Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Tanzania: Tba Told to Be Innovative in Govt City Designing


LAWMAKERS have told Tanzania Building Agency (TBA) to be more innovative or adopt the

Tanzania: Is Response to Curb Covid-19 Effects Descending Successfully in Public With Warnings As Envisioned


FROM authoritative travel bans, be it national or when required regional, to keeping out mass congregations and shutting down schools, governments, banks or calling for working from home

Tanzania National Enquiry Point to Boost Global Trade


TANZANIA exporters and importers may have access to more regional and global markets through use of the National Enquiry Point (NEP) that provide real time information on international markets

Tanzania: From Waste to Wealth - Her Innovative Business Model


Green entrepreneurship is the way to go in efforts to save the environment. This is why Hellen Silas, an entrepreneur has decided to create a business model with consideration to preserving the

Tanzania: Bunge Adopts New Modus Operandi

Dodoma — Tanzania Parliament has modified its way of operating during the budget sessions scheduled for today as it adopts measures to avoid spreading coronavirus.
Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai announced yesterday the new approach which will see

Tanzanian President Criticized for Refusing to Close Places of Worship

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DAR ES SALAAM - Opposition leaders in Tanzania are criticizing the government's response to the

Africa: Coronavirus - Obasanjo, Ex-African Leaders Call for Emergency Plan to Combat Pandemic


12 former African leaders, including former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have called for

FG Considers Compulsory Use of Masks as COVID-19 Cases Rise to 139


•Reviews lockdown protocol for Lagos, Ogun, FCT
•Recalls retired health workers
•Targets 1,500 per day testing capacity
•To reach 11m with palliatives
•Ekiti discharges index case
•House donates March, April salaries
Olawale Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Udora Orizu in Abuja, Martins Ifijeh in Lagos and Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The federal government is considering compulsory use of face masks by all Nigerians to stop the

Improving telecoms sector’s contributions through collaboration


The telecommunications revolution transformed the Nigeria society in divers’ ways since the dawn of the new millennium. A breakthrough in telephone infrastructure emerged in January 2001 when the

Media group tasks multinationals, agencies on safety kits for journalists

A group of media professionals reporting the nation’s maritime sector, Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), has called on multinationals and government agencies in the

Experts want government to create intervention funds for essential industries, others


By Helen Oji
To alleviate pains of COVID-19 on the citizenry, financial experts have urged the Federal Government to consider the provision of intervention funds to support essential industries/commodities such as rice, vegetables and related products. According to them, the measure

‘Why government should muster will to address socio-economic challenges’


By Victor Uzoho
Experts from the different spectrum of the Nigerian economy have said that the inability of the

Experts berate FG over stifling effect of policies on banking operations


By Helen Oji and Gloria Nwafor
Experts in the financial industry have bemoaned the stifling effect of Federal Government’s (FG) policies on commercial banks, insisting that these strategies are already taking a toll on banking

Investors lose N2.3tr as pandemic takes toll on stock market


By Helen Oji
• Stakeholders seek appropriate coordination of stimulus packages
Uncertainty in the domestic and global economy, triggered by the devastating effect of the raging

Coronavirus will eat into diaspora remittances, experts say



Mr Ramathan Ggoobi
Mr Ramathan Ggoobi 

Coronavirus: BoU suspends dividends, bonus payments

Suspended:  Dividend and bonus payment is for
Suspended: Dividend and bonus payment is for now suspended to ensure that business continuity. PHOTO BY ERONIE KAMUKAMA.  
By MARTIN LUTHER OKETCH
Bank of Uganda has suspended bonus and dividend payments as it seeks to reserve enough capital to

Keeping academically engaged during the school lockdown


 
By Desire Mbabaali
Over a week ago when President Museveni gave a directive to have all schools closed, a video of an

Stop beating citizens over corona directives

This photo taken on March 26, 2020 shows a
This photo taken on March 26, 2020 shows a vendor reacting after she was beaten up by a Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel downtown Kampala as they enforced President Museveni's directives in a bid to forestall the spread of coronavirus. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA 
By Editor
While every effort must be made to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, the authorities

Mass testing is expensive, meaningless - Museveni

President Museveni addresses the nation as he clarifies on new directives to curb the spread of coronavirus he gave on Monday March 30th.
President Museveni addresses the nation as he clarifies on new directives to curb the spread of coronavirus he gave on Monday March 30th. 
By Monitor Team
President Museveni on Tuesday rebuffed the idea of testing all the 42 million Ugandans for

Uganda's Covid-19 cases jump to 44 as 11 Watoto choir members test positive

A test kit to determine whether someone has Covid-19 costs $65 according to the President.
A test kit to determine whether someone has Covid-19 costs $65 according to the President. 
By JOB BWIRE
At least 11 more Ugandans have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of the country's confirmed cases to 44. President Museveni on Tuesday said the 11 include members of the

Adapting to online education


The occurrence of COVID-19 has seen schools temporarily closed, and learners at home until further notice.
 


With no social activities going on anymore for a while, as a way to cope with this, GAMA ART Rwanda offers students with an interest in fine art and music an escape.
GAMA ART classes are online, with the aim to reach out to as many learners as possible.

COVID-19: Zimbabwe fears more infections as thousands return from South Africa


HARARE, March 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 13,500 Zimbabweans have returned home from South Africa fleeing the 21-day COVID-19 lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, raising fears that new infections could rise, Zimbabwe's Minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo said on Sunday.
 

The lockdown in South Africa started on Friday while in Zimbabwe the 21-day-total lockdown begins on Monday. Addressing the Harare Provincial Joint Operations Command on the government's

Keeping global food chains alive is crucial amid COVID-19 crisis


The COVID-19 pandemic is putting enormous strains on the public health systems around the world, and millions of people in the world’s most advanced economies are in

Farmers bank on mechanisation to boost production

Rwanda Agriculture Board officials during the handover of agri equipment to farmers of Kayonza District on Monday. / Photo: Courtesy.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic having stopped people’s businesses, farmers are working hard to

How to access free books during the lockdown


With the government ordering folks to quarantine themselves, there needs to be a way to battle the boredom while cooping oneself at home.
 

Are you bored and on budget during lockdown?
If you’re already tired of bingeing on your favourite TV shows on streaming services, reading can

How Rwandan students are adapting to e-learning Ange Iliza & James Karuhanga

Students from Fawe Girls School use tech-enabled learning systems on February 11. Rwanda Educational Board (REB) has introduced a YouTube channel to facilitate students and pupils to continue studying from home during the COVID-19 lockdown. / Photo: File.
With all schools on lockdown due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Rwanda Education Board (REB) on Monday, March 30, launched an e-learning YouTube channel to

Coronavirus: Zigama offers loan payment relief to borrowers


Zigama Credit and Savings Society (Zigama CSS) has waived the payment of the principal amount that borrowers were meant to pay in March in order to soften the economic impact of coronavirus on its clients.

Rwanda coronavirus cases rise to 75

Rwanda on Tuesday confirmed five new COVID-19 cases, taking the number of infected persons in

Rwanda writes to Kenya, Uganda over Burundi cargo blockade

Some of the Burundi-bound cargo that were stranded at Nemba Border Post between Rwanda and Burundi. Authorities in Gitega last week unexpectedly blocked cargo trucks that use Northern Corridor, effectively denying entry to all truckers from the Kenyan port of Mombasa. / Photo: File.
The Government of Rwanda has formally notified Uganda and Kenya of the sudden decision by Burundi to block cargo trucks entering their country through Rwanda.

All Burundi-bound trucks transporting cargo from the Kenyan port of Mombasa, transit through Uganda and Rwanda.

However, authorities in Gitega recently decided to block trucks using the Northern Corridor, causing gridlocks at points of entry.
The move has been strongly criticised by freight transporters and the business community in general, especially since it goes against last week’s decision by a ministerial meeting from East African Community member states.
The meeting took place in the context of the coronavirus outbreak in EAC member states.

Rwanda has advised Kenya and Uganda not to allow more Burundi-bound cargo trucks transiting through Rwanda. Photo: File.
The ministers, who met virtually on March 25, directed all partner states to

State issues regulations for crisis fund on Covid-19

Standard Team Public health officials from Naivasha check temperatures of passengers on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway as part of measures meant to contain the spread of Covid-19. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani has published regulations to govern collection and

The rise of digital economy in COVID-19 era

David Njaaga  Evans Okech, head of strategy and innovation at Kibo Capital Group.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus, commonly referred to as Covid-19, in Wuhan, China in December, the world has focused on little else. 

Tech firms expand access to free e-books during Coronavirus lockdown

tech-firms-expand-access-to-free-e-books-during-coronavirus-lockdownStandard Reporter  Browser provider Opera and international non-profit Worldreader are expanding access to e-books for children and students via the Opera Mini browser during the coronavirus crisis.

 From last week, Worldreader has been offering a new selection of e-books to all Opera Mini users, as

Europe fears fresh produce shortage as pandemic takes hold

Reuters Kenya Horticultural Exporters staff sort out fresh produce for export. Kenya is a key exporter of such products. [File, Standard] Fresh fruits and vegetables will become increasingly scarce in Europe, suppliers warn, as the ...

How coronavirus has affected the trucking business

how-coronavirus-has-affected-the-trucking-businessSara Okuoro  The Coronavirus pandemic has affected several industries and economies worldwide.

 In Kenya, the trucking industry has been affected following stringent measures issued to drivers. The drivers have to sign a coronavirus self-quarantine declaration form at the...

Banks, insurers post mixed results

Peter Theuri 
HF posted a net loss of Sh110 million compared to the Sh598 million loss posted in 2018. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]
Property and financial solutions provider HF Group has posted a net loss of Sh110 million in the year ending December 31, 2019.

Treasury floats Sh60 billion bond

Macharia Kamau  The government is set to borrow Sh60 billion from the domestic market next week. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said yesterday the nine-year bond is to finance infrastructure developments and will

Treasury floats Sh60 billion bond

Macharia Kamau  The government is set to borrow Sh60 billion from the domestic market next week. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said yesterday the nine-year bond is to finance infrastructure developments and will pay an interest rate of 10.85 per cent. It will be redeemed in phases, with the first one scheduled for...

Cost of living holds amid corona

Dominic Omondi 
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi when she gave the national coronavirus update at Afya House. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]
The prices of consumer products increased by 6.37 per cent in March compared to 6.06 per cent recorded in February.

 The slow rate of increase, also known as inflation, was due to an abundant supply of ...

Fearless cleric who fought for the poor

Steve Mkawale 
Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki (right) and other leaders hold a draft constitution during the push for reforms. [File, Standard]
The late Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki will be remembered for his fight against injustice, poor governance and corruption in society.

 In Nakuru County, Ndingi was a priest who gave his life to the