UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA (UBA) DONATES TZS 230 MILLION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID- 19

MARCH 28, 2020 – United Bank for Africa (Tanzania), a subsidiary of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA Group) donated TZS 230 Million equivalent to USD100,000 to the government of Tanzania through the office of the Prime Minister as part of its relief support to drive a comprehensive Pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

The donation is aimed to provide the needed support in meeting the heavy burden of providing health safety materials, medical infrastructure and other critical care facilities which the corona virus pandemic has placed on all governments across the globe.

We place high value on our relationship with government of Tanzania and are committed to positively impact our business environment in Tanzania for the good of the country and the general wellbeing of its citizens and residence.

“This donation is part of the US$14 Million Relief Fund which UBA Group through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, UBA Foundation has provided to all the governments of the 20 African countries where we operate in demonstration of our commitment to the development of the continent. As a responsible corporate citizen, we belief we are in this challenging situation together and we must all make our modest contribution towards the fight against the corona virus for us to STAY SAFE!” the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Usman Isiaka said.

“We commend the efforts of government of Tanzania and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort, that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective”. Mr. Isiaka continued.

Speaking during the donation session, UBA non - Executive Director Ms. Farhiya Warsame said “Covid- 19 is a global crisis that cannot be left to the government alone to fight, responsible corporate citizens and well-meaning individuals need to support all initiatives and efforts of the government, as we are all in it together.”

The Prime Minister, Hon. Kassim Majaliwa who is also the chairperson of the National COVID-19 Committee, lauded the bank’s support of the government’s fight against the pandemic and emphasized that the government will ensure proper allocation of the funds and scale up its efforts to curb transmission of the disease.

Operating in 20 African countries and with presence in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, the United Bank for Africa has a strong record of supporting its communities, through challenging times.

Waziri Mkuu, Kassim Majaliwa akipokea hundi ya sh. milioni 230 ukiwa ni mchango wa Benki ya UBA wakati alipopokea michango kutoka kwa wadau mbalimbali kwa ajili ya mapambano dhidi ya ugonjwa wa CORONA, Machi 28, 2020. Kulia ni Waziri wa Afya, Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia, Wazee na Watoto, Ummy Mwalimu, kushoto ni Ofisa Mtendaji Mkuu wa Benki hiyo, Usman Isaka na wa nne kushoto ni Mkurugenzi Mkuu wa Benki hiyo, Farhiya WarsamMao

United Bank For Africa(UBA) Announced on wednesday That it Will Provide N5 billion(U$14 million) To COVID-19 Relief Support Across Africa

MARCH 25, 2020 – United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) on Wednesday announced a donation of over 5 billion Naira (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, to catalyse a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

The donation will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to Governments. The UBA support programme will be allocated as follows:



N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to Lagos State Government in Nigeria


N500 million (USD1.4 million) to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja


N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria


N1.5 billion (USD4.2 million) to UBA’s presence countries in Africa


N1 billion (USD2.8 million) for Medical Centres with equipment and supplies


Free Telemedicine call centre facility


The pan-African bank will fund a medical centre immediately in Lagos, Nigeria, with beds for isolation and ICU facilities, managed and operated in partnership with Heirs Holdings’ healthcare subsidiary, Avon Medical Hospital.

 In addition, UBA is providing a free telemedicine platform, that is physician-led, to provide direct access to medical advice to citizens, in compliance with social distancing requirements.

 UBA Group Chairman Tony O. Elumelu, stated ‘This is a time when we must all play our part.  This global epidemic must bring citizens, governments and business leaders together – and quickly. As we see a rapidly increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria and Africa, the private sector has to work hand in hand with various Governments, in stemming the spread of the global pandemic.

 We commend the efforts of governments and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort, that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective’.

Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, the United Bank for Africa has a strong record of supporting its communities, through challenging times.

Bachungwa na Dkt. Nchimbi waja kivingine kwenye zao la Alizeti

 Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Singida, Dkt. Rehema Nchimbi akimkaribisha Waziri wa  Viwanda na Biashara, Innocent Bachungwa (hayupo pichani) alipotembelea Ofisini kwake leo kwa ajili ya  ziara ya kikazi ya siku moja kukagua  viwanda vya kukamua mafuta ya Alizeti  Mkoani Singida (Picha na John Mapepele)

 Waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara, Innocent Bachungwa (aliyenyanyua mkono) akiangalia  mashine za kukamua mafuta  kwenye kiwanda cha Mt. Meru mjini Singida; kiwanda kinachosadikiwa kuwa kikubwa kuliko vyote  Afrika Mashariki na Kati, mbele yake ni Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Singida, Injinia  Paskasi Muragili nyuma yake ni  Sailesh Patel, Makamo wa Rais wa Kiwanda cha MT Meru-Tanzania

Mmiliki wa  Kiwanda cha Kukamua Mafuta  cha Singida Fresh Oil Mill, Abdallah Omary-Shuru (mwenye kanzu)  akimwonyesha Waziri Bachungwa  (aliyeshika gerani) jinsi mashine zinavyokamua mafuta katikati ni Mkuu wa wa Wilaya ya Singida, Injinia  Paskasi Muragili, aliyeshika  daftari ni Mwakilishi wa Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Singida  Stanslaus Choaji

       
Na John Mapepele, Singida
Waziri wa Viwanda na Biashara, Innocent Bichungwa ameitaka Wizara yake kwa kushirikiana na Mkoa wa Singida ndani ya mwezi moja   kufanya mkutano wa kitaifa utakaowashirikisha wadau wote wa zao la Alizeti  kujadili  mnyororo wa thamani  wa zao hili kuanzia kwa mkulima  hadi kwa wenye viwanda  ili kuleta  mapinduzi ya kiuchumi na kufuta gharama kubwa ambazo serikali inatumia kuagiza mafuta ya kula toka nje ya nchi.

Bachungwa  ameyasema hayo wakati alipofanya ziara ya siku mmoja leo kwenye  Mkoa wa Singida kutembelea  viwanda vya kukamua Alizeti  ambapo alikagua shughuli zinazofanywa na kiwanda  kikubwa cha kukamua mafuta Afrika mashariki na Kati cha Mt. Meru na  Kiwanda cha  Singida Fresh Mill vilivyopo ndani ya Manispaa ya Mji wa Singida ambapo alisisitiza  kuwepo na mkutano wa haraka wa wadau wote  wa zao hilo ili kunusuru fedha nyingi zinatumika  na nchi kununua  mafuta  ya kula kutoka nje ya nchi.

Alisema katika kundi la bidhaa la vyakula, mafuta ya kula yanashika nafasi ya pili kuwa kutumia gharama ya asilimia 22.6 ikiongozwa  na zao la Ngano linalotumia asilimia 57.3 huku Sukari  ikitumia asilimia 16.2  ikifuatiwa na Mahindi ambayo yanatumia gharama ya asilimia  2.6 kulipiwa toka nje ya nchi ambapo aliongeza  kuwa Tanzania kama nchi inatumia jumla ya kiasi cha shilingi trioni 1.3 kwa mwaka  kuagiza  bidhaa zote za vyakula kutoka nje ya nchi.

Bachungwa alisema Tanzania  imejaliwa kuwa na maeneo makubwa ya ardhi yenye rutuba ambayo yanaweza kupanda  mbegu bora za Alizeti ambazo zinaweza kutosheleza viwanda vya ndani na kuuzwa nje ya nchi, kinachotakiwa ni wadau wote kukaa kama taifa na  kujadii namna bora ya kuongeza thamani kwenye mnyororo wa mzima wa thamani wa zao la Alizeti.

Aliwataja baadhi ya wadau muhimu katika kikao hicho kuwa mikoa inayolima zao la Alizeti, wizara inayohusika na kilimo, Mifugo na Uvuvi, Fedha, tasisi za utafiti zinazojiusisha na Alizeti, wajasiliamali  na wawekezaji wa viwanda vikubwa vya kukamua mafuta ya Alizeti hapa nchini.

Alisema alichogundua katika ziara hiyo ni  kuwa hakuna  mfumo mzuri wa kufungamanisha  kilimo cha alizeti na viwanda  hali inayowafanya wadau washindwe kupata  faida na badala yake kuhangaika kutafuta masoko ya bidhaa hizo nje ya nchi  na kuwakosesha watanzania  ajira na mapato kwa taifa.

Nimeshangaa viwanda vinahangaika kuuza mashudu nchi jirani na kulalamikia kodi na ushuru unaotozwa na Serikali wakati tunaviwanda vyetu vya kutengeneza vyakula vya kuku vinahangaika usiku na mchana kutafuta   mashudu wakati Singida  yamejaa alihoji Bachungwa.

Aliutaka Mkoa wa Singida  kutumia  fursa ya kuwa jirani na Makao Makuu ya Nchi, Dodoma  kupanga mipango mizuri kwa kutenga  maeneo maalum ya uwekezaji kama ambavyo Mkoa wa Pwani ulivyonufaika kwa kuwa  karibu na Jiji la Dar es Salaam  kwa kutenga maeneo ambayo sasa  maeneo hayo  yameendelea kujengwa viwanda vya kisasa hivyo  kuendana  na  kauli ya  Serikali ya awamu ya Tano inayosisitiza  ujenzi wa viwanda

Aidha aliwataka watendaji Serikalini kote nchini kubadilika  na kuondokana na dhana kwamba mapinduzi ya viwanda yataletwa na Wizara  ya Viwanda na Biashara  na badala yake  mikoa  iweke  mikakati mahususi ya kuwavutia wa wekezaji kuja kuwekeza na  baada ya kuwekeza waendelee kuwalea  ili waweze  kuendelea  kuweka mitaji  zaidi ktika mikoa husika.

Naye Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Singida  Dkt. Rehema Nchimbi alimshukuru Waziri Bachungwa  kwa  kufanya ziara hiyo ambapo alisema  tayari mkoa wake umeshafanya vikao  vya mara kwa mara na wadau mbalimbali wa zao la alizeti ambapo amesema hata wiki moja iliyopita Mkoa wa kushirikiana na Shirika na Viwango Tanzania (TBS) na Shirika la Viwanda Vidogo Nchini (SIDO) walitoa mafunzo maalum  kwa wajasiliamali wa zao hilo ambapo amesema mkutano huu utakuwa na manufaa makubwa kwa kuwa utakuwa katika ngazi ya kitaifa na itashirikisha wadau wengi zaidi.

Mkoa tunafarijika sana  kwa wazo lako ulilotoa la kuwa na mkutano wa kitaifa wa wadau wote wa zao la Alizeti  kwa kuwa ni ndoto yetu kuboresha thamani ya zao hili ili kuleta mapinduzi makubwa kwa wadau wote na taifa kwa ujumla, nakuahidi sisi kama Mkoa tutafanya  haraka iwezekanavyo kuhakikisha mkutano unafanyika ndani ya mwezi huu alisisitiza Dkt. Nchimbi.

Alisema katika kuratibu mkutano huo mkoa utawashirikisha wadau mbalimbali ambao wataandaa maonyesho maalum  ya mnyororo wa zao la Alizeti ili washiriki waweze fursa  kuona bidhaa mbalimbali zitokanazo na zao hilo.

Aliongeza kuwa Mkoa umekuwa ukifanya kampeni mbalimbali ikiwa ni pamoja na kampeni ya mbegu hasara na mbegu  bora iliyolenga kuwafanya wakulima kuachana na  mbegu za asilia ambazo  mavuno yake yalikuwa yanazidiwa  mara saba zaidi  na mbegu bora ya kisasa.

Alizitaja baadhi ya faida ya mbegu bora kuwa ni kuokoa  akiba ya ardhi, kuokoa muda, bei  ya kuuza kuwa juu  ambapo pia aliishukuru benki ya kilimo nchini TADB kwa kutoa mikopo ya zaidi ya  bilioni 4 kwa wadau mbalimbali wa zao la alizeti kwenye mkoa wa Singida.

Naye Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Singida  Injinia  Paskasi Muragili  ameishukuru Serikali  kwa kupanga kufanya  mkutano huo kwenye Wilaya  yake ambapo alisema Wilaya yake ndiyo mzalishaji  mkuu wa  mbegu bora za Alizeti hivyo mkutano huo utasaidia  kuwapa msukumo  mpya wadau wote kuboresha thamani ya mnyororo mzima wa thamani wa zao hilo.