania, accentuated the country's commemorative advancements in mining since independence, underpinned by institutions like the Geological Survey of Tanzania and the State Mining Corporation. Uganda’s Energy Minister, Irene Bateebe, acknowledged Tanzania's mining successes and reiterated a commitment to adopting comparable strategies to enhance regulatory frameworks and conditions governing small-scale miners, reports The Citizen.

Abigail Johnson Boakye