President Samia Suluhu Hassan - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Ex-Tanzanian president Mwinyi, who launched country’s free market, dead at 98

FORMER Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, credited with ushering the East African nation into free market economics, has died at age 98, current President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a television broadcast. Mwinyi succeeded Tanzania's first post-independence president, Julius Nyerere, who left office in 1985 after 22 years in power. "On behalf of the government, I would like to convey my condolences to the family, relatives, friends and all Tanzanians for this loss," President Hassan said. Mwinyi was credited with introducing free market policies and was in turn succeeded by the late Benjamin Mkapa in 1995. President Hassan said Mwinyi…

Dec

2023

By NUZULACK DAUSEN

Tanzania flood deaths rise to 63, prime minister says

NEWS

THE death toll from floods in northern Tanzania following torrential rains this weekend has risen to 63, the prime minister said, adding to hundreds of other deaths caused by extreme weather in East Africa since seasonal rains began in October. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said in comments broadcast on television that the number of injured stood at 116 people. Landslides had destroyed half of one village he visited, he said. "We are here in front of bodies of our fellows. We have lost 63 loved ones. Of the total fellows we lost, 23 are men and 40 are women," he…

Dec

2023

By The African Mirror

Floods kill more than 20 people in northern Tanzania

NEWS

AT least 20 people have been killed by floods after heavy rain in the Manyara region of northern Tanzania, the Ministry of Health said. Severe flooding caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon has killed hundreds of people in Kenya and Somalia in recent weeks. The rains have also left a trail of destruction, ruining infrastructure like roads and submerging towns in East Africa, displacing hundreds of thousands of people. "We are very shocked by this event," President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a video message posted online by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health. She directed security agencies, the Ministry…

Nov

2023

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

UAE’s post-oil ambitions steer a multibillion-dollar push into African freight

BUSINESS

UNITED Arab Emirates-based companies and funds are doubling down on a foray into Africa's freight and logistics scene. Earlier this week, Emirati maritime giant, DP World, inked a US$250 million port contract with Tanzania to operate part of Dar es Salaam's port for 30 years. DP World will exclusively manage four city dock moorings and share control of another four with the Tanzania Port Authority. Plasduce Mbossa, the authority's director general stated contracts will be reviewed every five years. Tanzania's deal with UAE follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan's previous agreement, allowing DP World to consultatively oversee all Tanzanian ports. Although…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Tanzania opposition leader says he will end exile after rally ban was lifted

NEWS

TANZANIAN opposition leader and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu said he will return home this month from exile in Europe after the government lifted a ban on political rallies. President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted the six-and-a-half-year ban on political rallies last week, part of her reconciliation strategy after taking over the presidency in March 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. "With the lifting of the illegal ban on political activity, it's now time to return home and get back to work," Lissu wrote late on Friday on Twitter, saying he would arrive on January 25. The ban, imposed by…

Mar

2022

By The African Mirror

Tanzania frees opposition leader, drops charges

NEWS

TANZANIA has freed the leader of the main opposition party, Freeman Mbowe after prosecutors dropped terrorism charges brought against him last year, his party said on Friday. Mbowe, who is the chairman of Chadema party, was detained last July in the lakeside town of Mwanza where he was due to attend a conference on proposals for a new constitution. He was charged in court on July 26, in spite of protests from his party that the charges were politically motivated. "The director of prosecutions has dropped charges of economic crimes and terrorism," Chadema said on its Twitter feed. Three co-accused…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Tanzania’s central bank to give $432 mln loan for lending to private sector

BUSINESS

TANZANIA’S central bank will provide a 1 trillion shilling ($432 million) loan to commercial banks for lending to the private sector, as part of measures aimed at tackling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank of Tanzania said in a statement that it asked commercial banks to cap the lending rate to borrowers in the agriculture sector at 10%. The bank said the loan to commercial banks will have a 3% interest rate, and they can use it to pre-finance or refinance loans to private businesses. Tanzania, which under late President John Magufuli had downplayed the impact of COVID-19…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Tanzania arrests leader of main opposition party

NEWS

TANZANIA’S main opposition party has revealed that its leader had been arrested with ten other party figures, in what it called proof that President Samia Suluhu Hassan was persisting with the authoritarianism of her late predecessor John Magufuli. The Chadema party said leader Freeman Mbowe and the others had been detained before dawn at a hotel in the lakeside city of Mwanza, where they had been planning to hold a meeting later on Wednesday to discuss proposals for a new constitution. The arrests followed the detention of dozens of other party members last week for holding a meeting without permission.…