Tanzania, Zambia to Collaborate in Controlling Unregulated Importation of Forest Products.


By Our Correspondent, Ndola



The Government of Tanzania, through the Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS), has laid the groundwork for a lasting solution to address the challenge of unregulated importation of forest products from Zambia without valid permits.


This development follows a special working meeting held today, July 7, 2025, on the sidelines of the ongoing Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITFT) in Ndola.


The Tanzanian delegation, led by Deputy Conservation Commissioner for Forest Resource Marketing and Sustainable Utilization, DCC Salehe Beleko, met with the Director of the Department of Forestry in Zambia, Mr. Sitwala Wamunyima, and his team, on behalf of the Commissioner of Conservation, Prof. Dos Santos Silayo.


Speaking after the meeting, Beleko said the discussions aimed to resolve the long-standing issue of forest product consignments from Zambia being intercepted in Tanzania with documentation reportedly unrecognized by Zambian authorities.


“We found it necessary to establish a joint communication and tracking system to eliminate the inconvenience faced by traders and reduce follow-up costs on shipments held up at border points,” Beleko explained.


On his part, Mr. Wamunyima admitted that Zambia still has a long way to go in improving its forest management systems, and he pledged that by December this year, the country will have an officially recognized permit issuance system aligned with international standards and integrated with Tanzanian authorities.


“Our country is still developing its forest management systems. We need to learn from Tanzania, especially in areas like forest plantation development, beekeeping, and digital permit issuance,” said Wamunyima.


In a related development, the Deputy Principal of the Zambia Forestry College, Mr. Shawa Patrice, stated that they intend to learn from the curriculum of the Forestry Training Institute (FTI) in Tanzania to upgrade their own curriculum and align it with the current job market demands.


Additionally, the TFS delegation visited the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO), a public company engaged in forest planting and forest product production. Discussions focused on collaboration in skill-sharing and commercial raw material exchange.


The 2025 ZITFT was officially opened on July 5 by Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema. The event is expected to attract participants from within and outside Africa.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muslim Hassanali Returns to Politics, Seeks CCM Nomination for Kinondoni Parliamentary Seat.

Image
Muslim Hassanali, who previously contested for the Ilala constituency parliamentary seat in 2015 under the opposition party CHADEMA, has resurfaced in the political arena—this time collecting a nomination form to run for Member of Parliament in Kinondoni under the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Hassanali, who later officially joined CCM, now joins a growing list of party members who have declared their intentions and collected nomination forms to seek the party’s endorsement ahead of the upcoming general elections. The process of collecting and returning nomination forms within CCM officially began on June 28, 2025, and is expected to conclude by July 2, 2025. Hassanali’s move signals a potentially competitive race within the party as aspirants vie for various leadership positions.
Read more

EAC Countries Unite to Boost Cross-Border Agroecological Trade: Seven Key Resolutions Adopted in Jinja Conference

Image
By Our Reporter Participants of the Regional Conference on Enhancing Cross-Border Trade in Agroecological Produce within the East African Community (EAC) have issued seven resolutions aimed at boosting this crucial sector for the economies of member states. The week-long conference, held in Jinja, Uganda, brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, farmers, researchers, and journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC. Reading the conference resolutions, the General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Dr. Million Belay, said that about 100 people met and discussed ways to collaborate and advance the vision of agroecological trade within the EAC. “We agreed that every stakeholder should fulfill their responsibilities to ensure accelerated regional economic growth through agroecology. We are calling on governments and all stakeholders to fully implement commitments to eliminate non-tariff ba...
Read more

*Government Launches 15274 Hotline to Ease Access to National ID Information

Image
Dar es Salaam: The Government has urged citizens to use their mobile phones by dialing *15274 to easily access information related to National Identification Cards (NIDA). Speaking today, December 29, 2025, the Minister for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, said the service will enable citizens to check the status of their National ID cards, including whether the card has been produced or not, with feedback provided within five days. He explained that through this number, citizens will receive important information regarding their National IDs, adding that damaged ID cards are expected to be replaced starting February 2026. “By using this number, you will be able to get information on whether your ID card has been produced. I emphasize that damaged ID cards will be issued in February 2026,” said Minister Simbachawene. The Minister further noted that the Government has put in place a strategy to introduce the use of a single identification card for accessing various government services...
Read more