Category: The Citizen

Former Chief Secretary and veteran diplomat Ambassador Ombeni Sefue has called for a civilised approach to public rallies and political expression, warning Tanzanians against blindly copying foreign protest cultures that often result in destruction of property and loss of lives.

In a recent wide-ranging interview with a Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) panel, the former head of the civil service also reflected on modern parenting challenges and the characteristics of Generation Z (Gen Z).

Tanzania will be represented by a 12-member team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with athletics providing the largest contingent as the country seeks a strong showing at one of the world’s biggest multi-sport events.

The Citizen has established that the squad comprises six athletes, three amateur boxers, two judokas and one swimmer, Collins Saliboko, who is currently training in South Africa under renowned swimming coach Kanisi Mabena.

The athletics team includes three women and three men. Cecilia Panga will compete in the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m races, while Hamida Nassoro has been entered for the 1,500m and 5,000m events. Sprinter Winfrida Makenji will represent Tanzania in the 100m and 200m.

The men’s athletics squad features Daniel Sinda in the mile race, Benjamin Fernandi Ratsim in the 10,000m, and Josephat Gisemo, who will contest both the 5,000m and 10,000m races. The runners are currently in residential training camp in Arusha under coach Marceline Gwandu as they fine-tune preparations ahead of departure.

Despite missing some of the country’s biggest names, Tanzania Athletics believes the selected runners will benefit significantly from competing against elite athletes from across the Commonwealth, providing valuable international exposure and experience.

In boxing, Tanzania will be represented by Yusuf Changarawe in the 80kg division, Fai Issa Faki in the 55kg category and Zawadi Amos Kutaka, who will compete in the women’s 57kg featherweight division.

The boxers are training in Dar es Salaam under head coach Samwel ‘Batman’ Kapungu, assisted by Kassim Hussein Kassim. The judo team consists of Andrew Thomas Mlugu, who will compete in the men’s 81kg category, and Ibrahim Mohamed Hamis in the men’s 60kg division.

The judokas are currently in camp at Ukonga, Dar es Salaam, under coach Omari Mgoye. The national contingent is scheduled to leave Tanzania on July 20, giving the athletes three days to settle in Scotland before the opening ceremony.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 23 to August 2, bringing together an expected 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth teams. A total of 215 medal events will be contested across 10 sports, reflecting a streamlined programme compared with previous editions.

The opening ceremony will be held at The Hydro, one of Glasgow’s landmark indoor arenas, while athletics competitions will take place at Scotstoun Stadium. Road events, including the marathon, have been removed from the Games programme.

For Tanzania, the Glasgow Games present another opportunity to measure its emerging talent against some of the Commonwealth’s finest athletes. Officials are hopeful the experience gained in Scotland will strengthen the country’s competitiveness in athletics, boxing, judo and swimming while laying a solid foundation for future international competitions.

The European Union will table legislation after the summer aimed at limiting children’s access to social media, as the bloc steps up efforts to protect young users from the harmful effects of online platforms.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan on Monday, saying children should have the opportunity to develop away from the influence of algorithms that increasingly shape online behaviour.

She said the proposal would introduce stronger safeguards for minors, with age verification expected to form a key part of the new rules.

“Our children need time in the real world. Time to play, time to build friendships, time to make mistakes and shape their own identity before an algorithm shapes them instead,” Ms von der Leyen said.

The proposal comes amid growing concern across Europe over the impact of social media on children’s mental health.

Several EU member states, including France, Greece and Denmark, have called for stricter age limits, while regulators are increasing pressure on technology companies to redesign features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay, which they say encourage excessive use among young people.

Although the Commission has yet to publish the draft legislation, the proposal is expected to complement the EU’s Digital Services Act, which already requires major online platforms to assess and reduce risks to children.

If approved, the measures would mark one of the bloc’s most significant interventions yet to strengthen online safety for minors.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged public institutions to exercise restraint in naming government programmes and projects after her, saying excessive use of her name risks becoming repetitive and diminishing its significance.

The President noted the growing trend of attaching the name “Mama Samia” to various initiatives across different sectors.

She noted that the legal sector already has the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, while the education sector runs the Mama Samia Scholarship programme. Samia said proposals to establish a legal Centre of Excellence and a training programme bearing her name would create unnecessary duplication. She advised the institution to identify a distinguished legal scholar or jurist and name it after that person.

Samia recalled attending a comedy show in Dar es Salaam, where one of the organisers and performers joked about adding her name to an event to guarantee its success.

“He said once you attach ‘Mama Samia’ to anything, it will succeed…If the intention is simply to ensure things move forward, I can assure you that government programmes will continue to progress. However, when ‘Mama Samia’ appears everywhere, it becomes excessive and loses its appeal,” Samia said.

Tanzania’s plan to host a Canadian-backed plant that would convert natural gas into diesel and jet fuel is now waiting for assurance of gas supply before moving ahead to construction, after the investors completed some key stages.

Canadian company Rocky Mountain GTL, in collaboration with its African partner, Memnon Africa, and local associate, Rithi Tanzania Group Limited, completed a feasibility study with the Tanzanian government for constructing a gas-to-liquid (GTL) plant.

Tanzanian photographer Filbert Minja has won international recognition after receiving a prestigious award at the Earth Photo 2026 competition in London for a photo documentary on the country’s indigenous herbal medicine traditions.

Mr Minja won the David Wolf Kaye Future Potential Award – Photography for his project, Roots of Healing, which documents the lives of traditional herbalists in the Kilimanjaro and Arusha regions and the knowledge they have passed down through generations.

Minerals worth Sh3.3 billion were seized while being smuggled in 55 incidents recorded in various parts of the country between July 2025 and March 2026, while minerals valued at Sh1.6 billion were confiscated in Kagera Region between June and July 2026.

The figures were revealed on Monday, July 13, 2026, by Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa, during his visit to Kagera Region to issue the government’s position on recent incidents involving the smuggling of gold and gemstones seized in the area.

Giving details on mineral smuggling cases, Dr Kiruswa said minerals worth Sh3.3 billion were intercepted during smuggling attempts in 55 incidents across the country between July 2025 and March 2026.

Speaking about minerals seized in Kagera, he said that on June 29, 2026, an operation was conducted in Benako, Ngara District, where police discovered and seized 20 sacks containing gemstones weighing 627.2 kilogrammes, valued at Sh10.9 million, with government taxes amounting to Sh1 million.

“There were four suspects. One of them, Petro Michael Kihiga, had a broker’s licence number DL0266LMD, which he obtained on May 25, 2026, in Lindi Region, and had been granted a permit to transport 273 grammes of minerals, while the actual weight seized was 627.2 kilogrammes. Under the Mining (Settlement of Offences) Regulations of 2022, the suspect admitted the offence and paid a fine,” said Dr Kiruswa.

He added that on July 1, 2026, officers arrested another suspect who was travelling in an international transit (IT) vehicle with gold weighing 4,434.66 grammes, valued at Sh1.3 billion, with government taxes amounting to Sh125.8 million, in Benako near the border crossing into Rwanda.

“At the same time, on July 4, 2026, an associate of a gold smuggling suspect was arrested with 453 grammes of gold valued at Sh144.2 million, with government taxes amounting to Sh12.6 million,” added Dr Kiruswa.

The gold smuggling suspects have been taken to court, and their case is at the mention stage.

Due to ongoing investigations, their names and the courts where they appeared have not been disclosed.

A resident, Mr Christofa Laurian, told The Citizen’s sister newspaper, Mwananchi, that the arrest of mineral smugglers was a positive step, showing that the government was serious about protecting the country’s resources.

Another resident, Ms Alisia Rwezaura, said mineral smuggling contributes to the loss of government revenue, and suspects should face strict legal action once evidence is established to serve as a deterrent to others.

Mixx has rewarded three more customers with Sh1 million each as part of its ongoing Mixx Super World Cup Campaign, reaffirming its commitment to rewarding loyal users while promoting digital financial services across the country.

The prizes were presented at the Yas pavilion during the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), popularly known as Sabasaba, currently underway at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Grounds.

The three winners earned the cash prizes after using the Mixx Super app to pay for various financial and utility services, making them eligible for the nationwide promotion.

Speaking during the award presentation ceremony, Mixx Dar es Salaam Regional Business Manager, Estony Venant, said the campaign has continued to attract widespread public participation, with dozens of Tanzanians already benefiting since its launch.

According to Venant, a total of 48 winners have so far been rewarded through the campaign. He said more than 20 participants have won a variety of home appliances supplied by Mixx’s partner, Hisense, while more than 40 customers have each walked away with Sh1 million in cash prizes.

He noted that the campaign is still ongoing, giving more customers the opportunity to become winners by simply using the Mixx Super app for their daily financial transactions.

“The campaign has received a positive response from customers across the country. We encourage more Tanzanians to use the Mixx Super app whenever they make payments because every transaction increases their chances of winning exciting prizes,” said Venant.

He added that the biggest prize of the campaign, worth Sh50 million, is yet to be won, urging customers to continue using the platform regularly.

“Mixx Super is more than just a payment application. It is a comprehensive digital platform that makes financial transactions easier, faster and more convenient while rewarding users for choosing digital payments. We encourage the public to download the app and use it consistently,” he said.

The Mixx Super World Cup Campaign forms part of the company’s broader strategy to promote cashless transactions while rewarding customers for embracing digital financial solutions.

For much of the digital era, success in media was measured by one simple metric: clicks.

The more clicks a story generated, the more successful it was considered. Page views became the benchmark of performance, headlines became sharper, and breaking news became a race to capture attention before anyone else.

Newsrooms celebrated viral stories, advertisers chased traffic, and algorithms rewarded engagement above almost everything else.

For a time, it worked. But somewhere along the way, the pursuit of clicks began to overshadow the very purpose of journalism.

Today, the media industry finds itself at a turning point. Audiences are no longer suffering from a shortage of information; they are overwhelmed by it.

Every minute, thousands of articles, videos, podcasts, posts, and opinions compete for attention across digital platforms.

The internet has become an endless stream of content where truth, misinformation, entertainment, and advertising often appear side by side.

In this crowded environment, one question has become more important than ever: Who can we trust?

Trust has emerged as the defining competitive advantage for modern media organisations.

It is no longer enough to publish first or attract the highest number of clicks. Sustainable success belongs to the organisations that consistently earn credibility.

This is a significant shift. For years, digital platforms encouraged publishers to optimise for algorithms. Headlines were written to maximise curiosity.

Stories were designed to increase engagement. Success was often measured by traffic reports rather than public impact.

Yet audiences have become more discerning. Many readers have experienced the disappointment of clicking on a sensational headline only to discover that the story offered little substance.

Others have watched false information spread rapidly across social media before later being corrected-or not corrected at all.

These experiences come at a cost. Every misleading headline, every unverified claim, and every failure to correct an error weakens public confidence.

Rebuilding that confidence is far more difficult than gaining a single click.

This is why trust should no longer be viewed as merely an editorial principle.

It is a strategic business asset. Readers who trust a media brand are more likely to return regularly, subscribe to premium products, recommend content to others, and engage with multiple platforms.

Advertisers increasingly seek environments where their brands appear alongside credible journalism rather than questionable content.

Business partners are more willing to collaborate with organisations whose reputations reflect professionalism and integrity.

When information can be created instantly by machines, shared globally within seconds, and manipulated with remarkable sophistication, audiences need reliable institutions capable of separating fact from fiction.

The future belongs to organisations willing to prioritise credibility over convenience. This does not mean ignoring innovation or audience engagement.

On the contrary, modern journalism must embrace digital platforms, data analytics, multimedia storytelling, and emerging technologies. But these tools should strengthen journalism’s mission, not replace it.

For media organisations across Africa, the opportunity is especially significant.

As internet access expands and digital audiences grow, there is immense demand for journalism that reflects local realities, explains complex issues, and holds institutions accountable.

Readers are not simply looking for information they can find anywhere; they are looking for reliable voices they can depend on.

Media organisations that understand this will be better positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. They will attract loyal audiences rather than fleeting visitors.

They will build communities rather than temporary traffic. They will become institutions that people rely on instead of platforms people merely browse.

In the end, journalism has never been about generating the highest number of clicks. Its purpose has always been to inform citizens, challenge power, foster informed debate, and strengthen society through credible information. Algorithms may reward engagement.

Technology may accelerate distribution. But none of these can substitute for trust.

Because in the digital age, audiences have more choices than ever before.

They can consume news from thousands of websites, millions of social media accounts, and an endless stream of digital creators.

Their greatest challenge is no longer finding information. It is knowing whom to believe.

And that is where professional journalism still holds its greatest advantage. In the digital age, audiences may click because they are curious, but they return because they trust you.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan insisted on Monday, July 13, 2026 that no one is above the law, saying respect for human rights must go hand in hand with accountability and adherence to the country’s laws.

Addressing the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Association of Government Solicitors and Legal Officers in Arusha, President Hassan defended Tanzania’s human rights record, dismissing international criticism as part of efforts to undermine developing countries.

“No one is above our laws. Anyone who breaks the law will be dealt with,” she said.

The President said Tanzania remained committed to regional and international human rights standards, noting that the Bill of Rights was incorporated into the Union Constitution in 1984 and has since been strengthened through various laws.

She said citizens whose rights have been violated have access to the courts to seek justice.

“We have provided an opportunity for citizens to demand and defend their rights through the judiciary,” she said.

President Hassan also cited Tanzania’s hosting of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha as evidence of the country’s long-standing commitment to promoting and protecting human rights.

She argued that some external actors were using negative narratives to weaken developing countries economically and politically.

Using a proverb, she said critics sought to “give a dog a bad name in order to kill it”, insisting Tanzania should not be judged on what she described as misleading narratives.

“Tanzania is doing well on human rights,” she said.

The President urged government lawyers to safeguard the country’s sovereignty by providing sound legal advice, preventing disputes and protecting Tanzania’s interests in international agreements.

“A government solicitor is not measured only by the cases won, but also by the disputes prevented, the public funds saved and the mistakes avoided before they cost the nation,” she said.