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Growing up, I used to roll my eyes at certain aunties and quietly label them as bitter or grumpy. They always seemed annoyed, short-tempered, or just done with everyone.

But years (and a few hormonal cycles) later, I’ve come to realise it wasn’t attitude. It was biology.

So here’s a little public service announcement for the gentlemen: women are not always moody, dramatic, or unpredictable, sometimes, we’re just biological. Every month, our hormones go through a mini revolution that we didn’t vote for.

Oestrogen rises, progesterone drops, moods shift, and before you know it, we’re crying because we can’t find the TV remote. Meanwhile, the man next to us is quietly panicking, trying to figure out what he did wrong, when in reality, he did absolutely nothing.

Sir, it’s not you. It’s biology.

When PMS hits, patience disappears, energy levels nosedive, and emotions decide to go on a roller coaster ride. One minute we’re laughing, the next we’re ready to throw hands because you chewed too loudly.

It’s not attitude, it’s chemistry. But most men don’t know that.

They just see the transformation and think, “Ah, here we go again.” And then comes menopause, the grand hormonal finale.

Imagine hot flashes, mood swings, and sleepless nights all rolled into one. Now imagine being asked, “Why are you always moody these days?” That’s when biology meets bravery, because it takes a strong woman not to throw the question and the man out the window.

The truth is, many men simply don’t realise how deeply hormones affect women’s behaviour. They take emotional shifts as personal attacks, assuming we’re being cold, rude, or distant.

In reality, it’s just our bodies doing science experiments we never signed up for. That doesn’t mean we get a free pass for bad behaviour, biology explains it, it doesn’t excuse it.

Snapping at your partner because your cramps feel like a boxing match isn’t fair, but it’s understandable. The real problem isn’t the mood, it’s the misunderstanding.

If men were taught how biology affects women, half the arguments in relationships would vanish overnight. Imagine this: She says, “I’m not in the mood, I’m just hormonal.

” He says, “Cool. Chocolate or space?” Peace restored.

Because let’s face it empathy is the best relationship hack ever invented. Understanding that hormones can hijack emotions doesn’t make you weak; it makes you emotionally intelligent.

So, gentlemen, next time your lady seems off, don’t jump to “she’s dramatic” or “she’s giving me attitude.” Think biology.

Sometimes the storm isn’t in her mood, it’s in her hormones. And honestly, ladies, biology may be wild, but we handle it like queens.

Just remember to warn the men in your life When we say “it’s not you”, this time, we really mean it. .

Dar es Salaam. Preparations are heating up for another thrilling international rugby fixture this Saturday at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Rugby Grounds, where Clyde and Co.

‘s Dar Leopards will take on Kenya’s Mombasa Sports Club from 3:30 pm. The action-packed afternoon will kick off with a women’s curtain-raiser match at 3:00 pm, followed by the men’s 15s fixture.

The event promises fans a full day of competitive rugby, vibrant social interaction, and community celebration. This Saturday’s encounter marks yet another milestone in the Dar Leopards’ expanding calendar of regional matches, further strengthening sporting ties between Tanzanian and Kenyan clubs while promoting rugby development across East Africa.

Clyde and Co., an international law firm with seven integrated offices across Africa, continues to partner with Dar Leopards Rugby Club to organize the event, demonstrating its commitment to community engagement and sports development in Tanzania.

The event will be hosted by Peter Kasanda, Clyde and Co. Africa Chair, a former Dar Leopards player and club chair, who will welcome players, guests, and supporters to what promises to be an exciting afternoon.

Spectators attending the UDSM Grounds can expect an electrifying atmosphere, complete with refreshments, competitive matches, and celebrations of rugby culture. The program opens with a showcase match featuring the Dar Cheetahs, the women’s contact rugby team of the Dar Leopards.

Founded in 2024, the Cheetahs have quickly made their mark through teamwork and dedication, and are already preparing for an expanded 2026 season. Their curtain-raiser performance will set the stage for the main event against Mombasa Sports Club.

The Dar Leopards, one of Tanzania’s oldest and most prestigious rugby clubs, continue to nurture local talent while promoting the sport nationwide. With active men’s, women’s, and touch rugby teams, the club plays a central role in the growth of Tanzanian rugby at both grassroots and competitive levels.

Saturday’s fixture also signals the Leopards’ efforts to revive the traditional “Mamba Cup,” a regional tournament historically featuring clubs from Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mombasa. .

Dar es Salaam. For decades, Kariakoo has been Tanzania’s heartbeat of trade, a bustling market where traders and buyers haggle over clothes, shoes, and cosmetics.

But today, a smartphone has become more powerful than a shop in Kariakoo. With only an internet connection and good camera, a growing class of young online brokers popularly known as Winga in Swahili, are rewriting the rules of business in the country.

According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the country had over 54.1 million internet users as of June 2025. And for Winga, this digital audience has become their customer base. Many Winga source their products from Kariakoo, where wholesale traders offer clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and accessories at affordable prices.

According to Thabit Abdul, who runs a thrift fashion page, his business depends less on location and more on how fast he posts online. “I usually go to Kariakoo a few times a week.

I look for clothes and shoes that are unique but affordable. Then I post them on Instagram and WhatsApp.

Most of the time, my items sell the same day,” he explained. On the other hand, handmade jewellery seller, Sofia Gidion, shared a similar experience, saying she turned Instagram and TikTok into her shopfront after graduation.

“At first, I thought I’d just share pictures with friends, but soon I had messages from people asking to buy. Now, a good month brings Sh300,000 to Sh800,000. I don’t pay rent, and my phone is enough to run the business,” she said.

Like many others, Fatma Saidi built her thrift fashion brand by buying from Kariakoo traders and reselling online. “I find unique pieces, buy them cheaply, and then sell them online.

Social media lets me reach buyers quickly without needing a physical shop,” she noted. She added that shipping was no longer a barrier.

“Sometimes I package orders and use local couriers, and other times I use DHL, so I don’t need to be a big company to send products abroad,” she shared Kariakoo phone seller Suleiman Mussa said the business model is now popular with students. “We work with young people, many of them university students, who buy phones or accessories and resell them to their peers.

It helps them generate income, and the demand keeps growing,” he said. Mr Mussa noted that many of his customers follow his WhatsApp status updates to check new arrivals, and most products sell within hours.

Not every Winga journey is smooth. Riziki Hassan, who sells clothing online, said one of her biggest challenges was friends and relatives asking for discounts or taking products on credit.

“Once people see you posting items online, they assume it’s easy to give things for free or on credit. But when they don’t pay back, the business suffers,” she said.

Riziki explained that success depended on understanding customers. “This business has no physical shop.

It’s just you, your phone, and your social media pages. The most important thing is to know your customers, have a good phone with a strong camera, and stay online with internet data all the time,” she shared While many started with thrift goods from Kariakoo, some Winga now directly import items from abroad.

Small shipments from China, Dubai, India, and even the United States are making their way into Tanzania through individual dealers. Their shops remain Instagram reels, TikTok videos, WhatsApp statuses, and Facebook stories, where promotion drives sales.

Judith James, once a Kariakoo-based Winga, now imports her own products. “I no longer rely heavily on local shops.

I started small, studied the game, and today I import directly,” she said. She credited social media for this transformation.

“Social media has made it possible for us to grow beyond just reselling. It allows us to run real businesses, connect directly with customers, and become independent,” she explained.

Technology analyst Dominic Dismas believes Winga are changing the way Tanzanians think about shopping. “Consumers are no longer limited to shop hours or specific locations.

With a smartphone, they can shop at midnight, compare prices instantly, and interact directly with sellers. That’s a revolution,” he said.

The smartphone has become the new storefront, with every post a potential sale. And as more Winga gain confidence, Kariakoo is no longer just a physical market it has become the supply hub of a digital economy driven by creativity, convenience, and connectivity.

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Dodoma. When a family is forced to choose between buying schoolbooks and having a meal, it is not just another tale of hardship but a case study of the psychological burden that poverty creates.

Economic deprivation leaves not only visible scars of malnutrition but also invisible ones like emotional trauma and mental distress that last a lifetime. Across low- and middle-income countries, poverty has become a frontline driver of depression and anxiety.

Research from Malawi, Tanzania and global institutions such as the World Bank and WHO links financial shocks, food scarcity, job losses and rising healthcare costs to worsening mental health, a vicious cycle that undermines resilience and productivity. As the world marks World Mental Health Day, experts are calling for poverty reduction to be treated as a central mental health strategy.

The Regional Medical Officer for Dodoma, Dr Rutachunzibwa, recently told The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi, that health providers and the public should “seek alternative sources of income to free themselves from the chainsaw of poverty”, which he said remains a major driver of mental illness and suicide cases. In recent years, young people have increasingly turned to artificial intelligence (AI) tools for support, motivation and income generation.

A 2024 report by Gusto Insight Entrepreneurship, authored by Senior Economist Nick Tremper, found that Gen Z entrepreneurs are 56 percent more likely than Gen X to use generative AI in business operations. However, this growing dependence on technology has raised concerns about overreliance and exposure to psychological risks.

A tragic illustration of this came in April 2025, when 16-year-old British national died by suicide after months of conversations with an AI platform. His parents have since sued the AI platform, alleging the chatbot “actively enabled and coached” his suicidal behaviour.

The case, which is still ongoing, has sparked global debate on AI accountability and safety in mental health interactions. Mental health discussions have become more open among the youth, though generational differences persist.

Older generations in developing countries often dismiss mental health issues as exaggerations, leaving younger people to struggle in silence. Victor Mutta, 32, shared with The Citizen how depression derailed his academic life: “I dropped out because of severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

It took a couple of years to recover, but by then going back to university meant starting over. I’ve always been intelligent, so starting over felt too shameful.

” During the Covid-19 lockdown, Victor found new purpose through digital learning and AI-powered platforms, a sign of how technology can both hinder and heal. The Head of the Psychology Department at Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital, Dr Japhet Swai, told The Citizen that AI should be viewed as a tool, not a therapist.

“Nothing is inherently good or bad; it depends on how we use it. AI can enhance learning and research, but young people must be careful how they engage with a technology we still don’t fully control.

” Dr Swai cautioned that AI lacks the empathy and perception essential in therapy. “A chatbot can’t read subtle human cues like tone, facial expression and hesitation which only years of clinical experience can interpret,” he said.

He also warned of data privacy risks, noting that tech owners hold significant control over user information, which could be accessed under certain legal pressures. Clinical psychiatrist Dr Veronica Lymo of Mirembe Hospital urged Tanzanians to seek help when struggling with mental health challenges.

“There is no shame in asking for help. Thinking you must face it alone makes you a prisoner of your own mind,” she said.

Mirembe Hospital’s Executive Director, Dr Paul Lawala, revealed that the institution has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Makerere University in Uganda to establish a Mental Health Call Centre. “The new 24-hour call centre will ensure that those experiencing mental distress can access help immediately and be referred to the nearest health centre before reaching Mirembe for specialist care,” Dr Lawala said.

As the world embraces AI-driven solutions, experts say the challenge is finding balance, using technology as a bridge to wellness, not a replacement for human connection. .