Akiba Commercial Bank Yakutana na Wateja wa Mwanza: Zaidi yaWateja 250 Wahudhuria Mkutano wa Mahusiano

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Akiba Commercial Bank Plc, Bw. Silvest Arumasi (katikati), akizungumza na wateja wa Benki hiyo mkoa wa Mwanza wakati wa hafla ya kukuza na kuimarisha mahusiano na wateja hao pamoja na kupokea mrejesho kwa ajili ya kufanya maboresho ya bidhaa pamoja na viwango vya huduma. wengine pichani kutoka kushoto ni Afisa Biashara Mkuu wa ACB, Bi. Wezi Mwazani pamoja na mwakilishi wa wafanya Biashara wa soko kuu la Mwanza.

Meneja wa Akiba Commercial Bank Tawi la Mwanza Bw.Emmanuel Makula akitambulisha timu yake ya ushindi ya Tawi hilo Wakati wa hafla ya kukuza na kuimarisha mahusiano na wateja wa benki hiyo mkoa wa mwanza.

Benki ya Akiba imeendelea kuonyesha dhamira yake ya kuwa karibu na wateja kwa kuandaa mkutano maalum na wateja wa Mwanza uliofanyika tarehe 22 Mei 2025 katika ukumbi wa Gold Crest Hotel.

Tukio hili lilivutia zaidi ya wateja 250, ikiwa ni ishara ya hamasa kubwa na utayari wa jamii ya Kanda ya Ziwa kunufaika na huduma Benki hiyo.

Katika mkutano huo wa ana kwa ana, wateja walipata nafasi ya kuzungumza moja kwa moja na viongozi waandamizi wa benki, kutoa maoni yao kuhusu huduma, kueleza changamoto wanazokutana nazo katika shughuli za kifedha, pamoja na kujifunza kuhusu huduma na bidhaa mpya za benki.

Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Benki ya Akiba, Bw. Silvest Arumasi, alipata nafasi ya kuzungumza na wateja na kueleza kuwa mkutano huu ni sehemu ya mikakati ya Benki katika kuimarisha mawasiliano na wateja wake. Alisema:

“Benki ya Akiba inaamini katika kusikiliza wateja wake. Lengo letu ni kuelewa vizuri zaidi mahitaji yao halisi ili tuweze kutoa huduma zinazogusa maisha yao kwa namna chanya, hasa katika mazingira yao ya kila siku.”

Bw. Arumasi aliongeza kuwa benki inaendelea kuweka mkazo katika kutoa msaada kwa wafanyabiashara wadogo na wa kati kwa kuwapa jukwaa la kuzungumza moja kwa moja na wataalamu wa kifedha na kupata ushauri wa kibiashara wenye manufaa ya moja kwa moja.

Afisa Mkuu wa Biashara, Bi. Wezi Mwanzani, alieleza kuwa mwitikio mkubwa wa wateja wa Mwanza ni ushahidi wa Imani ya Wakazi wa Mwanza kwa Benki ya Akiba pamoja na uhitaji mahitaji mkubwa wa huduma za kifedha. Alisema

“Tunashukuru kwa mwitikio mzuri kutoka kwa wateja wa Mwanza. Kama benki, tutaendelea kutoa huduma bunifu na zinazolenga kumsaidia mteja katika uhalisia wa biashara zake. Mwanza ni sehemu muhimu ya mpango wetu wa kuhakikisha huduma zetu zinawafikia watu wote.”

Bi. Wezi alisisitiza kuwa dhamira ya benki ni kuijenga jamii jumuishi kifedha, kwa kuhakikisha watu wote wanapata nafasi sawa ya kutumia huduma za kifedha kama njia ya kujikwamua kiuchumi.

Mbali na majadiliano, tukio hili pia liliambatana na utoaji wa elimu ya kifedha. Wateja walielimishwa kuhusu usimamizi wa fedha binafsi na za biashara, matumizi salama ya huduma za kidijitali kama benki mtandao na miamala kwa njia ya simu, pamoja na mbinu bora za kukuza biashara kwa njia endelevu.

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Startups reimagining farming through digital mechanization.

By Kilasa Mtambalike

In the heart of the country, where smallholder farmers have long relied on traditional tools like hoes and ox-plows, a new generation of agricultural startups is sowing the seeds of transformation.

Young entrepreneurs are reimagining farming by introducing affordable mechanization solutions that are bridging the productivity gap and driving food security.

One such trailblazer is Greenbiz Limited, a startup based in Kisongo, Arusha. This is a platform that captures what farmers are already doing, how much they save weekly, how they repay loans, and their farming activities and turns that into a digital credit profile.

Co-founder Daniel Elibariki says that the idea was born from a simple but powerful realization: rural farmers, especially women, were doing everything right; saving weekly, working hard, and forming cooperative groups, yet remained locked out of formal finance because they lacked collateral. 

“We saw these groups, known as Village Community Bank (VICOBA), as a foundation we could build on.

 By digitizing their financial records and aggregating their data, we realized we could build a trust bridge between these farmers and banks. That’s how the journey started out of a desire to make finance fairer and more inclusive for the people who need it most,” he says.

The startup addresses the financing gap for smallholder farmers, particularly the lack of access to credit due to traditional collateral requirements.

Agriculture contributes over 25 percent to Tanzania’s GDP, yet most smallholder farmers still rely on informal lending or personal savings. Without finance, there's no mechanization, no inputs, and no scaling. Given the growing threats from climate change and food insecurity, closing this gap has never been more urgent.

The company uses the profiles to secure collateral-free loans from partner banks and integrates agricultural advisory and sensor technology to help farmers make data-driven decisions and the result is that a farmer wakes up not just hoping for rain, but knowing when to plant, how much to borrow, and where to improve.

 

“We are focused on micro-mechanization, tools and technologies that fit the scale and budget of smallholder farmers. Things like soil sensors, drip irrigation kits, and precision planting tools. These might seem small, but for a farmer using only hand tools, they’re game-changers. We're filling the gap between traditional labor and full-scale mechanization, which is often unaffordable or unsuitable for small farms,” Elibariki says.

Elibariki says that one of the biggest hurdles in their operations has been digital and financial literacy.

“Farmers need to understand not just how to use our platform or devices, but why they matter. That’s why training is central to our model. We host in-person sessions and partner with local leaders and youth to serve as digital champions in each village. Building trust has also been key, most rural communities have been burned by “solutions” that disappeared after a pilot,” he adds.

Grenbiz Limited is among the beneficiaries of KilimoTech Accelerator. The brainchild of Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA), the strategic initiative is supported by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and implemented by Sahara Accelerator and aims to accelerate digital innovations in agricultural mechanization for Tanzania's smallholder farmers.

Emmanuel Senzighe, Kilimotech Accelerator Project Manager, says that The project focuses on enhancing productivity and sustainability in the sunflower, maize, horticulture, and rice value chains by supporting Agritech startups (Agripreneurs) and fostering partnerships among key stakeholders.

The program focuses on scaling Agritech startups (Agripreneurs) by providing tailored support, technical and business diagnostics, and technical mentorship. By connecting young women and men SMEs to mechanization, irrigation, and financial service providers, Kilimotech Accelerator fosters a vibrant ecosystem of innovators, startups, and key stakeholders.

This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the productivity of Tanzania’s agriculture sector by leveraging digital platforms to address key barriers such as high equipment costs, limited system integration, and restricted access to financing.

It further enables the most underserved farmers, particularly youth and smallholders, to leapfrog into modern mechanization by making essential technologies more accessible, affordable, and readily available.

   

“GreenBiz is one of nine innovative solutions currently being accelerated with tailored support to refine their offerings and develop proof-of-concept models that can enable scalable impact. The Accelerator is committed to driving sustainable growth and market readiness for these startups through mentorship, targeted workshops, ecosystem engagement, and strategic collaboration, ultimately aiming to expand youth employment and enhance access to mechanization services,” he adds.

      

As for Elibariki, KilimoTech has been instrumental in the growth of their startup and they see a brighter future on the horizon.

“The mentorship helped us refine our product-market fit, the network connected us with potential partners, and the exposure has opened doors to potential investors and partners we wouldn’t have accessed on our own. It’s been a catalyst for our next phase of growth,” he says. 

He notes that they expect a twofold impact from their operations: increased productivity through timely decision-making and smart investments, and a shift in labor dynamics where technology eases the burden on women and youth.

 

“With access to finance and mechanization tools, farmers can cultivate more land, reduce post-harvest losses, and generate higher incomes. Over time, we hope to see less outmigration of rural youth and more pride in farming as a tech-driven profession,” he says.

According to Elibariki, despite their expectations, their journey has not been devoid of surprises or memorable moments.

“One Maasai woman in our pilot group told us that for the first time in her life, she feels like a "bankable" person. That word “bankable” really stuck with us.

 It’s not just about money. It’s about dignity, confidence, and a sense of being seen and valued by the formal system,” he says.

Still, challenges remain. Agritech is tough because you’re dealing with two notoriously hard sectors, agriculture and finance.

 Getting banks to trust community data and getting farmers to trust tech requires patience and consistency, says Elibariki.

“We’ve faced setbacks in infrastructure, resistance to change, and even skepticism from funders. But the impact we’ve seen makes it all worthwhile,” he adds.

Mechanization has traditionally been the missing link in Africa’s agricultural development. 

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, over 60 percent of sub-Saharan farmers still rely on hand tools. But startups are now stepping into this gap with technology tailored to local realities.

Creating an enabling environment for agri-tech startups means investing not just in individual ventures but in the ecosystem itself. 

Governments, donors, and private sector actors have a role to play in supporting research, building infrastructure (like rural connectivity), and shaping policies that promote innovation.

As the digital revolution sweeps through agriculture, the startups that will succeed are those with both the tools to build and the vision to lead. 

By equipping innovators with the right mix of business savvy and technical depth, we can unlock the full potential of technology to power a more resilient and productive future for farming.

And hopefully, somewhere out there, investors are taking note.

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Air France-KLM Appoints Joris Holtus as General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria and Ghana

Holtus was until now the VP of Sales Planning & Development at Air France-KLM’s headquarters in Amstelveen, Netherlands and Paris – Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, where he led a 100-person team with a responsibility to develop sales strategies, policies and products

• He has 25 years’ experience, including in Africa, where he has served as the airline group’s General Manager for Southern Africa.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 9, 2025 – Air France-KLM has today announced the appointment of Joris Holtus as General Manager for East and Southern Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, effective immediately. Holtus succeeds Marius van der Ham, who held the position for the past three years and played a pivotal role in strengthening the Group’s presence and partnerships across the region.

With over 25 years of senior leadership experience across four continents, Holtus brings deep expertise in commercial strategy, customer experience, and business transformation. He returns to the African continent, having served as General Manager for Southern Africa at Air France-KLM, where, for three years, he held full commercial, operational, and organizational responsibility.

“We are excited to welcome Joris Holtus back to Africa in this critical leadership role,” said Hildabeta Amiani, the Country Sales Manager, Kenya at Air France KLM. “His deep understanding of diverse markets, commitment to transformation, and passion for people make him ideally suited to lead our continued growth in this dynamic region.”

In his most recent role as Vice President Sales Planning & Development at Air France-KLM’s headquarters in Amstelveen, Netherlands and Paris – Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, Holtus led a 100-person team , reshaping the Group’s global sales organization and driving performance through innovation, technology and transformation.

His career highlights include:

• Launching Air France-KLM’s Corporate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program, an industry-leading initiative.

• Leading airline turnaround strategies, focusing on digital transformation and customer excellence.

• Driving strong revenue growth and network expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean as General Manager Mid-Americas & Dutch Caribbean.

• Spearheading award-winning customer experience innovations such as SkyPriority and KLM’s Meet & Seat.

Born in Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, Holtus holds a Master’s degree in Business Economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and is fluent in Dutch and English, with working experience in German and Spanish.

“I am honored to rejoin the region at such an exciting time for aviation in Africa,” he said. “The East, Southern and West African markets are full of opportunity and innovation. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to further enhance connectivity and customer service”.

Holtus assumes leadership of the region as the Air France–KLM Group continues to expand its footprint across East Africa. Recently, Air France launched flights to Kilimanjaro, marking its entry into northern Tanzania and underscoring its commitment to broadening its global network and enhancing connectivity to and from Africa. Air France also operates daily direct flights from Nairobi, Kenya to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, strengthening its presence in the region.

Meanwhile, KLM provides convenient access to Dar es Salaam via Amsterdam with seven weekly flights. The airline also serves Kilimanjaro five times a week and Zanzibar twice a week, offering travellers more flexible options within Tanzania.

About the Air France–KLM Group

A global player with a strong European base, the Air France-KLM Group’s main areas of business are passenger transport, cargo transport and aeronautical maintenance.

Air France-KLM is a leading airline Group in terms of international traffic on departure from Europe. It offers its customers access to a worldwide network, covering over 300 destinations thanks to Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Transavia, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

Its Flying Blue frequent flyer programme is one of the leaders in Europe with over 20 million members.

Together with its partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM operates the largest transatlantic joint venture, with more than 340 daily flights in 2019.

Air France-KLM is also a member of the SkyTeam, the alliance dedicated to providing passengers with a more seamless travel experience at every step of their journey with 19 member airlines working together across an extensive global network.

Recognized for 18 years as an industry leader in sustainable development, the Air France-KLM Group is determined to accelerate the transition to more sustainable aviation

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VODACOM YAZINDUA MSIMU WA 4 WA DIGITAL ACCELERATOR: BIASHARA 15 ZA KIBUNIFU KUCHUANA

Vinara 15 wa Vodacom Digital Accelerator Season 4 Watangazwa! Washindi wa msimu wa 4 wa bunifu za kampuni changa (Startups), inayoandaliwa na Vodacom Tanzania, wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja na timu ya kampuni hiyo baada ya kutangazwa katika tukio lililofanyika hivi karibuni jijini Dar es Salaam.

• Kufundishwa ujasiriamali na Wataalamu wa Kimataifa kutoka Marekani

Dar es Salaam, Mei 9, 2025: Vodacom Tanzania PLC, kwa kushirikiana na Huawei Tanzania, imezindua rasmi Msimu wa 4 wa Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA), hatua nyingine katika kusaidia ubunifu na ujasiriamali nchini.

Mwaka huu, biashara bunifu 15 zimechaguliwa kushiriki katika programu ya siku 5 ya Design Sprint, itakayoendeshwa na wataalam wa kimataifa kutoka programu ya MassChallenge ya nchini Marekani.

Lengo la Design Sprint ni kuboresha biashara zinazochipukia, kuimarisha ufanisi wa bidhaa sokoni na kuongeza maandalizi yao kwa ajili ya kuvutia uwekezaji. Kati ya hizi, biashara 10 zenye uwezo mkubwa wa kufanikiwa zitachaguliwa kwa safari ya miezi 3 ya kuendelezwa, ambapo zitapata ushauri wa kitaalam, msaada wa maendeleo ya biashara, na fursa mahususi za kufikia masoko ya ndani na ya kimataifa.

Msimu wa 4 wa VDA unaendeshwa kupitia ushirikiano wa kimkakati unaoendelea kati ya Vodacom na Huawei, jambo litakalowezesha wabunifu hao kushiriki kwenye safari ya kujifunza nchini China mwezi Juni. Wakati wa ziara hiyo ya kimataifa, wabunifu hao watakutanishwa na kampuni kubwa za teknolojia za nchini China, ili kujifunza mifumo ya ubunifu wa kisasa na pia kuwasilisha bunifu zao mbele ya wawekezaji binafsi na mashirika.

Katika hatua kubwa ya kuwaendeleza wajasiriamali chipukizi, msimu huu utakuwa na uwekezaji wa fedha taslimu zitatolewa kwa biashara tatu bora, ili kusaidia kukuza bunifu zao na hivyo kuwaongezea uwezo wa ushindani ndani na nje ya mipaka ya Tanzania.

"VDA ni jukwaa la ukuzaji wa kizazi kijacho cha wavumbuzi wa Kitanzania. Na kwa mara nyingine tunachanganya ubunifu wa ndani na uzoefu wa kimataifa tukiwasaidia vijana wabunifu katika kujenga biashara zinazoweza kupanuka, kupata uwekezaji na kuingia kwenye majukwaa ya kimataifa," alisema Zuweina Farah, Mkurugenzi wa Uhusiano na Mawasiliano wa Vodacom Tanzania.

Tangu kuanzishwa kwake, Vodacom Digital Accelerator imewezesha zaidi ya biashara chipukizi 75 nchini kwa kuwapatia nyenzo, mtaji na kuwakutanisha na wajasiriamali na makampuni makubwa iliyowawezesha kukua na kustawi. Msimu wa 4 unaendeleza urithi huu, kwa dhamira mpya ya ujumuishwaji wa kidijitali, uhifadhi wa baiyoanuai, ujasiriamali wa vijana na uwezeshaji wa kiuchumi.

Kuhusu Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA):

Vodacom Digital Accelerator (VDA) ni programu Iliyoanzishwa mwaka 2019 na Vodacom tanzania PLC kwa lengo kuu ya kusaidia biashara chipukizi za kiteknolojia kukua. VDA hutambua, kulea, na kukuza biashara changa na zinazokua za kiteknolojia zenye lengo la kutatua changamoto za jamii kwa njia ya ubunifu. Programu hii inachanganya ushauri wa kitaalam, ufikiaji wa masoko, maandalizi ya uwekezaji, na uzoefu wa kimataifa ili kusaidia biashara chipukizi za Kitanzania kustawi katika uchumi wa kidijitali unaoshindana

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