Habari

Dar es Salaam: On March 10, 2026, Lifezone Metals (NYSE: LZM), parent company of Tembo Nickel, signed a 14-month exclusivity agreement with the Government of Burundi, with the potential for extension, covering the Musongati nickel laterite deposit. The deposit has an average nickel grade of 1.31 per cent, copper at 0.21 percent and cobalt at 0.09 per cent, and is estimated at over 150 million metric tonnes. It is located about 200 kilometres south-west of Kabanga, Ngara, within the East African Nickel Belt.

The agreement was signed by Lifezone Metals chief executive officer Chris Showalter and Burundi’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Dr Hassan Kibeya, at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C., in the presence of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Africa and Commercial Engagement, Sarah Troutman.

The development highlights the strategic role of Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), its mineral beneficiation policies, and efforts to position the country as a regional industrial and refinery hub, in line with Vision 2050, which aims for a $1 trillion economy.

The government’s extension of the SGR westward is a key infrastructure initiative. Phase II of the Joint Tanzania-Burundi-DR Congo SGR Project, financed with $696.41 million from the African Development Bank, aims to unlock Musongati’s nickel potential. Construction of the Tanzania-Burundi section began on August 16, 2025, under a $2.154 billion contract. The railway will also serve Tembo Nickel’s Kabanga project, transporting final products from Kabanga and Kahama to Dar es Salaam, demonstrating Vision 2050’s integrated logistics approach.

The Kahama Refinery, licensed for multi-metal processing by Tembo Nickel in the Buzwagi Special Economic Zone in Shinyanga, will use Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology to produce battery-grade nickel, with copper and cobalt as byproducts. By consolidating Kabanga and Musongati, the refinery could become a regional processing centre for the East African Nickel Belt.

Tanzania stands to gain in several areas. The SGR Central Corridor links Kahama to the Port of Dar es Salaam, with Musongati adding cross-border freight volumes. The government holds a 16 per cent non-dilutable stake in Tembo Nickel, giving it direct equity in the Kahama Multi-Metal Processing Facility. Kabanga is expected to create 1,090 direct jobs, 91 per cent for Tanzanians, plus thousands of indirect roles. The Kahama facility will produce finished nickel products, with Musongati increasing in-country value addition. The SGR and Musongati nickel strengthen the Port of Dar es Salaam as East Africa’s main export port for critical metals.

“Vision 2050 sets Tanzania on a path to a one trillion-dollar economy. Tembo Nickel contributes through sustainable mining, local refining, logistics infrastructure, and an equity structure that benefits all Tanzanians,” said CEO of Tembo Nickel, Benedict Busunzu.

The agreement advances integrated logistics, mineral beneficiation, private-sector industrialisation and regional engagement, providing evidence that Tanzania’s Vision 2050 strategy is progressing.

Dunia inapoharakisha mpito kutoka nishati ya mafuta na gesi kwenda nishati safi, madini muhimu yanayotumika katika teknolojia mpya yameanza kuwa nguzo ya ushindani wa kiuchumi kati ya mataifa makubwa.

Katika mabadiliko hayo ya kimataifa, Tanzania imeanza kujitokeza kama moja ya nchi zenye rasilimali zinazoweza kuwa na mchango mkubwa katika mustakabali wa uchumi wa dunia.

Madini kama kinywe (Graphite), nikeli na madini adimu mengine (rare earth elements) sasa yanatajwa kuwa uti wa mgongo wa teknolojia za kisasa, ikiwemo utengenezaji wa betri za magari ya umeme, paneli za sola na mifumo ya kuhifadhi nishati.

Kadiri mahitaji ya teknolojia hizo yanavyoongezeka duniani, nchi zenye akiba ya madini hayo zinapata umuhimu mpya katika minyororo ya ugavi wa kimataifa.

Tanzania ni miongoni mwa nchi zinazotajwa kuwa na akiba kubwa ya kinywe na madini mengine muhimu kwa teknolojia za nishati safi. Hali hiyo imeanza kuvutia mataifa makubwa na wawekezaji wanaotafuta vyanzo vipya vya uhakika vya malighafi kwa ajili ya viwanda vya teknolojia.

Hata hivyo, wataalamu wanaonya kuwa fursa hiyo inaweza kuwa baraka kubwa kwa taifa au changamoto mpya, kulingana na namna nchi itakavyosimamia rasilimali zake na kupanga mikakati ya muda mrefu ya maendeleo ya sekta ya madini.

Mchambuzi wa masuala ya rasilimali na uchumi, Luvinga Kahise, anasema Tanzania ipo katika nafasi ya kipekee katika ushindani huo mpya wa kimataifa, lakini mafanikio yake yatategemea maamuzi ya kisera na uwekezaji katika teknolojia.

“Dunia sasa inaingia katika zama mpya za ushindani wa madini muhimu. Nchi ambazo zina rasilimali kama kinywe na nikeli zinaweza kuwa na ushawishi mkubwa katika uchumi wa dunia, lakini hilo litategemea kama zitaongeza thamani ya rasilimali hizo ndani ya nchi,” anasema Kahise.

Kwa sasa, miradi mikubwa ya kinywe nchini imeiweka Tanzania katika ramani ya kimataifa ya madini yanayotumika katika utengenezaji wa betri za magari ya umeme. Miradi hiyo ni pamoja na Bunyu Graphite Project, Epanko Graphite Project, Nachu Graphite Project na Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project.

Miradi hiyo imeongeza matarajio kwamba Tanzania inaweza kuwa mmoja wa wazalishaji wakubwa wa kinywe duniani katika miaka ijayo, hasa wakati ambapo mahitaji ya madini hayo yanaongezeka kwa kasi kutokana na ukuaji wa sekta ya magari ya umeme.

Takwimu za wataalamu wa sekta ya madini zinaonyesha kuwa mahitaji ya kinywe duniani yanaweza kuongezeka mara tatu ifikapo mwaka 2030. Sababu kubwa ni ongezeko la uzalishaji wa magari ya umeme na teknolojia za kuhifadhi nishati zinazotegemea betri.

Hata hivyo, changamoto kubwa inayozikabili nchi nyingi zenye rasilimali asilia, hususan barani Afrika, ni kuendelea kuuza malighafi bila kuziongezea thamani ndani ya nchi.

Kwa mujibu wa Kahise, historia ya biashara ya rasilimali barani Afrika imeonyesha kuwa nchi nyingi zimekuwa zikisafirisha malighafi ghafi na baadaye kununua bidhaa zilizotengenezwa kwa kutumia rasilimali hizo kwa gharama kubwa zaidi.

“Changamoto kubwa kwa nchi nyingi za Afrika ni kuuza malighafi na kununua bidhaa zilizokamilika kwa bei kubwa. Tanzania ina nafasi ya kubadilisha historia hiyo kama itawekeza katika teknolojia ya uchakataji na kujenga viwanda vya kuongeza thamani,” anasema.

Kwa sasa, nchi kama China inaongoza katika kusafisha na kuchakata zaidi ya asilimia 90 ya kinywe inayotumika duniani. Hali hiyo imeifanya nchi hiyo kuwa na ushawishi mkubwa katika minyororo ya ugavi wa kimataifa ya madini muhimu.

Hata hivyo, mabadiliko ya sera za biashara na vizuizi vya usafirishaji vilivyoanzishwa na China katika baadhi ya madini muhimu vimeifanya nchi kama United States na mataifa ya European Union kuanza kutafuta vyanzo mbadala vya madini hayo ili kupunguza utegemezi wao kwa nchi moja.

Katika muktadha huo, Tanzania imeanza kuonekana kama moja ya nchi zinazoweza kuwa sehemu muhimu ya mkakati wa kimataifa wa kuhakikisha usalama wa upatikanaji wa madini muhimu kwa viwanda vya teknolojia.

“Ushindani kati ya Marekani na China katika madini muhimu unaendelea kuongezeka. Tanzania inaweza kutumia ushindani huo kupata mikataba bora zaidi ikiwa mazungumzo yatafanyika kwa uwazi na kwa kuzingatia maslahi ya taifa,” anasema Kahise.

Mbali na akiba ya madini, Tanzania pia ina faida ya kimkakati kutokana na miundombinu yake ya usafirishaji, hususan bandari zake ambazo zinahudumia biashara ya kimataifa.

Bandari ya Dar es Salaam ni mojawapo ya lango muhimu la biashara katika Afrika Mashariki na hutumika kusafirisha bidhaa kwenda na kutoka katika nchi kadhaa za ukanda huo pamoja na masoko ya Asia na Ulaya.

Kwa mujibu wa Kahise, uwepo wa miundombinu hiyo unaweza kusaidia Tanzania sio tu kusafirisha malighafi bali pia kuingiza teknolojia na kusafirisha bidhaa zilizoongezwa thamani.

“Tanzania ina bandari kubwa inayotumika sana kibiashara kati ya Afrika, China na nchi za Ulaya. Hii inaifanya kuwa katika nafasi nzuri ya kuingiza teknolojia na kusafirisha bidhaa zilizoongezwa thamani,” anasema.

Hata hivyo, licha ya rasilimali na nafasi hiyo ya kimkakati, wataalamu wanasema Tanzania bado inakabiliwa na changamoto ya kiwango cha teknolojia katika uchakataji wa madini na utengenezaji wa bidhaa za mwisho.

Ikilinganishwa na mataifa yenye viwanda vikubwa kama China, Marekani, Korea Kusini au mataifa ya Ulaya, Tanzania bado ipo nyuma katika uwekezaji wa teknolojia na utafiti wa viwanda.

“Malighafi tunazo na ubora wake uko katika kiwango kinachoweza kushindana kimataifa, lakini bado tupo nyuma kiteknolojia. Hii inafanya mataifa makubwa kunufaika zaidi kwa kununua malighafi kutoka nchi kama Tanzania,” anasema Kahise.

Kwa mujibu wa utafiti uliotathmini sera na takwimu za sekta ya madini nchini kuanzia mwaka 2017 hadi 2025, kumekuwa na mabadiliko kadhaa ya kisera yanayolenga kuongeza mchango wa rasilimali hizo katika uchumi wa taifa.

Utafiti huo uliangalia mwelekeo wa sera za serikali, uwekezaji katika miradi ya madini na mabadiliko katika soko la kimataifa ili kutathmini kama Tanzania ina nafasi ya kunufaika zaidi katika miaka ijayo.

“Lengo la utafiti lilikuwa kuangalia serikali imefanya nini katika kipindi hicho na inaelekea wapi katika miaka ijayo. Tumeona kuna uwezekano mkubwa Tanzania kunufaika zaidi na sekta hii kama sera zitasaidia kuongeza uwekezaji na thamani ya madini,” anasema Kahise.

Sehemu nyingine ya utafiti huo ilijikita katika kutathmini miradi ya kinywe (Kinywe) na uwezo wa nchi kujenga miundombinu ya uchakataji wa madini hayo badala ya kuendelea kuyauza ghafi.

Kwa mujibu wa Kahise, kwa taifa lenye uchumi mdogo kama Tanzania ni vigumu kudhibiti bei ya madini katika soko la dunia, jambo linalofanywa zaidi na mataifa makubwa yenye ushawishi mkubwa katika uzalishaji na biashara.

“Kwa taifa dogo kama Tanzania ni vigumu kudhibiti bei ya soko la dunia. Njia mbadala ni kuwekeza katika teknolojia na viwanda vitakavyotuwezesha kutengeneza bidhaa badala ya kuuza malighafi,” anasema.

Anaongeza kuwa endapo Tanzania itawekeza katika uchakataji wa madini yake ndani ya nchi, inaweza kupata manufaa makubwa zaidi, ikiwemo kuongezeka kwa ajira, kuimarika kwa ujuzi wa teknolojia na kupungua kwa umaskini.

“Kama tutazalisha na kuchakata madini yetu hapa nchini, tutajenga viwanda, tutapata ajira na kuongeza wataalamu wa teknolojia. Hapo ndipo faida halisi ya rasilimali hizi itaonekana,” anasema.

Kwa mtazamo wake, kipindi hiki kinaweza kuwa cha kihistoria kwa Tanzania ikiwa itafanya maamuzi sahihi kuhusu namna ya kusimamia rasilimali zake.

“Huu ni wakati wa kufanya maamuzi ya kimkakati. Kama Tanzania itawekeza katika viwanda, ujuzi wa teknolojia na sera thabiti, sekta ya madini inaweza kuwa moja ya nguzo kuu za uchumi wa taifa katika miongo ijayo,” anasema.

Kadiri dunia inavyoendelea kuharakisha mpito kuelekea nishati safi, umuhimu wa madini muhimu utaendelea kuongezeka. Katika mazingira hayo mapya ya kiuchumi, Tanzania inaweza kuwa mmoja wa wahusika wakuu katika sura mpya ya uchumi wa dunia ikiwa itaamua kutumia kikamilifu fursa iliyopo mbele yake.

Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Dkt. Samia Suluhu Hassan, amemuasili mtoto mchanga wa kike leo tarehe 11 Machi, 2026, katika makazi yake, Ikulu Chamwino, mkoani Dodoma.

Mtoto huyo aliyepewa jina la Grace Samia Suluhu, alitelekezwa mjini Nzega, mkoani Tabora, na amekabidhiwa kwa Rais Dkt. Samia na Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Nzega, Naitapwaki Tukai.

Akizungumza wakati wa kumkabidhi mtoto huyo, Mkuu wa Wilaya Tukai alisema mtoto huyo aliokotwa tarehe 17 Januari, 2026 akiwa ametelekezwa katika eneo jirani na nyumba ya wageni ya Kasulu, Nzega Mjini.

Alieleza kuwa baada ya kupokea taarifa hizo, alishirikiana na Jeshi la Polisi kumchukua mtoto huyo na kumpeleka hospitalini kwa uchunguzi na uangalizi, huku juhudi za kumtafuta mama yake zikiendelea bila mafanikio.

Rais Dkt. Samia amemkaribisha mtoto huyo katika familia yake na kuahidi kumpatia malezi, ulinzi na huduma zote muhimu ili akue katika mazingira salama na yenye upendo.

“Wanaotupa watoto hawajui wanalolifanya. Kuliko kumtupa mtoto ni afadhali ukamkabidhi katika mamlaka za kisheria au kituo cha kulelea watoto. Kila mtoto aliyezaliwa ni hazina, na hatuijui kesho yake,” alisema Rais Dkt. Samia.

Dar es Salaam – Air Tanzania has successfully repatriated approximately 236 Tanzanian nationals who were stranded in Dubai following the suspension of commercial flights across the Middle East, triggered by the ongoing military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The national carrier, known by its acronym ATCL, dispatched a special evacuation flight from Dar es Salaam to Dubai on March 6, 2026, returning home on Sunday with all passengers aboard.

ATCL’s Chief Operations Officer, Captain Arif Jinnah, confirmed that all passengers scheduled to return had arrived safely. However, some were required to leave a portion of their luggage behind to meet the operational requirements of the emergency flight.

The airline acknowledged that deploying a large aircraft on the Dubai route was an unusual step — one it does not ordinarily take — but said the scale of citizen need made the decision unavoidable.

ATCL further indicated that it may dispatch additional flights in the coming days if demand from remaining Tanzanian nationals in the region persists.

The Dubai Airport Authority has been operating under severe restrictions, granting airlines only 30-minute windows to board and depart, with priority given to those who had already been contacted and confirmed by their respective carriers.

ATCL has advised passengers still in the region to contact the airline’s offices in both Dar es Salaam and Dubai for guidance and confirmation ahead of any further evacuation operations.

Mwakilishi Maalum wa Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa katika Umoja wa Afrika na Mkuu wa Ofisi ya Umoja wa Mataifa katika Umoja wa Afrika (UNOAU), Bw. Parfait Onanga Anyanga, ambaye ni Mjumbe Maalum wa Mhe. Antonio Guterres, Katibu Mkuu UN ameipongeza Tanzania kwa hatua ilizochukua kurejesha amani na utulivu kufuatia vurugu na matukio ya uvunjifu wa amani yaliyotokea kwneye baadhi ya maeneo nchini tarehe 29 Oktoba 2025.

Onanga-Anyanga ametoa pongezi hizo alipofanya mazungumzo na Waziri wa Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Afrika Mashariki Balozi Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, jijini Dar es Salaam, ikiwa ni hatua ya mwanzo ya mazungumzo yake na Serikali pamoja na wadau mbalimbali wa kitaifa.

Mjumbe huyo yupo nchini kwa ziara ya kikazi kwa lengo la kufanya mashauriano na Serikali na wadau wengine wa kitaifa kuhusu hali ya kisiasa nchini, pamoja na kujadili namna Umoja wa Mataifa unavyoweza kuunga mkono juhudi za Serikali katika kuimarisha taasisi za kidemokrasia, kusimamia mageuzi na kuendeleza umoja na mshikamano wa kitaifa kupitia maridhiano jumuishi.

Aidha, amempongeza Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan kwa kuonesha utulivu na uongozi makini katika kipindi hicho kigumu kwa taifa. Amekaribisha pia uamuzi wa kuunda Tume ya Kuchunguza Matukio Wakati na Baada ya Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Oktoba 2025.

Katika ratiba ya ziara yake nchini, Bw. Onanga-Anyanga anatarajiwa kukutana na viongozi wa vyama vya siasa ikiwemo Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), ACT Wazalendo, Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMA) na Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ili kubadilishana mawazo kuhusu masuala ya utawala bora, demokrasia na mshikamano wa kitaifa.

Dar es Salaam. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has assured the public that the country’s payment systems are secure, fully operational, and protected against fraud and cyber threats.

“Our payment systems are operating well, and there has been no hacking in any banks,” said Central Bank’s Governor, Emmanuel Tutuba. “Security teams are monitoring fraud and cyber threats, particularly from individuals with malicious intentions.”

He stressed that responsible financial behaviour among borrowers is essential for maintaining stability in the financial sector.

Reports show that Tanzanian banks are laying the foundations for artificial intelligence (AI) to detect fraud, automate operations, and improve customer services, while addressing a rise in cyber-attacks targeting financial institutions across East Africa.

Tanzania’s banks are implementing AI-driven solutions for fraud prevention, cybersecurity, personalisation, and automation, supported by robust and well-connected infrastructure.

The governor said Tanzania’s economy remains resilient due to sound economic policies and stable leadership.

“Our economy continues to perform steadily because of effective economic policies and a stable financial system,” he said, noting that the financial sector has adequate capital and liquidity to support growth.

Data presented during the event showed Tanzania’s economy grew by about six percent in 2025, while Zanzibar recorded growth of around 6.8 percent.

“Mainland Tanzania is expected to grow by about 6.3 percent in 2026, while Zanzibar’s economy could expand by around 7.2 percent,” Tutuba added.

He attributed the positive outlook to effective monetary and fiscal policies, improvements in the business environment, and rising export earnings.

On gold sales, Tutuba said the central bank occasionally sells part of its reserves to maintain foreign exchange liquidity, manage reserve diversification, and support macroeconomic stability.