Category: The Citizen

Some dishonest mobile phone SIM registration agents are facilitating phone fraud by secretly registering SIM cards and selling them to criminal networks, this paper understands.

Investigations by The Citizen’s sister publication, Mwananchi has found that the fraud network, commonly known as Halohalo, involves not only scammers but also rogue agents who illegally register SIM cards using customers’ personal information without their knowledge.

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Arusha. The Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) Northern Zone has intensified its fight against drug abuse by expanding awareness campaigns to public institutions, strengthening operations in entertainment venues, and enhancing cooperation with key stakeholders.

The move follows revelations that some public servants are among those involved in drug abuse.

It comes after DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo recently said investigations had established that some government employees in Arusha were using drugs, particularly in entertainment venues, including VIP sections of leisure spots.

Speaking to The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, on Sunday, July 12, 2026, DCEA Northern Zone officer Abdulatif Saidy said the authority had stepped up awareness campaigns targeting public servants while continuing night operations in areas identified as hotspots for cannabis and khat consumption.

He said DCEA had started conducting seminars and awareness sessions in government institutions and departments to educate employees on the effects of drug abuse on their health, families, and work performance.

“We have seen the need to shift more focus to government institutions by providing education to public servants. We want them to understand the effects of drugs and avoid them before they destroy their lives and performance at work,” said Mr Saidy.

He said the campaign was not new, noting that last year DCEA educated more than 1,500 public servants during a professional meeting before expanding the programme to reach more employees.

Mr Saidy said the authority had also engaged owners of popular entertainment venues in Arusha City, educating them on how drugs are distributed and consumed, as well as their legal responsibilities in preventing such activities.

He said owners had been instructed to display notices prohibiting drug use, cooperate with law enforcement agencies, report suspects, and prevent the sale or consumption of drugs on their premises.

However, he said some users remained a challenge, with some defying instructions and causing disturbances when stopped from using drugs.

“We did not want to begin by using force. First, we educated entertainment venue owners, then we started operations. We found some people using cannabis and khat, and legal action was taken against them,” he said.

According to Mr Saidy, between July 2025 and June 2026, DCEA’s Northern Zone conducted 227 operations, resulting in the arrest of 550 suspects, including 442 men and 108 women.

During the operations, authorities seized 5,417.26 kilogrammes of khat, 3,010.30 kilogrammes of cannabis, and 14 grammes of heroin in Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga and Manyara regions.

In Arusha Region alone, he said 121 operations were conducted, leading to the arrest of 413 suspects, including 338 men and 75 women. Authorities also seized 1,458.26 kilogrammes of khat and 2,977.03 kilogrammes of cannabis.

Saidy said cannabis and khat remained the most commonly abused drugs in the region, adding that DCEA would continue conducting operations while encouraging people struggling with addiction to seek treatment at specialised rehabilitation centres.

Beyond enforcement operations, he said the authority had started using artists, music festivals, and sports bonanzas to reach communities, particularly young people, and raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

He urged young people to avoid groups that encourage drug use and instead help educate their peers, while calling on public servants to uphold professional ethics and avoid actions that could jeopardise their careers.

Arusha District Commissioner Joseph Mkude said the district would continue working with DCEA through inspections of entertainment venues, public education campaigns, and investigations into reported cases of drug use.

“We will provide all the support needed to DCEA. There will be no mercy for anyone found allowing or participating in the sale and use of drugs. Our goal is to protect young people and ensure the community remains safe,” said Mr Mkude.

As global investors continue searching for high-growth markets, East Africa is increasingly attracting attention as one of the continent’s most promising investment destinations.

The region is home to Africa’s leading economic bloc, and poised to cement its status beyond the continent. As economic integration continues to hold, East Africa is uniquely positioned to take a leading step in global trade and geopolitical affairs.

Prateek Suri, Chairman of Maser Group and CEO of MDR Investments, the East African Community (EAC) has observed on numerous occasions that the EAC is rapidly establishing itself as a key driver of Africa’s economic transformation.

As he invests in Tanzania and beyond, he sees many untapped opportunities and room for partnership with the Mainland and Zanzibar governments on a Publi-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The EAC, which includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, not only represents the fastest-growing regional bloc on the continent, but also the most stable.

While each country presents unique opportunities and challenges, the region’s expansion and continued deepened integration is creating a compelling case for long-term investors.

Global investors such as Suri, who have spent years building businesses across Africa and the Middle East, believe that many international investors continue to underestimate the pace of change taking place within East Africa.

‘Investors often focus on short-term economic data and overlook the larger structural trends that are reshaping the region,’ Suri says. ‘What is happening in East Africa today is not simply growth within individual countries, but the emergence of an increasingly connected regional economy.’

One of the strongest advantages of the EAC is its commitment to regional cooperation. Improved trade agreements, expanding transport corridors, and cross-border infrastructure projects are making it easier for businesses to operate across multiple markets.

This growing integration is creating larger addressable markets and improving the economics of long-term investment.

Demographics also play a significant role in the region’s attractiveness.

East Africa is home to one of the world’s youngest populations, with urban centres such as Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali, and Kampala continuing to expand rapidly. Growing populations and rising incomes are driving demand for housing, healthcare, education, consumer goods, logistics services, and digital infrastructure.

The bloc has one of the largest workforce in the world. This number of employable youth is set to increase and by the year 2050, this workforce will be replicated across the continent and not just East Africa.

It is believed that infrastructure development will remain one of the most important investment themes across the region over the coming decade.

‘Roads, ports, industrial parks, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure, and digital connectivity are all areas where demand continues to exceed supply,’ Suri notes. ‘These are sectors that create long-term value while supporting broader economic development.’

Currently, Tanzania is on the verge of completing the construction of its Msalato International Airport in the capital city, Dodoma – adding to the growing number of international airports in the country.

Kenya has secured financing for the expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, which remains the region’s busiest airport and an important travel hub in Africa. Uganda will also soon start the construction of a new Airport in Mbarara, at the same time, Rwanda is also building an ultra-modern Airport in Kigali. All these mega projects point to one thing: East Africa is ready to become the world’s trade and logistical hub.

Technology is another area where East Africa has demonstrated remarkable progress. Kenya’s success in digital payments and financial technology has become a model for innovation across the continent, while neighbouring countries are increasingly embracing digital transformation initiatives.

Beyond technology, sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, logistics, renewable energy, mining, and data infrastructure continue to attract investor interest.

For global investors, East Africa represents a strategic long-term opportunity rather than a short-term trade. With such conducive environments that are being prepared, return on investment is almost assured as the private sector continues to work closely with government stakeholders on addressing policy gaps.

According to Suri, the combination of demographic expansion, infrastructure investment, entrepreneurial talent, and regional integration positions the EAC as one of the most attractive growth regions in Africa.

While challenges remain, he argues that successful investors are often those who focus on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term volatility.

‘The East African Community is becoming far more than a regional trading bloc,’ Suri says. ‘It is increasingly emerging as one of Africa’s most important economic growth engines.’

As international capital continues seeking new frontiers, East Africa’s combination of scale, ambition, and economic momentum may prove difficult for investors to ignore.

Sam Neill, the New Zealand actor best known for playing paleontologist Dr Alan Grant in dinosaur blockbuster “Jurassic Park” and whose career included more than 50 movies, has died at the age of 78.

A post shared on social media by his family said Neill’s death in Sydney “was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free.” In April, Neill announced he was cancer free after a public battle with blood cancer.

Described by critics as “versatile” and “reliably excellent”, Neill landed starring roles across many genres, ranging from a submarine officer in the 1990 action-thriller “The Hunt for Red October” to the anti-Christ in 1981’s Omen III.

He also played countless anguished husbands, including opposite Holly Hunter in the Oscar-winning “The Piano” (1993) and opposite Meryl Streep in 1988’s “Evil Angels”, also known as “A Cry in the Dark”.

Born in Omagh, a town in Northern Ireland, Nigel John Dermot Neill moved to New Zealand when he was seven as his father, a New Zealander, retired from the army and wanted to ?return home.

At the age of 11, he changed his name to Sam. In his 2023 memoir “Did I ever tell you this?” he wrote that “to land in a primary school with a plum in the voice and Nigel for a name was asking for trouble.”

Sam was “easy to say, sounds friendly, sounds a bit blokey and has a touch of Labrador about it,” he wrote.

Neill described himself as a wonky, nerdy, unsporty, stuttering boy, but it was at school that he took his first tentative steps towards acting, earning minor roles in school plays including a bridesmaid in The Pirates of Penzance. “I liked getting a laugh,” he wrote in the book.

Neill’s big break came with the low-budget New Zealand film “Sleeping Dogs” (1977), garnering him sufficient attention to be offered roles in bigger-budget films in neighbouring Australia.

But even as his fame grew, he continued to return to New Zealand to work. At home, he was perhaps most adored for his role as the curmudgeon Hector in ?the low-budget “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016) directed by Taika Waititi.

He missed out on a chance for mega-stardom in the mid-1980s when he did a screen-test for the role of James Bond, but said his heart wasn’t in it and during his daylong audition he’d felt awkward.

“You never want to be the Bond that no one likes – that’s a fate worse than death,” he once told an Australian breakfast show.

Neill was nominated for three Golden Globe awards and two Primetime Emmys. He won three Australian television awards including one in 2025 ?for The Twelve.

In 2022, he accepted a knighthood for outstanding contribution to film after years of turning down the honour. He said he only accepted it because it was vital that all the arts were recognised.

“Acting might look easy, but it’s actually very hard. In fact, if it looks like it’s easy, it means that the actor is doing something ?very hard, very well,” he said of his job.

The actor, who was married and divorced twice, spent much of his later years in Australia and at his vineyard in New Zealand’s Central Otago.

Earning plaudits for his wine, Neill started releasing Pinot Noir on land he owned in central Otago under the label “Two Paddocks” ?in 1997, a process he described as both enthralling and labour-intensive.

He often entertained fans by posting pictures of animals on his farm, many named after his celebrity pals including a hen called Laura Dern and a bull called Graham Norton. Recently, he has publicly opposed plans for a new mine in the area.

He is survived by two sons and two daughters.

The Drugs Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), Northern Zone, has intensified efforts to curb drug abuse among public servants by expanding awareness campaigns in government institutions, strengthening night operations in entertainment venues and increasing public education initiatives.

The move follows remarks by DCEA Commissioner General Mr Aretas Lyimo, who said investigations had established that some government employees in Arusha were using drugs, particularly in entertainment venues, including VIP sections.

Speaking on Sunday, July 12, 2026, DCEA Northern Zone officer Mr Abdulatif Saidy said the authority had started extending awareness programmes to public institutions while continuing operations in areas identified as hotspots for cannabis and khat use. He said the authority would conduct seminars and awareness meetings in government institutions and departments to educate employees on the effects of drug abuse on health, families and workplace performance.

‘We have seen the need to increase our focus on government institutions by educating employees. We want them to understand the effects of drugs and avoid them before they damage their lives and work performance,’ Mr Saidy said.

He said DCEA had already held meetings with owners of popular entertainment venues in Arusha, educating them on methods used to distribute and consume drugs, as well as their legal responsibilities in preventing such activities on their premises.

The owners were directed to display notices prohibiting drug use, cooperate with law enforcement agencies, report individuals involved in drug-related activities and ensure their venues were not used for drug consumption or trafficking.

However, Mr Saidy said a major challenge remained users who ignored warnings and sometimes became violent when prevented from using drugs.

‘We did not want to start by using force. We first called entertainment venue owners, provided education and issued instructions. After that, we continued with operations and found people using cannabis and khat. Legal action was taken against them,’ he said.

Between July 2025 and June 2026, DCEA Northern Zone conducted 227 operations and arrested 550 suspects, including 442 men and 108 women.

The operations resulted in the seizure of 5,417.26 kilogrammes of khat, 3,010.30 kilogrammes of cannabis and 14 grammes of heroin across Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga and Manyara regions.

In Arusha Region alone, 121 operations were conducted, leading to the arrest of 413 suspects, including 338 men and 75 women. Authorities seized 1,458.26 kilogrammes of khat and 2,977.03 kilogrammes of cannabis.

Mr Saidy said cannabis and khat remained the most commonly used drugs in Arusha.

‘We will continue conducting operations to prevent further spread of cannabis and khat. Those already affected are encouraged to seek treatment at specialised rehabilitation centres,’ he said.

Besides enforcement operations, DCEA has started using artists, music events and sports activities to reach communities, especially young people, with messages on the dangers of drug abuse.

Mr Saidy urged young people to avoid groups that encourage drug use and to help educate their peers in schools, colleges and communities. He also called on public servants to uphold professional ethics and avoid actions that could damage their careers, stressing that no one is above the law.

Meanwhile, Arusha District Commissioner Mr Joseph Mkude said the district authorities were working with DCEA to combat drug abuse.

Mr Mkude, who is also Chairman of the District Security Committee, said the measures include inspections of entertainment venues, awareness campaigns targeting teachers, health workers and other groups, as well as investigations into reports of products allegedly mixed with drugs.

‘We will provide full support to DCEA. There will be no leniency for anyone found allowing or engaging in drug trafficking and abuse. Our goal is to protect young people and ensure the community remains safe,’ he said.

Basketball players competing in the Basketball Dar es Salaam League (BDL) are set to benefit from an estimated Sh588.9 million during the 2026 season after sports betting firm betPawa renewed its sponsorship of the competition, extending the popular Locker Room Bonus (LRB) program aimed at rewarding winning teams.

The renewed partnership means every player in a winning team will receive an instant Sh88,750, with bonuses also paid to the team’s technical bench after every league victory.

Under the program 12 players and four technical officials, including two coaches, from each winning team will receive the payments, making every victory financially rewarding while motivating teams to remain competitive throughout the season. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Dar es Salaam, betPawa’s Regional Manager for Southern and Eastern Africa, Bwalya Noah, said the company believes the growth of basketball begins with investing directly in players.

“At betPawa, we believe that success on the court should create value for the people who make it happen. That belief gave birth to the Locker Room Bonus. When a team wins, the players and technical staff who earned that victory should receive an immediate reward,” said Noah.

She said the initiative recognises players’ efforts, rewards excellence and ensures success on the court translates into tangible financial benefits.

Noah noted that the program has grown into one of Africa’s leading sports development initiatives, benefiting thousands of athletes in countries including Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria and Cameroon, while hundreds of Tanzanian basketball players have already received bonuses through the initiative.

Basketball Dar es Salaam League (BDL) president Shendu Hamis welcomed the renewal of the partnership, describing it as a major boost for the league and its players.

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with betPawa because this sponsorship continues to bring real value to our league. It motivates players to give their best in every match and increases competitiveness throughout the season,” said Hamis.

He said the Locker Room Bonus has changed the mindset of players and clubs, with every match carrying added significance because teams know victory comes with immediate financial rewards.

“The sponsorship has also helped improve professionalism among clubs and strengthened the overall standard of competition. We believe this partnership will continue to elevate basketball in Dar es Salaam and Tanzania as a whole,” he added.

Meanwhile, betPawa East Africa Marketing Coordinator Nassoro Mungaya said the company expects the renewed partnership to contribute significantly to the development of basketball in Tanzania.

“Our expectation is to see positive results both on and off the court. We want to see more competitive matches, better organised clubs and players who are motivated to perform consistently,” said Mungaya.

He said betPawa will continue working closely with the Basketball Dar es Salaam League and the Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) to strengthen the systems that support the game.

“Beyond paying bonuses, we are investing in better administration through player registration, verification and accurate match reporting. Strong systems are essential if we are to achieve sustainable development of the sport,” he said.

Mungaya added that the company’s long-term vision is to help Tanzanian basketball reach higher standards by rewarding excellence and creating more opportunities for players.

“We believe that when players are recognised and rewarded for their performances, they become more committed, clubs become stronger and the entire game benefits. That is the kind of positive impact we want to continue seeing,” he said.

Tanzanian conglomerate MeTL Group expects to surpass $3 billion (about Sh7.8 trillion) in annual revenue this year, with Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Dewji, attributing the growth to decades of investment in manufacturing, value addition and the revival of struggling industries.

Speaking at Standard Bank’s Business and Commercial Banking Conference, Africa Unlocked, in Cape Town, Mr Dewji said MeTL’s transformation from a trading company into a major African manufacturing conglomerate demonstrates the long-term benefits of investing in production despite challenging business conditions.

The government has announced a crackdown on restaurants and food vendors operating in breach of public health regulations, warning that businesses failing to comply with food safety standards will face legal action.

Authorities said some restaurant operators continue to disregard public health requirements, exposing consumers to food-borne illnesses despite the sector’s growing contribution to employment, income generation and essential services.

The rapid expansion of informal restaurants, roadside eateries and grilled meat stalls has heightened concerns over compliance with food safety regulations, prompting authorities to intensify inspections and enforcement.

Under Tanzanian law, anyone operating a restaurant or food business, including food handlers and other employees, must undergo a medical examination at an approved health facility and obtain a valid health certificate before preparing or selling food.

Health experts warn that failure to comply with these requirements increases the risk of diseases associated with poor hygiene, unsafe food handling and unsanitary food preparation environments.

Residents have also raised concerns over hygiene standards at some eateries, calling on authorities to strengthen inspections and take firm action against operators who flout the law.

A survey by The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi in different parts of Mbeya Region found many informal food vendors, commonly known as mama lishe and baba lishe, were unaware of the legal requirements governing the business.

It also found numerous roadside grilled meat and chips vendors, particularly near bus terminals, operating below acceptable public health standards.

Mixed awareness among food vendors

Speaking separately, some vendors said they had undergone the required medical screening and obtained health certificates, while others admitted they had never been informed that the procedure was mandatory.

A mama lishe operator in Uyole, Ms Victoria Michael, said she had sold food for six years without knowing medical screening was a legal requirement.

“This is the first time I have heard about these health checks. Where are we supposed to go? Who determines that we are fit to prepare food, and what illnesses are they testing for?” she asked.

“As far as I know, my responsibility has been to pay taxes, keep my premises clean and prepare food in a hygienic environment,” added Ms Michael.

A baba lishe operator in Soweto, Mbeya City, Mr Paschal John, said no health official had ever informed him about compulsory medical examinations.

“Should we go to a hospital, health centre or dispensary? We need professionals to guide us so we know exactly what is required. Personally, I always make sure the food I prepare is safe,” he said.

However, another vendor, Ms Jesca Mwashilindi, said she had complied with all legal requirements before opening her business.

“Health officers trained us before I started the business. I underwent the medical examination and received my certificate. The main challenge is ensuring my assistants are also tested because many work only for a short period,” she said.

Public raises food safety concerns

A resident of Chimala in Mbeya Region, Mr Agustino Novat, said poor hygiene at some restaurants continued to endanger consumers.

“Sometimes you eat at a restaurant and later develop stomach problems. Some of these illnesses are caused by food sold by roadside vendors,” he said.

“You find grilled meat being sold at unusually low prices and begin wondering where it came from. In the end, it is consumers who suffer,” added Mr Novat.

Experts urge tougher enforcement

Public health and environmental expert, Mr Titus Shaban, said food safety begins with good personal hygiene and clean food preparation environments.

“People should not compromise hygiene in pursuit of income. Food handlers must maintain personal cleanliness, wear appropriate protective clothing and prepare food in sanitary conditions. Otherwise, the consequences can be serious for both vendors and consumers,” he said.

He urged authorities to enforce existing laws consistently while encouraging the public to play a greater role in promoting environmental cleanliness and protecting public health.

The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) Southern Highlands Zone manager, Mr Rodney Alananga, said the agency, working with health authorities, continues to train vendors and register food business premises to improve compliance with food safety regulations.

He said operators found preparing food in unhygienic conditions, failing to wear protective clothing or violating food safety regulations face enforcement action in collaboration with local government authorities.

Mbeya Regional Health Officer, Mr Nimrod Kiporoza, said authorities were preparing comprehensive inspections to identify businesses operating outside the law.

He said inspections would begin with education and registration before authorities took legal action, including prosecution, against operators who continued violating public health regulations.

The growing number of elite South African coaches and players choosing Tanzania is no coincidence. It is one of the clearest signs that the Tanzania Premier League has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing football competitions.

A decade ago, it was uncommon for established South African footballers to leave the Premier Soccer League (PSL) for Tanzania. That trend has now changed significantly.

When investors evaluate opportunities around the world, market size is often one of the first metrics they consider. Conventional wisdom suggests that larger economies naturally attract larger investments. Yet across Africa, some of the continent’s smaller and lesser-known markets continue to secure significant attention from international investors.

According to Prateek Suri, Chairman of Maser Group and CEO of MDR Investments, the reason is simple: successful investors often look beyond today’s numbers and focus on future opportunity.

“Investors are not always searching for the largest market,” Suri says. “Many are looking for the right market at the right stage of development, where long-term growth potential remains significantly undervalued.”

Having spent years building businesses across Africa and the Middle East, Suri believes many international investors continue to underestimate the opportunities available in markets that receive relatively little global attention.

One factor is competition.

Large economies often attract numerous international companies, creating crowded sectors and higher costs of entry. Smaller markets, by contrast, can provide opportunities to establish leadership positions, build strategic partnerships, and capture market share more efficiently.

Countries such as Rwanda, Mauritius, Botswana, Benin, and Seychelles have demonstrated how policy reforms, regulatory stability, and business-friendly environments can attract investment despite modest domestic populations.

However, Suri notes that the story is not limited to smaller economies alone.

Tanzania, for example, has emerged as one of East Africa’s most attractive long-term investment destinations. While larger than many of its regional peers, Tanzania is increasingly drawing investor attention because of its strategic location, expanding infrastructure, growing population, and role as a gateway to regional trade.

“Tanzania possesses many of the characteristics investors seek in emerging markets,” Suri explains. “Its access to the Indian Ocean, improving transport corridors, natural resource base, tourism potential, and growing consumer economy make it one of the most strategically important markets in East Africa.”

The country continues to attract interest across sectors including logistics, manufacturing, hospitality, energy, mining, housing, and digital infrastructure. Major investments in ports, transportation networks, and connectivity are strengthening Tanzania’s position as a commercial hub serving multiple neighbouring countries.

For many investors, geography can be as important as population size.

A strategically positioned country with strong regional connections can often deliver opportunities that exceed what traditional economic indicators might suggest. The growth of regional blocs such as the East African Community has further strengthened this trend by making cross-border trade and investment increasingly efficient.

Technology is also changing how investors think about scale.

“Digital infrastructure has reduced many of the historical limitations associated with smaller markets,” Suri says. “Today, a company can establish itself in one country while serving customers across an entire region.”

The rise of fintech, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, cloud services, and digital payments has enabled businesses to scale more rapidly than ever before. Investors are increasingly prioritizing connectivity, talent, regulatory frameworks, and long-term growth prospects over simple population statistics.

According to Suri, some of the world’s most successful investments have historically emerged from markets that were initially overlooked.

“The biggest opportunities are often found where others are not looking,” he says. “Investors who focus exclusively on current size may miss markets that are positioned for substantial long-term growth.”

As global capital continues searching for new opportunities, Africa’s investment story is becoming increasingly diverse. Whether in smaller reform-driven economies or regional growth hubs such as Tanzania, investors are discovering that potential is not always measured by size alone.

Sometimes, the most significant opportunities emerge where vision extends beyond the headlines and toward the future.

Mbwambo Erick is a financial analyst and investment expert based in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma.