Category: The Citizen

Puma Energy Tanzania, through its cooking gas brand PumaGas, has launched an eight-week roadshow across five regions as part of efforts to make liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) more accessible to households and businesses.

The roadshow was launched on September 3, 2026, at the newly opened Puma Energy retail service station in Bunju, Dar es Salaam, and will cover Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Morogoro and Dodoma before concluding in Mwanza.

Held under the message ‘Hakuna Kuchochea, Tumerahisisha na PumaGas,’ the campaign will focus on promoting the use of cooking gas in everyday household and business activities. The roadshow will give cooking gas users an opportunity to learn more about LPG, ask questions about its use and availability, and interact with PumaGas dealers in their communities.

‘Our aim is not simply to tell people about cooking gas, but to give them an opportunity to understand it, see how it is used and get the information they need before making a decision,’ said Puma Energy Tanzania Head of Marketing Lilian Kanora.

‘By taking PumaGas directly into communities, we want to be closer to our customers and better understand their needs in different areas,’ she said.

During the roadshow, PumaGas teams will engage with households, food businesses, restaurants, hotels and gas dealers. The programme will also feature cooking demonstrations and opportunities for members of the public to ask questions about the use, availability and refilling of gas cylinders.

Food businesses that rely on gas for their daily operations, including street food vendors, mama ntilie, restaurants and hotels, will also be part of the campaign.

Dealers will support the availability of PumaGas products and services to customers in their respective areas.

The roadshow will culminate in Mwanza, where Puma Energy plans to formally enter the Lake Zone market.

The Mwanza launch will include the introduction of PumaGas to the market, the handover of a cylinder to the first customer and recognition of the first PumaGas dealer in the area.

The event will also bring together stakeholders and the media and feature a practical cooking demonstration.

During the demonstration, a local mama ntilie will prepare chapati using a PumaGas cylinder, allowing members of the public to see how much food can be prepared using the gas in a familiar, everyday setting.

For Puma Energy, the roadshow forms part of a broader effort to increase access to cooking gas and extend its services to more communities across Tanzania.

The company said the eight-week initiative would enable it to engage directly with users, understand their needs and bring PumaGas services closer to communities where people live and run their businesses.

The campaign will run from Dar es Salaam through Pwani, Morogoro and Dodoma before ending in Mwanza under the message: ‘PumaGas: Hakuna Kuchochea, Tumerahisisha.’

However, speaking at Tanzania Innovation Week 2026, innovation and business experts said the bigger challenge was ensuring entrepreneurs could turn ideas into commercially viable businesses and use investment effectively.

Team Director at Mbarali Clean Energy Solution Dr Noni Tindigwe said entrepreneurs should start by identifying problems in their communities and finding solutions using locally available resources.

He is part of the team behind Bagazi Gauze, an eco-friendly wound dressing made from banana plant fibres. The innovation turns agricultural waste into a locally produced alternative to imported gauze.

‘The idea is to make quality healthcare more accessible by using what we already have locally,’ Dr Tindigwe said.

He said the approach also draws on traditional methods used in parts of Tanzania’s Lake Zone, demonstrating how local knowledge and resources can underpin commercial innovations.

Managing Director at Sahara Accelerator Mr Adam Mbyallu said successful entrepreneurs must remain committed to their ideas while maintaining a clear understanding of the problem they are solving.

‘People who succeed in startups are dedicated and have confidence in their startups, but they also need to remain focused on the problem they are solving,’ he said. He also stressed the importance of building teams with complementary skills, including marketing and other areas founders may lack.

Business Development Manager at DTBi Mr Elia Kinshaga said while access to finance remained a challenge, entrepreneurs needed to understand how much capital they required and how it would be used.

‘The big challenge is securing funds, but innovators need to know what they need, rather than what they want,’ he said. Director of Studio 19 Limited Mr Brian Mnyampi challenged the perception that Tanzania lacked investors.

‘There is a lot of money, people and institutions that are ready to fund,’ he said, adding that entrepreneurs must also know when they are ready to receive investment. His advice was simple: ‘Go fast, go narrow.’

He urged startups to focus on a specific problem and customer base, build traction and expand from a stronger position rather than trying to serve multiple markets prematurely.

Director at Ifakara Innovation Hub Mr Masoud Mnonji highlighted another challenge: the gap between technical expertise and business leadership.

‘You can be the best in technology but make a bad CEO,’ he said, stressing the need for founders to understand both science and business.

The discussion also raised questions about whether investor return expectations are realistic for early-stage businesses, particularly those operating in rural markets.

As funding reaches new levels, the experts said the success of Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem should ultimately be measured not by how much money startups raise, but by the problems they solve, the businesses they build and the value they create.

A1 Iron and Steel Tanzania Limited has collaborated with John Cockerill, a global leader in metallurgical tech­nology, in a move expected to accel­erate the development of advanced steel manufacturing in Tanzania and strengthen the country’s position as a regional industrial hub.

The partnership combines A1 Iron and Steel’s investment in Tanza­nia with John Cockerill’s expertise in advanced steel-processing technolo­gies, particularly cold rolling.

The collaboration forms part of A1 Iron and Steel’s development of an integrated Cold Rolling Complex, which will expand the company’s ability to produce higher-value steel products for Tanzania and the wider East African market.

The A-1 Iron and Steel Managing Director Himanshu Tiwari, says the partnership marks an important milestone in the company’s journey.

‘We are pleased to have John Cockerill as our technology and engi­neering partner for this important project, bringing its global expertise in steel processing and advanced cold rolling technologies,’

The ambition extends beyond Tanzania’s domestic market. With East Africa experiencing rapid urbanisation, infrastructure devel­opment and industrial expansion, the company is positioning the investment to serve growing region­al demand for quality steel products.

‘Our ambition is to create a mod­ern steel platform that not only meets today’s market requirements but also supports the long-term industrialization and economic growth of Tanzania and the wider East African region,’ he stated.

The project could also stimulate activities beyond steel production by creating demand for engineering, logistics, transportation, mainte­nance and other supporting services. It is also expected to create opportu­nities for Tanzanian engineers, tech­nicians and other skilled industrial workers.

For Dr Mithaleshwar Yadav, Vice President, Sales at John Cocker­ill India Limited, the partnership would bring global metallurgical expertise and advanced technology into Tanzania is growing steel indus­try.

The technology is expected to play a key role in improving the quality, precision and efficiency of local steel production. The Cold Rolling Com­plex will feature a Pickling Line with an Acid Regeneration Plant, a 6 High Cold Rolling Mill and a Galvalume Coating Line.

The 6 High Cold Rolling Mill will provide greater control over steel thickness and strip flatness, ena­bling the production of specialised, high-quality steel products.

Meanwhile, the Acid Regenera­tion Plant will allow the recovery and reuse of process chemicals, support­ing greater efficiency and improved environmental performance.

The integrated facility will trans­form hot-rolled steel coils into high­er-value, corrosion-resistant Gal­valume products.

For Tanzania, the development comes at an important time as the country seeks to increase local man­ufacturing, promote value addition and reduce dependence on import­ed industrial products.

Steel is fundamental to economic development, supporting construc­tion, infrastructure, energy, trans­port and manufacturing.

Increasing domestic production can therefore strengthen supply chains while reducing exposure to international shipping costs, import duties, exchange-rate fluctuations and global supply disruptions.

Developing local technical exper­tise will be critical to ensuring that the benefits of the investment extend beyond the factory, helping build a stronger domestic engineer­ing and industrial ecosystem.

Ultimately, the A1 Iron and Steel-John Cockerill partnership repre­sents more than a technology collab­oration. It is a step towards strength­ening Tanzania’s steel value chain, increasing domestic value addition and building industrial capacity that can support both national develop­ment and regional growth.

As Tanzania seeks to become a competitive manufacturing hub, partnerships that combine local investment with global technologi­cal expertise could prove central to turning that ambition into reality.

Man eateth where he worketh, so say the scriptures.

This son of Muyanza, who was born and bred on the hills of Mount Kamwala, eateth (and drinketh, ahem!) from where he sits facing the laptop, punishing his weather-beaten fingers.

The mhudumu who spends her day and part of her night has to eat at the bar where she provides service. Yeah, hulaga papo-hapo.

Her pay, we all know, isn’t anything to write home about.

Sources with insider’s information have revealed to you that few bar owners pay wahudumu anything exceeding Sh80k per month.

We’re, of course, referring to the kind of bars Wa Muyanza and his ilk patronise.

With that kind of pay, when she’s a mother of at least one child.

You can swear by your own mom’s name you’re yet to meet a mhudumu who, upon checking out, will inform you she’s not yet a mother.

Which is to say, she has to budget the 80k to cater for the needs of a child and the maid who looks after the little one when she’s at work.

Yes, those are the circumstances of a typical mhudumu.

It means, when she asks you to please allow her to have a beer on you, kindly say yes, unless you’re really hard up like Wa Muyanza is, normally.

And, after telling her yes, have a beer on me, don’t insist that she bring the drink, place it on your table and open it! When she says (read lies) she’ll drink it later, just agree.

Why, most likely, would she be, one, sparing the beer money for her fair back home and two, slowly collecting cash to top up her puny monthly pay of 80k?

It’s in a bar where the likes of this Rukia (aka Ruky) will eat, figuratively and literally.

That is why it doesn’t surprise you when you arrive at the Ruky workplace, where your intention is to watch a Premier League match involving Yanga and Pamba FC.

As we all know, any match featuring either Yanga or Simba is a huge affair.

The bar is full to the brim, and most of us are here to see Yanga retain their place at the top or lose and allow Archrival Simba to surpass them in the League standing, presently.

Meanwhile, Ruky must have her birthday bash, and this is the only venue available to her.

In any case, she has to be at work even as she celebrates the day she was born. Complete with a DJ and an MC.

She grabs the mic from the DJ and asks the patrons, “Tell me, is it possible to watch football on TV minus the sound?’

A section of the patrons responds loudly, ‘Yeah, it’s possible!’

She proceeds to ask if it’s possible to dance in celebration of her birthday without music.

An even larger section of the revellers, led by Ruky’s fellow wahudumu, responds with a very loud No!

The DJ pushes up the volume dial, and we’re treated to being horribly loud while following the beautiful game on TV with zero sound.

Now and then a reveller is invited to say a few nice words about ‘baby’ Ruky, after which they gift her with a banknote or two.

Then comes the time to be fed the birthday cake, and, after a tiny piece of it has been shoved into your open mouth, you gift Ruky with something. Not bad…ahem!

After the first half, you escape to Family Bar, where you proceed to watch the Yanga-Pamba duel, complete with cheering or jeering from the pitch and the voices of TV commentators and analysts.

You later learn Ruky managed to raise close to 500k from her birthday well-wishers.

Not bad, eh?

The Championship/Silver category will feature golfers with a handicap index of five and below, while Division B will cater for players with handicap indexes of 5.1 and above. About 50 golfers are expected to compete in the two main categories throughout the tournament. Senior men and ladies will join the competition tomorrow, with the two categories expected to feature 30 players competing over 36 holes.

Much of the attention, however, will be on defending champion Ashley Awuor, who returns to the Kilimanjaro course seeking to retain the title she won last year.

Awuor faces a strong challenge from a field eager to prevent her from repeating last year’s success, setting the stage for an intriguing battle as players seek to establish themselves among the region’s leading amateur golfers.

Tournament coordinator Madina Idd said the event was designed to combine serious competition with opportunities for players to improve their game and build relationships.

‘We are delighted to welcome golfers from across East Africa to participate in the Sterling Invitational. Our aim is to provide a competitive yet friendly environment where players can showcase their talent, improve their game and build lasting relationships,’ she said.

The tournament’s significance has also been boosted by its recognition under the R and A and registration with the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), giving eligible players an opportunity to earn valuable ranking points through their performances. The ladies’ competition will cover 54 holes, while senior golfers will play 36 holes. The demanding format is expected to reward players who maintain concentration, make sound tactical decisions and remain consistent throughout the tournament.

The Kilimanjaro Worldlife and Golf Estate is expected to provide another major test, with the course requiring players to combine accuracy with effective course management if they are to post competitive scores.

Beyond the competition, organisers see the tournament as an opportunity to strengthen golf links across East Africa and provide a platform for players to share experiences while raising the standard of the sport.

With the opening round scheduled for today, attention now shifts to the course as golfers begin their pursuit of honours. By Sunday, only the most consistent players will remain in contention, with Awuor facing the added pressure of protecting the crown she claimed last year.

The Sterling Invitational therefore promises an absorbing weekend of golf, with regional rivalry, international ranking points and the defending champion’s quest for another title adding to the tournament’s appeal.

NMB Foundation General Manager Nelson Karumuna said the new beneficiaries would join 101 students supported through the first two intakes.

NMBF has spent more than Sh2.1 billion supporting the first two cohorts and committed a further Sh1 billion for the 2026/27 intake. ‘The support will cover tuition fees, living expenses, field practical training, compulsory university charges and learning materials, including laptops,’ Mr Karumuna said.

Beneficiaries will also receive academic mentorship, leadership development, employment preparation and practical learning opportunities.

Mr Karumuna said applications were free and warned applicants against individuals or organisations claiming to sell or facilitate scholarship places.

The Nuru Yangu programme was launched in May 2022 to help academically capable young Tanzanians overcome financial barriers to higher education.

One beneficiary, Elia Johnson Kaberege, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2025. He said the scholarship covered education costs his family could not afford. Another beneficiary, Irene John Busorwa, a Mzumbe University graduate, said financial difficulties had nearly prevented her from enrolling.

The programme supported her throughout her three years of study, and she has since secured employment with an audit firm.

Following Friday’s meeting, Minister Katambi directed the Tanzania Police Force to locate and arrest Dudu Baya and ensure he is brought before the relevant legal authorities.

The minister further ordered that Dudu Baya undergo special medical examinations to assess his condition and establish other matters related to his conduct.

‘Given what is currently unfolding, I am directing that he undergo additional medical tests. Once we receive the findings from the Chief Government Chemist, we will know what steps to take next,’ said the minister.

The action comes as Katambi steps up warnings to artistes, content creators and other public figures over their conduct and the content they create or share online. During the earlier meeting, the minister warned that neither money nor popularity would place anyone above the law.

Before Friday’s directive, Dudu Baya, Niffer, Nana Dolls and Uncle T had been specifically summoned to appear at the ministry at 4am on September 4 after failing to attend the initial meeting.

Dudu Baya’s case has now become the latest development in an increasingly direct engagement between the government and Tanzania’s entertainment and digital-creator community over public conduct, social media use and compliance with the law.

It remains unclear when Dudu Baya will be located or whether he will face specific criminal charges. The nature of any potential legal proceedings will depend on the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent action by the relevant authorities.

In its latest public notice, the airline said the assessment had now been completed in consultation with relevant authorities.

‘ATCL carries out these assessments continuously across our network, and services resume when the assessment supports it,’ the airline said.

ATCL did not provide further details on what had changed between Thursday, when the suspension was announced, and Friday, when the resumption was confirmed.

Bookings are now open for all affected flights, with passengers who deferred their travel during the suspension allowed to rebook at no additional cost.

The airline said affected passengers could make arrangements through its customer service centre, travel agents or by contacting the company directly.

‘Customers who received refunds are welcome to book afresh at prevailing fares,’ ATCL said.

The airline said it would continue monitoring conditions along the route as well as across its wider network.

It also indicated that further action could be taken if circumstances change.

‘ATCL will continue to monitor conditions along the route and across our network, and will act accordingly should circumstances change,’ the airline said.

The airline thanked passengers for their patience and continued trust, saying it looked forward to welcoming them back on board.

The latest announcement effectively brings the Moscow service suspension to an end after one day, with scheduled operations set to resume on September

The road to the Miss World 2026 crown is entering a crucial stage, with public voting offering contestants a direct route into the final six as the 75th-anniversary edition approaches its September 5 finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Under the competition’s new format, the People’s Choice Award is no longer simply a popularity title. The eventual winner will secure an automatic place in the Top 6, putting her just one step away from the Miss World crown.

The move has added a new layer of excitement to the competition, but it has also sparked debate among pageant followers, with some questioning whether public voting should carry such significant weight in determining the finalists.

According to the official Miss World format, the People’s Choice competition will unfold in three stages. The first round will produce four continental winners, each earning a place in the Top 40.

Voting will then continue, with the two contestants receiving the highest number of votes worldwide securing automatic places in the Top 12. The final stage will determine one People’s Choice winner, who will advance directly into the Top 6.

The first voting round closes at 10pm Vietnam time on Friday, September 4, with all 111 national ambassadors eligible to participate.

The system gives fans an unusually powerful role in the competition, effectively turning online support into a potential pathway to the crown.

For supporters, it is an opportunity to have a direct say in the outcome; for critics, however, the format raises questions about whether the system could favour contestants with larger or more organised fan bases rather than those whose performances have stood out throughout the festival.

For Tanzania’s Latricia Ian, the People’s Choice race provides another opportunity to keep the country in the global spotlight, following an impressive run in several Miss World activities.

Latricia was among Africa’s five finalists for the Miss World Multimedia Award, alongside representatives from Kenya, Namibia, Uganda and Zambia. The category rewards contestants for their creativity, storytelling, authenticity and ability to connect with audiences, placing Latricia among the continent’s strongest digital voices at this year’s competition.

Her progress comes as Africa continues to make a strong impression in the 2026 edition. Nigeria’s Tamunosoye Karibi-George won the Africa Top Model title and secured a place in the Top 40, while South Africa’s Romanda Hombir won the African Head-to-Head Challenge, also earning her a spot in the Top 40.

Zambia’s Adah Mushibi emerged as Africa’s Multimedia winner, securing another automatic place in the Top 40, while Latricia’s appearance among the continent’s five Multimedia finalists further strengthened Tanzania’s presence in the competition.

With several African contestants already benefiting from the pageant’s fast-track categories, the continent enters the final stretch with a strong representation.

For Tanzania, however, Latricia’s journey carries an added significance. The country is preparing to host the Miss World Festival in 2027, meaning her performance in Vietnam offers not only a chance to compete for the crown but also an opportunity to build momentum ahead of the global pageant’s arrival on home soil.

Now, as fans mobilise behind their queens and the final voting window approaches, the question is becoming increasingly intriguing: can public support give Latricia the push she needs to move closer to the Miss World crown?

Dar es Salaam. The government has urged mining equipment manufacturers and engineering firms to design investments that directly support small and medium-scale miners, emphasizing that local manufacturing will significantly curb reliance on imports.

The call was made on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, as Mining Engineering Services Tanzania Limited (MES), a subsidiary of the Vinmart Group of Companies, continues construction of a Sh35 billion plant in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam.

The facility will produce specialised equipment for underground mining operations, aimed at import substitution and deepening local participation across the mining value chain.

Mining Commission Commissioner and Chairperson of the Tanzanian Local Content Committee in the Mining Sector, Dr Theresia Numbi, stressed that manufactured products must address the practical needs of small and medium miners nationwide.

‘Investment in the mining sector should not end at extraction activities alone, but should build a broader business chain that involves local manufacturers, particularly small and medium miners,’ stated Dr Numbi.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting investments that spur sectoral growth and drive broader economic development.

MES managing director, Mr Pulin Manek, noted that the investment focuses on domestic production of equipment currently sourced from overseas, alongside strategic export plans targeting regional markets.

‘The reason for establishing this factory is to help Tanzania reduce dependence on frequently consumed items used in underground mining that are imported from abroad,’ explained Mr Manek.

He stated that the plant’s design capacity deliberately exceeds current domestic demand to cater to future operational expansion in Tanzanian underground mining.

‘We are producing more than the country’s current demand because we are looking at Tanzania’s future requirements in underground mining as well as opportunities in the wider region,’ he added.

Addressing supply chain efficiencies, Mr Manek observed that imported equipment typically takes eight to 16 weeks to arrive, whereas domestic manufacturing will reduce delivery lead times to a few days.

The facility will also generate employment and advance local technical skills in manufacturing, welding, and engineering, while positioning Tanzania as a regional supply hub for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

‘Tanzania is well positioned to become a manufacturing and distribution hub for these goods due to the presence of the Port of Dar es Salaam,’ stressed Mr Manek.