Last week I came across World Population Prospects, a publication of the World Bank which forecast the world’s population in 2100. I was astounded to note that by that year Tanzania’s population would reach 353,512,977 under a high-fertility scenario, 262,834,722 under a medium-fertility scenario and 190,719,754 under a low-fertility scenario. The most widely accepted estimate…
Over the years of attending various tech events across Africa, I have noticed a common theme: Many innovative solutions are created without a clear understanding of local needs or sustainable business models. It is inspiring to see the passion and creativity, but without aligning these innovations with practical, market-driven strategies, they often struggle to make…
Bringing a new baby into the world is often described as a joyful and fulfilling experience. However, for many mothers, this period can also bring unexpected emotional struggles. While it is normal to feel tired or overwhelmed after childbirth, some women experience a deeper, more persistent sadness known as postpartum depression (PPD). Postpartum depression is…
A bright morning day in Mkomazi National Park, where we are welcomed by herds of buffaloes feeding peacefully on the plains. My attention was gracefully focused on birds that clinger on one large herbivorous, feeding right between the buffalo eyes, others on the nose and the buffalo did not seem to mind about them. The…
EAC has appointed a woman to head its Secretariat as Secretary General (SG). It is in this respect that the recent appointment of Kenya’s Veronica Mueni Nduva as EAC-SG can be seen as truly revolutionary and groundbreaking. Her appointment does not just mark a significant milestone in the pursuit of gender equality in the region’s…
The other day I was minding my own business at my retirement home in Njombe when a former co-worker from India called to say he was in town. An hour later we met and reminisced about our days together some ten or so years ago. He was in town on a project involving the avocado…
Gran Melia Arusha now occupies the ground where the former Hotel 77 was established. In 1979, Arusha played host to the world when it welcomed the Conference of the Group of 77. Leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America gathered at the freshly built Hotel 77 to push for fairer trade, debt relief and a…
At Mama Z’s, the shop is wideWith bread and soap and beans insideThe shelves lean left, the cat looks boredA toddler sleeps beside the cordAnd everyone pays when they can The news is told with heavy breathA goat escaped, they chased it westSomeone saw clouds that looked like riceA boy drank milk not smelling niceIt’s…
Last week we highlighted an upset African travelling companion. Innocently walking and minding his business he was told off by ladies showing parts of their bodies. He declares he finds London annoying; he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for endless corruption and conflicts back home. As I listened, I wondered if such loss of…
When Tanzania and Burundi initiated a $2.15 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) connecting the two countries, it was more than just another infrastructure project. It was a promise of a future for East Africa, one critical piece in its dream of regional unity. For decades, the EAC has spoken about integration, yet reality has been…
