April 2015: Issue No.

41
In this issue, you will find:
Message from the Director General: P1
Why Researchers, innovators, scientists need to work together : P2
Write sound Proposals, Danida tells Researchers: P5
COSTECH touts Cluster development initiatives: P6
Local boy makes it to regional engineering prize finals: P7
Integrating agriculture, aquaculture for wealth: P8
Scientists: Too early to rejoice over vaccine: P10
Improving teaching in science and mathematics: P11
Google launches cache link in Tanzania: P13
Disease Resistant Cassava Sought: P14
Tanzania: The Journey of a thousand Innovative Milestones: P15
Pictorial :P17

Message from the Director General

Dear readers,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me express my pleasure to allow you interact with the Tanzania Commission for Science and
Technology (COSTECH) through this electronic Newsletter. Electronic Newsletter is indeed one of the important
Communication channels used by the Commission to disseminate different information taking place at COSTECH.
This month, COSTECH in collaboration with Bio- Innovate Program and colleagues from the Uganda National Council for
Science and Technology (UNCST) organized the Round Table Meeting on Policies and Regulatory Incentive for Promoting
Innovations in the use of bio pesticides and management of industrial effluents. That meeting, which brought different
stakeholders, discussed how policies and regulatory incentives for promoting innovations in the use of bio-pesticides and
management of industrial effluents could benefit the country.

Bio-innovate program effectively demonstrates and sets precedence for how best countries like Tanzania can design their
research and innovation systems to deliver socio-economic development sustainably.

I believe at the end of that meeting, stakeholders were able to exchange their experiences on strategies for building
innovations systems and bio-enterprises and planning for the future platform need.

Moreover, I also take this opportunity to commend Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) for
funding that project “Biosciences Innovation Policy Consortium for Eastern Africa (BIPCEA).We are all optimistic, that
project and others related to Biosciences will soon going to have positive impact into our society.

This month COSTECH also hosted the Annual review meeting of the South Driven Development Research Program. The
meeting was organized by COSTECH and DANIDA. The Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DANIDA)
cooperates with research institutions and think-tanks such as COSTECH to enhance the developing countries’ own research
and to generate new knowledge that can be applied in the development assistance.
Among other things, the meeting also brought together different Researchers exposing them to the sound proposal writing
skills. It is my hope that, at the end of that meeting, Tanzania researchers gained enough knowledge to get DANIDA
funding which is offered for competitive basis. Deadline for phase one application is September 4, 2015.

Together with other stories, in this issue, you will also read about the Mwenge Wood carving Cluster training facilitated by
COSTECH.
I wish you all the best
With kind regards,

Dr. Hassan Mshinda

1
DIRECTOR GENERAL.
By Daniel Semberya, 10th April 2015
The government has urged The call was made yesterday in
researchers, innovators, scientists Dar es Salaam by the Permanent
and other key stakeholders in Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture,
agriculture to work together Food Security and Cooperative
beyond their specialisations and Eng Raphael Daluti when
institutional mandates so as to officiating the Round Table
consider, address expected and Meeting on Policies and
unexpected concerns, and Regulatory Incentive for
advocate for what is best for Promoting Innovations in the use
their country, the region, and the of biopesticides and
wider African continent in timely management of industrial
2
manner so that they jointly effluents.
contribute to their development.
Eng. Daluti said that Tanzania
intends to exploit opportunities
from biosciences innovation and
is committed to ensuring that
there are in place supportive
policies.
He said that Tanzania has 76
highly productive research and
development institutions that are
both public and privately
administered.
“Thus I can say with confidence
that Government commitment to
exploiting biosciences
innovations is not just a political
statement.”
The outputs and outcomes of
these institutions have ensured
Tanzania a ranking of global
recognition in fields including the
biosciences some of which are
products of the Bio-innovate
Regional Programme that the
University of Dar es Salaam,
Nelson Mandela African Institute
of Science and Technology,
Mikocheni Agricultural Research
Institute and COSTECH are
engaged in.
Fig 1:Permanent Secretary, Ministry
of Agriculture, Food Security and
Cooperative Eng Raphael Daluti
delivers a speech during .Looking on
are COSTECH Acting Director
General Dr Nicholas Nyange (Left)
and Dr Dugushilu Mafunda from
COSTECH
a country we are not only
following the growing tendency
towards bio-based innovations as
a means of developing
productive economy but are keen
to be a part of the global bio-
economy market as a producer of
products.
He said his Ministry has been
mandated to coordinate and
promote Agriculture related
activities in the country.
‘Biosciences Innovation Policy’
MEETING intends to share and
discuss findings of two studies
undertaken in the country on the
opportunities and challenges in
the use of bio-pesticides and
management of industrial
effluents.
These two studies are only but
one part of the larger need for
countrywide approaches to
ensure that
Continues on page 3

Meeting was organised by the

Tanzania Commission for Science
and Technology (COSTECH), Bio- Continued from page 2
Innovate Programme and
colleagues from the Uganda
we holistically address cross
National Council for Science and
cutting issues for sustainable
Technology (UNCST).
socio-economic development of
our country.
He said Tanzania is aware of the
revolutionary advances in
biosciences that potentially
provide an increasingly powerful
engine for innovation from the
gamuts of sustainable
agricultural production, waste
management, and renewable
energy production and in the
development of a diverse range
of novel bio-products.

With both short and long shifts in

2
the world demand of agricultural
and agro-processing products as
2
2
2
At the core of this cross cutting internationally to further our The PS commended the Swedish
approach is Science, Technology development to whilst International Development
and Innovation and Tanzania thus safeguarding our society and Cooperation Agency (Sida) for
the role of COSTECH as host to providing equitable access to the funding the project “Biosciences
the Bio-innovate programme and resources we have been blessed Innovation Policy Consortium for
this particular meeting as part of with.” Eastern Africa (BIPCEA) with the
the policy component of the goal of ensuring Science
programme serves to Technology and Innovation
demonstrate. Fig 2: COSTECH Acting Director investments result in tangible
General Dr Nicholas Nyange (First products and innovations in
Eng Daluti farther noted that for Left) gives welcoming remarks to partner countries.
Tanzania as with many other
developing countries establishing “I thus take this
and implementing robust opportunity to
Science, Technology and acknowledge and express
Innovation (STI) policies form a appreciation to Sida on
critical part of the national behalf of the government
development discussions. of the United Republic of
Tanzania not just for their
Science Technology and support but for
Innovation (STI) policies are at implementing a holistic
different stages of establishment well thought out
and implementation in East programme that goes
African countries as an example from the laboratory to
of regional initiative to ensure society involving all
benefit from this transformative stakeholders.”
sector. Facilitating government
policies play a fundamental role He further noted that the
in creating an enabling the participants. Second left is the Bio-innovate programme
environment for the application Permanent Secretary, Ministry of effectively demonstrates and sets
of STI for development. Agriculture, Food Security and precedence for how best
Cooperative Eng Raphael
countries like Tanzania can design
Daluti.Looking on is Dr Dugushilu
Therefore these two studies are their research and innovation
Mafunda from COSTECH
expected to provide requisite systems to deliver socio-
information that will contribute Whilst endeavoring to achieve economic development
to the Tanzania STI policy this significant and complex task sustainably.
formulation and implementation they have also to contend with
as well as addressing important the challenges of climate change, COSTECH together with their
STI development challenges from being resource strapped, regional counterparts the Uganda
a policy perspective. minimally equipped, having National Council for Science and
inadequate infrastructure and Technology (UNCST) have
He said his ministry was aware human capital to conduct high brought us here today
and more interested in the level research and with an
outcomes that are utilisation of innovation culture yet in its to discuss how policies and
products generated by innovative infancy. regulatory incentives for
interventions and their promoting innovations in the use
dissemination into society. In exploiting the opportunities of of bio-pesticides and
biosciences innovations we management of industrial
“Our intention is to ensure that acknowledge that we do not live effluents.
there is sustainable social, in isolation and that partnership, Continues on page 4
economic and environmental Continued from page 3

2
collaboration and support are
development; our enterprises are critical elements for success.
competitive regionally and
This is but one exchanging of
experiences on strategies for
building innovations systems and
bio-enterprises and planning for
the future platform need.
He however, urged the
participants to include in their
discussions how developing
countries like Tanzania can
implement effective strategies for
building robust innovation
systems of bio-enterprises and
provide consumers with quality
products for the market that
meet the requisite health and
environmental standards.
The studies and your constructive
recommendations are extremely
important as there is a growing
demand for renewable bio-
resources and the revolutionary
advances in the field of
biosciences are changing the
conditions for the agricultural
sector worldwide.
This implies that countries with
minimal capabilities to use
modern biosciences may miss the
opportunity to convert agro-
processing waste into wealth
products, develop productive,
resource efficient, and
sustainable crop production
systems for food, feed and value
added agro-industrial products.
Notwithstanding my ministry is
aware of the different concerns
raised with regards to modern
biosciences such as biosafety and
I call upon our researchers and
innovators to scientifically and
objectively address these so that
Tanzania benefits the potential
opportunities for achieving
enhanced agricultural
productivity and safe
environment.
2
“My Ministry will continue to
support such initiatives and will
work with all institutions that
create awareness and enhancing
understanding of modern
biosciences among the public
and different stakeholders in
order to disseminate scientific
evidence and dispel myths,” he
promised.
Presenting his paper on
‘Innovations in the Treatment
and Management of Industrial
Effluents’ during the meeting,
Professor Karoli Njau, Dean at the
Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and
Technology said that despite
availability of various water
waste treatment (WWT)
technologies, adoption by
industries in Tanzania and SSA is
very low for various reasons.
Among them include: Poor
enforcement of laws, lack of
incentives to comply, expensive
technologies compared to size of
local industries (most are small
and medium scale) and lack of
mechanisms to lessen the capital
investment burden.
Challenges for quick uptake by
other industries
Enforcement of existing laws is
weak in Tanzania and many
countries in the SSA region.
“One of the greatest challenges
of an enforcement department in
a developing country comes in
form of threats from powerful
individuals and groups.”
“When such individuals and/or
groups own industries which in
turn form themselves into
associations, they become
extremely formidable,” he
explained.
Others are lack of serious
incentive schemes to encourage
industries to comply-carrot and
stick approach, perception of
Industries that taking care of
environment is costly.
Investment cost for establishing
proper ETP vs sizes of the
companies in the region (small
and medium scale), lack of
financing mechanism to finance
waste treatment systems and low
knowledge among industries on
the technological possibilities
available.
He further said that the costs of
compliance with environmental
regulations are determined, in
part, by the cost and availability
of alternative production and
abatement technologies, and
regulations themselves can affect
the nature and rate of
technological change.”
For his part, presenting a paper
on ‘Bio-resources Innovations
Network for Eastern Africa
Development Program(Bio-
Innovate)’, Dr Julius Ecuru from
PI, Bio-Innovate policy Project-
Uganda, said that to create
opportunities for generating and
effectively moving bioscience-
based technologies to market
there should be connecting
research to industry and other
end users.
However, he said the challenges
ahead are how to strengthen
between academia/research and
industry, inculcate a business
culture in their R&D system, need
for enabling policies for bio-
innovations and providing
incentives to promote bio-
innovations.
He said all these can be possible
only if there will be good political
will towards investing in science,
technology and innovation
nationally and globally.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

2
By Theophil Pima, April 22th, 2015
The advice was given by DANIDA
Senior Advisor, Mr Jeppe
Pedersen, when speaking to
various researchers at the
Tanzania Commission for Science
and Technology (COSTECH)
offices in Dar es Salaam.
He said Denmark was
cooperating with research
institutions and think-tanks to
enhance developing countries’
own research and to generate
new knowledge that can be
applied in development
assistance.
“But the support we offer is on a
competitive basis. We are
interested in proposals of high
quality according to our criteria,”
he noted, listing the criteria for
assessment as scientific quality,
relevance and effect.
Mr Pedersen also listed good
governance, economic
development and poverty
reduction, as well as health, as
three important themes for
South-driven projects for
Tanzania.
He said the South-driven projects
applied for and managed by the
applying institution were from
Ghana, Tanzania and Nepal, with
partner(s) in Denmark.
“Researchers expecting to apply
for DANIDA funding should select
2
a subject within the themes researchers to formulate
described in the call, as well as research questions and
identifying a research question hypotheses that described the
which is not only intellectually innovative nature of the
challenging but also relevant and proposed research.
under-researched,” he said.
For his part, COSTECH Director
General, Dr Hassan Mshinda, said
that the government strived hard
to support research projects in
the country.
“Despite the fact that the
government does not have
enough funds to support all
research projects in the country,
it allocates that small amount to
all important projects,” he noted,
acknowledging how the
government had allocated about
Fig 3 : COSTECH Director General
5.1bn/- since 2012 to benefit 22
Dr. Hassan Mshinda gives the research institutions.
remarks during the program for
2016 DANIDA Call information
The DG also said that currently
meeting
the 56 research projects
supported by government
Mr Pedersen further explained through COSTECH in 2012 had
that the research fund they
brought promising results. Dr
offered was for competitive basis. Mshinda expressed his
“You need to be much focused
appreciation to DANIDA for
and consider our continuing showing interest in
recommendations before you
funding research projects in
apply for funding,” he said, Tanzania.
advising all researchers to explain
carefully how the project would
“We know that we have the
contribute to new knowledge by
challenge of small funds
positioning it in relation to
allocated for conducting
existing research.
research. That is why we really
encourage partners like DANIDA
He said the deadline for phase to support Tanzanian research
one applications was September
projects,” he said.
4, 2015 and encouraged
By Theophil Pima, April 24th, 2015
April 24, 2015, a new Mwenge
wood carving Cluster located in
Mwenge Kinondoni Dares Salaam
has been urged to focus on
Cluster development initiative as
a platform to improve its
business.
The call was given in Dar es
Salaam by the Tanzania
Commission for Science and
Technology (COSTECH) Director
of Innovation, Entrepreneurship
and Competitiveness Dr.
Dugushilu Mafunda when
launching three day training for
that Cluster at COSTECH head
offices.
He said Cluster development was
one of the strategies most of the
developed countries used to
improve the performance of
different economic activities.
“The difference between
developed countries and
developing countries is in terms
of application of technologies
and innovations. Sweden for
example has taught us a big
lesson the way it had utilized the
potential of cluster initiatives to
advance economically “He noted
He said COSTECH is the think
tank which had partnered with
SIDA to spearhead cluster
development concept in the
trinity of Government, private
sector and academia.
2
“What COSTECH does is linking
the private sector with academia.
We have organized this training
in collaboration with facilitators
from University of Dar es Saalm
Business School who will expose
you to different market strategies
“He hinted.
He said that training would
provide enough exposure to the
30 cluster members who
attended the training and
promised COSTECH and SIDA to
continue supporting cluster
initiatives in the country.
Fig 4: COSTECH) Director of
Innovation, Entrepreneurship and
Competitiveness Dr. Dugushilu
Mafunda(standing) speaks during
the Mwenge wood curving Cluster
training at COSTECH.Looking on is
Mr Deo Kafwa,Facilitator of the
Mwenge wood curving Cluster
Dr Mafunda said in order for the
wood carving industry to grow in
the country, entrepreneurs were
supposed to form different
business groups to
revolutionalize the industry.
“Cluster initiatives are
organizations or projects that are
organized as collaborations
between a diverse number of
public and private sector actors,
such as firms, government
agencies, and academic
institutions” Dr. Mafunda said
insisting that COSTECH was very
committed to improve
technology and innovation for
that cluster. He said in order for
Mwenge wood carving cluster to
compete in the market it was
supposed to improve their
products through learning
various technology and
innovation strategies.
“You may have very good
products but if you fail to
improve them through new
technologies and innovations,
obvious you can’t break it
through the market “He pointed
out.For his part Assistant
Lecturer from University of Dar
es Salaam Business School Mr.
Mesia Ilomo who facilitated that
training said the wood carving
industry in Tanzania had been
underutilized.
“We have so far not very much
benefited from the wood carving
industry because of poor
marketing strategies.
It is approximated that South
Africa contributes about 500-
2000 Million US Dollars per year
while Indonesia exports about
100 Million US Dollars per year
“He said posing a great challenge
to the wood carving industry in
Tanzania.
By Rose Athumani, April 22th, 2015
A TANZANIAN engineer is among
four finalists for the African Prize
for Engineering Innovation, which
is sponsored and run by the
British Royal Academy of
Engineering.
A statement sent to the ‘Daily
News’ from South Africa noted
that Dr Askwar Hilonga, a
lecturer at Nelson Mandela
African Institute of Science and
Technology based in Arusha had
presented a low-cost sustainable
water filtration system.
Other shortlisted finalists are
from Kenya (Samuel Wangui and
his team who presented a SIM-
card swapping service); Zambia
(Musenga Silwawa and his team
with spot fertiliser applicator)
and South Africa (Ernest Pretoius
with a fencemounted security
system).
When contacted, Dr Hilonga
described the achievement as a
breakthrough for him, his
community and the nation,
noting that this would inspire the
young, academics and students.
“This shows that it pays to use
what we have learned to assist
our societies to address
challenges they are facing,” he
2
said.
So far COSTECH and SIDA has
provided seed funds and training
to 70 Cluster development
He explained that what
prompted him to come up with
the project is the presence of
contaminants in water that his
society use, which has resulted to
water born diseases.
A small study he did in one
village showed that about
700,000 people suffered from
water-borne diseases, which cost
the government millions of
shillings to provide treatment.
“Since our institution’s motto
encourages us to use our
academic research to address
problems affecting our societies,
instead of publishing and then
putting them on the shelves, I
decided to turn my 33
publications on nano material to
effective use, hence the water
purifier,” he explained.
initiatives in Tanzania mainland
and Zanzibar
Fig 5:Dr Askwar Hilonga.
According to the statement, the
application process to the
competition saw entries from 15
countries in sub-Saharan Africa,
out of which 12 African
entrepreneurs were chosen to
receive a package of six months
of business training and
mentoring from the Academy.
“The four finalists showing the
greatest promise have now been
chosen and one of them has the
chance to become the overall
winner,” the statement read in
part.
The overall winner will win
£25,000 when the first Africa
Prize winner is announced in
Cape Town on 1 June, this year,
and £10,000 for each runner-up.
All four finalists will present their
innovations to judges at the
ceremony before the winner is
selected. “The finalists are an
example of African engineering
innovation with remarkable
potential.
Their revolutionary ideas will
help boost the standard of living
for many sub-Saharan Africans. I
commend all entrants and
finalists for their determination
and tenacity,” said Dr Bola
Olabisi, Africa Prize judge and
CEO of the Global Women
Inventors & Innovators Network.
Africa Prize judge Stephen
Dawson, a venture capitalist and
chairman of Jacana Partners in
By Theophil Pima,April 29th, 2015
Tanzania Commission for Science
and Technology (COSTECH), the
union institution responsible for
coordinating research has been
funding various projects for
years.
In 2012, COSTECH funded 56
research projects in agriculture,
livestock and fisheries sectors.
One of those research projects is
about Integrating Agriculture and
Aquaculture for Increased Farm
Productivity which was
implemented in Chita Village,
Kilombero Morogoro Region,
involving researchers from
Tanzania Fisheries Research
Institute, Sokoine University of
Agriculture and University of Dar
es Salaam.
It is believed that farm
productivity from many small
holder farmers in Tanzania is low
due to inappropriate
technologies which often results
in poverty and malnutrition
among small-holder farmers.
Fish demand has exceeded
supply during the recent years
due to increased population and
reduced output from capture
fisheries.
2
the UK, said the four Africa Prize
finalists represented a good
cross-section of African
engineering talent.
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
Dr Semvua Mzighani from
Tanzania Fisheries Research
Institute describes shortage of
fish in natural waters such as
oceans, lakes and rivers as a
serious problem likely to affect
public health as well as reducing
income to fishers. He says in
2002, Lake Victoria had more
than 2,000,000 tonnes of Nile
Perch.
However the research in 2011
showed that the number
decreased to 900,000 tonnes. Fig 6: An aquaculture farmer
According to him in 1986,fishing drops fish feed into the pond
in the Indian Ocean was very
promising, boats used just one While the government has a
hour to fish about 60 kg up to 70 regulation to control fishing in
kg of fishes, things have now areas where there is small
changed, in 2007, fishers just got number of fishes, illegal fishing
below 20 kilogrammes in one has increased the fact that
hour. justifies demand for fishes.
In order to curb the shortage of
fishes in natural waters, farmers
are advised to adopt the
integrating agriculture and
aquaculture for increased farm
productivity.
Though there are some reports
about success of that project in
Tarime District, Mara Region,
proper implementation of the
same project has some
challenges in other places.
Dr Amon Shoko, a principal
investigator of the project from
the Tanzania Fisheries Research
Institute says Integration of
aquaculture into overall farm
activities has a challenge.
“Adoption of this technology has
number of challenges; there is
limited knowledge on the
suitability of the technology. It is
also very challenging for farmers
to identify good fish varieties
especially Tilapia, to be
implanted in the ponds. It also
takes time and supervision from
Researchers before adopting this
technology to other parts of the
country,” he says.
A study about integration of
aquaculture into overall farm
activities to develop an
appropriate, affordable and
adoptable integrated agriculture-
aquaculture technology for
increasing overall farm
productivity and profitability is
important.
“The project intended to use
Integrated Resource
Management approach to build
Continues on page 9
Continued from page 8
Knowledge and skills among poor
small-holder farmers by
integrating aquaculture into
overall farm activities,” He
explains.
2
He also observes that instead of
researchers looking for farmers
solutions in the laboratories and
offices, they decided the study
through participatory approach
to develop integrated
aquaculture systems and give
farmers a lead role in the
development of appropriate
agricultural technology.
“We employed the participatory
approach to involve farmers to
dig the ponds and other
activities. The project had three
phases, the first one was fish and
vegetable integration, and
second one was integrated Fish-
Poultry System and the
Integrated Fish- Vegetable-
Poultry System.
Dr Shoko says, in the first phase,
three fishponds were fertilized
using manure and fish stocked in
it were fed on supplementary
diet of sunflower and maize bran.
Six vegetable plots of the same
size and equal space between
plots were established adjacent
to each fish pond.
Under the integrated Fish-Poultry
System, chicken huts were
constructed on top of each of the
first three fish ponds. The feed
was formulated using locally
available feed ingredients and fed
to the chicken twice a day.
The feed was given in suitable
poultry feeders. Clean water was
kept in the hut in self-drinker.
Feed ingredients were purchased
from local markets and properly
mixed on-farm according to the
recommended rates.
Chicken were confined in the hut
except for an hour in the
afternoon where they were
allowed to go out on the dykes
for eating grass.
For security purposes, the ponds
were fenced using locally
available materials preferably
bamboo slats. He added that in
the chicken huts, wooden egg
laying boxes (30 cm × 30 cm × 30
cm) were placed.
Application of supplementary
feed for fish was not done under
fish poultry integration
throughout the culture period as
the poultry droppings and spilled
food from poultry hut would
provide feed for the fish in pond.
Also the droppings could be used
directly by fish as feeds.
Experiment three was a
combination of experiment one
and two where chicken huts were
constructed on top of the ponds
and vegetable plots established
adjacent to the ponds.
The results of this experiment
were compared with the other
integration to determine the kind
of integration which gives the
highest productivity and
profitability.
Samweli Limbu from University of
Dar es Salaam says, three
researchers from different
institutions decided to partner to
implement that project as it had
national interest.
“Instead of every one writing a
proposal and look for funding, it
was a good idea to put our
efforts together to assist farmers
with the same fund from
COSTECH,” he said. Dr H. A.
Lamtane from Sokoine University
of Agriculture says a time of
modern agriculture and fishing
has come, calling on farmers to
apply modern technologies in
improving their productivity.
Karim Khalifa Shauriyambingu is
one of the farmers at Chita
Kilombero who sees integrating
agriculture and aquaculture for
increased farm productivity as a
solution to his food challenges.
“It has come to my attention that
the government has a great role
to play keeping researchers close
to society. With this project, I can
now see the bright future in my
farming,” He observes.
He also expresses his concern to
the Tanzania Commission for
By Syriacus Buguzi April 26th 2015
Dar es Salaam. World Malaria
Day was marked with optimism
here following the release of
findings on the new malaria jab,
whose final trials were
announced on Friday. But local
researchers have been quick to
caution that it might be too early
to celebrate the results.
Scientists who spoke with The
Citizen say the new vaccine
candidate produced by British
drug maker GlaxoSmithKline
Company is still subject to a long
chain of tests and approvals by
the World Health Organisation
(WHO) before it can finally be
made available on the Tanzanian
market.
According to new findings
published in the Lancet journal, a
new vaccine tested on 16,000
children in Tanzania and six other
African countries was 46 per cent
effective against malaria
2
parasites.
Science and Technology
(COSTECH) for funding that
project.
“I am told that in 2012 COSTECH
gave priorities to research
projects with themes of KILIMO
KWANZA, this is something which
has really encouraged us that the
government cares about its
farmers,’’ he says.
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
This development has raised
fresh hope of reducing malaria
deaths in children, although
scientists who have been working
on the vaccine for more than 20
years have said it offers only
partial protection.
With malaria still killing 660,000
people a year globally, the
potential of even an imperfect
vaccine is huge. About 60,000
people die annually in Tanzania
of the disease, 80 per cent of Fig 7: Malaria is a mosquito-borne
them are children under the age infectious disease of humans and
of five. other animals caused by parasitic
protozoans (a group of single-celled
Earlier reports suggested that the microorganism) belonging to the
genus Plasmodium. Malaria causes
results of the first-ever human
symptoms that typically include
malaria vaccine, RTS,S, are still fever, fatigue, vomiting and
under scrutiny by the European headaches. In severe cases it can
Medicines Agency (EMA) after cause yellow skin, seizures, coma or
which it would be granted a death. The disease is transmitted by
licence before the WHO the biting of mosquitoes, and the
recommends it for use come symptoms usually begin 10 to 15
October. days after being bitten.
But a senior research scientist
with the Ifakara Health Institute
(IHI), Dr Ladislaus Mnyone,
warned that Tanzanians would
wait for two to three years before
the potential vaccine can become
a reality here.
He told The Citizen that the
vaccine would have to navigate
its way through a difficult
logistics structure, long
distribution channels and even a
disruptive black market across
much of the continent before the
end users get to benefit.
Said Dr Mnyone: “I know people
are very anxious to see the
newly-announced vaccine. We
scientists would have wished to
see that too. Unfortunately, the
procurement and distribution
chain will be a stumbling block.”
New medical technology is
necessary for medical
advancement in developing
countries like Tanzania and the
authorities need to establish
mechanisms that can cope with
the fast pace of expertise around
the world.
A researcher in the ministry of
Health and Social Welfare, who
preferred to remain anonymous,
told The Citizen on the sidelines
of the World Malaria Day
celebrations in Dar es Salaam
that WHO would keep the
ministry of health posted on the
new development.
Local regulatory authorities will
take charge later to ensure the
new vaccine goes through the
national cold-chain,as followed
by other vaccines
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN

By Beniel Seka,April 27,2015
TANZANIA like many other
countries of the world has a
problem with mathematics. A
number of learners either fear
the subject or have difficulties in
understanding and using it.
In September last year (2014),
International Commission of
Mathematics Instruction (ICMI)
and the Aga Khan University
Institute for Educational
Development East Africa,
conducted the fourth Capacity
and Network Project (CANP4) in
Dar es Salaam.
The first CANP was conducted in
Mali (2011), the second in Costa
Rica (2012), and the third in
Cambodia (2013). The
programme involved participants
from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and
Tanzania.
Experts were: Professor Anjum Secretary of the National
Halai, Aga Khan University; Examinations Council of Tanzania
Professor Edward Lungu, (NECTA), Dr Alphonse from
University of Botswana; Professor Rwanda and Fred Sichizya from
Ferdinando Arzarello, Universita MAT/CHAHITA, just to mention a
di Torino; Professor Jill Adler, few.
University of Witswaterand; Dr
Samuel Bengmark, University of
Technology Gothenburg;
Professor Christiane Rousseau,
University of Montreal and Prof.
Pierre, France.
There were also a number of
regional experts who presented
short presentations during
workshops and panels. They
were Dr Geoff Tennant, Veronica
Sarungi and Peter Kajoro, all from
Aga Khan University; Prof Andrew
Binde, University of Fig 8: Student solve equation
together
As the list indicates, the activity
Dodoma and Silus Mirau, Nelson used highly professional
Mandela African Institute of presenters to educate

2
Science and technology, Dr Joyce participants on issues concerning
Ndalichako, former Executive Mathematics. The conference
consisted of public lectures,
plenary lectures, panel
presentations and workshops.
Some of the key presentations
were ICMI, Development in
secondary mathematics -- some
lessons and results, Mathematics
for Planet Earth, Mathematics
research -- an introduction
through games and ICT in
mathematics Education.
There were also presentations
from East Africa on mapping the
mathematics syllabus in Kenya,
Uganda and Tanzania delivered
by Dr Geoff, Aga Khan University
(AKU); Achievement in
Mathematics -- a comparative
analysis from East Africa
delivered by Veronica Sarungi,
Aga Khan University; Teaching
and Teacher Education
--comparative perspectives from
East Africa.
The programme also included
two public lectures. One of them
was on ‘What mathematics has
Done for Me’ given by Prof.
Lungu.
The professor narrated the
development of mathematics in
Southern Africa during the 1950’s
and said it was a turbulent affair.
He said further, “The South Africa
Government of that period
argued that Africans did not need
and banned them from studying
the subject.
The damage this decision caused
was felt not only in South Africa
2
which provided the teacher
training colleges in the region but
in all Southern Africa states.”
He traced the development of
the subject, its weakness and
strengths and highlighted ways it
can be used to service humanity.
In particular he mentioned how
we have used mathematical
modelling to improve
understanding of diseases.
Continues on page 12
Continued from page 11
Prof. Lungu’s lecture attracted a
number of nonmathematicians.
For example, a lawyer from the
Ministry of Justice, who was
attracted by the title and decided
to attend said, “I am not a
mathematician. In fact I failed to
continue with mathematics after
Form Four.
But the presenter has made me
rethink about my decision to quit
mathematics at that level. I agree
with the presenter that proper
utilization can improve service
delivered in public. We need to
improve the quality of
mathematics teaching in our
institutions.”
The other public lecture was on
Mathematics in Science given by
Jean - Juste Ngome, International
Basic Science Programme,
UNESCO. This lecture opened a
way of knowing a project in
Uganda called Secondary Science
and Mathematics Training
(SESEMAT).
SESEMAT is a programme to
improve teaching and learning in
science and mathematics
through professional
development of in-service
teachers which is implemented
by the Ministry of Education and
Sports with technical assistance
from the Government of Japan
through Japan International
Corporation Agency (JICA).
We note that there is a Science
Education for Secondary schools
project supported by JICA but it
was not represented in the
workshop. There were also
panels of representatives from
Teacher development in
Mathematics Education: Kenya
(CEMASTEA); Mathematical
Association of Tanzania
(MAT/CHAHITA); Uganda
(SESEMAT) and Rwanda.
The panel represented was
enriched by brief presentations
on Capacity Development for
Mathematics Teaching in Rural
and Remote Communities in
Tanzania delivered by Prof.
Andrew Binde of the University
of Dodoma and Silas Mirau of the
Nelson Mandela African Institute
of Science and Technology based
in Arusha.
The gathering also enjoyed a
regional presentation on
Teaching and Teacher Education –
a comparative perspective from
East Africa delivered by Peter
Kajoro and Prof Anjum Halai both
from the Aga Khan University.
Plenary lectures were on:
Research professional
development in secondary
mathematic (Jill), ICT in
Mathematics Education (Samuel),
Mathematics for Planet Earth
(Christiane), The Klein Project
(Ferdinando) and Mathematics
research -- an introduction
through games (Pierre).
Panel discussions were on:
Teacher development in
mathematics Education Kenya
(CEMASTEA), Uganda (SESEMAT).
Tanzania (MAT/ CHAHITA) and
Rwanda: Capacity Development
for Mathematics Teaching in
Rural and Remote communities
in Tanzania (Andrew).

Workshops were on Doing

Mathematics and reflection in
the process, Achievement and
assessment of mathematics
learning, Problem solving in
mathematics, Technology and
mathematics education,
Language and mathematics,
Gender and Mathematics,
Recreation Mathematics through
Games and Textbook Analysis.

As you have observed, this

conference was full of useful
activities and knowledge about
mathematics education. It is
understood that the participants
will pass what they learned to
their institutions. The Aga Khan
University took a lot of notes
including videos.

We also appreciate that on 23rd

February 2015, the President of
the United Republic of Tanzania,
Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete,
offered a certificate to AKU to
accomplish its goals in
developing experts of
Mathematics and Science in
Africa.

It is my hope that interested

persons will wish to take
advantage of the product of this
conference.

Those who think that the results

of this conference will help in
enhancing efforts made in raising
mathematics education should
contact the Aga Khan University
through email; iedea@aku. edu;
and Web; www.aku.edu/ iedea.

Beniel Seka is a retired lecturer

2
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
By Alvar Mwakyusa April 29th 2015
INTERNET users in Tanzania will
now enjoy affordable and faster
surfing services, thanks to the
launch of the Google Global
cache link to the Tanzania
Internet Exchange (TIX), that will
ensure local traffic is sourced
locally.
At the launch of the service in
Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the
Minister for Communications,
Science and Technology, Prof
Makame Mbarawa, was
optimistic that the new product
will attract more internet users.
“At present, about 11.6 million
Tanzanians are using internet
services but since the new link
provides affordable and faster
connections, we hope the
number will grow to 15 million
people by next year,” Prof
Mbarawa stated.
He went on to boost that the ICT
Data Centre whose construction
is being finalised will be the
largest in East Africa. “We expect
the centre to be completed by
August, this year and it will act as
an intermediary between the
Google data centre and internet
service providers. Our aim is to
make Tanzania an ICT hub in the
region,” Prof Mbarawa bragged.
The minister, however,
2
challenged the host of the link,
the Tanzania Internet Service
Providers Association (TISPA) to
woo more content distribution
providers like Amazon and the
likes.
Fig 9: Minister for Communication,
Science and Technology Prof
Makame Mbarawa
“By hosting such links locally it
becomes easier and cheaper to
connect to the internet. In the
absence of such links,
connections are routed to
America and Europe and
eventually make the service
expensive and slow,” he noted.
Prof Mbarawa said the
government was committed to
expand internet services to
majority of Tanzanians to enable
services such as e-government,
e-education and e-health, among
others.
“As you are all aware the
government is undertaking
massive construction of ICT
infrastructure in a bid to expand
the service and enable more
people to access it,” the minister
noted.
The Chairman of TISPA, Mr Vinay
Choudary, said the association is
working around the clock to
attract more content providers to
spread out the spectrum of
services to users.
“TISPA was formed four years ago
and our objective is adding more
value to internet services that are
offered in the market,” Mr
Choudary stated.
In an interview with the ‘Daily
News’ on the sidelines of the
launching ceremony, the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of
Tanzania Telecommunications
Company Limited (TTCL), Dr
Kamugisha Kazaura, said the new
arrangement would enable the
country to make effective use of
international bandwidth.
SOURCE: DAILY NEWS
By Orton Kiishweko April 22th 2015
THE government is building
capacity of most districts in the
country to enable them come up
with cassava varieties that
withstand mosaic and brown
streak diseases.
According to Director of Research
and Development at the Ministry
of Agriculture, Food Security and
Cooperatives Fidelis Myaka, while
research institutes were doing
various initiatives and have
already made breakthroughs
across the country, they were
currently making efforts to build
capacities of districts where the
crop is grown.
Dr Myaka said that there are
some breakthroughs for cassava
disease that have already been
reached including Mikocheni
Agriculture Research Institute
(MARI), Kibaha, Ukiriguru
Agricultural Research Institute
among others.
For MARI, whose research was
led by Dr Joseph Ndunguru, he
said several local cassava
varieties were collected from all
over the country and a disease
resistant gene from another plant
administered to give the hybrid
resistance to cassava mosaic and
brown streak virus diseases.
2
Dr Ndunguru said the new
hybrids have nothing much than
the new gene for disease
resistance hence farmers will not
see the difference in quality but
yield because the strain ravaging
the crop has been contained
through the gene implant.
On cassava development, the
International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA) Regional
Corporate Communications
Officer for Eastern Africa,
Catherine Njuguna, told this
paper on Tuesday they are doing
work on cassava value addition
by carrying out research along
the value chain including the
steps from cassava production all
through to processing and
marketing to identify the
challenges and bottlenecks.
Fig 10:An affected Cassava
On the production side, together
with the Ministry, they have been
breeding improved varieties that
are high yielding and resistant to
the major pests and diseases
attacking the crop.
These include Cassava brown
Streak Disease and Cassava
Mosaic disease which were
attacking all the cassava varieties
grown in the country and
drastically affecting production.
“We have also been looking into
good farming practices to
increase yield including piloting
the use of both organic and
inorganic fertilizers.
Most farmers do not use
fertilizers whether organic or
inorganic on cassava. Yet, if we
are to talk about commercialization
of the crop, then farmers have to use
good farming practices that will
make the highest yields so there’s
enough cassava to eat and to
process,” she noted.
She added that on value addition, in
addition to production, they are also
looking into processing of cassava
and value addition. “Cassava, on top
of being a reliable food crop is also a
cash crop.
It can be processed into various
products for use in the home and
industries including high quality
cassava flour in the baking industry
and starch for use in the
pharmaceutical, textile, and food
industries among others,” she said.
Dried cassava chips are used for
livestock feed. She said they have
been working on promoting efficient
processing of cassava mostly into
high quality cassava flour, which
from our research, has the highest
potential to boost cassava
commercialization in the country.

Our activities have included

designing and improving cassava
processing machines, looking into
packaging and marketing aspects
and linking processors to markets.

“On processing we have identified

drying as one of the most important
bottlenecks in cassava value
addition. The processors mostly
depend on solardrying and they
are not able to process the flour
in sufficient quantities and of
required quality during the rainy
season,” she said

SOURCE: DAILY NEWS

2
By Basil Malaki.
Buni Hub is renowned for taking
early leads in technology and
innovation advancement in Tanzania
standing in the threshold of the 21st
century characterized by competitive
innovation-driven technology
milestones.
On a calm wednesday mid morning,
we make a long awaited visit to the
Kitunda fabrication laboratory in the
outskirts of Dar es Salaam; after
three tiring hours on the road,
thanks to the mad Dar traffic.
On arrival, we are warmly ushered to
the Kitunda experience by EngTech
Valerian Sanga, STIC technician and a
colleague. Together, they precisely
brief us on the formation of the
Kitunda workstation before we begin
the mind blowing tour.
On our first leg of the tour, we
headed straight into the main STIC
workstation where metallic works
are done; where innovative dreams
are validated. A beehive of creative
metal works is evident at all angles
of the workstation equipped with
various work tools that build dreams
to reality, equipments that build
almost ‘everything’ you can think of.
As we step out of the workstation
through the rear-door, we bump
into a half designed motor vehicle
skeleton lying lonely in one of the
busy garage, we ponder the design
of the car for a while as we carry-on
to the next garage where a mini pick-
up truck ‘Nyati’ is her name,
designed to run on a motorcycle
engine is parked behind a closed
brown gate.
2
Nyati looks lonely and dusty, she
hasn’t been on the road since the
last time she was successfully tested
months ago in a unique ‘ON TEST’
number plate that still clings on her
front bumper. We instantly fall in
love with Nyati and wish we could
ride in her later on as we return to
the city but the STIC fellows won’t
let us ride in her citing technical
maintenance repairs we might have
to do before taking her back on the
road.
Fig 11: Local invention
Thirty minutes later we seem to be
loving everything we see, every
other creative thing we see keeps
getting better as we progress with
the tour; everytime we spot
something wowing we are left
wondering how a bunch of fellows
can be more creative and
productive to come up with all the
amazing things around us.
Across the garage lies an eye
popping fish farm project powered
by a wind-turbine made from
recycled and locally available
materials, the wind turbine
technology is stereotypically
perceived to be an expensive
technology in Africa yet it is the
most energy efficient technology
made and used by the STIC fellows
to pump tonnes of water processed
with Oxygen into the fish farm to
give hundreds of Catfish living in the
farm life.
Having faced the hostile breeding
cycle of the catfish, they decided to
improvise a way of making the cat
fish breed hence they devised a ‘fish
hatchery’ for artificial breeding,
hatching and rearing of the catfish
through their early life stage.
According to the STIC fellows, the
fish project is the most commercially
focused venture injecting more
resources into their projects.
Next to the fish breeding area stands
a blue and yellow coin-operated
water vending machine designed to
ease community water payment,
provide safe and reliable water
services.
The simple to operate machine only
requires one to understand how it
works and make use of it
responsibly. By simply dropping a
legal Tanzanian coin into the
machine, the system automatically
detects the currency and deposits
water worth the input, incase
balance is required the machine
automatically knows when and how
much to dispense.
A similar portable system fitted with
approved carbon filters is yet to be
designed which might ease access to
high quality clean and safe vended
drinking water in schools and related
institutions cheaply as compared to
buying processed manufactured
bottled drinking water.
As we proceed to the next block of
the Kitunda workstation, we already
thrilled by the height of innovation
and creativity that lies within
Tanzanian great minds. After
engaging with Stanley Mwalembe,
STIC founder on various Buni Hub
projects and initiatives we were
certain that a collaborative working
agreement between STIC and
Continues on page 16
Continued from page 15
Buni Hub would be a healthy union
towards scaling out our shared
visions.
With the future of the potential of
Tanzanian technology in mind, a
common effort of local and
international tech bigwigs notably;
STIC, BUNI, Commission for Science
and Technology (COSTECH) and Tech
for Trade have teamed up to scale
out e-waste 3D technology in
Tanzania.
In this agreement, Buni Hub will be
the oversight authority overseeing,
monitoring and evaluating the
impact of this project whereas
COSTECH is willing to empower tech
innovators and have shown interest
in supporting inventions and
innovative projects in Tanzania with
a vision that this projects will help
groom and inspire more innovators
and creatives from local institutions
and communities. The aim of this
initiative is to reach out to SME’s in
creating awareness and impart them
with required skills and knowledge
of the e-waste 3D printers in their
day-to-day operations.
STIC fellows commitment to
promoting local innovation
ecosystem in Tanzania is a factor we
put in consideration before reaching
out for them in possible partnership
talks; STIC fellows constituted the
high number of people who turned
out for the first 3D Printer
workstation in Tanzania facilitated by
Matthew Rodge courtesy of
Tech4Trade while introducing 3D
2
printing technology in Tanzania, the
workstation was a success that
inspired STIC fellows to further
revolutionize local e-waste 3D
printers functionality by introducing
Z-axis to the existing X and Y axis
currently operating the former e-
waste 3D printers built at Buni
Fabrication Lab; this inclusion is a
pleasing re-invention with a greater
user efficiency potential.
We move onto to the next local
invention, the STIC fellows have a
way of captivating attention with
their amazing innovations. Standing
at one edge of their Fabrication lab
is a well pieced up Computer
Controlled Cutting machine (CNC)
made from locally available
materials, it was completed and
tested then disassembled for further
finishing.
CNC machining is a process used in
the manufacturing sector that
involves the use of computers to
control machine tools, the X, Y and Z
axis control the movement of the
cutter on a 3D CNC machine
enabling materials to be machined in
three directions (3D manufacture).
At the center of the Fabrication Lab,
EngTech Valerian asks the biggest
man in the room to steadily balance
his weight on top of a wooden
gadget lying idle on the floor made
of motors and recycled metals.
Paul another STIC technician pulls
out a motorcycle size battery and
connects it to the grounded gadget
on the floor; before we know it, the
grounded machine with the weight
of Jumanne Mtambalike, Buni Hub
manager on top of it rotates steadily
without technical hitches.
We are curious to know why they
have a big ‘roller-coaster’ at the
heart of the fablab, Eng Valerian
explains to us how the incomplete
3D scanner is projected to work and
how 3D scanning technology will be
a big contribution to the local
medical field, ‘It will aid printing of
medical human body parts like
prosthetic human body parts.
Without further ado, we move to
the next machine since we had
limited time to analyze an impressive
number of innovative machines in
the room.
STIC being home to creativity, the
best was yet to come when Eng
Valerian pulled out a well manicured
antique wooden briefcase ‘antique
gone unique’.
Printed Circuit Board machines (PCB)
are rare in Tanzania and in most
cases very expensive making
purchasing them a limited option,
before STIC fellows invented their
own PCB machine that uses UV
lighting technology to print circuit
boards, they used to hire an
imported PCB machine from a friend
who charged them an arm and a leg
to get the service of the machine,
that is when they discovered the
need and the possibility of making a
PCB machine using locally accessible
materials… Impressive!!
Everything at this point look
interesting, the radio in the office
sounds more enticing than any other
sound we’ve heard before, we begin
to realize the underutilized
innovative potential and the great
inventions of the Kitunda Fab lab
unsung heroes.
I slowly pull out a tiny green box
from a shelf in the STIC office, Paul
gives me a mean eye and says, ‘be
careful, you don’t know what you
are messing with’.
In my head I am already thinking
these guys might have reinvented a
portable luminous green boeing 787
engine.
Alas! It was a Hospital Emergency
Care Alarm, with very little money to
invest, the team had so much to
showcase surpassing our initial
expectations.
All in all, it was a productive trip way
down to Kitunda, a great experience
for technology enthusiasts in the
innovation ecosystem, the way
forward was to forge a stable, sustainable and scalable partnership
ahead of our upcoming projects

Fig. 12: COSTECH) Director of Innovation,

Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Dr. Dugushilu
Fig 13: DANIDA Senior Adviser Mr. Jeppe Søndergaard
Mafunda(standing) speaks during the Mwenge wood
Pedersen explains about Introduction to Call for FFU
curving Cluster training at COSTECH.Looking on is Mr Deo
Proposals, 2016.
Kafwa,Facilitator of the Mwenge wood curving Cluster

Fig. 15: Assistant Lecturer from University of Dar es

Fig. 14: A cross section of participants of the 2016
Salaam Business School Mr. Mesia Ilomo (standing)
DANIDA Call information meeting listens to DANIDA
facilitating the training to the Mwenge Wood carving
representative at COSTECH

2
Cluster. Looking on are members of the Mwenge Wood
carving Cluster initiative.
 Announcement

TANZANIA COMMISSION FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

CALL FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION EXHIBITION

4th Annual National Science Technology and Innovation Conference and Exhibitions

Theme: Fostering Industrial Growth and Sustainable Development

Venue: Ubungo Plaza – Blue Pearl Hotel

Dates: 17th - 19th June, 2015

This call invites innovators, scientists, engineers, technologist, firms and organization to exhibit various
technologies and innovations during the conference. Exhibition space is available for those who will be
selected. The size of exhibition booth is 3m by 3m and height is 2.56m. Deadline for submitting a short
brief of what you will exhibit is 1st May, 2015.

For more information please contact:

The Organizing Committee
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)
P. O. Box 4302 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

So, what do you think of this e-Newsletter?

If you have any comments or suggestions on how we can improve
this newsletter, or have any feature story to share, please email
info@costech.or.tz