Category: The Citizen

Young Africans (Yanga SC) president Eng. Hersi Said and vice-president Arafat Ally Haji are on course to retain their positions after emerging as the sole candidates for the club’s top leadership posts in the 2026 general election.

The election committee has released the list of aspirants who collected and returned nomination forms, showing that Hersi is the only candidate seeking the presidency, while Arafat is unopposed in the race for vice-president. With no challengers for the two top positions, the pair are widely expected to secure another four-year mandate when club members vote on August 2.

The list also features 16 candidates vying for committee membership. They are Julius John Koyi, Saady Mohammed Khimji, Fredy Stanley Mahembe, Munir Said Seleman, Mshindo Hamza Msolla, Issa Ally Mangungu, Mustapha Salumu Himba, Alexander Francis Ngai, Gerald John Kihinga, Yanga Evarist Makaga, Fahd Ahmed Afif, Rodgers Hemedi Gumbo, Seif Khamis Gulumali, Mohamed Ally Mwenda, Mzee Yussuf Mwinyi and Prisca Josephate Kishamba. Hersi and Arafat have overseen one of the club’s most successful periods since taking office in 2022, with Yanga winning multiple domestic league titles, Federation Cup crowns and establishing themselves among Africa’s leading clubs through consistent CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns. Under their leadership, the club has also strengthened its commercial partnerships and expanded its international profile. ([Wikipedia][1])

According to the election timetable released by the Yanga Election Committee, the nomination process closed on June 29, while preliminary scrutiny of candidates was conducted between June 30 and July 1.

The provisional list of qualified candidates was published on July 2 before a three-day period for objections and appeals from July 3 to July 5. Verification of objections follows between July 6 and July 8, with the final list of approved candidates scheduled to be published on July 9 and 10.

Any disciplinary matters will be handled by the club’s Ethics Committee between July 11 and July 13, while appeals to the TFF Election Appeals Committee are set for July 14 to July 16. Appeals will then be heard from July 17 to July 21, followed by the announcement of final candidates on July 24.

Official campaigning will run from July 25 to August 1 before Yanga members head to the polls on August 2, when the club will elect its president, vice-president and executive committee members for the next term.

The absence of challengers for the presidency and vice-presidency means Hersi and Arafat are poised to continue leading the Jangwani Street giants into another chapter.

Young Africans’ (Yanga) celebrations after securing a historic fifth consecutive Mainland Tanzania Premier League title were overshadowed by a serious injury to attacking midfielder Pacome Zouzoua, who suffered a broken left leg during the club’s 3-0 victory over JKT Tanzania.

The Ivorian playmaker sustained the injury after a reckless challenge from JKT Tanzania defender Hassan Wahabi in first-half stoppage time during the league finale at Major General Isamuhyo Stadium on June 30, 2026.

The incident occurred in the 45+3rd minute as Wahabi attempted to stop Pacome’s run. Referee Katanga Hussein of Tabora immediately produced a straight red card, sending off the JKT defender for the dangerous tackle. Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch to attend to Pacome before he was taken by ambulance to Aga Khan Hospital for further treatment. Medical examinations later confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a fracture to his left leg.

The injury brought a premature end to another influential performance from the Ivorian, who has been one of Yanga’s standout players this season with his creativity and attacking contributions.

Head coach Miloud Hamdi responded by introducing Mohammed Damaro, who replaced Pacome as Yanga comfortably saw out the match despite the setback.

Goals from Prince Dube, Maxi Nzengeli and Clement “Depu” Mzize sealed a convincing 3-0 victory, enabling Yanga to finish the season with their 32nd Mainland Premier League title and a record-equalling fifth successive league championship.

However, the celebrations were tempered by concern for Pacome, whose injury cast a shadow over an otherwise memorable evening for the newly crowned champions.

Although the club has not yet announced how long the midfielder is expected to be sidelined, a broken leg is likely to keep him out of action for several months, dealing a major blow to Yanga’s preparations for next season.

His absence could prove significant as the Tanzanian champions begin planning for the 2026/27 campaign, which includes another appearance in the Caf Champions League, where they will be aiming to build on their recent continental performances.

Yanga are expected to provide a detailed medical update on the player’s condition after further assessment by specialists.

Dar es Salaam’s industrial landscape entered a new chapter on June 26, 2026, as Hanlink Mobility Tanzania officially launched its operations, bringing one of East Africa’s fastest-growing mobility and heavy equipment companies into the country’s commercial capital.

The launch marked far more than the opening of a new showroom. It signaled Hanlink Mobility’s long-term commitment to Tanzania’s industrial growth, positioning the country as a strategic hub in the company’s expanding regional footprint.

Speaking during the inauguration, Hanlink Mobility Group Managing Director Mr. Lin Yu described Tanzania as a natural next step in Hanlink’s East African growth strategy.

‘Our expansion reflects our confidence in East Africa and our commitment to supporting its development,’ he said. The journey began in Uganda under Double Q Company Limited before expanding successfully into Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

With the launch of its Tanzanian operations, Hanlink is now strengthening its regional network while laying the groundwork for future investments, including the possibility of establishing local vehicle assembly facilities.

Such an investment, Mr. Yu noted, would not only strengthen Tanzania’s industrial capacity but also create employment opportunities and facilitate the transfer of technical skills to young Tanzanians.

‘Our vision extends beyond sellingpart of Tanzania’s industrial development journey.’ That broader vision was echoed by Assistant General Manager Ms Zainab Ngoda, who emphasized that Hanlink Mobility is much more than a commercial truck dealership.

She described the company as a comprehensive mobility and equipment solutions provider, offering an extensive portfolio that serves the transport, construction, mining and infrastructure sectors.

Alongside its partnership with Sinotruk, Hanlink also represents internationally recognised brands including XCMG Road and Mining Machinery, captured attention, the spotlight soon shifted to the machinery itself. Heli Forklifts and Kinglong Buses, enabling customers to source a wide range of industrial equipment from a single provider.

‘Our goal is to provide complete mobility solutions that support economic growth across multiple industries,’ she explained. In one of the ceremony’s most memorable moments, Ms. Zainab Ngoda invited the entire Hanlink Tanzania team to stand before the audience, reminding guests that behind every globally recognised brand is a dedicated local workforce committed to serving customers across the country.

While the company’s regional vision Sales Director Mr. Peter Li unveiled a range of heavy-duty vehicles specifically selected to meet the demands of Tanzania’s rapidly expanding construction, logistics and mining industries.

The lineup includes the rugged HOWO H3 and TX Tippers, the flagship HOWO NX and MAX Tractor Heads, and a versatile range of light-duty trucks with carrying capacities ranging from three to ten tonnes.

According to Mr Li, the vehicles have been engineered to deliver maximum productivity under demanding operating conditions while maintaining reliability and efficiency. However, he stressed that Hanlink’s commitment does not end with vehicle delivery.

Customers will benefit from manufacturer-backed warranties, genuine spare parts, professionally trained technicians and comprehensive aftersales support designed to maximise fleet uptime and reduce operating costs. ‘Our relationship with customers begins after the sale,’ he said. ‘Reliable service is just as important as reliable equipment.’

Completing the company’s message was Group Head of Marketing Mr. Musani Richard, who introduced Hanlink Tanzania’s guiding promise: ‘From Dar to Every Mile.’

More than a marketing slogan, he described the phrase as a commitment to supporting customers wherever they operate-whether managing transport fleets in Dar es Salaam, delivering goods across the country or operating heavy equipment at remote mining and construction sites.

‘This occasion is more than the opening of a showroom,’ he said. ‘It represents another important milestone in Hanlink Mobility’s regional growth journey.’

To strengthen customer engagement, Mr. Richard announced the launch of Hanlink Tanzania’s new digital platforms, including its official website and social media channels, providing customers with easier access to product information, service support and company updates.

Recognising that access to finance remains one of the biggest barriers to business expansion, he also unveiled strategic financing partnerships with CRDB Bank, NBC Bank, NMB Bank and NCBA Bank.

The partnerships are designed to provide flexible financing solutions that will enable transport operators, contractors, logistics companies and entrepreneurs to acquire heavy equipment without the burden of significant upfront capital investment.

By combining world-class equipment with accessible financing, Hanlink aims to accelerate business growth while supporting Tanzania’s broader industrialisation agenda. As the ceremony concluded, one message stood out clearly: Hanlink Mobility Tanzania is not positioning itself simply as another equipment distributor.

Instead, the company is building an integrated ecosystem that combines internationally recognised brands, reliable after-sales service, digital customer engagement and strategic financial partnerships under one roof.

With a regional presence spanning six East African countries and ambitions to invest further in local manufacturing, Hanlink arrives in Tanzania at a time when demand for transport, logistics and industrial equipment is rising rapidly.

Its launch sends a clear signal that Tanzania has become an increasingly attractive destination for industrial investment. And as the company embarks on its next phase of regional expansion, Hanlink Mobility Tanzania intends to be more than a supplier of trucks and machinery-it aims to become a long-term partner in powering the country’s economic transformation, from the first mile in Dar es Salaam to every mile that drives Tanzania’s future.

Victory Attorneys and Consultants and Exodus Investment Firm have launched the private wealth management desk, the first integrated advisory platform in Tanzania targeting high-net-worth individuals.

The joint venture is designed to provide a unified suite of investment, legal, tax and legacy structuring services.

By combining Exodus’ investment management expertise with Victory Attorneys’ legal and tax advisory capabilities, the initiative seeks to address a longstanding structural gap in the country’s financial services sector, where advisory services have traditionally operated in silos. Victory Attorneys and Consultants executive partner, Mr Benedict Ishabakaki, said in a statement issued yesterday that wealthy Tanzanians have previously been constrained by fragmented advisory services.

‘High-net-worth individuals in Tanzania have historically had to navigate a fragmented network of advisors working in isolation. This has resulted in structural gaps, duplicated costs and missed opportunities.

This desk eliminates that fragmentation,’ he said. The services offered include bespoke portfolio management, cross-border tax planning, family governance, and succession structuring.

The initiative comes at a time when Tanzania is experiencing a growing generational wealth transition, with many business families approaching succession planning for the first time.

Exodus advisory chief executive officer, Mr Ramadhan Kagwandi, said coordinated expertise was essential for effective wealth management.

‘Wealth creation and wealth preservation are two entirely different disciplines. We created this desk because our clients deserve both, seamlessly coordinated and delivered by professionals who understand the Tanzanian and regional context,’ he said.

The desk will operate under strict attorney-client privilege and fiduciary duty, with each client assigned a dedicated senior relationship manager to coordinate all advisory services.

Less than a year after Tanzania celebrated a historic milestone by exporting sugar for the first time, consumers are now facing a puzzling reality: supermarket shelves and retail outlets across the country are increasingly stocked with imported sugar rather than locally produced brands.

The development has raised questions among consumers and industry observers over how a country that recently reported sugar production exceeding domestic demand has returned to relying on imports.

Government efforts to strengthen environmental compliance are increasingly becoming a catalyst for industrial competitiveness, with waste oil processor Kamal Refinery positioning itself at the centre of Tanzania’s growing circular economy.

The refinery, located in Kerege, Bagamoyo,this week hosted the Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union Affairs and Environment), Hamad Masauni, who toured the facility to assess its compliance with national environmental standards.

The visit also brought into focus the wider economic opportunities linked to domestic recycling, industrial value addition and import substitution. Accompanied by experts from the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), the minister inspected the refinery’s production processes and environmental management systems before commending the company for implementing environmental directives issued by regulators.

He said industries that comply with environmental standards not only protect ecosystems and public health but also demonstrate that sustainable industrial growth is achievable when environmental regulations are fully embraced.

Beyond environmental compliance, the visit highlighted a broader policy debate around keeping valuable industrial raw materials within the country.

Kamal Group Deputy Managing Director Satyam Swatantra urged the government to discourage the export of waste oil, arguing that processing the resource locally would unlock greater economic benefits.

He said retaining waste oil for domestic refining would strengthen Tanzania’s circular economy, create employment, support local manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported raw materials, while also conserving scarce foreign exchange.

“Keeping this resource within Tanzania allows us to create value here instead of exporting opportunities abroad,” he said.

The proposal aligns with the government’s wider industrialisation agenda, which seeks to promote value addition, expand manufacturing capacity and increase local processing of raw materials before export.

Kamal Refinery says it has continued investing in environmentally friendly technologies designed to improve operational efficiency while reducing pollution associated with used oil processing.

According to the company, these investments are expected to cut pollution levels by up to 75 percent over the next two to three years, reflecting growing private sector investment in cleaner industrial technologies.

Projects Manager Prince Pius Mwakimenya said the minister’s visit provided an opportunity for the company to receive technical guidance on strengthening environmental stewardship while reaffirming its commitment to complying with all regulatory requirements.

The inspection forms part of the government’s ongoing drive to ensure industries meet environmental standards while contributing to sustainable economic development.

As Tanzania pursues industrial expansion under its broader economic transformation agenda, the Kamal Refinery case illustrates how environmental compliance is increasingly becoming more than a regulatory obligation.

It is emerging as a competitive advantage that supports investment, strengthens domestic value chains and reinforces the country’s transition towards a more resource-efficient and sustainable industrial economy.

The Zanzibar Ministry of Health will begin assessing health workers on the quality of services they provide, shifting its focus from infrastructure development to healthcare outcomes.

The move follows substantial government investment in health facilities, medical equipment, and financing aimed at strengthening service delivery across the Isles.

The announcement was made on Monday, June 29, 2026, by the Permanent Secretary in the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Dr Mngereza Mzee Miraji, during a meeting to review progress and set priorities for improving healthcare services. The forum, jointly organised by the ministry and PharmAccess, brought together health sector leaders and stakeholders from across Zanzibar.

“From now on, we will no longer be judged by the number of hospitals we have built, but by the quality of services delivered within those facilities,” said Dr Miraji.

“The next step is to stop blaming one another. If we want change, we cannot continue doing the same things and expect different results. We must all agree that quality is now our priority and commit ourselves to enforcing it,” he added.

Dr Miraji said that from July 1, the ministry would no longer tolerate poor performance by health workers, with the new approach applying across the healthcare system, from dispensaries and health centres to district, regional, and referral hospitals.

As Zanzibar works towards its 2030 health targets, he said every department and directorate must align its plans with five strategic priorities, led by improving healthcare quality and strengthening patient safety.

He also called for a stronger referral system linking primary healthcare facilities with district, regional, and referral hospitals, stressing that quality healthcare begins at the community level.

“We will no longer accept explanations for maternal health complications because no information was available. We already have a community health system through which referrals can be made, and community health workers are performing their responsibilities. We therefore do not expect pregnant women to develop complications because information failed to reach the appropriate level,” he said.

Dr Miraji identified accountability and performance management as another priority, urging health workers and managers to focus on measurable results.

“Whether you are a nurse, a midwife, or any other healthcare professional, your duty is to report to work every morning and serve the people, not spend your time engaging in idle talk,” he said.

He revealed that attendance reports submitted to the ministry showed some health workers reported for duty on only 14 days in a 30-day month, describing the trend as unacceptable.

The Permanent Secretary also urged officials to base decisions on reliable data rather than assumptions, warning that poor decision-making could undermine service delivery and overall performance.

PharmAccess Project Manager, Dr Faiza Abasi, said the organisation has partnered with the Zanzibar Ministry of Health since 2020 to improve healthcare quality at every level, from dispensaries and health centres to district, regional, and referral hospitals.

“Through this partnership, our goal is to ensure that healthcare services provided in all facilities meet recognised quality standards,” she said.

Dr Abasi said the partnership had developed a framework for assessing healthcare quality across the sector.

“We measure quality using a five-level rating system, similar to hotel classifications. Health facilities are assessed against these standards. However, no facility in Zanzibar has yet attained Level Five, with most currently rated between Levels One and Three,” she said.

Tanzanian businesses are set to benefit from improved cash flow, easier access to working capital and more efficient local and international transactions following the launch of the NMB SME World Business Credit Card.

Introduced by NMB Bank in partnership with Mastercard on Friday, the card is designed to help small and medium enterprises reduce reliance on cash, streamline payments and access short-term financing without lengthy loan application procedures.

Speaking during the launch in Arusha, NMB Chief of Retail Banking Filbert Mponzi said the product is intended to support business continuity during cash flow constraints. ‘This is not just a new card. It is a practical tool that will help businesses keep operating whenever they need short-term financial support,’ he said.

He said users can access credit of up to Sh50 million depending on their financial profile and benefit from up to 53 interest-free days on eligible transactions, allowing them to restock goods, pay suppliers and respond to market opportunities.

Mr Mponzi added that the facility removes many of the traditional barriers associated with bank loans, including lengthy application processes and collateral requirements.

Beyond credit access, the card offers travel insurance, airport lounge access and global transaction capability through Mastercard’s network, enabling smoother cross-border payments.

Mastercard Director of SME Commercialisation for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, Imelda Ngunzu, said the product addresses persistent challenges faced by SMEs, particularly access to timely working capital.

She said SMEs make up more than 90 per cent of businesses in Tanzania and play a critical role in employment and GDP contribution, but still face constraints in financing and payment systems.

‘Access to working capital at the right time can determine whether a business misses an opportunity or grows to the next level,’ she said.

NMB Head of Business Banking Deogratius Shirima said the bank is expanding digital payment solutions, including QR payments, PayByLink and POS systems, to help businesses improve cash flow and reduce dependence on cash transactions.

He said digital adoption is essential for businesses seeking to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Beauty and salon service providers have been identified as a key group in accelerating the uptake of clean cooking energy in Tanzania due to their close interaction with communities and clients on a daily basis.

This was said by Kidoti Foundation Director Jokate Mwegelo (pictured), who is also patron of the Tanzania Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association (CCST), during a signing ceremony of a partnership between Kidoti Foundation and Oryx Gas Tanzania aimed at promoting the use of clean energy among salon operators.

Ms Mwegelo said salon workers engage with a wide range of people every day, giving them a strong platform to influence attitudes and behaviours on clean energy use. ‘Salon service providers speak to people from different backgrounds every day. They build close relationships with their clients, which places them in a strong position to influence perceptions on clean cooking energy. We want them to become ambassadors of this change,’ she said.

She said efforts to expand access to clean cooking energy cannot be left to the government alone, but require participation from groups with direct influence in communities.

According to her, salons are already informal spaces where people exchange views on health, business, parenting and development issues, making them suitable platforms for public education on clean energy.

Ms Mwegelo said the partnership will enable salon operators to use clean energy in their businesses while also encouraging their clients to adopt cleaner and safer cooking solutions.

‘Clean energy is not just about cooking. It is about health, the environment, household economics and national development. By reaching salon workers, we reach thousands of households through their clients,’ she said.

Oryx Gas Tanzania Sales Manager Shaban Fundi said the company partnered with Kidoti Foundation to reach influential community groups that can help scale up clean energy adoption.

He said the company is also focused on raising awareness of the benefits of clean energy technologies in improving health outcomes and protecting the environment.

CCST Chairperson Ntuli Mwakatobe said the partnership will help empower members of the association to contribute to the national clean energy agenda while strengthening their businesses.

He said salon operators are also looking for ways to reduce operational costs and improve workplace safety.

Air Tanzania has increased flights between Dar es Salaam and Mumbai, India, from four times a week to daily services, citing rising passenger demand for business, medical, education and tourism travel.

Air Tanzania Director of Marketing and Commercial Services, Dominic Louis, said the new schedule took effect this month after strong traffic growth on the route.