The Chinese presence in the Tanzanian economy is growing rapidly as the eastern giant intensifies its quest for natural resources and a gateway to other African states.
During a state visit to Tanzania in March this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Jakaya Kikwete signed at least 19 agreements reportedly worth more than $6-billion.
According to the website Open Data for International Development (AidData), China has become Tanzania's largest single trading partner — last year it accounted for 15% of Tanzania's trade, valued at $2.47-billion — and its second-largest source of investment.
AidData reports that, between 2001 and 2011, mineral-rich Tanzania received $4.6-billion in Chinese funding, which has the added attraction that it does not come with the conditions about human rights and transparency demanded by some Western funders.
But many Tanzanians are concerned that their country will not be the main beneficiary of the big government-to-government deals and worry about the secrecy surrounding them.
Details are hard to uncover as the infrastructure contracts are not awarded by competitive tender and government ministries are extremely reluctant to provide information.
Parliament kept in the dark
Tanzanian MP John Mnyika complained that not even Parliament is informed.
He wrote twice to the infrastructure ministry for information, without result.
A government foreign service officer, Adam Issara, refused to answer questions.
"I don't know the details of the contracts; they're between the two countries. And, anyway, why do you want to know?" Issara demanded.
An official at the Chinese embassy in Dar es Salaam, who would not give his full name, asked amaBhungane to email questions to him. This was done twice but he did not respond.
An amaBhungane investigation found that Chinese business activities in Tanzania are focused particularly on raw materials such as iron ore, coal, the gemstone tanzanite, gold, diamonds and uranium — and on the infrastructure needed to transport these.
China's interest
Every port in the storm
China's massive commitment to the development of Tanzania's infrastructure, announced in March this year, reportedly totalled about $6-billion in grants and soft loans, but funding and other details of the individual projects are vague.
In addition to the construction of the Bagamoyo port, the website Open Data for International Development (AidData) reports that the following could be on the cards:
• A special economic zone as part of the port development plan. The zone, intended to foster economic development by promoting exports, attracting foreign direct investment and creating employment, may contain several industrial and economic parks;
• The expansion of the Dar es Salaam port. The Tanzania Port Authority started planning an expansion late last year using its own funds but the Chinese assistance could supplement this work or, retrospectively, cover the upgrades;
• The modernisation of the Mtwara port in southern Tanzania, and the installation of new power transmission infrastructure. The project will involve Chinese support but also assistance from public-private partnerships;
• The possible modernisation of the Tanga port near Zanzibar.
• A television broadcasting truck donated to the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation by the Chinese government;
• The provision of shipping container inspection equipment;
• The development of Tanzania's tobacco farming industry; and
• The construction of the Abdallah Mzee drug rehabilitation centre, near the Abdallah Mzee Hospital in Zanzibar.