Tanzania Roundup: Presidential appointments, climate change, concerns about patas monkeys
Governance
Tanzania's political landscape has become increasingly complex as opposition groups have expressed disillusionment with President Samia Suluhu Hassan's approach to governance since her inauguration in 2021. Originally hopeful for significant reforms following the authoritarian regime of John Magufuli, leaders within the opposition, such as Freeman Mbowe and Tundu Lissu, have now characterised their earlier optimism as naive. Despite some initial signs of a shift towards more inclusive policies, including the lifting of political rally bans, recent incidents of violence, including the murders of opposition figures and abductions allegedly perpetrated by state forces, have overshadowed these developments. According to Inkl, this has intensified political tensions ahead of impending elections, fostering an environment of fear and intolerance. Nevertheless, Lissu maintains a cautious hope for eventual political transformation in Tanzania.
Presidential appointments
In a significant cabinet reshuffle, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has made critical adjustments to her administration, most notably merging the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology with the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Sports. This strategic move, according to VOA Africa, reflects a potential shift in governmental focus and priorities.
Patas monkeys go extinct
In the realm of conservation, an alarming report has emerged concerning the critically endangered southern patas monkeys, indigenous to Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Mongabay reports that these monkeys have not been observed for over a year, deepening concerns regarding their potential extinction. Estimates suggest that their wild population fell below 200 individuals in 2021, and their habitat has diminished by approximately 85% since the early 20th century. Conservationists are now prioritising population surveys and initiating urgent measures to avert the loss of this species, which has only recently been classified as a distinct species, as they echo the fate of species like the Miss Waldron’s red colobus monkey due to habitat encroachment and threats from domestic canines.
Financial innovations
The Bank of Tanzania (BOT) has introduced a fintech regulatory sandbox intended to stimulate financial innovations through a controlled testing environment, IT Web reports. Applications will be accepted starting in January 2025, and entities such as banks, financial institutions, and fintech companies are encouraged to submit their proposals for products not encapsulated by existing regulations. This sandbox initiative represents a concerted effort by BOT to foster a conducive regulatory atmosphere for financial development, with evaluations promised to be completed within 30 working days following each application window closure.
Climate change
A recent UN report underscores a concerning trend: over the past three decades, more than three-quarters of the world's land has faced permanent drying, with drylands now encompassing 40.6% of the Earth's surface. The effects of climate change have particularly exacerbated conditions in Southern Africa, notably in Tanzania and South Sudan, which are now grappling with increasing aridity affecting agriculture and natural ecosystems. Africa Science News reports that the alarming projections suggest that if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, an additional 3% of currently humid areas may transition to drylands by the end of the century, impacting as many as 5 billion people. The report calls for enhanced monitoring of aridity and the adoption of sustainable land-use practices to mitigate the ongoing ecological crisis, which has broader socio-political ramifications, including forced migration.
