Category: The Citizen

‘Despite the energy transition that is taking place, energy security remains a puzzle for Africa,’ he said, stressing the need for countries to work together to determine how best to advance the energy agenda.

He said African countries should remain open to investment, promote competition in their markets and allow oil and gas exploration to continue as part of efforts to strengthen energy security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Tanzania’s Chief Geologist in the Ministry of Energy, Mussa Mussa, said the government’s 2015 Energy Policy provides a framework for local investors to participate in the sector, including through partnerships with companies with the financial capacity to undertake major projects.

He said such partnerships could enable Tanzanian investors to participate in projects requiring substantial financial resources.

On transparency in oil and gas contracts, Mr Mussa said Parliament provides an avenue for scrutinising agreements to determine whether they meet the required standards.

He said that Tanzania also participates in platforms promoting transparency in contracts, providing another avenue for accountability in the sector.

Africa Oil Week, being held in Accra for the second time, has brought together energy ministers, oil companies, regulators, industry stakeholders and oil and gas academics to discuss issues shaping Africa’s energy future.

According to Mr Khan, the participating companies are holding business-to-business discussions with potential buyers and distributors as they explore opportunities to establish supply networks, expand market access and develop long-term commercial partnerships in Tanzania and the region.

He also highlighted Tanzania’s strategic position as a gateway to the wider East African market.

The exhibition has brought together companies from Pakistan, Trkiye, India and Egypt, giving manufacturers an opportunity to showcase pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and medical technologies while engaging potential customers and business partners.

The participation comes amid growing private-sector interest in strengthening economic ties between Pakistan and Tanzania, with healthcare offering opportunities to increase competition, improve access to medical technologies and attract investment into pharmaceutical and medical equipment supply chains.

The exhibition is also providing manufacturers with an opportunity to understand market needs and identify potential partners as they seek to expand their presence in Tanzania and East Africa.

Motorists and industries using petroleum products are set to benefit from lower fuel prices after the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by an average of Sh100 per litre for September.

Ewura has cut the price of petrol by Sh102 per litre and diesel by Sh101, reflecting movements in global oil prices at the time the fuel was ordered, although international prices remain volatile amid the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

In Dar es Salaam, a litre of petrol will now retail at Sh3,796, diesel at Sh3,877 and kerosene at Sh3,713, down from Sh3,898, Sh3,978 and Sh4,003, respectively, in AugustFor fuel supplied through the Port of Tanga, petrol will sell at Sh3,872 per litre, diesel at Sh3,953 and kerosene at Sh3,789, compared with Sh3,959, Sh4,039 and Sh4,065, respectively, in August.

At the Port of Mtwara, petrol will retail at Sh3,909 per litre, diesel at Sh3,990 and kerosene at Sh3,825, down from Sh3,990, Sh4,070 and Sh4,096, respectively.

The latest price cuts come amid fluctuations in global oil prices between May and August, according to data from CountryEconomy based on the Europe Brent Spot Price FOB.

The average price of a barrel of Brent crude rose to $107.14 in May before falling to $85.40 in June and $83.76 in July, representing a decline of about 22 percent between May and July.

However, prices rebounded in August to an average of $91.15 per barrel, an 8.8 percent increase from July, although they remained about 15 percent below the May level.

Ewura said oil companies were free to sell petroleum products at competitive prices, provided they did not exceed the prescribed cap or fall below the applicable minimum price.

The prices were calculated in accordance with the Ewura Petroleum Products Pricing Regulations, 2022, published in Government Notice No. 57 on January 28, 2022, and subsequent amendments published in Government Notice No. 761A on October 30, 2023, as well as the 2024 Bulk Procurement System Regulations.

The regulator urged all fuel stations to clearly display current prices, discounts and other commercial incentives offered to customers.

‘Where there is a choice, customers are advised to buy petroleum products from stations offering lower prices to promote competition,’ Ewura said.

The authority warned that selling fuel without clearly displaying prices was an offence and that stations failing to comply with legal requirements would face penalties.

Ewura also directed fuel retailers to issue receipts generated through Electronic Fiscal Pump Printers (EFPP), while customers were advised to ensure they received receipts showing the station’s name, date, type of fuel purchased and price per litre.

The receipts can be used as evidence in the event of complaints over fuel being sold above the prescribed price or concerns over the quality of petroleum products.

They will also help facilitate the collection of government taxes generated from petroleum product sales, Ewura said.

Kigali. Private-sector players in Africa’s agriculture sector have called for increased investment, better fertiliser use and policies to promote sustainable soil management as soil degradation threatens agricultural productivity.

The concerns were raised at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026 in Kigali during a discussion on the private sector’s role in improving soil health and strengthening food systems.

Africa Fertiliser Industry Development Association (AFIDA) Director General and CEO Dr Innocent Okuku said about 60 percent of Africa’s cropland is estimated to have degraded soils, largely because of poor soil management.

‘Fertiliser is neither good nor bad. You can make it good if you use it correctly, and you can make it bad if you don’t use it correctly,’ Dr Okuku said during the discussion. He said improving soil health requires more than increasing fertiliser use, with farmers needing access to mineral and organic fertilisers and soil amendments such as lime for acidic soils.

AFIDA is also investing in farmer education on appropriate fertiliser use and plans to launch a youth programme in early 2027 to train young people to support smallholder farmers in improving soil health and agricultural production.

The private sector also called for reforms to fertiliser subsidy programmes, saying delayed government payments can undermine suppliers’ businesses and discourage investment. Dr Okuku said some suppliers had waited one or two years for payment after participating in subsidy programmes.

World Bank Group Global Director for Farming and Agribusiness Anup Jagwani said governments should reconsider their role in purchasing, storing and distributing fertiliser.

‘We don’t think that government should be in the business of buying fertiliser, storing fertiliser or distributing fertiliser,’ he said, arguing that private companies were better placed to manage input supply chains.

Participants discussed electronic vouchers as one option that could enable farmers to access subsidised inputs while allowing private companies to participate in their distribution.

Yara International Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Africa Dr Winnie Ng’ang’a said the company uses soil testing to identify nutrient deficiencies and develop fertiliser solutions suited to specific soils and crops. She said mineral fertilisers should complement rather than replace organic fertilisers.

AFIDA is also working with regional bodies, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), to harmonise fertiliser registration and quality standards.

Dr Okuku said fragmented regulations make it difficult for companies to operate across borders and can delay farmers’ access to suitable inputs.

AFIDA, established about a year ago, currently operates in around 12 African countries and plans to expand across the continent.

Dr Okuku said the association was formed to give private-sector players a stronger voice in policy discussions and promote investment in agriculture as governments face limited resources.

and development financing declines.

Betting company Sokabet paid out a total of Sh44, 658,787,637 to different winners during August, the company has said.

Sokabet Tanzania Assistant Customer Service Manager, Lazaro Mduma, said this during a ceremony to hand over winnings to one of the successful players, R. Likwawa, who won Sh143.1 million through the Shining Crown game.

Mduma said Likwawa was among the players who won large amounts of money through various games during the month, finishing second on the list of the biggest winners, while A. Mwakalinga topped the list after winning Sh180 million.

Tanzanian swimmer Romeo-Mihaly Mwaipasi has secured a major opportunity to advance both his academic and sporting career after being awarded the 2026-2027 Stipendium Hungaricum Sports Scholarship by World Aquatics.

The scholarship will enable the promising swimmer to pursue university studies in Hungary while continuing his swimming development under a structured high-performance programme.

The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) announced the achievement, congratulating Mwaipasi for successfully navigating a competitive selection process that included interviews and examinations conducted through the World Aquatics Scholarship Programme. Romeo was among the shortlisted candidates before successfully passing the final selection stage, earning him a place in the prestigious programme.

TSA Secretary General Inviolata Itatiro said the achievement demonstrates the importance of sustained investment in athletes and the commitment required to nurture sporting talent. ‘This opportunity is a testament that the resources, time, effort and sacrifice spent in nurturing athletes is truly worthwhile,’ said Inviolata.

The Stipendium Hungaricum Sports Scholarship provides comprehensive support to student-athletes, including tuition-free education, medical insurance and a monthly stipend.Depending on institutional capacity, scholars are also entitled to free dormitory accommodation or a monthly accommodation contribution from the scholarship programme. Romeo will further benefit from specialised sporting support, including a designated coach, individual training plans and access to training facilities. The programme also provides additional medical and performance services, including team doctors and physiotherapists.

On the academic side, he will have access to an academic mentor appointed by his host institution to assist him throughout his studies. The scholarship also covers annual round-trip travel between the scholar’s home country and Hungary, easing the logistical burden as Mwaipasi balances his education and sporting commitments.

For Tanzania’s swimming fraternity, Mwaipasi’s selection represents an important achievement and a source of encouragement for young athletes aspiring to compete internationally.

The opportunity comes as recognition of his commitment to swimming and the continued efforts by the Tanzania Swimming Association and other stakeholders to create pathways for athletes to combine sporting excellence with education.

Mwaipasi’s move to Hungary is expected to provide him with exposure to new training environments, coaching expertise and competitive opportunities as he works to take his swimming career to another level.

The TSA has urged the swimming community to join in congratulating Mwaipasi, describing his scholarship as evidence that investment in athletes can produce opportunities that extend beyond the pool.

As he begins his Hungarian chapter, Mwaipasi will carry the expectations of Tanzania’s swimming community while pursuing the dual goal of academic achievement and sporting excellence.

This version uses a newspaper-style lead, short paragraphs, formal attribution, and a strong quote, making it much closer to the feel of a mainstream Tanzanian sports report.

We love the tea. We really do.

Give us the messy relationship update, the unexpected plot twist, and the ‘sit down, let me tell you what happened’ moment. Give us the proper tea… the ‘You people will not believe what just happened’ tea.

We will listen.

We will ask questions.

We will probably have opinions.

That is tea.

But there is a difference between sharing tea and exposing somebody’s private business.

And lately, that line seems to be disappearing faster than a trending topic after three days.

Because somewhere along the way, social media has become the new venue for messages that were clearly meant to be a phone call.

Tell me why you are sitting comfortably, scrolling through your phone, completely unaware that you are about to be dragged into somebody else’s personal history.

‘I can’t believe you decided to have a child with a married man…’

Excuse me?

Like… how is that our concern?????????

Who invited us to this meeting?

Why are we suddenly sitting in the front row of a family matter we did not even know existed?

And before you can process that, the speaker has moved on to the person’s exes.

Not the fresh tea.

Not even warm tea.

Rotten. Uncooked. Archaeological tea.

Stories from relationships that ended years ago. Things that were apparently said in private. Old disagreements. Who dated whom. Who allegedly did what? Details that sound like they were supposed to remain buried somewhere between two people and a WhatsApp chat.

And you are watching your phone thinking:

Sir… Could you not have called her?

Nobody, absolutely nobody, needed to hear that.

If the message is for them, why are we watching?

Send them a message.

There is a revolutionary piece of technology called WhatsApp.

It has existed for years.

You can even send a voice note. And here is the thing: that person whose tea you are serving for clicks, likes and comments has a reputation they have built over years.

You do not get to casually throw it into the public square simply because you know something about them.

And what makes this whole phenomenon even more interesting is that a lot of these Ubuyu CEOs are men.

Grown men.

Men who have somehow turned knowing everybody else’s business into a professional qualification.

They know who broke up. Who reconciled? Who owes whom money? Who allegedly sent what message?

Whose relationship is struggling. Who said what in a private conversation?

That is not automatically tea. Sometimes it is simply somebody else’s business.

And perhaps that is what our Ubuyu CEOs need to remember. You can have the screenshot and not post it.

You can know the story and not tell it. You can hear the voice note and delete it.

You can know exactly what happened and still say:

‘Hii si yangu kusema.’

Imagine that.

A man with information choosing silence.

A rare species. Put him in a museum.

Because there is actually something powerful about knowing when not to speak.

So, next time the urge to go live hits, take a breath.

Put the phone down.

Call the person.

Or, revolutionary concept: drink your own tea.

Because we love the tea.

Just make sure it is actually yours to pour.

Simba leave Tanzania today for Malawi ahead of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round first-leg clash against Mighty Wanderers on Sunday, with five players missing from the travelling squad.

The players are Hussein Semfuko, Ibrahim Nindi, Kelvin Nashono, Nickson Kibabage and Shomari Kapombe, who have all been ruled out of the trip because of what the club describes as unavoidable reasons. Simba media manager Ahmed Ally confirmed the absences but did not disclose further details, leaving head coach Steve Barker to work with the available players as the club begins its latest continental campaign.

The match will be played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm East African Time. CAF has placed the two clubs in the first preliminary round, with the return leg in Tanzania between September 11 and 13. For Barker, the assignment provides an early opportunity to demonstrate whether Simba’s strong domestic start can translate into continental success. The South African has guided the Msimbazi club to a perfect start in the Mainland Premier League, winning all five matches and collecting 15 points. The coach’s priority in Malawi will be to secure a positive result, preferably a victory, while ensuring Simba remain defensively disciplined. An away goal advantage would give the Tanzanian side greater control of the tie before the return fixture.

The absence of Kapombe, in particular, removes one of Simba’s experienced players from the continental assignment, while the other four unavailable players further reduce Barker’s options. The coach will therefore have to rely on squad depth and tactical flexibility.

Simba also enter the tie with considerably greater continental experience. They have been regular participants in the CAF Champions League and reached the quarter-finals in recent seasons, giving them an advantage in handling the pressure associated with two-legged knockout ties.

However, Ahmed Ally has warned against underestimating Wanderers. He previously acknowledged that the Malawian champions have an advantage because they have played more domestic matches and are likely to be physically sharper.

Wanderers have also undergone an important change just days before the encounter. MacDonald Nginde Mtetemera has been appointed interim head coach following the suspension of Bob Mpinganjira. Former Yanga assistant coach Patrick Mabedi has also been brought in as a technical consultant.

Mtetemera has already rallied his players ahead of the clash, insisting that unity can help the Nomads overcome the challenge posed by Simba.

The hosts will also be looking to recover from their recent 2-1 defeat to Ekhaya FC in the Airtel Top 8 final at Bingu National Stadium, a result that contributed to the changes in their technical bench.

For Barker, Sunday’s encounter is therefore about more than simply surviving the first leg. A disciplined performance and a favourable result would strengthen Simba’s position in the tie and provide momentum for their wider ambition of progressing deep into the Champions League.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) has temporarily suspended flights between Dar es Salaam and Moscow, citing the outcome of a routine risk assessment of the operating environment along the route.

The suspension, which affects flights TC422 and TC423, takes effect from September 4, 2026, according to a public notice issued by the airline on September 3.

‘ATCL conducts these assessments continuously across our entire network, and where the outcome supports a pause, we take one,’ the airline said. The company said the decision was made after weighing the operating environment and the need to prioritise passenger safety.

‘Safety considerations always take precedence over commercial ones,’ ATCL said.

Passengers holding tickets for the affected flights will be offered either a full refund or rebooking to an alternative date or routing at no additional cost.

The airline has advised affected passengers to contact its customer service centre or their travel agents for assistance.

‘We continue to monitor conditions in consultation with the relevant authorities and will announce the resumption of services as soon as the assessment supports it,’ ATCL said.

The airline did not give a specific date for the resumption of flights, saying it would continue monitoring conditions in consultation with the relevant authorities.

ATCL said it regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers and thanked its customers for their continued trust and support.

A total of 294 entries submitted by journalists for the second season of the Samia Kalamu Awards have advanced to the public voting stage, with citizens’ votes accounting for 60 percent of the final score.

Voting starts on Thursday, September 3, and will run until September 30, following the completion of the judging process, which accounts for the remaining 40 percent.

The winners are expected to be announced in December, with members of the public voting for journalism works they consider relevant and impactful through the awards’ website or short message service (SMS). Speaking to journalists on Thursday, September 3, the chairman of the awards, who is also Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) director general Peter Mwasalyanda, said the second season had attracted 3,003 entries from 985 journalists.

He said the figures represented an increase from the previous season, reflecting growing participation in the awards.

The entries covered several areas of public interest, with health emerging as the most prominent category, attracting 279 entries, followed by gender (225), environment (180) and education (150). Land-related reporting attracted three entries.

‘These figures reflect the issues that journalists focused on in their reporting and investigations submitted for the awards,’ he said.

Mr Mwasalyanda said the judging panel had completed its assessment, which accounts for 40 percent of the final score, while the public vote will determine the remaining 60 percent.

He urged journalists whose works had reached the public voting stage to encourage their audiences to participate.

‘The public vote is very important,’ he said, adding that citizens had an opportunity to recognise journalism that addresses issues affecting their communities.

He said public participation would also help identify works that reflect citizens’ concerns, interests and development priorities.

Last year, 6,638 members of the public participated in the voting exercise. The organisers hope to surpass that figure this year by attracting more citizens to the process.

Judges praise quality of entries

Chairperson of the judging panel Beatrice Bandawe said the judges had undertaken an extensive assessment of the submissions against established criteria.

She said the exercise showed that Tanzanian journalists had strong professional skills and were capable of producing quality journalism focused on citizens’ development needs.

‘The judges discovered that Tanzanian journalists have a high level of professional competence and the ability to produce quality stories that address development issues affecting citizens,’ she said.

Ms Bandawe said journalists had also demonstrated an ability to go beyond identifying challenges by exploring possible solutions to problems facing communities.

‘The 294 entries will now compete for public support, with the outcome of the voting carrying the largest share in determining the eventual winners,’ she said.

The organisers have called on citizens to participate in the exercise and recognise journalism they believe has made a meaningful contribution to society.