Category: The Citizen

For decades, schools have been recognised as the foundation where future leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs are shaped.

But beyond classrooms, teachers and textbooks, a growing number of education stakeholders believe another resource remains largely untapped – the alumni who passed through those institutions.

Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi has commended CRDB Bank for its contribution to Tanzania’s economic development through financing businesses, supporting development projects and empowering young people with innovative financial services.

President Mwinyi made the remarks on Monday, July 13, 2026 during a visit to the bank’s pavilion at the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) shortly before officially closing the exhibition. Accompanied by the First Lady of Zanzibar, Mariam Mwinyi, he toured the pavilion and received a briefing on the bank’s digital financial solutions for individuals, businesses and investors.

He said CRDB Bank had continued to play a key role in promoting private sector growth, investment and productive projects that contribute to the country’s economic development.

“Congratulations on your achievements,” President Mwinyi said.

Welcoming the President, CRDB Bank Acting Director of Retail and SME Banking, Muhumuliza Buberwa, said the bank and its subsidiaries remain key partners in the government’s development agenda by supporting youth, women, entrepreneurs and investors through tailored financial solutions.

He said the bank’s participation in the trade fair reflects its commitment to expanding access to financial services and encouraging the use of digital banking solutions that simplify business and investment.

“At this branch, customers can now use fingerprint authentication to complete transactions without filling in paper forms. This technology improves efficiency while supporting environmental conservation,” he said.

Throughout the exhibition, thousands of visitors received information on the bank’s products and services, including SimBanking, business loans, investment solutions, insurance products and digital payment services.

Mr Buberwa said CRDB Bank would continue working with both the Union Government and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to support national development through innovative financial services, investment and greater financial inclusion.

Chadema Geita constituency chairperson Neema Chozaire is expected to appear in court for the first time on Tuesday after her scheduled appearance failed to take place on Monday, with no official explanation given for the delay.

Chozaire has been in police custody in Geita Region since Monday, June 29, 2026, after she was arrested while heading to the market to sell chickens.

Her arrest was described by some Chadema members as an abduction after they alleged that she had been taken away and that her phones were unavailable. Some party leaders who tried to trace her whereabouts said they were told she was not being held at any police station. However, police, through a statement issued by Geita Regional Police Commander Safia Jongo, confirmed that the opposition leader was in custody over alleged criminal offences, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Speaking to The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi, on Monday, July 13, 2026, Chadema Lake Victoria Zone Secretary Zacharia Obad said the case, which had been scheduled for mention on Monday, had been moved to Tuesday morning at the High Court’s Geita Sub-registry.

‘They said they would bring her to court today, but they did not. Since time has run out, we are waiting for tomorrow from 8am. The acting regional police commander has said they are prepared to bring her to court,’ he said.

On July 8, 2026, Chadema, led by Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) advocate Beatus Emmanuel, filed an application No. 15077 of 2026 through an urgent habeas corpus petition at the High Court’s Geita Sub-registry.

Through the application, Chadema wants the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appear in court on July 14, 2026, at 9:30am to explain why Chozaire has been held without being taken to court or granted bail.

Others summoned to appear are the Geita Regional Police Commander (RPC) and the Regional Crime Officer (RCO).

Obad also told Mwananchi that after filing the case, they managed to meet Chozaire on July 10, 2026, at Geita Central Police Station, where they provided her with some basic necessities.

The government has announced plans to construct a new 300-metre berth at the Port of Tanga to increase its capacity after a surge in revenue and cargo volumes.

Speaking on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Tanga during an inspection tour of the port’s development progress, Finance Minister, Mr Khamis Mussa Omar said the project would be implemented through collaboration between the government and the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) as part of the Sixth Phase Government’s strategy to promote economic growth through transport and energy sectors.

He said the government was continuing with efforts to expand the port to meet rising demand for cargo handling services and position it as a key trade and economic hub. Besides the port expansion, Mr Omar said the government was also working to improve other transport infrastructure during the current financial year, including railway services and Tanga Airport, to enhance the movement of goods and passengers.

He said the strategic 50-kilometre Tanga-Pangani road project would also ease cargo transportation and unlock more economic opportunities in the region.

The minister added that the government would continue implementing the Handeni-Singida road project as outlined in the CCM manifesto to improve connectivity between the Port of Tanga and inland areas, thereby increasing cargo transport efficiency.

Mr Omar commended Tanga regional leaders and TPA officials for overseeing improvements at the port, which cost Sh429.1 billion, saying collections reached Sh436 billion within one year, demonstrating the economic benefits of the investment.

Tanga Port Manager Salehe Mbega said the improvements had significantly increased the port’s handling capacity, with cargo volumes rising from 750,000 tonnes to 2.7 million tonnes.

He said government revenue collections through the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) had also increased from Sh31 billion to Sh298.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year.

Mr Mbega said the growth had resulted in increased pressure on the port, with the number of vessels and cargo volumes exceeding current capacity.

He said plans were underway to construct a new berth in the 2026/27 financial year, alongside a dedicated berth for oil handling and container vessels to further expand the port’s capacity.

Tanga Regional Commissioner Dr Batilda Buriani said the region had already set aside areas for the construction of oil terminals.

She said the initiative would help ensure reliable energy supply, attract more investment in the oil and gas sector, and promote industrial and commercial growth in Tanga.

Russia said on Monday it had carried out a missile strike on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, claiming it targeted military-related infrastructure and caused significant damage.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack hit facilities linked to Ukraine’s armed forces at the strategic port in the Odesa region, which has played a key role in the country’s grain exports since the start of the war. The ministry described the operation as a precision strike but did not provide evidence to support its claims. Ukraine had not immediately commented on the extent of the damage.

Chornomorsk is one of Ukraine’s three main deep-water ports used for exporting grain and other commodities. The facility has been repeatedly targeted since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement in 2023, with attacks disrupting exports and raising concerns over global food supplies.

Russia said on Monday it had carried out a missile strike on Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Chornomorsk, claiming it targeted military-related infrastructure and caused significant damage.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the attack hit facilities linked to Ukraine’s armed forces at the strategic port in the Odesa region, which has played a key role in the country’s grain exports since the start of the war. The ministry described the operation as a precision strike but did not provide evidence to support its claims. Ukraine had not immediately commented on the extent of the damage.

Chornomorsk is one of Ukraine’s three main deep-water ports used for exporting grain and other commodities. The facility has been repeatedly targeted since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement in 2023, with attacks disrupting exports and raising concerns over global food supplies.

The government has acknowledged that a shortage of vocational education teachers persists despite ongoing recruitment, saying many approved positions remain vacant because too few qualified applicants are available.

However, it is preparing a strategy to involve experienced mechanics and workshop artisans in providing practical training to vocational students as preparations continue for the first double intake into Form One under the compulsory education programme in 2028.

The remarks were made on Monday, July 13, 2026, by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Prof Carolyne Nombo, while opening a meeting of institutions under the ministry to review their performance during the 2025/26 financial year and priorities for 2026/27.

Her comments follow recent government efforts to strengthen vocational teacher capacity, including sending some instructors abroad, particularly to India, for technical training and exposure to modern teaching methods.

During the meeting held in Dodoma, Prof Nombo said the government remained committed to establishing vocational schools and was determined to ensure the programme is launched with training that meets international standards.

She said authorities were exploring ways to harness the expertise of experienced local artisans, who practise their trades daily, to support practical skills training, at least during the initial phase of implementation.

“As we move towards 10 years of compulsory education, we must think carefully. How can we fail to find teachers simply because of GPA requirements when there is a vehicle repair garage nearby?,’ she examined.

‘These are issues we must reconsider. I also want you to look at places such as Mwenge. How can we lack an art teacher when there are highly skilled people there?” questioned Prof Nombo.

She added that since the release of the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination results, she had followed public debate on social media, where many Tanzanians had shared constructive suggestions on programmes that should be offered by technical colleges and universities.

“I want you to examine those views so that you understand what Tanzanians need at this time. Another important issue is that our curriculum reforms must provide answers about students pursuing vocational education. After completing that stage, what comes next? We should enable them to continue along that pathway until they can even become professors,” she said.

In a separate address, Prof Nombo said achieving the objectives of Development Vision 2050 would require stronger private sector participation and a sustainable financing model for higher education loans rather than relying solely on the central government budget.

Presenting a paper during the meeting, Planning Commission representative Josia Mwabezi said achieving the goals of Vision 2050 would depend on sound planning and effective implementation, warning that weaknesses in either would undermine national development targets.

He said the vision would be realised if the Ministry of Education successfully implemented its priorities, including expanding private sector participation and undertaking wide-ranging institutional reforms.

Every national development vision eventually reaches a stage where ambition must be matched by investment, bankable projects and institutions capable of delivering results.

For Tanzania, Dira 2050 sets out the country’s ambition to build a larger, more productive and competitive economy.

On 1 July 2026, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) presented Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) with two awards at its Presidential Taxpayer Awards ceremony in Dar es Salaam: the Overall Most Compliant Taxpayer and Outstanding Tax Contributor for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The ceremony was presided over by President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan and marked TRA’s 30th anniversary, bringing together government officials and private sector representatives to recognise those whose fiscal conduct has most consistently served the national interest.

GGML’s recognition at the 2026 ceremony follows a sustained track record at the highest levels of Tanzania’s taxpayer recognition framework.

The company was acknowledged as the most compliant taxpayer in the mining industry for 2021/2022 and received recognition for outstanding export goods value in the same year. In 2020/2021, it was recognised as the overall second largest taxpayer in Tanzania.

Mining’s Place in the National Economy

Tanzania’s extractive sector occupies a significant and growing position in the national economy.

According to the Ministry of Minerals’ most recent Sector Report, mining operations contributed 10.1 percent to Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product in 2024, rising to 11.9 percent in the first three quarters of 2025. The Tanzania Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TEITI), Tanzania’s national chapter of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, has in its published reports consistently identified GGML as the single largest revenue contributor among mining companies reporting to the initiative, accounting for approximately 20.69 percent of total mining sector payments to government in the 2021/2022 reporting period.

Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, Dira 2050, identifies the mining sector as one of the principal drivers of the country’s ambition to achieve a USD 1 trillion economy by mid-century.

The Vision positions the sector as a driver of employment, export earnings, industrial linkages and value addition, the mechanisms through which extractive activity translates into broad-based national development.

For mining companies operating within this framework, tax compliance is a direct and quantifiable contribution to those outcomes.

“Tax compliance is one of the clearest ways in which a company demonstrates its commitment to the country it operates in.

It is a direct and quantifiable contribution to national development, and we take it seriously as part of our purpose,” said Ashraf Suryaningrat, Managing Director of GGML, who accepted the awards at the ceremony alongside Simon Shayo, Vice President for Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, and Godvictor Lyimo, Senior Manager for Tax Disputes.

Employment, Local Business and Local Content

GGML’s economic footprint in Tanzania extends across direct employment, supply chain participation and fiscal contribution. The company employs more than 7,000 people, 98 percent of them Tanzanian nationals, and works with over 600 Tanzanian small and medium enterprises across its supply chain and value network.

Economic analysis of large-scale extractive operations consistently identifies employment and supply chain localisation as among the most significant channels through which mining generates broad-based growth, an observation borne out in Geita Region, where GGML’s presence has underpinned local enterprise development over more than two decades.

Integrity as an Operating Principle

Across international frameworks including the EITI Standard and Tanzania’s own regulatory requirements, transparency and verifiable compliance are the measures by which extractive companies are assessed not only on their financial obligations but on their overall fitness to operate.

GGML reports annually through TEITI, subjects its payments to independent reconciliation, and has earned formal recognition from the national revenue authority across multiple successive financial years.

The consistency and public verifiability of that record is, in analytical terms, the most reliable indicator of a company’s commitment to its stated values.

“The companies that will anchor Tanzania’s development over the next 25 years are the ones that understand their obligations clearly and meet them without ambiguity,” said Simon Shayo, Vice President for Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement at GGML.

“Compliance is the foundation of the kind of trust that makes long-term investment possible. We hope the recognition GGML has received encourages other businesses, particularly those building their operations now, to understand that sustainable success and responsible conduct are not in tension. They are the same thing.”

GGML’s purpose is to mine to empower people and advance societies. Fiscal stewardship is an integral part of that purpose, a direct contribution to the national development that Tanzania’s ambitions under Dira 2050 will require.

Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) is a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti, operating in Geita Region, Tanzania, for over 25 years.

The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has warned members of the public against allowing their bank accounts or other financial service accounts to be used for receiving or transferring funds from unknown sources, saying they risk facing money laundering charges and other legal consequences.

The warning was issued by BoT Legal Officer in the Legal Affairs and Anti-Money Laundering Department, Sheikh Naniya, during a public awareness session at the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.

Tanzania’s women’s national football team, Twiga Stars, will leave the country on Thursday for Morocco to conclude their preparations ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with the tournament set to run from July 26 to August 16.

The team has been holding a residential training camp in Karatu, Manyara Region, where head coach Bakari Shime has been working with a provisional squad of 32 players in readiness for Africa’s biggest women’s football competition. Confirming the team’s travel plans, Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) National Teams Director Almasy Kasongo said the players have made encouraging progress during the camp and are ready for the next phase of preparations.

‘We are satisfied with the progress the team has made in Karatu. The players have responded well to the training programme, and they will leave the country on Thursday for Morocco to continue with the final phase of preparations before the tournament begins,’ Kasongo told The Citizen.

He expressed confidence that the squad would represent Tanzania well on the continental stage. ‘We believe the technical bench has prepared the team well, and we expect the players to give their best and compete strongly against some of Africa’s top teams,’ he said.

Twiga Stars have been drawn in a challenging Group B alongside defending champions South Africa, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.

Tanzania will open their campaign against South Africa on July 27 at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca before facing Burkina Faso on **July 31** at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Rabat. Their final group-stage match will be against Ivory Coast on August 4 at the same venue.

The coaching staff has assembled a balanced squad featuring experienced locally based players and foreign-based professionals to enhance competition for places, strengthen team chemistry and improve overall performance. The inclusion of overseas-based players is expected to add valuable experience and quality to the squad.

Twiga Stars assistant coach Edna ‘Mourinho’ Lema recently said the players have adapted well to the intensive training programme in Karatu.

‘All the players are in good condition and have shown great commitment since entering camp. The atmosphere is positive and everyone understands the importance of the tournament,’ she said.

Lema added that the technical bench hopes to use international friendly matches in Morocco to fine-tune tactics and assess the squad before naming the final team.

Head coach Bakari Shime has set an ambitious target of reaching the semi-finals and securing one of Africa’s four qualification places for the **2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup**.

Twiga Stars qualified for WAFCON 2026 after defeating Ethiopia 3-0 on aggregate in the final qualifying round, earning their second consecutive appearance and third overall at the continental finals.

Tanzania made their WAFCON debut in 2010 before returning in the 2024 edition, where they collected their first-ever point in the competition.

With growing confidence and a blend of youth and experience, Twiga Stars will now be aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time in Morocco while keeping alive their dream of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.