Makangale SATELLITE

 Na Mwandishi Wetu, Dar es Salaam

Wizara ya Mifugo na Uvuvi, Ubalozi wa Uholanzi Tanzania na wadau wa ufugaji wa kuku kwa pamoja wamezindua mradi wa kutathmini mtaala wa mafunzo ya ufugaji wa kuku kwa vyuo vya mifugo, unaolenga kuongeza ufanisi na uzalishaji wa kuku nchini.

Akizungumza wakati wa uzinduzi wa mradi huo jijini Dar es Salaam jana, Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa Wakala wa Maabara ya Utabibu wa Wanyama Tanzania (TVLA), Dkt Stella Bitanyi, akimwakilisha Katibu Mkuu wa Wizara ya Mifugo na Uvuvi, Profesa Riziki Shemdoe, alisema mradi huo unalenga kuweka misingi katika kuboresha mtaala wa ufundishaji wa ufugaji wa kuku.

Aliongeza kwamba mradi huo unakuja na majawabu ya namna bora ya kufundisha Watanzania wakulima, hasa wanawake na vijana jinsi ya ufugaji bora wa kuku wa kibiashara na kwa vitendo zaidi.

Alisema nchini Tanzania, asilimia 96 ya wakulima wa mifugo wanafuga kuku wa kienyeji, mara nyingi katika makundi madogo ya kuku kwa wastani wa hadi kuku 20, lakini hutoa chini ya asilimia 20 ya mahitaji ya nyama ya kuku na mayai nchini.

“Kasi ya ukuaji wa sekta hii ni ndogo, ikiwa ni wastani wa asilimia 2.6 kwa mwaka, uzalishaji wa mayai ni chini ya mayai bilioni 2.5 kwa mwaka, na kiwango cha matumizi ni sawa na yai moja kwa kila mtu kwa wiki,” alisema.

Alieleza kwamba kuku mmoja kwa kila mtu kwa mwaka, matumizi yanapendelea kwa wakazi wa maeneo ya mijini na wenye kipato cha kati hadi cha juu, lakini mahitaji ni makubwa nchi nzima.

Alisisitiza kwamba ufugaji wa kuku ni mojawapo ya njia bora za kupunguza umaskini hasa kwa wanawake na ajira kwa vijana katika ufugaji wa kuku.

Dkt Bitanyi aliongeza kwamba mradi wa kupitia mtaala wa tathmini ya ufugaji wa kuku ni muhimu kwa sababu unachangia kwa kiasi kikubwa kuboresha lishe na usalama wa chakula ili kuhakikisha ukuaji endelevu wa sekta hiyo.

“Sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku nchini Tanzania inakua kwa kasi kutokana na mahitaji ya protini yanayoongezeka kulingana na idadi ya watu inayokua kwa haraka, lakini sekta hii bado inafanya kazi kwa njia ya kiasili zaidi katika muundo usio rasmi,” alieleza.

Kwa upande wake, Balozi wa Uholanzi Dar es Salaam, Mshauri wa Masuala ya Uchumi, John Mike Jagger alisema wao kama Ubalozi na makampuni ya Uholanzi wanafurahi kuzindua mradi huu unaolenga kuharakisha maendeleo ya ufugaji wa kuku.

“Sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku nchini Tanzania ina uwezo mkubwa na inakua kwa kasi, ikiongozwa na mahitaji ya protini kwa sababu ya idadi ya watu inayokua kwa haraka,” alisema.

Aliongeza kwamba ingawa sehemu kubwa ya sekta hii bado inafanya kazi kwa njia isiyo rasmi, wakulima wengi wa kuku wanahama kutoka kwa kilimo cha kujikimu kwenda kwenye uzalishaji wa kibiashara.

Mgeni rasmi, Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu, Wakala wa Maabara ya Utabibu wa Wanyama Tanzania (TVLA), Dkt Stella Bitanyi, na Mshauri wa Masuala ya Ushirikiano wa Kiuchumi katika Ubalozi wa Uholanzi, John Mike Jagger, wakifungua pazia kuonyesha uzinduzi rasmi wa mradi huo wa kutathmini mtaala wa ufugaji wa kuku hapa nchini uliofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam jana. Wa pili kushoto ni Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu, Wakala wa Mafunzo ya Vyuo vya Mifugo nchini  (LITA).

Jagger alifafanua zaidi kwamba mradi wa tathmini ya mtaala wa ufugaji wa kuku utaleta fursa zinazovutia zitakazowezesha wakulima kupata maarifa sahihi, mafunzo, na maendeleo ya ujuzi katika sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku na kuongeza ajira nchini.

“Kuwekeza katika elimu na maendeleo ya ujuzi ni muhimu kwa kuboresha ufanisi, na uzalishaji endelevu katika sekta hii,” alisema.

Johan Hissink, kutoka Mradi wa Kituo cha Mafunzo cha Aeres, Uholanzi, alisema kwa kushirikiana na Wakala wa Mafunzo wa Vyuo vya Mifugo nchini (LITA) wataainisha changamoto, matatizo, na vikwazo vya sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku nchini Tanzania na kushirikiana kupitia mtaala ili kuyashughulikia kwa ufanisi.

“Tupo hapa kusaidia kukuza mtaala wa ufugaji wa kuku utakaosaidia sekta hii kushughulikia changamoto zake kuanzia kwenye vituo vya mafunzo ya ufundi hadi ngazi ya mashambani hasa kwa wakulima vijana na wanawake vijijini,” alieleza.

Afisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa LITA, Dkt Pius Mwambene alisema mradi wa kupitia mtaala wa tathmini ya ufugaji wa kuku utawafundisha wakulima na wadau wengine wa ufugaji wa kuku ujuzi zaidi na mbinu za kiufundi.

“Tuna mtaala katika sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku na kilimo lakini huu utaangazia zaidi maendeleo ya ujuzi kwa kuwafanya wakulima kuwa na ujuzi katika ufugaji wa kuku,” alisisitiza.

Dkt Mwambene aliongeza kwamba mradi huo unalenga kubadilisha mafunzo yawe ya vitendo zaidi na ubunifu katika ufugaji wa kuku kwa ajili ya maendeleo endelevu ya sekta hiyo kama msingi wa ustawi wa jamii nchini.

Angelina Nyansambo kutoka Benki ya Maendeleo ya Kilimo Tanzania (TADB) alisema kwamba kama taasisi ya kifedha wanachukulia sekta ya ufugaji wa kuku kama sekta muhimu ya ujumuishaji wa kifedha itakayochangia maendeleo ya kijamii na kiuchumi nchini.

Na Mwandishi Wetu, Dar es Salaam

Kampuni ya Taifa gesi imeendesha semina ya mafunzo ya siku moja kwa wafanyabiashara kwenye soko la feri ya namna bora ya kutumia majiko na mitungi ya gesi kwa ajili ya kupikia.

Akizungumza kwenye semina ya mafunzo hayo leo mchana katika soko la feri , Afisa Usalama kutoka Taifa Gesi, Henry Muya alisema kwamba matumizi ya nishati safi kwa ajili ya kupikia , usalama na kulinda afya za watumiaji.

“Serikali ya awamu ya sita chini ya Dkt Samia Suluhu Hassan inafanya jitihada zote ili kuhakikisha kwamba watanzania wanaachana na matumizi ya kuni na mkaa na kutumia nishati safi ya gesi kwa ajili ya kupikia na kulinda mazingira yetu,” alisema Muya.

Aliongeza kwamba ni muhimu kwa wafanyabiashara ikiwemo wa Samaki nchini kujifunza kutumia nishati safi na majiko ya gesi kwa ajili ya kupikia ili kuweza kurahisisha shughuli zao za uzalishaji mali.

“Matumizi ya mkaa na kuni yanaweza kusababisha madhara kwenye mfumo wa upumuaji kwa mtumiaji kwahiyo ni muhimu kwa watanzania kupata elimu ya matumizi ya nishati safi ambayo yanalinda mazingira kwa nchini yetu kwa ujumla,” alisisitiza Muya.

“kwa matumizi ya majiko ya gesi yanasaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa kupunguza matumizi ya fedha na kuokoa muda wa upikaji wa chakula sehemu za biashara na majumbani,” aliongeza Muya

Kwa upande wake , Katibu wa Soko la Feri, Nassoro George Mbaga alisema kwamba ni muhimu kwa watanzania kuendelea kutumia nishati safi na salama kwa ajili ya kutunza mazingira.

Aliongeza kwamba nishati safi na majiko ya kupikia ya gesi ni muhimu katika kuchochea ukuaji wa biashara kwa wafanyabiashara wa soko la feri na kukuza uchumi wa nchini husika.

 Na Damas Makangale,

Bank of Africa Tanzania imekuwa mshirika wa Accelerate Women Summit 2025, mkutano uliolenga kuchochea kasi ya maendeleo ya wanawake, na imesisitiza dhamira yake ya kuwawezesha wanawake wajasiriamali nchini kwa kuwajumuisha rasmi katika mfumo wa kifedha. Benki inaamini kuwa wanawake wakiwezeshwa kibiashara wataweza kuwa wabunifu, kuibua ajira, na kuimarisha ustahimilivu wa uchumi wa nchi.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa benki hiyo, Esther Maruma, amesema wanaamini kuwa mafanikio ya wanawake yanachangia maendeleo ya jamii na uchumi kwa ujumla.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Bank of Africa Tanzania, Esther Maruma (kushoto), akizungumza katika Mkutano wa Kuchochea Kasi ya Maendeleo ya Wanawake (Accelerate Women Summit 2025) uliofanyika hivi karibuni jijini Dar es Salaam. Pembeni yake ni Mkurugenzi wa Trademark Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki na Kati, Monica Hangi, pamoja na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Kampuni ya Yono, Scolastika Kevela."

"Ushiriki wetu katika mkutano huu ni uthibitisho wa dhamira yetu ya kutengeneza fursa muhimu kwa wanawake wajasiriamali kupata rasilimali za kifedha, ushauri, na msaada wa kukuza biashara zao," alisema Esther.

 Ameongeza kuwa maadili ya msingi ya benki hiyo ni ujumuishaji, ubunifu, na kuleta mabadiliko chanya kwa kuhakikisha kuwa mbali na kuwa taasisi ya kifedha, pia wanatoa msaada wa karibu kwa wajasiriamali hadi wafanikishe malengo yao ya kibiashara.

Bank of Africa, Mkurugenzi mtendaji Esther cecil maruma akiwa kwenye picha na Charlene Ruto, binti wa Rais wa Kenya, william Ruto kwenye mkutano wa wanawake wiki iliyopita jijini Dar es salaam.

Benki hiyo imelenga kuondoa vikwazo vinavyowakwamisha wanawake katika kupata huduma za kifedha na kupanua biashara zao kwa kuanzisha huduma zinazokidhi mahitaji yao. Pia, benki imejipanga kuwa karibu na wanawake wajasiriamali kwa kuandaa mikutano na semina zitakazowasaidia kufanikisha maendeleo ya biashara zao.

Mkutano wa Accelerate Women Summit 2025, wenye kaulimbiu "Hakuna wa Kumzuia Mwanamke – Unstoppable Woman", ulilenga kuwaamsha wanawake kuchangamkia fursa zinazoweza kuwawezesha kufanikisha maendeleo yao ya kibiashara. Bank of Africa Tanzania imejidhatiti kuhamasisha mabadiliko haya kwa kushirikiana na wajasiriamali wanawake na kukuza mfumo wa kifedha jumuishi, ambapo kila mjasiriamali, bila kujali jinsia, anapowezeshwa, anapata fursa ya kufanikiwa.

 Na Damas Makangale,

Kitengo cha Kompyuta cha Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam (University of Dar es Salaam Computing Centre – UCC) kimeandaa warsha maalum ya siku tatu kuanzia tarehe 20 Machi 2025 hadi 24 Machi 2025, itakayolenga kujadili na kuwajengea uwezo wataalamu wake wa mifumo (Software Developers na Training Instructors) katika masuala ya usalama wa mtandao (Cyber Security).

Akizungumza wakati wa uzinduzi wa warsha hiyo, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa UCC, Bi. Leticia Ndongole, alibainisha kuwa lengo kuu ni kuwawezesha watendaji wa UCC kukabiliana na changamoto za kiusalama zinazotokana na kasi ya maendeleo ya teknolojia duniani.

"Katika ulimwengu wa sasa, teknolojia inabadilika kwa kasi kubwa. Tunaona maendeleo ya akili bandia (AI), sarafu za kidijitali kama Bitcoin, na mifumo mingine ya kisasa. Hata hivyo, pamoja na maendeleo haya, tumeona pia ongezeko la uhalifu wa mtandaoni, changamoto inayotukumba si Tanzania pekee bali dunia nzima. Kupitia warsha hii, tunalenga kuwajengea uwezo wataalamu wetu ili waweze kulinda mifumo na data za taasisi na wateja wetu kwa ufanisi zaidi," alisema Bi. Ndongole.

UCC, ikiwa ni moja ya taasisi kinara wa TEHAMA nchini Tanzania, imeendelea kutoa mchango mkubwa katika maendeleo ya sekta hii kwa kutengeneza mifumo mbalimbali ya kidigitali inayotumika serikalini, katika sekta binafsi, na hata kimataifa. Mbali na hilo, UCC pia inahusika katika kutoa mafunzo, ushauri wa kitaalamu, na usimamizi wa mifumo ya TEHAMA kwa wadau mbalimbali.

Warsha hii inatarajiwa kuwawezesha washiriki kupata ujuzi wa kina kuhusu mbinu za kisasa za kulinda mifumo dhidi ya mashambulizi ya mtandaoni, matumizi salama ya teknolojia, na namna ya kukabiliana na uhalifu wa mtandao.

Warsha hii inaendeshwa na Bwana Yusuph Kileo ambaye mtaalamu wa usalama wa mtandao, mtoa mafunzo, na mshauri wa masuala ya usalama wa kidijitali. Amejipatia umaarufu katika Afrika Mashariki na kimataifa kutokana na mchango wake katika kuelimisha jamii kuhusu usalama wa mtandao.

...Kuja na visa , credit kadi na kupanua wigo wa mawakala nchini 

Na Mwandishi Wetu, Dar es Salaam 

BANK OF AFRICA Tanzania imeahidi kuendelea kujikita katika uwekezaji wa huduma za kibenki kwa wateja kama njia ya kukua kwa pamoja na wateja wake nchini.

Akizungumza kwenye futari iliyoandaliwa na benki hiyo kwa wateja wake mwishoni mwa wiki  jijini Dar es Salaam, Naibu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Bank of Africa,  Wasia Issa Mushi alisema kwamba benki hiyo itaendelea kuboresha huduma zake sambamba na kuja na bidhaa mpya sokoni katika jiihada za kukua pamoja na wateja wao. 

Mgeni rasmi wa katika futari iliyoandaliwa na Bank of Africa kwa wteja wake,  katibu wa Baraza la Ulamaa , Sheikh Hassan Chizenga akizungumza na wateja wa benki hiyo kwenye futari hiyo iliyofanyika mwishoni mwa wiki hii jijini Dar es Salaam 

“tupo mbioni kuja na bidhaa mpya kwa ajili ya wateja wetu kama vile visa kadi, credit kadi katika juhudi za kupeleka huduma zetu karibu na wateja wetu na kuwarahisishia upatikanaji wa huduma za kifedha hapa nchini,” alisema 

Aliongeza kwamba benki hiyo inathamini mahitaji ya wateja wake na mipango na malengo yao ni kuhakikisha kwamba yanalenga katika ustawi wa jamii ya kitanzania na kuchochea ukuaji wa uchumi wa nchini kwa ujumla.

Mushi aliendelea kusema kwamba mahusiano yao na wateja ni nguzo muhimu ya kibiashara kwa wateja wao wakubwa , kati na wadogo kwa hiyo ni muhimu kuendeleza mahusiano hayo kwa manufaa ya pande zote.

Naibu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji (Biashara) wa Bank of Africa, Hamza Cherkaoui akitoa neno la shukrani kwa wageni waalikwa na wateja wao kwenye futari iliyoandaliwa ba benki hiyo hivi karibuni 

“tunayo furaha kubwa kuona kwamba nyie kama wateja wetu mnaendelea kuwa na imani na benki yetu katika utoaji wa huduma za kifedha hapa nchini na imani yetu mtaendelea kuwa pamoja na sisi,” aliongeza Mushi.

Alisema kwamba benki hiyo kwa sasa ina mawakala zaidi ya 200 nchini nzima na ina mipango kabambe ya kuhakikisha kwamba wanakuwa na mawakala 500 ifikapo mwisho wa mwaka huu.

“tutaendelea kupanua huduma zetu kila siku na kuongeza idadi ya mawakala hapa nchini ili kuhakikisha bidhaa na huduma zetu zinasambaa nchini nzima na kurahisisha huduma za kifedha kwa wafanyabiashara,” alifafanua 

Kwa upande wake, mgeni rasmi wa shughuli hiyo , Katibu wa Baraza la Ulamaa nchini , Shekhe Hassan Chizenge alisema kwamba jumuiya ya waislamu nchini imefurahisha kwa kukutanishwa pamoja na kuweza kufuturu kama sehemu ya mahusiano yao pamoja na benki hiyo.

“Jambo kubwa katika hafla hii ya kufuturu pamoja na mambo mengine ni kufahamiana miongoni mwetu ni jambo la heri ambalo benki hii ya Bank of Africa wameona ni busara ka kufuuru pamoja , nachukua nafasi kuwashukuru sana,” alisema Shekhe Chizenga 

Alisema kwamba baadhi ya watu kama yeye walidhani benki hiyo ni ndogo ila baada ya kupitia maelezo kuhusu benki hiyo ni kubwa na imesambaaa kwenye nchini za Afrika na ni moja ya benki kongwe sana.

Baadhi ya wateja wa Bank of Africa na mgeni katibu wa Baraza la Ulamaa Sheikh Hassan Chizenga wakiomba dua kabla ya kufuturu kwenye futari iliyoandaliwa na Bank of Africa kwa wateja wake mwishoni mwa wiki jijini Dar es Salaam.

Naye Naibu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji  Biashara wa Benki hiyo upande wake Hamza Cherkaoui alisema kwamba wataendelea kushirikiana na wateja wake katika kuleta mabadiliko kwenye sekta ya fedha hapa nchini.

“Bank of Africa ni sehemu ya umiliki  BCME Benki ambayo ni kundi la tatu kwa ukubwa zaidi ya kibenki nchini Moroo na inapatikana katika nchini 31 na mabara manne duniani.

Aliongeza kwamba wataendelea kuja na huduma za kidigitali na uvumbuzi wa teknolojia katika kuduma za kifedha nchini na lengo kuu kuwahakikisha kwamba wanainuka kiuchumi pamoja na wateja wao na kuchochea ukuaji wa uchumi wa nchini.

Sheikh Hassan Chizenga na Naibu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Bank of Africa , Wasia Issa Mushi wakiwaongoza wageni waalikwa kwenye futari na wateja wa benki hiyo tukio hilo lilifanyika jijini Dar es Salaam mwishoni mwa wiki. 

Alifafanua kwamba ni muhimu kuendelea na ushirikiano huo na baada ya mfungo wa Ramadhani kwa kufanya kazi kwa pamoja na kwa benki hiyo itaendelea na mipango yake ya kuwasaidia wateja wadogo kukua kibiashara kwa kutimiza kwa wakati mahitaji ya kifedha sokoni.

BANK OF AFRICA - TANZANIA ni benki ya kibiashara binafsi inayofanya kazi nchini Tanzania ikihudumia wateja wa wakubwa, wa kati na wadogo SME . 

Ilianza kazi zake nchini Tanzania mnamo Juni 2007 baada ya kununua Benki ya Eurafrican ambayo ilikuwa ikifanya kazi nchini Tanzania tangu Septemba 1995. 

BANK OF AFRICA  - TANZANIA ni sehemu ya KIKUNDI CHA BENKI YA AFRIKA ambacho kilianza kazi zake mnamo 1982 nchini Mali.

BANK OF AFRICA GROUP ni kundi la benki la kimataifa linalofanya kazi katika nchi 18 za Afrika ikijumuisha; Afrika Magharibi, Afrika Mashariki, Afrika Kati na ofisi za uwakilishi huko Paris, Hispania, London, Uingereza na China. 

Tangu mwaka 2010, BENKI YA AFRIKA imekuwa tawi kubwa la umiliki wa BMCE Bank, ambayo ni kundi la tatu kubwa zaidi la benki nchini Morocco, na inapatikana katika nchi 31 na mabara 4.

BANK OF AFRICA - TANZANIA kwa sasa ina mtandao wa matawi 18 ya Rejareja ikijumuisha; 9 Dar es Salaam na 9 mikoani Arusha, Mwanza, Zanzibar na miji mingine mikubwa.

Baadhi ya wateja wakiwa kwenye picha ya pamoja kwenye futari iliyoandaliwa na Bank of Africa kwa wateja wake mwishoni mwa wiki jijini Dar es Salaam.

Mwisho .

On the evening of Monday, 10 March 2025, the Director General of the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC) was invited to an Iftar Buffet at the residence of H.E. Ambassador of  the Arab Republic of Egypt in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

It is worth mentioning that Egypt has expressed its interest in joining AMGC since 2015. Recently, there have been vigorous undergoing attempts to transform Egypt's observer status in AMGC Policy Organs to a fully active member state in the Centre.

By Damas Makangale, Dar es Salaam

The Republic of South Sudan (RSS) has vowed to collaborate with other member states of the African Minerals Geoscience Centre (AMGC) to make it a centre of excellence in capacity building, training and regional geological survey that fosters the development of the mining sector in Africa.

Speaking at the event of raising the South Sudanese flag in Dar es Salaam recently, RSS Minister for Mining Martin Gama Abucha said members states should use AMGC as a stepping stone in transforming the African economic outlook and make the sector more significant in contributing to national GDP.

He said the mining sector in South Sudan had a great potential to contribute to economic growth and to the development of South Sudan, the region and the continent at large as the cornerstone of social prosperity.  

“As a priority, the mining sector is engaged in discussions with different governments and investors to conduct a comprehensive and integrated geological survey of the country,” he said.  

He explained that the aim was to establish a system of mineral resources management, including the improvement of the current cadastral system services and information centre for the Ministry of Mining. “This will enhance our government priorities to enable the mining sector contribute to national economic growth and development,” he added.

He went on to say that in that regard, it would enable the government, diversify the economy from oil dependence which is a risk in the country and make mining investment opportunities in South Sudan as a priority for future promising.

Mr Abucha said although South Sudan faced the challenges of capacity building as a young nation due to inadequate facilities for technical training and his ministry was hopeful that the centre in Dar es Salaam would bridge the gap.

“Therefore, South Sudan will use these opportunities to benefit from the AMGC in terms of capacity building for South Sudanese geologists and geoscientists. In 2022, while invited to attend the "Tanzania Mining and Investment Conference" held in Dar es Salaam in February, we visited the AMGC.

“We were impressed with the work undertaken by the AMGC, particularly training programmes and the advancement of geological surveys in Africa. After we returned to South Sudan, we immediately embarked on the process of becoming a member state,” he noted.

He further said his nation appreciated the founding members of AMGC, whose work had proven to be vital such as capacity building and training that the centre bridged the gap between universities and practical work which was crucial in developing the mining sector in the region and Africa in general.

For his part, High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Tanzania Isaac Njenga, who read a speech of the  Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs of Kenya and Chairman of AMGC Governing Council Hassan Ali Joho said the AMGC started with the three member states of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Mozambique in 1997 principally to carry out geological surveying and to provide minerals exploration and consulting services for the programmes of its founding member states.

“By early last year, the membership had grown to eight states with a broader vision of promoting socioeconomic and environmentally responsible mineral sector development in Africa. South Sudan is, therefore, the 9^th state to sign the instruments of accession to the agreement concerning the establishment of the AMGC. We have no doubt that your joining will strengthen the AMGC and add value to its operations,” part of the speech reads.

He noted that the AMGC offered an array of services that addressed crucial gaps in the minerals sector such as lack of technical knowledge on minerals testing and identification, evaluation, grading and value addition techniques among member countries.

Mr Njenga continued reading the speech of the Cabinet Secretary Joho that the AMGC provided a high-technology, state-of-the-art minerals analytical laboratory services and geo-information data processing activities in addition to short-term specialised training.

“AMGC is facing what I would call ‘external threat’. As you may recall, the African Union established the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) in 2016 in line with Agenda 2063. The entity has similar mandate to that of AMGC. Whereas Kenya, has not yet ratified the instruments necessary to become a member of AM DC, we are aware that several countries have done so and that the African Union Commission has requested African countries to expedite the ratification and become member states.”

AMGC Director General Ibrahim Shaddad thanked the South Sudan government for seeing the importance of joining the AMGC, which is a renowned continental facility, which reflects Pan-Africanism spirit.

He said AMGC had been pursuing joint ventures that could provide high technology facilities to enhance its Pan-African capacity, mineral services and joining South Sudan is part of their core function to invite more African nations to join the club.

“We eye the AMGC to be self-sufficient, a centre of excellence and   make it more attractive to other African countries to join it,” he explained.

The AMGC, formerly known as Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre (SEAMIC), was established in 1977 principally to carry out regional geological surveying and provide mineral exploration and consulting services for the programmes of its founding member states, namely Ethiopia, Tanzania and Mozambique, later joined by Uganda, Angola and the Comoros. Kenya became a member in 2006 and the Sudan joined in 2010.

Ends.