Tanzania Roundup: World Bicycle Relief, power grid with Zambia, MoUs with Iran

MoUs with Iran

On the geopolitical front, Tanzania and Iran signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for cooperation across various sectors during the fifth Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting on October 17, 2024. Key focus areas included investment, energy, oil and gas, technology, and security. Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo highlighted economic diplomacy as central to the discussions and mentioned Iranian investments in agriculture and fishing potentially worth $40 million to $70 million. According to The Chanzo Reporter, Tanzania owes Iran Sh1.48 trillion, making it the country’s largest creditor, possibly influencing Tanzania's decision to open an embassy in Tehran.

Cholera outbreak

Regionally, a cholera outbreak in Tanzania's Lindi region has resulted in one death and 25 hospitalisations since it was first reported on October 13 in Zinga Kibaoni village, Kilwa district. This marks the second outbreak in the region, with the first occurring on September 17, Social News XYZ reports. Regional health authorities are actively working to control the situation. Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, poses a significant public health threat linked to inequity and inadequate social development.

Power grid with Zambia

In response to a power crisis exacerbated by drought, Tanzania is constructing a grid interconnector with Zambia, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Doto Biteko at the Singapore International Energy Week. The interconnector is a critical part of Tanzania's broader strategy to enhance regional electricity trade within the Eastern African Power Pool and is anticipated to be completed in 36 months, CNBC Africa reports. Concurrently, Tanzania is negotiating a $42 billion liquefied natural gas export project, which has faced delays due to proposed amendments to the Host Government Agreement, with key partners in the LNG project including Equinor, Shell, and Exxon Mobil.

World Bicycle Relief

Addressing mobility poverty, World Bicycle Relief has expanded its operations into Tanzania, aiming to impact 45,000 rural individuals over the next three years by providing reliable bicycle-based transportation solutions. This initiative will enhance access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, particularly for healthcare workers, students (focusing on girls), and small-scale farmers. World Bicycle Relief will distribute 2,000 bicycles to Community Health Workers in partnership with the Ministry of Health, thereby improving healthcare delivery in critically underserved areas, according to Bikebiz.

Gender Disparity

The significant gender disparity in land ownership laws in Tanzania leaves women, particularly widows like Fatuma Mussa and Hadija Salum, vulnerable and economically marginalised. Following her husband's death, Mussa lost her family's four-acre farm, as it was registered solely in his name, illustrating the common issue where women lack legal documentation linking them to property. Similarly, Salum faced challenges in securing a loan to expand her business due to the absence of land ownership certificates. The World Bank reports that less than 5% of agricultural land in Africa is formally documented, with men holding 70% of land titles.