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Starlink moves closer to becoming full telecom operator, raising stakes for African operators

SpaceX is preparing to make its biggest move yet into the US telecommunications industry, telling investors it plans to launch a Starlink mobile service for consumers, a step that could transform the satellite internet provider into a direct rival to wireless giants Verizon, AT and T and T-Mobile.

The plans, disclosed during a recent investor roadshow ahead of a potential initial public offering, signal that Elon Musk’s privately held space company wants to move beyond providing broadband internet from orbit and become a full-service mobile operator, according to a Financial Times report on Friday.

If launched, the service would mark a significant expansion for Starlink, which has already become the world’s largest satellite broadband network with more than 10 million subscribers. It would also deepen competition in the US communications market, long dominated by a handful of traditional telecom companies that rely on extensive ground-based infrastructure.

SpaceX already works with T-Mobile to provide direct-to-cell satellite connectivity that extends mobile coverage to remote and underserved areas. The new proposal goes much further by offering a retail mobile service under the Starlink brand, potentially allowing consumers to buy mobile plans directly from SpaceX rather than through an existing carrier.

According to the report, SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell also told investors that the company could eventually build its own terrestrial mobile network in the United States, combining ground infrastructure with its growing satellite constellation.

SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.

The expansion has been made possible by SpaceX’s aggressive push to secure wireless spectrum. Last year, the company acquired wireless spectrum licences from EchoStar in transactions worth nearly $20 billion, giving Starlink access to valuable airwaves needed to support direct-to-cell communications.

Those purchases are expected to accelerate SpaceX’s ability to offer nationwide mobile services without relying entirely on partnerships with existing telecom operators.

The strategy reflects a broader shift in the communications industry, where satellite technology is increasingly being viewed as a complement and in some cases a competitor, to conventional mobile networks.

Unlike traditional carriers, whose coverage depends on thousands of cell towers, satellite-based mobile services can reach rural communities, offshore locations and disaster-hit regions where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or damaged.

The implications extend well beyond the United States.

For African telecom operators, a successful Starlink mobile service would reinforce concerns that the company is steadily evolving from a broadband provider into a full-scale telecommunications competitor. Operators across the continent have already warned that Starlink is attracting many of their highest-paying residential and enterprise broadband customers by offering faster internet speeds in areas where fibre and 4G or 5G networks remain limited.

Executives at several African operators have increasingly argued that satellite providers are competing for the most profitable customers without making the same level of investment in local terrestrial infrastructure, spectrum rollouts and nationwide tower networks. Many of those operators continue to spend billions of dollars expanding fibre backbones, building base stations and meeting licence obligations imposed by regulators.

Industry executives also fear that if Starlink eventually combines broadband, voice and direct-to-device mobile services into a single offering, it could become even more attractive to corporate clients, financial institutions, mining companies and affluent urban households, customer segments that traditionally generate a disproportionate share of telecom revenues.

That concern is particularly pronounced in markets such as Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe, where Starlink has expanded rapidly and demand has outpaced supply in some locations. Several operators have acknowledged that satellite broadband is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative for businesses seeking reliable high-speed connectivity.

The pressure could accelerate a new phase of competition across Africa, forcing telecom companies to improve network quality, expand fibre deployment, introduce satellite partnerships of their own and diversify into digital financial services, cloud computing and enterprise solutions to protect revenues.

The mobile ambitions also strengthen Starlink’s long-term negotiating position with telecom operators globally. Rather than serving only as a wholesale partner that complements mobile coverage, SpaceX could increasingly decide where it wants to collaborate and where it wants to compete directly.

Brokerage firm Oppenheimer said earlier this month that Starlink’s continued expansion has the potential to disrupt the $1.6 trillion US communications industry as satellite technology becomes more integrated into everyday mobile connectivity.

The announcement also reinforces how central Starlink has become to SpaceX’s financial future.

While the company remains the world’s leading commercial launch provider, investors increasingly view Starlink as its primary growth engine because of its rapidly expanding subscriber base, recurring service revenues and global reach.

A successful entry into consumer mobile services would open another large revenue stream, allowing SpaceX to compete across broadband, mobile connectivity and enterprise communications from a single satellite platform.

Questions remain over pricing, regulatory approvals and how quickly SpaceX can build the terrestrial infrastructure needed to support a nationwide retail service. The company also faces the challenge of convincing consumers that satellite-powered mobile connectivity can match the reliability and speed of traditional cellular networks.

Still, the proposal highlights SpaceX’s ambition to evolve from a space launch company into a diversified communications powerhouse.

For African operators, the announcement is another reminder that the competitive threat from Starlink is no longer confined to fixed satellite broadband.

If the company succeeds in extending its satellite network into mainstream mobile services, telecom executives across the continent may have to prepare for a future in which their biggest competitor is not another mobile operator, but a communications network operating from space.

What I saw inside Mulago’s sickle cell ward

On World Sickle Cell Day, a visit to Ward 16 reveals the daily reality of children and adolescents battling pain, long queues and shortages, while also finding care, resilience and moments of hope at Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Children limp through crowded corridors. Others chase one another through the hallways as though they are anywhere but a hospital. Beneath a tent outside Ward 16 at Mulago National Referral Hospital, dozens of families wait their turn for treatment, relief and reassurance.

On World Sickle Cell Day, observed annually on June 19, I spent a day inside one of Uganda’s busiest sickle cell clinics, where pain, resilience and hope coexist every day.

Ward 16, also known as Ward 16A or Jelliffe Ward, is Mulago’s Paediatric Haematology Unit. It primarily admits and treats children with sickle cell disease and severe anaemia. Located near the left entrance before the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), it serves hundreds of patients each week.

By mid-morning, the clinic is already full. Children wait with their guardians under a tent, in corridors and outside consultation rooms. Some have yellowing eyes, a common sign of sickle cell disease, while others appear perfectly healthy.

Most caregivers are women, many of them grandmothers. Some cradle sleeping children on their laps, others clutch patient files worn from years of clinic visits. Their faces reflect exhaustion, resilience and the familiarity of a condition that demands lifelong care.

A mother’s journey

Among them is a mother who identifies herself only as Nalongo. She recalls a distressing morning when her five-year-old son experienced a painful episode and could not walk.

‘I carried him on my back while searching for a boda boda. People told me I was spoiling him because he was crying,’ she recounts.

When she finally found a rider and requested transport to Mulago Hospital, she still faced scepticism.

‘Are you so broke that you cannot go to a nearby clinic? If he is really sick, you will be stuck waiting in a long queue at Mulago,’ the rider said.

Nalongo says she has become used to such reactions but remains committed to bringing her son to Ward 16, where staff understand his condition best.

Patients who never leave

Although Ward 16 is designated for children, many adolescents and adults continue to return for care. Robinah Asaba, the ward in-charge, explains that many older patients prefer to stay with the doctors who first treated them.

‘We have treated them since childhood, so they feel we understand them better,’ she says. ‘They are supposed to go to the adult clinic at New Mulago on the fourth floor every Thursday, but they find it easier to come here since we are open Monday to Friday.’

According to Asaba, adults with routine needs are referred to the haematology ward, while those in painful crises are often managed in Ward 16.

One adolescent patient says the attachment runs deeper than convenience.

‘If you have a painful crisis, you will not get better until you are treated here. We have records of our medical history, but even if you take them elsewhere, the doctors there may not provide the same level of care.’

A clinic under pressure

Asaba says the clinic sees between 150 and 200 sickle cell patients daily, Monday to Friday.

On weekends, public holidays and after 5pm, cases are handled at the Acute Care Unit for children, while adolescents and adults are managed as medical emergencies.

‘We are understaffed, yet the number of patients keeps increasing,’ she says.

Despite the pressure, Ward 16 remains a lifeline for families from across Uganda.

Understanding treatment

Once a diagnosis is made, treatment begins immediately. Children receive monthly Fansidar to prevent malaria, since even mild infections can trigger severe crises. They also take daily folic acid to support red blood cell production.

Children under five receive penicillin V to protect against bacterial infections such as pneumonia.

‘Pen V is usually taken until five years, when the immune system is stronger,’ Asaba explains.

One of the most important advances in care is hydroxyurea. It improves red blood cell flexibility, reduces painful episodes and lowers the risk of complications such as stroke.

Awareness has also improved outcomes. Patients now understand the importance of avoiding stress, staying warm and rejecting myths about early death.

‘What is more important is screening,’ Asaba adds. ‘It should be required before marriage, so we reduce the number of children born with the disease.’

Uganda records about 2,000 babies born with sickle cell disease annually, with an estimated seven million people living with the disease or trait.

The debate around prevention

For many adolescents, lived experience shapes strong opinions on prevention.

One teenager, who requests anonymity, speaks emotionally:

‘Some parents should be more careful. Why keep having children when you can see the suffering of those already born?’

He adds: ‘In this era, people should not be giving birth to children with sickle cell disease when screening is available.

If you are a carrier, you should only have children with someone who is not.’

When essential medicine runs out

Despite its effectiveness, hydroxyurea is sometimes unavailable, forcing families to buy it.

‘Sometimes patients do not get it because numbers are high, so they buy it, which increases the cost of care,’ Asaba says.

Margaret Namanda, who cares for her eight-year-old granddaughter, has seen its impact firsthand.

Before treatment, the child had frequent crises and repeated admissions. The situation worsened when her mother struggled to accept the diagnosis.

‘When hydroxyurea was first prescribed, it was out of stock, and each tablet cost Shs1,500. I could not afford Shs45,000 on top of hospital bills, so I did not buy it at first. Later we got free capsules, and the pain reduced,’ she says.

Stigma and abandonment

Beyond physical pain, many patients face stigma, neglect and abandonment. Asaba says the impact is heartbreaking.

‘Some come without food or money for pain medicine. Some are abandoned here. Others are resorting to petty theft to survive,’ she says.

One case is difficult to ignore.

Near a bench sits a teenage boy, about 16, crying out for help to raise Shs60,000 for pain medication. He has bruises on his head, bandages and a cannula in his arm. Passers-by stop to listen and contribute what they can.

A nearby vendor later says the boy has both sickle cell disease and cancer and is also linked to alleged theft within the hospital. Asaba describes him as one of many abandoned cases struggling to survive.

Living with sickle cell disease

Among the patients is Timothy Wangi, an adolescent linked to the Sickle Cell Support Network. Of five children in his family, two have the disease and one is a carrier.

As a child, he was frequently ill and hospitalised before being referred to Mulago.

‘When I get a crisis, the pain is so bad I cannot walk. Painkillers from other clinics wear off, but I only get better after coming here,’ he says.

He explains that crises often begin gradually before intensifying.

‘If the pain increases despite painkillers at school, it may mean an infection, and it must be treated.’

To avoid stigma, he discloses his condition only to close friends and the school nurse.

‘I dread review days because of the queues, but I never miss them.’

As the clinic day ends, the waiting area remains full. New patients arrive while others prepare for long journeys home. Some leave relieved after treatment; others carry the uncertainty of chronic illness.

Yet amid long queues, medicine shortages and chronic pain, Ward 16 remains more than a hospital ward. For hundreds of families, it is a place of continuity and care, where suffering meets expertise and where, even in the hardest moments, hope is not lost.

A grandmother’s hope

Another grandmother recalls first noticing symptoms when her grandson was three months old. He cried constantly and had swollen joints. A diagnosis at Rubaga Hospital confirmed sickle cell disease.

‘The bills were too high, so we came to Mulago where treatment is free,’ she says.

When hydroxyurea was introduced at age seven, the change was significant.

‘He now takes two capsules from Monday to Saturday and one on Sunday,’ she says.

‘We can go an entire school term without a crisis. He drinks water and manages his medicine well, even though he is a picky eater.’

Fast Facts on Sickle Cell in Uganda

Sickle cell disease is among the most common inherited blood disorders in Uganda.

It is passed from parents to children through genes.

Painful ‘crises’ occur when sickled cells block blood flow in the body.

Early diagnosis and consistent care can reduce complications and hospital admissions.

Hydroxyurea is one of the key medicines used to reduce the frequency of painful episodes.

Many patients still face delays in diagnosis and interrupted access to treatment.

How Bishop Omoit is preaching prosperity through agriculture

On a quiet stretch of land in Aturuku Village, Tororo District, the sound of clucking chickens mingles with the grunts of pigs and the rustling of crops swaying in the breeze.

At first glance, it looks like any other thriving commercial farm. But at the centre of this enterprise is an unlikely farmer – a bishop.

Dressed casually and moving confidently from one section of the farm to another, Bishop Julius Omoit, the senior pastor of Tororo Worship Centre, is as comfortable discussing feed ratios and crop yields as he is preaching from the pulpit.

For many of his fellow clergy, this side of the bishop was a revelation. A recent visit by a group of senior born-again church ministers left them astonished.

The Christians toured Bishop Omoit’s crop gardens, piggery units and poultry houses, struggling to hide their surprise at the scale of his investment in agriculture.

‘We had heard that he was farming, but we did not expect to find such a well-established and diversified enterprise,’ one of the visiting Christians remarked.

Yet for Bishop Omoit, farming is not a hobby or a side business. It is part of his ministry.

Standing beside his poultry house, the bishop explains his philosophy with conviction.

‘I believe that one of the best ways to make the Gospel a reality in people’s lives is to help them improve their livelihoods and become self-reliant,’ he says.

To him, preaching hope is not enough if people remain trapped in poverty.

He believes faith should be accompanied by practical action that empowers families to earn a living and secure their future.

This conviction has shaped his pastoral mission. Over the years, Bishop Omoit has watched members of his congregation struggle with unemployment, low incomes and rising living costs.

He began to ask himself whether the church could do more than provide spiritual guidance. His answer was agriculture.

Today, he sees the farm not only as a source of income but as a demonstration site proof that with knowledge, hard work and determination, ordinary people can transform their lives.

The bishop’s journey into farming did not begin with a business plan or investment capital.It began with memories.

Growing up, he watched his parents labour tirelessly on small pieces of land, hoping for a harvest that was often uncertain.

‘I saw my parents struggle to make ends meet through subsistence farming. Those experiences never left me,’ he recalls.

As he rose through church leadership, the memories remained with him. Eventually, they inspired him to return to the soil – not in the traditional way he had known as a child, but with a vision of modern, commercial agriculture.

He started small, experimenting with poultry and piggery while learning new farming techniques. Gradually, he expanded into crop production and diversified his enterprises. Today, his farm stands as a testimony to perseverance and innovation.

Pastor David Omalla of Pentecostal Assemblies of God says the man of God’s experience challenged his long-held assumptions about the role of church leaders.

‘This is more than farming. It is a ministry of empowerment. The church should not only preach about prosperity; it should also demonstrate practical ways for people to achieve it,’ he said.

Pastor Ruth Kahawa of Smile Africa Ministries agrees that agriculture offers an opportunity for churches to address one of society’s biggest challenges – poverty.

‘We have seen that farming can create jobs, improve household incomes and restore dignity to families.Many of us are now inspired to take this path,’ she said.

But Bishop Omoit’s ambitions extend far beyond his own success.He dreams of turning the farm into a training centre where young people, church members and aspiring farmers can learn modern agricultural practices.

He also plans to venture into value addition, enabling farmers to earn more from their produce and access wider markets. His goal is simple: to create a model that others can replicate.

‘People need opportunities. If we can equip them with skills and encourage them to work hard, we can transform communities,’ he said.

He says it’s time religious leaders across Uganda embrace agriculture as a business and a tool for social transformation.

On the bishop’s farm in Aturukuku, sermons are not preached only from a pulpit. They are lived out in chicken houses, pig pens and fertile fields.

Video games ‘convenient scapegoat’ for school violence, says Bam Aquino

Video games are a ‘convenient scapegoat’ behind minor-inflicted violence despite many studies finding no correlation between games and school shootings, Sen. Bam Aquino said on Monday.

Aquino, who heads the Senate basic education, and science and technology panels, remarked amid discussions of banning violent video games after fatal incidents involving shooting and stabbing occurred in three different schools across the country.

‘Video games have been around for 50 years, but they’re always a convenient scapegoat whenever there’s an incident of violence,’ the senator stressed in a statement. ‘More studies have been done that say there is no correlation between video games and school shootings,’ Aquino pointed out.

Malacañang previously said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is ‘open’ to banning video games that may influence minors negatively.

Aquino rejected the possibility of the ban, calling video games ‘an art form and entertainment medium’ that ‘do not cause violent behavior.’

‘Banning video games in general or as a whole, I don’t think that’s a good solution to our problems,’ he said.

Instead, the senator suggested stricter enforcement of age restrictions on video games, the same way such rules exist for audio-visual media.

‘There are many games that are not for children. Maybe what we can clarify is if there is anything more strict, children’s access to mature video games should be more strict,’ Aquino raised.

He continued: ‘In video game stores and online stores, our rules should be a little stricter when it comes to children and their access to mature video games.’

Additionally, Aquino called on game developers to ensure online games are safer especially for children who are vulnerable to ‘predators, extremist groups, and other harmful individuals.’

The senator said those who develop games for a younger demographic must monitor and ban those that may influence minors to incite violence. /mr

Satin ballet-inspired shoes in new seasonal tones

Fashion trends come and go, and what may be the hottest style today can be met with icy indifference in the next season.

There are styles, however, that endure despite remaining largely unchanged season after season. Count ballet-inspired shoes as among those that continue to be a fashion staple, effortlessly delivering unassailable chic.

Now, global fashion brand COS (www.cos.com) unveils its latest ballet-inspired shoes in a palette of seasonal tones, balancing refined design and everyday functionality. Crafted from soft satin, each style is designed with a focus on ease and understated sophistication. Khaki and powder-pink sneakers are defined by a streamlined silhouette and flexible split sole, while ballet flats, offered in an additional chocolate tone, feature a square-framed toe and a supple leather lining.

These are the classics of style that have been redefined, elevated.

Both styles are available online and in selected COS stores worldwide. In the Philippines, COS can be found in SM Aura Premier.

Why ‘unwilling’ witnesses are on the House prosecution list

A member of the House prosecution panel clarified the inclusion of hostile witnesses who might not voluntarily testify in the impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House prosecutor and Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, 3rd District) said that the “hostile” or “unwilling” witnesses are not automatically required to attend the trial, but prosecutors only included them in the list in case they would be needed to further strengthen the case.

‘Pero kung dumating po sa punto na sa tingin namin ay matibay na yung testimonya at hindi na sila kakailanganin eh malamang sa malamang po ay hindi naman din sila ipatawag,’ Chua said in an interview with dzBB on Sunday, June 28.

(But if it comes to a point when we think testimonies are strong enough and they are no longer needed, then probably they [hostile witnesses] will not be be summoned)

On the other hand, if presenting the hostile witnesses would be necessary for the case, Chua said they would be relying on the Senate impeachment court’s power to issue a subpoena for these personalities to testify.

Chua’s clarification comes after the former Davao City court sheriff Abe Andres released a statement on Friday, June 26, saying he ‘refuse to comment on the incident’ in 2011 when he was punched by then mayor Sara Duterte.

Andres was included in the list of potential witnesses by the prosecution for the Article IV of Duterte’s impeachment case, which accuses her of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and high crimes for her assassination remark against President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

‘Please do not involve me in any partisan political matters,’ Andres said.

Chua earlier explained that the prosecutors planned to present Andres to establish Duterte’s alleged violent behavior.

Senate impeachment court Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. announced that the impeachment trial against Duterte is set to begin on July 6 at 2 p.m. Trials will be conducted from Monday to Wednesday before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 27.

After SONA, trials will be rescheduled to Tuesday until Thursday in the afternoon.

Is Joseph Tegbe fixing the grid or merely managing the darkness?

WHEN Adebayo Adelabu was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Power, I publicly congratulated him and offered advice to a fellow indigene of Oyo State. I had intended to do the same for his successor, Joseph Tegbe, who now represents Oyo State in President Tinubu’s cabinet. That intention was interrupted. My attention shifted to unabated insecurity following the beheading of mathematics teacher Mr. Michael Oyedokun and the continued abduction of schoolchildren and teachers by Northern terrorists at Ahoro Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area. When I eventually turned to the new minister, I encountered an interesting political story. His late father reportedly owned a bookshop in Oyo town, where Tegbe also grew up. His emergence revived an old question in Nigerian federalism: when does long-term residency become political belonging in a society where ancestry remains politically significant in competition for limited political space?

When the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi sought to make Tegbe the APC governorship candidate, opposition emerged despite being constitutionally eligible through residence. Politicians native to Oyo reportedly claimed that Tegbe remained an Itsekiri from Delta State. Adelabu became the party’s candidate. A similar debate reportedly resurfaced years later when Governor Makinde considered Tegbe for the PDP Oyo Central Senatorial District before he contested the Oyo South seat, which he lost to Sharafadeen Alli. He has served as Mogaji of Tegbe Compound in Ibadan for about a decade without progressing to Jagun in the Olubadan succession line. While I would welcome Tegbe’s perspective on this matter, the debate about ancestry, residency and political belonging in a federal republic is an important conversation for another day.

Today, however, the focus is on the electricity system. The question is not where Tegbe comes from, but whether the electricity system he now leads is being reformed at the level its structural failures demand.

The case for unbundling the national grid

Tegbe inherited a sector weakened by decades of decay and repeated grid collapses. He resisted making grand promises, cautioning that there was no ‘magic wand’ for immediate 24-hour electricity. As he put it, ‘The challenges that have kept this sector below its potential were decades in the making. They will not be fully reversed in weeks or months.’The question is whether his reforms match that diagnosis.

His early achievements, though technically sound, remain localized and administrative. They have yet to address Nigeria’s greatest electricity bottleneck: the centralized and fragile national grid. The ministry’s examples illustrate this distinction. They emphasize fixing components rather than redesigning the system. The Ministry cited interventions such as the 24-hour restoration of the Katampe feeder station and the revival of a Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) facility that had sat dormant for three years. While these quick wins are useful, they constitute firefighting rather than systemic overhaul. The singly governed national grid remains a single point of failure, demonstrating that Nigeria’s greatest vulnerability lies less in generation than in transmission architecture.

To transform the sector, he must move beyond repairs. Microgrids and isolated state-level projects are insufficient; Nigeria needs regional unbundling of its primary transmission network. A structural solution would involve breaking the national grid into three distinct, interconnected regional units: East, Central, and West. Each regional grid should be co-owned by the Federal Government and adjoining state governments, but managed by independent, private transmission companies. This structure would localize disruptions, encourage regional capital injection, and mirror the global shift toward interconnected regional transmission systems rather than dependence on one national control structure.

Bureaucracy versus blueprints: Discos’ debts and recapitalization

Tegbe’s institutional coordination has been largely bureaucratic. His meetings with the heads of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), NERC, and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to demand ‘collaboration, governance, and accountability’ represent a sensible first step, but they remain strictly administrative. Nigeria’s problem is not a shortage of meetings but a shortage of enforceable implementation blueprints, execution discipline, institutional coherence, and measurable public accountability. His calls for synergy raise questions about existing executive mechanisms. Is he leveraging the Presidential Committee-the Gas Monitoring and Clearance Committee (GAMCO)-and the gas-to-power committees initiated by his predecessor, Adebayo Adelabu? If these bodies languish, ‘collaboration across the value chain’ remains rhetoric. Tegbe must use them to resolve commercial and infrastructural friction between gas suppliers and thermal generators.

The ministry has heavily emphasized NERC’s directive forcing Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to compensate Band A customers for supply shortfalls. While holding operators to service claims protects consumers, it ignores DisCos’ debts to the federation and the wider electricity value chain. The Federal Government has acknowledged the sector’s liquidity crisis, and recapitalization remains one pathway to financial viability. The Minister’s silence on DisCo recapitalization is a glaring omission because insolvency remains a primary barrier to infrastructure investment. In his handover notes, Adelabu explicitly recommended an aggressive recapitalization framework for the DisCos. Tegbe must champion this policy, forcing undercapitalized operators to dilute their equity in exchange for fresh, private capital or face asset restructuring. Without viable DisCos, service-level agreements and NERC penalties are cosmetic.

Smashing the subsidy trap via the Electricity Act

The Electricity Act 2023 offers Tegbe a reform opportunity. His announcement that roughly 20 states have enacted electricity laws, with 12 actively moving to absorb regulatory oversight from NERC, is an encouraging development. However, regulatory decentralization does not automatically yield operational state networks. Nor can microgrids or uncoordinated renewables support heavy industrialization. The Act has decentralized regulation. The logical question is whether transmission architecture should evolve in the same direction. Preserving a centralized backbone may constrain the economic benefits the Act seeks to unlock.

True decentralization also requires electricity subsidy reform. Using the national grid to mask unviable tariffs enables corruption and commercial inefficiency. In a three-region interconnected grid system (East, Central, West), subsidies must undergo a paradigm shift. Federal, state and local governments should adopt targeted, card-based subsidies for vulnerable households, allowing operators to charge cost-reflective tariffs, attract private investment, and support commercial and industrial clusters.

The 2060 Illusion: Forgetting Siemens and underestimating national demand

Tegbe announced a 277GW generation target by 2060, over $2 billion in private investment commitments, 82 transformers adding 8,500MVA, and a $1.16 billion grid digitalization project.These figures require rigorous scrutiny. Before announcing aspirations for 2060, Nigerians deserve a progress report on existing commitments, especially the Siemens Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).Launched in 2018 under President Buhari to deliver 25,000MW by 2030, the project remains a binding commitment that President Tinubu’s administration is obligated to fulfill. How much has been completed? What milestones remain outstanding? What revised implementation timetable should Nigerians expect? Announcing ambitious long-term projections without a clear pathway, while the Siemens project faces delays, amounts to political distraction.

Furthermore, a target of 277GW by 2060 betrays a profound lack of ambition in the face of global technological shifts. If Nigeria must undergo an industrial revolution capable of powering a 24/7 economy, matching the massive rural electrification achievements of the American Roosevelt era of the 1930s, and supporting the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, it cannot wait thirty-four years to achieve 300G W. In the electricity value chain, demand must drive supply. The Ministry should plan for demand growth within the next decade-not for electricity demand that comfortably sits beyond the lifespan of current administrations.

Tegbe’s early tenure has brought operational sobriety and localized competence. But managing a crisis is not solving it. By emphasizing repairs, coordination, and 2060 targets, the Minister risks managing the status quo rather than transforming it. To leave a legacy, he must pivot from administrative realism to structural redesign: unbundle the grid into interconnected systems jointly owned by states and private investors, recapitalize DisCos, execute Siemens PPI, and restructure subsidies. Only then will Nigeria’s power sector move from managed decline to one of industrial prosperity.

nities the police are expected to protect. Until that question is answered, the country risks creating new security institutions while overlooking one of its oldest and most valuable intelligence assets.

Regional cooperative policing offers a more prudent path forward. Equally important, traditional institutions-whether headed by Obas, Emirs, Olus, Igwes, Obis, Shehus, Ochis, Olos, Tor, and other traditional authorities-should be formally integrated into community intelligence gathering. After all, these traditional leaders receive public support, while political leaders routinely seek their legitimacy and blessings during elections. That unique characteristic of the Nigerian republic should reflect in our security architecture.

Youth propose eight measures to strengthen peace, security as govt pledges action

Young people in Mbeya Region have proposed eight measures aimed at helping Tanzania maintain peace and security, with the government promising to work on the concerns and recommendations raised.

The proposals include accountability, equality, transparency, effective management, participation and implementation, while youths also called for the establishment of youth councils at community level to strengthen their direct representation in government structures.

The recommendations emerged during a two-day workshop under the Dumisha Amani (Sustain Peace) project, funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) through the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peace and Security Sub-Fund. The project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Tanzania, seeks to strengthen peace for sustainable development and is expected to cover four regions during its initial phase.

The workshop, held on June 26, brought together various groups, including motorcycle taxi operators (bodaboda), students, non-governmental organisations, online content creators and food vendors, with the aim of building capacity, identifying challenges and collecting recommendations from young people.

A student at the College of Business Education (CBE), Mbeya campus, Mr Jackson Kaaya, said strengthening peace and security in the country required prioritising implementation, equality, justice and effective supervision.

“We need to adhere to established laws and principles to ensure that what is implemented and supervised is done fairly and equally without favouring one side. However, young people must also be willing to participate before expecting to be involved,” said Mr Kaaya.

Another participant, Mr Sylivester Julius, said sustaining peace and security would require improvements in governance systems, transparency, accountability and youth participation.

“Youth, as the nation’s workforce, should be part of decision-making and demonstrate greater commitment to participating in inclusive social issues as the country moves towards the National Vision 2050,” he said.

Ms Mariana Mwampinde urged the government to ensure gender equality while calling on young people to use social media responsibly rather than fuelling divisions.

“Youth should not only consume or spread information online. They should contribute positively to nation-building through cooperation while promoting equality and eliminating social divisions,” she said.

Mbeya Regional Community Development Officer Mr Elukaga Mwalukasa said the government would work on the challenges raised by the youths, noting that some could be addressed in the short term while others would require medium and long-term interventions.

He said the workshop had helped identify challenges affecting different groups and created an opportunity to discuss economic opportunities that could empower young people.

“As a link between the government and citizens, I will ensure that all views collected are submitted to the relevant authorities for implementation,” he said.

“We have engaged many groups, including food vendors and street traders. We have learnt the importance of presenting challenges peacefully while discussing opportunities and ways of improving economic wellbeing.”

Dumisha Amani Project Analyst Mr Edmund Mbigili said the initiative aimed to strengthen peace for sustainable development in Tanzania and would initially be rolled out in four regions.

He said the project had received a positive response from young people, particularly in promoting peace, development and participation in resolving conflicts at different levels.

“The ideas presented by young people show a growing awareness and commitment to promoting peace. That is why we involved different groups, and what stood out was their focus on strengthening peace and development,” he said.

Dumisha Amani is a project aimed at strengthening peace for development in Tanzania. It is funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) through the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peace and Security Sub-Fund and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of Tanzania.

Value addition in focus as Tanzania hosts 7th mining and investment conference

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania will host the 7th Tanzania Mining and Investment Conference (TMIC 2026) in Dar es Salaam as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen mineral beneficiation and accelerate industrial transformation.

The conference, organised through the Ministry of Minerals in collaboration with the Tanzania Chamber of Mines (TCM), is scheduled to take place from November 19 to 21, 2026 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC).

It will be held under the theme: ‘Value-Added Minerals: The Engine of Industrialisation and Economic Growth.’

TMIC 2026 is expected to attract a wide range of participants, including governments, mining companies, investors, financial institutions, technology providers, researchers, policymakers and development partners, who will explore investment opportunities and strategic partnerships within Tanzania’s mining sector.

The event will focus on opportunities across the entire mineral value chain, from exploration and mine development to processing, refining and mineral-based manufacturing. It will also highlight advanced value-added products aimed at increasing the sector’s contribution to industrial growth.

The programme will feature high-level policy discussions, keynote presentations, technical sessions, business-to-business meetings, exhibitions and networking forums designed to promote investment, enhance technology transfer and strengthen international cooperation.

A Mining Exhibition will showcase innovations, products and services from across the mining ecosystem, while the event will conclude with the Mining Gala Night (Usiku wa Madini), which recognises excellence and contributions to the development of the sector.

He said the government is committed to ensuring the mining sector creates employment, supports technological advancement and increases value addition within the country.

The Ministry of Minerals has invited mining companies, investors, equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, service providers and researchers to participate in TMIC 2026 and explore emerging opportunities in Tanzania’s mining industry.

The Government is strengthening control over the employment of foreign citizens in the country

The Government continues to strengthen control over the employment of foreign citizens in the country in order to ensure that such employment is carried out in accordance with the law and that foreigners employed have valid permits.

Evelyn Munisi, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations, said this in Parliament in Dodoma, answering a question from Nyasa MP John John Nchimbi. The deputy asked about the government’s position regarding foreign specialists who stay in the country for a short time and receive a Business Visa, which is not recognized by the Labor Department.

According to the Law on Labor Regulation of Foreign Citizens (Chapter 436), work permits are issued to foreign citizens who have employment relations with companies or institutions employing them in the country. She noted that the Immigration Department issues business visas for a period not exceeding three months to foreigners who arrive in the country to perform short-term special tasks without entering into an employment relationship with the companies or institutions they serve.

According to Munisi, among those who use such a visa are specialists who come to conduct training, perform professional work, as well as install equipment and machinery in various institutions of the country.

In addition, she said that the Office of the Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations is aware of the presence of foreigners performing special tasks at workplaces on such visas, and the Government continues to cooperate with the Immigration Department to ensure that these individuals comply with the conditions and procedures provided for in their permits.

In the Office of the Prime Minister for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations, he instructed all employees of the employment service in the country to ensure that employers, organizations, institutions and companies accepting foreigners are informed in order to raise awareness of the laws and responsibilities of each party.

Munisi warned against the actions of some individuals (“intermediaries”) who use illegal methods to bring foreigners into the country to work, bypassing procedures, and also helping them to continue working after the expiration of their contracts by exiting the country and re-entering on other visas.

She added that the Government would not hesitate to take strict legal action against any person or institution found to be violating laws and procedures for the employment of foreigners.

“Strict legal measures will be applied to those who will be convicted of violating these instructions. Each country has its own laws and procedures, so the laws of Tanzania must be protected by the Tanzanians themselves. We will resolutely fight those who act contrary to the procedures and laws of the country,” Munisi said.

On the other hand, Deputy Minister Munisi stressed that the Government will continue to strengthen cooperation between the Prime Minister’s Office, the Immigration Department and other relevant agencies to ensure that foreigners coming to work in the country comply with the conditions of permits and documents issued to them in accordance with the law. This measure will help protect jobs for Tanzanians and strengthen labor market governance in the country.

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