Aim: The study determined and evaluated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk collected along the milk value chain from farm herds, milk collection center, and milk shops in Mbeya rural and Mbozi districts, Tanzania. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 milk samples were collected; 96 from farmers' herds, 18 from milk collection centers, and 36 from milk shops. The samples were cultured in Mannitol salt agar for pathogen isolation and biochemical tests performed for confirmation of S. aureus. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was employed for antibiotic resistance testing. Results: One hundred and forty samples yielded Staphylococcus species; these were from farmer's herd (92), milk collection center (18), and milk shops (30), respectively. Biochemical tests showed that 21 (15%) were positive for S. aureus. The corresponding prevalence rates from the value chain nodes were 14.1%, 16.7%, and 16.7%, respectively. Resistance to penicillin was frequently observed (57.1%) and vancomycin was sensitive to all S. aureus isolates tested. Resistance along the sampling points showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.82, p<0.0001; r=0.65, p<0.003; and r=0.61, p<0.01) between farmers, milk collection points, and milk shops, respectively. More than half (57.1%) of the isolates exhibited resistance to three or more of the antibiotics used in this study. S. aureus isolates were shown to have a multiple antimicrobial resistance patterns, particularly with respect to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Conclusion: The level of staphylococcal isolates and the antibiotic resistance of S. aureus found in this study is an indication of subclinical mastitis, poor hygiene, and inappropriate use of antibiotics; therefore, education of farmers on subclinical mastitis control and proper use of antibiotics would be of benefits in these areas.

This study assessed the exposure of humans to Staphylococcus species expressing the Enterotoxins genes (SEs) through consumption of boiled-milk-served-hot and fermented milk in Mbeya, Tanzania. A survey involving 120 consumers revealed that 67.5% of the respondents were buying raw milk from milk shops for home consumption. About 76% of respondents boiled milk before consumption, 14.8% ferment the milk after boiling and 5.8% consumed fermented milk without boiling. Children (30%) consumed milk more frequently than other members in the family. Among consumers who buy milk from the milk shops, 71% were daily consumers of both boiled milk served hot and fermented milk. Approximately, 1197 L (90% CI, 987-1416) of ready to consume milk was sold per day. Of which 860 L (90% CI, 645-1071) and 337 L (90% CI, 168-530) were boiled-milk-served-hot and fermented milk, respectively. Out of the ready to consume milk, 490 L (90% CI, 464-516) of boiled-milk-served-hot was contaminated with SEs gene compared to 77.5 L (90% CI, 67-88) of fermented milk. Daily 2394 people were consumers of milk and their products. Exposure assessment shows that the probability of consuming boiled-milk-served-hot and fermented milk contaminated with SEs gene at a milk shop was 0.42 (90% CI, 0.071-0.838) and 0.17 (90% CI, 0-0.62), respectively. It was estimated that every day, 363 (90% CI, 341-385) and 58 (90% CI, 49-66) people were likely to consume boiled milk taken hot and fermented milk contaminated with SE gene, respectively. The finding shows that exposure to SEs gene was two times more likely to occur in people who consume boiled-milk-served-hot than in people who consume fermented milk (OR. 2.221 (90% CI, 0.6-6.16). Awareness creation on proper food handling among milk handlers to reduce contamination along the milk value chain is recommended.

A market survey was conducted in Misungwi District to explore interventions towards increased milk processing. A total of 99 producers, 34 transporters and 11 traders of milk from six villages of the district were interviewed using questionnaires. It was found that at least 24,180.7 liters of milk are marketed from farmers every day in Misungwi. Majority (61.2 %) of the milk selling households sold milk to consumers and some others (35.8 %) sold to transporters whereas few (3 %) sold to traders. Prices per liter of milk fetched by producers, transporters and traders were 854, 1,680 and 2,122 TSHs, respectively. Accessibility to electricity, roads, extension, veterinary, inputs and water services was considered at least satisfactory by 95.9 %, 78.8 %, 83.9 %, 86.1 %, 49.5 % and 50.5 % of producers, respectively in the district. Supermarket and shops found in the district were selling packaged milk at a price of 3750 TSHs per liter. All milk transporters used bicycles and considerable part (44%) of them carried milk using un-recommended plastic containers. Milk quality testing is not commonly practiced in milk trading. The major chain bottleneck observed was thus identified to be underdevelopment of milk collection and lack of industrial scale dairy processor. The main intervention that was recommended is capitalizing on progressive farmers by organizing them to form dairy cooperatives. These can be capacitated to perform vibrantly functions of milk collection and processing and also to act as pivotal points for streamlining quality control through quality testing. The cooperative can be backed by existing service providers from both public and private sectors to combat the existing challenges. Major adaptation needed is coping with the dispersed and mobility nature of the milk producers which can be achieved by establishing an extensive but highly accessible milk bulking network.

DRC and Tanzania are two neighboring countries with mineral rich deposits that could be the driving force of their economies. Yet, they remain among under developed countries in the world in general and in Africa in particular. Their populations are still languishing under the poverty threshold while their youths are desperate. After increasing a fiscal burden of corporates exploiting its mineral in 2018, the DRC intended to make the mining sector more fruitful than ever before. 3 years following such ambitious reforms, outcomes are yet to be seen. In fact, the mining sector has not increased the public revenue todate. Lack of transparency in the management of the sector should be fingered. Meanwhile, the Congolese government seems willfully negligent to vehemently address this abnormal situation. On the other hand, Tanzania has reportedly performed well in the mining sector thanks to the strong leadership of its late President Dr Joseph John Pombe Magufuli. Despite such efforts some questions still evolve with regard to the importance of the sector towards socio-economic development. In the same line specific question has been asked on how does one enhance contribution of the mining sector to significant increase of GDP for the two countries? To respond to the question, this paper outlines the state of play of legal reforms underwent by the two countries in the mining sector in the last ten years. Thereafter it suggests ways of increasing transparency in the sector and shows what DRC should learn from Tanzania.