Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT & AFP | Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed ‘Mo’ Dewji, who was abducted over a week ago, has been found and is safe back home, a family member has confirmed. In a Saturday 3.15 am tweet on the MeTL Group handle, Dewji said, “I thank Allah that …
Read More »Family of kidnapped Tanzanian billionaire Dewji offer reward
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The family of Tanzania’s only billionaire Mohammed Dewji, who was kidnapped last week in Dar es Salaam, on Monday announced a reward of nearly half a million dollars for information on his whereabouts. Gunmen snatched Dewji, 43, listed by Forbes as Africa’s youngest billionaire, as …
Read More »Lake Victoria, African lifeline regularly hit by sinkings
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Lake Victoria is the biggest lake in Africa and crossed every day by scores of boats that are often poorly maintained and overloaded, making them vulnerable to poor weather. Here is some background on the vast lake where more than 200 people drowned last month …
Read More »Uganda, Tanzania set new fast track deadline for crude oil pipeline
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda and Tanzania have agreed to further fast track their plans for the construction of the $3.5 Billion East Africa Crude Oil Project. The Ministers of Energy from the two countries together with their Attorney Generals met for another round of negotiations over the project …
Read More »Court provisionally blocks Tanzania’s new blogging law
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzania’s high court on Friday temporarily suspended a controversial new law that would impose major fees on bloggers and other online media. Due to come into force on Saturday, the law would compel bloggers to pay $900 (750 euros) for a permit, a huge sum …
Read More »14 killed in days of flooding in Tanzania city
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Fourteen people have died as a result of days of torrential rains and flooding in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s economic capital, police said Tuesday. “The balance sheet has worsened. This morning, we have reached 14 killed,” city police chief Lazaro Mambosasa told reporters. The number …
Read More »Tanzanian pop star Diamond Platinumz arrested over ‘indecent’ pictures
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Popular Tanzanian musician Diamond Platinumz has been arrested for publishing “indecent” photographs on social media, the information minister told parliament on Tuesday. Since Monday images have circulated on social networks showing the 28-year-old singer, shirtless and in bed with a female companion. “Among our …
Read More »Tanzania – Uganda oil players share opportunities
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | With the first oil expected towards the end of 2020 in Uganda, players are already exploring more ways of reaping from the sector. The latest avenue was a two-day local content workshop organized by the Association of Uganda Oil and Gas Service Providers (AUGOS) in …
Read More »Tanzania’s Magufuli builds wall around gem mines
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday inaugurated a 24-kilometre (15-mile) around the country’s tanzanite mines to prevent smuggling of the precious violet-blue stones, which are unique to the East African country. Magufuli in September ordered the army to build the wall around the mines, located …
Read More »A driver, farmer arrested over call to protest Tanzanian ‘dictatorship’
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian police said Wednesday they had arrested a driver and a farmer accused of urging fellow citizens to protest against the increasing authoritarianism of President John Magufuli on social media. A call for nationwide protests on April 26, first launched by an opposition activist, has …
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